------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 01 June, 2002 Issue : 08/22 -------------------------------------------------------------------
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + UN intervention can help prevent war, says Akram + Rumsfeld's visit prompted by troops redeployment + Eastern border to get more troops + Al Qaeda, Taliban plan attacks, says NYT + New Delhi reaction to speech regretted + No infiltration across border, says Musharraf + Series of missile tests completed + Hataf-III Ghaznavi missile test-fired + Pakistan test-fires Hataf-V + Musharraf says no message thru missile test + Polls to be held from Oct 7-11: We won't initiate war: Musharraf + ARD defers decision to meet president + SHC suspends ATC order in Daniel case + ATC stays release of video showing Pearl's killing + Prosecution seeks time to consult govt + Chenab, Jhelum vulnerable to treaty mischief + PSO official, wife jailed for amassing illegal wealth --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + WB to give $500m on June 12 + IDB to provide $250m for social development + Pak Saudi Fertilizers sold for Rs8 billion + PSEB claims misleading: $130 million MoU + Ex-BEL chief files suit for damages against SBP + Rally falters half way on weekend selling + KSE index recovers another 52 points + Equities recover with full might on optimistic note --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Going nowhere Ardeshir Cowasjee + Thank God, no more running Ayaz Amir + A conflict neither side can win Irfan Husain + Giving peace a chance Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + FST admits Jehangir Khan's plea against PIA
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 20020601 ------------------------------------------------------------------- UN intervention can help prevent war, says Akram ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Masood Haider UNITED NATIONS, May 31: Underscoring that "war stares us in the face" Pakistan asked the U.N. Security Council to live up to its Charter obligations to prevent a threat to international peace and security posed by India's threat to attack Pakistan. In a rare address to the wrap up session of the 15 member Security Council, Pakistan's ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, said Council's intervention in averting a war in South Asia "will brighten the prospects of peace for the present and future generations; its failure will blight the hopes for universal peace and prosperity aroused by the march of civilization at the dawn of the 21st Century." Reaffirming President Musharraf's pledge that Pakistan would not initiate a war, Akram said that "we are eager to take the alternative path to peace. We hope that India will choose it too." This is a "decisive hour" for the Council, he added. Akram lamented that so far the Security Council has been unable to address the most serious current threat by India to attack Pakistan. India has mobilized most of its massive ground, air and naval forces in battle-ready formations against Pakistan. "The Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, and, indeed, all UN member states, have an obligation flowing from Article 25 of the UN Charter, to secure the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions relating to Kashmir, adopted from 1949 to 1998. All the modalities outlined in Article 33 of the Charter can be mobilized for this purpose," he stressed. Saying that India has stoked the war hysteria, Akram said: "We have been obliged to respond to India's threat. India's prime minister has threatened a decisive battle against Pakistan. Other Indian leaders civilian and military have repeatedly threatened punitive strikes, hot pursuit and other use of force. News reports, yesterday, indicated that India is mounting warheads on its short and medium range missiles." Expressing hope that India will chose the path to peace, Akram suggested that the United Nations Observer group be strengthened to monitor the LoC or if India wants "alternatively some other impartial mechanism" for instance, an adequately manned and equipped helicopter-borne force "can be accepted by India and Pakistan to monitor the Loc." He reiterated Pakistan's assurance that it would not start awar with India in face of India's provocation "should be accompanied by the immediate de-escalation and progressive withdrawal of forces by India which would be matched by Pakistan back to their normal peacetime locations. Only once such de- escalation and withdrawals are completed will the threat to peace subside in the subcontinent." He proposed that "thereafter, further mutual steps could be taken. On the one hand, to end the repression by Indian forces in occupied Jammu & Kashmir. On the other, for de-escalation of the Kashmir freedom struggle and its transit to a purely political process for the realization of the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020601 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rumsfeld's visit prompted by troops redeployment ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Qudssia Akhlaque ISLAMABAD, May 31: United States president's decision to send his defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, to Pakistan is prompted by reports of Pakistan thinning out troops deployed on its western borders to check infiltration of Al Qaeda and Taliban members, informed sources told Dawn on Friday. President Musharraf made it clear that Pakistan's first priority was its own security, suggesting that military stand-off between Indian and Pakistan required troops concentration along the eastern borders. Sources said President Musharraf's statement that "no one should grudge" the decision was basically for the consumption of the US that was apparently concerned about it. Pakistan has been trying to warn the Americans about its national security compulsions for the last five months but these remained unheeded by them," sources said. The government had last month deployed more than 8,000 troops in the tribal belt of Waziristan as part of the biggest US anti-terror operation within the country. The president informed the US the other day about his decision to pull back troops engaged in the anti-terror operations on the western borders to re-deploy them on the eastern borders in view of a possible attack by India. When contacted, Inter Services Public Relations Director-General Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi said all troops required to seal the Pakistan-Afghan border continued to be deployed and were performing the task assigned to them. He said "some additional troops not involved in the operation" had been moved from there to the eastern border, where India had amassed its 1.2 million strong army. The ISPR DG declined to give the number of troops moved to the eastern borders for "operational security" reasons. Sources also link Rumsfeld's visit to the region with the US contingency plan to evacuate its 1,100 troops and some 63,000 American citizens from India and Pakistan in case war breaks out between them. The plan was confirmed by the White House spokesman. The ISPR DG and the Foreign Office spokesman, Aziz Ahmed Khan, said that they had no prior indication of Donald Rumsfield's visit to Pakistan. Till Friday afternoon nothing at the official level had been communicated to Pakistan about his visit. "We will let you know once we have the dates," Aziz Ahmed said on Friday when queried about the visit. Asked if Pakistan had decided to call back its forces engaged in the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone, the ISPR DG said: "It depends on what happens in the next few days and then we will take a decision." Pakistan, currently among the world's four biggest contributors to UN peacekeeping forces, has a brigade comprising 3,000 troops in Sierra Leone. Pakistan had committed to dispatch another brigade to Sierra Leone but last month the UN was officially informed that it would not be able to do so and would at some point also withdraw the personnel serving there. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020531 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Eastern border to get more troops ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, May 30: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said that Pakistan was seriously considering withdrawing troops from anti- terrorist operations on the western borders for their deployment to eastern borders. "We have not yet moved the troops but we have actually stalled the process of inducting them deep on the western borders," President Musharraf told a press conference. "For Pakistan the first priority is its own security and nobody should grudge that," the president said in reply to a question. Gen Musharraf said that if the tensions with India remained as high as it was of today then the troops would certainly be moved towards the eastern borders. If the country's security was endangered and there was a threat of aggression then all the resource would be mobilized to face the threat, he said. He said Pakistan had been pursuing the policy of encouraging any diplomatic initiative for defusing tensions. When a reporter asked what message he would like to convey to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the president said war would cause destruction on both sides. "Being a soldier, I can understand the miseries a war would cause." He further said that his message for the Indian prime minister would be that war should be avoided. TROOPS MOVED: Pakistan has moved some troops from the western border to its eastern border with India, adds AFP quoting a statement issued by the military authorities. "A contingent of Pakistan troops commenced its movement from the western border to reinforce Pakistan troops deployed along the eastern border," the statement said. The shift was made "in view of the adverse posture of the Indian armed forces," it added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020529 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Al Qaeda, Taliban plan attacks, says NYT ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent NEW YORK, May 28: The US intelligence reports indicate that Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, now in Pakistan, are plotting terrorist attacks, including car and suicide bombings, to disrupt the selection of a national government in Kabul next month, The New York Times said in a report. The commander of the US-led forces, Maj-Gen Franklin L. Hagenbeck, told the paper in an interview that virtually the entire senior leadership of Al Qaeda and Taliban had been driven out of eastern Afghanistan. The leadership, he added, was now operating with the help of some 1,000 non-Afghan fighters in the tribal areas of Pakistan. "We know that they are there and have a capability to do harm to this country (Afghanistan)," Gen Hagenbeck said. "Our job is to deny them the freedom of movement and sanctuary." He echoed a concern voiced in Washington that tensions between India and Pakistan could delay Pakistan's military operations in the tribal areas. Gen Hagenbeck also said that several recent raids on compounds in the Tailban's spiritual base in southern Afghanistan had been intended to break up groups that had been plotting terrorist attacks against coalition forces and their Afghan allies. However, the paper said, residents of those villages asserted that the American forces were mistaken about the presence of terrorist groups, and said that innocent people had been killed or taken into custody in the raids. Gen Hagenbeck would not say whether Pakistan had begun pulling back troops from the border. But the paper said that he expressed confidence that President Pervez Musharraf would fulfil a pledge to eliminate the Al Qaeda and Taliban sanctuaries in the tribal region. "I have no concern that they are not going to do what they've said they will do," Gen Hagenbeck said in his office at this former Soviet base, now the headquarters for more than 10,000 allied troops in Afghanistan. "They are interested in ridding western Pakistan of Al Qaeda. With what is currently going on in India, I don't know what the timing's going to be." There have been reports from Pakistan that Osama bin Laden had been seen in the tribal areas as recently as last month, the paper said. But Gen Hagenbeck told the Times he had no solid information on the whereabouts of Osama or Mulla Omar. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020529 ------------------------------------------------------------------- New Delhi reaction to speech regretted ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, May 28: Pakistan said it regretted India's reaction to President Musharraf's national address which was delivered amid rising tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. "The government of Pakistan regrets the reaction," the foreign ministry said in a statement after the speech. Pakistan lashed out at India's rejection of the president's contention that there was no infiltration of militants across the Line of Control (LoC), saying New Delhi's comments were "baseless". "If India is so concerned about the so-called cross-LoC infiltration, it should accept Pakistan's oft-repeated proposal for strengthening the (United Nations presence) or posting of independent observers," it said. Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh accused President Musharraf of making nuclear threats in the speech and said his comments were "disappointing and dangerous" and had added to tensions. However, the Pakistani foreign ministry accused India of adding to the war hysteria with its reaction to a series of attacks, including a bloody assault on its parliament in December. "Mr Jaswant Singh would do well to remember that the prevailing tension in Pakistan-Indian relations is a consequence of the many ill-advised and escalatory steps by the Indian government since December last year, in particular the massing of forces on Pakistan's borders," it said. "The intemperate and shrill statements by its leaders have also served to heighten tensions between the two countries."-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020528 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No infiltration across border, says Musharraf ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, May 27: President Gen Pervez Musharraf declared that infiltration into held Kashmir had stopped, but demanded a response from New Delhi, including the renewal of direct talks between the two countries. Talking to The Washington Post in Islamabad, Gen Musharraf rejected criticism that his government had retreated from pledges to crack down on militants and said: "We will ensure that terrorism does not go from Pakistan anywhere outside into the world. That is our stand, and we adhere to it." The president said he knew "a lot of people are having doubts" about his commitment to control religious extremism, but told the Post: "Let me assure you, there is no backtracking." The interview was published on the same day as President George Bush, in Paris, asked Gen Musharraf to "show results" and to "perform" on delivering on his promises to stop what is referred to as cross-border infiltration. According to the Post, Gen Musharraf "heatedly accused India of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, bullying its neighbours and provoking him with inflamed rhetoric. He said India has used massive border deployments and war threats in recent weeks 'to destabilize me, my government and Pakistan'. Musharraf threatened that if war erupted between the nuclear-armed rivals, 'we'll take the offensive into Indian territory'." The Post report added: "Gen Musharraf made clear that he was offering a fresh pledge to end the border crossings, but he declined to offer specifics, and the language he used was at times ambiguous. Musharraf used the same words four times during the 45- minute interview, stressing that 'there is nothing happening across the Line of Control'." Asked if the absence of infiltration�s he described had been achieved through specific decisions made in the last week or two, he responded: "I repeat: There is nothing happening on the Line of Control. That is what I would like to repeat. And I would like to repeat again: Reciprocation is important." Gen Musharraf said he would not consider "de-escalation alone" by India along the border an adequate response, demanding in addition "initiation of (a) dialogue process (and) reduction of atrocities within Kashmir. And when I say that, on defining it, it really means that as a first step, the (Indian) military should leave the towns and cities of Kashmir and be in the outskirts." The Post says the general rejected criticism that his performance had not lived up to a pledge made in the Jan 12 speech, in which he declared that Pakistan's government would no longer tolerate radicals at home or use them as instruments of foreign policy. He said Pakistan's commitment to fight terrorism had three components: its partnership with the United States to battle Al Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan, "the issue of cross- border terrorism" in Kashmir and battles between rival Islamic sects in Pakistan. "Musharraf spoke most forcefully about Al Qaeda. 'Pakistan will not - repeat, will not - allow any foreign mercenaries, militants, anywhere inside Pakistan, whether they are infiltrating through Afghanistan or coming from any other place. Whether they are on our border belt, or in our cities, we will hunt them down'." On Kashmir, Gen Musharraf defend the cause of the freedom fighters but cited the attacks on the Indian Parliament complex, the shooting of civilians in an army camp this month and other similar incidents as cases where "there were civilians who have been killed - and I call them terrorist acts. There is no doubt in my mind." But as to accusations that Pakistanis were involved in these incidents, he said: "Let's have proof. Let us have evidence." Gen Musharraf said he told Secretary of State Colin Powell and other US officials last week that infiltration�s across the Line of Control had ended, and made the same demands for Indian reciprocity. He said he also complained about the volume of "chest thumping that goes on from the other side. Continuously, there is a jabbing at us, a rhetoric, which is annoying." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020529 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Series of missile tests completed ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, May 28: Pakistan completed a series of tests of its missile systems with the successful test-fire of a short-range Hatf-II (Abdali) missile. "We have achieved all our objectives with a series of missile tests," President's Spokesman Rashid Qureshi told Dawn by phone. When asked whether all the missile systems have been tested or some are still in the development stage, Mr Qureshi responded: "All the missile systems, where were necessary, have been tested." The president's spokesman, who is also director-general of Inter- Service Public Relations, did not reply to a question whether these missiles have also been inducted into the Pakistan army. "Through induction, different people infer different meanings," he said. When the similar question was rephrased by this reporter, he said he was not sure whether these missiles had been handed over to the Pakistan army. "I will have to check on it," he added. Commenting on the tests carried out at the height of tension on the eastern borders, and in the face of intense international pressure on both the South Asia neighbours for exercising restraint, he said: "These tests validated the technical parametres of the system developed by Pakistan." Mr Qureshi also declined to confirm reports about deployment of some missiles. "I have no such information," he added. "As part of a series of missile tests currently under way, Pakistan today carried out a successful test-fire of its short range indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile Hatf-II (Abdali)," an official announcement said. "This was the first test of the Abdali missile. This system is capable of carrying warheads accurately up to a range of 180km. The flight data collected confirmed its accuracy and all other design parametres which were successfully validated." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020528 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hataf-III Ghaznavi missile test-fired ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, May 27: Pakistan successfully test fired its newly- developed short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hataf- III (Ghaznavi). This was announced by the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) in a press release. It said: "This was the first test of the Ghaznavi missile which is capable of carrying warheads accurately up to a range of 290kms." According to an ISPR release, chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Aziz Ahmad Khan told scientists, research scholars and others after the firing of Ghaznavi missile that the question of the size of Pakistan had now become meaningless. Gen Aziz, who was present in the monitoring room with corps commander Lt-Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi, describing the technical details of the test said the missile's take-off was perfect, re- entry stage was excellent, and target impact was highly accurate. Chairman JCSC said mere presence of any weapon was not enough, it was a dedicated team which formed defence deterrence of a country. The concentration of troops on our borders and coercive attitude of any power could not frighten the valiant armed forces of Pakistan, Gen Aziz said.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020526 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan test-fires Hataf-V ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Tariq Saeed Birmani DERA GHAZI KHAN, May 25: Pakistan successfully conducted a medium- range ballistic missile test on Saturday near the Dallana tribal area in Suleman Range, an official monitoring the system told Dawn. The monitoring station was set up at Basti Jarh, some six kilometres from here on Dera-Quetta road where the residents were not allowed to visit. Hataf-V, loaded with a mock atomic warhead, hit its target in Balochistan. The technical teams from the Kahuta Research Laboratory and the National Defense Complex arrived here a couple of days ago. After the successful test, the team members distributed sweets among the villagers. Residents of Basti Jarh, where the monitoring station was set up, told Dawn that the team, comprising more than 50 officials, set up the camp some five days ago and it was declared a prohibited zone even for the people of the area. The Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission had visited the site some four days ago. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020526 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf says no message thru missile test ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ahmed Hassan ISLAMABAD, May 25: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said that Pakistan successfully test-fired its medium-range missile, adding that "it was not meant to give any message to anyone". Speaking at the National Seerat Conference here, the president said that Pakistan did not want war with India, but was not afraid of it either, if imposed on it. Referring to the current stand-off with India, he said the country was passing through a critical phase. The president, however, expressed the confidence that the country would overcome the crisis with success and honour. The president also emphasized the need for forging unity among the leaders of public opinion and stated that he was determined to restore democracy by holding fair and free elections before Oct 12. Responding to a reported statement that India was not impressed by missile testing, the president said: "We are also not impressed either by the reports suggesting that India had given us two months time to meet its demands to avoid war." He said no one should underestimate our capability if a war was imposed on us as the whole world was aware of Pakistan's might. The president said he was ready to again invite those leaders who earlier refused his invitation. The president criticized those writers who write without realizing the negative impact of their writings on the country. He said such irresponsible talks did not inflict any personal harm but damage the country's interests.. He said when the government takes a decision in line with the national interest it becomes incumbent upon the entire nation to support and strengthen that decision. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020528 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Polls to be held from Oct 7-11: We won't initiate war: Musharraf ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, May 27: President Gen Pervez Musharraf announced that elections to the National and Provincial Assemblies would be held from Oct 7 to 11 for restoring "genuine democracy" in the country. Addressing the nation by radio and television, the president assured that general elections would be held in a fair and free atmosphere. "It is my commitment with the nation that these elections will be fair and transparent, and all foreign observers who intend to witness them are welcome," he said. The president conceded that "certain irregularities" were committed in the referendum and apologized for it. He claimed that the youth, women and business community had supported him. "But I learnt that some people in their carelessness and ignorance performed some unworthy acts. If such is the case...(then) I am aggrieved and feel very sad. I apologize for this. I am particularly sad that my well- wishers who have always been supportive of me, may have found something unpleasant." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020531 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ARD defers decision to meet president ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ashraf Mumtaz LAHORE, May 30: The top leaders of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy deferred a decision on their formal response to the fresh invitation extended to them for a consultative meeting with President Musharraf, saying they needed more time to get views of some other opposition parties. Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, at whose residence the ARD leaders met to exchange views on the subject, said that he would contact leaders of the all-party conference and the Muttahida Majlis-i- Aml before taking a final decision on the invitation. According to ARD sources, an alliance leader present in the meeting called on Information Minister Nisar A. Memon in Islamabad to say that the government should also discuss opposition's demands along with the border situation for which purpose the consultative meeting was called. The leader proposed that a separate session could be held for the purpose. Official sources told Dawn that if the ARD wanted to discuss its demands with the government, it would have to make a request for the purpose. They said the meeting called by the president was exclusively for situation on the eastern borders and the way the government should handle it. It is said that Mr Memon informed the ARD leaders that the session scheduled for Friday had been postponed. Those present at the meeting were PPP Senior Vice-Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Punjab PPP President Qasim Zia, Munir Ahmed Khan, PML(N) leaders Raja Zafarul Haq, Saranjaam Khan, Tehmina Daultana, Sardar Zulfikar Khosa and Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Istiqlal Party chief Manzoor Husain Gilani, PML(Q) leader Saifullah Saif and PDP leader Nawaz Gondal. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020531 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SHC suspends ATC order in Daniel case ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 30: The prosecution in the Daniel Pearl murder case frustrated attempts of the four accused to obtain video of the gruesome incident, when it secured an order from a division bench of the Sindh High Court to suspend the operation of the order of the trial court until June 4. The anti-terrorism appellate bench of the SHC, comprising Justice Roshan Essani and Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, put all respondents on notice for June 4 when the AG Sindh, Raja Qureshi, moved a criminal revision application for suspension of Tuesday's order of the trial judge for providing the video to the counsel for the accused, but had granted a 72-hour stay to the prosecution. Raja Qureshi, after emerging from the chambers of Justice Essani, told reporters that while the application would be decided after hearing the parties, trial of the four accused would continue on Saturday. Apart from Ahmed Umer Saeed Sheikh, Sheikh Mohammad Adil, Syed Salman Saqib and Fahad Nasim, who are facing trial in Hyderabad central jail, were made respondents in the application. Although a lap-top with the video of the murder was taken to the chambers of Justice Essani by senior officials, the AG said no visuals were shown. Defending the state's move, the AG said the prosecution was opposed to providing the tape to the accused because there were fears that it may land in wrong hands and could generate terror and add to the prevailing insecurity and fear in society. The applicant has claimed that contents of the video reflected a gruesome murder by way of slaughtering which had not only created fear in the minds of the public at large, but if viewed would also create a sense insecurity in the eyes of the general public at large, nationally and internationally. "The viewing of the video, reflecting the slaughtering of an American Jew, Daniel Pearl, would be an instrument of advancing acts of terrorism internationally, and, therefore, if the same is released, the same could result in the massacre of Muslims and religious sects nationally and internationally", the AG had contended in the application. He was also opposed to providing the video to the defence because it was "likely to incite hatred and contempt on religious, sectarian or ethnic basis, stir up violence and interned disturbance or is likely to affect the external affairs of Pakistan. Defence counsel for the four accused claimed they wanted to subject the video to an expert review. The video was sent to the US Consulate in Karachi in February after the Wall Street Journal reporter went missing in January. A dismembered body, believed to be his remains, was found on May 17 at a derelict place in the outskirts of Karachi along the Superhighway and DNA tests to confirm its identity were continuing. The video cassette was sought at the stage when the prosecution witness had already been subjected to cross- examination on May 16. It was the contention of the AG that contents of the video cassette, apart from being extremely sensitive, contained serious material which was neither in the interest of the prosecution nor in the interest of the defence. He claimed that it was "in the national interest to withhold the release of the video to become a public document, to be viewed by the members of the public at large, nationally and internationally", if the same was released to the defence. It was the case of the prosecution that in case the copy of video recording was provided to the defence (though the same had already been viewed on their insistence), and if the same was released at the fag end of the trial, it was likely to create a serious risk to safety of the public. It was the contention of the prosecution that the request of the counsel for the accused was designed to frighten the general public and thereby prevent them from coming out and carrying on the lawful trail in daily business and disturb civil life, if the same was exhibited from any channels of electronic media. The revision application was filed under section 435, 561-A, read with ATA 1997 and Article 199 of the constitution. The trial at Hyderabad was proceeding pursuant to FIR No. 24/2002, registered at the Artillery Maidan Police Station Karachi South under Section 365-A, 368/302/109/201/120-A/34, read with Section 7 and 8 of the anti-terrorism act 1997. On May 28, an application was heard by the presiding judge of the anti-terrorism court Hyderabad and upon hearing the same, the trial court had directed the release of the copy of the video-recoding, reflecting the messages in terms of ransom, the appeal of Daniel Pearl to the American government followed by the physical slaughtering of Denied Pearl with a knife whereby his neck had been cut. The said video cassette was received by an FBI agent at the American Consulate through a source of which was produced and exhibited as article 1 at trial. An application under section 265-C and 548 Cr.P.C, read with Article 87 of the Qanoon-i-Shahadat Order 1984, was moved by the respondents to obtain a copy of the video recording and on the premise that the same was case property, and, therefore, a public property and consequently under section 265-C Cr.PC all the available evidence be made available to the defence before the court. It was contended that the video cassette prepared through modern devices, during the process of investigation was also a document, and, therefore, the same could be provided to the accused persons. The contention of the respondents was heard, and vide an order dated April 23, the same was rejected by the trial court on the premise that the order pertaining to three similar applications, moved earlier for the same cause and purpose, had provided that the advocate of the main accused had admitted that he would be satisfied if the remaining items were provided to him other than the video cassette. It was also Raja Qureshi's contention that the application for supplying the video cassette was moved again which was also dismissed on April 12 and the last application for the same cause was moved, but with no fresh ground or cogent reasons; and, therefore, the same was also dismissed in the absence of the any provision for review in the Code of Criminal Procedure. It was specifically ordered on the undertaking of the applicant that the video cassette could be viewed in the open court or in the chambers with the consent of both the parties before recording evidence of the concerned witness if the defence so desired. Consequently, the said video in original, along with the copy, was viewed by the presiding judge, the prosecution team, the defence team, and the accused persons on May 14, in the presence of the PW- 12, John Moligan, an FBI agent from the US. After having viewed the same, the prosecution witnesses were subjected to extensive cross-examination by the defence and yet another application was filed and argued on 28th wherein the presiding judge had directed that a copy of the video cassette be provided. However, the applicant had on the same day, after the passage of the order, filed an application seeking the stay of the operation of the impugned order and upon hearing the applicant, the presiding judge of the anti-terrorism court at Hyderabad inside Hyderabad Jail stayed the operation of the order for 72 hours. Raja Qureshi thus moved an application in the SHC, seeking setting aside the trial court's directions. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020529 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ATC stays release of video showing Pearl's killing ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent HYDERABAD, May 28: The judge of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), Syed Ali Ashraf Shah, ordered the release of a video cassette showing the slaughter of Daniel Pearl on an application filed by the defence counsel. But soon after passing of the order, the court stayed operation of the same order for 72 hours on another application, filed by Sindh Advocate-General Raja Qureshi, chief prosecutor in the Pearl case. He requested the court to withhold release of the video because the prosecution would challenge this order before the Sindh High Court. The judge also directed the Medical Board that had conducted the post-mortem of the remains of an unidentified body, exhumed from a plot in Karachi, to provide the attested copy of the autopsy to the defence. In all, the court today heard and disposed of five separate applications, four from the defence and one from the prosecution side. The case has now been fixed for June 1 when the court would examine two investigating officers, Hameedullah Memon and Rao Aslam. On Tuesday, cross-examination of Mehmood Iqbal Hashmi, who was supposed to bring the internet server from Karachi, was to be held. But, he did not produce it before the court. Upon which the defence counsel, Rai Basheer Ahmed, filed a contempt-of-court application against him, arguing that since the prosecution witness failed to bring the server he violated the court order willfully, therefore, the proceedings under the contempt-of-court act should be initiated against him. The attorney general Sindh submitted before the court that it was practically impossible for the prosecution witness to bring the server worth over Rs4.5 million before the trial court as this equipment was connected with the internet which was why it could not be produced. The contempt application was rejected by the court. The cross- examination has been fixed for June 1 as well. Senior Defence Counsel Abdul Waheed Katpar said the ATC judge rejected another application of defence pertaining to the recording of evidence of Marianne Pearl first. He claimed that as per rule the investigating officers were to be examined last. But the court disallowed this plea, observing that both the investigating officers could be recalled, if the need arose, under section 540 Cr.PC. The judge, however, allowed two other applications of defence. The first was filed on the basis of a news reports suggesting that the Karachi police had recovered a body in the jurisdiction of the Gulzar-e-Hijri police station which was believed to be of Daniel Pearl and the defence needed an attested copy of the autopsy of the body. The counsel said that nine people were arrested by the police with whose help the body was exhumed near the super highway. The chief prosecutor objected to the grant of the application saying that the recovery of an unidentified body had no nexus with the present case at this point of time. The court allowed this request with directives to the Medical Board to furnish an attested/certified autopsy report to the defence counsel. Yet another application that has been allowed by the court related to the video cassette showing Mr Pearl's slaughter. The defence lawyers had filed this application on May 14 after the video was watched by the prosecution and defence lawyers, the accused, and the judge. The attorney general, Sindh, however, strongly opposed the application while pleading that the prosecution did not want to encourage terrorism but curbed it. He argued that two similar applications had already been rejected by the former presiding judge of this court on April 12 and 23. He added that the release of the video cassette would not be in the national as well as international interest. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020528 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Prosecution seeks time to consult govt ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent HYDERABAD, May 27: The chief prosecutor and Advocate-General of Sindh, Raja Qureshi, sought time from the Anti-terrorism Court to seek instructions from the government to argue his application when hearing resumed in the Daniel Pearl case. Mr Qureshi, in his application, had sought appointment of a commission to record the statement of Mariane Pearl, wife of the slain Daniel Pearl, after her counsel, Barrister M. Jamil, informed the court that he was not sure whether she would be able to travel to Karachi. During the previous proceedings, M. Jamil submitted to the court a medical certificate, issued by Mariane Pearl's doctor, with her statement telling the court that she was willing to appear before the court and record her evidence after the delivery of her baby expected on June 2. The statement, however, contained that her travel depended on her doctor's advice. The court fixed Raja Qureshi's application for Tuesday. The prosecution is now left with only three witnesses - Mariane Pearl and two investigation officers, Hameedullah Memon and Rao Aslam - to close its side. The court rose for the day after directing prosecution witness Mahmood Iqbal Hashmi to bring whatever record he kept to prove that the e-mails presented before the court were transmitted from the computer of accused Fahad Naseem through sub-server of another prosecution witness, Naeem Sheikh. The order was passed by the court after defence counsel, Rai Basheer Ahmed, objected to Hashmi's statement that the data could be preserved on the main server. The PW must prove his point, he said. Rai Bashir completed cross-examination of PW, Naeem Sheikh, and will continue cross-examination of Iqbal Hashmi. The counsel told newsmen, after the court proceedings inside the Central Jail, that the statements of both the PWs were replete with contradictions. He stated that what Iqbal Hashmi stated in his application, had been denied by Naeem Sheikh in his examination-in- chief and cross-examination. He maintained that the timings and date of e-mails in question, mentioning linkage of accused with electronic mails, were entirely different from what had been mentioned in the statements and report of both the PWs. Hashmi had verified that the e-mails were sent through the sub- server of Sheikh Naeem. As per the statement of Sheikh Naeem, he provided e-mail facility to 60-70 users and the e-mails which were verified by Iqbal Hashmi were transmitted from line No 66. This line, he deposed, was used from telephone number and laptop of the accused, Fahad Naseem. Rai Basheer said that there was an important contradiction which revealed that line No 31 was being used and not 66. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020526 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Chenab, Jhelum vulnerable to treaty mischief ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ahmad Fraz Khan LAHORE, May 25: India can disturb the flow of river Jhelum and divert Chenab's water to Ravi if it decided to use river flows as a weapon and unilaterally abrogate the Indus Basin Water Treaty, water planners said. The planners have been busy studying various scenarios on the instruction of the government, to meet any eventuality. Despite the exercise in run up to the meeting, they professed their faith that India would not take such a route. "This will guarantee a regional and, perhaps a global, disaster." "Due to the hilly train India cannot divert Jhelum's water to another river or stop it from flowing into Pakistan. But it can certainly build a dam and regulate its flow to the detriment of Pakistan," an expert in the Irrigation and Power Department said. He said India could regulate the river flow in a way to disturb the farming pattern in Pakistan, flooding it when water was not required stopping it when it was needed. The central Punjab as well as parts of southern Punjab depend on Jhelum's water for irrigation. An Agriculture Department official said if India disturbed the flow, it could make a large part of the Punjab barren. The possibility, however, was at least be 15 years away, the time required to build a big enough dam. "Chenab is the river most vulnerable to Indian mischief," an expert in the Pakistan Indus Basin Treaty commissioner's office said. The river flows only 50 kilometres away from the Ravi in the Indian planes. India can thus easily dig a canal to transfer its water to Ravi and consume its entire flow. With additional water from Chenab, it can expand its irrigation network to Rajhisthan desert. River Indus is by and large safe from Indian designs. Originating from Tibet, it flows through the Ladakh valley into area controlled by Pakistan. Along its route in Indian controlled area, there is no site suitable for a dam. Even if a site should be found and the dam built, most of the water in Indus comes from its tributaries in the areas under Pakistan's control. A hydrologist working for the WAPDA said, "Indian can disturb river flows but it would be at a phenomenal engineering cost." Engineering solutions, he said, could be found for even the most difficult task, but one should not lose sight of the cost. He hoped that the Indian people will not support such an adventure. An official in the WAPDA's water wing said projects involving changes in river flows took a long time, decades in most cases. He said Pakistan could invoke guarantees and mount diplomatic pressure which may be unbearable. Being the upper riparian country India can certainly create problems for Pakistan. In fact, that is what it has been doing for the last many months. It snapped all links with Pakistan in December and has refused to transfer data and there has been a decrease in Chenab's flow since January, reportedly because India has built a reservoir at Baghliar. A lawyer said it was not easy to revoke international treaties like the Indus Basin Treaty because they affected lives of billions of people. The present Indian leadership could create the hype around the treaty and derive some political mileage out of it, but legally speaking its options were limited. In practical terms, a river diversion would amount to a declaration of war, an official in the Ministry of Water and Power said. Pakistan would be bound to retaliate. "How could India expect Pakistan to let it squeeze it drop by drop?" This would also expose Indian dams to attacks by Pakistan. Dams are not attacked even during a war. But such niceties are observed only on reciprocal basis. He also expressed his faith in international guarantees and rational behaviour. Most of the worst-case scenarios never happen because their cumulative cost is too much for everybody. With the passage of time, the Indians would realize that most of their hostility is misdirected and blaming others for one's own failures does not bring any dividends. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020601 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PSO official, wife jailed for amassing illegal wealth ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 31: An accountability court convicted on Friday a former PSO official, his wife and another family member for amassing wealth through illegal means. Judge Rahmat Hussain Jafferi of the AC-3, who is also the administrative judge of all ACs in Karachi division, sentenced Iqbal Ahmed Turabi to 10 years in jail and his wife, Najma Iqbal, to a five-year term. The couple were also fined Rs95 million each by the judge, who ordered that the defaulter on the payment would have to undergo an additional three-year term of simple imprisonment. The judge also sentenced Asif Hussain, the younger brother of Mrs Najma Iqbal, to a three-month term under section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance for disobeying the court orders. Asif Hussain' brother-in-law, Hassan Raza, was also convicted and sentenced to a five-year term of rigorous imprisonment in the reference. He was fined Rs3 million and he would have to undergo an additional 30-month term in case of default on the payment. The judge also disqualified all accused persons for seeking or from being elected, chosen, appointed or nominated as member or representative of any public body or any statuary or local authority or in service of Pakistan or of any province. The 47-year-old Turabi, who served the PSO from 1987 to 2000 as an officer, acquired immovable property worth over Rs20 million in his name and in the names of accused Najma Iqbal, Asif Hussain, Hassan Raza and Ziauddin Taimuri. The judge ordered the forfeiture of entire property of the accused persons to the government. It included a flat and a shop in Chapel Resort, Clifton, flat in Frere Town, a 1000-yard plot in Defence Housing Authority (DHA), a house measuring 429 square yards in DHA, a flat in Super Palace in Civil Lines, an office at Zamzama, DHA, a flat-cum-office in Falaknaz Centre, Shahrah-i- Faisal, and a shop in Prince Complex, Frere Town. Besides, the accused maintained many local and foreign currency accounts. The transactions in those accounts were upto 50 million.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY 20020528 ------------------------------------------------------------------- WB to give $500m on June 12 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, May 27: The World Bank will disburse $500 million Structural Adjustment loan (SAC-2) to Pakistan on June 12 immediately after its board meeting on June 11 in Washington, says a senior official of the bank. He told Dawn here on Monday that another bank's board meeting will be held in the first week of July to approve $100m budgetary support for Sindh government and $90m similar support for NWFP. The $500m SAC-2 is the biggest amount to be offered to any country in one single shot at a marginal 0.75 per cent service charges. It will be extended from the Bank's International Development Assistance (IDA) window. Earlier, Pakistan had been offered $350m SAC-1 for improving balance of payment support in 2001 which was also a single tranche disbursement. The official said that SAC-2 will be given for carrying out structural reforms, financial management reforms, audit and accounts reforms, education reforms and oil and gas sector reforms. The money will also be available for poverty alleviation and that it will basically cover the government's priorities contained in the Interim-Poverty Reduction Strategy (I-PRSP). He said that it was good to see that the government was monitoring the implementation of the measures in the I-PRSP which will help increase transparency and ensure scrupulous funding to various institutions. Sources in the multilateral agencies believed while the World Bank, IMF and the ADB were extending all necessary financial support, Pakistan will have to generate a surplus in the non-interest current account of the balance of payments of nearly one billion dollar annually over 2000-2004 or about 1.5 per cent of the GDP. This will be in sharp contrast to average annual resource deficits of $1.5 billion, about 3 per cent GDP, run in the 1990s and will require major export expansion as well substantial import saving. In addition, the government should also mobilize at least $3bn from privatization sales. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020531 ------------------------------------------------------------------- IDB to provide $250m for social development ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, May 30: The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will provide $250 million assistance to Pakistan in the next three years for various social projects, particularly education, health and poverty alleviation. IDB Vice-President Amadou Boubacar told APP after a memorandum of understanding was signed between the authorities of the bank and the Pakistan government. He said finance support would also be extended to the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) set up by President Gen Pervez Musharraf. Replying to a question, Mr Boubacar said the bank would also provide assistance to various ongoing projects, including Ghazi Barotha project and Rawalpindi Medical College. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020601 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pak Saudi Fertilizers sold for Rs8 billion ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, May 31: The sale of Pak Saudi Fertilizers Limited (PSFL) to Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited consortium was completed with the sale agreement signing. FFCL offered Rs135.85 per share for 90 per cent shares (54 million) of PSDL, the highest bid received for this public sector entity, which has yielded proceeds of over Rs8 billion. Privatization Minister Altaf M. Saleem presided over the signing ceremony, said a PC press release. In this first major privatization in the industry sector undertaken by the government, the sale price was within the acceptable range of the approved reference price. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020601 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PSEB claims misleading: $130 million MoU ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Arshad Sharif ISLAMABAD, May 31: The top officials of Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) have been caught on the wrong foot as their claims of having signed a $130 million MoU were proved to be false giving rise to mistrust about the "achievements" projected by the ministry of science and technology, investigations revealed. On assuming charge as the federal minister for science and technology, Dr Atta-ur-Rehman set out to bring a revolution in the Information Technology sector but many of his initiatives are falling prey to false projections by different departments painting wrong pictures, sources claimed. In the case of PSEB, the sources said, a three-year ambitious target of exporting IT products worth one billion dollars was stipulated. The managing director of PSEB, Sohail Shahid, is optimistic that the target would be achieved by December next. Many industry leaders are, however, doubtful of the optimism expressed by the PSEB MD in view of rejection of one of PSEB's claims of signing of an MoU by an Islamabad-based company. This has brought the credibility of the Board's achievements and its ability to achieve the targets into dispute, those in the industry claimed. According to the PSEB sources, Askari Information Systems rejected the claims of MoU initiation or signing worth $130 million at the UK Out-Sourcing World exhibition, which was claimed to have been done by the PSEB. The sources said Askari Information Systems, along with other companies, was invited by the PSEB to participate in the Out- Sourcing World Exhibition held in UK during the third week of April. On return from the exhibition, the record shows, the PSEB MD, in a press conference, claimed the signing of an MoU worth $130 million between Askari Information Systems and a telecom company. The same claim was repeated in a few other press conferences, the record shows. When contacted, Askari Information Systems denied the signing of an MoU with any company. AIS chief executive officer, Zain Islam, said, "AIS was in active communication with a large US-based company for the past one year. The company was wooed by us during the past 12 months to make a major investment of $120 million in the telecom infrastructure in Pakistan but the MoU was not signed." Rejecting the claims of the PSEB that the project was initiated at the exhibition, Mr Zain said, "Only the final decision to make that investment synchronised with the London event 2002". He said: "An MoU for a multi million dollar business is nothing more than a vehicle for achieving cheap publicity. If only half of the so- called MoUs would have materialised, our national revenue stream from IT would have exceeded the textile sector." Interestingly, the PSEB officials claimed the MoU was signed by AIS and termed it an achievement of the Board in the UK exhibition. However, some of the representatives of the software houses, who participated in the exhibition, said the exhibition was nothing more than wastage of funds. The PSEB top official, the sources said, had announced that the board would arrange the meeting of AIS leadership with President Gen Musharraf for such a big achievement. Later, the correspondence from AIS resulted in the PSEB having to eat its words and saying the agreement would be signed in June. The PSEB MD, the sources said, declared after the faux pas, that the final signing ceremony would take place during June in Islamabad. The AIS, contrary to the PSEB claims, said the project was likely to be finalized in July. "The denationalization of such pipeline projects for point- scoring may cost the private sector their business," sources in the industry said, condemning the irresponsible behavior of the PSEB officials. The PSEB's decision to participate in the exhibition has also come under fire from the industry players. "The exhibition, held for the first time, did not have even its website. It not only failed to attract sizable IT leaders but also dealt a heavy blow to public exchequer," an industry leader who was taken on the PSEB's bandwagon claimed. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020529 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ex-BEL chief files suit for damages against SBP ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 28: Former president of the Bankers Equity Limited (BEL) Inamul Haq, who has been honourably acquitted by an accountability court, has filed a suit with the Sindh High Court for recovery of damages of over Rs210 million from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and five other respondents. The defendants have been put on notice for Aug 13, to answer the claim. Represented by advocate Nuruddin Sarki, Mr Haq has held them responsible for filing false charges against him leading to his illegal arrest and detention, mental and physical torture and loss of his service. Besides putting the main blame on the SBP, he has put the onus on the former SBP Governor, Dr Mohammed Yaqub, whom he accused of playing the major role in collusion with his political supporters. He was removed by the military government soon after it came into power. A complaint had also been filed against Dr Yaqub by the former management of BEL with NAB for his questionable role as BEL chairman before it was privatized in 1996. Other respondents include R. A. Chughtai, Deputy Governor of the SBP, Majeeduddin Khan, appointed CEO of BEL by the SBP, Major Mushtaq Ahmed (retd), the then DG, FIA, Shahid Mehboob, and Majeeduddin Khan. They have all been named in the suit to pay damages of Rs20 million each. Mr Haq has contended that his acquittal, after a long trial, has established that charges of embezzlement and fraud against him were false and baseless. He has claimed that by going to the press and state-owned media before the matter had even reached the courts, Dr Yaqub had committed libel and defamation which had injured Mr Haq's reputation and had caused him anguish and pain and suffering to him and his family, affected the health of his wife and the education and career of his children. His liberty had also been interfered with causing him physical pain and injury to his health. Since no charges have been proved against him nor was a proper procedure followed, Mr Haq has regarded his removal by the SBP as unjustified and unlawful and has claimed additional compensation of about Rs10 million for loss of service and incurring other costs. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020601 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rally falters half way on weekend selling ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 31: The KSE 100-share index suffered a fresh modest fall of 6.27 points at 1,663.35 as compared to 1,669.62 a day earlier, reflecting the weakness of some leading base shares barring Hub-Power, which ended unchanged. Lever Brothers, Central Insurance, Clariant Pakistan, Dawood Cotton and BSJS Balanced Fund were leading among the gainers, rising by Rs.1.50 to 14 followed by Zahidjee Textiles, Modaraba al-Tijarh, Kohat Cement, and some others, which rose by one rupee to Rs.1.30. Losers were led by Wyeth Pakistan, Glaxo-Wellcome Pakistan, PSO, IGI Insurance and Aventis Pharma, falling by one rupee to Rs.6. Trading volume fell to 91m shares from the previous 114m shares as losers maintained a fair lead over the gainers at 149 to 82, with 48 shares holding on to the last levels. Hub-Power topped the list of most actives, unchanged at Rs.22.80 on 37m shares followed by PTCL, lower 10 paisa at Rs.15.45 on 20m shares, PSO, off Rs.1.90 at Rs.128.85 on 8m shares, MCB, lower 50 paisa at Rs.24.40 on 4m shares and Sui Northern Gas, up 10 paisa at Rs.13.20 also on 4m shares. Other actives were led by KESC, up 20 paisa on reports that the army will aid the new management for one year after its sell-off to any prospective bidder on 4m shares, FFC-Jordan Fertilizer, steady 10 paisa on 3m shares, Engro Chemical, off 55 paisa on 2m shares, ICI Pakistan, easy five paisa also on 2m shares and Pak PTA, firm by five paisa on 1.450m shares. FUTURE CONTRACTS: Bulk of the speculative selling was again confined to both the settlements of the PSO. While the maturing May settlement eased by Rs.2.39 at Rs.128.80, the June contract fell by Rs.2.54 also at the same rate on 1.457m shares. Others leading shares were traded fractionally on either-side. Among the most actives, Hub-Power was leading, fractionally lower by one paisa at Rs.22.81 on 6.553m shares for May but up by 11 paisa for the ruling June contract at Rs.23.11 on 8.725m shares. PTCL followed it, off 20 paisa at Rs.15.40 on 4.663m shares for May and easy five paisa for June contract at Rs.15.70 on 4.795m shares. Turnover in other forward shares was below a million shares. DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Shares of eight companies came in for alternate bouts of buying and selling under the lead of Ravi Rayon, unchanged at Rs.5 on 37,200 shares followed by Mehran Jute, easy five paisa at Rs.0.85 on 11,000 shares and Suzuki Motorcyles, unchanged at Rs.4.85 on 6,500 shares. BOARD MEETINGS: Apollo Textiles, June 4, Abbott Lab June 7. DIVIDEND: Security Leasing Corporation, right shares at the rate of 50 per cent. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020528 ------------------------------------------------------------------- KSE index recovers another 52 points ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 27: The index recovered 52.24 points or 3.14 per cent at 1,715.46. Big gainers were led by Engro Chemical, PSO, Shell Pakistan, Wyeth Pakistan and BOC Pakistan, which posted gains ranging from Rs4 to Rs6. They were followed by Kohinoor Weaving, Sapphire Textiles, Mari Gas, Security Papers and several others, up by Rs2.15 to Rs3.45. Losses on the other hand were fractional barring Treet Corporation and Lever Brothers, which fell by one rupee to Rs10. Trading volume rose to 174m shares from the previous 102m shares as advancing shares managed a strong lead over the losing ones at 166 to 105, with 29 holding on to the last levels. The most active list was topped by PTCL, up Rs1.25 at Rs16.60 on 53m shares followed by Hub-Power, higher by Rs1.55 at Rs22.80 on 46m shares, PSO, up Rs4.20 at Rs137.30 on 18m shares, FFC-Jordan Fertilizer, steady by 35 paisa at Rs6.85 on 14m shares and KESC, lower 45 paisa at Rs5.05 on 9m shares. Other actives were led by Sui Northern, up 45 paisa on 8m shares, Dewan Salman, firm by 30 paisa on 3m shares, Engro Chemical, higher by Rs4 also on 3m shares, ICI Pakistan, up 35 paisa on 2.416m shares and Pak PTA, lower 30 paisa on 2.229m shares. FUTURES CONTRACTS: Forward counter also followed the lead of the ready section where current favourites finished with smart recoveries, major gainers among them Engro Chemicals and PSO, both settlements, the ruling May and the distant June contracts, up by Rs3.80 to Rs5.05 respectively. The notable feature was that trading also commenced in the June settlements side by side the maturing May contracts and all the shares made a firm debut in a rising market. Hub-Power was massively traded at the lower levels, up Rs1.60 at Rs23 on 15.864m shares followed by PTCL, higher by Rs1.17 at Rs16.62 on 5m shares. The newcomer June settlements were also actively traded along with the others. DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Shares of over a dozen companies came in for active trading under the lead of Suzuki Motorcycles, easy 25 paisa at Rs5.05 on 50,500 shares followed by Mehran Jute, lower by the same amount at Rs1.20 on 15,500 shares and Ravi Rayon, unchanged at Rs5 on 12,300 shares. DIVIDEND: Sargodha Spinning, interim five per cent. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020528 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Equities recover with full might on optimistic note ------------------------------------------------------------------- Muhammad Aslam The KSE 100-share index by a massive 135.64 points claimed to be highest-ever single session record for it. However, the market managed to recover a part of the massive loss of about 252 points suffered during the week at 1,663.22 as compared to previous week's close of 1,779.76 points. The decline in the index was of the order of 116.54 points or a loss of about Rs.33 billion in the market capitalization at Rs388.168 billion as compared to the previous week's Rs411 billion. Energy, chemicals and most of the blue chips on the other counters notably, the MNCs received massive battering, falling well below the circuit breakers. Big losers were led by the Pakistan Oilfields, the PSO, the Shell Pakistan, the Wyeth Pakistan and the Lever Brothers, which suffered fall, the largest being in Wyeth Pakistan. The PSO, the Shell Pakistan, the Pakistan Oilfields, the Attock Refinery, the National Refinery, Al-Ghazi Tractors, Millat Tractors, the BOC Pakistan, Glaxo-Wellcome also fell sharply, but the weekend recovery allowed them to finish with clipped gains. Some of the second liners, including the Clover Pakistan, Wah Noble Chemicals, the Goodluck Industries, and the PEL Appliances managed to finish modestly higher. Owing to Thursday closure on account of badla business problems, trading volume fell to 500 million shares as compared to previous 750 million shares, bulk of which went to the credit of the Hub- Power, the PTCL and some other actives. The ICI Pakistan, Sui Northern Gas, Dewan Salman, the PSO, Engro Chemical and Fauji Fertiliser also remained in active demand at the lower rates. The second-liners, such as the KESC, the FFC-Jordan Fertiliser, Japan Power, the Pak PTA, D.G.Khan Cement and the Telecard were also actively traded.Back to the top
EDITORIALS & FEATURES 20020526 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Going nowhere ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ardeshir Cowasjee Leaders of nations? Leaders of two of the world's most enlightened civilizations? One leader talks of clouds and skies and lightning. The other leader talks of resisting the thunder and lightning with military might. Where were they both in 1946, when Albert Einstein watched a film recording the destruction and death caused in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by atomic bombs, and holding his head in his hand and weeping he said: "Had I known what I helped make could destroy, I would have chosen to have remained a shoemaker." On May 24, researchers at Princeton University, where Einstein once worked, came out with statistics on the deaths and injuries that would ensue were India and Pakistan to unleash their nuclear weapons upon each other. The scenario visualized was that were India to bomb Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi- Islamabad, and Faisalabad, and in turn Pakistan were to bomb Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai, the estimated number of deaths in India would be 1.7 million with 900,000 wounded, and in Pakistan 1.2 million deaths and 600,000 injured. These figures are grossly under estimated as they only represent immediate casualties from blasts, fire and radiation. An unknown number of deaths would occur over the future years from cancer. Those immediately killed would be blessed, for the injured and affected would linger on in pain and suffer horribly. Lions and tigers from both sides of the divide have roared and bragged of the damage each is able to inflict upon the other. These fierce and ferocious beasts have no thought, though, for what each of their countries and their peoples have lost through the years of acrimony and rancour and the constant readiness of each to take on the 'traditional enemy' at any moment and vanquish it. India, the larger, the more powerful, the better off, can perhaps stand and exist on its own, but Pakistan, down and out, almost on its knees, with its fickle and feckless allies has little chance of going it alone. Take our great patriot and two-times failed prime minister, once the toast of the towns around the world, who is now writing in the Indian press, drawing parallels, and inciting the Pakistan army to rid itself of General Pervez Musharraf, in the same manner as the Pakistan army, at the closing of 1971, rid itself of General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, thus enabling her illustrious father, democrat and patriot Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, to take over the reins of government, save what was left of the country, and lead it on to glory. Daughter Benazir is now ready, more than ready, to do for and unto us as did her father upon whose name she continues to trade. What does go in Pakistan's favour is that our President General is willing to talk and talk, and go on talking, whereas the man on the other side, without making any allowances for the constraints and restraints our general faces, wishes no more talking and demands only action in the form of the delivery of promises made. At this stage it may be a bit late to say so, but the sane can only repeat and repeat that the Kashmir issue, as far as this broken country is concerned, must be put on the backburner. The leaders, political and military, surely realize (though they dare not publicly and openly admit it) that Pakistan is not capable of fighting a war and winning both it and Kashmir. Before more harm comes upon us, this issue must be relegated to its rightful place in the Pakistani scheme of things. Let it simmer, let it not boil. Let it wait for circumstances to change and perhaps one day improve in our favour. Long, long ago the subcontinent had other types of men such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who, after the immediate horrors of partition, were able to impose some sort of sanity upon the relationship between the two new-born countries. We who were in Karachi in 1948, whilst Jinnah was still with us, well remember the incident concerning the large bronze statue of Gandhi which since 1931 had stood on the roundabout in front of the High Court of Sindh. In January of that year, Karachi, unusually, experienced a round of Hindu-Muslim riots resulting in a heavy exodus of Hindus from the city and much grabbing of abandoned properties. One day, during the course of the riots, whilst Jinnah was driving by the High Court, he noticed Gandhi's statue and fearing for its safety asked his secretary, S.M. Yusuf, to see to it that the statue was removed to some safe place until the situation reverted to normal. Yusuf, in the inflamed situation, thought it best to bring in a neutral and contacted Jamshed Nusserwanjee, a Parsi, and sought his help. Jamshed rounded up and organized the old boys of the BVS Parsi school, and provided them with tools and a lorry. In the hours of darkness, we went off and removed Gandhi from his plinth and took him to my father's house on Belgrave Terrace and installed him temporarily in one of the garages whilst we contacted the Indian high commissioner to ask him to come to Gandhi's rescue. Discretion being his better part of valour in those disturbed days, he would have nothing to do with it all. The statue was then taken to the BVS and hidden behind a heap of logs in the carpentry class. Much later, after things had calmed down and the Indians had built their high commission on Bonus Road (renamed Fatima Jinnah Road), the then Indian high commissioner gladly took the statue and Gandhi was installed in the foyer of his chancery. Gandhi remained in the building when it was converted into a consulate, the high commission having moved to Islamabad, and he was finally taken to the capital in 1988 where he now stands in the foyer of the Indian high commission, designed to accommodate the bronzed MKG. This present madness cannot continue for ever. Neighbours we are and neighbours we will remain. We have to learn somehow to coexist. The French and the Germans, diverse as they are, traditional enemies as they were, since 1945 have decided to march together after having fought each other for well over half a century. Are we two nations not civilized enough to follow suit? Must both sides behave as if the leaders and the led have just slid down from their respective trees? DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020531 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank God, no more running ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ayaz Amir When we signed up for loyal service with the Americans last September -- a month evil for Pakistan as much as for the United States--we prided ourselves on our cleverness, thinking we had outsmarted India and assured our security. As our American friends (friends?) pile up the pressure on us and talk sweetly to India nothing looks more foolish than those happy assumptions. Our present troubles too are largely traceable to that period for the stance we adopted in September led us, willy-nilly, to turn meltdown-under-pressure into an art form. Our weakness has encouraged Indian truculence and even inspired a geriatric prime minister to flights of poetry at our expense. One day he threatens Pakistan with decisive war. The next day he says, "...the sky is clear. But sometimes lightening can strike even when the sky is clear." Pakistan has been through hard times before but seldom has it had to put up with so much patronizing. Thank God then for belated wisdom. To judge by Gen Musharraf's address on Monday evening our retreat has ended. The message delivered was simple: no blowing the bugles of war but no succumbing to Indian threats. If war was imposed on us we would give a befitting response. Much too late these words of resolve but better late than never. No one in Pakistan wants war. Certainly not in this heat. But there is no great appetite for being pushed around either. It is hard to say what ordinary Pakistanis are sick of more: India's superior attitude or the wilting-under-pressure of their ruling generals. Is it for this, they ask, that they maintain such a large army? India and the world must understand one thing. The Pakistani nation is capable of great foolishness. It can endure a lot but it will not take kindly to Indian threats. That simply is not in its chemistry. Peaceniks and western interlocutors reading lectures to Pakistan about doing more to meet Indian demands should feed this into their computers. To what a pass have we been brought by knocking knees. We are being spoken to in the language reserved for Arafat. Just as the onus for everything in the occupied territories is on the Palestinians, none on the Israelis, the onus for preserving the peace in the subcontinent is on Pakistan. We must satisfy Indian concerns. This is what our western friends are telling us. India is under no obligation to solve the mess it has created for itself in Kashmir. Is it Pakistan's fault that India has had a revolt on its hands in Kashmir since 1989? Pakistan took advantage of this situation but did not invent or manufacture it, an undertaking beyond its powers. That achievement was India's alone. For full 17 years after the signing of the Shimla Agreement India had the chance, the historic chance, to win over the Kashmiri people and soften their bitterness towards Indian rule. If India could not do this, if it still cannot do it, how is Pakistan to blame? None of this justifies "cross-border infiltration", the bogey with which Pakistan is being hammered these days. But it also does not justify India's self-righteousness. If in Kashmir the only problem was cross-border infiltration, the Kashmir revolt would have died a long time ago. The real problem there is the alienation of the Kashmiri people. When next moved to poetry Mr Vajpayee should try looking at this problem. Agreed, Pakistan's cause has been ill-served by its military rulers. Convinced of their infallibility, they have made a mess of so many things. On the diplomatic front we stand isolated. The American embrace has had fatal consequences, making Pakistan more susceptible to external pressure. Long ago, before misery overtook Afghanistan, we used to speak of an Afghan-Indian nutcracker. We now face an American-Indian nutcracker. Such have been the wages of military innocence. But enough of wailing. The spirit of Vichy will get us nowhere. This is the time to discover some backbone, not to flog despair. For better or worse, the Marshal Stalin in charge of the nation's destiny in this grim hour is Gen Musharraf. However much we may dislike the face of military rule, behind him at this juncture the nation has to rally. To our political quarrels we can return when all this is over. Some good has already come from this crisis. Shedding some of his arrogance, Gen Musharraf has apologized, albeit partially, for the absurdities of his referendum. He has also renewed his invitation to those political parties, representing the national mainstream, which had earlier refused to meet him. Whatever their reservations, these parties should now come forward and meet the general. The last thing we can afford at this juncture is the picture of a divided nation. To be sure, Gen Musharraf can also do more for national unity. He can, for instance, avoid any talk of amending the Constitution or setting up a national security council as long as the standoff with India lasts. These theories represent the ugly side of military rule and should be kept to one side for the time being. Who knows wisdom may prevail and we are rid of them altogether when we come out of this crisis. The general must also look a bit to his rhetoric. In times such as these, words should be measured carefully. It is no good saying as he did in Azad Kashmir the other day that Pakistan would unleash a 'storm' if India crossed the Line of Control. If India crosses the LoC we should be looking to giving it a bloody nose and throwing its forces back. This should suffice. Poetic imagery we can leave to Mr Vajpayee. When Philip of Macedon (Alexander's father) threatened the people of Sparta with the message, "If I enter Laconia (the old name for Sparta and from whence comes the word laconic), you shall be exterminated", they wrote back the one word "If". They did not speak of unleashing storms. After Hitler's war on Poland in 1939, Stalin tried to emulate Hitler's example by attacking Finland. Eventually, through sheer weight of numbers, the Red Army prevailed but not before the Finnish army, under Marshal Mannerheim, had given it a bloody nose. In 1979 China attacked Vietnam hoping to teach it a lesson. The People's Liberation Army too got a very bloody nose. We should be studying these examples carefully while leaving storms and tempests, and the underlying threat of nuclear war, alone. So far events have conspired to put the squeeze on Pakistan, obliging Pakistan to make a virtue of conciliation. But with Pakistan finally saying thus far and no more, the heat shifts to India as it considers the dilemma confronting it: make good on its threats or back off from its rhetoric. It's a tough corner India has boxed itself into. Louder than the threat of war, however, is the sound of subcontinental irony. For long Pakistan was the belligerent power in the subcontinent, its people subscribing to the belief that one Muslim was equal in combat to ten Hindus. In the order of battle for the 1965 war it was actually put down in black and white that as a rule Hindu morale cracked under a few sharp blows. We have learned our lessons in realism the hard way. As war-talk grips India, it seems as if India is now travelling down the same road. If we hold our nerves and do not panic, and Gen Musharraf resists the temptation of another flip-flop (a crucial precondition), we should be all right. Going to war is more difficult than holding out the threat of war. Meanwhile let us also account for another problem. The chatter of war and punishment flows easiest and sounds loudest in war and map rooms made comfortable by air-conditioning. If it were up to the soldiers on the front or the villagers who have fled their homes on both sides of the border, we might not be living through these crazy times. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020526 ------------------------------------------------------------------- A conflict neither side can win ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Irfan Husain As Pakistan and India drift once more towards armed conflict, it is clear their leaders continue to refuse to heed either the lessons of history or the needs of their own people. The war hysteria being generated in India over the last few months is now reaching fever pitch. Combined with the flak the BJP has been taking over the Gujarat programs and its electoral setbacks in recent state elections, there is a certain internal compulsion dictating a bellicose policy towards Pakistan. Much of the Indian media echoes and supports this stance, so it is difficult to see how we can escape some kind of armed action. If the recent killings in an army camp in Srinagar don't trigger it, some other atrocity like Abdul Ghani Lone's murder probably will. In all likelihood, action will be in the form of a limited bombing attack or an incursion into Azad Kashmir, based on the calculation that Pakistan will not widen the conflict and cross the international border. Don't bet on it: this is the same mistake Ayub Khan made in 1965 when he initiated a limited attack in Kashmir and was then shocked to find Indian forces knocking at Lahore's door. The fact is that if India does cross the Line of Control in Kashmir, there will be enormous pressure on Musharraf to retaliate at a time and place of their own choosing. And the riposte will not be long delayed because of the rage in the streets. When will nuclear forces enter the equation is the 64 million dollar question. For the present, one important factor staying India's hand is the presence of American forces in the area: Washington does not want them or their operations against Al Qaeda jeopardized. Once hostilities break out, there is no telling how quickly they will spin out of control. To a large extent, the American military presence in and near Pakistan has been a blessing in disguise. When Islamabad claims that the attacks initiated by separatist militants are not its responsibility, it is only partly right. These jihadi organizations operate with a great deal of autonomy. But having said that, it cannot be denied that they are supported and sustained by private outfits here in Pakistan, and they receive more than a wink and a nod from officialdom. Until recently, they were openly collecting contributions, and even when they were officially banned by the government in January, they swiftly moved into Azad Kashmir which is under complete Pakistani control. Just to jog readers' memories, two out of three of Pakistan's wars were fought when the army was in charge, and the first one in 1948 mercifully remained confined to Kashmir. In the other two conflicts, the military rulers of the day were deeply embroiled in political crises: Ayub Khan may have won the shady, indirect election of 1964 against Miss Fatima Jinnah, but his legitimacy was suspect; Yahya Khan and his junta were overwhelmed by the results of the 1971 elections and sought a hamhanded military solution to a deep-rooted, multi-dimensional predicament. Now, the rigged referendum has again brought about a convergence of confrontation with India and an internal political crisis in which Gen Musharraf's moral authority to rule has been severely dented. The contradiction is compounded by the military rulers' compulsion to keep the two major political parties out of the reckoning while it tries to cobble together a facade of national unity with a ragtag collection of nonentities. In a sense, Musharraf and his advisers have painted themselves into a corner. In this crisis, Pakistan finds itself friendless: the Americans are trying to quieten things down for their own interests. But there are no ringing expressions of solidarity from our traditional friends like China, Iran and Turkey. The Arabs want to stay on India's right side. While many countries have appealed for sanity and restraint, nobody has leapt to Pakistan's defence or condemned India's bellicosity. It should be obvious that this is a conflict Pakistan cannot win, but a victory for India will be a pyrrhic one: the insurgency in Kashmir will certainly not stop. And if Gen Musharraf is unseated, those who follow him will probably not even make a pretence of reining in the jihadis. A destabilized Pakistan will be very volatile and a danger to the entire region. It goes without saying that if the conflict escalates into a nuclear exchange, neither side will win. Apart from wanting to crush the insurgency in Kashmir, what are India's goals in turning on the heat? Clearly, it is cashing in on the 'war against terror': the killing in Kashmir has been going on for over a decade without Indian forces being mobilized along the international border. Indian politicians talk incessantly of their desire to 'teach Pakistan a lesson.' But a lesson in what? A war, even a limited one, in which Pakistan is the loser will only give Islamabad greater incentive for sending in more militants. Unfortunately, the real lessons for both sides are being lost under the clouds of hype and hysteria issuing from the two capitals. Pakistan has to accept, once and for all, that it cannot force a decision on Kashmir. It has neither the political nor the military clout to dictate its terms. Every year, the military equation shifts implacably against us. Currently, India has an eight billion dollar arms acquisition program. In diplomatic terms, we are isolated on this issue as never before: even our closest friends insist that Pakistan open talks with our adversary. But this is something Islamabad has been demanding for months, and it is India that has consistently refused a dialogue. This is an incomprehensible position, at par with the Indian decision not to permit the two countries to play cricket against each other while they do play other sports. Since India is insisting that Pakistan is responsible for terrorist attacks in Kashmir and elsewhere, while Islamabad consistently denies it, why can't the chiefs of the intelligence services of the two countries sit together and exchange information? Surely talking is better than this insane sabre-rattling that is jangling nerves and causing massive losses in investor confidence as well as the stock markets of both countries. As the far larger and more powerful country, one has always felt that India can take unilateral steps to defuse tensions without compromising its security in a way that Pakistan can't. Unfortunately, Indian leaders have become hostage to their own rhetoric, and seem bent on seeking cheap popularity through their belligerent stand. Pakistan, on the other hand, is a prisoner of past policies it lacks the political will to change. Despite Gen Musharraf's January speech aimed at reassuring the West and defusing tensions with India, the perception is that he has not quite delivered on his promise to put the jihadi jinn back into the bottle that had been uncorked by his predecessor, Ziaul Haq. Both governments need to show some maturity and a modicum of concern for their people and step back from the brink before it is too late. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020601 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Giving peace a chance ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Irfan Husain Normally, when heads of state make a televised statement to their nation, it is because they have something to say. I'm afraid Gen Musharraf's speech last Monday was devoid of anything new, but by raising expectations he disappointed his vast audience around the world. To be accurate, he did give dates for national and provincial elections, but this task could have been accomplished by the chief election commissioner. However, given the severe erosion of credibility this worthy has suffered after supervising the recent rigged referendum, it is probable that not many people would have believed him. Indeed, after Musharraf's admission that the exercise was partly tainted, many others in the chief election commissioner's place would have resigned, but far too few of our judges have demonstrated this kind of principled behavior in the past. But as to the rest of his speech, one fails to see why it had to be made at all: Pakistan's official position has always been that it does not condone or permit militants to cross the Line of Control; that we will not start hostilities, but if war is thrust on us, we will defend our country. What was the point in repeating the obvious? Many of us had hoped that President Musharraf would try and defuse the situation by promising tougher action against the jihadis. Indeed, this would be no new concession but only a reiteration of the pledge he made in January. However, by releasing most of the 2,000 members of various extremist groups arrested earlier this year, he had indicated a softening of his earlier commitment, something the world community as well as most Pakistanis had viewed with dismay and disappointment. Let us be clear that action to eliminate extremism from Pakistan is in our best interest, and not something the government should do to placate India or the United States. If terrorists are striking at Indian targets, they are doing the same right here in Pakistan: the killing of French engineers, an American journalist and foreign churchgoers in Islamabad is linked to the same people who are slaying civilians in Indian-held Kashmir. The faces of the killers and the names of their outfits may be different, but their mindset and motivation are identical. Why did Gen Musharraf feel he had to match Vajpayee's sabre- rattling? Testing missiles at this juncture of heightened tension hardly raises our security. Granted that India conducted similar tests soon after it mobilized its forces earlier this year, but why do we have to mimic our neighbor�s bellicose stance? It is now four years since we conducted our nuclear tests. Are we more secure as a result? One of the reasons Musharraf cited for immediately agreeing to join the anti-terrorist coalition was to protect our 'nuclear assets'. Hello? one thought they were supposed to be protecting us! But on a more serious note, what would have happened had we not responded to India's earlier series of tests? I put this question recently to a distinguished ex-ambassador and he replied that India would then have gone around the world saying we did not in fact have a nuclear device. So? To this day, Israel publicly denies having a nuclear arsenal but nobody doubts its capability in the field, and yet it has attracted no sanctions or general condemnation. Had we not tested, we would have occupied the moral high ground, apart from reaping considerable financial benefits instead of getting sanctioned to the eyeballs. The truth is that we have become so used to trying to match India that it is now a knee-jerk reaction with our policy-makers. Indeed, soon after the hugely successful film 'Gandhi' was produced by Sir Richard Attenborough nearly 20 years ago, the government of the day began planning a movie on Jinnah. This was finally produced after much wrangling, and I'm afraid that artistically, it was a disaster. Fortunately for Mr Jinnah and for Pakistan, the producers could get nobody to distribute it abroad and the film has been mothballed after being shown on PTV. We seem not to have grown up to the point of accepting that India is a far bigger country, and its name and image have an international resonance that ours does not. Pakistan, as a relatively new country, has still to settle on an identity and determine its place in the world. This cannot be done through simultaneously denying our South Asian roots as well as trying to match India in everything. Above all, we are in denial about the military and economic disparity between the two countries. Even educated Pakistanis insist they are not willing to accept Indian 'hegemony'. But what does this mean? Some people seriously think that India is interested in the break-up of Pakistan. But even the most hawkish Indian probably realizes that such a scenario would cause enormous problems for India and the entire region. The last thing India could possibly want is millions of more Muslims within its borders. Then there are those Pakistanis who genuinely believe that without Kashmir, Pakistan would be dependent on India for water. But we have existed for 55 years without Kashmir, and our agriculture has grown steadily despite the population explosion we have experienced. After my column last week, I have received several e-mails from jingoist Indians and Pakistanis suggesting that nuclear weapons be used against each other sooner rather than later. Mercifully, I have also got a lot of mail from pacifists on both sides who are basically saying "a plague on both their houses." Contrary to popular wisdom, nuclear capability seems to have made the subcontinent a more dangerous place as its deterrence value appears to be encouraging adventurism on both sides. Despite Gen Musharraf's assurance that Pakistan is not exporting extremism to Kashmir or any other country, many world leaders, including Bush, Blair and Chirac, disagree, and all of them have urged restraint on Pakistan. It should be possible to establish whether cross-border infiltration is taking place by patrolling the LoC. India has rejected neutral patrolling, but an Indian reader has suggested joint patrols by Indian and Pakistani troops. So what's wrong with this idea? Why can't the military commanders sit down and work out the modalities for its implementation? Given a modicum of goodwill, tension can be lowered, and eventually, the two countries can return to serious negotiations. But with the current level of insanity and macho swaggering on both sides, it seems that we are doomed to helplessly drift from one crisis to another until somebody finally pulls the trigger. Surely Kashmir is not worth a nuclear holocaust.
SPORTS 20020528 ------------------------------------------------------------------- FST admits Jehangir Khan's plea against PIA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 27: The Federal Service Tribunal admitted a petition of the ten-time winner of British Open and six-time holder of world squash championship, the legendary Jehangir Khan, who had challenged his sacking by the management of PIA, apparently, on the pretext of austerity. When Khan's petition, filed through Khwaja Shamsul Islam, came up before a bench comprising Akbar Memon and Barkat Ali Baloch, members of the FST, they held that the points raised by the appellant required consideration and put the PIA on notice for Dec 16, by which time the airline was asked to submit comments. The living legend of squash had approached the FST on the ground that the order to send him on compulsory retirement was illegal and violative of fundamental rights. It was contention of the appellant's counsel that the respondent's premise was mala fide as it had hired many people, including retired army officer, with lots of fringe benefits. If austerity compelled the airline to dispense with the services of Jehangir Khan, whose image was also used by the airline for promotional purposes, then how could the PIA management hire more people, he argued. It was his contention that decision of the Board of Directors and the Admin order 40&41 and the Mandatory Early Retirement Scheme were without lawful authority and in contravention of the Pakistan International Airline Corporation Act of 1956. The orders of compulsory retirement were also opposed to the principle of natural justice inasmuch as no show-cause notice or opportunity of hearing was provided to the appellant before passing the impugned order which was also a blatant violation of settled law in this regard as also of article 3 of the PIAC (Suspension of Trade Unions and Existing Agreements) Order 2001, which was circulated by the General Manager Human Resources of the respondent. The impugned scheme, he contended, was being implemented in a highly discriminatory manner, claiming that Khursheed Anwar, Chief Operating Officer, who was nearly 65 years of age had been recalled from retirement. * Five positions of general managers had been reintroduced at foreign and domestic stations without any consideration of increasing manpower costs. * Two new directors were introduced which had resulted in immense increase in expenses at the senior management level. * Certain operating captains had been accommodated in ground jobs as general managers. The contention of the appellant of having been seriously discriminated against was further fortified from the following cases, which also established beyond any doubt the mala fide of the respondent No 1: 1. Mr. Rasheed-ul-Hassan, (Director Manager Customer Service Department) who is now functioning as Director Flight Service despite falling in the age and/or Length of service limits prescribed by the Scheme. 2. Azeem Zafar, (General Manager Customer Service Department) who was even without a port folio (OSD) at the time of the appellant's retirement is now adjusted as General Manager - Air Port Hotel, despite following in the age and length of service limits. 3. Farooq Shah (Director Marketing) both junior to the appellant with less qualification and experience falling in the age and/or length of service limits is not retired which also goes against the principle "last come, first go." 4. Wasim Bari (Director Cargo) both junior to the appellant with less qualification and experience falling in the age and/or length of service limits is not retired which also goes against the principle "last come, first go." While setting aside the above orders, order for the reinstatement of the appellant to the post he was holding at the time of passing the impugned order should be passed. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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