------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 30 June 2001 Issue : 07/26 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Governors authorized to amend laws + �India interested in soft border option on Kashmir' + SHC reserves order on admissibility + SC reserves verdict on plea against mly rule + LHC rejects pleas against Musharraf's presidency + APHC blasts exclusion from talks + Delhi rules out role for APHC + President to aim at certain framework + Kashmir solution according to Simla accord demanded + PML wants visit cancelled + Asif blasts politicians for meeting president + Leaders extend support to CE: Kashmir to be main issue at summit + ARD to boycott meeting with CE + Accord on Siachen pullout likely + NSC to keep vigil on future setup: Constitution to be amended + Assumption of presidency a 'step backward': report + PML-N to weigh options at July 5 meeting + Azhar directs party leaders to be ready for elections + Delhi visit extended by one day + 'LoC should not be accepted as border' + Musharraf's fate hinges on visit: Beg + Provincial local govt commissions to be set up + Cabinet reshuffle on the cards + Azhar sees no civilian setup in near future + Assumption of presidency a 'step backward': report + Lifting of US curbs backed + Democracy sanctions to continue: US + Musharraf, Vajpayee urged to agree on N-freeze + Nuclear deterrence vital to security: Musharraf + Pakistan, India need nuclear safety: report + Pakistan had N-arsenal in '89, says Beg + Justice Qayyum resigns + It is early retirement that Qayyum has sought + Benazir sceptical of summit dialogue + Benazir seeks world pressure for fair polls + Benazir meets Paris Bar chief + PIA's overall aviation policy being reviewed + Rehmat Shah Afridi sentenced to death + Anti-Terrorism Act to be amended soon --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Domestic debt increased faster in 2000-01 + Rs71bn Sindh budget carries no new tax + Rs27bn budget for Balochistan + 27 taxes go in Rs128bn Punjab surplus budget + NWFP unveils Rs44bn budget for 2001-02 + Last KSE session of current fiscal ends on dull note --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + 'Bania, mooch nichi' Ardeshir Cowasjee + The general as president Benazir Bhutto + Being nice is not the point Ayaz Amir ----------- SPORTS + Pakistan squander two-goal advantage + Pakistan leapfrog into second place + Inzamam gets two matches suspension + Waqar asked to carry on as captain + Waqar re-emerges as one of the greatest bowlers + Former official criticizes Pakistan Tennis Federation
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 20010630 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Governors authorized to amend laws ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, June 29: President and Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday empowered the governor of a province to alter, amend or repeal laws and ordinances. Gen Musharraf, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 5 (1) of the Provisional Constitution order No.1 of 1999, and in exercise of all other power enabling him in that behalf, "has authorized the governor of a province to alter, amend or repeal any laws and Ordinances," said a notification of the cabinet division here.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'India interested in soft border option on Kashmir' ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Syed Talat Hussain ISLAMABAD, June 28: India seems willing to seriously take up the soft-border option on Kashmir to pave the way for meaningful engagement with Pakistan, diplomatic sources interacting with both Islamabad and Delhi told Dawn. "There is a strong policy interest in Delhi which is willing to accept a solution to Kashmir short of its absorption in the Indian Union. If both sides of Kashmir are granted maximum autonomy, with the leaders of Kashmir joining hands to support a transit point of healthy diplomatic and trade interaction between India and Pakistan, Delhi may be happy with this arrangement," the sources said. The sources admitted however, that Kashmir's special status and the Indian legislative assembly's resolution on the territory reiterating this to be part of India posed formidable problems in the implementation of this scheme. "It is doubtless that even the soft-border option is problematic, but under the circumstances it will suit India's position because it does not involve any fundamental compromises on its stand that Kashmir is its part," the source said. The other incentive for India is that the peace dividend. Reduction of violence and curtailment of militancy should help India focus on better concerns like asserting its role as a major world power at par with Japan and China, the source added. The source also said that a de facto maximum autonomy plan for Kashmir has found some favorable reception in Pakistani establishment. "We sense that the reality is being acknowledged by some members of the Pakistani decision making setup that the alternative to showing flexibility on Kashmir is more instability and retarded economic growth. India is not going to hand Kashmir over to Pakistan. No matter what may happen. This has become increasingly clear after Kargil war. There are limited options available and both countries have to work with these," the source said. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SHC reserves order on admissibility ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, June 28: A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) reserved order on a petition in which the assumption of office of the President by General Pervez Musharraf has been challenged. The bench, comprising Chief Justice of the SHC, Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, and Justice S. Ahmad Sarwana, had taken up the petitions of Sohail Hameed advocate and Gul Mohammad Hajano. The bench directed the petitioners to submit, within ten days, a copy of the judgment of the Lahore High Court - in which the assumption of office of President by Gen Musharraf had been justified. It fixed the next hearing for July 10. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010627 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SC reserves verdict on plea against mly rule ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Shujaat Ali Khan LAHORE, June 26: A Supreme Court bench reserved its order on a petition seeking termination of military rule and a declaration to bar future military interventions. The bench comprising Justices Sheikh Riaz Ahmad, Mohammad Arif and Qazi Mohammad Farooq wound up hearing amid protests by petitioner Pakistan Lawyers Forum's counsel, A.K. Dogar, that he wanted at least 10 days to fully argue his case. The bench observed that it had fully understood his arguments and the case law cited by him has been taken note of. After hearing the lawyer, the bench told him that it has other matters to dispose of. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- LHC rejects pleas against Musharraf's presidency ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, June 27: The Lahore High Court summarily dismissed three writ petitions challenging the assumption of the President's office by Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf. The petitions were filed by Advocates MD Tahir, Amir Sohail and Hanif Tahir. The first-mentioned two argued at some length while the last-mentioned told Justice Khalilur Rahman Ramday, who heard the petitions, that he had reservations about him on account of his pro-government sympathies but would, instead of seeking transfer, leave the matter to his conscience. Advocate MD Tahir said frequent military interventions, prompted by politicians and invariably condoned and validated by the judiciary, have greatly damaged Pakistan in all spheres of life. Advocate Amir Sohail submitted that the Supreme Court recognized Gen Pervez Musharraf as chief executive for three years and his elevation to the office of President was repugnant to the SC judgment in Zafar Ali Shah's case. Under the judgment and the provisional constitution order validated by it the country is to be governed as nearly as possible in accordance with the provisions of the 1973 Constitution. Mr Rafiq Tarar could not have been removed except by impeachment. Justice Ramday observed that the 1973 Constitution was in existence by virtue of the PCO as amended from time to time and dismissed the three petitions. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010630 ------------------------------------------------------------------- APHC blasts exclusion from talks ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, June 29: All Pakistan Hurriyat Conference reacted angrily on Friday after both India and Pakistan snubbed its bid to play a part in their summit. Yasin Malik, a leader of the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference (APHC), accused Pakistan's president of "ditching the Kashmiris when it matters most" and said there could be no results from a summit which excluded their representatives. President Musharraf told foreign journalists that he would like to see Kashmiri representatives - and particularly Hurriyat - "coming on board at some stage". However, before that, since it is the Indian stance that they would not like to talk to the APHC and they only want to talk to Pakistan, we show flexibility, the President said.-Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Delhi rules out role for APHC ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, June 28: New Delhi reaffirmed that the Hurriyat Conference would not be involved in next month's summit between Pakistan and India. A foreign ministry spokeswoman said the Indian government's position on participation of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) had been conveyed to Pakistan. "They (the Hurriyat) have no role to play," the spokeswoman said. "The Pakistan side is fully aware of our views. Let us see what happens," she said, in response to a query on whether President Musharraf could possibly meet the Hurriyat leaders.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- President to aim at certain framework ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, June 28: President and Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf said that he would look for a "certain framework" to resolve Kashmir issue during his summit with the Indian prime minister. "During my talks with the Indian prime minister, I would call for having certain framework for the resolution of Kashmir problem. I would also urge the Indian leadership that dialogue must continue under certain framework," President Musharraf was quoted by Kashmir Affairs Minister Abbas Sarfraz Khan as having stated at the former's meeting with Kashmiri leaders. Mr Khan told a press conference that all issues, including Siachen, could also come up for discussion during the meeting between the two leaders on July 15 and 16. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Kashmir solution according to Simla accord demanded ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, June 28: President Awami National Party Asfandyar Wali, the only ARD party to attend the all parties conference convened by Gen Musharraf seeking mandate for talks on Kashmir, called for the resolution of the Kashmir issue in the light of Shimla Accord. Talking to Dawn by phone he said he objected to the government's decision of not inviting several political leaders, including Akber Bugti, Atta Ullah Mengal and Mehmood Khan Achakzai. The ANP, he said, had been branded "traitor" for the last 50 years for propagating its considered opinion that all outstanding issues with India should be resolved through dialogue. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PML wants visit cancelled ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, June 27: Pakistan Muslim League (N) said that the boycott by the 15 component parties of 16-party Alliance for Restoation of Democracy of all parties conference demands that Gen Musharraf cancel his India trip and leave the matter (of tackling bilateral disputes) to the future democratically-elected civil government. A party spokesman in a statement said that the consensus decision of the ARD not to participate in the government-sponsored APC and its refusal to give Musharraf mandate to visit India was "in fact a referendum of the 140 million people of Pakistan" that should be accepted by Gen Pervez Musharraf in the best national interest. He said that being a military ruler, Gen Pervez Musharraf's position in the eyes of the international community including India was very weak. He said that Pakistan wanted peaceful solution of all contentious issues with India, but the mandate and the authority to solve these issues must be wielded by an elected government. He said: "Sincerity of Gen Pervez Musharraf notwithstanding, he could not be given the mandate to negotiate such a sensitive issue with India because he is a non-representative figure." The arbitrary decisions of the former military rulers were still a thorn in the entire nation's side, he said. The spokesman said that the military leadership lowered the image of the Armed Forces of Pakistan in the eyes of the nation and the international community while all civil governments had spared no effort to boost their image. "If once again the present military rulers followed in the footsteps of their military predecessors, bypassing the entire nation and its representative political parties, it would be another tragedy," he added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Asif blasts politicians for meeting president ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter RAWALPINDI, June 28: Asif Ali Zardari, has appreciated the ARD decision of rejecting President Gen Pervez Musharraf's invitation and said that those who has met a uniformed president would soon repent. Talking to reporters at the accountability court No 1, he said that the president had already made up his mind about leaving for New Delhi and the consultations with the politicians just 15 days ahead of his visit was to gather more power and prolong his tenure. Mr Zardari declared the meeting of the religious leaders with the president as disappointing, suggesting that "we respect few of them but many among them are also our traitors from whom we expect nothing. "It is unfortunate that the leaders who could not muster even 2 per cent of votes are being invited while all the major parties are ignored," he lamented. However, he was of the view that Gen Musharraf's meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpai would also cast a positively effect in a sense that the establishment would not be in a position to raise eyebrows or point fingers in future whenever any civilian government would meet the Indian leaders. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Leaders extend support to CE: Kashmir to be main issue at summit ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, June 27: President and Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf said that Kashmir would be the core issue during his talks with the Indian leadership. The CE assured a group of political and religious leaders that as far as he was concerned Kashmir would be the core issue and everything else would follow that. Responding to the politicians' offer of complete support to his forthcoming visit to India, Gen Musharraf assured the leaders that he would continue to take them into confidence on all important national issues. The president said that he was encouraged by their support, and valued their sense of patriotism and commitment to the cause of the Kashmiri people. Those who attended the meeting were Mian Mohammad Azhar, Asfandyar Wali, Aftab Ahmad Sheikh, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Sardar Farooq Ahmed Leghari, Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Dr Tahirul Qadri, Imran Khan, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, Wasim Sajjad, Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Asghar Khan, Maulana Samiul Haq, Ajmal Khattak, Elahi Bux Soomro and Fatehyab Ali Khan. The CE said it was his belief that they were all on board the same ship, and loved their country in equal measure. The spirit and manner in which the political leaders had expressed their views reflected the unity of the nation on issues of national integrity, nuclear deterrence and national security, he added. The president took the leaders into confidence on the schedule of his engagements, including the list of leaders he would be meeting during his stay in India. The leaders unanimously endorsed the CE's decision to respond positively to the Indian invitation. They assured him of their fullest support in his endeavours to resolve the long-standing issue of Kashmir with India, and prayed for his success. They informed the president that even though they did not expect a resolution of the Kashmir issue in just one visit, they expected the Indian leadership to send out positive signals from the summit which could lead to the initiation of a process for the resolution of the problem. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010627 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ARD to boycott meeting with CE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, June 26: Except for the Awami National Party, all other parties in the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy will boycott the meeting president Gen Pervez Musharraf has called to hold consultations with leaders of various shades of opinion in connection with his next month visit to New Delhi. Twelve out of 16 parties in the coalition were not extended invitation, and another party, the PML, says former Senate chairman Wasim Sajjad and ex-speaker Illahi Bux Soomro, though invited, will not be representing the party even if they participate. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010626 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Accord on Siachen pullout likely ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, June 25: The forthcoming summit talks between President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpaee are likely to result in an agreement by both sides to withdraw from Siachen. The two sides, it is said, have realized that the Siachen engagement is contributing significantly to the tensions between the two countries as well as costing them hugely in men, money and material. Military sources said that a complete consensus has emerged among the corps commanders to resolve differences between the two countries. The sources said that nobody should expect resolution of major problems during the summit. "But it will be a breakthrough if both the sides agree to continue talking," said a source. He said that initially the focus will be on withdrawing forces from Siachen and halting skirmishes on the Line of Control. About the prospects of talks, the sources said, Gen Musharraf was ready to "sell anything and buy anything" to achieve peace with India. "President Musharraf and Indian premier have had telephonic discussion three times recently. Both agreed that it was becoming difficult to sustain their huge armies due to their economic problems for which it was necessary to sit and negotiate and come to terms," another source said. The president was meeting the politicians only to convince them that confrontation with India was causing serious economic problems and that time had come to approach the issue on the basis of 'give and take'. But the sources said that the politicians will be assured that the national interest will be kept supreme by the president during his visit to India scheduled for July 14 to 16. It is also learnt that President's senior advisor Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada has started an exercise to restore the defunct article 58(2) (B) in the Constitution with the provision of removing the cabinet, or the prime minister, instead of sending the whole national assembly packing. The role model of late President Zia-ul-Haq will be adopted with certain changes. "While the president will assume new powers, he would not become a dictator like Zia-ul-Haq", a source claimed. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010625 ------------------------------------------------------------------- NSC to keep vigil on future setup: Constitution to be amended ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, June 24: The idea of reconstituting the National Security Council (NSC), for introducing stringent checks and balances to ensure smooth running of a future political setup, is being considered by the government, Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi said. Though the shape of proposed NSC had not yet been finalized because the NRB was still working on it, a suggestion that leader of the opposition and all the four governors should be on the National Security Council, was under consideration, Maj-Gen Qureshi told newsmen at a briefing. "Even as to what should be the limitations on powers of the chief of army staff is being studied so that a situation does not arise tomorrow, which could have no proper answer in the Constitution," he said. Gen Musharraf, in his brief statement after taking oath, had also indicated that there should be the proper checks and balances for a "political superstructure." Maj-Gen Qureshi said it would certainly require amendments to the Constitution which, he added, would be done in the light of Supreme Court's verdict. On the forthcoming talks with India, he said, no agenda for the summit had been fixed. These would be non-structured talks with the focus on Kashmir as far as Pakistan was concerned. However, any other issue which India wanted to raise would be discussed, Mr Mehmood added. Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi said that the assumption of president office by Gen Pervez Musharraf had made no difference in the working of the government or the powers wielded by him. The only rationale which the two officials could offer for the change was that after the dissolution of the parliament Rafiq Tarar who was elected by the defunct assemblies had become untenable. They advised the newsmen to consult legal experts when asked about the constitutional rationale behind the change. Newsmen pointed out that in the PCO-1 issued in 1999, it had been stated that President Tarar would continue in the larger interest of the country. The PCO No 2 issued last week, enunciated that Rafiq Tarar ceased to hold office in the larger interest of the country. On questions whether Rafiq Tarar resigned or he was forced to leave the office, the information secretary repeated the wording of the amended PCO that he had ceased to hold the office. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010625 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PML-N to weigh options at July 5 meeting ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, June 24: Reiterating that it would not recognize Gen Pervez Musharraf as the legitimate president, PML-N mobilization commission chairman Ahsan Iqbal said the party would consider launching a movement against the general in collaboration with other parties. At a press conference at his residence, he said the matter would be high on the agenda of the July 5 meeting of the party's central working committee. Implications of Gen Musharraf's self-aggrandizement, his visit to India, outcome of ARD president Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan's meeting with the chief executive, analysis of the foreign minister's US visit, the situation in Sindh and Balochistan, threat to the federation and preparations for general elections would be other subjects on the agenda. Ahsan Iqbal said Gen Musharraf had insulted the consciousness of the entire nation by assuming presidency. The step was all the more objectionable because it had been taken in the 21st century when the practice of takeovers in the African countries had been given up. The PML-N leader warned against the disastrous effects on the federation of neglecting the public opinion. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010625 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Azhar directs party leaders to be ready for elections ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, June 24: PML-QA President Mian Azhar has directed his party leaders at all tiers to prepare themselves for the next general elections, which the government plans to hold next year according to the time frame set by the Supreme Court. Very soon, he said in a statement, he would approach all important PML-N leaders, including Javed Hashmi, to bring them to the PML-QA fold. The PML-QA president said he would take all steps to make his party the strongest against all its rivals. He said the party had effective candidates for all constituencies across the country. Party's reorganization would also receive special attention, he said, adding he would soon undertake a visit to all provinces for the purpose. He was happy over the party's performance in the first three phases of the local elections, and said between 80 and 85 per cent seats would be swept in the fourth phase. He claimed that district nazims would belong to his party. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010624 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Delhi visit extended by one day ------------------------------------------------------------------- Monitoring desk ISLAMABAD, June 23: A full day has been set aside for the summit meeting between Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf in Agra on July 15, sources said. Gen Musharraf would be having a packed schedule during his three- day visit to India beginning July 14, says Hindustan Times website quoting PTI. The tentative program being finalized by the officials of the two countries lays that Gen Musharraf accompanied by his wife would arrive New Delhi on the morning of July 14. After a ceremonial welcome, he would stay at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he would have formal and protocol meetings with President K. R. Narayanan, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, opposition leader Sonia Gandhi, home minister L. K. Advani and other leaders. Gen Musharraf is scheduled to visit Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. He would also visit his ancestral home in New Delhi the same day. Later, he would attend a reception hosted by the Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jahangir Qazi. The day's activities would come to an end after attending a banquet hosted in his honor by President Narayanan. After an overnight stay in New Delhi, Gen Musharraf would fly to Agra early next morning from where he would have a day-long summit meeting with prime minister Vajpayee. The summit is expected to last till evening and if necessary the next morning, sources said. "The structure as well as the format has been kept wide open for the two leaders to strike a personal rapport, friendship and understanding," the sources pointed out. They said a basic format about the participation of the ministers of both the countries and top officials to assist the two leaders at the summit has not yet been finalized. "The structure may evolve after the first two rounds of meeting between the two on July 15th morning," they said. Both sides have not yet decided about issuing a joint communiqu� or address a joint press conference at the end of the summit. On July 16, Gen Musharraf is scheduled to fly to Jaipur, from where he will take a helicopter ride to Ajmer Sharif and visit the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. From there, Musharraf would return to Jaipur and fly back to Islamabad. The visit was initially planned for two days, but has been extended by a day at the request of Pakistan government in order to devote more time to fruitful discussions with Indian leaders, sources added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010624 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'LoC should not be accepted as border' ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jonaid Iqbal ISLAMABAD, June 23: The talks between President Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee must lead to a fair and equitable solution based on the wishes of the Kashmiri people, former foreign minister Agha Shahi said. He said that the issue was one of self-determination of the people, which was an internationally accepted principle endorsed by the United Nations. Hence the Line of Control (LoC) could not be accepted as an international border. It would be regarded by the people of Kashmir as the ultimate betrayal. Agha Shahi reflected that there was an optimism about the forthcoming talks in Pakistan, but there was also confusion. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010625 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf's fate hinges on visit: Beg ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jawed Naqvi NEW DELHI, June 24 The outcome of the India-Pakistan summit could make or break the fledgling career of Gen Pervez Musharraf, who became Pakistan's new president last week amid controversy at home and protest abroad, senior defence analysts were quoted as saying. They said Gen Musharraf appeared to have weakened his own hand by assuming the office of the president, a move which must have embarrassed even him somewhat when he received what must have been a lonely applause from Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. "It's in Vajpayee's hands to make or break Musharraf," former Pakistan army chief General Aslam Beg told The Hindustan Times newspaper. There were indications on Sunday that Vajpayee may not let down the general, not because of his newfound bonhomie with the Pakistan ruler, but because of worries that any erosion of his authority at this juncture could trigger an ominous political fallout in the neighbourhood. "If he returns empty-handed from India, that could be the end of it," Gen Beg said in the telephone interview. "That is going to be Musharraf's greatest disadvantage in the talks with the Indian Prime Minister." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Provincial local govt commissions to be set up ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, June 28: The federal government has decided to constitute "Provincial Local Government Commissions" to supervise the functioning of the local governments in each district, well- placed sources told Dawn. According to sources in National Reconstruction Bureau, the Provincial Local Government Commission will be headed by a provincial minister. The Commission will consist of two non- executive members and two technocrats. Giving details about the qualification of the members of the Commission, the sources said it had been decided that the non- executive members shall be drawn from amongst the members of the provincial assembly including both the treasury and the opposition. The names of the non-executive members of the Commission shall be nominated by the Speaker of the provincial assembly. No specific criteria has been laid down for eligibility of the technocrat members of the Commission except that they are supposed to have expertise in economics, law or management, the sources said. The sources said the Commission will have the power to conduct annual and special inspections and audits of the local governments and submit reports to the chief executive of the province. Moreover, the Commission will also have the power to conduct an inquiry into any matter concerning a local government either on its own initiative or on the directive of the chief executive of the province by itself or through the district government. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Local govt law next week ------------------------------------------------------------------- By M. Arshad Sharif ISLAMABAD, June 28: Local Government Ordinance 2001 is likely to be promulgated by the respective governors of the provincial governments during the first week of July, well-placed sources in National Reconstruction Bureau informed Dawn. General Tanvir Naqvi, Chairman NRB said that the Local Government Ordinance, which will provide the legal framework for implementation of Local Government Plan 2000, is about to be finalised within days. Shortly thereafter, it will be promulgated by the provinces, he was quoted as saying by the official spokesperson of NRB. According to the sources, the draft Ordinance is currently pending scrutiny with the provincial governments. The provincial governments had raised objections on certain clauses of the draft Ordinance which were impinging upon the provincial autonomy. The date for promulgation of Ordinance was extended on the demand of the provinces. As soon as the final recommendations of the provinces are received, they will be incorporated in the final draft and then again sent to the provincial governors for promulgation as an Ordinance, the sources added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010627 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Cabinet reshuffle on the cards ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Syed Talat Hussain ISLAMABAD, June 26: Only the ministers for finance, commerce, foreign affairs, interior and population are likely to survive the cabinet reshuffle that is on the cards, military sources told Dawn. The reshuffle has been prepared in view of the long-term planning the government is doing after Gen Musharraf's assumption of presidency. "Some of the ministers have themselves asked the president to be allowed to step down because of their political commitments and their desire to participate in the future democratic setup. Others have not performed up to the mark and therefore, will be asked to leave", the sources said. Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has emerged as the most trusted and important person in the cabinet, and there is a proposal to promote him as a senior minister and also appoint a state minister for finance, they said. "Then Shaukat Aziz can focus on larger issues of dealing with the donor community and others, and the minister of state can assist him in other matters. But it has not been decided whether that arrangement will be implemented or not," a source said. The source acknowledged that besides getting a favorable response from the international donor community Mr Aziz had endeared himself to the Generals by being a strong proponent of "continuity of reform and the present political arrangement". The source denied the speculation that Shaukat Aziz would replace Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar. "At this point there is no such proposal being considered. However, every arrangement is permanent only as long as it is delivering the goods." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010624 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Azhar sees no civilian setup in near future ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, June 23: President Gen Pervez Musharraf met the President of Pakistan Muslim League (like-minded), Mian Mohammad Azhar, and reiterated his commitment to hold general elections before Oct 2002. Later, talking to newsmen President Gen Musharraf ruled out the possibility of an immediate nomination of a prime minister or any civilian set-up. The Muslim League president Mian Azhar said that he apprised Gen Musharraf about the sentiments of his party members over the dissolution of parliament. The dissolution of parliament had created an impression that the military government had withdrawn official patronage to the like-minded group. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010625 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Assumption of presidency a 'step backward': report ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent NEW YORK, June 24: Criticizing General Pervez Musharraf's elevation to the Presidency of Pakistan and calling it a "step backward " from the promised quick return to democracy, the New York Times says US must make it clear "that sanctions cannot be lifted until more democratic progress is made." It called on the Bush administration to press (Pakistan) "for a return to democratic principles, and for accelerated negotiations with India on issues that threaten the stability of the entire South Asian region." In an Editorial -Setback for Pakistan- the Times says "following the dismal practice of Pakistan's previous military dictators, General Musharraf has appointed himself president and raised concerns that he intends to rule from that position even if an elected Parliament and prime minister take office in 2002." It noted that "General Musharraf says he believes in democracy, but his actions show that it is a democracy of a peculiar sort. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010627 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan had N-arsenal in '89, says Beg ------------------------------------------------------------------- RAWALPINDI, June 26: Pakistan had completed its nuclear buildup nine years before it exploded its first nuclear bomb in 1998, former chief of army staff, Gen (retd) Mirza Aslam Beg said. Beg, who was chief of the army staff in 1989, said Pakistan had concluded by 1989 it had an adequate nuclear deterrent and did not need to increase it. He said he believed Pakistan now had no more than 30 nuclear weapons. "We wanted a credible minimum deterrent and that deterrence is related to the very minimum number of devices that we needed and a very minimum capability to deliver those," Beg said. "And that we achieved in 1989 when Benazir Bhutto was prime minister and that is (still) the policy we follow," the retired army chief said in an interview with Reuters television. Beg said Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is completely safe both because the National Command Authority was set up a year ago to control nuclear weapons and because there is nothing comparable to the warheads sitting atop US and Russian missiles. Beg said he believed India had 60 or 70 nuclear devices by 1989 and had continued to build a stockpile that now numbers 200. "How many do you need? For what?" he said at his office in Rawalpindi. "You need 10, 20, 30 - that is all that we need and that is all we have. There is no need to add to it. I don't think they have added any more."-Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Democracy sanctions to continue: US ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, June 27: The Bush administration gave its clearest indication that democracy sanctions against Pakistan would remain in place until the US president was in a position to certify to Congress that a democratic process had been restored in the country. The indication came from US assistant secretary of state for South Asia, Christina Rocca, during a short address to the Pakistani- American Congress. She said Gen Pervez Musharraf's decision to become president had raised new questions about Pakistan's will to return to a democratic order. However, Ms Rocca stressed that while the US-Pakistan relationship faced problems that should not be minimized, effort should be to initiate a process of narrowing differences and finding ways to tackle issues that led to the sanctions in the first place. She described foreign minister Abdul Sattar's visit last week to Washington as a first step in this direction. There were differences about Afghanistan also, but both Pakistan and the US were searching for a common ground. Ms Rocca said the Bush administration was reviewing policy in respect of all regions, including Pakistan. The US wanted a stable, democratic and prosperous Pakistan, which already occupied a central place in its region. Pakistan ambassador Maleeha Lodhi also addressed the Pakistani American Congress session, and made a strong case for the lifting of sanctions. She said leaving democracy sanctions aside, which formed only one layer of the existing curbs on Pakistan, the other restrictions should be removed, and Pakistan expected symmetry in the lifting of sanctions. The highest priority was revival of the economy, and the US sanctions were an impediment in the way. "If you can't help us, at least don't hurt us," she asked the US. She too hoped that Pakistan and the US would look for positive anchors in their bilateral relationship. Ms Rocca said the US was pleased that Pakistan was following the path of dialogue with India and also praised Pakistan's efforts at economic reconstruction, which she said had begun to show results. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Lifting of US curbs backed ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, June 27: The question of Pakistan's progress towards democracy loomed large during the initial confirmation hearing of US ambassador-designate to Islamabad Wendy Chamberlin before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Replying to critical questions from Senator Paul Wellstone, chairman of the foreign relations sub-committee, and Senator Brownback, after her general opening statement, which said very little of substance, Ms Chamberlin stressed that there was need to redefine US relations with Pakistan in the interest of regional stability, adding that the American objective should be to help Pakistan to strengthen democratic institutions and governmental reforms. She said the main attention should be on how relations with Pakistan could be rebuilt in the changed circumstances and ways found to engage Islamabad, specially through programs such as counter-narcotics in which Pakistan had made great progress. Ms Chamberlin said sanctions against Pakistan were under review, and she could not say anything about the ongoing process because she was not yet part of government. But personally she felt that sanctions had not helped and should be lifted. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010630 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf, Vajpayee urged to agree on N-freeze ------------------------------------------------------------------- Monitoring desk NEW DELHI, June 29: Indian and Pakistan anti-nuclear activists have urged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Gen Pervez Musharraf to agree on a "nuclear freeze" during their coming summit. In a joint statement India's Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) and the Pakistan Peace Coalition said there was an urgent need for such confidence-building measures. There was a "grave potential" that a conventional conflict between the two countries could escalate into a nuclear exchange. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010626 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nuclear deterrence vital to security ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, June 25: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said his government will not compromise on the nuclear deterrence being maintained entirely for self-defence. "The minimum nuclear deterrence can and will never be compromised," Gen Musharraf said. "Pakistan believes in maintaining a minimum credible deterrence and does not want to direct its available resources towards the race of weapons of mass destruction," he said. Pakistan, he said, was interested in further harnessing the nuclear energy for power production. He said the steps taken by the government would spur economic activity in the country and the government may decide to set up two more nuclear power units at Chashma and Karachi. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010625 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan, India need nuclear safety: report ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Tahir Mirza WASHINGTON, June 24: The need for prompt negotiations and implementation of nuclear risk-reduction measures by Pakistan and India is underlined in a new report due to be released in Washington. The report, by the respected Henry L. Stimson Centre, was in preparation for some time, but its publication is described as quite fortuitous in view of the forthcoming Pakistan-India summit where the subject of adequate safeguards by the two neighbouring nuclear powers is likely to be a major topic of discussion. The issue was also brought up at the 1999 Lahore meeting between then prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who noted in the Lahore Declaration that they were "convinced of the importance of mutually agreed confidence-building measures for improving the security environment" and agreed to take "immediate steps for reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear weapons." The report concludes that Pakistan and India face far greater difficulties in establishing nuclear safety and stability than others states with nuclear weapons and seeks to provide impetus to indigenous approaches to nuclear risk reduction between them. Michael Krepon argues that nuclear risk reduction will be a far more complex undertaking in South Asia than was the case for the US and the then Soviet Union when bipolarity provided an element of simplification and when a common understanding of stabilizing activities could be negotiated. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010627 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Justice Qayyum resigns ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, June 26: Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum of the Lahore High Court resigned from his office on Tuesday. His resignation ended speculations over the future of this career, which began to develop when the Supreme Court in April, 2001, described his conduct as "biased" in its order on an appeal filed by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto against her conviction in a corruption case. The SC had ordered a retrial in the case in which a Lahore High Court ehtesab bench headed by Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum had convicted the former prime minister and her husband Asif Ali Zardari. Justice Qayyum's resignation was confirmed over the phone by a member of his family on Tuesday night. He was the third on the seniority list of the Lahore High Court. He was elevated to the bench on October 24, 1988 and was due to retire in 2006. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- It is early retirement that Qayyum has sought ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Shujaat Ali Khan LAHORE, June 27: Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum of the Lahore High Court has not resigned but has sought 'early retirement'. The admissive faxed by him in this regard on Tuesday was re-faxed on Wednesday at the request of the Federal Law Secretary, Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, as it was found not wholly legible. According to LHC registrar Fakhar Hayat, the court has no intimation neither of his resignation nor of his decision to seek premature retirement. The judge only informed the LHC office of his inability to hold court for a couple of days due to indisposition. Cases will continue to be assigned to him as usual. A number of case files were received in his court room for hearing on Thursday. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010630 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benazir sceptical of summit dialogue ------------------------------------------------------------------- LISBON, June 29: PPP leader Benazir Bhutto said she was not optimistic that Gen Pervez Musharraf could make progress in upcoming talks with India. Ms Bhutto told Reuters that a peace deal reached in 1999 had failed despite high hopes, and violence was still simmering. "I'd like to be proved wrong, but I'm not optimistic," she said here during a conference of the Socialist International, a world-wide grouping of socialist and labour parties. "Unless the level of violence goes down, I remain sceptical," she said, adding, "there isn't a solution to Kashmir, but we need to manage the disagreement so we can avoid tension, killing, violence and promote trade and understanding." The former prime minister said Gen Musharraf was using the talks with India to divert attention from tense relations with the Taliban government. "We have said Gen Musharraf should concentrate instead on holding elections and leave it to the elected government of the future to bring peace to the region." "If he wishes to be president, he has to ultimately seek the mandate through the political parties," Ms Bhutto added. Democracy, she stated, was essential for easing tension between India and Pakistan over the testing of nuclear weapons. Ms Bhutto said any elected parliament in future should be free to formulate foreign policy without what she called military interference. She said she hoped to return to Pakistan to contest general elections scheduled for 2002. "I know the generals don't want me to contest, but the people of Pakistan want me to." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benazir meets Paris Bar chief ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, June 28: Benazir Bhutto met with the President of Paris Bar Association Mr Francise Teiggen and also Head of the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Mr Francois-Xavier Charvet. Bhutto briefed them on how the Human Rights violations were taking place under the present regime and the political leaders were being victimized. She also gave examples that justice denied to those political leaders who are demanding the restoration of democracy and holding free and fair elections. The President of the Paris Bar Association, Mr Teiggen, was also informed how those lawyers, who defend their political clients, were being subjected to harassment and inhuman treatment. In some cases, he was told, lawyers were arrested and false cases were framed against them. Mr Teiggen showed keen interest to investigate cases against the lawyers. He also hoped that the Pakistan Bar Council would communicate such cases where judicial abuse had occurred.- PR DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benazir seeks world pressure for fair polls ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, June 27: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has urged the international community to pressure the regime into allowing fair elections and releasing political prisoners. According to a press release issued here by PPP media cell, Ms Bhutto after arriving from Dubai, began her European tour with a meeting with the president of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, Xavier de Villipen, in the Palais de Luxembourg. She apprised him of the political situation in the country. Benazir Bhutto gave the opposition's view on the assumption of the presidency by Gen Pervez Musharraf, the prospects of democratization, French relations with Pakistan and the proposed meeting between India and Pakistan. She said that the undemocratic dismissal of the PPP government in 1996 led to the political crisis in Pakistan. Since that day, the Taliban went into Kabul, fighting over Kashmir broke out in Kargil, South Asia witnessed 11 nuclear detonations, foreign investment dried up, the economy collapsed and ultimately the military took over, she said. She expressed apprehension that more political instability lay in store if the military got its way in imposing a puppet regime by excluding all political personalities from contesting the next elections. She said that it was the love of the people and her faith in God which had enabled her to stand up against fascism in difficult circumstances. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PIA's overall aviation policy being reviewed ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, June 27: The grounded PIA airbus A-300 will only be made operational after ensuring all safety standards and full cooperation is being extended to the experts to investigate and determine the causes which led its airbus to a sudden loss of pressurization, PIA deputy managing director Khurshid Anwar said confirming that a team from Bureau Enquetes Accident, France, on Friday had met PIA officials and inspected the airbus. In reply to a question he told Dawn that for the safety of the passengers the PIA had been flying Boeing-747 as a substitute to the A-300 Airbus on its London, New York and Far Eastern routes so that the operation schedules of the national flag carrier should not be affected with the grounding of its four A-300 aircraft. After May 25 incident of the airbus, in which failure of its rear pressure bulkhead had resulted in a sudden loss of pressurisation, a test was conducted on PIA's A-300 fleet and four aircraft were grounded following detection of some flaws at their bulkhead areas. Mr Anwar said that a technical team of the Air Bus, along with the PIA experts, had been carrying out various checks to ensure safety standards. He said that the overall aviation policy, including the open sky policy, was being reviewed in the light of the set goals of the present government to make national institutions viable. In this connection, he said, a committee has been formed to review the aviation policy including its open sky aspect objectively, which will submit its recommendations within six weeks. The committee has also been asked to go through aviation policies of other countries. The present aviation policy, practised since 1997-98, has opened the northern gateway to foreign airlines, have played havoc with the PIA and turned out to be one of the major causes for its financial collapse. Under the policy, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar sectors have been opened up to all airlines which have started using their capacity for dumping purposes by destroying fair integrity and causing losses to the airlines, PIA in particularly has suffered the most due to its old fleet. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rehmat Shah Afridi sentenced to death ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, June 27: Owner of Frontier Post and Maidan, Peshawar, Rehmat Shah Afridi was awarded death sentence and a fine of Rs1 million in two cases each of drug smuggling by a special anti- narcotics judge. Judge Syed Kazim Raza Shamsi also awarded life imprisonment and a fine of Rs250,000 each to two co-accused, Abdul Maalik and Missel Khan. In case of non-payment of fine, Mr Afridi will have to serve two years and the two co-accused one year each imprisonment. Mr Afridi was arrested by the Punjab Anti-narcotics Force from near a five-star hotel on The Mall on April 2, 1999 after 21kg of charas was recovered from the car which was being driven by him. The ANF has already got frozen all assets of Mr Afridi worth billions of rupees from the court and is pressing for their confiscation through a separate case. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010627 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Anti-Terrorism Act to be amended soon ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mohammad Asghar ISLAMABAD, June 26: The federal government is expected to promulgate Anti-Terrorism Act (Amendment) Ordinance 2001 within a few days to curb the menace of sectarianism, official sources told Dawn on Tuesday. The cabinet has already approved the draft with incorporated views given by the four provinces - law, justice and human rights division, accordingly re-drafted the law containing some deletions, amendments, substitutions and addition in the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, said the source. According to amendments and substitutions proposed in the new ordinance section 7 will be substituted as follows: In the 1997 Act, the punishment for a terrorist act, which has resulted in death of someone, is death. In the draft ordinance, the punishment proposed is death or life imprisonment. Punishment in cases where grievous bodily harm is caused, will be minimum imprisonment for 10 years but may extend to life imprisonment, and for grievous damage to property the punishment will not exceed 14 years imprisonment but mandatory sentence is 10 years imprisonment. In the Ordinance 2001, the punishment for certain acts of terrorism is as follow: (a) Death of a person is caused, shall be punishable with death, or with life imprisonment and with fine; (b) Grievous bodily harm or injury caused to any person, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 10 years but may extend to life imprisonment and shall also be liable to a fine; (c) Grievous damage to property is caused, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term not less than 10 years and not exceeding 14 years, and shall also be liable to a fine. In the Ordinance 2001, measures to be taken against proscribed organization are as follow: (a) Its offices, if any, shall be sealed; (b) Its accounts, if any, shall be frozen; (c) All literature, posters, banners or printed electronic, digital or other material shall be seized; (d) Publication, printing or dissemination of any press statements, press conference or public utterances by or on behalf of a proscribed organization shall be prohibited. The proscribed organization shall submit all accounts of its income and expenditure for its political and social welfare activities and disclose all funding sources to the competent authority designated by the federal government. In the Ordinance 2001, (1) A person is guilty of an offence if he belongs or bed organization; (2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction to a term not exceeding six months imprisonment and a fine; (3) A person commits an offence if he: (a) Solicits or invites support for a proscribed organization; (b) Arranges, manages or assists in managing or addressing a meeting which he's known, to support a proscribed organization, to further the activities of a proscribed organization; or to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organization (4) A person commits an offence if he addresses a meeting, by any means whether electronic, digital or otherwise, and the purpose of his address is to encourage support for a proscribed organization or to further its activities or to incite sectarian or ethnic hatred. (5) A person commits an offence if he solicits, collects or raises funds for a proscribed organization. (6) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3), (4), and (5) shall be liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not less than six months and not exceeding five years and a fine. (7) A person commits an offence if he, (a) Wears, carries or displays any article, symbol, or any flay or banner connected with or associated with any proscribed organisation; (b) Carries, wears or displays any uniform, items of clothing or dress in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a member or supporter of a proscribed organization. (8) A person who commits an offence under sub-section (7) of this section: (1) May be arrested by a police officer without a warrant, if he has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is guilty of an offence under such sub-sections; (2) Shall be liable by way of summary procedure to simple imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine, or both. Terrorism has been redefined by substituting section 6 of the Terrorism Act 1997 as follow: Terrorism means, the use or threat is designed to coerce and intimidate or overawe the government or the public or a section of the public community or sect or create a sense of fear or insecurity in society and the use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, ideological or ethnic cause. In the Ordinance 2001: (1) A person commits an offence if he provides, without valid authorization from the competent authority, any instruction or training in the making or use of (a) firearms, (b) explosives, (c) chemical, biological, nuclear and other weapons. (2) A person commits an offence if he trains any child under sub- section (1) and, on conviction, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years. (3) A person commits an offence if he receives instruction or training from anyone without valid authorization from the competent authority to give such instruction or training or invites another, specifically or generally, to receive such unauthorized instruction or training in the making or use of, (a) firearms (b) explosives (c)chemical, biological nuclear other weapons. (4) A child commits an offence under subsection (3) if he receives training from anyone under section (3), and if proven guilty, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment for two years. (5) A person guilty of an offence under sub-section (1) and (3) shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or a fine to be determined by the federal government from time to time, or both. In the Ordinance 2001, the court may in its discretion, admit a person to bail in all offences, except offences under section 7, unless satisfied that there are substantial grounds for believing that the person if released on bail (whether subject to conditions or not,) would, (a) Fail to surrender to custody; (b) Commit an offence while on bail; (c) Interfere with a witness, otherwise obstruct or attempt to obstruct the course of justice, whether in relation to himself or another person; (d) Fail to comply with the conditions of release (if any). The Ordinance 2001 said that the remissions granted under prison rules shall not exceed one-fourth term of imprisonment awarded under this Act. In the Ordinance 2001, all offences under this Act shall be tried by the Anti-Terrorism Court established under this Act. Proceedings may be held in camera, where necessary, or the court may impose terms and conditions for court attendance where members of the public attend for the purpose of intimidating or harassing officers of the court or the witnesses.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY 20010627 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Domestic debt increased faster in 2000-01 ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, June 26: The government accumulated both domestic and foreign currency debt at a much faster pace than projected in fiscal year 2000-01. According to the budget documents for fiscal 2001-02 domestic permanent debt rose by Rs31 billion in 2000-01 against original estimate of Rs12 billion. In other words the government borrowed Rs19 billion more mainly through non-bank sources. The budget documents also show a fourfold increase in the floating debt of the government - from Rs6 billion to Rs24.5 billion. This rise was also recorded mainly in non-bank borrowing. To add fuel to fire foreign currency permanent debt swelled by Rs7.2 billion in 2000-01 against instead of contracting by about Rs11 billion. In other words the government borrowing through debt raising securities denominated in foreign currency recorded a net growth of Rs18 billion in fiscal 2000-01. The government raises permanent domestic debt chiefly through four instruments: (i) Federal Investment Bonds (ii) Government Bonds issued to State Life Corporation of Pakistan and others and (iii) Pakistan Investment Bonds. The breakup shows that permanent domestic debt rose in 2000-01 solely due to higher amount mopped by PIBs introduced in the same year. The government borrowed Rs40 billion from non-bank sources through PIBs against an initial estimate of Rs20 billion. Had it not been so domestic permanent debt might have reduced slightly. Because in 2000-01 the government retired Rs5 billion worth of debt raised earlier through federal investment bonds against the target of Rs4 billion. Similarly it met the target of retiring Rs3.5 billion worth of debt raised earlier through government bonds issued to State Life Corporation and Rs139 million raised through other bonds. On the other hand the floating debt rose by Rs24.5 billion in 2000- 01 against the target of Rs6 billion mainly because net government borrowing through treasury bills shot up to Rs15 billion against the target of Rs2 billion. Its borrowing through prize bonds also rose to Rs9.5 billion - or more than double the target of Rs4 billion. Economists say the government has allowed a large increase in its non-bank borrowing in fiscal 2000-01 anticipating that its bank borrowing would close at minus Rs39.4 billion and that would show its net budgetary resources in a better shape. But it seems unlikely that the government bank borrowing would close at minus Rs39 billion against the target of minus Rs2 billion even after a huge increase in non-bank borrowing. It seems unlikely because net government bank borrowing stood at Rs22.4 billion as on May 26. And bringing it down to minus Rs39.4 billion means the government will have to retire Rs61.8 billion between May 26 and June 30 2001. This is a difficult task. Meanwhile, the increase in foreign currency permanent debt from targeted minus Rs11 billion to Rs7.2 billion in 2000-01 is due to mopping up of Rs9 billion through special US dollar bonds against the target of Rs2 billion. The government accumulates permanent foreign currency debt by selling (i) foreign exchange bearer certificates (ii) foreign currency bearer certificates (iii) US dollar bearer certificates and (iv) special US dollar bonds. TARGETS FOR 2001-02: After witnessing a sharp rise in domestic and foreign debt in fiscal 2000-01 the government has made lower projections for next fiscal year. The budget documents show that the government plans to raise Rs14 billion net domestic credit through various long term bonds in 2001-02. It also plans to add only Rs10.8 billion to its floating domestic debt in next fiscal year. And so far foreign currency permanent debt is concerned the government has set a net retirement target of Rs7.1 billion. Economists say like in the past meeting these targets can pose serious problems because these have not been set keeping in view the ground realities. For example the government has set a target of Rs25 billion non-bank borrowing through Pakistan Investment Bonds despite knowing that it had to double its borrowing through PIBs from targeted Rs20 billion to Rs40 billion in fiscal 2000-01. Senior bankers reached by Dawn said fixing an unrealistic target for PIBs sale had created serious problems for the primary dealers in 2000-01 adding that the history might repeat itself in 2001-02. Primary dealers are the banks selected for selling PIBs on behalf of the government. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010630 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rs71bn Sindh budget carries no new tax ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Sabihuddin Ghausi KARACHI, June 29: Sindh Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh presented a Rs71.7 billion revenue expenditure budget for the next fiscal year with an indicated deficit of Rs2.28 billion. Total revenue receipts in the coming fiscal have been projected at Rs69.42 billion that include Rs36.91 billion from Sindh's share in the federal tax pool, Rs15.87 billion straight transfers from Islamabad on account of royalty and development surcharge on oil and gas, and Rs4.13 billion compensatory grant for octroi and Zila. The province is expected to generate Rs12.5 billion from its own resources. Deficit on the capital side is indicated at Rs3.23 billion. Thus, the overall deficit - revenue and capital - is shown at Rs5.52 billion. The minister unfolded a development package of Rs10.42 billion with a provincial ADP of Rs5.75 billion to be financed almost entirely by Sindh as a single major component. Other components are: Rs2.8 billion Khushhal Pakistan to be shared equally by the province and the Centre and Rs1.87 billion to come as foreign assistance. Sindh is expected to generate more than Rs7 billion in next fiscal to finance the entire development package. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rs27bn budget for Balochistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Sabihuddin Ghausi QUETTA, June 27: Balochistan Finance Minister Malik Naeem Ahmad announced a Rs27.34 billion budget for the 2001-02 fiscal, which has an allocation of Rs3.47 billion for the proposed 22 district governments in the province. The budget estimates total revenue expenditure during the next year at Rs18.35 billion whereas the development outlay has been put at Rs7.89 billion. Total receipts have been estimated at Rs27.34 billion� provincial share in the federal tax pool and direct transfers from Islamabad Rs23.98 billion, provincial revenue generation Rs1.2 billion, foreign assistance Rs2.07 billion and a cash assistance of Rs11.50 million. Malik Naeem announced that while the budget carried no new tax, it had abolished seven of the taxes. The repealed taxes are: tax on bank cheques, tax on advertising on electronic media, excise on courier service, duty on telephone, octroi surcharge, recovery of surcharge, and municipal house tax. The government's strategy for the next fiscal, said the minister, was to improve the recoveries instead of levying any new taxes. In his budget speech, he said that out of a total current expenditure of 18.35 billion, a sum of Rs14.88 billion would be available with the province. This, he added, included a Rs10.80 billion wage bill of over 160,000 employees of the province as well as the impact of increase in salaries whenever it became effective, over Rs3 billion for debt serving, Rs676.76 million for pensions and Rs300 million for subsidy on wheat. To implement the devolution plan for districts a Rs150 million Devolution Fund had been constituted, the minister stated. He said that Rs3.47 billion had been earmarked for districts, which were to be spent for purchase of office furniture and machinery, repair and maintenance of furniture and machinery, expenditure on running of the water supply scheme, commodities and services, scholarship and rehabilitation of the famine hit. However, heralding of the devolution era and announcement of the first budget for the district governments was done in a rather inauspicious manner. No budget documents were made available to journalists. Officials explained that "these are under print in the press". Only a few pages to show the budget position and budget at a glance were provided. These pages were apparently torn out from some document. There were discrepancies between the minister's speech and the documents. The minister announced the size of the budget at Rs24.16 billion which "is neither surplus nor deficit but a balanced document". He projected the Public Sector Development Program at Rs5.80 billion. In contrast, the budget position document sets the size of the budget at Rs27.34 billion. It incorporates a PSDP of Rs7.89 billion. At Rs27.34 billion, the 2001-02 budget is marginally higher than the revised budget of Rs25.14 billion in the outgoing fiscal. The estimated non-development expenditure at Rs18.35 billion is a shade higher than Rs18.13 billion expenditure in the current fiscal year. So is the Annual Development Program, which has an outlay of Rs7.89 billion for the next year as against Rs7.50 billion in the current fiscal. The Rs7.89 billion ADP for the next fiscal year includes Rs2.07 billion of foreign assistance. The minister said that the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank would provide the assistance. "In the development budget, along with funds for meeting the drought, a sizable amount has been earmarked for the district development packages," Malik Naeem announced. He pointed out that the government had given priority to the irrigation sector which would have 32 new schemes in addition to 17 ongoing projects. A total amount of Rs1.38 billion was being invested, including Rs960 million foreign project assistance, and Rs427.57 million government share. The minister also spoke on the efforts being made to make improvement in the sectors of health, education, agriculture, forestry, physical planning and housing, communications and works. He said that big projects involving massive investment were being taken up by the Center for implementation in the province. An amount of Rs1 billion would be allocated for the Gwadar deep sea project, Rs2 billion for the coastal highway, Rs800 million for the Mirani dam, Rs846 million for the greater Quetta water supply scheme, establishment of an IT University, and Rs250 million for the construction of Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan Road. The total cost of the Mirani dam is expected to be Rs4.5 billion, coastal highway Rs12 billion, the Kacchi canal Rs44 billion and greater Quetta water supply scheme Rs6 billion, said the minister. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 taxes go in Rs128bn Punjab surplus budget ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Nasir Jamal LAHORE, June 28: Punjab Finance Minister Tariq Hamid presented a Rs128.27 billion surplus budget for the fiscal 2001-02, carrying a development outlay of Rs20.13 billion and an allocation of Rs43.04 billion for the 34 proposed district governments. The development outlay is 18 per cent higher than the current year's allocation and a larger portion of it - 45pc, or Rs9.3 billion - has been allocated to the district governments for undertaking new schemes and projects. The remaining amount will be used by the province for completing the ongoing projects. The government has distributed an amount of Rs6 billion to be spent on ongoing development schemes in such a way that the less developed areas get additional funds. The budget seeks to generate Rs126.279 million through new taxation measures while granting a relief of Rs108.485 million through rationalization of and reduction in existing taxes. The general revenue receipts have been put at Rs120.313 billion as against the revenue expenditure of Rs108.14 billion, showing a surplus of Rs12.173 billion. The province hopes to receive Rs100 billion from the Centre as its share from the divisible pool and direct transfers, and generate Rs20 billion from its own resources. There is an increase of 9.18pc in the federal pool transfers compared to the current year's. Punjab, however, is not expected to get more than Rs90 billion from Islamabad because of deduction at source of Wapda and other federal arrears. There are numerous discrepancies in the figures given in the budget documents and the speech delivered by the minister on radio and television in a provincial hook-up. The most glaring being the difference in the estimates of current expenditure: while the white paper estimates the current expenditure at Rs108.14 billion, Mr Hamid put it at Rs99 billion. The revenue receipts for the next year are up by about Rs11 billion over the current year's revised estimates of Rs109.356 billion. Similarly, the revenue expenditure shows a growth of Rs9.539 billion over the current year's revised estimates of Rs98.601 billion. The net capital receipts for 2001-02 show a deficit of Rs3.244 billion as the current capital expenditure of Rs30.662 billion is in excess of the current capital receipts of Rs27.417 billion. The net public account receipts show a negligible surplus of Rs3 million as public account receipts stand at Rs69.254 billion as compared to disbursements of Rs69.251 billion. Thus the net current budget surplus stands at Rs8.931 billion, slightly greater than the current year's revised estimates of Rs8.743 billion, after taking into account the deficit in the net capital receipts and surplus in public account receipts. The abolition of the 27 provincial taxes and rationalization of the existing nine ones announced in the budget has resulted in a loss of Rs1.126 billion. The Provincial Own Receipts - both tax and non- tax - dipped 2.2pc in the revised estimates for the current year. The Provincial Own Receipts have been pitched at Rs20.335 billion for 2001-02, which is 1.3pc higher than the current year. The share of the Provincial Own Receipts in the total current revenue receipts in the budget estimates has decreased from 17.58pc to 16.90pc while the share of the federal transfers has increased to 80.67pc from 78.63pc, showing Punjab's increasing dependency on the federal transfers for resources. The provincial tax receipts for 2001-02 have been put at Rs11.77 billion - Rs4.099 billion from direct taxes and Rs7.671 billion from indirect taxes - as compared to the revised estimates of Rs11.322 billion for 2000-01. The revised estimates for the current year show a decrease of 11.55pc in the budgetary estimates of Rs12.801 billion. Discussing fiscal measures, the minister said the government had avoided putting any additional burden on people in spite of the 18pc increase in the development outlay. However, he added, the tax policy had been "changed slightly". The changes announced by him in the taxes would result in a net additional income of Rs17.794 million. The budget proposes to increase the exemption limit on the property tax in respect of residential houses owned by widows, minor orphans, and disabled persons from their annual rental value of Rs24,000 to Rs30,000 which is estimated to result in a loss of Rs27 million. The existing cotton fee charged in the range of 8-16 paisa per kilogram has been proposed to be fixed at 10 paisa per kilogram payable up to March 1. The fixation of the uniform rate would bring an income of Rs71.692 million to the province. Electricity duty has been imposed on the industrial units using power generators of more than 500KVA for self use which would enhance the government income by Rs54.587 million. Similarly, tax on the transfer of immovable property has been imposed at the rate of 1pc of value of the property to bring local government out of the financial crisis. However, the government did not disclose how much burden the new measure would put on the people. Entertainment duty on cinemas has been reduced to 30pc from the existing 65pc, and converted to a fixed charge per day in respect of different categories to be determined by the government. The rate would be frozen for five years. The revenue loss is expected to be Rs81.485 million. Annual licence fee on cinemas would not be levied for five years. The weekly municipal show tax, professional tax on owners of movie halls, and air-conditioning has also been abolished. In his speech, the minister said the budget was different from the previous documents because it sough to devolve power to grass roots to remove the economic inequities in society. He said the budget attempted at reconciling its priorities with the process of decentralization of power. "It seeks to devolve the financial powers and resources to the district governments which will be authorized to approve and implement projects up to Rs15 million. The primary objective is to reduce the size and powers of the provincial government and transfer authority to the districts," he said. Foreign-funded and inter-district development schemes would continue to be implemented by the province, he added. Mr Hamid said that Rs5 billion had been allocated under the Khushhal Pakistan Program. The government had already spent Rs6.31 billion under this program. He gave details of the measures taken by the government to help farmers fight effects of drought and increase production. He said the government had incurred Rs5 billion on the procurement of wheat this year. The minister said the government had set aside Rs30.29 billion for education, Rs8.5 billion for health, Rs2.9 billion for agriculture, 7.17 billion for irrigation and Rs8.23 billion for the police in the budget. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- NWFP unveils Rs44bn budget for 2001-02 ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Intikhab Amir PESHAWAR, June 28: The NWFP government announced over Rs44bn provincial budget for the 2001-02 fiscal year, with the largest chunk of anticipated revenue receipts - 91.62 per cent of the total - shown to be coming from the federal government and Wapda. The NWFP finance minister, Farid Rehman, said the wide gap between receipts and expenditure demanded a fresh review to create fiscal space to overcome the financial constraints the province has been facing for the last several years. Against the Rs44.067bn total revenue receipts for the 2001- 02 fiscal year, total revenue expenditure of the province has been projected at Rs45.04bn, causing a shortfall of Rs973m. Similarly, against Rs1.03bn capital receipts slated to be raised during the 2001-02 financial year, a Rs1.81bn capital expenditure has been envisaged, reflecting another shortfall of Rs776m. Whereas the provincial government has indicated an overall Rs1.75 bn deficit (including Rs973m and Rs776m) for the next financial year, it [the deficit] originally stands at well over Rs9bn as the new year's budget carries an in-built deficit of Rs8.328bn under the net hydel profit head because against the Rs14.328bn projected share the province is likely to receive only Rs6bn during the 2001- 02 fiscal year - the capped share amount Wapda has been releasing to the NWFP for the last eight years. Apart from Rs14.328bn net hydel profit share, direct federal transfers from the Federal Divisible Pool has been projected at Rs21,724.96bn, Rs4,248.64bn subvention/grants from the federal government and Rs10m matching grants for the additional revenue the province would record under different heads of the provincial own receipts by making upward adjustments. No new tax has been introduced. However, the structure of some of the fees and user charges have been revised. For the first time in the financial history of the province, during the 2001-02 fiscal year it would get Rs52.31m royalty on crude oil and Rs11.63m royalty on natural gas - as their deposits discovered in NWFP in the recent past have been marketed. At a time when the direct federal transfers and releases from external resources have been projected to jointly record 28 per cent growth [in 2001-02 fiscal year] in comparison with the revised budgetary estimates of the 2000-01 financial year, provincial own receipts have been estimated to rise just by three per cent during the next financial year. POR target for the 2001-02 financial year has been pitched at Rs3.692bn against Rs3.6bn revised budgetary estimates for the 2000- 01 financial year. The target envisaged for the 2001-02 financial year appears to be Rs559m less than the Rs4.3bn POR target that had been set at the start of the 2000-01 financial year. However, according to the White Paper, made available to Dawn by official sources, the provincial government's expenditure against its revenue receipts is not likely to settle at the Rs45bn benchmark envisaged under the budget at a glance. Rather, it is likely to get settled at a level much larger than the projected figure. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010630 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Last KSE session of current fiscal ends on dull note ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, June 29: The KSE 100-share index fell 2.53 points at 1,366.44. But big gains in some of the pivotals show that all was not bad with the broader market. The managements extended good support to their shares to finish the year on higher note. Shortage of floating stock added to the price flare-ups. Both Nestle MilkPak and Rafhan Maize, which rose by Rs. 14.90 and 34.50 respectively in the lead followed by Colgate Pakistan, Ferozesons, Bannu Woollen, IGI Insurance, Lakson Tobacco, Shell Pakistan and several others, which posted gains ranging from Rs. 4.00 to 7.00 After moving either-way, the KSE 100-share index finally ended 2.53 point lower at 1,366.94 as compared to 1368.97 a day earlier, reflecting the weakness of PTCL and Hub Power. Apart from the big gainers, other leading gainers were led by Trust Bank, H.M.Ismail Textiles, Shaheen Insurance, Aventis Pharma, and General Tyre rising by Rs.1.90 go 6.00. Losers were led by New Jubilee Insurance, Prudential Commercial Bank, Al-Jadeed Textiles, Quice Foods and Atlas Lease, falling by Rs.1.50 to 5.45. Trading volume fell to 44m shares from the previous 53m shares as losers forced a strong lead over the gainers at 121 to 89, out of the 258 actives. PSO again topped the list of most actives, unchanged at Rs. 132.50 on 11m shares followed by PTCL, lower 20 paisa at Rs. 17.95 on 8m shares, Hub-Power, easy 15 paisa at Rs. 19.10 on 4m shares, Fauji Fertilizer, off 60 paisa at Rs. 35.70 on 3m shares and FFC-Jordan Fertilizer, lower 15 paisa at Rs. 5.65 on 2.186m shares. Engro Chemical led the list of other actives, off 50 paisa on 1.486m shares, ICI Pakistan easy 10 paisa on 1.625m shares, Dewan salman, lower 30 paisa on 1.443m shares, Sui Northern, off 20 paisa on 1.139m shares and MCB, lower 15 paisa on 1.015m shares. DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Trading on this counter was slow as shares of only three companies came in for trading and ended with fractional changes.Back to the top
EDITORIALS & FEATURES 20010624 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Bania, mooch nichi' ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ardeshir Cowasjee We begin with the Founder and Maker, Mohammad Ali Jinnah: "...every successive government of Pakistan will be worse than its predecessor." After Jinnah, all those who came, the leaders who claimed to have been freely and fairly elected, those who were chosen to lead, and those who rode in on horseback, have ended up by being hanged, have fallen from the skies, have been jailed, exiled, or put in the stocks. Now we have Musharraf who over a year and a half down the road still appears to be sincere, has still not allowed himself to be corrupted, has not yet claimed to have been sent on a divine mission, can still differentiate between religion and religiosity, and, maybe, given time, he could prove Jinnah to have been wrong. Far too clever Bhutto, my erstwhile friend, a tyrant in the garb of a democrat, crowned himself as the civilian chief martial law administrator (the first in history). The sole opposition he feared, he used to say, "is that of the largest and most disciplined party, the army." He juggled with the generals, chose as his army chief the most obsequious, the bowing-and-scraping Mard-e-Momin, Mard-i-Haq, Zia- ul-Haq. Zia saw him out, hanged him, and had he not fallen from the skies nine years later, might well still have been ruling this roost. Now to Rafiq Ahmad Tarar, the sacked president, seen off by General Pervez Musharraf who termed him a man of honour and dignity. Why did the general have to say this? People do not care for hypocritical statements. Tarar was first a judge, and a bad judge at that. He has at least two unhappy judgements to his name. Criminal Appeal 4/SAC/1 decided by Tarar in February 1994 (1994 SCMR 1456) concerned the case of Muhammad Ashraf & Others versus the state and was an appeal against the enforcement of the Hudood Ordinance and the conviction of the appellants by the Special Court for Speedy Trials no. 11 at Lahore. Ashraf and two others had been sentenced to have their right hands amputated from the wrist and their left legs from the ankle, to seven years RI, and to a fine of Rs 20,000 each. Their crime was the theft of Rs 40,000 and of a licensed pistol and for causing "simple and grievous injuries" in the process. Tarar wrote the judgement, the concluding paragraph of which reads:"Before convicting the appellants, the learned trial court considered all the relevant provisions of law, including sections 10, 11, 16 read with sections 7 and 20 of the Offences Against Property (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance 1979 which cater for situations where Had shall not be imposed and/or enforced and on proved facts rightly concluded that the offence committed by the appellants squarely falls within the ambit of section 17(3) of the Ordinance. The only punishment provided by section 17(3) is the amputation of right hand from the wrist and left leg from the ankle which has been imposed by the learned trial and we confirm the same." This was seven years ago when Tarar was sitting as Chairman of the Supreme Appellate Court at Lahore. Another judgement he wrote was in March 1993 in the matter of Criminal Appeal 91/SAC/L/92. He opened up: "This appeal by Khalil- uz-Zaman convict is directed against the judgment of the learned Special Court for Speedy Trials-II Lahore, whereby he was convicted u/s 302 and 324 read with Section 337-F of the PPC. Under Section 302-PPC he was sentenced to death as Tazir and was directed to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation to the legal heirs of Mst Asia Perveen deceased u/s 544-A of the Cr.P.C. and u/s 324/337-F of the PPC he was sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years... In the circumstances, the appellant is liable for Qatl-e-Amd u/s 302(a) of the PPC punishable with death as Qisas. In that view of the matter, the order directing payment of compensation is set aside. His conviction and sentence u/s 337-F is also set aside and with the above modification his appeal is dismissed." The convict appealed against the judgement of Tarar, Chairman of the Supreme Appellate Court, Lahore, and his appeal was heard by a bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Munir Khan and the judgement of that Bench (PLD 1994 SC 835) recorded: "... we are in no manner of doubt that the trial court and also the learned Appellate Court had no lawful authority/jurisdiction/power whatsoever to convict the petitioner under section 302 PPC or to impose penalty of death on him, and have acted in gross violation of law... If the impugned judgements are allowed to stand then the petitioner would be deprived of his life obviously in pursuance of orders which suffer from lack of jurisdiction and authority, gross carelessness, illegality and were violative of Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Fortunately for the petitioner, our Constitution gives protection to the citizens of Pakistan against illegal treatment in the matter of life, liberty and body... In this case the courts, vide impugned judgements, have ordered the petitioner to be hanged to death although he was/is not liable to death in law for the offence allegedly committed by him. "There can be no case more fit and proper than the present one for interference in exercise of our original jurisdiction... Had the courts taken the trouble of reading three sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, i.e. sections 306, 307 and 308, we are sure they would not have sentenced the accused/petitioner to death under Section 302 PPC. The error committed by the courts in convicting the accused/petitioner under Section 302 PPC and sentencing him to death is so serious that had the petitioner eventually been hanged to death, we are afraid it would have amounted to murder through judicial process..." Another case involving the good Justice Tarar at around the same time was that of a 20-year-old girl and a young man accused of adultery and of killing the girl's husband. On extremely flimsy evidence a sessions judge in the NWFP sentenced them to be hanged to death. They appealed to the High Court, the sentence was upheld, they then appealed to the Supreme Court where they found Justice R.A. Tarar. He upheld the sentence and the 20-year-old girl would have been hanged but for a presidential reprieve. Tarar has still to explain why, when the judges of the Supreme Court revolted against their Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah in November 1997, he chose to clandestinely fly to Quetta in the middle of the night to meet the Supreme Court judges of the Quetta Bench. Did he prevent the course of justice? Musharraf has rid us of Tarar, he has dissolved the assemblies and the senate and sent all of them, the majority corrupt and useless, home. They all bear collective guilt. Not a tear has been shed at their departure, other than tears of their own. Our past writers of 'historical judgements' have opined that Musharraf has elevated himself to the presidency unconstitutionally. That is their opinion. Our present chief arbiter of law and provider of justice, Chief Justice of Pakistan Irshad Hassan Khan, deemed it right and correct to administer the oath of office and to swear in General Pervez Musharraf as president of Pakistan, which he did on June 20. The losers will go to our courts, waste their time and our money. The people hope that Musharraf's government will not in this case spend millions of rupees of the people's money on high-flying second rate lawyers who will dispense much time and energy on losing the government's case. We must hope that our able independent Chief Justice of Pakistan ensures that his writ prevails. To these of our foreign friends who insist on preaching the virtues of democracy, I ask if they are aware of the capabilities of our self-appointed democrats? Zulfikar Ali Bhutto promulgated our Constitution in 1973 and within four hours had the fundamental rights enshrined therein suspended and had many members of the opposition jailed. Do they know that it takes our democrats less time to push through the National Assembly and Senate a constitutional amendment than it takes the Jadoogar of Jeddah to draft and have an ordinance promulgated? Do they know that we had a prime minister who thought he could keep the army out by passing a constitutional amendment, the 13th in line? Do they know that the same devastator of our country tried to replace the chief of our army staff with one of his favourites who commanded less men and weapons than commanded by the surgeon-general of the army. Now, President General Pervez Musharraf, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the armed forces, Chief of Army Staff, Chief Executive, has invited the noise-makers of our sorry bunch of politicians to meet him before he flies across the border to talk to Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Indian prime minister. They are to meet him on June 27 and to lunch with him thereafter. Reportedly, Rhodes Scholar Waseem Sajjad, former Senate chairman, and my good friend Ilahi Bakhsh Soomro, former speaker of the National Assembly, have also been invited. It should be a fun-filled day. To end on a serious note. Musharraf will be flying over the border to meet a formidable friend (let us not call him a foe). Vajpayee has grown up imbibing the term 'Bania, mooch nichi.' to understand the full import of these words I suggest he have a discussion with Gujerati-speaking Suleman Dawood, father of Musharraf's minister Razzak. Wise Suleman grew up with the Banias. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010628 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The general as president ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Benazir Bhutto On June 20, 2001, Pakistan's coup leader declared himself the president. Since he made little secret of his ambition to become president, his assumption of office was expected. He became the fourth military commander to march into the presidency with his boots and guns. The presidency, a seat of constitutional power envisaged by the country's founders, was instantly transformed. The civilian President refused to resign and was shown the door with a salute. He refused to salute back. The general proclaimed himself president. With more than half a million men under arms to back his self-declaration, General Musharraf casually changed from khaki to mufti. Musharraf was careful not to consign the khaki to the old clothes disposal store. Conscious that his power flows from his military post, the general declared that now he was the president and the Chief of Army Staff. Never mind that the Constitution says that presidents must be elected by the Parliament. The Constitution, as an earlier general-president said, 'is a booklet of twelve pages that can be torn'. In countries where constitutions are the basic law, the Musharraf presidency was greeted with shock. America, Britain and the European Union were quick to express their dismay. Even the Chinese endorsement was missing. For China it was "an internal matter". The only country that welcomed the oath taking in the rich and splendoured halls of the Pakistani presidency on Islamabad's hill was the old foe India. India must have its reasons for doing so. The country's two largest political parties and their allies were quick to denounce the move as "anti-democratic and unconstitutional". The general ignored them. State television produced a never elected cricketer turned politician to "endorse" the Musharraf presidency. The senior generals were out in force in the controversial halls of the ill-fated presidency. It is called the ill-fated presidency because none of its occupants left with honour. General-president Zia went up in a ball of fire. Presidents Ishaq, Leghari and Tarrar were forced out before their terms ended. But the ill-fated ghosts of yesteryear were far from the minds of the brass sitting under the rich chandeliers of the poor country. Perhaps their minds were more on their own promotions. Speculation is rife as to which of the duo that brought him to power Musharraf plans blessing as his military successor. They include General Mahmood and General Usmani. The first put the ousted premier into prison and the second safely brought the hijacked Musharraf plane down on the fateful day of the coup. Musharraf's own military term ends in October. It is likely that he will benefit himself with an extension but promote another three-star general to four-star status and ask him to act as the vice chief. As ceremony and power united in the ornate halls of the presidency, the speculation grew as to why the General sprung the presidency a surprise keeping his allies in the dark. Neither the cabinet nor the National Security Council was consulted. The powerful body of corps commanders was reduced to a rubber stamp, hearing the news a few hours after rumours swept the country. Even US Secretary of State Colin Powell, with whom the Pakistani foreign minister was meeting when the general declared himself president, was kept ignorant. The foreign minister was exposed and embarrassed. He came across as a propagandist of the regime rather than a substantive player whose assurances carried value. In the predominantly Muslim country which believes that "God loves not the arrogant", the general declared, "In all sincerity, I believe I have a role to play and a job to do". Such musings brought to mind dark moments in history of earlier dictators. Those dictators left the country disintegrated, lost wars, territories and bequeathed a barren landscape of a demoralized and divided nation. It was hoped that General Musharraf would be different from his predecessors. But in twenty months, he made wrong moves at the wrong time and reached the wrong conclusions based on wrong advice. Each politically motivated action of his lost him support when the platform for gaining it was available. When generals seize power, hubris seizes them. They rhetorically ask: "Who will throw us out?" The answer is obvious in contemporary history, littered with examples of fallen generals. This is an age where Pinochet and Suharto are dragged to court as their former juniors watch. It was obvious that the protocol of his coming India visit bothered Musharraf. Here was the general who sent three thousand Pakistani soldiers to their martyrdom in the icy peaks of Kargil. More often than not, as postmortems of grass in empty bellies showed, they died of hunger rather than cold. Lines of supply were cut. The soldiers still fought, ready to die rather than retreat. Indian casualties were equally heavy. And then there was the Indian premier's visit to Lahore in 1999. Then army chief Musharraf, along with the other service chiefs, was conspicuous by his absence. Musharraf, who refused to salute Vajpayee on home ground, was faced with the dilemma of saluting him on Indian territory, after the shedding of much blood in the interim. Swearing himself in as president earlier than planned was Musharraf's answer to the awkward salute. Protocol could rank him higher than the Indian premier. Now the president of India will lay out the red welcoming carpet for the Kargil architect. Many Indian soldiers lost their lives in the Kargil fighting until America directed Islamabad to unilaterally withdraw. In declaring himself president, Musharraf showed little consideration for the group of politicians that hoped to ride to power on his coat-tails. Promised power through the revival of the assemblies, they woke up in a cold sweat to the news that they were now redundant. But power is a strange creature without friends or foes - only vested interests. In this case, those vested interests came to the fore ruthlessly, rapidly and without niceties or courtesies. The dissolution of the assemblies showed the vulnerable side of the Musharraf regime. The dismissal of the assemblies was evidence that Musharraf lost confidence. He no longer believed that the old parliament could elect him or give him the vast powers desired. Given the pressure for fair and free elections, and the inability of the Musharraf regime to deliver so far, it appears unlikely that the next elected parliament, due in 2002, will please Musharraf any better. So where does that leave the man who said "God has been very kind to me" when he declared himself president? There are four options that the generals now have to acquire legitimacy. First, an extension from the Supreme Court for the term allocated so far. But this will stir up misgivings amongst the international community. Second, a manipulated referendum could confirm legitimacy but is a double-edged sword. The people could boycott, making it difficult to fill the ballot boxes. Third, election through the local councillors, but that too is double- edged. Strong-arm tactics could backfire. Fourth, an understanding with the opposition alliance. Since the last option causes military hearts to verge on near fatal attacks, that leaves three substantive options for them. None of the preferred options are clean or tidy. Excluded political parties will resist those options, making the international strategic factors critical. Ironically, such external support now hinges on the benevolence that nemesis Vajpayee is willing to bestow. Clearly, reducing tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan is the unanimous strategic compulsion of the international community. The question being asked is whether Vajpayee can do business with Musharraf? They will get to know each other when the two men meet in the retreat. The non-papers they exchanged in the follow-up to the meeting remains secret. New Delhi is playing on the local boy comes home theme. The Indian home where a two-year old Musharraf played before the family migrated to Pakistan in the Indian capital is being done up. And, as the Clinton visit showed, the Indians know how to wine and dine a dignitary. That can be intoxicating. The downside is that any agreement between the two will be disputed. Musharraf goes to New Delhi without the support of the people. He is not on speaking terms with his elected predecessors. Besides, much as Musharraf may wish to win a Nobel Peace Prize, it is a poor compensation for the rest of the Pakistani army. And he knows it. Lacking legitimacy and representation, it is unlikely that Musharraf can do more than regurgitate old agreements on nuclear confidence, trade or gas pipeline. Pakistan's Supreme Court gave the generals a mandate to govern until October 2002. Given that so little time is left to that date, uncertainty has increased with the sacking of the assemblies and the ouster of the previous president. If there is a silver lining in the dark cloud of the self-declared Musharraf presidency, it is that the declaration outlines political succession. The provisional constitutional order provides for an acting president of Pakistan should the president be absent. Other than that, there is little to cheer about. Whether Musharraf calls himself president, prime minister or the Chief of Army Staff, he is the man running the show. He is responsible for the political and economic situation in Pakistan. Given the political polarization in the country, the lack of freedoms, development and economic progress and the representative nature of the military regime, it makes little difference what Musharraf calls himself. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Being nice is not the point ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ayaz Amir Nothing is so calculated to make one want to run one's thumb over the edge of a sharp knife than the line heard so often this past year and a half that Musharraf is a nice guy: clean, transparent and honest, someone who talks straight and has the good of the country at heart. If politics was about likeability and personal attractiveness we should not have had any problems in the first place. All the generalissimos who have strutted on the national stage were attractive figures. To look at photographs of Iskander Mirza, Ayub, and Yahya in their prime or at the height of their power is to be reminded of the bearing and personality for which they were once praised. Even Zia did not fail to impress visitors with his humility and good nature. Of our democrats Bhutto had a great personality but that did not save him from his walk to the gallows. Most other politicians who rose to high office look like dry sticks compared to their military counterparts. Who would have wanted to spend an evening with Junejo? Or with Nawaz Sharif for that matter? Benazir, with her ready wit and gift for one-liners, could be the epitome of charm. But by harping on her righteousness and never admitting to any wrong (traits which have not deserted her) she could also be insufferable. By all accounts, Asif Zardari is a friend's friend, a boon companion, and an easy person to get along with. But this exactly is the point. If being nice was all there was to politics, Zardari should have been the answer to Pakistan's problems. Musharraf's military predecessors were unmitigated disasters not because they lacked charisma and charm. They failed and left Pakistan worse than before because the institution which was the source of their power was at once their biggest strength and greatest handicap. Their thinking and vision were shaped by this institution. Their prejudices were a product of their military training. They were thus pre-programmed to see things in a certain light and brought up to believe that the military was the repository of all the virtues, politics was a deceitful game and politicians were venal and corrupt figures who deserved nothing better than to be handled with a stick. And since, for all their outward impressiveness, the generals who ruled Pakistan were essentially pedestrian figures, with little imagination and no vision, they could never go beyond the limitations of the army mind. This is not to say that Pakistan's military saviours have not played small games of deception, have not said one thing and done another, or have not been devious in other ways. They have indeed and often more so than their civilian peers. But this kind of cleverness does not translate into great leadership. Pakistan's military rulers have all been clever without being intelligent. Beginning by reviling politicians, they often proved more adept at politics than regular professionals. But this is what they remained right till the end, even when the shadows began closing in on them: clever jugglers. None could make the grade to anything resembling statesmanship. Why? Two factors, I think, account for this failure. Firstly, for some reason the intellectual tradition has never been very strong in the ranks of the Pakistani general staff, intellectual brilliance being the exception not the norm. Secondly, the Pakistan army is a deeply conservative institution, intrinsically oriented to the preservation of the status quo, and therefore averse to any profound or radical altering of the socio-economic foundations of Pakistani society. The expectation of radical steps on its part is therefore wholly misplaced. Whenever the military steps into the political arena it will always do what comes the readiest to it: installing streetlights, terrorizing the sanitary staff of municipal organizations, starting anti-encroachment drives and in the process making life difficult for street-sellers and cart-vendors. And at a bigger level talking loudly about accountability and recovering looted money. This is all. This is what it was like under previous military governments. This is what it has been like under Musharraf. Beating empty drums, glorifying the small and petty: trust the army always to do this and then to describe its efforts as nation-building. This is not deliberate deception. To think so is to get the whole thing wrong. The army as an institution is incapable of anything better. To the pursuit of the small and ephemeral it brings a vast amount of zeal and enthusiasm. Even when grappling with municipal drains and streetlights, an endeavour which ends by leaving army units exhausted, the army thinks it is reordering the fundamentals of society. Meanwhile the Chief - Yahya, Zia or Musharraf - becomes a jack of all trades. He devotes some time to the army and some to the civil administration. Since he is neither Napoleon nor superman he ends up being part-time army chief and part-time administrator, beholden to his generals for the smooth running of the army and to his civilian technocrats for running the government. Small wonder and contrary to popular belief, the worst excesses of nepotism and cronyism in Pakistan take place under military regimes, with generals and bureaucrats being promoted and kept in office long past their usefulness simply because the General-in- chief has had so many favours to return. In every military government favourites emerge whose power is less a reflection of outstanding merit as of their services to the ruler of the day. On a broader level, the privileged status of the higher echelons of the Pakistan army is not a fortuitous development. It is a direct outcome of the need felt by successive generalissimos to keep their core constituency happy. So wherein lies the fault? Not in the qualities or defects of character of Pakistan's military rulers but in the structural and intellectual limitations of their rule. It is not that one-man rule or autocracy is always and everywhere bad. England apart, the Europe that we see today is a product of various forms of kingship and authoritarianism. Democracy made a late arrival in much of the continent. East Asian prosperity, including China's emergence as an economic powerhouse, is based upon the politics of authoritarianism. It is just that the same solution does not fit every situation. The Pakistani model of authoritarianism which derives its legitimacy and currency from the army is flawed because the instrument at hand, the Pakistan army, is not equipped to deliver the wages of good administration (the necessary condition for economic prosperity). The Pak Army is not the Kuomintang of Taiwan. It is not the Communist Party or People's Liberation Army of China. It is not the British civil service of Hong Kong nor the army of South Korea. It can only produce the figures it has done; it can produce no Lee Kuan Yews. This is not to say it has no strengths. It has them indeed and they are not to be scoffed at. But among these strengths, as the history of the last 50 years has demonstrated, lies not the art of government or administration. The Pakistan army can do many things and it can do them better than the armies of many other countries. But it simply lacks the ethos or grounding to bring about a social revolution or lay the foundations of an enduring political order. This is what makes Musharraf's assumption of the presidency such a sad event. For in laying bare his ambition, and perhaps that of his closest generals, this move reveals, as nothing else could, that we have learned nothing from the past. That Musharraf at a personal level may be a very nice soul is an irrelevant circumstance. He has embarked upon a course that can only spell disaster for the country. For the continuity of which reforms is he so concerned? What reforms has his government brought about? If anything, the last year and a half has added to the sum of national suffering and confusion. So, apart from the prompting of a paranoid ambition, what justification is there for the emerging Suhartoization of Pakistan? In Asia there are bad authoritarian models and good and we seem to be going for the worst of the lot. Pakistan came into being as the result of a democratic process. Let no confusion surround this central truth. Authoritarianism of the military kind fits nowhere into its founding principles. This kind of rule fails also the test of pragmatism for it has brought nothing but disaster for Pakistan. The conclusion is obvious. The only service Musharraf can do Pakistan is to return it to democracy. That the Benazirs and Nawaz Sharifs of democracy may have been corrupt and inept figures is a matter of detail. It takes away nothing from the substance of the argument that time and again the military model has failed in Pakistan and, nice strongman or not, will fail again. Jaded as the refrain may sound, the only experiments we can afford to make are on the democratic plane.
SPORTS 20010630 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan squander two-goal advantage ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Correspondent LAHORE, June 29: Pakistan salvaged a 2-2 draw with the hosts The Netherlands in the first Test at Drachten Hockey Club ground. Pakistan, despite leading 2-0 at the half time, surrendered the advantage to the home side in the second half dominated by the home side. The visitors started well with a goal from Kashif Jawwad who netted on a 10th minute penalty corner. A combined move involving utility player Mohammad Nadeem and Mohammad Sarwar saw midfielder Mohammad Usman scoring the goal number two just two minutes from the half time whistle. Sarwar missed the target twice before the half time. After going 2-0 down, the Dutch reduced the margin 2-1 through Loman who converted a penalty corner just after the restart. Tendionozr slammed home the equalizer for the Netherlands in the 42nd minute. Atif Bashir and Kashif wasted clear openings once in the second session. Belgium stun Pakistan: Pakistan lost to Belgium 2-1 in the one-off hockey Test in Brussels. After a 1-1 stalemate in the first half, Belgium scored the winner after the change of ends. Pakistan penalty corner specialist, Sohail Abbas netted the consolation goal. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010625 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan leapfrog into second place ------------------------------------------------------------------- HAMBURG, June 24: Germany humbled the Netherlands 4-2 Sunday to clinch the four-nation hockey tournament while Pakistan finished second after a thrilling 8-6 victory over South Korea. The Germans, who went into the match two points ahead of the Dutch, followed up victories over South Korea (2-0) and Pakistan (3-2) with a 4-2 win against the reigning Olympic and world champions to take the title for the sixth time on home soil. Hamburg-born Christoph Beckmann slotted two goals, with Tibor Weissenborn and Oliver Domke wrapping up the scoring in front of 3,500 fans. Pakistan's 8-6 win over Sydney Olympics silver medallists South Korea, who finished as woodenspoonists, saw them leapfrog into second place ahead of the Netherlands and come out the tournament's top scorers with 11 goals in three games. Pakistan's short corner executioner, Sohail Abbas's three goals came off two penalty corners and a stroke. Utility player, Mohammad Nadeem, and Muddasir Ali found the cage twice, and Zeeshan Ashraf netted once. After three wins against quality opposition, German coach Bernhard Peters said his team could now "face the future with confidence". Earlier Saturday, Germany eliminated Pakistan hopes of winning the tournament when they twice came from behind to topple them 3-2. Pakistan, after two matches, had a single point they earned following Friday's 1-all draw against The Netherlands. The Netherlands outclassed South Korea 6-3 in the other match on Saturday. Sohail Abbas, put his side ahead in the fifth minute. But the Germans soon replied with a short corner goal through Timo Wess four minutes before lemon time. Former skipper Atif Bashir put Pakistan again in front five minutes into second half. But the visitors buckled under pressure as the game headed for closure with Germany first equalizing through Christoph Eimer in the 57th minute and Oliver Domke scoring the match winner in injury time. It was Germany's second victory over Pakistan following their 4-2 win in the one-off test last week. The four-nation contest was a part of Pakistan's European tour for the build-up to the six-nation Champions Trophy to be hosted by Lahore from Nov 3-11. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010625 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Inzamam gets two matches suspension ------------------------------------------------------------------- LONDON, June 24: Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq was fined half of his match fee and banned for two One-day Internationals for dissent during the triangular series final against Australia at Lord's. The Pakistan star was given out lbw for 23 to leg-spinner Shane Warne by English umpire Peter Willey. But his long stay at the crease followed by his slow trudge off the field was too much for match referee Brian Hastings. The New Zealand official has been criticized here for his failure to take action in previous games but in his last match of the English season he hit Inzamam with a real, rather than suspended punishment. A statement issued on his behalf said: "The match referee has fined Inzamam-ul-Haq fifty percent of his match fee and banned him for two One-day Internationals for dissent. "This follows similar incidents involving Inzamam in April 1998 and May 2000. He was also warned about the same offence after the first Test here against England."-Reuters/ AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010629 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Waqar asked to carry on as captain ------------------------------------------------------------------- Monitoring Desk LONDON, June 28: Waqar Younis will be asked to continue as captain following a two-month stint in the job, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia was quoted as saying on PCB's official website. The board appointed fast bowler Waqar in April for a tournament in Sharjah and a two-month tour of England. Under his captaincy Pakistan reached the final in Sharjah, drew a two-Test series against England and lost to world champions Australia in the final of a three-nation one-day competition. Waqar has a 2-1 record leading the side in Tests and 10-5 in limited-over internationals. He's one of ten players to have captained Pakistan in the past ten years. "We've had our problems with captains, but Waqar is a very hard- working man and has handled the side well," Zia said. "I will keep him as captain as long as I feel he is fit mentally and physically." Zia said he wants to appoint the 29-year-old Waqar for New Zealand's tour of Pakistan in September and the Asian Test Championship, which runs from September to February. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010626 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Waqar re-emerges as one of the greatest bowlers ------------------------------------------------------------------- LONDON, June 25: Waqar Younis this month re-emerged as one of the world's great bowlers. Sadly, no one noticed. That, at least, is how it must seem to the Pakistan captain. At the start of June, he took five wickets in the second and final Test against England at Old Trafford, making one of the key breakthroughs on the last day by removing Graham Thorpe with a venomous new-ball spell before claiming the wicket which drew the series. All the talk afterwards, however, was of how the umpires failed to spot a string of no-balls on the final afternoon, three of them from off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. The no-balls ultimately cost England four wickets. During the triangular series which followed, Waqar uprooted the first seven England batsman to claim the second-best one-day figures of all time at Headingley, seven for 36. But the headlines focused on England conceding the match after a premature pitch invasion by Pakistan fans. A haul of six for 59 followed against Australia at Trent Bridge, a background to fresh controversy as Steve Waugh marched his side off after a firecracker landed near Brett Lee. Then on Saturday, Waqar was named Man-of-the-Series with 17 wickets at 12.88 apiece. He barely got a mention, Australia winning the tournament and Michael Bevan being hit in the face by a beer can flung by a spectator.-Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010627 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Former official criticises Pakistan Tennis Federation ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Imran Naeem Ahmed ISLAMABAD, June 26: Pressure on the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) continued to mount with Munir Pirzada, a former secretary of the federation joining the growing number of people criticising those running the game. In a letter written to the president of the PTF, Anwar Saifullah Khan, and obtained by Dawn from sources, Pirzada says that things in tennis have become "ugly and dirty" in the past few months. He tells Saifullah that it wouldn't be too long before "somebody" falls into the trap of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) or the sports ministry. Pirzada who was the PTF secretary twice, first from 1985 to 1986 and then again between 1991 and 1995, accuses Saifullah of protecting people who have been playing dirty, by not implementing the recommendations of the disciplinary committee. The PTF's disciplinary committee, headed by Brig. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, after conducting its inquiries had submitted its final report and recommendations to Saifullah. But much to the surprise of the tennis circles, no action was taken by the PTF General Council which met in Karachi on June 12. Instead the house decided to hand over the matter to the four senior vice presidents of the federation and its president to decide on the cases. The cases of indiscipline are against PTF secretary Ali Akbar, vice president Bashir Gill, joint secretary Muhammad Khalil, former Davis Cup player Hameed-ul-Haq and ITF White Badge Umpire Arif Qureshi. Pirzada warns Saifullah that his reputation would be "damaged further" if the report reached the press. "You cannot keep this document under lock and key." He has urged the president not be "so scared" to take action himself, something which he is constitutionally authorized to do. "Perhaps you don't want to hang your partners and friends who have kept you in this seat for the last six years." Pirzada also draws Saifullah's attention to the hiring of a foreign coach, a job that has been entrusted to two officials of the PTF, Saeed Ahmad and Jamal Mirza. Both have been asked to look for a coach at a maximum salary of $4000 per month along with free boarding and lodging. "How can the PTF afford this," questions Pirzada. He writes that both the gentlemen have already left for London to be present during the Wimbledon Championships and also hunt for a coach. Pirzada, in a tone which is harsh as well as humorous, writes that he is aware that PTF is rated among the three most poorest nations on the ITF list. "I am not aware of the rating of the PTF on the ITF corruption list," he says. All attempts to contact Anwar Saifullah on Monday evening and Tuesday proved futile. Ali Akbar was also not available, having left for England, reportedly to watch Wimbledon. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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