------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 16 September 2000 Issue : 06/35 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Musharraf expects new pact with IMF: Economic documentation vital + Musharraf met 15 World Leaders in New York + Nuclear capability of Pakistan well ahead of India: Qadeer + SC admits 15 pleas against NAB law: Larger bench to be formed + Plane case: Nawaz used authority, says prosecutor + Benazir's appeal hearing adjourned + Political activities to remain banned, says Moin + No trials for '71 debacle, says CE: It was a political failure + Quaid's death anniversary observed + Sattar, Albright discuss ways to ease tension + Appellant banned from entering court: SC storming case hearing + Hasina again calls for Pakistanis' trial --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Debt-servicing claims 50pc of revenue, says Musharraf + Bad governance, fall in revenues main causes, says World Bank + IMF reviews budget targets, real economy + Other pledges linked to reforms: IMF may meet year's + Self-Assessment Scheme announced: Tough conditions laid down + Rs575 million sanctioned for task + Pakistan to get US$25m for oil purchase + Pakistan to get US$25m for oil purchase + Accord reached with Hubco on tariff + Talks held with IMF on cutting deficit + Govt striving to earn forex through exports + Rupee declines on debt payment + IMF to study revenue collection plan + KSE 100-share index falls by nine points --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Gen Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan - 3 Ardeshir Cowasjee + One step forward: how many steps back? Ayaz Amir + A nation of ostriches Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + Sydney Olympics: Ahmad Alam to carry flag at opening ceremony + Cricket Squad for Kenya not finalized yet + Pakistan begins its quest for hockey glory today
=================================================================== DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 20000916 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf expects new pact with IMF: Economic documentation vital ------------------------------------------------------------------- Habib Khan Ghori KARACHI, Sept 15: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has expressed optimism that Pakistan will reach an agreement with the IMF on a new loan facility within a month or two. This he stated at a press conference on his arrival at the Quaid-i- Azam International Airport at 4am on Friday. The CE had gone to New York to attend the UN Millennium Summit. During his visit, said the CE, he had held talks with senior IMF officials. He, however, pointed out that "we are working on a long- term strategy so that in future we don't have to run for seeking assistance from outside." Disagreeing with a questioner that people had been leaving the country owing to the tax survey, the CE said he had been receiving about a thousand letters everyday but none had mentioned about it. Instead, he added, people had asked him to continue with the documentation of economy. Referring to an agreement reached with traders, he declared: "Pakistan's survival lies in the documentation of economy and adoption of the tax culture." People might be leaving for other reasons, but not for the tax fear, he remarked. The CE stated that Pakistan's relations with the US should be viewed independently and it should not be hooked on to the US-India relationship. "We would maintain relations with United States independent of Indian relationship with them." Terming his visit a success, he said he had projected Pakistan's point of view on global and regional issues, particularly on the Kashmir dispute, at the UN. He referred to his meetings with 15 heads of the state, the breakfast meeting with Asia Society as well as his interaction with media. He said he had discussed the Kashmir issue with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan "who was quite concerned about it." The CE said that during this five-minute informal meeting with US President Bill Clinton at a reception, he (the president) had expressed "apprehensions over the problem and mentioned the US efforts to seek a solution to the Kashmir issue." "I am glad that there is a realization among the world leaders about Pakistan's point of view for a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue," said the general. But Gen Musharraf said the road to a solution was not easy and for that there needed to be a successful dialogue between India and Pakistan. He pointed out that the Hizbul Mujahideen had provided a window of opportunity, by offering a unilateral ceasefire, which could have been availed of by India but the negative response from Delhi wasted it. He hoped that the Indians would show some statesmanship and take practical steps to resolve the dispute. The CE ruled out any review of the scheduled local government elections on a non-party basis. The decision, he said, had been taken after in-depth discussions, for "we want the members of the local governments to look downwards to serve the masses instead of looking towards their party bosses. It is our considered opinion that this decision is in the interest of the country." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000914 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf met 15 World Leaders in New York ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ansar Abbasi ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, had met 15 world leaders on the sidelines of the recently-concluded UN Millennium Summit in New York. The CE had met the presidents of Italy, Turkey, Algeria, Russia, Senegal, Iran, Sudan, China, and Comoros; King of Jordan, Amir of Qatar, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, prime ministers of Nepal and Bhutan, and the UN secretary-general, according to the foreign ministry sources. Mandarins in the ministry were reluctant to reveal which countries had rejected Pakistan's request for such a meeting. "This is sensitive information," an official stated. Another said the country's diplomatic wing in New York must have full information whom did they approach for Gen Musharraf's meeting. Though none of those leaders have much influence in moulding global politics, observers attach great importance to the meeting between Gen Musharraf and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin. There was an effort by the Pakistan officials for a meeting between US President Clinton and the chief executive, but the two leaders could only have a brief informal chat at a reception. According to a source, in normal circumstances one hardly cares for the number of such meetings at a multilateral forum. However, because of the peculiar situation Pakistan is facing in its foreign relations currently such meetings do have an impact. "Today Pakistan is facing big challenges and it is at the receiving end so it was required of it to show through these meetings that it has many friends around." Because of hostile and unwelcoming circumstances after the nuclear tests and the Oct 12 military takeover, the foreign ministry officials feel that the routine diplomacy could not do much to improve the situation. Policymakers tried to take maximum advantage of the millennium summit to attain the foreign policy objectives that are otherwise hard to chase. The basic objective of the visit was to attend and address the UN summit, which, the government sources believed, had been achieved well as Gen Musharraf's speech at the General Assembly was received well, particularly his offer for a tension-free and nuclear-free South Asia. Many were looking forward to the summit meeting for a Musharraf- Vajpayee encounter but it could not happen "despite Washington's reported efforts in this respect". On the contrary, the Indian Prime Minister's speech at the UN was very hostile towards Pakistan and it set conditions to the no-war pact offered by Gen Musharraf. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000913 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nuclear capability of Pakistan well ahead of India: Qadeer ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: Nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan claimed on Tuesday that Pakistan had more advanced nuclear capability than that of India and that all major cities of India could be obliterated within five minutes. He was speaking at a function organized by the Orient Advertising Company to confer awards on outstanding science students. Dr Khan said the statement of Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf at the UN Millennium Summit had raised the morale of the entire nation. He stressed the need for imparting modern education to the young generation so that it could face challenges of the new age. He lauded the Orient Advertisement Company for encouraging talented students by giving them gold medals and cash prizes every year. He also announced a cash prize of Rs10,000 for 10 students of different universities each who were also awarded medals in the function. Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider said the private sector was supplementing government's efforts to increase literacy rate in the country and raise the standard of education. He said that out of the total 260,000 students who passed matric examination in Karachi this year, 55 to 60 per cent had studied in private schools. Those 10 MSc( physics) students who received gold medals and a cash prize of Rs10,000 each were: Afzal Hussain (Sindh University), Nousheen Akhtar Qureshi (Jamia, Karachi), Ambreen Jafer(Balochistan University), Maryum Fayyaz (Punjab University), Nadeem Ahmed Khan (Islamia University, Bahawalpur), Faisal Ahmed (Bahaudddin Zakaria University),Shahida Asif (Peshawar University), Mohammad Saleh (Shah Abdul Latif University), Yasir Jamil (Agriculture University, Faisalabad), and Shazia Aziz (Azad Jammu and Kashmir University). DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000913 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SC admits 15 pleas against NAB law: Larger bench to be formed ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shujaat Ali Khan ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court admitted on Tuesday 15 constitutional petitions challenging the validity of the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance for early hearing by a larger bench. Headed by Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, it ordered that notices be issued to the Federation through the cabinet division and the federal law secretary and to the NAB chairman. Another notice was issued to the attorney-general under Order 27-A of the Civil Procedure Code as important questions requiring interpretation of constitutional provisions are involved. The petitions were filed directly before the apex court under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution. The provision confers original jurisdiction on the court if the matter agitated involves enforcement of fundamental rights and is of public interest. The petitions have been filed by ousted premier and NAB convict Mian Nawaz Sharif, GDA leader Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, NAP president Asfandyar Wali Khan, PPP leaders Hakim Ali Zardari and Ms Naheed Khan, Dr Farooq Sattar of MQM, NAB accused Asif Saigol and Hussain Nawaz, former petroleum minister Anwar Saifullah Khan, PML lawyer Zafar Ali Shah, Ghulam Qadir Jatoi, ex-MNA Chaudhry Sher Ali, Punjab Bar Council member Pir Masood Chishti and Syed Iqbal Haider of Muslim Youth Movement. Advocates Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Aitzaz Ahsan Chaudhry, Mohammad Akram Sheikh, Dr Abdul Basit, K.M.A. Samdani, Supreme Court Bar Association president Abdul Haleem Pirzada, Chaudhry Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Zafar Ali Shah and M. Ikram Chaudhry and Mr Iqbal Haider pressed for the admission of petitions for regular hearing. Though not on notice, NAB prosecutor-general Farooq Adam Khan was present throughout the proceedings. AG Aziz A. Munshi and Senior Federal Minister Sharifuddin Pirzada also watched the proceedings for quite some time. The admission order said the petitions have raised 23 questions as 'matters of first impression'. They are of great public importance involving fundamental rights as ordained by Article 184 (3) of the Constitution. The ordinance has been assailed for being repugnant to the principle of the separation of powers and the independence of judiciary, freedom of trade, business and profession, security of person, safeguard from arrest and detention, protection from retrospectivepunishment, inviolability of dignity of man, freedom of movement, equality of citizens and other basic rights. The order recalled that in the case of Syed Zafar Ali Shah and others versus Gen Pervez Musharraf, Chief Executive of Pakistan, and others, the Supreme Court had observed that the 'validity of the NAB Ordinance will be examined separately in appropriate proceedings at appropriate stage'. The court made it clear that it would examine the question of validity of the impugned ordinance and not individual grievances raised by some of the petitioners directly or indirectly. However, the petitioners shall not be debarred from pressing their pleas through appropriate proceedings before competentcourts. The SC admission order shall not operate as stay of proceedings before NAB, accountability courts or any other court in relation to matters arising out of the impugned ordinance. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000915 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Plane case: Nawaz used authority, says prosecutor ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Shamim-ur-Rahman KARACHI, Sept 14: The state counsel in Nawaz Sharif's appeal against his conviction in Oct 12 plane case, rebutted on Thursday before a full bench of the Sindh High Court, the appellant's claim on general exceptions and the question of delay in the filing of the FIR. The full bench comprised Sindh High Court Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Wahid Bux Brohi. As the state counsel argued his case the bench observed that in its view some of the cases mentioned by him in support of his plea were not important any more. Arguing on Mr Sharif's claim that he was protected by law to order diversion of PK-805, the chief public prosecutor, Barrister Zahoorul Haq, contended that the plea in the appellate court was contrary to the appellant's statement on oath in the trial court. He read out the entire statement of the deposed prime minister, which he had made before the trial court, in which he had denied of ordering diversion of the plane, blockade of runway as well as the airfield and had, among other things, claimed that since the start of the Kargil issue Gen Musharraf was playing hide and seek not only with him (Nawaz) but also with the army. The counsel for the appellant, Barrister Azizullah Shaikh, interceded to state that it was not a written statement. Sindh Advocate General Raja Qureshi submitted that it was a written statement which was read out in the court. At this point Justice Brohi asked the special public prosecutor if there was any record that it was a written statement. Barrister Haq submitted that as far as he was concerned "if an accused takes a plea within the meaning of Article 121 of Qanoon-i- Shahadat and the existence of that plea is grounded in the existence of fact, then the plea can be entertained only if compliance is made with Article 121 of Qanoon-i-Shahadat". He submitted that if certain facts which were in the exclusive knowledge of the accused, it was all the more important that the plea was related to facts which could be exercised under Article 122 of Qanoon-i-Shahadat. Referring to the probability of the existence of a plea, the state counsel contended that the accused must bring the facts to the knowledge of the court to convince it on that premise. At no stage, neither during cross-examination nor in statement by the accused under section 342, this plea was taken, he submitted. In fact, he contended, the defence case at trial was of denial of allegations. The chief justice observed: "Do you object to this plea. Why do you say he cannot take this plea? He has taken this plea on the basis of section 6. The legal question is whether he had this power? By taking this plea he has also absolved you of some of the problems." Barrister Haq submitted that the appellant could take a new plea, and contended that it was the "ingenious approach" of the counsel but had no nexus with facts of the case. The CJ held: "You are not clear Mr Zahoor, please consider the value of arguments of the defence side", and maintained that "according to the defence, Mr Sharif had exercised his constitutional powers when he retired Gen Musharraf. But when his constitutional authority was challenged, he resorted to action under section 6 of CA Ord, 1960". Responding to the court observation, Barrister Haq said had the appellant exercised powers under articles 233/234 of the Constitution and issued notification, suspending basic fundamental rights, the balance could have tilted, but no action was taken by him till army came and took over the prime minister's house at 7pm on that day, he added. "Do you think that suspension of fundamental rights is a lesser evil than diversion of a flight", observed Justice Brohi. Barrister Haq admitted that the prime minister had powers under the Constitution and diversion of the plane was a sub- ordinate action. However, "besides judging the legality of law, the court has to see whether legitimate exercise of law, as claimed by the defence, was grounded in facts or not", he added. Mr Haq read out the entire statement which the appellant had made before the trial court in support of his argument that the appellate court could only entertain the plea if there was any evidence on record to establish that the prosecution was wrong, or he had to produce evidence in support of his plea. Owing to total absence of such evidence the appellant could not persuade the appellate court to come to a finding that a reasonable doubt had been created about the "probability" of his plea, which could have entitled him to the benefit of acquittal. "If an accused person takes a plea that he is justified for acquittal then the court will presume the absence of such circumstances read with Article 161 of Qanoon-i-Shahadat and if the plea was germaned on or grounded in facts, then some evidence should be brought in the judicial filed so that the court can adjudicate on the issue," he submitted. Since no such plea was taken or evidence was produced in the court and Mr Sharif denied the sending of PK-805 outside the country, therefore, the plea raised by Barrister Shaikh was "imaginary and not worth consideration" in support of the above proposition. He cited a number of judgments in this regard. The next limb of his argument was on delay in the lodging of the FIR. It was submitted that there was no delay as immediately after the incident, Gen Musharraf had come on television in the small hours of Oct 13, 1999 and had narrated the incident. This was a reference to the chief executive's address in which he had stated that his life was put in danger with 198 persons on board. Barrister Haq submitted that since it was a high profile case, involving important personalities, and the offence was spread over three cities, (Karachi, Islamabad and Nawabshah), and the accused were either located at Karachi or Islamabad, a thorough fact- finding inquiry was necessary, not necessarily under the Inquiry Act, 1956, or the Criminal Procedure Code, but to ascertain facts of the case. Owing to this delay resulted in the lodging of the FIR by Col Atiquzzaman. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000913 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benazir's appeal hearing adjourned ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: A Supreme Court bench on Tuesday adjourned hearing of appeals of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari against their conviction in corruption charges. An Ehtesab bench of the Lahore High Court, consisting of Justice Malik Qayyum and Justice Najmul Hasan, on April 15, 1999 had sentenced Ms Bhutto and Zardari to five years' imprisonment each, and imposed a fine of $8.6 million. The court had also disqualified them as members of the parliament and ordered for confiscation of their property. In its verdict the Ehtesab bench had held that the pre-shipment inspection contract to a Swiss company, SGS, was awarded by the former prime minister "alone" at the behest and with the abetment of Mr Zardari. The verdict of the bench is in the field as its operation has not been suspended by the Supreme Court. The appeals were adjourned on the request of the state which sought time to prepare the case and engage a counsel. The counsel of the appellants, Farooq H. Naik, opposed the adjournment for indefinite period. On Tuesday when the five-member bench, headed by Justice Munir A. Sheikh, took up the appeals of Ms Bhutto and Zardari, the deputy attorney general, Tanveer Bashir Ansari, requested for adjournment of their hearing. The court room was packed to capacity as all the important leaders of PPP from all over the country were present there. The bench consisted of Justice Munir A. Sheikh, Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal, Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Hamid Ali Mirza. The DAG stated that Ali Sibtain Fazli advocate was engaged for appearing in the case, and he had gone to the US. He further stated that despite efforts having been made, Mr Fazli could not be contacted. The DAG further stated that on account of voluminous record of the case a senior counsel would be engaged and for that some time was needed. He prayed the court to grant "some reasonable time" for proper preparation of the cases. "As such on account of these reasons it will be in the interest of justice that these cases of general public importance be adjourned for a month," he stated. Mr Naik opposed the adjournment request and said that the cause list had been issued about a month ago and the state was fully aware that the case would be taken up on Sept 12. He said the request for adjournment was, in fact, an attempt to delay the disposal of the appeals. He asked the court to turn down the state's request. The court, however, adjourned the proceedings for indefinite period. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000913 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Political activities to remain banned, says Moin ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: The interior minister Moinuddin Haider on Tuesday said the ban on political activities will continue till the implementation of seven-point military government agenda. Talking to newsmen here at a function organized by the Orient advertising agency, he said the Supreme Court had given timeframe to the government for completing its agenda and till that time all political activities will remain suspended. Mr Haider said no one would be allowed to hold rallies and public meetings during the course of forthcoming local bodies elections. He said the government felt that these political parties created law and order situation and spoiled peace by staging rallies and demonstrations. Responding to a query about former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif andBenazir Bhutto and political activities of their parties, he said: "No mercy would be given to both Nawaz and Benazir for continuing political activities as their cases are yet to be decided by the courts," he added. Answering to a question, the minister rejected an impression that the people of the country had disappointed by the military government and said spreading such rumours among the people of the country was a propaganda of west and India to create unrest and instability in Pakistan. He claimed that the government was heading towards reforms and pointing out ills of society. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000912 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No trials for '71 debacle, says CE: It was a political failure also ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK, Sept 11: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf said here on Sunday that the 1971 tragedy was not only a military but a political debacle as well. He made these remarks in response to a question about Hamood-ur- Rehman Commission report at a press conference here on Sunday. "Let's forget the bitterness of the past and move forward," he said. In answer to a question whether there would be trials as recommended by the report, Gen Musharraf replied tersely, "No, certainly not. Something happened 30 years ago. Why do we want to live in history? As a Pakistani, I would like to forget 1971." He added, "What happened then is nothing that any of us can be proud of. It was a debacle, not only a military but a political debacle. But why do we want to dig the past up?" The chief executive said: "as for the Hamood report, there was a vested interest involved there. The mandate given to the Commission by the man who appointed it was to look into the military debacle in East Pakistan. Why did it not look into the political debacle?" "It is known who was responsible for it, the very man who ordered the inquiry. I think this issue needs to be closed. It is dead. Let's forget the bitterness of the past and move forward." Gen Musharraf also laid to rest rumours that the national assembly would be revived. "That is not going to happen," he stated emphatically. He made light of the suggestion that after the retirement of the present president and the restoration of the 8th amendment, he would step into his shoes. "I have not decided anything about that yet. I haven't even thought of it," he said. Responding to a question about the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh, he replied that though it was a matter of great regret to him that they were in the plight in which they were, this was not the right time for a decision on this issue. "I do not add to our difficulties. We have enough of them as it. This is not the time for it." Gen Musharraf was asked about the process of accountability which the question suggested left something to be desired. He replied that he did not possess a "magic wand" but things were moving and they were moving in the right direction. Everyone was accountable. There will be no exceptions. He rejected a suggestion that the devolution system he was giving the nation was a re-run of Ayub's system of Basic Democracies. He said the two had nothing in common. Told that after the fall of Ayub, his system was thrown out, might that not happen to his system also when he was no longer around, he replied that if the system was good for the people, they would not permit anyone to discard it. He declared that the National Accountability Bureau was not weak. "Bear with us," he added, "Nobody is out of the list." He said there were going to be no exemptions. Asked about Osama bin Laden, he said while he understood that he was an "important American concern", he was not a Pakistani problem. He said he had advised the Americans to engage with the Taliban. He had also said that Pakistan would do what it could to "facilitate" things but we had nothing to do with Osama. "I cannot solve that problem," he stated, adding that Pakistan would like peace to return to Afghanistan and a commonly acceptable government established. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000912 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Quaid's death anniversary observed ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Sept 11: The 52nd death anniversary of the father of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was observed throughout the country on Monday with due solemnity and reverence. The day is observed every year to commemorate the unforgettable contributions of Quaid-i-Azam towards creating an independent state for Muslims of the sub-continent. Quaid-i-Azam breathed his last on Sept.11, 1948, only one year and 27 days after the creation of Pakistan. The day dawned with special prayers. In the federal capital, Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) organised a Mehfil-i-Quran Khawani at Faisal Mosque to seek blessings of Almighty Allah for the departed soul. The congregation was also attended by a number of workers of Pakistan Movement. In Karachi, Quran Khawani was held at the Quaid's mausoleum where Sindh Governor Muhammed Mian Soomro paid a visit to the mausoleum and laid a wreath and offered fateha. Provincial Ministers, Chief Secretary Sindh, IG Police, Commissioner of Karachi and other senior officers were also present on the occasion. The representatives of the armed forces also visited the mazaar, where they laid wreaths and offered fateha. The social and cultural organizations also organised special functions to highlight the accomplishments of the Quaid. In Rawalpindi, Quran Khawani was held at various mosques and fateha was offered. Various literary, social, religious and organizations arranged special functions to pay homage to the father of the nation. Schools and colleges of the city arranged declamation contests on the life of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to apprise the young generation about the various aspects of Quaid's life and to invigorate a national spirit among them. In Lahore, the Majlis Karkunan Tehrik-i-Pakistan arranged a special session where the former Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Justice (retd) Dr Javed Iqbal and other speakers highlighted the Quaid's achievements .-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000915 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Appellant banned from entering court: SC storming case hearing ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rafaqat Ali ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: A five-member Supreme Court bench, on Thursday stopped appellant Shahid Orakzai from entering the court premises for a period of one month, or till the conclusion of the hearings, so as to avoid any obstruction in the ongoing proceedings of the apex court storming case. The order was passed by the five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, and comprising Mr Justice Bashir Hassan Jehangiri, Mr Justice Sh. Riaz, Mr Justice Ch. Muhammad Arif and Mr Justice Munir A. Sheikh. The bench is hearing an appeal, filed by Mr Orakzai, a journalist, over the decision of a three-judge bench. The case was started when leaders and workers of Pakistan Muslim League allegedly attacked the Supreme Court building, where a bench headed by then Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was hearing a contempt of court case against the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. On Thursday, Attorney General Aziz A. Munshi stated that an earlier conclusion drawn up by a three-member bench of the SC needed to be reviewed. He had been asked by the court on Wednesday to give his opinion, on whether the conclusions drawn by the three-member bench of the SC on the same issue were correct, or were based on misleading evidence. The AG stated that people identified by witnesses in their statements, should have been asked to explain the purpose of their visit to the court on November 28,1998. He said that Saifur Rehman, former chairman of the Ehtesab Bureau was seen by many witnesses, but the court did not issue him a show cause notice. Similarly, Tahir Khaili, political secretary to the then prime minister, was also identified by the witnesses, but he too was not summoned. He suggested that the people who were identified, but were not issued show cause notice, should be asked to explain the purpose of their visit. The AG also submitted a synopsis of the incriminating evidence. After reading the synopsis, the AG said that the court, which had came to the conclusion that grossest contempt of court had been committed, should have tried the people for the offence. The CJ, however, did not agree with the proposal that more witnesses should be summoned, and asked the attorney general to confine himself to the existing respondents. The AG read out from the evidence that Saifur Rehman was spotted in the Supreme Court building along with his supporters. The AG requested the court to allow DAG, Tanveer Bashir Ansari to read out the evidence. The DAG read out the statement of Zahid Hussain, journalist, Altaf Bhatti, and Fakhr-ur-Rehman. After reading the evidence, the DAG requested the court to summon witnesses like Saifur Rehman and Mushtaq Tahir Khaili. When the DAG said that it was a case of contempt of court at the face of the court, the CJ said it was not like that. The CJ further said that Justice Sajjad Ali Shah was right in saying that slogans against the judiciary were tantamount to contempt of court. In his concluding remarks, Aziz A. Munshi said that his anxiety as prosecutor was to point out the lacunas in the earlier judgment of the court. He said that he was not making a request for summoning more witness to settle his personal scores, but was doing so for upholding the dignity of the court. When the court invited Shahid Orakzai to address the court for ten minutes, Mohammad Ali Sayeed, counsel for Pakistan Muslim League, said that Orakzai had no right to address the court. He said Mr Orakzai had himself committed grossest contempt of court. When Shahid Orakzai was finally allowed by the court, he was told that whatever he wanted to say, he should say in ten minutes. Mr Orakzai said that he should be told in plain words what the court wanted to do with him. The CJ explained that the AG, prosecutor in the case, had concluded his arguments. Shahid Orakzai asked the court to grant him time as he wanted to consider the option of withdrawing his appeal. When the court asked him to sit down, Mr Orakzai said that there was no question of sitting down in the court room. In the same case, the SC bench in which the sitting CJ was member, had allowed him to speak for two days, he stated. The court explained that under the contempt laws, if contempt of court was pointed out by somebody and the court took cognizance of that, then it was between the court and the contemner. Shahid Orakazi said that nobody, even the court, was above the law and he was guaranteed equal treatment under the constitution. At this the court invited the attorney general and asked him to ensure that he be prevented in future from obstructing the proceedings of the case. The court rose about twenty minutes before the scheduled time, and announced that it would like to see the video film made on the closed circuit TV system. After one hour, the court announced the order which is as follows: "The learned Attorney General for Pakistan has concluded his arguments in the titled appeal. In order to give the hearing to Mr Shahid Orakzai, who had moved an application against the impugned order of a three-member bench of this court and which application had been turned into an appeal, he was allowed to address the court for ten minutes. He rose from his seat and took the rostrum. He started with irrelevant matters. He was stopped to refer to any such matter which has no nexus with the determination of the point involved. He became enraged and started misbehaving. It is not the first time that he has behaved in this manner. His conduct has always been to brow-beat the court in such like matters. He is in the habit of remaining in attendance in all such cases in which he has no interest nor he has ever been a party to such proceedings. We have, therefore, decided that Shahid Orakzai should be stopped from entering the court premises for a period of one month or till the conclusion of the case, whichever is earlier, so as to avoid any obstruction in the course of justice. This is apart from any action that we may deem proper to take against him. Order accordingly. We direct the learned Attorney General for Pakistan and the Inspector General of Police, Islamabad to take appropriate steps for ensuring compliance of this order. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000915 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hasina again calls for Pakistanis' trial ------------------------------------------------------------------- DHAKA, Sept 14: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed called on Thursday for Pakistanis allegedly involved in war crimes in 1971 to be brought to trial. "Pakistan must seek forgiveness for their atrocities and this is not only our demand, but the world's conscience," Sheikh Hasina said at the end of a six-day session of parliament. "The trial of war criminals must take place, as unless they are tried, how can there be peace?" she asked. Sheikh Hasina's comments came as ties between the two countries apparently strained after Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf cancelled scheduled talks on the sidelines of the UN Millennium summit in New York. The snub was linked to a speech given by the Bangladeshi leader at the United Nations Security Council criticizing military regimes. "My speech at the UNSC is a matter of principle ... I have spoken about my ideals and people are the source of all power, not weapons," Sheikh Hasina said. She added it was "nothing new" and "I don't know why he took it upon himself". The premier said Gen Musharraf should have known about her principles as "I have always been against military regimes".-AFP
=================================================================== BUSINESS & ECONOMY 20000911 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Debt-servicing claims 50pc of revenue, says Musharraf ------------------------------------------------------------------- Masood Haider NEW YORK, Sept 10: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, assured the Pakistani expatriates that his government would improve the economic and political situation by introducing "irreversible sustainable reforms". In his speech at a gathering on Saturday, he detailed his economic and fiscal reforms, democratic reforms, devolution plan; and his plan to root out corruption, restore law and order, provide justice and, above all, to promote and protect women's rights. He, however, admitted that it's not easy to introduce reforms and change the culture of corruption and decadence in Pakistan. Gen Musharraf made it a point to tell the audience that the responsibility to run the country had been thrust upon him. "I was happy being a soldier. I was pushed into this position, and I know by whom." He said there were mismanaged decaying government institutions, and all the state-run institutions or corporations were in financial crisis whether its PIA, railways, Wapda, KESC, Steel Mills, or National Shipping Corporation. "They have been badly run and mismanaged." Although the CE's speech ran an hour and half, people sat silently. He said he was pained every day when international lending institutions came to Pakistan to see "our books and tell us how to introduce reforms". Pakistan's debt trap, he pointed out, was such that 50 per cent of the revenues went towards debt servicing. He stated that almost all public corporations were overstaffed by thousands which was hampering their ability to run profitability. "People tell me if you want to get rid of them, (then) why don't you give them a golden handshake as if the money grows on the trees." Referring to charges that his government was moving very slowly to arrest and convict corrupt politicians and businessmen, h said the wheels of the due process of law moved slowly. "We cannot take law in our own hands and give arbitrary judgments." He said the campaign to document the economy was going smoothly after an agreement with traders. Later, Gen Musharraf moved among the crowd of 1,000 who had come to see him much to the chagrin of the US Secret Service. After half an hour of mingling, the security succeeded in stopping the general from moving in the crowd. According to reports out of the 150 world leaders who came to attend the UN Millennium Summit, Gen Musharraf received fifth highest security detail. GAS PROJECT: The CE related a hilarious incident about the proposed Iranian gas pipeline which would run through Pakistan into India. The Pakistan government has approved the project as requested by the Iranian government. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000915 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bad governance, fall in revenues main causes, says World Bank ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ihtashamul Haque ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: The World Bank said on Thursday that "bad governance" and fall in revenues were responsible for increased poverty in Pakistan. "The performance of successive governments in Pakistan had been disappointing due to bad governance ... that ultimately increased poverty in the country," maintained John Wall, WB's director for Pakistan and Afghanistan. "There has been deterioration in revenues and governance". Speaking at the launching of the World Development Report 2000-2001 Attacking Poverty here on Thursday, he said the situation in '50s and '70s was good as there was eradication of poverty to a good extent. "But in '90s things were bad due to bad governance". He was asked, by a participant, why there was no poverty alleviation in Pakistan despite the WB's considerable funding, particularly for the social action programme, Mr Wall said that there was no serious shortage of funding and that sufficient resource allocation had also been made available but still things did not work in the past. The WB's country chief said that Pakistan's total budgetary resources were 15 per cent of the GDP. "Out of this, 5pc goes into civil administration, 4pc to defence and the rest to debt servicing. And (therefore) nothing is left for development purposes," he elaborated. He stated that governments could not run their affairs with just 15pc of the GDP and that there was a need to increase revenues. He pointed out that if much resources were put in for development purposes, it would increase the budget deficit. Therefore, he added, there was a need to balance the resources and their spending in various sectors. Mr Wall said that SAP was a great disappointment and as it did not significantly contribute to eradication of poverty. He stressed the need for giving serious thought to uplift the social sector. Poverty in South Asia, he said, was a serious problem which needed to be removed by taking important decisions. "I am worried about children in Pakistan. Weaker groups have no voice and no security," he said, adding that there was a need for radical changes to divert resources from infrastructure projects to social sectors, specially health and education. Mr Wall called for inducting women in the elected bodies to increase their influence and capacity to work for improving the lot of a common man. "Increasing revenues are not enough but to use them efficiently is very important," he stressed. In reply to a question, Roberto Zagha, a senior WB director in Washington, said that corruption was a worldwide phenomenon which was a big impediment to growth. He called for simplification of taxes. Ms Tara, another WB official, was of the view that there was a need to seize the opportunity to address poverty in Pakistan. She hoped that the world development report would offer recommendations to deal with the issue. The report urges broader approach to reduce poverty and "opportunity, empowerment and security" have been cited as crucial themes to effectively meet with the situation. According to the WB president, James D. Wolfensohn, the report seeks to expand the understanding of poverty and its causes, and sets out actions to create a world free of poverty in all dimensions. Reuters adds: Mr Wall said it was unclear if poverty, which has showed a moderate decline for South Asia as a whole in the past 10 years, actually increased in Pakistan during the decade. World Bank figures show 55pc of Pakistanis over the age of 15 are illiterate. Infant mortality in the country of nearly 140 million people stands at 91 per 1,000 births - 10 times the level of wealthy countries. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000913 ------------------------------------------------------------------- IMF reviews budget targets, real economy ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: The World Bank and the IMF are expected to jointly offer $1.35 billion medium-term programme to Pakistan to help improve its balance of payments position. Sources toldDawn here on Tuesday that the World Bank had joined the IMF for talks with Pakistan on a number of important issues, including assessment of the possibility of jointly extending 1.35 billion dollar medium-term programme. Talks between the two sides continued on Tuesday. The Secretary- General, Ministry of Finance, Moeen Afzal, led the Pakistan team while Ms Sena Ekin led the IMF review mission. Although the mission was reviewing budgetary targets set for 2000-2001, there were indications that Pakistan was likely to be offered around one billion dollar standby arrangement (SBA) by the IMF on a 6 per cent mark-up. And the World Bank would approve 350 million dollar structural adjustment loan (SAL). The sources said Pakistan had been given to understand that, under the present circumstances, Fund officials might not be able to offer the much-sought- after 2 to 2.50 billion dollar poverty reduction growth facility (PRGF). They said that Pakistan needed to settle some political issues with G-8 countries, specially on CTBT and Kashmir; and that once some broad understanding was reached, specially with the United States, this medium- term 1.35 billion dollar programme could be converted into PRFG. The discussions focused on monetary sectors, balance of payments and real economy. "What are our reserves at present, what is the current money supply position and what is our interest rate policy- are the issues which came under discussion today", said a senior official of the ministry of finance. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000914 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Other pledges linked to reforms: IMF may meet year's deficit ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jawaid Bokhari KARACHI, Sept 13: It is unlikely that the IMF will deny "oxygen" to Pakistan but the worry now is about the size and form of the financial package. Sources here said the Fund is expected to provide short-term credit facility and debt relief by Paris Club is to be of similar tenure. Apparently, IMF wants to keep Islamabad under pressure so that it does not drag its feet on stipulated reforms, they added. The review mission led by Ms Sena Eken, assistant director, Middle Eastern Region, is currently evaluating fiscal reforms. It will be joined by Paul Chabrier, director, Middle Eastern Region this week. The Article 1V consultations and a programme enjoying IMF support are to be finalized by the 20th of this month. Financial approval is anticipated at the meeting of the Fund's executive board, expected by the end of this month. Disbursements are likely to start in second quarter of current fiscal. The reported agreement on Hubco power tariff while the crucial talks with IMF are underway, financial analysts say, has significantly improved the prospect of financial assistance. However, the IMF package which will encompass debt relief by Paris Club, sources say, would however be just enough to overcome the balance of payments deficit for one year. Indications are that IMF bail out will be in the shape of 12 to 18 month Standby Arrangement (SBA) that is designed to take care of balance of payments problems which are temporary or cyclical in nature. Payments are made on quarterly basis, on meeting of certain performance criteria and successful completion of programme reviews. Though the general expectation is that IMF would provide one year facility of about a billion dollar, financial analysts at Global Securities (GBS) estimate that "an SBA to the tune of 500-700 million dollars is likely to be approved by the IMF, accompanied by one to two year foreign debt rescheduling." Analysts do not see a large IMF bail out for a variety of reasons. Incorrect reporting of fiscal data has been a major setback and the Fund has to be fully satisfied with the new reporting system, apart from execution of fiscal reforms and achievement of revenue targets. Perhaps more importantly, IMF shareholders are unlikely to approve a large bail out package without making Pakistan more receptive to their political agenda. Whereas short-term facility will help address immediate balance of payments difficulties, a more long term package accompanied by a four to five year rescheduling will be required to put the external account in order, say financial analysts. The IMF financial approvals would however send positive signal to both multilateral donors and commercial banks and enhance the country's credit rating. To quote press reports, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank may further strengthen the IMF support by simultaneous announcements of their loans. Ihtashamul Haque adds from Islamabad: The IMF review mission held its first meeting with Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday and he assured the mission that the government would achieve economic indicators set for year 2000-2001 including reduction in budget deficit from 7 per cent to 5 per cent of the GDP. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000913 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Self-Assessment Scheme announced: Tough conditions laid down ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ikram Hoti ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: Sources of income and capital investment will have to be declared by all taxpayers to qualify for filing returns under the Self-Assessment Scheme (SAS), according to new rules introduced by the government on Tuesday. The new rules, announced through Central Board of Revenue Circular No 21/2000, dated September 12, also disqualify people, who are required to be paying sales tax but are not registered with the Sales Tax Department, from availing this facility. This condition is for those, whose sales are taxable and are required to be either registered, enlisted or enrolled under Sales Tax Act, 1990. These and other tough conditions, which are unprecedented under a scheme meant to facilitate taxpayers and to offer them immunity from extensive probes, have been envisaged to make the income- taxpayers with undeclared wealth, capital, property, and other assets, either get their assets and sources whitened through Tax Amnesty Scheme, or face disqualification from paying tax under SAS, said CBR officials. They also explained that the persons who get their assets and sources whitened through TAS, would have to declare through SAS- 2000 only those assets and sources for payment of tax, which are not declared through TAS. However, they will have to fulfil all other conditions laid down under the SAS-2000. The conditions envisaged in the scheme and its scope is as follows: SAS-2000 applies to returns of income filed under section 55 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1979 for the assessment year 2000-2001, other than those mentioned in paragraph No 4 of this circular. Returns filed for the assessment year 2000-2001 shall qualify for acceptance, under the scheme provided that following conditions are fulfilled: return is filed voluntarily by the due date and tax payable with the return under section 54 of Income Tax Ordinance, 1979 has been fully paid and proof of such payment is attached with the return. All cases, where income declared consists of or includes any income chargeable under the head "salary", and such income constitutes more than 50% of total income declared for the year. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000911 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rs575 million sanctioned for task ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Sept 10: The National Database and Registration Authority claimed on Saturday that it would hand over the fresh electoral rolls "as per schedule" to the Election Commission of Pakistan despite the fact that only two days ago it had told the EC that the electoral lists of 18 districts could not be completed before Sept 25. NADRA was supposed to hand over the electoral lists of 18 districts to the EC by Sept 11, but on Thursday it sought two more weeks' extension. In a letter sent to the chief of the EC, NADRA stated that because of certain "technical problems" it could not hand over the electoral rolls by Sept 11 and had sought two weeks' extension. As a result, the EC had to issue a revised schedule for the verification and filing of objections on the electoral rolls. A press release issued by NADRA on Saturday said the task would be completed on Sept 11. It added that the EC had sanctioned Rs575.68 million for the task. "NADRA will spend this amount on the updating and printing of new electoral rolls and special arrangements for the issuance of ID cards by the mobile teams. "National Database and Registration Authority will also provide necessary hardware for the computerization of the Election Commision after the completion of current activities. "Besides, NADRA will provide all the necessary data of voters to the EC at no extra cost," it added. For printing of electoral rolls, a sum of Rs280 million had been approved by the cabinet, out of which Rs220 million had been requisitioned for the printing of required copies of electoral rolls for over 60 million voters. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000912 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan to get US$25m for oil purchase ------------------------------------------------------------------- RIYADH, Sept 11: The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) on Monday made loans worth more than 278 million dollars for development projects in its member countries, it announced in a statement. Bangladesh and Pakistan received 25 million each to buy crude oil and refined oil products from other IDB member states.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000912 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Accord reached with Hubco on tariff ------------------------------------------------------------------- Masood Haider NEW YORK, Sept 11: The government and officials of Hubco reached what is being termed a "comprehensive and workable" agreement on the price structure acceptable to Wapda, informed sources here told Dawn. Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf, who was very anxious that an agreement with Hubco be reached before he left New York, had met the officials of the international power company on Sunday morning asking them to show flexibility. He is expected to make the announcement of a comprehensive agreement in Islamabad on his return from the US. "The agreement would create an atmosphere conducive to healthy investor-government relationship," said an official. Hubco was the last international power producer holdout and the World Bank officials had stressed that an agreement with IPPs was essential to jump-starting relationships between US investors and Pakistan. The broad-based agreement was worked out in a meeting between finance minister Shaukat Aziz and the Hubco officials late on Sunday night and it will be signed, sealed and delivered in Islamabad. The meeting on Sunday evening was attended among others by chairman of Hubco, Mehdi Alireza, Eric Salegi of Entergy, Ashraf Tombi of Xenal group, an official of National Power group and the managing director of Hubco. A source told "Dawn" that a technical and legal framework worked out between Government of Pakistan (Wapda), and the law enforcement agencies will be drawn out as soon as possible. Mr Aziz who refused to comment on the report of the agreement said that the meetings between Pakistani officials and the Hubco management was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. Islamabad Burea adds: The Chairman of Hubco, has called upon chief executive Gen Pervez Musharraf to complete the process of law by investigating corruption charges against the company. According to a press release of Hubco, its negotiating committee including Mr Alireza met the CE in New York on Sunday. The meeting was facilitated by Pakistan's ambassador to the United States at the request of Hubco. In the meeting, Hubco's chairman urged Gen Musharraf to address the fundamental principles of international commercial laws that Hubco has put on the table to create a climate in which tariff negotiations can be successful. Those principles include: due process of law (the completion of the corruption charges); the right to international arbitration and the sanctity of contracts. Mr Alireza emphasised that these principles will not only set the stage for a resolution of Hubco dispute, but will also send right message to the foreign investors in Pakistan. He urged the CE to take a leadership role in moving the process forward, as it is the belief of the negotiating committee that without the intervention of the CE, the dispute will linger indefinitely. Mr Alireza also expressed his desire to resolve the Hubco dispute in a manner that recognizes the financial needs of the country, while also addressing the rights of Hubco shareholders. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000912 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Talks held with IMF on cutting deficit ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ihtashamul Haque ISLAMABAD, Sept 11: A six-member IMF review mission held a second round of talks with finance secretary Moeen Afzal here on Monday to discuss a host of issues, including how to increase revenues, exports and reduce debt burden as well as budget deficit. Informed sources told Dawn that the leader of the mission, Sena Ekin expressed satisfaction over the steps and 'unpopular' decisions taken by the government to improve the economy. In this behalf she particularly lauded the efforts taken to increase the number of taxpayers from one million to 1.2 million by December this year. She believed that the ongoing tax survey campaign and tax amnesty scheme would considerably increase the revenues. The finance secretary, sources said, briefed the mission about the latest economic situation by saying that the government did not want to hide any thing from the lending agencies and that it would take time to see the real economic revival. "All the technical details wanted by the mission were provided to it by the secretary- general", a source said. He added that the Fund members were told that complete transparency was being adhered to and that efforts were being made to computerize the whole revenue collection system. In this behalf the recommendations, being finalised by the task force on CBR restructuring, also came up for discussion. The recommendations would be submitted to the government in December. The task force will hold its second meeting from Oct 27 to 29 and in November at Karachi by co-opting the independent experts and economists. Both sides also discussed the issues of low exports, precarious balance of payment position, and huge debt burden. According to an official, foreign debt has reached to over $33 billion and that Pakistan desperately needed support of the lending agencies to manage its financial affairs. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 000916 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt striving to earn forex through exports ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Sept 15: Minister for Commerce and Industries Abdul Razzak Dawood said on Friday that a special policy for boosting dates export through value addition will be announced next month. Speaking as a chief guest at 2nd Dates Show 2000, Karachi, which he later inaugurated, the minister said the country badly needs foreign exchange which could only be earned through higher exports and this was also the only way which could help reduce dependence on world donor agencies like IMF. Dawood said that the economy was not strong because of heavy debt burden and for reducing this the way out is to increase exports to optimum level. And if we fail in doing so, he said, we as a nation would not get rid of IMF and other world agencies. He said the government gives top priority to textile as it annually earns over $5 billion and have drafted 'Textile Vision 2005' to meet the challenges of phasing out of quotas in the year 2004. In second stage, he said, fruits and vegetables will be taken up as a study with the help of SMEDA and EPB is being prepared to identify problems and bottlenecks in way of boosting exports. He disclosed that a meeting of all the stakeholders including growers and exporters of vegetables and fruits has been arranged for Oct 2, with the Chief Executive to consider the chain of valuation addition of these produces. Initially, Dawood said that four fruits, kinoo, dates, mangoes and apples have been identified for encouraging value addition through modern system of processing, packing as well as advertising. This will help boost exports of the produces. The government, he said, would give incentives and try to remove weakness for boosting exports of these produces including dates which have much higher potential of earning foreign exchange from the present level of $23.9 million. Abdul Razzak Dawood said: "I would admit that our growers have done their job by creating huge surplus in major crops like cotton, wheat, rice, onion, potato, fruits as well as in vegetables but on account of some weakness on our part the country could not properly benefit from these achievements." He said, export culture has to be developed by involving every segment of economy, may it be a grower or direct or indirect exporter. He said in the past 'we only talked about exportable surplus but now we have to export whatever was in demand in world market and should not worry about domestic shortages.' The minister that there was great demand of dates in Indonesia and during a recent visit of their commerce minister he was informed that dates are not being exported from Pakistan. He disclosed that on Oct 18, he will be going to Indonesia taking along with him some exporters and growers of dates which will have to be exported ahead of the month of Ramazan. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000916 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rupee declines on debt payment ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, Sept 15: The rupee lost 13 paisa against US dollar in the inter-bank market on Friday as Pakistan made a debt payment of $20- $25m through state-run banks. More debt payments are due in the remaining days of this month. Senior bankers said the rupee closed at 54.85 to a dollar down 13 paisa against the previous close of 54.72. They said the rupee touched a low of 54.92 earlier in the day as two state-run banks started purchasing dollars for debt payment. But once the buyings were over the rupee regained part of its lost strength -and finished at 54.85. Bankers said despite a 13 paisa rise in the price of the dollar there was no panic from the importers-and forward rates remained stable. In open market the rupee shed five paisa to close at 57.35 and 57.45 for spot buying and selling against the greenback. On Thursday also the rupee had lost 10 paisa. But whereas the decline of the rupee in the inter-bank market was because of debt payments its fall in the open market was for other reasons. "People are holding stocks of sterling because of its ongoing slide against the dollar," said president of Forex Association of Pakistan Malik Muhammad Bostan. "This has slowed down conversion of sterlings into dollars by Pakistani money changers in Dubai. Hence a fall in dollar supplies in Pakistan." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000911 ------------------------------------------------------------------- IMF to study revenue collection plan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ikram Hoti ISLAMABAD, Sept 10: A crucial meeting between the IMF experts and the Central Board of Revenue officials will be held here on Monday to examine the board's claim that it would collect Rs100 billion additional revenue through documentation of economy. Official sources told Dawn here on Sunday that the CBR would brief the IMF experts on the "potential to be tapped on the basis of survey of sales and incomes." The Fund has been repeatedly asking the CBR to substantiate its claim about the additional revenue. The survey aims at detecting the tax evasion by the existing taxpayers and those who are not on tax department books. Sources said the CBR chairman and members of the income tax, sales tax, central excise and customs department, would brief the experts in this regard. The briefing, they added, would be based on three aspects of the data collected so far on the income and expenditure of the residential sections. The business section survey data is being pooled for analysis. The Fund officials would be briefed on a benchmark set by the CBR for analyzing the income on the basis of utilities bills of each household. According to the benchmark a household can spend 15 per cent of its total income on the utilities. "If a household is spending Rs15,000 a month on utilities, its income should unmistakably be Rs100,000, which should be declared through tax return. If the person is not a taxpayer he would have to get himself enlisted on the tax book, and a notice in this regard would be sent to him", a senior CBR official said. The experts would also be briefed on the assessment of income on the basis of residential spaces declared in the survey forms. The IMF has already demanded a detailed study in this respect. The Fund experts would also be given the information provided by the household about their vehicles, which is currently being analyzed for detecting the amount of misstatement of income committed by the taxpayers. On the basis of these aspects, CBR officials said, the IMF experts would be informed as to what methods would be applied for determining the tax evasion, and the procedure for extracting the evaded amounts from the declarants. NNI adds: Meanwhile the visiting IMF mission will open formal talks with finance ministry officials on Monday on variety of issues, focussing on expected stand-by loan. The secretary-general, finance, Moeen Afzal, will be heading Pakistani team. The government is confident to reach an agreement with IMF for the revival of defunct ESAF/EFF under a new mechanism, as most of the strings, including levying of GST, agriculture income tax, reforming tax regime, settlement of most of IPPs issue, curbing corruption and revival of sick units, have been met. Sena Eken, head of the mission, met finance secretary Younus Khan on Saturday and discussed economic indicators. They reviewed agenda of talks. The head of internal finance, additional finance secretary Riazul Haq and the IMF review mission also worked out detailed agenda of the meetings that are expected to continue till Sept 20. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000916 ------------------------------------------------------------------- KSE 100-share index falls by nine points ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Sept 15: Stocks finished the weekend session further shaded but unlike the previous sessions investors covered positions on selected counters anticipating some positive news on the Hubco front by the next week. The KSE 100-share index fell about nine points at 1,555.07. Although trading was dominated throughout the day by alternate bouts of buying and selling by jobbers and weakholders but a late burst of short-covering in some pivotals demonstrated that bulls are back in the market. "The late strong selective support was largely anticipatory apparently based on some positive news from the Hubco and IMF fronts", stock analysts at W-E Financials basing their comments on a possible press briefing by the chief executive Gen Pervez Musharraf after his return from New York. Any news from the top could give the needed push to the market, which is almost "yearning for an instant stimulant to pull it out from the current impasse", the say. After testing the recent peak index level of 1,600 points, the KSE 100-share index managed to hold on to its most of the weekly gains, only shedding 22 points on Hubco-inspired selling, analysts at the KASB & Co say and that, "reflects its inherent strength". "News from the Hubco front were not that bad as its management has indicated to revise downward its tariff rate, the proposed cut already conveyed to the government, a section of speculators made them look so", said a leading stock broker. However, strong buying at the dips in it reflects that a formidable section of investors is not worried over the recent developments after the meetings at the highest levels to sort out the issue. "The rigid position taken by the top Hubco management shows the process of give and take has already been set in motion and it is matter of time to see positive outcome", he says. The Hubco management has demanded withdrawal of all cases including relating to corruption before final settlement of the issue. Analysts said investors have already digested the impact of negative news from it as the early week euphoria has turned into hasty selling and most of them leading brokers have already cleared their positions. "But what now worries them are reports of probe into the accounts of eight leading brokers to ascertain" whether or not they are in order" after the expiry of stipulated date of Sept 15", they added. What action the Securities & Exchange Commission takes if the share transaction accounts of them are not in order continued to depress prices of some leading shares sharply lower, a member of the KSE says. He says report released by the Securities & Exchange Commission on the last May stock market collapse followed by default of some members pinpoint that erring members also worked against the sentiment amid fears of official action against them. On top of it was the weekend selling as both short-term investors and day trader liquidate positions at the available margins pushing prices further lower. Minus signs again dominated the list as leading shares as a number of leading shares finished with an extended fall under the lead of Alico, Babri Cotton, Nishat Chunian, Sapphire Fibre, falling by Rs1.50 to 1.90.Back to the top
=================================================================== EDITORIALS & FEATURES 20000910 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Gen Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan - 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ardeshir Cowasjee TO the credit of the man, it must be said that Yahya Khan never denied responsibility for the part he played in the dismemberment of Jinnah's Pakistan. He made this admission on many an occasion, as well as to the Hamoodur Rahman Commission. The final sentence of Major-General Rao Farman Ali Khan's book 'How Pakistan Got Divided' reads: "A far as Yahya was concerned, the Commission stated that he had accepted responsibility for everything." The people of Pakistan stand guilty of having denied him an open trial, which he never ceased to ask for. But he died unheard. Bhutto took over what remained of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on December 20, 1971, and Yahya was thereafter held virtually incommunicado in various locations until freed by Zia in 1977. By that time he was paralyzed, having suffered a stroke. Hamoodur Rahman, from Lahore on January 11, 1972, addressed a letter to Yahya informing him that the Commission would be sitting as of January 17, and that "we would soon be needing your version of these historic happenings during which you were the head of state, head of government, Chief Martial Law Administrator, C-in-C Army and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces." Yahya was requested to ensure that "your statement is delivered to the Commission not later than Monday, 24th January 1972." With the letter was an eight-page questionnaire. In his reply, Yahya wrote: "I have today (18 January, '72) received letter no-6-ICW/72 from Mr Justice Hamoodur Rahman, the Chief justice of Pakistan. I am located at the Forest Dak Bungalow, Banni. I am required to give my statement not later than 24 Jan '72. I would like to make it clear at the outset that I have no access to any records of the Central Government or General Headquarters to give details of events or exact dates, etc. of the various events." Twenty-three typed pages follow, the closing sentences reading: "This briefly ends my narrative of the events of the past two and a half years which stated earlier is all I can produce from Memory. The other items given in Annexure A of your letter no. 6-ICW/72 dated 11 Jan '72, if not already covered in the narrative, will require the study of documents of the Central Government, Ministry of Defence, and General Headquarters to which I have no access at the moment. I would welcome any clarification which is to be sought on any point that I have mentioned or may not have mentioned, but I would like to make it clear that any more answers or statements required of me will need the availability of those documents and the presence of many functionaries of the government, both civil and military, who were associated in these events with me." Many swansongs have been written and read. Worthy of reproduction are certain excerpts from the book, 'Bhutto - a political biography' by Salman Taseer, an intelligent pro-Bhutto Pipian. According to Taseer, his book was banned by Zia. On the Hamoodur Rahman report: "After the conflict was over, bhutto commissioned a report on the entire Bangladesh episode from Mr Justice Hamoodur Rahman, Chief Justice of Pakistan, and himself a Bengali. Bhutto testified before the commission whose sessions were held in camera throughout, but he never published the final report, arguing some parts of it could embarrass Pakistan in its conduct of foreign that some parts of it could embarrass Pakistan in the conduct of foreign relations. His detractors preferred to suggest that Bhutto never dated issue the report because he was so heavily implicated in the political chicanery and blundering that preceded the country's break-up. That may be so. But it is equally likely that the Hamoodur Rahman commission report was by no means the final word on political responsibility for the catastrophe that overcame Pakistan. Considering the circumstances in which the commission worked, its final report may even have erred in Bhutto's favour. "Blame can never be satisfactorily or finally apportioned to the major players in this grisly drama, but that Bhutto, Mujibur Rahman and Yahya Khan share responsibility there can be no doubt. Many, indeed, are inclined to the view that Bhutto, as the most sure- footed politician of the three and thus the best equipped to assess the consequences of his actions, must accept the lion's share of the blame. Argument on this point will remain one of the central themes of Pakistani politics, perhaps for decades." Comments on Bhutto's political nature: "After the election the situation changed drastically. Bhutto now saw that Mujibur Rahman with his majority of seats could form a government even without support from West Pakistan. And yet he was not the man to play second fiddle. With control of only two provincial governments out of five, he saw his position as far from assured." [As for playing second fiddle, I myself have heard him say: 'I'd rather be the top dog of half of Pakistan than an underdog of the whole of Pakistan.'] "Perhaps another politician with more moral scruple and with greater respect for democracy would have bowed before the will of the majority and quietly entered the Constituent Assembly to debate the future of Pakistan. Bhutto, however, possessed none of these gentle characteristics. He never had much faith in the parliamentary process." "There was another danger in convening the Assembly. It was quite possible that a number of elected members from West Pakistan would give way to the Awami League's dominant position and compromise with them, enabling Mujibur Rahman to get the two-thirds majority needed to pass the constitution. Bhutto could not trust his own party, which consisted of a motley group of individuals, some of whom he barely knew and who had been swept into power on a wave of pro-Bhutto feeling." On Bhutto's speech made on February 28, 1971, at public meeting at Lahore, where he offered Mujibur Rahman a carrot in the form of three alternatives - agreement on three of the Six Points, or postponement of the National Assembly meeting, or a waiving of the Legislative Framework Order. "After the carrot, he them threatened the stick. The latter part of his speech was possibly the most belligerent he had ever made. He threatened a strike from the Khyber Pass to Karachi - 'not a single shope would be allowed to remain open.' He promised that the people of Pakistan would take full revenge from anybody who attended the Assembly session when they returned from Dacca, or, as he expressed himself, he 'would break their legs'. In spite of Bhutto's three alternative conditions, Sheikh mujibur Rahman refused to budge." On Bhutto's role in the break-up: "In such a central and traumatic event in Pakistan's existence, Bhutto has long been under suspicion over his role. he proved a voluble defendant and some would certainly argue that he protested rather too much. From the time of the army crackdown he compulsively sought to justify himself, reiterating Mujib's secessionist stance, the blunders of previous politicians and his own record in arguing East Pakistan's economic exploitation." Now to skip forward thirty years. Our troubles are far from over. A self-confessed born-again Muslim, a former chief of the Inter Services intelligence, Lt-General Javed Nasir, now retired but holding a high position in the present government, is one of the several retired generals, admirals and air marshals who have taken to writing in the national press. I quote from his column, 'Possibility of a nuclear war' (The News, September 7, 2000): "It is immaterial who initiates the nuclear war; the end result in either case will be the same. In this mutual mass suicide, the casualties are going to be in hundreds of millions on both sides. The world will not even have enough vultures to clear the carrion. "The rest of the world will receive doses of radiation from the fallout in quantums which will be hundreds of thousands times more than what some European countries experienced from Chernobyl. Time is running out. India has not shown any respect for international commitments in the past. It will not behave differently in the future. USA, G-8, and the rest must act, and act quickly, before it is too late, if they want to save the billion-plus of South Asia and the rest of the world from a nuclear holocaust." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000915 ------------------------------------------------------------------- One step forward: how many steps back? ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ayaz Amir CARE to know the foremost achievement of General Musharraf's October Revolution? What would have appeared impossible, perhaps inconceivable, ten months ago has come about with astonishing ease: the gradual rehabilitation in the public eye of the duo whose benign presence has defined Pakistani democracy these past fifteen years: Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. When the October tide ebbs - as in the fullness of time all mortal things must - the people of Pakistan will still be stuck with these twin symbols of Athenian democracy. All the world's lawyers could not have revived Ms Bhutto's plummeting fortunes. Nothing else could have preserved or rekindled the Raiwind clan's popular support. But if there has been any turnaround in public opinion, the Montgomerys and Mansteins of the army deserve all the credit for this happy outcome. This makes Pakistan's future pretty clear: just as the October Revolution started from elementary school, the Pakistani nation, when this chapter in its colourful history draws to a close, will begin once again from where the Sharifs and the indispensable Ms Bhutto (now and forever Life Chairperson of the PPP) had left off. Talk of the curse of Sisyphus, lifting a stone to the top of a mountain and then, the stone rolling down, having to begin all over again. The Pakistani nation could teach Sisyphus a thing or two. How has this miracle of revival occurred? The answer can be delivered in a single phrase: the confusion and maladroitness besetting the titanic steps of the October Revolution. Let's be honest. The people of Pakistan can be the greatest chumps on earth. With a complete sense of self-surrender they have suffered fools and impossible adventurers throughout their short history. They could have done so again provided they had got something, what the doctors call instant relief, during the last eleven months. But their plight has only worsened. That is why, getting over the euphoria excited by the advent of the October Revolution, they are committing the unthinkable: looking back nostalgically at the twosome who turned all notions of governance in Pakistan into a standing joke. What hope are the Lilliputians in this landscape entertaining? The Tahirul Qadris and the Imran Khans? The people of Pakistan would have to be a lot more foolish than they are to fall for these heroes. Under what illusions are the so-called Chaudries of Gujrat, an appellation which makes me reach for my gun? In a king's party, singing to the tune of the October Revolution, they can figure big. That's what they and their family have done throughout their political lives: dine in style at the table of authoritarianism. But when the ongoing banquet whetting their appetite is over, they will be reduced to their proper level: the district of Gujrat. How full of complaints the Chaudries are of the Sharifs? Of how they were denied the chief ministership of Punjab, as if Punjab is a kept woman waiting to be taken by every second-rate politico in the land. Where were these would-be conquerors of Punjab doing when the Sharifs were all powerful? No insult was too big for them to swallow then. No squeak escaped their wisdom-laden lips. The way Saifur Rehman made a mockery of Chaudry Shujaat's interior ministry, even a lesser man in his place would have thrown his resignation in Nawaz Sharif's face. But not Shujaat who was doing then what he and Pervez (a name of some account in the October Revolution) are doing now: protecting their investments. Just consider Punjab's luck. First the Sharifs. Then Manzoor Wattoo. Now the Chaudries with their eyes on its future. In which other province could such raw talent have sprung? Lest I forget, even His Holiness the President, symbol and face of our puissant Republic, is from Punjab. And I say all this as a born-and-bred Punjabi - transfixed by the trophies hanging in Punjab's hall of fame. Think of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and of the two Lawrences who administered Punjabi affairs after the British annexation, then take Shujaat Hussain and Pervez Ellahi and you get an idea of what Punjab has come to in these promising times. It is the height of irony then for pseudo-nationalists from the other provinces to accuse Punjab of exploitation. Punjab has been ravished by its own. It deserves compassion not abuse. After all this, what? Not the deluge. That would be something to look forward to. After this, back from where we started, back to the stone of Sisyphus. Back to the buffoons whose ghosts one might have been forgiven for thinking had well and truly been laid to rest. This is what comes from interrupting the political process. The army, when it comes stamping into the political arena, always thinks it will construct a brave new world. It does nothing of the sort; only ends up blocking political evolution and adding to the sum of popular frustration. How many times are we fated to walk the same road? What is the difference between us and western societies? We have been in thrall to despotism and arbitrary rule throughout our history - kings and emirs ruling by whim, subject to no checks and balances. Western societies over the last 500 years have evolved structures which in time have led to the death of arbitrary rule and the advent of personal freedoms and the rule of law. The milieu thus created has favoured learning and the spread of knowledge. If those societies have forged ahead and now rule the planet, it is because of superior know-how and no other magic. If it was just a question of money, the Arab kingdoms and emirates would be in the forefront of the world's nations. But they are not because highways and tall buildings alone do not make for development. Knowledge does which (with apologies to Pakistan's Professor Oppenheimer, the publicity-crazy A. Q. Khan) we are without. Nigeria and Indonesia have plenty of oil. So does Venezuela. What have they done with it? Strapped for cash, we are touching the IMF's feet for a pittance. But we were not strapped for cash during the Zia years. What did we do with the millions then flowing into our coffers? Not even a trace of that bonanza remains. A lot of it went into private hands, to finance the lifestyles of the rich, just as a lot of Nigerian and Indonesian and Arab wealth has gone the same way. We put all our skill and charm in international beggary. For institution- building, which is what counts in the long term, we have no talent at all. In New York the Revolution's Guide, when asked whether he would become president said, "I have not decided anything about that yet. I haven't even thought of it." Which means that the decision to become president or not rests on nothing institutional: it is his to take. During the same press conference he also said, "I have no desire to stifle the press although some of what is printed in Pakistan would justify stifling it ten times over." Again note the forbearance on offer. If the press has not been stifled it is no thanks to any laws but because of the sweet will of the Chief Architect. This is a page right out of Muslim history. Too much despotism and arbitrariness; too few checks and balances. TAILPIECE: The heart of every Pakistani should swell with pride on seeing the newspaper pictures of the American ambassador presenting the keys of six Datsun double-cabin pickups to the Inspector General, Frontier Corps, a Major-General Tajul Haq. On this occasion the ambassador termed Pakistan's narcotics control programme a great success. A few weeks ago a smiling Ms Sisson from the American embassy was giving medals and cash awards to stern- looking members of the Anti-Narcotics Force. Now comes this king's ransom: six Datsun pickups. No one can accuse Pakistanis of being hard to please. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000916 ------------------------------------------------------------------- A nation of ostriches ------------------------------------------------------------------- Irfan Husain GENERAL Musharraf's refusal to meet Sheikh Hasina Wajid, the Bangladeshi prime minister, in New York recently came as a rude shock to those of us who thought relations between our two countries were cordial. Just last month she had sent a personal envoy to the Pakistani Chief Executive with an offer to mediate in the dispute between Pakistan and India. The sudden freezing of relations occurred because in her speech at the UN General Assembly, Sheikh Hasina had suggested that action should be taken against military regimes that overthrow elected governments. Although Pakistan was not directly mentioned, our diplomats took umbrage and presumably advised General Musharraf to 'postpone' the planned meeting with the Bangladeshi prime minister. Big mistake. The fact is that military juntas and coups d'etat are now very unfashionable, and the latest one in Pakistan was universally condemned. Indeed, we were thrown out of the Commonwealth, and yet its secretary-general was given a red carpet treatment when he came calling recently. If we are so touchy about Sheikh Hasina's remarks at the UN, then surely we ought to have snubbed the Commonwealth secretary-general. The fact is that in today's scenario, we need all the friends we can get instead of distancing ourselves from the few we do have left. Both regionally and globally, we are more isolated today than ever before, and this is not just because the generals have taken over. A number of policies spanning the last two decades have contributed to our current isolation. Turn by turn we have offended friends and refused to stay in step with the far-reaching geopolitical and economic changes that have been sweeping the globe. As a result, we are virtually alone in the world today. Ever since Pakistan's creation 53 years ago, we have been preoccupied with the threat we perceived from India, and virtually our entire foreign policy since then has been directed towards neutralizing this threat. To some extent, this was and remains a legitimate concern: every state has the right and the duty to protect its frontiers. But this preoccupation has become the be-all and end-all of successive governments, and support on Kashmir is the yardstick by which our relations with other states are measured. Our Afghan policy was largely driven by the concept of 'strategic depth' dreamed up by General Zia who saw a grateful and pliant Afghanistan becoming a sort of client state that would give Pakistan the kind of defensive depth denied us by geography. After the soviet pull-out, we have continued playing favourites in the subsequent civil war that has devastated our neighbour for the same elusive goal. By our open-ended support of the Taliban, we have antagonized Iran, a traditionally close friend. The fallout of this policy has also caused deep resentment in the Central Asian Republics - countries that we had hoped to engage in lucrative commercial deals. The efforts of well-heeled religious groups to export militant Islam and to support Islamic movements elsewhere have not been kindly received abroad. The Russians are furious with us, accusing us of sending armed militants to help the rebellious Chechens. While we may well sympathize with the embattled Chechens, the fact is that sending armed men will naturally be seen as a hostile act. The Chinese are upset over the activities of Pakistani fundamentalists in Xingjiang where Muslim separatists are waging a low-intensity struggle for their own homeland. The recent lethal explosion in Urumqi has been attributed to them. And although these actions have largely been undertaken by private groups and militias, the Pakistan government has been perceived as turning a blind eye to these hostile and subversive elements. The nuclear devices that were exploded two years ago did not add to our international popularity either. Granted that they were triggered by India's earlier tests, the fact is that we had a real opportunity to occupy the moral high ground and isolate our neighbour by foregoing testing at that time. The rewards for such a bold act of statesmanship would have been large, but Nawaz Sharif had neither the vision nor the courage to seize the moment. The result of our knee-jerk reaction to the Indian tests was international condemnation, the disastrous freezing of foreign currency accounts and its resultant loss of confidence and crippling economic sanctions. Kargil was a defining moment for Pakistan in many ways. Internally, the brief but bitter fighting had the effect of driving a wedge between the army chief and Nawaz Sharif, and led inexorably to the latter's ouster. But externally, the fallout was equally severe: the world saw Pakistan as an irresponsible nation that put regional security at nuclear risk by launching a military adventure without provocation. And when the perceived author and executor of the Kargil plan took power through a coup, Pakistan was well and truly in the doghouse. Right or wrong, the world now sees Pakistan as a dangerous country that has nuclear capability and is governed by irresponsible leaders; a country where armed militias roam around under different religious banners without being stopped by the government; a country where women and the minorities are second class citizens; and a country where neither local foreign currency accounts nor foreign investments are safe. Indeed, our isolation is not just diplomatic: the way the previous government and this one have mishandled the Hubco issue has made Pakistan a bad word in international financial circles. Here is a showpiece power project - one of the largest in the private sector anywhere - that is financed by a consortium of prestigious multinational banks and guaranteed by the World Bank that has been vilified and squeezed for the last three yeas and its executives treated like criminals. Although General Musharraf had promised that the problem would be resolved in a month soon after he took over, the fact is that after endless meetings, the only concession the company has received is that criminal charges against its officers have been withdrawn. How the government expects any foreign investment after all this is difficult to understand. The signal that has been sent out is that contracts and agreements have no sanctity in Pakistan, and courts here will side with the government to the extent of not permitting international arbitration. By our own actions and policies, Pakistan is now isolated as never before. But instead of recognizing this and doing something about it, we behave like a flock of ostriches, content to bury our heads in the sand.
=================================================================== SPORTS 20000913 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sydney Olympics 2000: Ahmad Alam to carry flag at opening ceremony ------------------------------------------------------------------- Zawwar Hasan SYDNEY, Sept 12: The skipper of the Pakistan hockey team, Ahmad Alam, will carry the national flag at the opening ceremony of the twenty-seventh Olympiad on Friday at Stadium Australia, which promises to be a symphony of music and motion never witnessed before. To be asked to lead the national contingent in the massive parade of the first Olympics of the new millennium is a singular honour for the 28-year-old Alam. More than that it symbolizes the nation's hope to see the hockey squad unfurl the green and white flag with its waxing crescent and star on the mast at the victory stand. How serious the hockey squad is to come up to the nation's expectations can be sensed from the fact that only Alam, who has been honoured to be the national flag-bearer of the Pakistan contingent, will be at the four-hour parade. The other ten hockey players, chosen to play against Canada the next evening, will give a miss to the parade. The rest of the hockey squad along with its officials will march with the Pakistan contingent. Talking to Dawn, Manager Islahuddin said: " The boys know they will miss history and a sparkling spectacle. However, winning an Olympic medal is more important to them. Skipping the parade would leave them fresher for their match against Canada. The players have settled for watching the ceremony on a TV screen in the comfort of the Olympic Village." Islahuddin shrugged off the concerns in some quarters that Pakistan may not end its medal drought on its 13th appearance in the Olympics. With a loud laughter he quipped: "I do not believe in such superstitions. In fact, they challenge us to do better. Well, why don't they consider the fact that the Sydney Olympics starts on an auspicious Friday?" DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000912 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Cricket Squad for Kenya not finalized yet ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Sept 11: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia on Monday said the skipper and coach of the team would be consulted before finalizing teams for future assignments. He also said that team manager would not be part of the team selection committee during tours or series' as his assignment was only to look after administrative matters. He said the coach would be the chief selector while the captain and his deputy would be the fellow selectors. Speaking from Mangla, the PCB chief said the selectors have not submitted the 14-man squad for Kenya. He, however, admitted that the selectors presented teams for the warm-up matches against England which were rejected. "When the team for Kenya is to be discussed, the captain and the coach would be consulted. Their views would be duly taken into consideration but the selectors would be the final authority. "However, the captain and the coach would not be considered when players for a training camp are being picked. That's precisely why the two were not invited for the meeting," the general said. The PCB chairman said he rejected the warm-up teams submitted by the selectors on the ground that there were no youngsters. He said the selectors had included Test players who were either established or tested. "I want youngsters in the team so that they get an opportunity to play and perform against a Test team. Besides, if the selectors pick a team which does not include players of the city where the match is being played, who would come to see the game? "Secondly, for one of the matches, the selectors recommended Ijaz Ahmad as captain. It doesn't sound practical to me because we should groom some youngster as captain who can be considered for the job in future." England will play two warmup one-dayers and then three first-class matches on their 57-day tour of Pakistan starting Oct 16. The general, discussing his Dubai visit for the Asian Cricket Foundation (ACF) meeting, dispelled impressions that the continent was splitting and that Pakistan was being pushed into the corner by the other three members. "It's not true. In fact, we are very much close. The only thing which could have split the world was inadequate development funds sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Now that has also been averted because the ICC has promised to increase our funds by 50% and the money would be delivered within a week after the conclusion of the Kenya tournament. "Also, Bangladesh has proposed a reciprocal two-Test and three one- day international series in case India doesn't tour Pakistan this winter. The suggestion is under consideration." Tauqir Zia said he met his Indian counterpart A.C Muttiah in which the possibility of the forthcoming series was discussed. He said the BCCI was very keen to tour but depended on the approval from his government. He said the PCB has withdrawn its Sept 29 deadline for the confirmation of the tour because the two-day BCCI meeting will conclude on Sept 30. "But we have asked them to confirm the tour at the earliest." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000916 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan begins its quest for hockey glory today ------------------------------------------------------------------- Zawwar Hasan SYDNEY, Sept 15: The moment of truth for Pakistan hockey has arrived. On Saturday it launches its campaign to regain lost glory at the Hockey Center in the Sydney Olympic Park with a match against Canada. By all standards it is a forbidding task. Not just because the dizzying peaks it had reached in the past but also because the going has got tougher. At the top of the pyramid there is place for just one. And that one team has to be the best skilled and is tough in mind and body. Do our men in green shirts answer the description? The optimists might say yes, the realists will say no. May be the correct answer is both yes and no. Yes, because Pakistan has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat so many times. No, because they could have been better prepared. Quick changes in hockey hierarchy and its empty coffers threaten to keep the PHF shelves bare of trophies. But here at the Hockey Center the players are keeping their minds off the negatives. Their first aim is to reach the last four. And they think that despite disruptions and distractions, they have readied themselves to achieve their objective. How ready they are and what challenges face them will be known for sure by ten pm tonight. Not only would have Pakistan played its opening match against Canada, but the remaining four other teams belonging to the same pool would be seen in action. That affords an opportunity to the think tank of the Pakistan hockey team to review its strategy for the remaining four pool matches. Pakistan is taking its match against Canada very seriously. The Pan American Champions are known to be defence oriented and follow the 1-3-3 combination. They have sprung up many surprises and are a hard nut to crack. In their last encounter with Pakistan in the Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur Canada had all but defeated Pakistan. After having forged ahead by a comfortable 3-0 margin, the Canadians clung to 3-1 lead till five minutes before the final whistle. Two quick goals in the dying minutes of the game saved the day for Pakistan. Basically the composition of the Canadian team remains the same. Seven of them have played more than hundred international matches, three of them topping two hundred. Their captain Peter Milkovich, a mid-field player, has the experience of 261 internationals. Comparatively, Pakistan is a younger side even though six of its players have also crossed the hundred mark in international appearances. Most experienced among them is Mohammad Sarwar who has played 167 matches. His fellow forward, Kamran Ashraf, follows him with 130 matches. Ahmad Alam, who is the third goalkeeper to captain the Pakistan team, and mid-fielder Waseem Ahmad have played 109 matches each. Sameer Hussain, who is an 18- year old student, is perhaps the babe of the Olympic hockey tournament. He has played only five matches so far. To reach the last four Pakistan will have to defeat Canada, Malaysia, Great Britain and Germany or Holland. Pakistan will also have to win at least three of its matches with a good margin. That would enable them to go through to the quarterfinals even if there is a tie-up in three top positions of the pool. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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