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DAWN WIRE SERVICE

------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 19 February 1996 Issue : 02/08 -------------------------------------------------------------------

Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
The DAWN Wire Service (DWS) is a free weekly news-service from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the daily DAWN. DWS offers news, analysis and features of particular interest to the Pakistani Community on the Internet. Extracts from DWS can be used provided that this entire header is included at the beginning of each extract. We encourage comments & suggestions. We can be reached at: e-mail dws@dawn.khi.erum.com.pk dws%dawn%khi@sdnpk.undp.org fax +92(21) 568-3188 & 568-3801 mail Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Limited DAWN Group of Newspapers Haroon House, Karachi 74400, Pakistan TO START RECEIVING DWS FREE EVERY WEEK, JUST SEND US YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS! (c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 1996 DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS

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CONTENTS

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NATIONAL NEWS

Ring magnet ruse delays shipment of arms Agencies mount hunt for Kansi Altaf Hussains expulsion US turns down MQM leaders asylum plea Eight MQM men killed : police claim encounter ---------------------------------

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Forex reserves swell to $1.8b Devaluation fails to reverse falling exports Qadirpur gasfield opened Ecnec okays Rs 11 billion uplift projects No local taxes for power projects Index down 39.46 points ---------------------------------------

EDITORIALS & FEATURES

My dear Prime Minister.... Ardeshir Cowasjee The freedom to rant Ayaz Amir Disincentive to investment Editorial Column -----------

SPORTS

Wasim may help restore national pride Miandad poised to set two records Richardson pledges to win Cup Calcutta semi-final under threat Kapil for ban on Australia, W.I. A case for the underdogs Lanka cash in on Cup silver lining Who has the stomach to win the cup? Information on World Cup Dream team update =================================================================== DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*SWD

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NATIONAL NEWS

960216 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ring magnet ruse delays shipment of arms ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shaheen Sehbai WASHINGTON, Feb 15: The State Department indicated that no decision had yet been taken by the US to start shipment of arms worth $368 million to Pakistan, authorised by the Brown amendment. The State Department comment came after reports in Washington Post and Washington Times that US may not ship these arms in view of the transfer of nuclear technology to Pakistan by China. Spokesman Nick Burns told the regular briefing that US had not yet made decision to ship these arms to Pakistan. We want to continue our discussions with the Congress and with the Government of Pakistan. At a separate news conference John Holum, director of the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency said the US government has set no deadline for deciding whether to impose sanctions on China, suspected of selling nuclear technology to Pakistan, adds AFP. If an ongoing investigation determines the illegal technology transfer occurred, Washington will do what the US law requires based mainly on proliferation considerations, he said. The US law requires automatic economic sanctions against any country violating the nuclear non-proliferation Treaty, but the president can lift the sanctions if justified by national interest. He can make that decision only upon the recommendation of the secretary of state. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960216 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Agencies mount hunt for Kansi ------------------------------------------------------------------- Abdul Sami Paracha PESHAWAR, Feb 15: Foreign intelligence agencies in Peshawar have mounted a desperate hunt to arrest Aimal Kansi following intelligence reports about his presence inside Afghanistan. They are in a close liaison with their Pakistani counterparts to catch the most wanted fugitive who carries a prize money of two million dollars which would be given to a person whose information could lead to his arrest, Dawn has learnt from highly placed sources. An official at the US embassy in Islamabad confirmed reports of Kansis presence in Afghanistan while talking to Dawn, and said a clandestine operation was in the offing for his arrest. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Altaf Hussains expulsion ------------------------------------------------------------------- Anjum Niaz ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: As a follow-up to Pakistans renewed request for the expulsion of Mohajiir Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussian from London, Britain is sending its Minister of State in the Foreign Office, Jeremy Hanley, to study the Karachi situation and hold important meetings with the Sindh government officials and MQM leaders. The minister who comes to Pakistan for the first time, will spend two days in Karachi and study the law and order situation in the backdrop of disturbances in the metropolis. Interior Minister Naseerullah Babar had told Dawn last month that Pakistan had despatched fresh evidence of Altaf Hussains involvement in terrorism. It may be mentioned that Michael Howard had indicated to journalists that Britain did not have enough convincing evidence to expel Altaf Hussain. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960216 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US turns down MQM leaders asylum plea ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Feb 15: An imprisoned MQM leader Kunwar Khalid Younus who was on his way back to prison from a court, requested the police escort to stop at the US Consulate General and sought political asylum. He surrendered to the police when his plea was turned down. However, Mr Younus was conveyed assurances given by the interior minister Naseerullah Babar to the US ambassador, Thomas W. Simons Jr. that he would not be tortured or killed in custody. A crisis struck the US consulate in the afternoon when the former MNA who was being driven to prison from the Special Terrorist Court requested for the prison van to be stopped at the consulate entrance, saying he wanted to return some library books. Once inside, Mr Younus who is being tried in 71 criminal cases, told a consulate officer that his life was in danger. Later, he told US consul general, Mary Virginia Kennedy, of his fears. However, to end the crisis, the US ambassador spoke to the interior minister and informed him about the fears expressed by Khalid Younus. Later, the interior Minister rang up the Sindh Governor, Kamal Azfar. Mr Azfar also spoke to the consul general and assured her that the former MNA would not be tortured or killed in custody. After assurances from the government functionaries, the former MNA surrendered himself to the police. He was nervous and reluctant to surrender himself, a witness told Dawn. I went inside to lodge my protest. To protest against the massacre of innocent people. I have been assured that the oppression of Mohajirs will not continue. Tomorrow is a new day. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960217 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Eight MQM men killed: police claim encounter ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Feb 16: Eight Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers were killed and two others suffered injuries when police stormed a house in a congested neighbourhood of Orangi Town. Police claimed that the house was raided after reports that some terrorists were gathering there to carry out terrorist activity. In the gunbattle, which according to police lasted one hour, two key MQM workers Hassan Akhtar and Atif Ghori wanted in dozens of murders cases, died with their six companions. They were identified as Mustaqeem, Mohammad Yaqoob, Nazir Ahmed, Mohammad Salim, Mohammad Farooq and Shahid. Two of their companions  Aejaz Ahmed and Ishtiaq  were wounded and admitted to Civil Hospital. All the eight killed were in their 20s and had received multiple bullet wounds. Head Constable Mehmoodul Aziz, police claimed, was also wounded. He was hit in the thigh. The search of the house, they said, yielded two AK-47 rifles, a .22 rifle, three pistols, a mouser, a revolver and some bullets. Among the eight dead, police accused only Hasan Akhtar of being involved in over two dozen murders. A police handout sent to newspaper offices remained silent about the past record of the remaining seven deceased. During the month, 25 MQM activists have been killed in alleged encounters with the police and rangers, raising the years toll of such deaths to 51.

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

=================================================================== 960219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Forex reserves swell to $1.8b ------------------------------------------------------------------- MULTAN, Feb 18: Minister of State for Finance Makhdoom Shahabuddin has said the national foreign exchange reserves have increased to the tune of $ 1.8 bn. Makhdoom Shahabuddin said the economy has been put on the right track, and the general growth rate is expected to be at the level of 8.2 % by the end of current financial year while the deficit of the budget is being reduced to the level of 4.8 % from the existing 5.6 %. About the steps being taken for arresting the increasing trend of the inflation, he said at present it is 7 % which has been brought down from 13 % in December and 15 % in October last. The foreign capital influx has shown a healthy trend as during the first half of the current fiscal year these were recorded to 450 to $ 500 million, he said, adding the Karachi Stock Exchange during January and early February showed a tremendous recovery of its falling share values. He said during the first half of the fiscal year, the overall exports showed increase of 7 % although, the achievement is much less than that of the target. He observed the role of the government has been left to monitor the rates and tariffs besides running the affairs in the essential sectors. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960217 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Devaluation fails to reverse falling exports ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sultan Ahmed DESPITE the increasing efforts of the government and its several conferences with exporters to boost the sagging exports, figures for the first seven months of the current financial year ending January show a fall in exports of 4.3 per cent against the targeted export growth of 14 per cent, and rise of the trade deficit to 2.25 billion dollars. The staggering deficit is larger than the targeted deficit of $ 2.04 billion for the whole year, and double the deficit for the same period last year. That happened not only because of the fall in exports but also the sharp rise in imports in the same seven-month period which was 18 per cent against the targeted rise of 10.6 per cent for the whole year. The fall in exports and increase in the trade deficit have been steady since the beginning of this financial year. The trade gap increased to $1 billion in the first quarter of this year when the main items of exports dropped by 8.3 per cent. By the end of the second quarter on December 31 the gap widened to $2 billion. And if the present trend persists with year may end with a deficit of $3.0-3.5, billion dollars and swell the total deficit in the total balance of payments to 5 to six per cent of the GDP (as in 1992-93 when the balance of payments deficit peaked to 6.4 per cent of the GDP as against the targeted deficit of 4.1 per cent. As a major measure to reverse the declining trend of exports, the rupee was devalued by 7 per cent on October 28, 1996, which marked a total 10 per cent devaluation since the June 14 budget. And three months have passed since that substantial devaluation, and yet its impact has not been felt on the export earnings of many major and minor items. The only significant improvement has been in the area of cotton whose output is estimated at 10.5 million bales leaving over 2 million bales for exports. But the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association is objecting to liberal exports and seeking all kinds of checks to force down cotton prices which the growers and their local lobby led by Makhdoom Shah Mahmaud Qureshi will not accept. What has happened has not come as surprise at all. In 1993, within two weeks, Nawaz Sharif government and the caretaker regime of Moeen Qureshi, too, devalued the rupee by 10 per cent and described it as one-time measure, and yet 1993-94 ended with a fall in exports of 2 per cent. Worse may happen this time unless effective remedial steps are taken by the government in full cooperation with the exporters who have to play a very fair game. What is remarkable is that while export earnings increased by 16.7 per cent last year due not to the increase in the volume of goods exported but due to rise in prices of the exports, the same trend is persisting this year as well, except that while the export prices have increased, the volume of goods, not excluding minor items like fish and vegetables, has fallen. And now the government which had spoken of exporting water to the Gulf despite the acute shortage of water in Karachi, is proposing to export Reti and Bajri to Bangladesh, Maldives etc. to earn little sums at the cost of the harassed house-builders of Karachi. Despite such strong negative trends in exports, the chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau mian Habibullah, is confident the export targets for the current year will be met. The EPB has become too much of show place busy with arranging trade exhibitions in a hurry all over the world and putting up poor shows. In fact, too many of the EPB officials are busy fly out to such shows abroad and they have little time to focus on the problem of falling exports and removing deterrents to their growth. According to EPB sources its vice-chairman Abu Shahmim Arif made 27 foreign trips in 1994-95 with too little to show in terms of growth in exports target for which for the current year was recently scaled down from $ 9.2 billion to 8.88 billion and yet the exports are far below the schedule. What is obvious is that the ready recourse to devaluation of the rupee will neither boost exports in big way nor dampen the imports substantially. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Qadirpur gasfield opened ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shamim Shamsi SUKKUR, Feb 18: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said here that the discovery of the Qadirpur gasfield could pave the way for taking the natural energy resource into every household in interior of Sindh. Inaugurating the 200-million-dollar gasfield, developed by the Oil and Gas Development Corporation with the assistance of two Italian companies, Ms Bhutto described it as the third major discovery made by her government since it began exploring energy resources. Saying that her government had concluded 50 agreements with foreign countries for exploration of oil and gas, she pointed out that work was in progress on 20 projects under these agreements. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ecnec okays Rs 11 billion uplift projects ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) which met here under the Chairmanship of Prime Ministers Adviser on Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr V.A. Jafarey, approved 11 development projects costing Rs 11.2 billion. The ECNEC approved the establishment of a new campus for NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, at Jalozai, Peshawar. The project envisages construction of four academic blocks, two hostels for students and supporting infrastructures for the university. The committee approved a revised scheme for the construction of 414- bed Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) Complex which would comprise wards, casualty, outpatients, radiology and pathology departments, nursing school, residential accommodation for officers and staff and nursing hostel. The ECNEC approved a project envisaging the improvement of water supply services and ensure its equitable distribution in the deficit areas of Karachi by constructing additional overhead and underground reservoirs, augmentation of pumping stations and rehabilitation of rising mains. The committee approved the revised projects for the establishment of National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) at Faisalabad. The institute would help develop the infrastructure for research and development in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering for the study and solution of problems related to energy, agriculture, science, industry and industrial waste management. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960218 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No local taxes for power projects ------------------------------------------------------------------- M. Ziauddin ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: The government has decided to exempt the private power projects from provincial and local government taxes in order to protect the final consumers from pass-through escalation in power tariffs. Since the matter comes under the purview of provincial autonomy, the directive for the exemption is proposed to be circulated among the provinces/local governments in the form of an advisory. However, if provincial governments levy any tax then as per implementation agreement it will be treated as a pass-through item in the tariff to be absorbed by WAPDA/KESC and accordingly the final tariff will be increased, officials explained. In order to avert such a situation, the private power investment board initially made two recommendations: * WAPDA/KESC may be allowed to increase the tariff automatically in the form of additional surcharge equivalent to tax levied by the provincial/local government, passing on the additional burden of increased taxes to consumers without seeking prior approval of competent authority. * A mechanism be evolved for the deduction from the budget allocation granted to the concerned province/local body responsible for levy of local taxes. However, after consulting law, finance and planning and development ministries a proposal has been finalised according to which provinces/local bodies will be discouraged from imposing fresh taxes/levies on private power projects, because the bulk tariff offered by the government had no such provision. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Index down 39.46 points ------------------------------------------------------------------- Commerce Reporter KARACHI, Feb 18: Stocks fell across a broad front as technically- inspired selling dominated the scene, pushing the index sharply down by 39.46 points. The index was initially down by about 8 points on massive early selling in the pivotals but mid-session revival of demand at the fall enabled the index to recoup a half of the initial fall. The KSE 100-share index was last quoted around 1,817.76 as compared to 1,855.22 and there are fears that it could again breach the 1,800- point owing to Eid-holiday inspired selling from jobbers and bargain- hunters. There is a perception and shared by all leading analysts that the market could take a breather after consolidating its current run-up around 2,000 points and from that level it could move either-way depending background news. Profit-taking was evident on all the counters but the worst-hit were some of the overvalued shares, notably ICI Pakistan, Engro Chemicals, Highnoon, Searle Pakistan, and Pakistan Gun, which showed fall ranging from Rs 3 to 5. All leading auto shares followed them, falling by Rs 1.50 to 2.25 for Honda-Atlas, Indus Motors, and Pak-Suzuki Motors. Bank shares also fell under the lead of Al-Faysal, Askari, Bank of Punjab and Prime Bank, but falls were modest and reflected stray selling. Energy shares showed mixed trend, while National Refinery, Shell Pakistan, and Sui Northern fell, others rose were Pakistan Oilfield and Pakistan Refinery. Despite general selling, the market was not without some special features as some of the leading shares managed to put on fresh good gains under the lead of Parke-Davis, which shot up by another Rs 145 to Rs 850 on news of a good final dividend of 80 per cent and reported shortage of the floating stock. About 2,000 shares were traded at this high mark for a 10-rupee share. Other good gainers were led by 4th and Third ICPs, which rose by Rs 5 to 20 followed by 6th, 13th, 15th and 17th ICP, which rose each by one rupee. Millat Tractors, Cherat Papers, which rose by Rs 8 following a good interim and bonus shares but it was quoted spot to check speculative rise. BOC Pakistan, Siemens Pakistan, Pak Elektron, Mitchells Fruits, and Pakistan Oilfields also rose by one rupee to Rs 2. The most active list was again topped by PTC vouchers, off Rs 3 on 18.589m shares followed by Hub-Power, lower 75 paisa on 13.239m shares, ICI Pakistan, off Rs 3.25 on 0.889m shares, Kohinoor Energy, up 75 paisa on 0.585m shares, LTV Modaraba, easy 55 paisa on 0.588m shares, Lucky cement, off 65 paisa on 0.707m shares, Faysal Bank, off Rs 1.55 on 0.547m shares. Other actively traded shares were led by Fauji Fertiliser up one rupee on 0.421 shares, Dhan Fibre, lower 25 paisa on 0.328m shares, ICP SEMF, off Rs 2 on 0.210m shares and Sui Northern, off Rs 3 on 0.344m shares. There were several other notable deals also. Trading volume fell to 40.618m shares from the weekends 67m shares owing to the absence of leading sellers. There were 267 actives, out of which 168 shares fell, while 53 rose, with 46 holding on to the last levels. DIVIDEND NEWS: Brooke Bond Pakistan interim dividend at the rate of 20 per cent, Reckitt and Colman, final dividend at the rate of 23 per cent and bonus shares of 10 per cent. DAWNFacts*DAWNFacts*DAWNFacts*DAWNFacts*DAWNFacts*DAWNFacts*DAWNFacts* DAWN FACTS Another first from the DAWN Group of Newspapers --- the people who brought you the first on-line newspaper from Pakistan --- comes DAWN Facts, a new and powerful Fax-on-Demand service, the first service of its kind in Pakistan, giving you access to a range of information and services. Covering all spheres of life, the service arms you with facts to guide you through the maze of life, corporate and private, in Pakistan. With information on the foreign exchange rates, stock market movements, the weather and a complete entertainment guide, DAWN Facts is your one- stop source of information. DAWN Facts is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! 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EDITORIALS & FEATURES

960216 ------------------------------------------------------------------- My dear Prime Minister.... ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ardeshir Cowasjee WHILST my friend, columnist Nasim Zehra, was doing her research to write on the present state of our judiciary and the 1995 Judges Case (hearing of which recommences in the Supreme Court on March 3) she came across a relevant but badly composed letter written by a leader of the political sovereign, that is the poor masses of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, the Leader of the Opposition to My dear Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, on July 4, 1993. Time frame: On April 17, 1993, Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, although enjoying a clear two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, very unnecessarily took on President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and made a stupid speech on PTV. Ghulam Ishaq sacked him the next day. On May 26, 1993, the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Dr Nasim Hasan Shah, by its historical judgment, and a majority of ten to one (Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, dissenting), reinstated Nawaz Sharif and his Assembly. On July 18, 1994, Nawaz and Ghulam Ishaq were forced to resign by the supreme power that emanates from the barrel of a gun. Caretaker Moeen Qureshi took over on July 19. Free and fair elections were held, on October 6 for the National assembly and on October 9 for the Provincial Assemblies. On October 19, 1993, Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister. Reproduced hereunder are some interesting and relevant paragraphs from Benazirs July 4, 1993, letter to My dear Prime Minister: I write to you at an anguished moment in our countrys history whilst the spectre of chaos, confusion and controversy threatens to destroy our political structures and plunge our nation, its people, economy and way of life into the darkest depths of despair.... It is no use denying that a deep political crisis exists and that legal remedies sought so far have failed to bring back stability... We in the Pakistan Peoples Party had proposed in June 1993 a three- point formula for resolving the present crisis: 1) Formation of a national government. 2) Package of constitutional reforms. 3) Date for fresh elections. From the formation of a national government to the date for fresh elections we envisage a three-month period whereby general elections may take place by the autumn of this year. We had hoped that negotiations between Government and Opposition would bear fruit. Unfortunately, PDA-Government talks have broken down with the Government being unable to signal its goodwill through some small measures that were being required to end political and economic victimisation... If, as in the past, you once again dismiss the call for immediate elections, then I am afraid Pakistan will only see further instability and the responsibility for the consequences will be with the Government. If that is how you wish to govern for as long as you can eke out, then that is the nations misfortune. We in the Opposition would be left with no other option but to go directly to the people and mobilise their strength in seeking a solution based on the three-point formula. Elections alone will be a partial solution. the preferred solution is one with constitutional reforms so that an elected government may govern in peace while the Opposition may perform its functions in equal peace, knowing that it will get a fair chance in due course. That means: 1) Electoral Reforms: The election process lies at the heart of a democratic polity. As the sitting government has the administration at its disposal, we propose that the Chief Election Commissioner should be nominated by the leader of the Opposition. Other reforms in the electoral process, including elimination of ID Card alone as a form of identification, to be mutually discussed. 2) Political Parties Act be reformed to end the scourge of blackmailing, bribery and horse-trading. A simple letter from the Leader of the Parliamentary party concerned should be sufficient to de-seat a member unless 30 per cent of the group decide to defect together. 3) Appointment of Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and High Courts be done by mutual agreement of the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition to ensure that the judiciary is seen to be fair. 4) Appointment of Service Chief be left to the discretion of the President so that the Forces are free from the fray of political life and the vagaries of government. 5) Appointment of Governors by mutual agreement between the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the House to ensure that provincial autonomy is not violated by a sitting federal government through the governor. 6) Appointment of Judges of superior judiciary by a parliamentary committee. 7) Restoration of womens seats to the National Assembly, restoration of joint electorate, and lowering of the voting age to 18 years. 8) Extending the right of adult franchise to the Tribal Areas and evolving a system of self-government for the Northern Areas. 9) Repeal of Article 58(2)(b) of the Constitution. 10) Making Parliament sovereign for legislative purposes and reducing the tenure of Parliament, President and Senate to four years... While the concentration of some powers in the President might make him powerful, the concentration of all powers, judicial, electoral, gubernatorial, political and legislative, in the Prime Minister would be extremely dangerous. We must learn from our history and its mistakes to ensure that our proud Federation, its hard-working people and our future generations have a better chance, a better life, a better choice than our predecessors did. That can only be ensured by building a society where the law and the Constitution remain supreme, where the weak and the oppressed can change their destiny and hold their rulers accountable at regular intervals... The attempt to revive a dead assembly through a resolution was not only unrealistic but unconstitutional. This has deepened our fears that the Federal Government is determined to seize all powers through fair means or foul. This apprehension needs dispelling. The Army has shown remarkable restraint but it would not be wise policy to test their patience or the endurance of the people. It is not a question of power or the spoils of office, but creating a society which has the benefit of the rule of law and where the institutions are bigger than individuals. Ultimately it is not for the courts to decide political questions. This is the sole prerogative of the people of Pakistan. History will not forgive those who obstruct the privilege of the political sovereign, that is the poor masses of Pakistan, to exercise their will. Pakistans dilemma can only be resolved by the ballot. Let the people judge. Now, after 28 months of Benazirs second rule, we are once again at an anguished moment in our countrys history whilst the spectre of chaos, confusion and controversy threatens to destroy our political structures and plunge our nation, its people, economy and way of life into the darkest depths of despair. I am sending a reminder copy of this letter to Nawaz Sharif, suggesting that he and all other leaders of the sovereign power in opposition, address a similar letter to My dear Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. Benazir has successfully contrived to concentrate all powers, judicial, electoral, gubernatorial, political and legislative, unto herself, which situation in July 1993 she had deemed most dangerous. She has victimised the opposition to such an extent that she has also virtually achieved a one-party rule. Many of her opponents are jailed and are unable to obtain bail, those who are critically ill conveniently die in custody, and in Karachi the system of killing enemies of the party in power through police encounters is working to perfection. She has horse-traded and dissolved assemblies. She has appointed her own Election Commissioner, her own governors, and did her best to appoint her own army chief but fortunately failed. She has packed our courts, and used the Eighth Amendment, which she abhors and wishes to repeal, to punish two Chief Justices by transferring them to the Shariat Court. Now, three of our four High Courts are presided over by Acting Chief Justices, who can be unseated by the issuance of a mere notification. She appointed as the Chief Justice of Pakistan Sajjad Ali Shah (forgetting that he had the capacity to rightly or wrongly stand up alone against ten of his brothers and be counted), who now, against her apparent will, wishes to exercise power in terms of the oath he has sworn  In the Name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful  to right the wrong and strengthen the judiciary, for which he and his family are being intimidated and harassed by the flunkies of her government. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The freedom to rant ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ayaz Amir A STRANGE and marvellous freedom the Fourth Estate is enjoying. It can print what it likes: exposes, scandals, even innuendoes based upon the flimsiest of evidence. But for all the effect that it has it could be howling in the dark. The press may have become more powerful since the lifting of martial law in 1985, or that at least is what it would like to think; but at the same time the world of Pakistani officialdom has acquired a thickness of skin that a rhinoceros would envy. More power on the one hand and greater insensitivity on the other thus go hand in hand. The saga of the Mehran Bank; the payoffs to Aftab Sherpao which were then channelled into the drive to unseat the Frontier government; General Aslam Begs admission of having received 14 crores, no less, from Yunus Habib; reports of bunglings in the expected purchase of aircraft for the PIA; endless tales of corruption and kickbacks in other sectors of national life  all this and much more has appeared in the press. But these exposures have led to nothing: no judicial investigations, no prosecutions of any sort. If Pakistani dictators had been blessed with the gift of foresight they would never have taken the trouble of trying to gag the press. They would not have gone through the contortions of something like the Press and Publications Ordinance. Instead they would have done what the countrys democrats have learnt to do: treat the snivellings of the press with a lordly disdain. How wrong the notion that the Press can subvert if not overthrow governments. As its current impotence demonstrates it can do no such thing. Nor is it accurate to call the press the Fourth Estate. In circumstances where even the legislature and the judiciary have lost a great deal of their importance and relevance, how can the press with its ineffectual efforts lay claim to any grandiloquent title? This situation would be amusing if it were not sinister at the same time. In the past when the Pakistani nation went through one of its bouts of intense short-sightedness, such as during the East Pakistan crisis of 1971, it had a convenient alibi in dictatorship. We could not see because of the scales on our eyes, could not speak because of the locks on our tongues. That comfortable alibi can no longer be pressed into service. There is very little happening in the country which is not known, if not in detail at least in outline, with shady deals and other shenanigans regularly finding their way into newspapers. Yet nothing seems to happen as a consequence. Nor is anyone in authority concerned about bad publicity. The press, therefore, is essentially conducting a dialogue with itself. Or, at best, providing grist to the mills of drawing room conversation. It is true that if the press is not proving to be a check on governmental behaviour, it is feeding public perceptions, a circumstance which will become important when the government will be obliged, as it will be at the latest by 1998, to seek a fresh mandate from the people. But what about the present? Does the governments total indifference to censure mean that Pakistani governments once elected can get away with anything? That, constitutional appearances apart, in the Pakistani political system there are no real checks and balances? This certainly is the conclusion that flows from the present political scene. Despite the strong presence of the opposition in both legislative houses, Parliament exercises no check, not even a moral one, on the executives actions. It is not even a proper law-making body because most of the time it is rubber-stamping ordinances issued by the government. Mian Nawaz Sharif did not give the National Assembly much importance when he was prime minister. Benazir Bhutto too treats it with scant respect. Time and again the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Senate have demanded the production of arrested MNAs or senators during sessions of their respective houses only to see the government treat their rulings with contempt. On many occasions the opposition has tried raising contentious issues in parliament but to no effect because nothing said in the National Assembly or the Senate has the slightest influence on the governments behaviour. This was true of the previous government and it is true of the present one. Small wonder then if parliament as a consequence has been reduced to little more than a cipher. The courts may be the ultimate custodian of fundamental rights in a democracy. They also protect the sanctity of the constitution (till such time of course that the doctrine of necessity, of which Pakistan has had ample experience, does not cut short this role of theirs). But even with the best intentions in the world the courts, while able to deliver landmark judgements when important issues come before them for interpretation, cannot act as watchdogs of the public interest like parliament and the press. Nor can they become a check on a governments arbitrariness in a society in which there is no basic respect for the law. In any case, the judiciary can perform its functions only when a matter comes before it for adjudication. In Pakistan it is a remarkable facet of our democracy that unless the government so wills, not even the gravest charges against anyone come up for prosecution. For example, in any other society, subject to the rule of law, General Aslam Beg would have faced prosecution for admitting that he took funds from the banker Yunus Habib while Aftab Sherpao too would have been investigated for receiving money from the same source. These are just two examples of the state of the law in Pakistan. If similar examples which illustrate the selectivity of Pakistani justice were put together they would fill a thick volume. We see, therefore, the condition in which our democracy exists. When a government comes to power, even if it does so through honest elections, there are no democratic checks on its arbitrariness. It can do what it likes and even though it may face resistance from the press or parliament, this resistance amounts to little more than an inconvenience which, as we are seeing in the case of the present government, can be ignored or brushed aside easily. The checks that Pakistani governments do face are of a different order altogether. They emanate from two quarters: the military and the Eighth Amendment Presidency. Every civilian government, whatever the lip-service it pays to the notion of deriving its power from the constitution and the people, is acutely conscious of the sensibilities of the military. The second of these two checks is tolerated with less grace but it has to be taken into account nonetheless. That is about all. There are no other checks on Pakistans democrats: none from the legislature or the judiciary, none from the press and certainly none from the exercise of moral or cultural self-restraint because this quality, if it ever existed, is getting rarer by the day among the modern products of the countrys governing class. This does not mean that the press should retreat into pessimism. But it certainly means that it should get off its high horse and stop nursing delusions of grandeur. It must recognise its limitations and also perceive the true nature of the present democratic system which, if it must be given a name, could be called democratic authoritarianism. This is a more sophisticated system than the pure militarism of the Zia brand because it is conducive to the spreading of the benign illusion that the people (that mythical entity whose name has always been used for the most dubious causes) somehow matter and that they are masters of their destiny. Nothing could be more false than this idea but then this romantic nation has survived on myths far more florid and fantastic than this. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960218 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Disincentive to investment ------------------------------------------------------------------- Editorial Column INCONSISTENCY and frequent changes in economic and taxation policies and lack of uniformity in their implementation have often been cited as some of the major factors inhibiting investment and industrial growth. Similar views were expressed by US Ambassador Thomas W. Simons at a Press conference in Karachi recently. He blamed these factors as being responsible for the slow pace of actualisation of several MoUs signed with American companies during Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's visit to the US. He said frequent changes, being made in the policies relating to investment, taxation, trade and industry, were dissuading businessmen from, taking major initiatives. Trade decisions are taken by businessmen in the form of short-term commitment knowing full well all the relevant conditions prevailing at a given time. Reversal of decisions prompted by any change in those conditions is comparatively easy. But longer-term relationship requires stability in conditions of competition if trade exchanges are to flourish. On the other hand, investment decisions relate to the future. These decisions are taken in a historical perspective of changes h conditions of competition or the promises made in this regard at the time of taking decisions. Any abrupt deviation from these conditions or promises affects the viability of an enterprise and leaves no option for the sponsors to consider withdrawal at that late stage. Hence, investors are apt to be extremely cautious. They are also guided by the past behaviour of the authorities and their reputation as judicious decision-makers. In this regard, Pakistan does not have an enviable record. Decisions are taken hastily and incentives and concessions are offered on an ad hoc basis and on considerations of selective preferences. These are sometimes withdrawn with equal haste. A classic example is that of the Gadoon industrial estate where incentives were given, curtailed, withdrawn and restored; the whole process was repeated a number of times. The latest instance in point is that of special industrial zones where basic concessions have been withdrawn after, these had been in force for only nine months out of five years. In contravention of original terms, some basic changes in conditions relating to the Export Processing Zone are said to be under consideration. Following the recent devaluation, investors will have to pay 10 per cent additional (regulatory) duty on their import of capital goods if these were not exempt earlier or five percent if these were free of duty. Such decisions are sometimes made on short-term consideration of increased revenue generation in disregard of long-term disincentive effect on private sector investment. Changes have been made recently in quick successions in banking regulations, resulting in upward and downward swing of interest rates. If some changes have to be made for reasons of structural adjustment, enough time should be given to the affected parties. The industrial West will take ten years of adjustment to switch over from the MFA regime to free trade. Now that the economy has been largely liberalised and deregulated and resources are being allowed to be allocated on considerations of efficiency, a level playing field has to be provided to all the new players in the investment game, giving them free and un-induced choice. However, those who are already in the game, playing under different conditions should be allowed to continue for the period specified for the purpose. This will enhance confidence in the government's commitment even among those who may be adversely affected at the moment. Investment climate should be made conducive, not through concessions and preferential treatment, but through improvements in infrastructureroads, telecommunications, water, gas and electricity and skilled and trained manpower. Particularly important for attracting investment is across-the-board reduction in all pre-production taxes. Loss of revenue may be made up from increases in post-production levies. All ploughed-back profits may be exempted from tax. Mr Simons expressed concern about the law and order situation in Karachi and considered it a disincentive for investment. What is, however, encouraging is his assurance that despite this inhibition, American firms interest in Pakistan has not in any way waned. Karachi continues to be a focus of attention and the US administration encourages American businesses to invest in this city. As a result, the Ambassador expects direct American investment of $100 million in the city to materialise soon. Problems of the city emanate largely from unemployment; private investment and the consequent creation of jobs can be expected to go a long way in easing the situation.

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SPORTS

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DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960216 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Wasim may help restore national pride ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Paul Allott I always thought I would be asked to lead Pakistan in the World Cup, said Wasim Akram, but I needed a test of character  a hard tour, to prepare myself. He got his wish in Australia  with a vengeance. Last October Pakistan were in turmoil. They had lost their first home Test series for 15 years  to Sri Lanka of all people. They also lost the one-day series. This was bad enough but worse were lingering stories of betting and bribery on the earlier Australia tour of Pakistan. Tim May and Shane Warne alleged they had been offered huge sums to throw games. Nothing was proved but Salim Malik was relieved of the Pakistan captaincy pending an investigation by the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan. Salim was then picked to tour Australia, whose Press was still baying for his blood. It was hardly an ideal scenario for Wasim as incoming captain: poor results, disillusioned players, a disenchanted public at home and a distinctly hostile one waiting in Australia. Yet, far from flinching at the prospect of becoming his countrys captain and ambassador, he relished it. Without doubt Pakistans outstanding player, Wasim was more mature than when he captained the side two years earlier and was usurped in a players coup for being too strict. He is man enough now to admit that he deserved it. The tour of Australia ended in a Test series defeat but Wasims new- look Pakistan won the last Test and then a one-off match in New Zealand. Results matter and Wasim wanted to win everything but he is proud to be hailed for his diplomatic achievement. Before the trip Down Under I made sure that each member of the team realised that this was going to be a bridge-building tour. Pakistan were perceived very poorly in world cricket. Australia was going to be extraordinarily uncomfortable if we didnt make friends, with crowds and players alike. I attempted to instil in the players the ideals of positive cricket, being aggressive and hard on the field but approachable and sociable off it. I was always first into the Australian dressing-room at close of play to share a cola or two with them. Wasim credits his opposite number Mark Taylor for his efforts in turning what could have been a most unpleasant tour into a series that saw the tourists described as one of the friendliest teams ever to tour Australia. He now knows that he can thrive on responsibility and that to get the best out of players he needs to cajole, be supportive but above all be honest with them. He knows also that the Lancashire players respect him, not just because he is an outstanding player but as a person. Pakistans players, after Australia, feel the same way. Wasim is determined that Pakistan put up a good performance in the World Cup. I want emphatic wins in our first two games against New Zealand and Holland and I want a tough quarter-final when we qualify. There is no complacency, no hiding, just a forthright call for success. No host nation has won the World Cup but, should Wasim Akram lift the trophy in Lahore next month, all Pakistan will acclaim him as a national hero. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960216 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Miandad poised to set two records ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 : Seasoned campaigner Javed Miandad is poised to set two, perhaps unassailable, records during the sixth World Cricket Cup,96. Javed Miandad will have played six World Cup tournaments while the 39 years old greatest ever Pakistani batsman will further embellish his position as the most prolific batsman ever in the competitions history. Miandad and Imran Khan were the only two cricketers to have played all previous five World Cups. But Miandad will go one up with his sixth World Cup appearance when Pakistan take on United Arab Emirates at Gujranwala on January 24. Javed Miandad already heads the list of scorers with 1,029 runs to his credit in 28 World Cup matches. But he has played 27 innings, returning an average of 44.73 with his highest score being 103. The knock of 103, coming against Sri Lanka in Pakistans first match at Hyderabad in 1987 World Cup, is also Javed Miandads only century in five World Cup Championships. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960216 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Richardson pledges to win Cup ------------------------------------------------------------------- HYDERABAD, (India), Feb 15: Richie Richardson, the target of virulent criticism from the passionate but unforgiving Caribbean cricket community, pledged to bring the World Cup back to the West Indies. Winning the World Cup is essential for the team, Richardson told reporters on the eve of his sides opening match against Zimbabwe. Richardson has stoically endured an unhappy year, beginning with West Indies first series defeat for 15 years last March when the unofficial world champions succumbed to Mark Taylors Australians. They then drew 2-2 with England in a six-test series before completing a miserable tour of Australians where, without Brian Lara, West Indies failed to qualify for the World Series one-day finals. Inevitably, Richardson has been blamed for his teams failings. Joel Garner and Jeff Dujon, two leading members of the great 1980s West Indies side, have called for his resignation. And Laras absence from the Australian tour has been interpreted in the Caribbean and elsewhere as an expression of dissatisfaction with Richardsons captaincy as much as anger at a fine incurred as a result of incidents on the England tour. A flood of runs for Lara at the sixth World Cup would not only confirm the Trinidadian left-handers status as the worlds leading batsman but also ensure a successful tournament for West Indies and Richardson, a paradox that will not be lost on either man. Richardson, once one of the worlds most exciting batsmen, has struggled increasingly for form in both test and one-day cricket and looked badly out of touch in a warm-up match on Tuesday. In common with former Antiguan team mate Viv Richards, his predecessor as West Indies captain, Richardson relies on reflex and instinct and his technical deficiencies have been cruelly exposed over the past year. What Richardson does possess in abundance is character and determination and he may well choose to lead from the front and open the innings with Sherwin Campbell. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960216 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Calcutta semi-final under threat ------------------------------------------------------------------- CALCUTTA, Feb 15: Cricket officials warned on Thursday they might not stage the World Cup semi-final at Calcuttas Eden Gardens stadium on March 13 unless a row with local authorities over crowd safety was resolved. Our confidence has been badly shaken and we are having second thoughts about hosting the March 13 semi-final, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalmiya said. Local authorities have expressed concern about the safety of a new stand at Eden Gardens stadium that is due to increase crowd capacity by 10,000 to 110,000. They have told the CAB it must obtain a structural safety certificate before it can stage the semi-final. The CAB has accused the authorities of red tape and said it was surprised the issue had been raised because Eden Gardens staged the Cups opening ceremony last Sunday without any problems. West Bengals Marxist state government said it would call a meeting with Calcutta municipal authorities to resolve the problem. Unless we get the all clear signal in the next three or four days, we will not take the responsibility of holding the match, he said. If the CAB declines to stage the match, the future of the semi-final will be in hands of the World Cup organisers, the Pakistan-India-Lanka Committee (PILCOM). The official ruled out shifting the semi-final venue from Eden Gardens, saying it would place PILCOM in a difficult situation. The Australian and West Indies cricket boards might make an issue out of any change of venue, he said. PILCOM has already rejected requests from the two boards to shift their scheduled World Cup fixtures from Sri Lanka. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960217 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Kapil for ban on Australia, W.I. ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, Feb 16: Former Indian captain Kapil Dev has called for Australia and West Indies to be banned from international cricket for at least a year for refusing to play their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka because of safety fears. Both these teams should not only have been thrown out of the competition, they should also have been barred from playing the game for at least one year, Kapil said. The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported on Thursday that Australia and West Indies may be fined up to $3 million each for forfeiting their matches in Sri Lanka. It quoted Indian cricket chief Inderjit Bindra, who is a member of the Pakistan-India-Lanka World Cup organising committee (PILCOM), as saying the agreement between PILCOM and the 12 teams stipulated the provision of the penalty in case of their forfeiting a match. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960218 ------------------------------------------------------------------- A case for the underdogs ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tanvir Ahmad A debate has started in Pakistani Press and the electronic media about the wisdom of the decision to include the four babes of cricket in the sixth edition of the World Cup. A section of cricket experts, including a couple of former Test cricketers, are of the opinion that it is not a right decision. They base their argument on the premise that, firstly the four  Holland, UAE, Kenya and Zimbabwe  are too weak sides to make their ties against their senior partners worth the money and secondly, that their inclusion may be to the disadvantage of the more serious contenders of the title. The other day I happened to watch a programme on PTV in which Pakistans former opener Sadiq Mohammad was vociferously speaking against the inclusion of the associate members in the contest. Sadiq was apparently so upset that he went on to say that these teams will neither attract crowds nor will they make any difference to the outcome of the league portion of the tournament. Ironically, just about when he made this comment, Holland, making their debut in international cricket, had captured 5 New Zealand wickets in Baroda. A day earlier, Zimbabwe, after being restricted to 151 for 9 in 50 overs by a strong West Indian attack, never lost heart and went on to claim four West Indian wickets for 136. About the interest of the spectators, one has only to remind that the Lal Bahadur Shastri stadium in Hyderabad had a bigger crowd than at any of the centres when Pakistan and Sri Lanka were playing their Test series in Pakistan just a few months ago. Even in a small city like Baroda, there was a reasonably good crowd to watch the Zimbabwe- West Indies tie. East Africa was among the eight teams to play in the 1975 edition and in 1979 the Canadian team was included. And who can forget the sensational upset caused by Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup when it defeated a strong Australian team by 13 runs, which ultimately resulted in Australia failing to qualify for the semi-final. And they repeated the feat in 1992 again when they beat England, who ultimately went on to play the final against Pakistan, by 9 runs in a league match. Many of us would recall that some pessimists in Pakistan as well as in England were of the view that Pakistan was given Test status a wee bit early. When Pakistan toured England in 1954 and received thrashing in the earlier matches and the first Test the same views were expressed until we won at the Oval. And Zimbabwe taught the Pakistanis some lessons in cricket when Pakistan team toured that country last year. For that matter the Sri Lankans, rated behind Pakistan and India ( for what earthly reason one is at a loss to understand) made a clean sweep of the series in 1995. One strongly feels that this is a somewhat negative approach towards the game as well as the newcomers, trying to make their place under the sun. They need to have more sympathetic, more positive as well as encouraging attitude. It will not be many years from now that UAE or Holland will be giving hard time to the present cricket giants. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Lanka cash in on Cup silver lining ------------------------------------------------------------------- COLOMBO, Feb 18: Sri Lanka, boycotted by the Australian and West Indian sides, have discovered a silver lining to the World Cup controversy. Sri Lankas Board of Control for Cricket is expecting to cash in on the sympathy vote after launching a major fund to boost local cricket talent. I cant think of a better time to launch this, Board President Ana Punchihewa said. The whole world is looking at us. Punchihewa received donations worth Rs. 9 million (US$180,000) from seven private sector firms here last week, with another dozen willing to support the project. The Cricket Fund hopes to raise Rs.30 million (US$600,000) within the calendar year. The Cricket Board expects to lose about Rs.5 million (US$100,000) from each matchs gate receipts. Losses from television rights and advertising have not yet been calculated. The fund will finance the countrys first cricket academy, where youngsters with talent but no means will get training. Hardly any work is done in offices when the Sri Lankan team plays a five-day test and everything comes to a virtual standstill if it is a nail-biting one-day international. Cricket is so widespread in Sri Lanka that children can often be seen playing on main highways, rice fields and on sandy white beaches  morning, noon and night. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Who has the stomach to win the cup? ------------------------------------------------------------------- The key player in the 1996 World Cup could be a high-speed strike bowler, a versatile all-rounder, a dashing batsman ... or a rampant stomach bug. Sub-continental stomach trouble  better known by the generic terms Delhi belly or Bombay bug  has already struck several teams in the early stages of the competition. The Dutch, always ranked outsiders going into Saturdays game with New Zealand, were hampered still further by a bout of illness which laid low seven of their players after eating a few platefuls of rogue spaghetti. The cliched suggestion that the eventual winners of the World Cup will need `guts and a stomach for a fight seems suddenly ironically appropriate. The host teams of Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka would probably reckon to be immune to most Asian strains of stomach trouble but the less acclimatised touring sides will be taking extra precautions. New Zealand coach Glenn Turner  who is married to an Indian and led New Zealand on their tour of India in 1976  said before the cup: We know what to expect here. We must be wary of spin and upset stomachs. In another celebrated affair three years ago, Englands Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting were forced to miss a Madras Test match following a meal of prawns and red wine the evening before. Intriguingly, the English press blamed a hotel. Most Indians pointed the finger at the two players appetites. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Information on World Cup ------------------------------------------------------------------- KARACHI, Feb 18: Through the efforts of a group of volunteers and the co-operation of local media organisations, cricket enthusiasts all over the world will be able to monitor the progress of their favourite teams during the Sixth World Cup through the use of computer technology. Cricinfo, a non-profit organisation of cricket followers on the Internet, has made arrangements to provide ball to ball update of the proceedings from the cricket stadia in this part of the world. In collaboration with media organisations and local newspapers, Cricinfo  known as the Home of Cricket on the Internet  has been able to build an exhaustive database of background information and statistics that the users will find interesting and useful in evaluating the performances of their teams. Cricinfo has been able to build an extensive profile of the Pakistani team, first class structure and the World Cup venues in active collaboration with the Dawn Group of Newspapers, the designated source for information on Pakistan. Under the agreement Dawn, through the Dawn Wire Service, has undertaken to provide Cricinfo with complete analysis of matches played during the World Cup, along with important records and statistics that appear in the newspaper. Under the same agreement Dawn will be able to use material presented on this web site, thus providing its sports followers with a global view of the competition, according to a Press release. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960219 -----------------------------------------------------------------

DREAM TEAM UPDATE

----------------------------------------------------------------- PLAYER CODE NAME OF PLAYER COUNTRY POINTS 107 GARY KIRSTEN SOUTH AFRICA 188 21 GRAEME HICK ENGLAND 130 44 SACHIN TENDULKAR (VC) INDIA 127 74 S.P. FLEMING NEW ZEALAND 114 72 N.J. ASTLE (VC) NEW ZEALAND 111 165 P.A. STRANG ZIMBABWE 102 73 C.L. CAIRNS NEW ZEALAND 98 75 C. HARRIS NEW ZEALAND 95 25 NEIL SMITH ENGLAND 87 70 STEVE TIKOLO KENYA 85 17 DOMINIC CORK ENGLAND 84 82 C. SPEARMAN NEW ZEALAND 73 29 STEVEN LUBBERS (C) HOLLAND 65 33 PETER CANTRELL HOLLAND 65 108 BRIAN McMILLAN SOUTH AFRICA 65 27 GRAHAM THORPE ENGLAND 63 135 ARSHAD LAIQ UAE 63 99 HANSIE CRONJE (C) SOUTH AFRICA 62 49 ANIL KUMBLE INDIA 60 79 D.J. NASH NEW ZEALAND 60 103 ALAN DONALD SOUTH AFRICA 60 143 C.E.L. AMBROSE WEST INDIES 60 46 AJAY JADEJA INDIA 58 16 ALEC STEWART (VC) ENGLAND 57 80 A.C. PARORE NEW ZEALAND 55 132 SHAUKAT DUKANWALA UAE 55 19 NEIL FAIRBROTHER ENGLAND 53 140 JOHANNE SAMARASEKERA UAE 53 147 S.L. CAMPBELL WEST INDIES 47 57 MAURICE ODUMBE (C) KENYA 46 38 ROLAND LEFEBVRE HOLLAND 45 22 RICHARD ILLING WORTH ENGLAND 43 153 B.C. LARA WEST INDIES 43 84 R.G. TWOSE NEW ZEALAND 42 102 DARYL CULLINAN SOUTH AFRICA 41 54 VENKATAPATHY RAJU INDIA 40 18 PHILLIP De FREITAS ENGLAND 40 32 PAUL JAN BAKKER HOLLAND 40 76 R. KENNEDY NEW ZEALAND 40 77 G.R. LARSEN NEW ZEALAND 40 139 SYED AZHAR SAEED UAE 40 58 ASIF KARIM (VC) KENYA 39 71 L.K. GERMON (C) (WK) NEW ZEALAND 37 83 S.A. THOMPSON NEW ZEALAND 37 40 KLAAS JAN VANN NOORTWIJK HOLLAND 36 20 DARREN GOUGH ENGLAND 35 105 ANDREW HUDSON SOUTH AFRICA 32 131 MOHAMMED ASLAM UAE 32 141 R.B. RICHARDSON (C) WEST INDIES 32 31 FLAVIAN APONSO HOLLAND 31 160 G.W. FLOWER ZIMBABWE 31 60 DEEPAK CHUDASAMA KENYA 29 137 GANESH MYLVAGANAM UAE 28 39 MARCEL SCHEWE HOLLAND 27 66 KENNEDY OTIENO KENYA 27 78 D.K. MORRISON NEW ZEALAND 25 150 O.D. GIBSON WEST INDIES 25 151 R.A. HARPER WEST INDIES 25 51 NAYAN MONGIA (WK) INDIA 23 23 PETER MARTIN ENGLAND 23 127 SULTAN ZARWANI (C) UAE 22 15 MICHAEL ATHERTON (C) ENGLAND 21 35 TIM De LEEDE HOLLAND 21 159 C.N. EVANS ZIMBABWE 21 167 A.C. WALLER ZIMBABWE 21 53 VENKATESH PRASAD INDIA 20 110 SHAUN POLLOCK SOUTH AFRICA 20 154 C.A. WALSH WEST INDIES 20 34 NOLAN CLARKE HOLLAND 19 64 EDWARD ODUMBE KENYA 15 133 SHEIKH MAZHAR HUSSEIN UAE 15 146 C.O. BROWNE (WK) WEST INDIES 15 168 G.J. WHITALL ZIMBABWE 14 28 CRAIG WHITE ENGLAND 13 148 S.C. CHANDERPAUL WEST INDIES 13 42 BAS ZUIDERENT HOLLAND 11 81 D.N. PATEL NEW ZEALAND 11 109 STEVE PALFRAMAN (WK) SOUTH AFRICA 10 138 SALIM RAZA UAE 10 157 A.D.R. CAMPBELL ZIMBABWE 10 158 S. DAVIES ZIMBABWE 9 63 THOMAS ODOYO KENYA 8 24 JACK RUSSEL (WK) ENGLAND 7 129 IMTIAZ ABBASI (WK) UAE 7 156 E.A. BRANDES ZIMBABWE 7 164 H.H. STREAK ZIMBABWE 7 52 MANOJ PROBHARKAR INDIA 5 59 RAJAB ALI KENYA 5 69 DAVID TIKOLO KENYA 5 136 VIJAY MEHRA UAE 3 155 A. FLOWER (C\WK) ZIMBABWE 3 47 VINOD KAMBLI INDIA 2 62 HITESH MODI KENYA 2 55 NAVJOT S. SIDHU INDIA 1 144 K.L.T. ARTHURTON WEST INDIES 1 161 A.P.C. LOCK ZIMBABWE 1 4

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