------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 25 December 1999 Issue : 05/52 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Hijacked Indian plane lands in Afghanistan, one passenger killed + Afghan Taliban refuse Indian demands for hijack rescue + Mushahid's release a test case of govt's HR record: wife + Interest-free system from 2001 ordered: SC rules Riba un-Islamic + Order was given by Nawaz, says Ameenullah + Army to stay till 'mess' cleared, says Musharraf + Pakistan to retain right to conduct Nuclear tests + Amendment to NAB Ordinance shortly + Government withdraws Secretariat Allowance + Reference against Mehtab ready + Nawaz challenges ATC's jurisdiction + Clinton may skip Pakistan in trip to subcontinent + Child labour elimination efforts lauded + Arrests in Pakistan not related to terrorism: US + US visa interviews suspended for 30 days --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Number of taxes to be reduced, says CE + Names of 1,500 'tax evaders' put on ECL + Report on textile quota fraud clarified + Concession in mark-up on loan repayment + Petroleum dealers decrease prices + Raw materials - No cash margin on imports: SBP + State Bank of Pakistan mops up Rs5bn + Tax amnesty scheme: CBR to confiscate assets on mis-declarations + Investors fail to respond to new credit rating + CBR warns sales tax evaders --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Military justice: the good and the not so good Ayaz Amir + A column for Christmas Irfan Husain + Giving police a human face Aziz Siddiqi ----------- SPORTS + PCB request for change in teleconference date + Commission report: PCB outlines policy
=================================================================== DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 991225 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hijacked Indian plane lands in Afghanistan, one passenger killed ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, Dec 25: Armed hijackers forced an Indian Airlines plane with more than 150 people on board to land in Afghanistan Saturday, the fourth stop in a horrifying ordeal in which at least one passenger was killed. The Indian Airlines Airbus landed at 0303 GMT in Kandahar, the southern base of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia, Taliban spokesman Abdul Hai Mutmaen said. "Nobody has been allowed out of the plane which is surrounded by military vehicles," the spokesman said, adding that the Taliban were ready to refuel the aircraft. The plane, with 189 passengers and crew on board, was hijacked en route from Kathmandu to New Delhi on Friday. After stops in the northern Indian city of Amritsar and nearby Lahore in Pakistan, the hijackers forced the plane to Dubai, where it was refuelled and 25 passengers allowed to disembark before the aircraft took off again for Afghanistan around 0100 GMT. The body of one passenger, reportedly stabbed to death by one of the hijackers, was also removed from the plane in Dubai. Some freed passengers said the hijackers were Sikhs, although their demands were still unknown 16 hours into the ordeal, which had already spanned six countries. "We are in the process of establishing contact with the Afghan authorities," said Civil Aviation Secretary Ravindra Gupta. "At Kandahar, the Air Traffic Control has offered all humanitarian help, including food and medicine," Gupta said. Home Minister L.K. Advani, speaking to reporters following a top-level meeting at the civil aviation ministry's crisis management centre in Delhi, admitted that Afghanistan posed a problem. "It will be a tricky proposition, because we don't have an embassy there," he said. "We have some reports about the identity of the hijackers, but I will not make a statement until we have full confirmation," Advani said. The freed hostages appeared traumatized by their experience, with crying children and women and one man with a bandaged head. One 74 year-old, who was not named for security reasons, said the hijackers were "difficult to identify. They came with pistols, knives and hand grenades. They blind folded all the passengers except for women and children with pieces of cloth. I understand that one passenger has been killed with a knife," he said. "We are in touch with their respective governments and have asked them to help apply pressure so that the passengers are released soon," Advani said. Indian air officials reported the hijackers spoke Hindi and were armed with dynamite, AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and hand grenades. The dead passenger was identified by Indian Airline officials as Ripin Katyal, 25, who had been in Kathmandu on his honeymoon. Katyal's father, who had been waiting along with 200 desperate relatives at New Delhi airport, broke down when the news was announced. The plane was hijacked after taking off at 1130 GMT from Katmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. Officials said the hijackers took control the moment the plane entered Indian airspace and neared the northern city of Lucknow at around 1220 GMT on Friday. (AFP) DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991225 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Afghan Taliban refuse Indian demands for hijack rescue ------------------------------------------------------------------- KABUL, Dec 25: Armed hijackers forced an Indian Airlines plane with more than 150 people on board to land at Kandahar, the fourth stop in a terrifying ordeal in which at least one passenger was killed. The Indian Airlines Airbus landed at 0303 GMT in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan. Troops from the fundamentalist Islamic militia surrounded the aircraft and are prepared to refuel but resisted Indian demands for a rescue. Afghan Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakel said nobody has been allowed inside the plane and we do not know the identity of the hijackers. "We are in contact only with the pilots through their radio. We have not talked with the hijackers," the minister added. "Nobody has been let in or out of the plane." He said the Taliban were not involved in the hijack. Reports on this score are totally untrue, he said. (AFP) DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991225 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mushahid's release a test case of govt's HR record: wife ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: Dr Dushka Mushahid has said that since the military government regularly talks about upholding human rights in the country releasing Mushahid Hussain would indicate of how far the claim is true, as he has not yet been charged. Dr Dushka was allowed to meet Mushahid Hussain on Friday afternoon, following court orders, at the Punjab House. Mr Husain's sister, mother and son, Mustafa, were also present at the meeting. His wife said that ten days back her husband was put in a truck and taken for interrogation, after being kept in protective custody for two months, yet the authorities had still failed to come up with any charge against him. "He is the only political personality who is being treated like this by the military authorities," she said. She said she had written to Gen Musharraf about the unlawful detention of her husband on Dec 17 but there had not been any positive response from his side since then. She said that the defence secretary, on Friday, again declined to accept the writ petition orders, stating that it had to come 'through proper channel.' However, she said that at 3pm a major called and inform her that they can come to the Punjab House, Islamabad to meet Mushahid. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991224 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest-free system from 2001 ordered: SC rules Riba un-Islamic ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shujaat Ali Khan LAHORE, Dec 23: The Supreme Court on Thursday outlawed 'interest' in every form and called by whatever name and laid down elaborate guidelines for a completely interest-free economy by June 2001, after dismissing government and bank appeals against a 1992 Federal Shariat Court judgment. The transactions declared un-Islamic and, therefore, unconstitutional include mark-up, murabaha, bai' muajjal (deferred sale) and any so-called interest-free modes insofar as elements of Riba usury and interest) have crept into them. Any amount, big or small, over and above the principal in a loan or barter transaction, whether obtained for consumption or for commercial or productive activity, is prohibited by the Holy Quran, a Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Khalilur Rehman Khan, Munir A. Sheikh, Wajihuddin Ahmed and Maulana Muhammad Taqi Usmani (member) held unanimously. Justice Ahmed, however, expressed his reservations in a separate 98-page note about some of the findings and conclusions of the 716- page majority judgement authored by Justice Khan and concurred with by Justices Sheikh and Usmani (who also wrote a 277- page elaborative note). The order of the court is spread over 106 pages. The domestic inter-government borrowings as well as the borrowings of the federal government from the State Bank shall be interest free. By January 24, 2000, the federal finance ministry will form a task force to find out ways to convert the domestic borrowings into project-related financing and to establish a mutual fund that may finance the government on that basis. The units of the mutual fund may be purchased by the public and they will be tradable in the secondary market on the basis of net asset value. The certificates of the existing bonds and savings schemes shall be converted into the units of the proposed mutual fund. As for foreign borrowings, serious efforts shall be made by the government to relieve the nation of the burden of foreign debt as soon as possible and to renegotiate the existing loans. Foreign financial assistance, if necessary, should henceforth be sought and accepted on the basis of Islamic modes of financing. The judgment contains several measures for developing infrastructure and legal framework for an interest-free economy. It calls for 'strict' austerity to drastically curtail the government expenditure to avoid deficit financing. Enactments to regulate the federal and provincial consolidated funds and public accounts have been recommended. It also calls for laws to ensure transparency in and confidentiality of financial transactions, including freedom of information and privacy acts. Observing that an under-developed debt market promotes Riba, the court said that if the concept of Islamic debt through musharaka certificates was adopted on an urgent basis, a lot of equity/funds could be made available through developed markets and 'in that way reliance on banks can be reduced'. The judgment stipulates a multi-phased transformation to an interest-free economy. The first step is establishment within a month of a high-level commission in the State Bank to effectively control and supervise the process of transition. The judgment called for a phased repeal or amendment of the interest-based provisions of the Civil Procedure Code, the Land Acquisition Act, the negotiable Instruments Act, the Co-op Societies Act, the Insurance Act, the State Bank of Pakistan Act, the Banking Companies Ordinance, the Banks Nationalisation Act, the recovery laws and other enactments. The Interest Act and the money lending laws and rules shall, however, cease to have effect on March 31, 2000. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991221 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Order was given by Nawaz, says Ameenullah ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Dec 20: Former director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority, Ameenullah Chaudhry, who has turned approver in the Oct 12 plane conspiracy case, has stated that deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif had ordered him to ensure that "under no circumstances PIA flight PK-805 coming from Colombo be allowed to land anywhere in Pakistan." Ameenullah had said this in his confessional statement recorded earlier, text of which was unsealed in the court of Justice Shabbir Ahmed, Administrative Judge of the Anti-terrorism Court, here on Monday. He had made the statement before the deputy commissioner of Malir on Nov 23. The former CAA chief had stated that at about 1800 hours his staff informed him of the incoming call from the prime minister (Nawaz Sharif) who asked him if he (Ameenullah) was aware of the flight details of the plane on which the army chief was coming. After finding out the details of the flight, he directed Yusuf Abbas to come to the control tower to see that the directives of the prime minister were carried out, Ameenullah had recorded in his statement. He also stated that the General Manager, ATS, was directed by him to close the Karachi airport and hold all international flights and divert domestic flights to Nawabshah. Ameenullah said that at about 1820 hours the same operator of the prime minister's house contacted him and the prime minister's earlier instructions were very firmly repeated that the flight should not be allowed to land anywhere in Pakistan and should be diverted to any place in the Middle East other than Dubai. "He ordered immediate implementation of his directives. In accordance with these directives and in furtherance of them, the Karachi and Nawabshah airports were formally closed," said Ameeullah adding that the "delay in closing down the Karachi airport was owing to the fact that the GM ATS had asked his secretary to convey these orders." In pursuance of the prime minister's order, Mr Yusuf Abbas, who was new in town, was to stay there until the former chief of the CAA left the office. He was also asked not to disclose the reason for the closure of the airport as the pilot may attempt to land somewhere else. In view of the directives of the prime minister, Yusuf Abbas was told to make it clear to the pilot that both the Karachi and Nawabshah airports were closed and that he should seek orders from PIA authorities about the destination of the flight. The pilot, he said, was to be told that he could go outside Pakistan at his own risk. Ameenullah, however, in his recorded statement said that when it was reported that the aircraft was left with fuel for 70 minutes only and the flying time for Muscat was more than that, it became obvious that the plane would need to land at Nawabshah. A call was made to the prime minister and when he came on the line it was explained to him, his orders were very firm. "He directed that the PIA flight PK-805 must not be allowed to land in Pakistan." He wanted immediate implementation of his orders. Ameenullah said that when the situation became "critical" several attempts were made to talk to the prime minister but he was not available. Thereafter, two calls were made to the then principal secretary Saeed Mehdi but his staff informed them that he could not come on telephone. "Around 1910 a call was made in sheer desperation to the ADC of the prime minister, who belonged to the Naval service. The situation was explained to him, and he promised to get back but he did not," said the former CAA chief in his statement. Immediately thereafter, Ameenullah said, a call was received from the military secretary to the then prime minister, Brigadier Javed, who said that now the instructions of the prime minister were that the flight PK-805 should come to the Karachi airport and sent to Sharjah after refuelling. In his statement, he said that instructions were that former I.G. Sindh Rana Maqbool should be contacted and told to have the Karachi airport surrounded when the plane landed at Karachi airport. "All orders flowing from the prime minister/defence minister and his staff repeatedly and emphatically, were being implemented as the Civil Aviation Authority and aviation division were directly under his control," said Ameenullah in his statement. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991224 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Army to stay till 'mess' cleared, says Musharraf ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ashraf Mumtaz LAHORE, Dec 23: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf said here on Thursday that it would be wrong to assume that the military government would stay in power only for a few months. He said in unambiguous terms that the present set up would stay on till "the mess" was cleared and the goals identified by him achieved. Addressing senior civil servants at the Governor's House, the general set at rest all speculations about the restoration of the democratic process, saying there was no possibility of the assemblies being restored. He said some countries had been stressing that the military government should give a time frame for the revival of the democratic set-up. But, he said, he would not give a schedule for the purpose and work for the implementation of his agenda. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991223 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan to retain right to conduct Nuclear tests ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar told a joint National Security Council-federal cabinet meeting here on Wednesday that Pakistan would retain its right to carry out nuclear tests if India did not sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). He said the CTBT did not, in any way, circumscribe the ability of the signatory state to protect its supreme security interests. He said that the CTBT could not enter into force until signed and ratified by the 44 designated states that had nuclear weapons or nuclear reactors, including India and Pakistan. So far, 41 designated countries have signed the treaty. The three which have not signed are India, Pakistan and N. Korea. "Thus, if India does not sign, Pakistan will retain the right to conduct tests," said the minister for foreign affairs. He further said the treaty only prohibited nuclear tests. "It does not affect possession or enhancement of nuclear capability or production of fissile material," he said while adding that the treaty was non-discriminatory. Sattar gave a detailed briefing on the CTBT to the meeting which was presided over by Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf. The CTBT provides for withdrawal on 6-month advance notice, on grounds of an "extraordinary event or events which a state party regards as jeopardising its supreme interests." In practical terms, no research/manufacturing facility can be inspected under the treaty if it cannot be the site of nuclear explosions. Inspections can cover only those sites where an explosion is suspected to have been carried out. The treaty does not provide for routine inspections. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991219 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment to NAB Ordinance shortly ------------------------------------------------------------------- Asad Ali LAHORE, Dec 18: The federal government will soon amend the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance. This would ensure that an accused person seeking release under Section 25 by voluntarily returning assets does not escape the disqualification clause barring him or her from holding public office for 21 years, it was reliably learnt on Saturday. Sources said due to a 'typographical error' accused people seeking recourse under Section 25 were not affected by the disqualification clause in -- Section 15. The sources said the law in its present form could embarrass the government because it could allow corrupt politicians to return to power by paying back the looted money. It was learnt the amendment would have retrospective effect. The error was identified in the wake of a controversy over the political future of former Punjab chief minister Sardar Arif Nakai after his returning the allegedly misappropriated amount of Rs 1.5 million to the National Accountability Bureau. The former CM had returned the amount under Section 25 of the NAB ordinance on Friday and the case against him was disposed of. The judge said legal consequences of Section 25 shall follow. According to the sources, under the present law a release under Section 25 does not mean disqualification for 21 years from holding a public office. Under the ordinance, Section 15 deals with the disqualification. It is titled disqualification to contest elections and its sub-clause (a) reads "where an accused person is convicted for the offence of corruption or corrupt practices as specified in the schedule to this ordinance. He shall stand disqualified for 21 years for seeking or from being elected, chosen, appointed as a member or representative of any public office, or any statutory or local authority of the government of Pakistan". The sources say proviso to this section was very important in the present context. It reads: "Provided that any accused person who has availed the benefit of sections 26 and 27 of this ordinance shall also be deemed to have been convicted for an offence under this order, and shall stand disqualified for 21 years as above". According to the sources, it should have been sections 25 and 26 in the proviso instead of sections 26 and 27. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991223 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Government withdraws Secretariat Allowance ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: The National Security Council (NSC) and the federal cabinet on Wednesday decided to withdraw the Secretariat Allowance. "The meeting approved a proposal to withdraw the Secretariat Allowance ab-initio," an official statement said. The employees of the federal secretariat from grade 1 to 16 had been getting the Secretariat Allowance since 1988. Employees of PTV and Radio Pakistan had also been receiving the same allowance. Sources said the decision would hit the employees of the federal secretariat hard as they will face 20 per cent cut in their substantial basic pay. "The withdrawal will deprive all employees of 600 to 1000 rupees," said an employee, requesting not to be identified. "The government announced only one hundred rupees for employees in the economic package but withdrew many times more," he said. Some secretariat employees, who were not getting the allowance, moved the Supreme Court to get it and the apex court had given a verdict in their favour, asking the government to grant the allowance to all the secretariat employees.-NNI DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991223 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reference against Mehtab ready ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ahmad Hassan PESHAWAR, Dec 22: The first reference against ousted NWFP chief minister Sardar Mahtab has been prepared. The reference, which will sent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), concerns making money by felling trees in NWFP forests illegally. The front men of Sardar Mahtab not only cleared the windfall marked by the authorities in Manshera and Kohistan forests but also fell green trees in order to increase the profit which ran into millions of rupees. In the process, over 1.5 million cubic feet timber was taken out of Kohistan and Mansehra forests, a report said. Dawn has learnt on good authority that the case of forest destruction in the guise of windfall and old timber clearance was first prepared by a sensitive agency and sent to ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif who failed to take action on it. Sources said that investigations into a number of other cases of irregularities and abuse of power against Mehtab were in final stages. The case of purchase and transportation of 2,000 Kalashnikov rifles to Punjab for the Elite Force of Nawaz Sharif is also being processed separately, sources said. A close aide of Sardar Mahtab, Major (retd) Aamir, is already in custody in connection with the said case. Similarly, investigation into the illegal import of 0.25 million tons of wheat by Sardar Mahtab through one of his close friends and sharing of millions of dollars of kickbacks are at an advanced stage. Besides, awarding of transportation contracts for wheat to cronies and members of the parliamentary party are also under investigation. The ex-chief minister is also accused of grabbing a big piece of land in Boi, Mansehra district, from a widow. Mahtab and his business partners allegedly earned millions of rupees in the fraud. The agency is also investigating how the former chief minister got a house built on the hills of Abbottabad, using Construction & Works and other government departments. It is also being investigated how the former chief minister acquired the money to build the house. A number of references against other top politicians are also being prepared. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991221 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nawaz challenges ATC's jurisdiction ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Dec 20: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday challenged the jurisdiction of the Anti-Terrorism Court conducting the proceedings of the Oct 12 plane conspiracy case. The petition in this regard was filed by his counsel Ijaz Hussain Batalvi and Khawaja Sultan under Section 196 Cr.P.C. and all other enabling provisions for declaring the proceedings against the petitioner as coram non-judice, unlawful, without jurisdiction and without lawful authority. Justice Shabbir Ahmed, the Administrative Judge of the Anti- Terrorism Court, fixed the petition for hearing on Tuesday. The case is to be stopped here, Batalvi pleaded while moving the application. Advocate General, Sindh, Raja Qureshi, first claimed notice but waived it on receiving a copy. Mr Qureshi pressed for the commencement of the trial but the court adjourned further proceedings till Tuesday. The counsel for Nawaz Sharif maintained that the country being governed by the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, "no other constitution/ law/ order, whether provisional or otherwise, had any validity, legality or sanction for its enforcement or recognition." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991222 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Clinton may skip Pakistan in trip to subcontinent ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shaheen Sehbai WASHINGTON, Dec 21: A senior State Department official on Monday hinted for the first time that President Clinton might skip Pakistan in his forthcoming visit to India and Bangladesh, and that this might be officially announced by the White House soon. "The President is looking forward to his visit to India and Bangladesh," the official told a special briefing for South Asian journalists at the State Department. He then specifically pointed out: "The omission of Pakistan should be taken note of." The final decision in this regard, he added, would be made by the White House. "We are watching Gen Musharraf. We are not seeking comfort zones but want affirmation of the things we had asked for," the official said. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991223 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Child labour elimination efforts lauded ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent SIALKOT, Dec 22: Political officer of the consulate of USA Ms Anjic Bryan, expressing her satisfaction over the elimination of child labour from the export-oriented soccer ball industry of Sialkot, has appreciated the positive and effective measures taken by the Pakistan government in this direction. In a briefing here on Tuesday, she queried what facilities were being provided to the football stitchers, especially the women. She lauded the child labour eradication programme of Sialkot Chamber & Commerce and Industry (SCCI). Ms Bryan said that the USA ministry of trade was satisfied with the elimination of child labour from the export- oriented soccer industry. USA trade ministry would be asked to help the Sialkot business community in recapturing the international trade market. She sought positive suggestions from the Sialkot business community for enhancing mutual trade between USA and Pakistan. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991221 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Arrests in Pakistan not related to terrorism: US ------------------------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON, Dec 20: The White House said on Monday that a wave of arrests reported in Pakistan at the weekend was aimed at domestic crime and did not appear to be related to an international crackdown on "terrorist" suspects. "They arrested a number of individuals, up to 200, in connection with criminal activity in Pakistan," White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said at his daily briefing. "My understanding of the situation is that it has to do with a domestic criminal investigation (which), while very serious in its nature, (is) not necessarily connected to the kind of international terrorism that we've spent a good bit of time engaging. Both with Pakistan and a number of other countries on," Lockhart said. Pakistan and Jordan said last week they had arrested 14 people - one in Pakistan and the rest in Jordan - suspected of belonging to a ring loyal to Afghan-based Saudi exile Osama bin Laden. Those arrests were one of the reasons Washington issued a world- wide warning earlier this month to Americans about a terrorist threat over the New Year period. Jordanian sources say the 13 detained there were planning attacks on tourist and other sites in the kingdom by the end of the year. US officials said the 200 or so arrests in Pakistan may have been related to the killing of a senior Pakistani finance ministry official but gave no further details.-Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991223 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US visa interviews suspended for 30 days ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: "The US embassy in Islamabad announces that, for security reasons, all visa interviews are suspended effective December 23, 1999. This policy will be reviewed in 30 days," says a US Embassy press release issued here on Wednesday. The Embassy emphasised that the Consular Section will remain open for all American citizen services, including applications for US passports and Consular Reports of Birth. "Immigrant visa applicants with scheduled interviews should still appear on their appointed dates and times. Immigrant visa applicants who have received Packet 3.5 may submit the requested documents by commercial courier services only. If the applicant is deemed qualified, he or she will be advised of a future interview date in writing. Immigrant visa applicants who have been previously refused will be required to submit their documents via commercial courier service," the press release added. Applicants for a non-immigrant visa (tourist, business, and student categories) may continue to submit applications via commercial courier service. There will be no personal visa interviews at the US Embassy or drop-box services other than commercial courier service. If eligible without a visa interview, the applicants' visa-stamped passports will be returned. If not, eligible applicants will be so advised and asked to return for an interview at a later date. Applicants are again urged to apply early via courier service for any travel they intend to undertake to the United States," it said.
=================================================================== BUSINESS & ECONOMY 991225 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of taxes to be reduced, says CE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, Dec 24: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf told traders and industrialists that the government was thinking of introducing tax reforms, reducing the number of federal taxes from 32 to three and simplifying the tax collection system. Talking to delegations of the chambers of commerce and industry from Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot, he said the federal government would recover only income tax, duties and the General Sales Tax (GST). He said the government wanted to widen the tax base to increase revenue. For this purpose, he said, the rate of tax could be lowered. Discretionary powers of taxation officials would be done away with, he said. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991225 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Names of 1,500 'tax evaders' put on ECL ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: The government has once again revised the exit control list putting the names of those defaulters on it who have defaulted one million rupees and above. With placing more tax evaders on the exit control list their number has swelled to 3,000. The names of over 1,500 tax evaders have been added to the new list for defaulting taxes and duties of above Rs0.5 million or more. The Central Board of Revenue on Tuesday last, had supplied a fresh list of defaulters to the interior ministry, containing the names of about 1,500 "C" category tax evaders. They have been put on ECL for failing to deposit taxes and were supposed to clear their dues in near future, a time stipulated separately by each of the tax wings of Central Board of Revenue. They revealed that the fresh list contains the names of about 1,500 sales tax evaders, 500 customs duty evaders while the remaining are the income tax and central excise duty evaders. They collectively owe a sum of Rs20 billion, they added. They include those who did not clear their taxes as per notices sent to them. They also include about 100 major defaulters who did not file their income/wealth tax returns despite repeated notices. The list includes those businessmen, reportedly graded as category "A" defaulters by NAB. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991222 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Report on textile quota fraud clarified ------------------------------------------------------------------- KARACHI, Dec 21: Export Promotion Bureau on Tuesday clarified detection of quota fraud in textile exports, saying that the EPB through Minister Trade (Washington) has pointed out a large number of discrepancies in Namesake file provided by the US Customs. In a fax release, the EPB said the report on Monday carrying the impression that alleged fraud has been detected by the US Customs was not correct. It said that these discrepancies when examined by the US authorities did reveral some chances of manipulation by exporters which has not yet been confirmed. The EPB further clarified that quota supervisory council has nothing to do with issuance of visas to exporters as this is the sole responsibility of the Textile Associations on whose recommendation visas are issued by the EPB after proper scrutiny and authenticity. Similarly Auditors are not required to audit of non-quota categories items, it added. The EPB reiterated that the subject is under minute investigation of the Bureau and are making efforts to pinpoint alleged fraudulent manipulation of visas in various categories. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991224 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Concession in mark-up on loan repayment ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter LAHORE, Dec 23: The Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank will give concession in mark-up to those who return their bank loans by at least 30 per cent of the principal amount along with the interest by Dec 31. Bank sources said the concession rate would be announced next month. The bank which generally advances loans through the registered cooperative societies in the province has so far disbursed Rs840 million for the current rabi crops. The Punjab government wants the bank to expedite its loans disbursement plan and hit a target of around Rs2.6 billion by the end of January next year. The loans are available for the purchase of fertilizers, seeds, hiring tractors and paying utility charges by farmers during the present rabi season. Banks mobile teams are also visiting remote areas in the interior to mark the needy for giving credit on easy terms under fresh instructions given to it be the provincial government, bank officials said. There are about 5,725 registered cooperative societies of farmers in Punjab through which the PPCB supplies funds to growers. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991224 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Petroleum dealers decrease prices ------------------------------------------------------------------- KARACHI, Dec 23: Petroleum dealers have lowered the retail prices of four major petroleum products by 15 to 20 paisas per litre throughout the country, following an agreement with the government on December 15, 1999 on increase in their commission. The retail price of Petrol (Regular) was reduced to Rs.27 per litre from Rs.27.15 per litre, Petrol (Supreme/Super) Rs.29 per litre from Rs. 29.20 per litre, High Speed Diesel (HSD) Rs.11.50 per litre from Rs.11.65 per litre and of Hi-Octane to Rs 32 per litre from Rs.32.20 per litre. Talking to the PPI here on Thursday, the Chairman of Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA), Mr Abdul Sami Khan, said the retail prices of four petroleum products involving dealers were reduced last week in accordance with an agreement signed between the PPDA and the government in Karachi recently. He, however, said two private sector oil marketing companies - Caltex and Shell - were not supplying products to petrol pumps. According to the agreement and the dealers had decided not to withdraw cases from courts against the government on the commission issue until the agreement was honoured in its letter and spirit. The two sides agreed that the PPDA would not receive service charges per litre on four major petroleum products on the retail level and the government would pay them an amount equal to these service charges in addition to their one percent commission. They also agreed that in response, the petroleum dealers would immediately withdraw the service charges (on an average 15 to 16 paisas per litre) and sell petroleum products on the government- notified prices. Also, the PPDA will immediately withdraw writ petitions filed in the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan for an increase in the dealers' commission. The issue of increase in the dealers' commission had been going on almost for the last 5 years, when the petroleum dealers started levying service charges in lieu of revision in their commission. The PPDA filed a petition in the Sindh High Court against the government and appealed in the Supreme Court against the judgement- PPI DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991222 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Raw materials - No cash margin on imports: SBP ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Dec 21: The State Bank has clarified to all the banks that letters of credit for the import of industrial raw material can be opened without any cash margin. The clarification has come in the form a letter issued to all banks on Tuesday. The letter says the State Bank has learnt that some banks are asking commercial importers to provide 35 per cent cash margin on LCs of industrial raw material. It says demanding cash margin on LCs of industrial raw material was in violation of the State Bank circulars on the subject. "It is clarified that there are no minimum margin restrictions for import of industrial raw materials by commercial/industrial importers." On October 14 the State Bank had imposed cash margin of 10 per cent on import of industrial raw material. It had also imposed 20 per cent margin on import of machinery and spare parts and 35 per cent on import of all other items except for some essential items. But the cash margins on import of industrial raw materials and machinery and spare parts were withdrawn on October 27 and October 31 respectively. Currently a 35 per cent margin remains in force in case of import of other items. Senior bankers say this margin may also be phased out in next six months. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991224 ------------------------------------------------------------------- State Bank of Pakistan mops up Rs5bn ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Dec 23: The State Bank on Thursday mopped up Rs 5.0bn from the inter-bank money market through outright sale of treasury bills. Senior bankers said the SBP raised the amount at the maximum yield of 9.9%. They said SBP had received bids worth Rs 12.9bn for the T bills of which it accepted bids worth Rs 5bn and scrapped the remainder. They said in the two-way OMO SBP also had received Rs 8.8bn worth of offers for two-weeks and one-month reverse repo but all the offers were rejected. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991223 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tax amnesty scheme: CBR to confiscate assets on mis-declarations ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has been authorised to make outright confiscation's, and to initiate penalty prosecutions against the persons who fail to declare, under or mis- declare their incomes and assets, by availing the money benefits of whitening scheme announced by the government. The CBR sources told Dawn here on Wednesday that the CBR has been given powers to proceed for confiscation without serving notice for second-time explanations on ownership/possession; not to allow any area as immune as all the previously whitening schemes intended to ensure incomes/assets declarations through payment of a stipulated rate of tax, failed as the immunities were in operation alongside such schemes. All immunities under the whitening scheme like foreign currency deposit accounts (FCAs), Foreign Currency Bearer Certificates (FCBCs) Dollar Bearers Certificates (DBCs) Special US Dollar Bonds (USDBs), both registered and bearers, purchase of government land etc would have to be disclosed, to avoid confiscation and penalty proceedings, says a directive. It allows the CBR to take action under the Income Tax Ordinance and Wealth Tax Act. Through a summary to the federal cabinet, the ministry has informed that the whitening scheme launched in 1997, attracted yielded only Rs141 million in tax as only 2522 declarations were made under the scheme. Out of these, only 20 per cent related to business incomes and assets while the rest of the declarations reflected non- business assets and incomes. The primary reason for this poor response to the scheme was that a number of immunities were available to those targeted under the scheme like the immunities on FEBCs, USBs, FCAs etc. India, on the other hand, launched its whitening scheme the same year (1997) under the title "Voluntary Disclosure of Incomes (VDIS), which yielded Rs100 billion in tax, while the assets and incomes declared valued Rs330 billion, in 466031 declarations. The scheme mandates payment of 10% tax for regularizing undisclosed and untaxed incomes and assets which, declared under the scheme, will be immune from action under Income Tax Ordinance and Wealth Tax Act. The scheme will cover all incomes earned and assets acquired up to June 30, 1999. Assets not declared by the last date of filing of declaration under the scheme shall be confiscated without any compensation. Non- declaration or mis-declaration shall also entail prosecution and penalty proceedings. All immunities under the whitening scheme like foreign currency deposit accounts (FCAs), Foreign Currency Bearer Certificates (FCBCs) Dollar Bearers Certificates (DBCs) Special US Dollar Bonds (USDBs), both registered and bearers, purchase of government land etc would have to be disclosed, to avoid confiscation and penalty proceedings. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991224 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Investors fail to respond to new credit rating ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Dec 23: Shares on the Karachi Stock Exchange on Thursday turned in a highly volatile performance as investors remained busy with their portfolio adjustments before resuming covering purchases. The upgrading of Pakistan foreign currency rating from selective default to single minus by Moodys and Standard & Poors, the well- known world credit rating agencies did enthuse investors but they could not respond positively owing to some technical problems related to clearing. An idea of the market's two-sided movement may well be had from the fact that the KSE 100-share index early was modestly higher but the mid-session saw it falling by 15 points before the buying flurry toward the closing bell again put it back on the rails. After breaching the psychological barrier of 1,400 points at one stage, it finally ended around 1,407.96 as compared to 1,407.49 a day earlier, showing a fractional rise of 0.47 points. The late recovery before a long weekend, comprising three closures means that the market has already absorbed bulk of the year-end selling and now could embark up fresh buying for the millennium. 'The next week could witness the advent of the year-end buying and that could lift the index to new year's peak'", analysts believe. The erratic performance of the market was attributed to a long weekend ahead as it will now reopen on next Monday owing to Saturday's public holiday on account of Birthday of the founder of Pakistan and Friday being official closure during the month of Ramazan. But selling was well-absorbed as investors and brokerage houses are not inclined to think that the current run-up is overdone and their optimism has some sound reason behind. 'It is not a speculation but a fact that the KSE 100-share index now will fluctuate between 1,500 and 1,700.00 points', most stock analysts basing their assessment on the developing corporate scenario said. They said we are eying on the total market capitalization of Rs410bn, which has recent fallen as low as Rs324bn and the target is expected to be achieved during the next trading week. The news from the Hubco front were a bit bearish after WAPDA chairman's statement that the corruption case may be referred to the Ehtasab Bureau as was reflected in renewed selling in its share. Some other leading shares also attracted selling owing to coming holidays as no one was inclined to hold on to long positions but there nothing wrong in the corporate background news. Advancing shares managed to force a strong lead over the losing ones after trailing far behind during the last two sessions and the final count showed 99 plus against 44 minus signs, with 50 shares holding on to the last levels. BOC Pakistan, which rose by Rs9.00 was the top gainer followed by EFU Life, IGI and Lever Brothers, which rose by Rs2.00 to Rs10.00. Dawood Leasing, Bank of Punjab, Commercial Union Insurance, Ravi Textiles and Dawood Hercules also rose by one rupee to Rs1.50. PSO led the list of losers, falling by Rs8.50 on active selling followed by Engro Chemical, off Rs5.35, Pak Datacom, Kohinoor Textiles, Din Textiles, General Tyre and Crescent Jute, which suffered fall ranging from one rupee to Rs2.95. Trading volume fell to 140m shares from the previous 148.323m shares owing to the absence of sellers. The most active list was topped by Hub-Power, easy 45 paisa at Rs22.00 on 30m shares followed by PSO, off Rs8.50 at Rs196.50 on 23m shares, FFC-Jordan Fertiliser up 90 paisa at Rs12.30 also on 23m shares, PTCL, up 15 paisa at Rs2.160 on 18m shares and ICI Pakistan, firm by 10 paisa at Rs10.80 on 12m shares. DEFAULTING COMPANIES: Mian Textiles came in for active renewed support and was traded unchanged on 4,000 shares, while Khurshid Textiles followed it unchanged on 1,000 shares. Zafara International came in for active selling but there were not many buyers and was last quoted off Rs2.75 on 500 shares. Market at a glance TONE: steady, total listed 769, actives 193, inactives 576, plus 99, minus 44, unc 50. KSE 100-SHARE INDEX: Previous 1,407.49, today's 1,407.96, up 0.47 points. TOP TEN: gainers BOC Pakistan Rs9.00, Lever Brothers Rs10.00, IGI Rs2.50, EFU Life Rs2.05, Dawood Leasing Rs1.50. LOSERS: PSO Rs8.50, Engro Chemical Rs5.35, Pak Datacom Rs2.95, Kohinoor Textiles Rs1.65, Din Textiles Rs1.00. TOTAL VOLUME: 140.019m shares. VOLUME LEADERS: Hub-Power 29.481m, PSO 23.371m, FFC-Jordan Fertiliser 22.614m, PTCL 17.761m, ICI Pakistan 12.385m shares. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991224 ------------------------------------------------------------------- CBR warns sales tax evaders ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ikram Hoti ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: The federal government has directed the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) to submit the list of those sales tax evaders who fail to deposit their arrears under the one-time relief package offered by the CBR with immunity from payment of 75% of the penalties and additional tax by December 30, '99. CBR officials told Dawn here on Thursday that the names of such persons would be placed on the Exit Control List and officials of the Sales Tax Department authorised to arrest these defaulters. They added that the immunity scheme, announced on December 17, 1999, will be operative till December 30, 1999, and the listed evaders of arrears would have to pay the arrears of principal amount, plus 25% of the amounts of additional tax and penalties. The evaders have been advised to deposit these amounts under the head of Account 1220000-Sales Tax, in any of the designated branches of the National Bank of Pakistan.Back to the top
=================================================================== EDITORIALS & FEATURES 991224 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Military justice: the good and the not so good ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ayaz Amir THE old gag that "military justice is to justice what military music is to music" is amusing but not wholly accurate if for no other reason than that Beethoven himself has written some rousing military marches, strong enough to make even the dead turn in their graves. If military music (occasionally) was good enough for him, no one else has the right to cavil at it. Indeed the Army School of Music in Abbottabad should seriously think of basing some marching tunes on Beethoven's music. This would be an improvement on some of the duller melodies that have become part of the army's repertoire ever since the zeal to move away from the tradition of British things became one of the touchstones of our patriotism. Needless to say, this spirit of reform has mostly touched the surface of the army's existence, leaving its essence still very much faithful to its British foundations. Which is another proof of our dedication to cosmetic changes: of making concessions to tokenism. As for military justice, there should be little doubt that people at large were happily for it in the wake of the dramatic events of October 12. Indeed, the strong show of popular support for the military takeover rested on two counts: (1) people were sick and tired of Nawaz Sharif and the never-ending follies of the heavy mandate and (2) because the takeover held out the promise of swift and ruthless accountability. Since then public perceptions have shifted. Partly because, being an emotional people, we are liable to sharp swings of mood. Partly because the military government has signally failed to keep pace with popular expectations. When the first batch of well-heeled defaulters was caught on November 17 a wave of enthusiasm swept the country. But as the accountability drive faltered, this feeling evaporated. While the momentum may pick up again, a poor impression remains of the army's tactics. Imagine the same thing on the battle-field: the first wave of assault being brought to a grinding halt the very moment it achieves a breakthrough. It would not be called very smart generalship. The other charge against the current accountability drive has to do with the narrowness of its focus. While those caught in the first flush of the army's revolutionary zeal remain behind bars (that too in police stations where accommodation standards are worse than in jails), other carpetbaggers known for their financial skullduggery remain untouched. This selective zeal raises questions about the army's performance. True, evidence is required before nailing anyone. But in Pakistan the scale of plunder over the last decade and a half has been such that on a clear day the relevant evidence should be visible from the moon. From where did Humayun Akhtar get the money for his bottling interests? What explains the rise and rise of Gujrat money? Even in poor, lowly Chakwal, General Majid Malik when he first entered politics in 1985 did not own a single brick in the entire town. Thanks to 14 years of sustained effort, he is now a successful rancher and, amongst other things, part-owner of the town's biggest bus adda. This does not mean (perish the thought) that he should be crucified but his example throws light on how far successful entrepreneurship can go in Pakistan on very little. Then we say this is not a business-friendly country. Ask Sadruddin Hashwani, the hotel-owner, who likes entertaining senior military figures. He certainly would not disagree. While it is easy to pick on politicians, the worst offenders perhaps are mandarins who remain in advantageous positions no matter which government is in power. If the true story of the Ahmad Sadiks, the Farooquis and the Saeed Mehdis were ever written, mere politicos would look like babes in the wood--barring, of course, the Sharifs, the tycoons of Gujrat and the other political pontiffs who have imparted a wholly new meaning to the marriage of power and money in Pakistan. And what about high-flying bankers? In a sense the current drive against defaulters is flawed because it touches only the loan- takers not the loan-givers. Unless crooked bankers get it in the neck too the right precedents will not be set. The stuck-in-the mud accountability that we are seeing, therefore, is self-revelatory. While it shows what the army is capable of when it is singleminded, it also draws a circle around its limitations. Take, for instance, the case of the Mehran Bank largesse funnelled to Muslim League politicians in the 1990 elections. How much General Beg took from the banker Yunus Habib, how much was put into secret accounts and which politicians were the beneficiaries of this bounty is all known and even on record. A former spymaster, Lt Gen Durrani, has even given a signed and sealed affidavit in this connection. Since Nawaz Sharif's name also appears in this list, he can be thrown out of politics for life on this count alone. But mention this case and faces go hard and blank. The only charitable explanation for this is that it cuts too close to the bone. This defensive attitude is understandable but it can often be taken to excessive lengths. While the army never tires of proclaiming that it is the only effectively-functioning institution left in the country (a claim which, rightly or wrongly, finds widespread support in Pakistan), what it fails to realize is that its self- confidence on occasion falls short of the role it assigns to itself in national life. For example, it bristles too much at sharp criticism which nowhere in the world would be taken as the hallmark of a self-confident posture. With the above paragraph as a preface, let me come straight to the disturbing case of one of my former colleagues in the Punjab assembly, Rana Sanaullah from Faisalabad. On November 25 at a meeting of suspended Muslim League parliamentarians at the residence of Ch. Pervez Ellahi in Lahore, several persons spoke, including Rana Sanaullah. Some of the remarks he made were intemperate and uncalled for. I have checked this from other sources who confirm that he said things against the army he should not have. Two days later a case was registered against Rana Sanaullah at the Ghalib Market Thana in Lahore. On November 28 he was picked up from his house in Faisalabad and brought to the Qila Gujar Singh police station in Lahore. The morning of November 29 he remained in the lock-up. At night, I am told, around 9.30 pm he was taken out of his cell and under armed escort taken to the vicinity of the Lahore airport. There he was blindfolded and put on a jeep. After travelling some distance he was taken out, his hands were tied and so tightly yanked up that his feet could barely touch the ground. Then followed a severe whipping by two people who knew their trade, in all 20-20 lashes being given in this manner. With blood streaming down his body Rana Sanaullah was brought back to his cell at the Qila Gujjar Singh thana. Now he is lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail. If the information I have received is wrong I deserve to be punished. If it is correct it portrays a barbarity which brings shame on all of us. Granted that Rana Sanaullah said things he should not have. Still, he was only delivering a speech and not planning to throw a bomb or committing any other act of terrorism. But suppose, for argument's sake, it was violence he had in mind. Does even that justify the treatment he received? Carlos was the scourge of the western world. Picked up in a sting operation from Sudan he was taken to France where he is now behind bars. But was he ever tortured or subjected to the lash? The Baader-Meinhof gang in West Germany, the Red Army in Japan, were committed to waging war against their societies. But when caught their members were not denied due process of law. Rana Sanaullah is no member of the Baader-Meinhof gang. While not an intimate of mine, I say it from personal knowledge that he was one of the more aware and intelligent members of the suspended Punjab assembly. He did not deserve this. Since he is unknown to Madeleine Albright or Karl Inderfurth (not to mention CNN and BBC) his arrest and punishment are unlikely to ripple the waters of international tranquillity. But that is hardly the point. Such behaviour as Rana Sanaullah has suffered hurts him less than it diminishes all Pakistanis. When Najam Sethi was arrested by the last government on the grounds that a speech he had delivered in New Delhi threatened the security of Pakistan, it made Pakistan look small and ridiculous by suggesting that Pakistan was so insecure as to feel threatened by a mere speech. The same holds true for Rana Sanaullah. While his words on that particular occasion were foolish, the reaction to them shows the country in a dim light. Since the Governor Punjab, Lt Gen Safdar, is too busy issuing orders of the day (old habits obviously dying hard) I will say nothing to him. But can the Corps Commander, Lahore, be asked to look into the matter and, if nothing else, at least ensure decent treatment for Rana Sanaullah in Kot Lakhpat Jail? A word in the end about Mushahid Hussain. The exuberance he showed as Nawaz Sharif's information minister is a matter between him and his conscience. Of concern now is his present plight. He is being held without charge, is being denied due process and his family knows nothing of his whereabouts. Why must we do things in this fashion? It is wrong and far from making us look good, only helps our enemies to paint a darker picture of us. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991225 ------------------------------------------------------------------- A column for Christmas ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Irfan Husain Very soon after he took over, General Musharraf spoke out in a refreshingly direct manner against religious extremism. This unambiguous statement was reinforced by his publicly stated admiration for modern secular Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Pasha. While many rational Pakistanis here and abroad took some comfort from the general's straightforward words and waited for action, the religious right immediately attacked these sentiments. Since then, the general and his spokesmen have maintained a discreet silence on the matter. When I mentioned this to a senior member of this government, he repeated the now-familiar plea for more time. But why does the general need more time to enunciate his policy on the status of the minorities, for example? Surely if he can make detailed pronouncements on the state of the economy, he can tell us how he will safeguard the rights of our minorities. If he would like to hear the voice of a member of this threatened community, let me reproduce below excerpts of an e-mail I received last month from a Pakistani-American reader who now lives safely in the United States. His name is J. Philip, and he was a student at St Patrick's School, General Musharraf's alma mater: I understand the Chief Executive is from St Pat's... In any case he wouldn't be a fanatic like Zia and that's the good part. I wonder though whether he would do away with divisive laws like the separate electorate laws, something very dear to the hearts of minorities. Also, other laws like the one on blasphemy is again a life and death issue for minorities... I sometimes feel the country has abandoned me with all these laws and I am scared to think about coming back for a visit. This is true for most other minorities I have talked to here. I sometimes wonder how the minorities in Kashmir - since about 25% of Kashmiris are Hindus or Buddhists - would feel about being in a state controlled by Pakistan. I guess these questions would not be in the minds of anybody given the problems the country faces... For the past 50 years the Kashmir issue has been the issue of supreme importance for which half the country was lost and the rest [remains] mired in poverty. Isn't it time for a change?" I think all of us who belong to the majority Muslim population of this country should be ashamed that members of the minority should feel so unsafe in Pakistan that they fear returning to their homes. Even Pakistanis going to India for a visit don't feel so insecure. This is a truly damning comment on what we have been reduced to as a nation. While we blame Zia for virtually disenfranchising the minorities through his separate electorate ordinance, the fact is that since his death eleven years ago, no civilian government has moved to undo this divisive law. To his credit, Farooq Leghari has included the repeal of separate electorates in his Millat Party's manifesto, but apart from him, no mainstream politician - even a self-proclaimed liberal like Benazir Bhutto - has raised his or her voice against it. What J. Philip has said about Kashmiri non-Muslims is also very relevant. While beating our pathetic little drum to raise support for our stance on Kashmir, we fail to consider the fact that given our terrible track record of dealing with our own minorities, the world is hardly likely to entrust the fate of millions of non- Muslims to us. If we can't safeguard the rights of our Christian, Hindu and Ahmadi citizens, we are clearly incapable of guaranteeing the lives and property of Kashmiri non-Muslims. As it is, Kashmiri mujahideen groups are targeting innocent Hindus, apart from attacking Muslims who do not support them. Fortunately, bigotry and intolerance are limited to a small number of highly vocal and well-armed fanatics whose influence far exceeds their numbers. After years of financial and administrative support from Zia throughout the Eighties, they have become accustomed to setting the national agenda. Unfortunately, a succession of supine civilian governments just could not summon the gumption to face them down, even though both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif had a common interest in confronting and routing these enemies of democracy. The question now before us is whether the present military government has the will to address this problem. I place this issue very high on any rational set of priorities. Currently, Pakistan is being viewed as a breeding ground of religious intolerance and an exporter of fanatical terrorists. Our image abroad is so awful that few foreigners are willing to risk coming here. When we talk about increasing tourism and foreign investment, we are totally out of touch with reality. As long as the perception in the international community is that Pakistan is a haven for terrorist gangs, only the foolhardy will invest here, or visit these shores for a holiday. Scores of non-Muslims are currently languishing in jails across the country on trumped-up charges under the Blasphemy Act. Under this Act, it is easy for a couple of people to swear they heard or saw a non-Muslim blaspheme against the holy Prophet (PBUH). Since the automatic punishment for such a crime is death, this has become an easy way to settle old scores or acquire somebody's property. Also, many Ahmadis have been sentenced for the simple "crime" of saying or writing "Bismillah ir Rahman ir Rahim." And yet we take great pleasure if a foreigner manages to recite. Under such circumstances, it comes as no surprise that J. Philip and his co-religionists should feel threatened in Pakistan. Growing up in Karachi, I, too studied at St Patrick's around the same time General Musharraf did. Apart from Christians, Parsis and Hindus, we even had a couple of Jews studying with us. Nobody bothered about each other's faith. We played and fought as boys do, and survived under the ministrations of tough disciplinarians like Father Tony Lobo. When I returned to the school a few years ago out of pure nostalgia, I was shocked to see that there were hardly any non- Muslim names in the class lists on the notice board. So despite Mr Jinnah's assurances to the minorities that they would be treated as equal citizens in Pakistan, the sad fact is that we have not kept faith with the founder of the nation. But can General Musharraf undo the harm his uniformed predecessor, General Zia, did not just to the minorities, but to the whole country? Only time will tell, but meanwhile, let me wish my Christian readers a very happy Christmas. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991225 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Giving police a human face ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Aziz Siddiqui THE Chief Executive says whatever he touches he finds stinking to high heaven. That is no news. The challenge is to change that. One area of putrefaction is that of the police. The stench is perhaps nowhere more pervasive. Nothing is more in need of correction, and nothing more possible of at least early initiatives at correction. The experts will go into the structural and organizational flaws; the problems of check and supervision; the inadequacies in recruitment, training and equipment; the mismatch between duties and emoluments, expectation and resources, informal authority and formal constraints. All that is important. It has to be worked over in detail. That exercise is said to be under way. The interior minister has promised total reform in the next three months. He has given tidings of a national public safety commission amendments in the PPC, CrPC, Police Act and Evidence Act, preclusion of political interference, involvement of the community, etc. All that is good. The police force is after all what the society has made it. And in its ugliest features it has been cast most of all in the image of the rulers we have had. The present rulers can make a contribution too for better or worse - though it is difficult to see what can be worse. A few changes however need not await the total overhaul. The government can demonstrate its seriousness even ahead of that a few of the grave symptoms and work backwards. Take a couple of recent incidents. One is the murder at the hands of the police (some law enforcement agency, they say, which is much the same thing for the rest of us) of a part-time newspaperman Nawaz Zulfiqar Memon of Thatta. The facts should have been easy to establish, the culprits easier to identify. Yet, after more than a week of the tragedy, the authorities are yet to come up with their findings, if they have been at it at all. Why? Surely, that isn't much of an earnest of the minister's promise of stiff punishments to erring policemen? Then as the story goes, Memon had been laid into by the goons of a local landlord when he had tried to stop their belabouring a van driver. His efforts to register an FIR of the incident drew a blank even at the SSP level. His pestering at last compelled recording of the complaint, but that was the end of it. Nothing followed.He decided to approach authorities in Islamabad. This is a part of the abominable order. When persons of any influence are involved in a crime, they make sure no one is able to file a complaint of it. Often they do not even have to bother. The policemen concerned themselves exercise abundant caution. They do not venture anything that is sure to annoy their local patrons. The patrons thus enjoy the licence of limitless lawlessness. The evil will of course have to await the promised reform, and much else to begin to be rooted out. It will take some dismantling of the power of the feudals and according to the local community some authority over the local police. But why not meanwhile begin with some little things? Such as setting up of an easy channel for redressal of complaints against non-registration of an FIR, or inaction over a registered FIR? It may only require some persons outside the bureaucratic hierarchy, but with sufficient authority, to respond to such complaints and ask the necessary questions of the people concerned. Then, who were the so-called law-enforcement agency people who seized Memon at the Islamabad airport? And why? Either the influential one in Thatta was so influential that he could play puppets even out in the federal capital - which is not unlikely. Or the law enforcers in Islamabad are so jumpy that they bridle at the sight of any unfamiliar face. This too isn't unlikely. A letter in a newspaper the other day complained of how five persons, all engineers serving in senior positions in business establishments in Islamabad, were stopped during one of their daily evening drives along Constitutional Avenue and subjected to a humiliatingly extended body and car search. It is plain silly. You don't overtake a would-be terrorist or a would-be assassin by making a routine of harassing common citizens. The series of rocket attacks in the capital on November 12 proved that. Karachi was bad enough. People there are not too ready even now to drive out late in the evenings through unbusy stretches of roads for fear of a holdup - by the police patrol. Gen. Moinuddin Haidar and his provincial counterparts ought to consider ways to strictly limit such meddling with citizens only to sensitive areas or on specific tip-offs. Then, how many law enforcement agencies are there? There were more than half a dozen at last count. It is hard to think of a country with so much of law-enforcement and so little of enforcement of the law. There ought to be some quick rationalisation of the number and functions of these bodies. The present medley makes for more of needling of the innocent and less of security of the nation. Much worse than needling in Memon's case.Worst of all is the use of the third degree. Torture is as routinely practised by the police as it is emphatically prohibited by the law and the constitution. The Punjab governor proclaimed the other day that there shall no more be any extra-judicial killing in the province. Thank you very much. But why not also a ban on torture? (the regime can even win some much-needed international goodwill by announcing a readiness to sign the UN Convention against Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, though leaving the ratification of it to a future elected parliament.) If that is not done, torture can even get worse, if that is possible. For denial to the police their freedom to kill may only enhance their tendency to inflict pain. The frustration on one side will be vented on the other. Not being able to kill will be made up by rendering living more and more of a punishment itself. And it will be presumed to be okay by the governor so long as it is kept just short of the last gasp. Torture often leaves its marks. Instances of the use of it cannot therefore be denied, although the police brazenly denies them all the time. Ishaq Billa, the accomplice of the self-proclaimed abuser and killer of a hundred boys, was claimed to have jumped out the CIA office window while he was being interrogated by the police, and died. A judicial inquiry had an autopsy done on the dead body and concluded that no, before falling from the window he had been subjected to torture. A case of murder was registered against the concerned police officials. Then for some reason, the judicial finding was not considered conclusive enough. So this time an army inquest was set up. It had the body taken out again and then somehow it arrived at the view that there had been no torture! That the man had died of the fall. There was no explanation how the earlier autopsy had so badly goofed. The Lahore High Court has since ordered release of the first report. That is still, till this writing, to be done. This whole child-killing episode gets curiouser and curiouser. And the reason in the common perception is not entirely that the mystery is hard to crack. People suspect complicity of the police in the crime. In another case of murder, the Lahore High Court last week made some strong remarks against the police. Some policemen had killed a hospital lift-boy, then had their legal branch certify it as an accidental killing, and on the strength of that had a magistrate grant them bail (although a magistrate wasn't even entitled to do that). Does firing one shot after another at the same person constitute accidental killing, the judge asked of the magistrate before throwing him out of the court. Our policemen, he added, shoot at people the way others take aim at deers in the wild. Strong words. But the courts should know. It is that kind of a situation that Gen. Moinuddin Haider has to face to bring rule of law into our midst. His test begins with how the government responds to the current incidents. What it does with the killers of Zulfiqar Memon, both in Islamabad and in Thatta. What steps it takes so that the various failures shown up are never repeated - steps especially in terms of loosening the feudal hold over the police, guaranteeing registration and investigation of FIRs, and ending the use of torture. And how it not only resolves the mystery of that killer of children, but makes repetition of crimes of such ghastly proportions far more unlikely than they are now. The stench will take a lot of cleansing. But it can begin to be done.
=================================================================== SPORTS 991223 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PCB request for change in teleconference date ------------------------------------------------------------------- Samiul Hasan KARACHI, Dec 22: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ad hoc committee on Wednesday admitted that it has received a 20-minute video footage and a letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC) who have objected to the bowling action of tearaway fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. A PCB spokesman refused to disclose the contents of the letter by ICC cricket manager operations Clive Hitchcock, but he acknowledged that the video included bowling actions of Shoaib from warm up matches as well as from Test matches in Australia. "On Tuesday afternoon, the PCB received the video footage and letter from the ICC on the bowling action of Shoaib Akhtar," PCB secretary Shafqat Rana said from Lahore on telephone. Rana confirmed that the ICC has fixed Dec 30 as the date for the teleconference of its nine-man advisory panel on illegal deliveries to discuss Shoaib's bowling action. Pakistan will be represented by former captain Imran Khan. Nevertheless, Rana added that the PCB has requested the ICC to either hold the teleconference on Dec 26 or after the conclusion of the tri-nation series in Australia which begins on Jan 9 and concludes on Feb 6. Rana said the request has been made because the Pakistan cricket team leaves for Australia on Dec 29 "and it would be an unkind act for Shoaib if he is declared ineligible to play in the series after being suspended by the advisory panel." Rana, however, stressed that Shoaib Akhtar will not be pulled out from the team despite the latest turn of events. "He has been selected and will accompany the team to Australia because the ICC letter doesn't say that Shoaib Akhtar can't play until cleared by the advisory panel," Rana said. Nevertheless, sources in the cricket board said the officials were contemplating pulling out Shoaib Akhtar from the Australia-bound team. Sources added that Shahid Nazir and Waqar Younis were being considered for selection. But they stressed that final decision will be announced on Friday when PCB chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia holds his first press conference in Lahore. John Reid, who was the match referee in the three-Test series between Australia and Pakistan, had questioned the legality of Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action. He was supported by Peter Willey and Darrell Hair who officiated the Perth Test which Pakistan lost by an innings. Hitchcock says in the letter: "...the report by the match referee has made it clear that not every delivery is affected but all three officials were concerned about the straightening of Shoaib's arm immediately before a bouncer or an express fast delivery." However, Shafqat Rana said a five-man panel of the PCB, comprising former Test players, categorically rejected Reid's observation. He said that on Tuesday afternoon, Javed Miandad, Ramiz Raja, Intikhab Alam, Zakir Khan and he, along with PCB chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia, manager of the team Brig (retd) Khawaja Nasir and Col. Pervaiz watched the 20-minute video. "All the members were of the unanimous opinion that Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action had no fault. His arm, as observed by everyone, was straight before the release of the ball," Rana said. Shafqat Rana said the PCB was dejected and upset with John Reid's report. He said Reid was the match referee in last year's three- Test series in South Africa between Pakistan and South Africa where Shoaib Akhtar played in all the matches. "But Reid never mentioned in his report that he had suspicions about Shoaib's bowling action. Now all of a sudden, when Darrell Hair stood in the Perth Test, Reid came up with this theory," the PCB secretary said. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram angrily dismissed doubts over the legality of Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 991225 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Commission report: PCB outlines policy ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Samiul Hasan KARACHI, Dec 24: The new Pakistan cricket chief on Friday spelled out his board's policy on the ongoing match-fixing and betting saga that has also rocked the sport internationally. Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia, talking to Dawn from Lahore on telephone, emphasized that he would take no action against the cricketers until and unless advised by the patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board. "The report of the judicial commission has been sent to the ministry of sports. I don't know if it has been delivered to President Rafiq Tarar. But the PCB would act only if the president orders action against players," the general said. The PCB chairman stressed that the judicial commission was constituted by the government. He stated that the government was only entitled to take decision against the players which would be implemented by the board if told. "I have not been appointed to start investigating foul play and destabilize the team. My assignment is to streamline Pakistan cricket and its team," he asserted. The PCB ad hoc committee chairman said he had complete faith in the cricketers. But he minced no words in saying that if the president ordered action against the players, "there would be no delay in implementing the orders." He said he has not asked the ministry of sports to provide him the copy of a judicial commission report. He said he was not interested in going through the investigations. "As far as I am concerned, all the players are innocent until proven guilty. And if there is any evidence against the players, then the orders should come from the government," he remarked. "The cricketers are very well paid off. The board takes the best possible care of them. After all this, no one expects them to give priority to their own interests than the interest of the team and the country," said the general. The general said he was planning to go to Australia during the tri- nation series either by the end of January or early February. He said his travel would depend on his engagements. Asked if he would be discussing the subject of sledging, the general said a lot of matters of bilateral interests would be discussed. The general said he would be attending an International Cricket Council (ICC) conference to be held in Singapore in the second week of February. On the Shoaib Akhtar's throwing row, the PCB chairman said the bowler had full blessings of the board and promised all out support to him. He pointed out that after watching the 20-minute video provided by the ICC, one thing was quite evident. "No shot has been taken from the mid-wicket camera. Not only me, but the entire panel who watched the video, was of the unanimous opinion that mid-wicket camera is the best angel to judge if Shoaib's arm was coming from the top." The general questioned the fixing of Dec 30 date for the teleconference in the background that the board received a communication from the ICC inquiring about the availability of Imran Khan who is Pakistan's representative on the nine-man advisory panel on illegal deliveries. "How can the ICC fix a date without consulting the availability of Pakistan's representative. After fixing the date, they are looking for Imran. It's quite strange," he said. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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