------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 17 August, 2001 Issue : 07/33 -------------------------------------------------------------------
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + General election in October next year, power transfer in Nov + Article 58(2)(b) to be restored + Pakistan back on rails, says President + Number of Assemblies seats may be increased + ARD rejects Musharraf's democracy roadmap + ANP dismisses roadmap for democracy + PML(LM) CWC meets on 25th + Musharraf, Vajpayee NY talks ruled out + Pakistan willing to continue talks on Kashmir issue + CE asks Indian leaders to exercise restraint + 'Special Powers Act to intensify repression in Valley' + Altaf to visit India to help resolve Kashmir issue + US senators accuse China of selling arms + Inam off to US to discuss curbs + No decision yet on lifting of sanctions + Pakistan criticized for closing border with Afghanistan + Diplomats get Afghan visit visa: Leave for Kabul + President unfolds economic strategy: 20 mega projects + Sweeping powers given to police: President amends law + Experts find flaws in new police law + Politicians reject govt move to redefine powers + Terrorism to be curbed, says law minister + TJP slams Musharraf's warning + Crackdown on banned groups launched: 200 activists arrested + TJP,SSP warned: Sipah-i-Muhammad and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi banned + Anti-Terrorism Act amended + PPP opposes role for army in uplift projects + $150m ADB loan likely for judicial reforms + ADB okays $100m drought aid + WB to help repair highways + Railways to get $200m loan from China + Seven die in Gujrat bomb explosion + PML slams govt on law and order + Mansur's remand extended till 20th --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Foreign investment drops to $182m in 00-01 + PC chief unveils schedule: Accelerated privatization plan + FCAs won't be frozen, assures President + Pakistan asked to meet IMF criteria + UAE to give $265m for uplift projects + SBP scraps PIB auction to avoid monopoly + Working of WAPDA, KESC unsatisfactory: WB + US company to invest $2.4m in oil, gas exploration + New scheme to attract foreign remittance + Financial crunch hits police reforms + Efforts to put bourses back on track fail --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Pax VajMush Ardeshir Cowasjee + Roadmap to nowhere Ayaz Amir ----------- SPORTS + ACC sets Aug 23 deadline for India: Pakistan hopeful + Show must go on even without India + Wasim included but Moin ignored + Foster encourages Wasim, advises 'bad boy' Shoaib + Wasim misses out opening practice tie + Inzamam may sue English paper + Afridi slams 68 off 30 balls
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- General election in October next year, power transfer in Nov ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtashamul Haque ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: President Gen Pervez Musharraf unveiled a roadmap for the restoration of democracy, under which elections to the national, provincial and the senate would be held in October 2002. The election process, which will be completed in four phases, will also incorporate several amendments to the Constitution. Speaking at the gathering of newly-elected Nazims and Naib Nazims at the Convention Centre, the president said the election process would be completed through a "strategic plan" within the parameters provided by the Supreme Court. No exact date was given by the president for National and provincial assemblies elections. "These elections will be held between October 1 to October 11, 2002," he said. "Today I have fulfilled one of my major promises to hold elections within the timeframe given by the Supreme Court," he stated. Although the president did not specifically point out the constitutional amendments in his speech it is widely expected that the Eighth Constitutional Amendment would be restored with a provision that instead of the president dissolving the entire National Assembly, the Leader of the House (prime minister) could be dismissed for saving the system. Giving details of his plan, Gen Musharraf said the first phase towards restoration of democracy has been completed with the installation of district governments which have become functional from today. During the second phase, he said, which starts from Sept 1, 2001 and ends on June 30, 2002, the constitution of Election Commission and commencement of delimitation of constituencies would be finalized by October this year. The finalization of proposed constitutional amendments to introduce checks and balances and their release for public analyses/comments would be completed by May 2002. The announcement of constitutional amendments and completion of electoral rolls and delimitation of constituencies will be finalized by June 30, 2002. During the third phase, Gen Musharraf said, exact dates would be announced on July 10-11, 2002 for general elections to the national, provincial assemblies and senate. On Aug 1, 2002, the Election Commission will notify the election schedule. Filing of the nomination papers and their scrutiny, publication of the final list of candidates, allotment of symbols, printing of ballot papers, nomination of returning officers and designation of polling stations will be announced on Aug 7, 2002. He said transfer of power to the elected represented would be completed between October and November 2002 during which oath- taking of the elected members of the national, provincial assemblies and senate, election of the speaker and deputy speakers of the assemblies and chairman and deputy chairman of Senate and the formation of federal and provincial governments will be completed. During this period the federal and provincial governments will be formed followed by address of the president to the joint session of the parliament. Gen Musharraf hoped that the setting-up of district governments at the grass roots level and the completion of the general elections in October next year would establish true democracy in the country. However, he warned that there would be strong checks and balances to ensure that the new system worked to the satisfaction of the all the people of Pakistan. He said that new system would discourage corruption. He pointed out that on October 12, 1999 the present government found a situation where most institutions of state were either dysfunctional or were on the verge of collapse. Democracy had regressed into autocracy: dissent even within the ruling party had been prohibited by law; Centre's rule imposed on a province by misusing emergency powers; and the Supreme Court had been subjected to physical assault. The economy, he said, was in a state of virtual collapse and the investors' confidence stood shattered due to freezing of foreign currency accounts. Also taxation and accountability authority had been misused and massive loans were written off and defaults condoned, he added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Article 58(2)(b) to be restored ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Rafaqat Ali ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: The government will restore Article 58(2)(b), giving powers to the president to dissolve the National Assembly and dismiss the government on the recommendations of the Security Council. Officials assigned the task of drafting the constitutional amendments, to be introduced by June 30, 2002, told Dawn that the amendments would be within the framework of the mandate given by the Supreme Court in its judgment, validating military takeover. The Supreme Court, while granting powers to the chief executive to amend the Constitution, had directed him not to make any amendment in derogation of the federal structure of Pakistan, parliamentary form of government, independence of judiciary and Islamic provisions of the Constitution. The power to appoint services chiefs will again be given to the president to restore balance of power. The power to appoint services chief had been with the president since the restoration of democracy in 1985. However, it was taken back by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif through the 13th Amendment. Restoring Article 58(2) will not offend the judiciary as in its judgement (Mehmood Khan Achakzai case), the apex court had termed the said amendment a "safety valve". The discretionary powers under 58(2)(b) were first used by Gen Ziaul Haq in 1988 to remove Mohammed Khan Junejo. President Ghulam Ishaq Khan used this article on two occasions, once against the PPP and second against the PML. President Farooq Leghari dismissed the same political party which brought him to the President House. The military government will also equip the president to dismiss the government only, giving the same assembly another chance to elect a new leader of the house. The president will use these powers in consultation with the Security Council, consisting of seven members. Three services chiefs will be the members of the Security Council by virtue of their offices, and the remaining four civilians will be those "who can take dispassionate view of the situation." The method of appointment for the civilian members will be spelled out in the constitutional package. The government, sources said, wanted that power should not concentrate in the hands of an individual, who could use it on his personal whims. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan back on rails, says President ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: President General Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan is back on the rails and it can now look forward for a better future without sword of economic catastrophe dangling over it. "I feel that Pakistan is back on the rails. It is not me alone who feels this but businessmen and industrialists also share this view and it is confirmed by foreign economic experts. This is not a small achievement," Musharraf said while addressing a colourful flag-hoisting ceremony in front of the President House to mark the 55th Independence Day of Pakistan. "Apparently, we are in the gulf of despair and hopelessness. But something tells me that bold spirit is not dead at all." I am thankful to Allah Almighty for providing me with the opportunity to lead the process of rebuilding Pakistan with the help of my dedicated colleagues and with the support of the people of Pakistan. "We have overcome innumerable hurdles to a considerable extent. But our troubles are not yet over. We will have to work hard to overcome them. We are back on the road to recovery." He said revival of the economy was the main focus of his government, adding the government had done a lot to retrieve the economy from shambles. He also thanked the friendly countries for extending helping a hand to Pakistan in this hour of need. The President said the government had decided to keep reducing the borrowing from abroad. "We have been quite successful in bringing down the day-to-day expenses of the federal and provincial governments." The government, he said, had even frozen the defence allocations which, considering the situation on the borders, was no mean achievement. "This was made possible because of the desire of the armed forces to contribute to the national economic development and their professional capabilities to adjust to the change without lowering their guards." General Musharraf recalled that the Government had upheld its promise to hold local government elections under the devolution of power plan. He said strong criticism was made on this plan and "pages after pages were written on the certain failure of this system." However, he said, the people of Pakistan had turned up in an unprecedented number to cast their votes and political parties which described it as a poison for the provincial autonomy felt obliged to participate in these elections in their own way. He hoped that the this new form of the government mandated by the people themselves would prove a boon for the democracy. The President said the process of election would be carried forward for provincial and national assemblies as well in a similar transparent manner. Earlier, General Musharraf hoisted the national flag. The entire nation joined him in reciting the national anthem. The colourful flag hoisting ceremony was largely attended by the people from all walks of life.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Assemblies seats may be increased ------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Correspondent LAHORE, Aug 16: The population census held in March 1998 has put the government under a legal obligation to increase the number of seats in the national and provincial assemblies. Besides, a fresh delimitation of constituencies by the Election Commission of Pakistan also comes under the same liability as is provided by the Delimitation of Constituencies Act of 1974. Laying a general principle for delimitation of constituencies, Section 9 of the Act says that "all constituencies for Muslim seats shall, as far as possible, be delimited having regard to the distribution of population, including non-Muslims, in geographically compact areas, existing boundaries of administrative units, facilities of communication and public convenience and other cognate factors, to ensure homogeneity in the creation of constituencies; laying emphasis on the equality of population in constituencies of the same assembly, as far as possible." The Commission has started preliminary preparations to carry out the job of demarcations of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies constituencies and it will give the task a formal shape once they are reconstituted. At present the Commission only has its chairman, Justice (retd) Abdul Qadeer Chaudhry, and its two members are to be appointed to complete its formation. The reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan is part of the all important second phase towards the restoration of a democratic order in the country as announced by President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his Independence Day speech. Official sources hope that the three-member Commission will be completed within the month of September. As for the task of delimiting constituencies, the sources say the Commission has all the necessary data and material required for the job. The Commission is possessed with maps of the NA and PA constituencies on the basis of which the elections of 1997 were conducted. According to sources, the Commission has enough sources to execute the work of delimitation on its own. But in case help is needed, it will ask the newly-formed district governments for that. Previously, the Commission used to seek the help of deputy commissioners and now it may be the district coordination officers to do the job for the Commission, if at all the Commission felt for outside cooperation. As for increasing the number of seats in the legislatures, sources say that they will be decided by the government but since there is an increase in the population and the age of voter has also been lowered from 21 to 18 years, their number has to be increased. The government is also believed to be considering to follow the pattern of local councils for reintroducing reserved seats for women in more or less the same proportion. Local councils have 33 per cent seats reserved for women. Another proposal under consideration is that members of the national and provincial assemblies should have enough qualification to understand legislative work and other parliamentary practices. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ARD rejects Musharraf's democracy roadmap ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ashraf Mumtaz LAHORE, Aug 16: Rejecting President Gen Pervez Musharraf's schedule for general elections as unnecessarily stretched, the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy demanded the formation of a caretaker government of national complexion and an autonomous and independent Election Commission to hold elections "without delay". At an emergency meeting held under the chairmanship of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, the 16-party coalition demanded that the ban on political activities should be lifted forthwith and the government should declare in unambiguous terms that the elections would be held on party basis. The alliance also sought withdrawal of magisterial powers given to the police and dissolution of the National Security Council. The ARD refused to accept President Musharraf's right to amend the constitution, a verdict of the Supreme Court on the subject notwithstanding. Briefing reporters at the residence of PPP leader Mian Misbahur Rahman, the venue of the meeting, the Nawabzada said it was unfair to allocate full nine months for preparation of electoral rolls and delimitations. He said the local elections had been held on the basis of updated electoral rolls. There was, therefore, no need to waste time on the same exercise. "This (plan) simply shows that the rulers want to extend their tenure on one pretext or the other". Referring to the president's intentions to amend the constitution, he said all political parties and bar associations were unanimous in declaring that no individual had the right to amend the basic law. As for the argument that the Supreme Court had empowered the general to incorporate necessary amendments, the Nawabzada said since the apex court itself did not have such a power, it could not delegate it to anybody. He insisted that only an elected parliament could amend the constitution, and that too in a manner provided for by the constitution itself. Warning the rulers against any attempt to tinker with the constitution, the Nawabzada said already anti-federation forces were calling for the abolition of the 1973 constitution. He said everybody should bear in mind that in the prevailing circumstances it would not be possible for anybody to frame a new constitution. He alleged that intelligence agencies had played an active role in the recent local elections. Local elections, he also said, were essentially a provincial subject. Holding these polls under the Election Commission of Pakistan, therefore, had been a violation of the constitution. He said the ARD did not mean to deny the importance of local bodies but local elections had nothing to do with transfer of power. The ARD president said delegation of magisterial powers to the police was wrong and must be immediately rescinded. Replying to a question, the Nawabzada said the ARD did not have a monopoly of struggle for democracy. Other parties wishing to play their role, he said, were welcome to join it. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ANP dismisses roadmap for democracy ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report PESHAWAR, Aug 15: Awami National Party urged the government to announce immediate elections instead of holding them next year, and leave the issue of constitutional amendments to parliament. "Why should we wait till the last date given in the Supreme Court judgment? If elections are possible for the local bodies now, then why do we have to wait until next year for general elections?" ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan told Dawn. Commenting on the roadmap for democracy announced by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Khan said: "The maximum time that the government needs for holding general elections is 90 days. The roadmap for democracy is vague." The ANP chief questioned the authority of the Election Commission. "Allegations made during the recent local bodies elections have reinforced the demand for an autonomous and financially independent election commission. It is imperative that the next general elections are held under an autonomous and financially independent election commission, otherwise results would be questioned in the same manner as they have been after the local bodies elections." The ANP president wondered as to what was the use of going for constitutional amendments before elections when these would have to go parliament and approved by the elected representatives. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PML(LM) CWC meets on 25th ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: President of the Pakistan Muslim League (like- minded) Mian Azhar has summoned a two-day meeting of the central working committee at the party's central secretariat here on Aug 25, according to a press release issued here. Although agenda was not revealed, party sources said the meeting was likely to discuss the situation after the president's announcement of the roadmap for democracy. But, an insider said, the most important point to be discussed at the meeting would be a reunification with the Nawaz faction of the League. Proposals in this regard had been put forth by a two-member reconciliation committee, comprising Illahi Bakhsh Soomro and Sartaj Aziz, during a recent meeting with senior League leader, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the source said. The like-minded group, the source said, had demanded that the other faction should recognize the party election through which Mian Azhar had been elected president. The party might consider possibilities of entering into electoral alliance with other political parties, the source added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf, Vajpayee NY talks ruled out ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Hasan Akhtar ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: A meeting between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee "is not on the cards" in New York next month but that can take place in Pakistan before the year-end, foreign ministry spokesman Riaz M. Khan said. There was much speculation and a surfeit of press reports suggesting that the President and the Prime Minister might hold informal talks on the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting in New York in September, amid a perceptible rise in tension between New Delhi and Islamabad. Responding to questions at a news briefing, the foreign office spokesman said Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee had accepted the formal invitation to visit Pakistan for a summit meeting with President Musharraf, although the date and venue were yet to be set. He refrained from making a direct comment on the recent statement in parliament by the Indian PM accusing Pakistan of sponsoring "cross-border terrorism" in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir, but recalled President Musharraf's "comprehensive statement" on Aug 14, reiterating Pakistan's desire to continue talks with India. Pakistan was committed to a dialogue with India to seek an early solution to the Kashmir problem on the basis of "norms of justice" and "wishes of the people of Kashmir" and to simultaneously discuss "all other issues" between the two countries, he said. Mr Riaz affirmed that Pakistan stood committed to Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration as well as the United Nations' Kashmir resolutions while India attempted to portray the July 15 Agra summit as a "non-event". DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan willing to continue talks on Kashmir issue ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: President Pervez Musharraf said he was willing to "go to any length" to keep good ties with India and settle disputes between the two neighbours. In the flag-hoisting speech marking 54th Independence Day, he said he wanted further talks with India after his summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee last month collapsed because of differences over Kashmir. "We are in favour of further talks on the Kashmir dispute and other issues of difference with India without sacrificing our sovereignty and our national honour and our national dignity," Musharraf said. "We are willing to go to any length in order to maintain friendly relations with all our neighbours, which is particularly true with regard to India because we are convinced that without the amicable solution of the Kashmir dispute the two countries cannot progress." -Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- CE asks Indian leaders to exercise restraint ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: President Pervez Musharraf has called upon the Indian leadership to "exercise restraint" in their statements to improve relations between the two countries. "I am exercising restraint myself and trying to avoid giving provocative statements with the sole purpose of settling disputes with India through peaceful means," he said. He said that Pakistan wanted peaceful resolution of all disputes with India including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. "I have adopted a positive attitude and now the Indian leadership should respond in the same fashion so that our differences on various issues could be narrowed down," the president urged. "I think there should be some decorum and it cannot be achieved unless both the sides exercise restraint," Gen Musharraf said. "There should not be a violation of rules to improve our relations." He regretted that all kinds of negative statements were being made in India after the Agra summit. "But I want to say with all sincerity that Pakistan wants good relations with India. Pakistan wants to continue holding talks with India to settle the Kashmir issue," he said. Nevertheless, he reiterated that without the resolution of Kashmir issue, relations between the two countries were not likely to improve. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Special Powers Act to intensify repression in Valley' ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: The Foreign Office spokesman said that the Indian government's decision to extend to the Jammu region its so- called Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1990 is a further evidence of its policy of brutal repression against the popular freedom struggle in occupied territory. "The government of Pakistan condemns this decision which will further intensify repression and human rights violations by the Indian occupation forces in Jammu and Kashmir," the spokesman said. He said, this black law, which has been applied to the Kashmir valley for over a decade, gives license to the Indian armed forces to shoot and kill people at will. According to the All Parties Hurriyet Conference, 700,000 Indian military, paramilitary and police forces have massacred more than 75,000 innocent Kashmiris since 1989, the spokesman said. He said, the Indian reign of terror has brutalized the people of the occupied state.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Altaf to visit India to help resolve Kashmir issue ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Aug 12: The chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Husain, has said that he will soon visit India to strengthen the efforts aimed at seeking a resolution of the Kashmir issue. He added that he would not only visit India, but would also visit Russia and other countries to voice the injustices being perpetuated on the people of smaller provinces. He urged the Sindhi intellectuals and writers to shun their old prejudices and differences created by the "Punjabi Establishment" and join the struggle for the rights of Sindh. He said he was ready to work under the leadership of any party if it did not toe the line of the Establishment, adding that he sincerely believed in the unity of Sindh and the rights of Sindhi people. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US senators accuse China of selling arms ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Aug 16: Despite Chinese denials of reports that it has been selling arms and missile-related equipment to Pakistan, Iran and North Korea, accusations against Beijing continue, and three US senators repeated the charges. The senators, Joseph Biden, who heads the Senate foreign relations committee, and Fred Thomson were among four who paid a visit to China earlier this month, and the two appeared in a television program to call for sanctions against Chinese companies alleged to be involved in weapons' transfers. Another member of the senatorial delegation that visited China, Arlen Specter, alleged Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Prime Minister Zhu Rongji had "stonewalled" during discussions of the issue. On Monday, the State Department had announced it would be sending an inter-agency delegation to Beijing for talks on arms sales and the perceived failure of China to abide by a commitment made last year that such sales would not be undertaken. China has consistently maintained that it has not sold any weapon parts or components to Pakistan or anyone else since the undertaking was given last November. The right-wing Washington Times quoted unnamed US intelligence officials in a report last week as saying that China had continued to supply missile-related technology and components for Pakistan's Shaheen-1 and Shaheen-2 strategic missile programs and that a US spy satellite had detected a shipment from the China Machinery and Equipment Corporation as late as May 1 as it crossed the border into Pakistan. A senior Bush administration official had told the paper that China's missile exports to Pakistan were particularly serious and could lead to US sanctions. Reporting on the senators' comments on Thursday, the paper said Senator Specter had told Chinese officials "rather bluntly" that the evidence from intelligence sources was "powerful." But they had been rebuffed by the Chinese, who have retorted by referring to the US support for Taiwan's military build-up which Beijing says is directed against it. The repeat accusations on the Chinese sales issue coincide with the arrival in Washington of Foreign Secretary Inamul Haque for two days of discussions with US officials on a whole range of bilateral and regional issues. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Inam off to US to discuss curbs ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Hasan Akhtar ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Foreign Secretary Inamul Haque left for Washington to have consultations with his US counterpart on the latest developments in respect of bilateral relations, particularly in the context of presidential announcement of the "political roadmap" for democracy and the regional situation. The foreign secretary's meetings are scheduled on Friday and Saturday. One of the topics at the State Department talks may relate to the reported intention of the US to move next month for lifting sanctions on India and Pakistan imposed after the 1998 nuclear explosions. The US administration is reported to be close to withdraw sanctions against India and to resume military and economic cooperation sometime next month. A similar American action regarding the sanctions against Pakistan is stated to be in considerable doubt. Pakistan suffers from sanctions both on account of having carried out nuclear tests as well as because of the overthrow of the constitutional democratic order by the military on Oct 12, 1999. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No decision yet on lifting of sanctions ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Aug 13: The United States is still in the process of reviewing sanctions against India and Pakistan and no decisions have yet been made. This was clarified by deputy spokesman Philip Reeker at the State Department's daily when he was asked to comment on reports that a process of lifting sanctions against India might begin as soon as Congress returns from its summer break next month. Mr Reeker said headlines notwithstanding, a review of the sanctions policy was going on and Congress was being consulted. No conclusions had been reached so far. He again outlined the well- known position with regard to Pakistan, pointing out that apart from the sanctions imposed following nuclear tests in 1998, which also apply to India, Islamabad was also faced various other curbs such as those under the Glenn, Pressler and Symington amendments and those that went into force under United States law when Pakistan slipped into military rule. The deputy spokesman also again underlined the importance the US attached to its relationship with India. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan criticized for closing border with Afghanistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Qamar Ahmed LONDON, Aug 11: Pakistan's military regime has been accused of breach of international law for closing the border with neighbouring Afghanistan and at the same time pushing the refugees back into Afghanistan. A lead article in Saturday's 'The Guardian' also says that Pakistan has refused to allow the UN to provide aid to the arrivals from across the border. According to the writer of the article the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees had signed a deal last week with Pakistan government under which the UNHCR is allowed to vet the arrivals and provide aid to those who are regarded as legitimate refugees but there is a big worry by some that Pakistani officials will not accept the UN's criteria for what makes a legitimate refugee, says the paper. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Diplomats get Afghan visit visa: Leave for Kabul ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Syed Talat Hussain ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: Three officials of the US, German and Australian missions in Islamabad will fly to Afghanistan on a UN plane on Tuesday to meet the Taliban officials with the request that they be allowed to see their nationals detained on the charge of preaching Christianity, diplomatic sources confirmed on Monday. The visit became possible after the Taliban gave the officials of these embassies the visas to travel to Afghanistan just before noon on Sunday. However, the Taliban's visa is restricted in nature and does not allow the possibility of a meeting between these officials and the detained foreign nationals of Shelter Now International, the non-governmental organization accused of proselytizing Afghans to Christianity. Immediately after the Taliban granted the visas, meetings were held at the US Embassy on whether or not to accept the restricted visas. According to diplomatic sources, while the granting of the visas had resolved a major issue, the denial of access to the detained workers fell short of the demand of these embassies to meet their nationals. Eventually, however, a decision was taken to send a three-member group, one American, one German and one Australian diplomat, to meet the Taliban inside Afghanistan. The diplomats say that they have not given up their basic demand that they should be allowed to provide legal and consular services to their nationals. However, the Taliban's position is that the officials of these embassies are being allowed in Afghanistan only for taking up the whole matter, and for showing them the evidence they have gathered against the detained workers. These nationals, the Taliban say, will be tried once investigations are completed against them and till then they cannot be allowed to meet anyone. "For us it (the visit) is simply an opportunity to press the Taliban to fulfil their international obligation of giving us access to our nationals. There is little else to discuss as far as we are concerned," said one diplomat. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- President unfolds economic strategy: 20 mega projects ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday unfolded his new economic strategy that seeks to undertaking 20 mega development projects costing over Rs200 billion during the next three-year period. The major projects include Gomal Zam Dam, Mirani Dam, Greater Thal Canal project, Right Bank Outfall Drainage project (RBOD), development of coastal highways, Chashma Right Bank Canal project, Greater Quetta Water Supply project, Northern Bypass and the initiation of Turbat-Band road project in Balochistan. In addition to these projects, the president said that feasibility study was currently being conducted for some more projects which include Kachi Canal project, supply of 100 gallon water project in Karachi, undertaking M-3 and M-4 motorway project, building of Gwadar-Turbat road and Gwadar port with the help of China and the development of Thar Coal project in Sindh. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweeping powers given to police: President amends law ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: President Gen Pervez Musharraf amended Police Act of 1861, giving sweeping powers to the police system being introduced with the establishment of district governments in the country. An order called 'Police (Amendment) Order 2001,' was issued late on Sunday night by President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as the chief executive and in exercise of the authority assumed by him under Provisional Constitutional Order of 1861. An official involved in the formulation of police reforms said the order had covered only few areas related to introduction of Zila Nazims and District Public Safety Commissions and a detailed ordinance would be issued within a month. The official seeking anonymity, said these amendments were approved at a recent meeting presided over by the President. When asked whether the objections raised by the provincial governments had been addressed, he replied in the affirmative. The blanket power vested in the police force included acquiring of any unclaimed property. "It shall be the duty of every police office to take charge of all unclaimed property and to furnish an inventory to the district superintendent of police who shall send a copy of the inventory to the district public safety commission." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Experts find flaws in new police law ------------------------------------------------------------------- By M. Arshad Sharif ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The Police (Amendment) Order 2001 does not resonate with the devolution and decentralization policy of the government as it concentrates executive, magisterial and municipal powers in the hands of police officers, legal experts said. Talking to Dawn, Advocate Niaz A Shah Kakakhel said that in the case of Police Amendment Order 2001 the federation is encroaching upon the constitutionally granted power of the provinces by dealing with the law and order subject and encroaching upon provincial autonomy. "The Police Act 1861 is a provincial statute as once a provincial government adopts the Act by an order in the official gazette, only it has the power to withdraw it." Sources said that all the four provincial governments had objected to the promulgation of the Police Ordinance as proposed by the National Reconstruction Bureau. On refusal to promulgate the provincial Ordinances before Aug 14, the Centre was forced to issue an Order to give legal cover to the role of the police in the newly elected local government. Legal experts said that Section 15 of the Police Order 2001, which confers magisterial powers on the police officials, violates the principle of separation of executive and judiciary as enshrined in the Constitution. Sources said that the Police (Amendment) Order 2001 creates an imbalance between responsibility and authority of provincial government by making the district police officer responsible to the Zila Nazim under section 5. "The new police order will preclude the provincial government from carrying out its primary duty of maintenance of law and order by reducing its role to resolution of disputes between the Zila Nazim and the provincial government under clause 3 of section 5 of the Police Order 2001, sources added. Experts feared that the commissions would not be able to exercise civilian control over police because they are only advisory bodies having no meaningful powers to initiate inquiry or power to transfer a police officer of any rank. The commissions, as formed under the Order 2001, do not have daily monitoring system nor judicial, executive or financial control over the police department, they added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Politicians reject govt move to redefine powers ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ashraf Mumtaz LAHORE, Aug 12: While the government is set to redefine the powers of the centre and the provinces to take the devolution plan to its logical conclusion, various political leaders have strongly opposed the move as detrimental to the unity of the country. Some of the leaders, while talking to Dawn on Sunday, apprehended that under the new scheme the provinces would be robbed of what they already had. However, some others also questioned the competence of the government to disturb the arrangement delineated in the constitution. ARD President Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan said the military regime had no authority to make any change in the existing framework of the distribution of powers between the federation and the provinces. To change the current arrangement, he said, the constitution would have to be amended and such an act was beyond the competence of the present rulers. The senior leader said that a decision on decentralisation or re- distribution of powers between the centre and the provinces could be taken only by an elected parliament through a procedure laid down in the 1973 constitution. He said if the decision on the quantum of autonomy was taken by the military regime, which they are planning to do, the constitution and parliament would become redundant. The Nawabzada said while there was a need for maximum provincial autonomy, the centre should also not be left at the mercy of the provinces as in such a situation the working of the federal government would come to a halt in case the provinces refused to contribute funds to the centre. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Terrorism to be curbed, says law minister ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: By banning the two sectarian organizations and placing their guardians under observation, the government has sent a clear message that it is serious in combating terrorism and would go to any length to rid the nation of this curse. This was stated by the officials of the Law and Interior division, at a press conference. They said the government would not allow terrorism activities to go unchecked and would continue making efforts for reviving a tolerant society in which people belonging to all religious sects could live in a peaceful manner. The joint press conference was addressed by Law Minister Shahida Jamil and Interior Secretary Tasneem Noorani, and officials of both the ministries. Giving justification for amending the anti- terrorism law, the law minister said terms like "fundamentalism" and "terrorism" had earned a bad name for the country and affected flow of investment in the country. The present government, she said, was committed to change this image and a campaign is being launched to maintain law and order in the country. The law minister said the amended law provided that the banned organizations could file review application against the government decision. If not satisfied with the findings of the Proscribed Organization Review Committee, high courts and Supreme Court could be approached, she added. She said investors were not willing to invest in Pakistan due to the law and order situation. To a question, the officials explained that the decision to keep the two organizations, Tehrik-i-Jafferia Pakistan and Sipha-i-Sahaba, under observation, was valid for six months. Interior secretary when asked whether any formal instructions had been issued for keeping the two parties under observation, said so far no order had been issued, but added that order would be issued soon. When told that the verbal orders of the chief executive regarding banning the two outfits had no standing in the eyes of the law, the officials did not offer any reply. The officials said any publicity of the banned organizations was prohibited and the newspaper should desist from publishing statements of the members of the banned organizations. The officials said restriction of publication was, in fact, in favour of the press. Earlier, the press had no justification to publish their statements. The law minister explained that "factual news report, made in good faith, shall not be construed to mean projection." The interior secretary said if the government had objection to any report, a challan would be submitted in the court and it would be up to the court to decide the case. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- TJP slams Musharraf's warning ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report HYDERABAD, Aug 15: A spokesman for the Tehrik-i-Jafria Pakistan (TJP) has taken strong exception to President Pervez Musharraf's speech that the president delivered on the Independence Day, warning the party that he would not hesitate to ban it. In a statement, issued, the spokesman said the warning was an insult to the Shias, and added that the warning had been issued on the advice of "inefficient" advisors (to the president). The Lashkar-i-Jhangvi was simply non-existent and "this fact is known to the agencies and the entire nation", he said, adding that the fact was that the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan itself was involved in the bloodshed. The TJP spokesman claimed that press reports were witness to the fact that all the terrorists that had been arrested belonged to the Sipah-i-Sahaba-i-Pakistan. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Crackdown on banned groups launched: 200 activists arrested ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Asif Shahzad LAHORE, Aug 15: The Punjab police launched a crackdown on outlawed Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ) and Sipah-i-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) and arrested their 50 leaders and activists. It also raided Sipah-i-Sahaba (SSP) and Tehrik-i-Jafaria (TJP) offices in its search for 'terrorists'. The arrests were made in pre-dawn raids throughout the province. However, AFP quoting officials from Islamabad reported that the police arrested more than 200 people in a crackdown against two organizations throughout the country. It said heavy police contingents raided residences of the suspects, mainly in the central Punjab, scene of recurring violence and sectarian killings. The TJP head office in Lahore was sealed whereas sub-offices were raided by heavy police contingents accompanied by members of Elite Force and commandos, our reporter continues. Sources said the head office was sealed following information of an intelligence agency that the premises was being used by its splinter group, the SMP. However, the authorities concerned later allowed re-opening of the head office when the TJP leadership lodged strong protest. The SSP head office in Shahdara, Lahore, was also raided. Residences of the SSP and TJP leadership and their workers were also raided. During the operation, police seized 'objectionable' literature from the offices and residences of the leaders and workers. Of the arrests, 24 were made in Lahore. A Punjab police official told Dawn that fate of those arrested would be decided at a meeting. "Those who are not wanted in any case will be released." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- TJP,SSP warned: Sipah-i-Muhammad and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi banned ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: President Pervez Musharraf announced an immediate ban on two sectarian organizations - Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and Sipah-i-Muhammad. Activities of two others - Sipah-i-Sahaba and Tehrik-i-Jafaria - would be watched, he said. "I warn the Sipah-i-Sahaba and Tehrik-i-Jafaria that I will not hesitate to ban them also," the president said while addressing Nazims, Naib Nazims and District Coordination Officers at the Convention Centre here. Nobody would be allowed to incite sectarian and ethnic hatred and, for that, a law, in an amended form, was being introduced today, President Musharraf said. The law prescribed stringent punishment for terrorism, he said, adding that the chief justice had already issued instructions for the disposal of terrorism cases on priority basis, he said. Law enforcement agencies, including the police and rangers, had been instructed to carry out operations against sectarian and ethnic organizations, he added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Anti-Terrorism Act amended ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: President Gen Pervez Musharraf introduced amendments to anti-terrorism law, empowering the government to ban any organization involved in terrorism. Under the amended law printing, publishing, or disseminating any material, for projecting any person convicted for a terrorist act or any banned organization or an organization placed under observation would be an offence punishable with imprisonment up to six months. The amended law, however, provided an exception. "A factual news report made in good faith shall not be construed to mean projection (of person or organization)." The amended anti-terrorism law, called Anti-Terrorism (amendment) Ordinance, 2001, says that organizations proscribed for its activities like Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and Sipha-i-Muhammad, could apply, within 30 days of the government order, for the review of the decision. The organizations placed under observation, like Tehrik Nifaz Fiqah-i-Jaferia and Sipha-i-Sahaba Pakistan, could also file review application against the government order. Offices of the proscribed organizations can be sealed, and accounts frozen. The organization under observation will have to submit accounts of income and expenditure. The parties proscribed could, however, apply to the federal government for lifting of ban after three years from the date of proscription and the government, if satisfied with the explanation of the party, may lift the ban. The law enforcement agencies can lay a cordon for terrorist investigation of any area by demarcation of the cordoned area for 14 days, extendible from time to time but not beyond 20 days from the date of laying cordon. All those offences triable under the ATA law, with punishment up to 3 years, would be non-bailable. No court, except the ATA court, High Court or Supreme Court, will be empowered to grant bail to the accused under ATA (amendment) Ordinance, 2001. Under the amended law, giving directions for terrorist activities while living abroad, is an offence, punishable with seven years imprisonment. To protect the judges, witnesses, and other persons related to a case, the amended law provides for closed door proceedings. Those convicted under terrorism charges will not be entitled to remission of sentence except the juvenile convicts. The government under the law would have powers to take action by sealing the office of the said organization and freezing its accounts. All literature, posters, banners or other gadgets which could be used for fanning sectarianism could also be seized. Under the law all the religious parties, under watch, would be required to disclose their funding sources by submitting all accounts of their income and expenditure. A police officer could arrest a member of the banned organization without any warrant, if he had reasonable grounds to believe that the person was guilty of an offence under the anti-terrorism law, but would have to produce before the magistrate within 24 of the arrest. Statements prohibited: The Punjab government has said legal action will be taken against publication which carries statements from anyone or made on the behalf of the two banned sectarian organizations - the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and the Sipah-i-Muhammad. An official handout issued here on Tuesday said the government, through the amended Terrorist Act, 2001, has banned publication, printing or dissemination of any press statement, press conferences or public utterances by or on behalf of the two banned organizations. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PPP opposes role for army in uplift projects ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) expressed concern on reports suggesting a role for the military in local development projects. A spokesman for the party said such role would further deepen the divide between the Army and the people. He said "the policies of the government have already pitted the army against the people as never before. The new scheme, of empowering army men to run the local governments or clearing the development projects, will only deepen the divide further". The spokesman said the proposal if implemented, would divest the local and provincial governments of all authority and concentrating powers in the GHQ. This is nothing but imposition of the notorious One Unit on the hapless provinces and make a mockery of devolution and the rights of the people. He said the government had already sacked hundreds of low paid civil employees from government and autonomous departments replacing them with serving and retired army men at hefty salaries. He said the government had kept the army men beyond the net of accountability and refused to take notice of 'corruption within its ranks'. The spokesman alleged the state bureaucracy had been terrorised and demoralized through the so called army monitoring teams. Defence personnel alone, as a class, had been exempted from toll tax on highways giving the message that the military was a class apart from the common citizen, he added. He said "but pandering to its constituency in such a thoughtless and insensitive manner as to bring the paving of streets and lining of drains under the military teams, the government is doing incalculable damage to the federation and also to the institution of the army itself." He said his party urged the government to desist from adopting policies which were bound to strike at the root of federation and erode its integrity.-PPI DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- $150m ADB loan likely for judicial reforms ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: The Asian Development Bank is likely to extend $150 million by December this year to help Pakistan undertake judicial reforms. A six-member team of the bank is arriving here on Aug 20 to discuss and finalize the" Access to Justice Program (AJP) Loan". It will also review proposed police reforms and dovolution process. The overall objective of the loan is to help improve access to justice so as to: (i) provide security and justice to people, particularly the poor; (ii) strengthen legitimacy of state institutions; and (iii) create conditions for the revival of growth by fostering confidence of investors. The following five major outcomes are expected: 1. Enactment of laws and regulations, consistent with the Constitution, to carry out reform policies for the judiciary, police and decentralised administration. These include laws for freedom of information, consumer protection, and accountability of public servants and government officials. 2. Greater efficiency and effectiveness in Judicial, Police and Administrative Services. Measures include improved records and information management, linking courts, prisons, and the police, facilitating fair and expeditious justice, and implementation of Small Causes Courts, and amendments to the Family Court Act. 3. Greater equity and accessibility to Judicial, Police and Administrative Services for the vulnerable poor. Some steps in this regard could be publication of laws in Urdu, functioning of conciliation courts at district level, and the establishment of a legal empowerment fund to encourage representation of justice interests of the vulnerable poor. 4. Improved predictability and consistency between fiscal and human resource allocation and requirements of reformed judicial, police and administration institutions. This would involve the approval of a judicial sector medium-term budget and expenditure framework to provide a more predictable and increasing fiscal and human resourcing for the sector. 5. Greater transparency and accountability in performance of the judiciary, police and administration. Steps include the publication of annual performance reports by high courts, and establishment and proper resourcing of Public Safety Commissions at national, provincial, and district levels. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ADB okays $100m drought aid ------------------------------------------------------------------- MANILA, Aug 16: Pakistan is to receive 100 million dollars in emergency aid from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as drought aid, the Manila-based lender said. The three-year project will build small reservoirs and retention dams, improve community-managed irrigation and water supply systems, rehabilitate village roads and support critical public services for agriculture and health care, an ADB statement said. The bank said the three-year dry spell has wrought havoc for millions of rural people in Balochistan and Sindh provinces, with the Islamabad government projecting a balance of payments deficit of 927 million dollars this year as a consequence. "As we don't know how long the drought will last, the urgent need is to provide income opportunities for the most affected communities," said ADB agriculture and rural development division manager Fred Roche. "At the same time, there is a need to set the stage for post-drought recovery in the affected regions." The bank did not say if the aid would be in the form of loans or grants, but said the funds would come from loan savings on ongoing projects in Pakistan. -AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- WB to help repair highways ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Mr Rashid was talking to a delegation of the World Bank, headed by Navaid Qureshi, who called on him at the communications ministry said the World Bank had agreed in principle to provide financial assistance for repair of 10 sections of Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar national highway, which also included the six-lane Lahore-Gujranwala section. He said the whole project would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs12 billion, out of which the World Bank had agreed in principle to provide Rs8 billion. He said the remaining Rs4 billion would be provided from the amount of toll tax and by the government. The secretary said National Highway Authority (NHA) had adopted a new system of toll collection from highways. The amount will be used for construction and maintenance of highways, he added. The leader of the World Bank delegation said a policy needed to be chalked out, keeping in view the conditions of Pakistan. He said the bank would extend all possible cooperation in this regard. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Railways to get $200m loan from China ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: China's Exim Bank will provide $200 million soft-term loan to Pakistan for modernization of its railway system. This was stated by Communication Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi while talking to newsmen here on Saturday after his meeting with the Chinese Railway Minister Fu Zhen Huan. "We discussed financial package to be provided by the Exim Bank for supply of 69 locomotives and 175 coaches to Pakistan Railways," he said, adding the terms and conditions of the financing would be finalized over the next two weeks. All the technical issues in this regard have already been finalized, he added. Under the arrangements, the Chinese firm Dong Fang Electric Corporation would provide 69 locomotives to Pakistan Railways under supplier credit program, while the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation would supply 175 passenger coaches to the Pakistan Railways. The Chinese government has also accepted Pakistan's request of helping in selecting the equipment to be provided to Pakistan Railways. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Seven die in Gujrat bomb explosion ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Wajahat Ijaz GUJRAT, Aug 11: Seven people died when a powerful bomb planted in a motorcycle rickshaw exploded. The victims included a couple and their three sons. It was so powerful that it threw a body on to the roof of a nearby house. Another body was recovered from the premises of the municipal committee which is about 20 feet from the spot. The district administration and the police arrived at the spot 30 minutes after the blast. The victims were taken to the DHQ hospital by the Edhi ambulances. One of the injured, Imtiaz, was taken to a hospital in Lahore due to his critical condition and driver Faizullah was shifted to the combined military hospital in Kharian. Police quoted the driver as saying a man who boarded the three-wheeler at the Ram Talai Chowk and got off near the Children's Park moments before the blast, might be the culprit. The officials of bomb disposal squad told Dawn that they could not find the bomb detonator. "It is very difficult for us to tell the weight, power and type of the bomb in the absence of the detonator," they added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PML slams govt on law and order ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reportesr ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The Pakistan Muslim League (N) has said the killing of seven people including three children and injuries to dozens of others in Gujrat bomb blast on Saturday testifies to the failure of the military regime in ensuring protection to the life, honor and property of the people. In a statement issued here Sunday, the PML (N) leader said that since October 12, 1999 military takeover, the rulers had "set a record of failures" in all fields of life, with law and order topping this list. Citing examples of the military rulers failure in maintaining the law and order, Saranjam Khan said that on July 26, Managing Director of PSO Shaukat Mirza and his driver were assassinated in Karachi. Two days later, PML leader Muhammad Siddique Khan Kanju and Aslam Joya were killed in Lodhran in a bustling bazaar. He said on July 30, the Director, Ministry of Defence, Zafar Hussain Zaidi was murdered in Karachi, followed by the killing of a religious leader Syed Rizwan Shah in Lahore, the same day. The PML Secretary General said the increasing incidents of terrorism, dacoities and abductions for ransom had tarnished the image of the country in the eyes of the international community, strengthening their impression about Pakistan as "a country without law." He said the de-weaponization campaign of the government was aimed more at jacking up its image than at eliminating illegal weapon culture. He said the drive had in fact disarmed the peaceful and law-abiding citizens, throwing them at the mercy of the terrorists and the anti-social elements. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mansur's remand extended till 20th ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter RAWALPINDI, Aug 13: An accountability court extended the remand of the former navy chief, Admiral (Rtd) Mansurul Haq, till August 20. Admiral Haq is facing the charges of receiving kickbacks and commission in a defence deal. Abdul Baseer Qureshi, the additional deputy prosecutor-general requested the court for the extension in the admiral's remand for another seven days. Chaudhry Naseer, representing the accused, did not oppose the request. According to the interim reference Admiral Haq received over $3.37 million commissions, kickbacks and bribes from foreign firms, for supply of defence materials to the navy. The same court fixed September 4 as a date to frame charges against Dr Abdul Qadoos, deputy director Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), S.K. Rehman, former member finance, PARC, and Moazzam Rashid Dar, the accounts officer of the PARC in a corruption case. The court has already declared the main accused, the former chairman of the council, Dr C.M. Anwar and his four associates in the same case as proclaimed offenders. The other accused are PARC project director Abdul Jabbar, assistant director Muzaffar Naushad, assistant Aslam Pervaiz Durrani, and Daud Mir of the Wings Motors Lahore. All the five accused are facing charges of causing huge loss to the national exchequer and misusing their power by purchasing different vehicles for official use on higher prices than the market rate through fictitious dealers without proper tendering, quotations or advertisements.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Foreign investment drops to $182m in 00-01 ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Sabihuddin Ghausi KARACHI, Aug 14: Foreign investment in Pakistan dropped down to all time low of $182 million during last fiscal from $543.4 million a year earlier in 1999-2000 mainly because of the heavy withdrawal of portfolio investment. Stock brokers report of withdrawal of $140.4 million or more than Rs8 billion at an average rate of Rs60 a dollar during 2000-01 plunging the stocks to go down below 1,300 points. Left with no choice, the government at the highest level, is seeking intervention of the nationalized banks to stop this rot and contain this plunge before it hits the psychological mark of 1,200 points. The government now expects the nationalized commercial banks to invest from their funds. How far the banks respond to government's request for putting at stake depositors' funds in PTCL and PSO equities which are at historically low at present is yet to be seen. During last fiscal, $12 million portfolio investment flowed in from Singapore but more than $152 million were withdrawn. A year earlier in 1999-2000 $73.5 million were invested in the stocks. Highest amount of $37.8 million was withdrawn by the USA investors followed by $36.9 million by Swiss investors, $33.8 million by the investors in UK, $16.3 million by the Hong Kong, $10.9 million by the UAE, $1.7 million by Saudi Arabia, and $1.3 million by Dutch investors. Flow of direct foreign investment also came down by about 30 per cent to $322.4 million in 2000-01 from $469.9 million in 1999-2000. Highest amount of $92.7 million flowed in from the USA followed by $90.5 million from UK, $56.6 million from Saudi Arabia, $15.5 million from Germany, $4.8 million from the Netherlands, $3.7 million from Korea, $3.7 million from Singapore and $3.6 million from Switzerland. Oil and gas are becoming focus of foreign investors' attention where the highest amount of $84.7 million investment flowed in. Transport, storage and communications received $81.5 million investment followed by food, beverage and tobacco sector received investment of $45.1 million mainly because, the Pakistan Tobacco offered right shares of $39.2 million in November and December last year. Direct foreign investment in power amounts to $40.3 million followed by $26.3 million in chemicals, pharmaceuticals and fertilizers, $15.2 million in cement, $12.5 million in construction, $13.2 million in trade, $8.7 million in petro- chemicals and petroleum refining. Financial sector reported withdrawal of $34.9 million investment in the last fiscal. It pertains to $36 million disinvestment on acquisition of three branches of Bank of America by the Union Bank. Another $9.2 million disinvestment transaction pertains to Gulf Commercial Bank taken over by the PICIC. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PC chief unveils schedule: Accelerated privatization plan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Aug 16: Chairman of the Privatization Commission Saleem Altaf announced a detailed schedule of what can be termed as an "accelerated privatization program" of a large number of public sector enterprises commencing from this month. He conceded that there has been some delay in the privatization but as he explained it was because of the time consumed in framing and placement of regulatory frameworks, taking up of sectoral reforms, appointment of top class financial advisers and to ensure that the "process remains transparent, it attracts maximum number of investors in Pakistan and there is an even-playing field for all the investors". The PC chairman gave an update on privatization while speaking at a seminar organized by Mediators, a private public affairs consultant company, on "Pakistan's Privatization - Policy and Programme" on Thursday. Sindh finance minister Dr Abdul Hafiz Sheikh spoke on the central issues and concerns with reference to the privatization while Dr Mateen Thobani made a detailed presentation on the steps involved in privatization of public assets. Depending on the conditions of the stock exchanges, Saleem Altaf indicated two capital market transactions - 16.6 per cent Muslim Commercial Bank shares and 5 to 10 per cent National Bank of Pakistan shares - would be offered to investors either this month or in September. He was hopeful of offering 35 per cent shares of Pakistan Oilfields either this month or in September and 35 per cent shares of Attock Refinery in December through bourses. He expects bidding of PTCL and the United Bank in November. He said that 11 investors have given expressions of interest (EoI) for the PTCL and 21 for the UBL. He indicated bidding for nine oil and gas fields next month for which 15 EoIs have been received from Pakistan, USA, Canada, China, Oman, Malaysia, Netherlands and Austria. October may also see the bidding for strategic sale of 58 per cent shares of National Investment Trust for which 11 EoIs have been received. In October he expects the appointment of financial adviser for the Habib Bank which may be taken to market in March or April next year. The PC chairman announced the completion of the pre-qualification process for Pak-Saudi Fertilisers for which bidding may take place in next five or six weeks after the announcement of fertilizer policy. Privatization transaction for the PSO is expected to be taken to market in December this year while EoI's for either 51 per cent or 26 per cent shares of the OGDCL are likely to be invited in November or December. He announced that the financial adviser was conducting the due diligence and preparing financial and technical models for the transaction of the KESC which may be taken to market next April or May. Responding to a question, the PC chairman clarified that the financial adviser for the KESC was being paid 2 million dollars and not 5 million dollars as was being said in certain quarters. Of this fee, he said, the ADB has offered one million dollar grant while the government is paying one million dollar. A top ranking financial adviser has already been identified for facilitating privatization of the Pakistan Petroleum which may take seven months. Similarly EoIs have been sought for appointment of financial advisers of the Sui Southern and Sui Northern. Saleem Altaf also spelt out the schedule of privatization of six other enterprises of which he expects transactions next month of Lasbella Textile, Flatties Hotel, PECO and National Power Construction while those of Malam Jabba Ski Resort and Javedan Cement in November. Sindh Finance Minister Dr Hafiz Sheikh, who was associated in the privatization process in Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia and a few other countries as a functionary of the World Bank, shared his experiences and suggested a strategy to counter the moves of what he called "hidden opponents" of the privatization programme. He stressed for maintaining a communication with the people to assure them that disinvestment of public enterprises and change of the government control management to private sector serves their interest best. Public sector enterprises in Pakistan, he said, suffer a loss of Rs90 billion a year which is passed on to the people who have to pay taxes. Dr Mateen Thobani spoke of the time taken in creating an enabling environment and gave a history of the PTCL privatization launched in 1992. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- FCAs won't be frozen, assures President ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, Aug 16: Urging exporters to bring their foreign exchange earnings back to the country and honestly declare them to the central bank, President Gen Pervez Musharraf has reassured them that the foreign currency accounts (FCAs) will never be frozen in future. The President was speaking at the inauguration of a software technology park at the Aiwan-i-Iqbal. He said the government would provide all facilities to the software exporters and support their endeavors to increase their exports. He said the government had already announced several incentives for the software exporters so that they could push up their exports to $1 billion in the shortest possible time. He said Pakistan had quality human resources and infrastructure whose full potential needed to be exploited and exports increased. He said the promotion of information technology (IT) and the economic recovery of the country were two top priorities of his government. He said major initiatives had been taken to expand computer literacy, develop human resources and make the facility of Internet available to all people throughout the country. He was of the view that IT could be exploited to alleviate poverty in the rural areas where 60 to 70 per cent of the country's population resided and to create jobs for the educated unemployed in the urban areas. He said his administration had already embarked upon an e- government program to make the public sector more efficient and transparent. He said software parks were being set up to promote software exports. One such park, he said, had already been established in Islamabad. He said the private sector would also be supported in its efforts to set up such parks. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan asked to meet IMF criteria ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: Saudi Arabia and China have asked Pakistan to meet the IMF performance criteria for seeking 2 to 2.5 billion dollars new funding line in the shape of Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF). Official sources said that both China and Saudi Arabia, who are extending generous financial assistance to Pakistan, had asked the government to satisfy the IMF officials about the state of the economy so that the existing 596-million-dollar Standby Arrangement (SBA) could be replaced with PRGF before the end of this year. The sources said Pakistan would have to maneuver hard to resolve some of the political issues with the G-8 countries. "Although the US and the West have cautiously welcomed President Pervez Musharraf's announcement to hold general election in October 2002, they are still to be satisfied on the return of democracy," they added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- UAE to give $265m for uplift projects ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtashamul Haque ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The United Arab Emirates has decided to provide $265 million for various development projects, including Gomal Zam dam and two water supply schemes, one each for Karachi and Quetta. "UAE funding has also been offered for a couple of important hydro electricity projects in the Northern Areas", an official of the finance ministry said on Thursday. He told Dawn that President Pervez Musharraf was informed on Wednesday night that a $265 million soft loan had been approved by the UAE. Oman, the official said, had also confirmed that it would extend $100 million to help Pakistan undertake some of the new mega development projects. Another official of the ministry said China had pledged to provide $600 million for the development of Thar coalfield in Sindh. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SBP scraps PIB auction to avoid monopoly ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, Aug 15: The State Bank had to scrap the auction of 10-year Pakistan Investment Bonds to save the market from being cornered by a single institution. SBP said it rejected Rs28 billion bids received for the PIBs but did not give any reason for its action. Senior bankers said the central bank had to scrap the bids to stop monopolization of the market by a primary dealer that had come up with a very large bid. Bankers said the primary dealer had submitted the bid on behalf of a large semi-privatized bank adding that the bid amount was a little higher than the auction target of Rs10 billion. "Accepting the bid was like granting a licence to the bank in question to corner the market. That was why SBP had to scrap the auction," said a senior banker close to SBP. SBP said it would announce the next auction in due course of time without being specific. The State Bank normally gives 14- day notice to its primary dealers for holding the auction of the bonds. SBP said though it rejected all bids for the bonds received in the auction it accepted the bids against short-selling by primary dealers but did not give figures. Senior bankers said the amount thus raised by the central bank was not more than Rs2 billion. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Working of WAPDA, KESC unsatisfactory: WB ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: World Bank has rated as "highly unsatisfactory" the performance of WAPDA and the KESC in the $3 billion power sector reform program. "The entire energy sector was jeopardized by the poor financial performance of WAPDA and KESC, which resulted from the failure (i) to achieve efficiency improvements through restructuring and privatization (ii) to receive regular tariff adjustments and (iii) of government, particularly at the provincial level, to pay for electricity," says a confidential assessment report of the bank. "Overall, WAPDA's implementation performance is rated as highly unsatisfactory," it said. Major deficiencies highlighted by the bank suggested that institutional objectives were not fully achieved. WAPDA's financial performance has been poor, WAPDA Power Purchase Organization (WPPO) never developed the full capacity to implement and monitor the power purchase agreements. WPPO suffered from turnover in its senior management. IPPs faced delays due to failure to provide interconnection on time, WPPO did not cooperate with IPPs in plant testing and commissioning, and WAPDA resorted to negotiating tariff with many IPPs before their commissioning. The bank said that 20 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) could face further pressure to reduce their tariffs, and the commercial lenders to restructure the IPP debt. Of late, WAPDA started making substantive progress in implementing the reform program and brought some relief to the cash-flow problems, but the IPP crisis contributed to the lack of confidence among investors. "This leads to the conclusion that unless the power sector reform is fully implemented, the framework is unsustainable," the report said. The bank has admitted that WAPDA's financial performance began to deteriorate significantly during the implementation of the second phase of Private Sector Energy Development Program. WAPDA was not able to reduce its costs, reduce theft of electricity (except when the army took responsibility for meter-reading and billing in 1999), recover revenues from provincial government and government entities and obtain GOP/Nepra approval for tariff increase needed to maintain its financial viability. The report said that WAPDA was successful in securing tariff concessions from about a dozen IPPs, all of which had yet to be commissioned as these were the plants over which WAPDA had the most leverage. WAPDA has, however, held the World Bank responsible for failures, and claimed that its performance has been excellent. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US company to invest $2.4m in oil, gas exploration ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: A US petroleum exploration company has entered into a joint venture with the Government Holdings to invest $2.4 million in the oil and gas exploration sector in Jacobabad and Shikarpur districts, covering an area of 1,215 kilometres. Petroleum Ministry secretary M. Abdullah Yousuf, the Government Holdings (GHPL) chairman, Dr Mehmoodul Hasan, and resident director/vice-president of Hycarbex Iftikhar Zahid, signed the agreement, says a press release issued here on Saturday. Under the agreement the joint venture will make a risk investment of over $2.4 million during the initial three years. Hycarbex will carry out geological and geophysical studies in the first year and will conduct 100km seismic study in the second year. The joint venture will drill one exploration well up to 1700 meters into Sui main limestone, in the third year. In addition to above Hycarbex Inc has also applied for grant of exploration licences over another two areas, which are under review. Hycarbex is a subsidiary of the American Energy Group, currently based in Houston, Texas, and engaged in domestic and international exploration projects. It has been exploring oil and gas in Pakistan since April 1995. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- New scheme to attract foreign remittance ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The ministry of finance, in collaboration with the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, will introduce a foreign exchange remittance card (FERC) system from Sept 1 to attract more foreign remittance and discourage Hundi system, the managing director of OPF, Rashid Mehmood Ansari, told Dawn on Monday. He said after the OPF housing schemes and pension schemes, the FERC would be another step forward towards providing better facilities to overseas Pakistanis. The new scheme would be formally launched by the finance minister on Sept 1, he added. He said remittances by overseas Pakistanis through normal banking channel were a vital source for supporting the balance of payment position of the country. The money sent through Hundi or other means deprive the country of the much-needed support, thus, the government initiated a concrete program to facilitate those non-resident Pakistanis who remit money through normal banking channels, he added. He said the total foreign remittance of overseas Pakistanis to the country during the last fiscal was $1.08 billion and foreign remittance during the fiscal 1998-99 was $937 million. "The government is expecting substantial increase in foreign remittance of overseas Pakistanis after the introduction of the FERC scheme," he added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Financial crunch hits police reforms ------------------------------------------------------------------- By M. Arshad Sharif ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: The government decided to introduce the proposed police reforms in phases due to financial impediments and objections raised by the provincial governments on the issue. The decision came at a meeting presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, well-placed sources told Dawn. The president directed that the 'District Public Safety Commissions' be established at the earliest. The DPSCs would be put in place during the first phase of the implementation of the police reforms as soon as the newly-elected district governments started functioning. Giving details about the second phase, officials said that the president had set Oct 12 as the cut-off date for putting in place the reformed and reorganized police structure, including the establishment of separate city police forces for Karachi and Lahore. Sources in the finance ministry told Dawn that Rs96 billion were required for implementing the police reforms which was more than the current year's budgetary allocation of Rs80 billion for running the entire civilian administrative apparatus. The finance ministry, sources said, was in a fix to arrange such a huge amount which was almost 75 per cent of the current year's defence allocation of Rs130 billion. Gen Musharraf, however, assured the police chiefs that in addition to the Rs2 billion grant made available by the federal government, the provincial governments would also be told to enhance their budgetary allocations for the purpose during the current financial year. The president directed the finance ministry to also explore other sources of funding as the much-needed reforms could not be postponed for the lack of funds. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Efforts to put bourses back on track fail ------------------------------------------------------------------- Muhammad Aslam The Karachi stocks suffered fresh pruning under the lead of the blue chips during the preceding week as abortive bids at the rallies failed to put the market back on rails. Most of the leading shares finished with extended losses, some of them at the career- lowest bids, including the mega issues such as the PTCL, although the weekend support allowed them to close partially recovered from the early lows. The KSE 100-share index was off 25.74 points at 1,226.85 after hitting the low of 1,223.00. The market capitalization eroded another Rs5 billion at Rs311 billion as compared to Rs316 billion a week earlier. However, strong buying in most of the leading stocks including the PSO, the PTCL, the Hubco, the Engro Chemical and some others has raised hopes. The interim dividend news from the Engro Chemicals and the Lever Brothers Pakistan at 20 and 75 per cent, respectively were claimed to be in line with the market perceptions but not well-received in a falling market. The omission by Reckitt and Benckiser Pakistan did work against the sentiment. The plus signs held a slight edge over the minus ones, prominent gainers among them being the IGI Insurance, the Kohinoor Weaving, Ibrahim Energy after its merger news with its sister company, Ibrahimm Fibre, Dawood Hercules, Cherat Paper, Clover Pakistan and Pakistan Services, Wyeth Pakistan, Lever Brothers, Nadeem Textiles, Sana Industries, Abbott Lab, Colgate Pakistan and several others. The losers were led by the Knoll Pharma, the EFU Life Insurance, which was traded spot to forestall further decline in its share value. Fazal Textiles, Grays of Cambridge, Dawood Hercules, Adamjee Insurance, Lawrencepur Woollen, Gatron Industries, Clariant Pakistan, Al-Ghazi Tractors, New Jubilee Insurance and Paramount Spinning were other notable losers. The trading volume was maintained at the previous level of 303 million shares, bulk of which went to the credit of the PTCL, the Hub-Power, the PSO and the ICI Pakistan. Other actives were led by the Engro Chemical, the Fauji Fertiliser, Adamjee Insurance, the FFC-Jordan Fertiliser, the MCB, Sui Northern, the Knoll and several others.Back to the top
EDITORIALS & FEATURES 20010812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pax VajMush ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ardeshir Cowasjee MOHAMMAD Ali Jinnah learnt his politics at Dadabhai Naoroji's feet, and he spent most of his life in Bombay - which the Indians have since renamed as Mumbai - with his peers Sir Phirozshah Mehta, Sir Dinshaw Watcha, Sir Dinshaw Mulla (the framer of Mohammedan Law), Sir Jamshedjee Kanga. He lived in the fashion and style in which he wished to live; his personal life, likes, dislikes, dressing and eating habits were not dictated by expediency or hypocrisy. He spent not one day in jail, he had no truck with street demonstrators or street fighters. He rarely compromised his strict code of honour. He went on to carve out and build a homeland for his compatriots, and having done so, eleven months later he died. Sarojini Naidu, the great Indian congresswoman and poet, in 1906 wrote of Mohammad Ali Jinnah: "Never was there a nature whose outer qualities provided so complete an antithesis of its inner worth. Tall and stately, but thin to the point of emaciation, languid and luxurious of habit, Mohammed Ali Jinnah's attenuated form is the deceptive sheath of a spirit of exceptional vitality and endurance. "Somewhat formal and fastidious, and a little aloof and imperious of manner, the calm hauteur of his accustomed reserve but masks for those who know him a naive and eager humanity, an intuition quick and tender as a woman's, a humour gay and winning as a child's. Pre-eminently rational and practical, discreet and dispassionate in his estimate and acceptance of life, the obvious sanity and serenity of his worldly wisdom effectually disguise a shy and splendid idealism which is of the very essence of the man." In 1946, addressing members of the Muslim League, Jinnah told them: "I am an old man. God has given me enough to live comfortably at this age. Why would I turn my blood into water and take so much trouble? Not for the capitalists, surely. But for you, the poor people." And on he pressed. His ambition was achieved in August 1947. Three days prior to the birth of his country, on the 11th of that month, he declared to the members of Pakistan's constituent assembly his credo: "The first and foremost thing that I would like to emphasize is this - remember that you are now a sovereign legislative body and you have got all the powers. It, therefore, places on you the gravest responsibility as to how you should take your decisions. The first observation that I would like to make is this: You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the state. "The second thing that occurs to me is this: One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering - I do not say that other countries are free from it but I think our condition is much worse - is bribery and corruption. That really is a poison. We must put that down with an iron hand and I hope that you will take adequate measures as soon as it is possible for this assembly to do so. Blackmarketing is another curse. Well, I know that blackmarketeers are frequently caught and punished. Judicial sentences are passed or sometimes fines only are imposed. Now you have to tackle this monster which today is a colossal crime against society, in our distressed conditions when we constantly face shortage of food and other essential commodities of life." The third thing emphasized by Jinnah that day was nepotism and jobbery which, he said, "must be crushed relentlessly. I want to make it quite clear that I shall never tolerate any kind of jobbery, nepotism or any influence directly or indirectly brought to bear upon me." He continued: " If you change your past and work together, and in a spirit that every one of you, no matter to which community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his colour, cast or creed, is first, second and last a citizen of this state with equal rights, privileges and obligations, there will be no end to the progress you will make ...... You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques, or to any other places of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the state." On February 19, 1948, he recorded a broadcast to the people of Australia. He told them: "The great majority of us are Muslims. We follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, we are members of the brotherhood of Islam in which all are equal in rights, dignity and self-respect. Consequently we have a special and very deep sense of unity. But make no mistake, Pakistan is not a theocracy, or anything like it. Islam demands from us the tolerance of other creeds and we welcome in closest association with us all those who, of whatever creed, are themselves willing and ready to play their part as true and loyal citizens of Pakistan." Again that month he spoke on the radio to the people of the United States and told them much the same thing: "Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught equality of man, justice and fair play to everybody. We are the inheritors of these glorious traditions and are fully alive to our responsibilities and obligations as framers of the future constitution of Pakistan. In any case, Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state - to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have non-Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Parsis - but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizen and play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan." The truly democratic secular statesman, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, more by the sheer weight of his dominating will than by any other factor established the forward-looking and modern state of Pakistan. For as long as he lived and for eight years thereafter Pakistan remained a dominion of the British Empire. In 1956 it became a republic and its constitution, promulgated the same year, proclaimed it to be 'The Islamic Republic of Pakistan'. Ayub Khan, the first Ataturk of Pakistan until attacked by dry rot, in his constitution of 1962 again looked forward and changed the country's appellation to the simple unambiguous 'The Republic of Pakistan'. One year later, he surrendered to sycophants and supporters, spurred by the overriding cause of self-perpetuation. He was persuaded to backtrack and by an amendment the country reverted to being 'The Islamic Republic of Pakistan'. In 1973, again in contradiction to Jinnah's intent and promise, desire and declaration, religion was made "the business of the state." Article 2 of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's constitution proclaimed that "Islam will be the religion of the state." As it happened, ignorance was the cause of the loss of half the country. Now two-thirds of the remainder is barren, a desert. For each and every purpose Karachi has lost to the thriving and vibrant Dubai its geographical advantage. That little state, a brotherly Muslim country, with no black gold under its ground, flourishes and looks to the future. Why? Because it is not beset by taboos - religious or cultural or any other. It has adopted Islam's tolerance, Islam's intent to march with the times. Its citizens and its visitors and its foreign residents are free to live as they choose provided they remain within the law. However, weeping and wailing will get us nowhere. There are still six inches of water under the keel. We can still refloat. Pakistan's second Ataturk is in command. The fact that he is a general of the army is no impediment. Washington, who became a president, was a general. Eisenhower, a general, became a president. And Wellington, who was a general, became a prime minister. MacArthur, a general, was the man who built modern Japan, who revived its economy and its world status. De Gaulle, builder and maker of today's France, was a general. General Pervez Musharraf, a soldier, wears many hats and is in command. He has concluded that Kashmir cannot be won by waging war, or by 'jihadi' means. Realization has dawned. He seeks peace with India. He is dealing with a seasoned politician, Atal Behari Vajpayee, head of a 23-party coalition government, the leaders of which are as scary as are our 'leaders' whose hirsute faces are depicted in our press each day. To make peace, the people of both countries must understand each other and to do this a continued dialogue is required. Each must read what the other writes. Does our general know that our antiquated import policy prevents the import of newspapers and magazines from India - just from India, from no other country ? This law can be changed by an ordinance, by the stroke of a pen and it can be done immediately. Two days hence we will be flying flags and singing songs, celebrating the 55th anniversary of the birth of this blighted land. May the 56th year bring us, for a much needed change, a bit of peace and prosperity. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Roadmap to nowhere ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ayaz Amir Why does nothing sound strange or novel in Pakistan anymore? Is it that we have exhausted all tricks and have to make do with the endless repetition of old ones? Or is it that the cynicism born of our cumulative experiences has killed all enthusiasm? No road in Pakistan is more extensively travelled on than the one leading back to democracy. At the same time, no road is more signposted with the crucifixion of hope than this one. It is not in our military coups that we have betrayed ourselves so much as in our return marches to democracy. If every coup has kindled the irrational emotionalism which forms so strong a part of our national character, the aftermath of every coup has gifted us a fresh set of problems, more complicated and intractable than those originally meant to be solved. What makes General Musharraf think he is an exception? He is travelling down the same road as his predecessors. What makes him think that unlike them he will reach the golden kingdom? His methods are the same, his philosophy similar. The smart uniform he proudly wears and the impressive array of medals which adorn his chest would fit any of the three military saviours whose shades have preceded him. Yet he thinks he is different, that somehow he can break the cycle of cause-and-effect. He has a strong faith in himself. So did all his predecessors. After 'good governance' there is no phrase more calculated to make a cynic reach for his pistol than 'roadmap to democracy'. So many roadmaps we have had that to put them all together would make a venerable archive. Yet as if there was room for more we have received another one which looks, feels and smells like all previous ones. Why should it lead to different results? In three years Hitler (a bad example but I am making a different point) had brought about the economic recovery of Germany and readied it for the greatest war in history. In three years from Pearl Harbour the United States went from huge military setback to the brink of victory. In three years, starting from the Musharraf coup in '99, all we will have achieved is a return to a pock-marked democracy, with an overbearing president, a cowed and subservient parliament, dazed political parties grateful for the crumbs thrown their way, and a people sick and tired of politics. Does General Musharraf's roadmap to democracy, unfurled on August 14, contain anything more? If it does it comes well disguised, at least for mortal eyes which can pick out nothing new. Time is not on our side. More than the wastage of water or the ravaging of the environment it is the wastage of time we cannot afford. The world is marching by while we are grappling with the ghosts of the past, fighting old battles and traversing the same highways over and over again. Yet all of Pakistan's military saviours have behaved as if eternity lay at their feet. General Musharraf's roadmap to democracy also treats time as a luxury. In a setting such as Pakistan's the only justification for military rule is speed, efficiency and ruthlessness. In theory, what plodding civilian governments cannot deliver, the military can. But our own history shows that this theory is a fallacy. The Pakistan army is a conservative institution incapable - by training, background and ethos - to understand, let alone deliver, any kind of radical social or economic agenda. To state the obvious, it is not a people's army headed by a revolutionary leader like Mao or Castro. The examples of Ayub, Yahya and Zia amply demonstrate that when it steps into political waters it ends by muddying them further. Why then such a long-drawn-out roadmap to democracy? What are the Ataturk reforms this government has initiated that it seeks to protect them from future repudiation through constitutional safeguards? If the military's idea of national renewal is Mian Azhar, Chaudry Shujaat Hussain and the newly-elected district nazims, why put the entire nation through a form of Chinese torture? After winter comes spring, after the darkness of night the light of the rising sun. After General Musharraf's roadmap to democracy, what? It took General Musharraf a full year to change his tune towards India. It took him two years to understand the harm being done to the country's image by the posturing of the religious right (hence his path-breaking speech to an assembly of clerics on the occasion of the Holy Prophet's birthday this year). It has taken all the strength and wisdom of the corps commanders, the highest patriotic body in Pakistan, to settle for a safe breed of district nazims. It has taken the military government two years to wake up to the danger posed by the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and the Sipah-i-Muhammad. Even then the decision it has taken is largely an academic one. While the two organizations have been banned, no real victories can be claimed in the fight against sectarian terrorism. In the passing of tough laws Pakistani governments have never been found wanting. It is in translating words into action that their problems arise. It will take another year for the perfection of a democratic order which does not ruffle the feathers of the military. It will take another two years after that for the military and the new civilian set-up to learn to coexist with each other. That is, if fresh tensions do not crop up and like so many systems before, the one being fashioned now does not crumble under the strain of its internal contradictions. Can Pakistan afford to play these games? Do we know where we stand? Do we have an adequate measure of our problems? Pakistan's most pressing need is not to reinvent the past but to reinvent itself. We may have a flattering image of ourselves but others do not see us in the same light. We are seen as a country which has betrayed its promise, which is living in the past and is unable to forge ahead. The extravagance of previous years has turned us into an international beggar. We have foreign policy pretensions which are out of sync with our resources. We continue to live beyond our means. These are not insuperable problems. Other countries have lived through worse times and come out of them successfully. There is no reason why we should be overwhelmed. But for success we will have to follow a different tack. We have to get out of the cycle of military coups and flawed democracy. If the army cannot eschew the temptation of political interference Pakistan will never attain political stability. And without this prerequisite all plans for national renewal will remain stalled. Islam is not on the line and never will be. At issue is our place in the modern world. Can we break our begging bowl? Can we give our people the basic necessities of decent living? Can we turn the ingenuity we have shown in making nuclear weapons into other fields? Can we learn to value education and knowledge for their own sake? Can we begin to understand the importance of the arts? Music, sculpture, painting, dance are no threat to anyone's morals. They dignify and adorn human existence. Worse than anything physical is the Talibanization of the spirit. Once that happens the capacity of the human soul to soar and search for the stars is lost. All this is not a cry of despair. It should be seen as a summons to action. Only when we realize the depth of our problems can we fashion the correct responses to them. Given the extent of our problems, what we need is Herculean action compressed into a tight time scale. What we are getting from this latest attempt at national redemption is a long march to nowhere.
SPORTS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ACC sets Aug 23 deadline for India: Pakistan hopeful ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, Aug 16: The four-nation Asian Test Championship will go ahead even without India, which may not be able to participate because of a government order banning it from playing Pakistan, a top cricket official said. "Obviously, the championship will lose much of its glamour if India pulled out," Asian Cricket Foundation (ACF) chairman Jagmohan Dalmiya told a news conference in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata. "But cricket has to go on. It is desirable that all four countries play since the world is looking forward to this meet." The championship is scheduled to bring together Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and would be played at different venues between September and February. India have refused to participate in any bilateral cricket series with Pakistan, whom they accuse of backing cross-border terrorism. "The Indian board has been asked to confirm whether they will play in the championship by Aug 23. We are hopeful of a favourable response," Dalmiya said. He said Indian board secretary Jaywant Lele had been invited to attend the ACF conclave to discuss the issue. "The board was expecting to get the clearance from the Indian government by Monday," he said. He said the Asian Cricket Council, which organises the event, was willing to "bend backwards" and extend the participation deadline by two more days to India, provided the whole schedule was not disrupted. India's sports minister Uma Bharati said last week she had to seek clearance from other government ministries for allowing India's participation. "The final decision will be taken by the external affairs ministry, to whom I will be giving my views," she said. Pakistan are to host the Test against India, the first between the two nations in the country since India's four-match tour in 1989-90. India had cancelled a scheduled cricket tour of Pakistan in December and then pulled out of the Sharjah series in the Gulf.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Show must go on even without India ------------------------------------------------------------------- The fate of the Asian Test Championship seems to be hanging by a thread as we await the decision of the Indian Government whether it will allow its team to play against Pakistan. The Indian Government has blown hot and cold on this and one wonders whether it is just indecisiveness or whether it is a kind of teasing. The Indian government does not appear to have any objections to its teams playing against Pakistan in other games. It seems to be stuck on cricket. Is there anything particularly sinister about cricket that it should be singled out? Cricket has become a secular religion in the subcontinent and so, probably, qualifies as a special case though it does appear to be far-fetched. Whatever reasons the Indian government may have, in one very real sense, it is punishing its own people who must be looking forward to the rivalry between the teams of the two countries, a rivalry, let me hasten to add, that is healthy and never been the cause of any disturbances. Surely the Indian Government must know that its team will be received warmly. Perhaps, even the Wagah border could be opened to allow Indian visitors to watch the match. Lahore is a city with a big heart. But the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) cannot wait indefinitely for India and I would suggest that there should be a cut-off date. Either India is in or it is out. The Asian Test Championship will be considerably devalued without India. But the show must go on. The Asian Test Championship can become the centre-piece of regional cricket. But it should not be held hostage by any one country. I have a gut reaction that India will come to Lahore but then not all my hunches are right. The Indian government should also realise that two other countries are involved in the Asian Test Championship, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Wasim included but Moin ignored ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Aug 16: Pakistan cricket selectors named Wasim Akram for the two-day practice match scheduled at the National Stadium on Aug 20 and 21. However, there was no place for former captain Moin Khan who has been overlooked after having played in Aug 14 one-dayer. Moin scored 13 and accounted for three batsmen behind the wickets. Wasim is the only outsider in the two teams composed from the 27 probables named on July 31 for the training camp currently in progress at the National Stadium. The other missing boys are the injured duo of Shabbir Ahmad and Mohammad Sami, Shahid Afridi and Saqlain Mushtaq who are playing in English county championships. Wasim has been included after enormous pressure on the selectors following his exclusion from the camp. As regards Moin, he had been dismissed as captain and then overlooked for the tour to England as the PCB claimed he was unfit. Nevertheless, PCB's panel of doctors gave him a clean bill of health on April 22 which has yet to be considered by the selectors. Just to recall, the chairman of selectors Wasim Bari had said Wasim and Moin would be given opportunity to prove their fitness and form before they are considered for selection. Wasim has been provided with that opportunity but Moin has been denied. It appears that the two-day fixture is an attempt to include Wasim in the team and end the controversy. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Foster encourages Wasim, advises 'bad boy' Shoaib ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Aug 15: Wasim Akram got a word of encouragement and support from Australian fast bowling coach Daryl Foster who said the left-armer was brilliant in his last Test against England. Foster, who also helped Pakistan quickies on the two-Test and one- day series tour in May-June, said Wasim bowled impressively in the Old Trafford Test which Pakistan won. "He was mean and nasty as he has ever been. I think Wasim and Waqar were very good combination," Foster told reporters at the National Stadium. Wasim was not considered to be one of the 27 by the selectors for a training camp currently under progress at the National Stadium. "I don't think he's out of frame by any means. I also don't think anyone has written him off. They would be very silly to write off a champion and Wasim is a champion," Foster said. Wasim, who has 440 one-day and 419 Test wickets, is under microscope after he finished just two full home series in the last six years. His only complete series' were against Zimbabwe and the West Indies in 1997-98. Ironically, those were the only times in six years he skippered Pakistan in a home series. Foster admitted that it was not his business to comment on Pakistan selection matters but stressed that he bowled excellently at Old Trafford without being rewarded for his hard work. The 65-year-old, who is on a two-week assignment, also expressed his disagreement with International Cricket Council's procedures to tackle issues relating to throwing and which resulted in the suspensions of Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmad, Muttiah Muralitharan and Brett Lee. "With throwing, you can't leave it to the umpire's naked eye. I don't think any umpire is able to be a definite judge on that," he remarked. He said in the cases of Shoaib and Muralitharan, the ICC should have said that since the two had indifferent bowling actions, the bowling committee needed to have a look at them on slow motion/video and seek advice from its experts. "It was later proved that they had unique physical characteristics which umpires were unable to put up." Nevertheless, Foster had a word of advice for Shoaib Akhtar whom he described as a unique talent. "He has got to realize that cricket is not about bowling one ball at 100mph. Its about 15 overs in a day and be able to come back next day and do the same again. The team requires a bowler to keep producing over after over." Foster declared that Shabbir's bowling action was fine and he was just ready to stage a comeback after overcoming injury. "I don't think the way he's bowling now, he has any problem. I don't think he has lost pace. He's six feet five inches and bowls from an enormous height. I would be surprised if he doesn't press claims for Pakistan team." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Wasim misses out opening practice tie ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Aug 13: Wasim Akram will miss the first practice match of the three-game series after delaying his arrival, officials said. The PCB have yet to announce Wasim's replacement and captain though Moin Khan appears to be an automatic choice. Wasim's absence leaves Moin and Mushtaq Ahmad as the only stars appearing on Tuesday after being overlooked for the training camp which is currently in progress at the National Stadium. However, there has been severe difference of opinion on the hosting of matches with the most valid point being raised - will the trio be considered for the forthcoming Test matches on the basis of one-day match performance. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010815 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Inzamam may sue English paper ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Aug 14: Inzamam-ul-Haq admitted his concentration has been distracted after his name was once again linked to betting and match-fixing. Talking to reporters at the National Stadium, Inzamam said he was willing to appear before any committee and face any punishment if there was any evidence to his wrong doings. "But stories and allegations without any substance and evidence to back them up are badly affecting my cricket, my family and my social life. Although the PCB has lifted my spirits and provided me the support a player requires in tough times, fact of the matter is that it will be in the back of my mind that if I score a duck again, fingers will be pointed," Inzamam argued. An English newspaper (Sunday Telegraph) reported earlier this week that ICC's anti-corruption united wanted to interview Inzamam after his second-ball duck in the tri-nation one-day series in England. The PCB has said it would not release Inzamam for interview until April next year but added that the English media might have mixed up the story. Inzamam said he met PCB chief in Karachi and inquired if the ACU had written anything to the PCB. "But the chairman has 'Not'. I have also neither been called nor informed by the ACU. "I don't know from where these stories have appeared and what is the basis. Anyway, I have decided to take legal action against the newspaper and have already approached my brothers in England to engage a lawyer," Inzamam said. The PCB said Tuesday it would assist and provide legal support to Inzamam if he approached them for help. "I have a clear mind and I have done nothing wrong. So why should my name be dragged around in such a manner. I mean batsman scores century and also get out on zero. But does it mean that every time he gets out for a duck he should be linked to match-fixing?" DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Afridi slams 68 off 30 balls ------------------------------------------------------------------- LONDON, Aug 15: Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi blasted 68 off 30 balls but could not stop Leicestershire Foxes losing their unbeaten record in county cricket's National League on Tuesday. Leicestershire, having won all nine of their previous games in division one of the 45 overs competition, were beaten by one run by Somerset Sabres at Taunton. After Peter Bowler (104) and Ian Blackwell (86) shared an opening stand of 163 to spur Somerset to 263 for seven, Afridi led the Leicestershire chase in a whirlwind innings containing 12 fours and three sixes. The Pakistani, who had lashed 95 off 58 deliveries in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy semifinal against Lancashire on Monday, was missed on 22 and 55 before he fell to a catch at deep mid-wicket. Wicketkeeper Neil Burns subsequently took up the challenge against his former county with an unbeaten 59 off 61 balls that took Leicestershire desperately close to success. Needing 16 off the final over, Leicestershire ended just two runs short of their target at 262 for nine, but stay top of the nine-team table. However, Leicestershire's lead was cut from six points to two by second-placed Kent Spitfires when they beat Surrey Lions by 43 runs in a day-night match at Canterbury - Reuters. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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