Blinken meets Abbas, presses for two-state solution

RAMALLAH: US Secre­tary of State Antony Blinken shuttled from Israel to the Palestinians’ West Bank on Tuesday, appealing for an end to resurgent violence and reaffirming Washington’s backing for a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict.

Blinken is urging calm on both sides after last week’s killing by a Palestinian gunman of seven people outside a Jerusalem synagogue and anger among Palestinians over actions by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank.

“That’s the only way that we can create conditions in which people’s sense of security will start to improve,” he told a news conference in Jerusalem.

He took that message into a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, warning all parties against any action that could threaten a two-state solution, with an independent Palest­inian state alongside Israel.

Urges calm on both sides, end to resurgent violence

“We’ve been clear that this includes things like settlement expansion, the legalisation of outposts, demolitions and evictions, disruptions to the historic status of the holy sites, and of course incitement and acquiescence to violence.”

He said he had heard “deep concern” about the current trajectory in both Israel and the West Bank but also constructive ideas and he had asked senior officials to remain behind to continue talking.

A senior State Department official said the officials staying would be Barbara Leaf, the top department official for the Middle East, and Hady Amr, US special representative for Palestinian affairs.

Blinken’s first visit since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power this month at the head of one of the most right-wing governments in Israel’s history comes at a time of extreme tension between the two sides.

He said Palestinians were facing a “shrinking horizon of hope” that needed to change.

Amid rising anger at near-daily raids by Israeli forces in the West Bank, Abbas’ Pales­tinian Authority (PA) suspended its security cooperation agreement with Israel last week after the largest incursion in years. The operation saw Israeli forces penetrate deep into a refugee camp in the northern city of Jenin, setting off a gunfight in which 10 Palestinians died.

“The Israeli government is responsible for what is happening today, because of its practices that undermine the two-state solution and violate the signed agreements,” Abbas said after his meeting with Blinken.

Bloody January

In January alone, 35 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops, in the bloodiest month since 2015, while officials say attacks on Palestinian property by Israeli settlers have also increased. The raids have been going on almost daily for months as Israeli forces have stepped up a crackdown on militant groups in the West Bank following a spate of deadly attacks by Palestinians in Israel last year.

Blinken also highlighted US assistance to the Palestinian economy, which is heavily dependent on foreign aid. He said the United States would provide an extra $50 million in funding through the United Nations and that agreement had been reached on providing high speed 4G telecoms services to Palestinians.

Before meeting Abbas, Blinken visited Deir Dibwan, a town near Ramallah that is home to many Palestinian Am­e­r­icans, and met civil society leaders and businesspeople. On Tuesday, Blinken met Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and discussed cooperation to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapon as well the situation in the West Bank.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2023

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Two JITs to probe Peshawar blast

PESHAWAR: The provincial government on Tuesday formed two separate teams to probe how the bomber gained access to the highly-secure Police Lines Peshawar, which houses sensitive installations, even as the number of lives lost in the attack climbed to 100.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said 97 police officials and three civilians lost their lives, whereas 216 people were injured in the attack, while 27 individuals were said to be in critical condition.

Local sources, however, put the total number of injured persons at 221, of which 55 were still admitted at the Lady Reading Hospital, with seven individuals in intensive care.

During his speech in NA, the interior minister said law enforcement agencies were close to nabbing those who facilitated the suicide bombing.

Mr Sanaullah said at least 600-700 families of police officials and civilians live inside the Police Lines and it was suspected that someone from inside the compound might have facilitated the attack.

However, he stressed that these suspicions were merely conjecture at this point.

Toll rises to 100; Sana claims abettors ‘within reach’ of LEAs

The minister confirmed that the attack was a suicide bombing and said the head and body parts of the bomber had been found.

Meanwhile, the rescue operation to rescue the injured from underneath the rubble and remove the bodies of the dead had been completed, he added.

Two JITs

Earlier in the day, KP police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari told journalists that the security lapse which resulted in this attack was being investigated by the city police chief, whereas a JIT, also including intelligence officials, would seek out abettors.

Caretaker CM Azam Khan accompanied the police chief as the latter fielded questions about how the bomber gained access to the mosque and how explosives were brought inside the Red Zone.

The KP IG said that around 10 to 12 kilogrammes of explosives were used in the attack that caused the roof of the mosque to cave in. These explosives were parcelled into the compound in small portions to avoid detection by security personnel deployed at the entrance of the facility.

IG Ansari stated that security checks were limited to the main gate since there was no central command at Police Lines. Speaking about investigations, he said people should not expect the result within 24 hours since it “is a huge inquiry” and would take a lot of time to pore over footage from CCTV cameras covering the past month.

In response to the claims made by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State, the he said the police did not trust the “exaggerated claims” of these outfits, and investigations were being conducted to ascertain which outfit was responsible for the bombing.

“We are looking into it and Jamaatul Ahrar… could be involved but… [it] parted ways [with TTP] after Omar Khalid Khorasani’s death,” IG Ansari said. On the other hand, Mr Sanaullah told lawmakers that the Taliban had claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The caretaker CM stated that people should not lose courage. “Every possible support and assistance would be extended to the bereaved families of martyred and injured,” he said, adding that heirs of the martyrs and injured would be provided with all possible support and a summary for the provision of compensation packages was already approved.

The day-long rescue operation concluded at 2pm on Tuesday. “We rescued the last injured person around 11pm on Monday,” Spokesperson Bilal Faizi told Dawn. He added that 27 corpses were recovered between 1am to 2pm on Tuesday. The bodies of all martyred police personnel were shifted to their native areas, following funeral prayers.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2023

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Automakers suspend production

KARACHI: Faced with a demand slump and raw material shortages amid unfavourable economic conditions, Indus Motor Company (IMC) on Tuesday annou­nced a fourth production suspension from Feb 1-14.

Also, Agriauto Indus­tries Ltd (AIL), an auto vendor, announced a partial closure this month due to a sharp decline in demand for parts and accessories from major automakers.

The assembler of Toyota vehicles in a stock filing said it would resume production from Feb 15 on a single shift basis until further notice.

IMC said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Jan 2 advised commercial banks to prioritise/facilitate imports to specified sectors only, which does not include the auto sector. This has disrupted the entire supply chain and the vendors are unable to supply raw materials and components to the company, IMC said.

The company had kept its production operation suspended from Aug 1-13, Sept 1-16 and Dec 20-30, 2022.

Despite production stoppages and a 52pc drop in sales in IHFY23, IMC shocked its customers by raising prices from Rs280,000 to Rs1.2 million on various models in the second week of this month.

Lucky jacks up prices: Kia Lucky Motor Corporation has raised the price by Rs100,000 to Rs1.3m from Feb 1. Till last month, the company has been offering a price lock option to the customers with immediate delivery.

As per the company’s website, the new price of Kia Picanto Manual and Automatic will be Rs3.2m and Rs3.4m, a rise of Rs100,000 and Rs200,000 respectively.

Bike gets costlier: The country’s no.1 bike assembler, Atlas Honda Ltd (AHL), has raised the price of 70cc-150cc bikes by Rs7,400-30,000 from Feb 1. The new rates of CD-70, CD-70 Dream, Pridor, CG-125, CG125S, CB125F, CB150F and CB150F (Silver) are Rs128,900, Rs137,900, Rs170,900, Rs194,900, Rs230,900, Rs305,900, Rs383,900 and Rs387,900.

United Auto Industries, the country’s second-largest bike assembler, has announced a price hike of Rs6,000-10,000 in 70cc-125cc bikes from Feb 1.

Memon Motor Private Ltd, assembler of Super Star Motorcycle, has raised the price of 70cc-125cc bikes by Rs6,000 from Jan 30. NJ Auto Industries, maker of Super Power bikes, has made a price jump of Rs5,000-8,000 in 70cc-200cc bikes from Jan 27.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2023

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High courts have no business fixing product prices, rules SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has held that high courts have no business fixing the prices of livestock and dairy products.

It is a settled law that a high court does not have suo motu jurisdiction under Article 199 of the Constitution compared to the Supreme Court, which has been conferred exclusive jurisdiction, observed Justice Ijazul Ahsan in a judgement he wrote. But, he stated, the high court passed a series of suo motu orders by imposing a ban on the export of dairy and poultry products.

The case at hand concerned the Sept 16, 2021 Peshawar High Court order of directing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to devise policies to bring down the prices of livestock, dairy and poultry products and form a committee to review them under a formula whereby the rates of livestock by-products such as hide, viscera, feathers, legs/wings etc were deducted.

Justice Ahsan while heading a two-judge Supreme Court bench held that banning of imports or exports of products was not the domain of courts, but fell under the exclusive domain of the executive. The judgement said the high court should not have transgressed its jurisdiction under Article 199 by passing an order that not only amounted to exercise of suo motu jurisdiction, but also an encroachment upon the jurisdiction of the executive.

Setting aside PHC order, apex court judge says high court encroached upon executive jurisdiction

The verdict said Article 184 of the Constitution provided that the power to exercise suo motu jurisdiction vested only with the apex court. The high court did not cite any law or precedent on the basis of which it exercised the jurisdiction, it said, adding the high court was not competent to even fix prices of products.

The only recourse available to it, if necessary, was to direct the government to do what was required under the law in case its functionaries were not doing their job, the judgement maintained.

Likewise, the high court under Article 199 couldn’t devise a pricing formula since that was not permitted under the law and went against the principle of trichotomy of powers envisaged under the Constitution, Justice Ahsan observed.

He further wrote the high court order was not only against the mandate of Article 199, but also against settled principles of law, adding the court could not have provided a formula for the calculation of prices nor could it direct the formation of a pricing committee to implement the formula.

Such matters clearly related to the executive and ought to be left to the policy makers to regulate.

Even otherwise, Item No 27 of the Federal Legislative List clearly and categorically provided that import and export was a federal subject. Also, Section 3 of the Pakistan Imports and Exports (Control) Act 1950 clearly stated that the power to prohibit or restrict imports and exports vested with the federal government. Directing the provincial government to do so did not have any legal or constitutional basis or sanction behind it, according to the judgement.

These provisions of law clearly stated that restriction or prohibition of imports and exports fell within the domain of the federal government. As such, the high court clearly exceeded its jurisdiction by formulating a policy regarding pricing of goods or commodities and banning exports of livestock, poultry, dairy products or products derived therefrom.

Thus, the judgement stated, the SC was of the view that the high court had incorrectly applied the law and there were patent jurisdictional errors in its order that warranted interference. Thus, the Supreme Court set aside the high court order.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2023

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Interim KP CM dispels impression polls could be delayed

• PTI moves high court for fixing of election date
• Governor claims he has already done so

PESHAWAR: While the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday moved the Peshawar High Court, seeking directives for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor to announce date for holding provincial assembly elections, the caretaker chief minister dispelled the impression of delaying polls because of the law and order situation.

Responding to a question at the site of the blast in Police Lines, Chief Minister Moh­a­mmad Azam Khan said the recent bomb blasts in different areas of the province have no concern with holding the elections.

“Terror incidents have been occurring in southern districts, including Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Lakki Marwat, for a long time,” he said, while dispelling the impression of a possible delay in the elections. “The law and order situation has not been good in the region for the past 40 years after [Russ­ian invasion of Afghanistan],” he said.

Election date

The PTI petition, moved by its secretary general Asad Umar, challenged the delay in announcement of date for elections to the provincial assembly, which was dissolved on Jan 18. It requested the high court to direct the governor to act in accordance with the Constitution.

It was further prayed to declare as unconstitutional and illegal the assertion of the governor, reported in the media, that the decision on holding of polls would be taken in the light of reports of intelligence and other agencies.

The petition was filed through senior lawyer Muhammad Muazzam Butt, who was also accompanied by former provincial ministers and leaders of the PTI, including Mohammad Atif Khan, Shaukat Yousafzai and Shahram Khan Tarakai.

The petition stated that then KP chief minister Mahmood Khan had on Jan 17 forwarded his advice to the governor for dissolution of the provincial assembly under Article 112(1) of the Constitution. It said the governor ordered dissolution of the KP Assembly on Jan 18 with immediate effect.

The petition stated that the Election Commission of Pakistan, through a letter on Jan 24, appraised the governor that consequent to dissolution of the provincial assembly, a general election was to be positively held within 90 days under Article 224(2) of the Constitution.

The petition added that the governor was also reminded by the ECP that under Article 105(3) of the Constitution, he was mandated to fix a date, not later than 90 days from the date the assembly was dissolved, for holding the general elections to the assembly, in consultation with the ECP in terms of Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017.

It stated that ECP was to announce the election programme within seven days of the announcement of the election date under Section 57 (2) of the Elections Act. It contended that the period of 90 days started with effect from Jan 18 and such polls’ day may not be taken beyond April 17, adding that the ECP had requested the governor to fix the date of polling between April 15 and 17.

The petition regretted that despite the passage of 12 days since the assembly was dissolved and the request made by the ECP on Jan 24, the governor was not inclined to fulfil his constitutional obligation.

Meanwhile, Governor Haji Ghulam Ali has sent a letter to the ECP, informing it about the date he agreed on holding the provincial assembly polls, according to a handout issued by the Governor’s House. However, it did not mention the date which was conveyed to commission.

The governor told some media persons that the letter to the ECP was sent by his secretary and couldn’t recall what date was mentioned in it.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2023

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Pakistan’s corruption perception score falls to worst level in 10 years

ISLAMABAD: Although Pakistan managed to maintain its ranking in Transparency International’s Corru­ption Perceptions Index (CPI) in 2022, its overall score fell to the lowest level since 2012.

According to the report released on Monday, Pakistan ranked 140 out of 180 countries — a position unchanged from 2021. However, its overall CPI score fell to 27 out of 100. Last year, the score was 28 out of 100.

“Pakistan […]continued its statistically significant downward trend, this year hitting its lowest score since 2012 at just 27 points amidst ongoing political turmoil,” Transparency Inter­national said.

It added that former prime minister Imran Khan came to power on the promise of tackling corruption and undertaking social and economic reforms. “[B]ut little has been accomplished on any of these fronts since he took the reins in 2018.”

Country maintains 140th spot on Transparency International ranking

Under the PTI government, the ranking of Pakistan gradually slid from 117 out of 180 in 2018 to 140 in 2021.

THIS infographic shows Pakistan is one of the countries whose CPI score declined the most in the Asia Pacific region.—Courtesy TI

The Berlin-based organisation said since Mr Khan was ousted through a no-confidence motion in April 2022, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified him over allegations “he failed to declare gifts and profits he made from selling them during his tenure.”

“While awaiting the verdicts from these two cases, it’s most important that the new government does not allow such political scandals to derail comprehensive anti-corruption efforts,” the organisation said in its review of Pakistan’s performance on the index.

The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public-sector corruption according to experts and businesspeople. It relies on 13 independent data sources and uses a scale of zero to 100, where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

Pakistan is among the 10 nations whose CPI score has significantly declined since 2017. Among the biggest declines are Luxembourg (77), Canada (74), the United Kingdom (73), Austria (71), Malaysia (47), Mongolia (33), Pakistan (27), Honduras (23), Nicaragua (19) and Haiti (17).

Recommendations

However it said that upcoming elections in major countries, including Pakistan, offer some hope for addressing the issue,

“Elections in Bangladesh, Paki­stan, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and more can be important moments… to address corruption concerns that weigh so heavily on many.”

To improve its ranking, TI recommended Pakistan reinforce checks and balances and promote separation of powers; share information and uphold the right to access it; limit private influence by regulating lobbying, promote open access to decision-making; and combat transnational corruption.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2023

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France, Australia to make shells for Ukraine

PARIS: France and Australia unveiled plans on Monday to jointly manufacture ammunition for Ukraine as the two countries seek to shore up defence cooperation and move past a row over Canberra’s decision to ditch plans to buy French submarines two years ago.

The relationship hit historic lows in the autumn of 2021, with Paris accusing its allies of stabbing it in the back when Australia opted for nuclear-powered submarines built with US and British technology instead and cancelled a French contract.

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said France and Australia had agreed to cooperate to make “several thousands” of 155-millimetre shells to help Ukraine. He hoped delivery of the shells to Ukraine could start in March.

Lecornu was speaking after meeting his Australian counterpart Richard Marles, the first joint high-level talks since the submarine row erupted. Australia will supply the powder while France’s Nexter will make the ammunition.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2023

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PTI asks CJP to act against abuse of ‘state power’

ISLAMABAD: Accusing the government and state institutions of violating the Constitution, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf senior vice president Dr Shireen Mazari on Monday urged the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) to take notice of abuse of power by those at the helm.

Insisting that PTI senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry didn’t commit sedition, Ms Mazari said in a statement that when the government and state institutions become complicit in terrorising critics and political leaders and violating the Constitution, fundamental rights and laws, then the nation looked to the CJP to take suo motu action.

“Legally, he [Fawad] didn’t commit sedition, so why no suo motu by apex court on abuse of state power? The way his judicial remand was reverted to physical remand and he was handed back to police shows clear mala fide intent to inflict custodial torture on him. Munshis and their string pullers [are] ruthless,” Ms Mazari maintained.

Fawad Chaudhry was taken into custody on Jan 25 after a first information report against him was registered at Islamabad’s Kohsar police station on a complaint by the ECP secretary for allegedly threatening the commission’s members and their families in a speech.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2023

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HDT chief moved back to Gwadar for trial

QUETTA: Chief of the Haq Do Tehreek (HDT) Maulana Hidayatur Rehman along with four other party leaders was shifted to Gwadar on Monday from the capital of Balochistan after an anti-terrorism court granted their six-day travelling remand to police.

Mr Rehman, who would be produced before a court in Gwadar, was booked for killing a police constable during the violent protests in the port city. The Quetta police had taken him and four others into custody in two different cases registered against them.

He was shifted to Quetta by the Gwadar police after being arrested from the court premises where he had come to surrender.

His lawyers protested against the arrest, terming it illegal and denial of his basic right to surrender before a court and get provisional bail.

Amid tight security, the HDT chief and four others were shifted to Gwadar, where he will be produced before the relevant court for further proceedings.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2023

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Maryam’s party ‘reorganisation’ tours to kick off tomorrow

LAHORE: PML-N senior vice president and chief organiser Maryam Nawaz’s two-month-long visits to different parts of the country for reorganisation of the party will begin from Bahawalpur on Wednesday (tomorrow).

According to the PML-N, Ms Nawaz, who returned to the country after a four-month stay in London, will address a workers’ convention in Bahawalpur on Feb 1, besides chairing an organisational meeting of the party the following day.

She will reach Multan on Feb 5 to address the party workers and an organisational meeting will follow the next day. On Feb 9, she will land in Abbottabad for the same purpose and take up the party matters on Feb 10.

On Feb 15, Ms Nawaz will arrive in Dera Ghazi Khan on a two-day visit to address a public rally and preside over the party’s organisational meeting.

PML-N leader will address workers’ conventions, chair organisational meetings

In Rawalpindi, a PML-N workers’ convention will be held on Feb 19 and a party meeting the following day. On Feb 23 and 24, Ms Nawaz will address a workers’ convention in Sargodha and chair an organisational meeting. On Feb 27 and 28, she will land in Sahiwal for the same purpose.

On March 3 and 4, she will address a workers’ convention and chair an organisational meeting in Gujranwala. On March 7 and 8, Ms Nawaz will reach Sheikhupura on a two-day visit for the same purpose. On March 11, she will speak at a convention in Faisalabad and take up the party matters the following day.

In her hometown Lahore, the PML-N leader will hold a workers’ convention on March 19.

In addition to her Punjab visit, she will also go to Peshawar on March 15 to address a party workers’ convention and hold an organisational meeting. She will visit Quetta on March 23 to meet workers and address a public meeting. On March 27, she will land in Karachi to address a party workers’ convention.

‘Crowd puller’

Meanwhile, Special Assis­tant to the Prime Minister on Interior Attaullah Tarar told Dawn that Maryam Nawaz is a “crowd puller” and her reception in Lahore on her arrival from London proved that. “The main purpose of Ms Nawaz’s visit to Punjab and elsewhere is to inject new vigour among the party’s workers and supporters to counter [PTI chief] Imran Khan politically,” he said.

Asked if Ms Nawaz was going to face a difficult situation in mobilising the public because of the worst economic crisis, Mr Tarar said: “The public is aware that the PML-N always delivered and in this testing time it will manage to steer the country out of crises. If a comparison of PML-N’s previous tenure (2013-18) is drawn with that of Imran Khan’s, the latter is responsible for the country’s economic woes and the people are aware of this.”

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2023

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Haji Hidayatullah apologises for disrespectful remarks against Quaid-i-Azam in Senate

Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Haji Hidayatullah apologised on Monday for passing disrespectful remarks against Quaid-i-Azam in the upper house of parliament.

The incident happened when PML-N Senator Asif Kirmani was speaking on the floor of the House. In his speech, Kirmani highlighted recent incidents which had claimed the lives of citizens including the bus crash in Lasbela, the drownings at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tanda Dam lake and today’s blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“We don’t have words. Our tears have run dry. The terrorism that was stamped out in 2018 is rearing its head again,” he said. “I feel that Allah is unhappy with us. He has taken away His blessings and filled our hearts with restlessness”.

Senator Kirmani then talked about the founder of the nation.

“Let me tell you something about the great Quaid-i-Azam briefly. When Pakistan was coming into being and the national and provincial elections took place in 1945-46, the All India Muslim League won, and an interim government was made during which Liaqat Ali Khan was made the finance minister. Now, this was the time when Quaid’s health had begun to deteriorate between 1945-46 […].”

However, Senator Hidayatullah interjected at this moment and pointed to the portrait hanging above Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, saying, “Quaid-i-Azam is to be blamed for everything.”

“Talk about the Peshawar tragedy,” he told Kirmani. “Forget Quaid-i-Azam.”

A visibly perturbed Kirmani lambasted Hidyatullah for his interjection, saying that “insolence in honour of Quaid-i-Azam will not be tolerated at any cost”.

“You belong to the province that sided with Jinnah during the referendum,” Kirmani told Hidyatullah. “You should at least listen,” he said as the two exchanged harsh words.

Other senators protested against the remarks passed by Hidayatullah, gathering in front of the speaker’s dias. They asked the Senate chairman to expunge the remarks passed by Hidayatullah.

At this, Sanjrani said the ANP senator’s mic wasn’t on while he spoke.

PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz also condemned what Hidayatullah said. “Such words about Quaid-i-Azam should never be uttered.”

In his defence, the ANP senator said that he was pointing to Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and not Quaid-i-Azam’s portrait.

“I respect Quaid-i-Azam from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “God willing everyone gets a leader like him.”

When it was his turn to speak, the ANP senator again tendered an apology to the whole house.

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Gary Anderson: The key F1 sidepod trend we’ll see in 2023

Differing sidepod concepts were a key talking point in the first year of Formula 1's new regulations. They'll get even more important in 2023. Gary Anderson explains the trend we're likely to see, based on last year's results and this year's rule tweaks [...]

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Guns for Israelis amid move against Palestinians’ rights

• Pope urges both sides to engage in sincere search for peace
• Synagogue suspected attacker’s home sealed

JERUSALEM: In line with proposals from Netanyahu’s extreme-right political partners which enabled him to return to power at the end of last month, Israel’s cabinet announced a slew of steps including measures to make it easier for Israeli civilians to obtain permits to carry firearms and rescind the rights to social security of “families of terrorists that support terrorism”.

Also, the family home of a Palestinian in east Jerusalem, suspected of killing seven people near a synagogue, was sealed on Sunday as part of the measures to revoke certain rights of the families of suspects. While Khayri Alqam, 21, was shot dead by police following the shooting, his family home was sealed “ahead of its demolition”.

Israel’s cabinet said it would discuss a bill to revoke identity cards of the relatives of ‘attackers’. The measures are likely to apply primarily to Palestinians with Israeli nationality, known as Arab-Israelis, and Palest­inians with east Jerusalem residency permits.

The cabinet also decided to make it easier to obtain permits to carry firearms. “When civilians have guns, they can defend themselves,” extreme-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told reporters outside a Jerusalem hospital.

Israeli forces have been placed on high alert and the army has announced that it will be reinforcing troop numbers in the West Bank, while calls for restraint have multiplied from abroad.

Eyewitnesses saw Israeli forces on the terrace of the family home of the suspect after they sealed its entrances, with Palestinians clearing out their belongings. Israel demolishes the homes of Palestinians who kill Israelis, though the process necessitates that prior notice be given to families and the chance to appeal the decision.

Dani Shenhar, head of the legal department at Israeli rights group HaMoked, said sealing the home overnight demonstrated the government’s “will of revenge against the families”.

The measure was “done in complete disregard for the rule of law”, he said, and HaMoked intends to protest to the attorney general.

Pope condemns ‘death spiral’

Pope Francis has condemned a resurgence of violence in the Middle East, calling on both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to engage in a “sincere search for peace.”

“The death spiral that increases day by day only closes the few glimmers of trust that exist between the two peoples,” said the pope following his traditional Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square.

Francis, 86, cited 10 Palestinians, including a woman, killed in an Israeli army raid on a refugee camp in the West Bank, and the attack on Friday outside a synagogue in east Jerusalem.

“Since the beginning of the year, dozens of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with the Israeli army,” said the pope.

“I appeal to the two governments and the international community to find other ways without delay, including dialogue and the sincere search for peace.

“It is with great sorrow that I learn of the news coming from the holy land,” he said.

At least 26 Israelis and 200 Palestinians were killed across Israel and the Palestinian territories last year, the majority in the West Bank.

Deadly raid

The Jerusalem attacks came after nine Palestinians were killed on Thursday in the deadliest raid by Israeli forces in the West Bank in nearly two decades.

Israel said the raid targeted Islamic Jihad operatives, whose militants along with Hamas later fired several rockets from Gaza towards Israel.

Most of them were intercepted by Israel, before the military responded with strikes on Hamas targets inside the Palestinian enclave.

The surge in violence has sparked fears of further reprisals.

A Palestinian home and vehicle in the West Bank village of Turmus Ayya were torched on Saturday, in an attack residents blamed on Israeli settlers.

Friday’s synagogue attack sparked outrage in Europe and the United States and condemnation from several Arab governments that have ties with Israel, including Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

The Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmud Abbas, held Israel responsible for the dangerous escalation.

Protests against Netanyahu

Netanyahu’s domestic critics continued their protests on Saturday, with thousands turning out in Tel Aviv to oppose his controversial judicial reform plan that aims to give politicians more control over the supreme court.

Demonstrators observed a minute of silence for those killed on Friday.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2023

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Podcast: Tech to watch out for in F1’s 2023 launch season

With Formula 1 launch season just around the corner, we delve into the technical trends that will define the 2023 cars in the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast [...]

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Protest over mysterious chopping of ‘Allah Rakha’ in Lahore

LAHORE: Allah Rakha, around an eight-decade-old banyan tree, along with other trees on the campus of Government Associates College, Lake Road, was chopped down on Saturday.

According to legend, the banyan tree was named by Maulana Abdul Haq Abbas, the founder of Anjuman Madrasatul Banat, which has managed a number of educational institutions from the pre-Partition era, when he relocated here from India in August 1947 with a busload of students from Jalandhar.He found a small sampling of pilkhan tree (banyan family) badly damaged during looting and burning, which also damaged the nearby building and the furniture lying there, says Anjuman’s president Dr Amin U Khan, also a grandson of Maulana Abbas.

He says Maulana Abbas tried to restore the tree and put a brick fence around it with the help of students praying, if the sampling survived, they would call it Allah Rakha.

The tree not only survived, but also grew to have girths of more than three meters and a crown diameter of around ten meters. It was providing shelter to about 350 house sparrows, which were counted every year by the Good Citizens Society, and shelter to students during the summer. It has eighty years of carbon sequestered in its stem.

The area people allege that the principal of the government-run college quietly decided to sell the tree on a holiday. They say as they learnt about the ‘tree-chopping spree’ they protested and managed to save one branch of Allah Rakha.

They hope that with the help of friends, they will be able to preserve Allah Rakha for a long time.

Anjuman Madrasatul Banat administrator Ilyas Shah says he has also submitted a written complaint with the police because the college authorities cannot change anything, including the landscape, on the campus because the ownership of the premises lies with the Supreme Court.

Civil society has decided to hold a protest demonstration on Monday against the chopping of the historic tree.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2023

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Over 50 dead in Bela, Kohat transport tragedies

QUETTA / KOHAT: At least 54 people, including women and children, died in two accidents in Balochistan’s Bela area and Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, rescue and police officials said.

In the first accident, 41 people were burnt alive after a passenger coach fell into a ravine and caught fire, 25km south of Khuzdar.

In Kohat, 13 dead bodies were recovered after an overloaded boat carrying students of a religious seminary capsized in Tanda Dam lake.

The Karachi-bound bus met with the accident at the Quetta-Karachi Nati­onal Highway at 4:15am in the morning.

According to officials, the bus carrying 44 passengers was coming from Pishin town. It crashed with the pillar of a bridge near the Cheneki area in Bela tehsil and was careened into the ravine.

41 burnt alive as bus falls into ravine, catches fire; 13 drown after boat capsized in Tanda Dam

The bus immediately caught fire which gutted the entire vehicle, killing all but three passengers — a man, a woman and an eight-year-old child — who had managed to jump out of the burning bus.

The injured were moved to Karachi Civil Hospital’s burns unit. The man is said to have received burn injuries and is in critical condition.

Lasbela SSP Israr Ahmed Umrani told Dawn that 41 people, including the bus crew, were burnt to death on the spot. He added that rescue teams had reached the site as soon as they received the information but the rescue operation couldn’t start due to the intensity of the fire.

The passengers couldn’t be rescued as no fire tenders were available in Bela or nearby areas which delayed the rescue operation, Mr Umrani added.

Medical Emergency Response Centre Director General Asghar Ramzan said fire brigades reached the site when the bus was burnt completely and just took part in the cooling process of the wreckage.

The charred bodies were recovered from the wreckage by the rescue workers and shifted to Bela hospital, he added.

Bela Assistant Commissioner Hamza Anjum told Dawn that the bodies were beyond recognition and DNA tests were being done for identification.

He said only three bodies could be identified by now as Syed Muhammad Saleem, Bibi Akhtaran and Muhammad Saleem. The injured woman and child have been identified as Ferozan Bibi and Noman. respectively.

“The deceased included six members of the same family,” hospital sources said, quoting the deceased’s relatives who reached Bela after the incident.

Till evening, 40 bodies were moved to Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital for a DNA test.

Kohat: Rescue workers search for the victims after their boat capsized in Tanda Dam on Sunday.—Online

Speeding seen as cause

The coach started its journey from Pishin with 32 passengers at 6:30pm on Saturday. After reaching Quetta, 12 more passengers got on board and the bus left for Karachi at 8:30pm.

Lasbela Deputy Commissioner Murad Kasi said the apparent cause of the accident appeared to be speeding.

The driver lost control of the vehicle while taking a U-turn and crashed into the bridge’s pillar, he said, adding a thorough investigation would be conducted for more details.

There were reports that the bus was transporting smuggled Iranian oil which caught fire. However, officials in Bela did not confirm the reports.

The All Quetta-Karachi Coaches Union spokesperson also denied the reports, saying that slippery roads had caused the accident.

The cause of the fire was a short circuit in the bus wiring, the spokesperson added.

Kohat boat

According to officials, a group of around 50 students of Mir Bash Khel seminary, between the ages of eight and 14 years, went for a picnic along with the seminary’s caretaker.

Eyewitnesses said around 34 people were riding the boat when it capsized Six people were rescued while a search operation is underway to locate 15 missing persons who are feared to be dead, hospital and official sources said.

The caretaker’s son, identified as Shahid Noor, and relatives are also among the dead.

Kohat District Police Officer Abdur Rauf Qaisarani told Dawn that rescue work was expected to continue throughout the night.

The rescued children have been moved to the KDA teaching hospital.

Rescue 1122 personnel confirmed moving 13 dead bodies to the hospital.

Rescue officials told Dawn they had no divers and there was only one diver reserved for Tanda lake.

Kohat Deputy Commissioner Furqan Ashraf has appealed to locals with expertise in swimming to reach the site and aid the authorities in the rescue operation.

Most students were not wearing mandatory waterproof jackets as the sailor didn’t have enough equipment, said one eyewitness.

The terrain is quite tough as the lake is surrounded by high mountains and no mobile signal coverage is available there.

In a conflicting report about the death toll, a local bodies representative Akhunzada Shah Hussain claimed while talking to reporters that 14 children had been recovered, out of which 11 were dead.

He also censured Rescue 1122 which he claimed reached the spot late as most personnel in the organisation were non-natives who were not aware of the directions. Due to this a lot of time was wasted, he said.

Condolences

In a statement, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and grief over the bus accident.

“The loss of 40 lives in the Lasbela bus accident is nothing less than a catastrophe. My sympathies and prayers are with the bereaved families,” the prime minister tweeted after the initial reports.

He added the provincial government must launch an investigation to ascertain the causes of the accident.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and Home Minister Ziaullah Langove also expressed grief over the accident. They also extended their condolences to the bereaved families.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2023

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Imran’s claims about Zardari could cause bloodshed in country: Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Sunday that PTI chief Imran Khan’s recent claims regarding ex-president Asif Ali Zardari “could cause bloodshed in the country”, adding that it could also pose a threat to the lives of the PPP leadership.

In a startling allegation, Imran on Friday accused Zardari of being part of a plan to “get rid of him”, alleging that after “two” failed attempts on his life, the four people — who he has previously claimed to have hatched a conspiracy to kill him — along with the PPP leader, have now prepared a “Plan C” to eliminate him.

“Asif Zardari has paid his corruption money to a terrorist organisation being supported by powerful state agency facilitators to launch another attack on me,” he alleged in a televised address from his Zaman Park residence.

PPP Chairman Bilawal has stated that his party is exploring “exploring legal response” to Imran’s “dangerous” allegations.

Addressing a press conference in Sialkot on Sunday, the defence minister said, “He (Imran) has played this new card that can cause bloodshed in the country.”

He further said, “The way Imran Khan has insinuated this, has tried to steer the direction of our politics towards violence […] I think because of this, the PPP leadership’s lives could be in danger.

“Maybe, maybe Imran Khan’s motive [and] aim is the same as well, that there is bloodshed in politics.”

Asif defended the PPP saying, “Their history stands witness to the fact that they have forgiven bloodshed, whether it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s hanging or Benazir’s martyrdom.”

He added the party “accepted both martyrdoms” and continued their journey in politics.

The defence minister remarked, “The PPP has rendered huge sacrifices in the war against terrorism. Benazir Bhutto gave her life in this war and even after such a huge incident, the PPP didn’t take the route of violence and took the route of democracy.”

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ECP’s election protocol: Ongoing schemes in Punjab at stake as funds stand frozen

LAHORE: The completion of a number of ongoing development schemes across Punjab seems to be at risk after the finance department, allegedly on the orders of caretaker Punjab government has banned transfer of funds to the accounts of project executing agencies - all metropolitan/municipal corporations and committees on the pretext of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s instructions.

The situation has appeared to be problematic in Lahore where the work on several small and medium development schemes was halted after the finance department imposed a ban on the transfer of funds (ensuring availability of funds online to the respective civic agencies through SAP system) released by the Planning & Development Department in the ongoing month.

“Usually the funds for the ongoing schemes are not stopped keeping in view the timely completion of the plans in the best public interest. But, here, the case is very strange, as the finance department, allegedly on the orders of caretaker Punjab government has not only frozen the funds for the new schemes but also for the ongoing ones on the pretext of ECP directions despite the fact that the former, in its Jan 27 letter didn’t want to do so,” an official source told Dawn.

“The government should take notice of the situation by ordering the finance department to release funds to all ongoing schemes keeping in view the public problems,” the official, who requested anonymity, said.

Cheques in several cases not cleared by treasury office

The release of funds for the ongoing schemes was stopped even much before issuance of the letter to the departments concerned. The release of funds for the schemes being executed by development authorities or their parent department was halted [allegedly] on verbal directions without issuing any letter/notification.

According to a letter issued by the local government & community development department on Jan 27, the release of funds to all local government institutions was frozen following the ECP directions through a notification (No. F.No-2 (1) /2023-CORD dated Jan 22, 2023) that desired: “Not to announce/execute any kind of development schemes in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces except those which are ongoing and approved before the issuance of this notification. Moreover, the provincial and local governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shall not issue tenders of such schemes till culmination of general elections of both assemblies. The LGCD’s letter further quotes the ECP directions that state: “All development funds relating to local institutions of both the provinces and cantonment boards shall stand frozen with immediate effect till announcement of the results of the elections.” The LG department has also directed the authorities concerned to strictly adhere to the aforementioned directions.

The official said, except the LG department letter, none of the other departments, including housing, urban development and public health engineering, communication and works, development and horticulture authorities including the LDA, Wasa or PHA in Lahore and other major cities was informed officially.

“The funds for these departments’ ongoing schemes were frozen by the finance department on its own,” the official said.

According to a letter issued by the finance department to accountant general of Punjab on Jan 20, the funds for various ongoing schemes were pledged to be released. But, later the authorities concerned in the finance department put, making availability of funds to the respective agencies online, on hold allegedly on the verbal orders from the seniors.

These schemes included rehabilitation/carpeting of roads, construction of plain cement concrete (PCC) in streets and other works in various union councils of Lahore.

Similarly the work on several other ongoing schemes in Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Sahiwal and Sargodha divisions has also been stopped.

“There are some precedents that the cheques (payments) issued by various departments to contractors were not cleared by the treasury offices,” the official said.

When contacted, planning and development department secretary Dr Sohail Anwar termed freezing of funds for the ongoing schemes a wrong decision on the part of the finance department.

“Under the ECP directions, we are of the view that the funds for the ongoing schemes must be released/transferred by the finance department to the respective departments. However, we are unanimous that funds for new schemes (not included in the annual development programme 2022-23) or those approved already but not processed further should be frozen. But the finance department didn’t understand this and finally it froze funds for all schemes,” Mr Anwar said.

He said in a recent meeting [held on Friday], the finance department has agreed to make all funds for the ongoing schemes available online to the respective departments. “And hopefully, they will start doing this from Monday (tomorrow),” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2023

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Minerals are Balochistan’s assets: CM

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo on Saturday said the precious minerals existing in the province were assets of Balochistan and guarantee of a bright future for the next generation.

The chief minister, who presided over a meeting on mineral resources, vowed to safeguard the interests of the province. He said the provincial government had already protected the rights of the people in the Reko Diq project.

“We have to make all the decisions regarding our mineral reserves carefully for the development of the province and prosperity of the people of Balochistan,” Mr Bizenjo said.

“By using our mineral resources in the true sense, we could make the future of our generations safe and bright. This would be our responsibility and that of every incoming government as well,” he added.

The chief minister said a strategy should be formulated for giving the benefits of the mineral resources to the province and its people. There should not be any delinquency in that regard, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2023

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World leaders urge restraint as violence escalates in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM: Two Israelis, a father and son, were shot and wounded in east Jerusalem on Saturday, hours after a gunman killed seven people outside a synagogue, raising fears of escalation despite international calls for calm.

The Saturday morning gun attack took place in Silwan, just outside the walled Old City of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

Tensions have been rising across the region a day after one of the deadliest army raids in the occupied West Bank in two decades, followed by rocket fire in the Gaza Strip, prompting retaliatory Israeli air strikes.

An Israeli father, 47, and his 23-year-old army officer son sustained gunshot wounds to their upper bodies and were rushed to hospital, along with the attacker — said to be a 13-year-old Palestinian boy — who was shot and injured at the scene, police and medics said.

Separately, police identified the gunman from the earlier attack on a synagogue as a 21-year-old resident of the area occupied by Israel after the 1967 war, but there has been no indication that he had prior involvement in any militant activity or was a member of an established Palestinian group. He was killed by police following a brief chase after the shooting.

Man, son shot and wounded in attack; police ‘neutralise’ 13-year-old suspect, round up dozens of Palestinians

The escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied territories since the recent Israeli raid on the refugee camp drew calls for restraint from world leaders.

In a statement, police said they had arrested “42 people for questioning” overnight, “some of them members of the terrorist’s family”. Others detained inclu­ded residents of the gunman’s neighbourhood, police said.

World reaction

Several Arab governments that have ties with Israel including Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have condemned the synagogue attack.

But the Palestinian Authority led by president Mahmud Abbas has not, with his office insisting Israel was “fully responsible for the dangerous escalation”.

Palestinian leaders are set to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will visit the region next week.

Blinken will also hold talks with Netanyahu, the veteran leader’s first high-level meeting with a US official since returning to power last month as head of the most right-wing government in Israeli history.

US President Joe Biden also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemning what he called a “horrific terror attack” outside the synagogue. “The president made clear that this was an attack against the civilised world,” the White House said in a readout of the call.

Riyadh’s warning

Saudi Arabia has warned of the situation between Palestinians and Israelis escalating further after the synagogue attack in Jerusalem, the kingdom’s foreign ministry said on Saturday.

“The kingdom condemns targeting civilians, stressing the necessity of stopping the escalation, reviving the peace process and ending the occupation,” the ministry added in a statement.

Russia’s foreign ministry called for “maximum restraint” following violence in Israel and the West Bank that marked another dramatic escalation in the conflict.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2023

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Diriyah finish drama: ‘Well executed’ by Hughes, foreseen by Buemi

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Terrorist killed in North Waziristan IBO: ISPR

A terrorist was killed on Saturday during an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) in the Mir Ali general area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, the army’s media wing said.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted the IBO, during which intense firing took place between troops and terrorists.

“Resultantly, one terrorist got killed,” the ISPR added. “Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist.”

The statement concluded that the “killed terrorists remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent citizens”.

Last week, an army soldier was martyred in a bomb blast in Bannu and a suspected militant was killed in a joint operation in Khyber tribal district.

A local official had told Dawn that an improvised explosive device (IED) was planted by militants in the Janikhel area of Bannu district and it exploded when it was being defused by the bomb disposal unit.

On January 18, security forces gunned down at least four terrorists during an IBO in Balochistan’s Hoshab.

The ISPR had said that an IBO was initiated “to clear a hideout linked with firing incidents on security forces along M-8, in general area Talsar, Hoshab” on a tip-off about the presence of terrorists.

In the first week of the month, at least 11 terrorists, including a militant commander and two suicide bombers, were killed in an IBO in South Waziristan’s Wana.

According to ISPR, security forces “successfully foiled a high-profile terrorist activity” during the operation.

“During intense exchange of fire, 11 terrorists, including terrorist commander Hafizullah alias Tor Hafiz and two suicide bombers, were killed,” the ISPR had said.

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Wehrlein clean-sweep, McLaren gets first Formula E podium

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Johannesburg gets first Muslim mayor

JOHANNESBURG: A councillor from a small Muslim party was elected mayor of Johannesburg on Friday after months of political manoeuvring and legal battles for control of South Africa’s business capital.

Thapelo Amad, of the Al Jama-ah party, was voted in by the city council to replace mayor Mpho Phalatse, a member of South Africa’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Amad, 41, said he was “humbled” and “overwhelmed” at being the first Muslim to helm the country’s biggest metropolis. “It marks history in South Africa,” he told the council after the vote. He vowed to make the fight against graft his top priority.

Amad was elected with the support of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, which holds the most seats in the council but fell short of an outright majority at the 2021 city elections.

Amad’s appointment came as a surprise, with Al Jama-ah holding only three of the council’s 270 seats, and follows months of coalition horse trading.

His predecessor, Phalatse, 45, was ousted in a vote of no-confidence earlier this week.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2023

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CDWP clears projects worth Rs22.16bn

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Friday approved seven development projects worth Rs22.16 billion including dredging of the navigation channel of Gwadar Port.

The meeting of the CDWP presided over by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, however, deferred for necessary revisions four other projects including Gwadar Safe City Project, a cancer hospital in Islamabad, a training programme for Afghan officials and a health insurance scheme in Punjab.

The CDWP approved the Social Sector Accelerator (SSA) for Health, Nutrition, Education, Youth and Gender (HNEYG), National Priority Initiatives for Rs4.828bn. To be executed by the Ministry of Planning, the project involves a one-year Prime Minister Youth Internship Programme for fresh graduates in Pakistan.

Following interns’ selection, the ministry will facilitate their placement in host organisations spanning across the public, private and development sectors. The interns will receive a stipend of Rs25,000 per month. A total of 30,000 internships will be awarded through the one-year programme.

The meeting also approved Balochistan Urgent Response for Food Security Project for Rs1.1bn. The finance ministry is the sponsoring agency. The project envisages the revival of agriculture production in the severe flood-affected districts of the Nasirabad Division which is considered the granary of the province. The project will support the provision of rice seeds for increased productivity to 60,000 farm households in the target districts.

Channel dredging

The meeting also approved maintenance dredging of the navigational channel of Gwadar Port at an estimated cost of Rs4.7bn. The revised project envisages maintenance dredging of 4.70km long navigational channel, basin and berthing area.

Its internal navigational channel and Turning Basin design depth is 13.8 meters for safe navigation of deep draft vessels and the berthing area and outer channel are dredged to 14.5-meter to permit safe berthing and sufficient clearance from bottom in low tides.

The channel is designed for navigation of 50,000 DWT (dead weight per ton) ships during all weather.

The CDWP also approved the provision of academic and research facilities and a girls’ hostel at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad for Rs3.86bn. The prime objective of the project is to strengthen PhD/MPhil programmes and to strengthen newly started BS programmes. This requires expansion in basic infrastructural facilities within the university.

The forum also approved the establishment of a partnership between Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Government of Pakistan to address grand challenges in the health sector at the cost of Rs220m.

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination will execute the project to provide grants for improving the health sector (management and delivery) in ICT, AJK and GB using innovative approaches and technologies from researchers, entrepreneurs, scholars and practitioners in Pakistan, in alignment with the goals of global grand challenges programme.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2023

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‘Plan C’ to kill me hatched by Asif Zardari, Imran alleges

• PTI chief claims PPP leader ‘paid terrorists being supported by state agency facilitators with corruption proceeds’
• Urges judiciary to act to protect democracy, fundamental rights

LAHORE: In a startling allegation, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has now accused former president Asif Ali Zardari of being part of a plan to ‘get rid of him’, alleging that after “two” failed attempts on his life, the four people — who he has previously claimed to have hatched a conspiracy to kill him — along with the PPP leader, have now prepared a “Plan C” to eliminate him.

A couple of times last year, Mr Khan had alleged that four individuals had plotted to assassinate him and said he had recorded a video identifying those people that was stored abroad and would be released if the plan succeeded. The first plan, he claims, was never executed after he exposed it, while the second attempt occured in Wazirabad.

“Asif Zardari has paid his corruption money to a terrorist organisation being supported by powerful state agency facilitators to launch another attack on me,” Mr Khan alleged in a televised address from his Zaman Park residence on Friday.

He further said he was now disclosing to the nation the nefarious design of the four people allegedly being aided by Mr Zardari. “If I am attacked, people should know about the assailants,” he stated.

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Recalling that he had exposed the earlier two assassination plans in his public meetings, the former prime minister said the incumbent rulers installed through a “regime change conspiracy” were pushing the country towards disaster. He also said he continued appealing to the powers-that-be that they had committed a mistake that could be rectified by calling free, fair and credible elections at the earliest and allowing people to choose their leaders who would save them from an economic disaster.

The PTI chairman also urged the judiciary to respond at this “defining moment” and ensure that democracy and fundamental rights of people were protected. He also reminded the judiciary that the incumbent government had appointed what he called anti-PTI caretaker governments, which were reluctant to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within the constitutional limit of 90 days.

“If the elections will not be held within 90 days, the violators will be facing Article 6 (high treason),” he observed.

Mr Khan also urged the nation to rise to the moment and be ready to wage a “jihad” to attain ‘real independence’ (haqeeqi azadi). “I assure the nation that I will fight for this country and the nation till my last breath or, in cricketing terminology, last ball,” he stressed and hoped he would fully recover in the next two weeks to come out on the streets again.

Following the rupee’s historic fall against the US dollar, the PTI chief lashed out at the “regime change” government and predicted massive inflation and “insurmountable” economic challenges in the days to come – particularly for the salaried class.He also said the opposition members were being treated as “traitors” and politicians and journalists being tortured and threatened not to speak up against the rulers.

“Even I am facing 70 different FIRs,” he regretted.

“The government is trying to instill fear in the masses to force them to accept the rulers, who are busy in getting their corruption cases cleared besides amassing more wealth through corruption,” he alleged. “People must break the shackles of fear and stand up for their fundamental rights and the country’s prosperity.”-

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2023

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Porsche’s devastating charge is an ominous warning to its rivals

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Indian police detain students for screening BBC documentary on Modi

Indian police on Friday detained students in New Delhi after stopping the screening of a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role during deadly sectarian riots in 2002.

The students at Delhi University had followed several campuses around the country in staging a broadcast, defying government efforts to stop its spread by blocking its publication on social media.

Police swarmed the university after student groups supportive of Modi’s ruling party objected to the screening, seizing laptops and imposing a ban on assemblies of more than four people.

Police officer Sagar Singh Kalsi told Indian news channel NDTV that 24 students were detained.

The two-part BBC programme alleges that Modi had ordered police to turn a blind eye to deadly riots while he was chief minister of Gujarat state.

The violence began after 59 Hindu pilgrims were killed in a fire on a train. Thirty-one Muslims were convicted of criminal conspiracy and murder over that incident.

At least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died in the unrest that followed.

The documentary quoted a previously classified British foreign ministry report which said the violence was “politically motivated” and the aim “was to purge Muslims from Hindu areas”.

The report also claims that the riots were impossible “without the climate of impunity” created by Modi’s administration.

India has dismissed the series as a “hostile” propaganda piece and ordered big social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube to block sharing or streaming it under controversial information technology laws.

Earlier this week, authorities at New Delhi’s prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University also banned an attempted screening and warned of “strict disciplinary action” if the edict was ignored.

But defiant groups of students there and at numerous college campuses across India have gathered to watch the documentary on laptops and phone screens.

Modi ran Gujarat from 2001 until his election as prime minister in 2014 and briefly faced a travel ban by the United States over the violence.

An investigation team appointed by the Indian Supreme Court to probe the role of Modi and others in the violence said in 2012 it did not find any evidence to prosecute him.

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Porsche-powered 1-2 again as Wehrlein wins from ninth in Diriyah

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Imran says state will not ‘terrify’ PTI into submission

ISLAMABAD: A day after the arrest of PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry by the Islamabad police in a ‘sedition’ case, the development continued to resonate in the mainstream and social media, prompting across-the-board condemnations while also resulting in demands for repealing the colonial-era sedition law.

PTI chief Imran Khan, who has been recovering at his residence in Lahore, appeared unfazed by the arrest of his top aide and said that his party was “more resolute than ever before” to resist the tactics employed by the federal government to “terrify us into submission”.

“The treatment being meted out to Fawad Ch — being abducted, treated like a terrorist, given physical remand on a sham FIR — shows all that is wrong with Pak today. There is no justice, just law of the jungle,” Mr Khan said in a strongly-worded tweet.

“If State and cabal of crooks think they can create an environment of fear…they have got it all wrong. People are more determined to…fight against these fascist forces for democracy, rule of law & justice for our people,” the former prime minister tweeted.

‘Repeal sedition law’

Meanwhile, lawmakers and civil society raised their voices for the eradication of Section 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code which pertains to sedition and is “widely used against civilians and politicians”.

In a statement, the Human Rights Council Pakistan deplored the “continuous use of archaic, colonial laws against sedition by successive governments against their political opponents”. It urged the government to drop the charges against Mr Chaudhry.

Lawmakers, activists demand annulment of colonial-era sedition law

PPP leaders Farhatullah Babar and Senator Raza Rabbani also expressed their opposition to the sedition law. “The PPP is in principle opposed to colonial-era sedition law 124-A and demanded its repeal in the parliament. Application of this law against anyone cannot be condoned,” Mr Babar said in a tweet.

Similarly, a statement issued by Senator Rabbani termed the PTI leader’s arrest under the sedition law “unwarranted”. “It is a matter of history that charges of treason and sedition are only levied against politicians and civilians,” the statement said, advising the government to refrain from prosecuting under such sections.

It is a matter of fact that the Lahore High Court quashed the proceedings of the special court in the matter of high treason charges under Article 6 against military dictator Pervez Musharraf, the senator said. He also urged the government to delete Section 124-A and said it should on its “own motion give notice of my private member bill for the deletion of Section 124A which is lying dormant in the National Assembly”.

PML-N leader Miftah Ismail also opposed the arrest. “IK [Imran Khan] was wrong to jail us for months without charge only— because we opposed him. Fawad Chaudhry was of course wrong to threaten ECP officials and families. He should have been served a notice,” he tweeted.

On the other hand, PTI leader Shireen Mazari advocated an overhaul of civil services to end “colonial mindsets”. “The munshi [clerk] of the ECP who took offence at being called a munshi… The entire civil service is a colonial leftover that needs to be totally restructured. It is outdated and inept, creates illusions of grandeur and colonial mindsets.”

Though his colleague Marriyum Aurangzeb had attempted to distance the government from the arrest, PM’s aide Malik Ahmed Khan said there would be ‘zero tolerance’ against individuals who “threatened or abused” state institutions and their officials, APP reported. For Malik Ahmed Khan, it was “astonishing” that “his friend Fawad Chaudhry” would use such “disturbing” language against the election watchdog.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association issued its second statement denouncing the treatment meted out to its member, Fawad Chaudhry.

The use of white cloth to cover the face of the former minister and his production before the magistrates in handcuffs drew the ire of the apex lawyers body which termed it “a gross humiliation of violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 4 read with Article 10 and Article 14 of the Constitution”.

It also feared that the PTI leader’s personal dignity may be further abused or he may be persecuted to custodial torture. “Let the government not be mistaken of the strong resolve of this bar association to disrespect and humiliate the dignity of an advocate [of] Supreme Court and member of this association,” it said, warning that any unlawful act shall be sternly responded to by the entire legal fraternity.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2023

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PTI’s Farrukh Habib booked for ‘attacking law enforcers’

LAHORE: The Punjab police on Thursday night registered a case against PTI leader Farrukh Habib and some party workers for allegedly attacking law enforcement personnel to get Fawad Chaudhry released and under robbery charges.

The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Islamabad police official Adeel Shaukat with the Ferozewala police station in Sheikhupura under Sections 148, 149, 186, 225, 341, 353 and 395 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

It alleged Mr Habib and other armed suspects attacked police officers near Kala Shah Kaku when they were taking PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry to Islamabad.

The complaint said Mr Habib committed an offence by “interfering in official affairs” and “tearing uniforms of policemen”.

He further stated the PTI leader and his accomplices tried to snatch government weapons and vehicle.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2023

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Proposal under study to make gas and power rates uniform

ISLAMABAD: The government firmed up key principles on Thursday for hiking gas prices to the extent of full cost recovery so as to compel consumers to shift to electricity for space and water heating during winter.

The exercise was undertaken to tackle the Rs577bn circular debt in the sector.

This was the crux of a meeting on natural gas policy and pricing at the ministry of planning.

It was decided to go for fresh LNG supply contracts on a long-term basis as Qatar Gas could demand an increase in LNG prices or simply walk away from its contract in 2026.

The meeting was attended by all the who’s who of the energy sector, including former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who heads the Energy Task Force, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Power Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan.

Representatives of different energy sector organisations like the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL), Interstate Gas System (ISGS), Oil and Gas Development Company, Central Power Purchasing Agency, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

The move is intended to encourage use of electricity for heating in view of falling gas reserves

“It was also discussed that the cost-reflective pricing of the gas sector will be a key decision to develop a sustainable natural gas supply chain in the country,” said an official statement after the meeting.

It added that a proposed mechanism for the demand-side management of gas was discussed, including the replacement of natural gas in the domestic sector with electricity.

“To reduce the demand for gas in the domestic sector, prices can be rationalised to bring about parity between gas and electricity prices. This will encourage gas consumers to use electricity for space and water heating during the winter,” said the statement.

Switchover to electrical appliances for heating can save an estimated 74,736 million cubic feet of gas, the meeting was told.

As a result, 6,778 gigawatt hours (GWh) of least-cost electric power can be generated from gas.

Khurram Dastagir Khan advocated that increased utilisation of natural gas in the power sector could drastically reduce the electricity tariff.

The meeting noted that the existing long-term contracts with Qatar Gas include a clause for contract revision in 2026. A revision of the price cap was among the provisions and the supplier could demand an increase in the LNG delivered cost or just walk away from the contract.

Therefore, Pakistan should expedite the process of entering into fresh long-term LNG import contracts.

The participants were of the view that the existing distortion in natural gas tariff could be eliminated and the tariff could be rationalized, besides abolishing the cross-subsidy mechanism and replacing it with a budgeted subsidy to protect the low-end or lifeline gas consumer.

The meeting discussed measures to improve the LNG import infrastructure, including expansion in terminal and regasification capacity, the possibility of imported gas storage in exhausted gas wellheads and the development of a north-south pipeline.

The stakeholders suggested that at present, the development of gas storage infrastructure was not financially viable for the country. Instead, the option of trading LNG at the lowest spot market rates could be considered.

It was then suggested that instead of opting for an expensive sub-surface (depleted reservoirs) storage option, storage over the surface (salt caverns) could be examined as it has a lower cost.

Therefore, a feasibility study could be conducted to identify the cost and areas for such storage.

Exploration and production

On exploration and production (E&P) activities, it was suggested that incentives like wellhead prices comparable to neighbouring countries could be offered.

The Turkmenistan-Afgha-nistan-Pakistan-India (Tapi) pipeline and the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline should also be pursued.

The meeting asked the integrated energy planning (IEP) department of the Planning Commission to develop a pricing mechanism keeping in view the consumer prices which were supposed to be reviewed twice a year. Failure to do so had led to the accumulation of a tariff differential of Rs577bn up to June 2022.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2023

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Global economic growth projected to slow down to 1.9pc this year: UN report

ISLAMABAD: A new United Nations report warns that the global economic growth is projected to slow down to only 1.9 per cent in 2023, sharply lower than the 3pc in 2022. However, the report says, the global growth is forecast to moderately pick up to 2.7pc in 2024.

This will be one of the lowest growth rates in recent decades, apart from the 2007-8 financial crisis and the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, said the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 report, released on Wednesday

The outlook for South Asia has deteriorated and is subject to multiple downside risks amid global monetary tightening, fiscal vulnerabilities, rising inflation and extreme weather vents. The regio­nal GDP growth is expected to slow to 4.8pc in 2023 from an estimated 5.6pc expansion in 2022.

In Pakistan, the economy is expected to expand by only 2.5pc in 2023 as devastating floods caused significant damages, particularly for agriculture, with spillover effects on related industrial and service sectors.

Overall, weaker global demand, tighter monetary policy, additional supply disruptions, further escalation in commodity prices and the emergence of new Covid-19 variants pose significant risks in 2023.

The floods in Pakistan caused unemployment, given that 43pc of employed people work in agriculture in the most affected areas. The report says as the United States Federal Reserve raised its policy rate and international investors reduced their exposures to developing markets in 2022, South Asian currencies weakened significantly against the dollar.

Existing high levels of sovereign debt and unsustainable debt-servicing burdens prompted several South Asian countries to seek multilateral financial support in the second half of 2022. Consumer price inflation in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, accelerated markedly in 2022, driven by rising global fuel and food prices.

“In most countries we expect that private consumption and investment will weaken due to inflation and higher interest rates,” said Ingo Pitterle, Senior Economist at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

The report found that most developing countries saw a slower job recovery in 2022 and continue to face relatively high levels of unemployment. Disproportionate losses in women’s employment during the initial phase of the pandemic have not been fully reversed, with improvements mainly arising from a recovery in the informal sector.

Slower growth, coupled with elevated inflation and mounting debt vulnerabilities, threatens to further set back hard-won achievements in sustainable development, it warns.

After a long period of price stability, inflation has returned in many countries.

Pandemic-induced inflationary pressures have proven persistent, with demand recovering quickly and supply lagging amid significant disruptions in supply chains.

Soaring food and energy prices and renewed supply shocks, caused by the war in Ukraine, have not only fuelled a surge in inflation but also pushed up short- and medium-term inflation expectations.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2023

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Vasseur got Ferrari handover from Binotto + advice from Todt

Mattia Binotto gave new Ferrari F1 team principal Frederic Vasseur a handover after assuming the position, while one of the architects of Ferrari's last sustained period of success, Jean Todt, has also offered him advice [...]

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The post Vasseur got Ferrari handover from Binotto + advice from Todt appeared first on The Race.

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Sindh health dept investigates ‘18 mysterious deaths’ in Karachi’s Keamari

The Sindh health department conducted a community response visit in Karachi’s Keamari on Thursday after receiving reports about “18 mysterious deaths”.

The statement released by the health department’s Public Relation Officer (PRO) Mehar Khursheed said that the visit was conducted in Ali Mohammad Goth and Moach Goth.

It added that the 18 deaths were reported over a period of 16 days, from Jan 10 to Jan 25.

The victims were citizens of all ages and showed initial symptoms of fever, sore throat and shortness of breath, the statement said, adding that they were dead within five to seven days of the onset of the illness.

The statement further said that symptomatic patients were examined but they did not have any rashes. It, however, noted that the community was “concerned with severe irritating smell” permeating the environment.

According to the community, two factories had been constructed within their village and were creating a “foul smell” which was also irritating their throats, the statement said.

“As per initial investigation, the cause of these deaths are some chemicals which are developing interstitial lung disease. Medical camps for the treatment of pneumonia [have] also been established in the affected area,” the health department said, adding that further investigation was under way.

Factory owner among 4 arrested

Meanwhile, district administration and police said that four people, including one factory owner, had been arrested due to the deaths of at least 10 children.

Keamari Deputy Commissioner Mukhtiar Abro told Dawn.com that several children had recently died in Ali Mohammed Goth. He said a team of doctors led by the Keamari district health officer were dispatched to ascertain the cause of death.

“The doctors took samples for investigation purposes,” he said. He said that the deceased children had exhibited “similar symptoms”.

Abro, who also visited the affected area, said that three factories had been illegally established in the locality. “These factories reportedly burned stones, locally known as ‘Chinese stones’, that emitted smoke which caused breathing problems for residents.”

He surmised that the deaths may have occurred due to some “poisonous gases” or some other ailments, adding that the doctor’s report was awaited.

DC Abro said the three factories in question had been sealed, adding that four people, including one of the factory owners, had been arrested.

Moachko police Station House Officer (SHO) Chaudhry Shahid told Dawn.com that residents claimed 10 children had died during the last three to four months.

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