DAWN WIRE SERVICE
Week Ending : 28 December, 1995 Issue : 01/51
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CONTENTS
Karachi Carnage
..........Sixteen killed and six terrorists arrested
..........Altaf condemns arrest in Hyderabad
..........MQM MNAs flay pickets in Hyderabad
..........Altaf condemns Orangi siege & arrests
..........Ishtiaq urges visiting of Adiyala Jail
..........Farooq says hundreds of MQM workers missing
Opposition
..........Nawaz offers dialogue but puts poll condition
..........PML-N workers demand leaders suspension
..........PML to hold talks with govt only on mid-term polls
..........Shujaat warns of army take-over.
..........Nawaz demands dismissal of Sindh CM
..........PML MNA flays govt steps against business concerns
Ruling party
..........Govt will complete tenure: Khan
..........1996 will be year of information technology: Benazir
..........Babar denies govt supporting Haqiqi
Peshawar blast
..........Widespread damage: 40 die in Peshawar car- bomb blast
..........Lack of expertise hampers rescue operation
..........NWFP mourns blast victims
..........Nawaz blames govt for security lapse
..........Qazi urges govt to check occurrences of blast
..........Mourning for blast victims
..........Explosion probe continues
..........Nasrullah and Afghanistans mly installations
..........Leghari condoles with Khurshid
..........US embassy denies report: Blast in Peshawar
..........Security lapse caused blast, confirm reports
..........Afghanistan denies involvement in blast
..........PM briefed on blast follow-up
..........President, PM discuss law, order situation
..........PML chief urges govt to expose blast culprits
..........Main suspect of Peshawar blast identified
..........IGP's remarks perturb agencies
Press a victim of violence
..........Journalists stage walkout
..........PNPO flays attack on Kawish
..........Nawaz flays govt for curbing press freedom
..........PNPO condemns violence against press
..........Media accused of fanning conflicts
US proposal for COAS swearing-in: dropped
World Bank conditions met: Punjab raises water rates
Ban on mobile phones to be reviewed
Unnar walks free after twenty-two months
Khar directed not to issue statements on Kalabagh
Quaid's birth anniversary: centre asks Sindh to beef up security
KANUPPs operating life may extend
Deaf ears and hot air
JKNPP merged with JKPP
More terrorist attacks feared elsewhere in city
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Rupee value to remain unchanged
Five-year tax holiday urged
Modifications in credit plan approved
Extra burden on loan repayments to worsen situation
Anti-dumping duties act in the offing
Review of interest rate policy requested
Company rules to come into force from Jan 1996
MFN status: Pakistan not to extend India any special favours
Shares recover broadly on all counters
Stocks maintain uppish leaning
Stocks rise on active new account buying
-----------
The informer informed Ardeshir Cowasjee
Reference your job application Naseer Ahmed
A deplorable tendency Editorial Column
Living with American influence Gen Khalid Mahmud Arif
Warlords rule, OK? Mazdak
Credit squeeze for farmers Editorial Column
Corruption under attack Sultan Ahmed
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Abbasi & Burki blamed for PCB & cricket mess
Miandad asks selectors to make up their minds
Miandad shows fitness of form
N.Z. level one-day series against Pakistan
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D A W N W I R E S E R V I C E
Wishes its readers
A very Happy & Prosperous New Year
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951228
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Sixteen killed and six terrorists arrested
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Staff Reporter
Terrorists shot dead sixteen people raising the months death toll to
79. Five people with different ethnic backgrounds were kidnapped,
tortured and killed in Korangi while two mutilated bodies were found
and three MQM workers died in shootout.
A MQM labour wing activist, who was arrested by the CIA but later
released when his family was allegedly made to pay bribes, died from
torture wounds.
Shahid Dehlavi, was arrested by CIA Inspector Chaudhry Bakhtawar,
during a raid on KESC head office on Dec. 13.
His relatives claimed that Shahid Dehlavi was subjected to severe
torture during interrogation at the CIA Centre in Saddar. Finally on
Dec. 16, CIA Karachi released him after allegedly taking a bribe of Rs
135,000.
His family was asked to take Shahid out of Karachi but it should not
leave the boundaries of Sindh.
The family claimed that during interrogation the CIA police broke the
knees and shoulders of Shahid and damaged his lungs and one of the
kidneys. He also received several other internal injuries which caused
his death.
In another incident a 35-year-old MQM ex-councillor, who had been in
hiding, died in a mysterious encounter with the police in Orangi.
ALTAFS REACTION: The MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, has condemned the
murders.
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951222
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Altaf condemns arrests in Hyderabad
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Staff Correspondent
LONDON, Dec. 21: Leader of MQM, Altaf Hussain condemned the arrests of
innocent people in Hyderabad by the police and the Rangers.
In a statement he accused the Government that after Karachi it has now
made Hyderabad a target and is using the full state power against
people by raiding their houses.
He said that the MQM is fully aware of the use of sheer power being
used by the law enforcement agencies and has prepared its own plan of
action. He appealed to his supporters to wait for his call.
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951222
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MQM MNAs flay pickets in Hyderabad
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Staff Correspondent
HYDERABAD, Dec. 21: The Haq Parast members of Hyderabad in the Sindh
Assembly, Maqbool Qureshi, Zafar Rajput and Mubin Sheikh, have called
on international human rights organisations to visit Hyderabad and
Latifabad, meet the people and see for themselves the state
brutalities unleashed there.
The MPAs alleged that the police pickets had been set-up on high rise
buildings which had affected the privacy of the people, and the
personnel deployed at the pickets were allegedly indulging in immoral
activities.
The Hyderabad-based MPAs deplored that on the one hand, police were
patronising criminals while on the other innocent people were being
booked. They observed that if these atrocities were allowed to
continue, the protest by the Haq Parast people is quite justified.
The release said that owing to the police action, business activities
had come to a standstill.
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951223
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Altaf condemns Orangi siege and arrests
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Staff Correspondent
LONDON, Dec. 22: Arrests made on a large scale by the Rangers and the
police in Orangi town during a siege have been strongly condemned by
the MQM leader, Mr Altaf Hussain who described the action as blatant
fascism on the part of the Bhutto government.
Mr Hussain said that law enforcement agencies surrounded several
localities in Orangi town and broke open several houses. According to
him, at least 10,000 people were detained and were later moved to open
ground and made to sit there in the cold while 200 were transferred to
some unknown place.
The MQM leader said that when those arrested were released they were
beaten up by the security forces who also entered some of the houses
and maltreated the women. He said such sieges were unprecedented and
have become a routine.
He appealed to patriotic Pakistanis and national leaders to notice the
harassment of Mohajirs by the government agencies. Mr Hussain asked if
such atrocities were committed against other communities what would
have been their reaction. He said it was their duty not only to
protest against the government but to actively campaign against the
authorities.
Blast condemned: In another statement, Mr Hussain expressed his
sympathies with those who have lost their family members in the
Peshawar bomb blast. He described it as the worst kind of terrorism
which has to be strongly condemned. Mr Hussain said the PPP
government is incompetent and having failed to protect the lives of
the people of Pakistan has lost its right to govern.
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951223
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Ishtiaq urges visiting of Adiyala Jail
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 22: MQM Coordination Committee Convenor Senator Ishtiaq
Azhar has urged Senate Chairman Wasim Sajjad to help constitute a
committee of Senate members and help the committee members get
permission to visit the Adiyala Jail, Rawalpindi, so that the nation
and the world could know about the torture being inflicted on the
interned workers and leaders of the MQM and of the Muttahida Qaumi
Movement.
In a statement he said now to conceal the acts of barbarism in the
jail the government is trying to prevent them from attending the Sindh
Assembly winter session. The government is afraid that if these
interned legislators are brought out of jail, the world would know the
tale of the macabre happenings in the jail.
Mohammad Aslam, brother-in-law of MQM chief Altaf Hussain, is
seriously ill in jail, but despite physicians advice he is not being
transferred to hospital. The government has also been maintaining
silence about the internment of Shazia Farooq and Raees Fatima. The
government has not explained for what crimes they have been jailed and
why their arrests had been kept a secret for more than five months. In
the Adiyala Jail such severe torture was inflicted on MPAs Waseem
Akhtar and Rana Safdar that their lives are threatened, Senator Azhar
deplored.
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951227
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Farooq says hundreds of MQM workers missing
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 26: MQM parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly Dr
Farooq Sattar said that hundreds of MQM workers were still missing
since their arrest, but the government had been denying their arrest.
At least 10 workers, he said, who were picked up by law enforcers in
the interior of Sindh and Karachi, were detained in various police
stations and jails. He cited the names of these workers.
He said that on each arrest, the MQM had sent telegrams and letters
to the President, the Prime Minister, the Federal Interior Minister,
the Sindh governor and the chief minister and judges of the Sindh High
Court and appealed them to intervene and save the lives of these
workers but to no avail.
He said at least 5,000 workers were still languishing in jails but
since they had not been produced in any court so far as the
prosecution branch had failed in framing charges against any of them.
He said some of them who had been detained under charges of
kidnapping, rioting and carrying prohibited bore weapons with them had
not been granted bail.
After a bitter experience in lower courts, he said, the MQM had filed
a number of petitions in the Sindh High Court but to no avail. He said
that in the view of unfair treatment meted out to the people, the year
1995 was the worst year in Pakistans judicial history "because courts
have not taken any notice of unfairness and high-handedness of the
administration."
Mr Sattar also urged the government to shift all those detainees back
to their city jails who had been moved into the far-flung jails in the
interior of Sindh some months back and provision of medical aid to
detainees, particularly Anees Qaimkhani and Mohammah Aslam, was also
requested by him.
He also requested that detainees be tried in open courts, and all
special courts be disbanded and independence of the judiciary
restored. In his appeal to the judges of the superior courts, Mr
Sattar said if MQM demands were not repugnant to the law, these must
be accepted.
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951222
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Nawaz offers dialogue but puts poll condition
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 21: Leader of the opposition Nawaz Sharif said that
the opposition was willing to engage in a political dialogue with the
government provided the government first agreed to the holding of
early elections.
The oppositions demand, however, was rejected within minutes of the
conclusion of Nawazs speech by a somewhat agitated looking law
minister who wound up the debate for the treasury. Summarily
dismissing Nawaz Sharifs frustrating tale of woes, N.D Khan made a
categorical announcement on behalf of his government, insisting that
there will be no early polls and elections will only be held in
November 1998.
The leader of the oppositions concluding speech on the presidential
address mentioned that the matters had gone far beyond the talking
stage now and for any meaningful results, the government must first
realise the inevitability of seeking a fresh mandate from the people.
Warning that the country was sitting atop a debt time bomb, Nawaz
painted a grim economic scenario for the country. According to his
projections the country was presently spending Rs 156 billion on debt
servicing, which comes to 62 per cent of government revenues, a
figure he believed would cross the 70 per cent mark. With factories
closing down, economy in the pits where is this money going to come
from?, he asked.
He alleged that the governments misdirected economic policies had
already resulted in the closure of over 4000 industrial units with
more joining the queue every day. He claimed that even those still
operating were only operating at 30 per cent capacity.
Hammering upon the economic theme, Nawaz pointed out that the 4 per
cent GDP growth rate for the past three years was the lowest in
Pakistans history and compared to the 3 per cent annual increase in
population, it only proves a reversal of growth.
Claiming that inflation was running as high as 30 per cent, he said
that fresh investment in the country had stopped while the existing
capital was also flowing out. He said that exports were down by 8 per
cent while imports had increased in the same period by 24 per cent,
foreign exchange reserves had dwindled down to dollar one billion from
an earlier US dollar 2.5 billion and even this figure is inclusive of
the 900 million earned from the PTC share sales.
He criticised the government for wasting crores on meaningless media
publicity campaigns, foreign junkets while the ordinary man bore the
brunt of economic hardship.
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951223
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PML-N workers demand leaders suspension
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Staff Correspondent
MIRPURKHAS, Dec. 22: The Pakistan Muslim League (N) of Mirpurkhas has
demanded that Nawaz Sharif immediately suspend the divisional
president of the party Pir Noor Muhammad Shah Jilani who had created
disputes and differences among the party workers.
The meeting of workers of PML-N chaired by Abdul Majeed unanimously
announced the launch of a protest campaign against the divisional
president Pir Noor Muhammad Shah Jilani.
The meeting demanded that Nawaz Sharif immediately take notice of this
matter and appoint honest workers as office bearers and end the
differences between the local office bearers.
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951224
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PML to hold talks with govt only on mid-term polls
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Staff Correspondent
HYDERABAD, Dec. 23: The Sindh general secretary of Pakistan Muslim
League, Mr Zahid Rafiq Butt, has said his party will not hold talks
with the government except on the issue of mid-term elections.
He alleged that the government had unleashed terror in Karachi and
Hyderabad and accused the government of being anti-state and anti-
people.
The Muslim League leaders alleged that the government was using
national wealth and the entire government machinery with a view to
winning the bye-elections in Sanghar district and added that the
people were being harassed and intimidated.
He demanded of the Election Commission to hold the bye-elections under
the supervision of the judiciary and also held out a warning to the
party workers that no violation of party discipline or party policy
would be tolerated.
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951225
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Shujaat warns of army take-over
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 24: Opposition Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who
is also Chairman of the Senate standing committee on defence, said
that the economic crises facing the country was badly hitting the
defence and a stage might come when the army might have to take over
the governments control.
The opposition Senator painted a grim situation of the countrys
economy and said the government had brought the country to such an
economic disaster where institutions like armed forces might be forced
to carry out economic exercises along with the military exercises.
Without quoting economic statistics, the opposition Senator said a
situation might arise when there would be no funds to pay the salaries
to the armed forces and the army would have to abandon its development
projects. If in-service personnel become victim of economic
difficulties, it would cause serious threat to countrys defence.
He said though 10 per cent increase was made in the defence budget for
fiscal 1994-95, but the increase was much less in real terms
considering 14 per cent inflation rate that year. He also said
similarly the defence budget was increased by 7 per cent in fiscal
1995-96 but in real terms it has decreased because of inflation.
The opposition senator called on the President to take effective
measures to correct the situation and direct the government to curtail
non-development expenditure.
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951227
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Nawaz demands dismissal of Sindh CM
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ISLAMABAD, Dec. 26: Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly,
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, has called for the dismissal of the incumbent
Sindh Chief Minister and appointment of a non-controversial chief
executive to steer the troubled province out of the prevailing crisis
.
He urged President Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari to take the step, keeping
in view the larger national interest and said the non-controversial
chief executive should be appointed with the mutual consent of the
government, the opposition and the MQM.
He said the opposition would lend fullest possible cooperation, if a
constitutional amendment or enactment of a fresh law is required in
this regard. He said a sovereign committee, free from the influence of
the federal government should be formed to formulate suggestions for
the resolution of Karachi imbroglio.
Nawaz Sharif disputed the governments claim that MQM leader Altaf
Hussain was a terrorist. Who has killed Altaf Hussains brother and
nephew, if he is a terrorist, he posed a question and said according
to the information gathered by him, the kins of the MQM leader have
been assassinated at the behest of the government.
He said the offer of dialogue to the MQM was merely a cosmetic
arrangement and added the government was insincere and non-serious in
the dialogue with the MQM from the day one.
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951228
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PML MNA flays govt steps against business concerns
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 27: In the last 26 months, the PPP government has
systematically tried to destroy the business concerns belonging to
opposition leaders by either forcing them into default or asking
NCB/DFIs to discontinue the financial assistance to their running
businesses, says Khawaja M. Asif, MNA and chairman PML Anti-
corruption Committee.
In a statement issued he said, funds from NCB/DFIs are being made
available to old and new concerns of individuals aligned with the
government without keeping in view the rules and regulations
regulating availability of credit.
He further stated a classic case is the transfer of Pengrio Sugar
Mills Ltd, from the present management to the new owners who are very
close relatives of two MNAs belonging to Peoples Party. This company
according to its financial position, had an accumulated loss of Rs
327.22 million on 30.9.1994 against its paid up capital of Rs 108.5
million. The total outstanding liabilities as on 30.6.1995 aggregate
of Rs. 621.124 million out of which Rs 107.149 million are the
penalties levied by different creditor NCB/DFIs till 30.6.95.
On July 12 Haji Mansib Ali Ansari and Mrs Bilquees Z. Mirza on behalf
of the other sponsors approached Bankers Equity Ltd for purchase of
the said Sugar Mills from the present owners.
In response to their request, Bankers Equity Ltd, granted following
concessions to the new buyers due to their political influence
violating all norms of credit policy, he said
Bankers Equitys syndicated dues accrued up to 30.6.1995 will be
capitalised at the old rate of 16 per cent (the prevailing lending
rate in the financial market is 21 per cent). This concession will
enable the new owners to pay back the dues in 16 equal instalments
commencing from July 1, 1997.
He said the working capital which was payable on demand has been
converted into long-term loan payable in 16 equal instalments
commencing from July 1, 1997. Waiver of all the penalties amounting to
Rs. 26.485 million, outstanding as on 30.6.95 levied on Bankers Equity
Ltd, syndicate financing.
The present participation term certificate amounting to approximately
Rs 70 million will be converted into term finance certificates, thus
extending the repayment of this liability indefinitely.
He said it is obvious that the terms and conditions of this offer will
be followed by the remaining creditor institutions and waiver of the
penalties will reach the exorbitant level of Rs 107.149 million, thus
causing a very substantial loss to these institutions. In addition to
this, the remaining liabilities of Rs 280.389 will also be re-
structured/re-scheduled by the other financial institutions into long-
term financing at the confessional interest rate of 16 per cent.
He observed that gross misuse and plunder of financial institutions in
the public sector for obliging the cronies of the present ruling
couple is causing colossal loss rendering these institutions bankrupt
and financially unviable. He said we demand that this plunder of
financial institutions should be stopped forthwith and all such cases
where the sale of one institution from private or public hands to the
new owners must be decided according to the rules and regulations laid
by the State Bank of Pakistan.
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951222
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Govt will complete tenure: Khan
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ISLAMABAD, Dec. 21: Minister for Law and Justice Prof N.D. Khan said
in the National Assembly that the present PPP government would
complete its tenure.
Mr. N.D.Khan responding to Mr.Nawaz Sharifs speech said, the entire
speech, was based on a single demand of mid-term elections which is
a day dream, he claimed. He said the people had given mandate to the
Peoples Party for five years and therefore, elections would be held
in 1998.
He further went on to add that the government of the PML, was
responsible for creating ethnic polarisation in Karachi, while the PPP
government has tried to overcome the polarisation.
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951227
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1996 will be year of information technology: Benazir
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ISLAMABAD, Dec. 26: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said 1996 will be
the year of information technology in Pakistan.
Ms Bhutto said it was her governments commitment to make Pakistan a
global player in the information technology and not limited to
domestic or regional markets.
Bhutto, emphasised on the promotion of computer training and education
through the private sector participation. Her government has already
launched an ambitious package of computer literacy, she added.
Pointing out the other incentives, Bhutto mentioned, complete
duty/tariff free import of hardware/software for export projects,
seven years corporate income tax break, low rate for data
communications, 100 per cent foreign ownership equity, setting up of
soft-ware technology parks and financial assistance for soft-ware
houses.
The incentive package will make Pakistan, a global player in the
software related sectors, she added.
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951228
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Babar denies govt supporting Haqiqi
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 27: Interior Minister Naseerullah Babar claimed in the
Senate that the government had already identified the culprits
responsible for the Peshawar bomb blast and was now working on
unearthing those who had financed the whole plan.
The interior minister did not divulge the identities of the criminals
involved or whether any arrests had been made so far by the
authorities. The only information he did dispense related to the
details of the vehicle used in the blast.
Defending the performance of police and other security agencies, he
said it was absolutely wrong to suggest that the agencies had not
been on the alert and were sleeping or that the Peshawar blast had
occurred due to some security lapse. He pointed out that it was due to
the vigilance of the agencies that only recently two powerful bombs
had been discovered and diffused.
He denied that FBI had been contacted in tracing out the terrorists
involved in the blast. We will only sought FBIs help if necessary in
identifying the quantity of contents of the explosives.
Senator Ishtiaq Azhar through a call attention notice wanted the
government to explain its practice of what he alleged to be the
extra-judicial killing of MQM workers in fake police encounters.
The minister denied the charge and insisted that all terrorists had
been killed only in encounters with law enforcement agencies, and only
after they took up arms against the agency personnel. He also
dismissed the allegation that the government was supporting the MQM
Haqiqi faction.
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951222
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Widespread damage: 40 die in Peshawar car-bomb blast
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Intikhab Amir & Abdul Sami Paracha
PESHAWAR, Dec. 21: At least 40 people were killed and nearly 120
injured when a powerful explosion rocked the central part of the city,
blowing up a number of shops and setting others on fire. The blast was
said to have been caused by a car bomb.
Among those killed in the blast is Maimoona, daughter of the NWFP
Transport Minister Attaullah Jan, the granddaughter of the governor.
Many shops caught fire while windowpanes of showrooms and houses in a
radius of one-and-half kilometres were smashed and the roofs of a
couple nearby buildings collapsed. A number of people were feared to
be trapped in the debris of the shops which had basements. After the
explosion, the whole area was cordoned off by law-enforcement
personnel.
A state of emergency was declared in the city and cantonment
hospitals.
Most of the bodies were recovered early after the blast, but those of
six children were dug out from inside the garment shops late in the
evening. Rescue workers fear that more bodies might be found.
According to the IGP, one ASI and two policemen were missing. The
bodies were at the Lady Reading Hospital and most of them could not be
identified as they were totally charred.
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951223
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Lack of expertise hampers rescue operation
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Ahmad Hassan
PESHAWAR, Dec. 22: The death toll in the blast was put at 38 on Friday
by official sources, although independent sources and the people
involved in rescue operations insisted on over 40 deaths. The total
number of people injured and still in various city hospitals is put at
125. A large number of injured were, however removed from hospitals
after first aid.
Rescue operations launched soon after the explosion continued
throughout the day on Friday and PAF and army also joined in. People
at the site complained of lack of expertise on the part of rescuers
and absence of proper fire-fighting equipment to cope with the
catastrophe. Fire extinguishers managed to control the fire at one pm
on Friday.
A large number of people remained trapped in the basement of Wudood
Sons departmental store due to the blockade of the emergency exit in
the basement. Another factor which made the situation grim was the
fact that civil defence operators did not know the proper use of
oxygen masks.
Besides a number of shoppers and salesmen, the owner of the
departmental store Mohammad Hamed Wudood Siddiqui also died of
suffocation in the basement, eyewitnesses and survivors said.
Whereabouts of a large number of people could not be known as the kith
and kin of the missing people looked for them in vain. Official
sources said at least 10 bodies were still lying at the Khyber Medical
College for identification, whereas the rest were taken away by their
heirs and buried.
Speculation that a number of people were trapped in the basement
prompted rescue operators and army personnel to intensify search
operation only to find none in the basement.
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951223
-------------------------------------------------------------------
NWFP mourns blast victims today.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Abdul Sami Paracha and Intikhab Amir
PESHAWAR, Dec. 22: Security agencies have arrested four Afghan
nationals on suspicion of their involvement bomb explosion in
Peshawar.
These people were arrested from Pakistan-Afghan border at Torkham when
they were trying to cross over into Afghanistan. All four of them have
been removed to unknown place for interrogation.
Meanwhile, security agencies have sealed Pakistan-Afghan border at
various places in the tribal area, including Torkham in Khyber Agency
and Nawapass in Mohmand Agency.
The arrested people have been identified as Ghulam Haider of Takhtal,
Daud Shah of Kandahar, Mohammad Matin of Kabul and Mohammad Ghazi of
Jalalabad.
More arrests of Afghan nationals have been made from various camps and
places near Peshawar but none has so far been identified. Security
agencies are not disclosing their names and particulars.
According to an official of a secret agency, initial investigations
into the Thursday bomb blast revealed that the nature of explosive was
identical to that seized from two Afghan nationals arrested during the
chief ministership of Mir Afzal Khan.
The official, talking to Dawn on the condition of anonymity said the
provincial government through the federal interior ministry had sought
the help of a foreign country to track down culprits involved in the
blast.
The device was said to be of Russian make and had an intensity of 25
kg, according to bomb disposal squad. However, according to the
source, the five special teams constituted for investigations have
been asked to submit report within 72 hours. The five teams comprise
Peshawar District Police, Crimes Branch, Special Branch, Intelligence
Bureau and Inter Services Intelligence.
According to police sources they have recovered the engine of the car
identified as Toyota Mark 2 which was used in the blast. The engine
number of the car is said to be 3K5835376. No registration plate has
so far been found but police are working with the Excise &
Registration departments all over the province to detect registration
number of the car.
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951223
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Nawaz blames govt for security lapse
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 22: Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has strongly
condemned the act of terrorism in Peshawar where a large number of
people were killed and numerous others injured in a car-bomb blast.
The PML president in a statement expressed his condolences with the
families of those killed in the blast.
He demanded that the government must act immediately to track down the
perpetrators of this crime. People, he said, were already groaning
under exorbitant price-hike and terrorism was apt to add to their
tribulations.
Administrative apparatus had failed to protect the lives and property
of citizens leaving people in perpetual fear, he claimed. He
criticised the PPP governments security lapses which had led to an
abject failure to protect the lives and property of citizens.
He claimed that security lapses were taking place largely due to the
fact that the state security apparatus like the police, the FIA and
intelligence bureau had become a tool of the PPP regime and were being
used to harass and victimise the opposition, rather than providing
security and nabbing terrorists and criminals.
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951223
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Qazi urges govt to check occurrence of blasts
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
LAHORE, Dec. 22: Chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad condemned
the killing of innocent people in Thursdays bomb explosions in
Peshawar and Faisalabad and urged the government to take adequate
steps to check occurrence of such incidents in future.
Qazi Hussain Ahmad condoled the death of NWFP Governor Maj. Gen (retd)
Khurshid Ali Khans daughter and her children and provincial minister
Attaullah Jans daughter in Peshawar bomb blast.
The JI Amir urged the government to immediately hold an inquiry into
the incidents and give adequate monetary compensation to the families
of the people killed.
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951224
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mourning for blast victims
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahmad Hassan
PESHAWAR, Dec. 23: Normal life came to a standstill in Peshawar and
other cities and towns of the province as people mourned the deaths of
the victims of Thursdays blast.
Roads and streets wore a deserted look. Meanwhile, work on removal of
debris from the site of the blast continued all day long. People in
large numbers thronged the place from all over the province. Some of
them were still searching for their near and dear ones. General panic
and scare which had swept the city in the wake of the blast, still
prevailed.
The police had dug up some ten graves for unknown deceased on Friday
but burial plans were put off till Saturday Most of the remaining dead
had been identified by their relatives by Friday evening. However,
there still are quite a few persons missing.
Other details revealed that 25 people including salesmen and shoppers
had been saved alive from the basement of the store, when a student of
the university, who was among the stranded people, succeeded in
breaking up the ventilator exhaust fan.
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951224
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Explosion probe continues
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Intikhab Amir
PESHAWAR, Dec. 23: As investigations into the Peshawar blast continue.
The West Cantt Police Station rounded up eight more Afghan nationals
on suspicion late Friday night.
The police have also taken into custody some people belonging to Arab
countries from the University Town area besides an unspecified number
of Afghans from the Nasir Bagh Refugee camp on the outskirts of
Peshawar, all of them were later set free after questioning.
Meanwhile, the AIG Police, in charge of the Bomb Disposal Squad, Maj.
Ghulam Hussain, told Dawn that investigation as to the quality and
origin of the explosive material was yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, security measures have been tightened in and around the
provincial capital and strict checking is being carried out by police
in all inlets of the city.
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951224
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Nasrullah and Afghanistans mly installations
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
LAHORE, Dec. 23: Holding the Rabbani regime responsible for subversive
activities in Pakistan, including the deadly bomb blast in Peshawar
which caused a massive loss of human lives, National Assembly Kashmir
Committee Chairman Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan urged the government on to
retaliate by attacking military installations in Afghanistan.
He said no other country would oppose an attack by Pakistan as no
country spoke against Israel when it took similar action against
Lebanon on a minor activity by the latter. He did not agree with the
suggestion that before resorting to such an extreme act, Pakistan
should raise the matter with the United Nations.
About the Rabbani regime, he said its attitude towards Pakistan was
inimical but friendly towards India. It was for this reason that
Pakistans embassy in Kabul was attacked and Islamabads ambassador
was seriously hurt, who was brought to Pakistan in a very serious
condition.
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951224
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Leghari condoles with Khurshid
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
MARDAN, Dec. 23: President Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari visited
the residence of Mr Sher Afghan, son-in-law of the governor of NWFP,
Khurshid Ali Khan, to condole the death of the daughter and grand-
children of Mr Khurshid who were killed in the bomb blast.
Condemning the killing of innocent men, women and children in the
strongest terms, Mr Leghari said that the subversive elements were out
to create terror among the people beside trying to intimidate the
government.
He declared that such dastardly acts would not deter Pakistan from
pursuing its principled policy of peace and justice. He expressed
governments resolve not to let go unpunished, those responsible for
Thursdays tragedy and efforts were being made to bring them to
justice.
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951224
-------------------------------------------------------------------
US embassy denies report: Blast in Peshawar
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
PESHAWAR, Dec. 23: A US embassy spokesman in Islamabad denied that the
American Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has made a formal
offer to Pakistan to help in the investigations of the bomb blast in
Peshawar in which scores of civilians lives were lost, well over one-
hundred people injured and massive damage to property occurred.
The spokesman said that any such offer would only be made after a
special request is properly submitted to the US government. He added
that the US government would consider the request purely on merit.
According to him, the government of Pakistan has not so far contacted
the US administration seeking such help.
In the meantime at Peshawar, the AIG Police in charge of the Bomb
Disposal squad, Maj. Ghulam Hussain also expressed ignorance about the
offer by FBI.
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951224
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Security lapse caused blast, confirm reports
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Abdul Sami Paracha
PESHAWAR, Dec. 23: The three teams constituted to investigate
explosion in Peshawar Cantonment, have submitted three different
versions to the provincial administration but all three confirm that
the blast was the result of a serious security lapse and that a prior
warning had been conveyed to the provincial government on Dec. 14 in
this regard, highly placed sources told Dawn.
The security agencies and other officials have hinted at the
involvement of a neighbouring Muslim country, according to one
version. At least three highly placed officials and political sources
have expressed this view and suggested to the investigating agencies
to follow this course in their investigations.
It is also learnt that before the formation of the three committees,
headed by DIG Peshawar range, DIG special branch and AIG CID, a
sensitive intelligence agency had indicated in its report to
authorities the involvement of the Rabbani government.
According to another version, the Al Jehad organisation of Egypt was
involved in the blast. Those who believe in this version, including
the chief minister and the federal interior minister, are reportedly
expecting an announcement by that organisation, which traditionally
accepts responsibility for acts of terrorism and sabotage it carries
out.
The stance of the third about the Indian factor has been turned down
for the time being.
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951224
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan denies involvement in blast
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KABUL, Dec. 23: Afghan officials denied allegations that Afghanistan
was responsible for a car bomb blast in Peshawar on Thursday.
The denial came after suspicions in Pakistan that agents of the Afghan
secret service might have been involved in the bombing in a crowded
shopping centre on Thursday which killed more than 40 people according
to official estimate.
It is ridiculous and false to accuse Afghanistan of this shameful
crime, a defence ministry official said. The official said that
although Afghanistan was experiencing problems with Pakistans
government, it did not mean that any violent action would be taken
against the people of the neighbouring country.
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951225
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PM briefed on blast follow-up
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Abdul Sami Paracha and Intikhab Amir
DARRA ADAM KHEL, DEC 24: The prime minister paid visits to the site of
the blast, the Lady Reading Hospital to enquire about the health of
those who received injuries and the governors house to condole the
death of Mr khurshid Ali Khans daughter and her two children who were
among the blast victims.
During a meeting, the prime minister was briefed on the situation
after the blast, the losses and findings made following investigations
carried out by five special teams constituted to probe into the blast.
In the meeting the prime minister decided to give Rs 100,000 to the
bereaved family of each victim and Rs 50,000 for each injured person
as compensation by the Federal Government in addition to the
compensatory allowance already announced by the provincial government.
The NWFP government announced Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 50,000 for the
families of each deceased and injured person, respectively.
The meeting also announced a reward of Rs. 10 million for the informer
leading to the arrest of the saboteurs. The reward money is in
addition to that of Rs. 100,000 announced by the provincial
government.
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto also directed the provincial government
to establish crisis management centres in all the provincial
headquarters following the lines of the Sindh government. These crisis
centre would keep vigil on the law and order situation and take prompt
action against any act of terrorism anywhere in the province.
The meeting also decided to offer a supplementary grant to the NWFP
government for setting up crisis management centres, if necessary. The
meeting also discussed upgrading of the Frontier police to enable it
to effectively deal with law and order, and for that purpose funds are
expected to be specified and allocated in the next fiscal years
budget.
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951225
-------------------------------------------------------------------
President, PM discuss law, order situation
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 24: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto called on President
Farooq Leghari and discussed with him the deteriorating law and order
situation in the country with special reference to the bomb blast in
Peshawar, and incidents of violence in Karachi.
All aspects of the Peshawar bomb blast were discussed between the two
leaders. Sources said that they did not rule out the involvement of
foreign hand in the bomb blast and agreed that there should be
thorough investigation against non- governmental organisations (NGOs)
operating in Peshawar, most of whom are run by Afghans.
Both the leaders also discussed about the deteriorated Pakistan-Afghan
relations. Sources said the president and the prime minister were of
the view that there must be more security arrangements on Pakistans
western and eastern borders to stop the entry of subversive elements
into the country.
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951227
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PML chief urges govt to expose blast culprits
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Dec. 26: Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly
Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has demanded of the government to expose the
culprits responsible for the Peshawar bomb blast.
He attributed these disastrous acts to the failure of the government
in adopting a correct Afghan policy. Mr Sharif held the government
responsible for the deterioration of countrys relations with the
Kabul regime. It was pity, he said, that Pakistan embassy in Kabul was
burnt down and its ambassador injured in an assault, while no, similar
incident took place in Delhi, despite the two countries having remain
engaged in three wars.
The opposition leader expressed his extreme anguish and sorrow over
the loss of innocent lives, including children and women, and deplored
the governments apathy towards public security. He feared that if
necessary precautionary steps were not taken right now, such
occurrences may spread to other parts of the country, as already
blasts have occurred in Lahore, Faisalabad and other places.
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951227
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Main suspect of Peshawar blast identified
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahmad Hassan
PESHAWAR, Dec. 26: The NWFP Police released the sketch of a Persian-
speaking Afghan national believed to be the main accused of the
Peshawar bomb blast. The suspect has been identified as Abdul Matin.
Inspector-General of Police Syed Masood Shah said the identity of the
accused had been disclosed after considering all the aspects of the
case. Mr. Masood Shah was, however, not sure about the prime suspects
whereabouts.
Giving details, the IGP said the probe teams had gathered all details
about the vehicle used in the explosion. The sketch of the accused was
released which was drawn by a police expert with the help of four men,
including the owner of the bargain centre and his employees.
The IGP was confident that people would help in the arrest of the
accused as the government had announced head money to the tune of Rs
10 million for information leading to his arrest.
Giving details about the explosion, Mr Shah said the saboteurs were
seen by the injured persons escaping in a double cabin pick-up after
leaving the vehicle with headlights on. S.P. Salahuddin of Traffic
police who was present with his family (two of his children died in
the blast) had ordered removal of the car and police personnel on duty
were in the process of removing the car when the explosion occurred.
The device, explosion experts said, was attached to the headlights and
the saboteurs had done so to avoid falling victim themselves. They
would have put off the lights in case they had failed in finding out a
proper place to abandon the car.
Responding to a question, the IG Police claimed that the probe teams
and intelligence agencies were certain that Afghan nationals were
involved in the blast who might have links with some groups. He
admitted that a number of saboteur gangs were operative in the
province. He however, did not attribute the terrorist act to a
particular government or country. Mr Shah claimed that the police had
taken foolproof security measures to provide protection to the main
witnesses who had helped the police in tracking down the main
culprits.
When asked about the steps taken to check any such incident in future,
Mr Shah said certain proposals were already under consideration in
this regard. He said the prime minister had sought proposals for
setting up of centres to cope with emergency in future.
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951228
-------------------------------------------------------------------
IGP's remarks perturb agencies
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
PESHAWAR, Dec. 27: The intelligence agencies engaged in investigation
of the bomb blast have strongly reacted to the premature disclosures
made by the NWFP inspector-general of police about the suspects in a
Press conference.
Highly place sources told Dawn that the picture of a suspect Afghan
distributed among the journalists was based on mere imagination. They
opined that the NWFP police has totally failed to handle the case
professionally which needed to be dealt with different angles and
immense care.
They were of the view the Afghan involvement was yet to be confirmed
in the blast but the NWFP Police chief is trying to prove so to save
his skin.
They also confirmed that the picture released to the Press did not
tally the eye witnesses imaginary sketch as claimed by the police.
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951222
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Journalists stage walkout
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 21: The journalists staged a token walk-out from the
National Assembly for the second consecutive day to protest against
the attack on the offices of Sindhi-language daily Kawish and burning
of newspaper bundles by the workers of a Sindhi nationalist party.
The issue was raised on a point of order by the opposition member
Jaffar Iqbal. He drew the attention of the house towards the attacks
being conducted against the Sindhi daily and accused the government of
failing to provide protection to the newspapers. He regretted that no
one has been arrested although the case has been registered against
the culprits.
Mr Jaffer Iqbal said Federal Education Minister Khursheed Shah had
assured the House that he would inform the House about these incidents
after talking with Sindh Chief Minister Abdullah Shah but he failed to
take the House into confidence.
Interior Minister Naseerullah Babar told the House that he would
personally look into the matter and assured that all those involved in
these incidents would be taken to task.
Later a delegation of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists led by
its President C.R. Shamsi met the Interior Minister in his chamber
where the Bureau Chief of Daily Kawish informed the minister about the
attacks by the members of the Jiye Sindh party on the newspaper
offices. He said that newspaper bundles were being snatched by anti-
social elements and burnt.
Mr Babar immediately contacted the Inspector General of Sindh and
asked him to arrest all the people involved in these attacks and to
register cases against them. He asked the IG Sindh to ensure smooth
delivery and supply of the newspaper. The Interior Minister directed
the IG Sindh to send him a copy of the FIR registered with the police
in connection with the attack on the bureau office of the Sindhi daily
in Larkana.
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951225
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PNPO flays attack on Kawish
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KARACHI Dec. 24: The President and the Honorary Secretary- General of
Pakistan Newspapers and Periodicals Organisation, Arif Nizami and
Hameed Haroon, respectively, have condemned the targeting of Sindhi
daily Kawish, its journalists, employees and distributors by a
political party in the interior of Sindh and in Karachi and described
it as infringement of the freedom of the Press and right to free
expression.
In a Press release issued on Sunday, they said: Over the last week
acts of violence against the daily Kawish have been mounting in the
province. The management and journalists of the beleaguered newspaper
have alleged that the violence against the newspaper is at the
instigation of the high command of an ethnic political party in the
interior of Sindh.
The political party, in return, has not denied the allegation and
appears to be unwilling to de-escalate their attacks on the employees
of the newspaper.
The administration has taken no steps to curtail the spread of
violence against newspaper distributors, vehicles and the offices of
Kawish, although sympathetic concern has been voiced by Chief Minister
Syed Abdullah Shah. The statement also mentioned that in order to
preserve the independence of the Sindhi Press, the government must act
to solve the problem.
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951225
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Nawaz flays govt for curbing Press freedom
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 24: Leader of the Opposition Nawaz Sharif has accused
the PPP government of curbing the Press freedom in Pakistan.
In a statement issued here he alleged that the government was out to
curb the freedom of Press and that was why it was acting as a
spectator on the case of daily Kawish.
He condemned the systematic attacks on the daily and termed these acts
of violence an infringement on the freedom of expression and the
freedom of Press.
He also mentioned that the PPP regime whose entire state machinery was
otherwise active in violating the human rights of PML activists and
parliamentarians, has not taken any tangible steps to protect Press
freedom by providing security to Kawish against attacks from
hooligans.
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951228
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PNPO condemns violence against Press
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KARACHI, Dec. 27: The Pakistan Newspapers and Periodicals Organisation
(PNPO) at an emergent meeting of its executive committee adopted a
resolution strongly condemning the acts of violence and vandalism
against member publication Kawish and called upon all political
parties and elements to respect and uphold freedom of Press as
guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan.
The meeting noted that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Abdullah Shah had
given firm assurance for the protection of newspapers and newsmen to
several delegations of the PNPO and the NECP.
The meeting noted that orders were also issued by the office of the
chief minister to security enforcement agencies, including police for
ensuring protection of newspapers and newsmen. Yet the violation of
the firm assurance of the chief minister of Sindh was taking place
every second day.
The meeting noted that this was a very unsatisfactory situation and
decided to bring the whole issue before the special liaison committee
set up by the Sindh government at the chief secretarys level for
ensuring protection and safety to the pressmen.
The meeting called upon the Sindh government to improve immediately
the measures for proper protection of newsmen and newspaper offices in
Karachi and the province of Sindh.
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951228
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Media accused of fanning conflicts
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
LAHORE, Dec. 27: Acting Punjab Governor Muhammad Hanif Ramay
inaugurated the two-day South Asian Regional Round-Table accusing
media of playing the negative role of fanning conflicts.
The acting governor said in a democratic set-up there had to be a
culture of dialogue. But whenever there is a possibility of a
dialogue, media has a negative role to play.
He said unnecessary words are put into the mouths of rival parties to
widen gap between them.
Mr Ramay said politicians used to live in conflicts. But media must
have to understand that there must be a resolution to every conflict
for the creation of a humane society.
He said if Middle East and the South African issues could be resolved,
conflicts between Pakistan and India and Pakistani government and the
opposition could also be resolved. But this needed some time and
patience. Where certain matters require quiet diplomacy, others need
media to remain quiet, Mr Ramay said.
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951227
-------------------------------------------------------------------
US proposal for COAS swearing-in: dropped
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shaheen Sehbai
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26: A US proposal to send a Defence Department
delegation to take part in the change of command ceremony in
Rawalpindi, when the new COAS takes over charge from General Abdul
Waheed on Jan 12, has been dropped.
According to knowledgeable sources, the Defence Department had earlier
indicated that a high-level team could participate in the ceremony but
reaction from the political leadership of Pakistan was lukewarm.
The Pakistan leadership apparently thought that presence of an US Army
delegation may send wrong signals about the new COAS and his
connections with the US army, these source said.
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951222
-------------------------------------------------------------------
World Bank conditions met : Punjab raises water rates
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mahmood Zaman
LAHORE, Dec. 21: The Punjab government has decided to increase
irrigation water charges (abiana) by 25 per cent from the next fiscal
year according to a World Bank proposal.
The water rate was increased by 25 per cent earlier this year after a
period of 11 years. As such this will be the second increase in water
rate charges.
The committee that was set up for the purpose met and discussed a
number of suggestions. It was of the view that the water rate had to
be increased to meet the World Bank conditionalities for a $800
million loan for the National Drainage Project aimed at reclamation of
saline and waterlogged lands with the help of Left Bank Outfall Drain
(LBOD) and the Right Bank Canal.
An agreement with the World Bank was concluded by the previous
government which was signed by the WAPDA authorities on behalf of the
federal government and the Punjab irrigation department under the late
Ghulam Haider Wynes provincial government. Other provinces were also
under an obligation to increase water rates.
Under the World Banks conditions the water rate has to be increased
in order to match operational and management cost of supplying canal
water to crops.
Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan have already met the World Bank
conditions and revised water charges. The Punjab has so far not done
so as first the Wyne government and then the Wattoo government had
deferred the matter for one reason or another.
Both the governments had a uniform view that instead of raising water
rate, efforts should be made to improve the process of recovery of the
charges.
Under the new system, the provincial government will set up an
autonomous water board at the provincial level with farmers
organisations (FOs) and water-users associations (WUAs) to supervise
irrigation water supply. A new law was in the making to give legal and
statutory sanction to the new irrigation network.
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951222
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Ban on mobile phones to be reviewed
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ISLAMABAD, Dec. 21:Interior Minister Naseerullah Babar informed the
National Assembly that restrictions on use of mobile telephone, pagers
and card phone had been imposed in Karachi in order to curb
terrorists activities.
The interior minister said he had taken up the matter of ban on phone
cards with intelligence agencies. He further said mobile telephone and
pager service had been restored in Hyderabad and Larkana district. He
said the restrictions would continue to be in effect till Dec. 31 and
after that it will be reviewed.
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951222
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Unnar walks free after twenty-two months
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 21: Ghulam Hussain Unnar was allowed to go home after
medical examinations at the National Institute of Cardio-Vascular
Disease.
During the day, all the formalities were completed by his relatives,
submitting copies of the bail granted to Mr Unnar by the High Court of
Sindh some 15 months ago in cases of corruption. The jail authorities
had said on Wednesday that he was not with them.
He remained in detention for about 22 months on various charges,
including that of corruption, which he allegedly committed while he
was chairman of the district council, Larkana; under preventive
detention and then under various blind FIRs in which no accused were
arrested.
After about two days rest at home as a free man, he will be admitted
to the Aga Khan Hospital under the care of a leading cardiologist and
then proceed to Larkana, his hometown.
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951222
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Khar directed not to issue statements on Kalabagh
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Ihtashamul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 21 : Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said that the
Kalabagh dam will not be built without the consensus among all the
four provinces.
Ms Bhutto said she has directed Minister for Water and Power Malik
Ghulam Mustafa Khar to stop issuing statements about the construction
of Kalabagh dam. The prime minister pointed out that the dam was a
very sensitive issue over which no minister should issue statement.
The prime minister claimed that the opposition members belonging to
Punjab and NWFP were confused and opposing each other on Kalabagh dam.
These members were now trying to hatch a conspiracy to create
differences in the treasury benches for which everybody should be on
guard.
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951223
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Quaid's birth anniversary : Centre asks Sindh to beef up security
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Faraz Hashmi
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 22: The Federal government has asked the Sindh
government to put security on red alert in Karachi on the occasion of
the birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam where PPP and MQM (H) intend to
hold rallies.
The warning by the ministry of interior came in the wake of reports
that terrorists had planned to subvert the rallies to be organised by
the PPP and MQM (H), a source said.
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951223
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KANUPP's operating life may extend
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KARACHI, Dec. 22: The operating life of the Karachi Nuclear Power
Project (KANUPP) is expected to extend to year 2012, ten years beyond
its designed life, it is learnt.
At present the KANUPP is undertaking various projects which include
replacement of obsolete computers, control and instrumentation, and
refurbishment of mechanical equipment. Simultaneously, a project has
been initiated to thoroughly review the design safety. The operational
safety of the plant has been quite satisfactory during the past few
decades.
Pakistan at present is confronted with the problem of loadshedding. At
peak times, there is a power deficiency of about 2,000 megawatts. The
shortage is likely to reach 4,000 MW by the end of the century unless
appropriate measures are taken to add new plants to the grid.
Recently the government has taken some major initiatives in the energy
sector pertaining to the setting up of thermal and hydro plants in the
country, which will alleviate the energy shortage in the years to
come.
According to the PAEC, in the long term perspective, Pakistan needs a
judicious mix of different modes of electricity generation, which
should satisfy such obvious criteria, like cost-effectiveness,
reduction of import dependence, promotion of self-reliance and
limiting environmental degradation.
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951223
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Deaf ears and hot air
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SOMETHING that President Farooq Leghari said in Islamabad last week
can only find a poignant echo in Lahore.
Addressing a gathering of Pakistani doctors settled in the US, he
appealed to philanthropists to help establish medical facilities for
the less fortunate citizens of the country.
Wherever you turn in Lahore, you find that almost all charitable
hospitals in the city where patients can get free or subsidised
treatment date back to before independence and all of them were
founded by Hindus.
You have the Ganga Ram hospital, Gulab Devi, Janki Devi and the
Moolchand hospital. There were smaller health units or dispensaries
many of which have disappeared. But the bigger hospitals remain and
are performing a valuable public service. In fact, ordinary citizens
wouldnt know where to go if it werent for these four big hospitals
and, of course, the Mayo, Services and Lady Willingdon.
Since independence, not a single big hospital has been endowed by any
Muslim. A few of the rich have established wards or beds in the
existing hospitals, but that is about all. The Sharif familys Ittefaq
Hospital does provide low-cost treatment facilities for those who can
establish that their means are limited, but it isnt a public hospital
in the sense in which Ganga Ram or Gulab Devi are. Imran Khans
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital is for cancer patients only, and
there is limited provision for treating people free of cost.
Many, many Muslims have built many, many hospitals in Lahore since
1947, and while they no doubt fill a gap left by the government health
services, they are basically commercial propositions. Parts of Jail
Road and Gulberg bristle with hospitals and pathology laboratories and
group-practice complexes with provision for indoor patients. But they
are all for those who are ready to shell out considerable sums of
money. The poor still have to go to hospitals set up by Hindu or Sikh
philanthropists (or by the British authorities, with the exception of
Services).
It is true that before 1947, much of the wealth in the Punjab was in
the hands of non-Muslims, and those of them so inclined had the means
to set up trusts to run hospitals, educational institutions and
libraries. But even in those days, there wasnt any dearth of rich
Muslim feudal families; apparently they didnt think much beyond their
lands and getting a seat in the assemblies. We now have an abundance
of rich Muslim industrialists and businessmen, but none appears to be
moved by any strong urge to be remembered by posterity for a good
public deed.
This is just another indication of the kind of grasping, uncaring
society we have become, and President Legharis plea is bound to fall
on deaf ears.
The governments own attitude towards provision of basic health
facilities is marked by gross indifference and negligence. Punjab
Chief Minister Arif Nakai, talking to a WHO delegation on December 13,
said the government was taking concrete steps for introducing positive
changes in medical education and research, and the performance of
basic health units and rural health centres has been improved to
provide better health-care services at village level.
This is sheer hot air. The fact is that doctors are not willing to go
to the rural areas, and consequently a number of basic health units
and rural centres are lying closed. There are buildings but no
doctors. That is the plain and simple truth, and the chief minister at
least owes it to the public not to make claims which he cannot
substantiate.
Whats the use of making tall claims when the reality on the ground
mocks every word uttered by our leaders?
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951223
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JKNPP merged with JKPP
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ISLAMABAD, Dec. 22: The Jammu Kashmir National Peoples Party (JKNPP)
has been merged with Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party (JKPP), with a view
to bringing the two parties of the state closer to each other.
This was announced here by the President of JKNPP, Zafar Ali Magray
who said he had set no conditions for the merger, and added that he
would accept every decision made by the party leadership. He said the
NPP chief, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi had been informed about the merger,
adding that he had already given him a free hand in making decisions
about the party.
Zafar Ali Magray underlined the need for bringing closer the parties
of Azad Kashmir having identical ideologies and pointed out that the
Kashmir liberation movement had entered a decisive phase.
He said the AJK government must sit with the opposition to discuss
ways and means to make the forthcoming elections in the state free,
fair and transparent.
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951228
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More terrorist attacks feared elsewhere in city
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 27: The terrorists may let loose a reign of terror in
the country, including the metropolis of Karachi, and resort to bomb
explosions to create alarm and commotion said the Commissioner of
Karachi Zia-ul-Islam.
The Commissioner informed at least 60 heads of government
organisations that after the bomb explosion at Peshawar, there is need
to adopt immediate security measures in all office premises, adding he
told them that the meeting was being held on a directive from the
chief minister Syed Abdullah Shah, who is deeply concerned over
reports of possible acts of sabotage.
Mr Ziaul Islam informed the departments/agencies that there was
reliable information about possible bomb blasts in the country by
terrorists shortly. He urged the participants to pay serious attention
while preparing security plans, to monitor (a) car parking areas; (b)
entry points and (c) on unwanted articles.
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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.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
951222
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Rupee value to remain unchanged
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M. Ziauddin
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 21: The next adjustment in Pakistan rupee is not
expected to occur till late 1996 as the movement of the currency by
minus 11 per cent against US dollar in 1995 is seen to have exceeded
the trend rate of depreciation which on an average was eight per cent
over the last five years.
An internationally reputable brokerage house on the economic outlook
for Pakistan, says that the prospect of a flight of capital from
Pakistan is remote now that the IMF has committed 600 million dollars
of standby facility which will be followed by reactivation of the 1.5
billion dollar IMF ESAF\EFF facilities.
BALANCE OF PAYMENTS: The report projects the interest rates to rise in
1996 due to increasing demands for funds by infrastructure projects
and government borrowing continuing to overshoot budgetary targets.
The current inflexibility of interests rates on government borrowing
has been partly attributed to the fact that over 30 per cent of
government expenditure goes on servicing public debt, of which over 60
per cent is domestic government paper. Therefore, any increase in
treasury bill rates, which are de facto benchmark for deposit and
lending rates, will only serve to increase the fiscal deficit which is
already in excess of six per cent of GDP.
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951222
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Five-year tax holiday urged
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Shamsul Islam Naz
FAISALABAD, Dec. 21: The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce Industry has
urged the Government to grant 5 years tax holiday concessions to rural
industrial undertakings.
In a joint statement, president Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce &
Industry, Haji Abdul Razzaq, senior vice president, Mian Wisal A.
Mannoo and vice president Chaudhri Muhammad Siddique Ali said the
extension of the incentives given to the industries in the rural and
backward areas in term of withdrawal of exemption of custom duty and
sales tax on the import of plant and machinery, withdrawal of
exemption of income tax for at least 5 years and immunity provided for
providing employment opportunities are urgently desired for broadening
and strengthening the industrial base in Pakistan.
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951222
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Modifications in credit plan approved
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Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, Dec. 21: The directors of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP),
approved the credit control measures recently introduced by the SBP.
An SBP press release claimed that the directors felt satisfied with
what it called healthy improvement in the balance of payments in the
recent past. Headlined as Foreign Exchange Reserves increased to $
1.53 billion, the release said the gross reserves of the SBP rose
from $ 1.1 billion at the end of November to $ 1.53 billion on
December 20. The release further claimed that foreign currency
deposits rose by $ 127 million between the end of November and
December 20 without quoting the competing figures.
But a source privy to the meeting said foreign exchange reserves are
not normally referred to as gross reserves which also include gold
reserves.
The source said the meeting was told about a big jump in the liquid
reserves which stood merely at $525 million on December 14 but he
could not quantify the exact increase.
It said the board of the SBP directors noted with satisfaction the
indications of an increase in exports, slowdown in imports and an
improving trend in the current account of the balance of payments.
The directors were also briefed about the recent monetary, fiscal and
balance of payments development at the meeting. The SBP chief told the
meeting that the government borrowing for budgetary support declined
from Rs 55.5 billion upto November 23, 1995 to Rs 51.6 billion upto
December 7.
The SBP chief was optimistic that the figure would come down to Rs 40
billion by the end of this month. The meeting also noted with
satisfaction the disbursement of production loans to agriculture that
stood at Rs 4.3 billion at the end of November 1995 a 36 per cent
increase over the comparative figure of the last year.
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951222
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Extra burden on loan repayments to worsen situation
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Mohammad Malick
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 21: The recent 7 per cent devaluation of rupee will
place an extra burden of Rs 2043 million on the country's foreign loan
repayments for 1995-96.
Presently, Pakistan's disbursed and outstanding external debt stands
at US$ 21,324 million. This extra burden will further add to an
already strained financial situation where the government's domestic
borrowing for year 1994-95 comes to Rs 95.4 billion. Out of this Rs
34.6 billion has come from bank sources while non-bank borrowings
account for the major bulk of Rs 60.8 billion.
The government meanwhile has already overshot its borrowing target
limit for the entire period of 1995-96 during the first quarter of
the current financial year.
The domestic debt in 1992-93 stood at Rs 83 billion with bank
borrowings accounting for Rs 60.3 billion, while the figure shot up to
Rs 94 billion in 1993-94 with the major chunk of Rs 60.1 billion
coming from non-bank sources once again.
Interesting enough, the non-bank borrowings which include schemes like
high-interest paying savings schemes etc are viewed as highly
expensive propositions for the government and are only used grudgingly
by the economic managers. These statistics were revealed during
government's replies to opposition's queries.
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951224
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Anti-dumping Duties Act in the offing
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ISLAMABAD, Dec. 23: A draft anti-dumping and countervailing duties Act
1995 has been prepared by the National Tariff Commission (NTC) and
awaiting approval by the competent authority.
According to NTC source, the proposed Act has been drawn in the light
of the provision of GATT Agreement of April 1994. NTC is presently
busy in framing rules and formats for obtaining the requisite
information so that it can assist the government in initiating anti-
dumping actions as soon as dumping is reported by the indigenous
industry, he added.
The anti-dumping action can be initiated only after a formal request
for the same has been made by and on behalf of the domestic industry
and is supported by those domestic producers whose collective output
constitutes more than 50 % of the total production of the like product
produced by the portion of the domestic industry.
NTC is tasked to assist the government in cases of dumping and unfair
trade practices. Increased level of anti-dumping action by industry
world-wide, is a reflection of the ease with which an importing
country can prove dumping especially when the anti-dumping actions
involve no costs for those taking them.
With a view to pre-empting requests for anti-dumping action, the
source said, NTC also plans to develop a data base containing
independent information on international price intelligence to be able
to recognise normal or below normal values and costs of production
data along with historical production statistics, to ascertain
injury to domestic industry and the casual link between the two.
NTC works under the Ministry of Commerce and is required to advise the
government on tariff measures or other forms of assistance for
providing protection to the indigenous industry and promoting exports
by improving its competitiveness. It is also expected to assist the
government on measures to counter dumping and the unfair practices
adopted in respect of import and sale of foreign goods in Pakistan.
The main objective is to provide protection to these industries to
ensure their private profitability with a view to keeping the existing
investment afloat on the one hand and inducing fresh investment on the
other.
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951224
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Review of interest rate policy requested
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 23: President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
(KCCI), Haji Shafiqur Rehman has called upon the Government to review
the interest rate policy including the rate of return in deposits.
Expressing concern over the rise in lending rate, the KCCI chief said:
there exists no justification for charging higher rate of interest
when average rate of return is seven to nine per cent. He said after
taking into consideration elements of inflation, deduction of zakat
and withholding tax, depositors were left with a negative rate of
saving.
In a statement on Saturday, Haji Shafiqur Rehman said that the higher
rate of inflation as well as banks borrowing by the Government on a
massive scale had been contributing to higher rate of interest.
The KCCI chief said as against a target of deficit financing to the
tune of Rs 30 million for the current, already banks borrowing to the
extent of Rs 45 million had been affected resulting in monetary
expansion and consequent rise in inflation.
He pointed out that national rate of savings of Pakistan was hardly
14% as against 22% in India.
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951225
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Company rules to come into force from Jan 1996
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ISLAMABAD, Dec. 24: Companies (Issue of share capital) rules, 1996
will come into force after its notification in the first week of
January next.
The rules will provide safeguard to small investors and guidance to
companies listed with the stock exchange regarding bonus share, issue
of share on premium and issue of right shares by the listed companies.
The rules to come into force at once after notification, would be
applicable to companies proposing to offer share capital to the
general public and listed companies proposing to increase capital
through right issue or bonus issue and to other case where shares are
issued for consideration other than cash.
Under the rules, sources said, companies would not need approval of
the authority for listing themselves with the stock exchanges, except
in few cases mentioned in the rules. There would be however, certain
obligations on the companies regarding safeguards for the shares
holders and small investors.
Following is the text of the companies (issue of share capital) rules,
1996:
Policy for issue of capitals: A company which owns a loan-based
project or an equity based project and proposes to raise capital
through public offer shall company with the conditions specified:-
(a) loan-based projects:
(i) the size of capital to be issued shall be in accordance with
financial plan as approved by the institution financing the project.
(ii) the companys auditors shall certify that sponsors subscription
has been received in full and at least 80% thereof has been utilised
in the project.
(iii) last consignment of plant and machinery, wherever required, has
been shipped to the company.
(iv) in case capital of the company is proposed to be raised up to Rs
200 million, at least 50% of such capital shall be offered to the
general public.
(v) i case capital of the company is proposed to be raised beyond Rs
200 million, public offer shall be at least Rs 100 million or 25% of
the capital, whichever is the higher.
(vi) sponsors shall, at all times, retain at least 25% of the capital
of the company.
(viii) allocation of share capital to employees of the company shall
not exceed 5% of the public offer.
(b) equity-based projects:
(i) the project shall be appraised by a development financial
institution or a commercial bank or an investment bank.
(ii) the appraisal report shall be accompanied by a certificate from
the companys auditors confirming that (a) the capital allocated to
the sponsors and foreign or local investors, if any, has been
subscribed and fully paid; and (b) the land for the project has been
acquired, letter of credit has been established and shipment schedule
of plant and machinery finalised by the suppliers.
(iii) in case capital of the company is proposed to be raised up to Rs
200 million, at least 50% of such capital shall be offered to the
general public.
(iv) in case capital of the company is proposed to be raised beyond Rs
200 million, public offer shall be at least Rs 100 million or 25% of
the capital, whichever is the higher.
(v) sponsors shall, at all times, retain at least 25% of the capital
of the company.
(vi) allocation of share capital to overseas Pakistanis shall not
exceed 25% of the public offer.
(vii) allocation of share capital to employees of the company shall
not exceed 5% of the public offer.
(viii) the shares allotted to sponsors, friends, relatives, associates
and other persons or institutions on account of preferential
allocation at par, shall not be saleable for a period of three years
from the date of allotment. These persons or institutions shall be
issued jumbo certificates with markings not saleable for three
years. The particulars of such jumbo certificate shall be furnished
to the respective stock exchanges. Companies while splitting jumbo
certificates into marketable lots, after the prescribed period, shall
also inform the respective stock exchanges.
Issue of shares on premium: A company may issue shares to the public
on premium subject to the following conditions:-
(i) the premium on public offering shall not exceed the amount of
premium charged on foreign/local placement or charged to local
institutions.
(ii) particulars of foreign/local investors shall be disclosed in the
prospectus.
(iii) in case of foreign placement, Pakistani nationals subscribing in
foreign currency shall rank equally with the foreign investors.
(iv) the implementation of the project shall be in accordance with the
approved financial plan.
(v) the issue shall be underwritten by at least two development
financial institutions, including commercial banks, investment banks
or corporate brokerage houses who shall justify the amount of premium
in their due-diligence report.
(vi) underwriting by the associated companies shall not be
permissible.
(vii) total underwriting by individual members of the stock exchanges
shall not exceed 20% percent of the issue.
(viii) full justification for premium shall be disclosed in the
prospectus.
(ix) the due-diligence report of the underwriters shall form part of
the material contracts.
(x) the employees of the company getting preferential allocation, if
any, shall be charged premium at the same rate as the general public.
(ix) the shares allotted to sponsors, friends, relatives, associates
and other persons or institutions on account of preferential
allocation at par, shall not be saleable for a period of three years
from the date of allotment. These persons or institutions shall be
issued jumbo certificates with marking not saleable for three years.
The particulars of such jumbo certificate shall be furnished to the
respective stock exchanges. Companies while splitting jumbo
certificates into marketable lots, after the prescribed period, shall
also inform the respective stock exchanges.
Issue of right shares by listed companies: A listed company may issue
right shares subject to the following conditions:-
(i) no company shall make a right issue within one year of the last
issue of the capital.
(ii) the decision of the company to issue right shares shall be
communicated to the authority and the respective stock exchanges on
the day of the decision.
(iii) A company may charge premium on right shares up to the free
reserves per share as certified by the companys auditors. The
certificate of auditors shall be furnished to the Authority and the
respective stock exchanges along with intimation of the proposed right
issue. The free reserves shall be calculated in the manner
prescribed in rule 5.
(iv) A company announcing right shares shall, at the time of
announcement, clearly indicate the purpose of the right issue,
benefits to the company, use of funds and financial projections for
three years. The financial plan and projections for the right issue
shall be signed by all the directors who were present in the meeting
in which the right issue was approved.
(v) right issues of a loss making company or a company whose average
market share price for a period of six months is below par value shall
be fully underwritten.
(vi) book closure shall be made within 45 days of the announcement of
the right issue.
(vii) if the announcement of bonus and right shares is made
simultaneously, resolution of the board of directors shall indicate
whether or not the bonus shares covered by the announcement qualify
for right entitlement.
Issue of bonus shares by listed companies: a listed company may issue
bonus shares subject to the following conditions:-
(i) the decision of the board of directors to issue bonus shares shall
be communicated to the Authority and the respective stock exchanges on
the day of the decision. The intimation letter shall be accompanied by
the auditors certificate as specified in clause (iii) of this rule.
(ii) the free reserves of the company shall be sufficient to permit
issue of bonus shares after retaining in the reserves 25% of the
capital as will be increased by the proposed bonus shares.
(iii) a certificate from the companys auditor shall be obtained to
the effect that the free reserves and surpluses retained after the
issue of the bonus shares will not be less than 25% of the increased
capital.
(iv) all contingent liabilities disclosed in the audited accounts and
any such liability which may have been created subsequent to the
audited accounts shall be deducted while calculating minimum residual
reserves of 25%.
Explanation: free reserves includes any amount which, having been
set aside out of revenue or other surpluses after adjustment of all
intangible or fictitious assets, is free in that it is not retained to
meet any diminution in value of assets, specific liability,
contingency or commitment known to exist at the date of the balance
sheet, but does not include:-
(i) reserves created as a result of revaluation of fixed assets.
(ii) goodwill reserve.
(iii) depreciation reserve to the extent of normal depreciation
including allowance for multiple shifts admissible under the income
tax Ordinance, 1979 (XXXI of 1979).
(iv) workers welfare fund.
(v) provisions for taxation to the extent of the deferred or current
liability of the company.
(vi) capital redemption reserve.
Offer for sale of shares by privatised companies: in case of a company
privatised by the federal or a provincial government, the new
management may offer shares to the general public at the purchase
price per share adjusted by right or bonus issue or any other
distribution made out of the pre-acquisition reserves.
Offer for sale of shares by certain shareholders:- no person who holds
10% or more of the shares of a company shall offer such shares for
sale to the public unless the following conditions are fulfilled:-
(i) the size of the capital to be offered to general public through
offer for sale shall not be less than Rs 100 million or 25% of the
capital, whichever is less.
(ii) in case a premium is to be charged on the sale of shares, the
offer shall be under-written by at least two development financial
institutions, including commercial banks, investment banks or
corporate brokerage houses. Full justification for the premium shall
be disclosed in the prospectus.
(iii) not more than 25% of the offer for sale of shares shall be under
written by the individual members of the stock exchanges.
(iv) due-diligence report of the underwriters shall form part of the
material contracts.
Issue of shares for consideration other than cash: a company may issue
shares against consideration other than cash subject to the following
conditions:-
(i) the value of assets shall be determined by a recognised appraiser.
(ii) the value of assets taken over shall be reduced by depreciation
charged on consistent basis.
(iii) the goodwill and other intangible assets shall be excluded from
the consideration.
(iv) certificate from a practising chartered accountant shall be
obtained to the effect that the above mentioned conditions have been
compiled with.
Penalty for contravention of these rules:-
Whoever fails or refuses to comply with, or contravenes any provision
of these rules, or knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits such
failure, refusal or contravention shall, in addition to any other
liability under the Ordinance, be also punishable with fine not
exceeding Rs 2000, and, in case of continuing failure/refusal or
contravention, to a further fine not exceeding Rs 100 for every day
after the first during which such contravention continues.
Power of Authority to relax rules:-
Where the Authority is satisfied that is not practicable or necessary
to comply with the requirements of any of these rules in a particular
case or class of cases, the Authority may, for reasons to be recorded,
relax the rules in the case of such company or class of companies
subject to such conditions, if any, as may be imposed by the Authority
in that behalf.
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951228
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MFN status: Pakistan not to extend India any special favours
-------------------------------------------------------------------
M. Ziauddin
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 27: Pakistan would not be according any special favour
to India, when and if, Islamabad finally grants the Most Favoured
Nation (MFN) status to our southern neighbour which would be enjoying
this status along with a crowd of 130 nations, all signatories of GATT
agreement.
At the official level, the inevitability of granting India the MFN
status has seemingly finally sunk in. However, in order to be able to
face the new trade challenges, which would not come from India alone,
the officials are apparently trying to buy enough time for
preparations.
Another challenge that looks the government straight in the face is
the continued confusion in the minds of a part of officialdom that
somehow the Kashmir cause would suffer if India is granted the MFN
status.
Unless this confusion is sorted out at the official level and a
unified position is taken, it would not be easy for the government to
convince the nation at large that the MFN status does not accord India
a special position vis-a-vis Islamabads other 130 trading partners.
Also, the government needs to clarify to all interested parties that
granting of MNF to India does not mean establishment of a free trade
area between the two countries. This is a matter that is being pursued
on the SAARC track.
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951222
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Shares recover broadly on all counters
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce Reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 21: Stocks appeared to be in a buoyant mood aided
apparently by Prime Ministers visit to the Karachi Stock Exchange.
The prices recovered broadly on all the counters.
The Karachi Stock Exchange index of 100-share posted a good gain of
about 20 points at 1,460.01 and seemed to be edging progressively to
its new chart point of 1,500 before the year is out.
The market advance was largely led by cement, synthetic, auto and some
of the leading shares on other counters, notably some of the MNCs.
Cement shares attracted active short-covering at the lower levels and
recovered broadly under the lead of Cherat, D.G.Khan, Lucky and Maple
Leaf Cement.
Bank shares followed them as leading bank shares, notably Askari, MCB,
Prime Bank and some others rose sharply and so did some of the leading
leasing shares under the lead of Askari Leasing, and Pilcorp.
Insurance also rose, major gainers among them being Adamjee Insurance,
Century Insurance, East-West Insurance and Muslim Insurance.
Other leading shares, which managed to put on good gains were led by
Gadoon Textiles, Searle Pakistan, Bata, Nestle Milkpak, and Pakistan
Gum.
Leading losers were led by blue chips such as PSO, Shell Pakistan
Colgate Pakistan, Wellcome Pakistan and Brooke Bond, falling by one
rupee to Rs 4, biggest fall of Rs 4 being in Shell.
They were followed by Wazir Ali Industries, Diamond Industries, Treet
Corporation, and Highnoon Lab.
The most active list was again topped by PTC shares, up Rs 1.15 on a
massive volume of about 9 million shares. It was followed by Hub
Power, which was also heavily traded but it held on to its last levels
amid either-way movement depending on the mood of foreign funds.
The other actively traded shares were led by ICI Pakistan, up Rs 1.30
on 777,000 shares followed by Dewan Salman, firm 75 paisa on 600,000
shares, Faysal Bank, steady 45 paisa on 450,000 shares, Cherat Cement,
up Rs 1.50 on 406,500 shares, Lucky Cement, higher Rs 1.35 on 289,500
shares, and Fauji Fertiliser, up Rs 1.50 on 218,500 shares.
Trading volume soared to 26.175 million shares from the previous
25.730 million shares thanks to heavy dealings in pivotals.
There were 361 actives, out of which 150 shares rose, while 134 fell,
with 77 holding on to the last levels.
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951227
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Stocks maintain uppish leaning
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 26: Stocks maintained an uppish leaning but follow-up
support was not that aggressive, which could drive bears out of the
rings.
The KSE 100-share index posted a fresh gain of 6.46 points at
1,497.59, only short of 2.41 point from the psychological barrier of
1,500. Its previous close was 1,497.77.
Dividend announcements both from Dewan Salman at 20 per cent cash and
an identical amount of bonus shares and seven per cent cash by Tri-
Star Modaraba were in line with the market expectations owing to a bad
year and were well-received. But an omission by First Habib Modaraba
was disappointing and has its toll.
After consolidating its post-record dividend (320 per cent), BOC
Pakistan resumed its upward drive as the management and some other
investors reappeared in the rings to grab the floating stock. There
were sellers as 800 shares were traded and in the process it rose by
another Rs 70 to Rs 550 its peak level so far.
National Asset Leasing, Lease Pakistan, Standard Chartered Union and
Trust Leasing were notable gainers among them.
In the bank sector, Citicorp, Crescent Bank, MCB, Al-Faysal and Javed
Omer and some others were leading gainers.
Leading insurance and textile shares also came in for active short-
covering and generally ended partially recovered under the lead of
Dadabhoy, ALICO, Universal and EFU Insurance. Leading gainers in
textile sector were led by Gadoon, Regent Textiles, Kohinoor Textiles
and Nishat Mills.
Barring Dewan Salman, which was massively traded after the news of 20
per cent cash dividend and 20 per cent bonus, synthetic shares were
generally neglected including Dhan Fibre and Pak Synthetics for want
of support.
Cement shares came in for stray support and extended the previous
gains and so did energy shares, major gainers among them being Cherat,
Dadabhoy and D.G.Khan Cement.
Among the energy shares, PSO, Mari Gas Nishat Tek and some other rose,
while Haroon Oils, and Sui Southern fell modestly on selling at the
higher levels.
While Siemens Pakistan, Engro Chemicals, Glaxo Lab, Lever Brothers,
Pakistan Elektron, and Al-Ghazi Tractors rose sharply, Shell, Ciba-
Geigy, Parke-Davis, Pakistan Gum Hoechst Pakistan, Nestle, Milkpak and
Wellcome Pakistan suffered modest pruning on late selling.
PTC vouchers topped the list of most actives, lower 20 paisa on 5.125
million shares followed by Hub-Power, easy 25 paisa on 5 million
shares, Dewan Salman, up 85 paisa on 1.180 million shares, ICI
Pakistan, down 45 paisa on 640,600 shares, Faysal Bank, lower 15 paisa
on 410,900 shares, Trust Leasing up 50 paisa on 377,000 shares, 25th
ICP, unchanged on 129,000 shares and Askari Bank, lower 15 paisa on
106,500 shares.
Trading volume fell from the previous peak level of 35.518 million
shares to 20.019 million shares owing to the absence of leading
sellers.
There were 334 actives, out of which 155 shares rose, 124 fell, with
55 remaining unchanged.
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951228
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Stocks rise on active new account buying
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce reporter
KARACHI, Dec. 27: Stocks were in a buoyant mood under the lead of blue
chips and generally tended further higher on active new account
buying.
The KSE 100-share index posted a good gain of 12.97 points at 1,510.86
attaining the coveted mark.
Although the market advance was led by leading shares, some of the
low-priced issues also came in for active short-covering at the lower
levels and ended higher under the lead of textile shares.
Plus signs dominated the list, although the market advance was led by
heavy buying in the bank and energy sectors, which showed good gains
across a broad front.
Prominent gainers were led by Siemens, Universal Leather and Security
Safe Deposits, which came in for active support on news of higher
working result and ended higher by Rs 5, 7 and 9.75 respectively.
They were followed by leading shares, notably Dewan Salman, which came
in for renewed support at the lower level and was quoted further
higher by Rs 3.90 followed by PSO, Elite Modaraba, Bankers Equity,
Fazal Textiles, Kohinoor Power, Ebrahim Energy and several others.
BOC Pakistan, which rose by Rs 70 overnight came in for selling at the
higher level and was marked down by Rs 55 on turnover of only 200
shares. It was followed by Frontier Sugar and Packages, which suffered
fall ranging from Rs 4.50 to 5.
Other major losers included Lease Pakistan, Mohib Textiles,
Balochistan Wheels, Ciba-Geigy, Quice Foods and Treet Corporation,
falling by one rupee to Rs 1.50.
The most active list was topped by Hub-Power, lower 25 paisa on 5.5
million shares followed by PTC vouchers, up 30 paisa on 7 million
shares, ICI Pakistan, easy 20 paisa on 0.802 million shares, Faysal
Bank, up 20 paisa on 0.575 million shares, Lucky Cement, up 40 paisa
on l 0.543 million shares and 25th ICP, higher 20 paisa on 0.152
million shares.
The other actively traded shares were led by Bank of Punjab, Mohib
Textiles, Dhan Fibre, Sui Southern, Fauji Fertiliser, and Honda-Atlas
Cars.
Traded volume rose further to 22.494 million shares from the previous
20 million shares.
There were 363 actives, which came in for active bouts of buying and
selling, out of which 197 shares posted good gains while 97 fell, with
69 shares holding on to the last levels.
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EDITORIALS & FEATURES
951222
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The informer informed
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeshir Cowasjee
HAJI Mohammed Akram, federal secretary of the redundant ministry of
information, the ministry that neither informs nor itself bothers to
be informed, came visiting. He opened with a four, arriving dead on
time.
Akram had either displeased Nawaz or tried to be too independent, so
he was shunted into a siding and made an OSD. Benazir brought him back
in from the cold, for which he is surely expected to be grateful. For
his sins, he has been put in the slot formerly occupied by the glib
Hussain Haqqani, now put out to lurk in the wings, in the HBFC.
Secretary Akram must be a relatively honest man, for he was unable to
propagate the government line without blushing. He was also keen to
hear where the people of Karachis priorities lay. So, once again, I
played the old worn record.
Extra-judicial killings: No one unconnected with the government has
any doubt that they are engineered and executed by those shadowy
bodies known as the agencies. Even the US government is fully aware
of what is happening and has expressed its displeasure and its firm
hope that they will cease. This, of course, provoked Benazir into
pronouncing that it was interference in our internal affairs
rather like a patient on a life-support system telling his doctor to
get lost.
Liberty: Second only to life. A citizens liberty is no longer
dependent upon the laws of the land. It depends entirely on the whims
of the police Station House Officers who have bought their stations,
as confirmed by none other than President Leghari. These law
enforcement men, either to satiate greed or to satisfy a high-up,
pick up whomsoever they choose, and detain them for as long as
fourteen days at one stretch.
One case in point is that of Ghulam Hussain Unnar. This man was
remanded in custody for almost two years, and implicated in 61 cases.
When the remand for this last case expired on December 17, the
government decided not to implicate him in a 62nd, and he is now free
of that cycle. His bail application in the sedition case filed against
him by the Sindh government was heard on the 19th in the Supreme Court
by Justice Mamoon Kazi sitting with Justice Jehangir Bashiri and they
have released him. Now, if the jail superintendent (who is directly
controlled by the high-ups), plays fair, Unnar should be home and
dry.
Unnar may be lucky, but there are hundreds who are not, who continue
to be picked up from streets and houses, held in custody, and released
only on payment of thousands of rupees. The head of state is aware of
all this, yet he can do nothing to get rid of the 20-odd SHOs who
terrorise the people of this city.
Inflation: Now for the stomach. The basics and necessities are up by
at least 30 per cent. Everyone laughs at the government figure of 10
per cent.
MoUs: A jingle doing the rounds in town sums these up: Napoleon met
his Waterloo, Babar met his Khajjiloo, and Benazir met her Gordonwoo.
The Board of Investment: This department is part of the prime
ministers secretariat and is manned by men whose credibility thus has
to be doubtful. The BoI advertisements in the Press project very
different amounts as having been invested in the country during 1994-
95. On October 21, one boasted of investments totalling $1,532
million. Nine days later, on October 30, another raised this figure to
$1,553 million. The World Bank does not take these figures seriously,
and neither do we. Could the Information Secretary let us have a
breakdown of how much money came for investment in the stock market,
how much of it, plus the capital gains made, has flown away, and who
has put what in the ground, where and when?
Reserves: We are constantly being told that we have adequate reserves
of over $1 billion, which is belied by the fact that the government is
in the market sounding the international banks, seeking a short-term
syndicated emergency loan of $200 million to be drawn before December
24.
Government ham-handedness: I asked Secretary Akram whether he knew of
the manner in which the CBR had ordered the sealing of the Emirates
Bank. He said he did.
I told him that after reading my column on the subject (Nov. 30) the
Collector of Central Excise, Karachi, Ataullah Khan wrote to me
justifying his stand, with which I do not agree. However, I was
impressed by the heading of his letter, Taqat ka Nasha or Tyranny of
the Printed Word and its ending: I do hope ... the next time you
have a story about our department you will be kind enough to ascertain
the facts from us before you announce your judgment in your columns
lest an innocent man should become the victim of the tyranny of the
printed word.
I went to meet him. I asked why, before sealing the bank, he had not
obtained a clearance from the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan;
or why, if he wanted to sort out the disputed legal opinion, he had
not sought a clarification from the relevant quarters. I asked whether
he knew what percentage of his officers and men was corrupt. He gave
me a cautious correct answer, Over fifty per cent. This can mean
anything from 51 to 100 per cent. I also asked if he was aware that
one of his officers had requested an international bank for a
preferred credit card, and when the bank told him that it could only
be given to someone earning over Rs 50,000 per month, the man had
replied that officially he did not earn that amount but unofficially
earned ten times as much. Ataullah did not know, but said it was quite
possible.
I also told Secretary Akram that the behaviour of the State Bank
Governor was a matter of great regret. A strong Governor, on hearing
that the Emirates Bank had been sealed without his permission, would
have walked over to the bank, next door, and with his own hands broken
the seal, taking full responsibility for the consequences. This would
have created confidence and stalled the run on foreign exchange
accounts. It is unfortunate that the inquiry into this mess-up is
being conducted by Qazi Aleemullah of Islamabad, the phook-master. The
guilty up there are likely to go scot free.
I suggested to Akram that he impress upon those really responsible in
isolated Islamabad that they must ensure that Customs and Excise and
FIA hounds do not hound the banks without first getting clearance
from the State Bank Governor. When a country is financially down,
anything to do with money or banks or loans has to be handled with kid
gloves.
The judiciary: Our civilian martial law administrator president and
later prime minister, our martial law presidents and our other
presidents and prime ministers have all done their best to curtail and
hinder the liberty of the individual and to diminish the independence
of the judiciary. Some have amended the Constitution to suit
themselves, some have amended the laws and rules. Today, three out of
four of the countrys High Courts are headed by Acting Chief
Justices, appointed by the issuance of mere notifications, who can be
toppled from their high chairs by other notifications which can be
issued without giving any notice, and without assigning any reason.
How secure can the ACJs feel and how independently can they act?
I asked Akram whether he was aware of the fascistic manner in which
the family of the Chief Justice of Pakistan had recently been treated,
of how one of the amicii curiae in the Judges case is being
intimidated. He nodded. I asked whether he was aware of the underlying
objective. Being a suffering bureaucrat, he did not hear the question.
It is indeed a matter of regret that, whilst an important case, the
1995 Judges Case, is being argued in the Supreme Court, the government
should have sought four adjournments (for reasons which can
justifiably be termed as mere excuses), the fourth being the Attorney-
Generals submission that he would be away attending a conference in
Tokyo on the subject of money laundering. What is the real reason for
his going? To instruct the rest of the world? Or to learn how it is
done?
On December 20, whilst the manner of the appointment of judges and the
question of the independence of the judiciary is under consideration
in the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister, that day in Karachi, invited
all the judges of the Sindh High Court to meet her over lunch. Was
this proper? Should the judges have risen an hour and a half before
time, and trooped off? Could they not have declined the invitation, as
did the first Chief Justice of Pakistan, Sir Abdur Rashid, who under
somewhat similar circumstances said No to Prime Minister Liaquat Ali
Khan?
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951223
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Reference your job application
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Naseer Ahmad
KARACHI, Dec. 22: You are a graduate and want to get a clerical job?
What for, when you have a multiple choice. For example, you may do a
six-month training course in gardening, driving, masonry, carpentry,
tailoring, etc, and become an artisan.
These and such several other fantastic choices are offered in a
brochure sent to those aspiring to become clerks across the country in
response to their job applications sent several months ago to various
government departments.
A section of the colour brochure, written in Urdu, with the prime
ministers picture on top, reads: Under the sincere leadership of
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the prime minister, the peoples government
has been trying day in and day out to seek every possible solution to
the unemployment problem. Like you, around 650,000 people have applied
for employment in government departments, details of which are
preserved in the computer. But the number of jobs in provincial and
federal government departments is limited. They can hardly accommodate
100,000 persons in a year. If you are a candidate for a government
job, you will have to wait for a long time for your turn to get a job
commensurate with your qualifications.
In view of this situation and to solve your problem immediately, the
government of Pakistan offers opportunities for you to earn an
honourable living and thus take part in a holy war against
joblessness.
A postcard accompanying the brochure asks candidates to tick an option
and mail it to Islamabad. As soon as the card is received back, the
department concerned will contact you and provide you with necessary
details, the brochure adds.
A report on Oct. 25 stated that the government had lifted the ban on
all available jobs in Sindh with immediate effect. On Dec. 16 the
Punjab chief minister declared that there was no ban on jobs. And on
Dec. 18 Arif Nakai actually ordered that all vacancies in grades 1-15
be filled up within 15 days and on merit.
Nobody is sure whether the ban is still in place. Various departments
individually announce the lifting of the ban, as the Karachi Electric
Supply Corporation did last week.
It is, however, difficult for job-seeking graduates to reconcile with
the new situation. They want white-collar jobs and are not yet
prepared to go through the hassle of formalities to get a small loan
or to get themselves trained as gardeners, masons, drivers or
hairdressers.
There are certainly not only 650,000 jobless people in the country.
Their number runs into millions. The governments candid admission
that it cannot provide them with an opportunity to earn a decent
living has shattered their dreams. Earlier governments, too, had been
battling with the unemployment problem unsuccessfully. But they had
kept the hopes alive. If our present economic planners have only as
much to offer as they have done in the brochure, they have just
disappointed the hopefuls.
There are fears that even if the ban is virtually lifted those
depending solely on their merit will not get jobs and instead those
who have connections in right places will rob them of their right.
Reports suggest that lists have already been compiled to accommodate a
maximum number of political workers in government jobs.
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951223
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A deplorable tendency
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial column
WEDNESDAYS attacks on the Sukkur and the Larkana bureau offices of a
Sindhi daily and the burning of copies of the paper snatched from
news-stands and hawkers in several other cities and towns of Sindh are
as deplorable as they are disturbing. The concern on this score is
heightened by the fact that such incidents speak of a growing tendency
among political, ethnic and sectarian activists to rough up newsmen to
attack newspaper offices if they happen to disapprove reports of,
however unjustifiably, certain reports or comments relating to their
activities. That such reactions are against the norms and values of a
democratic society and civilised conduct is no concern of the
practitioners of such intolerance and extremism. It is a matter of the
deepest concern that since the government lifted the restrictions
under the notorious Press and Publications Ordinance, intolerance of
dissent and differences of opinion among various parties, groups and
factions has been coming increasingly under pressure from militants
loyal to various political and fictional groups.
Journalists in Karachi, where political and fictional polarisation is
most virulent and pervasive, know only too well what it means working
in an environment of hate and prejudice. They frequently come under
attack from one or the other feuding faction or group in the course of
their professional duties or suffer being caught in the cross-fire of
a violent clash. The Karachi offices of a Lahore-based group of
newspapers was targeted in a rocket attack in June. More recently, the
premised of a local English daily come under intense firing by masked
gunmen belonging to a particular ethnic party. The whole attitude is
altogether un-called for since an offended party can always demand a
retraction of an impugned report or a denial or a clarification to be
printed, or seek redress through legal action.
Even more deplorable have been the increasing instances of excesses
against reporters and Press photographers by various law enforcement
agencies, including the police and the Rangers.
There have been instances of journalists being beaten up by the police
within the premises of the Sindh Assembly. Hundreds of newsmen from
all over Sindh, joined by representatives of journalists organisations
of Karachi, Lahore and Quetta, staged a protest demonstration in
Hyderabad in September to protest against the high-handiness of the
law enforcement agencies against some members of the Press.
Of course, freedom of the Press cannot be stretched to cover
sensationalisation, deliberate distortions or reporting comments and
other writings calculated to scandalise, defame or denigrate. But
equally regrettable is a tendency not to put up with a point of view
other than ones own or accept plurality of opinion as an
unchangeable fact of democratic life. For this there has to be a
healthy respect for democratic norms and principles and Press freedom.
Where false or malicious reporting or defamatory writings are
concerned, the aggrieved party can always seek redress by means of
retraction or rebuttal or through lawful means. But to try to resort
to violence to browbeat to newspaper in an attempt to influence its
policy is most reprehensible and has to be discouraged in every
possible way. Unless the government and the enlightened sections of
society join in a converted move to fight intolerance and extremism at
every level, the current trends will make a mockery of freedom of
expression and other basic values of our democratic polity.
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951223
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Living with American influence
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Gen Khalid Mahmud Arif (retd)
HENRY KISSINGER once told Agha Shahi that it was dangerous for a
country to oppose the US and fatal to befriend her. Many knowledgeable
people in Pakistan will share Kissingers assessment.
That the US policies promoted Americas own national interests in
Pakistan and elsewhere should have been taken for granted. The
Pakistani leaders were themselves to blame if they misread
Washingtons real motives.
The future is more important than the past. Our failures in the
yester-year should have prompted us to exercise greater vigilance in
formulating policy options for the future. Instead, our leaders repeat
past errors and seek external crutches to prolong their rule. They
expose their own inadequacy when they project the small mole of the
Brown Amendment as a mountain of success in an attempt to lull the
people of Pakistan into a self-deception. Capitalising on their
weakness, the foreign powers offer unsolicited advice. One example:
On December 6, 1995, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for
Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, Bruce Riedel, while making a
policy statement before the House Committee on International Relations
said: The Department of Defence attempts to build bridges of trust
(in South Asia) through the strengthening of our bilateral defence
relationships and increasing our military-to-military cooperation
within established limitation. He then made some specific remarks on
the US policy objectives in Pakistan and in South Asia. Excerpts:
The bilateral US-India security arrangement, concluded in January
1995, covers defence cooperation in multi-directional fields; The
bottom line is that US-Indian defence ties are better now than at any
time in the last 30 years. * Despite the Pressler Amendment the US-
Pakistani military relations have remained surprisingly cordial.
The Brown Amendment does not permit an arms supply relationship but
it does permit us to provide limited military assistance to Pakistan
in areas of importance to us peacekeeping, anti-terrorism and
narcotics.
Military-to-military contacts and the IMET programme will enable us
to engage the Pakistani military more effectively.
We have no plans or intention to deliver the Pakistani F-16s and are
seeking to resolve this issue by selling the aircraft to a third
country and returning the proceeds to Pakistan.
The willingness of the South Asia countries particularly India and
Pakistan to commit their militaries in significant numbers to
peacekeeping and other operational missions is an important factor.
Pakistan lies at the intersection of three often unstable regions:
South Asia, Southwest Asia and Central Asia.
The testimony acknowledges (a) Pakistans geo-strategic importance in
a troubled region and, without an open admission, concedes it a role
in promoting peace and prosperity in it; (b), the US surprise at the
continuing cordiality of the bilateral military-to-military relations
between the two countries, despite the Pressler Amendment, is a
backhanded compliment to Pakistan; (c), the hidden US agenda of
engaging the Pakistani military more effectively is transparent enough
to see through Americas real game: using the military clout to
influence Pakistans political decisions; (d) the F-16s purchased by
Pakistan will be sold to a third country and the proceeds (not the
amount actually paid) will be refunded to it; and (e) the military aid
will remain suspended and only such limited military assistance will
be provided that promotes the US policy objectives. This should be a
cause for worry not celebration in this country.
The testimony describes the positions of India and Pakistan on the
nuclear issue as unpalatable but is silent on whether the US
intended to adopt an even-handed approach in capping their
destructive capability. Perhaps not. The US bias in favour of India
is too obvious to miss.
In a another development, by calling the Karachi situation extremely
disturbing the US expressed its deep concern over the escalating
cycle of violence in Karachi and particularly over the sharp increase
in reported extra-judicial killings, extortion and custodial deaths by
security forces. The Foreign Office termed the US statement an
interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan. Significantly, the
Prime Minister has herself remained silent on this subject. She
remembers that not long ago, while in opposition, she had herself
requested for the US interference in Pakistans internal affairs. Why
should our leaders wash their dirty political linen in foreign
countries baffles the people of Pakistan.
Despite the US denial, the allegation that America meddles in
Pakistans internal affairs and capitalises on the latters internal
polarisation rings true. No less true is the fact that Pakistans
short-sighted approach and its willingness to accept foreign advice on
issues of substance have led to foreign interference in its internal
affairs. Many a time the Foreign Office implements the policies that
are made elsewhere. The reasons for this self-surrender lie in our
dirty political backyard. The lesson of history is unambiguous. A
government that loses the confidence of the people cannot be sustained
by any foreign country, not matter if it is a superpower.
The military-to-military contacts in the professional field, within
the government-approved limits, are desirable. However, Pakistans
relations with other countries, the Kashmir dispute, the nuclear
policy, anti-narcotics stance, and participation in the UN
peacekeeping operations are essentially political issues that fall
outside the military purview. Bruce Riedels policy statement creates
an impression that the US aims at using the military connection to
influence Pakistans political decisions. To involve the Pakistani
military in the national political quagmire will further weaken the
already infirm political structure in this country, besides harming
the military itself.
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951223
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Warlords rule, OK?
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Mazdak
VERY soon after the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, Henry Kissinger
called the new state an international basket case. He was proved
wrong by events. Bangladesh today, despite its enormous political and
economic problems, is a going concern.
The same cannot be said of Pakistan. More worrying than the issues of
inflation and stagnation are the long-term implications of our
consistent under-investment in the social infrastructure. And even
more troubling still are the systemic failure and moral decay that
have come to characterise and define Pakistan over the last quarter
century. Institutions have been devastated and the acid of corruption
has eaten deep into the vitals of the state. Above this wasteland
looms the spectre of poor governance. Indeed, the crisis of leadership
we have been witnessing for years is rapidly assuming disastrous
proportions: inexorably, we are being sucked into the black hole of
failed states.
If this view seems excessively bleak, consider the facts. According to
the World Bank, Bangladesh spent 10 per cent of its budget on defence
in 1990 against Pakistans 31 per cent. The result of this difference
in priorities was that Bangladesh was able to allocate 11.2 per cent
of its government expenditure to education, 4.8 per cent to health and
8 per cent to housing; Pakistans outlay on these social sectors was 2
per cent, 0.7 percent 3.1 percent, respectively. If our erstwhile
eastern wing is able to maintain these rates of expenditure over a
period of time, it is inevitable that it will overtake us very soon.
Already, it has far healthier foreign exchange reserves, an inflation
rate that is under control and its textile manufacturers are giving
our exporters a tough time, despite the fact that they have to import
cotton. BDs budgetary deficit in 1990 was only 0.4 per cent of GNP
against 7.2 per cent for Pakistan. Above all, it has managed to reduce
its population growth rate to 2.1 per cent.
None of this is to suggest that Bangladesh is heaven on earth. Far
from it. The endless political jockeying for power in Dhaka resembles
nothing as much as the feuding frenzy in Islamabad. This unbridled and
unseemly ambition is having the same destabilising effect on the
economy and the polity as it does here. Indeed, at times the tragic-
comedy being played out in Bangladesh seems a mirror image of events
in Pakistan.
But at least seen from afar, there seems to be a concerted, bipartisan
effort to make Bangladesh a modern state. This is not true for
Pakistan. Despite the endless bombast about our becoming an Asian
tiger very soon, this wishful thinking is neither reflected in the
actions of our leaders nor in budgetary allocations.
But more scary than the unravelling economy is the collapse of our
institutional framework. Throughout recorded history in China,
whenever the central governments hold over the countryside has
weakened, warlords have emerged to fill the vacuum; they would collect
taxes, raise armies of mercenaries and prey on travellers.
This last happened early this century after the collapse of the
empire; it is happening now in Afghanistan and Somalia. In Pakistan,
largely because of the cohesion of the armed forces, this kind of
fragmentation has mercifully not occurred so far, barring the hold
tribal chieftains exercise over their turf in the Frontier and
Balochistan, and, to a lesser extent, by dacoits in parts of rural
Sindh. In Karachi, the sector commanders of the two factions of the
MQM rule supreme in their respective areas, wielding the power of life
and death over the unfortunate citizens whose destinies they control.
More insidious and damaging than these warlords are the functionaries
of the state who have carved out spheres of influence by virtue of
their jobs. The world over, civil servants enjoy certain powers
delegated to them to enable them carry out their duties.
But these powers are always subject to checks and balances. In
Pakistan, however, the concepts of deterrence and accountability have
been eroded to such an extent that bureaucrats, especially at the more
senior level, no longer feel they have any public responsibility or
that they are answerable to anybody.
In a sense, they have become autonomous warlords within the hierarchy,
responsive only to directives from the PMs Secretariat, the
Presidency and occasionally, from the minister concerned. Very few
civil servants perform their duties because they are supposed to, they
act only if there is pressure, a sifarish or a bribe involved.
I remember going to the police headquarters in 1963 to get my
learners licence. A couple of months later, I went off for my driving
test before I was the proud owner of a pucca driving licence. Today, I
could not imagine asking my son to go through the same drill because I
know only too well the ordeal he would be subjected to.
This small example can be multiplied by a hundred to get an idea of
the institutional deterioration that has occurred since the creation
of Pakistan. Today, the merit of a case or an individual counts for
nothing in Pakistans officialdom, and functionaries and politicians
in power exercise their personal whim in taking a decision. The same
set of rules can be bent in any direction to justify any particular
action or lack of it.
This anarchy has emerged out of a combination of constantly falling
standards of governance and the steep decline in public morality.
Today, the average civil servant thinks first of his own career and
bank balance, secondly of his extended family, clan or tribe, and
finally of his public responsibility. A symbiotic relationship between
politicians and bureaucrats has developed over time whereby the former
rely on civil servants to carry out their legal and illegal orders. In
return, elected leaders grant their subordinates immunity from
accountability.
In any case, few politicians ever bother to study an issue or problem
and are thus at the mercy of their secretaries. Once bureaucrats have
satisfied their political masters, they are free to act as they
please. In such a situation, public interest goes by default as
neither politician nor bureaucrat wants to be distracted from the
pursuit of his own personal interest.
As I argued last week, change can only come from the top.
Unfortunately, our ruling elites are too preoccupied feathering their
own nests to spare a thought to a duty higher than the one they owe
their own immediate families. This attitude of everyone for himself,
and devil take the hindmost has permeated society so thoroughly that
everybody in a position of authority misuses it to his own end.
Many people advocate yet more laws to somehow improve matters. But as
Saint-Just put it: Too many laws, too few examples.
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951224
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Credit squeeze for farmers
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SINCE the State Bank has made lending by the Agricultural Development
Bank of Pakistan (ADBP) conditional on recovery of past loans, the
farming community is facing difficulty in getting credit, an essential
input for agricultural operation. Right from the stage of preparing
soil to harvesting, the farmer needs credit for hiring the tractor,
purchasing seed, fertiliser and insecticide and running tubewells.
With prices of agricultural products having risen in recent years, the
financial position of big farmers who have plenty of surplus of cash
crops has considerably improved. At the same time, the small farmer
who has a nominal surplus for the market finds himself squeezed by
rising prices of inputs on the one hand, and scarcity of credit on the
other. A large part of the resources of the ADBP is stuck up in unpaid
loans outstanding against big landlords who, through the use of their
political clout, have been avoiding repayment over long periods and
seem to have no intention to clear them up. These stuck-up loans have
crippled the capacity of the ADBP to advance fresh loans. The main
victims of this credit squeeze are small farmers who cultivate about
66 per cent of the total farm land. Although the bank claims to have
set aside 75 per cent of the funds for small farmers, the overall
resources have drastically dwindled because of defaults.
According to reports, the ADBP does not find itself in a position to
meet the credit needs of the farmers relating to the rabi season. The
outstanding advances of the ADBP in 1994-95 amounted to Rs 50 billion,
of which Rs 16 billion was said to fall in the category of long
defaults. About 90 per cent of the bank's loanable funds were obtained
from the State Bank, while the rest were drawn from credit line and
loans from international agencies and on a bilateral basis from
friendly countries. At the beginning of the current fiscal year the
State Bank allocated an additional one billion rupees to the ADBP to
be released in two tranches of Rs 500 million each. It refused to make
further allocation and left the ADBP to fall back upon its own
resources to be raised through loan recoveries and mobilisation of
rural savings. Similar warnings were administered by foreign donors
too. As the ADBP had always remained dependent entirely on SBP
allocations and its operations were restricted only to channelling
allocated funds to the farmers, the potential of augmenting resources
through mobilisation of rural savings always remained neglected.
The strict enforcement of SBP's decision and the resultant financial
constraints this time compelled the ADBP to launch a vigorous and
nation-wide recovery campaign. The claim of the bank that up to
December 14 it recovered Rs 3.4 billion which is 34.5 per cent more
than last year, does not say how much of this amount really related to
stuck up loans. The bank authorities' claim that they have now
assigned top priority to recoveries and are determined to refer the
cases of influential defaulters to the speedy banking tribunals would
lack credibility until they substantiate it with convincing evidence
in the form of enhanced recoveries. The bank has also asked the Sindh
government to assist in the recovery of loans. Similar requests may
have been made to other provincial governments as well.
Provincial government's assistance is necessary because the execution
of court decrees cannot take place without the active involvement of
the revenue staff. In Sindh defaults are said to be particularly
heavy, or something like one third of the total, and recovery is
highly unsatisfactory. The provincial governments must extend
necessary cooperation in this regard. The banking system and the
national economy cannot be salvaged from the current crisis unless
defaulted loans are recovered. Recovery of farm loans is a
particularly tricky affair because many of the debtors have political
clout and links and, if pressed hard, are capable of making endless
trouble for government, federal or provincial.
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951228
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Corruption under attack
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Sultan Ahmed
A STRONG anti-corruption tidal wave is sweeping the world. It is not
confined to Asian states or Third World but includes several first
world states as well. And it is not the small fry only which has been
subjected to punishment; the persons at the top are facing the same
charges.
In Mexico, former President Carlos Salinas who made history by signing
the NAFTA with the U.S. and Canada and was a serious candidate for the
post of chief of the new World Trade Organisation has fled the country
following the charge of murder of his intended successor Luis Donaldo
Colosi and several other charges against him. His sister-in-law Mrs
Raul Salinas was arrested recently in Geneva while trying to cash a
cheque of 84 million dollars in a Swiss bank, while another secret
bank account with 24 million dollars was uncovered in London.
In Belgium, Willy Caes has to resign in October as secretary general
of NATO following disclosure about his corrupt conduct while he was
his countrys Economy Minister.
In Italy, several prime ministers and many ministers are behind bars
or have fled the country for fear of being jailed on corruption
charges following the continuing Operation Clean hands initiated by
courageous Italian magistrates.
In Japan, several prime ministers had to quit, over the years, on
corruption charges. Now former labour minister Toshio Yamaguchi has
been arrested for his involvement in illegal bank loans from two
failed financial institutions.
Compared to that, in countries like Nigeria and Congo strong men rule
with all the abuses such systems breed and have no fear of ouster or
punishment. And what are we to do in Pakistan which has been dubbed
the third most corrupt country in the world by Transparency
International based in Berlin, after Indonesia and China? If Italys
magistrates have been able to perform great miracles and jail some of
the most powerful men in their country, Malik Qasims more imposing
Federal Anti-corruption Committee has failed to achieve anything. In
fact, the FACCs struggle has become more of a comic opera or shadow
boxing with one hand tied behind the back. How long should this futile
exercise continue with powers only to bark and not bite?
There is more measure of corruption in almost every government in the
world. But the issue is whether that gets exposed and if it does,
whether the corrupt is punished or not. It is not enough that the
corrupt is relieved from his office along with the vast loot he
collected. It is far more important for the man to be stripped of his
ill-gotten wealth so that he does not become a big industrialist or a
politician as it does happen here.
In the 1960s finance minister Shoaib used to dismiss corruption as the
oil which made the administrative machinery move fast. But now the
dimension of the corruption is so vast and so all-pervasive, it clogs
and fouls up the entire administrative machinery. And those who are
not corrupt are becoming an exception rather than the norm, with more
honest persons defecting to the ranks of the corrupt every week. We
just cannot afford that in a country in which the share of the wealthy
in the national income is increasing rapidly and of the poor declining
steadily.
If the government is serious about checking corruption this cat and
mouse game should come to an end. The fact is that if the FACC cannot
get the corrupt punished and deprived of their vast illegal gains, it
is not able to hold proper enquiries either. Most of the departments
in which corruption is detected are not ready to come up with full
disclosures or cooperate with the FACC to get to the fact, and all the
facts. Instead the tendency is to keep the FACC away from their
offices as much as they can or mislead it.
While the FACC can only make recommendations on the basis of its
findings to the Prime Minister, the latter has not punished or
reprimanded the departments or corporations which block FACCs
enquiries. As a result, if the FACC comes up with a report that is not
wholly factual, the department concerned is quick to point out to the
PM that the report is defective, more so if the head of the department
has access to the PM or her secretariat.
The FACC, for example, has been knocking at many doors to find out the
real causes for the defaulted bank loans of Rs 80 billion, which are
now reported to have swollen to Rs 100 billion. It is anxious to know
how much collusion was there on the part of senior bank executives who
gave such loans without collateral or on other unfair basis. But the
FACC is being held back in the name of secrecy of bank accounts. The
fact is that if the loans were being serviced regularly or the
repayment rescheduled properly, the FACC will not be in the picture,
and bank secrecy would be respected. But when the defaults are very
large, and have been for long periods, and some of the bank executives
had colluded in giving improper loans, and did not try to recover them
earlier, the FACC has the right to step in a period in which one
junior executive Leeson could get the famous Barings Bank closed and
sold off, and a Japanese employee of the Daiwa Bank in the US could
bring about its liquidation.
The federal cabinet had on September 19 decided that officers in grade
20 and above should continue to be asked to file their statements of
assets and liabilities, and a commission would be set up to scrutinise
the assets of those officials. The cabinet also noted that while the
officers were required to file statements of their assets annually,
there was no need to investigate them, and so the proposed commission
would pay attention to this aspect, said the cabinet spokesman after
the meeting.
The FACC took the decision seriously and wrote letters to all
ministries, divisions and autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, and
asked for details of the movable and immovable assets of officers in
grade 17 and above. At the same time the Chief Election Commissioner
asked the Senators and members of the national and provincial
assemblies to file their statements of assets and liabilities which
they had failed to do after the 1993 election with September 30, 1994
as the last deadline.
But at a recent cabinet meeting the officials with plenty to hide, and
in no mood to be answerable to anyone, prevailed and the cabinet
decided the officials would continue to file their statements as usual
and no one would scrutinise that. And that is a total mockery of the
whole process. If there is no fear of scrutiny of the statements, the
officers can say almost nothing and get away with it, as in the past.
And clearly the ghost of the commission proposed was laid to rest
forthwith.
After such an exercise to combat bureaucratic corruption, what is the
use of continuing with the FACC of 12 members who has Lt Gen Syed
Zakir Ali Zaidi as consultant? The nexus between bureaucratic and
political corruption will now become stronger and flourish. We cannot
afford to let this cancer in our body politic thrive despite the
critical damage it does to the economic structure of the country, but
it thrives.
Corruption is not only taking money home from the office or obtaining
large sums for favours done or promised, but also gross waste of
public money. See the ghastly manner in which expensive cars are
misused by the rulers and civil servants. The Punjab chief ministers
House is reported to have 90 cars. And cars in the Sindh CMs House
has not come down appreciably since the 120 Jam Sadiq Ali had as CM.
And look at the number of TV sets, VCRs, dish antennas distributed by
the PTV to various officials and politicians. If this is not an act of
outright corruption practised too blatantly what else is it?
The need of the times is not for a FACC which is brushed aside by
almost everyone in authority but a proper anti-corruption commission
headed, possibly, by a retired chief justice of Pakistan with full
contempt powers, and the power to prescribe punishment which includes
total forfeiture of the fruits of corruption of politicians and
officers alike.
951223
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Abbasi & Burki blamed for PCB and cricket mess
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Khan Mohammad
After the Zimbabwe teams tour of Pakistan in Dec. 93 the Board of
Control for Cricket in Pakistan was superseded during early 1994 by
the President of Pakistan. An Ad hoc committee headed by Javed Burki,
former captain of Pakistan with Arif Abbasi and Dr Zafar Altaf as the
members was formed. This committee continued running the affairs of
the board for about 14 months after which it was replaced by the
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
What necessitated the sacking of the Board with its President the
former Chief Justice of Pakistan Dr Nasim Hasan Shah and Honorary
Secretary Mr Shahid Rafi is still shrouded in mystery. However the
Honorary Treasurer of the same board not only came out unscathed but
was elevated to be the member of the Ad hoc committee.
It was generally believed that the action against the Board was
engineered by Messrs. Arif Abbasi and Javed Burki. Cricketers like me
were extremely disappointed to find out that though the names of the
Cricket Board had been changed but the three members of the Ad hoc
committee took its control with greater authority and all the
constitutional backing. Arif Abbasi has manoeuvred for himself the all
powerful position of chief executive. Javed Burki is adviser to the
President of Pakistan on cricket while Dr Zafar Altaf is the chairman
of the selection committee. The position of the President of the Board
has been replaced by a ceremonial chairman who has hardly any power
except to act like one. The C.E.O. is the hub and centre of authority
with an excessively high salary without any check or control except
perhaps that of the President of Pakistan and whose adviser happened
to be Javed Burki. These two I believe, are cousins.
Isnt it an ideal situation to continue the dubious and questionable
activities and dealings which have devastated and destroyed the
Pakistan cricket team.
Let me now recount some of their short-sighted policies which have
brought anarchy in the Board and the Pakistan and reduced the team to
such a sorry state: 1. After the conclusion of the tour of the
Zimbabwe team in Pakistan, there was a revolt against the captain
Wasim Akram by a group of his team mates headed by Waqar Younis (as
reported in the press) to remove the former. The Ad hoc committee,
instead of taking action against these who were guilty of the action
against a duly appointed captain, played into the hands of its
perpetrators. Salim Malik was appointed captain as a compromise
candidate acceptable to the rebels to avoid and embarrassing
situation. It was a sort-sighted policy which encouraged the schemers
while the captain was made a hostage to the group who succeeded in
renouncing Wasim Akram. 2. The Ad hoc committee and later on the same
old trio kept on changing captains and vice-captains and other
officials at will. These appointments were dished out perhaps as
personal favours. Otherwise how can you constantly keep making such
changes if the same were made on merits? Here are some specific
examples. Moin Khan was made Pakistan Captain in the last Sharjah Cup
who won the match against India but unfortunately he fell sick and had
to return home. He was replaced by Rameez Raja against Sri Lanka in
Pakistan (27 August to 3 October 1995). Wasim Akram was recalled to
lead in Australia and NZ while Amir Sohail has been suddenly elevated
as a vice-captain. The joke is that all the three were made to play
under each other thus creating unnecessary rivalry and friction among
the team mates. 3. The managers and coaches, like the captains and
vice-captains, have been given short shrift and summarily removed and
disgraced. The cases of Majid Khan and Mushtaq are the recent
examples. Similarly Intikhab Alam was disgraced after the South
Africa/Zimbabwe tour on grounds of inefficiency and weakness of
management yet he has been suddenly and mysteriously inducted in the
team again for the Australian/NZ tours. 4. Billy Abaadullah was
specially hired as an outstanding coach and manager with great fanfare
by both the two great cricket brains Javed Burki and Arif Abbasi.
But even this arrangement could hardly last one contractual term and
that too with lots of controversies regarding payment of money. 5.
There is now a recent report in the National/International media that
the C.E.O. is going to hire coaches from England because according to
him Khan Mohammed is not the best coach. But have I ever claimed in my
life-long commitment as a professional coach that I am the best in the
world? I have, however, always claimed and entitled to claim that I am
one of the most highly qualified and experienced coaches from England
and I have continued imparting coaching all my life in many countries
of the world including Pakistan. English coaches have got their
training exactly where I have done mine. But let me highlight why he
wants to hire English coaches on such exorbitantly high charges. His
PR and equation with English cricket set up is the reason. Thats how
he has become a Member of the M.C.C. for which position many top
cricketers of Pakistan have NOT been considered. 6. I am a
professional coach and I am entitled to the professional fee as much
as an English coach. But I have always fulfilled my contractual
obligations without any bargaining. I have willingly accepted whatever
terms were offered to me as a national duty because I have already
given my sweat and blood to the Pakistan team as a spearhead bowler
along with Fazal Mahmood and Mahmood Hussain. I carry the same love
and loyalty for Pakistan team. But can you say the same about English
coaches? Have they been able to produce better cricketers in England
than what I produced in Pakistan, Test players like Wasim Akram, Salim
Malik, Amir Malik, Ejaz Ahmed, Inzamamul Haq, Aqib Javed, Mushtaq
Ahmed, Basit Ali, Asif Mujtaba, Mohsin Kamal etc... I have polished
players like Ramiz Raja, Azim Hafiz, Sikander Bakht and a host of
other first class cricketers in Pakistan besides creating a big bunch
of local coaches to continue the job of coaching in my beloved
country.
I have no objection if Pakistani authorities like Arif Abbasi and
others who have hardly played first class cricket want to squander
money to hire English coaches in foreign exchange and thereby earn the
goodwill of English cricket authorities and earn their favours in
exchange. But he has no business to malign and underrate me. He can do
whatever he likes to damage Pakistan cricket which can easily be
judged by our own teams performances since he has been in control in
the Board through his political props and by inducting politicians in
Pakistan cricket.
In a recent function in honour of England A team now touring Pakistan,
he made a statement that in future Pakistan will never let Shakoor
Rana and others like him to supervise Test matches in Pakistan. He
made these remarks to appease and curry favour with English cricket
authorities by denigrating our own umpires and humiliating Pakistan.
He has conveniently forgotten that one of our Test class umpires,
Khalid Aziz, (a former top grade first class cricketer) complained
against Abbasi that he puts pressure on umpires to give patriotic
decisions. Mr Arif Abbasi, as usual not only removed him from the
panel but got him banned for life. He has also made a statement that
he will hire English umpires to coach and impart training to our
umpires. 7. Majid Khan, Mushtaq Mohammad and many others close to the
PCB complain that Arif Abbasi meddles in every committee and sub-
committee including the selection committee. No wonder such lop-sided
selections, changes and counter-changes are being effected and hence
the obviously predictable poor and degrading performance of our team.
8. While commenting on the judgment of the former Justice Fakhruddin
G. Ibrahim declaring Salim Malik Not guilty of the charges made
against him by the Australians observed that the alleged charges
appeared to be concocted Mr. Arif Abbasi retorted I was expecting
strong reaction from the Australian Board because nobody likes being
told the truth especially crooked people Instead of using diplomatic
language to soften the harsh words his comment served as an icing on
the cake. He did not realise the damage that his intemperate words
would do to Pakistan team nowadays touring Australia and New Zealand.
9. The enquiry of the charges levelled by the Australian players
against Malik was deliberately prolonged inordinately to please the
ICC boss and the Australian authorities. 10. It is also commonly know
that Arif Abbasi manipulates the media in such a manner that he takes
the credit when things are shaping well while others take the blame
when his foolish actions backfire and the results produced on the
field are far from satisfactory. The rapid changes of captains, vice-
captions, coaches and managers, are bought about to indicate their
failings when the team performs poorly.
In a recent press conference in the Cricket Boards HQ at Gaddafi
Stadium Lahore on his return from England tour in connection with
World Cup, he cleverly briefed them in his typical amiable style that
the conjectures about his interference in the affairs of the selection
committee are wrong. He impressed upon them that he never interferes
in the team selection. Otherwise who does not know that Arif Abbasi
does not only meddle in the affairs of the selection committee but
other committees also? Who is making and unmaking captains, vice-
captains and other officials? Who appointed the selection committee?
There are in fact unending tales of Arif Abbasis mismanagement in
Pakistan Cricket Board and its affairs being regularly reported in the
national media. Every body knows who is responsible for bringing gloom
and despair in Pakistan cricket, yet there is nobody who is in a
position to take him to task due to his very strong political links
among the top brass politicians of Pakistan. This is the reason why
the former Test cricketers of Pakistan strongly protested and
demonstrated against Mr Arif Abbasi prior to and after his appointment
as C.E.O. of the PCB
Messrs Arif Abbasi and Javed Burki are the two officials of the Board
who prolonged the agony of Mr Salim Malik and banned him from playing
any competitive cricket even for his departmental team on the pretext
that his case is sub judice while delaying the proceedings. By the
time Salim was cleared, three captains, two vice-captains and a number
of officials were sacked as if they were responsible for all the poor
performances of the Pakistan team. It is these two cricketing genii,
who destroyed the morale and self-esteem of Pakistani cricketers
individually and as a team by their unprofessional and inept handling
of the players and the various ticklish problems which confronted them
during the period.
In the month of March having taken action against Salim Malik, Javed
Burki in a statement to the national press proudly mentioned that by
taking action against Salim Malik, Pakistan cricket has been saved
from becoming an international pariah or an outcast.
In conclusion it is my considered opinion as one of the senior most
former Test cricketers and a professional cricket coach that to
galvanise Pakistan cricket the first and the foremost action should be
to remove Arif Abbasi to be replaced by a highly experienced,
enlightened, educated and above all an upright former Test cricketer
who is well versed in the complex subjects of administration and
management.
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951222
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Miandad asks selectors to make up their minds
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Samiul Hasan
KARACHI, Dec. 21: Javed Miandad stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB) and the National Selection Committee need to make up their mind
regarding his selection in the World Cup party.
Miandad, out of action since December 1993, felt that a player is only
included in the final lineup by the captain once he has complete faith
in him. Similar is the case with me. The selectors must complete
their homework by the end of this year. They should have confidence in
me before picking me in the team.
A veteran of 124 Tests and 228 one-day internationals, Miandad,
maintained that if the selectors or cricket administrators were
thinking that they will be taking his trials in one-day Cup, they were
wrong. They are mistaken. I am not playing in the One-day Cup because
I want to give the selectors my trials. I am playing because I want to
earn match practice which I am certainly lacking.
Miandad was of the view that trials are only taken of those cricketers
who are border- line cases. Having played top level cricket for 17
years, I dont think I need to show them my talent.
Miandad admitted that as far as he was concerned, he considers himself
selected in the World Cup party. Whats the point of then including
my name in the 20 probables? I never asked them to include my name?
All I told them was that when I would be available, I would inform
them. I have done that its upto the selectors to believe me or not.
Miandad dismissed impressions that the One-day Cup will be serving as
an opportunity to prove his fitness and form. Besides that I need
match practice, I am also available. I owe a lot to my bank. In
addition to this, since I am ready to play in the World Cup, this is
the last opportunity of earning as much chance as possible.
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951227
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Miandad shows fitness of form
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Staff Correspondent
FAISALABAD, Dec. 26: Those thinking that Javed Miandad might not be
able to regain his lost form and fitness badly bit the dust when the
former Pakistan captain steered Habib Bank to an exciting six-wicket
victory over Karachi Whites in the Pool B match of the 15th National
One-day Championship at the Iqbal Stadium.
Miandad hammered six boundaries and two sixes in his undefeated 74
which came off 85 balls after the maestro occupied the crease for 92
minutes.
Miandad, later adjudged Man-of-the-Match, showed glimpses of why he is
considered a brilliant one-day batsman. He took cheeky singles and
stroked the ball with the middle of the bat.
Miandad also proved his fitness when he remained in the field
throughout Karachi Whites innings marshalling his fielders. He had
gallant sprints after the ball and on a number of occasions dived to
stop the ball. It was a tremendous sight to see a great batsman in
full cry and at a time when a certain lobby is against his inclusion
in the World Cup party.
Habib Bank, set a target of 203 for victory by Karachi Whites, were
reeling at the ropes when Shakeel Ahmad (16), Sohail Miandad (3), and
Shahid Nawaz (12) had returned to the pavilion with the scoreboard
reading 55 in the 16th over.
Miandad came out, moving in confidence and the first ball he faced
showed that he was out there to prove something. But when Mujahid
Jamsheed departed in the next over to leave Habib Bank 68 for four in
the 17th over, followers started thinking that Miandad will have to
show his brilliance if he has to pull his bank out from the jaws of
defeat.
Miandad did not disappoint his well wishers.
A great calculator he is, Miandad made a plan and not only followed
it, also made wicketkeeper Tahir Rasheed follow it. Although after the
conclusion of 30 overs the scoreboard read 89, Miandad by then was
gaining confidence ball-by-ball.
Miandad played delightful and heart-stopping shots. His square cuts
were as sweetly timed as were his cover-drives. His pulls and off-the-
toe shots were a treat to watch. But Miandad might not have been able
to pull his side home if Tahir Rasheed had not helped him. Tahir
scored an undefeated 57 from 72 balls with the aid of six hits to the
fence.
Together with Miandad, Tahir put on 135 runs to the unbroken fifth
wicket partnership.
Earlier, Karachi Whites 202 for seven in 45 overs revolved around 74
by opener Malik Rasheed who struck nine boundaries in his 143-ball
innings.
Test pacer Naveed Anjum picked up two wickets for 45 runs while Kabir
Khan, Shahid Nawaz, Nadeem Ghauri and Akram Raza all picked up one
wicket each.
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951224
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N.Z. level one-day series against Pakistan
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Qamar Ahmed
AUCKLAND, Dec. 23: Pakistan failed to capitalise on their 2-1 lead in
the four-match one-day series against New Zealand and in the end had
to be content with a drawn series.
After being set an awesome 245 runs to win a match of 45 overs instead
of 50 because of delayed start due to rain, Pakistan succumbed under
pressure to be all out for 212 in 41.4 overs and conceded the match by
32 runs to enable New Zealand draw the series.
They had entered the final one-day match at Eden Park aiming to finish
the tour at a winning note but after asking New Zealand to bat,
Pakistan bowled poorly and fielded atrociously to allow New Zealand
make a match winning score. In nine overs Waqar Younus gave away 73
runs for his three wickets of no consequence. Twenty-one extras in the
innings spoiled the matter further.
In his first four overs Waqar Younus had given away 33 runs and yet he
was allowed five more whereas Aqib Javed only bowled six and Mushtaq
Ahmed seven which indeed was mind boggling. In fact this is how
Pakistan lost the match.
Pakistans batting was very much reminiscent of New Zealands attempt
in the third one-day to win the match by playing attacking cricket.
New Zealand paid the price at the Basin reserve for being over
ambitious and so did Pakistan at Eden Park.
In 10 overs Pakistans score was past 50 runs with Aamir Sohail and
Ramiz Raja entertaining a crowd of 12,000 with blistering strokeplay.
In 45 balls Aamir Sohail had made 37 with six fourths and a six off
Chris Cairns before being caught at gully by Dipak Patel off Cairns.
Saleem Elahi, the only change in the Pakistan team for Ijaz Ahmed was
dropped by Patel at long off when 4 off Gavin Larsen but was later
given run out in controversial circumstances by the third umpire Evan
Watkin.
One of the bails had been dislodged by the bowler Larsen before a
direct throw from Nathan Astle hit the stumps. The bowler did not pull
the stumps out with the ball in his hand according to the laws of the
game which he should have Saleem Elahi was unlucky.
When Ramiz Raja was caught at third man off Nathan Astle for 46 in the
22nd over and Inzamam-ul-Haq also fell off him and Basit Ali was run
out without scoring by an Astle throw, the match was almost over as
far as Pakistan was concerned.
Wickets continued to tumble. Wasim Akram drove straight into the hands
of Astle off a delivery from Danny Morrison and Rashid Latif was
bowled by Larsen to make Pakistan 146 for 7 in the 32nd over. Salim
Malik, however, played his best innings of the tour to make 58 with
four boundaries and three sixes to give Pakistan a little hope of
reaching near the target. With Mushtaq Ahmed his partner for the
eighth wicket he put on 42 runs but once the stand was broken and he
was the ninth man out, the target was of no consequence as there were
not many left to go for it.
New Zealand after being put in never missed any opportunity of picking
up runs as Pakistan failed to restrict their brisk run-rate. Poor
field placing has a lot to do with it. Singles and twos were there for
the asking as the batsmen pushed and ran to keep the five runs over
average well in control.
Bryan Young was caught at the wicket at 28 when 15 off Aqib Javed but
Stephen Fleming and Craig Spearman added 60 runs for the second wicket
to set New Zealand on course for a big score.
Spearmans 48 contained six fours and Fleming, who was caught by Wasim
Akram off Aamir Sohail at mid-wicket for 38, added another quick 44
runs for the third wicket with Parore. Cairns fell cheaply off Sohail
but another solid stand of 59 between Parore and Roger Twose made New
Zealand score look respectable. Parore made 42 and Twose hit 41 to
help New Zealand make 244 for 8 and challenge Pakistan to have a go.
Pakistan failed and New Zealand levelled the one-day series.
33
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