Despite facing criticism for hurling allegations at the military leadership in recent months, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif remained defiant as he told a public meeting in Swat that he “cannot blame the entire army for the lawlessness of a few individuals”.

While addressing a PML-N public meeting in Swat via video link, Nawaz once again named Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Faiz Hameed and said: “When I say that Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and [Lt] Gen Hameed Faiz should answer why they did this to Pakistan, why they threw Pakistan in a ditch, they say ‘why does Nawaz Sharif take our names?’

“Gen Bajwa and [Lt] Gen Faiz, you formed a JIT of your choice, secured decisions of your choice as well, removed Nawaz Sharif from premiership, put me, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and my party members in jail. Our character assassination through media is still underway.”

Nawaz’s remarks come less than a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the PML-N supremo was trying to “create rifts” within the armed forces by encouraging army personnel to “rebel against” the military leadership.

“When they say that the [military leadership] is bad and the rest of the army is good; is army a democratic party that would move a no-confidence motion? You (Nawaz) are telling the army to launch a coup, to rebel [against the leadership]. Can there be a bigger [form of] treason?” Prime Minister Imran had said in an interview with GNN on Thursday night.

This is not the first time Nawaz has accused the military leadership of conspiring against him. In recent speeches in public meetings of his party and the 11-party opposition alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — Nawaz has accused the security establishment of orchestrating his ouster. In a PDM rally in Gujranwala, Nawaz had named the army chief and ISI DG and said that there was “a state above the state”.

In his speech today, the PML-N supremo said that his “crime was to talk about people’s rights, Constitution, democratic principles”.

“But what crime did the people commit? Why were your lives made difficult?” he said and added that he was not seeking answers from Prime Minister Imran but from those “who brought him to power”.

“He (PM Imran) is a puppet. The people who move his strings will have to answer,” declared the former prime minister.

Nawaz also talked about an inquiry report prepared by a commission formed on the army chief’s orders to probe the “Karachi incident”. Earlier this week, the Inter-Services Public Relations released a statement saying that officials of ISI and Sindh Rangers involved in the “Karachi incident” have been removed pending further departmental proceedings for acting “overzealously”.

The inquiry was conducted after PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged the army chief to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest of PML-N leader retired Capt Mohammad Safdar in Karachi last month.

Nawaz, during his speech today, said that he “condemns and rejects” the ISPR press release and termed the inquiry report a “concocted story” that has raised more questions.

“In its report, there is no mention of forcing [the Sindh inspector general] to file an FIR. Even the names of officials [removed] are not mentioned, why? Because those names are holy? It is only the politicians that can be labeled as traitors and thieves,” said the former prime minister.

Nawaz’s daughter and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also addressed the crowd where she levelled criticism against the incumbent government once again. Terming the prime minister an “irrelevant character”, she urged the institutions to “withdraw their support” for Imran.

“Once the institutions back away from him, his government will not even stand for 24 hours, I assure you,” she told the participants of the gathering.

The PML-N vice president appealed the people of Swat to vote for her party in the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections.

“I wish Swat would vote for PML-N, not because I want PML-N to form a government but because I want to see the same development here as in Lahore.”

Maryam also alleged that it had been “decided” that the PML-N would only be given two to three seats in the GB Assembly but after observing the huge crowds in the party’s public meetings, it was agreed that the party will have to be given at least seven to eight seats.

“If you indulge in rigging, it would be your loss, if you don’t, it will still be your loss,” she said, while addressing the incumbent government. “You will have to go home soon.”

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 13 – Ambassador of Palestine Ahmed Rabei has extended sincere thanks to Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for their continuous support to Palestine cause and highly appreciate Imran Khan, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on his recent statement, as Prime Minister said that “Our position about Israel is very clear, Pakistan can never  recognize Israel” and the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah had made it clear long time ago that Israel would not be recognized until just and fair solution of the Palestinian problem is given; he categorically said, “Pakistan will never recognize Israel until  just and fair solution of the Palestinian problem is given”.

I thank Excellency Imran Khan, and every single individual of Pakistan for supporting Palestine on the all the International Forums of the World.

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 13 - Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan A. Rakhmetullin met the Rector of the National University of Modern Languages of Pakistan M. Jaffar.

During the meeting they discussed issues of establishment of cooperation with Kazakh universities.

In particular, the need to exchange students, improve the skills of Kazakh and Pakistani teachers, as well as organize seminars for students in order to be acquainted with the cultures of the two countries.

The rector of the University expressed interest in establishing cooperation with the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, and confirmed the readiness of the University's management to organize various conferences and seminars for the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

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MUZAFFARABAD: 10 Students and faculty members from AJK university will be going to Turkey for studies in different disciplines.

In this regard a send off ceremony was held at Presidency, AJK for scholarship awardees to Turkey by Higher Education Council of Turkey.

President AJK Sardar Masood Khan presided over the ceremony and Turkish Ambassador attended as Chief Guest .

The AJK President in his speech thanked the Turkish government for providing the scholarships.

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LAHORE, NOV 13 – The Center for Chinese Legal Studies (CCLS) at the Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law, LUMS in collaboration with the Pakistan-China Institute organised a virtual conference on ‘Poverty Alleviation, Covid-19 and CPEC – Connecting the Dots’.

Experts for the panel discussion includedDr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation; Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairman Foreign Affairs Committee in Senate of Pakistan; Mr. Masood Khalid, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to China; Professor Xia Qingjie, Peking University, China;Dr.Vaqar Ahmed, Executive Director, SDPI; and Professor Uzair J. Kayani, Faculty, Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law, LUMS.

The moderator, Professor Sikander Ahmed Shah, Director, CCLS, engaged the panel in an insightful conversation on Pakistan’s existing Poverty Alleviation Strategy, the impact of COVID-19 on Pakistan’s deteriorating income poverty, and CPEC’s role vis-à-vis alleviating poverty in the country. The conference also explored the Poverty Alleviation Strategy of China in an attempt to understand how Pakistan may learn from and employ China’s best practices.

Professor Sikander Ahmad Shah, Director CCLS, and Prof. Uzair Kayani, Faculty of Law, at LUMS also extended their pro bono support to Dr. Sania Nishtar on all matters of policy making pertaining to poverty reduction, relief and alleviation, in their collective pursuit to establish a welfare system in Pakistan.

Mr. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, Executive Director, PCI, presented his closing remarks for the conference and urged the audience to also focus their energies on the small and medium enterprises that enhance the vocational potential of our country.

The conference received an active and warm feedback from the participants and served as a constructive discourse of Pakistan in its effort towards welfare reform, strong institutional governance and fighting the poverty trap.

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Zong to provide subsidized AIOU Taleem Bundle facility to AIOU students and employees

ISLAMABAD, NOV 13 – Allama Iqbal Open University and Zong signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the main campus of the university yesterday.

According to the agreement, Zong will provide AIOU Taleem Bundle to the students and employees of AIOU on subsidized rates which can be used to access AIOU online services like Aaghi LMS, AIOU Live (FM radio/TV), digital library and university website, etc.

Prof. Dr. Nasir Mehmood, Dean Faculty of Education chaired the MoU signing session. Professors, principal officers of the university, and senior management of Zong telecommunication network participated in the MoU signing ceremony. Sohail Nazir Rana, Registrar AIOU, and Mr. Farhan Zakir, Director Government and Corporate Sales Services, Zong signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.

During his address to the participants, Mr. Moied Javeed, CCO, Zong highly appreciated the role of AIOU in promotion of education. He said that AIOU is one of those national institutions of the country which contribute tremendously to the progress and development of the country. He further said that he was impressed by the infrastructure of the university.

He proposed multiple possibilities of further collaboration between AIOU and Zong including interconnectivity of all 54 regional offices of the university through a single networking operation and collaboration of AIOU with a higher education institution of China specialized in online education for bring further improvements in AIOU’s online education system and delivery mechanism.

Mr. Ajmal Farooq, Director ICT, AIOU briefed the participants about the ongoing automation and digitalization processes of the university. He said that AIOU is primarily focusing on converting all of its academic and administrative operations and procedures from manual to digital.

He termed the agreement as a landmark achievement in facilitating the students to participate in online academic activities. He further informed that 89 percent of the students were able to connect to Aaghi LMS successfully and attended their online classes in spring 2020 semester.

While speaking on this occasion, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mehmood said, “AIOU is imparting low cost education to almost 1.4 million students and by joining hands with         Zong and other telecom companies AIOU would be able to improve its reach and accessibility”.  He, further, informed that 54 percent of the students enrolled with AIOU are females who come from distant regions of the country. Owing to cultural and financial issues, AIOU remains the only hope of education for them serving as a social welfare enterprise and nearly 36 lac students have so far graduated from the university.

Director Regional Services, Inam Ullah Shaikh, and Treasurer of AIOU, Dr. Aamer Shah, also spoke on this occasion and termed the agreement.

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the shooting incident that targeted the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Dutch capital,The Hague. The shameful attack blatantly violated all international laws and norms.

Pakistan appreciates prompt action by the Dutch authorities and hopes the perpetrators will soon be brought to justice, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It said, Pakistan expresses solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We stand by the Kingdom against any threat to its safety and security.

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BEIJING: China congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden on Friday after he was declared winner of the American election.

“We respect the choice of the American people. We express our congratulations to Mr Biden and Ms Harris,” said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a press briefing, referring to incoming vice president Kamala Harris.

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A new alliance is emerging in the face of the rapidly changing situation in the region, with the Pak-China Alliance, Pak-Iran relations as well as Pak-Russia war games indicate that a new bloc of these four countries will emerge in the region, while India is trying to isolate Pakistan at the international level. It is trying to isolate Pakistan on diplomatic, economic and financial issues. 

The CPEC was attacked under the same agenda. The blood of innocent people was shed in Kashmir. Attempts are also being made to disrupt relations between Russia and Pakistan with the US-Afghan agreement. Pak-Russia relations have been strained in the distant past due to India’s joining the Russian camp. It was only natural for India to become cold-blooded in its relations with Russia when it joined the US camp in view of the changing winds. 

The US not only welcomed India but instead of giving the status of front line ally with Pakistan at the behest of India, it adopted a parrot-like attitude. Thus, seeing the changing attitude of the United States, Pakistan became closer to China and relations with Russia have also become warmer as tensions have eased. Russia and Pakistan need each other in view of the changing situation in the region. If Russia, China and Pakistan are getting closer today in terms of defense, then the United States has a deliberate role to play. 

The United States wants to make India the leader of the region, because its target is China, but Pakistan has always been India’s target. With regard to Russia, the United States does not have a soft spot, so the situation is forcing Pakistan, China and Russia to form a strong defense bloc. The formation of a Pak-China friendship defense bloc has become indispensable for thwarting India’s nefarious aims and for lasting peace in the region.

There is no doubt that Pakistan and China have met each other’s trust in every hour of trial. The Soviet Union was once an equal superpower to the United States. When the Soviet Union disintegrated, China began to take its place in an imperceptible way and today it has become an economic and defense power against the United States. The idea of the United States being the only superpower in the world is fading. China’s rapid economic and defense strides are a blessing in disguise for the United States. 

The United States is struggling to stop China from stepping forward, President Trump’s efforts to put India in front of China at the expense of Pakistan have failed, India stood in front of China intoxicated with the prospect of becoming a regional superpower but it has done its own misfortune. Despite this, the US continues to pat India. The US has signed agreements with India for the supply of advanced defense technology, equipment and weapons. The US wants to make India stronger than China. Although India is afraid to stand up to China, it is getting arms and resources from the US in the name of teaching China a lesson so that it can use them against Pakistan.

The United States, as a superpower, is well aware of Indian thinking, yet relies more on India than Pakistan. The United States has put behind Pakistan’s friendship and especially Pakistan’s role and sacrifices in the Afghan war. Agreements with India on modern defense technology, while sometimes arms embargoes on Pakistan, sometimes a reduction in the Coalition Support Fund and sometimes everything is stopped. There is no objection if India detonates a nuclear device but if Pakistan detonates in response for its own defense, sanctions are imposed. This duplicity of the United States is becoming dangerous for the region. 

In the Afghan war, Pakistan sided with the United States beyond its capabilities, but the United States occupied Afghanistan and infiltrated India, which is still conspiring against Pakistan on Afghan soil and playing a game of terrorism here. The United States has always looked the other way. At India’s behest, the United States has opposed Pakistan’s bid to become part of the CPEC, urging it to pull out. If the US had made plans for Pakistan like China and kept India in its limit and resolve the Kashmir issue, then Pakistan would have leaned towards the US, but the US used Pakistan for its own interests and backed its arch enemy India.

The arrival of President Joe Biden in the United States after President Trump will not make any difference. President Trump has done nothing for the Kashmir issue despite his promises and to hope from President Joe Biden is to deceive oneself. So, resolving the Kashmir issue has never been a priority for the United States, Britain and the United Nations and like them, the world has usedonly oral deposits. Trump seemed to stand openly with India, in such circumstances; it was natural for Pakistan to look to China. However, Pakistan does not want to spoil its relations with the United States, but it must also ensure the protection of its interests. 

Pakistan’s relations with Russia and Iran have improved, the bitterness of the past has been forgotten, and the military exercises between Pakistan and Russia are a reflection of the strong friendship and mutual trust, On the other hand, the visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to Pakistan is a step towards improving relations.The United States is also barring Turkey from buying the S-400 air defense system from Russia in a bid to maintain its independence in the region, while Turkey considers the acquisition of the system essential for its defense. In this scenario, a defensive bloc is emerging in the region, including China, Pakistan, Russia, Iran and Turkey. The United States is pushing them towards this new defense bloc.

Written by

Attiya Munawer

A freelance columnist, essayist and blogger, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), Lahore.

Attiabutt121@gmail.com , Twitter: @AttiyaMunawer

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ISLAMABAD: The Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may not be back on track in a formal way very soon as the authorities struggle on politically challenging issues — power sector and revenue — amid difficult economic conditions.

While the two sides are currently involved in setting timelines for revised structural benchmarks, the government wants some nascent feel-good factor in some economic indicators to take root before the IMF’s usually contractionary fiscal and monetary stances come into play.

In the same direction, according to informed sources, the government wants to extend the support package for construction to continue until June, instead of its expiry in December, as it is driving the industrial sector activities and growth in related areas while foreign exchange reserves and exchange rate are in comfortable position owing to better remittances.

Special Secretary and spokesperson of Finance Department Kamran Ali Afzal said consultations with the IMF were taking place on a daily basis, sometimes twice a day, on structural benchmarks and their timings.

He agreed that approval of two key bills relating to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) would become “prior actions” and a way forward on power sector reforms and revenue generation would be necessary for “restoration of the programme in a formal way”.

His understanding was the two laws would become prior actions because these were not related to Covid-19, but power sector reforms and revenue side items could be readjusted as they were affected by the pandemic and remained key challenges.

He said slippage on structural benchmark under the IMF programme had to become prior action in subsequent review “unless waiver is given by the fund”.

Replying to a question, he said the formal review mission of the fund would be arranged once these advisory and consultative discussions took a clear direction.

Mr Afzal said the second wave of coronavirus had put the country in a difficult situation, otherwise things were moving in the right direction. He said the revenue collection had grown by 4.7 per cent in four months and “concrete signs of recovery are emerging” like in the shape of improvement in large scale manufacturing and some crops but it was too early to believe that aggregate growth was also emerging.

He said not only the IMF but also other lender like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank were supportive of the government in passing through difficult times and their engagements in advisory role were positive.

He said the IMF had extended $1.4bn rapid financing instrument soon after Covid-19 broke out early this year, the World Bank advanced its loan programmes and so did the ADB and Asian Infrastructure Development Bank. The ADB would be approving $300 million programme on trade competiveness by end this month.

He declined to commit any deadlines but agreed that revival of the IMF programme, which he insisted had never been stalled, was not in sight by end-December, saying “this is clear to all”.

He parried suggestions towards continuing with the status quo until March or June to synchronise with next year’s budget. “We are under the fund programme but in a different way. We are sharing with them all the data and taking their advice as well” which should not have been the case had the programme not been intact, although second quarterly review was not completed, he said.

Mr Afzal said it had been decided in principle that the international commercial loans would be maintained at the current level.

Responding to a question, he said the IMF and other lending institutions were not against the subsidies but they wanted them to be targeted to support only the needy or to stimulate economic growth.

The $6bn IMF programme has been in limbo since January this year and second quarterly review of the 39-month facility signed in July 2019 could not be completed.

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OSLO - On Thursday, the Norwegian Environment Agency approved Kjerag and Preikestolen in Rogaland as national tourist routes.

Up to 15 routes can be approved as national tourist routes. 

Kjerag in Sandnes municipality and Preikestolen in Strand municipality will now be the second and third authorized route, the Norwegian Environment Agency stated in a press release on Thursday.

Fosseråsa in Geiranger is already authorized.

“With the long and narrow Lysefjord 600-900 meters below you, you will feel small in the large landscape space, where you walk on the bare rock. 

“It is easy to understand that the interest and use of these areas are so great,” Ellen Hambro, director of the Norwegian Environment Agency, noted.

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