------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 13 November 1999 Issue : 05/46 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + National Security Council, cabinet sworn in + Formal announcement by Monday: C'wealth expels Pakistan + FIR against Nawaz, others registered + Musharraf holds talks with Kuwait leaders + Musharraf discusses relations with Amir of Qatar + Delhi rules out early talks with Islamabad + Islamabad ready for talks with New Delhi + Ties with Pakistan to grow: Khatami + Clinton's visit to Pakistan: Yaqub unable to convince US leaders + Submarine, planes leave for Pakistan + PML to challenge Army takeover + Ghous, three others formally arrested + Islamabad rocked by series of explosions --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Pakistani textiles held up at US ports + No question to be asked on source of wealth + Top bankers to be removed + 3,000 bank defaulters put on Exit Control List + Shaukat cautions CBR against taking tough measures + Assembly of computer monitors + Govt urged to consult traders before tax levy + Tribunal for first settling terms of reference + 2m tons of wheat to be imported + Shaukat presides meeting: Only willful defaulters to be punished + Bomb blasts intercept market's run-up --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Jinnah's Pakistan Ardeshir Cowasjee + How many plots does a man require? Ayaz Amir + The liberal's dilemma Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + Australia canter to 10-wicket victory in first Test + Pakistan not done with yet, says Akram
=================================================================== DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 991107 ------------------------------------------------------------------- National Security Council, cabinet sworn in ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: Ten federal ministers and four members of the National Security Council took oath of their offices at a ceremony held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr on Saturday. President Rafiq Tarar administered the oath. The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, was present. Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Pervez Mehdi Qureshi and Naval Chief Abdul Aziz Mirza, who are members of the NSC, did not take oath, under an order issued by the chief executive. Only hours before the ceremony, the military authorities inducted Usman Aminuddin and Abbas Sarfraz Khan, a member of the suspended Senate, into the cabinet, raising its total strength to 10. The ministers and their respective portfolios are: Shaukat Aziz, Finance; Abdul Sattar, Foreign Affairs; Zubeda Jalal, Education, Science and Technology; Moinuddin Haider, Interior and Narcotics; Omar Asghar Khan, Local Government and Rural Development; Abdul Razzaq Daud, Commerce, Industry and Production; Abdul Malik Kansi, Labour, Manpower and Health; Dr Shafqat Jamote, Food and Agriculture; Usman Aminuddin, Petroleum and Natural Resources; and Abbas Sarfraz Khan, Kashmir Affairs, Northern Areas, States and Frontiers Regions. Apart from the naval and air chiefs, other members of the NSC headed by the chief executive are: Dr Mohammad Yaqub, Dr Attiya Inayatullah, Imtiaz Sahibzada, Sharifuddin Pirzada, senior adviser to the chief executive and ex-officio member of the NSC; and Aziz A. Munshi, the attorney-general.-Agencies DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991113 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Formal announcement by Monday: C'wealth expels Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- DURBAN (South Africa), Nov 12: Commonwealth leaders at their Durban summit agreed on Friday to suspend Pakistan from the group, but a formal announcement would not be made until Monday, said new Secretary General Don McKinnon. "There is no question about their suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth. The issue now is how the Commonwealth best act to bring Pakistan back," McKinnon, New Zealand's Foreign Minister, told reporters after he was named to succeed Commonwealth Secretary General Emeka Anyaoku. Gen McKinnon added that it would maintain the "technical cooperation" necessary to bring the country back to democracy. "There is no question about the suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth. That was certainly redetermined today," Mr McKinnon told a press conference after being elected by a Heads of Government Meeting here. "The issue is now, how can the Commonwealth best act through the ministerial action group to bring Pakistan back," he said, referring to the organization's democratic watchdog, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). "Clearly we are not taking away the kind of technical cooperation that may be necessary to help that democratic process be returned," said McKinnon, who has been New Zealand's foreign and trade minister since 1990. "If Pakistan clearly shows an unwillingness to move in that direction, to move even further away from that direction, the issue would have to be taken up again by CMAG and a maybe even stronger recommendation would go to the heads of government," he warned. McKinnon, 60, takes over from Nigeria's Emeka Anyaoku, who has been secretary general of the 54-member organization for the past decade. Anyaoku is due to step down at the end of March 2000. A man of vast experience in Commonwealth politics, McKinnon has served since its inception in 1995 as deputy chairman of CMAG, which is increasingly seen as the organization's cutting edge. He was appointed to the body's five-member ministerial mission on small states in 1998. A former minister for Pacific island affairs, McKinnon was widely credited with successfully brokering a ceasefire and renewed political dialogue in a bloody Pacific island dispute between Bougainvilleans and the Papua New Guinea government. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 for his part in resolving that conflict. The CMAG have confirmed the suspension of Pakistan following the ouster of prime minister Nawaz Sharif, British Foreign Minister Robin Cook said on Friday. "We have made it clear we will expect the ex-prime minister to have proper access to legal counsel, a fair and open trial, one that we can observe," he said. The Commonwealth groups mainly former British colonies.-Reuters/ AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991111 ------------------------------------------------------------------- FIR against Nawaz, others registered ------------------------------------------------------------------- Arman Sabir KARACHI, Nov 10: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, along with several others, was formally booked in a criminal case on Wednesday night. According to an FIR registered at the Karachi Airport police station, Nawaz Sharif and others have been accused of a criminal conspiracy to hijack the PIA aircraft on Oct 12. Other accused named in the FIR are: ex-chairman, PIA, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi; director general, Civil Aviation Authority, Ameenullah Chaudhry; former advisor to ex-prime minister on Sindh Affairs, Syed Ghous Ali Shah; former Inspector General of Sindh Police, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, and others. Official sources said that a written complaint sent by Lt-Col Atiquz Zaman Kiyani, Headquarters Five Corps, Karachi, through mail to the police had been turned into an FIR No.201/99 against Nawaz Sharif and others. All the accused have been booked under Sections 402-B, 365, 120-B and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 324 Qisas and Diyat law besides Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. According to sources, the complainant said that the flight PK-805, which was coming from Colombo to Quaid-i-Azam International Airport, Karachi carrying over 200 passengers, including the Chief of the Army Staff, General Pervez Musharraf, had been disallowed to land at Karachi. All lights and signals to escort the aircraft had been turned off and barricades were erected to stop it from landing. The authorities at the Karachi Airport ordered the aircraft to land at the Nawabshah Airport. The complainant said that the aircraft was about to run short of fuel and would have crashed after seven minutes of flying if it would not have landed at the Karachi Airport. The sections of the Pakistan Penal Code under which Nawaz Sharif and others have been booked read as under: 402-B: Whoever commits, or conspires or attempts to commit, or abets the commission of, hijacking shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to forfeiture of property and fine. 120-B: (1) Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death, [imprisonment for life] or rigorous imprisonment for a term of two years, or upwards, shall, whether no express provision is made in this Code for the punishment of such a conspiracy, be punished in the same manner as if he had abetted such offence. (2) Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy other than a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable as aforesaid shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding six months, or with fine or with both. 34: When a criminal act is done by several persons, in furtherance of the common intention of all, each of such persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone. Section 365 of the PPC deals with 'kidnapping or abduction with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person.' DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991110 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf holds talks with Kuwait leaders ------------------------------------------------------------------- KUWAIT, Nov 9: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, on Tuesday held talks with Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al- Sabah and discussed with him bilateral, regional and global issues. Pakistan and Kuwait enjoy close and cordial relations that have expanded steadily over the years in the fields of economy, trade and manpower. The friendly relations between the two countries are based on an objective understanding of each other's national interest and perceptions. Pakistan's positive role and participation of its troops in the multinational force during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait is deeply appreciated in Kuwait. Gen Musharraf also held talks with Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah and Defence Minister Sheikh Salem Sabah al- Salem al-Sabah.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991108 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf discusses relations with Amir of Qatar ------------------------------------------------------------------- DOHA, Nov 7: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, held extensive talks here on Sunday with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, on bilateral and regional matters, and international situation. The talks were held in a warm and cordial atmosphere characterized by mutual understanding. Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad and Pakistan's ambassador to Qatar Kamal Arif were present. Later, the two leaders held a one-to-one meeting. Pakistan and Qatar enjoy close and fraternal relations based on shared religious, cultural and historical ties. According to Inayat Ullah Kakar, a spokesman for the Pakistan embassy, the CE was received at the airport by Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatari Minister for Justice, Pakistan ambassador and others. The CE will return to Kuwait for a day-long visit on Tuesday, where he will hold talks with Amir Sheikh Jaber al- Ahmad al-Sabah before going back to Islamabad, Pakistan's foreign ministry said. Pakistan has long relied on the Gulf Arab states for financial backing. More than a million Pakistanis work in the region and their remittances home have been a valuable source of foreign exchange. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991112 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Delhi rules out early talks with Islamabad ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Indian President K.R. Narayan on Thursday ruled out any immediate resumption of the stalled bilateral talks with Pakistan until the policies of the military regime in Islamabad became clear. "So far it is not clear what would be Pakistan's policies and that is why we are a little cautious in opening a dialogue," he told newsmen on board the special Air India aircraft on his return from his four-day tour of Austria. "There is a new military regime in Pakistan. We have to see what would be its policies before we can think of starting a new constructive dialogue with them," Narayan was quoted as saying. Narayan charged Pakistan of encouraging terrorism in the northern state of Kashmir and said it had to stop its actions, "before we trust in resuming the (dialogue) process". Gen Pervez Musharraf became Pakistan's military ruler last month when he seized power in a bloodless coup-ousting civilian Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The Indian president, a former career diplomat, also called upon the industrialised nations to lift the economic sanctions imposed last year to build a national consensus on signing the nuclear test ban treaty. Narayan said India's nuclear policy was clearly aimed at de- nuclearization of the world. Narayan, the first Indian head of state to visit Austria, held wide-ranging discussions with his Austrian counterpart, Thomas Klestil, and the Chancellor, Viktor Kalima, and other high-ranking officials on various bilateral and international issues of mutual concern. "Our stand is we have to first establish consensus in our country before we can sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). For the establishment of that consensus, the world powers have to cooperate in order to assure that their policies are towards de- nuclearisation," said Narayan. He also said the punitive measures "imposed on us have to be removed before the Indian public can develop a consensus," the Indian leader said. On Austria's strong reaction to the Pokhran tests, Narayan said, "I was refreshingly surprised that they understood our security concerns, but (were) still obsessed that we should sign the CTBT".- dpa DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991109 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Islamabad ready for talks with New Delhi ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hasan Akhtar ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar on Monday reiterated Islamabad's desire to improve relations with New Delhi, but observed that India "does not give that prospect a chance". Mr Sattar, who formally took charge of his ministry on Saturday, was meeting national and foreign journalists here at tea the ministry had hosted. A longtime career diplomat until his retirement a few years ago, Mr Sattar outlined some aspects of the current foreign policy issues confronting the military government. He said Pakistan was willing to respond to the international community's call for a dialogue to address the root causes of tension between Pakistan and India,including specifically the Kashmir dispute, to underscore Islamabad's keenness to reduce tension between the South Asian neighbours. Mr Sattar said containing nuclear dangers in South Asia "will command our top priority." He recalled that although Pakistan voted in favour of the CTBT in 1996, it did not sign the treaty only because India's intentions were suspect, which were confirmed in May 1998 by Delhi's multiple nuclear explosions. The Indian ministers' threats which followed the tests, left Pakistan with no choice but to demonstrate its deterrent capability to safeguard its peace and security. However, Pakistan after its own tit-for-tat response declared a moratorium on further tests and, the foreign minister declared, Pakistan would not take a provocative initiative and that it continued to be sensitive to the world community concern for non- proliferation. "We will not participate in a build-up of strategic arsenals," he affirmed, saying: "A nuclear arms race by Pakistan is a figment (of imagination). We cannot afford it nor is it necessary". Mr Sattar, who faced a barrage of questions on almost all contemporary issues concerning the nation's foreign policy, said Pakistan firmly adhered to the historic stand on Kashmir, upholding the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination and it would try to seek a settlement which met the aspirations of people of Kashmir. He said Pakistan would stand by all international agreements, including those with India. About the Lahore declaration of February, he said it was one of the many agreements that had been concluded."We will scour it for its positive elements to implement it." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991108 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ties with Pakistan to grow: Khatami ------------------------------------------------------------------- TEHRAN, Nov 7: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami expressed hope on Sunday that bilateral relations with Pakistan would continue to develop. He said Tehran-Islamabad ties had not been affected by the change of government in Pakistan. "The internal incidents in Pakistan do not affect the relations between the two countries," President Khatami said during talks with Pakistan's ambassador to Tehran, Javed Hussain, according to official IRNA news agency. The Iranian head of state wished the Pakistan government success in "observing the rights and securing the needs" of the Pakistani people. During the meeting, Mr Hussain delivered a message from the chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, to Mr Khatami, in which the leader underlined the importance of "bilateral cooperation for regional stability." Gen Musharraf voiced Pakistan's determination in its fight against "domestic terrorism and violence." Tehran "hopes that security and stability will be re-established as soon as possible," in Pakistan, foreign ministry spokesman Hamid- Reza Asefi said after the coup.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991112 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Clinton's visit to Pakistan: Yaqub unable to convince US leaders ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent WASHINGTON, Nov 11: Pakistan's special envoy Sahibzada Yaqub Khan has apparently been unable to convince the US leadership not to drop Pakistan from President Clinton's South Asia visit early next year, diplomatic and official sources said on Thursday. Although the envoy was able to meet officials at the highest level possible, including Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, the clear message he was given was that the presidential visit was conditional on a timetable to restore democracy. After Mr Yaqub Khan's visit a change in official statements of the state department and the White House is clearly visible. They are now saying that unless some movement on the timetable for democracy was seen by early next year, the visit to Pakistan was off. But spokesman Jamie Rubin said on Thursday this was not an issue the US would take up in public. "We will take it up with Pakistan in private," he added. Mr Yaqub Khan had warned the US leaders of anti-American and anti- Indian reactions in Pakistan if Mr Clinton visited India only. Mr Rubin said a visit by Mr Clinton to Pakistan was still possible if progress towards democracy took place by early next year. "We believe that it is important for the authorities in Pakistan to establish and meet milestones for a process of political reform leading to re-establishment of democracy," he said. But Mr Rubin qualified his statement by adding: "It is also critically important for Pakistan to undertake a programme of reforms to restore health to the country's economy." A White House official said: "We have not made any travel plans or schedule. The president plans to travel to South Asia, but we have not made a final decision. We have great respect for the people of Pakistan and have important strategic interests with Pakistan. Having said that, there is not going to be business as usual until a process that returns civilian government to Pakistan is in place." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991110 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Submarine, planes leave for Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- PARIS, Nov 9: A submarine and eight Mirage fighter planes built in France for Islamabad and held up since last month's military takeover left for Pakistan on Tuesday, diplomatic sources said. The Agosta 90-B submarine sailed from the Mediterranean navy base of Toulon at 9:00 a.m. (0800 GMT). The Mirages later flew off in two groups of four. France announced "precautionary measures" after Pakistan's October 12 military takeover and stopped the submarine from leaving Toulon where it was undergoing final tests. The foreign ministry later said it had no legal means to stop the submarine and several Mirage 3 and Mirage 5 aircraft scheduled for delivery, since they were already the property of Pakistan. France has, however, said it would continue to keep a close eye on all exports of military equipment to Pakistan.-Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991111 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PML to challenge Army takeover ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ashraf Mumtaz LAHORE, Nov 10: Rejecting the proposal for launching a movement against the military government, the PML coordination committee decided here on Wednesday to challenge the October 12 takeover by the army before the Supreme Court and seek the restoration of the Constitution, the Senate and the assemblies and the Nawaz Sharif government. The party's legal committee has been directed to prepare the petition and file it before the apex court in the next few days. Separate petitions will be filed with the superior courts to secure the release of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other detainees. The coordination committee met under the chairmanship of Raja Zafarul Haq at the Gulberg residence of Mian Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri. A total of 56 members attended the meeting, which lasted about five hours. Dissident PML leader Mian Muhammad Azhar was also among the participants but he kept silent and did not even respond to the oblique criticism of his actions. However, he told reporters that his presence should not be taken to mean that he had accepted the leadership of Mr Sharif or that he had changed his views about the coordination committee. Raja Zafarul Haq told a news conference that the PML parliamentary party in the suspended Senate and the National Assembly would meet in Islamabad on Nov 16 to discuss the situation and decide future course of action. The meeting praised the Commonwealth, the European Union and the world Press for their respective efforts to have the democratic order restored to Pakistan. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991113 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ghous, three others formally arrested ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Nov 12: Four officials of the former government, accused of hatching a criminal conspiracy to hijack a PIA aircraft on Oct 12 and endangering the lives of its passengers, were formally arrested on Friday. ISPR sources in Karachi confirmed that four co-accused Syed Ghous Ali Shah, Adviser to the former prime minister on Sindh Affairs; Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-chairman of Pakistan International Airlines; Ameenullah Chaudhry, former director-general, Civil Aviation Authority; and Rana Maqbool Ahmed, former inspector- general of police, Sindh, were handed over to the local police on Friday evening. The sources refused to confirm whether Nawaz Sharif, the main accused in the case, had been formally arrested or when he was being brought to Karachi. The Rangers and police had taken over the control of the MPA hostel near Masjid-i-Khizra and arrangements were being made to bring the four accused there. A senior police officer requesting anonymity also confirmed the formal arrest and said the police had started investigations and recorded statements of several witnesses, which had strengthened the justification for arresting those named in the FIR 201/99 registered with Airport police on Nov 10. Sources said notices had been issued by the police to the crew members and the pilot of the plane carrying the Chief of the Army Staff, General Pervez Musharraf, on Oct 12. The notices had also been issued to other witnesses who were present at police control and air traffic control at Quaid-i-Azam International Airport and others. The official said former DIGs Farooq Amin Qureshi and Mohammad Akbar Arain, Akhtar Hussain Memon, FIA's deputy director Chaudhry Sharif and others had not been named in the FIR but their fate was yet to be decided. He said they were being interrogated, and thorough investigations were being carried out so that in the present scenario the possibility of producing them as witnesses could not be ruled out. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991113 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Islamabad rocked by series of explosions ------------------------------------------------------------------- M. Ziauddin & Ansar Abbasi ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: Six rockets crashed through the skies here on Friday, shattering the mid-morning air as they darted in the general direction of the American Embassy, the American Center and a building housing the UN offices. The attacks came with only 48 hours to go before the UN sanctions against Afghanistan come into force. Fired from three different vehicles, all with tinted windows, the rockets left at least one, a security guard at the American Center, injured, caused minor damage to a government building and a private car and totally gutted the vehicles from which they were launched. Carrying seemingly home-made double-barrelled launchers, the three vehicles, two parked in the city centre (Quaid-i-Azam Avenue)) and one in the diplomatic enclave, were bearing fake registration numbers. One rocket which fell near the UN World Food Programme offices did not explode and was immediately defused by the bomb disposal squad. A couple of rockets exploded in deserted areas causing no damage. So far no one has claimed the responsibility for the rocket attack while officials did not rule out foreign hand behind it. The attacks were launched through remote-control mechanism in quick succession between 11:00am and 11:30am. No suspects have yet been apprehended. Ambulance, fire-brigade and staff of bomb disposal squads were seen combing the city until late afternoon in search of casualties and unexploded rockets. Immediately following the attacks, security of embassies, important personalities, public places and other sensitive points has been beefed up. FIRs of these attacks have been registered in the respective police stations, and investigation was under way, officials claimed. The authorities have so far come upon no clue either about those who had driven the vehicles into the city breaching the tight security of the capital, nor about those who had engineered the attacks. The US embassy spokesman, Mark Wentworth, when contacted, refused to speculate as to who was behind these rocket attacks. Both the chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, and the foreign office have condemned what they termed "subversive acts" and pledged " to expose and punish those responsible for this reprehensible crime." The FO said the terrorists behind those explosions were hostile to the interests of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
=================================================================== BUSINESS & ECONOMY 991113 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistani textiles held up at US ports ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shaheen Sehbai WASHINGTON, Nov 12: Pakistan textile goods worth several million dollars have been blocked at US ports because of problems with export quotas, officials said on Thursday. The US authorities have placed an embargo on Category 666-P exports and all shipments under this category have been blocked at the ports, they said. The issue has been creating a backlog of goods being piled up at the ports which could incur huge demurrage charges, an exporter said. The category 666-P is for pillow cases which come with bed sheets (Category 666-C) in sets and both these items costing several million dollar are held up, he said. The case has been complicated by lack of proper action by the Pakistani diplomats in Washington who have so far failed in either getting the shipments released or inform the exporters about the progress on the case. Informed sources said Pakistani authorities have offered the US Customs a way out to resolve the matter by proposing that the stuck-up goods be adjusted against textile quotas of year 2000 but so far no response has been obtained on the proposal. Pakistani diplomats in Washington, when contacted, said they were working on the case but were unable to say what progress had been made so far. Exporters say the problem was caused because these diplomats did not take up the case in time with the US authorities during the previous government as most of them were busy "pleasing the Commerce Minister Ishaq Dar who appointed them to these lucrative posts." "Many such inefficient and unfit cronies were appointed by the previous government at key world capitals, including Washington, Brussels, London and that is why we have to face this situation," a top exporter said on Thursday. He appealed to the new authorities in Pakistan to remove these cronies and appoint people with genuine merit so that exports do not suffer. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991112 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No question to be asked on source of wealth ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ikram Hoti ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: The federal government has announced that no questions on source of wealth and income would be asked if the listed defaulters of bank-loans or taxes/duties and utilities bills etc clear their dues by Nov 16. A suitable amendment has been made by the Central Board of Revenue, which is authorized to ask such questions, in the Income Tax Ordinance 1979. It offers complete immunity from probe into the source of income on the amounts paid for clearance of dues to the banks, other financial institutions and the government organizations to which the listed defaulters and tax evaders owe money. Presently, no such blanket immunity for a period or to a section of loanees/taxpayers is applicable under any of the immunity clauses floated by the government from time to time. The CBR officials said this immunity has been offered under the new government policy that incentives be allowed to the listed loan defaulters, tax evaders and other persons owing amounts of utilities and other bills to the government, who tend to otherwise clear their dues but are apprehensive regarding consequent probe into the money-source by the Income Tax department. "Once the listed defaulters and evaders clear their dues, there would not be any probe, or even a question asked about the source of the amount paid for clearing the dues", said a senior Income Tax official. The amendment (No C. 1 (33) E&IC/99, dated Nov 11, 1999), issued for legalising the immunity by the CBR here on Thursday reads as follows: In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 14 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1979, the federal government is pleased to direct that the following further amendment shall be made in the Second Schedule to the IT Ordinance, namely: In the aforesaid Schedule, in Part IV, after clause (6HA) the following new clause shall be inserted, namely: "(6HB) The provision of section 13, Chapter XI or XII of this ordinance shall not apply in respect of any amount paid by the 16th November, 1999, towards the settlement of debt owed to a banking company or a financial institution or by way of any tax or other government dues". DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991110 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Top bankers to be removed ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: The government has decided to drastically cut down the unnecessary expenditures of banks and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) specially by removing from service their top executives, who are drawing huge salaries and enjoying other benefits. Informed sources told Dawn on Tuesday that the government had expressed concern over the state of affairs in nationalized commercial banks, Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) and other corporations. The government believed that these banks and corporations were spending much more than their requirement particularly by offering from Rs50,000 to Rs400,000 salaries to many of their employees. The principal secretary to the chief executive, Tariq Aziz, is believed to have said that the government could not afford to pay large salaries and fringe benefits to those who have been inducted in various places by the ousted govt. Sources said that orders were being issued to the concerned authorities to make best use of the employees already working at various places instead of retaining the services of those brought from the private sector and foreign banks. Examples have been cited of banks, particularly the HBL and UBL, where consultants were appointed on unprecedented salary packages. More than 50 such appointments were made in the UBL alone. They were not only given lucrative salaries but were also offered interest-free loans for house building. This interest-free loaning of over Rs6m was extended to new employees of the UBL who came mostly from foreign banks, including the Citibank, said a source in the ministry of finance. Such facilities were given in other banks as well, the source said, adding that no employee of the UBL could get this facility of markup-free loan even after putting in 35-45 years of service. Sources said the military government wanted restructuring of banks and the SOEs. The principal secretary to the CE would soon be meeting the high-ups of banks and corporations to ask them to slash their expenditures. Sources said the government was taking a tough line against those state corporations which were incurring huge losses but still the number of their employees and size of expenditure were very high. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991112 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,000 bank defaulters put on Exit Control List ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: The federal government has put on the Exit Control List (ECL) names of 3,000 bank defaulters and tax evaders to stop them from fleeing the country. According to official sources, the list includes the names of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former Punjab chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, Mushahid Hussain, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Asif Ali Zardari, Saifur Rehman and some members of the Schon group. Minister for Interior Lt-Gen Moinuddin Haider on Thursday presided over a meeting, here, which decided to take all possible measures to stop top defaulters and tax evaders from leaving the country. An updated list of 3,000 defaulters and tax evaders was prepared and approved at the meeting in addition to existing list of 746 former MNAs, MPAs and senators belonging to the four provinces, whose names were put on the Exit Control List. The sources said the Central Board of Revenue had furnished a list of 400 major tax evaders, while the remaing names had been finalized by nationalized commercial banks and other financial institutions. The list has been provided to different agencies of armed forces, rangers and immigration staff posted at all international airports of the country. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991111 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shaukat cautions CBR against taking tough measures ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: The federal finance minister, Shaukat Aziz, has cautioned the Central Board of Revenue against applying tough measures like attachment of property and arrest of the listed tax evaders for recovery of the defaulted amounts. At a meeting with the CBR officials on Tuesday, Shaukat Aziz is understood to have said that such tough measures might help in the recovery of the evaded taxes/duties but at the same time these would terrorise into inactivity those 250-300 top investors who keep the supply and manufacturing lines alive. The meeting was attended by Gen. Amjad Hussain, chairman National Accountability Bureau, Riaz Hussain Naqvi, Chairman CBR, and Members of all federal tax-heads. Mr. Shaukat is believed to have suggested that the recoveries be made in such a manner that these suppliers and manufacturers were not compelled to resort to hoarding and capital export. Tough recovery measures, whenever applied, have resulted in slump and further deepening of recession, and no sane policy maker would opt for it, he is reported to have said during the meeting. The recoveries planned by the military government, according to Shaukat were aimed at cleansing the market of the anti-investment elements, but not to terrorise investors who can meet their past obligations in due course of time. His contention was that the recoveries could be made in instalments, which, on the one hand, would help bring substantial amounts to the national exchequer, while on the other it would not force the defaulters to suspend their business activities unnecessarily. Oncesuspended, these business activities couldtake immeasurably long time to resume, by which time the country would have plunged further deep into recession, which it cannot afford, Mr. Aziz is leaned to have told the meeting. To implement this cautious plan for successful recoveries, he is reported to have asked the CBR officials to redraw a package (other than the one suggesting arrests and attachment of property) and get it approved by the relevant authorities. This package, say sources, is based on short-listing those hard nuts among the tax evaders who are provenhabitual defaulters and would not be persuaded through negotiations for a rational structure of instalments to pay back their dues. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991109 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Assembly of computer monitors ------------------------------------------------------------------- KARACHI, Nov 8: Philips Electrical Company of Pakistan Limited is actively considering to start assembling of computer accessories particularly monitors in Pakistan. This was stated by the Director Consumer Products Philips Pakistan Limited, Shahid Zaki while addressing a press conference Monday at consumer electronic millennium exhibition here at a local hotel. He said the sales of Philips monitors has taken a quantum jump rising from 5,000 to 70,000 units annually during 1998-99. "Our experience in computer accessories is very successful and now Philip shares 65 percent in this market", Zaki said. He said the prices of computer accessories are cheaper by 20 to 30 percent in Pakistan and there is no need to buy it from outside. He said Philips, the global company with 30 billion dollars investment, is leader in the world in monitor manufacturing. The smuggling of electronic products has been checked to some degree after the change in the government, easing pressure on the profits of Philips. He said this menace had badly affected profits of the company in the last couple of years, but the tariff incentives enabled Philips Pakistan to survive. He said it will take some time to completely eliminate the smuggling menace which was discouraging local production or import of components through legal channel. He urged the government to seal the border for discouraging the inflow of smuggling in the country and save local industry. Zaki said profits of Philips will increase considerably if the smuggling is checked in the country. He said the company has been concentrating on further improving after sales service and added consumers appreciate Philips service.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991112 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt urged to consult traders before tax levy ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent HYDERABAD, Nov 11: Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) has expressed grave concern over the levy of general sales tax and appealed to the government to take the tax-payers into confidence before announcing taxation measures. In a joint statement issued here on Monday, the office bearers of the Chamber, Mehmood Ahmed, Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmed Yousfani, Nadeem Ahmed Siddiqui and others welcomed the withdrawal of tax concessions given to the professionals and demanded that the lacunas in the taxation laws should be removed. They strongly opposed the proposal to reintroduce octroi and export tax and added that these levies would increase corruption manifold as was evident in the past. The office bearers of the HCCI appealed to the government not to levy unpopular taxes such as GST, octroi and export tax as such taxes would create distrust between the tax-payers and the government. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991112 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tribunal for first settling terms of reference ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: The ICC tribunal, which met in London on Nov 8 and 9 for the arbitration of a case filed by Hubco and Entergy Power Group against Wapda on July 9, 1998, has directed that the terms of reference should be agreed before the question of Entergy's involvement in the case could be decided. Moreover, the tribunal has set a timetable for the submission of terms of reference by the parties by Nov 23. Before the commencement of current arbitration hearings, Wapda had objected to the constitution of the arbitration tribunal and also to the involvement of Entergy. Wapda argued that the question of Entergy's involvement must be decided before the terms of reference for arbitration were agreed. Entergy, on the other hand, argued that the terms of reference had to be set before any matter could be decided by the tribunal. During the hearing on Nov 8 and 9, Wapda had to concede its point on the constitution of the arbitral tribunal, and the tribunal directed that the terms of reference had to be agreed first. Hubco could not participate in this hearing because of the restraint order of the Sindh High Court given in an appeal brought by Wapda. Commenting on the arbitration proceedings, Hubco spokesperson Dr Anjum Siddiqui remarked that "Hubco has a strong case and if Wapda feels wronged, it should use the agreed arbitration channel of dispute resolution to quickly settle the two-year-old commercial dispute. It would have been better if Hubco could participate, but we have confidence that the Supreme Court would restore Hubco's rights under the power purchase agreement". DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991111 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 2m tons of wheat to be imported ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: Pakistan will import two million tons of wheat worth $240m right now to meet its domestic consumption requirement for 1999-2000. Official sources said the present total wheat shortfall had been recorded at three million tons against earlier estimate of 1.75 million tons. They claimed that the shortfall might reach even four million tons mark following the shocking disclosure made by the statistic division last week in its fresh report to the ministry of finance which said final wheat production during 1998-99 had been calculated at 17.8 million tons against the projected 18.6 million tons. They said the situation looked grim in the face of provincial governments' demands to the federal government that they should be given extra wheat from federal government stocks, which had depleted due to continuous ban on wheat import by the private sector imposed by the previous government. Present wheat stocks have been reported sufficient up to February, 2000. Giving details of wheat import requirement during 1999-2000, the sources said the federal government would provide 16.614 million tons of wheat to four provinces, with a consumption average of 124 kg per person for population of 133.988 million ( 2.61 per cent increase over the last year). Similarly, AJK will get 0.240 million tons of wheat, defence 0.200 million tons, Northern Areas 0.040 million, Afghanistan 0.600 million tons, strategic reserves 1 million tons, seed, feed, wastage ( 10 per cent of the production) 1.804 million tons. Thus, the sources said the total domestic requirement came to 20.498 million tons. While previous year crop production had been estimated at 18.6 million tons ( now revised and set at 17.8 million tons, thus a sudden shortfall of 0.8 million tons). While till May 1999, the carryover stock had been estimated at 0.9 million tons. Thus, they said, Pakistan would be required to import three million tons of wheat to meet its next year requirement. They said that presently negotiation between the ministry of finance and ministry of food and agriculture were under way to decide formalities regarding this fresh wheat import. Giving details of the development, the sources said earlier the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (MINFAL) had submitted a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee on Aug 27 last, explaining the wheat situation and requirements for 1999-2000. They added that at that time the MINFAL had proposed an initial authorization to import one million tons of wheat might be requirement during 1999-2000, the sources said the federal government would provide 16.614 million tons of wheat to four provinces, with a consumption average of 124 kg per person for population of 133.988 million ( 2.61 per cent increase over the last year). Similarly, AJK will get 0.240 million tons of wheat, defence 0.200 million tons, Northern Areas 0.040 million, Afghanistan 0.600 million tons, strategic reserves 1 million tons, seed, feed, wastage ( 10 per cent of the production) 1.804 million tons. Thus, the sources said the total domestic requirement came to 20.498 million tons. While previous year crop production had been estimated at 18.6 million tons ( now revised and set at 17.8 million tons, thus a sudden shortfall of 0.8 million tons). While till May 1999, the carryover stock had been estimated at 0.9 million tons. Thus, they said, Pakistan would be required to import three million tons of wheat to meet its next year requirement. They said that presently negotiation between the ministry of finance and ministry of food and agriculture were under way to decide formalities regarding this fresh wheat import. Giving details of the fresh development, the sources said that earlier the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (MINFAL) had submitted a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee on Aug 27 last , explaining the wheat situation and requirements for 1999-2000. They added that at that time the MINFAL had proposed an initial authorization to import one million tons of wheat might be allowed.The ECC, however, the sources added, gave authorization of only 0.5 million tons of wheat import initially till the review of entire wheat position by a committee headed by a special secretary finance. However, the sources said that due to change in government on Oct 12 the committee could not finalize actual import requirements during 1999-2000. Later, they said, the entire wheat availability position, release to provincial flour mills and shortfall to be met through import was discussed in detail with provincial food secretaries/ agencies at the wheat co-ordination committee (WCC) meeting held on Oct 21. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991112 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shaukat presides meeting: Only willful defaulters to be punished ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: A high-level meeting here on Thursday decided to set up a committee, headed by the deputy governor of the State Bank, to study the cases of defaulters and propose action against them. Informed sources told Dawn that the meeting, which was presided over by the minister for finance, Shaukat Aziz, and attended by the chief of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Lt-Gen Syed Amjad Hussain, Attorney General of Pakistan Aziz Munshi and heads of banks and DFIs, also decided to proceed against all wilful defaulters to recover from them Rs50 billion. The meeting was told that there were 300 wilful defaulters against whom very serious action would be taken after Nov 16. Deputy Governor of the State Bank A. R. Chugtai will have his two senior bankers included on the committee. A senior banker from any commercial bank and a chartered accountant will also be the member of the committee in order to streamline the process of recovering dues from the defaulters. The committee members have been told by the finance minister that there should not be any harassment of the business community and that the air of panic must go. He has been quoted as having said that justice should be done with everyone. Sources said the committee had been asked to consider sympathetically the genuine cases in order to provide certain relief. The committee would remove bottlenecks in the existing banking system. They said certain clauses of the banking laws were likely to be amended to streamline the process for the recovery of dues from the defaulters. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991113 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bomb blasts intercept market's run-up ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Nov 12: Reports of bomb blasts in Islamabad intercepted the market's run-up on Friday as investors sold in a bit haste fearing identical terrorist attacks in other parts of the country and fears of law and order situation. The KSE index was off 15.17 points 1,178.05. The opening was, however, fairly promising, what the dealers called, an extension of the PTCL-led overnight strong rally but as the reports of three bomb blasts reached the market investors hastened to square positions fearing a further decline in prices. The blasts may not have any relevance to the local political scenario as the venue of the incident reflects but brokers were a bit nervous on the perception that it could be the beginning of fresh terrorist attacks, an analyst said. The market should have extended the rally initiated by the board meeting of the PTCL on Nov 17, and predictions of a higher dividend but the bad news from Islamabad intercepted it, he added. 'But the market is sure to respond positively to board meetings of two mega issues, PTCL and PSO during the current month amid predictions of enhanced dividend', said a leading floor broker. He said the phenomenon of bank loan defaulters is there as the deadline of Nov 16 is coming close but in a broader sense the market sentiment is not influenced bearishly as it did after the filing of criminal cases against the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday as was reflected by a smart rally. The KSE 100-share index showed a decline of 15.17 points at 1,178.05 as compared to 1,193.22 a day earlier, reflecting the weakness of some leading base shares. Most of the price changes were again fractional, indicating a technical breather taken by both the bulls and the bears but the presence of support at the dips reflects that the near-term outlook is positive. Hoechst Pakistan, which posted a gain of Rs4.00 after ruling static for the last several weeks led the list of top gainers followed by KASB & CO, which rose by Rs2.00. Third ICP Mutual Fund, Sana Industries, Bolan Castings, BOC Pakistan, and Engro Chemical, which posted gains of one rupee each were other leading among the gainers. But largest gain of Rs110.00 was noted in Fateh Textiles, which fell by Rs120.00 a day earlier. However, the fall and rise in it has no relevance to to the broader market as its floating stock is short. Losers were led by Al-Noor Sugar, PSO, Cherat Cement, General Tyre, Glaxo-Welcome, Sindh Alkalis, Sitara Chemical, Millat Tractors and Lever Brothers, which suffered fall ranging from Rs1.40 to Rs11.75. Trading volume shrank to 80m shares as compared to 108m shares a day earlier as losers forced a strong lead over the gainers at 96 to 62, with 37 shares holding on to the last levels. The most active list was again topped by PTCL, off 45 paisa at Rs19.30 on 29m shares followed by Hub-Power, lower 20 paisa at Rs19.05 on 19m shares, PSO, off Rs1.40 at Rs136.10 on 13m shares and Engro Chemical, up one rupee at Rs111.80 on 9m shares. Other actively traded shares were led by Fauji Fertiliser, up five paisa on 2.457m shares, Adamjee Insurance, easy 10 paisa on 1.313m shares, Bank of Punjab,lower 10 paisa on 1.085m shares, ICI Pakistan, off 15 paisa on 0.915m shares, Sui Northern, easy 15 paisa on 0.609m shares, FFC-Jordan Fertiliser, lower 10 paisa on 0.509m shares and Nishat Mills, off 30 paisa on 0.369m shares. DIVIDEND: Atlas Lease, cash 15%, right shares at the rate of 50%, Pakistan Industrial and Commercial Leasing bonus shares at the rate of 15% for the year ended June 30, '99.Back to the top
=================================================================== EDITORIALS & FEATURES 991107 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jinnah's Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ardeshir Cowasjee DAWN of November 6 carried a news item under the headline 'PML body proposes challenging military rule.' It read : 'Pakistan Muslim League's legal committee headed by former law minister Khalid Anwer on Friday recommended to the Coordination Council of Pakistan Muslim League (N) to challenge the military takeover of the country in the Supreme Court.' What will these partymen plead? "We hereby solemnly swear that in the exercise of our gross ineptitude, effective corruption, insatiable greed, dangerous intolerance, combined with all other imaginable failings, we have brought about the downfall of what we held to be democracy. We amended the Constitution of the Republic of Pakistan at will, suspending all rules of procedure while doing so, with the aim of making our Leader all-powerful and impregnable. We successfully managed to totally corrupt each and every institution of state, other than the army. We did not reckon with our leader's stupidity in taking on, for a second time, the Pakistan Army or that his reckless ambition would make him commit the criminal offence of effectively 'highjacking' an aeroplane of his own national airline and endangering the lives of some 200 passengers. We created a situation in which the Chief of Army Staff and his men were forced to throw us out, suspend the mangled and mauled Constitution, and take over the governance of the country for an unspecified period of time." No doubt the judiciary will judge wisely and well. Now, what makes a democrat. A baggy shalwar, a kamiz, and an unbuttonable waistcoat covering what is known as a 'healthy' (meaning overfed) body? Does a uniform prevent a fit and trim man from being a democrat? We should count ourselves fortunate that we have a man who received a liberal education at St Patrick's High School in Karachi, taught by Father Stephen Raymond, Ossie Nazareth and the likes of such men to differentiate right from wrong, religion from religiosity, good from bad, and to appreciate and experience what life has to offer. After matriculating he went to study at Foreman Christian College at Lahore. This man, we feel, will not follow the dictatorial and democratic pattern of enlisting religion on his side, or if the religious leaders are not compliant, going to the extent of foisting upon us a new kind of perverted religion subservient to his ends. We must trust that he will do his best to rebuild Pakistan as envisaged by its founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah. (US Ambassador William Milam on November 5 in Islamabad whilst speaking at a conference on American Studies stated that America is not anti-Islamic, and that the present change in the country could be used as an opportunity to return to the vision which Mr Jinnah had for Pakistan.) General Pervez Musharraf was four-year-old, getting ready to go to school, when Jinnah on August 11, 1947 enunciated his 'creed' to his constituent assembly meeting for the first time at Karachi. This speech was a fine bit of rhetoric, but far too moral, truly democratic, free of bigotry and loaded with justice to be able to be digested by the philistines of that era and by those who have followed down the fifty-two degenerative years. Far too many loyal Pakistanis who have occupied leadership roles from the day Jinnah died right down to the ending of this century would have been far more at ease had he never made this particular speech. It has inspired fear in successive governments, has been a point of bitter dissent in its interpretation, and has even been officially distorted in print. It has been this nation's misfortune that we have never, after JInnah's lifetime, showed the slightest desire to live up to the principles he set for us. Before the flag of Pakistan had even been hoisted, that August day he told the future legislators : "You are free, free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the State." Now, this particular passage has always been the main bugbear of the insecure, the feeble of faith, and the cowards who live by self-deception. The very next day it was found to be too irksome, it inspired fear. In his speech, Jinnah also proclaimed that "the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State." Amongst the evils which he vowed would not be tolerated were bribery, corruption, blackmarketing, and "this great evil - the evil of nepotism and jobbery." The definition of 'jobbery' : 'the practice of corruptly turning a public office, trust, etc, to private gain or advantage; the perpetration of jobs.' Such is the daily bread of powermongers. What Jinnah failed to foresee was that within less than two years such practices would be just a few of the prerequisites for the survival and maintenance of power of those who would rule after him. Fortunately for him, Jinnah did not live long enough to see his dream betrayed by men unworthy even to utter his name. He died before total disillusionment could set in (though he had his suspicions that it was on its way) and broke his heart. From what we know of him, he was that rare being, an incorruptible man in all the many varied meanings of the word corruption, purchasable by no other, swayed by no other, perverted by no other; a man of honour, integrity and high ideals. That the majority of his countrymen have been found wanting in these qualities is this country's tragedy. What the General must now remember is that Jinnah also failed to perceive in his countrymen their penchant for pernicious sycophancy, the malignant weapon of the ambitious, that was to drag down many a man, make fools of many more, and with which leaders of this nation have found themselves unfit to combat. They succumb, time after time. Power seekers are adept in the art of sycophancy, if adept in nothing else. Declamations of 'my imperishable and devoted loyalty,' 'you are not merely an individual, but an institution,' 'your services are indispensable for the greater good of the country,' 'you embody the national interest,' all roll glibly off many servile tongues, and are transferred with the greatest of ease from each transient master to the next. The supreme example of adulation : 'When the history of this country is written by objective historians, your name will be placed even before that of Mr Jinnah,' written to Iskander Mirza by loyal Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, is closely rivalled by Mushahid Hussain's declaration that the Muslim Leaguers were but 'slaves of Mian Nawaz Sharif's thoughts.' DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991112 ------------------------------------------------------------------- How many plots does a man require? ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ayaz Amir THE service chiefs, beginning with General Pervez Musharraf, have set a good example by disclosing details of the properties they and their immediate families hold. While this is a step in the right direction and one which should be followed by all fat cats - political, bureaucratic and commercial - it also goes some way to reveal one of the things wrong with the Pakistani elite: it is over-privileged and over-pampered. The army chief has six plots, an under-construction house in Karachi and two squares agricultural land in Bahawalpur. This is besides a house owned by his parents in Islamabad and a house in the name of his daughter in Defence, Karachi. The naval chief has three sizeable plots, a flat in his wife's name in Islamabad and the obligatory two squares of land in Bahawalpur. This is what he must have acquired while in service. What he inherited were four acres (repeat four acres) of barani land in Rawalpindi and six acres in Multan. The air chief has six plots and the inevitable two squares in Bahawalpur. At this rate there will not be any land left in Bahawalpur. While a grateful nation would not grudge the leading defenders of the motherland these privileges, a person in a shantytown would be forgiven for thinking that there was a plot too many in all these lists. As Tolstoy asks in his famous short story: how much land does a man require? The ironic thing is that compared to (1)the higher bureaucracy, (2) the politicians of the last decade and (3)the entrepreneurs who have made a speciality of getting loans and then declaring their paper enterprises as 'sick units' to have those loans written off, the properties of the service chiefs are, if anything, on the austere side. Which just goes to show how much the acquisitive mentality has infected the Republic's vitals. Yet we wear our virtue on our shirt-sleeves and sermonize loudly from the house- tops. While the gap between rich and poor in this country is wide enough, more striking perhaps is the yawning chasm we have dug between rhetoric and reality. Anyway, this was just a digression which like the lists of plots above has turned out to be longer than it should have. Of greater importance is to see how within this first month military rule has progressed and what bench-marks, if any, it has set for the future. So far what the nation has heard is stern resolve and plenty of good intentions. It is a measure of how deeply unpopular the previous regime had become, and of how tired people generally are of the Benazir and Nawaz Shairf brands of democracy, that they have taken to the sound of General Musharraf's voice and are not only eager but desperate that he and his team should succeed. It is also true, however, that so far the good intentions of the military government are not buttressed by too many specifics. Maybe it is too early to pass any judgment on this score. Even so, the team in the driving seat not only looks a bit unwieldy - corps commanders, principal staff officers at GHQ, the famous NSC, the patchwork cabinet, all making up quite a handful - but it also seems a bit vague about how it is to carry a broom through the Republic's stables. A great deal will depend on how bank defaulters are tackled after November 16. This date has been built up so much, not least by newspaper ads which no one seems to realize are always an exercise in futility, that if the action against defaulters does not come up anywhere near the hype, no one should be surprised if disillusionment sets in early. Especially among the civic-minded sections of the middle class who are always more concerned about the country than anyone else and who, in this instance, are looking upon the military takeover and its threats of reform as signs of the final coming. Vagueness is also visible in the monitoring mechanism which the army is setting up to ensure, as has been stated, good governance. This will function under the chief of the general staff, General Aziz, and go from the corps, which will keep an eye on the provinces, to progressively smaller units down to the district level. Even in theory this sounds like a half-baked idea. The CGS should run GHQ and keep an eye on the army. How can he monitor, much less understand, the functioning of government? The matter wrong with Pakistan is institutional breakdown. Nothing, apart perhaps from the post office, works the way it should: not the provincial secretariats, not the district management group, the criminal justice system, the revenue departments or, indeed, the lynchpin of all, the criminal justice system. This breakdown will scarcely be helped by any 'monitoring'. It requires a serious effort at reform of which the military, at least for now, seems to have little clue. The army can jump-start the process of reform by banging heads together and cracking a few eggs. This is what it can be good at, provided of course it knows what it wants and where it wants to go. Part of the problem of course is that this batch of reformers is learning on the job. There is nothing wrong with this except that if the pace shown thus far is anything to go by, we are in for a fairly extended apprenticeship. Who will defray the expenses of this exercise in learning? Obviously the nation which over the last 52 years has had more than its fill of seeing where good intentions lead when not backed by understanding and vision. Part of the problem also is that the public's honeymoon with General Musharraf (and, let it be stated for the record, that of General Musharraf's with the public) is still going strong. As long as this mood lasts there are not many people willing to hear criticism of the army, especially when in defence of the army it can be said that it has not had time to prove itself. To disarm criticism further people looking enthusiastically at the military takeover are saying that this is the country's last chance and that if after the failure of democracy the army too fails we are done for and our future is sealed. This is dangerous thinking. First, it places General Musharraf on a pedestal and invests him with the robes of messiahdom. For this role he himself may not be prepared if for no other reason than that it imposes a crushing burden of expectations on his shoulders. Second, to speak in such apocalyptic terms amounts to suppressing the spirit of scepticism in our midst which, apart from any other purpose it may serve, is a necessary corrective to the fatal tendency, to which all Pakistani rulers sooner or later succumb, of wielding power arbitrarily. While a necessary corrective in all seasons, its importance is heightened at a time when the Constitution and the assemblies lie suspended in no-man's land. Who knows this experiment turns out differently from the ones before it. Who knows this is the dawn we have been waiting for. Maybe. Even so, we should not be victims of collective amnesia and forget that we have been here before. Military rule has been tried on several occasions in the past and found wanting. While the practice of democracy over the last decade and a half has been a joke, it does not follow that the baby should be thrown out with the bath water. If the army loses a war, a fact not unknown in our history, does it follow that the army should be disbanded? This is faulty reasoning. Let us also not forget that the same people at the helm now, eager to change the nation's destiny, misjudged and misread, to put it no stronger than this, the objectives and the likely consequences of the Kargil operation. For the sake of the country let us pray that they are better at governing the country than they were in handling something that fell within their professional competence. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991113 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The liberal's dilemma ------------------------------------------------------------------- Irfan Husain SEVERAL readers - most of them foreigners or expatriate Pakistanis - have asked me why I haven't unequivocally condemned the army coup of October 12. Actually, even though I can rationalize the takeover, I do cringe at the thought that I am, in fact, supporting a military junta. By now we all know the chain of events that led to the coup, and if anybody recites what happened on that famous flight from Colombo just once more, I shall scream. We are also all too aware of Nawaz Sharif's blunders of omission and commission, and will no doubt learn of many more. Nevertheless, those of us who believe in democracy as the only system that guarantees public participation and human rights feel that incompetent and corrupt leaders like Nawaz sharif and Benazir Bhutto should only be kicked out by the voters who elected them in the first place. Indeed, democracy has a built-in mechanism to ensure accountability through the ballot. Under such a dispensation, extra-constitutional steps to remove an elected government have no legitimacy. The people's will must be respected. In this country, many members of the elite are of the firm view that an illiterate electorate is incapable of making the right choice. This arrogant perspective neglects the fact that the choices before the people are not exactly brilliant, and they have therefore had to vote on the basis of the lesser of the evils before them. True, both mainstream parties have their respective supporters but their nominees for elections are, by and large, serious candidates for a rogues' gallery. Also, the electoral exercise is the only opportunity poor voters get to extract promises for civic improvements from their candidates. As an American politician once remarked, "Ultimately, all politics are local." So while I may question the educational achievements and intelligence quotient of our representatives, I have no reservations about the wisdom of our voters. They are, by and large, very conscious of their rights and they cast their votes with all seriousness. Basically, they end up by voting for candidates who they think can deliver. To this extent, they are not concerned with allegations of corruption against them, or about their views on our nuclear programme and the Kashmir dispute. For them, the bottom line is: can the candidate get the village an electricity connection, and can he take on the local SHO? And if they vote for the district's chaudhri, it is because they think he can solve some of their civic problems. Elitists who never bother to get themselves registered and stand in line and vote are very critical of the Pakistani voter, holding him responsible for the leadership that gets elected. Having abdicated their own responsibility, they sit in their well-appointed drawing rooms and confidently assert that democracy cannot work in Pakistan because of the ignorance of the electorate. Conveniently, they forget about their own apathy. Without having lost faith in democracy as the only civilized system of government, I must confess to a certain degree of weariness with politicians who have cynically used it to attain power without accepting the checks and balances that go with it. For them, elections are an expensive and tedious exercise they have to go through periodically in order to make money and enhance their social standing. Political parties give tickets to rich candidates who can afford to finance their own election; almost invariably, they are feudals who can use their clout and clan connections to garner a respectable number of votes. For me, Nawaz Sharif is the very antithesis of a democrat: here is a man who was first made finance minister of Punjab by the then governor, General Jilani, and then elevated to chief ministership by Zia. Finally, with ISI funding, he became the prime minister. While climbing up the political ladder, he used his muscle to lean on nationalized banks to lend him and his family hundreds of millions until they became one of the biggest industrial groups in the country. Never sated, he continued milking the system even after he did not need any more money. When people ask me how I can support a military coup against a democratically elected government, I reply (somewhat defensively) that this was the only possible way of getting rid of the man. Having neutered all the possible threats to his autocratic rule, he had turned his attention to the press, and it was only a matter of time before this last bastion of critical speech was muzzled. Given his lack of respect for democratic institutions, I have no doubt in my mind that he would have rigged the elections shamelessly when the time came. Having mounted a tiger, he just could not get off: after what he had done to the opposition, he could not afford the risk of being voted out of office and facing the same fate. The stake were just too high for him to suddenly see the light and become a true democrat. Consider the man's track record during the first half of his term: from having his goons storm the Supreme Court to having Najam Sethi of the Friday Times roughed up and held incommunicado for a month, he showed every sign of intolerance and fascism. But having said this, let me emnphasize that I do not regard military rule as a panacea: time and again, they have proved that they have no solutions to Pakistan's highly complex problems. Each time they have seized power, they have left a bigger mess in their wake. Above all, once ensconced, they never leave of their own free will. This, then, is the liberal dilemma: how to condone a military takeover and the overthrow of an elected government, even though Nawaz Sharif was acting more and more like his mentor, General Zia. In the liberal lexicon, army coups are automatically evil, while elected governments, no matter how corrupt and inefficient, are preferable to military juntas. According to conventional wisdom, the cure for a poorly run democracy is more democracy, not less. This school of thought holds that no matter what their faults, both Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto should have been given a chance to discredit themselves to the point when they would be rejected by voters. At this point, a vibrant new leadership would emerge. Unfortunately, by the time this miracle took place, I doubt very much there would have been a country left for this breed of honest politicians to lead. But as far as I am concerned, the fact that leaders of religious parties like Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Maulana Fazlur Rahman have begun opposing the military regime because it is liberal is ground enough for me to support it. I may not be clear about whom I am for, but I know who I am against.
=================================================================== SPORTS 991110 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia canter to 10-wicket victory in first Test ------------------------------------------------------------------- BRISBANE, Nov 9: Australia wrapped up a ten-wicket win over Pakistan at the Gabba on Tuesday, handing expectant father Steve Waugh his first domestic Test victory as captain with a performance he rated one of the side's best of recent times. In an extraordinary turn of events on the final day, Pakistan's second innings resistance crumbled with six wickets falling for the addition of just 58 runs to leave Australia just 74 to win with 66 overs left. The Australians cruised to victory with in-form openers, Greg Blewett (40) and Man-of-the-Match Michael Slater (32) polishing off the runs in 56 minutes off only 14.2 overs. Australia have not lost a Test to Pakistan in four matches at the Gabba and it was their 16th victory in 44 Test meetings. The swift denouement enabled Waugh to grab an early afternoon flight to his Sydney home to be with his wife, Lynette, who was in the process of giving birth to their second child. "This is one of our best Tests for a long while," Waugh said. "They were in the game for most of the five days, but it was only the quick wickets this morning that put them out of the game." Waugh's decision to send Pakistan into bat after winning the toss on Friday looked to have backfired when the tourists cruised to 265 for three, but it was the final hour of the opening day where he believed they turned the tide. Pakistan resumed on the final day at 223 for four and needing to occupy the crease for long periods to stave off defeat. But it all went wrong from the first ball when Abdur Razzaq spooned a loose Shane Warne full toss straight to Ricky Ponting at silly point. Gilchrist, making his Test debut as Ian Healy's replacement, made a snappy leg-side stumping of Azhar Mahmood off Warne for a duck. Akram was out for 28 and with his departure Pakistan's fate was sealed. Moin Khan, who blazed 61 in the first innings, was brilliantly caught by a diving Scott Muller at fine leg off Fleming for 17. Fleming mopped up the innings when he bowled Shoaib Akhtar for five to finish with 5-95 and nine wickets for the match.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991110 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan not done with yet, says Akram ------------------------------------------------------------------- BRISBANE, Nov 9: Pakistan's skipper Wasim Akram sifted through the ruins of his team's 10-wicket first Test cricket loss to Australia here on Tuesday and declared: "We're not done with yet." The three-match series moves to Tasmania and the second Test at Hobart's Bellerive Oval starting on Nov 18, where the unpredictable Pakistanis have to win to keep the series alive to the third Test in Perth. Although being conclusively beaten in short time on the fifth and final day, 380-Test wicket-taker Akram said: "We've done it before and we can do it again. We have a good enough side and I can assure you we are going to look a lot better side in the next Test match in Hobart." Thirty-three year-old Akram admitted that Test inactivity had cost his team over the five days of the Brisbane Test, but they would benefit from the experience. "We haven't played a Test match for the last six to seven months and in this Test it showed that we looked rusty in fielding," he said. "Players weren't used to fielding all day and after this Test we will definitely improve a lot as a team. "Shoaib Akhtar didn't bowl that well, mainly because of a lack of bowling practice, but in the first innings he bowled 30 overs and that will help him. "Mushtaq Ahmed didn't have a good game, but Saqlain Mushtaq will be fit for the next game so he'll come back into the side." Akram drew positives from the team's batting where opener Saeed Anwar starred with 61 and 119 along with the impressive No.5 Yousuf Youhana's 95 and 75 and Inzamam-ul-Haq's first innings 88. "Our batting did reasonably well considering this is our first Test in Australia. Whenever we come here (Brisbane) we usually get out for 100, but this time we got 300-plus, that was a relief for me and the team. "Our batsmen have to take responsibility that if somebody's got 100, they should carry together to score 200. "They have to get into that habit, and I think they're getting into that habit now. "It will take some time for us to adapt to the conditions here and we've got another two weeks until next Test." Akram, using the experience of his 89 Test appearances, believes Shoaib Akhtar, the "Rawalpindi Express", will be better for the experience of Australian conditions. Asked about the relations between the two teams, at a low ebb over match-fixing allegations four years ago, Akram said: "As a captain my job is that we're here to play cricket. It's not a war and after the game we should be friends and have a glass of milk or a coke or two."-AFP ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
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