-------------------------------------------------------------------
DAWN WIRE SERVICE
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Week Ending : 09 October 1999 Issue : 05/41
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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, not exceeding 50 lines, 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-owner@dawn.com
WWW http://dawn.com/
fax +92(21) 568-3188 & 568-3801
mail DAWN Group of Newspapers
Haroon House, Karachi 74200, Pakistan
Please send all Editorials and Letters to the Editor at
letters@dawn.com
(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 1999
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
CONTENTS
===================================================================
NATIONAL NEWS
+ Law, order situation to improve: COAS
+ Nawaz urges revival of Lahore process
+ India, Pakistan ready to sign CTBT: US
+ Sanctions waiver approved
+ Cabinet to review process of privatization
+ Terrorists getting training in Afghanistan
+ Pakistan-India talks next month likely: Sartaj
+ Shahbaz Sharif talks of intelligence report; flat denial by FO
+ Another Warrant against Benazir Bhutto
+ Azhar, others ask Nawaz to quit as PM, PML chief
+ JKLF Chief flays police for attempt on life
+ Jobless youth to get land free of cost, says PM
+ Hunger strike on 15th: GDA wants cases against PM expedited
---------------------------------
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
+ Joint hearing of Hubco, Wapda pleas next week
+ IMF may release $280m next month
+ IMF asks Islamabad to increase oil prices
+ 10% Income Tax on saving scheme deposits being reviewed
+ Power tariff cut for industries likely
+ CBR for voluntary declaration culture
+ Incentive package for free zones
+ CBR re-imposes 2% warehousing surcharge
+ 87.59% rise in net ST collection
+ Investors welcome US waiver, BJP victory
+ Duty drawback on exports to CAS, Kabul allowed
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
+ 'Round up the usual suspects' Ardeshir Cowasjee
+ Thank you, Nawaz Sharif Ayaz Amir
+ The view from the CCU Irfan Husain
-----------
SPORTS
+ Jansher seeks wild card entry in Pakistan Open
+ Afridi and Akram recalled for Sharjah tour
+ Sialkot to host 2001 Champions Trophy
+ Shahid Zaman clinches U-19 Roshan Khan squash title
===================================================================
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
===================================================================
NATIONAL NEWS
991005
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Law, order situation to improve: COAS
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and
Chief of Army Staff Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday described the
law and order situation as, "bad," but hoped it would improve.
"Law and order situation is bad. It should improve. It will
improve," he told a group of reporters at a reception hosted by the
German Ambassador Hans-Joachim Daer to celebrate the day of
Germany's unification.
To a query, whether the government has requested Army to assist it
in the maintenance of law and order, he replied in negative. There
are police and other law enforcement agencies to do the job, he
added.
When asked if the Army has received a letter from a religious party
for curbing terrorism-related killings, he responded in negative.
Replying to a question on the resignation of former Naval chief,
Fasieh Bukhari, he said, there were some other reasons for it. The
Army chief said, he had no differences with him.
When asked if the country was heading for a joint command system,
he replied in affirmative. He said, the Army had adjusted the
command according to its requirements.-APP
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Nawaz urges revival of Lahore process
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif rang up re-elected
Indian Premier Atal Behari Vajpayee on Friday to congratulate him
on his party's success in the general elections, officials said.
The call was the first since the May-July bloody conflict in
Kashmir sparked tensions and derailed the dialogue process
initiated after Vajpayee's landmark visit to Lahore in February.
Mr Nawaz Sharif told Mr Vajpayee the popular mandate he received in
the Indian general election was "indeed a vote of trust and
confidence" in his party.
It was also a tribute to Vajpayee's personal qualities of
leadership, he was quoted as saying in the telephone call.
Officials said Mr Nawaz Sharif told Mr Vajpayee the two countries
needed to "revive" the Lahore spirit and restore the normalisation
process.
During their historic summit the two leaders had agreed to
intensify efforts to resolve their outstanding issues, including
the 50-year-old Kashmir dispute that has caused two of the three
wars between the two countries since 1947.
Officials said Mr Sharif called for "framing policies based on the
understanding reached in Lahore."
Reaffirming the desire that Pakistan and India should establish
good neighbourly relations, he said: "Let us join hands to give our
peoples a bright and prosperous future."
"He (Sharif) went on to say that the two countries needed to revive
the Lahore spirit and restore the Lahore process with a view to
framing policies based on the understanding reached in Lahore," the
Pakistani statement said.
"The prime minister also reaffirmed his desire that Pakistan and
India should establish good neighbourly relations," it added.
The statement quoted Sharif as telling Vajpayee: "Let us join hands
to give our people a bright and prosperous future."
In Lahore, Sharif and Vajpayee signed a declaration pledging
greater efforts to settle Kashmir and other issues and immediate
steps to prevent an accidental nuclear clash.-Agencies
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991006
-------------------------------------------------------------------
India, Pakistan ready to sign CTBT: US
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct 5: The White House said on Monday both Pakistan and
India had indicated they wanted to sign the CTBT as President
Clinton and his administration launched a media and congressional
blitz to gather the two-third majority in the Senate next week.
White House spokesman Joe Lockhart welcoming the "positive" Indian
statement that New Delhi planned to sign the CTBT once the new
parliament was in place, said both the countries "have indicated
that they're willing to move forward and agree not to test."
"But I think that we are in a completely different world if the
Senate votes this down and undercuts our ability to make this case
around the world," Mr Lockhart said.
"The world is looking to us, and this is very important. This is
something now for 30 or 40 years we have faced. We have faced the
danger of modernizing nuclear arsenals. The world is looking for US
leadership, and the Senate is responsible for dealing with that."
His comments came as President Clinton himself plunged deep into
the debate and promised to make a public speech every day on CTBT
to build up pressure on the Senate to ratify it.
Republicans, on the other hand, are confident that the two-third
majority would not be available for CTBT. Bob dole's wife and
presidential aspirant, Elizabeth Dole, dismissed President
Clinton's push for CTBT as "wishful thinking."
She said in New Hampshire that at a time when America was naked to
ballistic missile attack, there was no evidence that the CTBT would
reduce proliferation.
Clinton personally took charge of the CTBT campaign on Monday.
"This is very important to protecting our people from the danger of
nuclear war," the president said at the White House. "It would be,
in my judgment, a grave mistake not to ratify the treaty."
Experts said a Senate rejection would mark the first defeat of a
major treaty proposal in decades. A victory will be an important
part of Clinton's positive legacy and vice versa.
Clinton acknowledged that he lacked enough votes in the Senate
right now. While their leaders say all 45 Democrats support the
treaty, only seven Republicans have come out in favour, leaving the
White House 15 votes shy of the number it needs.
Helms is, however, strongly opposed to the treaty and said on
Monday it was dangerous. Republican party leader Trent Lott said it
should be defeated when it comes to a vote in the Senate next
Tuesday.
Clinton dismissed such concerns, saying if this treaty is ratified,
there will be new tools to monitor the testing of others. The
treaty calls for 321 monitoring sites and on-site visits by
inspectors.
"Since we don't need nuclear tests, it is strongly in our interest
to achieve agreement that can help prevent other countries, like
India, Pakistan, Russia, China, Iran and others, from testing and
deploying nuclear weapons," Clinton said.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sanctions waiver approved
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Shaheen Sehbai
WASHINGTON, Oct 7: A key congressional committee voted unanimously
on Wednesday evening to provide President Clinton indefinite waiver
authority to lift military and economic sanctions on Pakistan and
India.
The amendment for the authority, moved by Senator Sam Brownback and
commonly known as Brownback-2, is now almost assured a smooth
sailing through the full houses of the Senate and House of
Representatives as part of the larger Defence Appropriations Bill.
The language approved by the committee practically takes away all
the bite and sting of the Pressler Amendment without actually
repealing the infamous law and is being viewed on the Hill as the
biggest ever Pakistani victory in Congress.
The final waiver came only after an epic battle between Pakistani
and Indian lobbies and last minute long-distance interventions by
Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, Petroleum Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan,
Pakistani lobbyist Charlie Wilson and a prominent Pakistani-
American Mansoor Ijaz, who used his clout with the Clinton
Administration and key senators to pull it through.
Congressional experts said the waiver authority was enough for
President Clinton to remove all restrictions on Pakistan, including
those on military sales including aircraft, tanks and other
equipment as well as spare parts.
"This would be enough for Pakistan to declare that the coercive
atmosphere that existed has now been removed, paving the way for
Islamabad to sign the CTBT," these experts said.
The committee adopted the final version of the amendment after
Conference Committee Chairman, Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska,
gave his go ahead, but not before Islamabad moved fast and
decisively to resolve a multi-million dollar dispute with an
Alaskan Pipeline Company.
Pakistan's biggest victory against an Indian lobbying juggernaut
headed by former Republican Party chief Bob Dole, former
congressman Steven Solarz and former senator Larry Pressler was
mainly due to the team efforts of the Pakistani- Americans and
their lobbyist who used their influence to get the hurdles past
upto the last minute. The Embassy coordinated their effort.
The last formidable hurdle which threatened to derail the process
was the pending problem with an Alaskan pipeline company, VECO,
which had lobbied hard on Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens to get their
case sorted out before Stevens voted for the waiver law.
Stevens, who chairs the key conference committee, and who is also
the chairman of the defence appropriations committee with the last
word on what his committee passes, put his foot down and in the
last 24 hours Islamabad was told to either agree to VECO's demands
or risk the entire process being put off for months, or even years.
Mansoor Ijaz and Pakistani lobbyist former congressman Charlie
Wilson, worked on the telephone for 20 hours, talking several times
to Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz and other high ups to get the VECO
issue out of the way. The matter was rushed to the cabinet meeting
on Wednesday morning and a decision was taken to involve the World
Bank as an arbitrator in the dispute.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991006
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet to review process of privatization
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: The federal cabinet is meeting here on Wednesday
to discuss and approve a number of proposals to accelerate the
process of privatization in Pakistan.
Official sources said here on Tuesday that the cabinet will also
consider the recommendations of a three-member committee to
disinvest major industrial units as well as commercial banks during
the current financial year.
The committee is headed by Chairman Privatization Committee Khawaja
Muhammad Asif and Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif and
Chairman Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
are its members. This committee was set up by the prime minister in
September and was asked to remove hurdles in the way of
privatization. It was also asked to remove all those bureaucrats
from their jobs who were opposing the disinvestment process.
Sources said that the chairman Privatization Commission will brief
the cabinet about the latest situation for disinvesting Pakistan
Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), Karachi Electric Supply
Corporation (KESC), Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and United Bank
Limited (UBL).
The cabinet will also discuss an action plan to rejuvenate the
capital market, and to restore the confidence of the foreign
investors.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Terrorists getting training in Afghanistan
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: The government has laid its hands on concrete
evidence that people are being trained in Afghanistan to undertake
sectarian killings and terrorism in Pakistan.
"We have with us a solid proof that there exist training camps in
Afghanistan, which are training terrorists and sending them into
Pakistan to kill our people," Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said.
"But we have told the Taliban government and its head Mullah Omar
that they should immediately remove these camps so that sectarian
killings and other incidents of terrorism in Pakistan could be
stopped."
Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, he said his
government would not allow anyone to create law and problem. "This
is just unacceptable to us and we hope that the Taliban government
would respond to our complaint by immediately removing those
camps," he asserted.
It was Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who first alleged in
Lahore last week that terrorists were being trained in Afghanistan
to carry out sectarian killings in Pakistan.
However, a Foreign Office spokesman on Wednesday stated that
Taliban were not in any way involved in promoting sectarian
violence in Pakistan. "On the contrary, the Taliban government has
itself issued a statement denouncing such incidents. Afghanistan is
a brotherly country which has no interest at all in promoting
terrorism in Pakistan," the spokesman said.
Asked if the Taliban government did not oblige Pakistan over the
issue, the prime minister said "then we will have to rethink about
it to take some other course".
The prime minister told newsmen that recently the director- general
of the Inter-Services Intelligence had led a delegation to Kandhar
where it met the Taliban leaders, including Mullah Omar, and raised
the issue of training camps in Afghanistan.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991004
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan-India talks next month likely: Sartaj
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hasan Akhtar
ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz expressed the hope
on Sunday that Pakistan and India could resume their stalled
dialogue process in mid-November when both the prime ministers
would attend the next conference of the heads of the Commonwealth
countries in Durban.
The foreign minister, who returned to the capital on Saturday night
after attending the UN General Assembly session in New York, said
at a news conference here at the Foreign Office that a meeting
between the leaders of the two countries was possible next month in
Durban following the induction of a new Indian government in New
Delhi after the current polls in that country.
Mr. Sartaj Aziz, responding to questions, said that after meeting
the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and 24 foreign ministers with
whom he exchanged views on important regional issues, including the
Kashmir dispute and the proposed Indian nuclear doctrine, he found
that they were also deeply concerned over the regional security
situation and urged Pakistan and India to move quickly towards the
resumption of the Lahore process and reopening of the peace and
security dialogue.
Although, Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh was also in New
York for the UN General Assembly session, yet the two foreign
ministers did not see each other. However, Indian interim prime
minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, during his election campaign, had
indicated that the stalled talks would be resumed after the
formation of the new government in New Delhi later this month.
The foreign minister said it was premature to say when the summit-
level talks would take place. He however, emphasised that the
attention of the international community was focussed on an early
resumption of Pakistan-India dialogue, which reflected its deep
concern over the existing to peace and security in the region.
To a question about the number of American congressmen and senators
requesting President Clinton to nominate an envoy on Kashmir issue
for promoting its settlement, Mr. Aziz said the US and the UN
wanted both India and Pakistan to concentrate on ways to resume the
bilateral dialogue.
Mr. Aziz, who explained his engagements in New York and Washington
where he met US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, said that
during his discussions with other foreign ministers he had
emphasised on the serious threat to regional and global peace
because of the Indian nuclear ambitions to acquire the status of a
big nuclear power, raising its previous benchmark of acquiring a
minimum nuclear deterrence.
He said that in his address at the UN General Assembly and during
his individual meetings with the G-8 government leaders and other
foreign officials, he urged them to react strongly and promptly
against the Indian nuclear doctrine drafted by the Indian Security
Council.
This was because, he said, once the draft doctrine was formalised
and accepted by Delhi, it would be very difficult to persuade it to
lower the scope of the doctrine.
The foreign minister said that while the Pakistani concern was
generally recognised by the international community, the US
secretary of state stressed the importance of the CTBT, asking
Islamabad to sign it.
Mr. Aziz said he had told the US secretary that Pakistan remained
committed to the prime minister�s declaration at the last session
of the UN General Assembly that it would adhere to the CTBT once
the atmosphere of international coercion and pressure on it was
removed, which basically meant the withdrawal of the economic and
other sanctions against Pakistan.
Pakistan would take action in this regard when the outcome of the
US Congress, which was deliberating on the issue of sanctions, was
known. So far, the US government had not met the pre-requisite of
removing the sanctions and, thereby, preventing Pakistan from
acting on its last year�s assurance of signing the CTBT, said the
foreign minister.
He said that Pakistan had also discussed at length with other
government leaders and UN officials the issue of sanctions against
Afghanistan as proposed by the US and Russia in the United Nations.
Pakistan asked the world powers to join in its initiative to get
the opposing sides in Afghanistan to come to the negotiating table
to end the war and restore peace.
He impressed upon the US and Russia that their assistance for
rehabilitation and reconstruction in Afghanistan would serve the
objectives of peace and regional security better than the sanctions
they intended to slam on the devastated country.
Besides, highlighting the continuing struggle of the Kashmiri
people against the Indian domination as shown by their almost total
boycott of the Indian polls in the Held Kashmir, the foreign
minister said he had also proposed calling an international
conference - to be participated by permanent members of the UN
Security Council besides Pakistan and India - to ensure nuclear and
conventional restraints and prevent an arms race in the South Asian
region.
He said that Madam Albright had informed him that President Bill
Clinton would be visiting Pakistan early next year but had not
given him any date.
Sartaj hoped that after the Indian polls when Pakistan and India
would resume dialogue, President Clinton would take personal
interest in promoting the dialogue towards the settlement of the
Kashmir dispute.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991007
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shahbaz Sharif talks of intelligence report; flat denial by FO
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: The reported statement of the Punjab Chief
Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, in which he had accused the Taliban
of backing sectarian violence in Pakistan, has stunned the high
authorities here.
The Foreign Office has formally regretted what it termed "the
baseless speculation and incorrect reporting in some sections of
the media, claiming that the Taliban government of Afghanistan is
allegedly involved in recent incidents of terrorist violence in the
country."
Sources in the relevant agencies of the federal government have
expressed complete ignorance about the availability of any
intelligence report that could support what the Punjab CM was
reported to have said in his talk with newsmen at Lahore on
Tuesday.
They said the Punjab delegation which had attended an inter-
provincial meeting on Monday, a day before the CM's reported
statement, did not mention a word about the Taliban backing the
sectarian violence in Pakistan.
"There was absolutely no mention of the Taliban in the meeting
which was called merely to discuss sectarianism," a source who
attended the meeting said.
The Punjab Chief Secretary, A.Z.K. Sherdil, however, told Dawn by
telephone from his Lahore residence that some intelligence reports
did suggest that religious extremists from Pakistan got training in
Afghanistan and before joining sectarian violence in the country.
He said these intelligence reports maintained that such elements
received training in camps inside Afghanistan, had fought along
with the Taliban against the Afghan opposition, and had infiltrated
into Pakistan and were involved in sectarian violence. "We are
quite concerned about this situation and want a comprehensive
policy to check this movement across the Pakistan-Afghan border,"
Mr Sherdil said. He, however, denied that there was any mention, in
these intelligence reports, about Riaz Basra's protection by the
Taliban.
The chief secretary said there was massive gun-running from
Afghanistan to the tribal areas in Pakistan from where the weapons
came to the NWFP and then supplied to other provinces. He said
since the Pakistan-Afghan border was not properly manned, this
practice continues.
However, official sources in the federal government totally deny
having seen any such intelligence report. But some sources believe
that the Punjab chief minister who has recently returned from an
"important US trip" had taken an initiative to dissociate Pakistan
from the Taliban and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile the Foreign Office, in a press statement issued here on
Wednesday evening, regretted "the baseless speculation and
incorrect reporting in some sections of the media, claiming that
the Taliban government of Afghanistan is allegedly involved in
recent incidents of terrorist violence in the country."
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991007
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Another Warrant against Benazir Bhutto
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: The Ehtesab Bench of the Lahore High Court,
Rawalpindi, on Wednesday issued another non-bailable warrant for
the arrest of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in a reference in
which it was alleged by the prosecution
that she had made property with the money obtained through illegal
means.
Comprising Justice Ehsanul Haq Chaudhry and Ghulam Mahmud Qureshi,
the bench also issued notice to Misbah Rehman, the guarantor of Ms
Bhutto, to explain why her surety should not be forfeited.
The case will now be taken up on Oct 14.
The same bench had issued a non-bailable warrant against Ms Bhutto
on Tuesday in the Ursus tractors case.
Special prosecutor Ali Sibtain Fazli told the court that Ms Bhutto,
one of the accused in the Ehtesab reference case No 26, was not
present before the court. He submitted that the exemption from
personal appearance was not for indefinite period.
The court allowed the receivers of four sugar mills in Sindh -
Sakrand, Mirza, Pangrio and Bachani - to continue their work. The
receivers were appointed by another Ehtesab bench when the
prosecution had alleged that all the sugar mills were owned by Asif
Ali Zardari through his front men.
In their application, the receivers contended that most of the
liabilities of the sugar mills were cleared and they should be
allowed to negotiate with banks for rescheduling of loans. The
court delayed till Oct 14 the decision whether to permit them for
holding talks with the banks.
Earlier, the Ehtesab bench had frozen the accounts of these sugar
mills.
The court rejected the petition of Fehmida Mirza who had stated
that being adviser of the Mirza Sugar Mills she should be given
share in the profit.
The court also rejected the applications filed by the family
members of three alleged front men of Mr Zardari - Ghani Ansari,
Iqbal Memon and Abdul Sattar Kerio. They had stated that their
agriculture lands, which were frozen with other assets, should be
released.
The court, however, accepted the application of Iqbal Khan whose
plaza on the Clifton Road, commonly known as Fortune Plaza, had
been frozen as the Ehtesab Bureau had alleged that Mr Memon, too,
was a front man of Senator Asif Ali Zardari.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Azhar, others ask Nawaz to quit as PM, PML chief
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashraf Mumtaz
LAHORE, Oct 7: Dissident PML MNA Mian Azhar and his supporters from
the four provinces stepped up their campaign against the government
here on Thursday by holding a meeting and demanding that Mian Nawaz
Sharif should quit both as prime minister and PML president
because, as they put it, he had failed to deliver as country's
chief executive and as well as head of the party.
The meeting was held at Azhar's Garden Town residence. Three
sitting MNAs and many elected councillors and some former
parliamentarians were present. It was first such high-level meeting
after the removal of Mian Azhar as Punjab PML senior vice-president
some weeks ago.
The list of the participants was not given to reporters as Mian
Azhar said he would not like to create any problem for his
sympathizers and supporters. He alleged that the government had
already started using strong arm methods against his 'loyalists'.
A workers' convention will be held at the Qadhafi Stadium, Lahore,
on Oct 17 to work out the future course of action. Sources close to
the former governor say that Mian Azhar was not planning to set up
any parallel faction of the PML. Instead, they say, he was trying
to mount public pressure on the prime minister to step down. "We
want to take over the party with the public support," an aide to
the former governor said.
After the workers' convention, Mian Azhar plans to address various
bar associations to muster support for his mission. Some charged
supporters of the dissident PML leader raised the slogans of "prime
minister Mian Azhar" but the former governor discouraged them,
saying he would not like to be flattered like Mian Nawaz Sharif as
flattery made one proud and arrogant.
Power supply remained suspended for quite some time but the meeting
proceedings continued un-interrupted. Intelligence people sat
outside the boundary wall of the former governor's residence to
take note of all speeches.
Addressing a news conference at the end of the meeting, Mian Azhar
said the national interest demanded that Mr Sharif should give up
the government as well as party offices so that new prime minister
and party head could be elected. He said Mr Sharif had lost the
mandate after his failure to control the law and order, inflation,
honour the commitments he had made through the manifesto, and
disgraceful withdrawal from Kargil.
Refusing to comment on the possibility of a no-confidence vote
against the prime minister, the former governor claimed that 99 per
cent of party legislators had harmony of thought with him.
When it was pointed out that not a single other PML leader was
reported to have opposed the government on any account, Mian Azhar
argued that legislators were keeping silent because of the 14th
constitutional amendment - which prohibits parliamentarians from
speaking against their party policy.
Replying to a question, he said his actions did not fall within the
mischief of the amendment because he was making statements against
the leadership outside the premises of parliament.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991007
-------------------------------------------------------------------
JKLF Chief flays police for attempt on life
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Amanullah Khan, chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation
Front (JKLF), claimed here on Wednesday that police tried to kill
him while he was leading a march to cross the Line of Control which
was blocked.
There was a very serious attempt on my life during our struggle to
cross the Line of Control with our companions, he added.
Addressing a press conference here at a local hotel after his
release from Hajira Police Station, the JKLF chief said that
although he had formally called off the march towards the LoC for
the time being but he would definitely fulfil his desire to make
another attempt at some appropriate time along with thousands of
people.
Condemning the action taken by the authorities to block the march,
alleging that his several colleagues were severely beaten and he
himself was narrowly escaped from being fatally wounded. At one
point some functionary virtually tried to strangle him to death, he
said.
"We have achieved 80 to 90 per cent of our objectives and the
remaining 10 per cent we would achieve soon. There is a question of
survival not only for Kashmiris but for Pakistan too", he remarked.
"We do not change our stand with the change of time and change of
place. Our stand remains the same, that is freedom and not chair.
We do not believe in guns only rather we believe in diplomacy,
political movement and guns", the JKLF chief observed.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jobless youth to get land free of cost, says PM
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said,
government has decided to distribute arable state land among
jobless, landless and educated youth, free of cost, to enable them
earn a respectable livelihood.
Announcing "PM's programme for state land development for educated
unemployed in the rural areas," at a press conference here on
Thursday, he said those with an agriculture degree would get top
priority in this regard. The youth with a diploma in the
agriculture would get the second priority while those having other
degrees would get the third priority.
Nawaz Sharif said a different subsistence level has been decided
for four provinces under which the allotment of land would range
from twelve and a half to thirty two acres of land. There is also a
different criterion to allot irrigated and un-irrigated land, he
added.
This decision, he said, was taken after thorough discussion of the
cabinet on Wednesday which was attended by the chief ministers of
the four provinces who lent full support to it.
Nawaz Sharif said the efforts of the government would be to allot
fertile land to the youth near their own villages or districts.
Agricultural Development Bank, he said, would give loan to them on
priority basis. They will get loans to install tubewells as well.
The allotment of land would be made through a computerized
balloting of the applications received from the youth of four
provinces, he said.
The prime minister said, eighty out of hundred youth passing out on
a yearly basis from our educational institutions opt for government
employment. Since giving employment to this large number of
educated men is not possible, it is imperative to find out avenues
for self-employment for them so that they could become useful
citizens.
He said, the scheme of 'tehrik-e-ilm' as well as grant of state
land were two major national uplift plans, which lay stress on
"depending on Pakistan's own resources for achieving a rapid
national development."
The state and acquired land will be allotted to the educated
unemployed free of cost. The eligibility criteria will be that the
applicant should be a degree holder, unemployed and without
possession of land.-APP
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hunger strike on 15th: GDA wants cases against PM expedited
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Oct 7: The Grand Democratic Alliance has announced it
will observe hunger strike in front of the Supreme Court at
Islamabad on Oct 15 to press the apex court to expedite pending
cases against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and against his
government's "extra-constitutional" steps.
The announcement to this effect was made at a GDA public meeting
held at Jinnah Park here on Thursday presided over by ANP
President, Asfandyar Wali.
The meeting was addressed, besides ANP president, Makhdoom Amin
Fahim, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, Imran Khan, Maulana Tahirul Qadri
and Afrasyab Khattak.
Hamid Nasir Chattha, Manzoor Watto and others were also present on
the occasion.
GDA leaders criticized the government for mishandling the Kargil
issue which helped Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee to win Indian
elections and isolated Pakistan in world.
The GDA leaders vowed to get expedited from the SC several cases
pending since long against Nawaz Sharif. They said that the
Constitution had been suspended and democracy was being replaced
with dictatorship.
The opposition leaders through a resolution urged the SC to take up
the long-pending cases of corruption against Nawaz Sharif as well
as petitions filed against the government for introducing emergency
in the country and governor's rule in Sindh and inducting an non-
elected set up in Sindh.
The speakers took exception to a statement of Finance Minister
Ishaq Dar therein he has given indication of increasing in the POL
prices.
They said the GDA would hold protest ralliesthroughout the country
on Oct 25 against the introduction of agriculture income tax in the
Frontier province, fixation of low prices for cotton, introduction
of GST on electricity and the increase in the petroleum prices.
"I challenge Nawaz Sharif that people earning only Rs3,000 a month
how they would meet their expenses under the existing price hike,"
said the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.
The leaders blamed the government of resorting to extra-judicial
killings in Karachi and carrying out the so-called and uneven
accountability.
Asfandyar Wali Khan said that it was the need of the hour that "a
new Pakistan is to be created wherein all the four provinces enjoy
equal rights and no one among them has an upper hand over any other
federating units".
He said: "ANP is not against Punjab, it just wants rights to
Pakhtoons as enjoyed by the people of other provinces".
===================================================================
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
991009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Joint hearing of Hubco, Wapda pleas next week
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court on
Friday decided to hear together an appeal of Hub Power Company
(Hubco), challenging Sindh High Court order of restraining it from
arbitration proceedings, and Wapda's petition for impugning Hubco's
decision of calling sovereign guarantees of Pakistan, from next
week.
When the Hubco application against the SHC order of Aug 11, 1999,
was taken up on Friday the court decided to fix its hearing next
week.
No fix date was announced as the bench referred the matter to the
chief justice with the observation that it would be appropriate if
it was fixed for hearing next week.
Under the SC rule it is the prerogative of the chief justice to fix
dates for hearing of cases.
The SC bench consisted of Justice Khalilur Rehman Khan, Justice
Munir A. Sheikh and Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed.
The Hubco counsel, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, contended that the matter
was of urgent nature as the lenders of Hubco were meeting in the
last week of October. He urged the court to decide the matter
before that meeting.
He stated that the World Bank and subordinate banks had given $500
million guarantee to Hubco and if that guarantee was called the
consequences would be of grave nature.
Mr Pirzada made it clear that the court had no jurisdiction over
the World Bank and other lending agencies.
He requested that the hearing of the case should be started as
early as possible.
When Justice Khalilur Rehman observed that proceedings before the
Supreme Court were used by the "parties" for pressuring others, the
counsel protested against the remarks.
Mr Pirzada said that the remarks were "uncharitable" towards his
client. Justice Rehman observed that the remarks were not against
his client and he had misunderstood him.
Meanwhile, Wapda on Friday deposited Rs245 million with the SC
registrar. On September 28 when the court had restrained the Hubco
from calling the Government of Pakistan sovereign guarantee, it had
directed the Wapda to clear the dues which it had required to pay
in accordance with the court order.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991006
-------------------------------------------------------------------
IMF may release $280m next month
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct 5: The IMF officially confirmed on Tuesday that
talks with Pakistan had not yet concluded thus pushing the release
of the $280m tranche for several weeks, most likely into November.
An IMF spokesman said the discussions held between Finance Minister
Ishaq Dar and senior Fund officials were continuing and no final
outcome had yet been reached.
The spokesman would not elaborate or go into details as the "talks
are going on" but other IMF officials and sources said the IPPs
issue and some other sticking points had to be resolved before the
IMF process to circulate the agenda to the executive board begins.
These sources said it was almost certain that if everything else
went well, the executive board meeting on Pakistan would be held in
November.
Mr Dar, who met IMF managing director and other senior officials
left Washington without making any comment on his talks as a senior
Pakistani diplomat attached to him repeatedly told journalists he
was trying to work out a deal on "one on one" basis with Hubco.
The IMF is waiting for a green signal from the World Bank on the
IPPs and Hubco issue but officially they would not admit that this
was the sticking point.
A senior official, however, said whenever there was trouble with
the IMF, the World Bank waited before releasing any money to any
country until that trouble was resolved. "The IMF does the same as
this is our arrangement."
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991007
-------------------------------------------------------------------
IMF asks Islamabad to increase oil prices
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikram Hoti
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked
Pakistan to increase petroleum prices to match the latest surge in
prices in international market and resolve IPPs issue.
The increase in the petroleum prices is one of the major
prerequisites for the release of $280 million tranche from the $1.6
billion IMF loan under ESAF/EEF arrangement, said Finance Minister
Ishaq Dar at a press briefing at the Central Board of Revenue (CBR)
here on Wednesday.
Mr Dar, however, said the IMF had been clearly told that "we cannot
pass the entire burden of the petroleum price increase on the
consumers."
In the last two-and-a-half weeks, the minister said, the POL prices
had witnessed an increase of 30-43 per cent in the international
market. He added that the motor spirit prices jumped from $18 a
barrel in July to $26 in October, while the furnace oil prices
soared by 43 per cent this quarter, he said.
The minister said adjustment of POL prices would pave the way for
the early release of IMF tranche. The condition for rupee
devaluation was, however, out of question, Mr Dar said.
The minister pointed out that the IPP issue, specially the Hubco,
was also causing problems in the release of the tranche.
Talking about his meetings with the IMF and the World Bank
officials with reference to the Hubco issue, Mr Dar claimed that
the donors did appreciate that Pakistan government was unflinching
on its stance to settle IPP issue.
He said Pakistan had not dropped its basic demand of getting power
tariff reduced by the IPPs and that a final round of talks between
the GoP and Hubco was still to be held in London.
The minister hoped that all irritants would soon be removed to
reach an agreement with the IMF which would pave the way for
release of the tranche.
He said it would take another week or so to reach an agreement when
almost all the major hurdles would have been removed.
Mr Dar explained that all the issues relating to implementation of
the agreements with Hubco did not pertain to the government's
policies. There had been legal obstacles in the way of meeting
Hubco's demands as there were certain cases filed in the courts
preventing Hubco from benefiting fully from the basic power
purchase agreement.
The minister said Hubco demanded withdrawal of all cases and
litigations before any negotiation. "We told them that withdrawal
of some of the cases could be considered but scrapping of all the
cases is difficult as there are certain issues on which the Wapda
and the government have no control."
The Hubco officials, he said, had now been told to take a decision
for further negotiations on the issue. The next meeting, he added,
would be held in the presence of WB observers.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991006
-------------------------------------------------------------------
10% Income Tax on saving scheme deposits being reviewed
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: Central Board of Revenue and Central Directorate
of National Savings (CDNS) have decided to coordinate on referring
for review the imposition of 10% Income Tax on National Saving
Scheme deposits.
In this connection, a meeting between the senior CDNS and CBR
officials took place at the Revenue Division Monday which resulted
in an undertaking that the matter be thrashed out for exploring the
possibility of making such a reference to the Ministry of Finance.
The two sides focused on the IT deduction from deposits of National
Savings which matured in their respective time period under
different schemes, immediately before or after the imposition of IT
on Sept 8, '99.
CDNS has been approached in the post IT-imposition period by
several depositors saying their National Savings certificates had
either matured for profit or were about to mature.
Their contention is that since they had purchased the National
Savings certificates under circumstances when their was no policy
of IT deduction, the government should not deduct IT from profits.
They plead that the long waiting for profits on their hard-earned
savings had resulted in about zero dividends due to the IT
deduction notification. They further prayed that under no operative
legal authority the government could notify to deprive depositors
of the portion of their profits which they had earned during a
period when their was no condition of IT deduction.
The notification of deducting IT on matured or about-to-mature
deposits meant taxation and deduction on earnings with a back-dated
effect, they had contended.
The CDNS decided to take up these contentions of depositors with
the CBR and the two sides reportedly agreed that the back-dated
effect of the IT-deduction notification on matured or near-maturing
deposits be listed as an area for review.
The CDNS and CBR officials agreed to sit together again and form
basis for a CBR reference to the Ministry of Finance seeking policy
guidelines on the issue.
These guidelines, said sources, would be sought on whether the IT
deduction should be restricted to the deposits made after the
announcement of 10% deduction. 'If such a reference is made, there
is a hope that the government would reconsider IT deduction from
the profits of matured and nearly-maturing National Savings
deposits', said officials.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991006
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Power tariff cut for industries likely
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: The ministry of water and power has recommended
over 50 per cent cut in the industrial electricity tariff, it was
learnt here on Tuesday.
Sources told Dawn that the proposed summery had been forwarded by
the ministry for the consideration of the economic coordination
committee (ECC). In case the summery is approved by the ECC, the
matter will be referred to NEPRA for a final decision.
The ministry proposed the abolition of all the existing four slabs:
B-I, B-II, B-III and B-IV and suggested that only one slab should
be introduced.
The recommendation says that the existing industrial tariff of
Rs6.5 per unit (inclusive all charges) be reduced to Rs3.00 per
unit. It is also suggested that if some industry is consuming
electricity beyond a certain limit (to be set by the government),
the tariff be further reduced.
"Wehave recommended the utilisation ofthesurplus electricity
available with the Wapda to support the country's dying industry,"
said a source, adding that it would also enhance Wapda's income.
Thepresent industrial tariff, the summerysaid,is prohibitive and it
discourages consumption of electricity. In the present situation
the industries are setting up private power units.
It is said that almost 2,000 MW surplus electricity is available
with the Wapda, which can not be stored and is wasted. "We were
earlier expecting to sell the surplus electricity to India but the
idea could not materialise," a source said, adding, "now we see the
industrial consumption as the next hope to increase Wapda's
revenues by utilising the surplus power."
The sources believe that the rationalization of industrial tariff
will help in the revival of the country's history. During the last
five year, it is said, the industrial consumption of electricity
remained the same mainly because of expensive power. The summery
also said that the electricity losses for industrial sector had
been minimum and the recovery of Wapda dues were much better.
Since the law authorises the NEPRA to fix electricity rates, it was
decided to get the "in principle" approval of the ECC and then put
the matter before the NEPRA with a proposal to reduce the
industrial tariff.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
CBR for voluntary declaration culture
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikram Hoti
ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: The Chairman of Central Board of Revenue has said
that though the first quarter's collection of Rs 71.2 billion
reflects increased potential of tax deposits for the rest of the
financial year 1999-2000, there exists impediments in the way of
revival of the industrial sector, which might dash the hopes of
better collection.
In an interview with Dawn after the final computation of the July-
September tax-collection figures, Mian Iqbal Farid said he had an
agenda of completely phasing out the procedural and administrative
aspects of the tax policies which discourage the taxpayer from
revealing the actual income.
The long-standing complaint (from trade and manufacture sector) of
high Gross Profit Rate (GPR) in assessing Income Tax, he conceded,
has been one of the basic impediment in the way of entrenchment of
the Income Tax culture.
"However, now we have an open-door policy on this issue, and all
the sectors would be invited to negotiate for a viable GPR. I am
aware of the fact that without doing this we would not be able to
create a voluntary turnover declaration culture."
He said: "without a voluntary turnover declaration culture and
without taking decisive steps for revitalizing the economy, the
expectations of better tax collection would not be realized".
Explaining the basic causes of lack of optimism despite having
surpassed the first quarter's target of Rs 70 billion, he said a
complete immunity on capital and wealth source declaration for the
past for the taxpayers willing to voluntarily declare their
turnover for the future, is imperative.
"I am even in favour of only one-point and one-tax-head depositing
by the taxpayer. That is why I have issued strict orders for only
one-time audit of the taxpayer collectively, under all tax-heads.
But that would have to wait for a time when we create the required
system for this purpose. The first step in this direction, as far
as I perceive, would be restructuring of the CBR administration,
which is already under way, and the procedural re-engineering which
a foreign consultancy firm (Maxwell Stamp) has already undertaken."
These steps, he said, are aimed at reaching a point when the
taxpayer, "without fear of the ledger-scanning by the tax
officials, would be declaring the turnover at least close to what
the actual for an assessment year is. We have, for the first time,
through the USAS 1999-2000 announced that the turnover declared by
the assessee would be accepted without any questioning. That is the
first step in the direction of ensuring a voluntary turnover
declaration.
Once a success is achieved in getting the assessees declare their
turnover voluntarily, the steps needed for further encouraging them
for improved documentation would be taken, "and all this would be
aimed at creating a culture of voluntary declaration of which,
under the present circumstances, one would not even dream".
When his attention was drawn toward the fact that the ITofficials'
high handedness and their harassing tactics had also made the trade
sector shy away from accepting the documentation required under the
GST system, he said "we need to create GST culture even at the cost
of revenue.
A gradual process of collection and consistent net-expansion
through registration and documentation is the fundamental principle
of creating GST culture. The discouraging role played in this
regard by the Income Tax department would be taken good care of".
He invited representative bodies from all the sectors to negotiate
on what annual GPR their respective sectors should have as basis
for determining the ratio of tax.
The present input-output ratio, he said, was faulty and thus not
helpful in scientifically determining the actual payable tax by a
certain sector. "My experience tells me that the taxpayer tends to
be evasive and the tax collecting officials resort to high
handedness under an irrational input-output ratio.
A realistically determined GPR is possible only after negotiating
it with the trade bodies at the start of each financial year,
immediately after the budget is launched".
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991005
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Incentive package for free zones
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 4: A high-level committee on Monday finalized its
deliberations on incentive package for bringing about improvement
in free zones of the country. After threadbare discussion and
looking into pros and cons of the impact of free zones on national
economy,
the committee members drew up recommendations for submission to the
ECC.
Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production, Abu Shamim Ariff
chaired the meeting and Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Manpower,
Zafarullah Khan, Chairman CBR and Secretary, Revenue Decision,
Iqbal Farid participated.
Chairman Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) Maqsood Ismail
briefly gave a presentation on the present working of the Export
Processing Zones (EPZs) in the country and said that without bring
the incentives package at par with those of the region the progress
would remain slow.
He stressed upon giving incentive package to improve the
performance of not only the present KEPZ units but for attracting
future investment in the additional 300 acres expansion plan, also.
Maqsood Ismail gave details about the upcoming new free zones at
Risalpur and Sialkot.
The committee members directed the EPZ management to undertake
vigorous and regular marketing publicity promotion campaign locally
and abroad. The meeting was specially arranged at Karachi Export
Processing Zone so that the committee members could physically view
the level of infrastructure development, factories in-operation and
availability of one window-operation in the zone for securing
first-hand information.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991007
-------------------------------------------------------------------
CBR re-imposes 2% warehousing surcharge
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Central Board of Revenue has re-imposed 2 per
cent warehousing surcharge over and above the customs duty on goods
other than consumer goods for the second quarter and the rest of
the financial year 1999-2000.
In this connection, a Customs General Order No 40, dated October 4,
1999, has been issued by the CBR here on Wednesday which explains
that the 2 per cent surcharge removed for the first quarter of the
current financial year, has been re-imposed.
The CGO-40 reads: The issue regarding levy of 2 per cent additional
customs duty as warehousing surcharge, under the Finance Act 1991
and as amended by the Finance Act 1992, has been examined in
consultation with the Law and Justice Division.
The 2 per cent warehousing surcharge on the second quarter of the
warehousing period in respect of goods other than consumer goods
under section 98 of the Customs Act, 1969, levied under Section 10
(1) of the Finance Act, 1991, being a separate and distinct levy
having no nexus with the surcharge levied under section 98 of the
Customs Act, 1969 stands recoverable as pointed out by the Revenue
Receipt and Audit Department.
The CBR letter No 3 (4) T&W/91, dated November 6, 1994, on the
subject, therefore, stands withdrawn.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991003
-------------------------------------------------------------------
87.59% rise in net ST collection
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: An improvement of 48.85 per cent in the gross and
87.59 per cent in the net sales tax collection in July-September
quarter of 1999 has been reported by the Sales Tax Department here
on Saturday.
The ST Wing of CBR officially announced that the total gross
collection in the same quarter last year was Rs18.066 billion while
this year it stood at Rs26.892 billion.
The total net ST collection in July-September last year was
Rs11.374 billion while this year the amount was Rs21.337 billion.
Last year, the refunds paid in the quarter were Rs6.691 billion
while this year this amount was Rs5.554 billion.
The ST registered persons at the end of September 19998 were
42,007, while at the end of September 1999 this figures was 65,215.
The ST collection target for September 1999 was Rs7.89 billion
while the actual collection was Rs10.36 billion (exceeded by 31.3
per cent).
The ST collection target for the quarter was Rs20.12 billion while
the actual collection made was Rs21.33 billion (exceeded by 6.1 per
cent).
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Investors welcome US waiver, BJP victory
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 8: News of sanction waiver given by the US Senate to
president Clinton and BJP victory in Indian national elections
lured investors back in the rings on the perception that they could
lead to some positive developments in Indo-Pak relations. The KSE
index was up 13.28 points at 1,235.84.
But leading stock analysts said the new developments are made to
look so by a section of prominent speculators to push prices higher
and then to take profits at the inflated levels and both may have
no relevance to the ground situation.
They based their assessments on the negative factors including the
Hubco issue, no clear indication from the IMF on the 4th tranche,
the state of the economy and the possible increase in POL prices.
However, the speculative trick worked well putting the market on
the rails at the weekend session, which generally attracts selling.
What seems to have triggered buystops from some leading foreign
funds was the perception that both Pakistan and India will sign
CTBT and the president Clinton will lift economic sanctions and the
possible normalisation of sore relations between the two
neighbours.
News from the Hubco front were, however, not too encouraging in the
wake of its new demand seeking withdrawal of corruption charges
against it before resuming talks on the tariff issue.
The KSE 1100-share index finished with a fresh modest rise of 13.28
points at 1,235.84 as compared to 1,222.56 a day earlier as leading
base shares ended higher under the lead of Hub-Power and PTCL,
which together hold 43 weightage in it.
'The market perception that the government may not be able to meet
the Hubco demand on legal grounds was interpreted as a new element
in the long-drawn battle of nerves and the consequent heavy selling
in its shares', said a leading broker.
But for unknown reasons, a section of leading operators continued
to build-up long positions at the falling prices apparently on some
'positive leak about the possible outcome of the 30-month old
issue', he added.
The broader market, however, did not toe the general line of action
as most of the blue chips continued to attract strong support at
the dips, indicating that factors are behind the current
unloadings.
'Investors were certainly worried over the sectarian killings,
notably of doctors and the number game from both the sides could
work against the sentiment if not controlled by heavy hand',
worried stock analysts said.
They said the reported involvement of Taliban in the recent
sectarian killing as claimed by official sources, is a serious
development and could have a negative impact on stock trading too
in the coming weeks.
Although the victory of BJP in the Indian elections was welcomed by
a section of leading investors as it could lead to peace between
the two countries, other external negative news including the local
political polarization may not allow the consolidation forces to
come into full play, they added.
Engro Chemical, which was quoted spot to check the current
speculative run on it was leading among the gainers, up Rs9.20
followed by General Tyre, Atlas Bank, Universal Insurance, Liberty
Mills, Packages and Tri-Pack Films, rising by one rupee to Rs1.70.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Duty drawback on exports to CAS, Kabul allowed
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: The Economic Coordination Committee of the
Cabinet (ECC) allowed on Thursday duty drawback facility on exports
to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republic through land routes
provided these exports are effected against advance payment in US
dollars or in an irrevocable Letter of Credit issued by a
recognized bank in US dollars.
The facility will be admissible as per duty drawbacks schedule
subject to a maximum of 7.5 per cent. The existing export facility
against Pakistani rupees without any duty drawback facility will
also continue.
The ECC, which was chaired by the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar here
this afternoon, also reviewed the prices and availability of
essential items in the country and noted that the cumulative
percentage in SPI since July 1 uptill date is 0.68%, which is lower
compared to the corresponding period of last two years. The
Committee also noted that the prices of 15 to 21 kitchen items
either declined or remained stable. The index for kitchen items
decreased by 0.03% during the week ending on Oct 2, 1999. While
reviewing the stocks position in the country, the meeting was
informed that the position of wheat stock in the country was more
than satisfactory.
The meeting was also informed that apple and onion crops during the
current year had excellent yield which needed to be exported. It
directed ministry of commerce to send delegations for the export of
apples and onions as soon as possible.
Back to the top
===================================================================
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
991003
-------------------------------------------------------------------
'Round up the usual suspects'
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeshir Cowasjee
EACH time one of our political opposition groups schedules rallies,
meetings, marches or strikes and the government in power is
prompted to order mass pre-arrests I am reminded of that classic
film 'Casablanca' released in 1943, starring the beautiful Ingrid
Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, Claud Rains, Paul Heinried and Conrad
Veidt.
In the closing scene at Casablanca airport in Vichy France, Rick,
the cynical neutral American cafe owner (Bogart) shoots Major
Heinrich Strasser of the Gestapo (Veidt) who is calling for help to
stop the aircraft in which Ilsa (Bergman) and Victor (Heinreid) of
the Free French are about to escape whilst the flip-flop police
chief Captain Louis Renault (Rains), looks on. When a carload of
gendarmes arrives at full pelt, Renault, the honour of Free France
getting the better of him, calmly orders, "Major Strasser has been
shot. Round up the usual suspects."
It is an acknowledged fact that when something here is termed
'grand' it is anything but grand, as is the case with the present
'Grand Alliance' formed by the riff-raff of the opposition. The
same applies to the term 'democratic' when used by both the
government and the opposition. The Grand Alliance is made up of
tried, discredited and failed men, most of them corrupt, most
toothless, one of whom has an attendant to carry his hookah, and
another an attendant to carry the rubber ring upon which he
enthrones himself.
When recently this weak wishy-washy lot called for a general strike
a weak Nawaz Sharif government ordered that it be rendered
ineffective. Police chiefs around the land barked 'Round up the
usual suspects'. In Karachi alone around 500 were picked up and
most were released after dark at the end of strike day.
The Americans - our mentors, masters, regulators of our oxygen
supply, friends, enemies of Islam, or whatever - have reprimanded
our government. Peaceful demonstrations must be allowed under a
democratic government, says the US, not realizing that it is
impossible for any political demo or rally in this country to be
peaceful. The mobs gathered together, those who have little to do
but be paid to rally and shout, are uncontrollable. The men they
follow are incapable of preventing them from damaging public and
private property, from arson, from violence, from shooting,
fighting, knifing. They disrupt the already disrupted lives of our
cities, blocking traffic, and through fear forcing business and
trade to come to a standstill, thus further damaging the economy.
The US State Department relies in large part on its embassy and its
men, including a CIA station chief, to keep it informed of present
and potential happenings in a country. The 180-odd countries of the
world are classified in different categories. We fall under the
category of trouble-makers and defaulters, now of little strategic
importance, a nuisance to be watched. To each category are assigned
men who fit the categorical requirements.
The Americans seem not to realize that in this country, with the
men of the calibre available to it, with their level of
intelligence and integrity, there cannot be a democracy. No
institution of the state supports its people, all work solely to
support and maintain in power whichever man or woman happens to be
on top.
As an illustration, let's take the case of the major bank loan
defaulters, many members of the ruling party. They borrowed money,
hypothecating no assets other than clout. Their aim is to remain in
power for as long as possible so as to put off the evil day when
they will be forced to pay back what they have robbed.
In my column of July 24 I wrote of the bank defaults of Nawaz
confidant Saifur Rahman and his Redco group, how Saif had
endeavoured to get the banks concerned to 'cooperate,' and how when
they resisted he harassed their officials, going to the extent in
the case of United Bank (UBL) of having one officer picked up by
the FIA.
Saifur Rahman, chieftain of our accountability process, and his
concerns have defaulted in the repayment of their loans to UBL,
which borrowings total some Rs.1.4 billion (Rs.1b. in Pakistan,
Rs.0.4b. abroad). UBL's recovery suit filed in 1998 is pending
before Justice Ehsanul Haq Chaudhry, the banking judge of the
Lahore High Court. Redco filed a counter-suit claiming damages,
which is also pending in the LHC. Saif filed a writ petition in
Justice Malik Qayyum's court at the LHC seeking, inter alia, that
proceedings in the UBL suit be stayed so as to give him time to
approach the high-powered bankers' rescheduling committee. On
September 9, Saif filed an application (CM 1099/99) which was heard
by Justice Qayyum. Without hearing UBL or the AG, the judge ordered
:
"Notice to the respondents for 5.10.99. The learned counsel for the
petitioner has stated that the petitioner was ready and willing to
discharge its liability in terms of the package announced by the
State Bank of Pakistan, but the respondents did not allow it to do
so and have instead put the names of the applicants on the list of
defaulters. To come up on the aforesaid date. In the meantime the
names of the applicant/petitioner and its directors shall be
removed from the list of creditors maintained by the State Bank of
Pakistan."
Until this order is reversed the defaulting party will be able to
borrow further amounts from the government banks (no foreign bank
will lend it anything). UBL, HBL, NBP and others will be coerced
into giving money, further indebting the nation.
On September 30, under the heading 'Loan and tax cases,' Jang
published a news report. Its translation :
"A division bench of the Lahore High Court presided over by Justice
Malik Qayyum reserved judgment in the case of three units of the
Ittefaq Group relating to incorrect assessment of tax and
adjustment of loans . . . . . . . . Whilst addressing the nation,
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had offered three units of the Ittefaq
Group, namely Ittefaq Foundries, Brothers Steel, and Ittefaq
Brothers to the banks and DFIs in settlement of his
loans/liabilities of the Ittefaq Group. These units were handed
over to the company bench of the Lahore High Court . . . . . . . .
The court also considered the nine-year-old case of incorrect
assessment of income tax of the Sharif family. Advocate A. K. Dogar
representing the Sharif family argued that the income tax
department had assessed the liability of the Ittefaq Group at Rs.2
crores [20 million]. Benazir's first government had raised the IT
demand to Rs.40 crores [400 million] in collusion with the IT
department. On appeal [during the first Sharif round ?] the amount
was reduced to Rs.2 crores. In Benazir's second round an appeal was
filed [presumably by the IT department] after a period of three and
a half years instead of the normal 60 days period, and the tax
liability was again raised to Rs.65 crores [650 million]. Shafqat
Chauhan, advocate for the IT department said that it was due to the
pressure exerted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that the case could
not be heard. Justice Qayyum asked why, when Benazir was in power,
did the department not proceed as at that time Nawaz Sharif was
running from one court to another. Later the court reserved
judgment."
For whom are the institutions of the state - the courts, the IT
department, the attorney-generals, etc - working? For the state and
the people, or for the prime minister and the party in power?
Naturally, the latter lot will try to remain on top as long as they
can, not wishing to be relegated once again to the list of 'the
usual suspects.'
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you, Nawaz Sharif
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayaz Amir
AFTER the celebrations in New Delhi are over, will the Bharatiya
Janata Party be sending a high-powered delegation to Pakistan to
thank Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his enormous and perhaps
indispensable help in ensuring the BJP's victory? If Vajpayee and
Advani have any sense of obligation (and grace) they will do so for
who would know better than them that the opportunities provided by
the Pakistan prime minister have been crucial to their success.
When Vajpayee's minority government fell in April and fresh
elections were announced, the BJP and Congress looked equally
bedraggled and discredited. The BJP's leadership had been
lacklustre and consequently its stock among the public not very
high. As for the Congress, it had needlessly brought down a
government without being able to form a new one. The Indian
electorate was fed up. It wanted an end to the political
instability racking the country. But to add to its frustrations,
there was nothing very inspiring about either of the two major
parties. All the indications therefore suggested that the elections
would yield another hung Lok Sabha with no party or alliance
getting an outright majority.
But just as the election campaign was getting underway there
happened the miracle of Kargil. Forget Pakistan, it was the Indian
election scene which was transformed. With no little help from the
media, the Indian caretaker government led by Vajpayee whipped up a
war hysteria. This had a unifying effect on the country and the
beneficiary of this mood, much to the chagrin of the Congress, was
the BJP.
But more to the point, the Kargil flare-up gave Vajpayee the
opportunity to present himself as a responsible and mature
statesman, handling a war situation coolly and resolutely. This was
the difference between performing indifferently at the polls and
winning a majority. Lest anyone forget, this difference, so vital
to the outcome of the Indian elections, was provided by none other
than Pakistan's great helmsman, Nawaz Sharif.
Leaders invent war situations to win elections. Remember Mrs
Thatcher and the Falklands war in this connection. Here an
embattled Indian leadership, unsure of its election chances, was
being handed a 'cosy' war situation on a platter. If nothing else,
the BJP would have appreciated our sense of timing.
Why cosy? Simply because Kargil was a venture which Pakistan could
never win and India never lose. What the Americans would have
called a 'no-win' situation - no-win for us, that is, not for
India. It was our fault to think that a tactical opportunity was a
strategic opening when patently it was not. Discomfiture for us was
therefore written in the circumstances of this conflict. But who
benefited from it? At one level, Vajpayee and the BJP. At another,
India.
While Vajpayee has his election victory, India has the diplomatic
advantage over Pakistan in chanceries around the world. Contrast
the newly-discovered rapport between Madeleine Albright and Jaswant
Singh and the rough time Sartaj Aziz has had in some of his recent
diplomatic encounters. This should provide a measure of Pakistan's
current international standing.
Sartaj Aziz, when the definitive history of the foreign office
comes to be written, will probably figure as the great masochist of
Pakistani foreign policy: wearing a permanent smile on his face
even when snubbed all the time. But it is scarcely his fault. No
foreign minister could have had a worse brief to handle. Indeed,
supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan did not earn us half the
opprobrium that this summer's folly has done. Being painted as a
rogue state, perennially indebted and not to be trusted with its
nuclear weapons. This is the image we have managed to create for
ourselves. All for the greater good of the BJP and India. And all
at a time when the great helmsman was guiding the nation's
destinies.
But the people of Pakistan need not worry. None of the above has
cramped the style of their rulers. Made of sterner stuff, they
continue to function as if nothing had happened. Banks loans remain
unpaid. The country's affairs may be in a mess but their industrial
ventures continue to prosper. In the latest scam to hit the banking
sector, the tell-tale signs of fraudulent dealings in Bankers'
Equity Limited, the names have figured of the two families in
Punjab whose political and economic fortunes have prospered in a
dizzying fashion since General Zia-ul-Haq's time.
Remember the great cooperatives scandal of 1991 in which tens of
thousands of shareholders lost all their savings? The names of the
same two families, may their fortunes grow, figured in that as
well. When there was a public outcry a one-man commission, headed
by Justice Lone of the Supreme Court, was set up to investigate the
matter and fix responsibility. Justice Lone in effect held that the
integrity and rectitude of the two families in question were so
much beyond dispute that they could not possibly be guilty of
financial impropriety. Justice Lone, since retired from the Supreme
Court, now adorns the Senate as a member of the ruling party.
This is one vital difference between India and Pakistan. Over there
corruption at the very top - for instance, Rajiv Gandhi's
implication in the Bofors scandal, Narasimha Rao's implication in
the Hawala scandal - is the exception not the norm. Also, when such
a thing does happen, there is an outcry and questions are asked.
Here none at all. Open financial robbery has become the norm with
no questions asked. Accountability is only for the defeated, such
as Benazir Bhutto and Zardari, not the victors. Nor is there any
shamefacedness in all this, the scale of the robbing being matched
by the impudence with which it is carried out.
Imagine a defaulter of over a billion rupees approaching the courts
and requesting that his name be removed from the list of defaulters
so that he can contract more loans for the running of his business
concerns. Imagine two defaulters, both in power, approaching the
courts and asking for compensation from the banks they owe money to
on the grounds that their defaults were 'engineered'. The amount of
money asked for in compensation is about the same as the size of
their defaults. This is audacity dressed in style.
If all this can be sustained, then it is not too bad. The people of
Pakistan are used to the notion of repression and plunder. But the
point may have come where the question is not whether the people
can put up with highway robbery but whether the state can sustain
any more of it.
We have the example of Russia before us which has been ruined not
by godless communism but by the rapacity of the ruling elite.
Russian assets have been sold bit by bit and the money spirited
abroad. Things indeed have come to such a pass where even IMF money
meant for shoring up the country's finances has been embezzled. It
is some mercy that Pakistan's embezzlers have not reached that
stage. But short of that they have left nothing to chance.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The view from the CCU
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Irfan Husain
THE world looks a very different place from the confines of a
Cardiac Care Unit: you tend to view events from a global
perspective as intimations of mortality erode your ego and personal
sense of invulnerability.
The excellent care meted out by the doctors and staff at the Aga
Khan University Hospital includes an unofficial ban on the supply
of newspapers. But for a news junkie like me, this sets off
withdrawal symptoms, so I got my morning fix through papers from
home. The recent sectarian butchery in three of Pakistan's four
provinces confirmed what a number of us have been saying for years:
you cannot export fundamentalist terrorism to neighbours without
expecting a fallout right here in Pakistan. This rapidly rising
tide of religious intolerance and violence is a harbinger of things
to come.
But looking beyond our frontiers, we find that more and more,
Pakistan and most Muslim countries are marching to the beat of a
different drummer. While the rest of the world is largely caught up
with material concerns, a growing number of Muslims around the
globe are permanently preoccupied with the length of male facial
hair, the degree of purdah women must wear, and what is and is not
acceptable in their particular version of Islam. In this sad and
sterile effort to define behavioural norms for the rest of us,
these misguided but often violent individuals and groups have no
idea of the kind of damage they are inflicting on the countries
they live in, as well as distorting the image of Islam in the eyes
of the rest of the world.
I know I have been addressing these issues fairly regularly in
recent columns, but I am more and more convinced that the friction
these elements will cause in international relations will shape
events well into the next century. Samuel Huntington's
controversial "Clash of Civilizations" aggregated the various power
groupings and discussed the possibilities of conflict between them.
According to Huntington, the Islamic bloc would be a major threat
to the West, given the long history of confrontation between them.
Much of this thesis has been criticized and debunked. Indeed, the
motley collection of Muslim countries scarcely present a threat to
anybody but themselves. However, it is the armed and dangerous
militant groups that have mushroomed around the world that threaten
not just the stability of their host countries, but of the regions
around them. The close links between these groups and the financing
they manage to tap into have raised their profile and present them
as a bigger danger than they now are.
But as the on-going killings in Pakistan demonstrate, these people
are utterly ruthless in carrying out their agenda. Their anti-
western activities may not amount to more than a few pinpricks, but
they are nevertheless seen as a real threat. For a whole generation
of these jehadis, the Afghan war against the Soviets was not only a
proving ground, but it also forged links and alliances that are
still intact 15 years after the invaders were driven out of Kabul.
These fighters are now training another generation from Afghanistan
to Kashmir to Chechnya.
In a sense, these zealots are nihilists, destroying what they see,
insisting that they have to build their version of an Islamic
utopia on the rubble of the erring societies they inhabit. With no
stake in the system, they are aspiring to become ruthless killing
machines that will sweep aside the corrupt, westernised elements
that they see ruling much of the Muslim world. And if they fall,
they will find their reward in the next world.
It is obvious that it is impossible to engage these people in any
kind of meaningful dialogue. Convinced of the righteousness of
their path, they will brook no argument and accept no legal limits
to their actions. For them, democracy is only a system to be
manipulated to achieve power as they certainly do not accept the
prerequisites of democracy like tolerance and fair play. Although
only a handful in most Muslim countries, these extremists have an
influence on shaping the national agenda that is out of all
proportion to their numbers.
Countries like Egypt, Syria and Iraq saw the threat posed by groups
like the Islamic Brotherhood long ago, and cracked down on them
viciously even when they did not pose much of a threat. But in
Pakistan, a confused polity based on a yearning for democracy
encouraged any and every charlatan with a vision to sell to set up
a political party. Sooner or later, he received covert funding from
one of our intelligence agencies or a foreign power. The Afghan war
was a windfall as he not only got arms, but also acquired the stamp
of respectability. As a bonus, many of his followers received
advanced training in guerilla warfare, courtesy the CIA and the
ISI.
Understandably, these politicians and their followers now do not
want to go into a quiet retirement. On the contrary, the younger
elements are more radicalized than their elders, and less ready to
compromise. It is these holy warriors who are ready to take on the
world on battlefields ranging from cyberspace to Daghestan. While
disagreeing with their aims and methods, it would be a mistake to
underestimate their motivation and their resources. Many of them
are highly educated and have no problem with using modern
techniques and tools to further their ends.
It is this breed of the modern Muslim fanatics that is seen as a
danger both in the world he comes from and in the West. Indeed, the
campuses of America have become hotbeds of revolutionary Muslim
fervour. The Internet has given these elements a method of instant
communication that is difficult to monitor, and zealous businessmen
are glad to contribute to the cause. Arms, in this region at least,
are no problem. The religious schools or madressas these
organizations run provide a steady supply of volunteers. We have
here all the makings of a frighteningly effective and organized
armed force.
Unfortunately, no past or present Pakistani government has shown
the least interest in taking on these militias. As the worst of
them are currently targeting Shias whom they view as non-Muslims,
the government probably feels it has some breathing space. But the
truth is that despite the Punjab chief minister's recent charge
that the Taliban were behind the current spate of killings (and
since confirmed by the prime minister), this government can ill-
afford to take on these fanatics.
The view from the West is one of increasingly violent Islamic
countries. While more sophisticated westerners might make a
distinction between mainstream Muslims and the fanatic fringe, most
people will tend to lump us all together because that is human
nature. How we interact with the rest of the world under these
trying conditions will be determined by a number of factors. As for
myself, I am reminded of Sinbad and the Old Man who gripped the
sailor around the neck with his legs and would not let go.
===================================================================
SPORTS
991005
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jansher seeks wild card entry in Pakistan Open
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI Oct 4: Record eight-time World Open champion Jansher Khan,
who has been relegated to 130 in the September PSA rankings, here
on Monday said if he gets a wild card entry for the next month s
Pakistan Open in Karachi he would certainly compete.
Talking to mediamen here at the PIA Squash Complex, former Pakistan
Open champion Jansher Khan stated that hosts Pakistan Squash
Federation can ask for a wild card entry from the Professional
Squash Association (PSA ) for him for the Pakistan Open which will
be carrying a prize of $35,000, besides $10,000 as hotel bonus.
I would not play in the qualifying round of the Pakistan Open as
the championship is to be organized in our own country, he
stressed.
Let the PSA approach the PSA for a wild card entry, the former
champion stated.
Replying to another question, ex-champion Jansher Khan said he
intends to take part in the 16-man draw of the $50,000 USA Open in
Boston from Nov 29 but he has to get a wild card entry even for a
qualifying round as he is currently ranked 130 in the world.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Afridi and Akram recalled for Sharjah tour
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 7: The Pakistan cricket selectors left out Saqlain
Mushtaq and Shoaib Akhtar on fitness grounds but recalled Shahid
Afridi and Mohammad Akram for the three-nation Sharjah tournament
starting Oct 13.
The two players were left out on fitness grounds as Saqlain
underwent a knee surgery in England and Shoaib is recovering from a
shoulder injury.
The selectors unanimously decided to put off the announcement of
the team for the Australian tour until Oct 17. The team will now be
named in Sharjah after the completion of the first round matches of
the double-league tournament to be played between Oct 13 and 23 and
to be participated by the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
"After the first round matches, we will be in a better position to
know about the requirements and fitness of the players," chief
selector Col (retd) Naushad Ali said here on Thursday.
He said Saqlain and Shoaib have been given more time to regain
complete fitness for the Australian tour "which was far more
important and demanding," Naushad said.
Saqlain was operated upon late last month while Shoaib travelled to
Toronto for the three-match series against the West Indies but
returned without playing after the injury aggravated.
"The injury to the two players is not very serious. But we don't
want to take the risk of making them out of commission from the
Australian tour by playing them in Sharjah," he remarked.
The absence of the two players proved to be a blessing in disguise
for Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Akram who have been recalled for the
desert tour.
The 16-man squad is:
Wasim Akram (captain), Moin Khan (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar,
Wajahatullah Wasti, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Hasan Raza,
Azhar Mahmood, Abdur Razzak, Arshad Khan, Shabbir Ahmad, Shahid
Afridi, Mohammad Akram, Aamir Sohail, Shoaib Malik and Waqar
Younis.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sialkot to host 2001 Champions Trophy
-------------------------------------------------------------------
LAHORE, Oct 7: President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF)
Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool has said Sialkot will host the 2001
Champions Trophy hockey.
Akhtar Rasool said that the federal government has already given
approval for laying astroturf at Sialkot and funds have also been
earmarked for this purpose.
He said that a hockey stadium of international standard will be
constructed at Sialkot by the year 2001 where champions Trophy
tournament will be held and Sialkot Chambers of Commerce and
Industry will bear all expenses of the tournament, he was presiding
over a meeting at Sialkot Chambers of Commerce and Industry on
Thursday.
The PHF President said that he wanted to make Sialkot a unique
centre of hockey as this city has produced a number of hockey
players of national level.
He also accepted the demand of the members of Chamber for the
construction of a multi-purpose sports complex at Sialkot and
directed the Deputy Commissioner Sialkot to select a suitable site
for this purpose with the consultation of District Sports Committee
and sports organisations.
Akhtar Rasool, who is also the chairman of the Punjab Sports Board,
said the board will bear all expenses for the construction of the
sport complex where facilities for all indoor games will be
played.-APP
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
991007
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shahid Zaman clinches U-19 Roshan Khan squash title
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Majid Khan
KARACHI, Oct 6: Top seeded Shahid Zaman added another feather to
his cap when he turned ruthless in handling Farrukh Zaman 15-7, 15-
9, 15-11 to win the Under-19 title of the Roshan Khan National
Junior Squash Championship here on Wednesday at the PIA Jahangir
Khan Squash Complex.
The Under-16 title was annexed by unseeded Safeer Khan of the Bank
of Khyber, who gave another remarkable performance when he recorded
an impressive 15-8, 15-11, 15-8 victory over second seed Waseem
Shad from Peshawar. On Tuesday talented Safeer had surprised top
seeded Saeed Hasan (Lahore) in the semifinal.
Lahore's second seed Shahnawaz put up a commendable performance to
become under-14 champion when he recovered from 1-2 game down to
inflict a 17-14, 3-15, 6-15, 15-6, 15-13 defeat on Peshawar's top
seeded Khalid Atlas to win the closely fought 51-minute final.
Chief guest Roshan Khan, a former British Open champion, gave away
the cups and the cash prizes of the championship which carried a
total cash prize of Rs 1,10,000. The under-19 winner and runnerup
got Rs 10,000/- and Rs 7000/- each respectively. The under-16
champion received Rs 8000/- and runnerup Rs 5,600/- while the
winner and runnerup of under-14 event got Rs 4000/- and Rs 2800/-
respectively.
The Pakistan Squash Federation gave Rs 1,30,000 to the Sindh Squash
Association for organising the Championship. The entry fee was
Rs100.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to DWS by sending an email to
<subscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following text in the BODY of your
message: subscribe dws
To unsubscribe, send an email to <unsubscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with
the following in the BODY of you message:
unsubscribe dws
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Back to the top.
Dawn page