------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 7 October 2000 Issue : 06/38 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Three provinces promulgate Local Govt Election Ordinance + SHC hears state appeal in Plane Case + Another reference against Nawaz + Govt plans to highlight achievements + Pakistan calls for UN action against Israel + Problems thornier than ever: US paper's report on Pakistan + Govt can stop anyone from leaving country + India to release 160 fishermen + Local government under devolution plan + Putin urges Pakistan, India to talk peace: Moscow, Delhi sign deal + Enemy mounting pressure, says Musharraf + Hamood report to be released, says CE + 10m new voters to be enlisted: Moin + Asif admits mistakes but denies corruption charges --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + SBP hikes repo rate, cash reserves: Dollar reaches new heights + State Bank warns of cap on inter-bank rate + Hydel profit issue to be resolved: CE + Cash margin on LCs resented + Bumper cotton crop expected this season + Govt seeks bankers' help: Steps to halt rupee slide + HUBCO offer higher than original rate + Japan to give aid to Pakistan + 21 politicians, bureaucrats held so far in Frontier + Single-grade petrol sale from today --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Storming of the Supreme Court Ardeshir Cowasjee + Caesar bemused Ayaz Amir + Eqbal and the pain of Palestine Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + Reaching the semis no mean achievement: Islah + Moin, Javed confident but avoid predictions + Holland keep Koreans at bay to retain title; Aussies clinch
=================================================================== DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 001006 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Three provinces promulgate Local Govt Election Ordinance ------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN Report LAHORE, Oct 5: The governors of Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan on Thursday promulgated local government ordinance in their provinces simultaneously. Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Mohammed Safdar promulgated the Punjab Local Government Elections, Ordinance, 2000. The ordinance, drafted by the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB), was to be enacted on Wednesday by all the provinces simultaneously but only Sindh government could promulgate it. The Punjab government could not release the ordinance for want of approval by the chief executive. The law only provides a mechanism for the local government elections that will be held in the Punjab from December. The remaining aspects of the devolution plan will be given legal cover by the time the elections are over by the middle of next year. The next step will, however, be to define the method of the oath of the elected members to the local councils and their functioning which this ordinance does not cover. Ahmed Hasan adds from Peshawar: The NWFP governorLt-Gen (retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, on Thursday promulgated the North West Frontier Province Local Government Elections Ordinance-2000. The ordinance not only elicits the qualification for candidatesbut also provides checks on corrupt practices during the elections for union, tehsil and district councils. Any person found guilty of bribery for the purpose of inducing a person to be or to refrain from being a candidate at an election or a voter to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or a candidate to withdraw or retire from election shall be punishable to a term of three years imprisonment along with a fine upto Rs5,000. Similarly punishment of fine upto Rs1,000 has been fixed for anyone who is guilty of undue influence to compel any person to vote, refrain form voting or to induce or compel any person to withdraw his candidature at an election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf. Punishments have also been proposed for anyone found in polling station or trying to poll bogus vote or removing a ballot paper or a ballot box, lets, lends, employs, hires, borrows or uses any vehicle or vessel for the purpose of conveying voters to or from the polling station. While no basic qualification for a candidate for any tier of local government has been fixed, matriculation has been made the minimum educational qualification for a Union Council, Tehsil and Zila Nazims. A Muslim candidate has to be of good character and not known as one who violates Islamic injunctions and has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings and practices. Does not possess assets which are inconsistent with his declaration of assets or justifiable means whether held in his own name or in the name of the dependents. The ordinance further provides that while the local government elections will be conducted by the Chief Election Commissioner but he may authorise any of his officers to exercise any of his powers and to perform any of his functions under this ordinance. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20001007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SHC hears state appeal in Plane Case ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shamim-ur-Rahman KARACHI, Oct 6: The Sindh High Court on Friday commenced hearing in the prosecution's appeal challenging the acquittal of six accused in the plane case. Barrister Zahoorul Haq argued for the conviction of Shahbaz Sharif, Saifur Rahman, Syed Ghous Ali Shah, Rana Maqbool, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Saeed Mehdi before the full bench comprising Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Wahid Bux Brohi. The appellant's grievance was that the judgment of the anti- terrorism court insofar as it pertains to the respondents was perverse, completely illegal and on perusal of evidence no other conclusion could have been made except the guilt of the respondents. The appellant's contention was that there had been a misreading of evidence leading to miscarriage of justice by the Anti-Terrorism Court. The bench was to commence the hearing of the state's appeal for the enhancement of Nawaz Sharif's sentence but owing to non- availability of his counsel, Barrister Ijaz Hussain Batalvi, on health grounds, it decided to take up the other appeal of the state. At the very outset, Khwaja Haris, the Lahore-based counsel for Shahbaz Sharif, stood up and sought, on behalf of Barrister Batalvi, a week's adjournment of the hearing of appeal pertaining to enhancement of Nawaz Sharif's sentence. He then requested the court to take up the appeal against the acquittal of the six accused. Sindh Advocate-General Raja Qureshi pressed for the hearing of the appeal, seeking permission to make his submissions. After that, he said, the matter could be deferred till Mr Batalvi returned. The chief justice decided to proceed with the state's appeal against the acquittal. But the defence seemed unprepared for even that as Khwaja Haris again sought adjournment on the grounds that Manzoor A. Malik, counsel for accused Rana Maqbool, was not present and that some of the accused had to consult their lawyers. The CJ declined the request as some of the accused were already being represented whereas others had decided to appear in person. Arguing the case in appeal against the acquittal of six co- accused, Barrister Zahoor made submissions on the "union of mind" to prove the role of six accused in what he termed a conspiracy. He referred to the "utterances" of some of the witnesses to establish the involvement of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the then chairman of the PIA. He also cited "utterances" of six prosecution witnesses to emphasize that Mr Abbasi was actively involved in the crime and conspiracy He then referred to Article 23 of Qanoon-i-Shahadat to prove his point on the role of co-conspirators and for establishing the "union of mind." He contended that the ATC judgment was not sustainable because the evidence relied upon had been ignored for no valid reasons. While Barrister Zahoor was making submissions on the union of mind and relying on Z.A. Bhutto's case, the CJ observed that "something must be shown to have been done to establish union of mind. You are not challenging finding of the trial court that means you have accepted it." Barrister Haq said that "overt may not be necessary. The utterances of co-conspirators, one saying 'why not land at Peshawar', the other orders 'not to land at Nawabshah' and someone (else) asks another co-accused 'if he could take control of the airport (at Karachi)' were sufficient to establish their union of mind." He also referred to the utterances of six prosecution witnesses with regard to Mr Abbasi's dialogue and his alleged role. "He (Shahid Khaqan Abbasi) is very active participant, these actions were not in isolation," he said. The CJ observed why Shahnawaz Dara and other officials, who had ordered blockade of runway, were not made accused. Barrister Haq replied that in the present criminal case those wielding powers were responsible and Mr Abbasi, being then the PIA chairman, was one of them. The CJ then asked was there any evidence to show that the former PIA chairman had said 'there was not enough fuel, or the plane should be taken outside Pakistan?' Justice Osmany observed that Mr Abbasi was just following instructions... "where is the eviden-ce?" The state appeal was also based on the contention that the ATC had not entered deep into the merits of the case and failed to discuss ocular as well as circumstantial evidence in juxtaposition as the same stood on the judicial record. It was also the appellant's contention that the ATC had not considered the corroborative pieces of evidence for arriving at a conclusion that a conspiracy had been hatched by the respondents at Islamabad as well as at Karachi resulting into the commission of the offence of section 402-B read with section 109 PPC. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20001007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Another reference against Nawaz ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter LAHORE, Oct 6: The army monitoring team authorities reported to have filed a reference against Mr Nawaz Sharif for allegedly allotting 400 plots worth Rs1.50 billion to his favourites the day his government in the Punjab was dismissed in 1990. The reference has been sent to the NAB for action, sources said, alleging that Mr Sharif had as the chief minister allotted the plots during a late night secret meeting at the LDA offices the day his government was dismissed. They claimed that the plots were allotted to 399 PML MPAs under fictitious names and references against them will also be filed. It was alleged that staff of the LDA and some banks were asked to sit in the meeting to complete the formalities and deposit fees. The LDA staff was given an honoraria of Rs 200 each for the night duty, it was claimed. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001006 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt plans to highlight achievements ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: The government is organizing to launch a media campaign on Oct 12, to inform the people of its achievements during the first year of its rule. All federal secretaries have been asked to forward to the information ministry material about their achievements. "We propose to highlight the work that has been done during the past 12 months through the print and electronic media...you are requested to kindly provide us with material highlighting the achievements of your ministry," an information ministry letter sent to the ministries and divisions said. The material, it is said, will be included in the publication that the government proposes to bring out on Oct 12. "It (the material) will also be used for commissioning articles in different languages for publication in newspapers," it added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001006 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan calls for UN action against Israel ------------------------------------------------------------------- Masood Haider UNITED NATIONS, Oct 5: Speakers, during a United Nations Security Council debate on the outbreak of violence in Gaza, on Wednesday, expressed outrage over what they termed Israel's use of excessive force, and said that Israel had violated international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, 1949. Israel was also condemned for killing children, with several participants pointing, in particular, to the heart-rending death of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy in his father's arms. They called for an international investigation into these events, and urged the Security Council to formally compel Israel to halt its actions and censure it for violating the Geneva Convention. In his address, Pakistan Ambassador Shamshad Ahmad stressed that "prompt action is required by the international community, in particular the Security Council, to put an end to the present round of violence against the Palestinians, secure Israel's compliance with UN resolutions, ensure the safety and sanctity of Al Quds Al Sharif and facilitate the realization of the national rights of the Palestinian people." Mr Ahmad said Pakistan shared the international outrage and concern at the high-handedness of the Israeli forces against defenceless Palestinian civilians in the very vicinity of Al Haram Al Sharif in Al Quds, the third most holiest place of Islam. The Security Council must send an unequivocal message that such provocative actions and bloodshed of innocent Palestinians were unacceptable to the international community, he added. Pakistan's chief delegate pointed out that Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 continued to provide a viable and just framework for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The status of Al Quds remained central to any comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. No lasting peace in the region would be possible without the realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, he said and added that these included their right to establish their independent state with Al Quds as its capital and the exercise of their full sovereignty over Al Haram Al Sharif. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001001 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Problems thornier than ever: US paper's report on Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent WASHINGTON, Sept 30: As the military regime of General Pervez Musharraf nears its first year in power on October 12, an article in Saturday's Washington Post suggests that the hopes raised by the bloodless army takeover a year ago have "largely dimmed". The article, by the paper's South Asia correspondent Pamela Constable and datelined Islamabad, says Gen Musharraf is still widely regarded as honest and well-intentioned, but Pakistan's problems seem "thornier than ever". The economy has stagnated, poverty has deepened and the general has backed off from confronting "Islamic leaders on foreign and religious policies and has maintained Pakistan's costly commitment to Kashmir," the article asserts. This has prolonged a severe drain on the country's resources and aggravated concerns that "Islamic fundamentalism is a threat to Pakistan's stability as a secular state and nuclear power". Headlined "Great expectations fade in Pakistan", the article says: "Many Pakistanis are deeply disappointed with Musharraf, largely because they once expected so much of him. While some praise his government for refraining from using force to suppress dissent, many complain that Musharraf should be acting more like a general, making tough decisions and using military muscle to back them if needed. .. "Pakistan's image abroad, already tarnished by the military takeover, has been further damaged by its open support for Mujahideen groups in occupied Kashmir and by its friendly relations with radical Islamic leaders in neighbouring Afghanistan. Foreign investors, wary of doing business with an army regime and impatient with its slow pace of economic reform, have shied away. The International Monetary Fund seems likely to agree to a one-year, $580 million debt relief package, but Pakistan still faces a $35 billion foreign debt - equivalent to half its gross national product." The article also quotes Gen Musharraf's aides who take exception to such criticism and stress that Pakistan's problems are too entrenched and pervasive to fix overnight and the regime's programme needs time to work. "They say Musharraf is working to build trust in government after decades of corruption and incompetence and that true economic and political reform will flow from that." Officials are cited as saying that the government has not been credited for its lengthy list of economic initiatives and its ambitious plan to empower local elected bodies, which they say will reduce the centralized corruption and patronage that have long stymied representative democracy. The Washington Post correspondent talked to PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan, who says: "The fact is that we will not fix the economy until we get foreign investment, and we will not get foreign investment until we take a decisive stand on relations with our neighbour (India) and with the Mullahs. Musharraf is showing some grit on the economy, but he needs to show more courage on these other fronts." The article is accompanied by a graphic on "Pakistan and the Military" which appears to have missed out Yahya Khan's martial law, referring to only three periods of army rule - of Ayub Khan, Ziaul Haq and now of Gen Musharraf. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001005 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt can stop anyone from leaving country ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 4: The federal government has maintained that it has the right to prevent anybody from going abroad despite valid travel documents. This was spelt out in a written reply submitted by the government in a Constitutional petition filed by Nasreen Jaleel, suspended senator and deputy convener of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, challenging vires of the Exit from Pakistan Control Ordinance 1981, and seeking deletion of her name from the ECL. The federal government also maintained that it was not obliged to specify grounds for preventing the former senator from proceeding abroad and maintained that the aggrieved party could make a representation to the federal government for reviewing the order. The petition was fixed for hearing before a division bench of the Sindh High Court, comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Ghulam Rabbani. The petition could not be heard for want of time, although petitioner's counsel, K. M. Nadeem, was present. In the written reply, filed through the Interior Ministry, the respondent has stated that name of the petitioner was placed on ECL since October 1988, along with 45 parliamentarians. She was granted permission to proceed abroad twice in the past on June 1 and July 2, 1999. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001005 ------------------------------------------------------------------- India to release 160 fishermen ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 4: India has agreed to release 160 more detained Pakistani fishermen and their 18 fishing boats, it is learnt. According to a Fisheries source, the Fishermen Cooperative Society has received a message from the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi in this regard. The FCS has been asked to send a list of boat owners and representatives of the society who could visit India to look after the repatriation arrangements and repair the damaged boats. It is also learnt that a 12-member delegation of Pakistani fishermen to be led by the FCS Vice-Chairman, Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamote, will visit India next week to take custody of the 160 Pakistani fishermen. The FCS chairman has approved the necessary expenses for the fishermen being released and for repair of their damaged boats during their stay in India. In this regard, the FCS has contacted families of all the fishermen and collected their passports and national identity cards. According to an FCS announcement, 298 Pakistani fishermen along with 44 fishing boats are detained in India."Efforts are underway for the release of the remaining detained fishermen in India," the announcement added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001004 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Local government under devolution plan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 3: As many as 12 departments, including various development authorities, would function under the umbrella of the proposed three-tier new local government setup being introduced by the present regime as a part of its devolution plan. However, cantonment boards throughout the country would continue to function even after the introduction of the devolution plan, as the list containing the names of acts of development authorities to be repealed with the promulgation of the local government ordinance- 2000 did not include the Cantonment Boards Act. According to sources, a city or district government will have 12 departments which include finance, planning, development and accounts, works and services, health, education, literacy, community development, information technology, law, agriculture, revenue and magistracy. The Nazims of city/district governments would be executive heads of the district administration and a civil servant of grade 20, who will be appointed by government for the city/district governments for a three-year period, will serve as district coordination officer to look after offices of coordination, human resources, development and civil defence. There would be executive district officers for each of the 12 departments of the city/district governments and they will be assisted by the district, deputy and assistant district officers in their respective departments. With regard to the concept of district police, sources said that according to the draft of the new local government ordinance, there will be an independent and self-contained city district police for the provincial capital city, organized on functional bases of law and order, investigation, prosecution, traffic, administration, protocol duties and reserves. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001004 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Putin urges Pakistan, India to talk peace: Moscow, Delhi sign deal ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, Oct 3: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called for concrete efforts to restart peace talks between India and Pakistan, and defuse tension in the region. "...great attention was paid to the situation in South Asia," the visiting president told a joint news conference with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee after talks. "We have expressed our hope that concrete specific efforts will be further applied in order to renew...the process of negotiations between India and Pakistan, in order to weaken the military and political tension in the region," Mr Putin said. He confirmed Moscow's backing for India's bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. "Russia considers India a strong and deserving candidate for permanent membership to the Security Council." STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP: India and Russia signed a new "strategic partnership" aimed at reviving ties in the 21st century, as Moscow seeks to expand its regional role in Asia. The document said both sides were proceeding from a common conviction in the need to build a "multipolar global structure". "It's not directed against a third country," Mr Vajpayee said, adding, "it is a solemn and long-term commitment on the part of Russia and India to work in close cooperation as partners on all issues - political, economic and international."-Agencies DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001004 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Enemy mounting pressure, says Musharraf ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report HYDERABAD, Oct 3: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has said that Pakistan is facing both internal and external threats as the enemy was trying to destabilise the country internally and was mounting pressure along the Line of Control as well. He was speaking at the regimental darbar of the Sindh Regimental Centre here on Tuesday, which coincided with the Nishan-i-Haider celebrations and a two-day biennial conference of the centre. Gen Musharraf said the mission of the defence forces was to not only to defend the country but externally internally as well. The armed forces would always remain alert to meet any threat as they were "equipped with the powers of faith and determination." He said the most difficult economic problems had been overcome and the country had now entered into a new phase. He said he felt proud in addressing the first Nishan-i-Haider function of the centre in which in addition to the retired officers and jawans of the regiment the father and brother of Shaheed Capt Karnal Sher Khan (Nishan-i-Haider) were also present. He said he was proud of the centre, which had produced officers like Capt Khan and brave JCOs, NCOs and jawans who had proved their mettle in Siachin and Kargil; the 1965 and 1971 wars and even in Somalia. He expressed his confidence that the centre would maintain its high standards and observed that training and operational preparedness were the best weapons for the armed forces. He said "the enemy had tested these weapons when it attacked our post at the Line of Control and was met with 'offensive defence.'" He said the enemy lost 15 personnel while two Pakistani jawans were martyred. The chief executive said the criterion for the performance of a training centre were training, administration, education and sports and added that the Sindh Regimental Centre was second to none in these fields. He said the fundamental objective for the establishment of the centre was to motivate the local people to join the army and noted that people from Sindh were present in every unit of the army. Earlier, Brig Zamir Raja, commanding officer of the centre, narrated the history of the centre in his welcome speech. Lt-Gen Saleem Haider, Col Commandant of the regiment; Maj-Gen Khalid Munir, GOC Hyderabad; all the COs of the regiment and the top army brass attended the darbar besides hundreds of jawans and officers. The chief executive also laid a floral wreath on the "Shuhada Monument" and inaugurated the Regimental Museum. He announced a contribution of Rs2,000,000 for the Memorial Trust Fund that was established for families of martyrs and retired personnel. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001003 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamood report to be released, says CE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 2: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, announced on Monday that the government would release the whole of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report except for the portions concerning the foreign relations. Speaking at the APNS award-distribution ceremony, the CE said that a committee had already been constituted that would go through the entire five-part report before making it public. However, he pointed out, the fifth part would not be available to the people at large because of the "sensitivities" of foreign relations. The publication of the portion that dealt with the military debacle in the former East Pakistan had been picked up with mala fide intentions to malign and destablize the military and the regime, he said. The rest of the report that dealt with the Indian designs and involvements, and cast aspersions on the leader who had ordered the constitution of the commission had not been published with mala fide intentions, he claimed. The army chief, who appeared perturbed over the publication of the report, said that what happened in the then East Pakistan was disgrace but asked why this report had not been published when it was ready. "Why the hue and cry now when most of the people are not alive?" The East Pakistan debacle, he said, was a politico-military problem but why only the military matters were focused. He thought it was also with a mala fide intent. Why action was not taken by the man who had constituted the commission? Why I should be asked to do it now? said the CE in an indirect reference to the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Referring to criticism and reports of irregularities and kickbacks in various defence deals (submarine, tank and other weapons systems), he said the defence ministry had been asked to examine such reports and find out whether they were transparent or not. Although there were such information and reports, the evidence that would stand a trial was difficult, he said. Referring to the tank deal, he said they were the best, cheapest and cost-effective tanks, and their induction had given the army superiority over the Indians. He, however, admitted that the military was not above board and stated that an Air Marshall and a Brigadier were facing the National Accountability Bureau. The CE refuted allegations and perceptions about the perks and special privileges to the armed forces personnel. He said he had declared his assets and there was nothing to hide. "Nothing is free ... we get it under a system," he said, asking why at this stage it was being focused when it had been going on over the past 53 years. He said efforts were being made through intelligentsia and a lot of money was being pumped in to defame the army and to destablize the government. He advised the people not to fall prey to the propaganda. Referring to his recent visit to the US and the ripples some of his remarks had made, Gen Musharraf said that "whosoever controls the media can create perceptions and Pakistan suffers from this misperception." The CE reaffirmed his commitment to the freedom of press within the bonds of secrecy which was also observed in countries like the United States. On the political situation, he recognized that despondency had started setting in to some extent but not at large. "Despondency is not among the people at large but among the intelligentsia," he said. Gen Musharraf said: "I don't like sycophants around me. I don't get scared of negative propaganda. I'll be the first person to go when I realize that I am not able to deliver (the goods), but that is not happening, I'll stay on." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001003 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 10m new voters to be enlisted: Moin ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter LAHORE, Oct 2: About 10 million new voters will be added to electoral rolls throughout the country by lowering voters age to 18 years. This was disclosed by Federal Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider while speaking at a seminar arranged by the Citizens Commission for Women Development at a hotel here on Monday. He said that round the clock work was being done by over 8,000 people engaged in preparing new electoral rolls which would include the names of 64 million voters. He said that the task also included computerization of the rolls and preparation of national identity cards (NICs). He asked politicians, leaders of public opinion, intellectuals, writers, journalists, lawyers and traders to see themselves how and with much fast speed the work for preparations of electoral rolls was being done. "It is all transparent and we have nothing to hide from the people", he declared. These new electoral rolls were being prepared as the old ones prepared for 1970 elections had become obsolete as they included the names of voters who had since then died or gone abroad and their updating and revision had not been done satisfactorily. He said that the new rolls would also be used for the next general elections of national and provincial assemblies. He said that the electoral rolls of two provinces had already been completed and handed over to the Election Commission while the lists of other two provinces would be ready soon. These lists would be displayed for public for rectification of the names of the voters before sending them for printing. Even after printing the lists would be displayed again for further correction and registration of any leftout voters, he added. The minister said that every care was being taken to remove the names of Afghan refugees and the nationals of other countries who had managed to get themselves enrolled in the past by producing fake NICs. No non-Pakistani will be enrolled, he declared. Referring to the devolution of power plan, Mr Haider said that it was purely indigenous one and "not the result of any American or western agenda." He said that the plan had been prepared keeping in view the objective conditions of Pakistan and the cultural traditions of the people living here.The plan ensures to give the rightful pace to the women of Pakistan and it was for the first time that they had been given such a substantial representation in the local elections. "Both our religion and the Constitution do not put any bar on women in participating in the national activity," he emphasized. He indicated that if women proved to be good representatives in these elections and gave better performance their percentage could be increased in the future polls. He said that women could also contest the seats reserved for peasants and workers as the plan puts no restriction on them. The women members of the local councils could also be given financial powers. "If they can manage the domestic budget of their houses, there is no reason why they should not be given financial powers in local councils, he argued. He said that all discriminatory laws against women should be repealed or amended to remove any discrimination against women. He revealed that the government was already seized of the matter and federal minister Attiya Inayattullah was working on it. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001002 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Asif admits mistakes but denies corruption charges ------------------------------------------------------------------- Luke Harding KARACHI, Oct 1: Asif Ali Zardari, husband of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, admitted that he had made mistakes but denied charges that he was involved in corruption. In an interview with the Guardian, he denied the main allegation which has stuck to him like glue for more than a decade - that of corruption and greedy excess. "To err is human, but I have not broken any laws," he declared. But in answers smuggled out from behind bars, Mr Zardari, who became investment minister after his arranged marriage to Ms Benazir Bhutto in 1988, conceded that he had behaved "improperly in being extravagant". Speaking from his prison hospital bed in Karachi, Mr Zardari said he was also surprised and disappointed by the British government, which has agreed to cooperate with the Pakistani authorities who are investigating his overseas assets. He said he was dismayed by the decision of the home secretary, Jack Straw, earlier this week to release secret details of his British bank accounts to Pakistani prosecutors who are trying him on drugs charges. He is accused of buying a nine-bedroom mansion in Surrey - Rockwood House - with the proceeds of drug deals. Zardari, 46, refused to confirm that he was the owner of Rockwood House. But he insisted that the property had not been acquired corruptly. "I am a businessman with my own sources of money," he said. These included hotels and construction. The home secretary has given him 14 days to appeal against the judgment. The original request for help with the Pakistani investigation into Ms Bhutto's hidden assets was made by the ousted prime minister, Nawaz Sharif. The British government delayed its response in the wake of October's military takeover. "I am not the devil that has been painted in the press although I am not an angel either," Mr Zardari said on Friday night. "I am a human being with the frailties that accompany it." His lawyers have not yet decided whether to appeal against the Rockwood ruling, he said. But his two co-defendants who implicated him in confessions have declared that they were tortured and have withdrawn their statements, he added. He declined to say whether he had met the British builder Paul Keating, who claims that Mr Zardari owes him money. Mr Zardari, whose legendary fondness for commissions, led him to acquire the nickname "Mr 10 per cent" during his stint as a minister, was imprisoned in December 1996. He blamed his downfall on Nawaz Sharif, who is now also in jail. Mr Sharif was "over ambitious" and "not very intelligent", he said. He drafted new anti-terrorism laws which were later used against him by the military. "Mr Sharif dug his own grave by taking on the Pakistan People's Party in a fascist fashion. He was tried by the same laws he had made against me ... put in the same prison cell ... and made to travel in the same armoured personnel carrier," he said. In April, six months after being toppled, Mr Sharif was jailed for life for hijacking.-Dawn/Guardian News Service
=================================================================== BUSINESS & ECONOMY 001005 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SBP hikes repo rate, cash reserves: Dollar reaches new heights ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, Oct 4: The State Bank on Wednesday increased the cash reserves requirement for the banks from five to seven per cent and enhanced its three-day repo and discount rates from 12 to 13 per cent. The twin measures are aimed at strengthening the rupee by containing its supply and making holding of dollars costlier. It also hiked the maximum yield on treasury bills of different tenures by 2.00-2.23 per cent to reinforce the signal carried through the increase in repo and discount rate. On Sept 18, the SBP had raised its discount and repo rate by one per cent to 12 per cent and on Sept 20 it had enhanced the yields on treasury bills by 1.17 to 1.52 per cent. SBP repo rate is the rate at which it lends money to the banks for up to three days against government securities. Its discount rate is the rate at which the banks make outright borrowings for up to three days. Cash reserve requirement is the percentage of the total deposits of a bank that it has to keep with the State Bank. As the total deposits of the banking sector stands around Rs 1120 billion at present two per cent increase in cash reserve requirement will suck in about Rs 24 billion from the inter-bank money market thus making the rupee stronger against the dollar. And a one per cent increase in the SBP repo and discount rate would force the banks to hike up their own lending rates. That in turn would again contain surplus supply of the rupee on the one hand and result in additional inflow of dollars on the other. The overall impact of the twin measures would be that the rupee would gain grounds against the rising dollar. The decisions were announced after the SBP failed to stabilize the rupee against the US dollar through a couple of interventions carried out in the past one week. The rupee on Wednesday slid to 59.75/59.80 to a dollar in the inter-bank market-down 40 paisa from Tuesday's close of 59.35/59.40. In the open market it closed at 63.40/63.65 to a dollar-down 90 paisa from the previous close of 62.50/62.75. Currency dealers said the rupee had fallen to 63.75/64.00 to a dollar earlier in the day on heavy speculative buyings. Unlike on previous days the SBP did not intervene in the inter-bank market on Wednesday. "The market squared on its own," said a foreign banker. Bankers generally hailed the SBP decision to support the rupee through interest rates rather than by making quick interventions in the market. But they said it would be too much to expect that the shift in policy would lead to quick recovery of the rupee vis a vis the dollar. The rupee began a steep fall against the dollar since July 20 when the State Bank lifted an unofficial cap on inter-bank exchange rates after it entered into negotiations with the IMF for a fresh loan. Since then the rupee has depreciated by 12.5 per cent in the inter- bank market. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20001007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- State Bank warns of cap on inter-bank rate ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, Oct 6: State Bank Governor Dr Ishrat Husain said on Friday that the SBP could once again cap inter-bank foreign exchange rates - and even go for imposing cash margins on import letters of credit - to stabilize the rupee. Talking to Dawn in his office he said reintroducing a trading band in inter-bank forex market is a possibility he would never rule out. "That is a tool we can employ if the monetary measures we have taken do a little to stabilize the rupee." He said he was not ruling out another trading band "to make the market realize that State Bank is not helpless." Dr Husain said the banks had imposed a cash margin on import letters of credit on their own - with the SBP having no hand in it. "But again this is also a tool we cannot rule out employing when the need arises." Asked whether reimposition of a trading band - or cash margins would incite opposition from IMF and WTO he said: "So far cash margin is concerned you can always do such things for temporary purposes. And for the trading band...we can talk to the IMF." The removal of a cap on exchange rate on July 20 has so far left the rupee poorer by 13 per cent. The SBP governor said he hoped that tighter monetary measures introduced recently would help stabilize the market in the near future. "Even further tightening of monetary measures cannot be ruled out," he said meaning that the SBP's short-term interest rates and treasury bills yields might still go up. "But there are some costs associated with it," he hastened to add - implying that further tightening of monetary measures could have such adverse impact on the economy that can outweigh its benefits. Lately the SBP enhanced its short-term lending rate by two per cent in two instalments. It hiked up yields on treasury bills by 3.5 per cent also in two phases. The central bank also raised from five to seven per cent the cash reserves requirement for the banks-a step that would suck in about Rs24 billion excess liquidity from the banking system. Banks are likely to translate the increase in SBP short-term lending rates and treasury bills yields into their own lending rates. That would keep the rupee supply within limits on the one hand and make the cost of dollar holding on the other thus making the rupee stable. "But banks have so far not come to us and tell that they are hiking their rates," said Dr Husain. But he said if the banks revise their lending rates up it would be just natural. What else would be natural is that it will push up inflation particularly because it is going to couple with record high oil prices. The governor said he did realise this. "But you cannot have a cake and eat it too. If we stabilize the exchange rate through monetary measures it will happen." Replying to a question the governor said consumer inflation may reach seven per cent this year due to rupee depreciation and tighter monetary measures plus higher oil prices provided that "we do have some good food crops." "If we do not have good food crops-wheat and rice and sugar etc. the inflation may be a bit higher...but it would not be in double digits," the governor said. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20001007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hydel profit issue to be resolved: CE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ahmad Hassan PESHAWAR, Oct 6: Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday assured the NWFP government that the issue of net profits from hydel power generation would be settled once and for all. He said that all out efforts would be made to improve financial position of the province protect the its rights in the federal. He gave this assurance during a briefing on the province's financial position at the governor house. The NWFP governor, Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and provincial ministers were also present at the briefing. The CE assured that a solution to the problem would be sorted out at a meeting shortly which would be participated by all governors, Wapda chairman and finance ministry officials so that the NWFP was not deprived of its due right. Earlier, the provincial finance minister Farid Rahman briefed the chief executive that according to A.G.N. Kazi formula Wapda owed Rs12.9 billion to the province on account of net profits from hydel power generation and it would be getting a capped amount of Rs6 billion this fiscal year. He maintained that the arrears from the net profits accumulated over the years due to Wapda's failure in payment since 1973, which needed to be resolved. On the devolution of power plan in the province, the local government secretary informed Gen Musharraf that the process of delimitation of local councils in Bannu, D.I. Khan, Tank and Lakki Marwat districts had been completed. The chief executive was also told that restructuring of various government departments was under way. The meeting was told of details of the first phase of poverty alleviation programme under which 102 schemes costing Rs601.60m, had been completed and work on 722 schemes was in progress. About 11,278 people had been provided job besides benefiting 7.8m. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20001007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash margin on LCs resented ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 6: The decision taken by some leading local and foreign banks on Thursday to impose 30 per cent cash margin on the letters of credit (LCs) of all imports, minus crude oil and POL products has created confusion among importers. At the same time it has left bankers wondering whether it had any legal sanctity. But heads of major local and foreign banks say the decision would ease off a long spell of volatility in the inter- bank market. "We reject this decision and demand its withdrawal. It would create problems for us", said Chairman of Pakistan Commodity Traders Association Raees Ashraf Tarmohammad. He said if the decision was not withdrawn it would lead to skyrocketing of the prices of all imported items including raw materials. "The businessmen will not be able to pass, the whole impact, on to the end consumers thus taking a hit on them," he remarked. "The fact that the decision has not been announced from the State Bank puts it into question. What is the legal sanctity of it?" questioned Regional chairman of Pakistan Tea Association Razzak Bantvawala. He said the imposition of cash margin will curtail imports that would not only push up the price line but would also compound problems for the industries fed on imported raw materials. President of National Bank Ali Raza admitted that the decision had no legal binding on the banks. "It is a voluntary step that the banks have taken on their own to contain a frenzy of dollar buying," he said. Talking to Dawn, he however, asserted that banks had the right to impose a cash margin on imports and as such there is no reason for the importers to challenge the decision. "Under the terms of the agreement with the customers banks are free to make changes in the conditions set for opening LCs," Raza observed. Country Manager for Citibank in Pakistan Zubyr I. Soomro made it clear that the decision of imposing 30 per cent cash margin was not taken by Pakistan Banks Association. "Let me clarify that the Association was rather not involved in the decision," he told Dawn. Importers said bankers perception that forward demand for the dollar was moving up on panic-buying by importers presents only the half truth. "Had the inter-bank rate not been lowered dramatically on the insistence of IMF in one go there would not have been this much buying," said a leading importer in Jodia Bazar. "In the past there used to be creeping downward adjustments in the dollar-rupee parity. That used to keep the forward demand for the dollar under control. But this time around it was a different story," he said. The rupee finished in the inter-bank market at 59.85/59.90 on Friday up 10 paisa from the previous close of 59.75/59.80. Senior bankers said there was enough supply of dollars from exporters but the demand for the dollar was still high. Hence the increase. Bankers said the decision taken by leading local and foreign banks to impose 30 per cent cash margin on import LCs was hard to implement. They recalled that last month some banks decided not to quote dollar prices to the customers to other banks but the decision was hardly adhered to. Dawn inquiries showed that the pace of opening LCs with local and foreign banks slowed down on Friday. Branch managers said they had problems in explaining to the importers that banks had imposed a cash margin on their own. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001006 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bumper cotton crop expected this season ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 5: Phutti arrival from fields into ginneries has gained momentum, thereby raising hope that the country may reap, yet another bumper cotton crop this season (2000-2001). "If the current pace of phutti arrival is maintained during the entire first picking period, which lasts till late November, there is a strong possibility that cotton production may cross 10 million mark," opined a leading broker here on Wednesday. According to Pakistan Cotton Ginners' Association (PCGA) figures, phutti arrival up to Oct 1, stood at 1.056 million bales or 29.49 per cent higher than 0.815 million bales produced during the corresponding period of the last year. It is encouraging to note that despite water shortage in Sindh, the increased flow of phutti up to 7.91 per cent in comparison to previous year, indicates that little damage was caused and the province is likely achieve its cotton production target. In Sindh, where 116 ginning factories have come into operations, have so far processed around 0.553 million bales as against 0.513 million bales produced during the corresponding period of last year. As per reports coming from fields the standing crop in both the cotton producing provinces - Sindh and Punjab is in good shape and unlike in the past there was nominal shedding of fruit balls which indicates that per acreage yield would be much higher than previous years. Similarly, there is a remarkable rise in phutti arrival in Punjab where up to Oct 1, around 0.503 million bales or 66.06 per cent higher production has been achieved as compared to the same period of last year when output was at 0.303 million bales. Even fortnightly flow of phutti is showing better figures as around 0.615 million bales have been recorded from Sept 15 to Oct 1, as against 0.588m bales during the same period last year. The PCGA further disclosed that about 0.272 million bales of unsold stocks are presently lying with the ginneries which is much higher than the previous year, when around 0.183 million bales were with them. Cotton economy analysts believe that if the country manages to harvest another bumper cotton crop this season a sizeable exportable surplus, after meeting the domestic industry's demand of over 9 million bales, could help bring in much needed foreign exchange. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001006 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt seeks bankers' help: Steps to halt rupee slide ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ihtashamul Haque ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: The finance ministry officials met a number of bankers and representatives of the money changers here on Thursday in an attempt to seek their cooperation in halting the continuing downslide of the rupee. The bankers and money changers were reportedly told that the government and the IMF had reached on an understanding to maintain the exchange rate at Rs58 to a dollar. They were also told that the government had decided not to allow speculation in the market and warned that the speculators would be dealt with seriously both by the State Bank and other state machinery. Sources said the government had conceded to the IMF that the rupee was over-valued and needed to be rationalized at Rs58 against a dollar. However the government, they added, made it clear to the Fund, bankers and money changers that there was no question of letting the rupee exchange rate go up at Rs60 or above as was being speculated. They said that the rupee devaluation was also done on the exporters' demand who had been hit by the depreciation of Indian, Bangladeshi, Chinese and Sri Lankan currencies. "We have to compete and make our exports competitive in order to achieve the $10 billion target at all costs", said an official. He added that the exporters of other countries of the region were making windfall profits by depreciating their currencies against the dollar while Pakistani exporters suffered due to the over- valued rupee. Sources said that the rupee had over shot its actual value and it needed to be brought down to a realistic level for which State Bank had intervened and considerably brought it down on Thursday. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001006 ------------------------------------------------------------------- HUBCO offer higher than original rate ------------------------------------------------------------------- Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: The World Bank has found that Hubco's latest offer made to the chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, during his stay in New York last month, is even higher than the original tariff of 6.86 cent per Kwh. A copy of the World Bank's evaluation was referred to Hubco chairman Sheikh Alireza last week which, officials here believe, might have made him change his mind and put off his scheduled visit to Pakistan to hold talks. "The postponement of the visit has not come as a surprise to us as we have been anticipating this after the World Bank's report," an official told Dawn. The decision of Entergy, a major power concern of the USA, to withdraw its case from the International Court of Arbitration has also come in the wake of the WB's evaluation, which has "exposed Hubco's intentions", according to the official. Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and Wapda chairman Gen Zulfiqar on Thursday discussed the Hubco offer in the light of the WB's report and found it unacceptable. WB Country Director W. Walton in a letter to Shiekh Alireza stated that the Hubco offer to bring its tariff at par with AES tariff of 5.45 cent per Kwh, if worked out with other conditions set later, was much more than the claimed reduction. The WB said that if evaluated with other conditionalities, the Hubco's offer of 5.45 cent per Kwh, in fact, comes to 6.255 cent per KWh, excluding its demand of guaranteed energy dispatch of 64.4 per cent. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001004 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan to give aid to Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- TOKYO, Oct 3: The Japanese government will provide an additional $4.5 million in emergency grants to help Pakistan recover from a prolonged drought since the summer of last year, Japan's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. The relief is the realisation of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's offer of 500 million yen for drought relief, made as part of Japan's humanitarian aid to Pakistan during his visit to the country in August. In June, Japan gave a combined 41 million yen in emergency grants and drought relief supplies such as tents, medical supplies and water tanks. Japan, however, maintains the sanctions it imposed on Pakistan after the country conducted nuclear tests in May 1998. The sanctions involve a freeze on new grants and loans to the country, except for humanitarian purposes. The widespread drought has caused severe damage in the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh, killing more than 140 people and affecting about 2.2 million others, as well as destroying farm products and livestock, the ministry said, citing reports from the Pakistani government.-dpa DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001002 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 politicians, bureaucrats held so far in Frontier ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ahmad Hassan PESHAWAR Oct 1: The tally of politicians and bureaucrats arrested by NAB in the NWFP has risen to 21 after the recent arrest of suspended senator Syed Qasim Shah form the Kaghan valley in the Mansehra district on Friday. The National Accountability Bureau has taken into custody nine politicians since the Oct 12 change of government in the country. They include two former chief ministers. Three politicians, including one former chief minister, have been convicted by the accountability court. Among the politicians arrested so far are: former chief minister Sardar Mahtab Ahmed Khan, former ministers Abdul Haleem Khattak, Ghaniur Rahman, Habibur Rahman Tanoli, suspended MNA Haji Kabir Khan, former federal minister Azam Khan Hoti, former senator Javed Iqbal Abbasi and suspended senator Qasim Shah. Former chief minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao is at large (in self-exile in UK). Mr Sherpao has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment in absentia and been declared as proclaimed offender. The arrested bureaucrats are: former secretary of food Javed Alam Khanzada, former director general of Peshawar Development Authority Syed Zahir Shah, National Highway Authority general manger Hamid Maghfoor Shah, additional secretary of physical planning and housing Akbar Khan Marwat, XEN construction and works Mohammad Baseer, SDO Zahir Arif, chief electrical inspector of irrigation Sher Adam Khan, tehsildar Mian Mohammad Shafi, former senior member of Board of Revenue Abdul Hamid Khan, Engineer of irrigation Hezbullah, secretary of Workers Welfare Board Javed Anwar and police inspector Mahmud Hussain. Deputy Superintendent of Customs Tariq Tanvir has been released after he paid Rs25.5 million to NAB. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001001 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Single-grade petrol sale from today ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: Single-Grade Petrol (87 Octane) is being introduced throughout the country from Sunday which will give more mileage to consumers at lesser cost. The ministry of petroleum and natural resources had long been considering to improve the specifications of the petroleum products with the objectives of reducing environmental pollution, optimizing petroleum logistics and infrastructure and increasing fuel efficiency and benefits to consumers. The production of single-grade petrol has been achieved through modification of the configuration of the existing refineries and setting up of PARCO Mid-Country Refinery at Multan, said an official announcement.-APPBack to the top
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EDITORIALS & FEATURES
001001
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Storming of the Supreme Court
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Ardeshir Cowasjee
AFFIDAVIT sworn at Karachi on September 27, 2000:
"In The Supreme Court of Pakistan (Cr. Appeal 162/99)...... I,
Ardeshir Cowasjee ........ in reference to a front-page news report
published in Dawn, the newspaper of record, on September 19, 2000,
headed 'Rowdyism at SC: Respondents seek mercy' (Attachment 1) in
which has been reported '... After conferring with his clients, the
counsel said that his clients had thrown at (sic.) the mercy of the
court. Referring to SC judgment in Masroor Ahsan vs. Ardeshir
Cowasjee', counsel said that whenever the accused threw himself at
the mercy of the court the court showed magnanimity....', do hereby
affirm:
1) That the above news item implies that in Cr.O.P. 5/95, Masroor
Ahsan v. Ardeshir Cowasjee, Mr Ahmad Ali Khan, Editor, Dawn and Mr
Ghulam Ali A Mirza, Printer & Publisher, Dawn, the Respondents,
threw themselves at the mercy of the court.
2) That, the factual position is, no charges were framed against
any of the Respondents and that no Respondent threw himself at the
mercy of the court. It is requested that the court record may be
accordingly corrected.
3) That I attach hereto a copy of my unrefuted column published in
Dawn on May 23, 1999, entitled Not guilty?' (Attachment 2).
Particular reference is made to the following passages:
(a) "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."
(b) "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."
(c) "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."
(d) "The plan to oust Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, which had
taken root as early as August 21, 1997, succeeded and he was
deposed."
(e) "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 moto 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."
(f) "Acting Chief Justice Ajmal Mian moved with trepidation. He
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 instigate 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'."
(g) "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."
(h) "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."
(i) "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."
4) That with regard to the above cited passages, I have the
following elaborations/questions:
(a) Mian Shahbaz Sharif flew to Islamabad in his special plane at
dead of night. Why?
(b) Which Supreme Court judge did Saifur Rahman call upon at 2300
hours?
(c) A 'move' exercise would have entailed a company of 111 Brigade
motoring up and down the Constitution Avenue without resorting to
action.
(d) From the statement filed in the court by Senator Iqbal Haider
on May 25, 1998. This was followed by the clandestine visit to the
judges of the Quetta Bench of the honourable Supreme Court by the
envoy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Senator Rafiq Ahmad Tarar,
whereafter the Quetta judgment of November 28, 1997, was delivered
by Justices Irshad Hasan Khan and Khalilur Rahman Khan.
(e) The video cassette of the film recorded by the CCTV cameras
installed in the Supreme Court building was considered sufficient
evidence by Chief Justice Ajmal Mian to order a judicial inquiry
into the storming.
(f) Justice Abdur Rahman Khan confirmed that the storming had
coerced and intimidated the judiciary. A clear case of contempt in
the face of the court.
(g) All the evidence remains on record of the Supreme Court.
(h) On the production of evidence recorded by the court cameras a
judicial inquiry was conducted and contempt proceedings followed.
5) That in the interests of the "sanctity, dignity and respect of
the apex court of the country", I submit that Mian Nawaz Sharif,
Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Saifur Rahman, Lt General Nasim Rana, and the
journalists present in court on November 28, 1997, be summoned to
give evidence under oath.
6) That I request that this affidavit and its attachments be taken
on record.
7) That whatever is stated above is true and correct."
We must be thankful to providence for small mercies, and our
honourable judiciary should be thankful to journalist Shahid
Orakzai for his persistence. Three chief justices later and a
thousand days down the road from the November 28, 1997, storming of
the supreme court, Orakzai and his tenacity have enabled the court
to restore, to some extent, its damaged image. Seven of the
hundreds of stormers have been convicted and now that the second
investigation ball has been lobbed to a superintendent of police,
it is just possible that a few Untersturmfuehrers will be convicted
equally swiftly. This is certainly not the end of the story.
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001006
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Caesar bemused
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Ayaz Amir
AS the first anniversary of this halting revolution approaches,
spare a thought for General Musharraf's confusion. When more in
response to the brilliance of the Sharifs (God's gift to Pakistan)
than to any vaulting ambition of his own, Musharraf seized power -
or rather his generals on the ground seized power for him - the
gushing enthusiasm of a nation always on the lookout for miracles
hailed him as redeemer, national saviour and Ataturk. A year down
the road, with reality reasserting itself and that gushing
enthusiasm subsiding, the same person, no worse or better than
before, is being attacked by every lamp post within striking
distance.
A year ago every pundit in the land was calling upon the General to
complete his agenda, even if it seemed unclear what his agenda was.
Now the same pontiffs, not a whit put out by their misplaced
zealotry, are criticising the General. Is this dramatic turnaround
- everything in Pakistan being dramatic - a reflection of the
General's shortcomings or a mark of a volatile nation given to
swinging from one extreme to another?
The General came in the darkness of the night. He had no agenda,
even if he put on a brave face and pretended to have a deeply
thought-out manifesto for national revival. It was the nation which
was tired of the "heavy mandate" and looking for a reprieve. When
it got a reprieve (let's not go into the sequence of cause-and-
effect) it seized it with both hands. What is more, on the reprieve
it cast all its thwarted hopes and desires.
But let us bear witness. The General did not seek the role of a
saviour. It was thrust upon him by a nation - or, to be more
precise, a corps of pundits - in no mood to take no for an answer.
If after a year honey dew has not been harvested on the mountains
or if the waters of the Indus have not turned to holy wine who is
to blame?
What is wrong with the present lot of generals ruling Pakistan? All
in all, they are competent professionals with sound instincts and
the good of the nation at heart, their collective calibre on a par
with the best on offer in the country. Of course, they committed a
sin: seizing power and, if that was made inevitable by the
brilliance of the Sharifs, then by holding on to it. For this they
should have been criticised right from the start. But this was not
done. On the contrary, the General and his team were received as
miracle-makers. When they failed to live up to our exaggerated
expectations we began pulling them to the ground and judging them
by standards more appropriate to the tales of Scherezade than to
politics in the times of Mian Muhammad Sharif and President Rafiq
Tarar. (They say improbable names do not rise to historic
prominence. Could an Adolf Schicklegruber have become German
Fuehrer? Rafiq Tarar disproves this thesis. If he can be president,
anything is possible.)
So, holding onto the middle ground betwixt excessive effusiveness
and perverse cynicism, how runs the balance sheet of the last
twelve months? Forget, as a reference point, Musharraf's seven-
point agenda which he announced in his justification speech soon
after the "heavy mandate" was consigned to the limbo of history. As
much a product of darkness as the rest of that stormy night, it
serves no purpose to run a comb through that lack-lustre check-
list. Far better to look elsewhere for the General's successes and
failures.
Wittingly or otherwise, the General's foremost success has been to
calm the nation's nerves and to steady the ship of state, the very
dullness of the political scene, and the repetitive nature of what
the press has to offer, being a reflection of this soporific state
of affairs. Reflect how things were a year ago - the uncertainty
spawned by Kargil, the tense standoff that followed between Sharif
and the army command, the sense of dissatisfaction running deep
through the ruling party itself, the uneasy feeling that things
were bad and Sharif not the man to improve them - and only then is
it possible to appreciate the balminess of the present season of
dullness. Musharraf after a year in power is no more popular than
Sharif was at this time last year, but at least there is no feeling
in the air, as opposed to the sentiment in some newspaper columns
that things are on the verge of spinning out of control.
The military government has kept a steady course in Afghanistan
which is no mean thing given the constant carping and snide remarks
of the outside world. The Taliban may be in no position to win a
fashion contest anywhere but Pakistan, condemned by geography to
share the burden of Afghanistan, cannot be choosy. Other countries
which helped create Afghanistan's problems when it suited them, and
then walked away when their interests were no longer involved, can
afford the luxury of softchair liberalism. Not Pakistan which would
be stupid to ignore the fact that the Taliban, whether one approves
of their manners or not, hold sway over most of the country.
On Kashmir and "cross-border terrorism" the military government has
had to put up with much out-door preaching and lecturing on the
part of the Clinton administration. But it has rolled with the best
punches the US and India (both newly-locked in a post-cold war
embrace) could throw without losing its cool or retreating (as
would have been all too easy) into a Myanmarish isolationism.
And despite everything the government has engaged successfully with
international philanthropy as signified by the IMF and the World
Bank. Harsh conditions have been met and the rupee has been allowed
to bleed, but at the end of it all an IMF package of sorts will in
all likelihood come Pakistan's way, allowing it to adjust its debts
and get on with life.
On the downside of military performance is the sullen mood of much
of the populace, embittered by the feeling that military rule far
from delivering anything has made economic conditions worse. This
has been the General's weakest spot. Prices are high and purchasing
power is down. With no economic activity in the country, those on
daily wages or restricted incomes are feeling the pinch. And laying
all their troubles at Musharraf's door.
But when criticism is freely offered, all sides of the question
must be examined. What choices did this team have? What magic wand
to deliver Pakistan from its budgetary and debt problems? The good
times, with the easy money that came with them, stopped rolling a
long time ago. Since then everything has been coming to a head.
Governments which should have looked ahead got by with gimmicks.
General Musharraf has the exasperating habit of reciting hollow
statistics to signify economic progress. Perhaps he would be better
off if he eschewed this habit. But when it comes to economic policy
at least he does not shoot from the hip. For right or wrong, the
economic direction Pakistan is taking is underpinned by
institutional decision-making.
True, Pakistan is still bereft of a sense of direction, Muharraf
being no visionary or inspirational leader. But, if I am allowed
the paradox, Pakistan is facing in the right direction. It is
engaging with the outside world and trying hard to dissipate the
fallout of Kargil. At the same time, aware of domestic realities,
it is not upsetting the country's internal balance by swinging too
abruptly in any one direction. Hence, to the dismay of armchair
liberals, the studied attempts not to inflame clerical sentiment in
the country.
On strategic direction, therefore, the Musharraf government is on
course. Which again is a paradox because these were the generals
who got tactics right and strategy hopelessly wrong during the
Kargil operation. Now it is just the other way round. On day-to-day
handling of policy, which is what forms a government's image in the
eyes of the people, this has to be the most inept bunch of
operators in the nation's history: rootless civilians trying to
pass off as old political hands, amateurs trying to pass off as
professionals, tough-sounding rookies convinced that stern oratory
is the essence of good government.
Compounding the sense of a shambles on the cards is the glasnost
prevailing in the country, with the press more free, and certainly
more adventurous, than any time in its history. Past defence deals
have been questioned. The army has been criticised by name like at
no other time in the past. To his credit, Musharraf (the odd
outburst against lifafa journalism notwithstanding) has remained
cool and unflappable under fire, his own temperament and style
contributing in no small measure to yet another paradox to be found
in Pakistan today: militarism with a human face.
Ultimately, the question boils down to one of alternatives. The
arguments against military rule are well-rehearsed, so no point in
going over them again. But I ask myself that if I was able to
resurrect the past and have a choice in the matter, under whom as
an ordinary citizen would I prefer to live: Bhutto, Zia, Benazir,
Nawaz Sharif or Musharraf? The answer horrifies me: the statistic-
chewing General.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
20001007
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Eqbal and the pain of Palestine
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Irfan Husain
AS searing images of the brutality currently being inflicted on
Palestinians in Israel and the occupied territories flash daily
across our TV screens, I find myself wondering how the late Eqbal
Ahmad, activist, intellectual, distinguished columnist and a much-
missed friend, would have reacted to this latest bout of
bloodletting.
As a man of deeply felt convictions and a passion for justice,
Eqbal's interests and involvement spanned the globe. But the trials
and tribulations of Palestinians engaged his passion, intellect and
skills of oratory in a way that no other single issue did. He met
Yasser Arafat and other members of the PLO on a number of occasions
and tried to advise them to change their tactics; unfortunately,
and to the continued suffering of the Palestinian people, his
advice fell on deaf ears.
In a recent book comprising interviews with David Barsamian ("Eqbal
Ahmad: Confronting Empire"; published by Pluto Press and
distributed by Vanguard Books), Edward Said, the brilliant
Palestinian writer and thinker whose column graces these pages,
says in his moving foreword:
"...Something about Eqbal that touched and helped me more deeply
than almost anything he did or wrote was his heroic defence, his
unstinting sense of solidarity with my people, the Palestinians.
For many refugees, camp dwellers and wretched of the earth who have
been forgotten by their own leaders and their fellow Arabs and
Muslims, Eqbal was one of their guiding lights. And for that, no
Palestinian can ever thank him enough...
"...But what also needs to be mentioned is that to struggle for
Palestine as Eqbal did was to have none of the material or even
intellectual awards of the struggle. Palestine is a thankless
cause... Palestine is the cruelest, most difficult cause to uphold,
not because it is unjust, but because it is just and yet dangerous
to speak about as honestly and concretely as Eqbal did..."
Said goes on to discuss the specific suggestions Eqbal made,
including the proposal that Palestinians in countries neighbouring
Israel should form unarmed processions and march on the borders of
Israel, announcing their intention "to go home." In one of his
interviews with Barsamian, Eqbal puts a more ingenious twist to
this idea: he suggested to the PLO that large numbers of
Palestinians should board ships in nearby countries and sail for
Israel, again announcing that they wanted to return to their homes.
How many ships full of unarmed civilians would the Israelis sink
before the cameras of the assembled world media?
Basically, Eqbal argued forcefully that the PLO's notions of "armed
struggle" were counterproductive as this surrendered the moral high
ground to Israel, at least in the eyes of the American public. And
gaining the support of the American people, media and politicians
was crucial to the cause. In this context, he urged Palestinians to
collect information on every congressional district and important
civil institution in the United States with a view to influencing
legislators. But the PLO leadership was too unsophisticated to
grasp the impeccable logic of this approach, preferring the path of
terrorism ("a weapon of the weak", according to Eqbal). In effect,
Eqbal advocated "aggressive non-violence" (Edward Said's words).
Elaborating this theme at a conference in the United States where
he was the keynote speaker, Eqbal said in one interview with
Barsamian: "...I argued that armed struggle was supremely
unsuitable to the Palestinian condition, that it was a mistake to
put so much emphasis on it. I argued that armed struggle is less
about arms and more about organization, that a successful armed
struggle proceeds to out-administer the adversary and not out-fight
him... Finally I argued that this out-administration occurs when
you identify the primary contradiction of your adversary and expose
that contradiction not only to yourselves... but to the world at
large, and more important, to the people of the adversarial country
itself...
"I argued that Israel's fundamental contradiction was that it was
founded as a symbol of the suffering of humanity... at the expense
of another people innocent of guilt. It's this contradiction that
you have to bring out. And you don't bring it out by armed
struggle. In fact, you suppress this contradiction by armed
struggle. The Israeli Zionist organizations portray the Jews as
victims of Arab violence..."
These brilliant insights may seem obvious when put in words, but
they are the products of an incisive and logical mind. As a
militant pacifist, Eqbal was always against the crude mindset that
seeks to settle every problem with arms. Although he had fought in
the Algerian war of independence, Eqbal was convinced that
legitimacy and organization were the keys to success.
Unfortunately, a corrupt and inept Palestinian leadership was
incapable of understanding and applying Eqbal's theories.
The Oslo accords represent what Eqbal called "the peace of the
weak." In fact, Yasser Arafat threw away many of the gains made by
courageous young Palestinians during the intifada. By agreeing to
many ambiguous declarations of intent rather than pinning down the
Israelis to specific dates and locations in their haste to return
to the occupied territories and grab some form of power, the PLO
has effectively signed away any chance of normal statehood and
sovereignty. The Palestinian Authority has been reduced to what
Eqbal used to call the role of "policeman and municipal official."
The last time Eqbal met Arafat was in Tunisia after the PLO had
been driven out of Lebanon by the invading Israeli army. Arafat was
understandably depressed and barely followed Eqbal when he urged
the PLO to recognize Israel, but then insist on asking which Israel
it should recognise: "Is it the Israel of 1948? Is it the Israel of
the 1947 partition plan? Is it the Israel of 1948 that expanded
three times more? Is it the Israel of the 1967 war? Is it the
Israel of the Israeli imagination? Because Israel is the only
country today... that has refused to announce its boundaries."
Eqbal went on to argue passionately as only he could that Arafat
should "develop a viable, acceptable peace proposal that die-hard
Zionists may not accept, but the world, as well as decent Israeli
opinion, could not afford to reject. One that would offer Israel
the security that it publicly claims to want, but which insists on
justice for the Palestinians in ways that no one could find
unreasonable."
I can do no better than close this column with Said's conclusion to
his foreword where he discusses the need to collect Eqbal's
scattered writings into several volumes so that "those who didn't
have the privilege of knowing him would know what a truly
remarkable, gifted man he was. Because, to paraphrase the words of
Wordsworth, writing about Milton, 'the world has need of thee'."
=================================================================== SPORTS 001005 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reaching the semis no mean achievement: Islah ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 4: Pakistan hockey manager Islahuddin Siddiqi said here Wednesday that having finished fourth at the Sydney Olympics was by no means an ordinary achievement and it definitely pointed to a bright future ahead. He said though the team failed to step on the victory stand, the performance could by no means be rated as 'unsatisfactory' or disappointing as Pakistan remained unbeaten in its pool, which, he said was a tough one. "I am completely satisfied with the boys' performance," he said on his return from Sydney early Wednesday morning. Recalling the pessimistic views many people had expressed about the team's ability to qualify for the semi-finals before its departure for Down Under, the former Olympian said the performance of the players had belied their assessment. "Reaching the last four stage was my first target which the team achieved. But it was sheer bad luck that Pakistan couldn't grab the gold," he added. Pakistan, in their pool matches, salvaged 2-2 draw with Canada, thrashed Britain 8-1, drew 1-1 and 2-2 with Germany and Malaysia respectively, and breezed past the world champions the Netherlands 2-0. However, the Koreans, who later clinched the silver medal, proved as the nemesis for the green shirts with 1-0 win. Hosts Australia grabbed a bronze by beating Pakistan 6-3. Number of missed chances was the prime reason for 1-0 defeat against the South Korea, Islah said and added the luck was not on Pakistan's side. He said non-availability of Imran Yousuf in the matches against Korea and Australia was one of the factors for Pakistan's losses against both the teams. Imran didn't play against Korea and Aussies due to fever. Islah didn't agree that Pakistan team was heavily relying on Sohail Abbas rather than scoring field goals, saying only eight out of eighteen goals were netted by Sohail, while the rest were field goals. Islah said the team, by virtue of finishing fourth in the Olympics, has qualified for the 2002 Champions Trophy in Brussels, and 2002 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. He said match-to-match strategy was devised during the competition, but anything can happen in a tough event like the Olympics. He said the team members were fully fit throughout the matches and had good training before the Olympiad. The former Olympian said he considered the present squad a talented pool of youngsters and there were no technical deficiencies whatsoever. The manager rejected the idea that top outfits will mark penalty corner executioner, Sohail Abbas, in the future just like the Koreans did, saying "it was not the day for Pakistan. We tried variations in penalty corner through Shafqat but it didn't prove effective either." The Korean dashers had unnerved our players during the crunch match, blocking Sohail to prevent him from trying his deadly drag flick. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001003 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Moin, Javed confident but avoid predictions ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 2: The Pakistan cricket team left for Saudi Arabia on way to Kenya sans Yousuf Youhana on Monday to participate in the $ 1 million ICC knockout tournament starting in Nairobi from Oct 3. Yousuf Youhana will fly directly to Kenya on Tuesday evening and join the team at the same it reaches Nairobi. The Pakistan team will be in transmit in Makkah for 30 hours during which it will perform Umra. Pakistan has been given a bye in the first round. They play the quarter-final on Oct 8 against the winners of West Indies and Sri Lanka who face each other on Oct 4. The team is being led by wicket-keeper Moin Khan who sounded optimistic over the team's chances but refrained from making any predictions. "The team is formidable with the return of frontline players. But in a knockout format, it is very difficult to predict a victory," he said on the eve of his departure. Wasim Akram, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saqlain Mushtaq have returned for national duty after missing out the last competition in Singapore. Moin also stages a comeback after skipping the Singapore triangular because of knee injury. Pakistan has been drawn in a comparatively easier half. If they win the quarter-final, their opponents in the semi-final would either be New Zealand or Zimbabwe who play the other quarter-final on Oct 9. The other half is a death pool with defending champions South African drawn with Australia, India and England. Moin admitted that Pakistan was in an easier half as compared to the other one but emphasised that his team ought to play good cricket in order to qualify for the final and then win it. "We can't be complacent by going through the two halves. "This is a season opener and a buildup for the home series against England. Naturally a victory in Nairobi would lift the morale of the players," he said. Ironically, Pakistan will play the quarter-final with the team against whom they have not enjoyed success recently. Pakistan lost the double header to Sri Lanka in the Sri Lanka triangular competition and though Pakistan won the triangular in the West Indies, they lost thrice to the home team in five matches. Moin Khan said the batsmen needed to fire up to give their bowlers an even chance to win the games. "Our bowlers have done excellently in the recent past. But now it is time for the batsmen to contribute evenly. "Inzamam-ul-Haq has been shouldering the responsibility of scoring bulk of the runs. But now the other batsmen have to rise and show their potential. The return of Ijaz Ahmad strengthens the middle- order which leaves no excuses for a failure." Inzamam has scored over 950 runs in the 29 one-day internationals he has played this year. He averages 40. "Courtesy the depth in our batting, we can recover from a disasterous start but can never post a match-winning total if the top order doesn't deliver. Which means the key to our success will be how the batsmen flare up," the world record holder of dismissals behind the wickets in one-day cricket added. Javed Miandad, Pakistan coach, said he was confident that the team would perform well. He said the players have done all the hard work in the training camp and was convinced that it would pay back. "We are taking this competition very seriously because this is the contest which will be the platform for the rest of the season. It is always a great feeling to start any season victorious. Victory makes a world of difference to the morale of the players," he said. Pakistan last played in Kenya in 1996 in the four-nation tournament where it finished losing finalists to South Africa. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001001 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Holland keep Koreans at bay to retain title; Aussies clinch bronze ------------------------------------------------------------------- Zawwar Hasan SYDNEY, Sept 30: The fighting Koreans today all but ended Holland's golden dream in the Sydney Olympics. Once again the reigning Olympic champions took the crutches of penalty strokes to successfully negotiate the thorny path to the defence of their Olympic title. Holland thus became the first country to have won two successive Olympic titles in the post-World War II period. Pumping in two penalty corners in the last five minutes of the game, the doughty Koreans held the "oranjas" to a 3-3 draw and played scoreless extra time to stake their claim as the new Asian tigers of hockey. They forced the Dutch to fall to the crutches of penalty strokes once again to decide the match. The Dutch had entered the final also through penalty strokes when Livermore missed. Ironically, it was Korea's own ace executioner Seung-Tai Song who cost them the goal medal. On Thursday Song had scored the match- winner against Pakistan and looked like having done the same demolition job on Holland by scoring a field goal in the eighth minute. Later he faltered in the crunch hour. Slotted third to take the penalty corner, he failed to score. The final got to a sensational start as Song fired in an early goal. After Loman had misfired his first penalty corner Stephan Veen capitalized a God-sent penalty stroke a moment later to level the score. This spurred on the Dutch to go for a kill, but the Koreans defended valiantly to break for the recess with the scoreboard still standing at 1-1. After the interval Stephan Veen again furthered the cause of the Dutch team when he broke loose from the Korean defence to gain a 2- 1 lead. And it seemed all over for Korea when Stephan Veen repeated the performance. Not only the goal brought individual glory to Stephan by giving him the hat trick, it put the Dutch team in seemingly impregnable position. Only twelve minutes then remained for the final whistle. It was a now-or-never situation for Korea. The Koreans then ordered all hands to the pump and it paid rich dividends within two minutes. Two quick conversions of penalty corners by their captain Kang in just two minutes left the Dutch completely bewildered. After a scoreless extra time when Korea shared the exchanges equally they had to go into a penalty stroke session. Korea who took the first penalty stroke were level after two but then Song weighed down under the burden and failed to score to be the lone defaulter from either side to concede the match and the Olympic gold medal to Holland. A silver in only their second attempt at the Olympics is a creditable record by any standards. The emergence of Korea as a hockey power augurs well for the game and gives a sharper edge to the Asian challenge, which had so far been carried on by only Pakistan and India. Hockey bronze. AUSTRALIA TAKE BRONZE: Gold or nothing. That mindset seemed to have haunted Pakistan when it commenced the battle for bronze against the Australian hosts at the Home Bush Hockey Centre in the closing stages of the Olympic extravaganza here this evening. A screaming, flag-waving crowd egged on the Australians to pick up the pieces of their elusive golden dream, shattered only 48 hours before by the reigning champions in a fight that could not have got any closer. The Kookaburras responded with a tennis score of 6-3. And the crowd laughed. Understandably, a bronze is better than nothing is. That thought was not uppermost in the minds of the green-shirted warriors who had brought a struggling team so near its golden goal. Or so it seems. Grieving hockey fans too will probably take some time to soak in the enormity of achievement of this young and promising team under stress and strain, known to all. At this emotional hour, the larger picture looks faded. This team has brought Pakistan back to the centre of hockey stage. When they came to Sydney last month Pakistan was barred entry to World Cup and the Champions Trophy. Even their route to Olympics was indirect. They had to come via Osaka, where they had to play the qualifying rounds for the first time in their hockey history. By finishing among the first four they have knocked the doors down. Now begins the testing time for the managers of Pakistan hockey. Whether these functionaries have the will and ability to stand the test only time will tell. Sadly, today the team did not stand up to the test. Living in past successes or failures does not take one ahead. True, the Koreans elbowed them out on Thursday from the gold medal contest. But there is life beyond the gold medal. If the Pakistan team had got over its semi-final defeat, their body language did not show. Nor did their efforts at controlling the game. The Aussies looked more focused and had a game plan. Whenever their midfielders moved towards the Pakistan goal the wingers and the striker were well positioned to receive the passes. Some times it made one wonder where all the defenders had gone. The Australian attackers had all the time and the space in the world to pass the ball to each other in their effort to find a player who would be more suitably placed. The Australians worked real hard, extending themselves to unbelievable extent. Some of the direct through passes would have certainly gone out of play if not deflected by diving players. ------------------------------------------------------------------- You can subscribe to DWS by sending an email to <subscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following text in the BODY of your message: subscribe dws To unsubscribe, send an email to <unsubscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following in the BODY of you message: unsubscribe dws ------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to the top.
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