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DAWN WIRE SERVICE
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Week Ending : 02 January 1997 Issue : 03/01
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JI decides to boycott elections
Jirga not to allow women to vote
Islamabad stops all funds to provinces
Imran blames Nawaz for Rs5bn plot scandal
Tribunals get powers to debar candidates
More corruption cases against past rulers soon
Mumtaz Bhutto absolved in treason case
Pakistan warns India on Prithvi deployment
Two TJP leaders, four others shot dead
---------------------------------
Tremendous scope of trade with India
US biggest importer of Pakistani products
Greater powers to SBP, Banking Council abolished
Dos and donts of trade with India
Pakistani bourses to assist TSE
IMF conditions: Rs 50bn in new taxes?
Mismanagement costs nation $2 billion
Stocks contradict predictions, open on promising note
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'Ehtesab' or 'Intekhab'? 3 Ardeshir Cowasjee
A VIP speaks Hafizur Rahman
Corruption in high places Zia-ul-Islam
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World Cup fiasco in Bangalore eclipsed Pakistans successes
After cloudy patches a silver lining on the hockey horizon
Jansher still the lone standard-bearer
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961230
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JI decides to boycott elections
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Ashraf Mumtaz
LAHORE, Dec 29: The electoral process in Pakistan received the first
setback on Sunday when the Jamaat-i-Islami announced its decision to
boycott the February 3 elections mainly because of the failure of the
caretaker government to keep the corrupt elements out of the electoral
process and because the major political parties had fielded such candidates
as did not meet the requirements mentioned in Article 62 of the
Constitution.
The decision was announced by Jamaat Amir Qazi Husain Ahmed at a news
conference here on Sunday on the second day of the three-day central Shoora
meeting at Mansoora.
He said the Jamaat candidates would withdraw their nomination papers.
The Jamaat chief said in the present situation accountability and not
elections was the major public demand and the Jamaat would start a series
of sits-in all provincial capitals to mobilise the public opinion about it
and to persuade the voters and other political parties away from elections.
However, he made it clear that the Jamaat would not force the people not to
exercise their franchise.
The Jamaat had contested the 1993 elections from the platform of the
Pakistan Islamic Front (PIF) and had bagged three NA and about half a dozen
PA seats. It had polled 645,278 votes in these elections.
The Pakistan Muslim League has described the Jamaats decision as
unfortunate and made it clear that it would have no impact or effect on the
PML plan to fully participate in the electoral process.
The interim prime minister and the chief election commissioner have already
announced that boycott by any party would have no effect on elections and
the government would stick to poll schedule of February 3.
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960101
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Jirga not to allow women to vote
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Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Dec 31: The controversy over women's voting in the ensuing
general elections was settled on Tuesday when all the eight Afridi sub-
clans decided that women would not be allowed to cast their votes.
A grand jirga of Afridi sub-clans held at Bara took the decision to debar
women from voting. It was also attended by 43 candidates for National
Assembly seats.
The jirga observed that women would neither be registered as voters nor
allowed to cast vote. It also decided that any male member of a family who
would bring or allow any woman to cast her vote would be fined up to
Rs500,000 and his house would be torched.
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970102
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Islamabad stops all funds to provinces
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Sabihuddin Ghausi
KARACHI, Jan 1: Islamabad did not release any fund to the provinces,
including their shares from the federal divisible pool, during the last two
months causing acute financial crunch.
Sindh has not received its share of funds, about Rs2 billion a month, for
November and December, causing acute financial problems well placed
sources disclosed saying that resource crunch in the province had led to
heavy dependence on overdraft from the State Bank of Pakistan.
Enquiries made with the relevant sources revealed that Sindhs overdraft
with the State Bank was somewhere near Rs9 billion as against the
prescribed limit of Rs667 million.
Confirming the resource crunch in the province, caretaker Finance Minister
Kunwar Idress was confident of getting the overdue amounting to over Rs4
billion in the next few days which he hoped would ease the financial
situation in the province.
However, no plausible explanation is available as to why the federal
government stopped the flow of funds to the provinces that include even the
share from the federal divisible pool which is a constitutional obligation.
In accordance with the 1996-97 budget, he said, Islamabad would provide a
total of Rs34.51 billion to Sindh in fiscal 1996-97 as its share from the
federal divisible pool. It comes to roughly Rs2.9 billion a month he said
and explained that Rs500 million are deducted at source on account of debt
servicing and Rs400 million are deducted against arrears of WAPDA and other
utilities. It leaves a net inflow of Rs2 billion every month, he said.
He disclosed that Sindh had cleared all the arrears of WAPDA and other
utilities. The province has asked the federal government to stop
deductions at source and let the provincial government adjust bills
directly with WAPDA and other utilities.
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970102
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Imran blames Nawaz for Rs5bn plot scandal
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Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: Imran Khan, chief of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, said
here on Wednesday that his party would not boycott the forthcoming general
election.
Addressing a press conference at the outset of his election campaign in the
federal capital from where he is contesting election, the PTI chief said
his party would not boycott the poll under any circumstances, and added:
Our party is against the postponement of elections.
He, however, added that the Jamaat-i-Islami, which had boycotted the
elections, had a valid point. Four governments in the past had been
dismissed on the charge of corruption and it was wrong to go for fresh
elections under the same system in which the same people again managed to
come into the assemblies, PTI chief pointed out.
Mr Khan also released a document called Mian Nawaz Sharifs plot
plundering record. He claimed that, as chief minister, Punjab, Mr Sharif
had caused a loss of Rs 5 billion to the Punjab treasury. He alleged that
Mr Sharif had allotted plots worth Rs 5 billion as a political patronage,
in violation of the law.
According to Imran Khans findings, Mr Sharif, as chief minister, Punjab,
had allotted: 1,111 plots in various development schemes of LDA; 2,027
plots of Housing and Physical Planning Department of Punjab; about 147
plots, worth 150 million, to MNAs/MPAs, political leaders and other
influential people; eight tracts of valuable land with costly timber trees
in Murree; 27 mostly commercial and some community plots for residential
purpose; 66 one-kanal plots against only 20 that were available for
allotment in M.A. Jauhar Town scheme; and 45 one-kanal plots against 27
available in the Sabzazar Housing Scheme.
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961231
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Tribunals get powers to debar candidates
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: The caretaker government on Monday approved another
amendment in the Representation of Peoples Act 1976 giving suo moto powers
to the eight election tribunals to debar the defaulters of loans, taxes and
utility charges from contesting the general election.
The decision was followed by a an official list containing the names of
1538 candidates or their relatives who are defaulters of utility services.
A handout issued after the Federal cabinet meeting said the amendment, to
be made law through a presidential ordinance, was made in view of the
possibility that a candidate may suppress the required information
regarding the default in payment of loans, taxes, or utility bills and thus
succeed in getting his nomination papers accepted.
The new amendment said: If a tribunal constituted under sub- section (5)
is, on the basis of information or material coming to its knowledge from
any source, satisfied that a candidate whose nomination paper has been
accepted is a defaulter of loan, taxes, government dues or utility charges
or has had any loan written off or suffers from any other disqualification
from being elected as a member of an assembly, it may suo moto call upon
such candidate to show cause why his nomination paper should not be
rejected, and if it is satisfied that the candidate is a defaulter as
aforesaid or has had a loan written off or suffers from any other
disqualification, may reject his nomination paper.
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961228
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More corruption cases against past rulers soon
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Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Dec 27: Caretaker Prime Minister Malik Meraj Khalid on Friday
announced that more corruption cases will be instituted against past rulers
within the next few days on the basis of evidence already collected.
The caretaker prime minister said these would expose to the nation the
misdeeds of those holding positions from top to bottom in the past. We
have to take the unpleasant step for the survival of the nation, he said.
Meraj said under the Constitution the caretaker government had the mandate
of holding free, fair and impartial elections within the stipulated time
and to initiate accountability process. When it was necessary to dismiss
the government on the charge of corruption it was also essential to hold
accountable all the corrupt rulers for their misdeeds, he said.
Malik Meraj Khalid said the Ehtesab Ordinance was accepted by all because
it was a complete law but people have started our accountability because
they want us to do much more than giving an ordinance.
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961227
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Mumtaz Bhutto absolved in treason case
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Our Correspondent
HYDERABAD, Dec 26: Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Mumtaz Bhutto was
exonerated in a treason case with all the other accused here on Thursday by
the STA Court-II judge, Nazeer Akhund.
Two applications under Section 249-A were filed by advocates Zahoor A.
Baloch and N.C. Motlani, the latter representing Mumtaz Bhutto and the
former appearing on the behalf of Tayyab and Suleman, two accused who are
under custody.
In a case registered at Khanote Police Station, Mumtaz Bhutto, the late
G.M. Syed, the late Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and some other persons had been
accused of raising anti-state slogans and delivering anti-state speeches
while on their way to attend the birthday celebration of G.M. Syed in Sann.
G.M. Syed and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan died before the case was challaned.
Mumtaz Bhutto was declared proclaimed offender in the case by the then STA
court judge, Mohammad Azeem Panwhar. However, the proclamation order was
suspended by the superior court.
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961227
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Pakistan warns India on Prithvi deployment
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Hasan Akhtar
ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: Pakistan has once again drawn world attention to a
likely threat of ballistic missile race in South Asia because of admitted
deployment of Prithvi missile by India, and warned that Pakistan reserves
its right to take necessary measures to counter the Indian threat to its
security.
A Foreign Office spokesman was asked for Pakistans reaction to a recent
statement of the Indian external affairs minister on a foreign TV , in
which he had confirmed deployment of Prithvi missile. Over the years,
Pakistan had repeatedly warned that India would deploy the Pakistan-
specific missile, capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction, he said.
Reaffirming Pakistans plea for a zero missile zone regime in South Asia,
he observed that Pakistan reserved the right to take necessary measures to
safeguard its security.
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960101
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Two TJP leaders, four others shot dead
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Dawn Report
LAHORE, Dec 31: Two TJP leaders and four others were shot dead and one was
injured on Tuesday by unidentified assailants in two different incidents
that took place in Lahore and Multan.
The first incident occurred at village Lakh Chandra in the Lahore's Kot
Lakhpat area.
Zulfiqar Naqvi, 50, an advocate by profession, was a central executive
committee member of the TJP and in charge of its political wing in the
Punjab. He had filed nomination papers for the Punjab Assembly from two
Lahore seats, PP-126 and PP-133, as independent candidate. Mr Naqvi's
murder comes within a few days of the killing of Punjab Ombudsman, Justice
(retd) Muhammad Munir Khan.
He was on his way to his office in the city with his son, a friend, his
private driver and a police guard in a car when they were killed on the
Ferozepur-Kahna link road. The motive behind the multiple murder was not
immediately clear. Some police officers were of the view that this was an
attempt on the part of a terrorist group to re-start sectarian killings.
Senior police and district officials visited the spot, and were treating
the slaying as sectarian. Other suspected the involvement of TJP's rival
group. However, police said they had no concrete evidence to declare it a
sectarian incident.
Police have yet to register a case.
In Multan, TJP district president Ayub Siddique was gunned down and his
companion injured when two motorcyclists fired at them here on Tuesday
night.
Ayub Siddique and his companion, unidentified so far, were on their to
Suraj Miani from Harram Gate in a rickshaw at around 9:15pm, when unknown
people intercepted them near the Bohar Gate. They fired at them with a
Klashanikov. They received injuries and were taken to the Nishtar Hospital.
Siddique died in the hospital. The condition of his companion is serious.
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961229
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Tremendous scope of trade with India
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 28: Minister of State for Industries, government of
Maharashtra, Mr Prabhakar More has stated that co-operation in economic
field between India and Pakistan would help in reducing political
differences between them.
Speaking at a reception arranged in honour of visiting Pakistan trade
delegation led by President FPCCI, Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour in Bombay on
Dec 27, by the Western Regional Council of the Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and Industry, he said that it would be in the interest
of both the countries to open up trade with minimum of tariffs and
restrictions.
He assured the FPCCI delegation that Pakistani entrepreneurs would be
welcomed to invest in Mahrashtra and free to pick up any of the projects
out of 60 project profiles prepared for investors.
The FPCCI delegation was given a very warm and friendly welcome by a full
house in the financial and business capital of India. Not only the
businessmen and industrialists representing leading business houses who
were present showed great enthusiasm in meeting members of FPCCI
delegation, the minister of state was also very delighted in welcoming such
a large private sector businessmens delegation from Pakistan after a lapse
of several decades.
Mr Prabhakar More invited FPCCI members to participate in the Advantage
Maharashtra conference scheduled to be held in Mumbai on Feb 17 and 18
next year and interact with businessmen from all over the world who would
be participating in the conference. To Senator Bilours suggestion that
India and Pakistan should start giving multiple visa for six months to
businessmen, the Maharashtra minister assured that he would take up this
issue with government as this was the need of the hour.
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960101
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US biggest importer of Pakistani products
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Muhammad Ilyas
ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: United States emerged as the top buyer of Pakistani
products during 1995-96, accounting for 15.5% of total exports which stood
at $8.7 billion, 7% more than during the previous year, according to Export
Promotion Bureau's statistics.
The second highest importer of Pakistani goods was Hong Kong, worth $792
million, up 47.5% over 1994-95.
In contrast to United States, whose imports from Pakistan mainly account
for value-added goods up to 91% of our exports to that country, Hong Kong's
imports include raw materials and intermediate goods such as yarn and
leather. The exports to US amounted to $1.3 billion, 2.8% more than during
1994-95.
Germany emerged as the third biggest buyer of Pakistani products. Exports
to that country during 1995-96 amounted to $593 million against $571
million in 1994-95. Its share in total exports from Pakistan declined from
7% to 6.8%.
Germany also stands out as the country whose imports from Pakistan
comprised mainly the 10 value-added products. These comprised 87% of our
total exports to that country.
Among the regions, Asia was on the top. The exports to Asia amounted to
$2.7 billion or 31.3% of the total, registering an increase of 15.8% over
the previous year.
Value-wise, the goods which registered increase in exports during 1995-96,
as compared to the previous year, included raw cotton (716.3%), guar & guar
products (46.4%), cotton bags (28.8%), towels (20.3%), made-ups of textiles
(19.4%), cotton cloth (18%), surgical instruments (11.4%), rice (10.9%)
fruits (6.6%), vegetables (2.2%), ready-made garments (1.1%) and cotton
yarn (0.8%).
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970102
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Greater powers to SBP, Banking Council abolished
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: The caretaker federal cabinet on Wednesday decided to
abolish the Pakistan Banking Council and approved an amendment in the State
Bank of Pakistan Act 1956 to strengthen the regulatory role of the central
bank over commercial banks and financial institutions.
The cabinet also decided to revise its earlier decision of cancelling the
contract awarded to IBM for preparing computerised identity cards.
By amending the Banks (Nationalisation) Act 1974, the cabinet abolished the
Pakistan Banking Council, a regulatory body over the commercialised banks
and instead gave these powers to the State Bank.
Now the central bank will be empowered to appoint chairmen and presidents
of nationalised commercial banks and development financial institutions.
The amendments in the Banks Act has also created a new post of chairman of
the boards of all nationalised commercial banks and financial institutions.
By approving an amendment in the State Bank Act, the cabinet empowered the
central bank to regulate and monitor the performance of the nationalised
commercial banks and development financial institutions, a job previously
done by the Banking Council which is being abolished.
However, the power of licensing and regulation of non-banking financial
institutions would be vested in the Corporate Law Authority.
The cabinet, an official handout said, also decided to review its earlier
decision of cancelling the IBM contract for preparing the national identity
cards.
It formed a four-member committee to re-evaluate the agreement and present
its recommendations for consideration.
The IBM was preparing a citizens database and computerised national
identity card on built, operate and transfer basis but the caretaker
cabinet cancelled its contract accusing the previous government of awarding
the contract without inviting bids.
The cabinet decision had not been taken well by the multinational companies
and many of them had refused to bring in new investments. This perhaps
forced the government to revise its decision.
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961228
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Dos and donts of trade with India
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Zakir H. Rizvi
IN THE ERA of globalisation when the world is inching towards free trade,
the issue of trade with India and vehement opposition to it betrays
emotional immaturity and technological backwardness on our part. Trade with
India has been branded as a security risk, compromise on Kashmir,
strangulation of our industry, disloyalty to the nation and a means of
cultural invasion, by some quarters.
The issue has bitterly divided thinkers, opinion makers and entrepreneurs.
On one side are those who favour free trade with India. They are staunchly
opposed by those who want no trade. A few rare souls, however, have the
moderate approach of controlled trade. Its time to take stock what is
behind the cacophony of rhetoric and slogan mongering: lucid arguments or
blinkered righteousness.
Those who oppose the idea of trade with India say that it will be
instrumental in driving our entrepreneurs out of business. A massive flow
of better and cheaper Indian goods into our markets will hit the indigenous
industry which cant stomach foreign competition. Indian goods are cheaper
than ours due to availability of cheaper raw material, electricity,
subsidies and other tax exemptions.
They further argue that motivated by malice, Indian entrepreneurs under
official patronage will dump their products in our markets and begin
exploitation after putting down roots here.
The proposition of no trade is supported by highlighting Indian
atrocities in held Kashmir. Some politicians and religious leaders have
said declaration of MFN to India will make Kashmiris feel that they are
being abandoned.
Trade shouldnt be at the cost of Kashmir.
Then there are many who have declaring it a security risk. They anticipate
that opening of borders will trigger anti-Pakistan activities by Indian
agents. Some leaders hold the opinion that it will lead to a cultural
invasion from India.
Those who favour trade with India consider it a panacea for our economic
ills. It will, they argue, ensure maximum allocation of resources, as
variety of goods, spurs competition and increases employment in the long
run. People will be saved from exploitation by local hoarders.
Pragmatism, they claim, demands that we legalise trade with India, which is
already taking place in the form of smuggling. The time has come that we
enter into free trade either by forming customs union or common market like
the European Community and European Free Trade Association. This, they
believe is what we are supposed to do, being a signatory of GATT and WTO
regime.
The fact of the matter is that the two groups have gone too far in opposing
each other. Our incompetent entrepreneurs, addicted to protectionism and
backed by narrow-minded politicians, have always benefited from Indo-Pak
rivalry and the Kashmir issue and suggest no trade. At variance with them,
are those who either dont comprehend free trade, GATT and WTO or are
enjoying economies of large scale production.
Neither argument seems plausible. The opponents of trade should take into
account that trade includes imports as well as exports. It incorporates
goods as well as services. We dont want to trade, means we dont want to
have their services too. But what about our students who are availing and
want to avail the services of Indian authors.
If raw material is cheap in India, we can have it from them. By importing
raw material at a low tariff rate and letting finished goods manufactured
by the same material enter at a high tariff rate, we can protect our
domestic industry far more than the nominal tariff rate. Availability of
cheap electricity in India doesnt imply the policy of no trade. Our
government, instead of increasing utility bills should prevent electricity
theft to reduce the cost of power production.
If India is giving any subsidy or rebate to her exports, the GATT makes it
binding on her to give details. If the consequence is dumping, then we have
every right to impose countervailing duty on subsidised imports from India.
The fear of exploitation by Indian entrepreneurs is out of the question in
the wake of bilateral trade. Some political pundits treat trade as a
compromise on Kashmir. Well it is not, it will augur well for Pakistan, and
will not dampen the spirits of the Kashmiris.
Entry of Indian agents in the name of trade is another argument, but when
we have access to their country via trade, they wont choose trade for
subversive activities. Closing trade due to this purpose will be tantamount
to poisoning an entire garden to kill a few bugs.
Lastly, the fear of cultural invasion is next to impossible, as we are in
the age of the dish and satellite, and cannot prevent interaction among the
two cultures. Youll hardly find a house in Pakistan without Indian video
and audio cassettes. We can maintain our identity and defend our values
like our territory.
Formal opening of trade between two countries will manifest in both their
favour, as at present a lot of clandestine trade worth millions of rupees
(according to a private estimate) already takes place lifting trade
barriers will only affect smugglers and corrupt officials.
There is a lot of misconception about GATT and WTO. General Agreement on
Trade and Tariff is all about persuasion and negotiations. It doesnt
besiege any signatory to engage in free trade, but invokes to reduce tariff
and non-tariff barriers to mutually agreed level.
According to the Director General of WTO: WTOs objective is not just to
create further liberalisation, but to do so inside rules and disciplines
agreed to by all member states and ratified by all their parliaments.
In the absence of trade barriers Pakistan will be flooded by Indian goods.
Indian light and heavy machinery, chemicals, fertilisers, transport goods,
electrical appliances and food products will dominate our industry, which
is in its nascent stage, we should interlocute with New Delhi, the
exclusion of such items which we want to protect.
Both can impose Voluntary Export Restriction on some commodities for a
specific time period. They can identify industries on which a specified
level of reduction in tariff, say by 30 per cent, may be imposed. We should
focus on acquisition of technology and assistance in R&D. If we can have
procure it from America, there is no wrong in procuring it from India.
The needs of our present and future demands from us to put at rest the
heritage of misperceptions and promote economic co-operation in the region
to ensure economic prosperity for South Asia.
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961228
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Pakistani bourses to assist TSE
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Dilawar Hussain
The previous week, Tashkent Stock Exchange (TSE) finally issued a Letter of
Intent (LoI), inviting the Karachi and Lahore Stock Exchanges to assist and
support Uzbekistans fledgling stock exchange in nearly all aspects of its
formation and operation.
The Pakistani bourses are jubilant; in a statement last Thursday, the
Karachi Stock Exchange explained why: This is a significant development,
in that the project established the credibility of the Pakistan capital
market, especially the fact that IFC chose the KSE and LSE for
collaboration with the TSE.
The countrys capital markets are sure that the development heralds the
beginning of an era of economic co-operation between Pakistan and
Uzbekistan, and would lead to greater economic relations between the two
countries and the rapid development of their capital markets.
The TSE move came following the visit of a two-member delegation to
Tashkent escorted by the officials of the International Finance Corporation
(IFC) between November 27 and December 7. Possibilities of collaboration
and exchange of information and technologies between the capital markets of
the two countries were explored. The LoI has identified areas in which the
Pakistani stock markets can render assistance.
These include activation of the secondary market; improving the quality of
listing procedure and devising listing procedures and rules and
regulations; making quality presentations to foreign investors and
disseminating knowledge about the investment opportunities available to
participate profitably in the privatisation process and to make sound
investment in the secondary market; to improve the payments, clearing and
settlement systems and information dissemination; to build the
institutional framework of the capital market benefiting from the
experience in Pakistan and creating these institutions with collaboration
and equity participation of Tashkent, Karachi and Lahore Stock Exchanges
and others as may be necessary; training of personnel of exchange and
market participants and holding of seminars and discussions for the various
levels.
International exposure
In the first instance, the project is to be of medium term, which would
last for a minimum period of one year. The Pakistan markets will get
international exposure and this signals the beginning of new
opportunities, says Mr Iqbal Ismail, adviser to the President of the
Karachi Stock Exchange, who was one of the two delegates to Tashkent. Mr
Iqbal mentions the possibilities of export of technologies, creation of new
jobs for Pakistanis in the Central Asian States and best of all the foreign
exchange and goodwill that the country would earn, as several other
positive points of the new contract.
For all this, both Mr Ismail and the other delegate, Dr. Yasir Mahmood of
the LSE, credit the Chairman CLA, Khalil Masood, without whose active
encouragement, they insist, the mission may not have been accomplished.
The historic city of Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan, a country
inhibited by 22.2 million people. The country boasts a literacy rate of 97
per cent, with more than 25 per cent of the people being science graduates.
The country has a surplus in electricity and the underground railway
network in Tashkent is good as anywhere in the world. Uzbekistan has
abundant resources of uranium, gold, copper, iron, limestone, gypsum and
oil and gas. Cotton, silk, wheat and fruits are the main agricultural
products.
The officials of the CLA and the KSE, having been able to make the first
foray into the vast and emerging capital markets of the Central Asian
States, are understandably brimming with optimism about the endless
possibilities. But when the celebrations are over, they would have to get
down to some serious business. Heart-breaking problems can not but be
foreseen.
Grey areas
The Tashkent Stock Exchange (TSE) established in 1994, is fully
computerised. There are a dozen regional exchanges, called the branches of
the Tashkent Stock Exchange.
Around 4,000 companies, currently under various stages of privatisation,
are quoted on the TSE. There is no secondary market and the trading is over
the counter. The companies have been allowed to be quoted to facilitate the
privatisation programme.
As privatisation gathers pace, hundreds of companies are expected to seek
listing. The State Property Board called (GKI) is the privatising agency
and the main buyers are the employees of collectives anxious to secure the
controlling shares.
The listing procedure and rules and regulations are being formulated.
Because of inherent weakness, not all the 4,000 currently quoted companies
may qualify for listing.
Under the generally accepted listing conditions, only 8 of the total would
have qualified for listing. In respect of trading of equities, it is good
to observe that payments are prompt and at least for the moment, risk of
defaults does not exist, since all commitments to buy have to be backed up
by a bank guarantee.
But the problems remain in the procedures of payments and settlements which
do not interface. Additionally, when the secondary market has been created,
defaults risk would emerge as bank guarantees for market transactions may
not be possible all the time.
The long era of socialism and closed economy has inculcated the habit of
secrecy within the companies, which is evidenced in the accounting
standards adopted.
It is difficult to obtain material information about companies due to
underdeveloped accounting standards and lack of disclosure of information.
All of which would make presentations to foreign investors difficult on
international standards.
The TSE has in place a certification programme which applies to both
members and agents. Besides universities which offer specialised courses, a
functioning institute imparts courses on capital markets.
The Pakistani bourses would be required to acquaint the personnel of the
exchange and the market participants with our practices and to explain
recommendations.
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961228
-------------------------------------------------------------------
IMF conditions: Rs 50bn in new taxes?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr Farrukh Saleem
THE GOOD NEWS is that the IMF has released $76 million out of the $579
million stand-by credit that was agreed upon between the Government of
Pakistan (GOP) and the Funds Executive Board on December 13, 1995.
According to another IMF press release of December 17, 1996, the Executive
Board approved a request by the Government of Pakistan to extend the
current stand-by credit through end-September 1997 and to augment the
amount available under it by SDR 160.74 million (about US$231 million)
.......
In return for the disbursement of this interest-bearing loan that has a
deadline of September 79, by which time it is to be paid back the GOP is
expected to impose massive new taxes, build up foreign exchange reserves of
$1.6 billion, collect surcharges of Rs 26 billion by June 97, reduce bank
borrowing to a maximum of Rs 42 billion, increase utility rates and curtail
the budget deficit to a maximum of Rs 101 billion or equal to 4 per cent of
GDP.
IMFs interest
To be certain, the IMFs primary interest is to guarantee circumstances
under which our economy remains capable of servicing the billions that we
have borrowed from the Fund ever since we became its member on July 11,
1950. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.
The Fund has lent us money and they have a right to safeguard repayment.
While we try and maintain just such a debt-servicing capability, our
government would, perhaps, be forced to undertake structural reforms that
it might not have undertaken otherwise.
Surely, nothing wrong with curtailing the bloated deficit or, for that
matter, reducing the governments bank borrowing and also accumulating hard
currency reserves that are at least sufficient to finance 8 to 10 weeks of
imports.
The original stand-by credit has been enhanced but the release of the next
tranche shall really depend on how well the interim government is able to
implement the conditionalities. The odds, however, are that it will not be
able to meet them.
There is, to be sure, nothing new about the IMFs prime conditionality of
drastically reducing budgetary deficit as the principal prerequisite to
additional loans.
The other important conditionality has frequently been successive
devaluations to cure trade deficits. Currently, 61 of the 179 member-
countries are at various stages of implementing tax increases and
devaluation schedules supported by the IMFs regular and concessional
lending programmes (EFF, CCFF, STF, SAF or ESAF). Tax increases and
devaluations, unfortunate as these are both have a history of being
largely unsuccessful.
In almost all of the 61 recipient-countries, the IMFs primary emphasis
over the years, has remained on the escalation of taxes as a route to close
the gap between government expenditure and revenue (budget deficit).
In almost all cases where tax increases was used as the sole toll to cut
budget deficit the results have not been encouraging. An increase in taxes,
more often than not, decreases economic initiative to produce and either
retards production or, as is the case in most developing countries, causes
a migration of productive sub-sectors over to the informal economy (which
by definition is outside the tax net).
The present tax/GDP ratio in Pakistan, for instance, is satisfactory by
most standards (meaning that enough taxes are being collected given the
current parameters).
The solution really lies in expanding the tax net itself and in the
rationalising of the existing revenue collection mechanism. The problem, at
the same time, clearly lies in the notion that tax increases, in the
Pakistani context, shall end up in increased government revenue.
Additional taxes
The budget 1995-96 had imposed an additional Rs 11 billion in direct taxes
and a colossal Rs 23 billion in the form of new indirect taxes. The Budget
1996-97 also had Rs 41 billion in new tax measures. If that wasnt enough,
the recently announced mini-budget had another Rs 13 billion of extra
taxes.
The IMF now insists that the budgetary deficit should be reduced by close
to 2 percentage points. Considering that, in the IMFs terminology, a drop
of each percentage point means Rs 25 billion of new taxes, are our economic
decision makers now preparing to burden the economy with an additional Rs
50 billion load?
If additional taxation was to lead us into higher government collection, we
would have reached that goal long time ago. Instead, we have a stagnating
economy where budgetary estimates of revenue are always brought down and
the actual collection at the end of every fiscal period is much lower than
both the budgetary, as well as the revised, estimates.
Another tax increase is not the answer. New taxes will not result in
additional revenue and the government will not be able to narrow the
budgetary gap. What we really need to do is to stimulate the economy.
Expand the productive capacity. Increase the overall size of the economic
base. Enlarge the tax net. Add incentives to work and to produce more and
create a business environment in which individuals can work towards
increasing their income.
An argument is frequently made that out of 130 million people, less than
one million are direct tax payers, rightly so. The average income is just
so low that one cant really expect an average Pakistani to become a tax
payer. There is simply nothing left after roti, kapra and the hugely
discriminatory regime of indirect taxation on each and everything that a
common man must consume.
Successive governments have failed to provide conditions for the private
sector to grow and allow individuals to engage in rewarding employment. One
hundred and thirty million Pakistanis collectively produce what a mere 5
million Taiwanese or 3 million Singaporeans would do. How can a rational
IMF expect an average Pakistani to pay direct taxes also when it is next to
nothing that he takes home as wages?
It is important that the IMF stays assured of its repayment, principal as
well as interest. it is also important that the budgetary deficit is
brought down. The historical evidence, however, suggests that none of these
goals can be reached by increasing taxes.
The budget deficit, for one, cannot be narrowed by merely enhancing taxes
on everything in sight. Expenditures would have to be cut, and drastically
so, along with the introduction of definite measures to enlarge the overall
productive capacity of the economy, which shall in return, expand the tax
potential.
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961229
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Mismanagement costs nation $2 billion
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 28: The environmental mismanagement takes its toll on Pakistan
economy to the tune at least of $2.180 billion every year-roughly 4 per
cent of its GNP.
Quoting a World Bank study, a World Bank official Mr. Tariq Husain said
here on Saturday the mismanagement made tens of millions of Pakistanis to
suffer.
The crisis in science is deeper than our economic crisis..., he said
while delivering 12th Zahid Hussain Memorial Lecture organised by the State
Bank of Pakistan. He urged the government to appoint a commission of
eminent scientists that could help it frame sustainable economic policies
with least adverse impact on the environment.
Mr. Tariq Hussain, Director, Learning & Leadership Centre of the World Bank
dwelt exhaustively on the factors impeding economic growth in Pakistan in
his 45-minutes lecture titled PakistanRole of Education for a Sustainable
Future.
Speaking about the gap between the income of the rich and the poor he said:
In comparison with India, Indonesia and BangladeshPakistan has the
highest level of inequality. He said some 40 million people or one third
of Pakistans total population live in absolute poverty.
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970102
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks contradict predictions, open on promising note
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 1: Contrary to overnight predictions, stocks on Wednesday
opened the new account on a promising note as the strength of the base
shares spillover to other counters.
Analysts, however, ruled out the possibility of any tangible new year gain
in the subsequent sessions as the developing political scenario could
hardly be ideal for the share business until the current uncertainty, both
on the financial and the economic front, is over.
Both PTC vouchers and Hub-Power are capable of putting the index on the
right track owing to their massive saying in it, but it is pretty difficult
to build any strong base on it for a longer period, they added.
It was well reflected in the performance of the broader market and its
inability to reinforce the initial gains as the genuine buying support is
still shy.
Many analysts said revival of strong demand, which pushed the index higher
to 1,354.64 from the last years bottom level of 1,339.93, was not
technically inspired but appeared to be inspired for obvious reasons.
Some others said together with the incentive package announced at the fag-
end of last year to boost the capital markets, the comfortable supply of
money in the sessions to come could push the market at least to a more
viable level.
This perception was, however, not shared by others who think it is too
early to say something about the direction of the market in the new trading
year.
However, the market reaction to the current political uncertainty and news
of sectarian killing will be known during the next week as both could well
prove major inhibiting factors.
The Wednesdays snap new year rally could hardly prove a befitting
greeting, as sustaining factors around are not many.
The minus signs again dominated the scene under the lead of leading
multinational shares, notably Shell Pakistan, Philips, Siemens Pakistan,
Knoll Pharma, Brooke Bond and Parke-Davis, falling by one rupee to Rs 5.
Commercial Union Insurance followed them, falling by Rs 3 on active selling
coming from locals. EFU Life Insurance also fell by Rs 1.50 on renewed
selling.
Other local blue chips shares, which finished lower, were led by National
Fibre, Balochistan Wheels, Zeal-Pak Cement, Pakistan Refinery, Dewan
Textiles, KSB Pumps and Elite Publishers, which suffered decline ranging
from one rupee to 1.75.
MCB, which has been under pressure for the last two sessions and has fallen
substantially on news of disinvestment of remaining shares in government
control, was boosted by news of visit of its new president to the Karachi
Stock Exchange and a possible announcement of enhancement of credit
facilities for the new year, rose modestly on active short-covering at the
lower level.
Dewan Salman followed it, which was actively traded on heavy short-covering
at the lower level, rising by Rs 1.80.
PSO, which has also suffered persistent pruning, recovered by Rs 2 thanks
to active short-covering at the lower levels.
Other good gainers were led by First ICP Mutual fund, Imrooz Modaraba,
Askari Leasing, Sui Northern and Sui Southern and Quality Steel.
Trading volume was maintained at the overnight level of 21 million shares.
Losers maintained a fair lead over the gainers at 121 to 81 with 59 holding
on to the last levels.
The most active list was topped by PTC vouchers, up 40 paisa on 4.575
million shares, followed by Hub-Power, higher 60 paisa on 4.505m, ICI
Pakistan, firm 60 paisa on 3.830m, Dewan Salman, up Rs 1.80 on 3.635m, and
Dhan Fibre, steady 15 paisa on 1.190m shares.
Other actively traded shares were led by ICI Pakistan (r), up 30 paisa on
0.204 million shares, FFC-Jordan Fertiliser, steady five paisa on 0.200m,
MCB, higher 90 paisa on 0.166m, and D. G. Khan Cement, up 25 paisa on 0.145
million shares.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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961227
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ehtesab or Intekhab 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeshir Cowasjee
SARDAR Farooq Ahmed Khan, President of Pakistan and Tumandar of the
Legharis, has turned the presidential table around from where it was in GIK
days to face the Margalla Hills. He sits, Bismarck-like, surveying the
scene, gazing over the hills into the far distance, rarely moving his eyes
towards his visitors.
But so far, unlike the Iron Chancellor, he does respond to questions. A
story is told of Bismarck, who at the age of 68 (Leghari is a mere 56)
suffered from neuralgia, gout, migraine, rheumatism, gallstones, varicose
veins, influenza, jaundice, shingles, piles, gastric upsets, constipation,
stomach aches and cramps. Exasperated, he complained, I am not able to
hold my thoughts continuously. In addition, there is this unbearable
pressure on my stomach, unspeakable pains. Doctors came and went. Bismark
was intolerant, received no satisfaction, and chose to unsuccessfully treat
himself. Ultimately, he sent for the able but highly eccentric Doctor
Schweninger. At the outset of their first consultation, Bismarck said, I
dont like being asked questions. Schweningers reply was, Then get a
vet. He doesnt question his patients. The Chancellor gave in, did what he
was told, went on a herring diet, took to riding again, exercised his iron
will, lost 20 kilos, and recovered.
The President has gathered together a team of batchmates and friends, many
of whom are more loyal to him and to themselves than to the country. It is
said that Legharis first priority is to secure another term in office, and
that he is working towards this. Nothing extraordinary in that. GIK too
suffered from the same malaise. Men like General Cincinnatus and General de
Gaulle do not come by the dozen.
Our de jure prime minister, Meraj Khalid, is a well-meaning man. He grew up
in the Kasur district, near the Indian border, where, of economic
necessity, ever second man is a smuggler. In the past he has helped friends
in need, an admirable quality. If some he defended were smugglers, so be
it. He wants complete accountability before elections. He fears the old
faces will be back with the scheduled elections and they will do us even
more harm. He has underscored the need for a revolutionary change to solve
the socio-economic problems and the removal of moral and other social evils
from society. (The News, Dec 22). He wants the peoples will to prevail.
This can be done without a revolution, by the holding of a referendum as is
provided for in Article 48(6) of the Constitution.
The first caretaker Law Minister Fakhruddin Ebrahim made a mess of the
accountability and other ordinances, then martyred himself yet another
time. No great loss. The accountability process has just not taken off, as
it was sincerely hoped it would, though not for want of trying. The team is
efficient, but is blocked by all the non-co-operators. The new Law
minister, Shahid Hamid, may perhaps do better. Interior Minister Umer
Afridi is doing his best as is FIA chief Khawar Zaman, whose organisation
is overflowing with corrupt and inefficient and dishonest men recruited by
the previous government. Khawar is weeding madly, but there is no way he
can get rid of all of the rot overnight.
Not one tainted politician, not one supportive acquiescent bureaucrat,
admits he is corrupt, not one shows any remorse. There are, of course,
those that are kicking themselves for not having made hay to the extent of
many of their mates. Bureaucrats protect bureaucrats, servicemen protect
servicemen. All are stalling in the hope that time will pass, elections
will be held, they will be rewarded for their pretended ignorance and
allowed to remain in place.
Those that were jailed, and have not yet been released on bail, have
developed ailments they never had before, have bought their way into
various hospitals where they hope to stay until the hopefully re-emerging
freely and fairly elected corrupt government bails them out, recognises
their past performance and prowess, and rehabilitates them.
Precedents abound, the most glaring being Safdar Zaidi. During BBs first
tenure he did much wrong, was later arrested and then lived in hospital
until BB was brought back to power. He was re-employed, made chairman of
the Board of Investment with a federal ministers rank and status, and
remained glued to his seat until BB was again shot out.
Each time ousted Benazir opens her mouth, she does everything possible to
make matters worse for not only herself but for her country. This week she
loudly and firmly proclaimed on BBC television that she has never touched,
let alone taken, one penny of the national exchequer, and that having lost
her father and her brothers, every human life is sacred to her.
In Islamabad it is felt that Benazir, now on a losing wicket, if it should
suit her will find some excuse to boycott the elections. It is also widely
surmised that no caretaker wishes to disqualify either Benazir or Nawaz or
their corrupt cronies. Benazir is to be soundly trounced in the elections
and the stage set for a Nawaz comeback. Administrators and police are being
moved around the country to suit the circumstance and the purpose. A bad
scene.
Has everyone conveniently forgotten that Nawaz was a disaster, that
robbery-wise he outdid Benazir in her first term? But now, in comparison
with Benazirs second term, he was a bumbler and a bungler, nowhere
matching her quality. In his second term he may again overtake her.
Is this what dissolutions are all about? In 1988, Benazir was brought in
on a wave of sympathy. She and her government were found to be inept and
corrupt, and in 1990 the assemblies were dissolved. At that time she was
considered to be the innocent one, not knowing what Asif and his cronies
had done. The caretakers came, held elections, and Nawaz and his men were
brought in. They robbed as much as they could. Again it was said that it
was not Nawaz, but his father and brother who were largely at fault. His
father is not a politician, but a businessman, a karobari. Brother Shahbaz
helped enlarge the industrial empire in the Pakistani manner, by using his
brothers clout, extracting bank loans, by changing and tailoring SROs to
suit their needs. They had to go and a seemingly wronged Benazir was
brought back.
Together with her husband and their various cronies, they then proceeded,
with a vengeance, to rob the country and to destroy its institutions. When
there was nothing left to be robbed, the family silver and the countrys
land was sold. Again came the much maligned Article 58(2)(b) and Benazirs
second government was removed.
Must we now have Nawaz again? Has he shown any remorse for his past sins?
Is he a changed man? Has he sent us any signals to prove that his
priorities have changed?
The constitutionalists who support Nawaz maintain that elections must be
held within 90 days. They ignore Article 254: When any act or thing is
required by the Constitution to be done within a particular period and it
is not done within that period, the doing of the act or thing shall not be
invalid or otherwise ineffective by reason only that it was not done within
that period. They overlook Article 48(6): If at any time, the President,
in his discretion, or on the advice of the Prime Minister, considers that
it is desirable that any matter of national importance should be referred
to a referendum, the President may cause the matter to be referred to a
referendum in the form of a question that is capable of being answered
either by Yes or No.
Why is the President afraid of holding a referendum? He must know that the
overwhelming majority of the people will insist that the holding of the
accountability process must be completed, and that the guilty politicians
should be disqualified, or convicted, before any elections are held? But
does he know that the majority of the people find many of the present
caretakers unacceptable? He could easily replace them and appoint men in
whom the people have confidence.
Is it not high time that the country is cleansed? We have a sensible army
chief who does not want martial law, we have an assertive judiciary which
wishes to do right by the people. If Nawaz is brought back, the economy
will not improve, there will be mass robbery. A hung parliament will breed
acrimony, it will not usher in prosperity. Within six months there will be
chaos, and 58(2)(b) (or worse) will again come into play. Both he and
Benazir have had their chances and failed. Enough is enough.
The clamour for accountability is gaining ground every day, growing
stronger as the accountability process of these caretakers falters and
fails. Let there be a team change and a referendum.
I ask the constitutionalists of the country: do they want a constitution or
do they want a country?
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961231
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A VIP speaks
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hafizur Rahman
I AM a VIP, and that is why I am more qualified than an incipient
politician like Imran Khan to define what is the VIP culture. I think hes
got it all wrong and made a hash of it when asked by pressmen to say
something about it.
This was a fortnight ago. The Lahore Diary of Dawn reported Mr Imran Khan
telling a meeting in the Lahore Press Club that if somebody had money of
his own and could maintain himself in luxury, he saw no harm in it. There
is nothing wrong if I purchase a Mercedes every day if I can afford it, he
added.
I and some other VIP friends laughed at his words. I was reminded of a news
report that when challenged for jumping a traffic signal, a truck driver
tried to run over the traffic policemen. He was a VIP in spirit. The point
is how did he get to the stage where he thought he could by-pass the law?
Let me say that the VIP culture doesnt merely mean using that over-rated
facility called a VIP lounge at the airports. With rare exceptions,
everyone of us in Pakistan is trying day and night to occupy positions
where the law should think twice before touching them and where they can
enjoy extraordinary privileges.
For instance, having moved in the corridors of power for long years, I have
the confidence that I can get away with anything short of murder. And even
that is manageable if I have the money to supplement my clout otherwise. It
gives me a great feeling of security. No wonder that other people, less
fortunate than I am, are working hard to take a seat beside me in this
special enclosure.
As a VIP I belong to that category of citizens who are absolutely sure that
if they ever take the law into their own hands they will not come to any
harm. We have the confidence that the law will take us into its gentle
hands as if it was our godfather. For example, I am not bothered either by
traffic signals (like that truck driver in Lahore) or the constable blowing
his whistle on me.
If I am not able to get a court of law to dislodge a truculent tenant from
my property, I take half a dozen obliging toughs to the place and throw the
tenant and his family and furniture out on the road. If there is a vacant
municipal lot adjoining my house, I appropriate it without the slightest
compunction.
My son aged eleven, drives a car and runs over people (even the traffic
police) with impunity. My elder son wields a gun in college and was
rusticated once, though the principal too had to suffer a transfer. (I had
forgotten the boy had become so big. I hardly ever see him).
My daughters father-in-law is a secretary in the provincial government,
and my sister is married to a federal joint secretary. My elder brother is
a budding industrialist and close to the caretaker prime minister. As for
politicians, there are quite a few in the family and come and go with the
ebb and tide of governments.
So you see how well-connected I am? Besides I know a whole lot of people in
the right places. The law is not the only thing which holds no fear for me.
I am certainly not a common citizen in respect of many other privileges. If
I need cement or steel or bricks for building a house I know where to get
them cheap and quickly. I dont have to stand in a queue to pay my bills
or get my servants identity card made or to have my passport renewed.
Almost regularly, every three years or so, I am allotted a plot on the
basis of the fact that neither I nor my wife and children own any urban
property in any part of Pakistan. If my college-going son takes a pot shot
with his gun at a member of a rival student gang, I know a couple of
newspaper editors who will ignore the ugly news. The police, of course, I
can well look after and keep it eating out of my hand.
I am also what is known as a prominent and respectable citizen. If I am a
senior bureaucrat I join that assembly as soon as I retire from service;
meantime I have the best of both the worlds. The most enjoyable privilege
attached to the appellation (of prominent citizen) is that I get invited to
all sorts of places from a reception for a foreign head of state to the
long line which accords a warm welcome to our own President and PM when
they return after conquering hearts in foreign lands.
I am regularly invited to the Horse & Cattle Show in Lahore, and even once
made it to a meeting of intellectuals called by a prime minister to find
out the countrys pressing problems. I am available 24 hours of the day to
the APP to give a favourable comment on the national budget or anything
done by our top government leaders to promote democracy or demote it.
All this gives me the well-deserved feeling that I am the governments son-
in-law, to use a crude Punjabi phrase. It also makes me aware of my
inherent birthright to get things free. When cinema-going was common, I
never bought a ticket, nor do I buy one now for any play or show or
entertainment.
I always say that whether I go to a function or not is immaterial, but I
have a right to be invited, especially if I am a senior officer or
connected in any way with the ruling regime. I cant tell a cricket match
from a matrimonial match, but you will see me in the VIP enclosure whenever
the MCC or any other CC is around. I simply love these invitations and keep
them on the mantelpiece of my drawing room till they can be replaced by
others.
With all these rights and privileges and contacts and relationships and
facilities and amenities within my grasp, why should I have to bother about
the law and its piddling concerns? After all I am not a dacoit or a highway
robber (even though I have robbed banks in my own legal way) that the
minions of law and order should be allowed to spoil my peace of mind.
And if the rest of the city is trying to emulate me and, in that process,
it is jumping traffic signals and running over constables (like that
enterprising truck driver) its not my fault. All I can do is to wish them
luck in their endeavours to match my good fortune.
So, friends and countrymen, heres wishing you a Happy New Year, and may
you soon become a VIP and join our fraternity. Itll be nice exchanging
views with you.
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970102
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Corruption in high places
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Zia-ul-Islam
AT a time when the entire nation is up in arms against corruption,
specially corruption by rulers, this might be the right moment to suggest a
one-item agenda to the caretakers whereby they can effectively and
permanently solve this problem.
Rulers, elected or otherwise, do not operate in a vacuum; they simply
cannot indulge in corruption alone. The question is, How do rulers indulge
in corruption? Through whom do they take illegal gratification? Who
negotiates and accepts money on their behalf and who signs official papers
in return for which the graft money is paid? The answer to all these
questions is one and the same, the civil servant.
This is also the clue to the solution. At present if a civil servant
refuses to oblige, he is transferred with the stroke of a pen and another
one posted in his place who complies. Imagine a scenario where such a
transfer cannot take place. Where a civil servant refuses to perform an
illegal act and still continues in the post, it would be impossible to
carry out the act. On the other hand, however, what if the civil servant
willingly becomes party to the illegal act? This is, of course, the more
likely scenario, so the solution must also contain concrete measures to
prevent this from happening.
The only solution for minimising corruption, therefore, is to insulate the
civil servant from all kinds of influences. On the one hand, his posting,
transfer, punishment and promotion should be done, not by the rulers but by
commissions and tribunals which are completely free from the influence of
rulers as well as from personal greed. On the other hand, in order to
ensure that this insulation does not allow him to indulge in corruption the
fear of God should be instilled in him to such an extent that he does not
succumb to any temptations.
In short, the endeavour should be to make the civil servant fearless,
honest, non-compromising and a strict follower of the Book.
Such a clean bureaucratic environment can be gifted to this nation only by
a caretaker government, which has no axe to grind and whose main goal is to
clean up the country of corrupt practices. No other government, elected or
otherwise, is likely to have the will or the inclination to introduce such
a system, wherein the rulers are unable to misuse bureaucrats for their own
personal ends at the expense of the pressing needs of the country. Given
the will, this system can be brought about by adopting the following means:
1. Let all appointments be made through independent commissions. Let no one
have the powers to take out any posts for whatever reasons from the purview
of the commissions. The chairmen and members of these commissions should be
appointed through procedures similar to those followed for the appointment
of supreme court judges, including the condition that once appointed for a
fixed tenure, they would neither be eligible for any extension or
reappointment or for any benefit from the government, nor would any one
have the authority to remove them except by the same process of impeachment
as is laid down for the President and the Chief Justice.
Let us have such commissions all over the country at all levels and let us
pay them more than handsome salaries. The expenditure incurred on such
commissions will be millions times less than the money lost through the
wrongly recruited people chosen by the rulers. We must remember that proper
recruitment is the key factor in preventing corruption and misuse of
powers. A person recruited for wrong reasons is not only a source of all
kinds of evils during the tenure of those who appoint him but also for
another forty years during which he continues in government job.
Commissions will ensure all appointments to be on merit and through written
tests. Appeals against the decisions of the commissions will be heard by
specially constituted benches of high courts and supreme courts.
2. A set of tribunals, again consisting of chairmen and members like those
mentioned above, should be formed to carry out continuous accountability of
bureaucrats at all levels. Any one hurt by a decision of a civil servant
should have the right to directly approach a predesignated tribunal, which
could provide immediate relief to the petitioner within a month.
Accountability can only be carried out by an outside agency which is
completely free from inducement and threat. All the existing instruments of
accountability like anti-corruption departments, inspection teams, special
cells, etc. have failed because they are part of the same set of rulers and
bureaucrats whose misdeeds they try to examine.
3. All postings of grade 17 and above as well as others which are important
in any respect (of which a list should be prepared), should be made for
fixed tenures of two to three years. No one should be transferred from a
post before completion of the tenure except for a wrong doing for which he
or she should be duly punished. If a government servant is transferred
without proper reason, or otherwise, victimised by any one including the
government, he should be free to get relief from the tribunals mentioned
above, again, within a month. 4. All important posts should be filled only
with officers who are specially recruited for the purpose. The so-called
horizontal movement has done more harm to the country than any other single
policy. Whatever may have been the possible advantage of such a policy in
the minds of its formulators it has been abused so thoroughly that its only
use is to get lucrative postings by people who know little about the basics
of a job.
5. Let there be competitive tests for all posts which are sought after
ranging from that of the SHO to the federal secretary. Anyone who aspires
for such a post, and belongs to the requisite service may appear in the
written test meant for this purpose. Those who qualify shall have their
career planned in a systematic way so that each one remains in designated
position for the fixed tenure one after the other. Thus, most people will
know well in advance where they would be posted, ending uncertainty to them
as well as to the public.
This would put an end to the ruthless race among bureaucrats for important
positions.
Some of the above measures may appear drastic and unworkable. The strongest
argument against them would be that they would create friction between the
rulers and the bureaucracy. Yes, they would, but at this point of time in
the nations life, we must choose between a smooth, corrupt system and a
rough, honest system.
The fact is that most of the measures suggested are practicable and in
vogue in many countries. In essence they aim to provide a set of civil
servants at high places who will find it impossible either to be in
collusion with the rulers in doing anything illegal, or to indulge in
corrupt and illegal practices. To start with, some of the measures can be
put into practice straight away in the case of federal secretaries, where
most crucial interface between rulers and bureaucracy takes place. The
caretaker government alone has the courage and the ability to introduce
this system.
===================================================================
961231
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World Cup fiasco in Bangalore eclipsed Pakistans successes
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Samiul Hasan
The defeat in the World Cup quarter-final and that too against India at
Bangalore on March 9, completely eclipsed Pakistans otherwise excellent
performance in the year that included victories in four Tests against just
one defeat in seven Tests and winning of three one-day international
competitions out of five.
Pakistan had entered the World Cup being the defending champions. But the
first setback they suffered was the defeat in the third round match when
South Africa beat them comprehensively. That defeat affected their standing
in their group and after finishing second ahead of New Zealand, England,
United Emirates Cricket Board and Holland, made a trip to India to play the
quarter-final where India were waiting for them having finished third
behind Sri Lanka and Australia and ahead of the West Indies, Kenya and
Zimbabwe.
It was Pakistans first visit across the border in seven years and in the
background of victories in Sharjah competitions over India and other
political tensions between the two countries, they were welcomed by a
hostile and unfriendly crowd. If those pressures were not enough, Wasim
Akrams withdrawal from the crunch match only 15 minutes before toss left
cricket fans and follows, in this part of the world bewildered.
Against all odds, Pakistan enjoyed dictating terms in the first 42 overs of
the match restricting India to around 200 for four before the advent of
Ajay Jadeja who launched a blistering attack to collect around 120 runs in
the last 10 overs including 57 in the last four. Pakistan chasing, 288 to
win, were off to a flier reaching 113 for one in the first 15 overs but
Aamir Sohails lack of concentration, lop-sided team planning which saw
Salim Malik and Javed Miandad come out at No. 5 and 6 respectively and rank
bad batsmanship by Ijaz Ahmad and Inzamamul Haq saw the defending champions
crash out for 248.
Ardent aficionados of the game in Pakistan could not accept the defeat in a
contest of fluctuating fortunes and levelled serious allegations against
Wasim Akram with one of them filing a writ petition in the Punjab High
Court. In disappointment and desperation they burnt effigies of the
players, made threatening calls at their residences besides pelting stones.
The Indians, who enjoyed every moment of the momentous victory, touched
rock bottom a few days later when their semi-final match was awarded to Sri
Lanka after people broke loose watching India slump to 120 for nine while
chasing 252 for victory. It was the worst-ever crowd behaviour which
spoiled and stained the sporting traditions of Calcuttas huge crowds.
Though Pakistan crashed out of the World Cup, cricket fever in the country
didnt subside. On March 17, an overflowing pro-Sri Lanka crowd at the
flood-lit Qadhafi Stadium saw their favourite side lift the World Cup. Sri
Lanka beat Australia in the final by seven wickets and settled the scores
with the Australians who along with the West Indies had refused to play
league matches in the Pearl Island.
Putting behind the defeat in the World Cup, Pakistan travelled to Singapore
where they won their first one-day competition in two years defeating India
in the league match and Sri Lanka in the final. But their inconsistency
cost Pakistan dear when a week later they failed to reach the finals of the
Sharjah Cup. South Africa, on their first visit to the desert city,
clinched the top honours beating India.
The Pakistan cricket team left for England in late June to play three Tests
and as many one-day internationals hoping for the best. And the best
followed. Pakistan defeated England in two Tests to salvage some pride and
confidence that had been woefully wounded.
Inzamamul Haq and Ijaz Ahmad, who had fared badly in the World Cup were
once again on the rampage when they scored heavily along with Saeed Anwar
while Waqar Younis bamboozled the Englishmen with his speed and Mushtaq
Ahmad mesmerised the hosts with his crafty leg-spinners. Moin Khan and
Salim Malik also made valuable contributions in the second and third Tests
respectively but there was no significant joy for Aamir Sohail, who missed
most of the matches because of injury, and skipper Wasim Akram, who was
lacking fitness after two months of absence from competitive cricket.
Immediately after their return from England, Pakistan team left for Canada
for the inaugural Sahara Cup against India. Despite difficult conditions
and hectic travelling schedules plus the absence of Inzamamul Haq and
Mushtaq Ahmad, Pakistan overpowered India 3-2 in the five-match series.
*From Canada, Pakistan came back to Karachi and after a six-hour stint in
transit flew off to Kenya leaving behind an injured Aamir Sohail. To cop
the misfortunes Wasim Akrams father suffered a heart attack and he had to
rush back leaving the Pakistan team visibly weakened. Natures Law of
compensation, however, came into play when Shahid Khan Afridi hammered a
blazing 100 runs knock in 37 bowls that helped Pakistan beat Sri Lanka and
qualify for the final against South Africa where they were soundly beaten.
Nevertheless, considering a host of handicaps it was a commendable
performance.
Pakistan played two Tests at home against Zimbabwe winning by 1-0 and
followed up this success with a clean sweep in the one-day series. The
home team went to Sharjah and after winning the three-nation event, came
back with New Zealand for the two-Test series. The New Zealanders dealt a
telling blow when they won their first Test in Pakistan in 27 years at
Lahore. Pakistan were, however, quick to regain their composure and
levelled the series 1-1.
Pakistans cricketers are currently in Australia and have so far won and
lost a game against Australia and the West Indies respectively. The World
Series competition restarts on Jan 1. Individual achievements:
Hasan Raza became the youngest Test player at 14 years and 237 days when he
played against Zimbabwe at Faisalabad. Raza broke Mushtaq Mohammads record
who had played his first Test in 1958-59 at Lahore against the West Indies
at the age of 15 years and 124 days.
Shahid Khan Afridi slammed a 37-ball 100 in his second one-day
international to eclipse Sanath Jayasuriyas record of a 46-ball 100
against Pakistan in April. Afridi also established a new record of 11 sixes
in his 102.
Saeed Anwar became years highest one-day scorer getting 1,576 runs while
Aamir Sohail completed his 1,000 runs in a calendar year for the second
time in three years.
Wasim Akram, besides completing 300 wickets in both Tests and one-day
internationals, scored his Test-best 257 against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura
that included record 12 sixes. He established a new world record
partnership of 313 runs for the 8th wicket with Saqlain Mushtaq (79).
Mohammad Wasim, a Pakistan Under-19 captain, registered a century on his
debut against New Zealand at Lahore but failed to save Pakistan from
defeat.
Paceman Mohammad Zahid became the first Pakistani to claim 10 wickets or
more in his debut when he captured 11 wickets in the second Test at
Rawalpindi against New Zealand.
Saqlain Mushtaq, the promising 20-year-old spinner, became the leading
wicket-taker of the year when he finished with 65 wickets from 32 games.
These outstanding records were, however, marred by an ugly episode when
Pakistan Under-19 player, Zeeshan Pervaiz was charged in Jamaica, West
Indies, for raping a 36-year-old mother of three. The case is still in the
Jamaican High Court and Zeeshans first hearing is on Jan 6, 1997.
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961231
-------------------------------------------------------------------
After cloudy patches a silver lining on the hockey horizon
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Lateef Jafri
The year that is passing out had been a mixed one with reference to
hockey.
While the national outfit struggled to find its identity after the Atlanta
Olympic reverse, the silver medal at the recent international competition,
the 18th Champions Trophy, gave hope for the future as the team fought with
a never-say-die spirit at an alien venue with the atmosphere usually
discomforting for Pakistan.
The SAF Games debacle in Madras late last year had triggered panic among
the hockey officialdom as manager Rasheed Junior and coach Saeed Khan left
their posts just when the planning for the new season was to start. The
breach was filled by Col Mudassar Asghar, Secretary of the hockey
federation and an Olympian of the 1976 Games, and Manzoorul Hasan, one of
the most reliable deep defenders of yore. Both spared no effort to fashion
a side good enough to regain its place in the elitist group of hockey
nations even though Shahbaz Sr., a noted dribbler, had decided to abstain
from camp training and dropped out of the squad preparing for a pre-Olympic
invitational tournament in Atlanta. The hard work at the clinic paid
dividends since at the Georgia six-nation contest, a test of the surface
for the Olympics, the combination claimed victories over Argentina,
Britain, the USA and exhibited the wit and imagination to snatch the top
honours from India on increased points. The result was an affirmation of
the nations steady progress in the game and revived hopes for a high
placement at the Atlanta Games. This was in April.
In the same month Muhammad Nawaz Tiwana was formally elected president of
the hockey body, taking the reins of the federation for the second time. A
strong disciplinarian and believing to always have a ringside view of the
hockey scene there was optimism in the air. However, just to upset the
arrangement and perhaps due to political and executive interference Air
Vice Marshal Farooq Umer staged a comeback as PHF Chief for a term lasting
up to the Olympics. The decision was rubber-stamped by the Executive Board
without any dissenting voice.
Though the AVM had been brought in to continue the building-up process of
the squad and to further intensify the training for the European tour and
later the Olympiad, it proved to be a bleak period. Conspiracies and
politics compounded the problems. On the day of the final trials 24 of the
32 probables, led by Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, refused to come onto the field
and revolted, putting forward certain demands, which included the removal
of the manager and the coach. Under the constitution this was a prerogative
of the Council. The selectors and other hockey officials, including the PHF
president, were in a quandary as to how to cope with this unprecedented
situation. Even the Senate and National Assembly Sports panels were
involved to sort out the crisis in an Olympic discipline. Ultimately Col
Mudassar Asghar stepped down as manager, keeping only his post of hockey
secretary, and coach Manzoorual Hasan too voluntarily kept himself aside,
both taking the decision in the interest of the game and with the Atlanta
Olympics so near.
The PHF chief had no alternative but to give an immediate charge of the
trainees to former Olympian Samiulllah and invite Jahangir Butt, another
ex-Olympian, to assist him. Samiullah, who was then managing the second
string in Singapore in the Asian Juniors Cup, had to rush back to Karachi
for the more onerous assignment. The former speedy left winger returned
with his confidence perked up as the juniors had ascended the podium in
Singapore with the Asian juniors cup in their grasp.
Ten days of training were wasted and the camp commandant and coach could
conduct the drills for only a week as the selected squad had to proceed to
Europe for participation in two warm-up tournaments.
Both Milton Keynes, England, and Amstelveen, Holland, presented odd moments
of disquiet to the Pakistan officials as in the two competitions the
national conglomerate submitted to the Dutch and German tactical ploys and
could not finish above Britain. In Amstelveen Pakistan were put out of
their stride in the opening match by Britain but in the play-off for third
spot later their trustful sallies proved to be the saving grace and helped
them gain the third position.
Shahbaz Ahmad had been axed from the main outfit for the Olympics. However,
he was rushed to Atlanta, the PHF head considering his individual forays as
essential for the teams forward-line. The cut-off date for the lists of
the competing teams had passed but a request was made for his induction
into the side which as a special case was accepted.
Pakistan opened the Olympic schedule on July 20 with an authoritative 4-0
victory over USA. The Americans, having appeared five times in Olympic
field hockey were practically new-comers after the modified rules. They had
no clue to the left side thrust of Pakistan, engineered by Shahbaz Sr. on
the inside. He displayed his wares well. However, in the very next match
Spains vibrant approach gave little chance to Pakistan to settle down.
Their defence was well organised and as soon as Shahbaz tried to sneak into
the Spanish area he was ambushed. Spain thrashed Pakistan by three clear
goals showing the advantages of team-work, instead of individual dribbles
and dodges howsoever elegant they may be.
Defending champions Germany, which did not have a good tournament, played a
proper game with adherence to skill, to dismantle Pakistans confused
tactics by a margin of 3-1.
Contrary to what was expected the India-Pakistan match did not touch great
heights. Breakaway raids from the right side by the Indian duo of Dhanraj
Pillay and Mukesh Kumar did not help their cause. Besides, Pillay was
usually leaving his appointed place and was trying to run up and down on
the left flank. The cohesion and order in the Indian outfit vanished. The
Pakistani formation should have exploited the Indian flaws but their game
plan too was clumsy; nothing went right for them and so the match ended as
a goalless draw.
None of South Asian sets demonstrated the true Oriental style in which
attack draws its strength from the support of the middlers and the mobility
and centres of the wingers give a horrid time to the rival defences. A poor
feature of the sides was their corners.
Later Pakistan earned a consolation win over Argentina.
Pakistan recorded a victory over Britain to hold for a brief period a fifth
spot on the competition table. South Korea three days later pumped in three
goals to Pakistans one to push the latter to the sixth place. There was
order in South Korean play. Their tackling was strong; there was directness
in their moves. They could not have been worn down by haphazard and
inconsistent efforts.
The final 6th place, which Pakistan attained, was the worst in her hockey
history and beat the Seoul Olympic record where the country was fifth. A
battered and demoralised side returned home. Perhaps the power base again
shifted to Europe. Two combatants of the Occident, the Netherlands and
Spain, proved that fitness, vigour and speed were more important in modern
day hockey. In a battle of corners with Spain, the Netherlands won the day
at Atlanta and for the first time took the gold. Australia got the bronze
medal.
Three months after the Olympics Nawaz Tiwana was formally installed as PHF
president on Oct 12, his predecessor having tendered his resignation after
damaging the countrys hockey image to a considerable degree.
Before the new incumbent took charge the juniors participated in a
tournament in Vught, Holland, and clinched the trophy, through a golden
goal against the host side. Earlier they had smothered the challenge of
Germany.
The success of the juniors pleased the hockey enthusiasts as it were they
who were to strengthen the base of the countrys hockey.
As was expected Tiwana restructured the selection committee with Mir
Zafrullah Khan Jamali, caretaker Chief Minister of Balochistan and a former
Aitchison College and Punjab University blue, as its chief and Islahuddin,
a famed right winger and ex-Olympian, as a new member. Without much loss of
time Dr Tariq Aziz, captain of Mexico Olympic team, was assigned to take
charge of the managerial functions for preparing the team for the 18th
Champions Trophy. His team-mate of the same Olympics, Jahangir Butt, was
given the onerous responsibility of coach.
Just after the National Championship in Lahore, which was won by the senior
string of PIA, the probables were called to the clinic in Karachi. Since
there was more stress on training schedule and discipline no ugly incident,
like the May-June revolt, recurred. No foreign trips had been arranged
before the Champions Trophy but the camp commandant and coach wanted
strenuous workouts and a new-look side for Madras, which was a difficult
place for the Pakistani contingent, having lost to India a year before in
the SAF Games. The technocrats saw to it that the players shook off a good
measure of lethargy and diffidence that was seen at the Olympics. Two
senior players, Mohammad Shahbaz Junior and Tahir Zaman, opted out due to
injuries and yet the selected squad, a blend of youth and experience, was
full of zest and determination as it reached India for the last global
competition of the year.
The first match in the Champions Trophy against the Netherlands came as an
upset for Pakistan lost it by 20. However, they soon settled down and
showed traces of authority while whipping Australia.
The national outfit called the shots for the major part of the fixture
against Spain and led by 2-0 up to 10 minutes before the final hooter. Yet
the advantage was frittered away and Spain, Olympic silver medalist,
levelled the scores as the end came.
Many thought that perhaps Pakistan was out of reckoning in the tournament
and they can hardly pull themselves out of the tight spot. But the team had
the fervour and guts to defeat Germany, always a strong team, and brought
down India in a crunch encounter before their own howling and shouting
supporters. The Indians tried hard to put pressure on Pakistan in the last
moments of the match but the Pakistani rearline stood firm to beat back the
Indian sallies. It was sweet revenge against India for the defeat in the
SAF Games.
In the final against Pakistan, the Olympic winners Holland exhibited
methodical efficiency at the start and took a 3-0 lead but the former came
back into the match with plenty of zeal and resilience. The Dutch advantage
was cut to 3-2 before the lemon time. The second session went barren for
the Dutch to lift the Champions Trophy. Pakistan clinched the silver medal
but won the appreciation of the experts for their tactical acumen and
fighting abilities.
Hopefully, the result in the Champions Trophy was a sign of resurgence,
which many thought may not come, given the problems that had surfaced
before and after the Olympics. The performance at Madras may have jacked up
the morale of the players as well as the officials and the year ends with
promising expectations for future.
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961231
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jansher still the lone standard-bearer
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Majid Khan
Pakistan enjoyed almost complete domination in the international squash
during the year 1996 with world number one Jansher Khan bringing added
glory and honour for the country by further extending his World Open
record-breaking performance to eight and that too in Karachi.
The 27-year-old Peshawar-born Khan met the emerging world challenge single-
handed by embracing the five super series events which included the British
Open at Cardiff, Al-Ahram International at Cairo, Qatar Open at Doha,
Gezira Open at Cairo, and the PSO World Open in Karachi, organised by the
Pakistan Squash Federation. By any standard it was a magnificent
achievement by one who has established himself as a squash legend. As if to
show that he is mortal and fallible, Janshers two years victory run was
broken at the start of the year under review, when he lost to Englands Del
Harris in the PSA Super series finals by 2-3 in March. It was not a super
series event but was contested by the eight top players of the 1995 Super
Series ranking. The foreign press looking for a change in his armoury went
out of the way to give an impression that Jansher Khan is on the way down
if not out Jansher, however, silenced his critics in April with a 50-minute
straight games victory over world number two Rodney Eyles of Australia to
win the prestigious British Open for the fifth time. Thus the reigning
champion has reached the half way stage to equal the record of the
legendary Jahangir Khan (Retired in 1993) whose ten successive victories in
the British Open stay untouched. Last year, squash master Jansher Khan had
surpassed Jahangir Khans six wins record in the Nicosia World Open and had
expressed his ambition to set a new record also in the British Open
provided he remains immune from injury.
After taking the Al-Ahram international at the Egyptian capital Cairo in
May an almost three months rest followed when the seven time Hong Kong Open
champion went to Hong Kong where the third super series started on August
27. Here the defending champion tasted the first defeat in the superseries
when Rodney Eyles won the title in straight games. Jansher, in the post
match press conference, the Khan paid tributes to Rodney and admitted that
he played badly and he lacked match fitness.
The world champion, however, took revenge of his Honk Kong defeat when he
beat Rodney Eyles by 3-1 in the hard fought final of the Qatar Open at
Doha.
The mighty Khan confirmed his continuing command during the Gezira Open at
Cairo with a convincing victory over Rodney Eyles in straight games in
September. But next month he suffered another lapse in New York at the
hands of Australias Graig Rowland. He then beat Rodney in Qatar Open
final. The Khan reached New York hardly a day earlier for the tournament
and had no time to get himself fully settled to the new playing conditions.
It was rather rash on his part to go for competition straight after a long
journey a mistake he avoided by skipping the German Masters tournament
scheduled soon after the New York event, as hardly two weeks were left for
the 20th World Open in Karachi. The late withdrawal resulted for zero point
for Jansher Khan but it provided him enough time to get fully prepared for
the Karachi World Open, scheduled from Nov 17.
After going through tremendous hard training under his brother coach
Mohibullah Khan, he started the defence of his title in a confident way,
removing his challengers Graig Wapnic of South Africa, Canadian sensation
Jonathan Power, England Simon Parke and Scotlands Peter Nicol in straight
games. The world champion reached the final without dropping a game.
He then proceeded to overpower Australias second seed Rodney Eyles 15-12,
17-15, 11-15, 15-3 before the packed to capacity court gallery of about 700
spectators which lustily cheered the top seed who received the glittering
trophy from chief guest Air Chief Marshal Mohammad Abbas Khattak, President
of the Pakistan Squash Federation.
Jansher, however, skipped the Mumbay Mahindra International, the last super
series event, held in the first week of December on security grounds to the
discomfiture of the Indian organisers and the Professional Squash
Association.
As regards other squash stars, brothers Zarak Jahan Khan and Zubair Jahan
Khan were the first Pakistanis to compete in the fourth Mahindra open. The
24-year-old Zubair made appreciable progress in the world ranking. He has
emerged as the best Pakistani player after world beater Jansher Khan as in
the November PSA world ranking he is at number 16 but his elder brother
Zarak has slipped down to 18th position.
The Asian champion Mir Zaman Gul is placed at 25th and Sindh Open champion
Kumail Mahmood is at number 62 while other up and coming players are
farther down were struggling to better their leads.
Zubair Jahan made a great impact in the Karachi World Open when he created
two major upsets by defeating Englands eleventh seed Mark Chaloner by 3-2
in the first round of 32-man draw and also beat Australias tenth seeded
Anthony Hill by 3-2 in the second round match, marred by unsporting conduct
of the Australian who hit Zubair.
Zubair lost the Marathon quarterfinals by 2-3 against Rodney Eyles. He is
currently ranked number 11 in the PSA Super Series Standings announced
recently and his ranking in the World too is bound to improve when it will
be announced in the first week of January, 1997.
At the Asian Level also Pakistan dominated championship winning both the
individual and team events held in Amman, Jordan, in January. Pakistan won
the team title defeating Hong Kong by 3-0 in the final with Mir Zaman, Gul,
Zarak, Zubair forming the team after Jansher returned home from Amman with
trouble in the back.
Mir Zaman Gul emerged Asian champion overcoming Hong Kong challenger Abdul
Fahim by 3-2 in the final, lasting two hours 15 minutes.
In the world juniors Pakistan secured the third position, an improvement
over its previous showing at number five in the World juniors (under-19)
championship at Cairo. But we have yet to win back the juniors team and
individual title for well over a decade. Moreover in the individual events
none of our seven youngsters, who competed in Cairo, could reach the
quarter finals.
This indicates low competitive standard of our juniors, despite the fact
that they get all possible facilities and encouragements by the PSF which
were not available in the past. It also shows that juniors are not fully
committed to hard training which they badly need. The competition at the
All-Pakistan scale has increased. The holding of full PSA sanctioned
international tournaments, two in Lahore, and one each at Peshawar and Wah,
in which foreign players also compete, is considered highly beneficial for
our players for improving their world ranking.
Besides international tournaments, events on all-Pakistan level are also to
be held this year. Participation of world champion Jansher, Zarak Jahan
Khan, Zubair Jahan Khan, Mir Zaman Gul and others would go a long way to
help the youngsters to gain experience by playing against world class
players in the local competitions.
Regarding womens squash, the national championship had been revived over
two years ago but it should be backed by holding more tournaments at the
divisional and provincial levels which at present remains wanting.
Let the PSF and its affiliated units work out a more comprehensive 1997
programme, particulars on the juniors level, for spotting talented
youngsters, available in every part of the country. The affiliated units of
the Federation have to play a more positive role for the games promotion.
As the year ends, the one vital question that remains unanswered is who
will be the successor to world champion Jansher Khan, whom we wish a long
career in the game where he remains number one.
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