------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 22 January 2000 Issue : 06/04 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Democracy, militancy figure in parleys + FIA to probe against Nawaz in fertilizer import case + US asks India, Pakistan to reduce tensions + New Delhi demands return of hijackers + Indo-US pact sends signal to Pakistan + Pakistan, India not N-weapon states: US + UN slams Islamabad over military spending + IMF team's visit delayed till end of month + Storming case: Appellant says plea according to SC rules + Parties oppose signing of CTBT + NAB to be challenged: GDA demands across-the-board accountability + Sedition charge dropped: Nawaz, others indicted in plane case + Greater US role called for Kashmir resolution + Quake rocks many parts of country --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Washington to encourage investment in Pakistan + SBP relaxes curbs on forex regime + SBP eases curb on dividend remittances + Pakistan to lodge complaint with WTO + Tax authorities plan to come down heavily on evaders + Die cast for HBL privatization + KSE computer network fails again to absorb workload + Tax Ombudsman to take up major cases on priority + State Bank approval sought: ADBP plans for commerical banking + 44 FIA employees sacked + EPB chief assures exporters + 134 points gain in KSE index knocks off previous record --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + The great rehabilitation department Ayaz Amir + Where corruption is a way of life Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + Razzaq inspires Pakistan to victory over India + Australia down Pakistan by six wickets + Wasim Akram first to claim 400 wickets
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NATIONAL NEWS
20000122
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Democracy, militancy figure in parleys
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Hasan Akhtar
ISLAMABAD, Jan 21: Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl
Inderfurth on Friday expressed the hope that the US concerns
regarding terrorism, democracy, and regional peace had been
understood
by the Pakistan's military government.
He expressed his satisfaction that Chief Executive Gen Pervez
Musharraf had "listened to at such length" the United States'
extreme concern on spread of terrorism in South Asia and reiterated
his commitment to restoration of democracy.
Inderfurth had held two-hour-long meeting with Gen Musharraf on the
last day of his two-day visit to Pakistan.
He told a news conference at the American Center here on Friday
that they had covered a wide range of issues of mutual concern and
interest, with terrorism on top of the list.
Michael A. Sheehan, coordinator for anti-terrorism in the State
Department and US Ambassador to Pakistan Milan were also present at
the meeting.
Gen Musharraf informed Inderfurth of several steps his government
envisioned while moving towards restoration of democracy.
The US official hoped that the Chief Executive would lay out
publicly his plan in building a new and lasting democracy as soon
as possible, in the same manner as he had done in other areas, soon
after the military take over on Oct 12 last.
About the prospects of President Clinton's visit to Pakistan, Mr
Inderfurth said, while the President was expected to visit South
Asia early this year, the schedule for Pakistan was still
undecided.
At the outset, Mr Inderfurth read out a statement which, inter
alia, stated that one of the key issues he had discussed in
meetings with the chief executive and government officials, was the
need for cooperation to reduce the threat of terrorism which, the
US believed, stemmed from this region and directly threatened the
US and Pakistan as well as the region and the world.
This was dramatically illustrated by the recent hijacking of an
Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu to Delhi last month, he said.
The need for a comprehensive roadmap with milestones for return to
democratic civilian rule as soon as possible, Mr Inderfurth said,
was another key issue which figured during the talks. He called for
restoration of "a productive dialogue" with India.
The need for regional stability and the prevention of an arms race
in South Asia was yet another important issue for Washington which
came under discussion.
Highlighting the importance of the issues covered by him during his
meetings here, he said: "All these measures, I want to add, we
believe would enhance Pakistan's security". The purpose of his
trip, he further said, was to discuss key issues of concern to both
the countries, including terrorism, democratization, economic
reform, halting the spread of nuclear weapons and ballistic
missiles and promoting regional stability, specially through
productive dialogue with India.
"Our meetings (with government leaders here) have been candid and
useful as they should be between friends", the US assistant
secretary stated emphasizing that these meetings came at "a
critical time".
He added: "We all appreciate the willingness of the Pakistani
leadership to make themselves available for these discussions".
KASHMIR: Responding to questions, Mr Inderfurth said the US was
deeply concerned over the tension between Pakistan and India and
pleaded that the two sides would deal with the issue of Kashmir in
a practical manner.
He, however, expressed inability of a direct mediatory role of
Washington in resolving the issue unless both sides sought the
American role.
With respect to hijacking of the Indian plane, he said that he
received assurance of the Pakistan government to track down the
hijackers and bring them to justice. The US authorities, he said,
were willing to extend whatever support needed to trace and arrest
the hijackers.
Inderfurth said the US was pleased that the government in Islamabad
had responded to Washington's complaints against activities of
certain militant groups threatening American lives and property.
However, he said, he did not consider it appropriate to elaborate
Gen Musharraf's response to US call to curb militant groups since
the exchange of views was confidential but he found it satisfactory
that there was an understanding here of America's concerns.
OSAMA: Asked whether the US sought Pakistan's help in the arrest of
Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden who was indicted by a US court in
an alleged bombing attacks on US embassies in Africa in 1998, the
assistant secretary said that safe haven provided to Osama by
Taliban with which Pakistan had very close relations, was a matter
of deep concern to the US.
He hoped that it would be possible to bring bin Laden to justice.
As regards the extremist groups proclaiming violence against the
Americans from the Pakistani soil, he said, the US serious concern
over the existence of such groups had been conveyed to Pakistan. He
believed that the militants acted not only against the US but were
also bringing bad reputation to Pakistan internationally.
The assistant secretary and his team which included anti-terrorism
coordinator Sheehan and Donald Camp of US National Security Council
had a hectic programme of meetings on Friday with Pakistan
ministers and officials.
Inderfurth and his team also spent 90 minutes with Foreign Minister
Abdul Sattar, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and Interior Minister
Moinuddin Haider.
A Pakistan government statement said that during the meeting with
Karl Inderfurth, the Chief Executive emphasized the importance of
Pakistan's long-standing relations with the US and underscored
Islamabad's efforts to promote peace and harmony in the region and
to seek peaceful resolution of all disputes with India,
particularly Kashmir issue. With regard to nuclear non-
proliferation, the Chief Executive mentioned the need to evolve a
national consensus on the signing of the CTBT.
AFP adds: Inderfurth, who is responsible for South Asia, said
terrorism was top of the agenda in his talks with senior Pakistani
officials but he declined to say if Musharraf had made a promise to
combat militant groups.
But Inderfurth said the CE did have "steps" in mind. Inderfurth
also urged Pakistan to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,
although Washington itself has not ratified the treaty. But he said
Pakistan still had a right to its nuclear deterrent.
"Signing does not compromise Pakistan's right to maintain a
deterrence," he said.
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20000122
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FIA to probe against Nawaz in fertilizer import case
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Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Jan 21: The government has ordered a probe against Nawaz
Sharif and a former minister, Abdul Sattar Lalika, for allegedly
importing damaged Triple Phosphate Fertilizer worth Rs52 million
from China, during the 1998-99 season.
An FIA inspector, Hazrat Ali, has been appointed as the inquiry
officer of the case.
Sources said the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock
(Minfal) has directed the FIA to produce the relevant record of
import and the names and addresses of the concerned officials,
dealing with the import of fertilizers.
Official sources told Dawn, here on Friday, that earlier, the same
case had been brought to the notice of the National Accountability
Bureau (NAB). However, instead of acting on their own, they
directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the
matter and submit their findings to it so that further action could
be taken, against the two prime- accused, in a court of law.
Sources said the FIA has reported that top officials of the
relevant ministry have also been reportedly involved in the import
of fertilizer from China and that the inquiry has been initiated.
They alleged that Mr Sharif and Mr Lalika had connived with Minfal
officials for importing substandard Triple Phosphate Fertilizer
(TPF) from China which had been labelled 'misfit and damaged.'
Sources said the agriculture ministry has been asked to provide
relevant records to the FIA officials.
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20000119
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US asks India, Pakistan to reduce tensions
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Shaheen Sehbai
WASHINGTON, Jan 18: The State Department on Tuesday urged both
India and Pakistan to do whatever they could to reduce tensions but
a senior official declined to blame India alone for escalating
tensions by deciding to increase the number of troops on the border
with Pakistan.
"I will not point fingers at India alone," the official said when
asked to comment on an Indian government decision that troops on
the international border with Pakistan and the Line of Control
would be increased to control what they allege is cross border
terrorism.
"We think it is important for India and Pakistan to reduce the
violence," the official said as Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant
Singh met Deputy Secretary Strobe Talbott in London on Tuesday.
Reports in the Indian media on Tuesday talked of a major decision
by the Vajpayee government to set up an additional unified
headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir and raise more specialised
battalions of paramilitary forces specially trained for counter-
insurgency operations.
The decision was taken at a high level meeting on Kashmir held at
the Prime Minister's residence on Monday night.The home minister,
defence minister, J&K governor Girish Saxena, chief minister Farooq
Abdullah, Army chief V.P. Malik and several senior officials of the
home ministry and Intelligence Bureau attended the meeting which
was presided over by Vajpayee, the reports said.
The key decision taken by the meeting was to enhance deployment
along the international border with Pakistan and Line of Control
and divide the counter-insurgency grid into 49 sectors as part of a
three-tier command and control structure new headquarter.
While the state police and intelligence units were being already
strengthened, security forces had been asked to identify and adopt
a proactive approach against terrorists in the hinterland and
establish area domination, Indian reports said.
They said a special operation was also being launched against
terrorists with the help of retired soldiers and members of Village
Defence Committees (VDCs) to curb infiltration and ex-filtration.
It was decided to integrate the VDCs with the counter-insurgency
grid and provide them with sophisticated arms and ammunition.
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20000116
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New Delhi demands return of hijackers
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NEW DELHI, Jan 15: India asked Pakistan on Saturday to extradite
the five hijackers of an Indian Airlines Airbus to stand trial
here, the foreign ministry said.
The official demand is the first by India since Dec 31 when the
hijackers released 155 passengers in Kandahar and reportedly
"crossed its borders into adjoining Pakistan."
Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Ashraf Jehangir Qazi was
summoned to the foreign ministry on Saturday and the demand was
handed over to him by Indian Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh.
Qazi was "told that India expected Pakistan to take necessary
measures to apprehend the hijackers and their accomplices present
in Pakistan and extradite them to India for prosecution," the
ministry said in a statement.
The strongly-worded statement said: "This would be in fulfilment of
Pakistan's obligations under international conventions to which it
is a signatory.
"Qazi was also informed that India reserves the right to take
further measures as appropriate," the statement said without
elaborating.
He was told "Islamabad's support to acts of terrorism, including
the hijacking and subsequent anti-India public statements in
Pakistan by Masood Azhar were in contravention" of a 1972 bilateral
peace act, it said.
A foreign ministry spokesman on Saturday said New Delhi asked
Islamabad for the extradition "only after studying legal
implications of the issue."
The spokesman also claimed that India had proof the hijackers
crossed the Afghan border and found sanctuary in Pakistan.
"Given that a large number of terrorists whose release was sought
by the hijackers are Pakistani nationals and that the first
destination chosen by the hijackers was Lahore, there was strong
ground to belie-ve that the hijackers were cur-rently in Pakistan,"
he argued.-AFP
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20000121
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Indo-US pact sends signal to Pakistan
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NEW DELHI, Jan 20: India and the US have agreed to form a joint
working group to counter terrorism, marking a small victory in New
Delhi's campaign against alleged Pakistani involvement in terrorist
activity.
During two days of talks in London that ended on Wednesday, both
sides also agreed to work together to bring the perpetr ators of
last month's Indian Airlines hijacking to justice.
India has produced what it says is incontestable proof that the
hijackers were Pakistanis, and insists they are currently being
sheltered in Pakistan - charges denied by Islamabad.
Analysts here said India would be happy with the outcome of the
talks between Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh and US Deputy
Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, with the focus having clearly
shifted from the nuclear non-proliferation concerns of previous
discussions.
While the US has so far rejected India's appeals for Pakistan to be
labelled a terrorist state, the Times of India said on Thursday the
decision to form a joint working group (JWG) was "an implied
endorsement of New Delhi's concern over cross-border terrorism
sponsored by Islamabad." The JWG is scheduled to hold its first
meeting in Washington in early February.
In a BBC interview broadcast here on Thursday after the London
talks, Singh said the decision was "not a consequence of the
hijacking alone, but an agreement to work together to combat the
international menace of terrorism."
While stressing India's commitment to "dialogue and reconciliation"
with Pakistan, Singh appeared to rule out any talks with the
military regime headed by General Pervez Musharraf, who seized
power in a bloodless military coup in October.- AFP
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20000116
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Pakistan, India not N-weapon states: US
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Shaheen Sehbai
WASHINGTON, Jan 15: Pakistan and India would never be accepted as
nuclear weapon states under the NPT, said a US official.
"We are not prepared, and I don't think the members of the NPT
would accept the idea that (these countries) should be formalized,
recognized and accepted in the NPT," Under-secretary for arms
control and international security John Holum said in a Worldnet
dialogue.
Asked about India and Pakistan as both of these states had now
tested nuclear devices and in a sense were nuclear weapon states,
Holum admitted that this was "a reality" but then refused to accept
it.
His answer was: "On the question of India and Pakistan becoming
formally nuclear weapon states under the NPT, it's not possible
under the treaty - we don't support it.
"There is a reality on the ground in India and Pakistan, (but) we
are not prepared, and I don't think the members of the NPT would
accept the idea that this (status) should be formalized, recognized
and accepted in the NPT."
He said the treaty began from the proposition that there were five
nuclear weapon states who undertook to negotiate ultimately towards
nuclear disarmament. It doesn't accept that there should be
additional nuclear weapon states.
Holum said the US was engaged in an effort led by Deputy Secretary
of State Strobe Talbott to prevent the problem from getting worse,
to prevent more nuclear tests, to prevent production of more
fissile material, to deal with the export problem, to deal with the
very critical issue of how they will manage their nuclear
capability in terms of deploying forces, and also to deal with the
crucial issue that divides India and Pakistan, that of Kashmir.
So there has been a diplomatic effort under way. The CTBT signature
would be an important part of that, something the President will
certainly place a heavy emphasis on both in the time leading up to
his trip and then when he does go to India, he said.
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20000121
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UN slams Islamabad over military spending
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BANGKOK, Jan 20: UN officials hit out at Asian states, especially
Pakistan and Myanmar, on Thursday for boosting military spending at
the expense of education and other basic social services.
Kul Gautam, the United Nations Children's Fund Asia-Pacific
director, told a news conference after a regional education
conference that global military spending had fallen since the end
of the Cold War, but spending on arms in Asia had risen.
"It's often a question of resources, but it's also a question of
priorities," he said. "If governments so choose they can give a
high priority to education.
"How come countries with similar GNP per capita have widely varying
achievements in education? Pakistan has a higher GNP than Vietnam,
but Vietnam has three times the literacy - or Myanmar and Vietnam?"
he said.
"So it's not a matter that we are too poor but where we put the
priorities," he said.
"Some of the countries that are actually reducing expenditure on
health and education are increasing expenditure on the military.
Obviously there is enough money but it is not going to the right
place."-Reuters
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20000119
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IMF team's visit delayed till end of month
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ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: The seven-member mission of the International
Monetary Fund to hold negotiations on release of $280 million of
next tranche under ESAF/EFF and on poverty alleviation programme
has been delayed, an official said on Tuesday.
The mission, led by Ms Sena Eken was expected on January 17. "Now
we are expecting the team by the end of the current month or early
next month," the official told. When contacted IMF official in
Islamabad said, "we have not yet received the schedule of the
visit."
The Fund's country representative in Pakistan has already started
preliminary meetings with the officials of the Central Board of
Revenue, the Planning Commission and Finance Ministry.
A government official added the visit is very much on. Analysts,
however, said that the IMF was not very much pleased with the
government's decision to implement General Sales Tax in the next
budget, and is therefore delaying the visit to pressurize the
government.
Earlier Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and International Monetary
Fund's country office had confirmed that the mission was due just
after Eid.
Since July 1999, Pakistan is waiting for release of the next
tranche under ESAF/EFF programme that was blocked due to sanctions
imposed after the country went nuclear in May 1998.-NNI
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20000121
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Storming case: Appellant says plea according to SC rules
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Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: Shahid Orakzai, the appellant in the storming of
the Supreme Court case, on Thursday stated that like every citizen
of the country he too was shocked at the acquittal of the PML
legislators for lack of evidence, and was "aggrieved" by the court
decision.
He was replying to the objections raised by the PML lawyer that the
appellant was not the aggrieved person according to law and his
appeal should not be entertained by the court.
Mr Orakzai who had started his arguments on Tuesday completed them
on Thursday. The Attorney General Aziz A. Munshi will start his
arguments on Friday.
The AG was not present in the courtroom on Thursday due to his
engagement in the cabinet meeting.
All the PML parliamentarians who were earlier acquitted of the
contempt of court charges - Tariq Aziz, Mian Munir, Chaudhry
Tanveer, Sardar Nasim, Akhtar Mehmood Advocate, and Shahbaz Goshi-
were present in the courtroom.
The appellant stated that he had filed the appeal in accordance
with the SC rules. He said that under the law the Attorney General
was the prosecutor in the contempt of court matters. But the former
attorney general assigned the job to the Deputy Attorney General
(DAG) who did not perform his duties properly.
Had the DAG performed his duties well, he would have been saved
from filing the present appeal, the appellant added.
The appellant further stated that 53 persons were asked to record
their statements in the case and the prosecutor (DAG) had not asked
a single question from the 33 people.
The court asked him to give reasons for his being aggrieved and
avoid criticising the law officers for failing to perform their
role. The appellant said that he had nothing personal against the
PML but in the storming case the party could not be spared.
He said the Constitution had prohibited propaganda against the
judiciary and the armed forces.
The appellant said that his appeal was not time barred as argued by
the PML lawyers. Chief Justice Saiduzzaman Siddiqui observed that
an appeal could be filed within 60 days. Justice Irshad Hasan Khan
observed that the apex court had the powers to even enhance the
period for the filing of the appeal. The AG would start his
arguments on Friday.
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20000119
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Parties oppose signing of CTBT
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Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 18: Almost all the religious and political parties are
united against signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as
it would harm the national interests.
This was the consensus of the speeches delivered by leaders of
different political and religious parties at the 'All-parties Anti-
CTBT conference', organized by the Jamaat-i-Islami on Tuesday. The
moot was presided over by Prof Ghafoor Ahmed.
Referring to the campaign being carried out to mould the public
opinion in favour of the CTBT, Prof Ghafoor warned the military
rulers against taking any such step. He advised Gen Pervez
Musharraf to weigh the national consensus and sentiments of the
people on the issue.
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20000120
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NAB to be challenged: GDA demands across-the-board accountability
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Correspondent
RAWALPINDI, Jan 19: The 19-member Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA)
in a five-hour-long meeting on Wednesday, at the Dir House,
Peshawar Road, decided to challenge the legality of the National
Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Supreme Court and announced the
formation of four committees to pursue its political objectives.
The meeting was presided by ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan and
attended by the representatives of the GDA constituent parties.
Calling the NAB Ordinance 'a black law,' he said that GDA reviewed
the entire issue at length and reached the conclusion that it must
be challenged before the superior courts. He said a committee,
under the chairmanship of Aitzaz Ahsan, was formed at the meeting
on Wednesday. The other members of committee are Iqbal Ahmed Khan,
Aftab Shiekh (MQM), Barrister Bacha, Ch Farooq, Hamid Ali Khan
(PTI) and Qaim Ali Shah.
Briefing newsmen, Asfandyar Wali Khan said the GDA had held
detailed discussions on the prevailing political situation, the
agenda of accountability by the present government and the
Alliance's point of view on these issues.
He said the GDA stood for across-the-board and transparent
accountability. He said that the constituents parties of the GDA
stood for accountability not only of political workers but also of
the civil and military bureaucracy as well as that of the
judiciary.
He accused the present government of targeting only political
workers by the accountability process. "There are no 'angels' in
any one particular section of society (implying politicians)," he
said, adding that "We, the politicians, are open to accountability
but we want others to be open to accountability too." He emphasised
that there was no such thing as 'in-built accountability.'
Touching on the present government's emphasis on the devoluation of
power, Mr Khan said that the government had talked a lot about
removing the sense of deprivation, due to the lack of autonomy in
the provinces but not much had been done in practical terms. He
said that the GDA was of the firm view that there should be
provincial autonomy, as guaranteed under the 1973 Constitution and
it should be transferred to districts.
However, he said there has not been any transfer of autonomy to the
provinces. He said that typically a deputy commissioner draws up
the list of the nominees for district boards and a major vets such
a list. He said this procedure had also been followed in the Basic
Democracies System of the Ayoob era.
He said that these officers demanded information about the
political affiliations of all nominees. He said that under a
democratic system, the people who elect their members were
responsible for accountability of their nominees. He said the
present system of devolution of power was worse than the Basic
Democracies.
The ANP leader said that there was talk of evolving a new system
but he questioned under what authority would amendments be made in
the Constitution.
Mr Khan said that the country needed and could survive only as a
truly federal parliamentary system. "(The) 1973 constitution was
unanimously approved by the elected representatives of Pakistan and
as such Pakistan can survive under a truly federal parliamentary
system as a State," he said.
He said that "from 1947 to 1973 we had been unable to provide the
country with a Constitution."
Mr Khan said that the present government had promised good
governance but he regretted that people were being put behind bars
without any charge for days. He said that even during the time of
the French Revolution the accused were not kept under imprisonment
without framing a valid charge.
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20000120
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Sedition charge dropped: Nawaz, others indicted in plane case
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Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 19: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and six others
were formally charged in the October 12 plane conspiracy case on
Wednesday.
The presiding judge of anti-terrorism court No. 1, Rehmat Husain
Jafri, framed charges of hijacking the plane, kidnapping and
attempting to murder the passengers on board and creating terror
against former PM, Nawaz Sharif, former Punjab Chief Minister, Mian
Shahbaz Sharif, former principal secretary, Saeed Mehdi, former
chief of the Ehtesab Cell, Saifur Rehman, former advisor to then PM
on Sindh affairs, Syed Ghous Ali Shah, former PIA chairman, Shahid
Khaqan Abbasi, and ex-IGP, Sindh, Rana Maqbool Ahmed.
The court, however, dropped the charges of hatching criminal
conspiracy to commit an offence punishable by death (section 120-B
of PPC); waging war against Pakistan and conspiring to wage such
war (121 and 121-A); and the charge of collecting men and arms to
wage war against Pakistan.
In his short order the judge observed that after pursuing the
documents of case and arguments there appeared no tangible evidence
for framing of charges under sections 12, 121-A, 122 of the PPC.
"The provision of section 120-B is also not attracted as it is
applicable before the offences are committed and section 123, PPC,
is also not attracted as it relates to the persons other than
accused persons, but the court is of the opinion that the charge
can be framed for offences punishable under section 365, 402-B,
324, 109, 114 PPC and section 7 (ii) of A. T. Act", the order said.
The judge charged the defendants for hatching conspiracy in the
Prime Minister's House on October 12 between 5pm to 7:50pm and
unlawfully seizing the control of the flight No. PK-805 by taking
the control of air traffic control by use of force. Thereby, the
accused were charged with the commission of an offence punishable
under section 402-B read with sections 109 and 114 of the PPC.
The accused were also charged with attempting to kill 198
passengers on board including chief of army staff by not allowing
the flight to land anywhere in Pakistan. They were charge-sheeted
under section 324 read with sections 109 and 114 of the PPC for
this offence.
The seven accused were also charged with the kidnapping of the
passengers, including the chief of army staff, under section 365
read with sections 109 and 114 PPC.
The fourth and the last charge framed on all seven accused
pertained to creating terror under section 7 (ii) of the ATA.
As many as 16 female family members of the former prime minister
and others were present in the court when the judge formally
indicted the seven accused in the case.
As the judge asked the deposed prime minister whether he pleaded
guilty or not guilty on the charge of hijacking, Nawaz Sharif said
the plane was actually hijacked by General Pervez Musharraf.
Despite judge's reminder, he went on saying: "The democracy has
been hijacked in the country".
He also said that he had learnt about the allegations against him
only on Nov 19 when he was first produced before the ATC-1 judge.
The judge framed the charges on the accused after hearing the
arguments of both the prosecution and the defence sides.
Before pleading the guilt or otherwise, the court allowed the
defence counsels to talk to accused Nawaz Sharif, his brother
former Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, ex-Chief of
Accountability Cell Saifur Rehman, Nawaz's former Advisor on Sindh
Affairs Syed Ghaus Ali Shah, former IGP Sindh Rana Maqbool Ahmed,
former Chairman PIA, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and ex- Principal
Secretary to the Prime Minister Saeed Mehdi.
Advocate-general Raja Qureshi, assisted by special public
prosecutor, Ilyas Khan, submitted that a conspiracy did take place
in PM house and its consequences ensued in Karachi.
At the very outset of arguments, the judge ruled that section 120-B
and 121 of the PPC were not applicable in this case under the law.
Ijaz Batalvi, defence attorney, vehemently opposed the charge of
waging war on the defendants and said there was no evidence against
his clients.
The AG said the statements of approver and another prosecution
witness were there on record and evidence of waging war was eminent
from the statement of Brig. Javed Iqbal, the then military
secretary to the deposed prime minister.
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20000121
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Greater US role called for Kashmir resolution
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hasan Akhtar
ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: A four-member US senators' team, which recently
visited Pakistan, has stressed on increasing involvement of the
United States to resolve Kashmir Issue.
The senators in a statement, issued from Washington and circulated
by the US Information Service here on Thursday, expressed cautious
optimism that Pakistan would "soon begin addressing our concerns
and make a successful transition to democracy".
The team, led by Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, had visited
Islamabad from Jan 13 to 15. The team had also visited New Delhi
and Kathmandu, during their South Asian tour.
The statement recognized the importance of a just settlement of the
Kashmir dispute, and stressed that "the United States must continue
to become increasingly involved in resolving the Kashmir dispute".
It warned against deterioration of Pakistan-US ties if Islamabad
does not remove Washington's concern over terrorism, nuclear non-
proliferation, Islamic militancy and religious freedom.
It listed five specific "significant" concerns to the US, which
included terrorism and militant religious fundamentalism, a road
map for the restoration of democracy, adherence to the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and assurance for political,
religious and economic freedom of all its citizens.
It stated: "For five decades Pakistan has been a loyal and trusted
friend of the United States, however, for a variety of reasons this
relationship is now at crossroads. Pakistan faces a window of
opportunity for improving upon this relationship but that window
could close if there is no progress in addressing the concerns we
raised".
Senator Daschle, who was accompanied by assistant Democratic leader
Harry Reid, Senator Christopher Dodd of foreign relations committee
and Daniel Akaka, a ranking member on the non-proliferation sub-
committee, had met Gen Pervez Musharraf and Foreign Minister Abdus
Sattar.
The team had also met representatives of the Pakistan Muslim
League, other opposition parties and the human rights bodies and
held discussions with them.
The statement said that the senators stressed the five key
concerns, which they maintained, must be addressed. These include:
Threat of terrorism and militant religious fundamentalism both
within Pakistan and international; public declaration of a road map
for restoration of democracy with a firm time-line and clear -6-
#�objectives; economic reform in order to create the conditions
that will permit democratic reforms to take root; signing the CTBT
and contribution to international efforts to control the spread of
nuclear weapons and to ensure the political religious and economic
freedom of all its citizens.
"Based on our meetings with Gen Musharraf and others we are
cautiously optimistic they will soon begin addressing our concerns
and make a successful transition to democracy", the senators said.
About their conclusions after discussions with officials and public
figures in India, the US senators said they had impressed on the
Indians that if India was to reach its potential, it entailed
rights and responsibilities which included "normalizing their
relationship with Pakistan, engaging in a sincere effort to resolve
the Kashmir crisis and joining other responsible parties in the
effort to stem the spread of nuclear weapons".
It further stated that the US and India had the opportunity to
significantly strengthen their relationship and observed: "The
United States must continue to become increasingly involved in
resolving the dispute over Kashmir. India needs to sign CTBT
immediately and increase its efforts to improve regional
stability".
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20000120
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Quake rocks many parts of country
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMBAD, Jan 19: An earthquake, measuring 6.0 on the Richter
scale, rocked many parts of the country and Afghanistan on
Wednesday. There were no reports of any casualties or damage caused
by the tremors which shook Islamabad, Peshawar, Chitral,
Rawalpindi, Lahore and Mansehra. Officials at the seismic centre in
Peshawar said the quake registered 6.0 on the Richter scale and its
epicentre lay 250 kilometres north in the Hindukush range in
Afghanistan.
People of the twin cities rushed out of their homes and offices at
about 1210 hours after they felt severe tremors. Mothers were seen
rushing to schools to know about the safety of their children.
The earthquake was so strong that a majority of the residents
remained outside their homes for quite some time as they were
fearing more tremors and aftershocks. Islamabad residents said the
tremor lasted less than 10 seconds but workers in high-rise towers
said it was strong enough to make their buildings sway alarmingly.
Reports from Afghanistan said that the quake was so strong that
residents in Kabul and Jalalabad panicked and rushed out into the
streets.-Reuters/dpa/NNI
===================================================================
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
20000122
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Washington to encourage investment in Pakistan
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ihtashamul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Jan 21: The United States has assured to help bring
foreign investment to Pakistan, but called for an early resolution
of the IPPs problem on priority.
The US Assistant Secretary of State, Karl Inderfurth held here on
Friday an hour long meeting with Minister for Finance Shaukat Aziz
and told him that the Clinton Administration would certainly
encourage the Americans to invest in Pakistan.
However, according to official sources, Inderfurth urged the
finance minister to create an enabling environment for foreign
investment by settling the long outstanding issue of Independent
Power Producers (IPPs).
The finance minister told the US Assistant Secretary of State that
the issue has been taken up for the first time "very seriously" by
the military government. He said Wapda has been directed to
negotiate the issue with the power companies.
Inderfurth expressed the desire of the US government to have a
stronger economic relation with Pakistan and assured that his
government will extend its cooperation to develop the economy of
Pakistan.
The sources said that the finance minister pointed out during the
meeting that tariff issue with eleven IPPs has been resolved and
that the new terms and conditions with the remaining power
companies were being finalized.
He referred to Hub Power Company (Hubco) and said that differences
with it were also being resolved on priority. He said the
government has withdrawn a case against Hubco for alleged meter
tempering as gesture of goodwill.
The sources said that the finance minister told the visiting
dignitary that China was also making investment as the law and
order situation had greatly improved in Pakistan.
The finance minister also briefed him about the recovery of
defaulted loans and said that the Corporate and Industrial
Restructuring Corporation was being set up to manage bad loans in
order to reduce the intermediate costs of the banks.
The government, he said, was pursuing policies to build investor
confidence with domestic and overseas investors to promote economic
growth.
He further briefed Inderfurth about monetary and fiscal policies
perused by the government to stabilize the economy and enhance the
economic activity for a sustainable growth.
The finance minister said that Pakistan was currently on its debt
repayments with international agencies and has more liberalized
foreign exchange regime.
Aziz said that poverty alleviation was a key agenda item of the
government's economic development programme and the government was
about to launch projects/programmes.
The finance minister indicated agriculture, small and medium
industries, oil and gas, development of software and information
technology as the major areas for economic growth.
He outlined the initiatives to being an end to culture of the
corruption.
The US Assistant Secretary of State appreciated the efforts made by
the government to enhance the economic growth and said that
economically a stable Pakistan could play its role more effectively
in the region.
The US Ambassador was also present during the meeting, besides
other senior government officials.
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20000119
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SBP relaxes curbs on forex regime
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KARACHI, Jan 18: In order to further liberalise the foreign
exchange regime in the country, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
has taken a number of steps, a SBP statement said on Tuesday.
It said firstly, it has restored the powers of banks (and
authorised dealers in foreign exchange) with regard to remittances
which had been withdrawn in July, 1998.
Banks will no more require the approval of the State Bank in case
of remittances of the following nature:
On account of principal, interest etc on the basis of repayment
schedules registered with the State Bank or private sector. On
account of royalty and technical fee. On dividends to non-resident
shareholders.
On instalments of principal and interest of foreign currency loans
by Pakistani firms and companies on the basis of repayment
schedules, registered with the State Bank.
Secondly, the State Bank has also restored the facility of imports
without opening of letters of credit (LCs) of those commodities
which are not subject to any margin restrictions.-APP
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20000119
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SBP eases curb on dividend remittances
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, Jan 18: The State Bank on Tuesday allowed remittance of
dividend to non-resident shareholders and eased off some other
restrictions on foreign exchange outflow imposed in 1998.
A SBP circular (FE no 1) issued to banks said, remittance of
dividend to non-resident shareholders had been allowed but such
remittance would require documentation with the State Bank.
The circular said remittance on account of principal and interest
on the basis of repayment schedules registered with SBP had also
been allowed with immediate effect.
But it said, the permission was meant for only private sector
excluding those organisations that are owned 51% or more by the
government. The circular said, remittances on account of royalty
and technical fee admissible under foreign exchange rules are also
allowed.
SBP said remittance of instalments of principal and interest of
foreign currency loans by Pakistani firms and companies are also
permitted. But the circular made it clear that remittances of this
nature would be made on the basis of repayment schedules registered
with SBP. It said remittance of principal and interest on account
of foreign currency loans obtained by foreign controlled companies
for working capital requirements were also allowed.
SBP has also restored the facility of imports without opening of
letters of credit of those commodities that are not subject to any
cash margin requirements. This facility was withdrawn in July '98.
Currently industrial raw materials; machinery and its components
and about a dozen essential items including wheat and petroleum
products enjoy exemption from cash margin requirements.
Commenting on the easing off of restrictions on forex outflow
Karachi Stock Exchange Chairman Arif Habib said: 'It is a very
positive development.' Talking to Dawn by telephone he said: 'It
sends a good signal abroad. It would impact positively on the
market.'
The stock market has been bullish for past one week breaking record
of a single session trading.
Arif Habib said gradual phasing out of restrictions on forex regime
and the stability of rupee in inter-bank and open market were also
among the factors that led KSE 100-share index to new highs. He
identified five factors that he felt had a positive impact on the
market namely (i) bumper cotton crop (ii) targeted revenue
collection in the first half of the fiscal year (iii) cut in
lending rates (iv) stability of rupee and (v) phasing out of
restriction on forex regime.
COMMITTEE: In the mean time SBP has constituted a committee to
recommend procedure for free outward remittances out of foreign
portfolio investment.
The committee to be headed by a SBP official is made up of two
nominees each from KSE and CDC and heads of three custodian banks-
Citibank, Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered.
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20000116
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan to lodge complaint with WTO
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rauf Klasra
ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: Pakistan has decided to lodge a complaint with
the World Trade Organization (WTO) against India for banning cotton
import and damaging its reputation in the world trade markets.
Pakistan will also request the WTO secretariat to take punitive
action against India for its step to ban cotton import as it has
hurt the cotton trade of Pakistan.
Decision to approach the WTO was taken here on Saturday by the top
officials of ministry of finance, agriculture and commerce.
However, the announcement to the effect was made here on Saturday
by the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (MINFAL).
Dr Zakir Hussain, cotton commissioner MINFAL while making this
statement to the press said, Indian decision has greatly hurt the
Pakistan cotton trade and "we will approach WTO to take action
against India for this unjust decision."
Elaborating Pakistan's point of view on this sensitive trade issue,
Dr Zakir has pointed out that Indian government has banned the
import of cotton from Pakistan on the allegation that their stalks
in the imported consignment carry exotic strains of destructive
bacterial, viral and fungal disease which are virulent under Indian
climatic conditions.
Cotton commissioner Zakir regretted that Indian government has
politicized cotton trade with Pakistan by issuing a notification:
"Pakistani cotton is prone to destructive bacterial viral and
fungal diseases".
Dr Zakir rejected Indian allegations saying these are absolutely
baseless. He was of the view that its' common fact that Pakistani
cotton crop does not carry such diseases. Pakistan has not received
any such complaint from importers of any other country in the last
50 years crop history, Dr Zakir claimed.
He added, "cotton export is done on the basis of pre-inspection at
the port or landed quality subject to the verification of
internationally inspectors. Further more, the exported cotton is
fumigated, therefore, the question of bacterial fungal or virus
disease does not arise at all".
Cotton commissioner said Pakistan cotton is virus resistant and
while currently Indian cotton is experiencing the havoc results of
cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV).
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20000121
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax authorities plan to come down heavily on evaders
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 20: On completion of Master Index for tax evaders, the
authorities have chalked out an extensive plan of crackdown to be
carried out soon after exhaustion of other options of recovery and
registration, official sources said.
The Master Index provides all necessary information and details of
tax evaders, as well as of those who have, somehow until now,
managed to stay away from the tax net, sources said.
Besides, the official information the tax authorities took full
advantage of available information based on utility bills,
government records etc. They also collected specific particulars
from relevant government agencies to identify immovable assets.
Sources disclosed that prior to taking any stern action the
authorities are keen to resolve the matter amicably with the help
of representative bodies of each segment of trade and those of
society.
Presently the tax authorities are under a process of entering into
negotiation with different representative bodies of market places
and are optimistic that it would produce good results.
"Use of coercive measures had always been a last resort for tax
authorities for the recovery of tax and even today we are hopeful
to net around half a million new taxpayers in the southern region,"
an official said.
Above all, there is a major shift in our priorities and under the
CBR directives, the tax authorities are working on expanding tax
net rather than putting their energy on those who are already
paying taxes, official sources added.
The Master Index besides helping the authorities to bring new
taxpayers into the net will also be beneficial in determining the
volume and quantum of activities of a business or industrial
establishment, they maintained.
Prepared with the help of physical survey carried out by the
department of each area and official documents the 'Master Index'
will be the basis of any future action plan of the tax authorities,
the sources said. The Master Index spread over several volumes
identifies taxpayers on the basis of official zones as well as on
geographical locations. This will assist the authorities to enter
into negotiations with respective representative body of each area
and market place.
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20000117
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Die cast for HBL privatization
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shaukat Ali
LAHORE, Jan 16: Modifying an earlier plan of only partial disposal
of the Habib Bank Limited, the Privatization Commission has now
decided to completely privatize what undoubtedly is the largest
commercial bank of the country.
It is understood that the new PC design is the result of pressure
from the World Bank which wants Islamabad to expedite the process
of privatization of financial institutions in line with the spirit
of promoting private sector's role in financial affairs.
According to the earlier programme, the commission was thinking of
selling out HBL's all branches in Middle East along with some more
foreign and local branches.
"But now the plan has been changed. The newest plan is to
completely privatize the country's largest commercial bank. The
spade work has been completed and its format will be presented to
competent authorities soon for final approval," sources closely
associated with the commission told Dawn on Sunday.
The sources anticipate that the much slowed down process of
privatization will be expedited by the middle of next month.
They say documentation pertaining to the privatization of another
mega enterprise - the Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation
Limited - is also in the final stage. Legal and financial advisers,
the sources say, have already given their approval to the PTCL's
sell-off plan.
The PTCL privatization will follow selling out of the financial
institution.
Likewise, they say, the federal government has completed paperwork
on auctioning some of the top gas and oil ventures. "The PC may ask
for bids any time from the second week of next month as the
government wants to earn some money before the next annual budget
and also to fulfil its agreements with the World Bank and the IMF
about the privatization process before June 2000," the sources add.
The commission, they say, is hopeful that to the extent of HBL and
other commercial banks as well as the PTCL, some stakes of these
public sector ventures will be offered for sale through the three
stock exchanges in the country. The federal government, the sources
say, wants transparency in the process of auction.
Previously, auction of many enterprises like federal lodges, hotels
and some other ventures had raised many eyebrows even among
officials of the commission itself, besides attracting scathing
criticism from general public who found some dubious action in the
sell-off process.
"The World Bank also has taken note of the complaints and doubts
expressed frequently about favouritism and infamous practices like
forming cartel for buying expensive public sector enterprises
cheaply," the sources quote senior PC officials as saying.
Before the restart of the privatization process, the PC chairman
and senior officials of the finance department will hold meetings
with presidents of all the three stock exchanges to take stock
brokers into confidence about the auction process and quoting share
values of the enterprises to be sold.
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20000119
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KSE computer network fails again to absorb workload
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 18: The trading on the stock market on Tuesday was
again interrupted as its Automated Trading System collapsed for the
second day in a row on Tuesday collapsed as its computer network
failed to absorb the workload and went out order in the afternoon
session.
However, the KSE 100-share index showed violent either-way
fluctuations before the system gave in under the avalanche of
buying and selling offers around 3.15 p.m. in the wake of scare
caused by the overnight bomb blast in city, which killed nine
persons.
After opening five points lower it rose by 24 point but again fell
by 20 points and finally ended lower by 1.24 points at 1,660.09
amid a record volume of 421m shares, the second best figure in
KSE's trading history.
'The system collapses after the volume figure crosses the 300
million share mark and any figure above it is beyond its intake
capacity', staff associated with the computer network claims.
The KSE board of directors met here on Tuesday and discussed the
situation arising out of the network failures. Reports leaking out
of the meeting indicate that decision has been taken to update the
system after placing new softwar having the capacity of 0.1 million
bargains daily, which in terms of volume will amount to half a
million to 0.6m shares.
'The new system could be in place within the next three to four
months and how to tackle the computer failures in between is not
clear', stock analyst Faisal Abbas said.
Though offlate, the KSE appears to be the victim of the millennium
bug, said a leading investors jokingly but doubted there could be
some' mischief also on the part of some losers, notably the blank
sellers sensing big losses after the price flare-up'.
On Monday it again gave in after the trading volume figure soared
to an all-time high mark of 463 million shares taking the KSE 100-
share index along with it to the three-year peak level of 1,772.00,
a gain of 110 points or 12% at one stage.
The successive failures of the KATS have raised more than one
questions in investor mind but no one among the KSE highups thought
it advisable to remove doubts associated with them.
'The big question being asked is why not the software system geared
to the demands of the new millennium', investors ask adding 'its
failure within a year reflects a terribly poor planning'.
'The system should have the capacity to cater to the needs of at
least next 10 years when it was installed after a fair trial', some
others said.
It was for the first time in the trading history of the KSE that it
failed to provide closing rates of the listed shares on Monday and
the local newspapers went without them, denying investors their
right to know the value of their shares, floor brokers said.
PTCL, according to unofficial figures, again topped the list of
most actives, off Rs27.95 on 170m shares, PSOP, which announced a
final dividend of 60% making the total for the year ended June 30,
to 90% with 30% interim already paid,up Rs2.00 on 100m shares, Hub-
Power, lower at Rs25.95 on 149m shares and ICI Pakistan easy at
Rs12.00 on 22m shares.
DIVIDEND: Rafhan Best Foods cash 54% for the year ended Sept 30,
'99, PSO final 60% plus 30% interim already paid.
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20000119
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax Ombudsman to take up major cases on priority
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikram Hoti
ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: All the major cases of evasion, litigation,
valuation and anomalies in taxation measures would be placed as the
first segment of adjudication by the Tax Ombudsman Secretariat to
be created in the first week of February.
Dawn was informed here on Tuesday by sources that a retired judge
with a background in tax litigation, or a former chairman of
Central Board of Revenue would be appointed as Federal Tax
Ombudsman in grade 22. The secretary in-charge of the Ombudsman's
Secretariat would be appointed in grade 21.
Most of the cases to be placed in the first batch with the
Ombudsman's Secretariat, pertain to inquiries made by the Auditor
General of Pakistan, the findings made by his tax reconciliation
staff, and the appeals pending for adjudication.
Hundreds of appeals are pending adjudication as the Customs and the
Income Tax Judicial Wings of the CBR have been scrapped as part of
right-sizing of CBR initiated by the military government. These
cases are at different stages of appeals/settlement.
"The CBR has estimated that at least Rs15 billion of tax amounts
stuck up in these cases could be received in immediate deposits if
these are given urgent and diligent attention", said a senior CBR
official. He added that the cases pending with the Customs
Settlement Commissions, also on the list of right-sizing, would
too, be transferred to the Ombudsman's Secretariat.
The CBR officials said that they are in coordination with the
Auditor General Pakistan (AGP) to prepare a list of all such cases
for the immediate disposal which involve largest tax/duty amounts,
and can be scrutinised by the Ombudsman's Secretariat for quick
decision under special powers.
Apart from this list, the officials so far attached with the
Customs and Income Tax Judicial Wings have been asked to prepare
their lists of cases pertaining to appeals against late/non-payment
of tax refunds/ duty rebate; serving of tax notices without first
determining that the amounts asked to be deposited were not due;
and mis-application of procedures causing losses of money demanded
in taxes/duties by the income tax, customs and central excise
departments.
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20000119
-------------------------------------------------------------------
State Bank approval sought: ADBP plans for commerical banking
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: The Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan
(ADBP) has sought permission from the State Bank to start
commercial banking activities such as OD, TT, LC and issue of
guarantees, official sources said here on Tuesday.
The proposal is part of a new plan to bring about structural and
modernize the outdated and traditional system of the ADBP.
Official sources claimed here on Monday that the ADBP management
has requested the SBP governor Ishrat Hussain to approve the plan
immediately.
ADBP officials said this programme is aimed at basic changes in the
structure and working of the bank and if approved as planned, it
will come into force from the year 2001 and will end in the year
2015.
This plan was placed before the SBP Governor who visited the ADBP
Islamabad last week to get first hand information about the working
of the bank and suggestions to bring changes in the working of the
bank on modern lines.
Sources said the SBP governor was also asked to approve
reconstitution of Board of Directors of the ADBP which is pending
since February 1998.
Similarly, the governor was asked that recovery and disbursement
target of financial year 2000 be approved by the SBP and an amount
of Rs31 billion and Rs35 billion respectively be approved against
the MOU that disbursement should not be kept higher than recovery.
Bank said disbursement and recovery targets be fixed at Rs31
billion each.
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20000120
-------------------------------------------------------------------
44 FIA employees sacked
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: The government on Wednesday terminated the
services of 44 contractual appointees of the Federal Investigation
Agency (FIA) and repatriated another 20 officials, who were on
deputation, to their respective parent departments.
Those terminated include a deputy director, 10 assistant directors,
eight inspectors, eight sub-inspectors, 12 assistant sub-
inspectors, four constables and a clerk.
These dismissals of politically-motivated persons and removal of
those on deputation from the agency, according to an interior
ministry announcement, were made by the government to restore the
neutrality and credibility of the FIA.
"The purpose of this much-needed step has been to restore the
neutrality and credibility of the agency," said the ministry in its
official announcement.
The ministry has communicated the names of these officials.
According to reports, those terminated are: Maj (retd) Maqbool
Shahid, deputy director; Adnan Yaqoob Tarar, assistant director,
who according to a source, is related to the President Rafiq Tarar
and Johar Sarwar, son of a PML MNA (suspended) Col (retd) Sarwar
Cheema.
It is being said that these contractual employees and those
deputation were given these jobs by the Nawaz Sharif government.
The sources said the agency still has many such employees but their
fate has not yet been decided because of unknown reasons.
The interior minister admitted that the FIA, which was an important
organ of federal government for checking and curbing corruption,
had earned the reputation of having become a tool in the hands of
politicians for harassing their opponents.
"(A) number of personnel were inducted into it who had a political
clout. In most cases, such personnel did not have the requisite
qualification and experience to hold the posts and responsibilities
they were entrusted (with) and were recruited without following the
(proper) procedure," the interior ministry said.
The announcement said that a substantial number of officers from
unrelated and 'irrelevant' departments were appointed on
deputation. They too did not have the requisite experience.
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20000121
-------------------------------------------------------------------
EPB chief assures exporters
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 20: Chairman Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Tariq Ikram
has assured the delegation of Pakistan Germany Business Council
(PGBC) that the EPB will extend its full support to the exporters
and would take measures for the promotion of exports.
The PGBC delegation led by its chairman Jamil A.Naz during a
meeting on Tuesday also presented a copy of its study on the
development of trade between Pakistan and European Union (EU) to
the EPB chairman.
Besides, the PGBC submitted a memorandum to EPB chairman suggesting
for joining the ATA Carnet system which will facilitate the
temporary import of goods, such as samples, tools, exhibition goods
etc into foreign countries.
Jamil A.Naz also requested the EPB to look into delays in refund of
VAT to the exhibitors in German trade fairs which takes over six
months and in some cases even longer.
During the discussion it was also pointed out by the PGBC
delegation that the exporters of traditional goods would be
affected as some of the quality tests, such as taxproof tests could
not be carried out in Pakistan.
It was also pointed out that insufficient market information and
difficulties to find suitable partners are few obstacles in
expansion of trade relations with the European Union.
Another barrier in the promotion of exports is lack of confidence
in the reliability of Pakistani exporters. The German Consul
General Inemar Brentle who was also present on the occasion was of
a view that an efficient quality control system of goods for export
has to be introduced in Pakistan.
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134 points gain in KSE index knocks off previous record
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Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 21: The KSE 100-share index on Friday soared by about
8 per cent or 134 points, bettering its previous all-time single
session record of 127 points established in June 1998 as the
foreign-led buying
in some of the mega issues ahead of their privatization further
accentuated the current bull-run.
The market capitalization also showed sharp increase of about Rs30
billion at Rs468 billion as compared to Rs439 billion a day earlier
but it has still to go a long way to match its previous record of
Rs610 billion and same is sure for the index, which still is far
below its all-time record high of 2,662 points.
The single session trading volume did not match the buying frenzy
and fell sharply from the peak level to 412 million shares, more
than 80 per cent which was the credit of PTCL and Hub-Power.
The KSE 100-share index breached the psychological barrier of 1,800
point, second during the week and settled well above it as
investors appear to have gone mad amid fading hopes of return of
bear market.
It was last quoted at 1,852.46 points as compared to 1,719.02
points.
" An increase of eight per cent in the index at the weekend session
indicates a formidable section of leading operators are working on
some positive official leaks", analysts said. It was trading around
1,845.00 points in the extended session owing to a brief
interruption in the system during the afternoon session.
"All the good news seems to have combined in one assuring investors
that the run-up is genuine and ensure handsome capital gains",
stock analyst Faisal Abbas said.
Massive foreign buying in PTCL and PSO led the market to explore
new grounds as the buying euphoria was reminiscent of bull market
of mid-90s when the index soared to an all-time high level of
2,662.00 points, he adds.
There was no trace of the panic selling witnessed in the afternoon
session on Thursday followed by rumours of hijacking of PIA
aircraft as investors were back in rings and covered positions at
the overnight fall.
"I don't rule out the possibility of the advent of strong foreign
support ahead of privatization of some mega projects including in
the banking and energy sectors", said a leading member of the KSE.
The withdrawal of meter tampering case from the Hub-Power
management and positive signals from the highest level to resolve
the protracted tariff issue seem to be the chief inspiring factors
behind massive speculative support in its share, he added.
Together with the PTCL, both having a weightage of 44 per cent in
the KSE 100-share index,took it to three-year peak level and many
analysts now are eyeing a chart point of 2,000 for it.
This optimism was also shared by most of the local investors amid
predictions that consistency in fiscal policies atleast for the
next couple of years will continue to inspire strong support during
the months to come.
The buying was general and not confined to any particular sector as
liquid funds flowed in from all the quarters amid hopes that
previous losses may be recouped in part.
Big gainers were led by Adamjee Insurance, IGI, Essa Cement, Lever
Brothers, PSO, Telecard, BOC Pakistan, Fauji Fertiliser, Knoll,
Packages rising by Rs5.00 to 27.00, while losers were led by
Gatron, Al-Ghazi Tractors, Spencers, Security Paper and Sapphire
Fabire off Rs1.60 to 8.00.
Trading volume was sharply below the overnight's all-time record of
470 million shares at 412 million shares as gainers maintained a
strong lead over the losers at 169 to 54 with 45 shares holding on
to the last levels.
The most active list was topped by PTCL up 4.25 at Rs32.30 on 170
million shares; followed by Hub-Power higher Rs1.90 at 28.65 on 102
million shares; Sui Northern up Rs2.70 at Rs22.95 on 22 million
shares; ICI Pakistan firm by 95 paisa at Rs13.50 on 22 million
shares; and Fauji Fertiliser higher by Rs5.50 at Rs67.50 on 20
million shares.
Other actively traded shares were led by PSO up Rs12.00 on 10
million shares; FFC-Jordan Fertiliser steady by 25 paisa on 7
million shares; KESC up 50 paisa on 5 million shares; Engro
Chemical up Re1 on 5 million shares and Japan Power firm by 20
paisa also on 5 million shares.
Defaulting companies: Shares of four companies came in for trading
under the lead of Al-Qaim Textiles, which was quoted unchanged on
16,000 shares.
Elsewhere prices ruled mixed. While Mian Textiles ended lower by 50
paisa on 4,000 shares, Trubo Tec fell by 15 paisa on the same
volume.
Back to the top=================================================================== EDITORIALS & FEATURES 20000121 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The great rehabilitation department ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ayaz Amir WHEN Pakistanis talk politics they tend to dwell more on who deposed whom and a great deal less on who rehabilitated whom. In other words, the great champions of Pakistani history are remembered more for their work as undertakers rather than for the remarkable ability many of them have displayed to resurrect the ghosts of the past. Bhutto was deposed by Zia and his generals. But before the great bar of public opinion he was also rehabilitated by them. By 1977 people were fed up with Bhutto, his populist antics and his autocratic rule. Then came Zia's coup and Bhutto was transformed from a tyrant to a martyr. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) which he led also got a shot in the arm. With Bhutto as prime minister a once vibrant political organization had fallen on evil days. The very feudals whom the party had trounced in the 1970 elections entered the PPP and began dominating it leading to the demoralization of the rank and file which was the party's real strength. The coup changed this because pitted against martial law the PPP rediscovered a sense of purpose. For the next 11 years all attempts to suppress or split it came to nothing. So much so that when Zia's plane fell from the skies to hasten his tryst with his Maker, it became almost inevitable that Bhutto's daughter, Benazir Bhutto, should be the country's next leader. How she, in partnership with her husband, went on to amass a personal fortune and squander her political legacy is of course another story. Politics in Pakistan, however, is full of surprises. Benazir Bhutto was forced from the PM's house for the second time in 1996 (her first dismissal having taken place three years earlier). By that time her name and that of her husband, Asif Zardari, had become mud because corruption and the ruling couple had become synonymous in the public eye. While Benazir remains a discredited commodity, the strange thing is that her husband is earning a measure of grudging public sympathy for no other reason than that he seems to be suffering imprisonment with a brave face. Whenever he makes a court appearance, as he has to do every now and then, there is a twirl to his moustache and a roguish smile on his face. Pakistanis love underdogs and brave villains and at the moment Zardari is amply proving to be both. For this the nation has to thank Nawaz Sharif and his accountability czar, Saifur Rehman. They could have put Zardari behind bars on any single charge which, if nothing else, would have ensured that he stayed out of public attention. But afflicted with the legal mania from which all Pakistani governments suffer, they had to pile up case after case against Zardari with the result that even after being in prison for the last three years only one case against him has come to a conclusion while the others drag on, allowing him to make court appearances with no little swagger in his step. Al Capone was convicted not for murder or anything comparable but tax evasion. That effectively put an end to his criminal career but to think that such sophistication might be duplicated here is clearly unrealistic. If Al Capone had been a Pakistani we would have made a hero and a successful politician out of him too. As if to prove that old habits die hard, it is now Nawaz Sharif who is being rehabilitated. Nawaz Sharif says General Musharraf is out to eliminate him politically. He need have no fear on this count. Before the military finish with him he too will be furnished with all the trappings of a hero. When the military moved in on October 12 people responded with joy because by then they had had enough of the 'heavy mandate'. If at that time Nawaz Sharif had been packed off to a desert island he would have received a great send-off and his party, the Muslim League, would have been the first to readjust itself to the new realities. But trust our ability to resurrect the dead from their graves. Three months ago the very notion of Nawaz Sharif being looked upon kindly by a jaded and frustrated public would have been dismissed as laughable. Now as the military government flounders and gives every indication of not having any sense of direction, that idea seems less ridiculous. To Sharif's credit he has proved himself a courageous man by not submitting tamely to military rule as someone else in his place might easily have done. This has given heart to his party, the Muslim League, and prevented it from splitting as it surely would have done if Sharif had shown any weakness in his dealings with the military. But more to Sharif's advantage is the military's confusion which is obscuring the memory of his many follies and excesses. Where people were expecting movement and dramatic results from the military government, they are being treated to a display of intellectual poverty and psychological paralysis. It is no wonder that those Muslim Leaguers hoping to take over the party have been reduced to silence because with the military government seemingly bereft of political ideas, they have been left with no other alternative. It would seem that public support for the military takeover turned the new regime's head, making its leading figures think that they could do without the support or advice of the political class. This is proving to be a mistaken assumption because it is precisely the absence of a political input in its deliberations which is reinforcing the impression that the military regime has no sense of direction. As Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto has forcefully argued in several articles in this newspaper, General Musharraf is doing himself no favour by shunning 'clean' politicians. An NGO point of view his government may have but a political perception of the country's problems it seems to be entirely without. This attitude on the part of the generals may look strange but it is not new. For every profession, no matter how lowly or common, some training is thought to be essential. A cobbler will not make shoes or a tailor sew clothes unless he has had the right apprenticeship. No general or civilian leader untrained in economics would presume to style himself an economic expert. On economic matters therefore he will consult economic experts just as he will take legal advice from lawyers. But for the hardest of all professions - the art of government - all of us think we are eminently qualified. The leading lights of this government also think that they are eminently qualified to run the nation's affairs. So far their only signal achievement is the gradual rehabilitation of Nawaz Sharif but their confidence in their abilities remains undaunted (one reason for this being that denied political feedback, the regime is retreating into a shell of its own at some remove from reality). But with the nation not sharing the same confidence, it is scarcely surprising if the same sense of frustration and helplessness that could be felt in the country just prior to the military takeover should be rising to the surface once again. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000122 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Where corruption is a way of life ------------------------------------------------------------------- Irfan Husain GENERAL Musharraf has repeatedly vowed to stamp out corruption in Pakistan. Others before him have made the same pledge, and no doubt many will again. While wishing them all good luck in their crusade, I would advise readers not to hold their breath while waiting for this transformation to take place. The fact is that there are many levels of corruption, and most of it has been institutionalized to such an extent that it has become as pervasive as the polluted air we breathe. Indeed, I doubt if the well-meaning Chief Executive, sheltered as he has been in the barracks all his adult life, has any idea of the extent and dimensions of the corruption that is rife in Pakistan. All I can say to him is "Welcome to real life!" The more visible form of this practice in Third World countries is the kind carried out by high-profile politicians who, because they are in a hurry, demand an up-front cut in high-value projects that require their approval. The Bofors scandal in India, the Cotecna deal and the sugar export scam in Pakistan are all examples of this kind of corruption where the sitting prime ministers allegedly got commissions for approving multi-million dollar contracts. This is the type of fiscal malfeasance that makes the headlines and wins us top ranking in the Transparency International corruption sweepstakes. A rung lower, but far more pervasive, is the share of the senior bureaucracy in the processing of proposals and grant of contracts. This is paid by contractors and suppliers of goods and services to ensure the rapid movement of files without any negative remarks. Usually, an amount is given in advance, with the balance being paid after the award of the contract. The middle-level bureaucracy gets its share out of the implementation of these projects by supervising the work and releasing payments. In the field, the engineering and accounts staff ride a lucrative gravy train by virtue of their stranglehold on development and maintenance funds. A fixed proportion of their cut goes all the way to the top of their departments. Similarly, the police, revenue and irrigation department officials collect and distribute kickbacks on a regular basis. In all these cases, prize posts, i.e., those with the biggest potential earnings, are virtually auctioned. Thus, federal and provincial ministers get involved in the transfers and postings of the lowliest patwari and thanedar. Excise, customs and income tax officials make hay in the cities. All custom duties and taxes are negotiable. Here, income tax practitioners and clearing agents play the middlemen and broker the deals between the businessman and the officials concerned. Billions of rupees that would otherwise have gone to the state exchequer are divided between the assessed and the assessors. This is one reason why both the business community and the Central Board of Revenue opposed the appointment of SGS and Cotecna to assess and collect customs duties on behalf of the government. Utility services such as Pak Telecom, KESC and WAPDA are notorious for their inefficiency and corruption. But often those criticizing these companies in their air-conditioned homes contribute to this state of affairs. Half the owners of the biggest houses in Karachi collude with linesmen and meter readers and pay only a fraction of what they should be paying for electricity. The multiplicity of federal and provincial inspectors from a bewildering array of departments adds to the opportunities for corruption. For instance, provincial governments send electrical inspectors to all industrial and commercial establishments once a year to inspect the wiring and issue a certificate saying that it is up to the required standard. If it isn't, electricity can be disconnected. Needless to say, these inspectors hardly ever enter the premises, and are paid their fixed stipend. And this is only one inspector. Friends who own factories once counted 14 such agencies, including social security, old-age pension, excise and civil defence. "Say what?" I asked an industrialist friend. "How does civil defence come in, and how can these inspectors hit you for money?" He explained that these worthies come around at regular intervals and threaten to nominate key workers to civil defence courses unless they are paid off. And since under law no establishment can refuse this training for their workers, factory managers cut a deal. But while businessmen complain about this corruption privately, they never register official complaints against specific inspectors. During my 30-year stint in government service, I spent three years as financial adviser to the old-age pension organization known as EOBI. When friends reported that our inspectors were shaking them down for money, I asked them to give me a written complaint, assuring them that I would see to it that action was taken. They refused, saying that once I was transferred, their lives would be made hell by vengeful colleagues of the punished inspector.Also, they maintained that it was worth their while to pay inspectors off rather than cough up the required amounts as the official levies were far higher than the bribes they paid. And here lies the problem. On the one hand, the absurdly low salaries paid to government officials practically forces them to seek illegal gratification; and on the other, businessmen are required to pay so many different levies to so many agencies that they have an incentive to pay them lower amounts under the table. It should be possible to devise a system that allows a businessman to pay his dues at one go, and this amount can then be divided among the various agencies concerned. But the gravy train does not stop here. If you want a seat or berth on a train at the last minute, the porter will accommodate you for a consideration. An appropriate cash present will enable you to jump the queue of those waiting for a new electricity or gas connection. A traffic cop who stops you for an infringement will salute you if you slip him a red hundred-rupee note. Indeed, our high denomination bank-notes can get you off the hook for virtually any crime or indiscretion. These are only a few instances of corruption in Pakistan, but I hope they will suffice to give General Musharraf some idea of the task he has chosen to take on. Indeed, I have not even mentioned the corruption in the armed forces, but then this would be outside the purview of the National Accountability Bureau.
===================================================================
SPORTS
20000122
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Razzaq inspires Pakistan to victory over India
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HOBART, Jan 21: A stunning all-round performance by Abdur Razzaq
helped Pakistan virtually shut out India from the tri-series with a
32-run victory here on Friday.
The 20-year-old smashed an unbeaten 70 off 52 balls and then
grabbed 5-48 as India, replying to Pakistan's 262-7, were dismissed
for 230 at the wind-swept Bellerive Oval.
Among Razzaq's victims was Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar, who was
clean bowled after single-handedly carrying his team's hopes with a
valiant 93.
Razzaq became only the fifth player after Viv Richards (West
Indies), Krish Srikkanth (India), Mark Waugh (Australia) and Lance
Klusener (South Africa) to achieve the double of a half-century and
five wickets in a One-day International.
Pakistan's third win in five matches kept them on course for next
month's finals against hosts Australia, who lead the table with
four wins from five games.
India suffered their fourth successive defeat, and now face the
uphill task of winning their remaining four games by huge margins
to sneak through to the finals.
The big-hitting Razzaq, who scared the Australians at Sydney on
Wednesday with five successive boundaries off pace spearhead Glenn
McGrath, was again in smashing form.
He hit two sixes and four boundaries, adding a quickfire 67 for the
sixth wicket with Yousuf Youhana after their team were hobbling at
156-5 in the 37th over.
Razzaq's blitz, alongwith Youhana's composed 45, helped Pakistan
plunder 91 runs in their final 10 overs.
The late charge was set up by useful contributions from Saeed Anwar
(43) and Ijaz Ahmed (67) after Pakistan were given first strike on
a cold and blustery morning.
The Indians had themselves to blame for the loss, being penalised
two overs by match referee Cammie Smith for slow over rates in
Pakistan's innings.
Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly gave their side a confident opening
start of 99, before Razzaq had left-hander Ganguly caught in the
covers for 43.
A determined Tendulkar moved to within seven runs of his 25th one-
day century, when Razzaq shattered his off-stump with a superb
inswinger in the 36th over.
Razzaq also removed Venkat Laxman, Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath
as the last eight Indian wickets tumbled for 74 runs.
Captain Wasim Akram, who reached the unprecedented 400-wicket mark
on Wednesday, polished off the tail to finish with three for 34.
Tendulkar's knock made him the second highest scorer in one-day
cricket with 8,690 runs, behind his predecessor Mohammad Azharddin
record tally of 9,111.
But the defeat stung the 26-year-old badly.
"Razzaq took the match away from us because our bowlers were
clueless where to bowl to him," Tendulkar said.
"His knock really did us in and then our batting faltered at
crucial stages to knock us out.
"I am terribly disappoined. I hope we can make up in the remaining
games, although the task ahead is not easy."
Akram praised Razzaq, saying the youngster had the makings of a
truly great player.
"He will score whether you send him at three or seven, and then he
bowls his heart out," the Pakistani captain said. "Razzaq is one of
the most dependable players in the team. "Tendulkar showed why he
is rated as the best batsmen, but when Razzaq dismissed him, I knew
the match was as good as won."
Pakistan take on Australia in the next match at Melbourne on
Sunday.-AFP/Reuters
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Australia down Pakistan by six wickets
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MELBOURNE, Jan 16: Steve Waugh played a captain's knock of 81 not
out to guide Australia to a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the
tri-series here on Sunday.
In a match reduced to 41-overs-a-side due to rain, Australia
recovered from 38-3 to overtake Pakistan's 176-9 with 13 deliveries
to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The win before 37,325 fans enabled the hosts avenge the 45-run
defeat at Brisbane last week while recording their third successive
win in the series.
Australia zoomed to the top of the league table with six points
from four matches. Pakistan, who suffered their first defeat, were
left with four points from three games.
India, the third team in the series, had yet to open their account
after three consecutive defeats.
Steve Waugh, who scored 0, 23 and 4 in the previous games, made a
timely return to form with his 38th half-century in 279 one-dayers.
He added 54 for the fourth wicket with Michael Bevan and 85 for the
fifth with Damien Martyn, who remained unbeaten on 39. Australia,
who take on Pakistan again in the next match in Sydney on
Wednesday, have brought in all-rounder Ian Harvey in place of the
injured Adam Dale.-AFP/Reuters
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Wasim Akram first to claim 400 wickets
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SYDNEY, Jan 19: Pakistani captain Wasim Akram became the first
bowler to claim 400 one-day wickets, but could not prevent his team
crashing to a 81-run defeat against Australia here on Wednesday.
Australia piled up 286 in 49.4 overs and then shot Pakistan out for
205 to virtually assure a place in the tri-series finals with their
fourth successive win.
Akram, the prolific left-arm seamer with 383 Test wickets under his
belt, reached the 400 mark in one-day cricket in his 285th match.
The 32-year-old's feat was, however, overshadowed by a spirited
batting display from both teams before a sell-out crowd of 40,000
at the Sydney cricket ground.-AFP/Reuters
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