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DAWN WIRE SERVICE
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Week Ending : 29 May 1999 Issue : 05/22
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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
entire header is included at the beginning of each extract.
We encourage comments & suggestions. We can be reached at:
e-mail dws-owner@dawn.com
WWW http://dawn.com/
fax +92(21) 568-3188 & 568-3801
mail DAWN Group of Newspapers
Haroon House, Karachi 74200, Pakistan
Please send all Editorials and Letters to the Editor at
letters@dawn.com
(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 1999
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CONTENTS
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NATIONAL NEWS
+ Islamabad calls for political settlement with India
+ India attacks civilians in Bhimber
+ Pakistan seeks early talks to end tension
+ 300 bodies recovered so far, says Sindh govt
+ Army formally takes over KESC
+ Supreme Court allows Benazir's appeal
+ Govt urged to allocate Rs50bn for farm research, progress
+ 'Incompetent' NGOs banned, Senate body told
+ 11 die in Daska bomb blast
+ Asif remanded in judicial custody
+ Massive devolution: Leghari for amending Constitution
---------------------------------
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
+ IMF okays $51m tranche for Pakistan
+ Trade deficit to be improved by 37%
+ Islamic Bank raises credit limit up to $350m
+ Banks free to issue traveller cheques
+ Rs264 billion tax revenue likely by month-end
+ Forex Association of Pakistan prices being violated
+ 420 companies acquire ISO-9000 certificates
+ Fresh measures likely to keep rupee stable
+ Rs2.175m recovered from sale of tax defaulter's property
+ KSE index suffers fresh setback of 60 points
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EDITORIALS & FEATURES
+ Not guilty? Ardeshir Cowasjee
+ The triumph of the louts Ayaz Amir
+ A long, hot summer Irfan Husain
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SPORTS
+ Pakistan's performance truly magnificent
+ Pakistan cruise to easy win over New Zealand
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NATIONAL NEWS
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Islamabad calls for political settlement with India
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Hasan Akhtar
ISLAMABAD, May 28: Information Minister Mushahid Hussain Syed on
Friday called for de-escalation in the present tense situation in
the Kargil Sector in Kashmir and said that Pakistan remained ready
to resume dialogue with India on Kashmir and all other issues
dividing them. He was speaking at a media briefing here.
The information minister said that this had been the policy of
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government to seek political
settlement of Kashmir and other issues. He however, stressed that
there had to be some progress in discussion on Kashmir for the
India-Pakistan dialogue to be meaningful and purposeful.
He said it was recognised by all well-wishers of both countries
that the Kashmir dispute was at the root of the troubled South
Asian conflict which needed to be resolved in order to restore
durable regional peace and security. He also recalled that India
itself stood committed to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to
its solemn agreement and pledges in the UN resolutions and various
other undertakings including the Simla Agreement of 1972.
The minister said that the Indian military high command and the
authorities in the IHK were making highly confusing and diabolical
statements about the present state of affairs. They had also sought
to mislead the Indian public by circulating confusing and
contradictory statements about the shooting down by Pakistanis of
the Indian MiG fighters which crossed over the LoC and entered the
Pakistani airspace on Thursday.
The Indian authorities had also been making vain and devious
efforts to misrepresent the correct nature of the Kashmiris freedom
struggle. He debunked the Indian propaganda that Pakistan or other
Islamic states or organisations outside Kashmir had been
contributing to the armed struggle inside the IHK.
Mushahid Hussain quoted some leading Indian newspapers who had also
criticised the Indian administration for escalating tension over
Kashmir and conceded that it was for India as the bigger neighbour
to take the first step towards de-escalating the situation.
He said that Pakistan had nothing to hide from the world as far as
the happenings in the J&K were concerned and said the UN and other
neutral observers were welcome to come and visit the areas of
conflict to make their own judgment.
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990529
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India attacks civilians in Bhimber
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Faraz Hashmi
ISLAMABAD, May 28: Two civilians were killed and two others injured
when the Indian Army opened mortar fire at a village in Bhimber
Sub-sector at the Line of Control (LoC), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, on
Friday, a spokesman of the Pakistan Army said.
Brigadier Rashid Qureshi, Director General of the Inter-Services
Public Relations (ISPR), however, described the mortar fire at the
civilian population by the Indian Army as something "unusual".
Normally, only machine guns are used by the Indian Army while
firing upon the civilian population. They had not used mortar
weapons earlier, Brigadier Qureshi told reporters at the regular
briefing on Friday.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), after losing two aircraft on Thursday,
restricted its activity to the occupied Kashmir and did not commit
any violation of the Pakistani airspace on Friday, he said.
"Today, we saw less activity," the spokesman said while confirming
reports about the loss of an Indian combat helicopter in an
operation.
Pakistan Army did not fire at the Indian positions or at the Indian
aircraft whose activity remained confined to the occupied
territory, he said denying allegations that the helicopter was shot
down by the Pakistan Army.
Commenting on the motives of Indian Army, he said they wanted to
push back the Pakistan Army, which was occupying some dominating
positions at 12,000 to 15,000 feet on Drass-Kargil road which was
the lifeline to its posts in the Siachin area.
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990529
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Pakistan seeks early talks to end tension
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Reporter
KARACHI, May 28: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he had talked to
his Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee on Friday and warned
him against the dangers of sabre rattling and urged him to resolve
the Kashmir issue through talks.
Addressing a gathering at the Mazar of Quaid-i-Azam in connection
with the Youm-i-Takbeer, the prime minister said he urged the
Indian prime minister to come to the negotiating table and resolve
the issue through peaceful means.
"Today I talked to Mr Vajpayee and asked him how long the air
strikes will continue and told him that if more planes will come,
their fate will not be different from the two which were downed
yesterday", he added.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said that he told Mr Vajpayee that as nuclear
weapon states the two countries should exercise restraint and
should avoid sabre rattling and immediately settle the core issue.
He said that Pakistan was ready to take the first step in this
regard. But he did not elaborate it.
Sharif said it was a matter of pride and satisfaction for Pakistan
for attaining the status of nuclear state and "no one could now
cast an evil eye on Pakistan because the enemy knows that Pakistan
is adequately equipped and is capable of meeting any threat."
Referring to current security environment in the region owing to
developments in Kashmir, Mian Nawaz Sharif said that he had
telephonic conversation with Mr Vajpayee and had tried to impress
upon him that the events in Kashmir were contrary to letter and
spirit of the Lahore Declaration.
"Three days earlier I had told Mr Vajpayee that as a signatory to
Lahore Declaration we should work for making the region bastion of
peace by peacefully resolving the Kashmir issue," he said
regretting that the very next day the Indian planes attacked parts
of Kashmir.
He emphasised that air strikes were not the solution of Kashmir
issue and this would not deter Pakistan from its course. "If anyone
has aggressive designs against Pakistan, then we also have the
right to defend ourself," he said adding that Pakistan was capable
of defending itself.
Mian Nawaz Sharif also referred to the defunct military courts and
said he had opted for them not for any personal reason. These were
aimed at restoring normality and peace in Karachi.
The prime minister said that unless the present corrupt and
inefficient system was not changed common man would not get justice
and respect.
"This out-dated system must go and I am prepared to lead in the
crusade against it with the support of the people," said the prime
minister while declaring that he would soon embark on implementing
this agenda.
Mian Nawaz Sharif also expressed his concern on the plight of
cyclone-hit people of lower Sindh and announced Rs 500 million
additional assistance to compensate those who had lost their kith
and kin, their homes and other belongings, including standing
crops.
The prime minister, who had earlier an aerial view of the cyclone-
hit areas of Thatta and Badin directed his partymen and other well-
to- do people to share the agony of the cyclone hit people. "Go to
the affected areas, give them food, help them in re-building their
homes and provide them medicine," said Mian Nawaz Sharif.
He directed the officials to set up their camps in the affected
areas to provide assistance to the people.
Mian Nawaz Sharif, who was joined on the stage by the Mutahidda
Qaumi Movement's former central leader Ishtiaq Azhar, declared that
if the people extend their support to him, he would recover all
illegal weapons from Karachi and dump them in the Arabian Sea.
Prime Minister Sharif, who had reached the venue almost three hours
late, promised to banish terrorism from Karachi and rest of the
country forever together with the unemployment.
He said that his government would provide every assistance to the
provincial governments to set up more schools, colleges, hospitals,
roads, water and electricity facilities for the uplift of the
people.
In the context of the measures his government had taken to improve
the situation in Karachi, Mian Nawaz Sharif referred to the handing
over of KESC to the army and promised that in a couple of months
the shortage of water problem in the city would also be resolved to
a great extent.
He also promised all possible assistance for the overall
development of the interior of Sindh. He also announced that Yellow
cab scheme would be revived soon to enable the people to earn their
living with dignity.
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990526
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300 bodies recovered so far, says Sindh govt
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, May 25: The Sindh government on Tuesday said that 300
deaths have so far been confirmed as a result of the cyclone that
hit the coastal areas on Tuesday-Wednesday last, and uprooting of
over 700,000 people from the devastated areas.
The exact figures of those who had become victim to this natural
calamity were not available with the authorities at this stage.
However, it is expected that the death toll will not touch four
figures.
"The deaths are in hundreds," a report communicated by the Sindh
government to the Cabinet Division said.
The Cabinet sources stated that the extent of loss to life and
property would only be assessed once the rescue and relief
operation in all the affected areas was completed.
"At present, it is difficult to access many areas," a source
quoting the Sindh government said.
The most affected districts by the cyclone are Thatta and Badin.
Almost, 40 per cent of the population in these two districts was
hit by the cyclone which left in its wake 400,000 victims in Badin
and 300,000 in Thatta.
The preliminary report was prepared on the basis of information
provided by the army and the navy personnel who were carrying out
the bulk of rescue and relief operations.
The federal government was told that the cyclone and subsequent
rains had played havoc with the lives and property of the people.
The entire crop in the cyclone-hit areas has also been destroyed
because of the standing water and strong winds. The poor drainage
system has further increased the losses.
The relief operation will continue till the time the cyclone
victims are rehabilitated, a source said, indicating that the
federal government was currently working on an aid package for the
reconstruction and rehabilitation of the cyclone-hit areas and the
victims.
It has been decided that the relief cell of the Cabinet Division
will start formulating updates on the casualties, losses, relief
work and relevant progress from May 26.
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990528
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Army formally takes over KESC
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Reporter
KARACHI, May 27: Army formally took over management of the Karachi
Electric Supply Corporation on Thursday and promised that there
shall be no loadshedding in Karachi from June 15.
Announcing this at a news conference Chairman WAPDA, Lt. Gen
Zulfiqar Ali Khan banned trade union activities for two years in
the organisation.
He also announced that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had appointed
him chairman of the reconstituted board of directors of the KESC
and he had appointed Brig Abu Rashid as the new chief executive of
the utility.
About 3000 men in khaki would be initially inducted who would be
assigned task in the three priority areas and after six months bulk
of them would go back leaving behind only 10 or 12 per cent of
their colleagues.
He made it clear that there would be no influx of personnel from
WAPDA and also made it clear there would be no retrenchment from
the KESC.
He said the total expenditure on transportation, food, residence,
and other expenses will be born by the army and the KESC will have
to bear the amount of Rs 2.2 million per month under the head of
allowances to the armymen.
There would be no increase in tariff because he felt that it would
add to the burden of the common man and increase the cost of
production. He said that first and foremost priority would be to
end the loadshedding in the city by enhancing the KESC's own
generation and bridging the gap from back up support from WAPDA.
In this context, he said arrangements had been worked out with the
PSO to resume full supply of furnace oil, lack of which had been
impeding full generation and was one of the causes of loadshedding.
The PSO had been assured that current bill would be paid in full
and Rs 1.2 billion arrears would be paid after two months following
deliberations with that organisation.
The new KESC chairman said that gas supply had also been reduced
owing to cyclone, which would soon improve.
The second priority of the army-led KESC management would be to
improve distribution for which Rs 140 million would be spent to
provide power transformers and other related materials to the KESC
on urgent basis.
Gen Zulfiqar said that since he was also chairman of WAPDA he had
directed the Lahore-based utility to meet the KESC requirement on
priority basis.
He said the immediate objective was to improve customer services in
every part of the city and the bulk of the armymen would be
involved in this sphere. For this purpose 56 general purpose
complaint centres would be opened where the customer would be able
to lodge complaints of electrical fault or get the billing problem
resolved under one window operation.
The new KESC chairman noted that the KESC's installed capacity of
1790mw was not being fully utilised owing to paucity of funds for
oil to generate electricity. As such there was a shortfall of 350
to 400mw in meeting the demand of 1730mw. This gap was presently
being bridged through backup supply from WAPDA.
He said that even if the KESC's generation capacity was augmented,
its distribution system was not in a position to sustain the load.
He said that after brain storming sessions he had gathered that
consumer was not happy with the customer service owing to non-
responsive attitude of the concerned staff. He said that the
present system of tackling complaints about electricity faults and
billing was cumbersome and time consuming, and thus needed
overhauling.
About the present financial health of the KESC he said that it was
between 45 to 55 per cent and the utility was in a deficit of Rs 13
billion. The amount outstanding against the federal and provincial
government institutions was Rs 4 billion, whereas industry owed
about Rs 3.8 billion and domestic consumer Rs 10 billion.
Receivables stood at Rs 18 billion.
The WAPDA chairman said that he had held talks with Hubco's high
level delegation headed by its Chief Executive Ali Reza last Monday
but admitted that no headway was made.
He said it was a longstanding issue concerning high tariff rates
and hoped that Hubco would cooperate with WAPDA in the same spirit
with which WAPDA was pursuing to resolve the issue.
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990528
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Supreme Court allows Benazir's appeal
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Rafaqat Ali
ISLAMABAD, May 27: A judge of the Supreme Court on Thursday set
aside the order passed by an official of the apex court, returning
the appeal of Ms Benazir Bhutto against her conviction by the
Ehtesab Bench, and directed that her appeal should be entertained.
"I allow the appeal, set aside the impugned order of the Deputy
Registrar (judicial) and direct that the appeal filed by the
appellant (Ms Benazir Bhutto) against her conviction and sentence
in Ehtesab Reference 30 of 1988 be processed in accordance with
law."
Justice Irshad Hasan Khan who heard the appeal of Ms Bhutto against
the order of the Deputy Registrar (judicial) accepted the argument
of the petitioner's counsels that if she could be convicted in her
absence why could she not be permitted to file an appeal against
her conviction in her absence.
"If the appellant could be tried and valid judgment could be passed
in her absence, there could be no bar in entertaining her appeal in
her absence," Justice Irshad observed. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, and
Farooq H. Naek appeared on behalf of Ms Bhutto.
The appeal of Ms Bhutto was returned by the office on May 13 on the
ground that she should first surrender in obedience to the order of
the Ehtesab Bench.
Deputy Attorney General Tanvir Bashir Ansari who represented the
State contended that Ms Bhutto was a "fugitive from justice", and
entertainment of her appeal without her surrender in obedience to
the impugned judgment of the Ehtesab Bench, would tantamount to
abuse the process of the court.
The DAG contended that the appellant had committed a crime and was
presently residing within the territory of another state, England
where extradition treaty was not in force. "It is not a fit case
for allowing the appeal", the DAG submitted.
After hearing the argument of Ms Bhutto's counsel, Justice Khan
ruled that Rule 8 of the Order XXIII of the Supreme Court Rules was
applicable to petitions filed wherein leave to appeal was sought
against any order of imprisonment or fine.
Justice Khan observed that the court would not act in aid of a
person who was fugitive from justice and the petition filed by such
a person against his imprison seeking leave to appeal was not
entertainable unless and until the condition of surrendering was
fulfilled.
He, however, observed that the case of the appellant Ms Bhutto
stood on a different footing, inasmuch as she was out of the
country with leave of the Court. "She was not required to furnish
any bail bond. There was no restraint on her from the Ehtesab Bench
to travel abroad during the pendency of the trial. She was
convicted and sentenced in absentia," Justice Khan noted.
It was observed that the Supreme Court was empowered under Article
187(1) of the Constitution to issue directions, orders or decrees
as might be necessary for doing complete justice in any case or
matter pending before it including an order for the purpose of
securing attendance of any person or discovery or production of any
document.
Justice Khan stated that it was not the case of the State that the
appellant fled from the jurisdiction of the Court after her
conviction and was residing within the territory of another state
i.e. England. "On the other hand, as stated above, her personal
attendance had been dispensed with in Ehtesab Reference No 28 of
1997, after her conviction when she was residing within the
territory of another State."
Justice Khan ruled: "Thus visualized, entertainment of her appeal
in her absence will not tantamount to abuse of process of law, in
the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case."
Justice Khan said that the counsel had rightly relied on the SHC
judgment in the case of Altaf Hussain, chief of MQM (1998 PCrLJ
1486) and quoted the relevant para which reads as:
"The appeal is a fundamental right and is a continuation of
proceedings. When a person can be tried in absentia, there is no
reason as to why his appeal could not be heard as such."
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990527
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Govt urged to allocate Rs50bn for farm research, progress
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Correspondent
FAISALABAD, May 26: Aiwan-e-Zaraat Faisalabad has urged the federal
government to allocate Rs 50 billion for the research and progress
of agriculture sector in its budget for the year 1999-2000.
This was stated by president Aiwan-e-Zaraat Faisalabad, Ch Sadique
Naseem, while talking to newsmen here on Tuesday. He stressed that
the federal government should give top priority to the agriculture
sector otherwise import of wheat and edible oils would destabilize
the national economy.
He further suggested that the government should introduce new
varieties of wheat, sugarcane, rice, cotton and vegetables seeds.
It should make sure that the growers got fair prices for their
produce, he demanded.
The government should also make it obligatory for all the sugar
mills to provide new approved needs, fertilizers and insecticides
to the farmers and it should recover the loans after harvesting of
their sugarcane crop and the loan should be recovered without any
mark-up, he added.
He further proposed that the government should help the owners of
orchards and growers of vegetables in exporting their produce. The
government should in collaboration with US government and European
countries set up industrial units for production of juices and dry
vegetables so that these could be exported, Naseem suggested. The
government should award cash prizes to the growers for establishing
model agriculture farms and producing luxuriant crops.
He deplored that the companies in Pakistan were selling a bottle of
liquid insecticide for Rs 688 while the same was available in India
for Rs 235.
He regretted that the country had been spending Rs 3 billion
annually on the import of insecticides while four plants of
insecticides, one each in all the four provinces of the country,
could be installed only at a cost of Rs 500 million.
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990527
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'Incompetent' NGOs banned, Senate body told
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Correspondent
ISLAMABAD; May 26: The Senate's Standing Committee on Social
Welfare was informed on Tuesday by the government that registration
of only those NGOs had been cancelled which were inoperative and
virtually non-existent.
The committee met here on Tuesday under Senator Hafiz Fazal
Mohammad to review the situation after the cancellation of 1941
NGOs' registration. The government informed it that out of 5967
such NGOs, which were found non-existent and inoperative, only 1941
were dissolved, whereas a total of 5967 NGOs were registered in
Pakistan.
The committee observed that the Punjab government took the action
to bring the working of the NGOs within the ambit of the law and to
revolutionize the socio-economic sector, which would encourage this
sector.
It was told that a number of organizations, institutions and trusts
were also registered under the "Trust Act, 1882", the "Charitable
Endowment Act, 1890", and the "Companies Ordinance, 1984".
A number of NGOs were operating in various parts of the country but
neither did they get registered under the law, nor they provided
any information regarding the source of their funding, nor did they
bother to get their accounts audited by any chartered accounting
firm, the committee was told.
A complete scrutiny of the working of NGOs was recently carried out
in the Punjab and out of the total registered agency, only 1941
were dissolved.
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990525
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11 die in Daska bomb blast
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Correspondent
SIALKOT, May 24: At least 11 people were killed and over 24 injured
in a bomb blast in Daska on Monday morning. Ten of the injured were
said to be in a critical condition.
The bomb went off at 8.45am on College Road near Jamia Masjid Noor,
a thickly populated area which is the gathering point for labourers
looking for work. Most of those killed or injured were labourers
present there.
The bomb was reported to have been placed at the "labourers' adda"
in a shopping bag tied to a bicycle which had been brought by
unidentified people and abandoned there. Bomb disposal experts said
it was apparently a time bomb and weighed about 10 kg.
This was the first incident of its kind in Daska. It caused panic
and anger. All shops in the town were immediately closed and people
demanded action against those responsible for the blast.
Six people injured in the bomb blast in Daska on Monday were
shifted to the Mayo Hospital for treatment in a serious conditions.
They were identified as Asgher Husain, 25, Muhammad Shahid, 15,
Roshan Qureshi, 40, Mohammad Akhtar, 18, Mohammad Habibullah, 45,
and Mohammad Jamil, 35.
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990523
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Asif remanded in judicial custody
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Reporter
KARACHI, May 22: The administrative judge, Anti-Terrorism Court,
here on Saturday remanded PPP Senator Asif Ali Zardari in judicial
custody till May 30 on the request of the DSP CIA who is
investigating the murder of Justice Nizam Ahmed and his son.
Cancelling the police remand which expired on Saturday, the judge
issued jail warrants and directed the investigating officer, Amanat
Javed, to produce the challan on May 24.
Earlier, a division bench of the Sindh High Court had given two
days to the provincial government to call for the record from the
two ATC judges who had granted police remand to Mr Zardari.
Comprising Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Ghulam Nabi
Soomro, the bench issued this order on a revision application which
had prayed the HC to declare as illegal, ab initio and without
lawful authority the order of remand passed by the ATC No VII on
May 10.
The Advocate General of Sindh, Mohammad Iqbal Raad, submitted that
the remand order passed 12 days back was expiring on Saturday and
the government had filed an application to the administrative
judge, Rahmat Hussain Jafri, for a four-day extension in it.
Mr Raad said the accused had been taken into police custody on May
16 but was shifted to Aga Khan Hospital three days later on the
orders of a division bench of the High Court.
As a result, he said, the IO was able to carry out interrogation
only for three days and therefore four more days were sought to
complete the investigation.
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990528
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Massive devolution: Leghari for amending Constitution
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Zubeida Mustafa and Sabihuddin Ghausi
KARACHI, May 27: Mr Farooq Leghari declared in an interview with
Dawn that his party stood for major constitutional reforms
embracing, among other things, a massive devolution of power upon
the lower tiers of authority and a substantial increase in the
number of seats in both houses of parliament.
Mr Leghari spoke elaborately on the need to decentralize the
political system. This could be done within the framework of the
existing constitution, he said. But he preferred that the
devolution of power take place through a constitutional
arrangement, which he considered essential to ensure that no future
government in Pakistan could upset it.
He said that "decentralization and the devolution of power should
be instutionalized permanently." The former President of Pakistan
and the Chief of the Millat Party was talking to a team of senior
Dawn staffers at the newspaper's office on Wednesday, the interview
covering a wide range of subjects.
Linking his proposed reforms in the political and constitutional
system with his concept of empowerment of the people, the former
president said that in Pakistan people were still denied legitimate
power at all levels even 50 years after the country had freed
itself from colonial rule. They lacked authority over their lives,
he pointed out.
He said that the real empowerment of the people was not related to
the distribution of power in the legal framework done. "It is more
important that an environment be created for it and this can be
done by linking empowerment with decentralization."
Me Leghari spoke of two elements in his scheme of things to give
power to the people. First, they should be given easy access to
information and knowledge. For this he considered the spread of
education and a freedom of information law essential to enable the
people to redress their grievances by reaching out to the courts
and the press. Information and knowledge also empowered the
legislators and enabled them to play a more meaningful role, he
said.
Secondly, he felt that knowledge and information facilitated
popular participation in the life of the community. He found the
people alienated from the rulers because they had no access to the
government. He felt it was this distancing of the people from the
government which was the cause of the failure of many projects and
schemes.
Speaking about his vision for Pakistan, Mr Leghari said that his
party wanted to see Pakistan develop in the modern world as a
country that is liberal, progressive and Islamic. He believed that
Islam is a progressive religion which is mindful of human rights
and sensitive to the demands of the times.
===================================================================
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
990525
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IMF okays $51m tranche for Pakistan
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shaheen Sehbai
WASHINGTON, May 24: The IMF Executive Board on Monday approved a
$51 million tranche for immediate release to Pakistan, an IMF
official said after the board meeting in the afternoon.
"The board completed the third review of the EFF/ESAF for Pakistan
and approved the next tranche of $ 51 million," the official said.
The money will be available to Pakistan immediately, the official
said, adding that details of the board meeting would be released by
the IMF soon.
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990529
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade deficit to be improved by 37pc
-------------------------------------------------------------------
M. Ziauddin
ISLAMABAD, May 28: The government is projecting a 37 per cent
improvement in trade deficit for 1999-2000 at 196 million dollars
against a deficit of 518 million dollars estimated for the current
financial year,
This improvement in the trade deficit is proposed to be achieved by
keeping the import growth rate depressed at about 2 per cent at 8.5
billion dollars against current year's import bill of 8.4 billion
dollars while exports are projected to grow by about 7 per cent
earning about 8.6 billion dollars against an estimated income of 8
billion dollars in the outgoing year.
The import projections are based on import substitution in
agriculture sector. And the increase in exports earnings is
predicated on increased production of cotton and rice as well as
revival of the manufacturing sector, improvement in quality and
competitiveness of value-added products and adherence to the
delivery schedule.
However, despite a significant improvement projected in the trade
deficit, the current account balance for the next year is expected
to remain around the current year's level of 1.7 billion dollars as
the invisible deficit in 1999-2000 is projected to expand by 20.37
per cent at 1.54 billion dollars against an estimated imbalance of
1.28 billion dollars in the current year.
Prospects for the invisibles will continue to be governed mainly by
the behaviour of workers remittances. For 1999-2000, remittances
have been projected at 1.3 billion dollars against 1.1 billion
dollars this year.
Amortization (principal and interest payment) for next year has
been estimated at 1.77 billion dollars against an estimated 2
billion dollars under this head for the current year.
The reduction in the amount of amortization is perhaps the result
in part of the debt relief allowed by the Paris Club.
The overall deficit is projected to expand to about 3.50 billion
dollars (current account deficit plus amortization) next year
against 3.84 billion dollars during the current year.
Long-term capital inflows (gross) of 2.42 billion dollars and 60
million dollars of private long-term capital (net) plus 37 million
dollars from other official transfers (net) are expected to reduce
the overall deficit to around 983 million dollars requiring
official financing.
But this deficit is projected to turn into positive balance of 343
million dollars as a result of debt relief of 1.3 billion dollars
as well as mobilization of 160 million dollars from FEBCs, DBCs,
FCBCs and Eurobonds.
Taking into consideration Pakistan's net position with the IMF and
other transactions of the banking system, a build-up of 646 million
dollars in reserves is expected during 1999-2000. And the overall
foreign exchange reserves (FERs) during the next 12 months are
projected to expand, as a result, to 2.63 billion dollars against
1.98 billion dollars estimated for the current year ending June 30,
1999.
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990525
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Islamic Bank raises credit limit up to $350m
-------------------------------------------------------------------
LAHORE, May 24: The Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has
increased the credit limit for Pakistan to $ 350 million.
'This will include a US $ 141 million credit for the import of
petroleum products,' Federal Fiancee Minister, Muhammad Ishaq Dar
told reporters Monday.
Dar who returned home Monday after a week long visit to Saudi
Arabia and oil-rich Emirate of Qatar, attended the Golden Jubilee
celebrations of the Islamic Development Bank as its chairman of
board of directors and Pak-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission
meeting.
The minister said that IDB would increase the total trade facility
for 53 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference
(OIC) during the year 1999-2000 from $ 766 million to $ 1650
million.
He said the IDB would compile a report on the total imports of the
OIC countries from the non-Muslim countries so that a strategy
could be formulated to increase trade between the Muslim countries.
Dar said an experts cell would be set up at IDB to provide guidance
regarding the World Treaty Organization (WTO).
He said that Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to promote relations in
the field of trade and economics.-APP
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990528
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Banks free to issue traveller cheques
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, May 27: The State Bank has stopped banks from issuing
traveller cheques (TCs) and bank drafts etc to Pakistanis for
outward remittance of foreign exchange. But banks are still free to
issue TCs to Pakistanis undertaking private or business visits
abroad.
Senior bankers reached by Dawn said the SBP restriction on the
issuance of TCs was related only to back-to-back remittance. In
plain words Pakistanis can no longer go to a bank and surrender X
amount of foreign exchange to be repatriated abroad through TCs or
other modes of payment. But they are still entitled to foreign
exchange travel quotas set by the State Bank for visits abroad.
They said under the rules every single person can carry with him
foreign exchange at the rate of $50 per day per visit with the
condition that maximum should not cross $2100 in a calender year.
Similarly there is a quota of $200 per day per person for
businessmen with a maximum limit of $6000 in a calender year. SBP
officials could not be reached for immediate confirmation of the
figures.
Bankers close to SBP said the quota of $50 per day per person for
private visitors did not apply to those travelling to
India/Bangladesh and Afghanistan for which there was separate
quotas - lesser than the general quota. They failed to quantify the
quotas for these countries. These bankers said that the quota of
$200 per day per person for businessmen subject to a maximum of
$6000 in a calender year also did not cover India and Afghanistan.
They said businessmen visiting these countries were entitled to a
foreign exchange quota of $40 per day per person with a maximum
limit of $1200 per calender year.
The bankers said in case the TCs were issued in the past to people
travelling abroad and they had failed to use the entire amount of
the TCs they should surrender the leftover amount to their banks
and get rupees. They said banks should buy the leftover foreign
exchange at the buying inter-bank rate prevailing on the date of
the transactions. They said those who spent less than the amount of
foreign exchange they were supposed to spend under the foreign
exchange quota they could use the leftover amount on their TCs
during next visits abroad.
Elaborating they said if a person had purchased say $500 from a
bank under private visit quota of $50 per day per person as he was
supposed to stay 10 days abroad he could use again the left over
amount if he remained abroad for all 10 days but spent only say
$300. On the other hand if he returned within 5 days with a left
over amount of $250 he should surrender this amount to the bank.
Bankers said Pakistanis were allowed to get foreign exchange quota
irrespective of whether they maintain a foreign currency account
with a bank or not.
They said banks dealing in foreign exchange should not confuse
issuance of foreign exchange quota with the fact that fresh foreign
currency accounts opened after June 21 1998 were exempted from the
ban on issuance of TCs and bank drafts etc to Pakistanis for
outward remittance against surrender of equal amount of foreign
exchange in Pakistan.
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990528
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rs264 billion tax revenue likely by month-end
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikram Hoti
ISLAMABAD, May 27: The Central Board of Revenue expects to collect
Rs 264 billion tax revenue by end of May 1999.
Officials told Dawn here on Thursday that a sum of Rs 27 billion
has already been deposited for May, of which four days remain and
in which CBR hopes to collect another Rs 5 billion. As per
records, the CBR will only be equalling the collection made in
July-May period of the 1997-98 financial year, if they succeed in
raising Rs 32 billion in May 1999. The 1997-98 tax collection
amounted Rs 291 billion.
Since the last revision of the federal revenues in April brought
down the target from the original (budgeted) Rs 354 billion to Rs
305 billion, the CBR will now have to collect Rs 41 billion more in
June 1999.
The CBR officials say that should not be a tall order. However, the
total now being estimated for 12 months of 1998-99 is Rs 300
billion, as tax experts say that not more than Rs 36 billion tax
deposits should be expected in June 1999.
To meet the target of Rs 305 billion for 1998-99, the CBR was
supposed to collect revenues at Rs 25.4 billion per month, whereas,
it collected at the rate of Rs 24 billion per month, recording a
shortfall of Rs 15.4 billion for 11 months.
The total shortfall of Rs 8.5 billion was recorded for 1997-98, as
against the target of Rs 297 billion.
A total of Rs 232 billion had been collected in July-1998-April
1999.
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990528
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Forex Association of Pakistan prices being violated
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, May 27: Though the Forex Association of Pakistan has
started pre-fixing of exchange rates to be observed in the open
market yet people say these rates are of very little practical use.
"The exchange rate you published today was Rs 53.30 per dollar but
I was denied dollars at this rate," said Muhammad Salim-a banker by
profession who wanted to buy only $500 from the open market. He
said he visited offices of two money brokers at I. I. Chundrigar
Road who refused to sell dollars at pre-fixed rate under the
pretext of non-availability of the greenback. "I was told I can get
the greenbacks if I pay extra."
Similar complaints were received from other people as well who went
to buy dollars from open market on Thursday.
"I can understand that some people might have failed to get dollars
because a panic-buying triggered by the developments on the line of
control had dried up the stocks of the dollars," said chairman of
Forex Association of Pakistan Malik Bostan.
But he said all money changers had strict instructions not to deny
sale of dollars to genuine buyers at the pre-fixed prices.
Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Association said the money
changers who were operating without State Bank licence had one-
month time to get themselves licensed.
The release said June 24 was the deadline for this purpose adding
that those who applied for the licence would be honour-bound to
abide by all the rules and regulations even during the period their
applications remained under process.
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990527
-------------------------------------------------------------------
420 companies acquire ISO-9000 certificates
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Aamir Shafaat Khan
KARACHI, May 26: As many as 420 companies have acquired ISO-9000
certificate of which 110 are multinationals while the rest are
export-oriented.
The number of certification units was 330 last month in which 98
were MNCs, said an official of the Total Quality Management Experts
Cell (TQMEC) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FPCCI).
He said that the ministry of commerce and ministry of science and
technology, which is supposed to provide Rs200,000 to the aspiring
company, have now finally started partial disbursement of the
amount and so far some 50 companies have availed from the benefit.
A comparison by city, compiled by TQMEC, reveals that out of 420
units - Karachi topped with 37 per cent share (152 units) followed
by Sialkot 21 per cent (89 units), Lahore 18 per cent (76 units),
Faisalabad five per cent (21 units), Islamabad 13 per cent (13
units) and Shaikhupura one per cent (six units). The share of
others is 15 per cent with 63 units.
On certification by model/type - as many as 89 per cent units have
acquired ISO-9002 certificate (373 units) while 10 per cent (44
units) and one per cent (three units) have got ISO-9001 and ISO-
14000 certificates.
Textile sector topped in certification by sector category with 34
per cent share (141 units) followed by surgical and engineering
sectors with 16 per cent and 69 units each respectively. The share
of other sectors are: chemical (31 units), Food processing (20
units), service (25 units), pharma (11 units), automotive (10
units), sport (eight units) and other sectors (36 units).
Pakistan had adopted the quality certification in 1990 but it was
in 1994 when a multinational electrical giant became the first
company to acquire the certificate.
Initially, the TQMEC official said that the pace of getting quality
certification had been comparatively slow but now many companies
are coming up fast as it facilitates sale of local products to
foreign countries.
Around 11 foreign companies are now engaged in Pakistan for the
certification of various ISO standards. There is no local
accredition company which can provide these certificates.
Sources said the foreign buyers prefer certification from well
established western agencies.
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990526
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Fresh measures likely to keep rupee stable
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, May 25: The State Bank is likely to announce a couple of
measures aimed at keeping the rupee stable against the dollar in
the inter-bank market. Senior bankers say the announcement is
expected before the close of this month.
"Right now treasurers of leading local and foreign banks and State
Bank officials are working on couple of proposals aimed at keeping
the rupee stable," a senior banker told Dawn on Tuesday night. He
said these proposals might be finalized and translated into State
Bank circulars on Wednesday or any time during this month.
SBP Governor Dr Muhammad Yaqub held an exhaustive session with
heads and treasurers of all banks earlier in the day and asked them
to check speculations in inter-bank market and ensure that the
rupee remains stable all the time.
Soon after treasurers of selected banks were huddled with SBP
officials responsible for monitoring exchange rates and the two
sides engrossed themselves in deliberations.
Sources privy to the SBP meetings said there was a consensus among
the bankers that panic-driven forward buying of foreign exchange by
the importers should be contained. They said it was suggested by
SBP officials that rules be framed disallowing the importers to get
the benefit of the exchange rate fluctuation if their LCs proved
fake or did not materialise.
The sources said framing of such rules were in progress and a
decision might be announced any time. They said there was a
possibility that the banks might be asked informally to deny
forward cover of shorter tenors to importers to keep the inter -
bank foreign exchange liquidity from drying up.
Senior bankers said SBP chief had convened another meeting of heads
of banks and their treasurers on Wednesday to work out more details
of what they call a post-unification strategy to keep the rupee
stable.
"Everything said and done. The fact is you have let the genie out
of the bottle by floating the rupee," said treasurer of a state-run
bank. "Now the rupee can no longer be kept in the oxygen tent and
the more you try to do so the worse it would be."
This view is widely shared in the banking community and senior
bankers say if the rising demand for the dollar is contained
through artificial means one day the bubble would burst and the
rupee would sink to unknown lows. They say unless the government
narrows the huge trade deficit of $1.2 billion no magic wand can do
any miracles in the inter-bank market to save the rupee from
sliding against the greenback in future.
The dollar opened with bids and offers at Rs51.90-52.00 on Tuesday
morning but as the day progressed it rose to Rs52.30 and Rs52.40
respectively. Bankers said there was not much of buying from
importers.
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990526
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Rs2.175m recovered from sale of tax defaulter's property
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, May 25: The tax authorities have auctioned the property of
a tax defaulter and deposited the sale proceeds amounting to
Rs2.175 million in government coffer.
Official sources said here on Tuesday that for the recovery of huge
income tax arrears from a director of an industrial group the
authorities have to auction his banglow situated in Gulshan-e-
Iqbal, Karachi.
Prior to this sources said all legal requirements were met
including issuance of reminders, through freezing of bank accounts
and attachment of property.
The sale proceeds of property amounting to Rs2.175 million sources
said have been deposited in the treasury against his personal tax
liability and those of his private limited company of his
industrial group, where he was director.
Sources said that a part adjustment of sale proceeds against
liability of private limited company was also considered in the
light of grant of permission under Section 77(2) of the Income Tax
Ordinance by the commissioner of income tax.
In pursuance of directions given by the RCIT, Corporate Region, all
the tax circles have initiated major drive against tax defaulters,
official sources added. They said that a systematic series of
recovery actions as provided in the Tax Recovery Rules, 1982 have
been initiated, ranging from penalty under Section 91 to freezing
of bank accounts to auction of assets, and in certain cases arrest
warrants have been issued.
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990529
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KSE index suffers fresh setback of 60 points
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, May 28: Fresh heavy selling in PTCL and Hub-Power again
featured the trading on the stock market on Friday as bulls were
out to get out of the rings until some positive news came from
Kashmir.
The KSE 100-share index suffered a fresh setback of 60 points or
4.5% after breaching the barrier of 1,200 points and was last
quoted at 1,185.24 as compared to 1,243.72 a day earlier.
'It is heading to stablize around base level of 1,000 points and
may breach it also if the tension on the Kashmir borders did not
ease', analyst Faisal Abbas said adding 'but might not breach the
base level of 1,000 points as buying support re-emerge at this
level.'
But analysts at the KASB said talks between the two countries could
resume any time to settle the issue and in a week's time there
could be peace on the Line of Control.
'The war clouds on the Kashmir issue now are there but saner
elements are expected to prevail possibly by the next week', they
added.
The interesting feature was that there were buyers at the falling
prices that seems to have saved the market from a total collapse,
said a leading broker.
Who are those buying the falling PTCL and Hub-Power and other blue
chips is now a known fact' he said and added 'they are not taking
risk but are working on some insider information'.
Both PTCL and Hub-Power are progressively falling to their pre-
price flare-up rates after hitting the peak at Rs 29.00 and 24.00
and theory were on Friday quoted at Rs 24.00 and 17.15
respectively.
An idea of erratic price movements amid alternate bouts of buying
and selling in PTCL may well be had from the fact it ended at
Rs24.00 after hitting the lowest and the highest for the day at Rs
23.50 and 25.70, falling by Rs2.35.
Most of the overvalued shares, the chief beneficiaries of the last
few weeks run-up again received massive battering under the lead of
PTCL and Hub-Power and induced sympathetic selling in other blue
chips also.
Nestle MilkPak, which suffered a fresh setback of Rs 20.00 adding
to the overnight loss of Rs 50.00 was prominent among the losers,
followed by National Foods, Highnoon Lab, Shell Pakistan, PSO, Noon
Sugar, and Adamjee Insurance, which fell by Rs 2.00 to 3.40. Alico,
Hub-Power, General Tyre, Telecard, Atlas Honda Cars, and Crescent
Bank also fell by Rs1.50 to Rs1.95.
The gainers were led by EFU Life Insurance, Dewan Salman, Sitara
Chemical, Cherat Paper and Lever Brothers, which rose by one rupee
to Rs 5.00.
Trading volume fell to 144m shares from the previous 192m shares,
reflecting a relative pause in panic liquidation and some
rethinking on the developing Kashmir situation in the wake of
continued Indian air strikes on the militants in the Kargil area.
PTCL topped the list of most actives, off Rs 2.35 at Rs 24.00 on
56m shares followed by Hub-Power, lower Rs1.95 at Rs17.15 on 44m
shares, ICI Pakistan, easy five paisa at Rs11.35 on 15m shares,
PSO, off Rs3.05 at Rs103.00 on 7m shares and KESC, up 10 paisa at
Rs10.20 on reports of takeover of its management by the army and
hopes of cut in losses on 5m shares.
Back to the top
===================================================================
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
990523
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Not guilty?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeshir Cowasjee
AT 0300 hours on Friday, November 28, 1997, the landing strip of
the Islamabad airport was lit up. Punjab Chief Minister Mian
Shahbaz Sharif flew in, having wished God speed to his party
stalwarts travelling by road from Lahore to the capital city. He
had come to witness his 'stormers' perform and to arrange a post-
storming celebratory luncheon at Punjab House.
With him, amongst others, was Senator Saifur Rahman. Saif was later
to deny having had anything to do with the transportation of the
hordes, explaining that he had 'rushed' to Lahore the evening
before to visit a judge of the Supreme Court. Having met His
Lordship at 11 o'clock at night he had hitched a ride back with
Shahbaz Sharif.
At 0730 hours the same day, Lt-General Nasim Rana, then heading the
ISI, called on COAS General Jehangir Karamat to report that a large
crowd of ruling party men had left Lahore the previous night and
was now congregating in Islamabad preparing to storm the Supreme
Court . General Karamat played by the book and asked Rana to warn
the man whose orders he obeyed, Nawaz Sharif, prime and defence
minister. Another general in Karamat's place would have perhaps
ordered a company of the 111 Brigade to conduct a 'move' exercise
around the Supreme Court and the Parliament area that morning. The
army is, after all, responsible for the security of the people and
their institutions.
That morning whilst Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah was presiding in
Court No.1, hearing the contempt of court case against the prime
minister and other parliamentarians, the Supreme Court was stormed
by a horde of members and supporters of the ruling party, the
Muslim League. They committed gross and blatant contempt in the
face of the court, obstructed the course of justice, and forced
Sajjad Ali Shah and his brother judges to rise and take cover.
Their plan was to physically prevent the Chief Justice from doing
what was feared - from convicting Nawaz Sharif and disqualifying
him from political life.
That morning I was in the Supreme Court, in Courtroom No.1. All
present , neutral or otherwise, had no doubt that the storming had
been organized by the men of the ruling party.
The plan to oust Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, which had taken
root as early as August 21, 1997, succeeded and he was deposed.
It was expected that his successor, Justice Ajmal Mian, would
immediately, as his first act, take suo motu action to restore the
honour of his court. This was not done.
Morris vs Crown Office (1972 QB 114) was the first case in Britain
in which the Court of Appeal had to consider "contempt in the face
of the court." On February 4, 1970, the court was invaded by eleven
students. They were sentenced the same day to terms of
imprisonment. Their appeal was heard on February 9 and decided on
February 11. The honour and dignity of the court was restored
within the space of one week.
On December 13, 1997, fifteen days after the event , I addressed an
open letter to Acting Chief Justice Ajmal Mian (my column,
14/12/97) requesting that "it be accepted as a petition and that he
take suo motu action, for the gravest contempt committed in the
face of the court, against those who stormed the Supreme Court on
November 28, 1997, as well as those responsible for organizing,
paying, and directing them to so do, and that severe deterrent
punishment be handed down to all of them. Collectively responsible
and guilty is the entire federal cabinet and its "primus inter
pares". Together with the letter, I sent him a video cassette which
clearly showed the storming of the court and in which several
Muslim League leaders were identified.
Acting Chief Justice Ajmal Mian referred to the 'storming' as a
'very serious incident of rowdyism.' By his order dated 15/12/97 he
appointed Abdur Rahman Khan, J, to hold an inquiry. Two months
later, on 18/2/98, Justice Rahman submitted a report in which,
inter alia, he stated : "As the action of those individuals who
forced their entry into the court premises and raised slogans
against the judiciary prima facie amounts to gross contempt of this
court ..... it is considered appropriate that the honourable Chief
Justice may constitute a bench of the court to [initiate] contempt
proceedings for the outrageous incident of 28/11/97. The bench so
constituted can adopt such measures and take such actions as it may
deem necessary to identify the concerned persons ..... the
necessity for initiating such action immediately is felt because of
paramount importance of the matter as the sanctity, dignity and
respect of the apex court of the country is involved. Street power
should not be allowed to coerce and intimidate the judiciary."
On 25/2/98, the CJ constituted a bench of three to inquire into the
matter. Those of us who helped the court by testifying as to what
we had seen, heard and read were given the distinct impression that
it was we who were the accused. During the course of the
proceedings advocate Akram Shaikh and I pointed out that the
Attorney-General and his deputies, employees of the government,
could not be expected to prosecute their employers. It was
suggested that an independent special prosecutor be appointed. The
judges were unmoved. The inquiry ended on 16/6/98, the judges
directing that show cause notices be sent to 26 inconsequential
members of the ruling party and the administration.
The hearing of the contempt case began on 21/2/99 before a bench of
three headed by Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, the same bench that had
conducted the inquiry. I was asked to appear before it on May 6 as
a prosecution witness. I was further directed : "If you wish to
place on record any material regarding the incident, you are
requested to send the same in advance." I sent a copy of the video
cassette of the recording of the court's own CCTV cameras and
fourteen documents, all of which had been handed over to the
Supreme Court and/or the DAG between December 1997 and May 1998,
i.e. prior to and during the course of the inquiry hearing of
Cr.Misc.27/98.
Before the court on May 6, I challenged the capacity and capability
of the DAG to prosecute, and handed over a statement suggesting
that it was still not too late to appoint a special prosecutor, in
conformity with current international judicial norms and practices,
who is able to prosecute the case in an unbiased manner. The
statement was accepted on record and the DAG was directed to sit
down. The judges asked whether I had any statement to make. I
accused the prime minister and the ruling party of having stormed
the court on November 28, 1997, and of obstructing the course of
justice. On what basis had I made my statement? I was asked. On the
basis of the video cassette and of all the documents already sent
to the court.
During cross examination by a defence lawyer it was "put " to me
that my accusation was malafide and made out of malice. "Right or
wrong ?" he asked. Wrong, I replied, and there the matter ended.
The judges then asked me what I had seen and heard in the courtroom
on the day of the storming. Once again I narrated my account,
including the passage concerning Saifur Rahman. They asked me what
I saw when I left the courtroom. I saw people dancing the 'Peshawar
Jig,' I said. When I asked what they were celebrating they informed
me it was the success of their mission - they had disrupted the
court and forced the judges to rise. Did I recognize any of the
dancing mob, the judges asked? No, said I, not one in that madding
crowd. They all looked alike, fat and flabby.
On May 14, 1999, over one and a half years after the storming, the
judgment was delivered. Statements made under oath, the video
cassette recording, newspaper clippings - all these were not
considered to be evidence.
On the morning of May 21, a crowing Mushahid Hussain rang and we
discussed the judgment. His praise of their Lordships' wisdom
clearly implied that the judgment informed the people that in
actual fact there had been no storming of the Supreme Court , that
no man had committed contempt. For had there been a storming, the
law of the land would surely have found the high command and the
foot-stormers guilty of the grossest contempt in the face of the
court. In any event, I told him, the sole appeal against this
judgment lies now before the Master Referee. Ajmal Mian? asked
Mushahid. No, I informed him, Allah Mian, the Omnipotent, the
Omniscient. He is the one who knows which of us down here possessed
'moral courage' and which lacked it.
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990528
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The triumph of the louts
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayaz Amir
IN the rich and developed countries, it is football enthusiasts and
hardened beer-drinkers who claim sole proprietorship over loutish
behaviour and systematic vulgarity. In Pakistan it is the other way
round. The lower orders, for all their other faults, have an innate
sense of decency. It is the chosen representatives of the state
who, with a consistency that will astonish future historians, have
turned chest-thumping and trumpet-blowing into two of the
Republic's most striking art forms.
To have gone nuclear a year ago is one thing. A compelling if not
absolutely conclusive case can be made out for it. But to turn the
anniversary of this event into the tamasha that has been unfolding
before our eyes for these past several weeks - with the information
ministry and that unbeatable instrument of state propaganda,
Pakistan Television, in the lead - requires a singularity and
uniqueness of imagination attributable in the prevailing
circumstances only to the intellectuals of the Pakistan Muslim
League.
Such anniversaries are best not observed. Americans, who, as even
Dr A. Q. Khan might admit, came first to splitting the atom, do not
open champagne bottles to observe the day they developed the first
nuclear bomb. The other nuclear powers, including China, do not
hold ticker-tape parades to commemorate their entry into the
nuclear club. But if, as with us, a leadership intent on deriving
doubtful political capital from such an event sets its heart upon a
commemoration, even a notional sense of aesthetic propriety would
suggest that it were best done solemnly and with quiet dignity
instead of the jumping about and banshee-like sounds which the
nation in some stupefaction has been compelled to witness and hear.
Nowhere in literature or sensible history (as opposed to the
history taught in Pakistani schools) is Mars, the god of war, a
gleeful figure, performing a clownish dance around the instruments
of destruction. He comes wearing a stern visage, a blend of resolve
and necessity. But perish the thought of applying similar yardstick
here for to do so would be to underestimate the cultural
sophistication of Pakistan's ruling classes. Indeed the ruling
party would not have been true to itself if it had not staged this
atomic mela, as I have seen it described in a news report.
What indeed is the purpose of our Youm-i-Takbeer? Certainly not the
celebration of our technological prowess as the information
ministry would have us believe because, if anything, our nuclear
capability casts a bitterly ironic light on our comprehensive
backwardness in other spheres of national life. The purpose cannot
be the greater glorification of our native Oppenheimer, Dr A. Q.
Khan, because he is his own best publicist and needs no help from
anyone else in this regard.
As a testimonial to his self-effacing modesty, consider only the
laudatory meetings he has found time for in recent days. Praise
however outrageous, titles and epithets however extravagant, he
accepts with a straight face. A lesser man would blush. Not Dr Khan
who is made of sterner stuff. The higher mysteries of our nuclear
achievement - who did what and what might be the relative roles of
Dr Khan and the scientists of the Atomic Energy Commission - may be
shrouded in secrecy but one thing is clear. Whatever the
contribution of Dr Ashfaq Ahmed Khan and Dr Samar Mubarakmand, they
are no match for Dr A. Q. Khan in the all-important field of public
relations.
Possessing the nuclear genie is not a joke. It is serious stuff and
the first demand it puts on its keeper is sober and responsible
conduct. The crowing and jumping about which the government has
ordained as part of the Youm-i-Takbeer celebrations reveal anything
but a mature frame of mind. India certainly left us with no choice.
For reasons not clearly thought through at the time, it went for
its nuclear tests and, in the given climate of the subcontinent, we
had to follow suit. But this dialectic, perverse though it be,
dictates quiet resolve not infantile behaviour.
There is also a civic cost to the periodic effusions of juvenility
to which the Pakistani official mind is prone. Every glorious
commemoration brings forth another hideous addition to the list of
monuments which pock-mark our larger cities. The 50th anniversary
of the country's existence brought the nation a gift (at our
collective expense of course) from Benazir Bhutto: the Convention
Centre in Islamabad, a white elephant of no use to anyone. Youm-i-
Takbeer is bringing us a gift from the guardians of the heavy
mandate: a replica of the Chaghi hills near the intersection at
Faizabad. There is no use in praying for some limits to the
philistinism of the official Pakistani mind. Is there drinking
water or Sui gas or a decent school at Chaghi? It does not matter
because the more important thing is to raise another monstrosity in
the capital.
But none of this should be surprising. When mediocrity is the order
of the day, every happening becomes a propaganda opportunity. So it
has been with these celebrations which, apart from anything else,
make it appear as if the country's nuclear prowess owes itself to
two individuals: a brilliant scientist, A.Q. Khan, and an intrepid
statesman, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. In all the hype we have heard
not a word about Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the true father of Pakistan's
nuclear effort. Without the political will he demonstrated where
would our Oppenheimers be?
There are certain things all Pakistanis, whatever their other
differences, should collectively own and, if the occasion arises,
be collectively proud of. But it is their governments which do not
allow this to happen because governments turn everything into a
partisan affair. This in part accounts for the highly developed
sense of cynicism that ordinary Pakistanis have come to possess.
Since they do not trust their governments (and who is to blame them
for that?) they also treat with cynicism everything connected with
the government. The police can put on the garb of angels but
ordinary people will not believe them. Pakistan Television can hire
Walter Cronkite without adding anything to its credibility. So it
is with government-managed stage shows. They will lack popular
enthusiasm, let the Muslim League try what it wants.
Even so, governments never stop trying to insult the nation's
intelligence. Rightly or wrongly, an overwhelming majority of
Pakistanis are for the bomb, a circumstance with which official
propaganda has nothing to do. But about these infantile
celebrations decreed by our latter-day Kublai Khans it is not too
far-fetched to say that most Pakistanis would have a dry opinion.
When, at the governmental level, will we begin to behave
responsibly and maturely? Not any time soon if only to judge by the
kind of poets and card-board characters we keep sending to
Islamabad.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
990529
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A long, hot summer
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Irfan Husain
JUST as we were settling down for the onslaught of summer, the
government has raised the political temperature for reasons best
known to it.
Apparently not satisfied with the unprecedented concentration of
power, they have already achieved after weakening of the
presidency, the judiciary and the GHQ, the PM and his men are hell-
bent on pulverizing the last remaining islands of independence that
remain outside their direct control. Thus, we are witnessing today
a concerted campaign against the NGO movement and the print media.
In both cases, government spokesmen have stated with a straight
face that their crackdown has nothing to do with the freedom of
expression or human rights. Excuse me if I take this claim with a
pinch of salt. NGOs like ASR, Shirkatgah and the Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan are being targeted.Under the garb of
"scrutinizing" the accounts of these and other organizations, a
number of frivolous charges are being laid at their door. Since
they don't get any funds from the government, this high-handed
exercise is simply a method devised to harass and hobble
institutions that refuse to dance to our rulers' tune.
While the ongoing attack on the free press has been discussed and
denounced extensively in this and other newspapers, it is important
to see it as part of a pattern of paranoia and a pathological
hunger for total power. The manner of Najam Sethi's arrest, his
continuing detention and the orchestrated campaign against his
reputation indicate the length the government is willing to go to
stifle dissent. Information Supremo Mushahid Hussain's claim that
Sethi's arrest has nothing to do with any threat to the freedom of
speech is as credible as the Serb protestation that they are
innocent of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Kosovo.
Unfortunately, those elected to high office in Pakistan tend to be
fairly unsophisticated where the rights and responsibilities of
different institutions of a democratic dispensation are concerned.
With a feudal mindset (if not background), they tend to see things
in black and white: if you aren't with them, you are automatically
against them. And if you are against the government, then you are
ipso facto against the state, and hence a traitor. This linear
logic makes them the implacable enemies of those who see things in
shades of gray, and are critical of the ills they see around them.
In this narrow, paranoid worldview, loyal friends are rewarded with
contracts, plots and portfolios, while perceived enemies are to be
incarcerated and humiliated if they can't be hanged immediately.
Indeed, through its viciousness, this government has succeeded in
the very difficult task of generating sympathy for Benazir Bhutto
and Asif Zardari. By hounding the erstwhile first couple
relentlessly without cleaning up its own act, the PML leadership
has given the opposition a lease of life it might not otherwise
have got. The third degree Zardari has clearly been subjected to is
a grim portent of things to come.
There has been an element of desperation in the way the government
has lashed out in all directions in the last couple of months, and
this behaviour has triggered the usual spate of speculation about
its imminent fall. Nobody seems to have any clear idea of how a
change is to come about, but from Islamabad to Karachi, there is
speculation about the coming events. In our recent history, such
wishful thinking has too often been transformed into self-
fulfilling prophecy.
Politicians not suffering from a suicidal bent of mind have known
the dangers of opening too many fronts at the same time, thus
uniting a fractured opposition. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, secure in his
grip on power, committed the cardinal sin of angering and
humiliating his enemies simultaneously. Now Nawaz Sharif, armed
with the knowledge of his control over the key institutions of
state, is forcing the smaller provinces and most political parties
to seek common cause against him. He is giving them a focus for
their grievances and fuel for their anger and insecurities. Where
he could have been magnanimous in victory, he is being ungenerous
and vindictive.
Clearly, he is not being well served by his inner circle of
advisers. At a time when the international situation demands
greater internal cohesion than ever before, government policies are
driving a wedge between the people and the administration. Indeed,
not content with pushing domestic allies away, the PML has
successfully alienated traditional friends like Iran and United
States. We have seldom been so isolated internationally. Just when
the fallout from our nuclear tests last year was settling down,
many countries have been revolted by the systematic destruction of
institutions we are witnessing today.
One small example of the siege mentality that has gripped this
government is the confiscation of the current issue of the
Economist for a critical leader the magazine has carried.
Basically, the editors have suggested that in view of this
government's attack on democratic institutions and human rights,
international donors should halt the flow of aid. Now we may
disagree with this point of view, but confiscating the copies of
the publication, even temporarily, is an immature and
unsophisticated reaction. Apart from the fact that the offending
article has already been reproduced in Pakistani newspapers,
anybody who reads the Economist regularly has access to a computer
and can download the leader over the internet. By acting in such a
ham-fisted manner, the government only reinforces the impression
that it is desperate.
One question a number of us are constantly asking is what will
Nawaz Sharif do with absolute power when he has obtained it? Even
now, he is master of all he surveys, but instead of getting on with
the job he was elected to perform, he is wasting his time and
energy in the self-defeating effort to amass yet more power at the
cost of the other pillars of the state. In the process, he is
making a mockery of the democratic process and the rule of law.
At the outset of his tenure over two years ago, Nawaz Sharif had a
splendid opportunity to tackle the many problems facing Pakistan.
He was elected, first and foremost, as a competent manager who
would jump-start the economy. By any reckoning, he has failed in
this task. Instead, he has expended all his goodwill and political
capital on taking on the presidency, the judiciary, the GHQ and now
the press. He may succeed in controlling all of them for a short
while, but sooner or later, he will discover that he has won a
Pyrrhic victory.
===================================================================
SPORTS
990525
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan's performance truly magnificent
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Baldwin
LONDON, May 24: All Pakistan should be very proud of Wasim Akram
and his cricket heroes today. Their performance in beating
Australia at Headingley was truly magnificent, and could have
significant ramifications for the rest of the tournament.
In the last World Cup, when Pakistan lost to India in the quarter-
finals, there was an ugly reaction - with Wasim, in particular,
coming in for intense criticism. Wasim, however, did not even play
in that match in Bangalore because of injury!
The Pakistan selectors have, in the past, treated Wasim very badly
by refusing to support him as skipper. But, after just three games
of this World Cup, I think Wasim has proved beyond doubt that he
has become, at last, the true and rightful successor to Imran Khan
as his country's cricket leader.
Pakistan's chances of winning the World Cup grew from the moment
Wasim was re-instated and, as with Imran in 1992, he has a team
behind him that is a perfect mixture of youth and experience, of
aggression and calm.
In 1992 it was the likes of Inzamam, Mushtaq Ahmed, Aamir Sohail,
Moin Khan and even Wasim himself who were the young firebrands
moulded by Imran and Javed Miandad into a formidable unit.
Now, it is Wasim, Moin, Ijaz and the lumbering Inzamam who provide
the experience while the young bloods Shoaib Akhtar, Yousuf
Youhana, Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood provide the fearless spirit
which lies at the heart of this team.
But, unlike in 1992, Wasim has a team who are firing right from the
start. Imran was fortunate in his Cup-winning campaign nine years
ago that the format of that tournament allowed a team to begin
slowly but then pick up a late momentum. In this event that would
not be possible and, if the current format had applied in 1992,
England would undoubtedly have been crowned winners.
What Wasim has grasped is that, to win this World Cup, a team has
to perform consistently well right through the near six weeks of
its duration. And what he has also realised is that only sides with
a strong, five-man specialist bowling attack can possibly hope to
win.
Wasim's captaincy in the field against Australia were near
faultless, but his greatest triumph in this early stage of the
competition is to get his team selection spot on - and to get his
team to play with all the passion and commitment that is required.
Pakistan's captain has been critical of the practice facilities
afforded his squad by the World Cup organisers, and of the lack of
proper practice matches once the early May weather intervened. He
has a point, and there is no doubt that Pakistan have suffered more
than most because of being based in the northern half of England
during the warm-up period.
Yet a sense of injustice also helps to knit a team together more,
and Wasim again has used this to his advantage. You can almost feel
Pakistan's sense of togetherness when they are in the field, a
desire to show the world they cannot be beaten by anybody or
anything. This, too, is a reflection of Wasim's natural leadership.
What he has to do now is keep that aggression focussed on the
ultimate prize - and the only prize worth winning.
Some proof that he is succeeding in that objective was offered by
the running battle Shoaib waged with Australian captain Steve Waugh
during Pakistan's momentous 10-run victory.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
990529
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan cruise to easy win over New Zealand
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DERBY, May 28: Pakistan emphasised the cruel gap between excellence
and competence on Friday with an untroubled 62-run victory over New
Zealand in their World Cup match to seal their berth in the Super
Six round as the Group B winners.
Set a daunting 270 to win, New Zealand laboured to 207 for eight
with only captain Stephen Fleming (69) offering any serious
resistance.
Once again the New Zealand top-order failed with the fierce young
fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, tearing in against a backdrop of
chanting, dancing Pakistani supporters, dismissing both openers
Nathan Astle (0) and Matthew Horne (1) in his first three overs.
Both were caught by wicket-keeper Moin Khan who equalled compatriot
Wasim Bari's World Cup record of 22 dismissals.
Azhar Mahmood extinguishing any lingering hopes New Zealand might
have had of mounting a recovery by dismissing Chris Cairns and Adam
Parore lbw in successive balls for ducks, leaving the innings in
ruins at 71 for six.
New Zealand, who caved in against the West Indian pace bowlers on
Monday, found the Pakistani quicks too hot to handle as well. They
slipped to 71 for six by the 20th over, before Fleming and Harris
came together to take the score to 154.
Left-handed Fleming, who came in the sixth over, stayed till the
39th when he pulled Azhar Mahmood to his counterpart Akram at mid-
wicket. Harris went near the end for 42.
After Fleming had won the toss and elected to field, Pakistan made
a flying start with 23 runs off the first two overs and managed an
equally frenetic finish, taking 24 off the final two in their
daunting 269 for eight.
Left-arm pace bowler Geoff Allott picked up four for 64 to rattle
the Pakistani top order. For the third time in four Cup matches,
Allott dismissed both openers within the first 10 overs then
returned to pick up two more wickets.-Reuters/AFP
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