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DAWN WIRE SERVICE

------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 02 January 1997 Issue : 03/01 -------------------------------------------------------------------

Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports

The DAWN Wire Service (DWS) is a free weekly news-service from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the daily DAWN. DWS offers news, analysis and features of particular interest to the Pakistani Community on the Internet. Extracts from DWS can be used provided that this entire header is included at the beginning of each extract. We encourage comments & suggestions. We can be reached at: e-mail dws@dawn.khi.erum.com.pk dws%dawn%khi@sdnpk.undp.org fax +92(21) 568-3188 & 568-3801 mail Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Limited DAWN Group of Newspapers Haroon House, Karachi 74400, Pakistan TO START RECEIVING DWS FREE EVERY WEEK, JUST SEND US YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS! (c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 1996 ******************************************************************** *****DAWN - the Internet Edition ** DAWN - the Internet Edition***** ******************************************************************** Read DAWN - the Internet Edition on the WWW ! http://xiber.com/dawn Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, DAWN, is now Pakistan's first newspaper on the WWW. DAWN - the Internet Edition will be published daily (except on Fridays and public holidays in Pakistan) and would be available on the Web by noon GMT. Check us out ! DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS

CONTENTS

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NATIONAL NEWS

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 ---------------------------------

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

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 ---------------------------------------

EDITORIALS & FEATURES

'Ehtesab' or 'Intekhab'?  3 Ardeshir Cowasjee A VIP speaks Hafizur Rahman Corruption in high places Zia-ul-Islam -----------

SPORTS

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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NATIONAL NEWS

961230 ------------------------------------------------------------------- JI decides to boycott elections ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960101 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jirga not to allow women to vote ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 970102 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Islamabad stops all funds to provinces ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 970102 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Imran blames Nawaz for Rs5bn plot scandal ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 961231 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tribunals get powers to debar candidates ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 961228 ------------------------------------------------------------------- More corruption cases against past rulers soon ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 961227 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mumtaz Bhutto absolved in treason case ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 961227 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan warns India on Prithvi deployment ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960101 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Two TJP leaders, four others shot dead ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ******************************************************************* DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS ******************************************************************* INTERNET PROFESSIONALS WANTED * MS in computer science, with two years experience, or, BE with four years experience in the installation and management of an ISP. * Must be able to select equipment, configure, and troubleshoot TCP/IP networks independently. 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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

961229 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tremendous scope of trade with India ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 960101 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US biggest importer of Pakistani products ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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%). DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 970102 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Greater powers to SBP, Banking Council abolished ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 961228 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dos and donts of trade with India ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 961228 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistani bourses to assist TSE ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 961229 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIBE TO HERALD TODAY ! ------------------------------------------------------------------- Every month the Herald captures the issues, the pace and the action, shaping events across Pakistan's lively, fast-moving current affairs spectrum. Subscribe to Herald and get the whole story. 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EDITORIALS & FEATURES

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? DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 970102 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Corruption in high places ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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SPORTS

961231 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 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. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 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. Back to the top.

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