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DAWN WIRE SERVICE
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Week Ending : 18 January 1996 Issue : 02/03
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The DAWN Wire Service (DWS) is a free weekly news-service from
Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the daily DAWN. DWS
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General
..........Defection by Punjab MPAs
..........N-arms to worsen tension, US tells India
..........India to deploy Prithvi missile
..........Younus Habib served with another charge sheet
..........Prisoners suffer unending trials
..........Imran wants a lawyers body to look into hospital accounts
..........Law enforcers harass passengers
Sanghar by-election
..........Sanghar by-election: PPP wins NA seat by massive margin
..........PML boycotts poll, alleges rigging
..........Sanghar by-election: low turn out of voters at polling stations
..........Noorani alleges rigging
..........Dero denies rigging charges
Karachi Carnage
..........Three Killed and two MQM terrorists arrested
..........MQM rejects offer to share power
..........Rockets fired at MQM(H) head quarters in Landhi
..........Murder of CMs brother: suspect arrested
Opposition
..........PML stages walkout from Punjab PA
..........PML chief defends agreement with MQM
..........No accord reached with MQM says Nawaz
---------------------------------
Nisar claims loot sale of energy reserves
WB proposal rejected: Govt not to privatise canal system
Approved foreign exchange touches Rs50.8bn
KSE 100-share index attains 1,500 - point mark
Latest from the KSE: Stocks fail to extend rally
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Independence of the judiciary - III Ardeshir Cowasjee
Indias nuclear obsession Editorial Column
Trade with India: addressing the fears Mohammad Ali Syed
Zardari: The all-profit, no loss man in Islamabad Anjum Niaz
World cup squad Editorial Column
The real promoter of poverty Aftab Ahmed
Ordeal at the airport Editorial Column
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PTV - PCB dispute settled; 1 - day final to be televised
Zaman Gul clinches Asian squash after marathon fight
Pakistan cruise into Asian squash final
India defuse Pakistan to take 3rd spot in Sharjah
Miandad included, Basit axed for World Cup
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NATIONAL NEWS
960115
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Defection by Punjab MPAs
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Bureau Report
LAHORE, Jan 14: The opposition will hand over to the Punjab Assembly
speaker references against 11 of its legislators who are alleged to
have changed their loyalties after being elected on PML tickets.
The speaker will be requested to forward these references to the Chief
Election Commissioner for disqualification of the members concerned
under the law.
The opposition legislators who have changed their loyalties have since
been given various offices, and some of them have become ministers.
Those against whom references have been prepared include Chaudhry Ijaz
Ahmed, Pir Ghulam Farid Chishti, Farrukh Javed Ghumman, Tariq Anees,
Saleh Mohammad Ganjial, Rasool Bux Jatoi, Mansha Khan, Mian Javed
Mumtaz Daultana and Mazhar Qureshi.
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960113
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N-arms to worsen tension, US tells India
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BOMBAY, Jan 12: The United States advised India against developing
nuclear weapons, saying it would worsen regional tensions rather than
enhance national security.
Pakistan has also expressed strong concern over the possibility of the
country conducting a nuclear test, but Delhi says it has no such
plans.
US ambassador to India Frank Wisner said in a speech to business
leaders in Bombay that the United States was acting quickly to reduce
its own nuclear arsenal following the end of the Cold War.
The United States recognised that India alone can determine its own
security arrangements, he said. When it comes to the question of
developing nuclear weapons, however, we believe that careful
consideration will lead to the conclusion that, rather than enhancing
national security, such a step will simply exacerbate regional
tensions, provoke neighbouring countries into taking similar measures,
and ultimately lead to greater instability, he said.
We hope instead that India will sustain its support for the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty that for so long has been a central
element of its security policy, and that it will join us in pressing
for an international agreement that will end the production of
material needed to manufacture nuclear weapons, Mr Wisner added.
He also said, the United States wanted to see a prosperous and
progressive India to help maintain global and regional security.
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960117
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India to deploy Prithvi missile
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NEW DELHI, Jan 16: India has decided to deploy its medium-range
Prithvi missile soon, defence officials said, fuelling Western fears
it could be used to deliver nuclear weapons against Pakistan.
A Defence Ministry spokesman said a proposed test firing of the
surface-to-surface missile was postponed in Orissa because of
technical difficulties. The exact reason for the postponement was not
known.
They said the Prithvi, capable of delivering nuclear warheads, would
eventually be offered for export.
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960112
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Younus Habib served with another charge-sheet
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 11: Muhammad Younus Habib, former chief operating officer
of the Mehran Bank, was served with another charge- sheet by Israr
Ali, public prosecutor of the Special Court for Offences in Banks.
The FIA, in the charge-sheet, claimed they had lodged an FIR on the
basis of evidences and statements furnished by the 15 witnesses (eight
belonging to the SBP, Karachi, and seven to the Mehran Bank, Karachi,
and G. A. Jatoi, a sub-inspector of the FIA).
According to the prosecution, the MBL with the approval of Mr Habib,
had obtained Rs. 19,500,000 on Feb. 23, 1994; Rs. 23,157,200 on Feb.
28, 1994; Rs.18,830,460 on Feb. 28, 1994; and Rs.22,021,000 on March
30, 1994, from the SBP, on Feb. 23, 1994, against a bogus
transaction.
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960112
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Prisoners suffer unending trials
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Mohammad Riaz
KARACHI, Jan 11: Sufferings of the under-trial prisoners knows no
bounds. Every day scores of them shuttle between jails and the city
courts in police vans which have all elements of a dungeon.
By the time they arrive at the court premises, they are in a bad
shape. It seems they already have received their punishment. But there
are more sufferings in store for them at the court premises where they
must pass almost the whole day in lock-ups and trial rooms before
returning to their prisons.
As their first ordeal travelling from jails to courts ends, the
second begins when they are lodged in the lock-ups built in 1940 on
the ground floor of the city courts. These lock-ups were originally
meant for housing 100 prisoners, but now 200 to over 300 of them are
lodged during trials. On Monday last 303 under-trial prisoners were
huddled the four tiny rooms.
As many as 224 were brought from Central Jail, 48 from Landhi and 31
from Borstal Jail. Before being ushered into the lock-ups these under-
trials had to go through an exercise at the back of the main iron gate
where a cop writes their numbers and those of the vehicles detailed to
fetch them daily from jails.
A single room can at best house 25 detainees, but generally over 100
are pushed into it. A changed atmosphere, however, does not provide
them a moments respite from the bane of their daily prison life.
Of the four rooms or lock-ups, one is occupied by the court police in
which they keep their personal things, furniture and record-books. The
second is used as a store for broken chairs, old clothes and other
wastes. The third, which has an open toilet in one corner and a water
tap in the opposite one, is perhaps meant for women detainees as a
lone woman was seen squatting on its floor.
The fourth room was occupied, as mentioned above, by male prisoners.
Although the government is in the full knowledge of the situation, it
has not yet, for reasons best known to it, made any effort to make it
a place for human beings.
But there is one redeeming factor which takes much of the burden of
the agonies off the mind of a prisoner. The court premises provide him
with an opportunity to talk to a relative or two, though a small money
is involved in this. That is, there are touts all around the premises
who arrange a meeting between a detainee and his relatives when they
are paid a small sum for this service.
Each detainee is allowed to have a lunch with his wife and children is
charged Rs 20 by cops on guard duty, a detainee told Dawn.
Some detainees, sitting in the veranda, were heard speaking about
human rights activists and NGOs who appear in media reports but have
not yet found any time to visit the lock-ups to verify the hardships
under-trial prisoners undergo daily.
Moreover, detainees have to suffer the agony of waiting. After a
hearing is over, they have some time to wait for nothing till the
sunset. They are kept in the lock-ups till the last of them is
produced in the court.
This long wait hangs heavy on the prisoners as all of them are hand-
cuffed or in fetters.
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960113
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Imran wants a lawyers body to look into hospital accounts
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Bureau Report
LAHORE, Jan 12: Cricketer-turn-philanthropist Imran Khan has invited a
local lawyer, Dr Basit, to constitute a committee, comprising members
of the Lahore High Court Bar Association of his choice, to look into
the accounts of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.
If I or any member of my family is proved to have misused the
hospital funds I would readily transfer all my property to Shaukat
Khanum Memorial Trust and surrender myself for imprisonment and if the
accounts are found to be correct, Mr Basit should compensate the trust
for the Rs 50,000,000 loss caused to its 1995 Zakat campaign by his
case in the Lahore High Court, he said while addressing a Press
conference at the Lahore Press Club.
Mr Khan said the trust was being run by an independent board of
governors, comprising people of integrity like former federal finance
minister Syed Babar Ali, jurist Dr Pervaiz Hassan, industrialists
Razzaq Daud and Tariq Shafi, banker Shaukat Tareen and Nawab Ashique
Husain Qureshi, son of former Punjab chief minister Nawab Sadiq Husain
Qureshi.
Mr Khan said only five members of his family were among the governors
of the hospital. He said it was not a family trust, as was being
propagated by some quarters. It has been registered as a public trust
with all the government organisations, he said.
During the year, an amount of Rs 76,989,446 was spent on 24,320
patients while Rs 2,200,000 was collected from those patients who were
able to pay for their treatment, he said.
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960118
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Law enforcers harass passengers
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Ghulam Hasnain
KARACHI, Jan 17: Air passengers arriving in the city at night are
often exposed to hardships as some unscrupulous policemen on petrol
who check their baggage have usually motives other than security.
Though harassment of air passengers, especially the overseas
Pakistanis, is not a new phenomenon, the problem has magnified during
recent months to such an extent that even the personnel of rangers and
Frontier Constabulary, who are mainly deputised in the city to check
terrorism, insist on carrying out a baggage search of the passengers.
A general monitoring of Quaid-i-Azam International Airport and the
main Shahrea Faisal during nights and interviews with airport
functionaries revealed that certain influential police officers, who
allegedly enjoy political patronage, are running a major racket at the
airport conning innocent overseas Pakistanis on one pretext or the
other. A passengers agony begins the moment he hires a yellow cab to
go home.
Interviews with yellow cab drivers reveal that it is nearly impossible
for any taxi driver to take passengers from the airport without the
consent of airport police, because of which no taxi driver is ready to
operate on the basis of fare meters.
As soon as a taxi leaves the parking lot, foot constables picketing a
corner of the road will stop it and check the passengers baggage.
Once on Sharea Faisal, a passenger has to stop at several police
pickets and on each occasion he has to explain his credentials and
role out a few hundred rupees to save himself from the harassment.
The worst affected are those whose houses are located in the troubled
localities of districts Central and East where even the personnel of
Frontier Constabulary and rangers check their baggage, search their
wallets and ask all sorts of questions.
They object even if a passenger is carrying only a single tape-
recorder and ask him to produce Customs receipts, although it is
permitted under a passenger allowance.
An airport functionary told Dawn that recently the Airport police
deployed some of its men right at the arrival and departure terminals
on the pretext of keeping an eye on terrorists, but instead they
indulge in all sorts of corrupt practices.
Another senior airport official told Dawn that in the last three
months alone at least 12 overseas Pakistanis had reported that they
were drugged and robbed of all their money at the airport, while an
overseas Pakistani was kidnapped, looted and his body was thrown at
the Clifton beach.
Though, policemen have been warned on several occasions by the high-
ups against harassing the passengers, the practice continues as the
affected passengers are reluctant to lodge complaints.
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960112
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Sanghar by-election : PPP wins NA seat by massive margin
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 11: PPP candidate Senator Fida Hussain Dero won the
Sanghar by-election, by securing 74,400 votes against his nearest
rival PML candidate Islamuddin Qureshi who polled 17,112 votes,
Shahdadpur Returning Officer Ghulam Mustafa Memon told Dawn by
telephone.
Senator Makhdoom Khaliquzzaman, the PPP (SB) candidate, bagged 9,462
votes.
Our Correspondents add: Polling in Tando Adam city was smooth and
peaceful with turnout as low as 20 to 25 per cent. A large number of
voters complained that their names had not been included in the
additional list. There was complete chaos and confusion among voters
and in most of the polling stations even party workers were not
available to guide them.
Political workers admitted that there was a lack of public response.
In Shahdadpur and adjoining areas, Shaheed Bhutto group of the PPP
complained of attacks, harassment and kidnapping of their polling
agents.
However, when journalists visited various polling stations in the
Shahdadpur town and polling stations in the interior, no complaints
about harassment were made by any of the polling agents.
During visits to various polling stations of Shahdadpur, Sinjhoro and
in the villages, it was observed that the polling was going on at a
snails pace and the people did not seem interested in the process.
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960112
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PML boycotts poll, alleges rigging
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Staff Correspondent
HYDERABAD, Jan 11: The general secretary of Pakistan Muslim League,
Sindh, Mr Zahid Rafiq Butt, PML candidate for (Sanghar-2) by-election,
Haji Mohammad Islam Qureshi, and information secretary, Sindh, Mahfooz
Yar Khan, while addressing a hurriedly called Press conference at the
PML central election office at Shahdadpur at 3.50 pm on Thursday
announced boycott of the by-election.
They accused the government and administration of worse type of
rigging, harassment of voters and kidnapping of polling agents. They
demanded of the chief election commissioner to order re-election under
the direct supervision of Pakistan Army.
They said they also informed the PML chief, Mr Nawaz Sharif, and the
election commissioner, Sindh, about the prevailing situation. They
said finding no other via media, they had to announce the boycott of
election with the consent of Mr Nawaz Sharif.
They said that at 80 polling stations, their polling agents were
subjected to violence and were thrown out of the polling stations and
added that thereafter it was only a one way traffic for the PPP
candidate Senator Fida Hussain Dero.
They alleged that at 9.45 am when they visited the polling station of
the village of Dida Hussain Dero, to their utter surprise, they saw
that one ballot box had already been stuffed with votes.
They said that at polling station No. 141 at Soomar Faqir, the entire
polling staff was thrown out at 2.25 pm and thereafter the ballot
boxes were filled to capacity.
They claimed that they were in possession of a ballot book from serial
number 19580 to 19720 which had already been stamped in favour of the
PPP candidate.
The PML leaders complained that many election camps had been
physically taken over by police and revenue department.
They alleged that at least 100 vehicles were snatched by the district
administration and used for bringing the voters of Senator Dero.
They said Magsi force was also deployed along with police at various
police stations while provincial minister Mohsin Shah Bukhari was
giving directions to the polling staff.
They said at one ladies polling station, Pro-Zardari group resorted to
firing and fractured the hand of a PML polling agent.
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960112
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Sanghar by-election : Low turn out of voters at polling stations
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Aziz Malik and M.H. Khan
SANGHAR, Jan 11: The much trumpeted by-election for Sanghar proved to
be much ado about nothing. Confusion, extremely low turn-out of
voters, complaints about massive rigging, show of force by police,
alleged harassment of voters by the PPP candidate and, above all, an
eleventh-hour boycott of election by the PML were the hallmarks of the
day.
The Shaheed Bhutto group of the PPP also complained of attacks,
harassment and kidnapping of their polling agents. However, when a
group of journalists visited various polling stations in the
Shahdadpur town and polling stations in the interior, no complaints
about harassment were made by any of the polling agents.
They alleged that the state machinery was working as the agent of PPP
candidate, Sen Fida Hussain Dero.
During visits to various polling stations of Shahdadpur, Sinjhoro and
in the villages, it was observed that the polling was going on at a
snails pace and the people did not seem interested in the process.
The presiding officers appeared confused about the polling timings as
they had not been given any written orders in this respect. Some of
them stated that the polling hours were between 8.30am and 4.30pm,
while others maintained that it would continue from 8 to 4. And yet
others said they had been given verbal instructions to conduct the
polling from 9am to 4pm.
At the polling station 130 in the Maqsood Rind Government Primary
School, only 175 votes had been cast out of 1,200 till 11.30am. No
Muslim League agent was present at this polling station, and there
were only 14 voters around. The situation at other polling stations
was much the same.
A provincial PML leader, Shah Mohammad Shah, talking to these
correspondents at the partys Sinjhoro office, alleged that women
polling agents of his party had been picked up and the solid PML
voters were being harassed. He said a magistrate had forcibly picked
up PML polling agents from Dhani Bux Marh Deh 19, 26 and 27, and that
bogus votes were cast at Chak 25.
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960115
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Noorani alleges rigging
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 14: Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, the chief of Jamiat
Ulema-i-Pakistan and Chairman of Milli Yekjehti Council (MYC), alleged
unprecedented rigging in Sanghar by-election by the government.
He said the Turkish prime minister and former Indian premier the late
Indira Gandhi had accepted their defeat in elections but the PPP
leadership wants to cling to power at all cost.
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960115
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Dero denies rigging charges
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KARACHI, Jan 14: Fida Hussain Dero, MNA-elect from NA-Sanghar-II, said
that PPP was the symbol of federation and people proved this by voting
for the PPP in the recent bye-election.
In a statement, he said those who voted for him included Sindhi,
Punjabi and Urdu speaking people, as well as even the disciples of Pir
Saheb Pagaro. He criticised the PML for not accepting the election
results.
The constituency, he said, had all along been that of PPP, starting
from 1988 elections, when PPPs Shahnawaaz Junejo received a landslide
victory, in one-to-one fight. Except for 1990s rigged elections and
winning by a few hundreds margin by Jam Mashooq in the 1993
elections, the masses have solidly been behind the party, he said.
However, if the PML (N) had any concrete evidence of any
irregularity, the legal course was to approach the Election
Commission, Mr. Dero said. The MNA-elect said levelling of such an
allegation was unfair and unfortunate.
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960118
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Three Killed and two MQM terrorists arrested
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KARACHI: Gulbahar Police have arrested two alleged terrorists of Altaf
Group and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession after an
encounter, while 10 other alleged terrorists fled. In another incident
three people, including an MQM activist, were killed.
According to police sources, the SHO Gulbahar, along with a police
mobile, was on patrol duty, when he received information that a gang
of 12 armed terrorists had intentions of carrying out terrorist
activities.
The police chased and arrested two accused, Iqbal Ghauri and
Shujauddin while 10 others escaped. Accused Iqbal Ghauri was wanted in
12 cases of murder and terrorism-related incidents, whereas accused
Shujauddin was wanted in five cases of murder and dacoity.
Among those dead a young MQM worker was killed in an alleged gunbattle
with the police in Sharifabad. The police initially identified him as
Nisar, an associate of Naeem Sherri but later claimed that he was yet
to be identified.
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960113
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MQM rejects offer to share power
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 12: MQM coordination committee rejected Prime Minister
Benazir Bhuttos fresh offer of power-sharing as a move to deceive
international public opinion.
The committee reiterated its charges against the ruling PPP and said:
How can we trust when the PPP does not recognise the mandate of the
Mohajirs and has kept most of our elected members under custody and is
subjecting them to torture.
The committee castigated the government for allegedly arresting
unspecified number of MQM activists in false cases and denying the
party free and fair political activity.
It said that the government allegations that the MQM was allegedly
recruiting terrorists from Bangladesh was aimed at preventing the
repatriation of stranded Pakistanis in that country.
The coordination committee contended that the MQM had no interest in
power-sharing, but it is determined to continue the struggle for the
rights of 20 million Mohajirs.
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960118
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Rockets fired at MQM(H) headquarters in Landhi
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 17: Dozens of unidentified armed men attacked the MQM
Haqiqi headquarters in Landhi using rockets and automatic weapons.
The attackers who came in several vehicles carried out the attack from
three sides. They are reported to have fired at least six rocket-
propelled grenades at the Haqiqi main office, but the rockets struck
and damaged neighbouring houses instead.
Till the filing of this report, it was not clear how many people were
wounded in the attack. Heavy shooting damaged KESCs pole-mounted
transformers plunging the affected area into darkness.
Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed Khan accused the MQM-A and its militants of
the attack and alleged that it was carried out on the orders of self-
exiled chief Altaf Hussain.
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960116
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Murder of CMs brother: suspect arrested
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 15: One of the four MQM activists, who had allegedly
gunned down the Sindh Chief Ministers younger brother, Syed Ihsan Ali
Shah, on Nov. 23, was arrested, the police chief claimed.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr Shoaib Suddle, told newsmen
that his force had arrested an MQM activist who had admitted killing
the Chief Ministers brother.
The suspect was identified as Syed Yureed Shah. Giving assassination
details, the city police chief said There were no personal reasons
behind the murder. The (CMs brother) was killed because he related to
the Chief Minister.
During initial interrogation, the suspect told police that they were
asked by the party (MQM) to carry out rocket attacks in the city and
they were waiting for a date to launch the attack.
He told a questioner that all information was voluntarily provided by
Yureed and at no stage he was tortured. He also went on to say that
during initial interrogation Yureed had admitted killing at least half
a dozen people, including a retired a police officer and policeman on
Dec. 31 last.
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960112
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PML stages walkout from Punjab PA
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Bureau Report
LAHORE, Jan 11: The opposition staged a token walkout from the Punjab
Assembly to protest against deputy speaker Manzoor Mohals refusal to
admit a resolution denouncing the alleged attempt on the life of
Nawaz Sharif in Hala.
Deputy opposition leader Parvez Elahi rose to read out the text of the
resolution minutes before the house was to begin a debate on the state
of jails in the province, claiming that the administration was
involved in the attack.
Punjab law minister Afzal Hayat opposed the resolution, saying the
treasury benches did not agree with the PMLs contention. He believed
that only a unanimous resolution could be tabled in the house
according to the rules of business, but did not quote any rule in
support. The PMLs Tabish Alwari challenged him to quote the rules.
Mr Alwari asserted that the opposition wished to point out the
lawlessness in the country through its resolution. The situation has
reached a point where even an ex-prime minister is attacked.
The chair assigned ministers Rana Ikram Rabbani and Shahnawaz Cheema
to convince the opposition to return to the house, but the session had
to be adjourned for 15 minutes before the PML members came back to
participate in the discussion on the state of jails.
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960113
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PML chief defends agreement with MQM
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Bureau Report
LAHORE, Jan 12: Opposition leader in the National Assembly Mian Nawaz
Sharif has said that recent agreement between his party, PML, and MQM
will go a long way in bringing peace to Karachi.
He said Prime Minister Benazir Bhuttos objections to the agreement
were unfounded as her government was given about two years (by the
opposition) to strike a deal with MQM leadership to settle the Karachi
issue. It is only after the failure of the government to negotiate
with MQM in two years that the PML has taken the initiative and
attempted to understand MQM leaderships point of view on the long
unresolved Karachi issue. Our efforts should be applauded instead of
being criticised, he said.
Accusing the PPP government of hatching a conspiracy to divide Sindh
and rule, Mr Sharif said that even Murtaza Bhutto, Ms Benazirs
brother, had accused her of following such a policy to widen
differences between Sindhis and Mohajirs.
My party wants to save the country from further division and is
committed to find amicable solutions of deep rooted problems,
specially in Sindh. The agreement with MQM will serve as a bridge to
bring people of Sindh on one platform and think in unison to make
Pakistan a prosperous nation, Mr Sharif said.
Reacting sharply on losing the Sanghar by-poll, Nawaz Sharif alleged
mass scale rigging by the ruling party.
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960118
-------------------------------------------------------------------
No accord reached with MQM, says Nawaz
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Azizullah Sharif
KARACHI, Jan 17: Leader of the opposition Mian Nawaz Sharif said that
the PML and the MQM had neither signed any political accord nor had
they entered into an electoral alliance.
The mere issuance of a joint communiqui does not mean that some
agreement has been reached, even the issue of an electoral alliance
did not figure in my meeting with MQM chief, the former premier
added.
However, we were of considered opinion that as long as Benazir Bhutto
remains in power, neither the Karachi issue will be resolved, nor the
country can be taken out of the prevailing crisis, he said, adding
whosoever wanted to oust Benazir was not the enemy of Pakistan.
===================================================================
960116
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Nisar claims loot sale of energy reserves
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: Former federal petroleum minister Chaudhry Nisar
Ali Khan has appealed to the president to prevent the loot sale of
over half of the countrys total energy reserves to the Hashoo Group,
headed by Sadruddin Hashwani.
The PML leader released what he claimed were details of the almost
finalised proposal which would enable the Hashoo Group to purchase
63.9 per cent share holding of Burmah Oil Company (BOC) in Pakistan
Petroleum Limited (PPL), which also owns Pakistans most important
gasfield at Sui.
The BOC has been trying for the past three years to sell its shares
because of diversification into other sectors but it requires a no-
objection certificate from the government before it sells its shares
to a particular party.
But, as pointed out by Chaudhry Nisar, the transaction is not as
straight forward as the government would like to portray. According to
the proposal, he said, the BOC would sell off its entire share holding
in the PPL to a giant Australian company, the BHP, which in turn would
sell them to the Hashoo Group in lieu of the BOC selling BHP 8.5 per
cent of its share holding in the Qadirpur gas field, while a 7 per
cent share holding in the same field would be passed on by the PPL as
well. The BHP would, therefore, have a 15.5 per cent share in the
Qadirpur gas field and thus enjoy a pre-emptive right to acquire
Qadirpur, when the government privatises its 70 per cent shares. In
other words, he said, BHP is literally taking an openly official
commission of a 15.5 per cent stake in the countrys energy reserves
for playing a front-man for the Hashoo Group. Could there be a bigger
blatant example of corruption.
Nisar charged that the planned privatisation of Qadirpur gas field too
was a violation of an earlier cabinet decision wherein it had been
decided that no discovered gas field, owned by the government, would
be privatised. He said that the Qadirpur field had not even been
evaluated while even by the most conservative estimates its
recoverable reserves stood at about four trillion cubic feet with an
estimated value of about US$5 billion while the field had contributed
Rs400 million to the national exchequer in 1994 alone. Opposing the
privatisation of any of the gas fields he pointed out that put
together, the fields of Qadirpur, Sui and Kandkot had given a revenue
of Rs7 billion in 1994-5 alone. Quoting from what he said were the
minutes of the last meeting of the Economic Committee of the Cabinet,
Chaudhry Nisar claimed that the proposal was approved at that meeting.
He said: The item was not even on the days agenda but was hushed in
at the last minute and gotten passed despite the on-record objections
of various other ministries whereas the ministry of finance was not
even represented in that meeting.
The shear manner of the passage of this proposal too, in his opinion,
betrayed the presence of naked corruption. He maintained that it was
highly risky to hand over 50 per cent of the countrys natural gas to
a single company which has only been in the business for a little
over a year and has no real standing or experience. The former
minister alleged that instead of adopting the standard method of
inviting open offers for such a deal the government had silently
negotiated with only one party on totally unacceptable terms, for
obvious reasons.
He called upon President Leghari to prevent the bartering away of
Pakistans economic and Strategic interests. Acknowledging, that
earlier also a presidential intervention had blocked the sale of OGDC
for a song, he added that this is an even more serious issue which
demanded the presidents personal intervention.
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960114
-------------------------------------------------------------------
WB proposal rejected : Govt not to privatise canal system
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mahmood Zaman
LAHORE, Jan 13: The federal government is said to have turned down a
World Bank proposal for privatising of the countrys irrigation
system. But at the same time it has approved the concept of
decentralisation of the system and participatory irrigation management
under the National Drainage Project (NDP) which will be undertaken in
a few canal command areas on an experimental basis.
The six-year project will involve a cost of about $785 million, out of
which the World Bank and other donor agencies have promised to invest
$525 million. Work on the project is due to commence in July this year
and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2001. Of this fund, the
Asian Development Bank has earmarked $140 million and the Overseas
Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan will contribute $100 million. The
remaining cost will be shared by the federal government, which is to
provide an amount of $162 million, and provincial governments, $66
million.
As has been agreed between the federal and provincial governments and
the World Bank, the provincial irrigation departments will transfer
management of water to provincial irrigation and drainage authorities
(PIDAs) which will come into effect from July 1.
Under the authorities, area water boards (AWBs), on the pattern of
area electricity boards in WAPDA, will be set up for the management of
irrigation water.
Water rates, according to the World Bank proposal, should not be
uniform. They should be settled on negotiations between AWBs and
water-user groups.
Consensus on decentralisation of the irrigation system was reached.
While there is general agreement on most of the details of the revised
scheme, the federal and provincial governments have opposed the World
Bank suggestion that PIDAs, AWBs and water-user formations be
registered as limited companies under the Companies Ordinance, 1984.
The government is of the view that this would amount to privatisation
of the system which is not on the agenda. The government may, however,
agree to these bodies being regulated under the Corporate Law
Authority as autonomous enterprises having the power to negotiate
water rates with users.
According to official sources, the World Bank was of the view that
two-thirds of the existing staff was in excess or did not qualify to
be associated with PIDAs and AWBs. It has set a three- year deadline
for absorption of the employees in other departments.
As for PIDAs and AWBs, the World Bank has recommended that they should
engage consultants, to be selected in cooperation with the Bank, to
prepare detailed staffing and business plans so that the two bodies
achieve financial self-sufficiency in three years.
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960113
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Approved foreign exchange touches Rs 50.8bn
-------------------------------------------------------------------
THE State Bank of Pakistan through the sale of government treasury
bills at its open market operation mopped up Rs 1.95 billion.
Reportedly the Central Bank sold Rs 850 million worth of TBs in the
outright sale of TBs and an additional Rs 1.1 billion worth of TBs
were sold in repos. Call rates ranged between 13-17 per cent.
Liquidity in the market will get tighter as non-bank financial
institutions deposit one percent of their deposits as cash margin on
zero rate of return with the State Bank of Pakistan.
As a direct consequence, banks normally doing REPO transactions with
non-banks to square off their daily position, will be faced with
higher rates on borrowing from NBFIs.
According to the weekly State Bank statement of affairs for the week
ended January 4, 1996, notes in circulation continued the downward
trend and fell by a further Rs 3168.07 million. Notes declined to Rs
243,404.706 million during the week from Rs 246,572.775 million a week
earlier. In the corresponding week last year notes in circulation
amounted to Rs 215,766.240 million. Thus the current weeks figure was
higher by Rs 27,638.47 million over the last years.
In the corresponding week a year earlier, notes issued amounted to Rs
216,038.568 million. So the figure of the current week was higher by
Rs 27,778.49 million over last years figure.
Approved foreign exchange nearly doubled, as it rose to Rs 50,530.862
million over previous weeks Rs 25,949.056 million, a rise of Rs
24,581.80 million. When compared to last years figure of Rs
78,087.217 million the foreign exchange position was however, lowered
by Rs 27,556.36 million.
Balances held outside Pakistan including cash and short-term
securities which had fallen in the last week of December, showed a
further substantial fall.
Advances to the industrial sector amounted to Rs 8,660.422 million
showing a fall of Rs 94.11 million over preceding weeks Rs 8,754.527
million. In the corresponding period last year, advances to the sector
amounted to Rs 9,325.717 million.
The week also saw a rise in the credit flow to the export sector.
Advances to the sector increased by Rs 209.24 million at Rs 32,536.931
million over Rs 32.327.689 million a week earlier. In the
corresponding period a year ago, the advances to the sector amounted
to Rs 28,059.975 million.
The scheduled banks statement of position for the week ended December
28, 1995 shows that total liabilities continued to grow. Total
deposits rose by Rs 9588 million at Rs 726,126 million over Rs 716,538
million in the preceding week. When compared with the corresponding
period of last year when total liabilities amounted to Rs 651,312
million, the current weeks figure was higher by Rs 74,814 million.
Both type of deposits, namely demand and time deposits rose during the
week under review. Time liabilities also increased in the week as
compared with the previous weeks level. These rose by Rs 6137 million
at Rs 387,406 million over preceding weeks Rs 381,269 million. They
were higher by Rs 47,026 million over the deposits of Rs 340,380
million in the same period a year earlier.
The need to borrow from banks abroad which had declined a week
earlier, showed a rise during the week under review. These rose by Rs
867 million at Rs 15,272 million over Rs 14,405 million a week
earlier. In the corresponding period a year ago, borrowings from banks
abroad totalled Rs 13,533 million.
Total assets of scheduled banks amounted to Rs 1,692,933 million over
preceding weeks Rs 1,737,814 million showing a fall of Rs 44,881
million. In the corresponding week last year, assets amounted to Rs
1,562,311 million.
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960117
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KSE 100-share index attains 1,500-point mark
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 16: The Karachi Stock Exchange index of 100-share
attained the coveted mark of 1,500 points but some analysts doubted
its ability to sustain it at least for the near-term.
The KSE 100-share price index was last quoted at 1,500.94 as compared
to 1,491.02 a day earlier, reflecting the strength of base shares.
The market was largely shared by blue chips on all the counters under
the lead of pivotals such as Siemens, Shell Pakistan, Crescent
Textiles, Fauji Fertiliser, and BOC Pakistan, which posted gains
ranging from one rupee to Rs 12.67. The biggest rise was noted in BOC,
which was quoted ex-dividend and ex-bonus.
The notable feature was that some of the low-priced textile shares
came in for active short-covering and ended sharply higher under the
lead of Taha Spinning and Lafayette Textiles, which rose by Rs 5 and
4.50.
Insurance shares were also traded sharply higher on renewed support
aided by news of higher interim earnings. Century Insurance, EFU
General, Habib and Metro Life Insurance were leading gainers amid
active trading.
Other gainers were led by ICP Mutual funds followed by Century Paper.
UDL Industries, Soneri and Metropolitan Banks, rising by one rupee to
Rs 10.
Selling was largely confined to Asset Bank, which has risen sharply
overnight, Shafiq Textiles, Dewan Salman, National Fibre, PEL,
Pakistan Refinery. KASB & Co, Pakistan Gum and Lever Brothers, which
suffered decline ranging from Rs 2 to 7.
Hub-Power topped the list of most actives, up 65 paisa on 8.212
million shares followed by PTC vouchers, easy five paisa on 3.716
million shares, Sitara Energy, steady 10 paisa on 550,000 shares,
Faysal Bank, lower five paisa on 391,700 shares, Metro Life Insurance,
higher Rs 1.70 on 336,000 shares.
Other actives were led by Lucky cement, easy 50 paisa on 306,600
shares, ICI Pakistan, lower 20 paisa on 250,600 shares, Ibarhim Fibre,
off 35 paisa on 235,000 shares and Fauji Fertiliser, higher Rs 2.85 on
579,500 shares.
Trading volume was maintained at the overnight level of well over 21
million shares thanks to active dealings in pivotals. There were 346
actives, out of which 131 shares rose, while 130 fell with 85
remaining pegged at the last close.
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960118
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Latest from KSE : Stocks fail to extend rally
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 17: Stocks failed to extend the last three sessions
improvement as a section of leading dealers took profits at the higher
levels fearing larger fall at the weekend session.
The Karachi Stock Exchange index of share prices, again breached the
resistance level of 1,500 points and was last quoted at 1,497.08 as
compared to 1,501.05 a day earlier.
Most of the insurance shares remained in active demand on news of
higher interim earnings and were quoted sharply higher under the lead
of Century, EFU and Union Insurance, which posted gains ranging from
Rs 2 to 3.50.
Most of the MNCs also showed fresh good gains on active follow-up
support and were marked up by Rs 2 to 5 for Exide Pakistan, BOC
Pakistan, Engro Chemicals, Nestle Milkpak, Reckitt and Colman and
Lever Brothers.
Among the local blue chips, which rose appreciably most of the ICP
Mutual funds, notably the second and the 5th. KASB & Co, Prime Bank,
and Crescent Steel were leading and so did some of the textile shares.
Losses on the other hand were mostly fractional barring PSO, Dewan
Salman, PEL Appliance, Attock Refinery, Telecard, Pakistan Gum Bata,
and Packages, falling by one rupee to 3. Other prominent losers were
led by Askari Leasing, Adamjee Insurance, Dadabhoy Insurance, and
Kohinoor Industries, falling by one rupee to Rs 4.
Hub-Power topped the list of most actives, easy 20 paisa on 6.050
million shares followed by PTC shares, lower 15 paisa on 5.812 million
shares, both were heavily traded in kerb also, Lucky Cement, up 45
paisa on 0.552 million shares, and Sitara Energy, lower 10 paisa on
0460 million shares.
Other actively traded shares were led by ICI Pakistan, off 75 paisa on
0.460 million shares, Faysal Bank, lower five paisa on 0.310 million
shares, Metro Life Insurance, off 65 paisa on 0.231 million shares,
and Fauji Fertiliser, off 60 paisa on 0.375m shares and LTV Modaraba,
steady five paisa on 0.146m shares.
Traded volume fell to 19.873 million shares from 21.056 million
shares.
There were 371 actives, out of which 174 shares fell, while 113 rose,
with 84 holding on to the last levels.
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960112
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Independence of the judiciary-III
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeshir Cowasjee
THE judiciary shall (repeat shall) be separated progressively from
the Executive within three years from the commencing day..., loudly
and proudly proclaimed the 1973 Constitution promulgated by our first
civilian martial law administrator, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, during whose
reign dissent could at best be voiced by silence or recorded by
abstention.
The promulgator deluded the people. He had no intention of abiding by
his promulgation, for within four hours of the birth of our
Constitution, under cover of the State of Emergency which ruled
supreme (until overtaken by Zias martial law in July 1977), the
people were denied the fundamental rights and freedoms that had been
guaranteed to them.
Thereafter, the promulgator, suspending the rules of procedure, saw to
it that seven constitutional amendment bills, affecting mainly the
liberties of the people and injuring the judiciary, were rushed
through the National Assembly without any meaningful deliberation or
discussion.
Let us look at the Third Amendment, passed on February 18, 1975. Inter
alia, it empowered the government to detain a man without trial for a
period of three months instead of one month as originally provided.
The grounds on which he could be held were enlarged to include
anything that in the opinion of the government was tantamount to anti-
national activities or was prejudicial to the integrity, security or
defence of Pakistan activities ranging from the alleged theft of a
buffalo to the voicing of dissent.
The Fourth Amendment (November 25, 1975), inter alia, enlarged the
scope of preventive laws and further restricted what little freedom of
association we then had. It deprived the High Courts of their power to
grant bail to any person detained under any preventive detention law
and to prohibit the making of executive orders for detention.
The Fifth Amendment (September 15, 1976), inter alia, extended the
period of the separation of the judiciary from the executive from
three to five years, thus bringing the deadline to August 1978. It
also fixed a tenure of five and four years respectively for the Chief
Justices of the Supreme Court and the High Courts (favouring those in
favour). It prohibited the High Courts, in the case of preventive
detentions, from restraining the detention of a person, from granting
bail before arrest, or from ordering the release of a person on bail.
The Sixth Amendment (January 4, 1977) allowed the Chief Justices of
the Supreme and High Courts to hold office for tenures of five and
four years respectively, even though they may have attained the
retirement ages of 65 and 62.
This was tailor-made to suit Justice Yaqub Ali so as to allow him to
continue in office beyond retirement age. The good judge had publicly
paid glowing tributes to Bhutto on December 8, 1976: I can say from
personal knowledge, he observed in his address to the Third Pakistan
Jurists Conference, that the Prime Minister by conviction has great
respect for the judiciary from the lowest to the highest rung. (Dawn
December 9, 1976) Within three weeks, Bhuttos respect, at least at
the highest rung, found expression in the Sixth Amendment Act amending
the Fifth.
All this happened when Yahya Bakhtiar was Attorney-General, the first
law officer of the land. (Reportedly daughter Benazirs government
will be represented by the same Yahya when the hearing of the present
Judges Case resumes in the Supreme Court on January 21).
Then in rode Zia, mounted on martial law (Martial law is no law at
all. Martial law is brute force. Of course, all martial law is
illegal, and an attempt to introduce illegalities into martial law,
which is not military law, is like attempting to add salt water to the
sea. Churchill, 1906). Zia introduced the PCO in March 1981 and
finished off whatever independence the judiciary had been left with.
Two judges of the Supreme Court refused to take the oath Chief
Justice Anwarul Haq and Justice Dorab Patel. Their example was
followed by Ad Hoc Judge Fakhruddin Ebrahim.
Had all the judges of the superior courts stood firm and refused to
take the oath, Zia would have backed down. As a sop, by his
Presidential Order No. 14 of 1985, he extended the period for the
separation of the judiciary to 14 years, to August 1987. Zias
principal legal adviser was my friend Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada. My
efforts to make him write the truth as he knows it (naturally for
posthumous publication) have so far been unsuccessful.
On February 1, 1988, Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary
Affairs Waseem Sajjad made a passing reference to the separation of
the judiciary from the administration, by his own admission
obligatory under the Constitution. We are at it, said he, sorting
out prerequisites.
Our assorted governments have now been at it for 22 years. Is the
present government still sorting out prerequisites? We have never
been informed what these time-consuming prerequisites may be, but it
would seem that in the case of the separation of the judiciary from
the executive (and in many other cases) all our governments have found
themselves in the same predicament as Alices Queen: it took her all
the running she could do to keep herself in the same place. The only
advice we can give to this government is that it should try to run
twice as fast in order to advance by one step, in spite of the fact
that by now, the people are convinced that no government of ours can
afford to have an independent judiciary.
Now, 22 years down the road, with Benazir as prime minister for the
second time, crime and lawlessness is on the rise, especially in
Karachi where many police stations (as admitted by none other than the
President) are sold to the highest bidder or the prime favourite.
Our government was recently diplomatically chastised by the US State
Department: We are deeply concerned by the escalating cycle of
violence in Karachi and particularly by the sharp increase in reported
extra-judicial killings, extortion and custodial deaths by security
forces. (Dawn December 13, 1995). Our governments sole reaction was
to term this as interference in our internal affairs, and in a
strongly worded statement admitting that action has been taken where
there have been police excesses. The strong statement may have made
the US shiver and shake with fright but it did not make it retract
what had been said, and it has certainly made no difference to what is
on the ground. The suffering and anxiety of the people have not
lessened.
Does this government not realise that extra-judicial killings and
police excesses only tend to further increase the lawlessness and
terrorism, the unruly claiming the right to act as does the
government?
Worse still, the judiciary has been politicised and weakened as never
before. Three of our four High Courts are presided over by Acting
Chief Justices, who sit at the governments whim and fancy. Most
disturbing is the manner in which Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah of
Pakistan (along with his family) is being intimidated and pressured to
appoint judges of the governments choice and to act against his
better judgment and will. The people and the Press have voiced their
resentment and the executive has been editorially condemned.
The Law Reforms Committee of the Pakistan Bar Council has passed a
resolution and has ...strongly condemned all acts of harassment and
views these as brazen attacks on the independence of the judiciary.
Salahuddins Takbeer (4-11 January) under the heading Chief Justice
victim of PPP vengeance reports that the CJs nephew and son-in-law
Pervaiz Ali Shah, a Sindh provincial service engineer who has been
arbitrarily suspended from service, was officially sent for by Chief
Minister Abdullah Shah and it was conveyed to him that it would be in
the interest of the family if his father-in-law were to toe the line.
A cattle rustlers move, if one may say so. Abdullah Shah also called
on the CJ in Rawalpindi, as did many times Defence Minister Aftab
Shahban Mirani. Benazirs discussion with the CJ, with her spouse
interposing, as reported by Takbeer makes sad reading. Can our young
Prime Minister not be persuaded to avail herself of wise counsel? She
would do well to read what that angry Chief Justice of Sindh, Tufail
Ali Abdul Rehman, wrote to her father in 1973 when his government
arrested Judge Owais of Sanghar and handcuffed and maltreated him:
I have so far refrained from such action as lay within my authority
but would now venture to suggest that two steps are immediately
necessary: (1) that an inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act be held
by a judge of the High Court, who should be appointed in consultation
with me, to determine the circumstances which led to this arrest, and
(2) that the Government of Sindh should give me a satisfactory
assurance that anybody who I post as District Judge in Sanghar or
elsewhere will not be harassed or victimised. If, however, you are not
persuaded that these courses are necessary I shall have to take such
steps as may be proper and lie within my power.
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960114
-------------------------------------------------------------------
India's nuclear obsession
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial Column
This is no coincidence that first Canada and now the United States
have voiced concern over the threat posed by India's bloated nuclear
ambitions to South Asia's security situation and political stability.
Indeed, there are clear indications that major Western nations are
genuinely alarmed by reports that India, which conducted its first
nuclear explosion in 1974, may be about to carry out another test. New
Delhi's denial notwithstanding, the reports can no longer be regarded
as merely speculative. Washington has even warned New Delhi of
possible economic and other sanctions in the event of a new test
explosion. This it did shortly after satellite monitoring indicated
preparations for a new nuclear test.
Mr Jean Chretien, urged his Indian counterpart not to delay the
signing of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). Earlier,
reports from Ottowa had indicated that Mr Chretien had sought - and
possibly secured- assurances from New Delhi that it was not on the
verge of a new nuclear test explosion, and threatened to call off his
visit in case India went ahead with its plans. Mr Chretien did not
mince his words when, talking to Indian newsmen at the President's
House in New Delhi, he said that India had no option but to sign the
NPT and that it was no longer a question of New Delhi accepting or not
accepting the treaty. A day after the Canadian prime minister's
statement, the US ambassador in India, while addressing businessmen in
Bombay, expressed the view that India's planned nuclear arsenal would
in no sense add to its own security and would, on the contrary,
heighten tensions in the region. The ambassador even disclosed that
the US was maintaining a "candid and regular dialogue" with New Delhi
- which seemed to suggest that Washington was actively pursuing a
policy to dissuade New Delhi from its perilous path of building a
nuclear arsenal.
Without doubt, once New Delhi went full steam ahead with its nuclear
weapons programme, it would mark the beginning of a nuclear arms race
in the region. India's real or rationally perceived security needs do
not justify such an arsenal. Indeed, the real reason for its nuclear
ambition could be seen in the context of its potential as an
instrument of blackmail to be used against India's neighbours,
especially Pakistan. To add to the tensions generated by the spy
satellites having detected preparations for a nuclear explosion in
Pokhran, there have also been reports that India has threatened to
renege on its commitment to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(CTBT), due later this year, hoping to drive a bargain for extracting
certain concessions, notably a permanent seat in the Security Council
and the recognition of its status as a nuclear power. One hopes that
major powers, such as the US, would not hesitate to use all political,
diplomatic and economic means to leave India in no doubt that they
would not yield to such blackmail.
There are strong indications that India's prime minister P.V.
Narasimha Rao may have decided to raise the threshold of his country's
nuclear capability with an eye on the forthcoming general elections,
when the Congress would be pitted against the Hindu fundamentalist
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) whose manifesto calls for a full-fledged
nuclear weapons; programme. Since September last, several Indian-
leaders and officials have made statements stressing the need for
India to link the CTBT to the larger question of global nuclear
disarmament and not to accept it in the limited context of a non-
proliferation regime. In view of the American warning of sanctions in
the event of a second test explosion in Pokhran, the BJP has been
demanding that India deliver a "fitting reply" to Washington by going
ahead with the planned test.
Hawks in India present the issue as a test of India's sovereignty and
ability to stand up to external pressure. New Delhi must realise that
such brinkmanship would not only escalate the nuclear competition in
South Asia but would also turn into an international pariah divested
of the position of respect and influence it covets to occupy in the
council of nations.
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960112
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade with India: addressing the fears
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohammad Ali Syed
THE issue of granting the MFN status to India has prompted an intense
dialogue. Perhaps, we have woken at last up to the changing realities
of the world and we are ready to make a firm decision about the future
of our nation based on enlightened self-interest. Are Pakistan and
India doomed by history to be perpetually locked in self-destructive
hostility (like two scorpions in a bottle), or is there hope that one
day we can work together in close cooperation to solve the multi-
dimensional problems of our two great peoples (like USA and former
USSR)?
The current "MFN status" discussions are coloured by an incorrect
perception of international trade and its effects on the economy.
There is a desire to have an even balance of trade with India. In
simple terms, those who oppose trade with India are scared that we
will be importing more from India than we will be exporting to it; and
thus be dreadfully dependent on it. Although the specifics of
determining accurately the economic consequences of trade with India
are better left (not surprisingly) to the economists, a little
clarification about the basic nature of international trade would help
clear thinking about the issue. What people seem to forget is that
India is not the only other country in the world. Pakistan trades with
many countries, having diverse import and export relations with them.
Though it is desirable that we maintain a roughly even aggregate trade
balance (determined after adding total exports and total imports to
and from all trading partners), it is not even worth considering
equalling exports with imports to an individual country.
If we, as a result of granting MFN status to India, end up importing
more from India than we export to it, there is nothing stopping us
from exporting more to other countries and thus making up for any
imbalance that may occur. Also, increasing imports from India means
that our imports from some of our other trading partners will fal1, as
we find cheaper substitutes coming in from India. So, if we have a
higher ratio of imports (to exports) from India, we will have a lower
ratio of imports (to exports) with other countries. The overall
picture will not be adversely affected.
In fact, if we find cheaper goods coming in from India, we gain by
consuming at a lower price (or consuming more) and also, by moving
resources away from sectors in which we are relatively inefficient to
sectors where we possess comparative advantage in production. If we
are inefficient at producing a certain commodity, it would only be
wiser for us to import it if it is available cheaply from India, and
concentrate in producing those commodities which we are good at
producing. By specialising in production of commodities which we excel
at producing, we can drive down their prices and thereby increase our
exports of those products, as more countries will find them
affordable.
The fears of our "dependency" (on India), arising out of a negative
trade balance, are the result of a very naive and simplistic view of
the world. If there is any dependency in Pakistan on Indian imports,
then there is an equal dependency in India for the revenues that their
exports to us contribute to their economy. The close proximity of our
two nations make trade very convenient and once a stable pattern has
been established, both trading partners would be averse to drastic
changes.
This was the economic side. There is a political aspect too. Our
governments have been in the constant search for ways and means to
expand and perpetuate their dominance, mostly at the expense of
national well being. I contend that our governments have never
sincerely tried to mend our relations with India because it has been
very convenient for them to keep India alive as a scapegoat, to put
the blame on whenever their pathetic domestic policies are questioned.
The same has been the record for Indian governments. When it has been
proven beyond doubt that trade among nations is beneficial to the
welfare of the people, and that petty politics must not be allowed to
interfere with free-trade patterns, our politicians still continue to
be wary of allowing trade relations between India and Pakistan to
flourish.
I do not say that we must not help Kashmiri Muslims in their fight
against oppression, but that we must explore new and realistic
solutions. If we give up hostilities now and take effective measures
to strengthen our economy and build our prestige in the world, we can
then more effectively help the Kashmiris. Persisting in militaristic
endeavours will not help the nation in any respect.
The basis of our support for Kashmir is the affinity we feel for our
Muslim brothers there. After all our creation was based on the two
nation theory and it is our duty to help Muslims. But may I ask what
happened to the two-nation theory in 1971? What were we thinking when
we treated our East Pakistani brothers the way we did? What is
happening to the two-nation theory now, when we are denying the
stranded Biharis - who incidentally were the only collaborators our
army had in their occupation of East Pakistan (remember Al-Badar and
Al-Shams?) their right to enter Pakistan and be treated as Pakistani
citizens? It is clear that a lot has changed since the patriotic days
of Partition. Our leaders' support for the Kashmiri people may not be
motivated completely by an altruistic desire to alleviate their
suffering. Yet, our current stand on Kashmir causes enmity with India,
and necessitates excessive military spending.
The only thing that excessive military spending will help in doing, is
in securing the generals of the army an undeservedly large role in
national politics and a free hand in obstructing democracy at their
whim. Maybe their aversion to allow democracy flourish in urban Sindh
and disruption of liberties of Karachiites flow from this expanded
role they have acquired. What business do the armed forces have in
dominating politics? The army will never want Pakistan to be friendly
with India, because its reason for existence will be questioned, and
it will not be able to take the huge chunk that it does from our hard
earned national revenues. And reliance on military solutions to our
security problems in the absence of genuine political and economic
endeavours will only help us to the extent that it has helped us in
the past (to be precise, not help us at all). In any case, to feel
safe we need strong friends not strong enemies.
There have been no Hiroshimas since Hiroshima. Yes, not a single
nuclear weapon has been used offensively since the US lobbed one at
the Japanese city at the peak of World War II. It is quite likely that
India won't use one on us and face reprisals, from the international
community, which it is so trying to woo. Let India spend senselessly
on building nukes, let them tie up resources in unproductive
enterprises. It will only hamper their progress, as military
competition is out of vogue. None of the military aggressors of this
age have gained from their actions (remember Saddam?) and war is
increasingly becoming outdated, as slavery and duelling have become.
In any case, if we howl about India's military programme, it will only
strengthen their resolve to pursue their programmes with greater
vigour. The message that the Indians get when we scream about their
military programme is: "if it's bad for them, then it's good for us".
In this way Indian politicians can easily get their public to tally
behind them, using anti-Pakistan rhetoric. The same goes for our own
politicians who find India-bashing most convenient when they need a
few cheap political points. Its about time that we focus instead on
building up our economy, which is the only credible investment in
ensuring a bright future and the only real protection we can have from
our enemies. Why is Japan so safe and cosy? Definitely, not because it
has one of the most formidable military establishments in the world.
Another source of hostile behaviour towards India are the
fundamentalists, etc, who never cease in their senseless rhetoric. In
another one of their classic theatrical outbursts, they have said that
the "imported Hindustani potatoes wounded our national pride", in a
recent column. One is only amused at the logic employed by such
propagandists, and saddened by the fact that our poor, ignorant people
might actually fall for such beguiling syllogisms. What does a
superarmed country have to feel proud about when it cannot feed its
hungry? When it cannot house the homeless? When most of its population
is illiterate?
Once India and Pakistan are locked into a stable pattern of trade,
peace is inevitable and mutual security will be ensured. Both
countries will have too much to lose from armed confrontation and will
prefer peace vastly to any hostility something like the US and Canada.
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960112
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Zardari: The all-profit, no-loss man in Islamabad
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Anjum Niaz
HES THE most controversial figure east of Suez. Stories of mega-
bucks stashed away in Swiss banks accrued through huge defence
kickbacks, an exotic French villa, polo ponies worth 300 million,
money made in just about any government deal, and meddling in
appointments of all grade 18 to 22 officers are stories gaining
currency in the Capital nowadays.
Mr Asif Ali Zardari gives directions to all the heads of the DFIs
(Development Financial Institutions) hand-picked by him, every night
on his secrophone, an ex opposition MNA tells me with a deadpan
expression. You cant catch him, because he covers his tracks
beautifully, says the man with a long face. With ruination writ large
all over him, he tells me his pre-partition business and the future of
his generations is bleak because the husband of the Prime Minister is
backing his business rival!
Then, I meet some others who swear that the First Gentleman is
controlling the presidents of the nationalised banks appointed by
him who dare not squeak without his approval. You should talk to
some of them and find out whats going on, I am duly advised.
Some call Asif Zardari Godfather one and two and say he was
corrupt during Ms Bhuttos first term, but is much worse in the
second!
The First Gentleman calmly pleads not guilty to all the above
charges, which I blurt out during a two-hour interview with him at the
Prime Ministers House. Cool, composed and in good humour, he allows
me all the time in the world to question him on anything under the
sun. He lets me use my tape recorder: good, you wont misquote me,
he flashes his characteristic smile. No one disturbs the sahib
during our talk, only once his three children storm in with filial
horseplay to say goodnight to their father. Their mother that evening
is in Larkana in connection with their grandfathers birthday
celebrations.
Knowing full well that the reason for my being accorded an exclusive
is to portray the environment-business-friendly First Gentleman, I
naturally open my interview with his favourite topic. He is eloquent,
well clued and sincere about his work. We then move on to politics and
finally end up with his personal life. But the bottom line running
through our conversation is: why is the presumption of his being de
facto prime minister beginning to stick now?
You have to realise that Benazir Bhutto is the Prime Minister of
Pakistan, she is not a puppet created by anybody that much you have
got to grant her no matter what the opposition says. The country
cant be driven by dual drivers. Theres one leader and its her
decisions which are carried out.
Besides, what experience do I have that I can give her advice on
matters of the state, he says.
But, you are accused of running the government? even to naming the
federal secretaries, who have been appointed to key positions because
of their reputation to deliver? I again remind him.
Why should I do that? How much do I gain by it. I am 41 years, all
these gentlemen you are referring to are old enough to be my father.
Besides, I dont belong to Islamabad, I am a Karachiite and if I had
my way, I would be living in Karachi thats where my eyes sparkle
how would you expect me to know the bureaucracy here. I dont even
know most of their names!
What about cronyism? Your detractors say you mastermind all
appointments, transfers and sackings on that basis? I persist.
I dont even think the deputy commissioner, Nawabshah, has been
appointed by me (gives a loud laugh). I cant even tell Minister Yusuf
Talpur to appoint his secretary (Agriculture) according to my wishes.
All these things are done by the PM and her cabinet. People can say
whatever they like. Its their prerogative. This is the beauty of
democracy and you (Press) can write whatever you feel like, he
replies. He defends his friends like a hawk, saying they would never
exploit his name: Birds of a feather flock together, says he.
However, your public image today is not good? I again ask.
I dont agree with you. Its much better this time. People know me
now and thats why I won both the seats from Lyari and Nawabshah
despite my being in prison.
And what about the massive corruption you are accused of by your
detractors?
I dont have such a reputation. People who can come up with concrete
proof against me should do so. Nawaz Sharif says I have 80 stables and
my polo ponies are worth 30 crores (300 millions). The truth is I have
50 stables, out of which 12 horses belong to me and the rest to the
seven other polo players. Nawaz Sharif has made a laughing stock of
himself where in the world does a polo pony cost 30 crores (300
millions)?
Besides I pay for the food of my cats, chickens, dogs and horses from
my own pocket. BB closes all the lights at night, do you think she
will let me spend government money on the upkeep of my horses?
What about your French villa?
I have rebutted this story 10 times over. I cant even look after my
Nawabshah and Karachi houses we have, husband and wife, contemplated
buying a house in Islamabad, but it hasnt materialised. How many
times have I gone to Paris that I need a villa there, why should I get
a villa when I cant even speak French? What will I do there? If you
dont know French, what do you do? Talk to the dog?
The Prime Minister says her husband is a businessman, a property
developer. Dont you think, theres a conflict of interest here and
you can be accused of misusing your VVIP status? I ask.
No, my property development work is only Karachi-based and its only
in the private sector, its nothing to do with the government, he
says.
But dont you think you should not be doing it, knowing full well it
will earn you a bad name?
If I take a government contract, then I can be blamed, but if I got
plots which I owned before I met Benazir Bhutto and am now in the
process of developing, I dont think anybody can raise any fingers at
me. Its my personal property bought from the market and listed with
the income-tax people, he defends himself.
As a spouse of the PM should you not practise more transparency in
your business deals? You are said to have amassed billions? Why not be
someone like Dennis Thatcher or the husband of Turkish PM Tansu
Ciller? I ask.
Why should I do that, particularly when my business has nothing to do
with the government? Come to Karachi and see all my properties for
yourself. Ill take you to my office and show you all the
documentation. All my plots are 15 years old. The only new plot I have
purchased in government is the plot in front of Bilawal House because
Jam Sadiq wanted a high rise constructed there.
In BBs first term, I didnt even live in Islamabad, but the more one
is in the background, the more people talk about. So I decided to
enter politics and step forward in order to defend myself properly.
First of all, when I married Benazir Bhutto, Zia was alive, Mohammad
Khan Junejo was his PM no matter how good a fortune teller I am, how
the hell would I have known that Zia would dismiss Junejo and then die
with all his generals? If people think I married BB because she was
going to be the PM, then at that time I should have married Pir
Pagaras daughter or Junejos! Why should I marry a lady who had the
police attack her daily?
It is said, when the time comes, you will take your money and run? I
tell him.
God is Great, whatever may be or will be is in Gods hands. Why
should I run now when I didnt in the past? One wasnt scared of Zia,
Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Aslam Beg, Nawaz Sharif, nor is one scared of these
pygmies even today.
The sky is the limit, whats your limit? Do you wish to hold your
wifes office some day? I ask.
No way! I couldnt even read the files she reads every night!
(laughs) I am not trained that way, besides no one will vote for me. I
am a political identity of a very small stature. But as a male, I will
always stand vigil outside my home. Even the smallest male sparrow
fights with his life to safeguard its nest from the predator, the
kite. Whenever my house is threatened one will resist no matter how
small or weak a man one may be.
Whats life like with a woman who has brought you to the PM House
twice? I venture to ask.
(Long pause): Very difficult... to say the least, he replies. After
another pause, he continues, Its not easy to be a male spouse in
such a position in this part of the world...its not easy...
What kind of a relationship do you have with your in-laws? I ask.
I have only one in-law, my mother-in-law. We have never traded any
harsh words. I would never imagine raising my voice in front of her,
she is my elder.
What about your brother-in-law, Mir Murtaza Bhutto?
Hes aspiring to be a politician, hes trying very hard... we have
nothing in common, nor have I met him.
Mir says you have usurped the family name because you feel threatened
by him? I continue.
Its a cheap shot to popularity. The people have rejected him
unfortunately or fortunately. Theres no way Khalique (Murtazas
nominee) will win the coming bye-elections. The man (Murtaza) stood
from 35 seats and could only win a piddly seat from Larkana, which was
thanks to his mother. Had it not been for Begum Sahiba, he would have
lost.
Whats the basis of your rivalry with him?
People in life sometimes take directions which cannot be later
changed...it happened to me. I dont even know the man, I have just
met him four times, but respect is dear to every man whoever gives
respect begets it...even the pettiest of men though I dont make any
distinctions between ordinary people, syeds, pirs or mirs, be they
blue-blooded or yellow-blooded but in worldly way even if you talk
to a small man who has had less opportunities in life, you dont
disrespect him.
What I gather from this long-winded thesis of Zardari is that Mir
Murtaza Bhutto perhaps looked down upon him as one not fit to marry
Benazir Bhutto. And Zardari has not easily forgiven nor forgotten this
insult. As this thought flits across my mind, Asif Zardari, who had
started to roll his rosary beads, himself provided the interpretation:
Whether he (Murtaza) likes it or not, I am the husband of his elder
sister and in our culture one does not talk too much in front of ones
bahnoi (brother-in-law). As far as politics is concerned, the field is
vast open. He has tried his best...the future will tell more.
Are there any chances of reconciliation between the brother and
sister?
As far as politics is concerned you never close doors. Benazir Bhutto
has been criticised for giving people a second chance, after all to
err is human, to forgive is divine. God has given her that position,
shes greater than the ordinary souls otherwise whats the difference
between her and me shes the leader and God has given her these
qualities, unfortunately, he hasnt bestowed them on me. Again, he is
implying that while BB may patch up with her brother some day, Asif
Ali Zardari will never!
People say you are her weakness, her Achilles heel, she is too much
under your influence?
Thats the other problem with society which thinks a wife has to be
dominated by the husband. Thats not correct, because everybody has a
charter of their own. As far as our family is concerned, yes, I have a
say in the matter there we take collective decisions about the
education of our children, but as far as politics is concerned if she
was to listen to me, Id still be in prison! How can you expect
somebody who has never done politics, whose only exposure to politics
was his engagement with Benazir Bhutto, to come up and give advise to
her on politics?
Thats precisely what people say, I jump in. Without any political
background, you have catapulted into the driving seat? I say.
Thats not true.
As a Leo, he says he is a home-bird: Id rather stay at home than go
out anywhere.
You cut quite a dashing figure before your marriage? I ask, while
refraining from using the word playboy by which he was often
labelled in case he takes umbrage.
I might be offended by your remark. You mean I am not dashing any
more? he gives his charming smile.
Do you want more kids? I ask.
I would be satisfied if we had another son that would make two boys
and two girls. Being the only son, I have always missed a brother and
want the company of male individuals. It comes from a psychological
want of a brother and thats why I converse with my heart and not my
tongue and mind!
Whats BBs views about another addition to the family?
Its useless to discuss something thats not possible. Shes too
busy, too overworked, there are other things in her life at the moment
which need her attention.
Are you happy being married to Ms Bhutto? is my last question.
Happiness is relative, life is never perfect, you have to be content
with what you have and not lust after more, theres no end to greed.
Life is a challenge and only they live who dare!
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960114
-------------------------------------------------------------------
World Cup squad
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial Column
THE announcement of the final cricket squad for the World Cup,
scheduled to commence from mid-February, has at last ended the
suspenseful period of anxious waiting within the country as well as
among the other contestants in the prestigious competition. While most
of the players selected were sure to be named, the overhanging air of
uncertainty around one or two choices tended to create a cloudy
climate. Javed Miandad's declaration of availability, followed by his
demonstration of fitness and form in the field, had particularly
become the focus of attention among keen followers of the game and
countless fans who rooted for their hero. Conflicting statements by
some experts, specially by Imran Khan, expressing fears about the
veteran's ability to withstand the pressure in view of his knee and
back trouble accentuated the existing doubts. Also, his long absence
from the field of action gave rise to apprehensions, although his
fairly convincing knocks in the Wills Cup matches set such misgivings
at rest. What was, however, more worrying was the speculation, born of
reported interviews, that Wasim Akram, the captain, and Intikhab Alam,
the manager, had some reservations in this regard. The postponement
and delay in making public the final list fuelled a spate of rumours
calculated to start a controversy and vitiate the atmosphere of accord
so vital to generate team spirit. It is gratifying that the issue has
been resolved after due deliberation before the deadline and the door
has presumably been slammed in the face of elements out to exploit the
situation.
Being the World Cup holders, Pakistan occupies a central role in the
coming event, regarded as the ultimate competition in one-day cricket.
It is no doubt a great distinction but, at the same time, it is not a
very enviable position to be in either, as every other team pits its
full might against the champions and as such our boys will be
constantly under severe strain. The responsibility to justify its
highest rating and live up to its reputation will put tremendous
pressure on it. Hence the need to pull its weight fully and forcefully
with all the skill and spirit it is capable of that will be required
to meet the stiff challenge. Besides that, despite the advantage of a
familiar environment nearer home, the peculiar conditions obtaining in
the area are not likely to be very conducive. Although the team is
fairly strong on paper its age factor is not so favourable after a
four-year gap. Moreover, the intervening years have seen many ups and
downs. Fortunately, the worst is apparently over and an upswing is in
evidence. But all said and done the outcome in this concentrated brand
of cricket depends very largely on total commitment and effort without
let or hindrance. The inspiring memories of Melbourne should serve to
galvanise and fortify over team. With faith, self confidence and
collective endeavour a repeat performance of 1992 in 1996 is not
beyond reach.
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960114
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The real promoter of poverty
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Aftab Ahmad
THE World Banks Report on Pakistan Poverty Assessment was released
at a time when Pakistan was in desperate need of something to boost
its morale. The report revealed that poverty in Pakistan had been
reduced in the 1970s and 1980s and that the percentage of population
below the poverty line had gone down from 46 percent in 1984-85 to 34
percent in 1990-91.
However, Dr Mahbubul Haque, a former Finance Minister of Pakistan,
doubted the authenticity of the World Banks findings and inquired how
poverty in Pakistan could have gone down when both inflation and
unemployment were on the rise.
During the decade, the average growth rate of the manufacturing sector
was 9.93 per cent compared with 5.07 per cent of the agriculture
sector. The manufacturing activity, at that time, was entirely in the
hands of the private sector, which enjoyed monopolistic power and was
guided solely by its profit motive in dealing with its workers. The
agriculture sector was characterised by a feudal system on which the
land reforms introduced had little impact. Hence the condition of the
poor did not show any visible improvement. Nevertheless, the share of
the poorest 20 per cent improved from 6.4% in 1963-64 to 8.2 per cent
in 1968-69 whereas the share of the richest 20 per cent declined from
45.3 per cent to 42 percent during the period.
But whereas, on the one hand, measures were taken for the welfare of
the industrial workers and the rural poor, on the other hand, the
political strife and confrontation witnessed during the 1970s, coupled
with the shock effect of the reforms and fear of nationalisation, had
an adverse effect on the performance of the economy. The average GDP
growth rate declined from 6.77 per cent during the 1960s to 4.84 per
cent during the 1970s, the unemployment rate increased to 3.72 per
cent (in 1980- 81) from 1.99 per cent in 1969-70 and the annual
inflation rate jumped to an average of 12.33 per cent. The fixed
income groups were particularly hard-hit by the high inflation rate in
1973-74 and 1974-75 and well to do families belonging to the salaried
class or other fixed income groups became hand to mouth within a
matter of weeks and months. These developments partly neutralised the
benefits received by the poorer sections of the society in the 1970s.
During the 1980s, the economic indicators once again showed
improvement. The average annual GDP growth rate increased to 6.45 per
cent and the rate of inflation declined to 7.34 per cent. Perhaps the
World Banks claim about reduction in the percentage of population
below the poverty line in Pakistan from 46 per cent in 1984-85 to 34
per cent in 1990-91 may have been based on the afore-mentioned higher
GDP growth rate witnessed during the 1980s. However, by 1990-91, the
economic indicators had considerably deteriorated. Although the GDP
growth rate in 1990-91 stood at a respectable level of 5.57 per cent,
the rate of inflation, had climbed to 12.7 per cent and the
unemployment rate to 6.38 per cent.
The dismal performance of the economy had continued during the 1990s
so far. However, although the unemployment rate remained unchanged at
4.74 per cent, a staggering 90,000 jobless had been added to the
unemployed labour force during the last two years, 50,000 in the rural
and 40,000 in the urban sector. Spiralling prices and unemployment
were the two problems which had made the life of the common man
miserable during the 1990s so far.
Who was the real culprit behind poverty in Pakistan? There was a
consensus in this regard that it was the exploitative feudal and
capitalistic system, aided by the corrupt elements in the bureaucracy,
which had not so far permitted any change to be brought about in the
life of the poor and the down-trodden in the country. In the rural
sector, in spite of repeated land reforms, the possession of
agricultural land remained concentrated in a few hands.
In the urban sector, the governments had, from time to time, tried to
improve the lot of the industrial workers and other salaried people
through upward revision of pay scales, social security packages,
labour laws, trade unionism, profit sharing arrangements etc. However,
these measures had generally failed to bring about any significant
change in the life of people.
In other words without replacing the prevailing exploitative system
with a just and equitable order. The question is could that be done?
It was difficult to answer. However, one thing was certain that the
country had already entered an era of globalisation, international
competition and survival of the fittest, and in order to be able to
survive, we needed to utilise the full potential of all our people
which would not be possible unless we replaced the old order with a
new one.
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960118
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ordeal at the airport
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial Column
WHAT many incoming passengers, especially those arriving from abroad,
have often to encounter at the Karachi airport is widely known but no
one in authority seems prepared or willing to do anything about it.
The passengers' woe begins the moment they come out of the arrival
lounge - only to be besieged by a horde of cab drivers frantically
trying to pick up their share of fares. Accosting of this kind can
take the form of pure harassment regardless of whether some passengers
are in need of the proffered service or have their own transport
waiting for them. All norms of civility and responsible conduct are on
sufferance when it comes to making the catch of a' prospective
passenger and striking a profitable bargain with him over the fare to
be paid. Incidentally, the standard practice with most cab drivers
operating between the airport and the city is to charge the passengers
arbitrarily and not according to the fare metre. Since all this
happens in the presence of the police on duty, it is clear that many
of them are in league with the errant cab drivers on a basis of the
sharing of the loot.
And yet this is not the end but the beginning of an arriving
passenger's ordeal. Apart from occasional cases of wayside robbery,
passengers are often stopped at several point by uniformed or plain-
clothes policemen on the pretext of questioning, checking on ;customs
and immigration clearance and so forth and are subjected to various
forms of harassment. Intimidating tactics, including threats of
physical violence or the grim prospects of spending the night in a
police lock-up, are freely used to soften up resistance on the part of
a passenger refusing to be bullied and treated in this highly
offensive and illegal fashion. The purpose is to extort money or claim
a share in whatever other precious things watches, new clothes,
cameras and so on - that some passengers may have in their possession.
There have been instances in the past where some foreigners on way to
the city from the airport have been harassed and robbed by elements
belonging to the law enforcement agencies. On occasions even
journalists who are usually regarded with some deference for fear of
exposure too have not been spared by these thugs.
Most of these things are within the knowledge of the authorities.
Accounts of many such incidents of criminal harassment, exploitation
and pure thuggery by a, section of the so-called lawmen within the
precincts of the airport and at various points along the route to the
city also make it clear that the perpetrators of such excesses are
operating an organised racket in which various other elements,
including taxi drivers, are also involved. Or else how does one
explain some policemen out on a hunt for fortunes targeting taxis or
cars carrying passengers from the airport that are most likely to
yield a big loot? One plausible explanation is that they choose their
victims on a tip-off from their collaborators at the airport who
assess the worth of a potential prey from the size of his or her
baggage. The authorities would do well to shed their attitude of
benign indifference to this sordid state of affairs and take drastic
steps to put an end to the continuing harassment and exploitation of
air passengers at the hands of a section of security personnel.
===================================================================
SPORTS
960117
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PTV PCB dispute settled; 1-day final to be televised
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Farhana Ayaz
ISLAMABAD, Jan 16: The final of the National One-day Tournament
between Pakistan International Airlines and Rawalpindi A, to be played
at Sheikhupura, will be telecast live by Pakistan Television network
following a written no-objection by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The fax message reaching PTV headquarters, yesterday, stated that the
board has no objection against live coverage, news coverage or
recording of domestic cricket matches between local teams. The no
objection is duly signed by the chief executive.
Sources in the PTV stated that the no objection means that the
national network will cover the domestic cricket games amongst local
teams free of cost.
PTV official added that they have received the reply in due time since
a delay of one more day would have meant that the final could not have
be covered as it requires two clear days for the televising equipment
to be installed before any cricket fixture can be televised.
The PTV officials said that selling of televising rights of the world
cup and their earlier agreement with IMG about the selling of domestic
and international signals of all the matches played in Pakistan to
different companies had cornered the corporation and there was no way
out but to stay out before anything clear came to the surface.
The PTV stated that the corporation has also earned a bad name with
its viewers who are keen to watch cricket and coverage of cricket is
PTVs commitment to the viewers of the country. The official said that
the network has never made money from telecasting domestic games. In
fact production costs are much higher than the sponsorship fee paid
out, but we cover up the cost through the coverage of international
matches, he said.
The PTV officials stated that cricket coverage was becoming more and
more expensive but the corporation is making an effort to satisfy its
viewers as PTV paid US $120,000 just for the coverage of Sri Lankan
series to WorldTel, plus the enormous amount of US $750,000 to cover
world cup matches in Pakistan after PCB sold the sole rights of the
World Cup coverage to the American company.
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960114
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Zaman Gul clinches Asian squash after marathon fight
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A. Majid Khan
AMMAN, Jan.12: Pakistans Mir Zaman Gul, second seed, regained the
Asian squash title in a final against the Hong Kong-based Abdul Fahim,
seeded No.3, in which the whirligig of pendulum swayed to and fro for
two hours and 15 minutes at Ammans al-Hassan Sports Complex.
Abdul Fahim, an experienced Pakistani who has settled in Hong Kong and
represents the island colony, turned out to be a resilient player and
put up a tremendous fight. The better composure and variety of strokes
of Mir Zaman won him the day. The end of the match and the victory
came as a considerable relief to the Pakistani camp and the
supporters, who gave a cheerful applause to the Mir Zaman, the winner
with a scoreline of 9-6, 8-10, 6-9, 10-8, 9-3. This was despite the
pullout of world champion Jansher Khan because of back problem.
Mir Zaman Gul, world No.30, was 1-2 games down against Abdul Fahim,
ranked No.36, when he staged an amazing comeback for a triumph in the
final to repeat his 1990 Calcutta Asian squash performance.
The packed-to-capacity championship court gallery, with around 1,000
spectators, women, watched the enthralling Asian fight for supremacy.
Rawalpindi - born Fahim, who had represented Pakistan in the 1990
Asian Squash at Calcutta but later settled in Hong Kong, also came
closer to repeat his 1992 Peshawar Asian squash winning performance
but Gul fought a gruelling battle for Pakistans supremacy and emerged
Asian champion a second time.
However, the refereeing left much to be desired and both the players
disputed several decisions of the Jordanian supervisor who on several
occasions could not explain why he has given a stroke or let.
Nevertheless it was a virtual classic encounter and the fans enjoyed
it to the fill and cheered both the fighters.
Mir Zaman Gul, after winning the opener, was trapped by Fahim in slow
rallies and committed several unforced errors. Later Gul played his
attacking game by dislodging Fahim from the Tee and succeeded in
winning the title for Pakistan.
Fahim undoubtedly gave an extraordinary performance as he produced
several controlled drops, lobbed the ball and executed tidy angles.
Fahim took a commanding 6-1 lead in the first game but Gul staged a
brave comeback and caught him up 6-6 and later won the 25-minute game
at 9-6.
Mir Zaman Gul was 5-4 and went 8-5 ahead. However, Gul fought
remarkably well to make 8 - all but lost at 8-10 when he twice hit the
board. Fahim won 10-8.
The third game was also a closely-fought one and after 6-6 Fahim again
occupied the Tee and hit winners to take the game at 9-6.
Gul was in total command of the fourth game when he led 7-3 but seemed
to have lost concentration and committed several unforced errors.
Fahim was back with renewed determination and gradually narrowed the
gap with a string of drops and angles to be 6-7.
Mir Zaman was 8-6 up but Fahim saved the game ball and the fight for
every point was hard. Fahim levelled 8-8 but Mir Zaman went 9-8 with a
stroke and when Fahim hit the tin Mir Zaman was winner at 10-8.
Mir Zaman started the deciding game in an assured way by maintaining a
deadly length and Fahim came under tremendous pressure. Mir Zaman,
after 2-2, took six points in one hand to be 8-2 and took the final
at 9-3.
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960116
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Pakistan cruise into Asian squash final
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A. Majid Khan
AMMAN, Jan 15: Title holders Pakistan powered their way to eighth
successive final of the 13 nation Asian Squash Championship,
confidently defeating hosts, Jordan, by 3-0 to take their expected
place in tomorrow's final at the newly-built al-Hasan Squash Complex.
Defending champions, Pakistan, even after the pullout of world number
one Jansher Khan due to back problem during the individual
Championship, is in a high spirits for maintaining the country's
unprecedented domination in the Asian Team Championship.
So far in all the three previous matches Pakistan, under Zarak Jahan
Khan, had comfortably defeated Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Kuwait by margin of
30 and they had maintained this tempo in todays semi-final against
Jordan who for the second time qualified for the last four.
In the playing order of 3-1-2 Zarak Jahan Khan, outmanoeuvred Jordan
No. 3 Wael Tabalat 9-6, 9-0, 9-0 to give Pakistan a lead in the three
match contest.
KUWAIT LOSE: Holders Pakistan, favoured to regain the trophy for the
eighth successive time, inflicted a 3-0 defeat on fighting Kuwait on
their way to semi-finals where they will be opposed by hosts Jordan
who reached the last four, a second time by beating Singapore in the
Asian Squash Championship at the Al-Hasan Complex.
India again suffered a setback when a youthful Malaysian side composed
of with the talented youth, recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory.
Malaysia will be up in the semi-final against Hong Kong who
comfortably defeated Sri Lanka by 3-0. Both semi-finals are scheduled
tomorrow.
Though Pakistan won by 3-0 against Kuwait, the performance of world
No. 11 Zarak and Asian Champion Mir Zaman Gul, the world No. 30 were
unimpressive after unfit Zubair disposed of Ahmed Sultan 9-0, 9-5, 9-0
in 28 minutes.
Captain Zarak Jahan in the second match had to struggle to overcome 22
year-old Faisal Sultan of Kuwait in a close fight before winning it in
one hour and ten minutes with a score of 9-0. 2-9.10-8. 9-2.
Asian Champion Mir Zaman Gul also dropped a game against Kuwaitis 18-
year-old Ahmed Sultan before winning it 9-7, 9-3, 9-10, 9-6. The match
lasted 43 minutes.
Other results of the morning.
Kuwait beat Lebanon 3-0, Jordan beat S. Korea 3-0, Sri Lanka beat
Bahrain 2-1, India beat Taipei 3-0, Singapore beat Palestine 3-0.
Women: Singapore beat Lebanon 3-0, India beat Sri Lanka 2-1.
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960112
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India defuse Pakistan to take 3rd spot in Sharjah
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Virendra Varma
SHARJAH, Jan 11: India finally did justice to their abilities and
avoided the embarrassment of returning home without a victory. But it
wasn't all that easy to defuse a charged-up Pakistan - they always are
when playing against India - in a truncated playoff for the third
place in the NEPC World Masters Cricket Series at Sharjah.
Indian masters, chasing 162 for a victory in 28 overs (reduced from
normal 45 because of rain in the morning), kept their cool when it
mattered most and coasted home with five balls to spare.
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960113
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Miandad included, Basit axed for World Cup
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Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Jan 12: Master batsman Javed Miandad has been included in the
14-member Pakistan cricket team which will defend its title in the
sixth World Cup Cricket Tournament being jointly hosted by Pakistan,
India and Sri Lanka from February 14 to March 17. The world-class
batsman is the only player who is destined to represent his country in
all the World Cup.
Miandad has so far played in 228 games and have scored 7,327 runs with
eight centuries and 50 half centuries. He is the second leading scorer
in limited overs game after Desmond Haynes who has more than 8,000
runs against his name.
Also to earn selectors vote was off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who has
been preferred over Akram Raza. Saqlain made his debut against Sri
Lanka and has so far played only against Australia besides the
Islanders. Ramiz Raja has also been retained in the team after his
good show with the bat. Akram has made way for Ataur Rahman whose
performance is not very encouraging at the international level.
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