------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 27 October 2001 Issue : 07/43 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Asian group backs Pakistan for SC seat + Musharraf asked to attend UN session: FO + Group warns of launching movement + Pakistan takes necessary measures: Indian troop movement + India warned against any adventurism: Musharraf + UN urged to take notice of Indian threats to Pakistan + India warns of 'specific action' in Kashmir + Bodies of eight Pakistanis arrive + Kabul told not to allow Pakistanis to join war + Taliban execute commander: Last moment rescue operation fails + US using chemical weapons, says Zaeef + New setup may include dissidents, says Powell + Benazir welcomes support to US + US helicopter comes under fire in Pakistan + N-material not given to Osama: FO + 2 foreigners held for links with Al Qaeda + Pakistan, Taliban agree on refugees + DPs forcibly enter Chaman + Extensive screening of refugees ordered + Gen Maqbool to be new Punjab governor + Govt flayed for not issuing passport to Benazir + Govt not sincere in holding polls next year: PPP + 200 JUI, JI workers arrested + Time-bomb seized in Islamabad, goes off + Former naval chief indicted in $3.369m kickbacks case + Redco chief denies wilful default charges + SGS move to seek compensation + Acountability court can hear SGS case: judge + NAB asked to submit reply by Nov 6 on Zardari's plea: + Saleem Malik granted bail + WB blasts Pakistan's power watchdog --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Pakistan reaches understanding with IMF + Japan suspends sanctions + Japan may restore $500m annual aid + US likely to revive annual economic aid, says official + Islamabad seeks quick, extensive debt relief: + US assures Pakistan of immediate debt relief: Larson + Islamabad offered $800m immediate cash grant + IDB pledges $50 million assistance to Afghanistan + Early merger of NDFC with NBP likely + KSE 100-index up by 6.6pc on speculative buying + Stocks breach 1,400-point barrier again --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Arrogance battling with ignorance Ardeshir Cowasjee + Media's role in war Eric S. Margolis + Helpless in the eye of the storm Ayaz Amir + A separate reality Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + Cricketers dismiss suggestions of foul play + Miandad accused players, says Moin + Miandad admits he raised suspicion + Miandad demanded sweeping powers + Pakistan whitewash hapless Kenya + ICC body to review Indian withdrawal
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 20011027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Asian group backs Pakistan for SC seat ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent UNITED NATIONS, Oct 26: Pakistan's bid to secure a non-permanent seat in the 15 member United Nations Security Council, received a major boost with the unanimous endorsement by the Asian group. The Asian group comprises of 54 members of the UN General Assembly and its endorsement is vital for Pakistan to secure the seat in elections next year for the rotating term in the Security Council from 2003-2005. The elections to the non permanent seats would be held in the 57th session of the General assembly. In the 15 member Security Council five countries-China, United States, Britain, France and Russia - are permanent members and 10 non-permanent members rotate for two years term. The permanent five members have veto power over the resolutions put forth in the Security Council while the non permanent members do not enjoy such powers. Addressing the Asian group meeting on Thursday, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations, Shamshad Ahmad expressed government's gratitude to the Asian nations for reposing confidence in Pakistan's leadership. He assured the Asian nations that Pakistan was committed to the principles of international peace and security and would exert every effort to rise to the expectations of the UN membership in general and the Asian countries in particular. The endorsement by the Asian group is considered vital for Pakistan's success in the elections next year. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf asked to attend UN session: FO ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Hasan Akhtar ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has suggested President Gen Pervez Musharraf to visit New York during the Nov 10-16 General Assembly session where Afghan situation is expected to dominate the proceedings. Foreign Office spokesman Riaz Mohammad Khan said that the secretary-general had phoned the president and invited him to visit New York. Under the present circumstances, the spokesman said, it would take due time for the president to decide on paying an overseas visit. Analysts believe that the UN chief's call is crucial and of great importance not only in relation to the conflict in Afghanistan but also because of mounting tension between Islamabad and Delhi which has added a highly dangerous dimension to the situation. The question of the president's visit was under consideration, the spokesman said. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Group warns of launching movement ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: The Defence of Pakistan and Afghanistan Council (DPAC), a coalition of religious parties, threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement against the government from Nov 1, if the government did not withdraw its support to the United States. A declaration read out at the DPAC's "Jihad-i-Afghanistan Conference" held at Lal Masjid said "all roads and highways will be blocked to stop vehicular traffic, American goods will be boycotted and the government servants will be asked to tender resignation". The DPAC also held a rally which was attended by both factions of JUI, Jamaat-i-Islami, JUP, Tanzim-i-Islami, SSP and a number of smaller religious organizations besides Harkatul Mujahideen. "The government has lost the support and confidence of the masses by allying itself with the United States in its war against a Muslim country," said a resolution adopted at the Friday congregation. It also demanded of the President to resign. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan takes necessary measures: Indian troop movement ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: Pakistan's Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted his Indian counterpart on the hotline on Tuesday to express Pakistan's deep concern about the unusual Indian troop movement. The contact is understood to have been arranged in the backdrop of large scale movement of Indian troops on LoC. Military sources said that Indian army had moved heavy artillery and mortar guns during the last few days and brought them to the forward positions on the LoC. The Inter Services Public Relations Directorate said that Pakistan armed forces had taken necessary precautionary measures keeping in view the unusual movements by the Indian armed forces in the last few days. Meanwhile, President Gen Pervez Musharraf reaffirmed on Tuesday Pakistan's determination to defend its sovereignty and independence and thwart any aggression. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- India warned against any adventurism: Musharraf ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: President General Pervez Musharraf said: "India will be paid back in the same coin" if it resorts to any 'adventurism.' "We will teach them a lesson if they would try to do any thing against Pakistan," President Musharraf declared in an interview with PTV in the backdrop of Indian troop and air assets movement on the working boundary and LoC and the rhetoric indulged into by Indian leadership during the last few weeks. About US role in case India attacks Pakistan, the president said: "We should believe in our own strength and we should not expect others to help us in defending our country." Unfortunately, Gen Musharraf said, India is trying to pressurize us by taking advantage of the turmoil in Afghanistan. "By the grace of God, we have the strength to defend ourselves," he emphatically stated. He said, Pakistan is not a small country and the people who wished of crossing over the LoC and talked of hitting targets, "should not commit this mistake. Else, they will be paid back in the same coin." The president suggested that the Indian leadership should stop hurling threats and adopt the path of dialogue. "Indulgence in such a rhetoric would not serve any purpose, as it would rather cause damage to them." He asked Indian leadership not to be vary of the fact that Pakistan armed forces are fully capable and prepared to defend the motherland and they should not resort to any adventurism. "Not only our armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country but we will teach them a lesson if they would do anything," the president warned. President Musharraf said, it is high time for the Indian leadership to realize that there is a freedom struggle going on in Kashmir and they should come forward for political solution of the issue and negotiate it with Pakistan. Asked how successful has Pakistan been in achieving the four objectives of integrity and solidarity of Pakistan, safety and security of nuclear assets, economic revival, Kashmir cause- the president said: "Joining the international coalition would be beneficial to achieve these objectives." Gen Musharraf said that he had taken the decision to join the international coalition in the best national interest "considering all the pros and cons" of the matter. "We had choice to join or not to join the international coalition in the fight against terrorism. We decided to join the international coalition as it was beneficial to achieve all the four objectives that I have underlined," he said. As far as the integrity of Pakistan is concerned, he said, there is a remarkable recognition of Pakistan's enhanced political and diplomatic stature and status in the world. About economic revival, the president said, it is not an easy job and there is no quick fix solution in this matter. "We are not running a shop. Let me assure there would be remarkable progress in our economy as the time passes." The president said that his ultimate goal was to bring Pakistan out of debt trap, adding: "There will be and there is a definitive progress in this regard." The Kashmir cause, he stated would have been a different story had Pakistan not joined the international coalition, keeping in view the developments on Indian side. "I would like to ask the people who are carrying out processions that with international coalition against us and the Indian developments across the Line of Control, what would be the situation here," he asked. "Think of the scenario when international coalition would have been against us with India on their side. But now we have no threat to our strategic assets and they are safe," he said. About anti-government processions, the president said that when he met religious scholars, he told them that our decision is not un- Islamic and "we have taken this decision in the best national interest." The president said there are few extremist elements who are opposing the government's policies, but the majority is supportive of the government. He said, no operation is being conducted from Pakistani territory against Afghanistan. All the operations are being carried out from Gulf or from the Central Asian States. "We are only providing airspace, intelligence sharing and logistic support." "There is some misunderstanding about logistic support," the President said, elaborating that the logistic support is being provided only for search and rescue purposes. Answering a question on economic revival, the president said he has told US, European and Gulf countries and all the friends in detail about Pakistan's economic problems, saying: "They want to help us in a big way." On debt relief, Gen Musharraf said the government is dealing with the issue of debt trap very seriously. "I am confident that we will come out of the debt trap but it will take sometime." He said, Pakistan's exports would also increase and it would create an opportunity for new industry and resultantly new job opportunities would be there. Asked does Afghanistan give strategic depth to Pakistan, the president said, these are old theories. After India and Pakistan having become nuclear powers, if anyone perceives that one would try to get some strategic gains, it would be a sheer folly. "It is not possible now that we will be overrun and will go to Afghanistan for strategic depth," he said. About military operation in Afghanistan, Gen Musharraf said, the international coalition is convinced that Osama bin Laden and the organization Al-Qaeda are involved in the acts of terrorism of September 11 and some earlier acts of terrorism, and they also state that Taliban are abetting and supporting them. He said, keeping in view these things, the military planners had set certain military objectives and they are carrying out operations in Afghanistan to achieve these declared objectives. On the issue of political dispensation in Afghanistan, President Musharraf said, there are four parameters to solve the problem of Afghanistan. "The integrity, peace and stability in Afghanistan, a broad based government representing all ethnic groups based on demographic assessment opted by the Afghans themselves without external interference. These are the essentials of the solution, I am suggesting," he said. The president further said, Pakistan wants a friendly government in Afghanistan. "If these parameters are not followed and any government would be imposed in Afghanistan, it would be a failure." Gen Musharraf said that Afghans are deliberating on these issues and they are planning to hold a convention. The political strategy should be crystallized as early as possible. "If there is any vacuum it should be there to be filled in." He said, there are saner elements in Afghanistan and every body including Afghans are witnessing what is happening there. They want an end to their miseries, they have been facing for the last 21 years. Answering a question, the president said he is not aware of the situation inside Afghanistan whether Taliban remain united or not after military operation. "But everyone wants an end to the miseries the Afghans have faced since long." About civilian causalities in Afghanistan, the president said, in such a big military operation the possibility of collateral damage is always there. Though the figures being given from inside Afghanistan are exaggerated but there are civilian casualties. "We regret that and feel sorry about civilian causalities," he said.- APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- UN urged to take notice of Indian threats to Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, Oct 22: Mian Azhar urged the United Nations to take serious notice of the Indian threats to Pakistan and to take practical steps for the solution of the 54-year-old Kashmir dispute in accordance with its resolutions. In a statement, the PML(QA) president said India had aggressive designs against Pakistan and it was for this reason that its troops were perpetrating atrocities in occupied Kashmir. He said Pakistan, being a member of the coalition against terrorism, would not tolerate terrorism in any form. He advised India that Pakistan's love for peace should not be taken as a weakness as the country was fully capable of thwarting any aggression. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- India warns of 'specific action' in Kashmir ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, Oct 21: Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes warned of "specific action" against Islamic insurgent groups in held Kashmir. Fernandes, speaking to the Press Trust of India did not elaborate. "We are not sticking to only one option and we have some more plans too. I have discussed the operations with senior army commanders and we will make things public soon," the defence minister warned. "Hot pursuit is not action specific and is only a general statement. What we have been discussing is specific action," he said in a direct reference to some local demands that Indian troops attack alleged militant camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bodies of eight Pakistanis arrive ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report PESHAWAR, Oct 24: Bodies of the eight Pakistanis killed in the US bombing on Kabul were brought over to Pakistan through Mohmand tribal area bordering Afghanistan after the authorities refused to let them through at Torkham border checkpoint. "The bodies attracted quite a bit of attention," an official source said. The eight Pakistanis were among the thirty-six other compatriots reportedly killed in a US bombing raid on Darul Aman in the Afghan capital. An official posted at Torkham said the bodies were brought to the checkpoint at 7:15 am in pick-up trucks covered in coffins, accompanied by an activist of the Harakatul Mujahideen. "The Taliban border guards approached us with a request to allow the bodies to enter Pakistan," the official said. He said that they had permission to allow wounded people into Pakistan from Afghanistan but there was no directive to allow bodies. Apparently upset at being denied entry, the Harakatul Mujahideen activists took the bodies back at around 8:25 am, saying they would bury them in Jalalabad, the official said. Later, however, it transpired that the bodies were brought over to Pakistan through an unfrequented route via Khwizai in Mohmand Agency. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Kabul told not to allow Pakistanis to join war ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Hasan Akhtar ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Pakistan had been impressing upon the Afghanistan government not to allow Pakistanis to join Afghan forces or get training there. "Islamabad had also been making efforts to intercept Pakistanis traveling for such an objective to Afghanistan," foreign office spokesman Riaz Muhammad Khan told a questioner at a press briefing. He confirmed that a large number of Pakistanis, who were indicted in the country, had fled to Afghanistan and were required to be handed over to Islamabad by the Afghan government. He said there was no official information here whether there were Pakistanis among persons killed in a recent bombing attack on Afghanistan. He denied knowledge of any request being made to Pakistani authorities for allowing bodies of eight Pakistanis to be brought back here. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Taliban execute commander: Last moment rescue operation fails ------------------------------------------------------------------- By M. Ismail Khan PESHAWAR, Oct 26: The Taliban executed a key Afghan commander on spying charges hours after he was captured along with a handful of his men in the Logar province, Afghan and Pakistani officials confirmed. Taliban information minister Mulla Amir Khan Muttaqi said in Kabul that Commander Abdul Haq had been executed on the orders of supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar. The 43-year-old former Mujahideen commander was charged with spying for the United States and treason against the state, Muttaqi said. He was given a summary trial and was later executed in Rishkore, south of Kabul, the Taliban official said. Haq's nephew, Izzatullah and Commander Haji Dauran, were also executed, a Taliban official said. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US using chemical weapons, says Zaeef ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD Oct 23: Afghan ambassador in Islamabad Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef alleged that the US-led forces were using chemical weapons against the Afghans. Speaking at a news conference, Zaeef, without giving details said, "We have information about the evidence of chemicals found on people injured by bombings." He also said that a Japanese journalist had been arrested by the Taliban authorities from Kunar province for entering the country illegally and has been kept in Jalalabad for investigations. He gave no indication when he would be released. He said, "We have downed two US helicopters which proves that our air defence system was still intact and the claim that it was crippled by US air raids was false." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- New setup may include dissidents, says Powell ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Tahir Mirza WASHINGTON, Oct 21: The United States rules out any role for the current Taliban leadership in any future administration in Kabul, but believes there may be elements in the Taliban movement who are against the policies of their leadership and they will have to be accommodated in a new Afghanistan set-up. This was indicated by Secretary of State Colin Powell in an interview with CNN on Sunday. He reiterated US backing for the Northern Alliance, but said whether or not alliance forces should be permitted to take over Kabul was a matter that was under discussion. Mr Powell said this discussion was not simply prompted by Pakistani opposition to the Northern Alliance; there were other countries also which wondered whether a group that represented only 15 per cent of the population should be in sole control of Kabul. That might crystallize opposition in other regions, the secretary pointed out. Mr Powell, however, said the US would be very interested if the Northern Alliance, "which we are supporting" and which "has become more aggressive", captured Mazar-i-Sharif. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benazir welcomes support to US ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Abdus Sattar Ghazali SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 21: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has praised President Pervez Musharraf's decision to allow the United States to use Pakistan's airstrips and intelligence information for its military operation against Afghanistan. Addressing a crowd at the Stanford University in Palo Alto, Ms Bhutto clarified that her support to President Musharraf was for national unity, and stressed the need for a democratic government that would bring stability to the region. "A democratic Pakistan is a triumph of modernity for one billion Muslims, who must decide between democracy and theocracy," she said. She said members of Pakistan People's Party thought that the time was ripe for her to return to Pakistan, but she thought doing so now would distract the country. She expressed hope that the president appreciated the gesture and would guarantee her safety when she returned. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US helicopter comes under fire in Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Oct 23: The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday reports that a US helicopter had come under fire in Pakistan over the weekend. However, Assistant Secretary of Defence Victoria Clarke, who gave the information at the Pentagon's briefing, refused to disclose the location where the helicopter was hit. She said no casualties were reported as a result of the firing. The briefing was told that a salvage helicopter that had gone on a rescue mission for the helicopter that had crashed in Balochistan "took fire" on Saturday during a refuelling stop at some place in Pakistan while returning to base. The nature of the attack was not specified, whether it was gunfire or something else. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- N-material not given to Osama: FO ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: Pakistan has a unilateral commitment to the international community that it will not transfer technology or materials of sensitive nature including nuclear material to any other country or entity, Foreign Office spokesman said. Strongly refuting reports carried by some western media organizations that nuclear material had been passed on to Osama bin Laden, Foreign Office spokesman Riaz Mohammed Khan said that Pakistan had an impeccable record of honouring the commitment of not passing the sensitive material to any third country or entity. "These reports are absurd," he said, adding that Pakistan had possessed the nuclear material for the past 15 years. Mr Khan said that Pakistan's nuclear material was under multi- layered custodial control. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 foreigners held for links with Al Qaeda ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Sarfaraz Ahmed KARACHI, Oct 23: Two more foreigners have been arrested for their alleged links with Osama bin Ladin's Al Qaeda organization. According to well-placed intelligence sources, these foreign nationals, whose identity and nationality could not be immediately ascertained, were taken into custody at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North West Frontier Province when they were crossing into Pakistan from Afghanistan. The sources said the two were in the custody of Frontier Constabulary and a joint team of FBI and ISI was interrogating them and some sensational disclosures were expected. The sources also said about 15 persons of various nationalities had been tracked to have crossed over to Afghanistan from Pakistan just before the Sept 11 attack on World Trade Center and the Pentagon. They are of various nationalities, including German, French, Belgian and Afghans living abroad. Some of them had some form of association with one of the alleged hijackers, Mohammad Ata, the sources authoritatively said. A joint FBI-ISI team is on the lookout of these individuals and are hopeful of apprehending them shortly. Since the beginning of the US operations in Afghanistan, the sources said four other foreigners -- three Germans and one Australian -- had been arrested for their alleged links with Al Qaeda. They were arrested at the Chaman point of Pakistan- Afghanistan border. One of the Germans was extradited to Germany within 48 hours of his arrest. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan, Taliban agree on refugees ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Saleem Shahid CHAMAN, Oct 22: Pakistan security officials and the Taliban authorities agreed, in principle, to keep the shelter-seeking Afghans within their country, at a safe distance from the Chaman check post. The agreement was reached at a meeting between Taliban's Frontier and Tribal Affairs Minister Mulla Jalaluddin Haqqani and the Pakistan border officials. The security forces then started deporting all those Afghans who had either sneaked in or forcibly entered Pakistan during the last two weeks. Under the agreement, the Taliban would keep the Afghans within their borders at the settlements of Weesh and Spinbuldak. Humanitarian assistance for the Afghans would be delivered at those places. "Yes, the Taliban minister has agreed to establish camps for Afghan refugees in border areas within Afghanistan," a senior Pakistani border security official confirmed to Dawn. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- DPs forcibly enter Chaman ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Saleem Shahid QUETTA, Oct 21: Several thousand desperate Afghans pushed their way into Pakistan on Sunday after border guards on both sides -Pishin Scouts on Pakistan side and Taliban on Afghanistan side- failed to contain the crowd even after baton-charge and firing shots in the air. "Five persons, including a young boy, were injured" a senior officer of Pakistan border force told Dawn on telephone from Chaman. He made it clear that all these persons received injuries from intense stoning of the unruly crowd. "The crowd became unruly and violent" the source said. He said the crowd ransacked a tent used by the immigration officials, removed girders and pulled out the barbed wires on the border. Taliban baton charged the crowd but could not contain them. Eventually gun shots were fired in the air by Taliban as well as Pakistani security forces. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Extensive screening of refugees ordered ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The government has directed the border security forces to carry out extensive screening of refugees entering Pakistan, especially for illicit arms and ammunition. Sources close to the interior minister told Dawn that the action was taken as Pakistan continues to be threatened by the influx of arms from the troubled region. "It's an incentive for the destitute refugees to bring a weapon to Pakistan and sell it for a few thousand rupees here." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Gen Maqbool to be new Punjab governor ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool relinquished the charge of Chairman National Accountability Bureau to assume his new assignment as the Governor Punjab in place of Lt-Gen (retd) Mohammad Safdar, an official source told Dawn. Governor Punjab Mohammad Safdar was summoned to Islamabad earlier in the day and informed about the decision of his replacement, a source said. Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool will have to seek early retirement from military service for assuming the charge of Punjab governor. Besides, he will have to seek an exemption from a law, which bars any government servant from assuming any civilian office within two years of his retirement. This exemption was recently granted to Maj-Gen (retd) Sardar Mohammad Anwer Khan before his nomination as President of Azad Kashmir. Lt-Gen Munir Hafeez, presently serving as a Corps Commander, Bahawalpur, has been tipped as the new chairman of NAB. Maj-Gen Shahid Hameed, who is serving as the commandant Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General and given the charge of Corps Commander, Bahawalpur, the source said. An ISPR press release later confirmed the report of his promotion but made no mention about other changes being made by the government. The change in the office of chairman NAB, sources said, was in contravention of the Supreme Court verdict in the NAB ordinance case, in which the apex court had fixed the tenure of the chairman at three years and asked the government to appoint the new chief in consultation of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt flayed for not issuing passport to Benazir ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) vice- chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has condemned the government's "harassment" of the party chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, in denying her a Pakistani passport. In a statement Mr Fahim said the former prime minister had applied for an urgent passport at the Pakistani High Commission in London on October 1. The high commission, instead of issuing the passport within two days as required under the rules, referred the application to the authorities in Islamabad, who declined to issue the passport. Mr Fahim urged President Gen Pervez Musharraf to direct the concerned functionaries to immediately issue the passport to Ms Bhutto. He said the denial had sent a negative signal to the international community about the state of civil and human rights in the country. It would also not be conducive to the efforts currently being made for national unity, he added. The PPP leader said he would soon approach the relevant authorities for the issuance of passport to Ms Bhutto. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt not sincere in holding polls next year: PPP ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ashraf Mumtaz LAHORE, Oct 25: The Pakistan People's Party has expressed serious doubts about the government�s sincerity to hold general elections by October next year, as ordained by the Supreme Court, saying it had not yet launched a preparatory work it was supposed to initiate some seven weeks ago. Party's acting secretary-general Reza Rabbani said while talking to Dawn at the office of provincial information secretary Naveed Chaudhry that there was no guarantee of the government adhering to the deadline set by the apex court even if the PPP showed some flexibility in its demand for immediate elections. "I substantiate my fears on the basis that no preparatory work for the elections is in hand, nor an independent and autonomous Election Commission has been appointed, nor has the democratic process been restored". DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 200 JUI, JI workers arrested ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent SUKKUR, Oct 22: More than 200 leaders and workers of Jamaat-i- Islami and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, including JI Naib Amir Liaquat Baloch, were arrested in different cities of Sindh. The arrests were made to thwart plans by the two parties to stage a sit-in in Jacobabad in protest against the support the government has extended to the United States in its so-called war against terrorism. The Sukkur police had literally besieged the Sukkur airport where they expected the arrival of JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Time-bomb seized in Islamabad, goes off ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mohammad Asghar ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: A high-intensity time-bomb exploded in a "bomb disposal ditch" at the Islamabad International airport soon after it was seized near the domestic departure lounge at 12:25pm. The explosion caused no loss of life and property, bomb disposal experts and Airport Security Force officials said. Experts said it was a locally made time-device, weighing 1.5 pounds. If detonated near the lounge, it could have caused massive destruction and loss of lives within a radius of 20 feet. Later, the military bomb experts arrived at the airport with sniffer dogs and conducted a search. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Former naval chief indicted in $3.369m kickbacks case ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: An accountability court indicted former naval chief Admiral Mansurul Haq for receiving commissions and kickbacks worth $3.369 million in defence deals. Admiral Haq, however, pleading not guilty, submitted another application before the court with an offer to pay back the entire corruption money. Aitzaz Ahsan advocate, the counsel for the accused, requested the court to direct the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to receive the kickback money. The Accountability Court No I judge Rustum Ali Malik directed the prosecution to seek further instructions from the NAB chairman, since the application has been filed directly in the court. The counsel, however, prayed the court to accept the plea-bargain application as after the amendment in the NAB ordinance 1999, the court had been empowered to decide the settlement requests. An earlier request for plea-bargain was rejected by the NAB chairman. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Redco chief denies wilful default charges ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: Former accountability bureau chief Saifur Rehman denied charges of committing any wilful default and blamed United Bank Limited for breaching agreements and violating State Bank regulations. Recording his statement under section 342 CrPC before the accountability court No II, the former senator stated that the prosecution had failed to produce any evidence to prove the allegation of wilful default. The court adjourned the hearing for October 29. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SGS move to seek compensation ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: The Swiss company, Societe Generale de Surveilance (SGS), has approached the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), a forum set up under UN Convention, to help it get compensation from the Pakistan government for the termination of a pre-shipment inspection contract. In its letter to Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, the company has informed the government that a claim has been filed. The company stated that Pakistan and Switzerland had signed an agreement on May 6,1996, for the promotion of reciprocal protection of investment. A number of disputes, it stated, had arisen in connection with investment by SGS in pre-shipment contract due to Pakistan's non- payment of invoices submitted by SGS. " Pakistan's acts and omissions in this connection constitute a violation of number of obligations owed to SGS pursuant to the Swiss-Pakistan agreement as well as the breaches of the SGS- Pakistan agreement", it said. Soon after the Supreme Court set aside the judgment convicting Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari on the charge of getting commission from SGS, the company had filed a counter-claim against the government of Pakistan, demanding US$ 329 million as damages on account of premature termination of the pre-shipment inspection contract and damage to its reputation. In case ICSID invokes its jurisdiction, the Swiss company would not press its claim in Pakistani court. SGS claims that no payment was made to any official for the award of the PSI contract." The award of contract was fair, transparent and based on a competitive process of bidding and at no stage had it indulged in any corrupt or unethical practices in order to procure the award of the contract." It was stated that the mode and manner in which investigation was carried out after the removal of PPP government, suggested the existence of a conspiracy to target a political opponent. The Swiss company, SGS, stated that the wrongful repudiation of contract by the government of Pakistan and its subsequent false and politically motivated accusations had caused a colossal monetary loss and damage to the reputation of the company. It demands US$329 million in the form of outstanding invoices; interest on the unpaid invoices; damages on account of premature termination of the contract; demobilisation cost; damage to the reputation of the company as a direct result of the defamatory statements of the government of Pakistan; damages on account of loss of opportunity; and legal fees and expenses. The government of Pakistan is of the view that SGS was awarded the contract by the government of Pakistan in consideration of 6 per cent paid to an offshore company operated by Jens Schlegelmilch, owner of which is Asif Ali Zardari. The government had stated that investigations revealed that the respondent had paid bribes and commissions to the beneficiaries out of the fees received from the government of Pakistan. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Acountability court can hear SGS case: judge ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: An accountability court (AC) declared that it had the jurisdiction to proceed with the SGS pre-shipment inspection award reference against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Asif Ali Zardari. The defence counsel, Farooq Naek, representing the jailed PPP leader, had questioned the competency of the court during the last proceedings on the grounds that the case was not pending before Ehtesaab bench at the time of its transfer to the accountability court as required under National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ordinance 1999. Judge Mansoor Ali Khan of the Accountability Court No II also suggested to the prosecutor-general, Raja Bashir, to inquire from the law ministry about the procedure involved in summoning of respondents, including Benazir Bhutto, who was living abroad. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- NAB asked to submit reply by Nov 6 on Zardari's plea: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: An accountability court on Tuesday issued notice to Prosecutor General Raja Bashir for November 6 to submit his reply on an application moved by jailed PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari for his acquittal from the ARY Gold reference. The application was submitted on Tuesday by Babar Awan advocate on behalf of Mr Zardari under section 265-K of the criminal procedure code (CrPC), contending that the prosecution had failed to made out criminal offence against his client. The applicant contented that no legal basis existed to proceed with the trial against him as the policy to regulate the import of gold and silver by means of licence was approved by the economic coordination committee (ECC) of the cabinet. Moreover the same policy still remains in force, he stated. The prosecution has also no cause of grievance against any member who participated in the ECC meeting and approved the policy, the application states. Citing provisions from the Constitution, the counsel emphasized that the cabinet was collectively accountable to the National Assembly. And that the accountability court lacked jurisdiction to scrutinize the cabinet decision. Mr Zardari in his application stated that none of the witnesses in their statements had said a word about his involvement in the corruption or corrupt practices as envisaged under section 9 of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ordinance. Moreover there was no evidence that the applicant ever attempted or received illegal gratification for the issuance of the import licence. The applicant also stated that there was no likelihood or probability that he might be convicted of any offence on the basis of the present record. Even otherwise his prosecution was conceived out of political victimization and his involvement in the case smacks mala fide, he said. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Saleem Malik granted bail ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, Oct 23: A local judicial magistrate accepted the bail plea of former Pakistani cricket captain Saleem Malik against a surety bond of Rs 30,000. Mr Malik was arrested by the Kot Lakhpat police reportedly on abetment charges in a case registered against his brothers and their servants. Col Javed Akhtar of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reportedly told police that he and his men visited the RGA factory to investigate a property case on Oct 18. Mr Malik, his brothers and their servants allegedly detained the NAB officials for several hours. Mr Malik, however, was later nominated in the case on abetment charges. The former captain reportedly told police that the NAB officials had visited the factory in plain clothes and did not disclose their identity. He said that his servants had locked the officials and informed him and also rang up the police emergency at 15. He claimed that he along with police reached the spot and matter was resolved when the officials disclosed their identity. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- WB blasts Pakistan's power watchdog ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: The World Bank has expressed serious dissatisfaction over the financial position of both the WAPDA and the KESC, doubted analytical and regulatory capabilities of the Nepra and feared "great risks" of more money injections unless power tariff increased further. In its latest report prepared this month, the World Bank expressed serious concern over the performance of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority due to which "regulatory uncertainty remains high" in Pakistan. The report has been prepared by a WB energy sector mission that was in Pakistan last month but had to cut short its deliberations in the wake of US attack on Afghanistan. The Nepra objection to write off Rs36 billion public sector and provincial electricity dues by Wapda has also come under sharp criticism. This is for the first time the bank has criticised Pakistan's power sector regulator for delays in the reforms and corporatization process including distribution and generation licences to WAPDA's corporate companies. The World Bank has already put on hold a $350 million power sector loan that is part of an overall $1 billion reforms programme co- financed by Asian Development Bank and other financiers due to delays in completion of reforms as agreed under the policy matrix. The bank has forecast further disruption in Nepra's work in view of departure of its ADB-financed advisors from Pakistan in the post- Sept 11 situation. "Some disruption in the work is now expected, since the expatriate advisors have evacuated from Pakistan," said the report.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY 20011026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan reaches understanding with IMF ------------------------------------------------------------------- PARIS, Oct 25: Pakistan has reached a "broad understanding" with the International Monetary Fund on a major poverty reduction loan, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz said after talks with IMF officials. Aziz also said the Paris Club group of creditor states had scheduled a session to discuss a separate request for "substantive debt relief" in December. Pakistan is burdened by some $36 billion of debt, of which around $15.5 billion is with the World Bank, IMF and other institutional lenders and $12.5 billion with Paris Club states. Aziz said talks held with delegations from both the IMF and the Paris Club had been "very constructive", but said the amount of any IMF loan was still open. "We have a broad understanding on the modalities of the (poverty reduction) program. The amount obviously depends on many other factors," Aziz told a news conference. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan suspends sanctions ------------------------------------------------------------------- TOKYO, Oct 26: Japan said it would suspend sanctions on Pakistan and India, clearing the way for fresh economic aid in a show of support for the two nations during US-led strikes on Afghanistan. While stopping short of announcing fresh aid, Fukuda said Tokyo would discuss specific economic steps later to help ensure political and economic stability in the two south Asian countries. Fukuda stressed that Pakistan and India had stuck to the self- imposed unilateral moratoriums on nuclear testing declared shortly after the test blasts. He said Japan may consider reinstating the sanctions in the future if the nuclear non-proliferation situation worsens. -Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan may restore $500m annual aid ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: Japan is considering restoring its 500 million dollars annual assistance under Yen Package Loan for Pakistan because of Islamabad's decision to combat terrorism. According to informed sources, Japan would soon be announcing the revival of annual assistance by extending 500 million dollars under 32 Yen Package Loan program which was suspended in 1998 when Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in retaliation for the Indian nuclear tests. The revival of annual assistance will be in addition to little over 800 million dollars "one time grant" being offered after US and its allies decided to extend 780 million dollars cash grant to help improve the country's economy. The sources said that ever since the US government removed remaining military and economic sanctions against Pakistan, Japan too was considering lifting similar sanctions and that a decision to this effect would be taken soon. According to an official of the ministry of finance, as soon as Japan lifts sanctions against Pakistan and revive assistance, a number of new development projects would be conceived and undertaken. The funding requirements for the President's 20 mega projects could also be met with the new assistance from Japan. Japan had offered 300 million dollars to Pakistan in 1999 for some of the ongoing development projects despite sanctions. Japan has emerged as the largest donor to Pakistan as it had given dollars 495 million in 1998, despite sanctions Tokyo had imposed on Islamabad following the nuclear tests. Japan continued to extend assistance for the ongoing projects such as OECF Yen loans, Grant Aid and Technical Cooperation. In 1998 the net disbursement of the Japanese assistance amounting to 495 million US dollarss included 424 million dollars in yen loans, 56.65 million dollars as Grant Aid and 13.94 million dollars as Technical Cooperation. Pakistan is thus ranked as the fifth largest recipient country of Japanese assistance out of 160 countries after China, Indonesia, Thailand and India. The share of Japan's assistance amongst the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries is expected to go up more than 127 per cent over its own share in 1997. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US likely to revive annual economic aid, says official ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: The United States is considering reviving Pakistan's annual economic assistance under USAID program which had been suspended many years ago. "My department has proposed the revival of USAID to Pakistan and now a final decision has to be taken by the Bush government over the issue," said Mr Bear McConnell, Director of the Central Asian Task Force at the US Agency for International Development. He told reporters here on Wednesday at the residence of the US Ambassador to Pakistan that Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Pakistan was likely to be restored soon. However, he pointed out that his government would be taking any final decision about it. "May be this issue of USAID is decided along with the bigger economic package that is currently being finalized for Pakistan", he added. Pakistan had been receiving 400 to 450 million dollars USAID, including wheat, under PL 480 program till early 80s which was later suspended. He said that the US had decided to develop new political and economic relations with Pakistan and that the revival of annual suspended aid could be around the corner. Mr McConnell said that United States was contributing an additional 320 million dollars in humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan. Much of this money, he said, would go for purchasing foods and other important commodities including edible oil. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Islamabad seeks quick, extensive debt relief: ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: The government has finalized a 10-point multi- dimensional economic package and has forwarded it to the United States, seeking an immediate and extensive debt relief before a write-off which could take some time. Official and diplomatic sources said that US Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Alan P. Larson had received a 10-point package and had largely agreed on it with a view to fully support Pakistan in acknowledgement of the support the country had extended to the US in its war on terrorism. The Pakistan government, through the proposed package, thanked the US and its allies for committing $800 million immediate grant, and called for bigger financial allocations in shape of cash grants to provide certain immediate relief to its economy. According to the sources, the package calls for re-profiling of $12 billion bilateral debt in order to bring it to a sustainable level so that it could be serviced easily. This re-profiling will provide temporary breathing space if not a permanent solution to the country's debt problem. The package also seeks a larger size of the Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) than the one, which was being discussed before Sept 11 terror attacks in New York and Washington. Pakistan was earlier given to understand to get about $1.5 billion under the PRGF by virtue of having maximum 90 per cent quota under $1.3 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). This quota could now be stretched to 130 or 140 per cent through a new amendment in IMF rules as the Americans are fully supporting the government of President Gen Pervez Musharraf. The PRGF was being sought on highly concessional terms and could be offered to Pakistan at only 0.5 to 0.7 per cent service charges. The sources said Mr Larson had proposed enhancement of Pakistan's maximum quota in the IMF from 90 per cent to 120 per cent. But he had not disagreed that it could be further increased, as the country was currently facing an unusual economic situation, they added. The package wants new assistance from International Financial Institutions (IFIs) on new and better terms and not on existing Houston or Naples terms. Pakistan has so far been offered assistance under Houston terms and not under Naples terms, which were relatively more favorable. "But the future assistance is likely to be on new terms other than Houston and Naples terms because of Washington's renewed support to Islamabad, a diplomatic source said. The sources said Pakistan was not against a debt write-off, but did understand that it was not currently possible for bilateral donors as their respective constitutions did not allow them to have such a preposition. However, they said the US had assured that it would look for changing laws as had been changed for lifting political and military sanctions against Pakistan. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US assures Pakistan of immediate debt relief: Larson ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: US Under-Secretary for Economic Business and Agriculture Affairs Alan Larson announced that Washington would extend an "immediate and sustainable debt relief" to Islamabad. "We are working out modalities to provide meaningful, immediate and lasting debt relief to Pakistan that maximizes opportunities and lay foundation for trade and investment relationship," Mr Larson said at a joint press conference with Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz after their talks. Asked whether the US was working to waive Pakistan's debt as had been done in case of Egypt at the time of the Gulf War, the under- secretary without giving a direct answer said: "Washington is in consultations with Islamabad and other creditors to tailor a programme for Pakistan that fits its needs, interest, and its debt profile". The US, he said, was trying to be flexible about the modalities so that "the relief is immediate, lasting and has a sustainable approach to Pakistan's debt Mr Larson said he had come to Pakistan on the directive of President George W. Bush for developing long-term cooperative arrangements with Pakistan. The US, he said, wanted to facilitate the government and the people of Pakistan to become a growing economy that could produce benefits and jobs to its people. Mr Larson said he had discussed with Mr Aziz ways to put together a sustainable package of measures so that Pakistan could get support from international financial institutions and other bilateral donors, and debt relief package as well as market access to promote private investment. During the past few weeks, he pointed out, the US government had moved for normal economic relations with Pakistan. "The United States is actively supporting Pakistan's negotiations for a new agreement with the IMF. Islamabad has good relations with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and Washington is supporting (Islamabad) for increased access to resources of these institutions." He said the US government was looking at new measures to increase access of Pakistani products in US markets. As an immediate step, he said, the US restoring some of the benefits under the General System of Products and was working with Congress to extend new GSP benefits for certain products. The US was committed to remove quotas on textile-related products. In addition, they were working with Congress to consider ways to stimulate Pakistan's major exports. Mr Larson said the Overseas Private Investment Cooperation had extended a line of credit of $300 million and added that the US Export and Import Bank was also considering a number of projects to promote business relationship. He recalled that the US had already decided to provide $30 million in food assistance to Pakistan and was working in a number of areas, including border security and law enforcement program. SHAUKAT AZIZ: Mr Aziz said Pakistan was in bilateral discussions with donors for fiscal support, revival and enhancement of aid, debt relief, market access, etc. He said he had substantive talks with Mr Larson on various issues, particularly the debt relief. The debt profile of Pakistan, he said, was quite heavy, affecting the budget. Pakistan needed a fiscal space to use the money to pursue development projects. The minister said the debt relief would enable Pakistan to undertake more infrastructure projects, particularly water reservoirs for agriculture sector. He said the government had initiated discussions with the American Exim Bank to revive the PIA fleet. The debt relief that Pakistan was contemplating would be such that it would be under the auspices of Paris Club which is expected to meet in December. He said the government was holding negotiations with the IMF after which Paris Club would be moved. In reply to a question, the finance minister said that as a result of the Afghan situation the loss to Pakistan's economy would be between $1 billion and $2.5 billion, depending on the duration of the crisis. He said the government was negotiating with international underwriters to get insurance rates reduced. "We see no justification for increase in insurance rates," he said, adding that Arabian Sea today was safer than ever before, and therefore, insurance rates should not be increased. He also said that the US Exim Bank would extend finances to American investors to invest in Pakistan's energy and power sector. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Islamabad offered $800m immediate cash grant ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: Pakistan has been offered $800 million immediate "cash grant" by the United States and its allies to help improve its economy said minister for finance Shaukat Aziz. Unfolding his economic assistance package jointly being sought from the US, European Union and International Financial Institutions (IFIs) at a news conference he said that Pakistan has been offered a substantial budgetary support as well as debt relief. He said 1 to 2 billion dollar effect to the Pakistani economy has been estimated till June next year in the shape of reduced exports, imports, revenues and less privatization proceeds. "Let me clarify here that this $800 million cash grant has been provided as part of the budgetary support till June 30 next year. And we were given to understand that grant assistance will continue during the next financial year with considerable debt relief," the finance minister said. He said that it has been decided that UN agencies will buy wheat, tents and other necessary items for Afghan refugees from Pakistan. "But the major debt relief is expected from Paris Club as our bilateral creditors look very supportive of Pakistan." He said that Canada has converted its $285 million loans into social sector funding to remove poverty and undertake new health- related activities. "This is almost a writing off a loan," he said adding that the UK's secretary of state for international development Clare Short had already declared writing off 24 million pounds Commonwealth Development Corporation's loan. The minister also furnished, for the first time, latest foreign debt figures accumulated till September 30, 2001. He said the total foreign debt was to the tune of $37 billion which includes $12.5 billion bilateral and $15.4 billion debt of World Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. Giving the breakup, he said Pakistan owes $5 billion loan to Japan, $3 billion to USA, France $1 billion, Germany $1 billion, Canada $318 million, Italy $175 million, Korea $738 million, Sweden $127 million, Russia $103 million and the Netherlands $88 million. "The total non-Paris Club debt amounts to $500 million that has been offered to us by our friendly countries". Similarly, he said that short-term foreign banks debt amounts to $751 million that had been offered as part of trade financing. "Then the private sector support credit stands at $2.1 billion, and $5 billion are in the shape of dollar-deposits and Euro bonds," he added. The finance minister pointed out that Pakistan was seeking debt relief keeping in view the objective of creating fiscal space and reducing poverty from the country. In reply to a question Mr Shaukat said that it was wrong to presume that Japan has refused to write off Pakistan's $5 billion loans. Referring to president's telephonic talks with Japanese prime minister, the finance minister said that Japan could not currently write off its loans because of an existing constitutional and legal hitch. "But I would be visiting Japan from October 29 to discuss the issue for which we hope some new legislation could be done by the Japanese," he said. He told a reporter that beside getting debt relief and cash grants, Pakistan was also negotiating fresh foreign loans on concessional terms. In this regard he referred to Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) being sought from IMF about which he avoided to give the size. Also, he said that World Bank has agreed to offer $300 million banking sector loan on just 0.75 per cent service charges. He said that despite facing sanctions till very recently Pakistan has paid back $600 million loans. In this regard, he said that the government has recently purchased $100 million from the open market. He told a reporter that new legislation was being finalized by the finance ministry and the State Bank of Pakistan to discourage money laundering. He said that Exim Bank of America has offered $300 million loan facility to US investors to invest in Pakistan. "Since there are no more sanctions against Pakistan, we expect substantial US investment in the country," he said adding that US Overseas Private Insurance Corporation (OPIC) was extending all facilities to American investors to invest in Pakistan. "Now we expect a new relationship with US Exim Bank," he said. The finance minister said that he would be meeting the visiting US under-secretary of economic affairs Alan Larson on Sunday to further discuss with him new US funding line for Pakistan, including to have certain debt relief. Asked about foreign private agencies, he said after the lifting of international sanctions, M/S Coface of France, M/S Sace of Italy, M/S ECDG of UK, M/S Harmes of Germany, and Japan's Exim Bank would now start extending export credit. This credit, has said, had been suspended for about three years and had effected foreign investment in the country. "We have successfully negotiated with the US government to have market access and increase in textile quota, and at the same time removal of undue taxes," the finance minister stated. He said that the US and its western allies have also assured to promote foreign direct investment in Pakistan. He said since there were no more sanctions, private investors should come forward and get a letter of credit facility for which Asian Development Bank's $150 million were still to be used. Talking about an increase in freight and insurance charges, the minister said that the World Bank and the IMF were providing necessary assistance to reduce LC cover charges for Pakistan. Responding to a question the finance minister said that the government has refunded Rs11.8 billion to exporters during July- September this year which was 60 per cent higher compared to the corresponding period last year. He said that the government has received Rs77.5 billion revenue during the first quarter of 2000-2001 against the target of Rs81.3 billion. He said the main reduction was experienced in custom duties. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- IDB pledges $50 million assistance to Afghanistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has decided to extend a $50 million humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan. Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President of Islamic Development Bank told Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz during the 26th Annual meeting of Board of Governors of Islamic Development Bank in Algiers that the bank will offer a US $50 million humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan out of which US $10 million will be in the form of grant and remaining US $40 million interest free loan for reconstruction of Afghanistan. According to a handout of the minsitry of finance, Mr Aziz also signed two agreements with the President of Islamic Development Bank amounting to US $24.75 million out of which US $14.3 million will be for the purchase of wagons and rescue cranes for use in the Railway Development Project in Pakistan and US $10.45 million will be utilised for purchase of equipment and rails for use in the Railway Development Project in Pakistan. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Early merger of NDFC with NBP likely ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Oct 23: A senior executive of National Development Finance Corporation said that the NDFC could be merged with NBP much earlier than scheduled. "We may see the merger taking place in early November," Executive Vice President Syed M. Husaini told Dawn. When asked why NDFC has so far not allowed its depositors to withdraw up to Rs500,000 from their accounts he said: "We are discussing this thing with the State Bank. One view is that the corporation may be merged with NBP by early November. In that case NBP may start repaying the depositors in phases." No confirmation was immediately available from NBP. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- KSE 100-index up by 6.6pc on speculative buying ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Oct 22: Boom-like conditions were witnessed on the stock market as the KSE 100-share index breached through the psychological barrier of 1,300 points just in one go, up 6.6 per cent or 84.41 points on massive speculative buying triggered by two per cent cut in discount rates by the State Bank and an expected big aid package. The 6.6 per cent increase in index, which raised the total gain to 20 per cent during the last couple of weeks, may owe its strength to some solid insider information not shared by the local expecting the leading foreign fund managers but followed the lead more actively as was reflected by a large single-session volume of 275 million shares. The 84-point rise in the index means an increase of over Rs.18 billion at Rs.332 billion, in the total market capitalization, although it needs a dozen more such pushes to attain its pre- reaction level of Rs.610 billion touched in mid-90s boom. However, the increase added to the savings of small investors significantly. The index finally breached through the psychological barrier of 1,300 points at 1,351.46 points as compared to 1,267.05 at the last weekend. Volume soared to a recent level of 275 million shares. The highest-ever figure is 500 million shares in a session recorded couple of years back. Big gainers were led by Millat Tractors, Gul Ahmed Textiles, Liberty Mills, PSO, Al-Ghazi tractors, Glaxo-Wellcome Pakistan, which rose by Rs.4.00 to Rs.7.50. But biggest price flare-up was noted in Shell Pakistan, Lever Brothers and Wyeth Pakistan, up by Rs.11.95, 23.50 and Rs.32.00 respectively. All other shares also rose under the lead of textiles and energy sectors. Losses on the other hand were fractional barring Atlas Honda and Cherat Papers, which fell by Rs.1.25 to 1.50 on selling at the higher levels. Trading volume rose further to 275 million shares from the previous 83 million shares as 181 shares finished higher, while 21 fell, with 22 holding on to the last levels, out of 224 actives. Bulk of the buying remained confined to PTCL on market talks of higher dividend owing to steep rise in earnings, sharply higher by Rs.1.75 at Rs.17.40 on 119m shares, followed by Hub-Power, up Rs.1.65 at Rs.20.45, on 86m shares, PSO, sharply higher by Rs.6.70 at Rs.110.70 on 12m shares, ICI Pakistan, up Rs.2.40 at Rs.42.90 on 9m shares and Engro Chemical, firm by Rs.2.00 at Rs. 53.45 on 7m shares. Other actives were led by Engro Chemical, up Rs.2.00 on 6.555m shares, Nishat Mills, firm by Rs.1.35 on 6.300m shares, MCB, up one rupee on 3.631m shares, Dewan Salman, higher 90 paisa on 3.487m shares and Fauji Fertilizer, steady 45 paisa on 2.459m shares. FUTURE CONTRACTS: Speculative issues on the forward counter also followed the lead of their counterparts in the ready section and rose appreciably under the lead of PSO, which came in for successive emergency clearing and finally finished higher by Rs.5.30 at Rs.110.00 on 0.203m shares followed by Engro Chemical, higher by Rs.1.90 at Rs.53.40 on 0.120m shares. PTCL proved to be the most active scrip, up one rupee on 2.388m shares followed by Hub-Power, higher Rs.1.65 at 19.80 on 0.467m shares. DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Shares of five companies came in for active trading under the lead of Saitex Spinning, up 10 paisa at Rs.0.55 on 8,000 shares, followed by Allied Motors, firm also by the same amount at Rs.3.20 on 2,500 shares and Suzuki Motorcycle, higher 20 paisa at Rs.1.10 on 1,000 shares. DIVIDEND: Pak Datcom, cash 7.5 per cent plus bonus shares at the rate of 20 per cent for the year ended June 30, 2001, Javed Omer Vohra, nil for the same period. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Stocks breach 1,400-point barrier again ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Oct 26: The KSE 100-share index was quoted higher by 38.71 points at 1,401.51 as compared to 1,362.80 a day earlier as leading bases share showed smart gains. It was again the Hubco day as it posted its career-best gain of Rs1.95 at Rs23.60 on expectations of a good final dividend for the current year and an interim for the next year in its board meeting to be held on Nov 5, dealers said. Big gainers were led by EFU Life, Adamjee Insurance, Pakistan Oilfields, Shell Pakistan, Lever Brothers and Nestle MilkPak, which scored gains ranging from Rs3.90 to Rs15, the largest being in Nestle MilkPak. Other good gainers included ICI Pakistan, PSO, Attock Refinery, Aventis Pharma and Bolan Casting, which showed gains ranging from Rs2.30 to Rs3. Losers were led by Merit Packaging and General Tyre, which suffered fall ranging from one rupee to Rs1.45, while others fell fractionally. Trading volume fell to 210m shares from the previous 254m shares as sellers held on to their positions but gainers forced a strong lead over the losers at 96 to 51, while 38 held on to their last levels out of 185 actives. Hub-Power led the list of most actives, up Rs1.95 at Rs23.60 on 110m shares, followed by PTCL, higher 50 paisa at Rs17.90 on 54m shares, PSO, up Rs2.85 at Rs113.75 on 7m shares, ICI Pakistan, higher Rs2.30 at Rs45.70 on 5m shares and Adamjee Insurance, up Rs3.90 at Rs42.90 on 4m shares. Other actives included Engro Chemical, up 70 paisa on 4m shares, Sui Northern, firm by 30 paisa on 2.259m shares, MCB, up 60 paisa on 1.794m shares and Dewan Salman, steady 55 paisa on 1.438m shares. FUTURE CONTRACTS: Forward counter also showed firm trend in line with the ready section where leading shares finished higher for both the October and the November settlements under the lead of PSO, which rose by Rs3 to Rs3.35 for both the October and the November contracts at Rs111 and 113 and Hub-Power followed it, up Rs1.16 and Rs1.13 at Rs22.66 and Rs21.73 on 1.431m and 1.507m shares respectively. PTCL was marked up by 75 paisa at Rs18.25 for November and 50 paisa for October contract at Rs18.25 and Rs17.80 on large volume of 2.913m and 2.222m shares. Engro Chemical rose by Rs2.66 at Rs.53.91 for the November settlement. DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Allied Motors came in for active support and was marked up by five paisa at Rs3.20 on 7,500 shares followed by Al-Asif Sugar, unchanged at Re1 on 1,000 shares and Hydery Construction, up 25 paisa at Rs1.30 on 500 shares. DIVIDEND: Ghani Glass second interim at the rate of 30 per cent, Cherat Cement, cash 20 per cent, First Habib Modaraba, cash 22.5 per cent, Trust Leasing bonus shares 10 per cent, B.R.R. International Modaraba cash 13 per cent, Cherat Papersack cash 40 per cent and Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari & Co, nil for the year ended June 30, 2001.Back to the top
EDITORIALS & FEATURES 20011021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Arrogance battling with ignorance ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ardeshir Cowasjee Today we have a war being fought by arrogance battling with ignorance in order to eliminate terrorism. But how can terrorism be eliminated as long as ignorance predominates? The US uses in its fight the knowledge and the means it possesses, and its arrogance; Osama and his like retaliate with the means they can muster up. If the causes of terrorism are to be eliminated, or even rectified, it is education that can help - but education of the profound type as opposed to mere literacy - which brings with it understanding and tolerance and empathy. In the world of today, the Americans are amongst the well-meaning peoples and they make as good an ally as did the British as colonial masters. They kill and feed at the same time. They drop bombs as well as food parcels. The contents of these parcels were designed by the US defence department for use in emergencies to feed and sustain moderately well-nourished people as opposed to the hungry or starving. Cowboy Bush tells us, "This is our way of saying that while we firmly and strongly oppose the Taliban regime, we are friends of the Afghan people. We will make sure that not only the folks in Afghanistan who need help get help but we will help those who have fled to neighbouring countries to get help as well." Well-meaning words, no doubt. Each food parcel contains two main vegetarian meals based heavily on lentils, beans and rice, and also complimentary items like bread, a fruit bar, a fortified biscuit, peanut butter, and spices. Beans with tomatoes, beans and rice, and bean salad, are entrees among the five available menus. Each of these packets cost around $ 4 and have a shelf life of 18 to 24 months. Could the US not buy wheat and rice, better suited to the Afghan diet, from Pakistan? A packet containing a kilo of rice and a kilo of wheat flour would cost $ 1 and would help offload our stocks and aid our economy. This is where our men should come in. But are they capable of conveying the message? When the Americans talk of enduring commitment and durable peace, they do so with the full knowledge that the two adjectives actually mean permanent, unchanging, perpetual, continual, firm, steadfast, persisting, constant, changeless. But they also know that they are saying what they do not and cannot mean. They have learnt and absorbed the wise words of their first president, the great statesman and general, George Washington, who in his farewell address to his nation in 1796 laid down its future policy:"'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maximum no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But in my opinion, it is unnecessary, and would be unwise, to extend them. "Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, in a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust no temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies. "Harmony, and a liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying, by gentle means, the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing, with powers so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our merchants, and to enable the government to support them, conventional rules of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary, and liable to be, from time to time, abandoned or varied, as experience and circumstance shall dictate; constantly keeping in view that it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay, with a portion of its independence, for whatever it may accept under that character; that, by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalent for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect to calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion, which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard." The Labour prime minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, inspires little confidence despite his attempts to talk forcefully. There was an interesting column in The Times last week, written by Anthony Howard, a supporter of the Labour Party. His thoughts on war and its outcome are pertinent. In 1939 Britain declared war on Germany. The reason : to protect the independence and integrity of Poland. By 1945, after the Germans had surrendered, Poland was delivered into the hands of the Red Army and into a harsher bondage than had threatened it at the outbreak of the war. The outcome of any war more often than not differs radically from the intentions of the victors when they first set out to fight. War is treacherous; it is not a precision instrument. It can achieve quite the opposite of the original aim. World War II was fought to guarantee the rights of free people to self-determination. What many of those people got at the end of the bloodshed was "an Iron Curtain from Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic," as Winston Churchill put it after the curtain had been firmly drawn by the Soviets. Now, as the British commentator has it, George W. Bush, the all- powerful leader of the democratic world, has marched into battle to save that world from terrorism, all in the name of democracy and freedom. By his side he has, amongst the many, the support of a military dictatorship, Pakistan, the fiefdoms of the Gulf states, and the police state of Egypt. "My enemy's enemy is my friend," is the present-day adage. The limited objective of this war - the capture and bringing to justice of bin Laden - is achievable. It is the grander aspirations which are in doubt. The western leadership waxes eloquent on such things as ethics, ideals, democracy, freedoms, values - things they believe in - their way of life, but does it not all really boil down to the limited doctrine as enunciated so succinctly by Lord Palmerston, the British foreign secretary, to the House of Commons in 1848: "We have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual and those interests it is our duty to follow." This week's Time magazine, over a photograph of Musharraf, has a distinctive headline: 'The world's toughest job'. This is supported by a secondary line reading, 'Musharraf risks his life and his country by siding with the West against extremism. Can he survive?'. Who are Musharraf's enemies? His own home-bred bigots and obscurantists. Yesterday's Dawn tells us that the city of Karachi's government has placed 17 large open areas at the disposal of these disruptionists where they can shout and shriek to their hearts' content and burn as many effigies as they like. Within these areas they can bring down the world, bring their enemies to their knees. But out of these areas they have no right to burn, destroy, or force those who wish to work to strike and down tools. No sane loyal man with his nation's well-being at heart can wish to further batter our dying economy. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Media's role in war ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Eric S. Margolis In war, said Napoleon, the moral element and public relations are half the battle. And that was before radio and television. For the first time, a Mideastern antagonist of the United States - Osama bin Laden - has not only mastered public relations, but is using the media as a potent weapon against the world's mightiest military and media power. Washington had planned to repeat in Afghanistan the success it enjoyed during the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq, when the Pentagon monopolized, filtered, and shaped all news coming from the theatre of operations. To this day, the number of Iraqis killed by US bombing remains secret. However, researchers have just learned through the Freedom of Information Act that the US government expressly destroyed Iraq's sewage and water treatment facilities, apparently knowing full well the result would be widespread disease and epidemics. In short, biological warfare. The US refuses to allow Iraq to import chlorine to purify water, claiming that the chemical could be used as a military weapon. Iraq's inability to purify its drinking water continues to spread sickness across that blighted nation. According to the UN, 500,000 Iraqis, mostly children, have died from disease and malnutrition caused by US sanctions. Thousands more Iraqis are suspected to have gotten cancers from US depleted uranium munitions. When asked about this huge toll, then US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright memorably replied, "the price is worth it." One cannot but wonder if the anthrax terror now afflicting America is payback. Israel's American supporters are currently beating the war drums over Iraq. Such pro-Israel loudspeakers as 'The Wall Street Journal' and 'The Washington Post' have been straining every sinew to link the September 11 attacks against the US to Iraq. Their intent is plain: to push the United States into attacking Iraq, which is considered a major long-term threat to Israel. The Israel lobby wants to see Iraq demolished, Saddam Hussein killed, and partitioned into three weak mini-states. Israel's American lobby is ready to fight to the last American to destroy Iraq. In Afghanistan, the Taliban stole a march on the US by giving Al- Jazeera, the Arab world's only uncensored TV station, exclusive coverage. Bin Laden uses Al-Jazeera and Pakistani media to promote his anti-US cause and challenge America's control of information. As a result, the White House is trying to silence bin Laden by the disgraceful recourse of censoring America's media. The president of a democracy whose very essence is founded in free speech has asked the media to silence bin Laden and his allies under the laughable pretext that by wiggling an ear or rubbing a nose they communicate information to Muslim terrorists lurking in the United States. This would be comical were it not such a threat to the basic freedom of all Americans. Almost as shameful, much of the US media has cooperated, reducing its role from useful critics to public relations hacks.-Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2001. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Helpless in the eye of the storm ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ayaz Amir Why do we pick such useless heroes? During the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein. During the present crisis, Osama bin Laden. Osama t- shirts, Osama posters, Osama as David to the US's Goliath. As counterpoint to the glorification of Osama is the demonisation of the US. Then we complain about being branded as a nation of fanatics. The Taliban at least are consistent about word and action. What they say is what they do. It is not so with us. Although there is no shortage of people here who deify Osama as a hero, the paradox remains that all these rooters for Osama would not put their money where there rhetoric is. The anti-American protests are confined to the religious parties. So they are likely to remain even if the attacks on Afghanistan stretch into winter and beyond. Time was when Pakistanis were good at agitation. Not any more. They may be anarchic in their general behaviour but ever since Bhutto's fall they have lost the habit of protest. The agenda of protest has passed from the left and the centre - where it was once securely lodged - to the extreme right. The left has ceased to exist. The centre has been represented by such incandescent figures as Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. Any fire and passion that exists is only on the right. But the religious right does not inspire most Pakistanis. Hence the picture we see in Pakistan today: professionals and other members of the middle class capable of great verbal extremism but keeping their indignation confined to the rooms in which they watch television. Chocolate subversion: that's what these armchair agitators are good for. On the streets, meanwhile, march the cadres of the religious parties - striking figures on television but nowhere near strong enough to make things really hot for Musharraf and his fellow- generals. This is not a case for mass agitation or for saying that we should rise from our couches and man the barricades. If the premise is accepted that we have a talent for choosing useless heroes, it follows that any agitation which has Osama as its central figure is equally useless. Since when was Osama's ideology ours? Since when have we espoused such a narrow brand of incendiary Islam? We do ourselves no favour by placing ourselves in an extremist corner. The attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon were an act of frenzied madness. There is no way to justify them, much less to see them in an ennobling light. Just as there is no way to justify the slaughter of Jews in the Second World War or the killing of Palestinians at the hands of Israeli soldiers. There are some things which lie not just beyond the pale of civilization - a word in danger of being misused in these trying times - but beyond the pale of human acceptance. It is no good therefore for Muslims, wherever they may be, to get into the game of accusing the US of double standards or of trying to explain why the US evokes negative feelings in many parts of the globe. This is not the time for it. For to indulge in such an exercise now is to play into the hands of the very forces which are trying to demonize the Muslim world and suggest connections between Muslim anger and the attacks on the US. There are many charges that can be levelled against the US. Just as there are many things that can be said about the Muslim world. But the attacks on the US have to be seen on their own terms and not against the backdrop of any wider discontent. Why then the Osama t-shirts and the accompanying hero worship? The religious parties live in a world of their own. Much before the present troubles began they believed that the Taliban had brought true Islam to Afghanistan. Supporting the Taliban is therefore entirely consistent with their world view. But what about the rest of Pakistan? Pakistanis cannot be expected to applaud the bombing of Afghanistan. But between this and the glorification of Osama lies a world of difference. Who should have taken the lead in pointing out this distinction? Why, the government of Pakistan. But this was hardly possible when the government was playing as much of a mug's game as the mullahs. If the mullahs are at one extreme, glorifying Osama, the government is at another, succumbing to US pressure and accepting every last American demand without being sure what the quid pro quo will be for all this scraping and bowing. That hesitation of any sort would have spelt Pakistan's ruin is an insidious myth spread as much by the Americans as our own government. True, we were not asked for help, no such courtesy being extended to us. We got what was little better than an ultimatum. Still, if we had said, "We are with you but let us discuss the details and what all you expect Pakistan to do" - would we have qualified for punishment by Tomohawk missiles? The Americans could not have done without the use of Pakistani facilities. An offer to discuss options would have enhanced, not diminished, our importance. It could certainly not be read as refusal. Nor was there any danger of India taking advantage of the situation and ganging up with the US to flatten our cities (and our precious nuclear facilities). But like so often before, we sold ourselves cheaply this time too: throwing away our geographic indispensability for vague promises of future assistance. Even streetwalkers, the readiest of them, haggle. On this occasion we fell below the level of the accredited streetwalker. Now we are hoping for a major financial bail-out but having put a low value on ourselves to begin with, we can blame no one else if the US is taking us for granted. We are in the eye of the storm but with little control over the action. Does the Pentagon consult us or give advance warning of its military plans? Do we have any control over the airbases we have given to the Americans? We said these would not be used for offensive action. What are the Americans using Jacobabad, Pasni and Dalbandin for? Not to lift mineral water into Afghanistan. There may be some refuge for the wicked, none for the weak or faint-hearted. What we have been reduced to is to plead our various concerns: that the war against Afghanistan should be short and focused; that the Northern Alliance should not be given a free run to Kabul; that hostilities should end before Ramazan. As if our reservations matter. As if the Pentagon loses any sleep over them. Granted these are strange times. The men who carried out the September 11 attacks may have been infected by a peculiar frenzy but in what may yet turn out to be their biggest success; they have passed on a portion of their frenzy to the US as a whole. Bad as those attacks were, they do not come close to the scale of so many other tragedies the world witnessed in the last century: the first great war, the second, the Holocaust, Stalin's purges, the Chinese dead in the Korean War (nearly half a million), the American atrocities in Vietnam, the destruction of Cambodia because of American intervention, Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians. But because it is the US which is at the receiving end of this particular tragedy, the entire world is expected to behave as if the Apocalypse has been at hand. At Stalin's rallies audiences went on clapping forever, for to be the first to cease clapping meant a trip to the Gulag. In America's hour of grief the world is expected to forget history and weep endlessly, for not to do so risks incurring imperial displeasure. Just consider why American officials hinted at the possible bombing of Iraq after the September 11 attacks: because Iraq had not been sufficiently clear in its condemnation. In its undoubted grief and agony the US is in danger of forgetting what the Greeks taught: that hubris, or excessive presumption, invites retribution. While there is no denying America's distress, it will only help America's cause if this distress is not clothed in too excessive an arrogance. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- A separate reality ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Irfan Husain Over the last few weeks, I have received scores of e-mails from American readers of this column, asking me to explain why their country is so hated in much of the Muslim world. I have tried to answer them by pointing out the dichotomy between the innate decency of most Americans and the amoral, short-sighted foreign policy so often followed by their governments in the pursuit of narrow interests. True, international politics have little room for morality and decency: the old adage "might is right" is still the name of the game. Despite the proliferation of international treaties and organizations, the law of the jungle still prevails. We all like to think that the behaviour of nation-states has become more civilized in the last five decades, but the reality is very different. If we survey the globe, we find conflagrations everywhere. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the official end of the cold war, we deluded ourselves into thinking that without the rivalry between the two superpowers, the world would be a safer place. That brief glimpse of a 'peace dividend' evaporated when that regional thug, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait and precipitated the Gulf War. Briefly, there was talk of a 'New World Order' where there would be peace imposed by the United Nations backed up by the sole superpower. But all too soon, the contradiction in selectively enforcing Security Council resolutions surfaced; people began asking why Iraq-specific resolutions should be so enthusiastically and forcefully applied when those relating to other conflicts like Palestine and Kashmir could be so blatantly ignored. We now have a situation where the UN is relevant only to the extent it suits the United States: the current bombing of Afghanistan has no UN sanction. Indeed, the entire operation has no basis in international law. But Washington has never been deterred by such mundane considerations: it has blithely attacked tiny countries like Panama and Grenada, mined harbours, backed terrorist groups against legitimate governments, sanctioned assassinations of leaders, toppled regimes, all in the name of self-interest. To be fair, it must be noted that the United States has also given billions as aid and loans, albeit in the same self-interest. However, over the years, successive American governments and the media have convinced the public that they are the good guys, and their country stands for law and morality the world over. So when the bloody attacks of September 11 took place, ordinary Americans were not only horrified by the carnage, but bewildered by the intensity of the hatred these incidents revealed. This is the first time in decades that they began looking inward, and asking why so many terrorists were willing to kill themselves in order to inflict death and destruction on such an unimaginable scale. Although their leaders and much of the media have tried to present the conflict in simplistic, black-and-white terms, many concerned Americans are trying to grapple with the causes of these attacks and come to terms with the underlying issues. They understand that unless they do so, they will remain at risk and the world will be a dangerous place, even (or specially) for the sole superpowers. Americans are justly proud of their freedom of expression, and look to their media to learn about the world. However, let me reproduce a few lines from the preface of the ground-breaking book "Manufacturing Consent: the political economy of the mass media" by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky: "...the democratic postulate is that the media are independent and committed to discovering and reporting the truth, and that they do not merely reflect the world as powerful groups wish it to be perceived. Leaders of the media claim that their news choices rest on unbiased professional and objective criteria, and they have support for this contention in the intellectual community. If, however, the powerful are able to fix the premises of discourse, to decide what the general populace is allowed to see, hear and think about, and to 'manage' public opinion by regular propaganda campaigns, the standard view of how the system works is at serious odds with reality." The authors develop their thesis by cataloguing the linkages between the business groups that control media conglomerates, the government and academia. Chomsky and Herman argue: "To consolidate their pre-eminent position as sources, government and business promoters go to great pains to make things easy for news organizations... In effect, the large bureaucracies of the powerful subsidize the mass media, and gain special access by their contribution to reducing the media's costs... The media may feel obligated to carry extremely dubious stories and mute criticism in order not to offend their sources and disturb a close relationship...." Although this book appeared in 1988, it was graphically illustrated for me during the Gulf War as I was in Washington at the beginning of that conflict. As I scanned channel after channel for some dissenting view, I was shocked by the uniformity of opinions being expressed by platoons of so-called experts. The endless panel discussions merely offered variations on a theme, and that theme was that war was inevitable, and even desirable. No independent voices were given time or space by either the mainstream electronic or print media. And once the bombing began, retired generals and so-called analysts began falling over themselves in hailing the American armed forces. It was obvious that if any of them strayed from the script, he would not be invited back. This "manufactured consent" made it easy for the elder Bush to completely crush Iraq while muting any moral qualms about the slaughter of an estimated two hundred thousand helpless Iraqis. There was no opposition because there was no debate. And there was no debate because the media was in bed with the administration. Fast forward to the 'war against terrorism' currently being waged in Afghanistan: hardly any mainstream voice is questioning the campaign and the inevitable civilian casualties it is causing in an already devastated nation. As a matter of policy, respected independent figures like Chomsky himself are denied access to TV talk shows and the op-ed pages of The New York Times and the Washington Post. Instead, they call on the services of people who will toe the line and not question the broad policy, specially in foreign affairs. And since readers and viewers have been conditioned to accept them as objective experts, they take what they say as gospel. Thus, after years of being told that their policies abroad are righteous and benign, the turmoil in the minds of ordinary Americans is perfectly understandable. However, now that they have begun the difficult process of looking beneath the surface, they will discover that there are other realities and other truths than the ones they have been spoon-fed all these years.
SPORTS 20011021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Cricketers dismiss suggestions of foul play ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Oct 20: Pakistan's four frontline cricketers dismissed World Cup fix allegations while recording their statements before the one-man commission of Justice Karamat Bhindari in Lahore. Moin Khan, who was the vice-captain of the World Cup team, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq and present skipper Waqar Younis maintained that Pakistan lost the games just because it was their bad day. They vehemently dismissed suspicions that Pakistan had deliberately thrown matches against India and Bangladesh. Wasim Akram, who was the skipper in 1999, was present in the court. But his statement would be recorded when the team returns from Sharjah after appearing in the tri-nation one-day series to be played between Oct 26 and Nov 4. Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and Pakistan's World Cup coach Mushtaq Mohammad, who are in England and were also summoned for Saturday's hearing, have been asked to inform the commission when they are available to record their statements. Justice Bhindari, expanding his inquiry, has summoned the scribes who covered the 1999 event on Oct 27. MOIN KHAN: Moin Khan disagreed with team manager Dr Zafar Altaf's observation that substandard pitch was to be blamed for the defeat against Bangladesh. He told the honourable judge that the captain, senior players and he himself had decided to chase the target if Pakistan won the toss. "We had played four stressful matches before the game against Bangladesh which we won while defending totals. This time we decided to chase the target. But I think lost because we bowled badly," Moin said, while admitting that complacency was the major factor of team's defeat. Wasim Akram, in his post-match interview at Northampton, had said that Pakistan lost to its brothers. When Justice Bhindari sought Moin's point of view on Akram's statement, Moin said that he didn't see anything foul in the remarks. The outspoken Moin blamed former Test cricketers for hurling match- fixing allegations against current Test players. "When they were in the team, everything was okay to them. When they lose their places, they start throwing baseless allegations." On the match against India at Old Trafford, Moin said Pakistan players have always played to win. "We tried our best against India in the World Cup. But I think it was one of our bad days and nothing more than that." INZAMAM-UL-HAQ: Inzamam-ul-Haq, during his testimony, suggested that any player against whom there was slightest of doubt, should be withdrawn from the Sharjah-bound squad and not allowed to play until investigations were completed and he given a clean sheet. Inzamam, on the match against Bangladesh, observed the players didn't focus themselves on the game. He didn't blame the pitch but felt that Pakistan buckled under pressure after losing three quick wickets. "The pitch was normal, but it does always happen whenever we chase and lose two or three quick wickets we struggle. And that exactly happened against Bangladesh." Inzamam complimented Bangladesh for putting up a good show. "It's not that we didn't bowl well. Bangladesh batsmen batted well against us. "As far as game against India is concerned I don't think any ulterior motive can be attributed to Pakistan team," he concluded. WAQAR YOUNIS: Waqar Younis told the honourable court that the only reason for defeat against Bangladesh was complacency and over- confidence. By the time we realized that the match was slipping out of hands, it was too late to recover. "Since it was my first match in the World Cup, I was more concerned about my own performance. The conditions were overcast and the skipper (Wasim Akram) thought bowling first was the right choice," Waqar said. On the match against India, Waqar recalled that Pakistan's history against India in World Cup was not good. Pakistan had also lost 1992 and 1996 World Cup matches to the traditional rivals. SAEED ANWAR said when Wasim Akram won the toss, the team felt that they would bundle out Bangladesh for 50/60 runs as the conditions were ideal and ball was swinging. "But our bowlers couldn't control the ball." While agreeing with Justice Bhandari that Pakistan were bad chasers, Saeed said the decision was also taken keeping in mind that since tougher matches were in store in the Super Six stage, the experiment was worth a try. Saeed said he didn't see any abnormality in the defeat against India. "Our opponents knew know that we are bad chasers and they won the toss and we came under pressure while chasing." Explaining his cheap dismissal in the final when he was out first ball after changing the grip of the bat, Saeed explained "At that time people thought that I had been approached by bookmakers. But there was nothing of that sort of a thing at all. "I wanted to play the final with the same bat with which I scored two centuries. But the grip of the bat got loose and that was the only reason I changed the grip. Unfortunately I got out off the very next delivery and people started to hurl match-fixing allegations against me." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Miandad accused players, says Moin ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Oct 20: Former captain Moin Khan admitted to the one-man inquiry commission of Justice Karamat Bhindari that former coach Javed Miandad had levelled allegations of betting and match-fixing against the team. During his cross-examination and while replying to Abdul Qadir's query if he had lifted the bat to hit Miandad, Moin said: "That's not true but it is true that Javed Miandad had accused the team of fixing the match." Qadir, who is assisting the inquiry commission, was inquiring about April's Sharjah Cup match against England. The tour turned out to the last of Miandad who was forced to resign a couple of weeks before the commencement of the World Cup. Pakistan's second round match against England in that Sharjah tournament is also alleged to have been a fix. Pakistan had already qualified for the final when they meekly surrendered to England. Moin, who was then the vice-captain, further told court that Miandad had accused the team of match-fixing before the toss. "He created a panic in the dressing room when he (Javed Miandad) said he knew which players were involved and how they would get out. "Naturally, Miandad's allegations upset all the senior players. I was also one of them but it's not correct that I lifted the bat to hit him." A petition against Miandad in the Lahore High Court was also dismissed earlier this week after the former captain said on oath he never accused the team of fixing matches. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Miandad admits he raised suspicion ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Oct 21: Former coach Javed Miandad Sunday admitted that he had raised suspicion of foul-play in the 1999 Sharjah Cup match against England. "It's true that I was informed by 'sources' that the match had been fixed. But when I inquired from the players, they rejected the claims, and I have no reason whatsoever not to trust my players," Miandad said from Lahore. The former captain also said Moin Khan's testimony on Saturday was spot on. "But the impression being created that I had lied under oath hurts me. The factual position is that I had informed the then Pakistan cricket officials and also revealed the same details to the judicial commission of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum. "I have got nothing to hide nor do I have to lie about anything." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Miandad demanded sweeping powers ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Oct 22: A former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) supremo claimed Javed Miandad had demanded sweeping powers when he was the coach of the national team in 1999. "Miandad demanded complete authority to manage the team and that included players of his choice in the side," former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood said from Islamabad. Miandad resigned in controversial circumstances immediately after the Sharjah Cup in April and just two weeks before the commencement of the World Cup. Miandad's issue resurfaced Saturday when former captain Moin Khan told a one-man inquiry commission that the coach had raised suspicion of foul-play before the Sharjah Cup game again England - a claim admitted by Miandad Sunday. But Khalid Mahmood, while admitting that Miandad's relations had strained with some senior players, refused to reveal details which led to Miandad's resignation. He, however, revealed that Miandad had demanded sweeping powers to manage the team which was rejected outright. "It was a sensitive issue because only a couple of days before he had levelled serious charges against some of the team members. The PCB council, however, decided against accepting Miandad's demands," said Khalid Mahmood. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan whitewash hapless Kenya ------------------------------------------------------------------- MELBOURNE, Oct 22: Pakistan got off to a confident start with a 3-0 victory over Kenya in the first round of the the world team squash championship. Pakistan's Mansoor Zaman, faced no difficulty in disposing off Otto Kwach 9-0, 9-0, 9-1. Up-and-coming Shahid Zaman saw off Hartaj Bains 9-0, 9-3, 9-6, while Aijaz Azmat swamped Rajdeep Bains 9-1, 9-2, 9-1.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ICC body to review Indian withdrawal ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Correspondent LAHORE, Oct 25: The Dispute Resolution Committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC) will also determine the legitimacy of India's withdrawal from a scheduled tour of Pakistan earlier this year. Director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Brig Munawar Rana, told a news conference that committee would be constituted soon. India refused to follow ICC's 10-year plan when it pulled out of the tour to Pakistan earlier this year for a three-Test series. If found guilty, India can be penalized upto $2million. Financial penalties and compensations to host boards were approved by the executive board of the ICC which met at Kuala Lumpur last week. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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