DAWN WIRE SERVICE
Week Ending : 21 December, 1995 Issue : 01/50
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CONTENTS
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Karachi Carnage
..........Twenty Five Killed & Liaquatabad besieged
..........Altaf wants replies on relatives death
..........Kin of MQM activists released
..........MQM files rejoinder in supreme court
..........Elderly MQM man arrested
..........Release of MQM man urged
..........Altaf opposes use of extra force
..........MQM flays workers killing
..........MQM links talks with end to killings
..........Leghari urged to save activists life
..........Altaf concerned over two workers fate
..........MQM condemns setting up of police pickets
Opposition
..........Reply to PMs letter: Nawaz again demands mid-term polls
..........All packed up and nowhere to go
..........PML to expose govts loot, plunder
..........PML leader asks PM to accept realities
..........Nawaz hails Karamats appointment
Ruling party
..........Govt ready to resume talks, says N.D.Khan
..........Pakistan is alert: PM
..........President's offer to MQM
..........Leghari criticises WB for opposing big dams
Punjab Assembly session news and views
..........PA session lasts 16 minutes, entire opposition stays away
..........PML MPAs create pandemonium in punjab assembly
..........PA boycott to continue: Sattar
..........Session boycotted: opposition accuses Mohal of sell-out
..........Proceedings of Sindh PA criticised
..........MPO comes under scathing attack
Younus Habib awarded 10 years RI
Detachment of Brown Amendment vital for Pakistan
Indian Missile plan decried Pakistan warns of appropriate response
World Bank sends guidelines for Farm water regulatory system
Pakistan situation: US embassy sends report to state department
Mumtaz's move termed significant
Mumtaz meets Murtaza
Embassy blast financier: wife speaks of harassment
Egyptian militants threaten Pakistan
ANP chief says govt creating differences
The press and the PM
Overhead bridge: lack of funds hamper work
Arrests: Islamabad seeks details from Manila
JWP demands dissolution of assemblies
Karamat named COAS
Minister on the mat
Ghazi Barotha project contracts signed
Ban on mobile phone in Lahore urged
Murtaza opposes Kalabagh dam
---------------------------------
60 pc of revenue to go in debt servicing, claim Sartaj
Forex reserve plunge to $525m level
Privatisation FIBB, Saudi group shortlisted for UBL
Launching of Rs10,000 bonds
Poor response to Rs10,000 bonds
First tranche of $200m by this month: Shahab
$350m WB loan for Barotha project
More mutual funds to ease liquidity crunch
Goods exempted from 2% penal surcharge
Credit rating relaxation for leasing companies upset Moderabas
Profit-selling dominates trading on stock market
Stocks stage smart rally as blue chip recover
Fairly aggressive buying on some quarters
Large decline averted on stock market
-----------------------------------------------------
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
Independence of the judiciary Ardeshir Cowasjee
All over the place: Make use of TV! Omar Kureshi
Bank privatisation out of tune with new trend Jafar Wafa
Interest of Pakistan & IMF clash Hasan Askree
Foreign exchange reserve a critique S. Hasan Azad
Creative uncertainty Ayaz Amir
A welcome decision Editorial column
The special licence Hafizur Rehman
Grist for the mill Rifaat Hamid Ghani
-----------------------------------------------------
Ban lifted from Qasim Umer
Bowlers demolish N.Z. in Pakistans 1-day win
New Zealand beat Pakistan in nail-biting finish
Pakistan beat N.Z
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D A W N W I R E S E R V I C E
Wishes its readers
A very Merry Christmas
===================================================================
951221
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Twenty Five Killed & Liaquatabad besieged
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Staff Reporter
A police constable, three MQM worker, A taxi driver, a labourer and an
unidentified man were among twenty five people who died in violence
this week. Fourteen others, including seven policemen were wounded in
random acts of violence. While rangers and police launched a siege-
and-search operation in parts of Liaquatabad. The salient features of
some of the incidents are listed below.
KARACHI, Dec. 14: Arshad Khan of Malir City police station was gunned
down by unidentified men. His bullet-riddled body was found on a
garbage dump. Police suspect he was kidnapped and executed by his
captors. The motive could not be known.
A young MQM worker, Iftikhar Ahmed, was killed in Orangi. Police
claimed when they raided the house of Iftikhar, they were fired upon
by the inmates and in the ensuing shootout Iftikhar was killed. His
companions escaped, added the police.
Meanwhile, the CIA Jamshed Quarters arrested an MQM worker, Humayun
Nasir, and said it found an AK-47 rifle from his possession.
KARACHI, Dec. 15:Sher Dad, an MQM worker was kidnapped and killed in
Korangi. The police claimed the victim was allegedly kidnapped by
rival Haqiqi men and killed.
The body of an unidentified man was found in Liaquatabad. The doctors
who examined the body said the victim was tortured to death.
Another unidentified body was found in Defence Officers Housing
Society in Qayyumabad nullah. The police suspect the victim was killed
somewhere else in the city and later his body was abandoned in the
nullah.
During the last few weeks, the police have found at least three bodies
in the same place. All the victim were tortured and killed by their
captors.
KARACHI, Dec. 16: The police found bullet-riddled bodies of two
brothers lying in the Liaquatabad graveyard. They were identified as
Nek Mohammad and Mohammad Ilyas. Police were unable to find any clue
which could shed light on the circumstances in which the two were
murdered.
DIES IN CUSTODY: An MQM man, who was being interrogated for the murder
of two sons of a senior police officer, died in custody.
Mohammad Ehsanul Qadir, had been in police custody for the last five
days and was one of the three suspects in the killings of Adnan and
his brother Azhar, both sons of Additional Superintendent of Police,
Qazi Rasheed.
The police, however, claimed that he was arrested on Friday in Surjani
Town. On the same night, he complained about a chest pain and died.
His body was taken to Civil Hospital for autopsy.
City police chief Shoaib Suddle suspended ASI Talib Hussain who was
interrogating the victim and asked Liaquatabad SP Azhar Majeed Khokhar
to investigate the matter.
The District Central administration also ordered an enquiry.
KARACHI, Dec. 17: A taxi driver and an unidentified man were killed
while rangers and police launched a siege-and-search operation in
parts of Liaquatabad.
Troops surrounded parts of troubled Liaquatabad after heavy shooting
in the afternoon. The motive of the shooting could not be known.
Rangers carried out siege-and-search operation in Saeedabad and Baldia
and detained hundreds of men for interrogations. Most of them were
released a couple of hours later. However, it could not be known how
many of the people are still in rangers custody.
KARACHI, Dec. 18: Liaquatabad, parts of which were surrounded by the
police, remained tense throughout the day amid sporadic gunbattles
between youths and the police.
During a gunbattle in Firdous Colony, Mohammad Saeed, described by the
police as an MQM activist, was killed and a head constable, Munsab
Khan, wounded. Police claimed the battle erupted when they tried to
raid an MQM torture cell set up in Fazlur Rehman School. In the
shootout, one person was killed but his five companions escaped.
Police found two pistols, some bullets from the possession of the
victim. In the cell police also found torture equipment.
Seven policemen and five pedestrians, including two women, were
wounded when terrorists am-bushed a police vehicle at in Federal B.
Area.
A 42-year-old labourer, who was leaving for Punjab, was kidnapped and
killed by unidentified men in Saeedabad. Allah Dita had left his
Saeedabad residence for Muzafargarh when he was kidnapped near his
residence. His body was found in the morning by the police.
KARACHI, Dec. 19: Al-Karam Square, most of whose 700 residents have
abandoned their houses owing to frequent gunfights, was again the
scene of a gunbattle, in which an unidentified youth was killed and
another, Abdul Malik, wounded when he fell from one of the floors
while fleeing.
It was not clear whether the victim died while fighting the rangers or
was just caught in the cross-fire. Police drew a blank about the
incident.
Parts of Gharibabad and Liaquatabad also remained tense with rangers
and police picking up dozens of youths in a house-to-house search.
Affected families complained that police were demanding huge bribes
for the release of youths who were being kept at various police
stations in district Central.
KARACHI, Dec. 20: A former army officer and a trader were killed and
four worshippers were wounded when they were attacked during morning
prayers in a PECHS house. Two of the five fleeing suspects, identified
as Sipah-i-Sahaba workers, died in a gunbattle with the police.
Five men armed with AK-47 rifle and pistols raided the PECHS residence
of Major (retd) Mohammad Aala Jaffery. The intruders forced them to
lie down on the floor and tied their hands with the bands of their
trousers. The assailants first collected valuables from the house and
then sprayed the six with bullets.
The five were fleeing in a car when a police mobile spotted them in
Mehmoodabad.
In the gunbattle, Mansoor Usmani and Ali Haider were killed. Two of
their companions Shahid Kamal and Farhan Iqbal were arrested. The
fifth escaped.
KARACHI, Dec. 20: A young man was shot dead in Korangi and the body of
an unidentified man chopped into two pieces with the hands tied behind
the back was found floating in the harbour.
Ajmal Shah, was killed in a shooting incident in Korangi. His
political affiliation could not be known. His body was brought to the
Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Centre for autopsy.
In the morning, Edhi volunteers fished out the body of an unidentified
man floating near Keamari. The victim who, according to the doctors,
was murdered four days back, was chopped into two pieces with sharp
and blunt weapons. An injury was also found on his head.
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951217
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Altaf wants replies on relative deaths
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Staff Correspondent
LONDON, Dec. 16: MQM leader Altaf Hussain has called on the president,
the prime minister, the interior minister, the governor and the chief
minister of Sindh to reply to the points he has raised about deaths of
his elder brother and nephew whose bodies were found on Dec. 9 in
Gadap. He asked the federal and the provincial governments why they
were denying any responsibility for the deaths of two of his relatives
who were "taken away from their house in the presence of witnesses by
police and men in an armoured vehicle."
Mr Hussain said an FIR should be registered on the basis of a written
statement about the killings, which was handed over to the SHO,
Gulberg.
After the arrest of Nasir Hussain, Altaf Hussain's elder brother, the
deputy leader of opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Bukhari, had
informed the president and the chief justices of the Supreme Court and
Sindh High Court, appealing to them to save the life of Mr Nasir and
his son. The convenor of the MQM coordination committee, Ishtiaq Azhar
had issued a statement to the Press and the AFP news agency had quoted
police sources "confirming the arrests". But on Dec. 8 the rangers in
a Press statement had not only denied these arrests but also absolved
the police from such action.
According to a Press release faxed to Dawn, Mr Hussain expressed
surprise over the advocacy by the rangers of the police and said on
previous occasions they had not issued any such clarifications. The
denial, appeared to him, to be part of a "pre- meditated plan".
Mr Hussain asked why the rangers had increased their patrol and were
suddenly put on alert in Karachi on Dec. 9 if they or any other
official agency was not responsible for the arrest of his brother and
nephew. "Why was a pre arranged visit to Orangi by the prime minister
suddenly cancelled? Why, for the first time, the photographs of the
bodies of the two persons were released to the newspapers by the
police? Why was no post-mortem done and why the bodies were handed to
the Edhi Centre without ascertaining the time and cause of death? Why
was a guard placed at the Edhi Centre?" Mr Hussain asked.
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951215
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Kin of MQM activists released
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Staff Correspondent
MIRPURKHAS, Dec. 14: Police released some of the relatives and family
members of MQM activists.
They were arrested during raids after unknown miscreants had set on
fire a bogy of a train. Many people were still in the custody, facing
a charge of setting ablaze a bus of Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills.
Meanwhile, police arrested two youths on charges of burning the bogy.
But, Muhammad Yaqoob and Rafiq, who are government servant and donkey-
cart driver respectively, told this correspondent at the city police
station that they were innocent.
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951216
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MQM files rejoinder in Supreme Court
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Bureau Report
LAHORE, Dec. 16: The MQM has filed a 3,920-page, 80-volume rejoinder
in an attempt to controvert the governments written statement in
reply to its petition in the Supreme Court.
It claims that the government is more keen on propaganda than on
judicial proceedings. The MQM said the statement is being circulated
worldwide, particularly at the United Nations, at the taxpayers
expense only to score propaganda points without addressing the real
constitutional issues involved.
The rejoinder also alleges that 80 per cent of the government reply
consists of newspaper clippings haphazardly covering a seven-year
period from 1985 to 1992.
It is further claimed that 20 per cent of the statement is comprised
police and intelligence reports which are not admissible in evidence
in the court even of a magistrate.
It says that all self-incriminatory or confessional statements are
unconstitutional and illegal unless recorded in accordance the
Criminal Procedure Code.
The rejoinder cites the statements of US public representatives and
officials, resolutions of the British House of Commons, reports of
Amnesty International and other human rights organisations, and news
and analyses carried by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The
Guardian, The Independent and other newspapers in support of its
claim that it enjoys popular backing and electoral strength and its
allegations of extra-judicial killings and extortion by agencies in
Karachi.
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951218
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Elderly MQM man arrested
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 17: A 55-year-old MQM supporter, about whom the law
enforcement agencies had expressed their ignorance, is being
interrogated for terrorism-related cases in Khwaja Ajmer Nagri police
station.
Irshad Rehmani, a member of MQM elders committee, was arrested from
his North Karachi residence on Dec. 9, but the law enforcement
agencies denied any knowledge about his whereabouts.
On Sunday, his aged wife was told by the Khwaja Ajmer Nagri police
that her husband was being interrogated in various cases of terrorism.
When contacted, a police officer told Dawn that only a spokesman for
the police department was responsible for giving the details of cases
against Irshad Rehmani.
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951218
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Release of MQM man urged
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 17: The MQM coordination committee convenor Senator
Ishtiaq Azhar demanded of the government to immediately release Ejaz
Mahmood.
In a statement, he alleged that Mr Mahmood was being meted out inhuman
treatment for his opposition to the dictatorial policies of the
government.
In another statement, MQM deputy leader in Sindh Assembly, Shoaib
Bukhari appealed to the Chief Justice of Sindh High Court to intervene
and the save lives of Saeed Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Mohammad Naeem and
Mohammad Akhtar.
He said that the police had arrested them on Dec. 16 during the siege
of Ramgarh, Baldia Town.
In another statement, MQM MPAs demanded of the government to declare
whereabouts of Khalid Aziz, an MQM Sector in charge, who was arrested
on Dec. 7.
They said Mr Aziz was in police custody since his arrest, but the
police were continuously denying his arrest.
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951219
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Altaf opposes use of extra force
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Staff Correspondent
LONDON, Dec. 18: MQM leader Altaf Hussain has protested against what
he has described as the use of extra force by law enforcement agencies
in Hyderabad by establishing dozens of posts in several areas of the
city. He alleged that officials were resorting to firing and
harassing people by arresting them.
Mr Hussain said: Hundreds of Mohajir families have left their homes
and moved to safer places. Their houses were being broken into for
searches and looting, says a Press release faxed to Dawn.
He appealed to human rights organisations and the national leaders to
visit Hyderabad and see for themselves what was happening there.
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951219
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MQM flays workers killing
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 18: The MQM coordination committee condemned the killing
of its activist Mohammad Saeed in what it called a fake police
encounter in Nazimabad.
In a statement, it said Mr Saeed was an activist of Gulbahar-Nazimabad
Sector of the MQM. He was killed by the police near his house after
being arrested at 2.00 pm in Firdous Colony.
It held the president, prime minister, federal interior minister,
Sindh governor and chief minister responsible for the killing of Mr
Saeed. In another statement, the MQM deputy parliamentary leader in
Sindh Assembly, Shoaib Bukhari, appealed to the Chief Justice of Sindh
High Court to intervene and save the life of Sultan.
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951220
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MQM links talks with end to killings
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 19: MQM chief negotiator Ajmal Dehlavi said that his
party was ready to resume talks with the government provided
suppression of the MQM and killing of its workers were stopped
forthwith.
Mr Dehlavi said the MQM negotiation team had received a reply to its
letter after 40 days from the government. Under the circumstances, he
said, the President himself would be justified in determining who was
at fault.
He said MQM was ready to play its role for the restoration and
maintenance of peace in the megalopolis if the government refrained
from committing atrocities against the MQM.
Mr Dehlavi asked the President what he was doing to save the country
from a colossal loss when the president of the Karachi Stock Exchange,
Siraj Casim, had briefed him about Rs 100 billion loss owing to the
Karachi situation.
He said, during the current year, 2,000 persons had been killed
because of state terrorism and therefore the government had lost the
right to rule.
Despite all atrocities committed by the state machinery, he said, the
MQM was ready to hold negotiations with the President in all earnest
desire for peace in the city.
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951220
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Leghari urged to save activists life
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 19: MQM Coordination Committee Convenor Senator Ishtiaq
Azhar urged President Farooq Ahmad Leghari to intervene and save the
life of Khalid Aziz, in charge of the MQM Society Sector who was
arrested by law enforcers on Dec. 7.
In an open letter to the president, he said Aziz and his younger
brother were arrested at their home in Federal B. Area by the rangers
and police 12 days back.
After arresting Aziz, Mr Azhar said, the law enforcers beat him badly
outside his home and took him to an unknown destination. Since his
arrest on Dec. 7, he had not been produced in the court of law by the
police, he added. Mr Azhar said: The two are in police custody, but
the police are denying that they had arrested them.
Mr Azhar appealed to the president to order the Sindh government to
recover them forthwith.
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951221
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Altaf concerned over two workers fate
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Staff Correspondent
LONDON, Dec. 20: MQM leader Altaf Hussain has expressed concern over
the safety of two of his party workers who, he said, where arrested on
Dec. 7 in Federal B Area, but their arrests are being denied by the
government.
According to a press release faxed to Dawn, he has urged the Supreme
Court and Sindh High Court Chief Justice to intervene urgently to save
the lives of Khalid Aziz and his younger brother, Tariq Aziz, who have
now been missing for the last 13 days.
Mr Hussain said he feared that the two men might meet the same fate as
his own brother and nephew met a few days back.
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951221
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MQM condemns setting up of police pickets
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Staff Correspondent
HYDERABAD, Dec. 20: The spokesman for MQM, has condemned the
establishment of police pickets in thickly populated areas of Faqir Ka
Pir, Chotki Ghitti, Resham Gali, Khata Chowk, Seroghat and the
adjoining localities and alleged that the government had planned a
genocide of MQM workers and Haq Parast people.
In a statement issued, the spokesman alleged that first the government
agencies got a robbery committed in the banks of Chotki Ghitti through
criminals and on that pretext the agencies attacked these areas and
held the people hostages.
He said although the government had propagated that the action was
being taken against hardened criminals, no criminal had been arrested
so far and added that those who had looted the property and money of
the people had escaped under the shelter of police.
He termed the onslaught of police in these densely populated areas a
result of manipulation between criminals and police to start massacre
of the innocent Haq Parast people.
He also alleged that the police were conducting house-to-house search
and humiliating women and children and added that innocent people who
were being arrested during searches were being subjected to inhuman
torture.
He warned that if the government did not stop raids and arrests of
innocent persons, the entire city will be compelled to resort to
protest.
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951215
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Reply to PMs letter : Nawaz again demands mid-term polls
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 14 : Mr Sharif replied to Ms Bhuttos letter written
to him on December 10, copy of which was also circulated to the Press,
in which he has conditioned his meeting with the prime minister to the
holding of mid- term elections a demand she has already rejected.
It is my opinion that the country cannot get out of the serious
economic mess, political crisis and the alarming Karachi situation
without going back to the electorate through fresh elections coupled
with basic constitutional and legal reforms. I am sure this is not too
high a price to rid the country of this malaise and put Pakistan back
on the rails, he said in his letter.
The opposition leader pointed out that the constitutional package
should not be confined to the removal of the Eighth Amendment and the
restoration of women seats, but it should also cover other important
issues such as floor crossing, independence of the judiciary, setting
up of an independent and high- powered judicial commission for
eradicating corruption, and constitutional guarantees for free and
fair elections.
I am surprised that despite such massive failures on every front, the
government should still insist on completing its five- year tenure.
The country, in my view, will simply not be able to bear a
continuation of this misrule much longer, Mr Sharif asserted.
He said he appreciated the prime ministers anxiety to restore the
faltering credibility of the government in the face of growing
political and economic crisis in the country.
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951216
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All packed up and nowhere to go!
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Mohammad Malick
DRIVING back from a public meeting recently, Nawaz Sharif turned to a
top PML leader accompanying him and asked about the means to take
this mass contact movement to its logical conclusion. When asked
about what he perceived as being the logical conclusion, the leader of
the opposition reportedly looked askance at the man and retorted
rather sharply: If I knew that, I would have figured out the means as
well.
Unbelievable as it may sound, it is but true that Nawaz has lunged,
head first, into a nation-wide campaign to whip up anti- government
sentiment without any concrete plans for the next phase. The
unsettling reality from the oppositions perspective, is that its top
leadership does not have the foggiest idea of what comes next.
There is no denying that Nawaz has been getting a good response in
terms of public turnouts etc, but for that he must thank the
governments losses more than any of his own political gains.
And it is this very lack of direction and the want of a clearly
chalked-out political strategy that seems to be crippling the working
of the opposition at one of those rare times in the present tenure of
Benazir government, where the government is betraying signs of playing
nervously on a somewhat weaker political wicket.
There is little doubt about the government feeling the growing
pressures. Karachi continues to defy all government writ, law and
order situation is generally alarming, economy is in a virtual mess
and inching along on a month-by-month basis on IMF funded trances,
while the question of announcing the successor in Rawalpindi is
contributing in its own silently disturbing manner. Everyday there are
rumours about the packing up of the system and unfortunately ours has
been a proven track record of rumours turning into reality.
In this background, the prime ministers latest letter to Nawaz
generated a lot of debate in the opposition ranks. As one senior PML
leader suggested, opposition always has the edge because it has no
record to be judged against. It just has to point out the governments
shortcomings and wait for it to blunder. Opposition never wins an
election, its the government that loses it. Nawaz was also advised
to desist from scaring away the government by making early elections a
pre-condition for any political dialogue.
While incorporating almost all other recommendations regarding the
extension of the negotiation agenda to include other items like floor
crossing, judicial independence etc, Nawaz could not resist his hawks
pressure to add the pre-condition of early polls for the holding of
any serious dialogue. As expected, the two sides have retreated to
their old rigid positions.
Could it be that the leader of the opposition may have gained heart
from the latest gossip to trickle out of the PM house according to
which the Atchison educated Pir of the prime minister has reportedly
told her that if the next elections were held in November of 1996, she
would win another term in office. Judging from the present economic
mess and growing public antipathy, one wonders whose side the Pir
sahib is really on?.
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951218
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PML to expose govts loot, plunder
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 17: The PML has set up a three-member anti-corruption
committee to expose the alleged loot and plunder of the ruling
party.
The PPP has siphoned away at least Rs50 billion from the public
exchequer, Khawaja Mohammad Asif who heads the committee, told a
press conference.
The committee will take cognisance of each and every case where
misuse or loot of the public exchequer is involved. Mr Asif said the
reluctance of the government to constitute such a parliamentary
committee to check the increasing corruption had prompted the
opposition to set up this committee.
Mr Asif appealed to the general public to inform his committee of any
incident of corruption they might come across in any public sector
department or organisation.
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951220
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PML leader asks PM to accept realities
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 19: MNA Mian Ejaz Shafi has urged the prime minister to
accept realities instead of levelling baseless charges against the
leader of the opposition, Nawaz Sharif.
He expressed concern over the situation in Karachi and said under a
well-planned move the government was penalising people for not
supporting the PPP. Extra-judicial killings, raids, siege of
localities and arrests of a number of people was a proof of revenge
of the ruling party, he added.
Bribery and corruption were being encouraged. Even the people were
deprived of basic amenities, including water supply, and there was no
security of life, he said.
He alleged that rulers after emptying government coffers were
collecting money from the people through introduction of bonds.
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951220
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Nawaz hails Karamats appointment
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 19: Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif welcomed the
appointment of Gen Jehangir Karamat as the new Chief of the Army
Staff, and paid tributes to Gen Abdul Waheed Khan for not accepting
the extension of one year in his service.
The PML chief said that General Waheed has taken a right decision and
hoped his decision would go a long way in encouraging the growth of
professionalism in the armed forces of Pakistan.
Mr Sharif said he welcomed the decision because it had at last ended
the state of uncertainty that was created as a result of what he
described as quite unnecessary delay in this announcement, which had
generated rumours on a massive scale with detrimental effects for the
political and economic stability of the country.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Govt ready to resume talks, says N.D. Khan
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KARACHI, Dec. 15: Prof N.D. Khan, Federal Minister for Law and
Justice, has said that the government is determined to establish peace
in Karachi and is ready to resume stalled talks with the MQM.
Commenting on stalled talks, he said government was ready to resume
talks. He said that he had a meeting with MQM negotiating team, but in
the meantime the killing incident of brother and nephew of MQM chief
Altaf Hussain took place.
However, he hoped that the stalled talks would resume soon. He said
that the PML and MQM in particular should not see the Karachi issue in
political background and should make efforts to restore peace in
Karachi and Sindh.
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951218
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan is alert: PM
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 17: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said Pakistan is
vigilant of the international and regional situation and the nation
should be confident that its security, integrity and solidarity would
never be compromised.
We are vigilant and carefully watching the changing international and
regional situation and the nation should rest assured that security,
integrity and solidarity of the country will never be compromised
irrespective of any circumstances whatsoever.
She said she did not believe in the politics for the sake of grabbing
power by undemocratic means or by deceiving the people and without any
consideration to vital national interests.
Politics is a noble mission for me and a means to realise my dream
and desire to see Pakistan as a developed nation.
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951219
-------------------------------------------------------------------
President's offer to MQM
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Nasir Malick
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 18 : President Farooq Leghari has called upon the MQM
to give up arms, renounce terrorism and join the government.
Mr Leghari, who spoke mostly extempore on the Karachi situation, said
there was no other option but to include the MQM in the system. He
said the MQM should help the government curb terrorism. They should
hunt out terrorist groups in Karachi whether they belong to drug Mafia
or other.
Mr Leghari said local bodies elections could be held within six months
provided peace was restored to the violence-hit city. Within three
months, rest of the things can be settled. He also mentioned that he
was in favour of local bodies elections.
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951219
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Leghari criticises WB for opposing big dams
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 18: President Farooq Leghari criticised the World Bank
for opposing the construction of big dams and instead supporting
thermal power generation which was a threat to the environment.
President Farooq Leghari strongly supported the hydel power
generation, which he said was more suitable for Pakistan which has
huge untapped hydel resources.
President Farooq Leghari said the World Bank was itself supporting
electricity generation through thermal and coal-fired plants and has
set up a fund for this purpose.
The president said Pakistan was against all such projects which are
environment unfriendly. President Leghari said We are happy that they
(World Bank) are supporting Ghazi Barotha hydel power generation
project yet they should also consider helping the developing countries
in constructing big dams. He said every country has its own
priorities. We must have wider alternatives and greater choices, he
asserted. One choice is adoption of solar energy, he added.
He said there is distortion in the distribution of energy in the world
because 25 per cent of the developed countries, which are consuming
two-third of the electricity, were denying transfer of technology to
the developing countries.
He said the world was moving in a direction where there will be an
immense clash of interest as the countries having knowledge and
technologies are putting an embargo on them. Dissemination of
knowledge should be encouraged.
He said countries like France fulfil 80 per cent of their energy
requirements from nuclear power generation whereas this technology is
denied to the developing countries. For many countries, nuclear energy
will be a more viable option. What I am pleading is availability of
choices.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PA session lasts 16 minutes, entire Opposition stays away
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, Dec. 14: The winter session of the Sindh Assembly, which
began here on Thursday with Speaker Ghous Bux Maher in the chair,
ended just in 16 minutes after disposing of the order of the day,
which included the question hour.
With the entire opposition staying away, the treasury benches failed
to enliven the House before the members could settle down to take up
work.
The chair called it a day around 10.46 am to meet again on Sunday.
When the House was called to order at 10.30 am there were 36 members
on the treasury benches. As there was no other business for the day,
the chair adjourned the session to meet again on Sunday.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PML MPAs create pandemonium in Punjab Assembly
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Nasir Jamal
LAHORE, Dec. 14: The PML opposition created pandemonium in the
provincial assembly when Acting Speaker Mian Manzoor Mohal dismissed
its plea to table a resolution condemning the arrest of its leader
Shahbaz Sharif and his alleged torture by the FIA.
During a discussion on adjournment motions moved by provincial
legislators during the first day of the opposition-requisitioned
session, Acting Opposition Leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi rose to
request the chair to suspend all rules to take up the PMLs resolution
on Mr Shahbaz Sharif.
Undeterred by shouts from the Treasury Benches, Mr Elahi started
reading the text of the resolution despite the Chairs refusal to take
up the matter.
Mian Manzoor Mohal repeatedly said he would let the resolution be
debated on Sunday, but the PML leader went ahead with his reading.
Other opposition members also rose to their feet, shouting anti -
government slogans and, led by Mr Elahi and Sirdar Zulfikar Khan
Khosa, encircled the Speakers chair to press him to admit the
resolution.
Mr Mohal politely asked them to return to their seats. You can convey
the same thing from your places. Do not try to put pressure on me. I
cannot allow something that is violative of the rules to happen in the
House.
The Leader of the Opposition and other members of the House are equal
before me, and nobody can be permitted to invade the sanctity of the
House, Mr Mohal told the Opposition.
The Opposition MPAs returned to their seats after a few minutes.
Mr Mohal agreed with a suggestion from PML MPA Zafar Ali Shah that the
Leader of the Opposition and the Law Minister should sit together and
evolve a consensus resolution as it was a harmless issue and
pertained to the supremacy of political values, institutions and the
Constitution and not Mr Sharif. The Acting Speaker directed the Law
Minister to sit with Mr Elahi, formulate a joint resolution and
present it to him before moving it in the house.
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951215
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PA boycott to continue: Sattar
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 14: Dr Farooq Sattar, the leader of the opposition in
the Sindh Assembly, reiterated that opposition Haq Parast group would
continue boycott of the assembly proceedings until the government
discharged its obligations by facilitating the opposition and ensuring
attendance of their detained colleagues.
He said, the government did not move as the government had reservation
owing to exposure of torture inflicted on imprisoned MPAs at Adiala
Jail for pressurising them to change their loyalty.
The leader of the opposition said that they had been implicated in a
concocted case just to keep them at Adiala Jail for compelling them to
change their loyalty.
Terming their confinement illegal he said the government itself was
showing scant respect for the laws as their colleagues who had been
facing some 70 cases in Karachi were not being brought on the dates of
hearing nor they were being tried at the Adiala prison.
He said he himself had been brought from the prison after 65 days as
he was not produced on the dates of hearing in any case before the
trial court.
When his attention was drawn towards the law ministers stand that the
opposition was not playing its role for which they were elected, he
said when the government had not tolerated the opposition, how they
could play any role. Its all efforts were to create non-conducive
conditions for the opposition to keep them away from the assembly.
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951218
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Session boycotted : Opposition accuses Mohal of sell-out
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
LAHORE, Dec. 17: The opposition in the Punjab Assembly said it had no
confidence in acting Speaker Manzoor Mohal and boycotted the second
day of the requisitioned session after proceedings lasting about 95
minutes.
The boycott came after Mr Mohal refused permission to the opposition
to table a resolution against alleged torture by the FIA on Mian
Shahbaz Sharif, detained in Adiala Jail.
Before staging the walkout, the opposition members used derogatory
language against Mr Mohal and acting opposition leader Chaudhry
Pervaiz Elahi said that the opposition was expressing its no-
confidence in Mr Mohal and was boycotting the session.
He warned that if violence against opposition legislators was not
checked, nobody would feel secure. Pakistan is, with the passage of
time, degenerating into a graveyard of human rights.
Mr Mohal remained unmoved by all these arguments and he said since no
joint resolution could be drafted, as was agreed upon earlier, he
would not allow the opposition to table it unilaterally.
The opposition staged a walkout and the acting speaker started
disposing of privilege motions by the opposition members. Rawalpindis
Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz returned to House for a short while to request
Mr Mohal that since his party was staying away, his privilege motion
should be kept pending.
The chair turned down the request.
When the House continued to lack quorum even after that he adjourned
the session for half-an-hour. After that he adjourned it sine die.
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951220
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Proceedings of Sindh PA criticised
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
LARKANA, Dec. 19: Sindh National Front chief Mumtaz Ali Bhutto has
said the laws passed in hurry and in violation of the rules and
regulations in the Sindh Assembly by the treasury benches where the
opposition members were not allowed to express their views could be
challenged.
He said the PA was meeting only to fulfil the constitutional
requirements, where already promulgated ordinances of governor were
being shaped as laws.
Mr Bhutto regretted that a proposal placed in the House four times by
him and Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah for making a facts- finding
committee to explore the factors responsible for the ever-worsening
law and order situation in the province, remained unheeded.
The government was evading to discuss the issues of sky- rocketing
prices of essential commodities, growing unemployment, law and order,
ever-increasing corruption and the police atrocities, Mr Bhutto said.
He said the Speaker had rejected his 10 proposals out of 14 which
spoke volumes for the commitments towards promulgating laws by PPP
government.
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951220
-------------------------------------------------------------------
MPO comes under scathing attack
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 19: The controversial legal tool of Maintenance of
Public Order (MPO) came under a scathing attack in the House, with the
opposition dubbing it a black law and demanding its immediate repeal.
The government for its part, held its ground, with Minister of State
for Law Raza Rabbani negating the impression about the governments
insensitivity to the issue and insisted that there is no change in
the policy of the government which is taking measures to protect human
rights.
He, however, did invite the opposition to cooperate with the
government in repealing all black laws and to help find ways to stop
violations of basic human rights.
According to oppositions perspective, the MPOs are nothing more than
tools for victimising the political opposition.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Younus Habib awarded 10 years RI
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bhagwandas
KARACHI, Dec. 14: M.Y.H., the former chief of defunct Mehran Bank was
sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 36.7 million
in a fraud case while his co-accused Saleem Sattar was acquitted.
In a 52-page judgment, the Presiding officer of the Special Court for
Offences in Banks in Sindh, Hasan Feroz, said half of the fine, if
recovered, would be given to the bank while the other half would go to
the State.
In case of default of payment for the fine levied on him, the
controversial banker, who was convicted under Section 409 PPC, will
have to serve another two and a half years, the order says.
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951220
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Detachment of Brown Amendment vital for Pakistan
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shaheen Sehbai
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19: The Brown Amendment appears to have been caught
in a deadly crossfire over the abortion issue and unless Pakistan
lobbied hard and fast on the Hill, it may well get buried with the
Foreign Operations Bill carrying it.
These experts say if Pakistan did not succeed in detaching the Brown
Amendment from the Foreign Aid Bill and missed the opportunity to tag
it on to the new law being considered for Israel, the whole issue may
get bogged down for months because then the Foreign Operations Bill
would remain hostage to the abortion issue as long as it was not
resolved.
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951221
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Indian missile plan decried : Pakistan warns of appropriate response
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hasan Akhtar
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 20: Pakistan has threatened that it will appropriately
respond to the Indian missile programme within the MTCR regime and
stated that Islamabad had no reason to accept the Indian denial of
the American press reports that it was preparing its second nuclear
explosion (soon) at Pokharan in Rajasthan, close to Pakistans Sindh
border. The first one was in 1974.
Foreign Minister Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali who returned from a 10-day
foreign visit during which he attended the sixth meeting of the
foreign ministers of South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) in New Delhi, said at a news briefing on Wednesday evening
that he found little credibility in the statement of Indian Foreign
Minister Parnab Mukherji that India had no intention of developing a
nuclear weapon. India had more often than not shifted its position on
the nuclear and other such issues.
The minister avoided responding directly to a question whether
Pakistan, too, would carry out a nuclear explosion in case India went
ahead with its, but warned that the consequences of the Indian nuclear
explosion would be entirely on India which he alleged had killed the
Simla Agreement.
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951220
-------------------------------------------------------------------
World Bank sends guidelines for Farm water regulatory system
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashraf Mumtaz
LAHORE, Dec. 19: The World Bank has sent the government a set of
guidelines in the light of which statutes for the new authorities are
to be drafted. The staff to be recruited for the commissions or
authorities would be approved by the World Bank as also their
statutes. The bank has offered the services of various companies in
the drafting of the statutes.
The World Bank has also asked the government to remove 30 per cent
employees of the irrigation department who the bank thinks are
surplus.
Punjab government sources were of the view that the pattern proposed
by the World Bank for converting the irrigation department into
autonomous authorities was different from the impression President
Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari had given.
The sources pointed out that the Mexico pattern, as suggested by the
World Bank, was not suitable for Pakistan. In Mexico, it is said,
water and land were delinked while in Pakistan the situation was the
exact opposite of this.
Pakistani farmers, the sources said, were not in a position to buy
water from water markets to irrigate their crops as will be the case
if the World Bank guidelines were followed.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan situation : US embassy sends report to State Department
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ihtasham ul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 14: The American embassy has prepared a detailed
report and sent it to the State Department in Washington on the
current political and economic situation in Pakistan.
The report pointed out that the political situation in Pakistan would
remain highly uncertain till the appointment of a new army chief,
General Abdul Waheed, the present COAS, will be retiring in January.
It talked about the law and order situation in Pakistan due to which
foreign investors were hesitant to risk their investment.
The findings of the US officials particularly mentioned the growing
incidents of subversion and terrorism in Karachi.
However, the report said, that the PPP government was using all
possible means to control that situation. The report, nevertheless,
pointed out that without initiating dialogue with MQM, no lasting
peace could be achieved in Karachi and that all the political forces
should facilitate talks between the government and the MQM headed by
Altaf Hussain.
Sources said the report termed economic situation not very good but
appreciated various efforts being made by Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto to improve it with the help of the IMF and the World Bank.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mumtaz's move termed significant
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 14: In a rapidly changing political scenario and the
ongoing violence in Karachi, former chief minister of Sindh, Mumtaz
Bhutto, has suddenly emerged as an important factor who could
contribute in bridging the gap between rural and urban Sindhis,
political sources said.
Great importance is being attached to his unscheduled and surprise
meeting with the Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto earlier this week and
subsequently with the chief MQM negotiator Ajmal Dehlavi.
Mr Bhutto, met the chief MQM negotiator Ajmal Dehlavi at his office to
condole the death of Altaf Hussains brother and nephew and
exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.
Mr Dehlavi said that during conversation with Mr Bhutto he did mention
about the MQMs grievances and problems being faced by the community.
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951220
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Mumtaz meets Murtaza
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
LARKANA, Dec. 19: The chairman of the United Nationalist Alliance
(UNA) Mr Mumtaz Ali Bhutto drove to the Al-Murtaza residence along
with his son Amir Bakhs Bhutto to meet Mir Murtaza Bhutto, chairman of
the PPP(SB) party.
Both the leaders dined together in Al-Murtaza house and the sources
attaching importance to the meeting say that it could be seen in the
backdrop of the recent meeting of Mumtaz Ali Bhutto with the Prime
Minister in Islamabad and later with the chief MQM negotiator Ajmal
Dehlavi.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Embassy blast financier: wife speaks of harassment
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 14: The alleged financier of the Egyptian embassy bomb
blast in Islamabad, a Canadian national running a non-governmental
organisation inside Afghanistan, crossed into Pakistan on Dec. 2 and
not on Dec. 3 as claimed by Interior Minister Naseerullah Babar on the
floor of the National Assembly, his wife claimed.
Saeed Ahmad Khadr, of Egyptian origin, was also not arrested while
crossing the border but had gone to the police station to know why the
police had been harassing his family during his absence abroad, 38-
year-old Maha Elsamna told reporters outside the Canadian embassy.
Ms Elsamna said her detained husband, who is regional director of a
Canada-based NGO, Human Concern International, had returned from
Afghanistan on Dec. 2 and went to the police the following day to
complain about a raid on their home in Peshawar five days earlier.
Ms Elsamna said that the entire family was taken to the police station
where they were kept for two hours before being set free.
When her husband returned from Afghanistan on Dec. 2, she informed him
about the raid, adding that on Dec. 3 her husband went to the police
station to complain about the raid but never returned.
Does a criminal go to the police station by himself? she asked. The
next day I read about the arrest of some alleged financier of the
Egyptian embassy blast.
Ms Elsamna said the police twice raided her house on Dec. 4, a day
after her husbands detention, and ransacked it. They took away their
passports, 10,000 dollars in cash and the Afghan currency meant for
the NGOs staff salaries.
She said they had been living in Peshawar for the last 10 years but
had never involved themselves in politics because they were doing
relief work.
Ms Elsamna said she was neither being informed about the whereabouts
of her husband nor whether he was being tortured or why he was
arrested.
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951215
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Egyptian militants threaten Pakistan
-------------------------------------------------------------------
CAIRO, Dec. 15: An underground militant group threatened reprisals
against Pakistan if it extradites more fundamentalists to Egypt the
Talaeh al-Fatah (Vanguard of the Conquest) warned, in a statement
published in the London-based Arab newspaper Al-Hayat.
The group also warned Egypt against hunting militants abroad.
Pakistan have extradited to Egypt some 15 alleged militants since the
start of 1994, according to Egyptian police.
But the interior ministry on Thursday denied a report in Al-Hayat that
Pakistan had also extradited an Egyptian with Canadian nationality
suspected of involvement in the bombing of Egypts embassy in
Islamabad.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ANP chief says govt creating differences
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Dec. 15: Expressing concern over the prevailing situation in
the country, the provincial chief of Awami National Party (ANP), Begum
Nasim Wali Khan, has said the rulers are conspiring to create the
1970-like situation which caused division of Pakistan.
The ANP leader called upon the people to rise and overthrow the
Benazir government which, if it was allowed to continue longer, would
divide Pakistan and its people. She said her appeal was directed
towards all - Punjabis, Pathans, Sindhis and Balochs.
Terming Kalabagh dam as a dead horse, the ANP chief warned those who
were trying to give a new life to it were not well wishers of
Pakistan.
Another ANP leader, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, in his speech, said
majority of the population remained unrepresented in the assemblies
which called for fresh elections. He held the present rulers
responsible for the Karachi situation.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Press and the PM
-------------------------------------------------------------------
NO-ONE can deny that all is not well with the Press. Our newspapers
are far behind the developed countries qualitatively and
quantitatively. In my view, the English language has been the main
reason why we have not been able to develop a truly national Press
since independence.
English is, without doubt, a great language. Paradoxically, however,
while it was the language of liberation during the struggle for
independence, today, it has become an instrument of exploitation. The
fruits of independence have been reaped by the tiny English-speaking
minority which replaced the Sahibs immediately after they left.
English should have continued to inspire liberal, democratic ideas.
Editorial writers, columnists still continue to espouse the liberal,
democratic traditions, but who reads them or cares for them? It is the
Urdu Press which should have given the lead in this regard.
Martial law brought all serious discussion to an end. Fighting against
losing circulations, the Urdu papers began giving in to
sensationalism, to publishing trite statements from men of no
importance. The race for readership obliged Urdu newspapers to use
juicier and juicier headlines, to employ more and more colourful
language, especially in crime reports.
The prime minister has been extremely harsh in her criticism of the
Press in recent weeks. While some of her remarks are well deserved by
us of the Fourth Estate, one must say that she has been a bit too
sweeping in her condemnation of journalism and journalists.
But I will not commit the same sin by being equally sweeping in my
rebuttal of her charge that newspapers are packs of lies, and that no-
one should believe a word of what they write. Governments, especially
Pakistani governments, tend to become increasingly intolerant of
dissent when they begin to get into trouble. Now, Ms. Bhutto is in
plenty of trouble both at home and abroad. And she is reacting just
like her father did. I wont go into details. Everyone knows them.
Suffice it to say that Mr Bhutto ordered the arrest of more newsmen
and the closure of more magazines than any other government before or
since, civil or military.
Mercifully, she has not yet begun ordering the arrest of newsmen or
closing down of newspapers. But who knows? Anyway, my submission to
her is that by turning her back on ugly reality, it will not vanish,
she herself will.
Our newspapers may sensationalise things, but they still reflect the
situation on the ground. For instance, Mr Altaf Husains elder brother
and nephew were killed in Karachi. Were they not, and should the Press
have blacked the news out?
Are prices not rising? Or are they just jumping for joy?
Did Mr Kharal not call Mr Nawaz Sharif a RAW agent? Principled
politics leads to principled journalism and not vice-versa.
Have no stove burst deaths taken place anywhere in Pakistan? Has
Pakistans trade imbalance not soared past $1.7 billion in the five
months of the current fiscal year?
Are standards of education not falling every minute?
Was there no bomb explosion at the Egyptian embassy in Islamabad?
Is the law and order situation not worse than ever?
Is our population not exploding at a fearful rate?
Has not continued violence in Karachi dealt a stunning blow to the
economy and driven away prospective foreign investors?
This was just a random sample of the lies the Press has been
spreading lately. So Madame prime minister, if the state of the nation
is ugly, the Press cannot make it beautiful; only politicians can.
There cant be a developed Press in a developing country which has yet
to attain any degree of political maturity. In any civilised country,
the type of accusations Mr Kharal hurls at Mian Nawaz Sharif would
have earned him a thousand libel suits.
On its part, the Press deserves to evolve a voluntary code of conduct
of its own. It is time we stopped printing libellous matter. (It is
already against the law, but regretfully, nobody seeks legal
remedies). Once this code has been evolved, there should be an
institutional apparatus to penalise a publication / violating it.
As for the print media, we do not know what the newspapers and
magazines are writing in other regional countries. Apart from
political barriers, there are lingual barriers.
The latter could be removed by establishing a publishing house in the
public sector which should take out the same magazine in various
regional languages plus, of course, English. Its staff should also be
drawn from all regional countries, and it should be headquartered in
Bangladesh.
I am insisting on single headquarters because they will bring people
from all regions together in a joint effort for peace.
The official media, especially in India and Pakistan, has been hacking
at peace for all of fifty years and is now incapable of making peace
out of pieces.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Overhead bridge : Lack of funds hampers work
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Saghir Ahmed
KARACHI, Dec. 14: Development work on the KDAs overhead railway
bridge project at the main University Road has been hampered by
inordinate delays caused by the non-availability of funds for
shifting utility services from the site. Now, the actual work on the
bridge is likely to begin next month.
Inquiries show that the World Bank, funding the project at 70:30
ratio, had already released its share whereas the government share of
30 per cent has yet to be received by the KDA. Although the government
had recently ordered release of its share money but it has yet to come
to the kitty of the KDA.
Since the project is already late and behind the schedule by a couple
of months, it appears to be the cause of the main worry of the KDAs
apprehension that the World Bank mission, which may arrive here any
time to monitor the projects progress in the execution of the project
schedule, may consider to suspend loan for lagging behind schedule.
The contractors also have shown their unrest over the delays which
were contrary to the terms and conditions of the agreement.
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951218
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrests: Islamabad seeks details from Manila
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 17: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted
Pakistan embassy in Philippines, seeking necessary information about
five foreigners arrested by Philippine police in north of Manila with
Pakistani passports and plastic explosives.
The sources said the Pakistan government would be able to offer any
comment on the arrest issue only after knowing details.
A police spokesman in Manila had announced after the arrest of the
five foreigners that they had been under surveillance since their
arrival on a flight from Karachi last month. They were carrying
Pakistani passports but it was not immediately clear whether the
documents were genuine, the spokesman had stated.
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951218
-------------------------------------------------------------------
JWP demands dissolution of assemblies
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
QUETTA, Dec. 17: The Opposition Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) demanded
immediate dissolution of all the governments in centre and the
provinces and the assemblies to pave the way for a new system
reflective of the masses aspiration.
In a statement issued here the JWP considers as ineffective the
validity of the present governments and assemblies which have pushed
the country towards a dead tunnel.
The JWP said a new system should be devised after dissolving the
present government and assemblies in order to ensure that it (system)
became immune of flaws and deficiencies which has triggered the
collapse of the present system.
The JWP believes the masses are at the brink of revolt against the
present system and it would be better that it should be done away with
in time by dismissing all the governments and the assemblies.
The party has also formed a seven-member committee to co-ordinate
efforts with other like-minded to get rid of the present governments
and the present system.
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951219
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Karamat named COAS
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ihtashamul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 18: President Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari has appointed
Lt. Gen. Jehangir Karamat, Chief of the General Staff, as the new
Chief of Army Staff to succeed General Abdul Waheed who is scheduled
to retire on January 12, 1996.
The nomination of Lt. Gen Karamat to the top most brings to an end the
speculations, rife for the last two months, whether or not the
government would succeed in convincing General Waheed to accept an
extension of one year.
The out-going General is said to have declined the offer politely but
agreed with the proposal to extend the tenure of the post of COAS to
four years from the present three-year term.
Lt.Gen Jehangir Karamat is the senior most officer in the Pakistan
Army, and therefore, he would be superseding none when he would take
over as the COAS on January 12, 1996.
The COAS-designate called on President Leghari at Aiwan-i- Sadr and
thanked him for the promotion and said he would do his utmost to serve
the country and the nation to the best of his abilities.
He would be 11th chief of the Pakistan Army in the 48 years of the
countrys history.
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951219
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Minister on the mat
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, Dec. 18: When the Sindh Assembly got down to work with 33
members on the treasury benches, the journalists sitting in the Press
gallery were expecting a lifeless session. But to the surprise of
everyone, it turned out to be an exciting day despite the opposition
members staying away.
This day was for questions pertaining to communications, works and
transport departments. The transport minister went through the mill of
supplementaries without any fuss as treasury members did not appear
well versed about the department.
Parvez Ali Shah, who also is a senior minister, was embarrassed when
all those MPAs who have been facing hardships in getting accommodation
in the Sindh House, Islamabad, put him on the mat through a number of
supplementaries. In most cases he had no satisfactory replies.
Every time he was caught on the wrong foot the speaker came to his
rescue but the very next moment Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro took on him
through another question.
Almost the entire hour was consumed by the three questions of Dr
Soomro which were all about the affairs of the Sindh House.
In reply to Dr Soomros question, the minister informed the House that
the total rent income received from the Sindh House from October 1993
to September 10, 1995, was Rs 2,356,581.28 while expenditure during
the year 1993-94 was Rs 8,246,235 and during the year 1994-95 was Rs
9,528,443.0
As the law minister was not present, Syed Murad Ali Shah presented the
two ordinances before the House which were on the agenda. Soon after
laying of the ordinances, the law minister entered the House and
presented two bills, No 23 and 24, for consideration.
Both the bills were passed by the Assembly.
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951220
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ghazi Barotha project contracts signed
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
LAHORE, Dec. 19: WAPDA and Ghazi-Barotha Consortium signed contracts
of Rs 15.9 billion for the construction of two components of 1450 MW
hydropower project.
The contracts are for the construction of a barrage and a 52 KM long
channel. The contracts for the barrage and the channel have been
awarded to the Ghazi-Barotha Consortium which comprises of five
contractors led by Impregile of Italy. Impregile was the main
contractor of the consortium which had built the Tarbela Dam two
decades ago.
Besides Impregile the Ghazi-Barotha Consortium has four other
contractors namely, Zublin of Germany, Compenon Bernard of France,
Saadullah Khan and Nazir and Company of Pakistan.
The barrage is estimated to cost Rs 5830 million and the channel Rs
10,068 million. The World Bank has already made a commitment of
providing 300 million dollars (about Rs 10 billion) for the channel.
The Asian Development Bank will provide foreign exchange for the
barrage. A team of Pakistani officers is busy these days holding
negotiations with the ADB for the loan.
Funds will also be provided by Japan, Germany, the Islamic Development
Bank and European Investment Bank for the construction of the project
which is now estimated to cost $2.16 billion (about Rs 70 billion).
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951221
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ban on mobile phones in Lahore urged
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Faraz Hashmi
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 20 : Intelligence agencies have asked the government
to impose ban on mobile phones in Lahore following reports that these
are being used for trans-border communication , posing a serious
threat to the countrys security.
Mr Khan denied that the government was considering allowing mobile
phone, pay phone and pager companies to resume their operations in the
violence-hit city of Karachi.
Mr Khan conceded that the ban was sending wrong signals
internationally regarding the investment climate in the country.
However, the security agencies contend that the ban helped them a lot
in breaking the terrorist network in Karachi.
Mr.Feroze said he disagreed that the ban had helped in curbing
terrorism in Karachi. He also said there were reports that terrorists
were using E-mail, radio-based system of utility companies and other
organisations like Karachi Electric Supply Corporation and Steel
Mills, besides satellite phones, for communication.
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951221
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Murtaza opposes Kalabagh dam
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
LARKANA, Dec. 20: Mir Murtaza Bhutto is ready to sit around the table
for dialogues with Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto only over national
and political issues Mr.Inayat Hussain, told newsmen.
When asked what transpired from the meeting between Mir Murtaza Bhutto
and Mr Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, he said both the leaders agreed after
exchange of views to oppose the construction of Kalabagh Dam, because
it would ruin the fertile agriculture land in Sindh, Baluchistan and
NWFP. All the three assemblies had already passed unanimous resolution
against its establishment, he added.
He denied the impression that Mumtaz Ali Bhutto had conveyed any
message from the Prime Minister to Mir Murtaza aiming at
reconciliation.
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Meet Sabz and Zaitooni.
Theyve been around for 180 million and would like to stay.
Can they?
Its up to you
Pakistan harbours 2 of the 7 species of turtles found in the world
today.
For 180 million years, Sabz (Green Turtle) and Zaitooni (Olive Ridley
Turtle) have come to Karachis beaches to lay their eggs. Sadly today
Sabz and Zaitooni are in danger. Soon they may be extinct. Unless you
help.
Once the eggs are laid, Sabz and Zaitooni returns to the sea. The eggs
although camouflaged in a nest hole are threatened by predators; Every
year fewer and fewer eggs hatch. If this continues, none of Sabz and
Zaitoonis eggs will hatch and they will disappear forever.
Are you going to allow this to happen?
Sabz and Zaitooni are a vital balancing link in our ecological system.
They have brought colour and variety to our beaches. They are one of
the most ancient vertebrate life forms in the world and play an
important role in our understanding of nature.
Once Sabz and Zaitooni go they will never come back!
To save Sabz and Zaitooni, more enclosures to protect their eggs have
to be built and maintained. But we cannot manage alone.
We need your help to ensure that Sabz and Zaitooni stay.
So its up to you.
Please join us in saying ........
SABZ AND ZAITOONI, PLEASE STAY
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SABZ AND ZAITOONI CONSERVATION PROJECT
Facts on the Marine Turtles of Pakistan
Two species of marine turtles nest on Karachis beaches at Hawkesbay
and Sandspit; the Green Turtle (Sabz Kachwa) and Olive Ridley
(Zaitooni Ridley Kachwa).
The Green Turtle (Sabz Kachwa):
* Latin name: Chelonia Mydas
* Adult shell length: 90-110 cms
* Adult weight: 280-300 Ibs
* Food: Seaweed
* Nesting areas: Tropical & subtropical beaches around the world
* Interesting Fact: They are the only vegetarian species among marine
turtles. It takes 12 to 15 years before they reach adulthood and
return to nest. They have the highest commercial value for food among
all sea turtles.
The Olive Ridley Turtle (Zaitooni Ridley Kachwa):
* Latin Name: Lepidochelys Olivacea
* Adult shell length: 70-75 cms
* Adult weight: 100-150 Ibs
* Food: molluscs
* Nesting areas: Costa Rica, India, Mexico and Pakistan
* Interesting Fact: The rarest and smallest among marine turtles.
How do turtles make a nest and by their eggs?
Coming ashore at night the female turtle digs a 3 feet deep hole with
her powerful flippers. Once fixed in this depression she lays an
average of 100 eggs. After laying the eggs she covers the hole with
sand using both her front and rear flippers and then return to the
sea.
What happens after the eggs hatch?
The eggs usually hatch after 40 to 60 days due to the heat from the
sun and0 the chemical composition of the sand. Once they hatch they
are attached to the brightest spot over the sea. If there are
artificial lights the hatchlings are easily disoriented. They may then
run inland and suffer exhaustion, desiccation, death by predators or
accidents by vehicles on the road.
Why do Turtles Cry?
Turtles appear to shed tears when they come ashore to lay their eggs.
In fact they are excreting excess salt from their bodies to maintain
their physiological salt balance.
Why are Turtles disappearing from our Shores ?
All marine turtles species are in danger of extinction due to the
following reasons:
- Commercial trade for turtle skins shells medicines and cosmetics.
- Destruction of the eggs by predators and poachers
- Accidental capture of turtles in fishing nets.
- Extensive shore-line development human disturbances and pollution.
Why Protect our Turtles ?
Turtles are known as the last of the worlds living dinosaurs. They
first appeared on earth between 150 and 200 million years ago during
the Triassic period. Their ancestors were land dwelling reptiles. Now
if through negligence and greed we allow these magnificent animals to
become extinct we will lose one of the most ancient vertebrate life
forms in our world today.
How can You Save our Turtles?
You can help save our turtles by making a donation to the Sabz and
Zaitooni Turtle Conservation Project.
Payments can be sent in the following form to the address given below:
cheque or
credit card payment authorization (American Express or Visa)
Address:
The Sabz and Zaitooni Turtle Conservation Project
c/o Dawn Group of Newspapers
Haroon House
Dr.Ziauddin Ahmed Road
Karachi-74200, Pakistan
Sabz and Zaitooni need your help to stay on our lovely Karachi
beaches.
===================================================================
951216
-------------------------------------------------------------------
60pc of revenue to go in debt servicing, claims Sartaj
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 16: Former finance minister and PML secretary- general
Sartaj Aziz warned that Pakistan is sitting on the debt bomb whose
timer has already started ticking. He particularly referred to the
provision of Rs 157 billion made in the current fiscal years budget
for debt servicing which represents over 60 per cent of the
anticipated revenue collection.
Maintaining that the budget provision for debt servicing in 1995-96
includes only the cost of interest on domestic loans because the
principal amount is rolled over every year, the finance minister in
Nawaz Sharifs cabinet did not mince words in warning that from now
onward, we will have to borrow money to finance a substantial part of
even our defence expenditures, apart from all other development and
non-development outlays.
Mr Aziz said the domestic debt has been rising very sharply in the
recent years and amounted to a whopping Rs 800 billion on July 1, 1995
as against Rs 602 billion on July 1, 1993. In addition, he said there
was an outstanding foreign debt of 22 billion dollars on July 1, 1995.
He explained that in 1995-96 the debt servicing together with the
defence allocation of Rs 115 billion would amount to Rs 272 billion,
against a total expected revenues of Rs 265 billion.
Everything else, that is governments administrative expenditure Rs
40 billion and development expenditure of Rs 96.5 billion has to be
financed from further borrowing. He expressed the apprehension that
there being hardly any prospects of achieving the revenue target of
Rs 265 billion this year, the actual borrowing will even be higher
than that forecast in the budget.
Mr Aziz said prospects for the next year looked even more ominous, and
warned that even if the total revenues increase to Rs 270 billion,
the projected debt servicing liability of Rs 185 billion will consume
almost 70 per cent of projected revenues in 1996-97. The leftover
would cover only 65 per cent of the expected defence budget.
Mr Aziz said the issue of scrutinising the defence allocation in the
budget had already been raised in parliament and various proposals
were being considered for this purpose.
Referring to the point raised by a reporter that all taxes, direct or
indirect, be levied after a debate by the elected representatives of
the people, the former finance minister said his party had already
moved in parliament against the recent enforcement of a heavy tax
package through an ordinance. He offered a three-point agenda to the
government to extricate the country from the current impasse, namely
reduction in non-development expenditure, giving impetus to economic
activities and generating revenue.
For this, he said the government would have to make a commitment to
development and require many hard decisions that involved finding a
solution of Karachi situation, restoring confidence in the businessmen
to generate economic activities which in turn would create employment
opportunities, yield revenue to public exchequer and stabilise prices.
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951221
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Forex reserves plunge to $525m level
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Parvaiz Ishfaq Rana
KARACHI, Dec. 20: Foreign exchange reserves plunged to a two-year low
level of $525 million (Rs 18.527 billion), showing a record single
week fall of about $225 million (Rs 8 billion), figures released by
the State Bank for the week-ended December 19, showed.
The forex reserves at $525 million is very unfavourable when compared
with some of the neighbouring countries including India and Bangladesh
whose forex reserves are at $28 billion and $25 billion respectively.
Awaiting perhaps the inflow of the first instalment of the IMFs grant
of $200 million, due to be pumped into the system, officials are less
worried about the near-alarming situation, a banker said.
The current reserves are not enough to meet three weeks import bill
until backed by recovery of outstanding export bills, and a spurt in
remittances dose not materialise, financial experts said.
The State Bank figures for the weekend December 19, 1995, put the
official approved reserve figure at $525 million (Rs 18.527 billion)
as compared to $722 million (Rs 26.289 billion) a week ago.
But officials stick to their forex figure of $1.2 billion adding
apparently invisible credit lines including gold reserves of $600
million.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Privatisation FIBB, Saudi group shortlisted for UBL
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ihtashamul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 14: The Privatisation Commission shortlisted Faysal
Islamic Bank of Bahrain and Saudi Basharahil Group for the purchase of
26 per cent shares of the United Bank Limited.
The officials of the Commission have claimed that both the Middle
Eastern groups have been shortlisted after a thorough and
extensive exercise of evaluation of pre-qualification of documents.
Sources in the Commission told Dawn that the privatisation process of
26 per cent shares of the UBL will be completed within next two to
three weeks after a confidential agreement to be signed with a new
management. A data room has been set up in Karachi to scrutinise the
loan portfolio of the bank and examine the board of its directors.
Then they will be asked to give their sealed bids along with the
earnest money and a bid bond. These bids then will be opened in their
presence and the highest bidder will be transferred these shares along
with a management control, a source said.
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951217
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Launching of Rs 10,000 bonds
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, Dec. 16: The stage is set for the launching of the prize
bonds of Rs 10,000 denomination amidst split hopes and fears of the
market players succeeding a somewhat successful show of Rs 25,000
denomination bonds that generated an approximate saving of Rs 4.2
billion within 15 days of its launch.
These encashable bonds will carry 26 prizes in alla first prize of Rs
10 million, five second prizes of Rs 1.0 million each and 20 other
prizes of Rs 0.5 million each. The bonds being issued by the
government will be sold by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP),
commercial banks and national saving centres. The first draw will be
held on March 15.
A survey of Boulton Market, the hub of illegal trading of prize bonds,
revealed that the investors who trade prize bonds in the market
through parchi system are watching the market situation before
venturing into the illegal trade of the new bonds.
Shopkeepers-based in Boulton Market told Dawn that big investors
planned to offer the already launched prize bonds of Rs 25,000
denomination from 1st of February i.e. just fifteen days before the
due date of the first draw. They said a similar trend was likely to be
followed in the case of prize bonds of Rs 10,000 denomination whose
first draw is due on March 15.
Parchi system is a mechanism for unauthorised trade of prize bonds.
The agents of big investors having lots of prize bonds allot the
number of certain bonds to their clients either through parchi or a
chit or photostat copies of the bonds worth a few rupees.
If the bond wins a prize the prize amount is divided equally among the
parchi holders. Some parchis sold for much higher prices offer a bond
in full and in these cases a mutually agreed portion of the prize won
on the bond is given to the parchi holder.
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951218
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Poor response to Rs 10,000 bonds
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, Dec. 17: The much-publicised prize bonds of Rs 10,000
denomination received a rather unimpressive response on their
launching as only Rs 38.32 million worth of these bonds were sold
throughout the day making the show poorer than the launching of Rs
25,000 denomination bonds. These bonds had attracted an investment of
Rs 278.5 million on the first day.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) sold the Rs 10,000 bonds to
commercial banks for onward selling as well as to household
individuals and corporate entities and the Central Directorate of
National Savings the state-run bonds dealers could not arrange the
sale of these bonds for the reasons not made public.
The bonds of Rs 10,000 denomination are encashable at any time and
carry a first prize of Rs 10 million five second prizes of Rs 1.0
million each and 20 other prizes of Rs 0.5 million each. The first
draw of the bonds will be held on March 15 after a shut period of two
months and this will follow a quarterly draw with the same shut
period. The government has issued these bonds as well as the Rs 25,000
denomination bonds to reduce its direct bank borrowings and mop up
excess liquidity from the open market to cover deficit financing.
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951218
-------------------------------------------------------------------
First tranche of $200m by this month: Shahab
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 17: Minister of State for Finance Makhdoom,
Shahabuddin said that the government would lend help and support,
during rainy days to infuse confidence in the stock market, left to
the market forces after deregulation.
Short-term and long-term measures, he explained, were initiated to
overcome the slump in the market contributed by different factors. He
also said the foreign exchange reserves were drained out in the first
four months due to the payment regarding debt servicing.
He further said that first tranche worth $200 million from standby
arrangement of $600 million approved by IMF was expected by the end of
the current month.
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951221
-------------------------------------------------------------------
$350m WB loan for Barotha project
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shaheen Sehbai
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 : The World Bank announced a $350 million loan for
the $2.25 billion Ghazi Barotha hydropower project, with a senior
World Bank official describing it as a model.
The loan has been given to Pakistan on standard Bank terms, with 20
years maturity, including a five- year grace period at the standard
interest rate for LIBOR-based US dollar single currency loans, the
announcement said.
Japan will also contribute a loan of $350 million while the Asian
Development Bank will pay $ 300 million, Germany $ 150 million, the
European Investment Bank $ 60 million, the Islamic Development Bank $
40 million.
WAPDA will generate $153 million and a rupee component of Rs 847
million from its own resources.
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951219
-------------------------------------------------------------------
More mutual funds to ease liquidity crunch
-------------------------------------------------------------------
M.Ziauddin
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 18: Chairman Corporate Law Authority (CLA), Shamim
Ahmad Khan has said that the establishment of more and more mutual
funds would facilitate an accelerated flow of resources to stock
markets and ensure as well that the investments of small savers are
not put to unnecessary risks.
Mr Khan said while he cannot predict as to how the market will shape
up in the immediate future, he was, however, hopeful that with the
establishment of more and more mutual funds, the so-called liquidity
crunch would ease up.
Mr Khan gave the impression that he for one would like the market to
develop with no interference from the government and minimum possible
regulations; but he said he was also conscious of the fact that the
regulatory body (CLA) had an important role to play in minimising
irregularities and to provide the needed infrastructure within which
the markets should operate.
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951220
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Goods exempted from 2% penal surcharge
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 19: The government has exempted the levy of 2 per cent
penal surcharge on all those goods in the bonded warehouse which were
over due for clearance but will now be cleared by December 31.
About Rs 4 billion revenue is leviable on the goods now stocked in
the bonded warehouses, the Chairman of the Group Mr Raees Ashraf Tar
Mohammad said. These goods include items on which leviable revenue
amounts to Rs 1 billion and are over due for clearance.
He said that the goods were stuck in the bonded warehouses for a
number of reasons and additional levy of 2 per cent penal surcharge
would have proved proverbial last straw on the camel back.
However, the Kiryana Merchants Group approached the government and
made a convincing case before the authorities to obtain concessions of
getting exemption from the two per cent penal surcharge.
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951221
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit rating relaxation for leasing companies upset modarabas
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, Dec. 20: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has exempted all
leasing companies having less than three years of operation from the
mandatory credit rating imposed on all Non-Bank Financial Institutions
(NBFIs) in April last a move that has stirred jealousy among
modarabas that still wait for similar relaxations.
Rauf Kadri said the decision would hit the leasing modarabas hard as
the SBP decision will provide the leasing companies an edge over them.
No SBP official was available to explain as to why they chose the
leasing sector to accord relaxations in mandatory credit rating and
left the other segments of the NBFIs particularly modarabas apparently
neglected.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit-selling dominates trading on stock market
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 14: Weekend profit-selling dominated the trading on the
stock market as investors were more inclined to leave the market
rather than buying at the dips.
The Karachi Stock Exchange 100-share managed to retain in part some of
the previous gains but fell on the day by 15.46 points at 1,407.68 as
compared to Wednesdays 1,423.14, reflecting the weakness of the base
shares.
BOC Pakistan, which showed an all-time single session highest gain of
Rs 315.75 overnight after the announcement of cash and stock dividend
of well over 300 per cent, came in for selling at the inflated level
and was marked down by Rs 200, with 700 shares changing hands.
Minus signs dominated the scene under the lead of PSO, which shed
another Rs 13 on renewed selling. It was followed by Lever Brother,
which suffered decline ranging from Rs 10 to 35.
Among the other MNCs, which fell sharply Pakistan Gum, Wellcome
Pakistan and Glaxo Lab were leading, which fell by Rs 5 to 6.50.
Among the local blue chips, which remained under pressure, D.K. Khan
Cement, Javed Omer, Quality Steel, Apex Fabrics, Century Insurance,
4th ICP, Shafiq Textiles and Crescent Star Insurance were leading,
which fell by Rs 2 to 5.
Some of the leading shares managed to show good gains under the lead
of National Fibre, Nestle Milkpak, Grays of Cambridge and Diamond
Pakistan, which rose by Rs 2 to 4.50.
Other good gainers were led by Essa Cement, Sui Southern and Sui
Northern and some others.
The most active list was topped by Hub-Power, steady 10 paisa on 9.280
million shares, slightly below a half of the total, followed by PTC
vouchers, lower 20 paisa on 2.904 million shares, Dewan Salman, off Rs
1.10 on 688,500 shares, Faysal Bank, steady 15 paisa on 535,500
shares, ICI Pakistan, easy 50 paisa on 483,500 shares, Dhan Fibre,
lower 10 paisa on 147,500 shares, Platinum Bank, lower 10 paisa on
123,000 shares and Honda Atlas Cars, off Rs 1.25 on 118,500 shares.
Trading volume showed a modest rise at 21.816 million shares from the
previous 21.404 million shares thanks to heavy buying in current
favourites.
There were 348 actives, out of which 190 shares fell, while 90 rose,
with 68 holding on to the last levels.
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951218
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks stage smart rally as blue chips recover
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 17: Stocks staged a smart rally as blue chips recovered
on a wide front aided by strong support extended by leading
institutional traders.
The Karachi Stock Exchange index of share prices showed a sustained
rally of about 34 points at 1,441.10 as compared to 1,407.36 at the
weekend.
Other MNCs, which followed it were led by Brooke Bond, ICI Pakistan,
Telecard, and some others, rising by Rs 2.70 to 5.
Shell Pakistan responded favourably to news of a good payout and rose
by Rs 7 and PSO followed it, which rose Rs 28.85 after being ex-
dividend and ex-bonus at Rs 246.15. Well over 3,000 shares were traded
at the lower level.
Most of the other energy shares also rose, notable gainers among them
being Kohinoor Genertek and Kohinoor Power, and Sui Southern.
Other good gainers were led by Lease Pak, Ghemini Leasing, Bankers
Equity, Faysal Bank, EFU, Adamjee Insurance, Crescent Textiles, Shezan
International and Dewan Salman.
Big losers were led by Crescent Star Insurance, Shafiq Textiles,
Artistic Denim, Quice Foods, Diamond Industries, and Orient Straw
Board, which suffered fall ranging from Rs 1.50 to 5 but selling was
light.
Hub-Power again topped the list of most actives, higher 95 paisa on
5.362 million shares followed by PTC vouchers, firm 85 paisa
on 2.508 million shares, Dewan Salman, higher Rs.2.50 on 860,500
shares, ICI Pakistan, up Rs.2.70 on 412,500 shares, Maple Leaf Cement,
steady 60 paisa on 220,000 shares and PICIC, unchanged on 162,000
shares.
Trading volume shrank to 14.844 million shares from the weekends
21.816 million shares owing to the absence of leading sellers.
There were 300 actives, out of which 120 shares rose, 115 fell, with
65 holding on to the last levels.
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951219
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fairly aggressive buying on some counters
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 18: Stocks extended the overnight rally as follow-up
support figured prominently on the blue chips counters amid an
actively traded session.
The Karachi Stock Exchange index of share prices scored a fresh gain
of 5.85 points at 1,449.02 as compared to 1,443.17 a day earlier,
reflecting the strength of base shares.
Most of the MNCs led the market advance under the lead of BOC
Pakistan, which posted a fresh sharp gain of Rs 40 to quote at Rs 490
against the face value of Rs 10. The sustained rise was attributed to
over 300 per cent dividend declared by it last week.
Others to follow included Shell Pakistan after the announcement of 50
per cent right shares at a premium of Rs 80 each on a 10-rupee share,
Pak-Suzuki Motors, Fauji Fertiliser, Pakistan Gum, Brooke Bond and
Lever Brothers.
Among the local blue chips and low-priced issues, which rose sharply
Askari Leasing, Crescent Star Insurance, National Fibre, Haroon Oils,
Karam Ceramics, United Distributors, Noon Sugar, and Sui Northern.
Bulk of the activity was, however, confined to bank, synthetic,
energy, cement, and chemical. Sugar shares were also traded higher.
The most active list was led by Hub-Power, up 40 paisa on 9.086
million shares followed by PTC vouchers, easy 10 paisa on 3.510
million shares, ICI Pakistan, lower 30 paisa on 568,000 shares, Faysal
Bank, up 50 paisa on 554,500 shares, Dewan Salman, higher 50 paisa on
525,000 shares, Nishat Mills, lower 50 paisa on 174,500 shares, and
Pioneer Cement, off 75 paisa on 134,700 shares. There were some other
notable deals also.
Trading volume rose to about 18 million shares, from the overnights
16.417 million thanks to active activity in the current favourites.
There were 305 actives, out of which 120 shares rose, 125 fell, with
60 holding on to the last levels.
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951220
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Larger decline averted on stock market
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 19: Stocks remained in a bearish frame of mind as
follow-up support was not that aggressive as it was during the last
two sessions.
The KSE 100-share index fell 8.21 points or 0.58 per cent at 1,441.02
as compared to 1,449.23 a day earlier, reflecting the relative
weakness of the base shares. The all share index also fell 0.52 per
cent or 4.17 points at 800.56 as against overnights 804.73.
The list of losing shares was led by MNCs, notably Abbott Lab,
Pakistan Gum, which rose Rs 8 overnight, Bata Pakistan, Shell
Pakistan, Lever Brothers, Ghandhara and ICI Pakistan, which suffered
decline ranging from one rupee to Rs 3.40, biggest fall being in the
ICI Pakistan, which has been in active demand over the last few
sessions.
Local blue chips, which came in for active selling were led by Adamjee
Insurance, New Jubilee Insurance, Sui Northern, Sui Southern, and some
others falling by one rupee to Rs 2.
Although minus signs dominated the list, some of the leading shares
managed to finish with good gains, notably gainers among them being
Bankers Equity, Bawany Sugar, Cherat Cement, Haroon Oils, Engro
Chemicals, Nestle Milkpak and United Distributors, which rose by one
rupee to Rs 2.
Hub-Power again led the list of most actives, lower 45 paisa on 9.935
million shares, followed by PTC vouchers, unchanged on 4.975 million
shares, ICI Pakistan, sharply down by Rs 3.40 on 940,600 shares, Dewan
Salman, lower 75 paisa on 828,600 shares, Faysal Bank, up 40 paisa on
508,000 shares, Yusuf Weaving, higher 50 paisa on 206,000 shares,
Balochistan Wheels, easy 10 paisa on 128,500 shares, and PIAC, off 15
paisa on 100,000 shares. There were some other notable deals also.
Trading volume soared to 25.730 million shares from the previous
21.081 million shares owing to massive activity in the current
favourites.
There were 325 actives, out of which 155 shares suffered generally
fractional decline and 93 rose, with 77 shares holding on to the last
levels.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Independence of the judiciary
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeshir Cowasjee
HABIBUL WAHABUL KHAIRI, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Al-
Jehad Trust (established to fight for the rights of man and against
the oppressors of the masses), is considered by his detractors to be
a busybody.
But the fact is that he has the courage of his convictions, and stands
up in our courts of law to fight for his beliefs, which brackets him
above the majority of moribund 130 million of Pakistan.
In 1994 advocate Khairi filed a petition in the Lahore High Court
challenging the manner of the appointment of judges. The petition was
dismissed. Leave to appeal was granted by the Supreme Court. The
Additional Judges of the LHC who were not confirmed were transposed as
co-petitioners. Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah constituted a full bench
which he headed, comprising Justices Ajmal Mian, Fazal Elahi, Manzoor
Hussain Sial and Mir Hazar Khan Khooso. Notices were sent to Attorney-
General Qazi Jameel, the Advocates-General of Sindh, Punjab, NWFP and
Balochistan, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Advocate
Akramn Shaikh, the presidents of the High Court Bar Associations of
the four provinces, and to amicus curiae Sharifuddin Pirzada, S.M.
Zafar and Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim.
November 5, 1995: Islamabad First regular hearing. The AG pleaded that
the appeal filed by Mujeeb Pirzada against the judgment of the SHC
upholding the validity of the 8th Amendment may be heard along with
these petitions. The Court observed that this appeal cannot be tied up
with the present petitions which relate merely to the interpretation
of the various articles of the Constitution concerning the superior
judiciary. Had the Court ruled otherwise, Justice Ajmal Mian would
have been excluded from the Bench, as he was the author of the
judgment in the Mujeeb Pirzada case in SHC.
The advocate-General of Sindh, supported by the other provincial AGs,
sought an adjournment to enable them to file their replies. The court
observed that this was an important matter and that no adjournment
would be granted. The replies could be filed as the proceedings
continued.
The Court decided that the three amicii would argue last, the
juniormost to begin. Petitioned Wahabul Khairi argued his own
petition.
November 6: Islamabad. It was reported that AG Jameel was ill and had
been hospitalised that morning. The federation requested that the case
be adjourned to a date in office, i.e. after several weeks because of
the AGs reported illness. The Court agreed to an adjournment but
fixed the next date of hearing for November 19. Reportedly, the AG
left hospital that same evening. November 19: Islamabad. The
Federation resubmitted its application for an adjournment on the
ground that AG Jameel had been ordered to rest at home for 30 days.
Petitioned Khairi objected, stating that AG Jameel was openly working
in his office and had even been shown on PTV attending a function.
Proceedings continued with Advocate Raja Akram being allowed to plead
the cause of the unconfined judges.
November 19-20: Hyderabad. During the night, the home of Chief Justice
Sajjad Ali Shahs daughter (married to Superintending) Engineer Parvez
Ali Shah) was surrounded by four police mobile vans carrying some 25
policemen. Three DSPs and two officers knocked on the door. A servant
informed the officers that the family was away. One officer declared
himself to be Inspector Muzammil Hussain of the anti-corruption
department. No warrants or court orders were shown. The five officers
, plus a squad of policemen, entered the house which they searched and
ransacked. They found no incriminating evidence. This incident was
reported in the Press and remains uncontradicted. Later in the
morning, the office of Engineer Pervez Ali Shah was searched and
sealed and a motor car log book was taken away.
November 20: Peshawar. An active member of the Peoples Lawyers Forum
(the lawyers wing of the PPP), Advocate Mohammad Arif Khan, whose
name has just been entered on he Supreme Court rolls, filed a
constitutional writ petition, under Article 199, in the High Court.
His counsel is the unaffordable-by-him Barrister Jehanzeb Rahim. It is
said in Peshawar that the petition is inspired. This writ challenges
only the appointment of Justice Sajjad Ali Shah as Chief Justice of
Pakistan, who is cited as the sole respondent. The writ prays that
..... the respondent be directed to show under what authority of law
he claims to hold the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and in
the event of the respondent failing to do so, this Honble court may
be pleased to declare the holding of the said office by the respondent
as unconstitutional, illegal and without lawful authority.
November 20-22: Islamabad. As time as available, junior most amicus,
Fakhruddin, gave the Supreme Court the benefit of his wisdom. The
first day, he set forth with all guns blazing, attacking, all the
previous governments, even criticising Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the
performance of the judiciary. On the second day, he was in a
conciliatory mood, his criticisms vastly tempered, and by the third
day he had done a complete U-turn. As remarked a listener in court, he
went up like a rocket and fell like a twig. The Court adjourned to
meet again on the 26th.
November 25: Islamabad. Chief Justice Sajjad Alik Shah suffered a
cardiac incident, serious enough to warrant the doctors admitting him
to the ICU at PIMS. (He was discharged on the 28th, after which he
went home to Karachi to rest.) November 26: Islamabad. The SC
proceedings were adjourned.
November 26: Peshawar. In the High Court, recently appointed Justice
Qazi Hamiduddin and Zinat Khan hearing Arif's writ petition ordered:
"... this court would prefer to dispense with the normal procedure of
pre-admission notice to the respondent and calling for his documents
and also pre-admission hearing and admit for full hearing the points
raised in this writ petition.... This court would direct that this
writ petition shall be placed before the Chief Justice of this Court
for the constitution of a larger bench... Adjourned to a date in
office."
November 26: Karachi. Secretary to the Government of Sindh Mohammad
Sharif signed and issued Notification No. S.O. (E-V)10-3/89: "With the
approval of Competent Authority Mr Parvez Ali Shah, Superintending
Engineer (B19), Education, Works Circle Hyderabad, is hereby placed
under suspension with immediate effect and until further-orders." (The
Competent Authority is the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Abdullah
Shah, with an unblemished record, was suspended, unheard.
November 27: Peshawar. Advocate Khairi filed an application in the
High Court. He pleaded, inter alia, that 'well over a year and a half
after the appointment of the Chief Justice of Pakistan the Peshawar
High Court had admitted a petition challenging this appointment; that
the filing of the petition is tantamount to sabotaging the
Constitution and the judicial system; that the filing of such a
petition indicates that the intentions of the petitioner must be held
as highly questionable; that the Prime Minister and the President are
responsible for ensuring that the High Courts of the country are
responsible for ensuring that the High Courts of the country are
headed by acting chief justices, a mala fide act of the worst order;
that the Prime Minister and the President are trying to impede the
hearing of his petition filed in the Supreme Court; that the petition
filed in Peshawar is not maintainable and should be dismissed
forthwith, failing which Khairi himself should be heard:'
December 2: Islamabad. The proposed cause list of the SC was published
for work during the week commencing December 10 on which date Khairi's
petition was fixed as item No. 1.
December 3: Islamabad. The AG sought an adjournment for the fourth
time. AG Qazi Jameel submitted that he had been invited to attend a
money-laundering symposium in Tokyo necessitating his departure from
Pakistan on December 10. He stated he was likely to be away for 'not
less than seven days', by which time the Court vacation would have
commenced. Since, maintained the AG, his presence during the hearing
of the Khairi case was essential, he asked for a further adjournment.
This was granted and the case is now fixed for January 21.
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951216
-------------------------------------------------------------------
All over the place : Make use of TV!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Omar Kureishi
THE Prime Minister had some harsh words for the print media. Some felt
that she had gone over the top. Others that the print media had it
coming. Blunt she may have been, she was also candid. The electronic
media, however, got off scot-free.
There is a reason for this. The electronic media in this country is
not strictly speaking an opinion-maker. Whenever there is a discussion
or debate on the freedom of the press, it is automatically assumed
that radio and television are exempted from scrutiny.
Radio and television have been state-controlled from the beginning and
though there have been some token movements to attempt a modicum of
objectivity, these attempts have been of a non-serious kind. No one
has been surprised that the attempts have failed or really cared. The
electronic media is a part of the dowry that an incoming government
receives. Governments are not whitewashed and oppositions blacked out
so that an illusion of even-handedness is created. No one can accuse
the BBC or CNN of being audio-visual press handouts. Yet the
electronic media could have played a vital role in nation-building.
Television is often accused of being a major contributory factor in
spreading crime and violence, that it has a negative impact on the
minds of viewers who see too much blood on the screens.
My contention is that if television can have a negative impact, it can
have a positive one as well. It can be used to educate viewers. It can
be used to defuse political tension as well for it can bring out the
grievances, real or imagined, into the open and these grievances can
be aired and argued, for and against. It would have a cathartic
effect.
There is in Karachi, for instance, no seeming meeting ground between
the antagonists, there is, instead a communication break-down. To hear
the leaders talk, and the violence of language exceeds the violence on
the streets, there are irreconcilable differences. The general public
which includes people of every persuasion see themselves as victims
caught in a cross-fire, in the catch-22 of no matter who wins, they
lose because the general public is too preoccupied in making ends meet
and they have real problems.
No political agenda includes their welfare other than as a slogan. Why
cant there be a dialogue between this general public and the
politicians on television? A cross-section of the public could be
interviewed and asked to give their views about the violence in
Karachi, what they felt about it and how it could be curbed if not
stopped. The views expressed should be genuine rather than stage-
managed and should be put on the air unedited.
Democracy is about participation and the politicians, on both sides,
may be quite surprised to learn of the publics assessment. The
problem with our kind of democracy is that the politicians have never
really consulted their constituents, never sat down with them and
asked them for their list of priorities.
What marvellous television it would make if such meetings were put on
the air, live, spontaneous. It would also allow the public see the
mettle of their representatives, whether they can provide coherent and
credible answers to the many questions that would be put to them. The
government has much to answer for, so too has the opposition. Such
open discussions would have a salutary effect on our representatives.
It might even be able to tell them how out of touch they are with the
real needs of the people. I cannot see it happening but that does not
mean that it should not happen.
We have concentrated too much on a dialogue between political parties.
These have proved to be meaningless. They have ended up as point
scoring contests. I am all for talk, for dialogue but the end-
objective must be the peoples well-being. There is so much loose talk
about the system as if the system is a mechanism that has a will of
its own and is not dependant on the quality of people who make it
work. But most of all a system must be allowed to work. One cannot
derail it and then complain that the system does not work. There is
also a great deal of talk about accountability but we tend to consider
accountability in the narrowest of contexts, mainly financial
impropriety. There is also such a thing as accountability of
performance. That is why I have been an advocate of televising the
proceedings of the National Assembly and the Senate, live and
unedited. That will achieve a measure of accountability of the elected
representatives and it is very important that they be made answerable.
Television will reveal their merit.
The idea should be to strengthen democracy and this can be done if the
people are able to participate. They are, after all, not by standards
or should not be in a democracy.
The print media is a little like the radio commentary. On television
one picture is worth a thousand words and no matter how you manipulate
it, the television picture is revealing and tell more than many people
imagine. Bring television into play constructively and boldly. It will
fortify democracy, not weaken it.
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951215
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Bank privatisation out of tune with new trend
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jafar Wafa
SHOULD the government privatise even the two fairly patronised Banks
Habib and United and not merge them to create a Pakistani behemoth
for international trade and commerce?
This would mean falling in line with forward-looking countries. And it
can be done concurrently with purging both these institutions of those
managerial elements which are responsible for their present unhappy
financial condition. Let us give this subject a serious thought on the
eve of their sell-off to the approved bidder, not necessarily the
highest, as has been the tradition in our Islamic Republic.
When we look around, we see that Japan, which is the second largest
economy in the world, is creating a super bank with $810 billion of
assets by merging the foreign-focused Bank of Tokyo with Mitsubishi
Bank which has the largest domestic network in the country. They say
that it would be a leviathan as compared to USs Citibank. Even in
capitalist Europe, state-run large banks are not being privatised.
Despite being in financing straits, the French state-owned bank,
Credit Lyonnais, is not being sold off, although it is presently in
hot waters because of its careless (not unscrupulous or corrupt)
lending policy and a few thoughtless investments like acquisition of
Hollywoods largest movie makers, the MGM. On the contrary, the French
government is providing it the needed financial prop, at a time when
the government itself is not sitting on any kind of financial boom.
The object is that the Bank, somehow, keeps its nose above water and
tides over the setback. Even the USA, as has been recently reported by
our Press, is going to establish an international Bank for trading
specifically with the Middle East and the oil-rich Gulf, where the
Arabs are already beholden to anything bearing the American stamp.
Coming closer home, we find that India is also encouraging off-shore
investment by Indian corporate sector through the banking channel,
easing some of the restrictions on Indian investments in foreign
lands. The Reserve bank of India notified on November 27 that the
total investment should be repatriated through normal banking channel
by way of dividends or royalty within five years.
Enslaved to US
Our economic wizards are content with complying with what the US
dominated financial institutions dictate, instead of looking for a
change to draw inspiration, towards Japan or the grown-up tigers or
to China which are now concentrating on building up big banks and
giving them all they need to enjoy the reputation of financial
soundness, efficient management and honest dealings.
Though commonplace, banks are not only money-centres merely to accept
deposits and advance loans for various purposes they are meant to
promote capital-markets activity for industrial development, according
to governments priorities, and international commerce, again in
keeping with governmental guidelines. Our economy and national culture
have yet to take such a shape as to allow a free hand to all those who
have hot money in their private coffers or who can raise the required
capital by bribing bank managers. This aspect will further reinforce
the argument against palming off the nationalised banks to those who
can afford to buy them.
There is no gainsaying that our public sector banks, including HBL &
UBL, suffer from the national malaise of sloth, greed and ineptitude.
Foreign banks, however, manned mostly by Pakistanis operating on our
own soil, are models of financial perfection and enviable customer
relationship. The remedy, therefore, lies not in privatising the banks
but in insulating them from the currents and cross-currents of
politics and protecting them from those individuals or groups who have
the required political clout to borrow without the necessary
collateral and evade repayment if and when the bank management cares
to remind them.
The much - needed organisational overhauling, inducting banking
specialists (from abroad, if necessary) and weeding out political
nominees whose personal interests and those of their patrons
overshadow the interest of the bank, are the obvious remedial steps.
Why not follow the golden rule of Americas big business: Link pay
with performance? Why follow only the American example of making over
the entire country to private entrepreneurs?
Public sector ownership is not to be blamed. Critics have, in fact,
seriously suggested, from time to time, that the Federal Secretariat
itself is the most deserving candidate for privatisation, if only the
recipe known for improvement is privatisation. Iran has not gone in
for privatisation and yet its public sector industries are producing
indigenously-built (not assembled) automobiles, tanks and other
weapons of war. And why not look at our own Kahuta? Why not run other
public sector enterprises along than lines, at a safe distance from
political meddling.
Perhaps privatisation is perceived by the Third World leaders,
including Carlos Salinas, the now-exiled President of Mexico, to be
the best means of self-enrichment. It has now been exposed by a
prestigious American business journal in March this year, that Salinas
latched on to the idea of economic modernisation merely to allegedly
enrich himself and his cronies through the lucrative sell-off of more
than 1,000 state run-companies during his six-year rule ending 1994
when he had to be flown outside his country to save his skin.
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951215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Interests of Pakistan & IMF clash
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hasan Askree
RELATIONS between Pakistan and the IMF have changed in the last few
months from being extremely co-operative to distinctly strained. In
January 1995, Pakistan and the IMF signed a contract under which the
IMF will provide technical assistance to the State Bank and the
Corporate Law Authority by closely monitoring the departments, during
the years 1996-98.
The IMF was willing to cooperate on a number of different fronts, by
developing a close working relation. But, then came the federal budget
for the year 1995-96 which marked the turning point of Pakistan-IMF
relations. Actually, the turning point was prior to the budget. The
budget merely served as a trigger for the IMF to express their
disapproval, as is explained later.
In Pakistan, a slowing down of reforms was called for. The earlier
reforms have come in swiftly and haphazardly. Stock markets in
Pakistan are among the most open in the developing world. Foreign
investment and ownership has the least restrictions.
Large scale privatisation has occurred at a time when buyers are hard
to find. Import duties have been slashed dramatically. Private and
foreign banks have come in and the process of credit and financing is
undergoing a revolution. Now, the entrepreneurs must be given time to
assimilate the impact of the reforms.
Effects of reforms
Many entrepreneurs still do not have a clue as to how the reforms are
affecting the feasibility of their businesses. If fast pace of reforms
is continued, otherwise viable businesses will be forced to close down
when they could be capitalising on the reforms.
Besides, there are other reasons for slowing down the pace of reforms.
Some of them are: increased, persistent and inexplicable inflation;
closure of businesses and industry; ineffective tax collection
machinery leading to reforms like introduction of VAT; primitive
banking system which fails to identify businesses with better
prospects; disincentive in saving which limits the capital for
investment; a decade of no harsh reforms prior to introducing free-
market reforms; reduced confidence of the business community in
governing regulations; lack of will to take initiatives because of
lawlessness and insecurity; lack of professionalism in the businesses.
In this scenario, the IMF cannot claim that bringing the budget
deficit from 5.6 to 4.0 and the tariff rates from 70 per cent to 45
per cent in one year is in the best interest of the Pakistan economy.
The bottom line is that given the economys outlook, there are genuine
and undeniable reasons for reducing the pace of free-market reforms.
Pakistan and the IMF are expected to share the same goal; the best
interest of the Pakistan economy. Yes, both the Pakistan government
and the IMF have an interest in a healthy Pakistan economy, but for
different reasons. The IMF has an interest in he Pakistan economy, as
long as it shows prospects of a sustainable growth. This is for two
reasons. First, a lender has to ensure that the borrower does not
default. Second, since the IMF attaches explicit conditions for
granting loans, bad performance of the economy reflects poorly on the
IMFs conditionalities.
Experts constantly debate the objectives of the IMF. In the midst of
all the criticism, the IMFs survival is threatened if it supports
economies that are heading for a plunge.
In Pakistans case, the IMF is extra cautious. Pakistan has taken many
drastic and unpopular steps on the IMFs suggestion. The present
government has increased tax and utility rates, kept interest rates
high, relaxed price controls, reduced import duties, cut down
development expenditure, attempted to check tax evasion, etc. The IMF
has always claimed that such difficult steps are necessary to cure an
ailing economy. Pakistan has complied with most of the IMFs
requirements like few countries have ever done before. Now, if the IMF
continues to support Pakistan, at stake will be the credibility of the
IMFs prescription. The faltering of Pakistans economy will reflect
on the wisdom in the IMFs reforms their inadequacy to address the
peculiarities of each economy.
Pakistan is likely to face immense problems in liberalising and
revitalising its economy. There are always hurdles to prosperity, but
in Pakistans case the hurdles are not trivial; such as conflict with
India, influence of Arab extremism, crude political system,
illiteracy, ethnicity, sectarianism, population explosion, culture of
lawlessness, ineptitude of intelligentsia and leaders, distorted
economy, financial crunch, Pakistans insistence on denying reality
and limitations. Chances are slim that Pakistan will be listed among
the Asian tigers. The IMF has realised this unfortunate reality. Now,
it does not want to be seen as prescribing reforms to an economy that
may not rebounce.
The reasons for the changed attitude of the IMF go beyond the reduced
pace of free-market reforms adopted by the government. It has to do
with the outlook of the economy despite all the dictation taken by the
government from the IMF. The IMFs cold shoulder has not come as a
surprise, when the international rating of the economy is sliding;
sanctions on export of cotton have been imposed as dumping charges;
business capital of the country is stricken with indiscriminate
killings and strikes; and the economy shows signs of faltering. The
IMF wants to disassociate itself from the difficulties faced by
Pakistan in the way of reviving the economy, and for valid reasons.
The IMF has, therefore, refused to grant a one-year moratorium for the
implementation of conditionalities attached to the extended structural
adjustment facility (ESAF) programme. As long as the Pakistans
economy shows signs of decline, the IMF can be expected to be harsh,
and when the economy is improving, it will be eager to help. This is
not to say that the IMF is serving an ignoble cause. Not at all. The
IMF has limited resources for granting loans.
It has to pick the economies that show the best prospects of recovery
with its help of soft loans. The IMF has to ensure that its resources
are put to best use by deriving the maximum benefit. The IMF is funded
for reviving those economies which can a) rebounce with relatively
little help, and b) all the necessary steps are being taken in the
economy to ensure success.
This new scenario of not having the IMFs support has multi-
dimensional consequences for which Pakistan must prepare itself. So
far, the governments economic policy has been dictated by the IMF.
Now, it will have to accept the fact that the IMFs prescriptions may
fall short of reviving the economy. The optimum economic policy can
only evolve by taking into account the many peculiarities of
Pakistans economy something that the IMFs prescription fails to
address. A comprehensive economic strategy must come from within
Pakistan.
After losing the support of the IMF, an expansion of the governments
economic policy-making team is called for. Some entrepreneurs,
managers, and consultants who have gone through the rut of working in
the private sector must be made part of the decision-making team. The
government must not hesitate in hiring from the private sector.
These people understand the needs of politics in the decision-making
process just as well as the bureaucrats do. Besides, they will bring
experience and insight which bureaucrats, children of rich
businessmen, and foreign qualified and experienced economists lack.
Lastly, the government must remember that unavailability of suitable
candidates is never an excuse for inadequate staffing. Whenever a
manager does not have a suitable worker in mind, he advertises.
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951215
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Foreign exchange reserves: a critique
-------------------------------------------------------------------
S. Hasan Azad
THE FOREIGN exchange reserve level has been in the limelight these
days. The position of such reserves in Pakistan has political
overtones, because it determines the economic viability of the
government to meet import liabilities and therefore the capability to
deal with foreign governments and international financial
institutions.
The higher the reserves, the greater is the economic viability. An
attempt is made here to peep into intricacies of such reserves.
Foreign exchange reserves are composed of gold, liquid foreign
exchange, and investment in foreign securities. But foreign exchange
reserves normally refer to liquid reserves only. The reserves are held
by the State Bank like deposit in which export earnings are credited
and import liabilities debited. When the level of export earnings is
higher than that of import liabilities during a given period of time,
the reserves would rise and vice versa.
There is always a time lag between shipment of goods to foreign
countries and actual foreign exchange receipts. There are two ways -
one is sight against letter of credit and the other is usual. Under
sight, time is short say 15 days whereas under usuals the exporter
allows maximum time of 120 days. Our exporters normally send
consignments against contract and as such payments are received
several days after the shipment. Sometimes, lower or no payments are
received if the consigned goods are of not upto the standard, under
such circumstances, receipts normally fall short of shipment of goods.
In the case of imports also, there are usual and sight procedures like
export. Payments are usually made before arrival of goods at the port.
Normally it is 15 days from the date the goods are shipped. In other
words, Pakistan is in a disadvantageous position with respect to both
imports as well as exports.
In imports, payments are made before the goods arrive at our ports
whereas in exports, payments are received after the shipment. That is
why the import and export figures of the Federal Bureau of Statistics
and those of State Bank always differ. The former treats export or
import when goods are cleared by Customs and the latter treats export
or import only when receipts or payments are made.
Export as per State Bank classification is invariably less than that
of the Bureau, while this is not so for import. In other words, the
level of foreign exchange reserves has to be treated with
extraordinary caution as there is a lot of amount hanging in balance
which must be carefully analysed for suitable policy prescription and
could have avoided undue rumours and the lack of confidence as
witnessed last month.
At the time of budget presentation the foreign exchange reserves were
at $ 2,500 million whereas at end June it was $ 2,737 million besides
2 million tory ounces of gold worth $ 793 million according to State
Bank. By the end of October, reserves plummeted to $ 1,200 million,
reflecting a depletion of $ 1,537 million over the first four months
of the current fiscal year resulting from huge trade deficit following
rise in imports and fall in exports which triggered the government to
devalue the currency. By November 21, the level hit the lowest of $
1,095 million, only sufficient for five weeks imports.
Mr V.A. Jafarey, Adviser to the Prime Minister has said that foreign
exchange reserves would be $ 1.5 billion by the end of June next.
Prime Minister and others have time and again debunked the rumour of
freezing of foreign currency accounts estimated at $ 6.5 billion out
of which some withdrawal has taken place. It has been argued that
Pakistan is bound to refrain from freezing foreign currency accounts
in accordance with Article VIII of the I M F treaty. It should be
noted here that under stand-by arrangement of $ 600 million from I M F
the first trance of $ 200 million will be available during this month
which will buttress the reserves position.
Against the above backdrop, it is necessary to correctly assess the
level of foreign exchange reserves which is usually lower by a certain
margin because receivables are not included in the reserves. If
receivables of $ 1,731 million, as noted above, are included, the
reserves picture will drastically improve. On account of risk of non-
realisation, it may be pertinent to treat certain portion of the
amount as reserves. The problem of treating receivables as reserves
is likely to compound accounting problem for the State Bank and, as a
result, these are not treated as reserves.
The foreign exchange reserves position is normally shrouded in mystery
and ambiguity because of its sensitivity. Sometimes foreign currency
accounts are used in foreign exchange payments. It has also been
observed that the cheques on these accounts are not realised as the
foreign currencies are not available with the banks. That is the
reason why rumour of freezing of such accounts was rebutted several
times by government functionaries.
With the deregulation in the area of foreign exchange, there is a need
for more vigilant monitoring and correct assessment of reserves in
order to pre-empt the panic or speculation that prevailed recently.
The State Bank, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, needs to
formulate an unambiguous strategy with regard to the assessment of
true position of foreign exchange reserves particularly in a
deregulated framework so that appropriate policies with regard to
trade, tariff, and exchange rate of rupee can be adopted in the larger
interest of the economy.
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951218
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Creative uncertainty
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayaz Amir
VIRTUALLY no pen-pusher in the land (and this includes myself) who
entertains some notion of being a teacher of the public has been able
to resist the urge to pronounce upon the delay in the naming of the
next chief of the army staff.
Has the republics solemn-looking president and its prime minister
asked the incumbent, General Waheed, to continue giving the benefit of
his leadership to the army for another year? Or, displaying a heroism
and forbearance that hitherto have not been the leading
characteristics of our top office-holders, is he adamant on spurning
it?
In either case why the suspense because, after all, General Waheeds
term as generalissimo of speculation work busily and noisily at all
times in this country.
I think I can say as well as the next man that decision, especially
regarding important matters, should be timely. Delay breeds
uncertainty. It also affects organisational morale. But having
conceded this, try as I might I still find the fuss being generated
over this issue slightly baffling. As a nation our leading quality is
not to do today what we can put off till tomorrow. Far from settling
questions of basic national importance questions that should have
been settled decades ago we have made a virtue of comprehensively
ignoring them. What dire consequences are likely to flow if, for
whatever reason, presidential feet are seen to be dragging on the
question of the expected change in the army command?
No doubt, until this question is settled, anxiety will sit heavily on
the hearts of those military men who are in the run for the top slot.
As an added consequence some uncertainty is bound to prevail in GHQ.
Such uncertainty is unhealthy. But the extent of this uncertainty
pales before the uncertainty with which this country has had to live
throughout its history.
Is anyone in a position to say where Pakistan is headed or what kind
of a future its citizens are likely to have in the next century? Can
anyone say with certainty whether the government we have will complete
its term or whether the edifice of incompetence and corruption it has
so painstakingly raised will not come crashing down on its head? Will
the economy recover or will it continue to be at the mercy of
mountebanks? How many more charlatans must the nation experience
before it achieves stability and a modicum of honest leadership? If
the nation can live with doubts regarding all these questions, it can
survive the uncertainty that exists over General Waheeds tenure or
the name of his likely successor.
Or to look at the matter from a slightly different angle. Suppose that
three months ago the government, summoning up all its reserves of
decisiveness, had announced the name of the new army chief. In that
case the uncertainty gripping the political and bureaucratic
establishment (but scarcely the people because they have other things
to worry about) would have been pre-empted. A few generals would be
preparing their bags to go home while others would have been polishing
their spurs to take their places.
It goes without saying that we need to establish healthy precedents
all round, not only as regards the appointment of services chiefs but
in all other spheres of national activity. We need honest judges to
deliver justice, competent and honest administrators to stem the rot
of the administrative system, financial managers who can better
understand the secrets of economic life than the present sorry lot,
the consequences of whose actions the nation has to suffer.
The position of army chief is a powerful one in Pakistan. Not so much,
as the naive may think, for the making of wars as for the toppling of
governments. So what is all the fuss about? Whether the present army
chief gets an extension, or an announcement of his replacement is made
now or in January, Pakistan will still remain the badly governed place
that it is now. The economic situation will remain as grim and Karachi
will continue to be a place of strife.
It is strange that the process has culminated in the ineptitude
currently on display in the form of the Benazirs government is
scarcely the fault of the Fates who order such things. If we are
destined to have our affairs mismanaged in this way no outside force
can come to our deliverance.
None of this exegesis is meant to minimise the importance of healthy
precedents or the taking of timely decisions. We badly need some
discipline in our national life but since this is proving so hard an
objective to achieve and since we as a nation are already reconciled
to living from day to day, any delay in settling the question of
General Waheeds succession, of epochal significance though it may be
in so many respects, we will still be able to take in our stride. As a
philosopher might say in similar circumstances, this too shall pass.
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951220
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A welcome decision
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial Column
IN established democracies the appointment or retirement of army
chiefs does not usually generate any earth-shaking controversy. The
transition is smooth and accepted as a matter of course like that
relating to any other bureaucratic office. In Pakistan, however,
because of the fragility of our democratic institutions and the long
spells of military rule which the country has had to suffer in the
past, the appointment of the army chief is taken to be a matter of
extreme moment. Thus it was hardly in the naming of a successor to
General Abdul Waheed which set off a spate of speculation in the
country. This has now come to an end with the naming of General
Jehangir Karamat as the next chief of the army staff.
A number of healthy precedents have been set in the process. General
Waheed will be stepping down from his office in time without accepting
the extension that reportedly was offered to him by the government,
something for which he deserves the nations thanks. Even during his
tenure he scrupulously refrained from interfering in politics of
breathing down the necks of politicians in power, a practice to which
many of his predecessors in this office had been partial. He will be
now going home in dignity and with his reputation enhanced. This
example is no small mercy for a country dogged by a legacy of military
ambition and unholy interventionism. For its part, general Karamats
elevation is all the more welcome not only because he was the senior-
most officer after General Waheed but also because he enjoys a
reputation for professional competence and personal integrity. His
job, however, is cut out for him: to concentrate on leading the army
and improving its professionalism while leaving the business of
politics to the politicians. It is one of the hazards of the army
chiefs office in this country are soon inundated with unsolicited and
gratuitous advice about how to save the country. There has been no
shortage of previous army commanders who have succumbed to the
temptation of these siren calls which are sounded most often by
retired bureaucrats and disgruntled politicians at the slightest sign
of some tensions or conflict in political life. Hopefully, the
incoming army chief will give such poisonous advice, if and when it is
poured into his ears, the short shrift that it deserves.
It is also perhaps time to put an end to this troika business which
has the Press and the political establishment so much in its thrall.
The running of the country and the taking of major decisions is the
province of the nations elected leaders while the army has its own
sphere to look after. The intermingling of these roles is a major
factor, albeit the only one, which has bred confusion in our national
affairs and led to political instability. At the same time, however,
it must be stated unequivocally that for democracy to take root, and
for the military to remain confined to its rightful role, the
countrys politicians would have to take a long and hard look at their
own performance. They cannot make politics a byword for the pursuit of
self-interest and yet expect the democratic tradition to flourish. For
let us not forget that the best safeguard against praetorianism lies
not in constitutional guarantees (since we know of what worth these
have been in the past) but in competent and honest elective
leadership.
Be that as it may, now that General Waheed has set an example by
rejecting the reported extension offers made to him, let us hope that
this becomes a precedent never to be violated, with army chiefs
completing their tenures and stepping down and their replacements
being announced at the proper time without the avoidable delay that
regrettably took place in the present case.
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951220
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The special licence
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Hafizur Rahman
FROM Germany came the news some time ago that the foreign minister of
that country was fined for parking his car in the wrong place, and he
paid the fine.
Obviously the people of Germany or of any other European country for
that matter do not know how to pay proper respect to their
government leaders, despite claims of having advanced so much in the
field of public service and practice of democracy.
It is one thing to raise the level to which the ordinary people must
be honoured in a democracy and quite another to drag leaders down to
the plebeian level. This is something we dont do in Pakistan in spite
of our backwardness in so many ways.
But then, we do neither of the two. We neither promote the people nor
do we demote the leaders, howsoever dismal their record may be in
respect of character and performance. We believe in the status quo.
One thing is certain. Had the German foreign minister been a citizen
of Pakistan and its foreign minister, he would have been an honoured
citizen, a VIP, and wouldnt have had to submit to the indignity of a
traffic challan. Had he chosen to park his car in the middle of
Islamabads Constitution Avenue or Karachis Bunder Road, and blocked
the traffic, the police would have smiled indulgently and invited him
to do it again the next day.
Come to think of it, I guess it would not be possible for the German
FM to park his car anywhere in any city in this country. For the
simple reason that his chauffeur would not permit him to do so. VVIPs
and VIPs dont drive their cars in Pakistan. In fact, even an IP, the
lowest category in the hierarchy (comprising mostly middle-of-order
bureaucrats) would rather be seen dead than driving his car himself.
The other day, one of them confessed to me that he didnt know Lahore
roads at all, although he had lived and worked in that city for many
years. Because when his chauffeur was at the wheel he himself was
either looking at the newspaper or reading his own noting on an
important file.
On a visit to Sweden, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave a return
banquet for the late (and the great) Olaf Palme. He had to stand in
the porch of the Pakistan embassy for quite a while for the Swedish
PMs car to arrive. Suddenly Mr Palme walked up to the porch, his
greatcoat on his shoulder, and apologised for the delay. He said he
had gone to park his car in the parking lot. But that is not our way.
The way we honour and glorify our government leaders (ministers,
elected representatives, senior officers) is probably unmatched
anywhere else in the world. It would be difficult to find another
country, barring a few in Africa, which does it better.
This is by way of the perks and privileges that a grateful nation
showers on them for condescending to take part in public life.
Actually the nation can never repay them enough for finding time from
their nefarious sorry, multifarious pre-occupations to spare a few
moments for the countrys welfare at the cost of their personal
interest and comfort.
What we do is to issue these leaders a Special Licence which makes
them immune from any state exaction or responsibility. During their
tenure in office they may not only park their cars wherever they like,
they are at liberty not to pay bills and taxes, obtain bank loans
without surety, drive about under police escort, never be punctual at
public functions, enjoy every entertainment free of charge, delay
railway trains and call back PIA flights after take-off.
They can bring in any number of contraband goods from abroad, spend as
much money from public funds as they want to, ride in three cars at
one time, and do a host of other things which they couldnt do without
this Special Licence. They can even get a second wife without
fulfilling the legal provision of securing the first ones permission.
And many of them do.
Some of the VIPs and even IPs think that the Licence is a sort of
insurance policy which also covers death by accident death of others
of course, not their own. And they are right. If a man gets killed by
their car, the fellow is usually challaned for jay-walking.
But then, in their public spirit, the VIPs are usually generous enough
to let him off, being dead in any case. This cover-all Licence can be
availed of by all blood relations and relations by marriage of the
(Very) Important Person.
No description of the VIP of Pakistan will be complete without a
mention of Mrs VIP, or rather Begum VIP. She is invariably more
important than the burra sahib, her husband. People working in his
office are more afraid of her than of the boss, and she makes greater
demands on their time and attention (and sometimes their money too)
than he does. The boss may forgive a fault or a lapse, but the Begum?
Never.
The wives of most government leaders are brought up to believe that
they are as much ministers and senior officers as their husbands. They
make this quite plain to the personal staff where privileges and other
facilities are concerned, since all these must accrue to them as a
matter of right. After all, isnt it said that the Special Licence is
also meant for the near and dear ones?
On their part, official leaders think of themselves as the
governments sons-in-law, as we say in Punjabi about people who tend
to appropriate authority. Elected or appointed by the people as
servants of the public, they treat the people like domestic servants
and become indignant at the slightest neglect or an imagined insult.
Witness, for example, the spate of privilege motions in the
legislative assemblies. One feels sorry for the poor chaps whose sense
of self-importance is hurt so easily. The only time they work really
hard is when they are fighting for their perks and privileges.
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951221
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Grist for the mill
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rifaat Hamid Ghani
MUMTAZ BHUTTO and Benazir Bhutto met and the rumour-mills havent
stopped grinding.
Why is it that rumours are such serious business here? If we realise
that speculation is not just the pursuit of idle minds but also the
occupation of rather thoughtful ones, it may help us understand the
power and scope of rumour in our context. Speculation is our way of
groping for the truth an attempt to understand things, given the
lack of openness that persists in our political behaviour.
Politicians remain over-reliant on behind-the-scenes manoeuvre and
intrigue and rumours are a natural corollary to speculating about
the outcome.
To return to the rumour in hand: Does the prime minister want a new CM
for Sindh, and would uncle Mumtaz be her candidate? Or does she just
want to keep the uncle away from her brothers side till the by-
election at Sanghar is over?
It seems unlikely that the PM would turn to Mumtaz Bhutto as CM, given
the fact that she likes to keep all practising chief executives in her
pocket. Mumtaz Bhutto is not really the pocket variety bloom, for all
that his impact is presently no more than peripheral. But perhaps the
PM has had the wit to realise that an able administrator with a
convincing presence would be in order.
Mumtaz Bhutto, the talented cousin that the greatest Bhutto of them
all said he wouldnt do without and used as governor and chief
minister, is no bumbling bidable novice. He would signal change in
that the elements of his own personality and judgment, not just
Benazirs Antschauung, would become an operative part of the political
picture here. But he has a history of his own, and is well remembered
for his unfriendly attitude towards Mohajirs.
Aggressively Sindhi ethnicity is the warp and woof of his politics.
The feudal in him could take over where the general in Babar leaves
off and yet, he has recently been on terms as our quaint but highly
expressive brand of usage has it, with Altafs men. Though most
attributed the overtures to a desire to make things still more
difficult for his more than talented niece.
Official policy in Sindh has been generally criticised for a long
time, but the PM has been obdurate about pursuing it. Perhaps she
really believes it is eliminating terrorists and she is doing everyone
a good turn.
Having a new CM then who was just a new bottle for the same wine would
not mean much. If, by some happy circumstance, she is really wanting a
new initiative of her own choosing to be put in motion, she does not
need anyone as independent as Mumtaz Bhutto is liable to be.
If he were to help us out of the quagmire, he might become too much of
a hero. And why should she upset her party by turning to someone
outside the fold? And why be unkind to Abdullah Shah?
This has been such a bloody year for Karachi. And it draws to an end
without much sign that the bloodiness too will be over.
Rumour-mongering and speculation are not healthy signs. But there
might be still more cause for alarm were rumours to stop because
speculation had given way to a realisation that the administration has
exhausted its options and has nothing left to pull out of its bag of
tricks ... We could be closer than we suspect to that stage of dull,
dangerous despair.
N.B I stand rather interestingly corrected the PM was already able
to sign chits at the Sindh Club as its sole female member, in her very
own right. The committee rapidly conferred honorary status after she
dropped in as PM with her old school friends and signed a chit,
forgetting she was now Mrs Zardari, not Miss Bhutto. Perhaps everyone
remembered she was PM?
===================================================================
951221
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ban lifted from Qasim Umer
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Samiul Hasan
KARACHI, Dec. 20: The seven-year ban imposed on former Test batsman
Qasim Umer in 1985 has been lifted by the Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB), well informed sources said.
The decision was taken by the four-member Disciplinary Committee which
met under the Chairmanship of Nasimul Ghani. The Disciplinary
Committee, which also comprise Nusrat Azeem, Ejaz Yousuf and Amir
Hayat Rokhri, has recommended to the PCB to allow Umer to resume
cricket with immediate effect.
It has also advised the board that Umer could be employed by any
department if they wanted his services as he would be getting a
clearance letter with regard to this decision.
Qasim Umer, the Kenya-born right-handed dashing batsman, was banned by
the board led by Lt Gen Safdar Butt after he alleged that leading
Pakistan cricketers, including Imran Khan, were smuggling drugs in
their cricket gears.
He had made these remarks in an interview to the government-run agency
after the team returned from the tour of Australia.
Similar charges were levelled against Imran Khan by Younis Ahmad after
the team returned from the historic tour of India where it won the
Bangalore Test. However, no disciplinary action was taken against the
left-hander.
Umer, who was then 28, not only lost cricket at the prime of his
career, he was also sacked on disciplinary grounds by his
organisation, Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) which, according to the
batsman, have not cleared his dues yet.
Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that although the
ban had to expire in 1992, the then Secretary of the BCCP, Shahid
Rafi, did not lift it. The reason for this is best known to Mr Rafi.
The sources admitted that Qasim Umer appealed to the cricket board on
not lesser than half a dozen occasions through letters but all his
applications were put in a pending file.
Qasim Umer also appealed twice to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
which forwarded his request to the Disciplinary Committee to action.
Though the ban has been lifted now, it would be anybodys guess
whether Qasim Umer would ever return to the arena at the age of 38.
However, the only benefit from the lifting of the ban will be that he
will return to Pakistan, settle here and may find a honourable job for
his livelihood.
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951215
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Bowlers demolish N.Z in Pakistans 1-day win
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Qamar Ahmed
DUNEDIN, Dec.15: Despite a low score to defend, Pakistan pacemen Waqar
Younis and Wasim Akram bowled admirably to inflict a severe blow to
New Zealand in the first of the three one-day internationals at
Carisbrook. The two picked up six wickets between them to bowl New
Zealand for 169 after they were set a challenging 190 to win in 50
overs.
Pakistans 20-run victory was achieved with two balls still remaining
of the 48th over. New Zealand had lost their five wickets for only 50
runs scored and the next three wickets with 64 more runs added.
With only two wickets remaining and only 114 runs on the board, the
game was as good as over. But ninth wicket partnership of 50 runs
between Roger Twose and Cavin Larsen changed all that.
The score started to mount and in the last four overs 26 more runs
were required for New Zealand to win. Larsen and Twose, who made 59,
were well on course to stage an upset but Wasim Akram dismissed them
both to clinch a win from the jaws of a possible defeat.
Waqar Younis in an inspired spell dented the middle order by taking
three wickets in quick succession and saw Wasim Akram Mushtaq Ahmed
and Aqib Javed take it up from where he had left. it was a thoroughly
professional performance by the Pakistan bowlers who were regrettably
let down by their batsmen.
After having won the toss and batted on a slow wicket and of low
bounce Pakistan were restricted to 189 runs with Ramiz Raja, the top
scorer with 35. Nothing to be proud of but the bowlers stuck to their
task superbly and were well aided by some good catching and ground
work.
In only the second over, Craig Spearman was caught at point by Ijaz
Ahmed off Aqib Javed, the only change in the side from the one-off
Test. With only 16 runs scored Wasim Akram took a catch off his own
bowling to get rid of Nathan Astle. both the batsmen made only 5 runs
each.
With Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed brought into the attack in the
ninth and tenth over, there were further heart-aches to follow.
Stephen Fleming playing across to Waqar was leg before having made 15.
Bryan young played onto his wicket when he attempted a drive off the
same bowler and Adam Parore had his stumps shattered with a swinging
Yorker. From 2 for 43, New Zealand slumped to 5 for 50.
Had a difficult catch at the wicket off Waqar not dropped when Roger
Twose had not even scored, things could have been rather gloomier for
New Zealand. Twose, alongwith Chris Cairns, took the score to 92
adding 42 runs for the sixth wicket.
A crafty delivery from Mushtaq found Cairns edge into the keepers
gloves when he had made 18. When Lee Germon stepped out to drive
Mushtaq, the ball found its way into the slips where Wasim Akram took
a comfortable catch and Dipak Patel pulled Salim Malik to be caught at
deep mid-wicket by Basit Ali.
It was now left to Twose and Larsen to do or die. They did well to
delay the demise and add 50 runs for the ninth wicket.
Wasim Akram, back in the attack, hurried their end. New Zealand
perished but not without credit. They did make a fight of it and Twose
for his 59, his third successive half century against the tourists,
did bring some respectability to the hosts in defeat.
Pakistans batting earlier on was as much embarrassing. For the first
wicket Ramiz Raja and Aamir Sohail put on 31 runs and for the third
wicket 30 runs were added between Ramiz Raja and Inzamam-ul-Haq. In
between there was not much to be proud of except that Rashid Latif
chipped in with an unbeaten 26. Ramiz 35, Inzamam 32 were the other
two batsmen who did show some resistance. Basit Ali and Wasim Akram
were run out of direct throws from Adam Parore while taking quick
singles. For Pakistan it was an uneventful innings.
If not for the effort of its bowlers, the 1-0 lead in the four-match
series would not have been possible.
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951218
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New Zealand beat Pakistan in nail-biting finish
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Qamar Ahmed
CHRISTCHURCH, Dec.17: The second one-day turned out to be a cliff-
hanger. New Zealand chasing a formidable target of 233 to win in 50
overs reached the target on the last ball of the day to beat Pakistan
by one wicket and avenged their defeat suffered at Carisbrook.
The match could have even ended in a tie had Wasim Akram not bowled
the last ball of the day outside the off stump which Gavin Larsen
steered towards boundary through the third man region.
In fact it was the last over of the day which snatched the victory
away from Pakistan. Nine runs were needed for a tie and ten for a win.
The Pakistan captain would have been the last man to have allowed that
to happen after nine wickets had already fallen and he had the ball
all to himself to bowl New Zealand out or to contain them. Neither
happened.
The last man Danny Morrison picked up a leg-bye on the first ball. The
next, a no-ball, was edged by Gavin Larsen past the keeper for two
which was followed by a scorching drive through the covers for four.
On the fourth delivery he survived a leg before appeal, the fifth did
not produce any run, the sixth yielded another two runs off a no-ball
to tie the game and the sixth was promptly sent to the ropes.
Astonishingly it was the worst over that Wasim Akram bowled on this
tour which let New Zealand off the hook. The last-over drama was
preceded by an eventful over by Waqar Younis who is four balls had
taken three wickets in his last over to bring Pakistan near to an
exciting win. On his second delivery of his tenth and last over, he
had Lee Germon caught at covers by Basit Ali for 5. On the fourth
Dipak Patel was taken at deep point by Ijaz Ahmed without scoring and
on the fifth ball he had Roger Twose caught at mid-off by Mushtaq
Ahmed for 10.
New Zealand after being 220 for 6 in the 49th over had slumped to 221
for 9. But the last over of the day changed all that.
New Zealands victory bid was earlier aided by two very productive
partnerships for the third and fifth wickets which yielded 77 and 97
runs respectively.
After Aqib Javed had both Craig Spearman and Nathan Astle caught at
the wicket by Rashid Latif with only 21 runs scored. Stephen Fleming
and Bryan Young and taken the score to 98 before Fleming was the third
man out having made 48 with five fours. Sweeping Aamir Sohail he was
bowled round his legs. Two overs later Young also left when Wasim
Akram at cover took a well-judged catch off the same bowler when 34.
Adam Parore was then dropped at 16 by Basit Ali when he pulled Aamir
Sohail to mid-wicket. New Zealand were then 133 for 4 in the 334th
over. he and Chris Cairns batted steadily for 23 overs without hitting
a single four to establish their match-winning stand of 97 for the
fifth wicket.
Wasim Akram dismissed them both but not before Parore had made 45 and
Cairns 54.
Victory for Pakistan seemed assured when Waqar Younis struck taking
three wickets in one over. But in the end it was all in vain.
Pakistan earlier on had decided to bat after winning the toss and had
lost Aamir Sohail and Ramiz Raja both with 27 runs on the board.
Sohail was caught at short cover by Spearman for 10 and Ramiz Raja
provided Danny Morrison with his 100th wicket in the one-day
internationals. Ijaz Ahmed missed a full toss from Cairns to be leg
before for 14.
But Inzamam-ul-Haq and Salim Malik batted sensibly to put on 114 runs
for the fourth wicket. The Man of the Match Inzamam was bowled through
his legs for a superb 80.
He had hit six fours and a six off Larsen. Malik made 58 which was his
first score of over fifty on the tour, faced 82 balls and appeared in
great form before falling to Twose.
Wasim Akram was yorked by Morrison for 10 in the 46th over and later
Morrison had Rashid Latif, Waqar Younis and Basit Ali in one over to
finish with 5 for 46, his best bowling in one-day matches. In his last
spell he had four wickets in three overs for 18 runs.
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951221
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Pakistan beat N.Z.
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Qamar Ahmad
WELLINGTON, Dec.20: Pakistans 54-run victory in the third one-day
international against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve was marred by
act of indiscipline by two Pakistan players Aqib Javed and Mushtaq
Ahmed, who were both fined by the Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan
Madugalle.
Aqib Javed was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and Mushtaq Ahmed 10
per cent for showing dissent to an opposing player and an umpire. The
incidents occurred during a run chase by the New Zealand batsmen who
were left to score a daunting 262 runs to take the lead in the four
match series.
Having won a leg before decision against Adam Parore by umpire Evan
Watkin after the batsman had struck a four off him on the previous
delivery, Aqib dashed down the wicket in his follow-through charging
at the batsman in anger to tell him off in no uncertain manner as
Parore turned to walk away. Aqibs team-mates had to restrains the
bowler and had to hush him away in case he went out of control.
And Mushtaq Ahmed, who was deprived of a caught and bowled decision
against the New Zealand captain Lee Germon by umpire Evan Watkin, had
signalled to umpire Steve Dunne to have a third umpire version of a
stumping by Rashid Latif off him, after Dunne had categorically passed
a judgement of the batsman Stephen Fleming being not out.
In a way Mushtaq Ahmed was giving vent to his feeling of injustice
after he was denied a wicket by umpire Watkin earlier. But he should
have known better and should have behaved himself. After all the match
was fully in Pakistans grip.
It seems that Aqib Javed has not learnt his lesson from two earlier
convictions by batch referees. This is Wasims third offence for which
he has been penalised.
Pakistan despite poor umpiring and even poorer fielding bowled New
Zealand out for 207 after having scored 261 for 4 after being put in.
Craig Spearman and Nathan Astle in only the eighth over had taken the
score to 48 but then three wickets fell within four balls on that
score and New Zealand lost their way.
Spearman, who had struck three fours off Aqib Javed and two more later
during his innings of 33, was caught one-handed by Aamir Sohail at
cover off Wasim Akram and Bryan Young was out on the next ball. In the
next over Astle hit one in the air to mid-off to be caught by Ramiz
Raja off Aqib Javed. Wasim Akram was on a hat-trick in his next over
but the bowled one outside the leg stump of Stephen Fleming.
Roger Twose, who made 37 and was the seventh man out, should have been
given out caught when he had not scored. A chest-high delivery was
hooked to long-leg where Mushtaq took a brilliant catch but umpire
Dunne in his own wisdom declared a no-ball. Anything over the
batsmans shoulder is declared a no-ball, but that delivery from Waqar
Younis was not.
Twose and Fleming later put on 47 runs for the fifth wicket after
Parore was dismissed by Aqib. In a mix-up Chris Cairns was run out and
when Twose and Dipak Patel were also gone, New Zealand with 166 for 8
in the 37th over were already in the dump.
Gavin Larsen survived only five deliveries but the last wicket stand
of Germon and Morrison added 33 runs before New Zealand were all out.
Earlier Pakistan after being put in were given a solid start of 51
runs by Aamir Sohail and Ramiz Raja. Ramiz was run out for 21 but
Aamir Sohail in 83 balls scored 58 runs with the help of six fours to
add 56 runs with Ijaz Ahmed before being bowled by Larsen.
Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq later shared 31 runs for the third
wicket. Inzamam, the dominant of the two, made a polished 54, his
second successive so in the one-day series. There were six fours in
his innings, which was attractive and entertaining. With Salim Malik
who made 42 he also had added 79 very valuable runs for the fourth
wicket.
Malik and Wasim Akram later blasted 44 runs for the unbroken fifth
wicket partnership. Wasims share of that stand being 36 glorious
runs. In fifteen balls he had struck three fours and two sixes off
Cairns and Morrison.
Total for four wickets (50 overs) 261
Did not bat: B.Ali, R.Latif, M.Ahmed, W.Younis, Ata-ur-Rehman.
Fall of wickets: 1-51 2-107 3-138 4-217
Result: Pakistan won by 54 runs.
Man of the match: Wasim Akram
Pakistan lead four match series 2-1.
33
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