Epaper_22-10-18 ISB

Announce polls or get reAdy to fAce long

ImrAn tells shArIf

formerprime minister Imran Khan on monday said the nation had rejected the ‘imported government’ and reiterated his call for early elections, saying the government is being given ‘some more time’ before he gives the final date for the party’s long march.

“I am giving them (government) some more time for the sake of the country and I repeat that they still have time to announce elections,” said the PTI chief.

“If they do not, I will begin my march as the preparations are almost complete,” said Imran as he addressed the media in Islamabad a day

after almost clean-sweeping by-polls on eight NA seats.

He also claimed that the recent audio leaks proved that the election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) was in cahoots with Pakistan muslim League-N (PmL-N) to plan these elections.

“The audio leaks have also proven that the chief election commissioner Sikandar Sultan is a key player of PmL-N.”

However, he added, through the public’s unwavering support, his party was able to defeat their combined candidates.

“eCP and PmL-N had planned to schedule these by-polls in constituencies where they thought their combined vote bank was double the size of PTI’s,” he said.

Imran said that despite the hurdles

that were created by rescheduling the elections, they were able to defeat the combined candidates.

Touching upon the National Assembly seat the party lost in Karachi’s malir district, Imran accused the PPP of rigging the election. “I have complete evidence of PPP rigging the elections like they always do in Sindh,” he said.

He went on to claim that the election commissioner was on the payroll of the Sindh government, an issue for which they had already approached the Supreme Judicial Council, but the ‘case was not being heard’.

The PTI chief went on to term the by-polls a ‘public referendum’, saying the nation wants “immediate elections as it has rejected this imported government”.

PM Shehbaz directs steps for water discharge from flood-hit areas

Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on monday visited flood-hit areas in Balochistan and directed urgent steps for the discharge of floodwater to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases.

The Pm visited the flood-hit areas of Sohbatpur as he arrived in district Khuzdar on a day-long visit to review the arrangements for relief and rehabilitation. He took an aerial view of the inundated areas of Balochistan and Sindh.

The Pm proposed taking on board the water engineers and hydrologists to recommend suggestions in line with the postflood studies.

Pm Shehbaz feared that epidemics and communicable diseases could become a big challenge if the water took months to recede.

He directed to ensure the

availability of drinking water among the flood-affected people. He mentioned that rs five billion had been disbursed among the flood victims of Balochistan under the Benazir Income Support Programme, as each household was given rs 25,000 to meet their needs.

The prime minister said to facilitate the flood-struck population, the government had exempt charging of 300 units in electricity bills during August and

September. Pm Shehbaz also interacted with patients at a medical camp set up for flood victims and inquired the staff about the availability of medicine including the anti-malaria vaccine.

He mingled with the students at a makeshift school and assured them that the government would construct a model school for them in two months equipped with modern facilities.

The Chief Secretary Balochistan briefed the prime minister about the ongoing relief and rehabilitation activities carried out in the flood-hit areas of the province.

He said heavy machinery was at work in five districts of Balochistan to rebuild infrastructure and clear pathways damaged by floods. It was told that regular sprays were being carried out to contain any possibility of epidemics in the flood-affected areas.

US ‘confident’ of Pakistan’s ability to secure nukes after Biden uproar

The United States said monday that it had confidence in Pakistan’s ability to control its nu-

clear arsenal after President Joe Biden expressed alarm, leading Islamabad to summon the US ambassador.

“The United States is confident of Pakistan’s commitment

and its ability to secure its nuclear assets,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. “The US has always viewed a secure and prosperous Pakistan as critical to US interests and, more broadly, the US values our long-standing cooperation with Pakistan,” he said.

Biden made the off-the-cuff remarks on Pakistan’s nuclear programme Thursday while at a private Democratic Party fundraiser in California where he began to discuss challenges facing President Xi Jinping of China, a close ally of Pakistan.

“And what I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion,” Biden said, according to a White House transcript.

The PTI chairman also vowed to raise the issue of violence being inflicted upon PTI Senator Azam Swati by filing a petition in the Supreme Court.

He added that special sessions will also be called in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies to highlight the issue while the party will also take the

matter to international organisations, including the United Nations and the european Union.

reiterating his demand for fair polls, Imran said it was the only way for the country to attain political and economic stability.

LACK oF IP ProTeCTIoN HAMPerINg ForeIgN INveSTMeNT

ASthe Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan has been functioning without a chief and functioning policy board for over a year, Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has shown serious concerns over the violation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) which according to the chamber is hampering foreign investment in the country.

OICCI, which is the collective body of over two hundred foreign investors, has conducted a survey through which it has revealed that the only government body of ensuring protection of IPRs is without head for over a year.

As per the results of OICCI IPR Survey

2022, the chamber has expressed concern that IPR enforcement is lukewarm, and is not top of the agenda of key stakeholders including the government authorities.

The chamber has recommended substantial increase in penalties for IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) violations to attract FDI in high value research-based products and services in Pakistan.

The Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO) the regulatory body for IPR is without a Chairman since May 2021, and there has not been any significant action taken to strengthen the IPR Tribunals, especially in Karachi. IPR violations have caused the government significant revenue loss besides endangering the life and well-being of the public exposed to counterfeit products including medicine.

Interestingly, the survey has not mentioned the absence (non-functioning) of the policy board of IPO, of which a member is also included from OICCI. The policy board, according to sources, has also been dysfunctional for over a year.

As per the survey the research based foreign pharmaceutical companies based in Pakistan are quite concerned that there is no linkage between Patent Law and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Product Registration, who continue to issue registrations to companies infringing patents, forcing the patent holders to approach court for protection of IPR at a heavy cost.

Lengthy processing timelines for granting IP rights, complicated procedure for registration and long drawn judicial procedure for the protection of IP rights are

the key issues highlighted in the OICCI IPR Survey 2022. More than 50% of the respondents believe that Trademarks and Copyrights get registered in 1 – 3 years whereas 53% of the respondent (vs 46% in previous survey) reported that it takes more than 3 years to resolve an IPR dispute.

While the majority of the members expressed that IPR tribunals are functional in major cities, excluding Karachi, yet 32% believe there is no improvement in the protection of IP rights and enforcement of IP laws. OICCI members, however, have appreciated the increasing focus of the Custom IPR Wing at Karachi Port for closely monitoring the import of counterfeit products.

However, an official at IPO claimed that the OICCI survey lacks much information about performance of the

Govt transfers compensation amount to NDMA for payment to flood victims: NA told

Swati arrest: PTI lawmakers stage sit-in in Senate chairman’s office

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senators on Monday staged a sit-in in the office of the Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani over the non-release of Azam Swati’s production order. PTI senators accused the Senate chairman of bias and shouted slogans against him. Leader of Opposition Shahzad Wasim led the sit-in against the Senate chief. Senator Faisal Javed said Sadiq is siding with the government while the latter told him that he was in Karachi to see his ailing father. To a question by the senator, Sadiq said: “I’m the chairman of the house. Faisal Javed made a complaint to the senate chairman for not giving the floor to the leader of the opposition. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested senior PTI leader and former federal minister, Senator Azam Swati, last week. Swati was taken into custody by the FIA personnel from Chak Shahzad during a late-night raid. Reportedly, Swati was arrested in connection with money laundering and foreign funding case. The FIA nominated 11 party office-bearers, including PTI chairman Imran Khan, in the foreign funding case. The FIA wasted no time and produced Azam Swati before the district and sessions court in Islamabad and sought seven-day physical remand of the former minister. However, Senior Civil Judge Shabbir Bhatti approved physical remand of Swati for two days. Babar Awan, Sardar Masroof Khan and Qaisar Jadoon represented Azam Swati in the court and the judge was told that the former minister was arrested only on political grounds.

PM appoints PAC chairman Noor Alam Khan as Federal Minister

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif appointed Chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Noor Alam Khan as Federal Minister. According to details, the notification was issued after the approval of the Prime Minister. Noor Alam Khan was given the status of a Federal Minister as Chairman Public Accounts Committee and decision will be effective from October 14, 2022.

The Federal Government had transferred compensation amount to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for onward payment to the heirs of 1717 people, died in the recent floods, the National Assembly was informed on Monday.

Speaking on the floor of the Lower House, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi said the

Federal Government had announced Rs 1 million compensation amount, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directions in this regard.

However, the amount would be disbursed among those who met the criteria, set for the payment. “The Federal Government would not delay the payment to the affected families” he added. The Minister said that for the first time, the government had made the payment within fifteen days to the affected families.

Abbasi said that a joint survey would be conducted

ECC approves Rs 17 billion grant to finance parliamentarians schemes

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a Rs 17 billion grant to finance parliamentarians schemes.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar virtually presided over the meeting of the ECC of the Cabinet.

The Cabinet division informed the ECC that the federal government is running a community based “sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programs (SAP) in line with the UN conventions to achieve the SDGs, addressing the urban/rural infrastructure and social development constraints across the country.

A steering committee on SAP had also been notified on June 13, 2022 with the approval of the federal cabinet.

It is pertinent to note that the government has allocated Rs70 billion under SDG in budget 2022-23 and these funds will be released on the recommendations of SAP steering committee to the concerned federal ministries/divisions and provincial governments for execution of development schemes as per guidelines approved by cabinet.

Sources said that committee on October 12, 2022 discussed that there were a number of schemes of the deprived areas yet to be finalized under the SAP and there were requirements of additional allocation of funds. Federal planning minister informed that the additional funds to the tune of Rs17 billion could be arranged by the committee and the steering committee directed the planning commission to surrender Rs1 billion for 2022-23 in favour of cabinet division to finance schemes of areas deprived so far.

Subsequently, the ECC approved additional funds as TSG amounting to Rs 17 billion during current financial year 2022-23 under the SAP to finance the urban/rural infrastructure and social development schemes for areas deprived so far across the country.

Rs 3.2 billion gRant foR pRocuRement and distRibution of wheat seed: Meanwhile, the ECC also approved a Technical supplementary Grant of Rs 3.2 billion in favour of MNFS&R and subsequent transfer to NDMA for procurement and distribution of wheat seed to support flood affected farmers in view of the heavy damages to the Agriculture sector.

Additional funds to the tune of Rs. 3.4 billion will also be made available to the Ministry of National Food Security & research subsequently. 50% of funds would be provided by the Federal Government and 50% by provincial governments, according to the Finance ministry. 7th population and housing census: Besides, the ECC deferred the summary of M/o PD&SI for conduct of the 7th Population and Housing Census.

It is pertinent to note that the Council of common Interests (CCI) in its meeting approved the final results of 6 population and Housing census 2017 and the CCI also decided that the process of the next census should start as early as possible according to international best practices by using the latest technology.

In compliance of the said decision of CCI, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics started preparatory work to conduct first ever digital population and housing census and minister for planning constituted a census advisory committee comprising of renowned demographers and experts to devise recommendations for adoption of international best practices by using latest technology for the 7th population and housing census. The committee recommended to carry out the census “digitally” with real time monitoring and geo-tagging of all structures at block level. The activities for conducting the 7th population and housing census are in full swing and the pilot census has been completed on August 3, 2022. Sources said that the department has asked Rs5 billion for conduct of 7th population and housing census.

government body. The OICCI’ survey is usually based on the response of a few companies in Karachi. In fact, he claims, Pakistan has climbed 12 positions in the Global Innovation Index released by WIPO last month. “We are now ranked at 87 globally. We improved 7 positions last year as well. The report makes several positive references to Pakistan,” he added.

“Pakistan has also been removed from USTR priority watch list for consecutive 5th year, which reflects a constant improvement and strict enforcement in IPR compliance,” the official claimed.

It may be added here that the IPO Pakistan, is an important department under the Commerce Ministry and responsible for effective protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) consisting of copyrights, patents and trademarks.

to estimate the damage of the houses in the flood-hit area for the payment.

He said that the federal government had provided all the required assistance to provinces to deal with emergency-like situations.

LHC terms arrest warrant against Sanaullah ‘a joke’

The Lahore High Court (LHC) termed on Monday the non-bailable arrest warrant against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah “a joke” and deemed it illegal. The Rawalpindi bench of the LHC was hearing a petition filed by the interior minister seeking withdrawal of the arrest warrant against him. Last week, the bench had suspended Sanaullah’s arrest warrant issued in an inquiry related to the purchase of plots in a housing society at a “throwaway price”. Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan had also stopped the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) from arresting the minister and raiding his house. The court has sought the case record from ACE by October 17. During the proceedings today, the ACE informed the court that the FIR alleges that “Rana Sanaullah and his wife bought property, but his name is not mentioned”, adding that the reference to the PML-N leader has been made by mentioning him as a “provincial minister”. Dismayed by the information received, the court remarked “there is nothing against Rana Sanaullah, why don’t we send you to jail?”. “There have been thousands of provincial ministers,” the court added. “Explain how this (alleged) corruption became bribe,” the court said, “prove this; pray tell who did Rana Sanaullah bribe? What is the crime?”

“The civil judge issued illegal warrants without looking at the record,” said the judge. “Whether the allocation of plots is correct or not is the issue of the owner,” remarked the court, “you [ACE] tell us where is the corruption?”

“Was the land bought below the District Collector (DC) rate?” questioned the court, noting that in that case a fine could be imposed but would instead be deemed a case of “Sanaullah being cheated” who, as the buyer “should have been protected” by the ACE. “Who is the witness that said Sanaullah had taken a bribe?” inquired the court, warning that if it would not be satisfied by the ACE, then the body’s director would be “sent to jail”. “This is a joke,” the judge remarked, “whoever the institution pleases it deems a criminal and issues an arrest warrant”. The LHC adjourned the hearing till October 28 while ordering the anti-corruption body to appear with “full preparation” and also ordered the interior minister and DG anti-corruption to appear before the court.

IHC gives last chance to FIA for arguments in abuse of power case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted last opportunity to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for arguments in case pertaining to misuse of powers by the agency.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the case. Deputy Attorney General informed the court that the FIA had initiated inquiry against its officials regarding the matter.

The court inquired whether the FIA lawyer had seen the report of deputy commissioner. The chief justice remarked that the agency had been used for political purposes.

The FIA lawyer adopted the stance that currently police and FIA had not been coordinating with each other. He prayed the court to grant some time for arguments.

The court adjourned further hearing of the case till October 28. It may be mentioned that Journalist Mohsin Baig had filed the petition with regard to the powers of the FIA.

IMrAN KHAN rULeS oUT PoSSIBILITy oF MArSHAL

LAw over PTI’S LoNg MArCH

ASformer ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) upped the ante for its much-hyped long march to the federal capital, former prime minister and party chief Imran Khan was asked about his response about possibility of the imposition of martial law as a result of the long march.

He was asked the question by a journalist during his brief interaction with

Swati sent to jail on judicial remand

the media after he was granted interim bail in the prohibited funding case by a court in Islamabad on Monday.

The journalist asked Imran about his reaction if martial law was imposed as a consequence of his long march to the capital. Imran, in his brief reply, said: “Martial law was not imposed when [JUI-F Amir] Fazlur Rehman marched on Islamabad.”

Former premier was also asked several times about his return to the National Assembly after winning Sunday’s byelections, but he did not answer.

Later, while addressing the media, Imran said the nation had rejected the “imported government” and reiterated his call for early elections, saying the government is being given “some more time” before he gives the final date for the party’s long march.

“I am giving them (government) some more time for the sake of the country and I repeat that they still have time to announce elections,” said the PTI chief. “If they do not, I will begin my march as the preparations are almost complete,” said Imran a day after almost clean-sweeping by-polls on eight NA seats.

CM Punjab suspends doctors, SHOs over dead bodies scandal in Nishter Hospital

A local court in Islamabad Monday sent PTI Senator Azam Swati to jail on judicial remand in the controversial tweets case. Swati was presented before senior civil judge Muhammad Shabbir’s court after the expiry of his extended one-day physical remand. During the hearing, Swati’s lawyer Babar Awan told the court that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was praying for the recovery of the tweet sent by Swati. He also claimed before the court that the senator had an injury on one of his fingers and had a fracture as well. On the other hand, the prosecutor requested the court that a three-day physical remand of the senator be approved. But the court rejected the request and instead sent Swati to jail on judicial remand. Before the senator was sent on judicial remand, his lawyer Awan had pleaded to the court to present his client before 1pm as he had to appear before another court. The court had initially turned down Awan’s request but FIA was later asked to present Swati earlier, once his lawyer shared that he had to speak to him. On Sunday, the court further extended the physical remand of the PTI leader Azam Khan Swati for one day.

Pakistani flood victims in worst-hit province return home

More than half of the flood victims in Pakistan’s worst-hit Sindh province have returned to their homes over the past three weeks as the waters there gradually receded, officials said Monday. The announcement came as Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the district of Jaccobabad in Sindh, from where he was traveling to the town of Sohbatput in another flood-stricken province, Baluchistan, his office said. Floodwaters are gradually receding in both provinces and elsewhere in Pakistan, engulfed since mid-June in unprecedented monsoon rains and floods that have killed 1,719 people in the impoverished South Asian country. At one point in August, more than half a million people were living in tents across Pakistan. The disaster management agency in Sindh said currently a little over 200,000 people are living in relief camps in the province, where the floods have affected 12 million people and killed 780. The Indus River, which caused much of the devastation in Sindh, is now at normal levels, though authorities say it will take another two months to completely drain the water. Waterborne diseases and skin infections are spreading in Sindh, where doctors have treated 30,000 people over the past 24 hours, the provincial health department said Monday. Nationwide, the floods have affected 33 million people, damaged over 2 million homes, washed away thousands of kilometers of roads and destroyed 435 bridges.

Three doctors, three employees of Multan’s Nishtar Hospital and two Station House Officers (SHOs) of Punjab Police were suspended on Monday over their alleged negligence in the matter pertaining to the discovery of several putrefied bodies on the health facility’s rooftop.

The action was taken on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi after an initial inquiry report was submitted to him and he was briefed on the matter during a meeting earlier in the day, a statement issued by the CM office said.

The action comes three days after Adviser to the CM Chaudhry Zaman Gujjar constituted a six-member committee to probe the matter following the surfacing of videos of bodies, supposedly abandoned on the rooftop of Nishtar Hospital’s mortuary. The videos were widely shared on social media. Later, the Punjab government also ordered an inquiry into the incident, and the CM sought a report from the health secretary.

An initial inquiry report was submitted to the CM during a meeting he presided over today, in light of which, the province’s chief executive took “strict action”, the statement by the CM office said.

He ordered the suspension of Dr Maryam Ashraf, head of the anatomy department at Nishtar Medical University, as well as that of doctors Abdul Wahab and Seerat Abbas from the hospital. The CM further directed that three other employees of Nishtar Hospital, namely Ghulam Abbas, Muhammad Sajjad Nasir and Abdur Rauf should also be suspended.

He also ordered the suspension of Shah Rukn-eAlam Colony SHO Umar Farooq and Seetal Mari SHO Saeed, the statement said, adding that the CM directed that action under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006 be taken against those responsible for the “negligence”.

“Under no circumstances such treatment of bodies is acceptable,” the statement quoted him as saying. He condemned the incident and noted that in Islam, directives had been laid out for disposing of bodies.

“Dumping the bodies on the rooftop was an inhuman act. Dishonouring the bodies is intolerable,” the CM added. Earlier in the meeting, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid briefed the CM on the inquiry report submitted to him on Monday.

Former federal minister Moonis Elahi, Punjab Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar, Home Department Additional Chief Secretary Captain (retd) Asadullah and others also attended the meeting.

The matter had surfaced last week on Thursday after videos of bodies dumped at Nishtar Hospital’s rooftop were widely shared on social media and Adviser to the CM Chaudhry Zaman Gujjar had visited the hospital and found several putrefied bodies on the rooftop of its mortuary. After the visit, he had ordered the cremation of the bodies and directed the health authorities to take action against the employees involved in the matter.

Additional Chief Secretary retired Capt Saqib Zafar had also directed Specialised Healthcare Secretary Muzamil Bashir to look into the incident. He had also constituted a six-member team to investigate the matter.

Bashir was made the convener of the committee, while its members included Dr Masood Rauf Haraj of Nishtar Medical University, Assistant Professor Anatomy Dr Shafiqullah Chaudhry, Senior Medical Officer Dr Muhammad Arfan Arshad and one representative each from the deputy commissioner and the city police officer of Multan. The committee submitted its report after three days.

Following a massive media uproar, the Punjab government had also sprung into action on Friday and ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, CM Elahi had also taken notice of the matter and sought a report from the health secretary.

Separately, Nishtar Medical University’s vice chancellor had also constituted a three-member committee to investigate the matter. The committee members included Basic Sciences Dean Dr Abbas, associate professor Dr Ghulam Mustafa and campus incharge Dr Tariq Saeed. For his part, CM’s aide Tariq Zaman Gujjar had said he was told the bodies were used by medical students.

Lahore, Karachi on top of most polluted cities on AQI

Lahore ranked first, and Karachi has been second most polluted city on the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Monday.

Pakistan’s two biggest cities have got the dubious distinction of soaring to first and second from the top in the most polluted cities of the world on the air pollution measurement scale.

Lahore was measured to have 187 hazardous particulate matter and Karachi 179 particulate matter, according to the air quality index.

It is to be mentioned here that AQI as high as 151200 is considered unhealthy, while an AQI reading between 201 to 300 is more harmful and AQI over 300 mark is dubbed extremely hazardous.

According to experts, the air becomes heavier in the winter as compared to summer, causing poisonous particles in the atmosphere to move downwards and making the atmosphere polluted. As a result, a layer of

polluted particles, including large amounts of carbon and smoke, covers a city.

The smoke produced by factories and by burning coal, garbage, oil or tyres enters the atmosphere and the effects of this appear at the onset of winter and remain till the season’s end, experts said.

Thus, air pollution reaches extremely dangerous levels in cold weather, severely compromising air quality.

Although southwestern winds blowing from the sea in Karachi may work as a filter for the air, these winds remain mostly suspended during the winter, according to experts.

They noted that winds blowing from the northeast increase the concentration of hidden polluted particles, and a healthy atmosphere in such a situation is subject to rainfall, which washes off all polluted particles.

The AQI calculation is based on five categories of pollution: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

OGRA slashes RLNG price by 2.28pc for October 2022

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Monday reduced Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) on networks of the SNGPL and SSGCL has been slashed by up to 2.28 per cent for the current month of October 2022.

According to OGRA determination, the authority fixed RLNG price for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at $14.7850 per MMBTU and $15.1865 per MMBTU for Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) for October 2022.

According to the details, the authority has decreased the price for the consumers of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) by $2.19 per MMBTU which is 12.92 per cent lower than the RLNG price in September. After the decision to cut RLNG price, the price of imported RLNG has gone down to $14.7850/MMBTU for October.

Similarly, the price for consumers of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) has been reduced by $2.28/MMBTU which is 13.10pc less than the previous month’s notified price. After the reduction, the price of imported RLNG has reduced to $15.1865/MMBTU for the October.

According to OGRA, a total of eight LNG cargoes were imported by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) under two long term contracts with Qatar while Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) procured one LNG cargo during October. The decrease in rates will also reduce the cost of electricity generated from RLNG based power plants during October.

It is pertinent to mention that OGRA determined RLNG price for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at $16.9779 per Million British Thermal Unit (MMBTU) and $17.4762 per MMBTU for Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) for September 2022.

US ‘confident’ of Pakistan’s ability to secure nukes after Biden uproar

ContInueD fRoM page 01

Pakistan — proud to be the only declared nuclear power in the Islamic world — summoned US Ambassador Donald Blome to lodge a protest. Former prime minister and PTI Chief Imran Khan was first to counter Biden’s remark, triggering an uproar on the country’s conventional and social media, compelling the federal government to summon US envoy and hand down a demarche. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also tweeted that Pakistan was a “responsible nuclear state” and that it takes safety measures “with the utmost seriousness.” US officials have long privately voiced alarm about nuclear safety if the political situation changes in Pakistan, whose military and intelligence apparatus has assisted Afghanistan’s Taliban. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that Biden’s remarks should not hurt relations, noting that the president was not speaking at an official function. But BhuttoZardari, who recently visited Washington, called for more interaction, with Biden showing little interest in personally engaging his Pakistani counterparts.

Announce polls or get ready to face long march: Imran tells Sharif

ContInueD fRoM page 01

Imran Khan won six National Assembly seats for PTI in a by-election on Sunday that was seen as a direct contest between the former ruling party and the current ruling coalition, which also grabbed two seats. Out of the eight National Assembly seats previously held by the PTI, Imran contested on seven, while Meher Bano Qureshi was to defend the party’s bastion in Multan. However, PPP made inroads, with Hakeem Baloch winning in Karachi and Ali Musa Gilani in Multan. According to the unofficial results announced by the ECP, Imran won the National Assembly seats from Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Faisalabad and Nankana Sahib in Punjab and the Korangi district of Karachi in Sindh. The PPP won in Multan, Punjab and Malir district of Karachi.

Federal, provInCIal regImes strIvIng to restore normal lIFe In Flood aFFeCted areas oF BaloCHIstan: BIzenjo

BALOCHISTANChief

Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo Monday said that federal and provincial government were utilizing all resources to restore normal life in the flood-affected areas of the province and ensuring the provision of health education and clean drinking water to the victims.

He expressed these views during the briefing given on the occa-

Court summons ETPB over Lal Haveli eviction case

A district and sessions court here on Monday summoned the deputy administrator of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) over an eviction notice to Lal Haveli.

According to details, Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid filed an appeal in the Court to

momentarily abstain the department from dispossessing him of a property adjacent to his Lal Haveli residence.

Earlier, the ETPB had served a notice to Sheikh Rashid directing him to vacate the land and rooms adjacent to his Lal Haveli residence within seven days.

While hearing the case, Additional District and Sessions Judge Khursheed Alam Bhatti asked the ETPB officials to appear before the court on October 18.

Project initiated to supply water from Tarbela Dam to Islamabad: NA told

ISLAMABAD: A project for supplying water from Tarbela Dam Reservoir to Islamabad has been started, State Minister for Interior Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju told the National Assembly on Monday. The State Minister while responding to the supplementary question of Senator Shamim Ara Panhwar said that the project had been assigned to the government owned entity M/s Frontier Works Organization (FWO) on Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) mode as per approval of the Federal Cabinet. Staff RepoRt

sion of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to Suhbatpur in Balochistan.

Balochistan National PartyMengal (BNP-M)’s Chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal, Provincial Minister Mir Muhammad Khan Lahri, Member of Provincial Assembly Mir Saleem Khosa were also present on the occasion.

Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili briefed the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Balochistan about relief activities to flood victims in the areas in detail.

The Chief Minister said that the provincial government had launched a program costing Rs.16 billion to rehabilitate the farmers of the affected areas under which the cultivators would be given subsidy on solar energy, seeds and fertilizers to help them get back on their feet.

Mr. Quddus Bizenjo said that the provincial government had also requested the federal government to support the program in order to ensure relief for flood victims. The Prime Minister announced immediate release of 10 billion rupees for

the program.

The Chief Minister also thanked the Prime Minister for his special interest in the rehabilitation of flood victims of Balochistan and announcing Rs.10 billion on immediate basis.

While appreciating the efforts of the Chief Minister and his team for providing clean drinking water, health and other facilities in the affected districts, the Prime Minister assured the provincial government of all possible support to repair the damage including the agriculture restoration program.

Prohibited funding case: Court disposes of Hamid Zaman bail plea

A sessions court on Monday disposed of a post-arrest bail application filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hamid Zaman in a prohibited funding case, for being withdrawn.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Ghulam Rasool heard the post-arrest bail application filed by the PTI leader.

During the proceedings, Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) investigation officer apprised the court that Section 5 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, had been added in the case as the bankers were also involved in it.

At this, the FIA’s prosecutor pleaded with the court to dismiss the petition as the matter did not fall under its jurisdiction. He submitted that the accused should have approached the appropriate forum, which was banking court.

To which, petitioner’s counsel requested the court to allow withdrawal of the application.

Subsequently, the court disposed of the petition for being withdrawn. Hamid Zaman had submitted that he was arrested in connection with a prohibited funding case. He submitted that all allegations leveled against him were baseless.

He submitted that he had been sent to jail on 14day judicial remand and no recovery had to be made from him. He pleaded with the court to grant postarrest bail to him.

IHC stops police from harassing ex-advocate general

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday stopped the Capital’s police from harassing former advocate general Niazullah Niazi in connection with the expected long march of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and instructed the state counsel to satisfy it regarding the report of Special Branch.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah, while hearing the case, questioned about the nature of lists being prepared by the police. He expressed his displeasure on the way the police was dealing with a former advocate general. Under which law, the police had asked the petitioner to

Imran seeks exemption from hearing in prohibited funding case

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday filed a request with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking a one time exemption from appearance in the prohibited funding case on Tuesday Imran Khan, in his plea, stated that as per the high court’s instructions, he had got interim bail from the court of Special Judge Central, and requested it to grant him exemption from appearance on Tuesday. The Federal Investigation Agency had registered an first information report against Imran Khan and other PTI leaders under the Foreign Exchange Act

IHC seeks list of illegal housing societies

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought details from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding illegal housing societies in the fed eral capital Chief Justice Athar Minallah, hearing the case, directed the CDA to submit the list of illegal housing societies within one day. Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogal adopted the stance that there was no legal hindrance for introducing housing societies on the name of government institutions. He said that the names of departments and ministries could be used for housing societies as per the laws of cooperative housing societies. He, how ever, said that the government servants shouldn’t be part of any housing society

submit surety bonds, he asked, adding the way adopted for obtaining the surety bonds was not as legal.

The chief justice directed the state counsel to satisfy the court regarding the list prepared by the Special Branch in connection with the long march.

During the proceedings, the Islamabad Police presented the report of Special Branch before the court. The state counsel said the list was prepared on the directives of Inspector General of Police, Islamabad and on its basis, the surety bonds were sought from the petitioner.

To a court’s query, a Bani Gala Police Station official adopted the stance that the surety bonds were sought for maintenance of peace in the city. The peti-

Iqbal asKs CDa, RDa to MaKe Plan FoR ConseRvatIon oF wateR

MINISTERfor Planning Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Monday asked Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to make a comprehensive plan for the conservation of water in twin-cities.

“The authorities of twin-cities are responsible to make a comprehensive plan for the conservation of water as with the growing population the water is reducing day by day,” he said while emphasizing the importance of water.

The minister made these remarks while chairing a workshop or-

ganized by the Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives in collaboration with Agernce Française Development (AFD) to show case the institutional and governance models of municipal service delivery in urban cities of Pakistan particularly in twin-cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The workshop was attended by the Member Planning, Capital Development Authority (CDA), Member Environment, representatives of water and sanitation from all the provinces and other relevant stakeholders.

The Ministry is providing a platform for coordination and knowledge sharing among all stakeholders while AFD is extending Technical Assistance on “Assessment of Municipal Services in Islamabad and

vC aIoU inaugurates facilitation center at main campus

Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has set up a Facilitation Center within the campus to resolve student issues under one roof. Moreover a state-of-the-art call center to provide online information to students on call and to answer their queries immediately has also been established. To get online information, students can call the university at 051-111-11-2468. The Vice-Chancellor, AIOU, Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum inaugurated the Facilitation and Call Center yesterday. Registrar AIOU, Raja Umar Yunis and Principal Officers were present on the occasion. Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum said that students are our assets and providing them best facilities has been a priority since the beginning. He said that after the digitization of the university, the establishment of a facilitation and call center was his dream. He directed the staff of both centers to facilitate the students in a professional manner. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum added that the problems of the students coming to the university should be solved on the same day from the Facilitation Center. Dr. Zia directed Atif Farooq Solangi, Incharge facilitation center, to send daily reports to the principal officers and weekly reports to VC office. He further said that his next goal for the academic development of the university is content development, which will be started in a few weeks. The Vice Chancellor had a detailed visit to the facilitation center and reviewed the facilities provided in the center. Facilitation Center has 3 counters for student advisory, one counter each for workshops/tutors, admission, examination, fee matters, and book information. The center has a seating capacity of 130 students at a time. The center will provide information and resolve issues on a first-come-first-served basis.

Children discuss seerat-un-nabi

A Seerat Conference for children on the theme: “Elegant manners of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)” comprised of recitation of verses from the holy Qur’an, hamd, mehfil-i-na’at, rasm-i-bismillah and speeches, was held on Sunday at PECHS Community Centre Karachi, under the auspices of Hamdard Naunehal Assembly (HNA). Renowned Industrialist and a member of Shura Hamdard, Naushaba Khalil Sattar was invited as a guest speaker in the congregation. Ms. Sadia Rashid, President (HNA), presided over the event. Naushaba Khalil Sattar, in her keynote address, admonished the youth of the country to imbibe the spirit of love, patience, tolerance and perseverance which are deep spiritual virtues that the holy Prophet (PBUH) exemplified; adding that doing so would guarantee inner peace and success in both worlds.She further said that Prophet Muhammad was known to have a pleasant and friendly countenance.

He was a paradigm of excellent manners with flawless character, which no one else comprehensively possessed. The best way to express love, loyalty and respect for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) should be measured by the extent to which the message of Islam codified in his entire life is imbibed and practiced by his followers.

Proposing a viable institutional solution.

The minister said that unfortunately, there was no mechanism to

stop the wastage of water.

“In next couple of years, water shortage will be a biggest issue and there is a dire need of hour to take

Lahore’s master plan 2050 approved

Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Monday approved Lahore’s master plan-2050 and also consented to a one-window operation facility for expatriate Pakistanis in LDA’s housing schemes while chairing LDA governing body meeting.

Now, overseas Pakistanis would be able to purchase plots from LDA in one day as the plot’s transfer facility would be provided to them on the same day. Consultant Master Planning David gave a detailed briefing on Lahore Master Plan-2050.

Economic development, regional strategy and other issues were also discussed. Senior Minister Aslam Iqbal, Provincial Adviser Aamir Saeed Raan, former principal secretary GM Sikandar, Vice Chairman Sheikh Imtiaz Mahmood, parliamentarians including Sadia Sohail Rana, Malik Mukhtar Ahmad, Muhammad Atif, Aamir Riaz Qureshi, Tariq Sana Bajwa, secretaries, members of the governing body, DG LDA, MD WASA and others attended the meeting. The CM said that the investment of expatriates was being secured, adding that no bureaucratic snafu would be allowed to disturb them.

He directed to materialize the Shahdara plan for starting the construction work.

practical steps to make an immediate action plan, ” said the minister, while directing the authorities to make an immediate plan in this regard.

Professor Iqbal further added that across the world, respective governments collect water taxes as a result the consumers use it carefully, while in Pakistan there was no check and balance and huge amount of water wasted.Similarly, the minister also highlighted the importance of sewage treatment plants and stressed the authorities to launch such plants so used water could be utilized.

The minister also pointed out that besides governance we have behavior issues as well which needs to be changed.

The wastage of water is a big problem for Pakistan but people do not change their behavior to address

this issue, he remarked.

The participants said that the quality of municipal service delivery in Islamabad is not at par with the status of any planned capital city of the world.

One among many factors for dismal municipal service delivery in Pakistan’s capital city is the complex, fragmented and vague institutional and governance structure of service delivery that inhibits the accountability, leading to duplication and poor coordination. The current model of municipal service delivery is operating in “crisis management mode” which is limiting the abilities of staff to plan, innovate and integrate (cutting edge technological and ICT solutions) into service delivery based on needs and demands, they concluded.

Financial crisis: KP govt couldn’t release development budget allocated for tribal belt

Elahi said the residential needs of growing population would be taken into consideration in the master plan and those living in suburbs would be provided with the same facilities, as the citydwellers, to reduce the burden in Lahore, he added.

He said that a large-scale planting would be done to establish buffer zones, adding that the public transport system would also be developed on modern lines. Alongside this, interchanges and flyovers would be constructed to ease movement, he maintained. Instead of acquiring more agricultural lands, multi-storey building culture should be promoted, he added. It was also approved to construct the overhead bridge for motorcyclists in Azadi Chowk and the construction of a flyover and underpass to make Akbar Chowk signal free.

Amendments in LDA Building and Zoning Regulation 2019 were also approved. It was further approved to negotiate with the parties to acquire land in Johar Town, Mouza Chak Mozing and resolve disputes in LDA Avenue-1. The constitution of a development sub-committee was also approved for LDA schemes. Parliamentarians would also be included in the committee. It was agreed to resolve the unresolved issues in Mouza Kharak, Khyber Block Allama Iqbal Town, Gulshan Ravi according to the judicial and legal orders.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government had allocated Rs99.11 billion for the tribal districts in the annual development program of the current financial year but until August only Rs8.2 billion could be released. The Finance Department couldn’t release a single rupee to 10 departments, including the Awqaf, Environment, Establishment and Administration, Excise Department, Food Department, Housing Department, Labour, Department of Minerals, Department of Population, and Tehsil administrations. The provincial government also included 3% of the NFC share in the annual development program for the merger. In terms of the NFC share, the provincial government has added Rs34.6 billion to the annual development program of the tribal districts but till August no fund was released to any department. According to the documents of provincial finance department, in tribal districts the KP government has released Rs718 million out of the allocated Rs2.7 billion to agriculture department, Rs11 million out of Rs396 million allocated for board of revenue, and Rs557 million out of Rs2.8 billion allocated for public health. The government has released Rs689 million out of Rs7.9 billion allocated for elementary and secondary education, Rs333 million out of Rs2.5 billion allocated for energy and power projects in the annual development program of tribal districts.

MIRPUR (AJK) Staff RepoRt

Azad Jammu & Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry on Monday said the day was not far off when the Line of Control (LoC) would perish like the Berlin Wall and the Kashmiris would get freedom from Indian yoke.

Addressing a public meeting in New Jersey, United States, he said October 27 was one of the black chapters of Kashmir’s contemporary history as on that day in 1947 Indian forces invaded Kashmir and occupied the territory illegally without taking into account the Kashmiris’ wishes and aspirations, according to a

press release issued here.

Urging the Kashmiri diaspora community to hold a protest on the day to mark their resentment against India’s illegal and forcible occupation of their motherland, he said, “Kashmiris have never accepted India’s illegal control over the territory”.

Paying tribute to the Kashmiris’ decades long struggle against the Indian imperialism, the AJK president said, “The day is not far off when their sacrifices will be fruitful and the entire territory will be free from the Indian bondage.”

The AJK president recalled that he had led the first millionmarch against India from London’s Trafalgar Square to 10

Downing Street, the British Prime Minister’s residence, on October 27, 2014, and later in 2015 in front of the United Nations office in New York, in 2016.

Over the past several years, he added, he had arranged similar anti-Indian protests in Brussels, Dublin, and Germany along with Kashmiri leader Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai and others.

Barrister Sultan said, “Human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has further deteriorated since the Indian government abolished the special status of Occupied Kashmir on August 5, 2019 by abrogating Articles 370 and 35-A”.

The National Assembly was informed on Monday that the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) AntiHuman Smugglers and Trafficking Circle (AHTC) had so far arrested 791 human traffickers, smugglers and agents during the current year.

Around 2446 cases against human traffickers were registered in the year 2022, State Minister for

Interior Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju informed the Lower House of the Parliament during questionhour session.

He said a new Act — Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 — to prevent combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children, had been promulgated.

The FIA has prepared Rules for Trafficking in Person (TIP) Act, 2018 which had been approved by the Cabinet and notified on 31 December, 2020.

A sweep

T wasn’t exactly an upset, the PTI’s sweep in the bypolls that were conducted the other day. There’s the anti-incumbency factor working against the federal government, of course, and the record inflation doesn’t quite help the ruling PDM’s case. But - this is more crucial - bypolls are traditionally won by whatever party that runs the provincial government. But this should, in no way, take away from the assessment that the former ruling party PTI is perhaps the most popular party in the country right now. Because it swept the first round of bypolls during the window that it was not running the Punjab province.

Yes, many from the ruling PDM’s ranks point out some alternative viewpoints and supporting statistics. One, that these seats were the PTI’s to lose; they were lying vacant because the party had decided to quit en masse in the aftermath of the no-confidence vote. Second, the party had fielded Imran Khan himself in these constituencies. Since the margins of victory over the otherwise nigh-decimated ANP in Peshawar and Charsadda were rather narrow, one could surmise that these seats will be lost by the party when any candidate other than Imran Khan contests them in the general elections. Narrow margins were seen also in other constituencies like Mardan. This line of reasoning is further reinforced by the loss of the party’s candidate in Multan.

In the PTI itself, however, there is an understandable sense of jubilation. The victory, predictable as it may have been, is going to serve to put aside any doubts put forth by senior party leaders to the party chairman about his current approach. It’s a shotin-the-arm for his narrative, and it is unlikely that he will back down now.

he is reiterating his demand for early elections and that would have been the correct approach in this scenario, on that this paper has been endorsing since the very beginning of the current dispensation. But the floods have changed that equation. With around a third of the country under water, there are logistical issues to take into account, if not those of propriety.

Still, a roadmap needs to be etched out for the polls so that the chips fall where they may. These are times of political instability; going back to the people can never be a bad idea.

Reason or revelation?

to the other (extreme leniency); that is, from a mentality advocating making an example of even moderately unwholesome behaviour to a spirit of tolerance, reform and rehabilitation, no matter how heinous the crime.

On the death penalty, for example, there are two clashing views prevailing simultaneously in different parts of the world as we speak; in a notable case even inside the same country. Both sides have plenty of arguments at their disposal without there being any basis to settle the issue. Given the fundamental nature of the problem and the arbitrary nature of both ‘solutions’ put forth by the humanists, one should not be the least bit surprised if 100 years down the line the regions of the world currently for the death penalty have turned against it and vice versa.

have the solution to all their problems and they do not need any help from any quarters.) Be that as it may, if killing mosquitos is kosher, why is it not ok to slaughter animals for food?

ON our way to their school the other morning, my children were having a spirited argument about eating meat. My son was of the view that there was absolutely nothing wrong with it, while my daughter was passionately pleading the vegan position. I could not help feeling that I had heard the debate countless times, with the same reasoning rehearsed by either side, neither party being particularly impressed with the arguments of the other. Although the urge to chip in with my own wisdom was all but insurmountable, I kept my thoughts strictly to myself. We arrived at the school before any resolution to the conflict could be reached. This was to be expected because issues such as this can be debated till kingdom come without any semblance of settlement, whereas it only takes a 45-minute-drive for us to reach school.

What is common in all philosophies and -isms that come under the broader umbrella of humanism is the belief that human beings need nothing more than their own rationality to not only figure out the goals of their lives but also to resolve any problems that they encounter in the process of achieving those goals. In the humanist’s scheme of things then, there is absolutely no room for revelation or any belief in the supernatural. Opposed to this, of course, is the position that while reason is indispensable in so many ways, there are fundamental questions for the answers to which the human mind simply lacks the requisite tools. That when it comes to the really fundamental questions, reasoning alone will only take man so far. For one cannot figure those out without relying on revelation. It is not that their answers are beyond reason, but that they are beyond reasoning–a crucial distinction that usually goes unappreciated.

The Quran makes a clear distinction between two forms of knowledge. When it comes to facts in the empirical domain, it encourage – nay exhorts– its followers to observe, experiment, verify, and figure out how the world around them behaves. But at the same time, it warns them not to waste their efforts in trying to figure out things they are simply not equipped to work out. For the Muslim then, it is not a matter of reason or revelation, or reason versus revelation– it is not a boxing match! Instead, his body of knowledge is composed of elements of both.

On the subject of eating meat, of course the Muslim knows that he must never be cruel to animals, but it is quite enough for him that God has declared animal meat to be a legitimate source of nourishment for him. Whatever else he may be accused of when it comes to answers to such fundamental questions, he cannot be accused of inconsistency because when the chain of ‘Why this?’ and ‘Why that?’ is exhausted and he arrives at the level of the fundamental question, his final answer is always based in revealed knowledge.

Humanists pride themselves on requiring no supernatural input to deal with the problems life has to offer. For academic/professional philosophers whose business it is to write unreadable books, such a premise is very attractive. For armchair/internet philosophers, who are not famous for worrying too much about matters of consistency, it is an absolute godsend.

humanists pride themselves on requiring no supernatural input to deal with the problems life has to offer. For academic/professional philosophers whose business it is to write unreadable books, such a premise is very attractive. For armchair/internet philosophers, who are not famous for worrying too much about matters of consistency, it is an absolute godsend. For the likes of hollywood millionaires, whose extravagant lives revolve around consumption, consumption and more consumption, such philosophies provide crucial reassurance that they are an undeniable boon to the world.

If one’s credentials as a humane and environmentally conscious soul can be established merely by avoiding meat and by driving luxury electric/hybrid cars, one can hardly hope for a better deal than that.

For the thoughtful man, however, who, unlike the aforementioned demographics, must live his life with his feet firmly on the ground, any philosophy that cannot be consistently put into practice is a non-starter.

The major claim of humanism– that human beings are qualified to solve all their issues without any supernatural input– no doubt sounds mighty impressive. In practice however, humanism rarely lives up to this claim. Take the issue of crime and punishment. The human history is a long series of vacillation between one end of the spectrum (extreme strictness)

The problem with veganism, vegetarianism, and similar feel-good philosophies is that they cannot be lived if one wants to be consistent. Where does one draw the line, for example? Is killing rabbits all right? What about mosquitos? If yes, is it so because human health, even comfort and prosperity, is more important than mosquitos? If so, how does one reach this conclusion? (No disrespect to humanists, it is not hard to imagine philosopher mosquitoes who happen to be the flagbearers of Mosquito-ism concluding that mosquitos

Returning to the meateating issue, the perceptive reader would have noticed which side of the divide I have a tilt towards. he may also be wondering why I had refrained from voicing my opinion when my son and daughter were going at it hammer and tongs on our way to their school. The reason is extremely simple: I am way too scared of my daughter to risk offending her.

The author is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed

Protests could weaken Iranian society

has been growing in the Islamic Republic for at least a decade. But a year into Ibrahim Raisi’s presidency, his government, which represents the most conservative elements of the 1979 revolution, has pushed through a controversial set of social policies that have helped fuel the latest round of protests, that is, amid Iran’s ongoing international isolation. Despite the failure of the regime’s economic policies as well as its uncompromising stance on the nuclear negotiations, the government accelerated the implementation of a social engineering plan that included a “National Internet,” “Rehabilitation,” and second, “hijab” became top priorities. These ideas have long been debated among Iran’s hardliners and conservatives, the Centre for the Islamic Iranian Model of Progress and the Office of Supreme Leader.

Consequently, women’s rights and civil rights activists called on citizens, including men, to resist the compulsory wearing of the headscarf. The call received a positive response on the morning of July 12, and many videos and photos were posted on the electronic and print media. The New York-based International Campaign for human Rights in Iran (IChRI) expressed fears about “possible violence and arrests on July 12.”

students, traders and shoppers are also protesting in Tehran’s market. In the past, they already have protested against the deteriorating economic situation and the devaluation of the Iranian currency. But this may be the first time in decades that they have not only protested for their own immediate economic interests but have shown solidarity with the girls and women who were killed by security forces during the 1979 revolution.

knowledging the divisions in Iranian society, the authorities have emphasized uniting the entire population around a single state ideology and way of life. Social freedoms in Iran have therefore been further restricted since the beginning of Raisi’s presidency. As a result, the Islamic Republic is now facing an unprecedented split between state and society, with the state’s influence over the population rapidly diminishing. Discontent has spread, hope for change is fading, and the Islamic Republic’s support is shrinking.

The tragic death of Mehsa Amini, an Iranian girl on September 17, 2022 sparked nationwide protests in Iran. Similar to previous incidents that have sparked popular protests, including in 2020 after Iran shot down a Ukrainian airliner, the authorities initially rejected responsibility for triggering this crisis. Instead, the state’s propaganda machine launched a massive disinformation campaign and blamed Mehsa’s underlying medical condition for her death.

But when the protests refused to lower the protest temperature, the Islamic Republic resorted to its classic approach of “maximum pressure”, using all means of authority and imprisonment to stop the rallies. Discontent

Anti-hijab protests in Iran have already been successful. The Islamic hijab rule has been enforced in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. According to the law, women and girls over the age of nine must cover their heads in public. however, their intensity varies from administration to administration, depending on the political background of the incumbent president. Backed by the country’s ultra-conservative religious elite, Iranian President ebrahim Raisi called the recent backlash against the hijab law “a systematic encouragement of moral corruption in Islamic society.” Similarly, earlier this month the deputy prosecutor of Mashhad in northeastern Iran wrote a decree banning women without headscarves from entering offices and banks or using the subway. While the mayor initially opposed the decision, he eventually allowed the order.

The anti-hijab social media campaign is being led by Masih elenjad, a US-based activist who has been behind several online campaigns over the past decade. During the 2017-2019 protests, several protesting women were arrested and many were seriously injured in the police action.

Dozens of Iranians have been killed and thousands of members of security forces have violently attacked the demonstrations. Meanwhile, prospects for change within Iran’s leadership will remain limited as long as its members continue to see their current strategy as important to consolidating and securing their power.

Iranian activist Saba Kord Afshari was jailed for 24 years for promoting “corruption and prostitution” by removing her hijab.

The current protest has spread beyond the usual suspects. In addition to women and

The protests transcended common racial lines and brought together groups that are often divided. Last summer, the region’s two ethnic groups, the Bakhtiari Lors and the Arabs, joined forces in protests against polluted water and air in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. however, this was limited to the province.

But what makes these policies so crucial to the current situation is their clear rejection of the values held by the majority of Iranians outside the conservative camp. Instead of ac-

Street protests are now widespread. in particular, the new Generation Z (researchers and popular media use the mid-tolate 1990s as birth years and the early 2010s as birth years. Most members of Generation Z are children of X) see this as the only viable way to achieve change. Nonetheless, Iran’s security elites continue to tout their traditional techniques as effective in suppression. They follow a simple argument: regardless of the context, whether faced with international condemnation of the nuclear programme or a domestic political crisis, the leaders of the Islamic Republic are more inclined to escalate than to step back and reconsider their policies, which they believe is the maintenance of pressure that will increase the cost to their opponents to the point where it becomes irrational to continue opposing Tehran.

As a result of this persistence in the streets of Iranian cities, dozens of Iranians have been killed and thousands of members of security forces have violently attacked the demonstrations. Meanwhile, prospects for change within Iran’s leadership will remain limited as long as its members continue to see their current strategy as important to consolidating and securing their power.

The writer has a PhD in Political Science and can be reached at akramzaheer86@yahoo.com

Editor’s mail

Tanker Mafia

WATeR crisis is growing in Pakistan day by day. According to a report released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan ranks third among countries facing acute water shortage. While water shortage is a major problem across the country, the people of Karachi suffer a little more and a bit differently than their counterparts in the rest of the country.

Water scarcity in Karachi is often linked with poor governance and water mafia. Karachi gets only about half of the water that it requires. Of that quantity, one-third is either stolen, allegedly thanks to the notorious hydrant and tanker mafia, or is wasted owing to leaking pipelines that have not been repaired or replaced for years. Karachi is the largest city of Pakistan, but its water distribution system is dysfunctional due to official negligence. Water is distributed through pipelines only in half of the city.

This shortage has benefitted the water mafia, which runs hundreds of illegal pumping stations. The mafia has been minting money for years, while the city has remained in a state of crisis for just as many years. Research indicates that this scarcity is a product of poor decisions made over time by provincial and municipal governments, political players and urban planners. The government should take strict action against these water thieves, and allow the citizens to have their due rights because they pay the relevant taxes all year long.

Universities and National Politics

of the most urgent needs of society, including health care, national security, economic competitiveness, environmental protection and social and governance issues.” Therefore, today it will be a little unrealistic to disassociate universities from the depth of societal concerns.

UNIveRSITIeS in the 21st century have undoubtedly become transnational actors interplaying among strategic, social, cultural, and academic stakeholders including both state and non-state domestic and international actors.

Universities have started influencing almost every segment and aspect of society while engaging relevant clusters to promote carefully designed programmes. Grantsmanship, mobility programmes, scholarships and collaborations have enhanced exposure and learning of the academic community on one hand and on the other increased influence of countries that extend financial support for these programmes. It brings a whole new dimension to the role of universities in influencing the social, economic, technological and political structure of our society in the current millennium and beyond.

Funding programmes and universities have connected local universities, business interests, civil society actors, and government agents in recipient countries with counterparts in the Western societies facilitating the transfer of ideas, information, people, and money across borders. These transnational relations are the basis of the soft power of funding universities in beneficiary nations. Affluent countries have strategically utilised this vehicle to shape national discourses, especially in developing countries, to strengthen their agendas. Therefore we can’t ignore recent happenings in an institution of higher learning.

Uproar on Imran Khan’s address in GC University Lahore, an institution with stellar academic reputation, both from opponents and proponents, has opened a new aspect for us to consider how these institutions of higher learning can contribute in shaping our societal challenges.

According to James J. Duderstadt from University of Michigan, “The unique characteristic of higher education is the strong bond between the university and society. historically, universities have been shaped by, drawn their agenda from, and been responsible to the communities that founded them. each generation has established a social contract between the university and the society it serves. Today, an array of powerful social, economic, and technological forces is driving change in the needs of society and the institutions created to respond to those needs. In an increasingly knowledge-driven society, more and more people seek education as the hope for a better future, the key to good jobs and careers and to meaningful and fulfilling lives. The knowledge created within universities also addresses many

The history of students’ political activism is not new; there is a track of student activism in several countries around the globe from the USA to the eU, China, Africa and the Subcontinent. Philip G. Altbach suggests, “Student activism is generally oppositional in nature, but it was not always on the left. In the colonised nations, students were a more constant force and had a greater impact. Students are frequently not struggling for their own direct benefit but rather for idealistic causes. This may mean that they are less deeply committed to the struggle than if they were fighting for an issue that would directly affect their lives. The often idealistic nature of student movements may be both a stimulus and a limiting factor for sustained student activism.

Student movements seldom function in a purely campus environment. They are often concerned with wider political or social issues and consciously try to influence developments beyond the university. even when the movement is camp-focussed, the impact frequently extends beyond the university.”

We should also learn from India’s example of allowing university teachers to take part in mainstream politics.

stitutional effectiveness depends on leaders’ political skills. Constructive politicians recognize and understand political realities. They know how to fashion an agenda, map the political terrain, create a network of support and negotiate with both allies and adversaries. In the process, they encounter a practical and ethical dilemma: when to adopt an open, collaborative strategy or when to choose a tougher, more adversarial approach. They have to consider the potential for collaboration, the importance of long-term relationships and most important, their own values and ethical principles. The parties in political processes have different preferences. As they interact through negotiations, compromises and coalition formation, their original objectives change. Since the groups with which they interact are also modifying their positions.” This can be conveniently learned in universities because universities are coalitions of diverse individuals and interest groups, there are continuing differences among coalition members in values, beliefs, information, interests and perceptions of reality.

According to Kritika Sharma, “The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to allow MPs and MLAs who are college or university teachers to continue teaching. They will continue to draw their salaries from their respective higher educational institutions, in addition to their wages as MPs or MLAs.

There are several successful politicians in the country in all mainstream parties who started their political careers from student politics. Unfortunately we deliberately curbed political activities in the universities of Pakistan and deprived this capable and compassionate segment of society from contributing to the political culture of the society. This deprivation led to the vacuum depriving a generation, which is in the learning phase, to understand and adopt political norms where negotiations, exchanges, collaborations, competitiveness and considerations shape positions and preferences.

Political activities for the political upbringing of educated youth have been prohibited for decades now. Some cosmetic measures have been taken to establish youth assemblies but that haven’t served the purpose. Discussions, exposure, heated debates, counter arguments and freedom available in the university environment can inculcate political maturity in the youth to take that learning to their constituencies where they can serve the politics in a much more constructive manner.

In the words of Adela Coman and Catalina Bonciu from Romania, “Political dynamics can be sordid and destructive. But politics can also be the vehicle for achieving noble purposes. In-

Therefore, instead of criticising the visit of any political leader to a university we should open the doors of institutions of higher learning to the political leaders of all parties to openly interact with the educated young generation and the future of our country for their political grooming. We should end the ban on students’ unions, which are available in several countries across europe and Asia with slight differences. We need to provide opportunities to the university students to interact and raise questions on issues and policies which have lasting impact on their lives because it is they who have to take this country forward in this millennium and beyond. We should also learn from India’s example of allowing university teachers to take part in mainstream politics. According to Kritika Sharma, “The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to allow MPs and MLAs who are college or university teachers to continue teaching. They will continue to draw their salaries from their respective higher educational institutions, in addition to their wages as MPs or MLAs. When the MPs or MLAs attend legislative sessions, they will be marked present at their educational institutions as well.” This kind of policy will allow participation of relevant experts and intellectuals to directly contribute to the development and uplift of the nation.

The writer is Associate Professor Management Sciences and Head, Center of Islamic Finance, COMSATS University (CUI) Lahore Campus.He can be reached at drabdussattar@cuilahore.edu.pk and tweets @drabdussattar

Indian Congress

BATTeReD by successive electoral defeats at the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) both at the national and regional levels, the Indian National Congress (INC) has finally realised that time has come to discard the Gandhian era of politics.

Ruled by Jawaharlal Nehru and his family since 1947, the party lost its lustre and popularity in the wake of a resurgent BJP that has been led by Narendra Modi in power since 2014. With the next parliamentary elections due in 2024, Congress has decided to elect a new leader to replace Sonia Gandhi, the incumbent, thus signalling the end of dynastic politics within the party. No longer a contender for the top job, her son Rahul Gandhi, a former party chief, is currently on a 3,500km march across the country to drum up support. The two politicians so far in the fray are Shashi Tharoor and Ashok Gehlot. Tharoor is a former international civil servant, politician, writer and public intellectual from the southern province of Kerala, while his opponent Gehlot is the current chief minister of the western state of Rajasthan, bordering Pakistan, whose supporters say he has formidable organisational experience. With party elections due soon, both face tough job in resurrecting the image and popularity of the secular INC, marred by desertions of seasoned leaders amidst internal wrangling.

Whoever is successful, the main task would be to reunite the party, map out a political strategy and programme to bring back disgruntled supporters and live up to the challenge posed by the right-wing BJP.

Exploitation of employees

ONe of the largest banks has come up with a very catchy slogan that talks about the ‘soul’ because the retirement age of its management staff has been raised to 65 years.

I recall that back in 1997, about 10,000 employees aged 55 years and above were most heartlessly sacked with just one stroke of a pen. Perhaps, the banking establishment has now realised that experience and skill have no substitute and have justified this as bank’s commitment to the wellbeing of its staff and to improve quality of life. It has been acknowledged that growth would not have been possible without the efforts of the staff over the last several decades. This is the same staff that was sacked and left high and dry without any consideration of the consequences, mental anguish and torture that most of the sacked staff and their families would undergo — and did — due to such drastic and inhumane treatment. So very paradoxical that now, after so many years, when most of the old bankers have gone to their heavenly abode or are on the last leg of the journey, their services have been recognised. To my understanding, increasing the retirement age seems like an inexpensive way to motivate the employees many of whom are moving out in search of greener pastures. Although the step taken to shift the retirement age is both motivational and encouraging for the existing staff, there is another angle to the matter; will this not hamper the induction of the bulging unemployed youth of the country?

Also, real commitment to the wellbeing of employees and quality of life does not get reflected in merely increasing the retirement age, but in raising the remuneration of the staff and providing some post-retirement benefits to the workers as well, like medical facilities.

Cruel Bosses

TheRe is no dearth of cruel bosses in the world. Workers suffer both mentally and physically because of the harsh behaviour and unrealistic expectations of their bosses. Staff members are made to work like robots from dawn to dusk in the fear of losing their jobs. Many of such bosses think of themselves as great leaders, but forget that actual leaders are always down-to-earth and helpful. They care about their teams, treat them with respect, and encourage and motivate them to achieve their targets.

Unabated Woes

The after-effects of the recent monsoon continue to make life difficult for the Karachiites. The infrastructure, which is already in a bad shape, now stands shattered, and rainwater has been standing in many areas, including Korangi, Landhi and around the airport. The 30-minute drive from Landhi to Saddar takes one hour now, and there has been an increase in the number of road accidents on the way. The relevant authorities should take due measures in this regard.

TWO massive terrorist strikes misfired spectacularly and a terrible beauty is born in the Ukraine war. These two carefully planned attacks in quick succession — on nord Stream gas pipelines and Crimean Bridge — were intended as a knockout blow to Russia. According to President Vladimir Putin, people ‘who want to finally sever ties between Russia and the eU, weaken europe’ are behind the nord Stream blasts. he named the US, Ukraine and Poland as ‘beneficiaries’.

Last Wednesday, Russia’s domestic intelligence service FSB identified Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, as the mastermind behind the Crimean attack. The new York Times and Washington Post also pointed fingers at Kiev, quoting ‘sources’. While nord Stream-1 has been crippled, one of the strings of nord Stream-2 remains intact. Putin said last week that the pipeline could be restored and Russia could deliver about 27 billion cubic metres of gas. ‘The ball is on the side of the european Union, if they want — let’s turn on the tap,’ he said.

But mum’s the word from Brussels. It is a profoundly embarrassing moment for the eU. The triumphalism has vanished as europe is threatened by years of recession caused by the blowback from sanctions against Russia, where the US insisted on the cut off

A WAr rUSSiA SeT TO WiN

POLICY-MAKERS AND STRATEGISTS IN DELHI SHOULD MAKE A CAREFUL NOTE OF THE TIMELINE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, RUSSIA IS LOOKING FOR AN ALL-OUT VICTORY AND WILL NOT SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN A FRIENDLY GOVERNMENT IN KIEV. WESTERN POLITICIANS, INCLUDING BIDEN, UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NOTHING STOPPING THE RUSSIANS NOW

of energy ties with Moscow. The eU has now become a captive market for Big Oil and is left to buy LnG from the US at the asking price, which is six to seven times higher than the domestic price in the US. (Contracted price for long-term Russian supply for Germany used to be about $280 per 1,000 cubic metres as against the current market price hovering around $2,000.)

Plainly put, the europeans have been nicely played by the Americans. India should take note of the US’ sense of entitlement. Basically, the Biden administration created a contrived energy crisis whose real aim is war profiteering.

The Crimean Bridge attack of October 8 is much more serious. Zelenskyy has crossed a red line that Moscow had repeatedly warned him against. Putin has disclosed that there have also been three terrorist attacks against the Kursk nPP. Russians will settle for nothing less than the ouster of the Zelenskyy regime.

Russia’s retaliation against Ukraine’s ‘critical infrastructure’, something Moscow refrained from so far, has serious implications. Since October 9, Russia has begun systematically targeting Ukraine’s power system and railways. noted Russian military expert Vladislav Shurygin told Izvestia that if this tempo was kept up for a week or so, it ‘will disrupt the entire logistics of the Ukrainian military — system for transporting personnel, military equipment, ammunition, related cargo, as well as the functioning of military and repair plants.’

UK spy chief’s hooligan nature revealed by badmouthing China’s tech use

A CYBERSECURITY REPORT IN JUNE SHOWED THE US MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT CYBER AGENCIES HAD REMOTELY STOLEN OVER 97 BILLION PIECES OF GLOBAL INTERNET DATA AND 124 BILLION PHONE RECORDS OVER THE PAST 30 DAYS, WHICH BECAME A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF INTELLIGENCE FOR THE US, THE UK AND OTHER “FIVE EYES” COUNTRIES

When British gentlemen desperately badmouthed China’s use of technology, losing their dignity and revealing their true hooligan nature, it’s perhaps the most entertaining episode on today’s international stage.

Jeremy Fleming, head of Government Communications headquarters (GChQ), UK’s electronic spy agency, on Tuesday accused China of trying to “rewrite the rules of international security,” claiming China is using its economic and technological clout to clamp down at home and exert control abroad, AP reported. According to Fleming, the way China deploys emerging technology, from satellite systems such as BeiDou to digital currencies, could represent a “huge threat to us all.” Fleming’s planned speech comes after the head of the FBI and his British counterpart groundlessly accused China of using “every tool” to steal Western technology in July.

This, of course, is utter nonsense. Concocting “China technological threat” theory has become one of the priorities of British and US intelligence agencies. It seems only by constantly fabricating and exaggerating the “security threat from China” can they demonstrate the value of their existence and obtain more funding and private interests.

Fleming, Britain’s top cyber spy, talked rubbish. he singled out BeiDou, claiming the system could be used to block adversaries’ access to space or bolster surveillance. We have to ask: Then what are the eU’s Galileo system and US’ GPS satellite system used for? Why can’t China have its own navigation satellite system which will not only meet the demand of the country’s national security, economic as well as social development but also better serve global users by providing more stable and reliable services?

“Countries, particularly the US and the UK, want to maintain their monopoly in the high-tech sector, so that they could be able to control the lifeline of future economic development and monopolize the tech advantages in emerging industries,” Gao Jian, director of the Center for British Studies at Shanghai International Studies Univer-

sity, told the Global Times.

As a matter of fact, the UK and US intelligence agencies’ weaponization of technologies is truly the greatest security threat to the world.

British commentator Tom Fowdy told the Global Times that “Fleming’s claim is hypocritical projection from the UK. There are no other countries on earth who utilize technology for surveillance and coercive purposes than Britain and the United States as a part of the five eyes alliance.” he further said China’s goal is to utilize technology for its own development and progress, and not for farreaching geopolitical or hegemonic ambitions.

The US, the UK and some other Western countries have long been engaged in weaponizing technologies in spying and monitoring military enterprises, scientific research institutes, and government agencies of not only their deemed rivals but also allies. A cybersecurity report in June showed the US military and government cyber agencies had remotely stolen over 97 billion pieces of global internet data and 124 billion phone records over the past 30 days, which became a significant source of intelligence for the US, the UK and other “Five eyes” countries. earlier this month, the US national Security Agency was exposed after it launched a cyberattack and engaged in data theft against the northwestern Polytechnical University in China.

The intelligence network created by the US and the UK is the source of evil in the world and the biggest threat to global security. “American and British intelligence agencies are going on a rampage in global cyberspace, conducting various attacks on other countries’ cyber infrastructure and intercepting intelligence. They are robbers. now these robbers accuse China, a victim of their attacks, of conspiring to control the world, on what grounds?” asked Shen Yi, a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University. The US and the UK intelligence agencies have a bad record. Based on past facts, the US and the UK must have projected their own foul deeds and crimes onto China. “The Royal United Services Institute, as an old leading think tank in the UK, has allowed the insane rhetoric of the intelligence agency chief to come to the fore. Where is its basic ability to judge the quality of a speech?” asked Shen.

INDIA SHOULD EXPECT THE DEFEAT OF THE US AND NATO, WHICH COMPLETES THE TRANSITION TO A MULTIPOLAR WORLD ORDER

The Americans are cocooned in a surreal world of their self-serving narrative that Russia ‘lost’ the war. In the real world, though, Ivan Tertel, KGB chief in Belarus, who has an insider view of Moscow, said last Tuesday that with Russia boosting its troop strength in the war zone — 3 lakh troops who have been mobilised plus 70,000 volunteers — and the deployment of advanced weaponry, ‘the military operation will enter a key phase. According to our estimates, a turning point will come in the period from november of this year to February of next year.’

Policy-makers and strategists in Delhi should make a careful note of the timeline. The bottom line is, Russia is looking for an all-out victory and will not settle for anything less than a friendly government in Kiev. Western politicians, including Biden, understand that there is nothing stopping the Russians now. The US’ weapon kitty is running dry as Kiev keeps asking for more.

When asked whether he’d meet Biden at the G20 in Bali, Putin derisively remarked on Friday, ‘he (Biden) should be asked whether he is ready to hold such negotiations with me or not. To be honest, I don’t see any need, by and large. There is no platform for any negotiations for the time being.’

however, Washington has not yet thrown in the towel and the Biden administration remains obsessed with exhausting the Russian military — even at the cost of Ukraine’s destruction. And, for the Russians too, there is

still much to be worked out on the battlefield: the oppressed Russian populations in Odessa (which suffered unspeakable atrocities from the neo-nazis), Mykolaiv, Zaporizhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkov are expecting ‘liberation’. It’s a highly emotive issue for Russia. Again, the overarching agenda of ‘demilitarisation’ and ‘denazification’ of Ukraine must be taken to its logical conclusion.

When all that is over, Putin knows Biden will not even want to meet him. hungarian PM Viktor Orban said last week, ‘Anyone who seriously believes that the war can be ended through Russian-Ukrainian negotiations lives in another world. Reality looks different. In reality, such issues can only be discussed between Washington and Moscow. Today, Ukraine is able to fight only because it receives military assistance from the United States…

‘At the same time, I do not see President Biden as the person who would really be suitable for such serious negotiations. President Biden has gone too far. Suffice it to recall his statements to Russian President Putin.’

India should expect the defeat of the US and nATO, which completes the transition to a multipolar world order. Sadly, Indian elites are yet to purge their ‘unipolar predicament’. europe, including Britain, is devastated and there is palpable discontent over the US’s ‘transatlantic leadership’. Indo-Pacific strategy is hopelessly adrift. new power centres are emerging in India’s extended neighbourhood, as the OPeC’s rebuff to Washington shows. A profound adjustment is needed in the Indian strategic calculus.

What US, NATO, Ukraine don’t want you to know

and Qatar have also ignored the US request.

NeW US invasion? The ever-interfering US is planning again to “put boots on the ground” in haiti, the poorest country in Latin America. US Coast guard gunboats are already being sent as part of “homeland Security” of the US, although it may be asked how haiti, a country of starving people with little water sanitation, is a security risk to the US, or is part of “homeland” requiring potentially thousands of soldiers.

Prime Minister Ariel henry is being asked to step down by revolutionaries led by former police officer Jimmy Chérizier, who have blockaded the fuel terminal, demanding that leadership should deal with basic housing and water sources. Widely seen as a US puppet, henry has asked the US to step in militarily, which the nationalist rebels are railing against. The US is choosing to speak with the Montana group it is endorsing.

haiti was once the richest country in Latin America, started by slaves, until it was invaded and stripped by the French of its gold and through a massive charge, impoverishing the country. haiti fought and paid for its freedom by ransom, and was then invaded later, and then intervened again by the US with 20,000 soldiers. Trump called it a shithole, not accounting for, or not caring what his country did to a formerly wealthy country. What constitutes “homeland” to the US has very wide definition, its laws are enforced militarily or through finance, when possible, worldwide ... even sending the national guard to Africa, confiscating sovereign funds, making extraterritorial arrests, organizing assassinations and drone random killings, even as it preaches democratic processes.

The world nowadays is beginning to challenge this abusive imposition of military power worldwide. even former allies are now questioning the interests being protected by the US; they appear not just primarily, but solely, for itself, rather than for the world freedom and equality that it preaches.

This last week alone, France’s prime minister Macron openly declared he would not necessarily fight the Russians, with whom he does not agree on Ukraine, but with whom he understands. Macron is creating an alternative organization to the european Union, so the european interests are not necessarily secondary to the US, and is already joined by over 40 countries including the UK. The Western media is not reporting this.

Italy’s new prime minister Georgia Meloni, the leader with most cojones in europe, has on her own against other eU leaders who await Washington’s orders, arrived at an arrangement to start buying Russian energy again, and dared to speak out against the Brussels eU position that is rabidly anti-Russian, is self-defeating for european nations, and not considering mutuality of interest of different parties.

Saudi Arabia has publicly pooh-poohed President Biden’s threat to punish Saudi Arabia for aligning with OPeC, which lowered oil production by 2 million barrels a day, seen by the US as a slap and an alignment with Russia, despite strong pressures and courtship by US President Biden. Saudi is also considering the sale of oil in Russian rubles and Chinese yuan, instead of exclusively through the US dollar. The UAe

By this exclusivity Saudi used to give the US petrodollar in trading oil, Saudi holds the key to US dollar currency hegemonic status, draining the goods and labor of the rest of the world simply by printing, which benefit has caused the US to back off from offending the kingdom every time before. In return, the US sells arms and promises protection to the Saudi, but which Saudi now can also get from Russia, China and others.

President Viktor Orbán of hungary continues to buy Russian oil and says Biden exacerbated situations with his superfluous comments, and actions of sending more weapons continuously.

German, French, Czech, Spanish and other european peoples are holding mass rallies now to ask their governments to leave nATO, lift sanctions on Russia, and work to improve the lives of their own people first rather than serve the US’ Ukraine or nATO interests. They generally are aware of, are blaming the US for interfering in their governments and prolonging an unnecessary war.

More and more fear and warn that continued non-negotiation, escalation is drawing the world closer to nuclear disaster.

Germany’s own “Iron Lady” Angela Merkel who after 16 years of deftly leading her country and the eU through peaceful growth amid different crises, ignoring US pressures by continuing in building the nord Stream2 that would have built Germany again into a first tier world power, has come out last week finally to speak: Take Putin seriously, take mutual security into account. Instead, the Germans have a soft Scholz who lets an elderly, sometimes half aware President Biden cut in and answer for him, and even guarantee to cut off the nord Stream, Scholz’s hose for oil.

Also resented, especially by the French, is the US inconsideration in selling natural gas three to four times higher than recent prices to europe, obtaining record billions of US dollars more for the different US companies in just a few months, e.g., exxon which earned more than $10 billion more in just one quarter. World hunger because of lack of honor? Russia threatens to pull out of the grain deal because they allowed Ukraine to sell and deliver grain thru areas that are Russiancontrolled, make and use the income, but allegedly nATO did not keep its end of the bargain to let Russia do the same. Majority of initial grain shipments went to the rich countries of nATO, only 2 out of 67 ship loads went to the poor countries. even in the US, people are getting tired of spending more than tens of billions to try to destroy Russia (not really to defend Ukraine, the more intelligent are aware), rather than to rebuild infrastructure, and while the US homeless population grows, education declines, people become more polarized.

It seems individual political and financial interests trumps collective interest or even world peace, and as is reputed, word of honor, or values for reciprocation are not honored in the West. All the world’s wise diplomats, Kissinger, Mearsheimer, Merkel, Jeffrey Sachs, Carter, diplomats and intel leaders have warned for over a decade for the US and world to stop extending nATO, and to take Russia and Putin, who wished to join the world system and gave huge leeway in advance, seriously. The US has chosen to listen to a comedian, or the comedian Zelenskyy has chosen to listen to the US.

The world is hoping a comedy doesn’t become a tragedy, but some of the script writers have to be changed.

the Bank of Punjab arranges PKr 10bn facility for thar energy

The Bank of Punjab (BOP) led syndicate has raised over Rs 10bn for Thar Energy Limited (TEL) for working capital financing. In this regard, a financing documents signing ceremony was held at BOP’s corporate office in Karachi to mark the successful closure of the first tranche of the facility. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Kamran Kamal (CEO, The Hub Power Company), Mr. Saleemullah Memon (CEO, TEL), Mr. Zafar Masud (President & CEO, BOP) along with CEOs and senior executives of syndicate banks including National Bank of Pakistan, Bank AlHabib Limited, Pak Kuwait Investment Company, Pak China Investment Company and Pak Brunei Investment Company. TEL, sponsored by The Hub Power Company (HUBCO), Fauji Fertilizer Company and China Machinery Engineering Corporation, is setting up a 330MW Thar Coal-fired power plant to provide affordable energy in Pakistan with a project outlay of ~USD 520 million. The project is part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor and is located at Thar, Sindh. The project shall save substantial foreign exchange reserves by using indigenous Thar coal. The successful debt arrangement for TEL in a short period of time is a testament of market confidence on TEL and investment banking capabilities of The Bank of Punjab which acted as mandated Lead Arranger for this transaction. Mr. Kamran appreciated the role of BOP, which is fast emerging as one of the most active commercial banks in the market, for supporting TEL in arranging first tranche of the facility. Mr. Zafar Masud (President and CEO, BOP) thanked senior executives of TEL, HUBCO, and syndicate banks for attending the ceremony and expressed his keen desire to deepen the institutional relationship with a leading business group like the Hub Power Company for its projects of national importance.

Bank Alfalah kept up Its growth momentum in third quarter

Karachi: The Board of Directors of Bank alfalah Limited (BaFL), in its meeting held on October 17, 2022, approved the bank’s financial results for the nine months that ended September 30, 2022. The Bank announced profit after taxes of PKr 14.090 billion. The Bank’s Earning Per Share stood at rs. 7.93 (Sep 21: rs. 5.90). The Bank’s deposit base stood at PKr 1.385 trillion at the end of September 30, 2022, representing year-on-year (YoY) growth of 33.7%. This is reflective of the bank’s focus on growth. The Bank continues to outpace the industry in deposits mobilization driven by a strong momentum in its current deposits, which have grown by 29.8% YoY. The Bank’s gross advances reached at PKr 777.643 billion, showing a growth of 15.9% YoY. Despite challenging market fundamentals, the Bank’s credit performance remained strong. as at September end, the Bank’s gross advances to deposits ratio (aDr) stood at 56.1%.

Lahore staff report

afour-member delegation of Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP), headed by Vice President Central Punjab Mian Rasheed, called on Minister of Agriculture Punjab Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi here on Monday.

During the meeting, the delegation of KBP presented their demands to the Minister of Agriculture Punjab. Among the demands of the Kisan Board are the restoration of the Punjab Agriculture Commission & farmers’ representative committees, and setting the support price of wheat at

Rs. 400 rupees per mann.

In addition, the KBP asked the Minister to provide interest-free loans to farmers and the fixed purchase price of paddy, rehabilitation affairs in floodaffected areas and their representation in the market committees.

On this occasion, Minister of Agriculture Punjab Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi assured the farmers to solve all their legitimate demands. He further said that our effort is that the support price of wheat should be made uniform.

Apart from this, the minister said the Punjab government is aware of the flood victims and in this situation a special package is also being

brought soon.

The Minister said that in the flood affected areas the approved seeds of wheat and other modern agricultural interventions are being provided on subsidy, so the farmers can stand on their feet.

He added that all such legitimate demands are actually the government’s own voice and the current Punjab government’s motto is the prosperity of the farmers and the development of agriculture because if the farmer is prosperous, then the wheel of the country’s economy will also grow faster. In the end, the delegation of KBP thanked the Provincial Agriculture Minister for his compassionate

Gardezi assures resolvinG issues of farminG community Karachi staff report

A Saudi Armed Forces delegation led by Major General Hamed Bin Rafei Al Amri, Director Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Saudi Armed Forces, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force in his office today. During the meeting, matters of regional security situation, enhanced bilateral and defence cooperation were discussed.

Major General Hamed Bin Rafei Al Amri expressed his grief over the devastation caused by recent floods in Pakistan and offered sincere condolence to the families of the victims. He praised efforts of PAF personnel for their support to civil administration in relief activities and rehabilitation process of the flood affectees. The dig-

nitary also acknowledged the rising indigenous capability of PAF in aviation industry and agreed to further optimize

the existing ties between both the air forces particularly in training and operational domains.

Chief of the Air Staff shared broad contours of PAF’s modernization drive to achieve operational capability in the contemporary warfare in air, space and cyber space domains as per the PAF’s operational construct and said that Pakistan Air Force is fully focused in acquisition and development of these technologies. The Air Chief said that Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoy longstanding religious, cultural and historical bonds which are manifested through strong ties between both the countries. CAS thanked the visiting dignitary for the unflinching support extended by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reiterated that assistance from our global partners shall be vital for rescue and rehabilitation of the flood victims in Pakistan.

Times Higher Education ranked UMT 1st in Pakistan among private sector universities

Lahore staff report

The latest report of Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 has placed the University of Management and Technology (UMT) at the 1st position among all private sector universities in Pakistan. The ranking is based on 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across four areas: Teaching, Research, Knowledge Transfer and International Outlook.

The title of the top private-sector university in Pakistan went to UMT, which was included in the 501-600 band, making it one of the top 600 universities in the world. It is also noteworthy that UMT ranked 2nd among public & private sector universities of Pakistan that participated in WUR 2023. UMT’s remarkable feat was made possible by an almost perfect score for research citations;

validating UMT’s immense focus on research output. UMT stands tall for this milestone achievement and is proud to have grown exponentially, especially in terms of research, eminence and overall positioning.

President UMT, Ibrahim Hasan Murad felicitated the UMT family on this remarkable achievement and

Director Joint Chiefs of Staff of Saudi armed forces calls on Air Chief Daraz inaugurates Pakistan’s first smart distribution centres to strengthen e-commerce ecosystem in South Asia

said these results spoke volumes about the varsity’s focus on academic quality and research. UMT now leads as the top Pakistani private university as per THE Rankings 2023; says President UMT. Mr. Murad further said that UMT would now work towards its next goal which is to become one of the best universities in the world.

Daraz, Pakistan’s leading e-commerce platform, in partnership with Cainiao Network, (“Cainiao”), the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, has launched the country’s first automated smart distribution centres in Karachi and Lahore. These would be one of the most technologically advanced logistics facilities in South Asia, and mark Cainiao’s first deeply integrated distribution centre network in the region.

The distribution centres will be equipped with innovative smart technologies, such as an automatic assembly line and smart distribution set-up. It will utilise Cainiao’s proprietary solutions, in-

cluding e-PLC, control algorithm, WCS, to ensure operational quality and stability. The facilities span over 50,000 sq. metres and hold the capacity to process 428,400 orders per day.

To date, Cainiao has built hundreds of automated distribution centres of varying scales in China, and 10 smart distribution hubs across Europe, Asia, and America.

“We constantly innovate our operations and technology in Pakistan to continue scaling and enhancing our customer experience. Our partnership with Cainiao marks a milestone for not only us but Pakistan, as Daraz introduces smart technology in the country to bring more efficiency in our logistics. Launching our centres in Karachi and Lahore is a key step of this

partnership, and we look forward to growing it in future”. said Mr Bjarke Mikkelsen, Daraz Group Chief Executive Officer and Founder.

The event saw attendance of corporate leaders who were given a tour of the facility by Ehsan Saya, Managing Director, Daraz Pakistan. Investment opportunities, entrepreneurship and digital innovations were discussed as key benefits to the local economy during the visit.

Earlier this month, Mr. Asif Ikram, Secretary Information, Science and Technology Sindh visited the distribution centre tour for an exclusive visit of the premises and congratulated Daraz on this development and stated that the facility will bring a revolution in sup-

ply chain management in the country.

“It is a very proud moment for us at Daraz, as we launch global best-in-class technology in Pakistan after months of hard work.

Innovation is the core of our operations, and we are confident our partnership with Cainiao will prove to be a game changer not only for us but the entire ecosystem.

These smart distribution centres will increase Daraz’s sorting capacity by over 4.2x and decrease manual errors by over 90%, thus benefiting our entire business and improving the customer experience.” said Mr Ahmed Tanveer, Chief Operating Officer for Daraz Pakistan

Speaking about why they chose Pakistan as the first location in South Asia

to set up their smart distribution centres, Dr. Ding Hongwei, General Manager, Cainiao Technology, said “Our great confidence in the investment in Pakistan comes from its significant growth and high potential of digital sector, and strong support from local government in infrastructure and policy as well.

The smooth cooperation with Daraz proved our right choice to launch our first project in Pakistan given Daraz’s strong determination in the digital transformation.

We believe that, with years of practically proven by the world’s largest ecommerce market in China, Cainiao’s leading logistics technology could support our partners in South Asia to speed up their digital transformation.”

Russia launches deadly new attacks on centRal kyiv using dRones

RUSSIAattacked Ukrainian cities with drones on Monday, killing at least three people in an apartment building in downtown Kyiv during morning rush hour, and targeting infrastructure across the country in the second big wave of air strikes in a week.

Soldiers fired into the air trying to shoot down the drones after blasts rocked central Kyiv. Residents fled for shelter. An anti-aircraft rocket could be seen streaking into the morning sky, followed by an explosion and orange flames.

An official in Ukraine’s presi-

dential office said three people were killed in an attack on a residential building in Kyiv. Ukraine’s Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi said there had been deaths in other cities but did not give a full toll.

Black smoke poured out of the windows of the Kyiv apartment building and emergency service workers toiled to douse flames.

“I have never been so afraid… It is murder, it is simply murder, there are no other words for it,” said Vitalii Dushevskiy, 29, a food delivery courier who rents an apartment in the blasted building.

His flatmate, who gave his name only as Nazar, said they had tried to leave their apartment only to find the

staircase “all gone”.

Nearby, Elena Mazur, 52, was searching for her mother, who had managed to call her to say she was buried under rubble.

“She is not picking up the phone,” Mazur said, hoping she had been rescued and taken to hospital.

“All night and all morning the enemy terrorizes the civilian population. Kamikaze drones and missiles are attacking all of Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app.

“The enemy can attack our cities, but it won’t be able to break us. The occupiers will get only fair punishment and condemnation of future generations. And we will

get victory.”

Ukraine said the attacks were carried out by Iran-made ‘suicide drones’, which fly to their target and detonate. Russia’s defence ministry said it had carried out a “massive” attack on military targets and energy infrastructure across Ukraine using high-precision weapons.

Reuters saw pieces of a drone used in the attack that bore the words: “For Belgorod” – an apparent reference to Ukrainian shelling of a Russian region bordering Ukraine.

The strikes came exactly one week after Russia unleashed its heaviest aerial bombardment of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities since the start of the war – also dur-

ing morning rush hour.

Ukraine’s military said it had destroyed 37 Russian drones since Sunday evening, or around 85% of those involved in attacks.

A drone attack also hit the Everi marine terminal in the southern city of Mykolaiv late on Sunday, officials said, damaging sunflower storage tanks and setting aflame leaking oil.

“This is an entirely civilian facility. There is no military,” said Andriy, 47, a senior manager who declined to give his last name. He said the attacks were part of a Russian effort to “destroy the economy and to destroy food security”.

The new United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk of Austria, said drone attacks on civilians had to stop. The US embassy in Kyiv also condemned the “desperate and reprehensible” drone attacks. Russia denies targeting civilians.

Iran repeated on Monday its denial that it is supplying the drones to Russia. The Kremlin has not commented.

Some European Union foreign ministers, gathering for talks in Luxembourg on Monday, called for new sanctions against Iran if Tehran’s involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine is proven.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Russia should be expelled from the Group of 20 major economies and other international groups following the drone attacks.

“Those who give orders to attack critical infrastructure to freeze civilians and organise total mobilization to cover the frontline with corpses, cannot sit at the same table with leaders of G20 for sure,” he wrote on Twitter.

Shelling: Russia has accused Ukraine of hitting targets in Belgorod region near the border. ProRussian news sources on Telegram reported that Ukraine had struck Belgorod’s airport overnight. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv, which typically does not comment on incidents in Russia.

Biden will act ‘methodically’ in re-evaluating Saudi relationship

AgencIeS

US President Joe Biden will act “methodically” in deciding how to respond to Saudi Arabia over oil output cuts, but options include changes to US security assistance, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.

Sullivan, speaking on CNN, said no changes to the US-Saudi relationship were imminent as Biden re-evaluates it.

OPEC+ move undermines Western countries’ plans to impose a cap on the price of Russian oil exports in response to Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

US Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for a halt to most US arms sales to Saudi Arabia after the OPEC+ move.

Bill & Melinda gates Foundation pledge $1.2 billion to eradicate polio AgencIeS

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said on Sunday that it will commit $1.2 billion to support efforts to end all forms of polio globally. Polio is a highly infectious disease spread mainly through contamination by faecal matter, used to kill and paralyse thousands of children annually. While there is no known cure, three injections of the vaccine provide nearly 100% immunity. Governments and foundations aim to end polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the last two countries where the virus continues to circulate. “The last steps to eradication are by far the toughest. But our foundation remains dedicated to a polio-free future, and we’re optimistic that we will see it soon,” said Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is run by Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates. Last month, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Peru are at very high risk for the reintroduction of polio. New York state is accelerating efforts to vaccinate residents after the virus was detected in wastewater samples. Cases were also detected in London and Jerusalem. In March, a senior World Health Organization official said that the world is at a ‘dangerous moment’ in the fight against diseases like polio, after an outbreak in Malawi. The announcement came ahead of a key pledging moment that will be co-hosted by Germany and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) on Oct. 18. The Gates Foundation is part of the GPEI, a major project between governments and international organisations. The foundation has contributed nearly $5 billion to GPEI.

“And so the president isn’t going act precipitously. He is going to act methodically, strategically and he’s going to take his time to consult with members of both parties, and also to have an opportunity for Congress to return so that he can sit with them in person and work through the options,” Sullivan said.

A day after OPEC+ oil producers last week announced output cuts over US objections, Biden vowed to impose “consequences” on Saudi Arabia for siding with Russia in supporting the cuts. The

Biden’s options “include changes to our approach to security assistance to Saudi Arabia, but I’m not going to get ahead of the president. What I will say is there’s nothing imminent,” Sullivan said, adding that there was time for Biden to consult with Congress.

Sullivan said Biden has no plans to meet with Saudi Arabia’s de-facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at a G20 leaders summit in November in Indonesia. Asked whether Biden would view Russia’s use of a small tactical nuclear weapon or detonating one in the Black Sea as less serious than a larger

bomb, Sullivan said it was “dangerous” to draw such distinctions, and the president would not do so.

“The use of a nuclear weapon on the battlefield in Ukraine is the use of a nuclear weapon on the battlefield in Ukraine. We’re not going to slice the

salami,” Sullivan added.

He said it was incumbent upon NATO allies and other responsible countries, including China and India, to “send a very clear and decisive message to Russia that they should not contemplate the use of nuclear weapons in this conflict.”

World Cup boom pushes some Qatar residents out of homes

DOHA agencies

Qatari landlords eyeing profit from the looming World Cup have been kicking out a growing number of mostly foreign tenants, sometimes with just a few days’ notice.

More than one million football fans are expected to descend on the capital Doha during the November-December tournament, putting a strain on the tiny Gulf nation. Landlords who have spotted an opening to increase rents “show no pity” and the market is dominated by “greed”, said a representative of a real estate company, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Reem, a foreigner working for a major Qatari company, was told she had a week to leave her apartment.

The woman, using a pseudonym to avoid blowback from her employer, told AFP the owner of the block wanted the dozens of apartments he has rented to her employers emptied so they could earn more during the World Cup. “We felt humiliated,” Reem said. The company has moved Reem and other employees into a hotel, but they can only stay there until November 15, five days before the tournament kicks off.

They were told they will then move into “tempo-

rary” apartments, she said.

“Leaving home with all our belongings in bags and boxes to go into a hotel room was a disaster.”

Other tenants in Doha told AFP they were similarly forced to choose between paying more on rent or leaving. Properties in the tower where Reem used to live are advertised on booking.com for $1,700 a night during the World Cup with a minimum stay of 14 nights.

In the two years she had been in the apartment, Reem said rent was $2,500 a month.

Most fans will be staying in hotels, apartments, cruise ships and desert camps booked through the official World Cup portal. Despite some concerns, organisers have insisted there will be enough accommodation for all fans in the emirate of just 2.8 million people.

To ease the crunch, FIFA recently released thousands of hotel rooms it had reserved, which experts have said could push prices down in the coming weeks.

Some World Cup visitors are turning to the open market for luxury apartments or better locations near specific stadiums, and the prices advertised for some Doha properties highlight owners’ sky-high hopes.

On Airbnb, apartments for two people go for $2,500 a night. A villa for the full 29 days of the World Cup

will cost fans booking through the online platform at least $13,000 — but prices can go into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

‘Very high’ demand: Some Doha residents are putting their flats and houses up for rent and fleeing Qatar for the month.

Adel, who listed his small apartment on Airbnb for $900 a night, said that “demand was very high” when he first advertised it. But he had to cancel the reservations after Airbnb asked him to provide a statement from his landlord approving the sublet. Rents have also risen sharply for tenants coming to the end of their leases in recent months. While Qatari law allows for an increase of up to 10 percent for a lease renewal, rents in some districts of Doha have risen by as much as 40 percent over the past year, according to Anum Hassan, head of research in Qatar at international consultancy firm Valustrat.

A Western diplomat in Doha said embassy staff have demanded increased salaries to meet their rent payments. “Rents… will stay high for a while,” said Nabil Ghorra, a 59-year-old Lebanese-American who lives in Doha’s upscale Pearl district. “I feel that there are people taking advantage of the situation, but this happens all over the world when there’s an event” like the World Cup.

Xi’s report provides ‘fundamental guidelines’ for HK, Macao work

of the CPC on Sunday, Xi stressed upholding and improving the policy of One Country, Two Systems. Xi said the policy is a great innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and must be adhered to over the long term.

Xi Jinping’s report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which kicked off on Sunday in Beijing, serves as a fundamental basis and guideline for work related to Hong Kong and Macao, and the One Country, Two Systems – a great innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics – should be adhered to for a long time, officials and experts said.

Although the practice of One Country, Two Systems has achieved widely recognized success since the two special administrative regions’ (SARs) return to the motherland, it also encountered some setbacks, especially during the social turmoil in Hong Kong in 2019.

General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Central Committee of the CPC made an assessment of the situation, took decisive steps and rolled out a series of measures that addressed both the symptoms and the root causes, including the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and electoral reform, to strike down the anti-China forces that disrupted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and put an end to the history

of the city not having “national security guards,” Xia Baolong, head of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, said at a Sunday group discussion with delegates from South China’s Guangdong Province who are attending the 20th CPC National Congress.

Those measures pushed Hong Kong to transition from chaos to order and now toward prosperity, yielding a series of breakthroughs and significant results in Hong Kong and Macao-related work, Xia said.

At the opening session of the 20th National Congress

“We will fully, faithfully, and resolutely implement the policy of One Country, Two Systems, under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and the people of Macao administer Macao, both with a high degree of autonomy. We will remain committed to lawbased governance in Hong Kong and Macao,” Xi said.

“Such long-term adherence to the policy also dispelled some concerns in some sectors of Hong Kong society, including from some political forces with ulterior motives that often hype the so-called deadline of this policy,” Li Xiaobing, an expert on Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan affairs from Nankai University, told the Global Times on Monday.

The policy is considered a great innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics, showing that this is the path that we have been exploring since the reform and opening up and that we will keep walking down this path, which has also become an important part of practicing the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Li said.

The successful practice of One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong serves as a positive example for national reunification in solving the Taiwan question, Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress from Hong Kong, told the Global Times on Monday.

Since the 19th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has fully executed full-scale governance in line with the Constitution and the Basic Law in firmly safeguarding the sovereignty, national security and interests of development, and protecting the longterm stability of Hong Kong, Tam said. “Any act of challenging the bottom-line of One Country, Two Systems and any act of secession will not be tolerated,” he said.

In the report, Xi said we will ensure that the central government exercises overall jurisdiction over the two regions, and that Hong Kong and Macao are administered by patriots. Some experts said these points are also experiences accumulated during the past five years in practicing One Country, Two Systems, including some new systematic explorations such as the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the electoral reform that ensure only patriots administer Hong Kong.

‘Real PaRt oF jouRNeY BegiNs NoW’: sHaN Masood HoPeFul oF WiN iN t20 WoRld CuP

PRAISINGhis fellow teammates for their performances this year, Pakistan’s left-hand batter Shan Masood expressed hope to win another World Cup for the nation.

“The real part of the journey, however, begins now, and we are aware that teams are judged upon how they go about at World Cups,” Masood wrote in a column on the

Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) website.

Highlighting the team’s recent performances and its preparation for the World Cup in its hindsight, Masood stated: “World Cup is a time when results and momentum matter.

Masood added that as a side that strives to win the World Cup, the team’s focus and talk has been about how to keep improving all three facets of our game.

“Even after defeating New Zealand in the

tri-series final on Friday, we discussed the areas of improvement from that game. We are constantly looking at the bigger picture and this is a sign of a team that wants to keep growing,” Masood wrote in his column.

He shared that the historical series against England and the tri-nation series in New Zealand against the Kiwis and Bangladesh prepared them for the conditions they will be encountered in Australia.

“We now have an ideal picture of what

is required to bring the coveted trophy home,” Masood wrote.

The batter also commended the Green Shirts’ game strategy in the field in his writeup, praising Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as openers. Masood had nothing but reverence for his teammates Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and Mohammad Hasnain.

He also mentioned about the cama-

raderie the boys share as a team, which eventually helps the side perform well on the field.

“Spending time together is an important aspect of the game. It adds to the team chemistry on the field and infuses a healthy team culture that makes one go an extra yard for his teammate,” the player wrote, adding that having each other’s support during personal and professional struggles is “extremely important”.

Salah not giving up on Premier League title

Mohamed Salah said Liverpool are not giving up on the Premier League title after the Egyptian’s strike in a 1-0 win inflicted Manchester City’s first defeat of the season on Sunday.

The Reds are still 10 points behind City and 14 adrift of leaders Arsenal, but kickstarted their season with just a third league win of the campaign.

thrown from the crowd in the aftermath of the disallowed goal.

“The referee spoke with my assistant and Jurgen before the game and said ‘Today I won’t make soft fouls’ and all the game was play on, play on, play on, except the goal we scored.”

For all their achievements under Guardiola, City are still to master Anfield in front of a crowd as Liverpool’s proud unbeaten home league record with fans in attendance dating back to 2017 goes on.

“That’s what we did in a well organised and very passionate way.”

Liverpool have caused City more problems than anyone else in England over the past five years and belied the form of both sides heading into the game to inflict the champions’ first league defeat since February.

A lacklustre first half was followed by an explosive second period.

Neymar trial opens in Barcelona ahead of World Cup

With the World Cup barely a month away, Brazilian superstar Neymar goes on trial in Spain Monday over alleged irregularities in his transfer to Barcelona nearly a decade ago. The 30-year-old, wearing sunglasses and a dark suit, waved to the press as he arrived with his parents at the Provincial Court of Barcelona at around 9:45am. The high-profile trial is the culmination of a years-long legal saga over his 2013 transfer from the Brazilian club Santos to Barcelona. Neymar then joined Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain in a world record 222 million euro ($214 million) transfer in 2017. He is one of nine defendants on trial on corruption-related charges, among them his parents and their N&N company, which manages his affairs. All three are facing charges of business corruption. Investigators began probing the transfer after a 2015 complaint filed by DIS, a Brazilian company that owned 40% of the player’s sporting rights when he was at Santos. Barcelona said the transfer cost 57.1 million euros, but prosecutors believe it was at least 83 million euros. The club said it paid 40 million euros to N&N and 17.1 million to Santos, of which 6.8 million was given to DIS. But DIS alleges that Neymar, Barcelona and the Brazilian club colluded to mask the true cost of the deal. Among the other defendants are two former Barca presidents, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, and ex-Santos boss Odilio Rodrigues Filho. Neymar, who came to Barcelona just hours scoring the winning goal against Marseille in a Ligue 1 match on Sunday, will testify on either October 21 or October 28, but it is not known if he will have to be physically present. The trial is due to end on October 31. If convicted, he could face two years in jail and a 10-million-euro ($9.7 million) fine. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will take the stand on Tuesday by videoconference to give his opinion of how a 2011 secret pre-contract deal between Barca and Neymar influenced the market. “Neymar Junior, with the complicity of his parents and FC Barcelona and its directors at the time, and Santos FC at a later stage, defrauded DIS of its legitimate financial interests,” said DIS lawyer Paulo Nasser on Thursday.

“Personally I love to play always for a title,” said Salah. “In my head I am going to fight for it, but we need to focus more and take one game at a time.”

Jurgen Klopp was sent off in the closing stages as he lost the plot with the officials for refusing to award Salah a free-kick.

But City were also left fuming at referee Anthony Taylor after he disallowed Phil Foden’s strike early in the second half after a VAR review.

“This is Anfield,” said City boss Pep Guardiola, who was targeted by coins

Klopp claimed in his pre-match press conference that no one can compete with the wealth of resources at City’s disposal after adding Erling Haaland to a squad filled with seasoned Premier League winners.

But the Norwegian’s 10-game scoring streak at club level came to an end on an afternoon Liverpool will hope gives their season lift-off.

“On a normal day you should not even try against City, you have to play to your limits and further,” added Klopp.

Salah should have opened the scoring when he latched onto Roberto Firmino’s through ball and Ederson made a brilliant save low to his right.

Seconds later the ball was in the Liverpool net as Foden swept home the loose ball after Alisson Becker bravely saved at Haaland’s feet.

However, the goal was ruled out after a VAR check for a foul by Haaland on Fabinho in the build-up.

Guardiola was still furiously remonstrating with the officials on the touchline when the home side missed another huge chance to break the deadlock.

Real Madrid more mature than Barca, says Xavi

Staff RepoRt

Barcelona coach Xavi said Real Madrid beat his team in the Clasico because they were more mature.

Los Blancos earned a 3-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu to replace Barca at the top of La Liga on Sunday, moving three points clear of their Catalan rivals.

The defeat came after a draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League which leaves Barcelona on the verge of a second successive group stage elimination.

“They beat us on maturity, in knowing how to compete,” Xavi told a press conference. “We competed worse than our opponents, that’s why we lost the game. They are a team that’s more mature than ours at this moment.” Barcelona signed various players in the summer, including La Liga’s top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha.

Real Madrid’s side is more settled, with the only player starting the Clasico not at the club last season being midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

Madrid moved ahead through Karim Benzema after Vinicius Junior got behind Sergi Roberto, with Fede Valverde drilling home the second. Ferran Torres pulled one back but a Rodrygo penalty sealed Madrid’s win.

“We played against a great team, who are very sure of their plan,” continued Xavi. “The first goal cannot be allowed to happen. And you go in at 2-0 down, after they had just three chances and we made various.

“We have to mature. Against Inter, Bayern Munich,

England thrash off-colour Pakistan in T20I warm-up match

early inroads by dismissing opener Phil Salt in the second over but Ben Stokes neutralised the bowling attack with his quick 18-ball 36 that took his team to 49-1 in 5 overs.

in Milan, here, these are games where we weren’t (mature enough), but we will learn.”

Barcelona host Villarreal on Thursday as they look to keep the pressure on the division’s new leaders, who visit Elche on Wednesday.

“We have to change the dynamic,” added Xavi. “The season is very long, sometimes you’re down, but we have to be strong, keep believing, working, I don’t know any other way to get to success. “These are just three points and now we have to prepare for the next game against Villarreal.”

Barcelona president Joan Laporta was asked to leave the officials’ dressing room after going there to ask questions about decisions following the defeat, per referee Jose Sanchez Martinez’s official report.

Madrid were given a late penalty when Eric Garcia stepped on Rodrygo’s foot, while Robert Lewandowski was clattered by Dani Carvajal but Barcelona were not awarded a spot-kick. “I thought the referee did well,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “We were the better team, stronger, we managed to bring the ball out well, as they were pressing a lot high up.

“Defensively we did well with everyone together and committed, in the first half is where we won the game.” Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who played a key role in the first goal, was one of the best performers. The former Germany international has a contract which expires in 2023 and according to Spanish reports has not decided if he will stay with Madrid.

Salah’s cross picked out Jota at the far post, who headed against the post when it seemed easier to score.

Haaland was next to be denied as the game raged from one end to the other as his low effort was palmed away by Alisson. But it was Liverpool’s star marksman who finally found his range.

Salah bent another effort inches wide after turning Ruben Dias.

But the Egyptian did not spare City at the third time of asking as he outmuscled Joao Cancelo to latch onto Alisson’s long ball and kept his cool to slot past Ederson.

Virgil van Dijk’s dip in form has been one of the key factors in Liverpool’s slow start to the season.

The Dutchman, though, rose to the challenge of stopping Haaland and made one vital intervention to turn Cancelo’s cross away from the City number nine.

Klopp was given his marching orders for coming face-to-face with the assistant referee after Salah appeared to have been hauled back by Bernardo Silva.

Kardar, Younis inducted into PCB Hall of Fame

Pakistan’s first Test captain Abdul Hafeez Kardar and country’s most successful Test batter and 2009 T20 World Cup-winning captain Younis Khan have been inducted into the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Hall of Fame. The two icons of Pakistan cricket have joined the illustrious group comprising Abdul Qadir, Fazal Mahmood, Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Zaheer Abbas. Kardar (posthumously) and Younis were inducted following a voting process featuring Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Sana Mir, Urooj Mumtaz (both former Pakistan women’s captains), Aaliya Rasheed, Dr Nauman Niaz, Rasheed Shakoor, Qamar Ahmed and Waheed Khan (all respected print and broadcast journalists). Reacting to the news, Shahid Kardar, AH Kardar’s son, said: “This is a richly deserved tribute to a natural skipper whose inspirational leadership put Pakistan on the world cricket map.” Younis said: “I feel honoured to have been inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame.”

Harry Brook and Sam Curran were the architects of England’s convincing victory over Pakistan in a T20 World Cup warm-up game in Brisbane on Monday.

Pakistan posted 160 at the loss of eight wickets, with Shan Masood top scoring with 39 runs. No other batsman could play a noticeable innings as pacer Mohammad Wasim scored 26 runs, followed by Iftikhar Ahmed (22) and opener Haider Ali (18).

The match was reduced to 19 overs each due to rain.

Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were rested, with Shadab Khan taking the charge temporarily.

While defending the total, pacer Naseem Shah made

Fast bowler Wasim managed to dismiss Stokes while skipper Shadab sent Alex Hales to the pavilion. But a quick-fire innings at the bottom from Liam Livingstone (28 off 16 balls), Brook (45 off 24 balls) and Curran (33 off 14 balls) took England home with 26 balls to spare.

Pakistan will play their next warm-up match against Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Pakistan and India will lock horns at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23 in their opening fixture of the T20 World Cup — a day after Australia begin their title defence against New Zealand in Sydney.

NAwAz ShARIF ANgRy ovER PML-N’S ‘woRST dEFEAT’ IN By-PoLLS

ORMERprime minister and ruling PML-N’s supremo Nawaz Sharif has expressed annoyance over his party’s “worst defeat” in Sunday’s by-elections, directing the party officials to set up a fact-finding committee on the by-poll drubbing.

PML-N sources reported on Monday that chaotic scenes were witnessed at party huddles with after Nawaz expressed dissatisfaction over the party leadership’s performance in yesterday’s by-elections in three provinces of the country and directed the ministers and senior party leaders to submit the report on the thumping defeat.

The PML-N leadership submitted a preliminary report on election defeat to Nawaz Sharif, in which rising inflation and massive increase in electricity prices were quoted as major reasons behind the defeat.

The insiders added the report also held party’s renewed ‘conciliatory narrative’ and lack of senior leadership interest in the party

affairs responsible for the upset in by-polls.

Last night, Imran Khan won six National Assembly seats for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the by-election that was seen as a direct contest between the former ruling party and the current ruling coalition led by PML-N.

us says ‘confident’ Pakistan can secuRe nukes afteR Biden uPRoaR

Out of the eight National Assembly seats previously held by the PTI, Imran contested on seven, while Meher Bano Qureshi was to defend the party’s bastion in Multan. However, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) made inroads, with Hakeem Baloch winning in Karachi and Ali Musa Gilani in Multan.

According to the unofficial results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Imran won the National Assembly seats from Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Faisalabad and Nankana Sahib in Punjab and the Korangi district of Karachi in Sindh.

The PPP won in Multan, Punjab and

Rana Sanaullah threatens Imran Khan of responding with ‘full force’ if PTI enters Islamabad

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Monday warned PTI chief Imran Khan that the government will respond with “full force” if he announces a long march and enters the federal capital. Speaking during a press conference here, the interior minister said that Khan has started the culture of bringing huge crowds out on the streets, but the government knows how to end it. “We also know how to take a similar path,” he said. Sanaullah said that Khan’s behaviour is not in the favour of the nation as he wants to “spread anarchy in Pakistan”. Speaking about the October 16 by-elections — in which Khan won six of the eight National Assembly seats across Pakistan — the PML-N leader said that while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has “responsibly carried out its job in the by-polls”, Khan was busy “spreading propaganda against the chief election commissioner (CEC).” “If Khan fails to respect our voters then he will not earn any respect from our side either,” the interior minister said, adding that the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) members are also Pakistanis and patriots. Sanaullah further said that people’s mandate should be respected and the decision taken by the voters should be honoured and accepted. “The government prioritised the state over its own politics and will protect the democracy and the rule of law,” he said. The PML-N leader said that the party supremo Nawaz Sharif will lead the next election campaign as he is the most trusted by the people. Yesterday, Sanaullah said that the government would multiply its May 25 policy by 10 if Khan announces another long march. The minister also said that it was “unacceptable” that anyone could come to occupy Islamabad whenever they wanted.

Punjab Assembly passes resolution to denounce Biden’s nuke remarks

The treasury lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly on Monday passed a resolution with a majority vote, strongly condemning US President Joe Biden’s comments on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons amid protest by the PML-N lawmakers for not removing the words “imported government” from the resolution despite repeated requests. As the resolution was being moved, the PMLN lawmakers objected, saying that they have no objection over the entire content of the resolution but they were opposed to the words “imported government”. They demanded the removal of objectionable words. However, PTI lawmaker Ali Afzal Sahi continued reading the resolution. Later, it was passed with a majority vote whereas the PML-N did not participate in the voting and continued creating a ruckus against the government’s conduct of not accepting their demand.

Resolution: This house strongly condemned Biden’s comments on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. “Pakistan is one of the most important, responsible and sole Islamic nuclear states amongst the world’s largest seven nuclear countries,” the resolution stated. The resolution said that no one should be in doubt that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are in safe hands.

“The world recognises that our nuclear command and control system is one of the safest in the world.

Malir district of Karachi. Besides, by-polls were also held on three seats of the Punjab Assembly previously held by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). According to the unofficial results, the PTI emerged victorious on two seats, while the PML-N retained one.

The results gave both sides something to go ahead. Based on PTI’s popularity and its momentum, many expected that the party would clean sweep but this didn’t happen. Victories in Multan and Karachi for the joint candidates for PPP and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) also gave face-saving to the PPP.

Nawaz Sharif angry over PML-N’s ‘worst defeat’ in by-polls

Patel noted, however, that USAID chief Samantha Power and State Department Counselor Derek Chollet have both visited since devastating floods hit Pakistan.

“This is a relationship we view as important and it’s something that we’re going to continue to remain deeply engaged in,” he said.

Ruling coalition rejects Imran’s ultimatum for snap polls

The leadership of the ruling coalition including the PML-N, PPP, JUI-F and others on Monday brushed aside PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s demand to hold early elections in the country, saying that no group will be allowed to dictate the government.

In a joint statement issued in response to PTI chief’s warning to hold long march if snap polls were not announced, the ruling alliance said no group will be allowed to forcefully impose a decision and those trying to take the law into their hands will be dealt with as per the law and the Constitution.

Earlier in the day, former PM Imran

addressed a presser in which he reiterated his call for early elections after his party’s thumping victory in Sunday’s bypolls. Imran said the coalition government is being given ‘some more time’ before he gives the final date for the party’s long march to Islamabad.

The ruling parties also strongly condemned allegations levelled by Imran against former president Asif Ali Zardari and former premier Nawaz Sharif. The PTI chairman has repeatedly been calling the former president and premier “thieves” and “corrupt” among other things.

The statement added that the prime minister will decide about the appointment of the army chief as per the law, and that the decision will not be taken on intimidation, threats or dictation of a

“foreign-funded fitna”.

Imran has repeatedly objected that the incumbent government as well as Nawaz and Zardari shouldn’t be allowed to appoint the military chief.

The PML-N-led coalition government said that the aim of targeting the army chief, leadership of the sensitive institutions, officers, chief election commissioner and others is “blackmailing”, which is definitely not a political act but a part of a conspiracy and it would not be allowed to succeed.

“It is clear in the Constitution and law that appointment of the army chief and other position is the constitutional authority of the prime minister,” the ruling coalition reiterated its stance in the statement. Lashing out at Imran, the PML-N

Imran Khan’s narrative against institutions fizzled out after by polls: Marriyum

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Monday said the by-election’s results had shattered the narrative of a “foreign funded Fitna” (Imran Khan) who bent upon maligning the state institutions by hurling accusations, abuse and threats. She, in a news statement, questioned the rationale behind the narrative pursued by Imran Khan against state institutions after his win on six seats of the National Assembly in the recently held by polls.

“Will the absolutely fraud demand resignation of the chief election commissioner in his press conference today. Will the foreign agent make a speech against the ‘neutrals’ today,” she said while posing a series of questions to Imran Khan. She said whether the thief of Toshakhana would name the “Mr X” and “Mr Y” today. Would the “foreign funded Fitna” continue to target the chief election commissioner by hurling abuse, threats and accusations on him, the minister inquired.

Marriyum ridiculed Imran Khan for celebrating the PTI’s further loss of two seats in the Parliament. Imran Khan still lacked the magic number—172 which was re-

quired to oust an incumbent government. She said Imran Khan could not dictate the government and Parliament after losing two of his own seats in the by polls.

He could not change the government by attacking the Federal Capital and creating anarchy in the country.

The minister said Imran Khan did not get the license to launch an assault on Islamabad after winning six seats in the election. “PTI has become a one-man party which has no candidate other than Imran Khan,” she concluded.

Musadik Malik says gas load-shedding inevitable despite extra LNG in January

Musadik Malik, the Minister of State for Petroleum, on Monday warned that gas loadshdding is inevitable in the coming months despite the arrangement of additional 200 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) liquefied natural gas (LNG) in JanuaryFebruary 2023, compared to the same period last year.

“Despite the availability of an extra LNG cargo during the upcoming peak winter season, gas load-shedding will be inevitable,” Malik said while

briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum in a meeting held under the chair of Chairman Committee, Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir.

“In January, Pakistan will have ten LNG cargoes, while in February nine of them will be available for local consumption, while this extra liquefied gas will be imported by state-run companies.” Malik said the government would encourage the private sector to invest in new LNG terminals.

The state petroleum minister was critical of the supply of gas to the fertiliser-makers at discounted rates.

“The gas costing

Rs4,000/MMBTU was being supplied to the fertiliser factories for just Rs250/MMBTU under the pressure of the fertiliser mafia,” the minister said.

A poor common consumer pays $17/MMBTU, while the exporting sector gets the same gas for $9/MMBTU; however, it is provided to the fertiliser-makers at a meagre $1.35-3/MMBTU. “It is true exports are also important, the gas sector circular debt has ballooned to Rs1,500 billion,” he said adding, “We have to strike a balance between gas prices. We did not buy gas when it was available at $2-2.5/MMBTU.

and its allies said that a person deprived of power was targeting national institutions under a deliberate agenda. The incumbent rulers added that running a smear campaign against the martyrs of Pakistan Army and the statements and “encouragement of rebellion” in the army was tantamount to anti-state activities and they would be dealt with in accordance with the law and the Constitution.

The statement added that the Constitution, democracy and system will not be allowed to be enslaved on the basis of bullying and intimidation. The statement also clarified that the economy of the country and the rehabilitation of the flood victims was the first national priority at the moment time, on which no compromise will be made.

FAFEN report finds scattered irregularities during Sunday’s by-polls

Election monitoring NGO, Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), on Monday said it had registered scattered irregularities during Sunday’s by-polls, including the presence of unauthorised persons inside polling stations, and potentially compromising the efficacy of the electoral process; unchecked campaigning and canvassing inside and outside polling stations. FAFEN report also observed an oversized polling stations that could have potentially led to overcrowding and disorderly polling – validating the complaints lodged by the PTI candidates. The report said its team monitored election day with 96 trained, nonpartisan and accredited observers covering 364 (12% of the total 2,937) polling stations comprising 1,216 polling booths (12% of the total 10,233 booths). By-elections held in eight National Assembly and three Punjab Assembly constituencies on Sunday witnessed low voter turnout and election code violations, the report said Monday. “With only 35% of the registered voters turning out on election day, […] constituencies remained peaceful with scattered instances of irregularities,” FAFEN said in its report. The report mentioned that overall, the voter turnout remained low compared to the General Elections (GE) 2018. The male turnout declined from 57.3% in GE-2018 to 39.5% in the by-polls, while the female turnout dropped from 45.0% to 29.7%. In absolute numbers, 470,890 fewer voters turned out to vote as compared to 1,962,800 voters in GE-2018. The highest voter turnout (53.3%) was recorded in PP-209 Khanewal-VII and the lowest (14.8%) in NA239 Korangi Karachi-I, the election watchdog said. “The lowest female turnout remained at 10.4%, recorded in NA-31 Peshawar-V, raising the need for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to look into the reasons in the spirit of Section 9 of the Elections Act, 2017.”