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DAWN WIRE SERVICE
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Week Ending : 27 February 1999 Issue : 05/09
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Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
The DAWN Wire Service (DWS) is a free weekly news-service from
Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the daily DAWN. DWS
offers news, analysis and features of particular interest to the
Pakistani Community on the Internet.
Extracts, not exceeding 50 lines, can be used provided that this
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(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 1999
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CONTENTS
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NATIONAL NEWS
+ Pakistan calls for troop cut in Kashmir
+ Declaration termed milestone: No concessions made at summit: FO
+ Ties with Pakistan to grow, says Chi
+ Army asked to continue helping Sindh govt
+ WAPDA asked to recover Rs10bn dues
+ ADB rules out fresh aid amid sanctions
+ Metropolitan police plan shelved
+ D-8 to play active role, hopes Sartaj
+ Pakistan declines invitation to attend world moot
+ Altaf flays Nawaz for singling out Karachi
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BUSINESS & ECONOMY
+ Pakistan, India default on palm oil purchases
+ MCA issues show cause notices to 16 cement cos
+ Cotton crop to reach 8.7 million bales: APC
+ Tax-payers penalized, claim businessmen
+ Power rates may go up by 11.52pc from March
+ Economy shows 3.5pc growth in 8 months
+ Exports to Afghanistan allowed against rupee
+ Penalties on banks if dollar bonds not encashed on time
+ Dar informs KCCI: 10pc margin on LCs withdrawn from today
+ Austria offers to make Pakistan Steel viable
+ KSE experiences another dull trading session
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EDITORIALS & FEATURES
+ 'Transactions' Ardeshir Cowasjee
+ A new beginning Irfan Husain
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SPORTS
+ Pakistan beat India by 46 runs in Asian Test opener
+ Pakistan win U-19 one-day series against South Africa
+ India beat Pakistan 3-2 to end series on a winning note
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NATIONAL NEWS
990225
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Pakistan calls for troop cut in Kashmir
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Pakistan on Wednesday urged India to reduce
troops' concentration in held Kashmir, give human rights to the
people and allow Kashmiri leadership to visit Pakistan as part of
the confidence building measures (CBMs) towards normalization of
ties between the two countries.
"The CBMs being undertaken by Pakistan and India will not be
complete unless similar measures are taken in held Kashmir like
thinning out of troops, reduction of repression and permission to
leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference to visit Pakistan,"
Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz told reporters at the Foreign Office.
"I hope India will respond to it," he said.
Aziz said India had accepted the reality that solution of Kashmir
issue was vital for the normalization of relations between New
Delhi and Islamabad. "It is for the first time that India has shown
willingness to discuss Kashmir issue," he said in reference to the
various statements by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
during his recent visit to Lahore.
When asked at what level the nuclear-related issues would be
discussed by the two sides, the minister said peace and security
were part of the agenda for the secretary-level talks.
Earlier, Mr Aziz told a press conference on the outcome of Nawaz-
Vajpayee summit that it was for the first time India had agreed to,
"seriously discuss the issue," of Kashmir.
He said the UN Security Council resolutions were the basic
framework seeking the settlement of Kashmir issue. "But this is the
beginning," and it was too early to make prediction.
Aziz said it was not only India and Pakistan but international
community too, had promised Kashmiris, their right to self-
determination.
Both India and Pakistan, he said, agreed during Nawaz-Vajpayee
summit to notify each other before carrying out ballistic missiles
tests.-APP
CTBT: To a question about CTBT, Aziz reiterated Pakistan was ready
to adhere to the treaty by September 1999 in an atmosphere free of
coercion and sanctions adding the process has begun with partial
lifting of sanctions by the US.
Asked if Pakistan would adhere to the treaty before India did it,
he said Islamabad's position on the issue was not linked with New
Delhi. He said even if Pakistan signed CTBT, it would not prevent
us from computer simulation tests.
NPT: Aziz said that the signing of Nuclear Proliferation Treaty
(NPT) was not under debate because it recognized only five
countries as nuclear powers.
"There is no question of it because we cannot join NPT as a non-
nuclear power and in the present shape of NPT, only five countries
are nuclear powers and they do not accept others", he said in a
telephonic interview with Voice of America (VOA).
"Therefore, either they amend the treaty and allow us entry as
nuclear power, then we may join. But the signing of NPT is not
under debate as yet", he added.
SECRETARY-LEVEL TALKS: Aziz said next round of Pakistan-India
foreign secretary-level talks would be held either by end of March
or early April to discuss priority issues of peace and security.
"Foreign ministers of the two countries will meet within one month
after foreign secretary level talks to review progress achieved
during the talks on all agenda items", he said.
Asked if the foreign ministers would also discuss matters relating
to minimum credible nuclear deterrence, he said they would review
the progress.
He did not agree with a questioner that talks between the two
countries was a zero-sum game. "I do not agree to this contention
as both the sides especially India has now agreed to move ahead.
But this is impossible till issue of Kashmir is resolved and the
Indians have decided to find out a solution to the problem."
When asked about the role of Atomic Energy Commission in the talks,
he said they basically dealt with the things relating to safety
arrangements but the issues relating to FMCT, deployment of weapons
and export controls would be discussed by the officials and
political leadership.
Asked if Prime Minister Sharif would also reciprocate Indian
premier's gesture and visit India, he briefly said "not yet".
Aziz said that once political process was started in Jammu and
Kashmir and right to self-determination was given to the people
they would not take up arms.
The Simla Agreement, he said, did contain an affirmation for the
settlement of the Kashmir dispute, but no mechanism for it had been
proposed. Now under the agreement reached between the premiers the
process towards resolving the outstanding issues had been
undertaken which would be kept under review from time to time by
the foreign ministers of the two countries, Aziz said.
To a question he said Pakistan had sought advice and assistance
from the International Atomic Energy Agency and some European
governments to devise safety measures for its nuclear programmes.
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990223
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Declaration termed milestone: No concessions made at summit: FO
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Hasan Akhtar
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The Foreign Office on Monday categorically
asserted that Pakistan made no "hidden commitment or understanding"
in the summit meeting between prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Atal
Behari Vajpayee.
A Foreign Office spokesman declared whatever had transpired in
conversations between the two leaders was "up-front and brought in
the open" in the three documents issued at the end of the two-day
summit on Sunday.
In an unscheduled briefing to newsmen, Foreign Office spokesman
Tariq Altaf expressed strong resentment at what he believed
unfounded reports or misgivings about the Sharif-Vajpayee talks on
a whole range of issues with Kashmir dispute occupying the central
position in the parleys.
The spokesman maintained that no concessions were made in the
summit. Whatever commitment had been made or whatever was done or
agreed upon, he emphatically said, was done in the supreme national
interest.
Refuting the suggestion that nuclear issue overshadowed the Kashmir
issue in the talks, the spokesman declared "Kashmir is central and
fundamental to peace and security and full normalization (of
relations) as it was and will always remain so".
He said what was important and substantial was that the Indian
Prime Minister by signing the Declaration conceded that Jammu and
Kashmir had been a dispute.
He recalled that 10 years ago the then Indian Prime Minister (Rajiv
Gandhi) when asked by newsmen about the Kashmir dispute, said for
all purposes and content, it was no dispute.
Highlighting the importance of the Lahore Declaration, the FO
spokesman described it as the most important document signed by the
two PMs, since the Simla Agreement which contained reiteration of
Kashmiris' right to self-determination.
He said "We believe that the Lahore Declaration is an important
milestone on our path to promoting peace and security at the heart
of which lies resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue".
He pointed out that the MoU, signed after the summit together with
the Lahore Declaration and Joint Statement, affirmed that
resolution of all outstanding issues including Kashmir, was
essential for establishing peace and security in the supreme
national interest of the two sides.
The spokesman said that the next round of dialogue between the
foreign secretaries of the two countries would be "an occasion for
India to demonstrate that the symbolism of Vajpayee's visit had its
true foundation in sincerity; that the real purpose of the visit
was to change status quo in order to change the entire scenario
which was steeped in tensions".
Responding to journalists' questions, the spokesman said that
"indigenous peaceful Kashmiri struggle" sometimes led to violence
and it was for the Indian PM to discover what impelled the
Kashmiris to resort to violence.
The spokesman rejected the suggestion that Pakistan had given up
its proposal for third party mediation in the event of failure of
bilateral efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue. The FO spokesman
stressed that non-settlement of the dispute posed threat to peace
and security not only at regional but also at global level, making
it incumbent on international community to help resolve the
dispute.
Asked for elaboration of reported willingness of the Chinese
defence minister in response to Pakistan's request for arms, the FO
spokesman said that Pakistan was free to secure weapons in
commensurate with its security needs from anywhere it deemed
proper.
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990223
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Ties with Pakistan to grow, says Chi
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: President Rafiq Tarar said on Monday that the
Sino-Pakistan ties have become a precedent of lasting friendship
for the rest of the world.
Talking to Chinese Minister for Defence Chi Haotian at Aiwan-i-
Sadr, the president said the two countries have stood by each other
in the times of trial. The Pakistan-China friendship, he said, is
stronger than mountains and deeper than oceans.
The two countries, the president said, have a complete consensus on
regional and international sensitive issues. Ties between Pakistan-
China, he said, are also vital for regional and world peace. The
friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign
policy, he said.
President Tarar said China has always sided with Pakistan on the
Kashmir issue, and he also referred to Chinese role after India
went for nuclear tests in May last. "China understood the security
needs of Pakistan," the president said.
The president assured the Chinese minister of Pakistan's support on
Tibet and Taiwan. He hoped that the two countries would work for
regional prosperity in all fields.
Reciprocating the president's sentiments, Chi Haotian said the two
countries have stepped up their cooperation in various fields. He
said Pakistan and China would continue to work for peace in Asia.
The Indian nuclear tests, he said, unbalanced the power structure
in the region. Pakistan, Haotian said, was forced to go for nuclear
tests to meet its security needs. The Chinese minister thanked the
government and the people of Pakistan for warm hospitality.
Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz and other officials were present at
the meeting.-NNI
General Chi Haotian at the head of defence delegation held a
meeting with Pakistani defence team headed by Secretary Defence Lt
General (retd) Iftikhar Ali Khan in the Ministry of Defence here on
Monday, adds our Islamabad Correspondent.
Welcoming the Chinese delegation, the Secretary Defence recalled
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's successful visit to China in 1998,
during which various agreements were signed including the direct
flights between Hong Kong and Pakistan besides other economic and
technical cooperation.
He appreciated valuable assistance of China in the field of
defence, particularly in defence equipment production. He termed
various existing facilities built with Chinese help as eternal
monuments of this relationship. He hoped that this relationship
would continue to grow stronger.
While expressing his gratitude, the visiting dignitary said he
could see and feel the warmth of Pakistani people, government and
the armed forces for China. Referring to his meeting with the
president, the prime minister, the foreign minister and the
services chiefs, he said the two sides exchanged views on various
issues of importance.
CORPS HEADQUARTERS: Gen Chi and Lt Gen Wang Zhicheng, the
counterpart of Pakistani Crops Commander and members of the
entourage visited the Crops Headquarters here on Monday, adds PPI.
On arrival at the Crops Headquarters, the Chinese delegation was
warmly received.
The delegation witnessed a demonstration of bayonet fighting,
efficiency test of soldiers and firing drill by recoiless rifle
crew. The Chinese defence minister appreciated the skill and
professionalism of the soldiers.
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990224
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Army asked to continue helping Sindh govt
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Ihtasham ul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The government has directed the military
authorities to continue helping the Sindh administration in
investigating criminal cases, specially those related to terrorism
and heinous crimes.
"You can not eliminate the role of army to come in aid of civil
power and it will continue to help the provincial government to
arrest terrorists and hardened criminals", said Interior Minister
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
Talking to Dawn on Tuesday he said that although the operations of
the military courts had been suspended in Sindh, as was directed by
the Supreme Court, the role of the army could not be ignored to
hunt the terrorists and other anti-social elements.
Responding to a question Mr Hussain said that the presence of the
army in Karachi was necessary at least for some time to improve the
law and order situation there.
"There is no two opinion that the military courts provided a great
deterrence and people at large had heaved a sigh of relief in
Karachi", he said.
To another question the interior minister said that the army would
also help protect the lives and properties of the citizens who
volunteered to record their evidences against terrorists and other
hardened criminals.
"Anti-terrorist courts will hear the cases as has been directed by
the Supreme Court in place of the military courts but you need
assistance of the army to help the provincial government in the
preparation of cases", Mr Hussain said.
Asked when the federal government would restore the provincial
assembly and whether there was an early plan for lifting the
Governor's rule from Sindh, he said no such proposal was under
consideration. "Governor's rule cannot be lifted without achieving
the desired results", he said adding that the law and order
situation demanded that normal political activities should not
resume in Sindh so quickly.
He said that the federal government had been facing a lot of
pressure even from the PML provincial legislators to restore the
assembly by lifting the Governor's rule. "But I do not think we can
take the chance unless there is certain improvement in the law and
order situation there".
To a question he said that the performance of Sindh Governor Lt-Gen
Moinuddin Haider was satisfactory in checking violence and
terrorism in the province. He said that the Sindh Governor enjoyed
the full support of the federal government.
Talking about the incidents of violence and disruption during the
arrival of the Indian prime minister in Lahore on Feb 20, he
regretted that the Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad did not
know the psychology of the people. "Qazi sahib is different from
all the previous chiefs of Jamaat and that is why his party is fast
losing the public support", he said.
The Interior Minister said that five of the foreign ambassadors
based in Islamabad complained to him on Monday that there cars were
damaged by the protesters in Lahore during the 2-day stay of the
Indian PM in Lahore. "Is it not a shame that you do not spare even
the diplomatic community and by doing so what service you are
rendering to the country", the minister said.
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990226
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WAPDA asked to recover Rs10bn dues
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed the
WAPDA's new military management to accelerate its efforts for the
recovery of Rs10 billion dues from the consumers before the end of
the current financial year.
The prime minister chaired a high level meeting here on Thursday to
review the performance of WAPDA. Chief of the army Staff, Gen
Pervaiz Musharraf, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for
Water and Power Gohar Ayub Khan also participated in the meeting.
According to sources, the prime minister asked the new WAPDA
chairman, Lt Gen Zulfikar Ali Khan, to make sure that WAPDA was
made a corruption free organization.
Sources said Mr Dar briefed the meeting about the financial health
of various state-owned enterprises (SOEs), with particular
reference to WAPDA and KESC. The prime minister directed the
finance minister to look after the financial requirements of the
army which was involved in the rehabilitation of the organization.
He also directed that the organization be made more responsive to
public complaints and its grievances addressed promptly.
While expressing satisfaction on overall working of WAPDA, the
meeting underlined the need for accelerating the pace of recovery
of its stuck-up dues. It also considered a number of proposals to
further improve and streamline the working of the organization.
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990227
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Metropolitan police plan shelved
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Sarfaraz Ahmed
KARACHI, Feb 26: The plan for setting up a metropolitan police
force for Karachi has been shelved, it is learnt.
According to informed sources, district management group of the
civil bureaucracy has allegedly scuttled the government-community
efforts directed towards this end. The plan was approved by the
prime minister last year.
Sources said the bureaucracy's success in shooting down the plan
was mainly attributable to the principal secretary to the prime
minister who right from the very beginning had been expressing his
reservations on this plan.
They said the bureaucracy had impressed upon the prime minister,
who between August and November had made known his commitment on at
least four occasions, including the one on which the Colombian
experts presented their report, that he had in principle agreed
with the setting up of a metropolitan force for Karachi, that the
proposed system "is aimed at eroding the role of district
magistrates."
"Today if a role is assigned to the deputy commissioner in the
proposed metropolitan setup, there will be a metropolitan police
setup in the city in the shortest possible time," said a senior
official, who asked not to be named. "The present system provides a
very convenient setup to politicize the police affairs," he added.
Under this arrangement, the official said, maintenance of law and
order and prevention of crimes was the dual responsibility of the
police and executive magistrates without really making any one of
them responsible for any particular situation.
An ordinance in connection with the proposed police system was
supposed to be promulgated by the governor latest by January, but
there is no official word about it as yet.
The others government officials who opposed the plan were the
additional interior secretary, the provincial chief secretary and
the home secretary and they prepared an "alternative plan" in place
of the one prepared by the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC)
which was presented to the prime minister.
The "alternative plan," according to the sources, wanted that
improvement in the police department should be brought about
through other measures which were needed to be implemented in
phases and there was no need for a separate metropolitan police
department for the city at present.
These officials had argued that under the Phase-I of the plan, the
existing police for Karachi were to be strengthened through
mobilization of resources, recruitment on vacant posts,
availability and provision of more vehicles and arms, development
of forensic services, training facilities and computer education.
Besides, they said, there was a need to impart education to the
existing police aimed at bringing about a change in their attitude
and behaviour in order to raise their level of efficiency and
honesty.
The Phase-I should follow the beginning of a rule-making process
and finalization of amendments in the existing laws before Karachi
was separated from rest of the province as far as the police
department was concerned, they further said.
They had also expressed concern at the absence of any role for
commissioner and deputy commissioners in the proposed setup, saying
"separation of judiciary from the executive has already affected
the executive, resulting in the breakdown of administration."
The government officials had also questioned the effectiveness of
the proposed system saying there would be no change in the
performance of the police under new system as metropolitan police
force would be raised from the existing force when the majority of
the policemen were already inefficient and a considerably high
number of them both inefficient and corrupt.
According to the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee, the government
officials had transgressed the mandate they had been given by the
prime minister.
The CPLC said the committee was asked by the prime minister to
finalize a complete timeframe for the implementation programme. The
timeframe should have covered all the steps such as promulgation of
an ordinance for a new Police Act and its consequent approval by
the cabinet; formation of Karachi Metropolitan Public Safety
Commission; appointment of the chief of Karachi Metropolitan Police
Department; necessary amendments in CrPC/Evidence Act/Traffic Law;
and the time period needed for making the new police department
operational.
As far as other issues such as questions with regard to the setting
up of commission, metropolitan department; appointment of police
chief were concerned, they had already been addressed with profound
arguments in the report presented to the prime minister by the
CPLC.
The sources said that despite various bottlenecks and shortcomings,
specially on the revenue and export fronts, the review mission was
likely to recommend to its headquarters for the release of $50
million tranche in March. It was also expected that the mission
would offer $100 million out of $1.6 billion ESAF/EFF before the
end of the current financial year.
Both sides also discussed the formulation of the next budget, with
Pakistani sides assuring that more funds would be allocated for
development works and that there would be a cut in the non
development expenditure in 1999-2000.
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990226
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D-8 to play active role, hopes Sartaj
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Correspondent
DHAKA, Feb 25: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, who arrived
here on Thursday for D-8 summit, said the new economic bloc would
enter into a "more active phase" of economic cooperation among the
member states.
Talking to newsmen on arrival at the Zia International Airport, he
said the D-8 had identified a number of proposals in the last two
months for cooperation in economic, trade and technical sectors.
The Dhaka summit would give a new momentum for the implementation
of those projects, Sartaj said.
Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad received his Pakistani
counterpart at the airport.
Mr Sartaj said the first phase of the bloc was more exploratory, a
lot of work had been done identifying various projects and
proposals of cooperation.
He said the whole idea behind the grouping was to promote
cooperation in economy and concentrate on technical collaboration.
"We can learn from each other and share our markets... I hope, the
D-8 will enter into a more active phase now."
Asked how he sees the prospect of D-8 in the backdrop of slow
progress of SAARC, Sartaj Aziz said SAARC had a political problem
that obstructed its progress in view of the India-Pakistan
relation, India-Sri Lanka problem and India-Nepal problem.
"D-8 has no political problem and the relation of D-8 member
countries is smooth and harmonious," he said. He, however, hastened
to add that he was hopeful about the SAARC since India and Pakistan
were now trying to resolve their political differences.
Asked whether Vajpayee-Nawaz Sharif meeting in Lahore last week
would accelerate the solution of Kashmir dispute, Mr Sartaj termed
it as a good beginning and said: "For the first time, India has
shown willingness to discuss Kashmir as the core issue."
He said: "Previously, India was not willing to talk about Kashmir.
But now they want to discuss Kashmir seriously. They've also
accepted that without discussing Kashmir, the relation cannot be
normalised."
Replying to a question, the foreign minister said the foreign
secretaries of India and Pakistan would now meet in the next four
to six weeks and then the foreign ministers would meet to resolve
the problem through dialogue.
He said the Lahore Declaration stated that intensified efforts
would be made to resolve the problems, including Kashmir.
He did not rule out the possibility of Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif's visit to India, and said: "Dialogue is always useful when
it takes place at the highest political level."
About Dhaka-Islamabad relation, he said: "It's very good and
cordial" and added: "We need to expand our bilateral trade."
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990225
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Pakistan declines invitation to attend world moot
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Shaheen Sehbai
WASHINGTON, Feb 24: Pakistan declined an invitation by the US to
attend a global conference on fighting government corruption,
inaugurated by Vice President Al Gore at the State Department on
Wednesday and attended by almost 90 countries.
"I don't know why they did not come but we have clarified to all
invited governments that an invitation did not in any way mean that
these governments were either corrupt or doing nothing to check
corruption," a State Department source told Dawn.
India and Nepal were the two South Asian countries participating in
the conference in which, Al Gore said, some countries were so keen
to participate that they said bilateral relations with the US could
be affected if they were not invited.
Al Gore's inaugural speech at the conference was directed at
government corruption round the world, but appeared to have been
tailor-made for countries like Pakistan.
He quoted extensively from the Quran, the Old Testament, Confucius
and Sa'adi to highlight how corruption at the top could eat into
the vitals of a nation.
Gore narrated a story attributed to Sa'adi to illustrate the
importance of leadership.
The story was: "A King was moving with his army through the land
when he came upon some beautiful apple trees. The King asked for an
apple, ate it, and suddenly noticed his top general had gone to pay
the owner the price of the apple.
"When the General returned, the King challenged him: "Why did you
pay the man? He must have been flattered to have a King take a
piece of his fruit."
"Your Majesty," his General explained. "If you had taken even one
apple, your army would have taken the whole orchard".
He quoted Quran saying: "O my people! Give full measure and full
weight in justice.... And do not evil in the earth, causing
corruption."
He said official corruption can speed environmental destruction,
accelerate the drug trade, even encourage the smuggling of
biological, chemical or nuclear weapons materials.
The Vice President announced that over the next two years the US
will work diligently with our friends and partners to:
- urge other key exporting nations to ratify and implement the OECD
Convention on Bribery;
- to develop and implement global standards on transparency and
accountability;
- to conclude an Agreement on Transparency in Government
Procurement at the WTO ministerial conference in Seattle later this
year; and
- to pursue region-wide anti-corruption initiatives in the
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe
- including urging ratification in the United States Senate of the
Inter-American Convention and seeking full implementation by all
signatories.
Gore said government corruption could not only destroy economies
and destabilise governments but also hamper economic growth and
employment in other countries.
He outlined a strategy for addressing corruption, including: fewer
and clearer regulations, greater privatization of government
activities, increasing accountability of government officials, and
assuring the free flow of information.
"Economically, corruption represents an arbitrary, exorbitant tax,"
Gore said. "It can lead to wasteful government spending, bigger
deficits, greater income inequality, and a crisis of confidence
that can spark capital flight, crash the economy, destabilise
governments, and put people half way around the world out of work."
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990223
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Altaf flays Nawaz for singling out Karachi
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By Our Staff Correspondent
LONDON, Feb 22: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has
criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for singling out Karachi
while referring to acts of terrorism in the country during his
recent address to the nation.
He said the PM had deliberately ignored Punjab where more people
had died in religious terrorism as compared to Karachi.
In an 18-page statement issued in London, Mr Hussain deplored that
Mr Sharif had used Quranic references to justify the illegal,
unconstitutional and un-Islamic killings either in police custody
or through military courts.
He said Islamic injunctions clearly stated that the relatives of a
person killed could either take revenge or accept blood-money or
forgive them - an indirect reference that the relatives of those
killed in police custody or through summary trials could demand the
lives of the killers. "In Islam, everyone is equal before God,
whether he is a ruler or an ordinary person, and Qisas and Diyat
can be claimed from the ruler as well."
Mr Hussain claimed that five MQM workers had been killed extra-
judicially after the imposition of governor's rule in Sindh. Israr
Ahmad, he said, was killed by government officials after his arrest
whereas Fasih Ahmad Jugnu, Muhammad Anwar, Mubashir Ali and Arman
were arrested and tortured to death.
"Thus the government is directly responsible for the killing of
these five innocent people who were killed even before being
produced before a court of law," he said. "Under the Islamic law,
their relatives could claim Qisas and Diyat from the president and
the prime minister."
The MQM chief said similarly, the relatives of around 300 workers
killed during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif in police custody or by
torture or fake police-encounters could also claim Diyat and Qisas
from those who tortured and killed them or from those who ordered
the killings. "In Islam it's eye for an eye, ear for an ear and
nose for a nose and a tooth for a tooth," he said quoting a verse
from the Holy Quran.
The MQM chief said by misquoting the Quranic verses, the prime
minister tried to justify the killings of the Mohajirs which were
being carried out by state agencies and through the government-paid
touts. He said the prime minister tried to convey a message to the
people that whatever he was doing was right and in accordance with
the teachings of Islam.
The PM, he added, ignored other Quranic verses in which the God had
directed the rulers to treat their subjects equally and with
justice. He said Mr Sharif did not refer to those verses because
that would have exposed him and his so-called love for Islam."
The MQM chief said successive rulers in Pakistan had misused the
name of Islam for their own political objectives and Sharif was no
different from his predecessors.
He said that Nawaz Sharif had long been dreaming of crushing the
Mohajirs and recalled that in 1992 he had launched an army
operation in Karachi to crush the MQM and its people. However, he
said, he could not fulfil his ambitions at that time as his
government was dismissed on charges of corruption and incompetence.
Hussain said that the army operation in 1992 was launched on the
pretext of arresting 72 "big fishes" from Sindh. "The list of 72
big fishes was also produced in the National Assembly. Can the
prime minister tell the nation how many big fishes were arrested
during that army operation?"
He said when the operation was launched Nawaz Sharif had claimed
that it would be an evenhanded operation and it was not aimed
against any particular community or group. "Every child in Pakistan
now knows why the operation was launched and who was the target and
that not a single big fish was arrested during that operation."
The MQM chief also held the PM responsible for the deterioration in
the law and order situation in Karachi. He maintained that before
the 1992 operation, there was complete peace and harmony. "If there
is any one to blame for the present situation in Karachi, it is
Nawaz Sharif himself, who ordered the killings of thousands of MQM
people and created a private army to kill MQM workers," he said.
Referring to the mention of terrorism in Karachi by Nawaz Sharif,
the MQM chief pointed out that the prime minister conveniently
ignored the growing incidents of terrorism in the Punjab, which was
being ruled by his younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif.
He said that the crime figures presented by Interior Minister
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the National Assembly made it very
clear that the largest number of people were killed in acts of
terrorism in Punjab.
===================================================================
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
990226
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan, India default on palm oil purchases
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25: Pakistan and India have defaulted on some of
their earlier purchases of palm oil from Malaysia for
February/March shipments, traders said on Thursday.
"There is default of some earlier purchases by consuming countries.
I think it is easily around 30,000 tons of February and March
shipment," said a marketing manager at a palm oil refinery.
He said more defaults could be in store following the sharp fall in
prices.
"Since the buyers have defaulted on the contracts, the sellers have
no choice but to sell back to the market," said a trader.
Malaysian palm oil prices fell further by midday on Thursday as
players sold off their positions for fear of more contract defaults
by consumer countries, traders said.
A weaker Chicago soyaoil futures on Wednesday, dented by talk of
cancelled vegetable oil sales from Argentina and Malaysia plus a
drop in the Brazilian currency, dragged down palm oil prices.
"Soyaoil continues its fall on many bearish factors and palm also
followed," said a trader who expects more declines in the near-term
as the market anticipates more defaults by buyers.
Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE) wheat futures fell sharply on
Thursday as world grains markets reacted to reported defaults by
Pakistan and India on palm oil contracts.
Australian grains and oilseeds traders on Thursday told Reuters
they believed reports of the defaults, especially in view of the
sharp fall by markets around the world. But they had no further
first-hand details.
SFE wheat futures prices fell in trades by up to A$1.50 a ton.
March 1999 sold down by 75 cents to A$158.00 while January 2000
fell by A$1.50 to A$163.00.
Turnover was comparatively heavy on a total of 70 lots.
Reports of the Pakistan and Indian palm oil defaults drove grains
markets down further, he said.-Reuters
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990227
-------------------------------------------------------------------
MCA issues show cause notices to 16 cement cos
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Muhammad Ilyas
ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: Monopoly Control Authority (MCA) has issued
notices to 16 cement manufacturing companies of the private sector
to show cause by Feb 27 as to why penal actions may not be taken
against them under sub-sections 1(a) and (2) of section 19 of MRTPO
for "failure and continuous failure" to comply with the authority's
Order of Feb 20, an official source said.
Under this order, the authority had held the cement industrialists
guilty of forming a cartel by simultaneously raising the price by
Rs100 and curtailing the production by a uniform 55 per cent. In
this connection, the authority has fixed March 1 as the date for
hearing in its office.
In case of non-appearance on the said date, the authority "shall
proceed in the matter as provided under the law", that is impose
the penalty for non-compliance.
In reply to a question, the source said the MCA's authority did not
extend to the state-owned enterprises. It had, however, recommended
to the government to direct the four units of the State Cement
Corporation to implement the MCA order issued to the private sector
firms requiring that the cement prices be restored to the pre-
October 1998 level.
MCA is also likely to suggest to the government that the rate of
penalty for non-compliance with its orders be enhanced by an
ordinance, the source added.
The penalties provided at present in the Monopolies & Restrictive
Trade Practices Ordinance, 1970 (MRTPO), are 27-year old and have
almost completely lost their sting due to erosion of value of the
rupee, he explained.
The maximum penalty the authority can impose on a recalcitrant
company is one lakh rupees in lump sum and Rs10,000 for each
subsequent day of non-compliance. This is not even peanuts, given
the fact that the cement manufacturers, for example, have made
billions of rupees since they banded themselves into a cartel last
October and raised the price by Rs100 per bag.
The government has given numerous concessions to the business in
the light of the steep devaluation of Pakistan currency, while its
effect on matters involving ordinary consumers' interests were
completely ignored.
The MCA, according to the same source, was also considering to
propose to the government that non-compliance with orders of the
authority within 15 days should be declared a criminal offence
punishable also with imprisonment.
He said this is in conformity with similar laws for checking rise
of monopoly power and protection of the consumers which have been
enacted in India, United States and other countries. In Pakistan,
MCA's hands are bound because it has been kept on starvation diet
ever since its inception, while the MRTPO is so weak as to
incapacitate the authority to function meaningfully to safeguard
the public interest.
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990226
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton crop to reach 8.7 million bales: APC
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Zafar Samdani
LAHORE, Feb 25: The Agriculture Price Commission (APC) has placed
this year's cotton crop at 8.7 million bales, the same as has been
done by the Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAP) of Pakistan.
At its meeting in Multan on Thursday, the Commission looked into
reports received from various sources and evaluated them to reach
the 8.7 million bales figure.
CCAP, however, is yet to hold its final meeting to make the yield
figure official. APC's conclusion has to be taken as unofficial
though most experts agree that there is unlikely to be a major
change in cotton's produce.
APC's meeting, presided over by its chairman, Iqbal Naved, was
attended by government officials, agriculturists, experts from
provinces and private sector representatives from related
industries.
APC's break up of the final figure is 6.6 million bales in Punjab
and 2.1 million bales from Sindh, which generally conforms to the
assessment of CCAP.
In another cotton related development, Punjab Cotton Crop
Management Group, headed by Chief Minister's Adviser Jehangir
Tareen also deliberated on the crop's yield and tried to identify
reasons why it had fallen behind the 10.5 million bales target it
was expected to achieve.
According to experts attending the meeting, major factors
responsible for the low crop were 'American' bollworm, pest attack
and extremely unfavourable weather conditions, including
hailstorms.
But the committee also considered the position of certified seed's
availability and felt that it needed to be improved substantially.
Certified seed available to growers for the last crop was 20% to
25% of requirements. For the next crop, 30% seed is expected to be
certified which means that out of a total requirement of 49,000
tons of seed only 17,000 tons would be available. Of this, 7,000
tons seed would be produced by Punjab Seed Corporation while the
rest would be provided by the private sector.
A number of companies are currently engaged in producing quality
seed. Their concentration appears to be on cotton. But the best of
their efforts would leave the crop short of about 32,000 tons of
certified seed.
The Punjab Group is said to realize that seed constraint is not to
be resolved overnight and that as long as there isn't a substantial
improvement in the quantity of reliable seed, the crop would
continue to remain unpredictable.
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990226
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax-payers penalized, claim businessmen
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 25: Tax-payers having no taxable activity are also
being penalized by the sales tax authorities on account of late
filing of returns, business circles claim.
This fact came to fore when the Collector Appeals, South Zone,
Karachi through an order No 719/98, dismissed 29 appeals filed
against the order of Sales Tax department.
The government last year suddenly changed the last date of filing
of monthly sales tax returns from June 20 to 15 and a large number
of tax-payers, who could not file the returns by 15th July, 1998
were heavily penalized for delay in filing by one or two days.
Business circles say at that time the city was paralysed by strike
call given by a political group and above all the announcement was
so sudden and restricted to print media that most of the tax-payers
did not take note of it.
While demanding one-time exemption from penal action against late
filing of sales tax monthly returns, business leaders say that if
traders and tax-payers were not subjected to such unwanted penal
actions, the same would have not served as adverse input for others
who would have volunteered for registration.
Instead of promoting a tax culture, the concerned officers of the
department under the cover of such harsh and penal provisions are
trying to make the GST scheme a total failure, he added.
Under the circumstances business circles feel that it would be more
appropriate and justified if such penal provisions are amended
suitably to provide facility for at least one time exemption to the
tax payers who due to bona fide reasons could not submit the
monthly returns within time.
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990222
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Power rates may go up by 11.52pc from March
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 21: The average electricity charges in the city are
likely to go up by 11.52 per cent from next month as the Karachi
Electric Supply Corporation has sought such an increase in tariff
as well as in generation cost to overcome its liquidity crunch.
The increase in average tariff and generation cost from the present
level of Rs3.84 per KWH to the proposed level of Rs4.28 would
affect the domestic consumers most, who are already suffering due
to average and inflated billing.
The KESC has sent its case to the National Electric Power
Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). Under the proposed scheme, the impact
of increase on different types of consumers would be as follows:
Domestic Overall 12.47 per cent, Commercial 11.30pc, Industrial
11.30 pc, Bulk 11.30pc, Agriculture 11.30 pc, Public Lighting
11.30pc and Special Contracts 1.55pc.
On March 9 last year the KESC had raised the average tariff by
21pc, which in effect was much higher than the officially claimed
impact.
According to NEPRA, the KESC plans to reduce the overall system
losses to 29.03 per cent and has claimed that transmission losses
are 25 per cent. In fact, transmission losses are about 35 per
cent.
The KESC has claimed that based on the current average rate of 3.84
rupees per KWH 7,729 million KWH sold with 25pc transmission and
distribution losses, it expected to receive a revenue of Rs30.40
billion during July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000. Expenditure for the
same period and apportionment has been estimated at Rs33.79 billion
which would result in a deficit of Rs3.39 billion.
While the KESC has asked for increase in tariff it has also
proposed charging policy for 11 KV underground and overhead
extension.
According to the present self-financing policy, the total cost of
11 KV underground and overhead extension with accessories is being
charged from the applicant irrespective of load and length. The
first consumer getting connection in a newly-developed area is
required to pay more cost depending upon the distance of his plot
fro the existing 11 KV distribution facilities.
No contribution of 11 KV extension is being charged from the next
applicant provided service connection through an already laid
cable/overhead mains by the first applicant or from an existing
subscription of PMT.
In order to formulate an equitable procedure for cost sharing high
tension extension only among consumers the KESC has proposed that a
sum of Rs3,500 per KW be charged from all industrial, commercial,
multistoried and combined housing schemes as "System Development
Charges (SDC)," which include the cost of material, laying charges
and supervision.
The proposal also include cost sharing for the extension of 11 KV
extension and adjustment. The proposal include charges for high
tension, overhead conductor etc.
Meanwhile, the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) has
expressed its reservations over the proposed revised charging
policy for 11 KV under- ground and overhead extension under the
self-financing policy for providing new connections to various
types of consumers.
The chairman of ABAD claimed that the cost of distribution system
for apartments was much less than individual houses, but the
proposed KESC policy envisaging a levy of Rs10,500 per apartment in
case of 3 KW load for a flat of 1,200 square feet. But for the same
load provided to a house of 200 square yards, the consumer is
required to pay Rs3,000.
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990225
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Economy shows 3.5pc growth in 8 months
-------------------------------------------------------------------
M. Ziauddin
ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The economy, during the first eight months of
the current financial year, has shown a growth of 3.5 per cent
against the annual target of 6 per cent, according to official
estimates.
The IMF itself has projected the growth rate for the whole of the
current financial year at 3 per cent in view of the continuing
stagnation in the economy.
The stagnation is said to have been caused mainly by the
government's conscious policy to keep the imports depressed in
order to eliminate completely the gap between import and export
bills.
This policy was said to have been adopted in view of the imminent
default facing the country and increasing shortage of foreign
exchange which lasted till late January 1999 when the IMF finally
agreed to resume the EASF/EFF programmes and also helped Pakistan
to obtain rescheduling of $3.3 billion of official debt from the
Paris Club.
The tight grip on imports is said to have created massive shortages
of raw materials and industrial intermediaries affecting adversely
the domestic production and investments.
The slow down in the economy, as a result, is said to have
seriously affected the revenue collection, especially the incomes
from customs duty, excise duty and sales tax.
Forced by dwindling revenue income the government reportedly put a
tight cap on expenditures and stopped releases for a large part of
the non-development budget. The development budget had already been
curtailed to Rs85bn.
Successful capping of expenditure is said to have drastically
reduced the need for bank borrowing for budgetary purposes bringing
down the current bank borrowing amount to less than Rs5bn against
the whole year target of Rs43bn.
The actual bank borrowing ostensibly for budgetary purposes upto
mid-February is estimated to be around Rs56 billion, but Rs51
billion of this amount is said to have been taken out of the
monetary system and deposited with the State Bank of Pakistan as an
insurance against the debt arrears that was being built up against
Pakistan's non-preferred debt obligations.
At one point this stock of insurance against non-preferred debt
arrears had gone up to about Rs72 billion bust since the Paris Club
decision to allow Pakistan debt rescheduling to the tune of $3.3
billion, this amount has come down to Rs51 billion and officials
expect these arrears to disappear completely by end of June this
year.
In view of this the officials feel confident of achieving the IMF-
imposed budgetary deficit target of 4.3 per cent of GDP by June 30,
1999.
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990225
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Exports to Afghanistan allowed against rupee
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ihtashamul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Export Development Committee here decided on
Wednesday to allow exports to Afghanistan against Pakistani rupee
without submission of E-form but against shipping bills.
Minister for finance Ishaq Dar presided over the meeting, which has
decided that the exports to Afghanistan will be allowed freely
against Pak rupees.
Primarily, the exports of pharmaceuticals, matches, fabrics,
cement, soaps, detergents, rock salt, textiles and sugar have been
allowed without the submission of E-form to help increase the local
production.
The meeting, sources said, also did not object to the goods
reaching Afghanistan being re-exported to Central Asian States or
any other country.
"The purpose is to encourage the local production for which this
decision has been taken with the prior permission of Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif", said a concerned official.
Since the exports to Afghanistan will not be treated as export
sales these will not be entitled to duty drawback, exemption from
excise duty, GST and export finance. Also sales to Afghanistan from
bonds operating under various temporary importation schemes will
not be treated as exports. Necessary notification will be issued by
the State Bank/ministry of commerce shortly.
The committee expected that the permission to export goods to
Afghanistan will increase demand for the unutilized capacity of
those industries which were using primarily indigenous raw
materials.
The other issues discussed were the difficulties in the operation
of GST relating to refund and audit, imposition of 2 per cent
withholding tax on services on exporters, excise duty on temporary
importation by Sindh government, difficulties in temporary
importation for re-export, chartered flights exports and clearance
of temporarily imported goods by courier services and committees
were set up to resolve these issues.
The question of clubbing of levies was also discussed and the
committee was assured that this was under active consideration and
report will be presented soon.
Issues of personal baggage, imports for re-export and personal
baggage was also discussed and committees were formed to draw up
the procedures.
Representatives of ministries of finance, commerce, health, CBR,
Export Promotion Bureau, FPCCI, national chambers and different
export associations were present.
The finance minister welcomed the participants and pointed out that
representations have been received from the exporters that in the
absence of proper banking facilities in Afghanistan, great
difficulties were being faced by them to meet the requirements of
foreign exchange against exports to that country, enforced by the
government in Trade Policy 1998-99. Foreign exchange remittances
were being arranged through third countries or open market making
the exports expensive.
Informed sources said that the meeting was also told that the
State Bank will suspend the circular No 48, any time tonight or
Thursday morning. Sources said that Ishaq Dar also promised to help
amend the State Bank's circular No 44, relating to the export re-
financing.
The new circular, to be shortly issued, the finance minister said,
will provide indirect export re-financing to cover other areas.
The finance minister agreed with chairman Pakistan Bedwear
Exporters Association Shabir Ahmad that more fiscal and non-fiscal
incentives should be offered to the exporters in the next financial
year.
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990223
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Penalties on banks if dollar bonds not encashed on time
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KARACHI, Feb 22: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday warned banks
of penalties if they declined to encash the bearer dollar bonds on
time.
Referring to various complaints received by his in this regard, he
asked the State Bank top officials to hold a meeting with the heads
of banks within a week.
He invited written complaints from public against banks not
following the rules and regulations set for dollar bonds. The
minister said that the government had even provided an incentive to
the banks and offered the latter to retain the liquidity share with
them at least for 12 months.
"As a penalty, the government would ask banks to surrender the sale
proceeds on this account," he said.
He also made it clear that no withholding tax was liable to be paid
on dollar bonds transactions.
He further directed the CBR and SBP to issue clarifications for
general public in this regard.
The government is ready for an out of court settlement with Hub
Power Company and KAPCO, said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar here on
Monday.
"Government will welcome an out of court settlement of the case
provided the power companies come forward with something tangible,"
he said. The finance minister said imprudent power policies
followed during the 1993-1996 period caused the present
controversy.
Under the policy of 1992, no turn-key project could be imported.
The country had the ability to manufacture thermal power plants
domestically, he added.
He said the government had ever tried to reach a negotiated
settlement on the issue.
Moreover, he said, the government has already formed a committee on
issue of IPPs. The committee comprises the people from private
sector, he added.-APP
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990224
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dar informs KCCI: 10pc margin on LCs withdrawn from today
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 23: Commerce and Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar
announced the withdrawal of 10 per cent margin on Letter of Credits
(L/Cs) for imports from February 24.
In a meeting with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(KCCI), he said he would issue instructions to the State Bank of
Pakistan (SBP) in the evening and the decision would be effective
from Wednesday (February 24).
SBP had imposed a 30 per cent cash margin requirement on import in
July 1998 and later slashed the margin to 20 per cent on January 9,
1999. On January 24, the margin had come down to 10 per cent.
In response to KCCI's president suggestion for allowing holders of
frozen foreign currency account to use their accounts as collateral
with other banks, Ishaq Dar said that the matter would be referred
to the SBP for positive consideration.
"I have done my job and now it is your turn as to what you can
offer to kick-start the economy and improve revenue collection,"
Dar said.
He added that there is a shortfall of Rs8 billion in revenue
collection during July-December 1998 compared to the target of
Rs140 billion. "It is the only thing that irks the IMF while the
donor agency is satisfied with other commitments."
He said it is time that business community should take some
responsibility, pay taxes and increase revenue then I guarantee
quick solution of your problems.
The commerce minister was hopeful of a positive outcome of the
meeting on general sales tax between CBR and business community in
Islamabad on Wednesday.
He said the business community apprehends that Income Tax
Department may open old cases if they show higher turnover. The
government, he added, may consider allowing additional surcharge on
turnover tax as the full and final settlement of income tax.
Dar assured them of abolishing multiplicity of taxes like octroi,
zilla tax and export tax in the next budget provided the
businessmen give guarantee of additional revenue collection of Rs20
billion.
He termed the higher mark-up rates as unjustified, unfair and un-
Islamic and asked the SBP to hold meetings with the banks so that
the rates can be lowered.
On corruption in the Central Board of Revenue (CBR), Dar hinted at
dismissal of at least 50-60 officials. "I have kept a close watch
on these persons and soon they will be removed." he added.
The minister said that the ECO and SAARC alliances could be tapped
to conduct barter trade with some regional countries through local
currencies. "I have already approached some member countries that
we should have bilateral agreement and I am waiting for a positive
response from their governments," he added.
He also announced the inclusion of KCCI in the ITP Valuation
Committee and asked the CBR to issue necessary notification in this
regard on Wednesday.
Dar said a draft law on anti-dumping is ready and will be presented
to the Standing Committee of the Cabinet in the next session in
order to safeguard our industries. He said developed countries have
been excessively applying anti-dumping laws, social standards and
environment criterion against our exports.
Businessmen opposed the government's move to raise power rates by
11 per cent. "I will ask WAPDA to review the situation," he said
adding that IMF had been pressurising the government to increase
the rate by 20-30 per cent.
Later, Dar inaugurated the KCCI web site.
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990225
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Austria offers to make Pakistan Steel viable
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Austria has offered to rehabilitate Pakistan
Steel Mills by providing financial and technical support to make
the organization commercially viably.
Austrian State Secretary Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner here on
Wednesday called on minister for finance Ishaq Dar and said that
his country was ready to rehabilitate Pakistan Steel.
The finance minister welcomed the proposal and said that Pakistan
would like to have a joint venture with Austria to streamline the
operations of the mills.
The state secretary also discussed matters relating to the
development of Miano Gas fields in Pakistan as it was a discovery
made by a joint venture of OGDC and Austrian company engaged in the
development of oil and gas.
Dar assured her of the Pakistan's full cooperation in utilizing the
resources on commercial basis to be mutually beneficial to both the
countries.
Dr Benita also offered Austrian expertise to develop the tourism
sector in Pakistan as her country had the required expertise in
developing tourism resorts, hotels and other allied survives.
She recalled the development of Malam Jabba Sikking resort which
has been developed with Austrian assistance.
She said that tourism training school was being established for
expanding the tourism facilities.
The finance minister said that Pakistan has lot of potential for
exports in software, machinery, paper products, textiles and other
non-traditional items like canning of food items for exports.
They also discussed various measures to enhance bilateral trade
volume between the two countries and agreed to identify the areas
for mutual economic cooperation and trade.
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990227
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KSE experiences another dull trading session
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 26: Stocks shrugged off the overnight easiness on
Friday as investors were back in the rings and covered positions at
the lower levels in most of the pivotals, telling bears that the
current run-up was not overdone.
It was, however, another day of low volume as barring jobbers and
short-term dealers, who played on both sides of the fence but
institutional traders or foreign funds were not inclined to take
profits.
Bulls are not inclined to loosen their grip on the market at least
for the near-term and after consolidating positions they opt for
new buying on the selected counters, analysts said.
"The second-tier blue chips and most of the low-priced mega issues
are under squeeze and there are reasons to believe that the current
bull-run is going to stay for a longer period than many predict",
they added.
Good dividend pouring news in each session from the textile sector
presented a pleasant surprise to even well-informed stock analysts
as most of the payouts are well above their expectations.
The performance of the textile sector appears to be fairly
encouraging as they managed to put on a good show despite a
difficult time for the textile trade owing to recession in the
south and Far Eastern markets ,dealers said.
The KSE 100-share index rose by 0.19 points at 926.21 as compared
to 926.40 a day earlier, reflecting the strength of leading base
shares including PTCL. Early it was about five points higher after
recovering the initial losses.
"Thursday's correction was technical, which was overdue and has
nothing to do with the basic market fundamentals", said an analyst
and added, "low volume reflects a status quo and points to
resumption of the run-up even by tomorrow".
But only extreme gains were clipped early on selected counters,
while the broader market was not weighed down by profit-selling by
jobbers and short-term dealers adding the market resumed its upturn
as investors covered positions at the lower levels.
Prominent gainers were led by Gulf Bank, Metropolitan Ban, EFU
General Insurance, Kohinoor Weaving, Shahtaj Textiles, Yusouf
Weaving, PSO, Telecard, General Tyre, Glaxo and Ghanahdara, which
posted gains ranging from Rs1.40 to 3.50.
Losers were led by Orix Leasing, Bank Of Punjab, Cherat Cement,
Pakistan Refinery, Crescent Steel, Atlas Honda Car, Searle
Pakistan, Quice Food and Lever Brothers, falling by Re1 to Rs25.00.
Trading volume fell to 50 million shares from the previous 67
shares, while losers held a fair lead over the gainers at 60 to 55
with 42 shares holding on to the last levels.
PTCL again topped the list of most actives, unchanged at Rs17.75 on
10 million; shares followed by PSO up Rs1.50 at 66.70 on 10 million
shares; Hub-Power up 20 paisa at Rs12.85 on 7 million shares;
Telecard higher Rs1.45 on 6 million shares; and ICI Pakistan lower
25 paisa at Rs8.15 on 5 million shares.
Other actively traded shares were led by Fauji Fertiliser up 20
pasia on 3.072 million shares; Engro Chemical up 45 paisa on 2.110
million shares; KESC firm by five paisa after the news that it will
issue bond worth Rs11.5 billion to pay off its loans on 1.311
million shares; Bank of Punjab off Rs1.55 on 0.953 million shares.
Defaulting companies: Shares of five companies came in for stray
support but finished unchanged barring Gammon Pakistan, which moved
higher by 10 paisa on 2,000 shares. Salman Noman, Mian Textiles,
National Motors and Suzuki Motorcycles accounted for 500,1,000, and
500 each at the last levels.
Dividend: Knoll Pharma cash 100 per cent; Crescent Textiles 12.5
per cent cash and five per cent bonus shares; Reliance Cotton cash
12.5 per cent; Din Textiles cash 15 per cent; Faisal Spinning cash
20 per cent; Blessed Textiles, cash 20 per cent; Shahtaj Textiles
cash 25 per cent; Bhanero Textiles 20 per cent and Noon Sugar 15
per cent.
Back to the top
===================================================================
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
990221
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'Transactions'
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Ardeshir Cowasjee
"THE first duty of a government is to maintain law and order so
that the life, property, and religious beliefs of its citizens are
wholly protected by the state." ( From Mohammad Ali Jinnah's Creed,
enunciated by the founder himself on August 11, 1947, three days
prior to the birth of his Pakistan).
This duty can only be fulfilled by an independent fearless
judiciary. Sadly one must say, with deep regret and without fear of
contradiction, that each government of Pakistan, in turn, has
successfully done its best to hinder any chance of the judiciary
gaining an even minimal independence. And this has been done at
times with the active connivance, or the passive acquiescence of
the judiciary itself.
The question today, fifty-one years down the road, is not how
independent is the judiciary, but how demoralized and dependent it
lies following the assault upon it engineered by this present
government in November 1997.
The assault culminated in the storming of the Supreme Court
building on November 28, while the court was in session, presided
over by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah. The stormers who
successfully obstructed the course of justice included
parliamentarians, members of the ruling party and toughs of its
street squads (euphemistically referred to as members of its
various "youth" wings).
An enquiry was instituted by the succeeding Chief Justice Ajmal
Mian on December 15 1997, a tribunal was thereafter constituted of
which the last hearing was held on June 15 1998, over six months
after the storming and of the commission of the gravest contempt in
the face of the court.
During the course of the enquiry, exhibited in open court was a
film recorded by the Court's closed circuit cameras, installed by
an external independent agency on the orders of the previous Chief
Justice, which clearly and in detail showed the storming. The sole
tangible action taken by the Court during the hearings was to
request the 'authorities' to dismantle the cameras as the
honourable judges felt their security was at risk and threatened.
Their announced intention was to install their own internal system
of surveillance, which so far has not been done. Sadly, to this
day, the judges of the Supreme Court have done little to attempt to
redeem their Court's honour by punishing those who belittled it.
'Life' in our country has been in constant and increasing jeopardy.
When not taken by run-of-the mill dacoits, murderers, thieves etc.,
it is taken by terrorism, state or otherwise inspired, by religious
and ethnic fanatics, by internecine turf wars, by the police in
their staged 'encounters,' by the numerous government agencies in
the course of their duties, by government activists and street-
fighters.
November 20 1998 : the draconian Ordinance XII was promulgated,
allowing for the formation of a forum - Military Trial Courts
(MTCs) - which was apparently unconstitutional and in conflict with
the recent judgment of the Supreme Court (Mehram Ali case). The
MTCs were empowered to impose even the irreversible penalty, the
death penalty. This excess of the government was not checked by the
judiciary. No order emanated from it suspending the execution of
the penalty pending the examination of the vires of the Ordinance.
November 24 : Advocate of the Supreme Court Khan Muttaqui Nadeem
filed in the Sindh High Court a constitutional petition (CP 1824/98
along with CMA 5105/98) on behalf of Arif Khan and Qazi Khalid Ali,
both Muslim adults, advocates by profession, against the Federation
of Pakistan (Respondent No.1) and the Province of Sindh (Respondent
No.2). The petition, inter alia, challenged the validity of the
constitution of the MTCs and sought prohibition of the enforcement
of the punitive provisions of the ordinance.
November 26 : the petition was heard by Chief Justice Kamal Mansur
Alam and Justice Ghani Shaikh. Pre-admission notices were issued to
the two respondents and a hearing fixed for December 4. Nadeem
pleaded for interim relief, as he feared that men may be hanged,
and thus irreversibly punished, while the court deliberated. He
asked that executions be stayed. His pleadings were not considered,
went unheeded.
December 4 : Nadeem again pressed for interim relief and a stay of
the execution of irreversible penalties. A stay was not granted.
The Court ordered : "It appears that service has been effected on
both the respondents. Yet none is present for Respondent No.1. The
Advocate General Sindh for Respondent No.2 requests for ten days
time for filing comments. Time is granted. Adjourned to 16.12.1998
.... The points involved in this case are important and it is a
pity that despite of service on Respondent No.1 none is present on
its behalf."
December 16 : No comments were filed by either respondent, no
relief was granted, and the matter adjourned to December 24. On
that date the Chief Justice constituted a full bench, comprising
Justices Ghous Mohammed, Hamid Ali Mirza and Syed Saeed Ashad. The
matter was fixed for hearing on December 30.
December 30 : Attorney General Chaudhry Mohammad Faruq appeared for
Respondent No.1, Advocate General Mohammad Iqbal appeared for
Respondent No.2. Interim relief was again sought but not granted.
The order of the Court delivered by Justice Ghous Mohammad reads :
"Today this matter is fixed for hearing by a full bench comprising
myself and my learned brothers Hamid Ali Mirza and Syed Saeed
Ashad. Both of them are on winter holidays and at least one of them
(Mr Justice Syed Saeed Ashad) has not been intimated about the
constitution of this full bench. Therefore when this fact was
brought to the notice of the learned counsel for the petitioners he
submitted that in that case the matter may be listed for hearing on
the 31st of this month. An application has also been submitted by
the learned Attorney General wherein the prayer is that this matter
be stayed till the petitions relating to the same subject matter
which are fixed for hearing on 7.1.1999 before the honourable
Supreme Court are disposed of. So far as this application is
concerned copies have been supplied to the petitioners' learned
counsel and this will be considered by the full bench. Since my
learned brothers Hamid Ali Mirza and Syed Saeed Ashad, JJ, are on
winter holidays and in the second week I will be on vacation
therefore it is not possible for us to assemble for the hearing of
this petition. Accordingly, office is directed to list this
petition immediately after winter holidays according to roster."
December 31 : The next day, Ashraf Chakar Irani, alias Waheed, was
hanged in Karachi Central Prison, the death penalty having been
imposed by an MTC on December 17.
January 4 : Mohammad Rafi, alias Bubbly, was hanged in Karachi
Central Prison, the death penalty having been imposed by an MTC on
December 17.
January 8 (Friday) : The Supreme Court restrained the Government
from executing any convict sentenced to death by the Military
Courts until January 11 (Monday) when the MQM's application seeking
interim stay of MTC's executions was to be taken up.
January 11 : The Supreme Court stayed the execution of those
convicted by the MTCs until a decision is reached on the petitions
challenging the formation of the MTCs.
February 17 : The Supreme Court declares that the setting up of
MTCs for the trial of civilians is unconstitutional and without
lawful authority. The cases of the two men who were hanged lie
buried by the following sentence from para one of the Supreme Court
Order : ". . . The above declaration will not affect the sentences
and punishments already awarded and executed and the cases will be
treated as past and closed transactions." Present and correct when
these "closed transactions" were transacted : Prime Minister Mian
Nawaz Sharif plus his entire cabinet and his administration; Leader
of the Opposition Benazir Bhutto and her acolytes; the honourable
judges of the Supreme Court - Chief Justice Ajmal Mian, retires
30/6/99; Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, J-1, retires 30/11/2002; Irshad
Hassan Khan, J-2, retires 6/1/2002; Raja Afrasiab Khan, J-3,
retires 17/9/2000; Mohammed Bashir Khan Jehangiri, J-4, retires
31/1/2002; Nasir Aslam Zahid, J-5, retires 2/3/2000; Munawar Ahmad
Mirza, J-6, retires 17/8/2007; Khalilur Rahman Khan, J-7, retires
24/4/2001; Shaikh Ejaz Nisar, J-8, retires 14/6/2000; Mamoon Kazi,
J-9, retires 29/12/2000; Abdur Rahman Khan, J-10, retires 5/6/2001;
Shaikh Riaz Ahmad, J-11, retires 8/3/2003; Mohammad Arif, J-12,
retires 9/1/2002; Munir A Shaikh, J-13, retires 1/7/2003;
Wajihuddin Ahmad, J-14, retires 30/11/ 2003. (CJP Ajmal Mian will
be succeeded by J-1 Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui who will in 2002
be succeeded by J-6 Justice Munawar Ahmad Mirza, who will remain as
CJ of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan until 17/8/2007.)
February 19 : The prime minister addressed the nation. According to
this newspaper's Islamabad Bureau report : "Justifying his decision
of setting up military courts, he argued that the government had
taken the decision under the Article 245, assuming that it was in
line with the Constitution and it could not be challenged in the
superior court."
The assumption of the Government was obviously wrong.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
990227
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A new beginning
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Irfan Husain
SINCE my article on Indo-Pak relations appeared last week, I have
been inundated with email from readers, 90% of whom have broadly
endorsed my suggestion to delink Kashmir and normalize other
aspects of inter-state links.
The bulk of the letters have come from expatriate Indian and
Pakistani readers of the Internet edition of this newspaper. Indian
correspondents, in particular, have been struck by the fact that
views such as mine are permitted to appear in print. Obviously,
they are not familiar with the wide spectrum of opinions expressed
daily in the Pakistani press just as we do not get the opportunity
to read what appears in Indian newspapers. And this is precisely
the point: once magazines, newspapers and books from each country
are freely available in the other, and we can travel easily across
the border without being hassled, we will see for ourselves what is
obvious to outsiders: the similarities between the two neighbours
are greater than the differences.
While the world media has made much of the violent demos launched
by the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) in Lahore against the Indian PM's
visit, foreign journalists mostly failed to point out the non-
representative nature of these protests. The Jamaat does not have a
single seat in Parliament, and while it does have a certain amount
of nuisance value, it stands isolated today from the mainstream of
Pakistani politics. All major parties including the PPP, ANP and
the MQM have supported Nawaz Sharif's peace initiative, and
welcomed Mr Vajpayee.
This broad, bipartisan approach is a sign of maturity and should be
applauded by all those who wish to see our politicians act more
responsibly and for democracy to take root. This consensus is also
an indication of a growing sense of realism: fewer Pakistanis than
before have any illusions about the power equation in the
subcontinent. While last year's nuclear tests may have given us a
degree of deterrence, in conventional military terms, we lag far
behind India. Our economy is in a shambles, and we have far less
international support on Kashmir (or anything else) than we did a
decade ago. Drugs, terrorism and our shortsighted support of the
Taliban have eroded whatever goodwill we once enjoyed in the world
community.
One Indian reader accused me of ignoring the plight of the Hindu
population of Kashmir. Indeed, 20 Hindus were gunned down by
militants during Vajpayee's visit; seven of them were part of a
wedding party. This kind of mindless violence directed against
civilian non-combatants hardly furthers the Kashmiri cause and
needs to be condemned. The kidnapping and murder of four foreign
tourists by an obscure Kashmiri terrorist faction two years ago
revolted people around the world.
Another related issue is the treatment of our own minorities. While
Muslim militants kill Hindus in Kashmir, we treat non-Muslims in
Pakistan as second-class citizens. To all intents and purpose, they
have been disenfranchised by Zia's obscurantist separate electorate
laws. Christians have been jailed on trumped-up blasphemy charges
that carry the mandatory death penalty; Hindu girls are routinely
kidnapped and raped in Sindh; and Ahmadis have been arrested for
uttering the traditional Muslim greeting, again under the draconian
blasphemy laws.
In this climate of religious intolerance, to expect India and the
rest of the world to hand over a million plus Hindus to the tender
mercies of a bigoted Muslim majority is living in a fool's
paradise. Over five decades of independent existence, we have
witnessed a steady erosion of women's and minorities' rights; this
retrograde trend has been paralleled by the virulent and explosive
growth of fundamentalism in Pakistan.
Given all these factors, as well as the boredom and fatigue
generated by the K-word around the world, it is patently clear that
there is absolutely no prospect of getting India to hand over the
part of Kashmir it controls. We have tried to obtain a decision in
our favour (although not necessarily in favour of the Kashmiris)
for fifty years, have fought two wars and spent an enormous amount
in money and human suffering. Despite all these efforts, we have
failed to achieve our purpose.
A wise man cuts his losses after realising that he cannot possibly
succeed in a given task. Today, virtually every Pakistani will
privately admit the futility of our policies; in public, though,
politicians are locked into their own rhetoric and cannot easily
break free without giving their opponents ammunition. But their
slogans are sounding more and more hollow as they get overtaken by
reality and events. The Jamaat knows it has no chance of ever
getting into power and can therefore afford the luxury of adopting
extreme, jingoistic postures to pressurise the government.
Fortunately, Nawaz Sharif's grip on power is too secure for him to
bother over-much about fringe protests.
The Lahore Declaration is a bold statement of intent.
Unfortunately, its implementation has been left to the foreign
ministries of the two countries. Given the bureaucratic mindset and
the ossified attitudes that have developed over the years on both
sides of the border, it is expecting too much of these hidebound
organisations to display the imagination and vision required to
achieve a breakthrough. If the two governments are serious about
resolving their differences, the political leadership at the
highest level has to be fully involved. Indeed, a Camp David type
of extended conference should be seriously considered. We have had
too many summit meetings with inadequate follow-up to have any
confidence in the ability of the respective foreign ministers and
secretaries to sort out problems that have piled up over five
decades.
I know this is a cliche, but Pakistan (if not the whole
subcontinent) stands at the crossroads: at the dawn of the new
millennium, our economic and social indicators are abysmal. Rampant
population growth combined with crippling debt servicing and
defence expenditure have ensured we enter the next century as a
virtual basket case. Intolerance and unemployment have spawned
violent ethnic and sectarian gangs that threaten to tear the
country apart. Peace with India may not be an instant panacea for
all our many problems, but at least it would be a meaningful start.
We owe it to our children to make a fresh beginning. The process
will be difficult and painful, but we have no viable option but to
embark upon this road and support Nawaz Sharif in his efforts.
===================================================================
SPORTS
990221
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan beat India by 46 runs in Asian Test opener
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Samiul Hasan
CALCUTTA, Feb 20: Pakistan defeated India by 46 runs in the Asian
Test Championship opener in front of the 100,000-capacity empty
stands at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
The reputation of the Calcutta crowd was badly hurt when they
hurled projectiles, fruit, water bottles on the Pakistan team after
they had reduced the home side to 231 for nine in 32 minutes of
play on the final morning. Attempt to put an enclosure on fire was
averted as India, resuming at 214 for six before 50,000 odd
spectators, were dismissed for 232 while chasing 279 for an
outright win.
The umpires and the Pakistan team took the field thrice. But all
the time they had to run for shelter as the unruly crowd refused to
allow them to complete the play.
With no solution left after match referee's suggestion to award the
game to Pakistan was rejected by the touring management, law
enforcing people were contacted who virtually kicked the crowd out
of the giant complex. Such was the brutality of the security
officials that they even showed no mercy to the women, aged
enthusiasts and small children by booting them and sometimes even
using the baton.
It took more than two hours to vacate the stands. But when the
stadium got empty, it gave a depressing look in the background that
more than 400,000 spectators had turned up till the final morning
to watch an exciting tussle.
When the match resumed after three hours and 20 minutes of
interruption, Pakistan took only 10 balls to remove the final
Indian pair to carve out a heart-throbbing victory. But it was such
a pity that there were no spectators to watch the Pakistanis. There
was no lap of honour by Pakistan. No one was there to clap when
Saeed Anwar and Javagal Srinath came to pick their Men-of-the-Match
awards.
The administrators and local media people, obviously looking upset,
tried to pacify that there was a certain section of people who
didn't want the match to be completed. They argued that it was
because of the bookies who had put huge money on India's win. They
claimed that if the match had been abandoned, the book-makers would
not have been required to pay the money to the winners as there was
no result. "That's why the World Cup semi-final between India and
Sri Lanka was disrupted and the bookies got away with it," they
said.
They were also of the view that the crowd was shown the way out
because the local authorities had refused to be dictated by the
bookies. "The entire crowd had to pay for it because the culprits
couldn't be identified. If we had abandoned this match, then there
would have been no stopping them. There had to be a time when the
trend had to be halted," a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB)
spokesman told reporters.
But whatever may be the actual reason, the crowd of Calcutta have
lost their respect, reputation and above all the credibility. Once
the best sporting nation today turns out to be worse. It would take
them a very long time to restore their bettered pride. However, it
has to be seen for how long Calcutta would be denied international
matches as there was a unanimous view that it should be banned for
at least three years.
Reverting to the proceedings of the match, Pakistan required just
11 balls to dismiss the danger Saurav Ganguly who was caught by
Azhar Mahmood off Wasim Akram. Akram then produced too good a
delivery for Javagal Srinath who ended up getting an edge and Moin
Khan bringing off a blinder in front of the first slip.
*From the other end, Shoaib Akhtar accounted for Anil Kumble who was
caught magnificently by Shahid Afridi at covers. It was perhaps the
best catch seen after a long time as the fielder had dived in front
of him off a full bladed shot.
When the match resumed 200 minutes later, Shoaib Akhtar sent
Venkatesh Prasad's middle-stump on a walk with his trade-mark
express delivery. And the rest was history.
Shoaib Akhtar finished as the pick of Pakistan bowlers with four
for 47 for match figures of eight for 111. Wasim Akram bagged two
wickets for 64 to take his tally of Test scalps to 368 and six
short of over-hauling Ian Botham's 373 to become world's fifth
leading wicket-taker. Saqlain Mushtaq was not required to turn his
arm over and had to settle with three for 69 and series haul of 24
wickets.
For Wasim Akram, it was a special occasion as it was the first time
that a Pakistan team had won two Tests on Indian soil. That also
improved his captaincy record to 10 wins against four defeats since
November 1995.
In this Test, Pakistan thoroughly exhibited their fighting skills
when they lifted themselves from 26 for six on the first day to
185, thanks to a inspiring knock of 70 by Moin Khan. They later
dismissed the Indians for 223 after the home team were 147 for two
with Shoaib Akhtar dismissing Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar on
successive deliveries. Saeed Anwar's magical 188 paved the way for
Pakistan to collect 316 and set India a target of 279 which looked
well within reach after the openers raced to 108 for no loss.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
990226
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan win U-19 one-day series against S. Africa
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
LAHORE, Feb 25: Helped by brilliant unbeaten knocks by Imran Nazir
and captain Hasan Raza and excellent bowling by pacemen Yasir
Arafat and Irfan Fazil, Pakistan under-19 team registered a
convincing 8-wicket win over the South Africa under-19 team in the
second international match here at to win the 3-match series the
Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Pakistan had won the first one-dayer against tourists by 61 runs at
Gujranwala. The third and last match of the series will be play in
Karachi on Feb 27.
Captain Hasan Raza won the toss and put in the visiting side to bat
first on a sporting wickets. Spearheaded by Yasir Arafat, the
pacemen did not allow the South African side to bat smoothly and
dismissed them for 197.
Off-spinner Shoaib Malik rattled the stumps of last man Shaun Adams
with a sharply-turning off-break to end the visitors' innings with
four balls to spare in the stipulated 50 overs.
The roles were reversed by Yasir Arafat and Irfan Fazil. The former
had destroyed the middle-order batting in the first international
at Gujranwala on Tuesday while the latter had removed the late-
order batsmen. However, Yasir made early dents in the South Africa
juniors' innings here claiming four for 28, while Irfan Fazil
removed middle-order batsmen.
Irfan Fazil yorked Johan Myburgh (58 on 86 balls with four fours)
to destroy all hopes of the visitors for a big total when he looked
well-settled. Myburgh missed the line of the ball and got his
middle-stump uprooted. Myburgh was involved in two productive
partnerships. He added 46 runs for the sixth wicket stand with
Captain Thami Tsolekile (25 on 41 balls with three fours).
Tsolekile was caught by Shoaib Malik at point while mistiming a
leg-break from the left-arm spinner Qaisar Abbas at the total of
136.
Myburgh and Con de Lange (22 on 38 balls) added 40 runs for the
seventh-wicket partnership off 66 balls but Irfan fazil also broke
the stand by clean-bowling the latter at the total of 186.
Earlier, Justin Ontong (24 off 38 balls) and Ahmad Amla (23 from 37
deliveries) had added 47 runs for the second wicket stand in an
effort to steady the visitors' innings. Qaisar Abbas had fine catch
of Ontong at the square-leg on a mistimed flick off a delivery from
Yasir Arafat to break the partnership which started the downfall of
the visiting side.
Opener Imran Nazir played a domineering knock of 95 not out off 111
balls in 154 minutes with the help of a big six and 14 fours to
make the target of 198 look easy. After Kashif Siddique (12) and
Kamran Ali (6) fell to the left-arm paceman Shaun Adams, Captain
Hasan Raza joined the opener and both added 137 runs off 163 balls
for the unbroken third-wicket partnership to take Pakistan under-19
side to the target without any difficulty. Hasan also hit a huge
six and sent the ball to the ropes six times in his enterprising
unbeaten knock of 64 from 90 balls.
Both the not out batsmen stroked the ball to all parts of the
ground to carve out a creditable win. Pakistan juniors achieved the
target in 39.5 overs, losing only two wickets.
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990225
-------------------------------------------------------------------
India beat Pakistan 3-2 to end series on a winning note
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ilyas Beg
LAHORE, Feb 24: India won the ninth and last match of the
international hockey series beating Pakistan 3-2 at the National
Hockey Stadium here today.
Pakistan team played brilliantly in the first-half when they
snatched a comfortable 2-0 lead. However, they failed to maintain
their tempo and harmony in the second session and lost the
initiative.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is the Patron of the Pakistan
Hockey Federation, awarded the trophy to the Pakistani captain Dr
Atif Bashir for winning the series 6-3 amidst thunderous applause
from about 15,000 lovers of the game.
He also received the Habib Bank Trophy for winning the Pakistan-leg
of the series 3-2. Sohail Abbas from Pakistan was given the highest
scorer's trophy for putting in 12 goals.
*From the Indian team, Baljit Singh Dhillon got the same honour for
scoring nine goals. As the two teams ran for laps of honour, the
big crowd gave them a standing ovation.
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