FARUKH SHEHZAD

RAWALPINDI, FEB 22: A delegation of foreign experts is arriving in Pakistan on Monday (today) on the invitation of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain to work on a five-year corporate business plan for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

The four-member team will stay in Pakistan for 12 days during which it will undertake a business model review and also meet government officials at the finance ministry, Dr Hussain, senior government officials and the airline’s chief executive officer, Arshad Malik.

The airline’s spokesman, Abdullah Hafeez, confirmed that the team would be reaching Pakistan on Monday.

The experts, who have an extensive consultancy experience, will devise a business plan for the airline to make it profitable and sustainable.

“We will be following the government’s directives on restructuring and reforms in the airline,” the spokesman said.

Dr Hussain is supervising the reforms underway in PIA and in this context consultants had been invited to advice on the restructuring plan for the national carrier.

In November 2019, PIA had sought services of a reputed international firm with extensive aviation consulting experience to prepare a five-year corporate business plan through a tender.

The objective was to make the PIA a leading international airline and enable it to play an important role in Pakistan’s economy.

The plan will include all proposed initiatives and strategies for organisational and financial restructuring within the relevant timelines. It will also provide a detailed forecast of the financial position, performance and cash flows under different possible/recommended scenarios. It will focus on recommendations to revise capital structure and provide a viable working plan for raising future funding requirements.

The proposed plan will also give a holistic view of PIA’s current competitive position in the industry, with focus on its sales and marketing strategy for each region, route and destination.

Restructuring options will also be suggested, and the experts will advise on the best possible strategy for each area of the airline.

The PIA will support the consultant by providing available operational and/or financial information required for the development of the corporate business plan.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority had granted special permission for inbound travel to the foreign experts from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Portugal on the request of the PIA administration.

The delegation will be travelling onboard Turkish Airlines flight as per the travel itinerary. However, this approval was subject to PCR testing, mandatory quarantine and other stipulations as specified by the health authorities upon arrival.

Pakistan has restricted the entry of inbound passengers from countries categorised C in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

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ISLAMABAD, FEB 22: With its plenary beginning on Monday (today), Pakistan may remain in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) though the authorities assert that the country qualifies to be moved out on merit.

Background discussions with key officials and foreign diplomats suggest that the jury is divided — with the authorities claiming sufficient progress to be confident of a positive outcome but some diplomats suggesting that even in the best case scenario Pakistan would remain in the increased monitoring list (grey list) until June.

A final decision would be announced by the FATF president on the conclusion of the four-day virtual plenary on Feb 25.

Ahead of the plenary, the FATF updated the overall performance of all countries. Based on this update, Pakistan has been shown improving compliance on two out of 40 recommendations of the FATF on effectiveness of anti-money laundering and combating financing terror (AML/CFT) systems. It finds Pakistan’s progress non-compliant on four counts, partially compliant on 25 counts and largely compliant on nine recommendations. Pakistan’s evaluation at the plenary would be based on 27-point action plan and not on these 40 recommendations.

Decision to be announced on 25th

Diplomats said they had not seen this time the kind of aggressive diplomatic effort Islamabad had been making in the past, particularly before the October 2020 plenary review. They said the plenary could discuss all options, including blacklisting Pakistan, keeping it in the grey list or removing it from the grey list.

There are, however, no chances that Pakistan could be put in the blacklist because it has at least three members of the FATF — China, Turkey and Malaysia — who can sustain all pressures against any downgrade. This is not only based on friendly bilateral relations but performance as well. “From our perspective, we have completed all action points and complied with what the country was required to do, but sometimes some influential members can raise objections on a point that one can think is not justified,” said an official.

The plenary discussions would take place on the analytical report of the FATF’s assessors on the basis of status compliance report of Pakistan. The FATF’s assessor analysis is purely of technical nature of checklists. Adversaries can challenge the positive findings and come up with negative and critical opinions about the assessors’ report. Likewise, friendly allies can question negative opinions. In both cases it leads to further discussion and conclusions are normally based on consensus.

Even the assessments may not lead to a final decision and are normally linked to an onsite visit by the FATF or its regional associates for physical verification that provides a couple of weeks to the authorities to address some minor deficiencies. If the FATF assessment finds Pakistan report to be fully compliant, even then this would be followed by an onsite visit in a couple of months and the country would formally move out of the grey list in June.

Given well known anti-Pakistan stance from arch rival India, latest diplomatic row with France and the US’s open criticism of court decision on Daniel Pearl case, the debate at the FATF plenary could turn negative.

Pakistan fully complied with 21 out of 27-point action plan last year, leading the FATF to soften its stance from previously aggressive threats and yet it kept it in the grey list in October last year. Following robust progress on anti-money laundering and terror financing laws, rules, regulations and updating inter-agency and inter-provincial cooperation, the FATF narrative shifted towards Islamabad to “demonstrate” seriousness on ground through results and prosecutions.

In October last year, the FATF had announced that Pakistan had made progress across all action plan items and “largely addressed 21 of the 27 action items”. As all action plan deadlines stood expired, the FATF had said it strongly urged Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February 2021 appreciating that it took “note of the significant progress made on a number of action plan items”.

It had asked Pakistan to continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies by “demonstrating” that law enforcement agencies are identifying and investigating the widest range of terror financing (TF) activity and that TF investigations and prosecutions target designated persons and entities, and those acting on behalf or at the direction of the designated persons or entities.

Secondly, it was required to “demonstrate” that TF prosecutions result in effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions and thirdly to “demonstrate” effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions against all 1,267 and 1,373 designated terrorists and those acting for or on their behalf, preventing the raising and moving of funds, including in relation to non-profit organisations (NPOs), identifying and freezing movable and immovable assets and prohibiting access to funds and financial services.

Fourth and finally, it had asked Islamabad to “demonstrate” enforcement against terror financing sanctions (TFS) violations, including in relation to NPOs, of administrative and criminal penalties and provincial and federal authorities cooperating on enforcement cases.

Foreign Office spokesman had said last week that Pakistan had made substantive progress on the remaining six items of the FATF action plan and was duly acknowledged by the wider FATF membership.

Pakistan has been on the FATF’s grey list for deficiencies in its counter-terror financing and anti-money laundering regimes since June 2018. Until the last assessment, Pakistan was found deficient in acting against the organisations allegedly linked to the terror groups listed by the UN Security Council, prosecuting and convicting banned individuals and tackling smuggling of narcotics and precious stones. Recently, the authorities had taken further steps including the prosecution of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and his associates in terror financing cases.

FATF President Dr Marcus Pleyer had noted in October that Pakistan had never been in the blacklist but in the grey list and based on its completion on 21 out of 27 items as largely complaint status, the country could be viewed “safer”. He had, however, made it clear that six outstanding items were “very serious and risks are not over until the government of Pakistan repairs all six outstanding items”.

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GUJRAT/LAHORE, FEB 22: Shifting from its earlier stand of the fresh ballot in 53 polling stations in NA-75 (Daska), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) demanded re-election in the entire National Assembly constituency while the ruling party claimed victory and said people of Daska had rejected the narrative of Nawaz Sharif.

Daska became a centre point of national politics after violence and alleged vote fraud during the NA-75 by-poll on Friday, as main leadership of the ruling PTI and opposition PML-N visited the town on Sunday.

PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz along with a contingent of party leaders, including Rana Sanaullah, Marriyum Aurangzaib and Attaullah Tarrar, visited the family of party worker Zeeshan Butt who was killed during a violent clash at a polling station in Daska.

Similarly, a PTI team comprising federal ministers Senator Shibli Faraz, Fawad Chaudhary, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Usman Dar and Special Assistant to the Chief Minister (of Punjab) Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan visited the residence of slain PTI worker Majid who too was killed in the clash.

PTI claims victory, Nawaz demands strict action against those who held presiding officers hostage

The team condoled with the family of the deceased and offered prayers for the departed soul. Later the PTI leaders also visited the injured party workers in a hospital.

Speaking to a large gathering of PML-N supporters later, Maryam Nawaz praised people of Daska and Wazirabad for resisting every effort for stealing their vote through the brutal use of police and state machinery.

She said the PML-N worker had sacrificed his life for the sake of party narrative of “respect to vote”.

According to Ms Nawaz, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is a constitutional safeguard of the voting right of 220 million people of Pakistan and through its own press release it has doubted the election process, which now requires re-election in the entire NA-75 and that too under assurances by the ECP of holding free, fair and transparent election.

She thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan and his ministers and advisers who had made the Daska by-poll an election of entire Pakistan through their stupid approach and misuse of power.

Meanwhile, speaking at a news conference in Daska, Information Minister Faraz said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Ali Asjad Malhi had won the by-election and the ECP should announce the results.

The minister said the PML-N leadership was frustrated as the anti-state narrative of Nawaz Sharif had lost support among masses. On the contrary, Prime Minister Imran Khan enjoyed a massive support of the people, he added.

Mr Faraz said the PML-N was scared as Mr Khan wanted to bring transparency to the electoral process by eliminating any chances of rigging and the politics of intimidation.

He said the PML-N was in the habit of doing politics of intimidation, hooliganism and bribe, and its leadership repeated that practice by sending Rana Sanaullah, Javed Latif and others to create law and order situation in Daska, where peaceful electioneering was underway.

Now the PML-N leaders were shedding crocodile tears over the killing of two workers, that had refreshed the memories of Model Town massacre in which innocent women and children were brutally killed, he added.

He said the killing of workers on the polling day took place under the patronage of Rana Sanaullah.

He said due to mass acceptance of the prime minister’s narrative, the PTI had got more votes in Daska and Wazirabad constituencies in the Friday vote as compared to 2018 election. The difference between the votes secured by PTI and PML-N in Wazirabad has narrowed from 33,000 to 4,000 only.

The lead of PML-N was 40,000 in 2018 but this time it was facing defeat in Daska, he said.

Castigating the opposition leaders, he said they had already been exposed owing to hypocrisy shown in their lack of interest in making the Senate elections transparent and stopping vote buying.

He said the government was working hard to introduce electronic voting system to ensure transparency. Legislation was being enacted to give right to vote to expatriate Pakistanis, he said.

He said the federal ministers had come to Daska on the directive of the prime minister to offer condolences to the family of deceased PTI worker.

Fawad Chaudhary condemned the attack on Geo TV office in Karachi and said the media could not operate under such attacks and police should take action against those involved in the act.

Nawaz Sharif

Rejecting around 90 per cent turnout at the polling stations whose presiding officers had gone “missing” after the polling process in Daska by-election, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has demanded strictest action against the elements involved in the incident.

In a tweet on Sunday, the PML-N supremo, who is in London for more than a year for medical treatment, says the nation rejects the disappearance of the presiding officers in Daska and over 90pc turnout in specific polling stations instead of 30pc [the average in over 300 plus other polling stations] like it had rejected the malfunctioning of RTS (result transmission system) in the 2018 elections.

He says the ECP press release on the issue is an “open FIR against the “selected/selectors”.

Talking to media at Jati Umra before leaving for Daska, Maryam Nawaz said the PML-N would have gifted the Daska seat to the PTI if it knew the ruling party would go to the extreme of killing people.

She said these thieves of flour and sugar had failed in every field and everywhere in the country.

Referring to the challenge given by some PTI leaders to Ms Nawaz, daring her to visit Daska, she suspected some nefarious plans of the PTI men behind this challenge. But she vowed to visit the town at any cost.

About the controversy on the killing of two youths in firing during the Daska by-poll, she said the PML-N owned its workers unlike the PTI which, she said, was neither a party nor had a future.

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ISLAMABAD, FEB 22: Sri Lankan Muslim community is waiting for the historic visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Colombo Sri Lanka, and has expressed great expectations with PM Imran Khan.

KARACHI, FEB 22: Magnificient power hitting by Lewis Gregory in the late overs helped Islamabad United win by three wickets against Multan Sultans in their opening 2021 Pakistan Super League encounter at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday.

Despite losing wickets in succession towards the middle of their innings, the United chased the 151-run target set by the Sultans with six balls to spare.

Alex Hales and Phil Salt began United's run chase, but before they could solidify the partnership, Salt (13) was caught by James Vince off Mohammad Umar in the 4th over.

He was replaced by Shadab Khan, who could only chip in five runs before getting caught out off Carlos Brathwaite.

Hales added a fine 29 off 20, including two fours and as many sixes, to his side's total but was bowled by Shahid Afridi in the 7th over.

Afridi struck again four overs later, dismissing Asif Ali who managed nine runs from nine balls. United began to feel even more pressure after Iftikhar Ahmed was run out by Afridi five balls later.

More trouble followed for the United as Hussain Talat was caught off Khushdil Shah before Faheem Ashraf and Lewis Gregory attempted to save the match from slipping away.

Ashraf put up 22 runs on the scoreboard from 12 balls before he was caught by Afridi off Brathwaite in the 16th over.

But Man of the Match Gregory persevered, smashing a six and three consecutive fours in the second last over to see the United home.

Sultans innings

Earlier, after being sent in to bat, the Sultans finished at 150-8 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a splendid 71-run knock by new captain Mohammad Rizwan.

Chris Lynn and Rizwan opened the innings for the Sultans, but Lynn (1 off 5) was dismissed in the second over only, caught by keeper Phil Salt off Faheem Ashraf.

Rizwan then piled on runs to build up his team's total, scoring 43 off 27 in 10 overs. The Sultans lost their second wicket in the 8th over, when James Vince (16) was caught by Ashraf on a ball by Lewis Gregory.

Rilee Rossouw helped Rizwan with a 25-run knock off 14 laced with two fours and as many sixes, before he was caught by Mohammad Waseem off Shadab Khan.

Waseem struck again in the next over, sending Sohaib Maqsood packing after scoring two runs. Khushdil Khan (7), meanwhile, was caught by Alex Hales off Gregory in the 14th over.

A breakthrough came for the United in the 19th over when Waseem bowled out Rizwan, who scored his 71 from 53 balls.

The unstoppable Waseem also dismissed Shahid Afridi in the very next ball for a golden duck.

Earlier, Islamabad United won the toss and decided to field first against the Sultans.

"Lots of dew on the surface, and we'd like to restrict them to around 140," United captain Shadab Khan said, according to ESPNCricinfo.

"We try and play our best XI according to the pitch and we'll try and make the most of these conditions," Sultans' new skipper Mohammad Rizwan said.

This was the second PSL match of the day. In the first match, Lahore Qalandars beat Peshawar Zalmi by four wickets.

Teams

Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Phil Salt (wk), Shadab Khan (capt), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Lewis Gregory, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Zafar Gohar, Waseem Jnr

Multan Sultans: Rizwan (capt&wk), Chris Lynn, James Vince, Rilee Rossouw, Sohaib Maqsood, Khushdil Shah, Shahid Afridi, Carlos Brathwaite, Sohail Tanvir, Umar

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CAIRO, FEB 22: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday participated via video-conference in the preparatory meeting for the Conference of Heads of African Courts and Constitutional Councils, with a speech calling on the need to benefit from the digital judicial platform.

Sisi’s speech stressed upon the importance of controlling the legal framework to better regulate information security, the legal governance of social media and its content and dealing with huge databases and personal information for citizens.

The most important challenges arising from the coronavirus pandemic are an accelerated and unprecedented trend towards digital transformation, the reform and rehabilitation of health care systems, and a shift towards a green economy.

As Egypt’s constitutions are legal documents that guide and direct all legislative and legal efforts, Sisi noted that they must always be subject to review and updating.

He urged all parties to participate in discussions regarding the challenges facing Africa, to work collectively to develop common constitutional rules that support the continent’s vision.

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COURTESY egyptindependent

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ISLAMABAD, FEB 21: The Citizens Foundation (TCF), a leading non-profit educating the less privileged children of Pakistan and Islamabad United (ISLU), a Pakistani professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that competes in Pakistan Super League (PSL) and two time PSL Champions have partnered again this year for the upcoming PSL6.

ISLU has supported TCF’s work in the past and has helped in raising support for the cause through its platform. Under the collaboration, the ISLU team will continue to work alongside TCF to bring positive change in Pakistan by bringing more children off the streets and into schools and helping them become agents of positive change.

Regarding the partnership, Ali Naqvi, owner of Islamabad United said,

“We have always believed that our duty and responsibility to Pakistan goes beyond our immediate work. We’ve taken pride in being a socially conscious and progressive organization, from our support of WWF-Pakistan to our continued association with TCF, we have always believed in presenting and promoting the best that Pakistan has to offer, while still using the platform of Pakistan cricket, especially the PSL, to achieve those goals. TCF is one of the most admirable organizations in the country, the work they’ve done, the lives they’ve changed are obvious for all. Our players have visited their schools over the past few years and this has only emboldened our partnership. Their belief in youth empowerment and education is something that we share, thus this partnership is a natural fit for us, and we feel happy to continue our association with TCF.”

Asaad Ayub Ahmad, CEO of The Citizens Foundation commented, “We are happy to continue our association with Islamabad United for PSL. Over the past few years our partnership has been a fruitful one: Islamabad United players have visited our various campuses in Lahore and Rawalpindi, inspired our students and raised awareness for the cause of education in Pakistan. Our aim is to remove the barriers of class and privilege to make citizens of Pakistan agents of change, and no one encapsulates that more than our national cricketers. We are glad that we are continuing our partnership with Islamabad United.

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COURTESY whenwherehow

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ISLAMABAD, FEB 21: Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Saturday hoped and prayed that the Supreme Court would stand unwaveringly against all manners of constitutional violations and safeguard the people against misuse of power.

In a strongly worded 28-page dissenting note, Justice Faez Isa also expressed the hope that unstructured discretion would be curtailed since it had neither served any institution nor the interest of people, adding that the most resilient and finest institutions were those where candour, transparency and legitimate dissent existed.

The dissenting note is a continuation of the Feb 11 order in which a five-judge SC bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed had barred one of its members — Justice Isa — from hearing the cases concerning Prime Minister Imran Khan. The bench was hearing the proposed distribution of uplift grant of Rs500 million each among the PTI lawmakers.

“The tug of war between the senior members of the top judiciary is bringing down, rather compromising, the prestige and honour of the highest institution of justice,” regretted a senior law officer on condition of anonymity.

Senior judge writes dissenting note on Feb 11 order barring him from hearing cases concerning prime minister

Also, Barrister Taimur Malik, an international law expert, said in a tweet: “Pakistan has passed through phases of Judicial Acquiescence, Judicial Activism, Judicial Imperialism and (briefly) Judicial Restraint. Where are we headed now!”

Justice Isa expressed his disappointment by stating that a non-issue was raised by the chief justice and, without hearing him, unilaterally decided that he might be biased and lack impartiality. “Thus in an unprecedented fashion and without any evidence or without any recourse to petition or appeal, the reputation of a judge of the Supreme Court was tarnished,” Justice Isa bemoaned.

Consequently, credibility and integrity of the judiciary has also been undermined, he regretted in the dissenting note, dubbing the Feb 11 order by four senior judges of the apex court something that did not meet the stipulated criteria to constitute a legal order of a decision in terms of Article 189 of the Constitution and thus contrary to the rules of natural justice, the Constitution, impartiality and fair play and undermined this court.

“The appraisal and review of the decisions of this court dating back to the 1950s show that to be properly categorised as an ‘order’ or a ‘judgment’, reasons therein must be given, adjudication should take place after a careful consideration of the facts and the law and the decision made only after giving the affected party an opportunity of being heard,” he emphasised.

The Feb 11 order did not state which particular jurisdiction was exercised, he said, observing that if the court assumed jurisdiction which it did not have, such an action or order was liable to be struck down.

Justice Isa explained that Imran Khan’s person and the office of prime minister were two different things and were not interchangeable since the prime minister was the head of the federal government and even the head of the state (the president) in most matters acted on his advice. If the Feb 11 order was implemented, it would mean that a judge of the Supreme Court can only hear cases of private civil disputes because even in criminal cases the state is always a party.

On bias, Justice Isa observed that he did not personally know Imran Khan and, therefore, he could not possibly have a bias against him as the prime minister. “I am more than capable of adjudicating impartially and without bias”, failing which, he would violate the Constitution, his oath, his conscience and his faith, he said. “My brethren [other judges] are not my conscience keepers, nor am I theirs.”

Justice Isa regretted that if Imran Khan wanted to make allegations of bias against him, the premier had to do so himself but Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan was not the personal lawyer of the prime minister nor could the chief justice extend support to the prime minister or restrain the judge nor the Constitution or law permitted judges to look into the hearts of colleague judges and determine whether they suffered from biasness and lack of impartiality. “Almighty Allah alone knows what is in the hearts.”

Justice Isa also recalled how he wrote a letter to the chief justice to object to the constitution of the five-judge bench in which Justice Maqbool Baqar was not included despite the fact that the judge was part of the two-judge bench which had requested the CJP to constitute a larger bench. But, he regretted, the CJP did not respond to the letter.

“This court often castigates arbitrary exercise of discretion, yet in constituting benches hearing important constitutional matters unstructured discretion is exercised,” Justice Isa regretted. “This recurrent issue has been left unattended by the chief justices and not made into an agenda item for full-court meetings,” he observed, adding that the apex court was the final arbiter of all disputes and the custodian of the Constitution and was tasked with ensuring that the executive did not overreach or act contrary to the Constitution.

“If the executive’s transgressions are not checked, and instead benches are reconstituted and judges restrained, the people suffer,” he observed.

Justice Isa also highlighted 20 improprieties and illegalities in the Feb 11 order, saying that without informing the two-member bench, which was already hearing the matter, the CJP decided to reconstitute the bench, expand it and exclude Justice Maqbool Baqar from it, no one had alleged bias or lack of impartiality against any judge on the bench, and without consulting his colleagues on the bench, the chief justice tersely announced that a judge should not hear any case involving the prime minister; the CJP arbitrarily introduced a non-issue — bias and lack of impartiality on the part of a judge on the bench, who was not made privy to the written order.

Likewise, the order was sent to a junior judge while the said judge, his senior, was bypassed; the order of the court was not written and thus, not signed and, therefore, there is no order of the court and the matter remains pending.

Justice Isa said the Feb 11 order was uploaded on the website before a judge had seen it, let alone had the opportunity to agree/disagree with it; the order and case file were not sent, in accordance with longstanding established practice, to him, who learnt it through the media and had to write to the registrar seeking the order and case file.

Moreover, the restraining paragraph of the order contravenes the oath of judges, contrary to the Islamic principles, contrary to the settled jurisprudence.

The anomalies also pointed out that the prime minister’s reported statement said that money from the public purse would be disbursed for apparent political patronage at a time when the Senate elections were on the horizon and, therefore, notice was issued by the two-judge bench earlier; however, without a proper determination, and without ascertainment of the veracity and effect of the documents he produced about the release of development funds in constituency No 65, the matter was abruptly disposed of.

“What commenced as an attempt to prevent corrupt practices and bribery ended with a judge being rebuked and restrained,” Justice Isa regretted, adding that submitting a resignation letter was contemplated, but then he remembered that this was not about a judge and his mistreatment.

“It is about something far more important; the Constitution, the peoples’ rights and their monies. All of which I have, with Almighty Allah’s help and grace, endeavored to protect and will continue to do so,” Justice Isa observed.

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ISLAMABAD, FEB 21: Pakistan-Turkey counter-terrorism drills codenamed Ataturk-XI 2021 concluded on Saturday.

The three-week-long exercises held at Tarbela were participated by special forces of Pakistan and Turkey.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the drills included cordon and search techniques, built-up area clearance with combat aviation support and hostage rescue.

The participating troops also practised free fall and martial arts.

Inspector General of Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Syed Muhammad Adnan was the chief guest at the closing ceremony.

A high-level military delegation of Turkey headed by Maj Gen Emre Tayanc was present on the occasion.

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COURTESY dawn news

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DOHA, FEB 21: Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Saturday held a meeting with visiting senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi, during which the two sides vowed to boost cooperation and deepen the China-Qatar strategic partnership.

Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to the Qatari emir.

Yang said that under the personal care and guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the China-Qatar ties have witnessed rapid development in terms of pace and depth, with political mutual trust constantly strengthened and pragmatic cooperation displaying strong vitality.

He noted that China supports Qatar in exploring independently a development path suited to its national conditions, and its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and security.

China is ready to work with Qatar to boost the coordination of development strategies, deepen cooperation in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and constantly enrich the content of the China-Qatar strategic partnership, the senior Chinese diplomat said.

Yang expressed China's full support to Qatar in hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, pledging that China will continue to support Chinese companies in overcoming the challenges created by the pandemic in order to complete the construction of the relevant stadiums on schedule with high quality.

China supports Qatar in playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to work together with Qatar to practice multilateralism with concrete actions and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, Yang noted.

He also voiced China's support to the efforts by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and jointly promote regional stability and development.

For his part, the Qatari emir asked Yang to convey his sincere regards to President Xi Jinping.

He said that Qatar is eager to further develop its relations with China, deepen strategic communication, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of energy, investment, digital economy, culture and infrastructure construction within the BRI framework, and continuously seek new progress in advancing the China-Qatar strategic partnership.

Qatar abides by the one-China principle, opposes foreign interference in China's internal affairs and supports China in safeguarding its core interests, the Qatari leader said.

He also expressed Qatar's willingness to strengthen coordination with China on international occasions to jointly promote world peace and stability.

On the same day, Yang also met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatari deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, to hold in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral relations and issues of common interest.

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COURTESY china.org.cn

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Gulf neighbours discuss Qatar taking a mediator role between Iran and Arab rivals in the region

TEHRAN, IRAN, FEB 2021: Iran and Qatar have discussed Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers and laid the groundwork for Doha to act as a mediator between Iran and Arab rivals in the region during the first high-level talks in Tehran.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani led a Qatari delegation on Monday that met President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Rouhani said ties between the two countries should continue to strengthen and discussed Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which former United States President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned in 2018, imposing harsh sanctions on Iran.

He said the “maximum pressure” campaign of economic sanctions has failed, and the Biden administration – which has so far insisted that Iran returns to its commitments under the deal first for sanctions to be lifted – will have no recourse but to restore the deal.

“As soon as the US lifts its illegal sanctions and returns to law, Iran will immediately return to all its commitments under the deal,” he said.

Iran gradually scaled back its commitments a year after Trump left the deal, and has said it will limit international nuclear inspections from February 21 as per a parliamentary law if it deems other parties still do not abide by their commitments.

‘Qatar will spare no efforts’

The Qatari foreign minister continued to advocate for a speedy return of the US to the nuclear deal.

“We hope that with the return of the US to the nuclear deal as soon as possible, challenges and sanctions can be alleviated within the framework of the deal and Qatar will not spare any efforts to make that happen,” Al Thani said.

Qatar has been working to de-escalate tensions in the region by advocating for a return to the nuclear deal for more than a year, something Iran has welcomed.

After several Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including Iran’s archrival Saudi Arabia, lifted a land, sea and air blockade on Qatar in early January, Qatar said the development will not affect its ties with Iran.

The relationship with Iran was one of the reasons cited for the blockade on Qatar, and one of the initial conditions for the lifting of the blockade was cutting ties with Tehran.

In meeting with his Iranian counterpart on Monday, Al Thani reportedly thanked Iran for its support during the blockade. He also said Qatar is ready to play a “key and effective role” in establishing regional dialogue, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Zarif congratulated Al Thani for the end of the blockade, saying Iran looks forward to stronger ties with Qatar and the region.

After the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister pointed out in a tweet that he has met the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hossein, and Al Thani while Astana talks will continue with Russia and Turkey on Tuesday.

“Our region is our priority,” he wrote.

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COURTESY aljazeera

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