Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 I 1 Muharram, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 41 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition UN rePort says global warMiNg daNgeroUsly close to beiNg oUt of coNtrol

NEws DEsk planet.” read more In three months’ time, the u.n. tatIng that humans were CoP26 climate conference in glas - “unequivocally” to blame for gow, , will try to wring much Success of intra- bringing global warming more ambitious climate action out of dangerously close to being the nations of the world, and the Afghan dialogue out of control, the united na - money to go with it. stions panel on climate change told drawing on more than 14,000 sci - depends on the world on monday that greenhouse entific studies, the IPCC report gives gas levels in the atmosphere are high the most comprehensive and de - leadership: Qureshi enough to guarantee climate disrup - tailed picture yet of how climate tion for decades if not centuries. change is altering the natural world — APP according to the report from the and what could still be ahead. scientists of the Intergovernmental unless immediate, rapid and foreign minister Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), large-scale action is taken to reduce on monday said that has played deadly heat waves, gargantuan hurri - emissions, the report says, the average its role in afghan peace and reconcilia - canes and other weather extremes global temperature is likely to reach or tion process and now it is up to the that are already happening will only cross the 1.5-degree Celsius (2.7 de - afghan leadership to further move the become more severe. grees fahrenheit) warming threshold process. addressing a press conference u.n. secretary-general antónio within 20 years. in Islamabad, the foreign minister said guterres described the report as a the pledges to cut emissions ‘WAKE-UP CALL’: governments and take action now, before we meet in that the afghan leadership would be re - “code red for humanity”. made so far are nowhere near campaigners reacted to the findings ”. sponsible for the success or failure of the “the alarm bells are deafening,” enough to start reducing level of with alarm. the report says emissions “unequiv - dialogue process. he said Pakistan would he said in a statement. “this report greenhouse gases – mostly carbon british Prime minister boris John - ocally caused by human activities” continue with its role in the afghan peace must sound a death knell for coal and dioxide (Co2) from burning fossil fuels son said he hoped the report would have already pushed the average process as there should be no ambiguity. fossil fuels, before they destroy our – accumulated in the atmosphere. be “a wake-up call for the world to global temperature up 1.1C from its Qureshi regretted that allegations were pre-industrial average — and would being levelled against Pakistan for the fail - have raised it 0.5C further without the ure of afghan peace process. the foreign tempering effect of pollution in the at - minister said Prime minister PM urges masses to plant one tree mosphere. had been consistently saying that there that means that, even as soci - was no military solution to the afghan eties move away from fossil fuels, issue. he stressed that a well-negotiated, each to ensure clean Pakistan temperatures will be pushed up all-inclusive and broad-based political again by the loss of the airborne pol - settlement was the only way forward to lutants that come with them and establish peace in afghanistan. to a g Imran Inaugurates currently reflect away some of the question, the foreign minister maintained sun’s heat. that they had facilitated the afghan civil - world’s bIggest mIyawakI a rise of 1.5C is generally seen as ians despite the coronavirus pandemic. the most that humanity could cope “Pakistan has been a generous and hos - urban forest In lahore with without suffering widespread eco - pitable host to the three million afghan nomic and social upheaval. refugees for four decades despite its lim - LAHORE the 1.1C warming already APP ited resources,” he said, adding that if recorded has been enough to un - there was any new influx of afghan leash disastrous weather. this year, Prime minister Imran khan on monday highlighting the im - refugees, Pakistan did not have the ca - heat waves killed hundreds in the Pa - portance of forests in checking global warming and pol - pacity to host them. he further said it cific northwest and smashed records lution urged the masses, especially, youth to plant at least past glory of lahore, which used to be a city of gardens would be the collective responsibility of around the world. wildfires fuelled by one tree each and look after it to ensure a clean and pol - with trees planted all around, and now was considered as the international community and other heat and drought are sweeping away lution-free Pakistan for the future generations. one of the most polluted cities of Pakistan. neighbours of afghanistan in that case, entire towns in the u.s. west, releasing he expressed these views while inaugurating the he dedicated the miyawaki forest lahore to Prof. dr. adding that Pakistan had been urging the record carbon dioxide emissions from world’s biggest miyawaki urban forest, as part of monsoon akira miyawaki, a Japanese botanist and expert in plant international community to play their due siberian forests, and driving greeks to drive under the 10 billion tree tsunami project. ecology, who died on July 16, 2021. role in the reconstruction of afghanistan flee their homes by ferry. the prime minister hoped that the development of and for the regional peace and stability. miyawaki forest in the provincial capital will help revive the CONTINUED ON PAGE 05 CONTINUED ON PAGE 05 CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

coroNavirUs iN Fawad says govt ready to trial MORE INSIDE PakistaN electronic voting in 2023 Muharram moon IsLAMABAD said. fawad said voting usually APP ends at 5:00 pm during the sighted; Ashura CONFIRMED CASES: election and the people have minister for Information and to wait until the next morning to on August 19 broadcasting get the results, but the use of 1,071,620 on monday said electronic vot - electronic voting machines STORY ON PAGE 03 ing was the most effective tool would make election results to ensure transparency in the available immediately. elections and if the opposition regarding the rigging parties agreed, the govern - charges in recent kashmir elec - LAST UPDATED AT 8:14 AM ON AUGUST 9, 2021 ment was ready to introduce tions, he said, the Pml-n was in says uk never the apparatus in the coming power and the prime minister DAY'S DEATH TOLL: NEW CASES: general elections. also belonged to the party. asked Pakistan for In an interview, the minister moreover, a senior member said the work on the new of the election Commission was Covid-19 data 53 4,040 method had been completed also a close relative of the then and if a consensus was own unique challenges, rang - prime minister of the region. he STORY ON BACK PAGE reached between the govern - ing from inaccessible rural pop - said the appointment of the RECOVERED: DEATHS: ment and the opposition par - ulations to low levels of literacy. chief election commissioner HEC takes ties on the proposal, the fawad said a mechanism was also done by the muzaf - electronic voting regime could will be devised for transparency farabad itself, the police and 964,404 23,918 be trialled in the next elections in the elections, assuring the the administration were also U-turn on scheduled to be held in 2023. machines fulfil all the require - under their control. but when the electronic voting machines ments of the election Commis - Pml-n lost the election, the for - contentious PhD SINDH: PUNJAB: are used in some of the world’s sion of Pakistan under the law mer premier claimed rigging. biggest democracies to get regulating the entire process. If the opposition parties admission policy around some of these hurdles. the minister said eVms were lose the election, they claim 400,400 364,680 the machines come in all ahead of the incumbent polling rigging and if they win, they say STORY ON PAGE 03 shapes and sizes, from small regime and would reduce the the elections were fair, the min - KPK: BALOCHISTAN: touchscreen devices to larger chances of fraud in the elec - ister remarked. he said the units with physical buttons and a tions and results would be avail - best way to get rid of these al - several tourists 148,619 31,177 printed ballot paper on the front. able immediately, including legations was to develop a but those nations that have electronic and paper trails. mechanism so that the trans - looted at widespread adoption of elec - “our emphasis on elec - parency of the elections can - AJK/GB: ISLAMABAD: tronic voting are also develop - tronic voting machines is be - not be questioned. gunpoint in swat ing nations with relatively short cause they are not connected 27,288 / 8,796 90,660 democratic histories and their to the Internet”, the minister CONTINUED ON PAGE 05 STORY ON PAGE 02 Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 02 NEWS LAHORE two Killed aS rooF collaPSeS Several touriStS looted at due to Mortar gunPoint in Swat Shell exPloSion NEwS DESK as soon as the robbery was reported, the RAHIM YAR KHAN police reached the area and started an INP HE (KP) investigation. police said that around 20 Earlier on Thursday last, tourists A father and son were killed when roof of a room tourists were looted at gunpoint going to different scenic spots in the collapsed due to a mortar shell explosion on in Swat’s Bahrain area on province were looted at gunpoint. Monday. According to details, the incident took Monday, according to Dawn. Several dacoits had stopped one coaster tA police official told Dawn that van at Osakai on Dir-Chitral road and place in Basti Adil Shah of Rahim Yar Khan where a 50-year-old scrap dealer Siraj Ahmad who “around 20 tourists from Lahore were another in the limits of Malakand Police purchased a mortar shell in scrap was cutting it with travelling to Kalam in a coaster when Station, and looted the tourists at angle grinder. The mortar shell exploded during they were stopped by motorcyclists.” He gunpoint. The dacoits had snatched cutting resultantly roof of the roof caved in. Two further told that the armed men then precious mobile phones, watches, cash, including Siraj, 50, and his son Sajjad, 15, were entered the coaster and looted the ATM cards and other valuables from the killed in the roof collapse. The bodies was laid to tourists. tourists, according to a report. rest at local graveyard. The CTD and other security He said that the tourists, however, So far, the police have failed to arrest agencies gathered the evidences from the scene of managed to escape with Rs400,000 in the people behind the tourists’ robbery blast, confirmed that blast resulted to exploding of cash and nine smartphones, adding that incidents. mortar shell and dispatched the report to authorities. SHC chides prosecution for ‘letting big fish go scot-free’ in Baldia factory case

KARACHI In September last, an anti-terrorism INP court in sentenced two MQM workers — Zubair aka Charya and Nine years after a deadliest industrial Abdul Rehman aka Bhola — to death. blaze in Pakistan’s history, the pursuit of During the hearing on Monday, justice languishes as the Sindh High Justice Karim Khan Agha wondered why Court on Monday took to task the the bigwigs were simply let go, asking prosecution for failing to file appeals why the state did not file any appeal against prime suspects roaming scot- against the acquittal of Rauf Siddiqui, free. MQM leader and provincial minister for Over 260 workers were burnt alive commerce and industries at the time, and when Ali Enterprises, a multi-storey other suspects. Police fail to garment factory in Baldia Town “It seems as if the state is involved neighbourhood of Karachi, was set on in safeguarding the big fish,” the judge determine motive fire on September 11, 2012. said. “As if the motive is to help the real A subsequent investigation that ran culprit escape the justice.” behind murder of for eight years found out Muttahida There will be legal repercussions for Qaumi Movement workers set the those not filing appeals against the factory on fire because the owner had One of the owners of the factory had Rs250 million or give a 50 percent share influential people and suspects fleeing Mubashir Khokhar refused to give in to extortion demands. testified the party had asked him to pay in his business. justice, the judge said. LAHORE INP

Police have failed to determine the motive behind murder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member NCOC daily report: 4,040 new cases, 53 deaths from Covid-19 Punjab Assembly Asad khokhar’s brother even after three days. Police is facing difficulties as the ISLAMABAD against the pandemic, said that the number of overall Sindh is the worst-affected province by the suspect has changed his statement three times in StAff RePoRt confirmed cases has risen to 1,071,620, including pandemic with 400,400 infections, followed by Punjab the last few days. The accused in an initial 964,404 recoveries. The number of active cases has which has reported 364,680 cases. statement said that deceased Malik Mubashar Pakistan on Sunday reported 4,040 new Covid-19 cases, risen to 83,298, including 3,805 critical patients. The NCOC said on its website that the country has alias Malik Goga was involved in the murder of the National Command and Operation Centre said on According to the NCOC, 53 more patients died on administered 37,424,706 doses of vaccine and has fully his uncle and killed him to avenge the murder of Monday. The NCOC, a department leading campaign Sunday, bringing the overall death toll to 23,918. vaccinated 7,635,391 persons as of Sunday night. his uncle. Later he retracted his earlier statement and said that he shot Mubashir over personal enmity. Mubashir was shot dead on Friday night during the wedding ceremony of Asad’s son that was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister and other senior leaders of the Well-timed digitalisation can ‘catapult’ Pakistan to progress: President Alvi PTI. Mubashir was laid to rest on Saturday in the graveyard of his native village, Manowal, on ISLAMABAD of knowledge and ensure their access to the academic with Google Cloud and TechValley to launch a project Multan Road. APP lectures of international standards. in Islamabad based on the concept of blended As an enthusiast of emerging technologies himself, technology by experimenting with smart boards, tablets President Dr on Monday said with timely the president recalled that during his political and smart phones as per different age groups. Also, the decisions and preparedness on digitalisation, Pakistan canvassing in 2016, he personally handled the data of lectures of Khan Academy are being translated into Five suspected could make great strides in technological revolution. his constituencies by putting ‘layers’ on the Google for facilitation of students, he added. “Pakistan will be catapulted in the era of Map, leading to an increased efficiency to win the Federal Minister for Railways Senator Azam Khan technological advancement if it keeps making fast election. Federal Minister for Information Technology Swati said Pakistan Railways was heading on the path of abducting decisions to join the global digital journey,” he said in and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haq sharing the of digitalisation and productivity as Google Cloud and his address at the Digital Government Summit, held government’s vision of a Digital Pakistan said his TechValley had introduced cutting-edge technology to here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. ministry would collaborate with Google Cloud and make the institution an emerging public department. politician The summit, themed ‘Innovative technologies on TechValley in adopting the cutting-edge technology in By the end of June 2022, he said, Pakistan Railways transforming the public sector’, gathered information areas including block-chain technology, artificial would become a profitable public sector entity through technology and digital policy experts, besides taking intelligence, finding industrial solutions and building technological solutions in environment-friendly killed: police onboard the officials of Google Cloud via video-link smart cities. transportation, increased passenger and freight trains, from Singapore. Organized by the Ministry of Taking the challenge of Covid-19 lockdown as an checking scrap theft and outsourcing of dry ports. Information Technology and Telecommunication in opportunity, he said, his ministry took the steps to Managing Director Google Cloud for Asia Pacific MoNItoRINg RePoRt collaboration with TechValley Pakistan, the digital improve connectivity in ensuring facilities in education, Paul Wilson in his video address from Singapore said summit focused on Google-powered innovative health and finance. He mentioned that 100 million Google was collaborating with public agencies to The counterterrorism police said Sunday they killed technologies to transform the public sector. people at present were using broadband facilities, support economic development aligned to the five people involved in the abduction for ransom President Alvi said in the age of information adding that a spectrum auction was an option to gain situations, especially during Covid-19. and subsequent death of a political party leader. The overload, it was important for countries like Pakistan to US$ 1 billion. The ministry achieved the export target He expressed pleasure that the government of raid took place overnight in Pishin, according to the adopt innovative data management tools offered by of US$2.1 million US dollars with a further target set Pakistan was endeavouring to achieve better outcomes Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Department. Malik Google Cloud and find solutions for public services. for US$3.1, he added. across the public sector through employee productivity Ubaidullah Kasi, leader of the Awami National He said the global pandemic made digitalisation He announced that 5G service would be launched and effective agency operations. Party, was abducted for ransom from his native imperative for the of public services including by next December. Also, Beep, a mobile chat platform He mentioned that Google expertise could be Kuchlak town near Quetta in late June. His body education, healthcare, transportation, security like WhatsApp would be introduced, initially for the applied to build government solutions in streamlining was found Thursday near an Afghan refugee camp surveillance and building smart cities. government employees. workflows, intelligent transportation, health and human in the Pishin district. A statement issued by the CTD “The future is changing faster than you think…The Federal Minister for Education and Professional services platform, smart and sustainable cities and the said investigators arrested a man after Kasi’s body digital evolution is imminent,” he said, stressing the Training Shafqat Mehmood said after Covid-19, the remote office and finance platforms. was found. The suspect subsequently led importance of pursuing the government’s vision of a canvas of the education system in Pakistan was changed CEO TechValley Pakistan Umer Farooq said as a investigators to the hideout in Pishin. Officers killed Digital Pakistan. with the introduction of distant learning through partner with Google Cloud and the Ministry of IT, his five men allegedly involved in Kasi’s abduction late In the education sector, he said, the information and television and radio schools. company was promoting the culture of technology to Saturday night in a gun battle. Machine guns, hand academic knowledge was no longer limited to books, He pointed out the challenge of ‘digital divide’ and pave the way towards economic development. grenades and hand guns were recovered from the but could be accessed through the data available at said focus would be laid on ensuring e-learning He mentioned that TechValley had so far trained abductors’ hideout, police said. Kasi, a prominent Google Cloud and other digital platforms. facilities to the students in remote areas for an access 8,000 professionals and conducted 5,000 workshops on political leader, was the first political figure He said Pakistan could greatly benefit by helping to academic lectures and teachers’ training. areas such as access to world class services, industry abducted for ransom in the province. its students and professionals join the global digital club He said the Ministry of Education was working solutions and real-time analytics. Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 LAHORE NEWS 03 Muharram moon sighted; gaS cylinder exPloSion Ashura on August 19 The crescent for the month of Muharram was sighted on Monday night and Ashura would be held on August 19. The Day of Ashura is marked by Muslims to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) KillS nine in Punjab and his companions on 10th of Muharram. On 9th and 10th of Muharram, processions are taken out in all the LAHORE five people at the spot while four others succumbed major cities of the country with government deploying StAff RePoRt to injuries in hospital. The injured people were also police and paramilitaries to ensure the security of shifted to a hospital where their condition is said to mourners. NewS DeSk INE people were killed and three others be critical. Firefighters rushed to the site to douse the injured when the gas cylinder of a passenger fire and recovered the bodies of the dead. van exploded in the Gujranwala district of Vehicles in Punjab are allowed to run on gas Court extends detention of Punjab late on Sunday night. The van cylinders, but the poorly maintained old vehicles often suspect’s parents for two n caught fire following the explosion, killing pose a danger for the passengers. weeks in Noor murder ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday extended until August 23 the HEC takes U-turn on contentious judicial remand of parents and two domestic helpers of PM, Punjab governor discuss political, the prime suspect in the murder of the daughter of a PhD admission policy former ambassador. Noor Mukadam, 27, was found murdered at the residence of one Zahir Zakir in Sector F- ISLAMABAD governmental matters, reforms in universities 7/4 of Islamabad last month. Zakir, widely believed to be INP the killer, was arrested the same day for his purported LAHORE appreciated the projects of Punjab Aab-e-Pak authority involvement in the gruesome incident. A first information Months after the Higher Education StAff RePoRt and the steps taken by the governor to solve the problems report registered on the complaint of Ambassador Commission launched a new policy of allowing of overseas and Prime Minister Imran has also Shaukat Ali Mukadam nominated Zakir under Section candidates to take up PhD degree programmes Punjab Governor called directed to expedite the provision of clean drinking water 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code. after a four-year honours degree, the body has on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday and discussed projects. Talking to media after the meeting, Sarwar said Islamabad police on July 24 arrested Zakir Jaffar and reverted to its previous policy, making the with him political, governmental matters and his visit to that “all the concerned departments, including federal and Asmat Adamjee, the parents, and the domestic staff for requirement for obtaining an MPhil degree USA and reforms in universities Punjab government are on the same page for providing “hiding evidence” and “being complicit” in the incident mandatory to pursue a doctorate. With the The governor congratulated Prime Minister Imran on clean drinking water to the people of Punjab and that shook the nation, prompting outrage and nationwide move, a one-year masters degree after 16-year the victory in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s elections and Insha’Allah, we will ensure the provision of all basic protests. Following their arrest, the parents were sent to of schooling has become the minimum apprised him that an Overseas Pakistani Convention at amenities including clean drinking water to the people as jail on judicial remand until August 9. They subsequently requirement for direct admissions to PhD. The Governor’s House will be called very soon in which promised”. moved a bail petition challenging their detention. It, too, commission, in a meeting, approved the new foreign investors, including overseas Pakistanis, will be The Punjab governor further added that with the was rejected on August 5. The extension was sought policy and informed all the universities of its invited to invest across the country. support of NGOs and without any government fund, we following the expiry of the two-week remand decision. It also announced to review the direct Premier Imran appreciated the efforts of the governor will provide safe drinking water to the same number of pronounced on July 27. After judicial magistrate admission policy in 2022. The policy of direct for launching more than 1,500 new projects under Punjab people as the number of beneficiaries achieved by the Muhammad Naseer-ud-din granted a fresh extension of admissions was rejected by the academic Aab-e-Pak Authority for provision of clean drinking Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority. remand Monday, the suspects are now set to remain in circles who said the HEC had made water to people. On the occasion, Chief Minister Punjab PM, BUZDAR DISCUSS STRATEGY TO CHECK Adiala Jail for another two weeks. StAff RePoRt recommendations without taking higher Sardar Usman Bazdar, Law Minister Raja Muhammad INFLATION, HOARDING IN PUNJAB: Separately, education institutions and academia on board. Basharat, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Chief Minister Buzdar called on Prime Minister Imran on Graana.com x NUST launch 3rd Gil, Minister of State for Information , Monday. Prosecution seeks Aab-e-Pak Authority Chairman Dr Shakeel Ahmed and Administrative matters of Punjab, measures for the edition of Real Estate Science Level Punjab Aab-e-Pak authority board’s member Rabia Zia relief of masses, strategy to check inflation and hoarding adjournment of indictment in and others were also present. and the progress of ongoing development projects were 1 Certification During the meeting, Prime Minister Imran discussed in the meeting. Maha suicide case Graana.com partners with the National University of Sciences Technology (NUST) to conduct a fully- KARACHI booked 3rd Edition of Real Estate Science Level 1 StAff RePoRt Security staff stop from entering Punjab Assembly Certification. The Diploma in Real Estate Science Level 1 is Pakistan’s first-ever formal training The prosecution has requested the Additional NEwS DESK personnel said, “You are respectful, but you are now not programme, focusing on the real estate sector, District and Sessions Court (South) to include allowed to go inside as your name is not on the list.” introduced by Graana.com – Pakistan’s First Online sections of the disappearance of evidence in the Former provincial special assistant Firdous Ashiq Awan She insisted the staff to look again her name in the Real Estate Marketplace, in collaboration with indictment of suspects in the case related to faced an awkward situation on Monday when she was name but all her efforts go in vain and she had to move NUST. The four-week diploma programme to be 2020 death of a young woman in Karachi. A stopped at Punjab Assembly gate by the security staff. back from Punjab Assembly. tau ght in NUST Professional Development Centre will doctor practising at a private hospital in Clifton The security staff told Ashiq, “Sorry madam! You Talking to the media outside the provincial conclude on August 27, 2021. Among those teaching neighbourhood, Maha Shah committed suicide don’t have the permission to enter in the Punjab legislature, she said she was late to the oathtaking the course are CEO Graana.com Mr. Shafiq Akbar, by shooting herself at her home in Defence Assembly.” Firdous was stunned and shocked after the ceremony and the session had already ended, therefore who holds a Master’s degree in Policy Analysis from Housing Authority in August last. Subsequently, PA security staff apprised her about the update that she “there was no need for me to go there. That is why I felt the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public on the complaint of the deceased’s father, the could not go into the legislative assembly. appropriate to not go to the assembly so there is nothing Policy. The other experts teaching the course modules police last week registered a case agai nst her She went to attend the oath-taking ceremony of like this that anyone targeted me and stopped me from are Group Director Mr. Farhan Javed, Mr. Taimour friends under Sections 334 (hurt), 337-J Ahsan Saleem Barryar who won in a recently held by- going inside”. She said that the PML-Q was an ally of the Abbasi, and senior professionals of the company, (causing hurt by means of poison), 506 election on a PTI ticket from Sialkot. PTI and the speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Chaudhry including Mr. Asim Iftikhar, Ms. Iqra Musaddaq, and (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common Firdous said in Punjabi,” Ki Matlab Aey,” (What do Pervaiz Elahi, had the right to permit or refuse entry as Ms. Saima Latif. ReSS ReLeASe intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code. you mean?), to which the Punjab Assembly security the custodian. Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 04 NEWS LAHORE Rupee dips to TRade deFiciT incReaSeS By 10-month low of 163.90 against dollar 85.53Pc yoy To $3.104Bn in July Pakistan rupee continued the losing streak against the US dollar for the second straight session on Monday ISLAMABAD during July 2021-22 as compared to the view also went up by 47.90 percent by country. and hit a 10-month low after depreciating by Rs0.45 (- TLTP corresponding month of last year. Ac - growing from $3.674 billion in July Trade deficit reached an all-time 0.27 percent) in the interbank. According to the State cording to PBS data, the exports from 2020 to $5.434 billion in July 2021. high of $37.7 billion in the fiscal year Bank of Pakistan, the US dollar opened at Rs163.45 HE country faced a trade the country stood at $2.330 billion dur - Likewise, the imports into the country 2017-18. However, the government’s and closed at Rs163.90. Previously, rupee was seen at deficit of $3.104 billion in the ing July 2021 against the exports of during July 2021 also witnessed 14.45 measures led to a drop in trade deficit to Rs163.90 on October 7, 2020. Within the open market, first month of the fiscal year $2.001 billion recorded during July percent decline when compared to the $31.8 billion in 2018-19 and $23.183 the rupee was traded at Rs163.50/164.50 per dollar. 2021-22, which surged by 2020, showing growth of 16.44 percent. imports of $6.352 billion in June 2021, billion in 2019-20. Overall, Pakistani rupee shed Rs1.02 against the US 85.53 percent in July 2021 as On a month-on-month basis, the ex - according to the PBS data. The trend reversed and the trade dollar during the last week, while depreciation during cTompared to a deficit of $1.673 billion ports from the country witnessed nega - The government’s battle against deficit was recorded at $30.796 billion the fiscal year 2021-22 has been Rs6.54. The local recorded in July 2020. tive growth of 14.59 percent during July bloated trade deficit is reversing as it in the fiscal year 2020-21. The trade gap unit has shed Rs3.71 against the US dollar in the According to the data released by 2021 when compared to the exports of widened 85.53 percent in the first month has been widening since December current year 2021. The currency experts said that Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Mon - $2.728 recorded during June 2021. of the current fiscal year (FY22), driven 2020, mainly led by exponential growth demand for dollars remained high in the day as the day, the exports from the country wit - On the other hand, the imports into largely by almost double the increase in in imports and comparatively slow market opened after two weekly holidays. They said nessed an increase of 16.44 percent the country during the month under re - imports compared to exports from the growth in exports. the local currency remained under pressure due to the higher dollar’s demand for import payments. They also attributed it to the ease in the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. The dealers; however, Farm credit lending are hopeful of the rupee’s recovery on the back of encouraging inflows of export receipts and workers’ surged 12pc to Rs1,366bn PSX sheds 366 more points remittances. They said that the rupee is likely to make gains in the coming days due to expected inflows of in 2020-21: SBP $2.8 billion from the International Monetary Fund on Covid, CAD concerns (IMF) during this month. NEWS DESK NEWS DESK

The State bank of Pakistan (SBP) has said that credit KARACHI by 22,904 to 120,780; while the value traded de - Bitcoin hits $45,701 as disbursement to the agriculture sector increased by 12 TLTP creased by Rs2.32 billion to Rs11.34 billion. Like - percent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis to Rs1,366 wise, the market capitalisation decreased by crypto market cap billion in the fiscal year 2020-21 against 2019-20, The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed an - Rs67.53 billion. despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic other red session on Monday amid lack of positive Among scripts, WTL led the volumes with nears $2tn and climate change. In a statement issued on Monday, economic triggers, with the benchmark KSE-100 42.23 million shares, followed by FFL (17.4 mil - the central bank said that the disbursement is a Index shedding 366.33 points (-0.77 percent) to lion) and GGL (17.33 million). Stocks that con - The cryptocurrency market remained on the upward collective effort of 49 financial institutions which close at 47,123.62 points. tributed significantly to the volumes include WTL, slide on Monday, with the market cap increasing 1.6 together managed to achieve together 91 percent of The market opened on a positive note with a FFL, GGL, BYCO and TELE, which formed over percent to $1.91 trillion as of 1255 hours GMT. The their assigned target of Rs1,500 billion for the year. gain of 44 points and remained positive in the ini - 31 percent of total volumes. price of Bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency, The outstanding agricultural credit stood at Rs628 tial hours but it turned towards south amid profit- Sector wise, the index was let down by cement jumped to $45,701 by gaining 1.44 percent. With this billion as on June-end 2021, witnessing a growth of taking activity. The market has shed around 670 with 87 points, technology & communication with increase in price, the market capitalisation of the BTC over 8 percent over end June 2020, which points in the last three sessions. 69 points, power generation & distribution with 30 has reached $858.2 billion. However, ethereum (ETH) complements the overall positive outlook of the The KSE-100 Index moved in a range of 571.8 points, fertilizer with 29 points and oil & gas mar - price turned south and shed 0.54 percent to reach agriculture sector which grew at 2.77 percent during points, showing an intraday high of 47,625.4 points keting companies with 25 points. The most points $3,124. With this decrease in price, the market the fiscal year 2020-21. However, the number of and intraday low of 47,053.6 points. Among other taken off the index were by TRG which stripped capitalisation of ETH has reached $365.6 billion. On agricultural credit borrowers witnessed a decline of 5 indices, the KSE All Share Index shed 263.52 the index of 55 points followed by LUCK with 42 the other hand, XRP gained 0.54 percent to reach percent, falling from 3.7 million in 2019-20 to 3.5 points (-0.81 percent) to close at 32,280.47 points, points, HUBC with 27 points, ENGRO with 24 $0.816. The market capitalisation of XRP stands at million in 2020-21, primarily due to limited outreach while All Share Islamic Index shed 210.28 points points and GHGL with 17 points. $81.5 billion after this increase. Similarly, Cardano owing to the ongoing pandemic. (-0.90 percent) to close at 23,060.95 points. The sectors propping up the index were auto - (ADA) price reached $1.46 with a 1.05 percent During 2020-21, the commercial banks, specialised A total of 382 companies traded shares in the mobile parts & accessories with three points, decrease in its price. Its market capitalisation has banks, and Islamic banks posted a satisfactory stock exchange, out of them shares of 70 closed up, close–end mutual fund with two points and refin - reached $47.2 billion after this decrease. Likewise, performance, by disbursing Rs1,210 billion, against shares of 289 closed down while shares of 23 com - ery with one point. The most points added to the Dogecoin (Doge) price depreciated by 3.45 percent to their target of Rs1,277 billion, thus achieving 95% of panies remained unchanged. Out of the 96 compa - index were by MCB which contributed 13 points reach $0.255. With this decrease in price, the market their assigned disbursement target. However, micro- nies which traded shares in the KSE-100 Index, followed by HMB with nine points, HINOON with capitalisation of Doge reached $33 billion. According finance banks as a group achieved 73% of their target shares of 22 closed up, 70 closed down, while four points, FCEPL with four points and ABOT to analysts, Bitcoin rallied above $45,000 as upside by disbursing agricultural loans of Rs132 billion to shares of four companies remained unchanged. with three points. momentum improved over the past two weeks. They small farmers. Likewise, the microfinance The overall market volumes decreased by According to analysts, the market opened on a said that next level of resistance is seen at $50,000, institutions/rural support programs collectively 162.44 million to 337.30 million shares. Total vol - positive note as business and commercial activities which could limit further upside given short-term achieved 57% of their target by disbursing Rs23 ume traded for the KSE-100 Index was 107.17 mil - shuffled back to normalcy amid the removal of overbought signals. They, however, said the weekly RSI billion to small and marginalized farmers. lion shares. The number of total trades decreased lockdown implications in Sindh province. Nonethe - is rising from neutral levels with a positive momentum less, the continuation of the prevailing virus spread signal for the first time since October 2020, which in the country and concerns on rising current ac - reignited the long-term uptrend. Buyers could remain count deficit (CAD) and inflation on the back of active on pullbacks this week as bitcoin cleared possible tariff hike disrupted investors’ sentiment important technical levels such as the 100-day moving and exerted pressure at the bourse. average, they further said. NEWS DESK Gold extends losses to reach Rs92,000 per 10gm NEWS DESK hold the recent gains fuelled by Friday’s Nonfarm Pay - rolls (NFP) data. A big beat on the US employment re - Gold prices edged down for the third straight ses - port fanned expectations of earlier Fed tapering. sion in the international market on Monday and has Investors now assess the implications of a sooner than shed almost $60 an ounce since Friday last. previously thought Fed’s monetary policy assessment, At 1245 hours GMT, gold in the international mar - with all eyes on this week’s US inflation report. They ket was available at $1,743.40 per ounce after shed - said that gold is heading towards powerful support at ding $21.20 as compared to its closing value on Friday $1736, which is the convergence of the pivot point one- last. Meanwhile, the price of 10 grams of yellow metal month S2, pivot point one-week S1. The next relevant in Pakistan decreased to Rs92,000 after shedding downside target is seen at $1729, the pivot point one- Rs1,000. The closing prices of the yellow metal in the day S2. Further south, the bears will need to beat the country settled at Rs93,000 on Friday last. fierce cap at $1723, the Fibonacci 161.8% one-month. According to experts, gold has stalled its recovery They said that on the flip side, the confluence of the from five-month lows of $1688, having failed to find SMA5 four-hour and pivot point one-day S1 at $1746 acceptance above $1750, as the US dollar continues to will offer a stiff resistance on any fresh upside attempts. IHC hears convicts’ plea against sentence in Imran Farooq murder case ISLAMABAD: While resuming the hearing of crimi - verdict and get them acquitted. They made the state and nal appeals in Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as respondents leader Imran Farooq murder case on Monday, Chief in the appeals. Justice Islamabad High Court raised question whether On June 18, 2020, the Anti-Terrorism Court one of the accused Moazzam Ali recorded confessional (ATC) of Islamabad had sentenced the appellants to statement during trial of the matter. life imprisonment in the high-profile murder case of A division bench of the Chief Justice Athar Minallah Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Imran and Justice Aamer Farooq was hearing the appeals of Farooq. They were also imposed a fine of Rs1.2 mil - three convicts including Khalid Shamim, Moazzam Ali lion each. In his appeal, Mohsin informed the court and Mohsin Ali challenging an Anti-Terrorism Court’s that the ATC judge had convicted him despite the fact verdict of June 18, 2020 that had awarded them sentence that evidence with the prosecution was insufficient to to life imprisonment. The convicts – Khalid Shamim, connect him with the crime. He contended that he had Moazzam Ali and Mohsin Ali – filed the appeals through been implicated in the case because of some banking their counsel and requested the high court to set aside the transactions. TLTP CMYK Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 LAHORE NEWS 05 PM urges masses to plant one tree each to ensure clean Pakistan RePORt ON DASu AttACk tO Continued from page 01

He said that contrary to the only 640 million trees planted in the country’s history by 2013, the govern- be uNveileD SOON: RASheeD ment of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa planted one billion trees in the province iSLamaBad He said, “No one can become a hurdle in the relations He said the interior ministry had completed its in- during 2013 to 2018. The premier said that now the Mian abrar between Pakistan and China.” vestigation in Afghan ambassador’s daughter case and government’s target was to plant 10 billion trees The minister also shed light on several national and it had shared factual situation with the Afghan investi- across the country. He said that as the world was NTERIOR Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed international issues. He said that Israel and India wanted gation team through Foreign Office. faced with the issue of global warming due to various Monday announced that the probe into the to play with Pakistan’s peace, adding, “the opposition He said a vaccination portal would be developed in reasons including deforestation, Pakistan was doing, Dasu attack has been completed and the media is not willing to understand what is going to happen in a few days to serve the vaccination certificates to the what it can do, to check the phenomenon through var- would soon be taken into confidence over the the region in the next six months”. citizens for Muslim countries. He said the government ious measures, adding, but there was a need to take findings by Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah “We have to thwart the conspiracies of India, Israel had decided to start 1122 service in the federal capital measures at global level. The prime minister lauded iMahmood Qureshi. and Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security to ensure immediate help during flood like situation as the efforts of Chief Minister Punjab and his team for “No obstacles in the way of China-Pakistan Eco- against national security,” he said and added that India’s no such quick response service was available here. developing Miyawaki forests in Lahore. On this occa- nomic Corridor will be tolerated. The entire nation is Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Afghanistan’s In- He said new vehicles would be provided for the pur- sion he was told that Miyawaki forest has been devel- united on the matter of Kashmir and CPEC,” said the telligence Agency, NDS and Israeli spy agency were try- pose. He said strict action would be taken against those oped over 100 kanals with a total of over 160,000 minister while addressing a press conference here. ing to sabotage peace in Pakistan. allegedly involved in illegal construction in Sector E-11. plants which grow ten times quicker than a normal He said he had held two meetings with the Chinese “The enemy is also using media to create dishar- He suggested PML-N supremo to forest owing to the unique Miyawaki technique. It ambassador and assured him of tight security of the Chi- mony among various sections of the society of Pakistan. come back to Pakistan and face his court cases if he was uses specialised land preparation as well as indige- nese nationals working in Pakistan. It is high time to jointly fail the conspiracies of enemies true leader. He announced to cancel his annual event of nous varieties with varying growth rates to produce The minister made it clear that the CPEC project as they were always active against our beloved country,” public gathering and fireworks at Lal Haveli on August fast growing urban forests. Prime Minister Imran was would not become the victim of any external conspiracy. he asserted. 13 due to prevailing corona situation. further told that another 53 Miyawaki forests were being grown at different parts of Lahore to create sinks for carbon as well as for better pollution abate- ment in the city. All have been geo-tagged for moni- toring of their growth and development. About 500 million trees were being planted across the country Hostile players won’t succeed to under the ongoing monsoon plantation drive which was the largest ever such drive in Pakistan. Success of intra-Afghan sabotage CPEC: President Alvi dialogue depends on iSLamaBad leadership: Qureshi TLTP CHINA TO PROVIDE 6M COVID JABS THIS WEEK, 100M BY YEAREND

Continued from page 01 Pakistan and China have reaffirmed their projects in Pakistan, is the highest prior- resolve to further boost bilateral cooper- ity of Pakistan and the government is He said Pakistan had accomplished about 98 percent ation in various fields for the mutual ben- making all-out efforts for their protection work on fencing of Pak-Afghan border to stop illegal efit of the two countries. and security. movement of people. He said Pakistan was a facilita- This was discussed at a meeting be- Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong tor and not a guarantor of peace in Afghanistan. tween President Dr Arif Alvi and Chinese said that Pakistan is the closest friend of Qureshi said India had violated its obligation as the Ambassador Nong Rong on Monday. China and his country wants to further United Nations Security Council’s president by not al- Both sides emphasised the need for strengthen bilateral cooperation with lowing Pakistan’s request to brief the forum on the sit- making collective efforts to promote Pakistan. He added that his country uation and its role in Afghanistan peace process. To peace, prosperity and development in the would share its experiences with Pak- another question, he said Pakistan had clear priorities region. The meeting also underlined the istan that would help in its social and and about China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), need to enhance cooperation in the field economic prosperity. there was a national consensus. The foreign minister of information technology (IT). He lauded the steps taken by the said the CPEC had been targeted by the enemies of The president said that China and that success- Pakistan, but they had unflinching resolve to foil all Pakistan enjoy excellent relations and the Sea. He appreciated China's support for potential to contribute to the socio-eco- fully contained the Covid-19 pan- such attempts. Citing different incidents like Serena, All-weather Strategic Cooperative Part- Pakistan's core national issues like the nomic development of Pakistan. He said demic. The ambassador informed that Dasu and Johar Town attacks, and Quetta blasts, he re- nership between the two countries would Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Nuclear that certain hostile players are not happy China would provide six million vac- iterated that work on the CPEC would continue. Re- further take the bilateral relationship to Suppliers Group and Financial Action over the project and are trying to sabo- cine doses this week while 100 million sponding to another query, Qureshi said Pakistan had new heights. He said that both time- Task Force (FATF). He also thanked the tage it but they would not succeed as vaccine doses would be provided by expedited its efforts to become a president of the tested friends have always stood by each Chinese government for providing sup- both the iron brothers are strongly com- the end of the year. UNSC during 2025-26. About the incident of Afghan other through thick and thin. port to Pakistan in containing the Covid- mitted to implement the project. He also referred to the recently held ambassador’s daughter, the foreign minister said that The president reiterated Pakistan's 19 pandemic. Offering condolences to the govern- Strategic Dialogue between the foreign they had shared all the details and evidences with the commitment to the One-China Policy The president underlined that Pak- ment of China and the bereaved families ministers of the two countries last month Afghan delegation as their moral responsibility. and firm support to China on core issues istan is committed to the timely comple- who lost their dear ones in Dasu blast, the and expressed the hope that the Dialogue of its national interest, such as Taiwan, tion of the China-Pakistan Economic president underscored that the security of would further push forward the relations Tibet, Hong Kong and the South China Corridor (CPEC) project that has huge Chinese nationals, working in various between the two brotherly countries. No train travel for unvaccinated citizens UN report says global warming Power generation from Oct 1: NCOC reaches 24,303MW on iSLamaBad dangerously close to being out of control TLTP August 9, NA told the world is running out of time. After slapping a ban on air travel for unvaccinated Continued from page 01 If emissions are slashed in the next decade, aver- neWS deSK people, the National Command and Operation age temperatures could still be up 1.5C by 2040 and Centre (NCOC) announced on Monday that only Further warming could mean that in some places, peo- possibly 1.6C by 2060 before stabilising. The National Assembly has been informed that the vaccinated individuals will be allowed to travel by ple could die just from going outside. And if, instead the world continues on its the cur- government is making all-out efforts to meet elec- train from October 1. The decision was taken dur- “The more we push the climate system … the rent trajectory, the rise could be 2.0C by 2060 and 2.7C tricity demand, which is evident from the fact that ing a meeting chaired by NCOC chief . greater the odds we cross thresholds that we can only by the century’s end. 24,303 megawatt power generation was recorded on During the meeting, the high-level forum ex- poorly project,” said IPCC co-author Bob Kopp, a cli- The Earth has not been that warm since the Monday (August 9). Minister of Energy Hammad pressed concern over the alarming increase in mate scientist at Rutgers University. Pliocene Epoch roughly 3 million years ago — Azhar informed the Lower House of teh Parliament Covid-19 infections across Pakistan, particularly IRREVERSIBLE: Some changes are already “locked when humanity’s first ancestors were appearing, during the question hour that no scheduled load- Rawalpindi and Peshawar. In Peshawar, traders in”. Greenland’s sheet of land-ice is “virtually certain” and the oceans were 25 metres (82 feet) higher than shedding is being carried out in the country. He said have ignored the government's calls for compli- to continue melting, and raising the sea level, which they are today. that installed generation capacity is sufficient to ance with Covid-19 SOPs, resulting in an increase will continue to rise for centuries to come as the oceans It could get even worse, if warming triggers meet the demand. Minister of Science and Technol- in cases. Although shops remained closed in Sad- warm and expand. feedback loops that release even more climate- ogy Syed informed the house that min- dar and University Road areas of the city on Sun- “We are now committed to some aspects of climate warming carbon emissions — such as the melt- istries of science and technology and national health day, traders in most parts of the city largely change, some of which are irreversible for hundreds to ing of Arctic permafrost or the dieback of services, regulations and coordination have signed a ignored the call for lockdown and kept their shops thousands of years,” said IPCC co-author Tamsin Ed- global forests. memorandum of understanding to promote local open, the NCOC noted. In light of these viola- wards, a climate scientist at King’s College . Under these high-emissions scenarios, Earth could manufacturing of medical devices. Responding to tions, the NCOC issued instructions to the author- “But the more we limit warming, the more we can broil at temperatures 4.4C above the preindustrial av- another question, the minister said that the govern- ities concerned to ensure compliance with the avoid or slow down those changes.” But even to slow climate change, the report says, erage by the last two decades of this century. ment is taking effective measures to provide clean anti-virus SOPs in an effective manner. drinking water to the masses. Fawad says govt ready to trial electronic voting in 2023

Continued from page 01 all the requirements of the ECP. cussed in electoral reforms which include that the National Assembly has passed the be done in the National Assembly again. Regarding the concerns of the stakehold- electronic voting machines, internet voting bill in this regard which was now tabled in He said that if there was a consensus be- Fawad said that for ensuring transparency in ers, the minister said the stakeholders in- and biometrics, these three were not inter- the Senate. Two Senate committees were tween the government and the opposition, it elections, the position of Prime Minister clude the Election Commission and the linked. He said that at present, five compa- working on it, the Senate Political Commit- would be implemented soon. Imran Khan and PTI was to move towards opposition parties and these machines fulfil nies were developing EVMs which meet the tee comprising members of the opposition Asked about holding the next elections technology as it would bring transparency in all the conditions of the commission as far requirements of the ECP. He said that there and the government in which the bill was on EVMs, he said that there was no problem elections like the developed democracies. as the opposition is concerned, they have not was no problem with technology and the being debated. in holding the next elections on EVMs. The election commission set 36 condi- seen this technology as yet. issue of their price may be discussed. The bill was also being considered in the He said a consensus was built between tions, he said, adding if an electronic ma- He said that the opposition should first Responding to a question, he said that Senate Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. the opposition and the government, the chine meets those conditions, it can be used have a look at these machines and then make there were two parts of the legal provisions If further amendments were made to this bill purchase of EVMs could be started the in the election process. He said that the new its own decision. Fawad said at present, there in this regard, one part was related to giving in the Senate, it will come up again in the next day and the next elections can be technology brought by the government met were three types of technologies being dis- powers to the Election Commission. He said National Assembly and a fresh vote would held on EVMs. CmYK Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 06 COMMENT Quetta blast Uptick in violence imminent as the Civic and ethnic nationalism Afghanistan conflicts worsens UeTTA yet again became the target of terrorism, in a populist world with another attack being carried out in the vicinity Q of a five-star hotel in the provincial capital of scribes this nationalism as “State-led nationalism”. On hindu-dominated state is continuing unabatedly. All Balochistan. The last incident took place in April when a Peace and justice at risk the other hand, eastern european countries’ borders the institutions are under the massive clout of the BJP powerful bomb exploded in the parking lot of the were settled after the rise of nationalism, so in eastern and playing their role in marginalizing Muslims as establishment, targeting the Chinese Ambassador who was europe’s case, ethnic nationalism garnered more at - policemen were cited during breaking CCTV cam - staying there but not present at the time of the attack. The tention. C. Tilly mentions this as “State-seeking na - eras to hide their partisanship when people were IeD that went off on Sunday was strapped to a motorcycle tionalism”. To further illustrate the distinction protesting against the citizenship bill. Most of the that targeted a police vehicle, killing two policemen and between civic and ethnic nationalism we have to high - media channels are promoting Modi’s ideology and injuring at least 12 people. Terrorist activity in Quetta has light some features of both. the ultra-nationalist mindset risen substantially over the past few months with security As far as civic nationalism is is being prepared. The hege - personnel being primary targets. As the situation in concerned, it is defined by mony of hindu ideology, Afghanistan continues to worsen, fears that effects of the common citizenship, not dis - Populism is a very complicated waning transparency of in - conflict would spill over into Pakistan are slowly but surely tinction based on (color, stitutions, shrinking room being realized. emboldened by the success of the Taliban in creed, gender, religion, and and contested concept but it is for Muslims, and dying val - taking over an increasing number of districts following US language), and equal rights. ues of democracy are chang - troops’ abrupt exit from Afghanistan, groups such as the TTP On the other hand, ethnic na - defined by “Cas Mudde and ing India into an ethnic have issued fresh threats to Pakistan, with its new and current tionalism bases on religion, Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser” in nationalist country. Simi - chief Wali Mehsud, in an interview to CNN stating that the language, customs, and the larly, the American democ - group’s primary target is to fight against Pakistani Security concept that nations create the book “A very short racy under the stewardship Forces and gain control over the country’s tribal regions. The the states. Civic nationalism introduction to populism” as “a of Donald Trump witnessed TTP has claimed responsibility for at least 32 attacks in Wali Ejaz NEkokara is democratic but ethnic is crisis after crisis. Donald Pakistan in the first two months of the current year. not. The recent wave of pop - thin-centered ideology that trump’s policies to marginal - While the threat from such groups and others was never ulism has shown an inextri - ize black people and his cable nexus between divides the society into two mantra of white supremacy completely eliminated, it was being managed to an Populism and ethnic nation - changed the political land - acceptable degree whereby the frequency of deadly attacks in eING distinguished and seeking recogni - alism. Populism is a very parts ‘the pure people’ vs. scape of the USA. Further - major cities and sensitive locations had gone down tion of dignity can be taken as one of the complicated and contested more, the killing of George significantly after the success of various consecutive military drivers of nationalism. This desire to be ‘corrupt elite’ and emphasizes distinguished has been existing for a long concept but it is defined by Floyd at the hands of police - operations. however, the volatility of the ongoing conflict in time and in today’s world, this can equally “Cas Mudde and Cristóbal that politics should be an men sparked protests across Afghanistan where provincial capitals have started to fall and bBe found. For instance, Ukrainians and Chechens Rovira Kaltwasser” in the the country. The poor han - Afghan pilots are being assassinated by the Taliban to expression of the general will of perceive themselves differently from Russians, Kurds book “A very short introduc - dling of the coronavirus fur - eliminate the Afghan army’s aerial dominance, a situation is distinct themselves from Turks and Iraqis, and Tai - tion to populism” as “a thin- people”. In the current political ther exposed the hollowness developing whereby Pakistan may start seeing terrorism wanese want separation from China based on their centered ideology that scenario, populism revolves of populism. A country like numbers similar to what they were almost a decade ago, distinctiveness. It is human nature that they want to divides the society into two the USA which always when it was a bloodbath on an almost daily basis. While it is be recognized by others based on their uniqueness parts ‘the pure people’ vs. around a “charismatic leader” raised its voice to extend the very difficult to thwart all possible attempts being made by and want to be esteemed as Francis Fukuyama writes ‘corrupt elite’ and empha - notion of democracy could terrorists to attack, efforts to gather actionable intelligence in his book “Identity: demand for dignity and politics sizes that politics should be who woos the gullible people for not maintain democracy at must still be ramped up to preempt and stop as many as of resentment” that “Self-esteem arises out of esteem an expression of the general consolidating his power. home. Due to the racist and possible. It would be impractical at this point to hope for any by others”. Some of the important features of nation - will of people”. In the cur - exclusive approach of negotiated peace deal and therefore all regional countries, alism are the concept of the nativity to soil, self-de - rent political scenario, pop - trump, civic nationalism especially Pakistan, must prepare for what seems like an termination, and popular sovereignty. ulism revolves around a eroded and ethnic national - eventuality: a heightened threat level and sensitive security Many scholars have worked and are still working “charismatic leader” who ism gained ground. So, in situation leading to more violence. to grasp the true essence of nationalism. Modernist woos the gullible people for consolidating his power. the populist world, civic nationalism has disappeared theorists perceive nationalism as a modern phenome - In this self-centered politics, political parties lose their and lacuna has been filled by ethnic nationalism. If non. hans Kohn is one of the most prominent scholars significance and elections become redundant. populist tendency continues in the future, it can ex - on nations and nationalism. he maintains that due to Take the example of India, populism has deci - acerbate the peace and can also intensify the conflicts the settlement of borders before the rise of national - mated the Indian democracy which was considered and injustices in the world. Populist leaders have Need for immediate ism, western european countries like (UK, France, as the greatest one. It was known for its liberal, sec - emerged as an image of inefficiency, ineffectiveness, Switzerland, and Netherland) drew their focus on the ular and civic values but populist leader Narendra imprudence, and impracticality. assurances democratic procedure. Therefore, nationalism adopted Modi corroded democratic values and changed them the narrative to transform the oppressed inhabitants into a ‘kakistocracy’. An official agenda to margin - The writer can be reached at Pakistan cannot afford to be into citizens. American sociologist Charles Tilly de - alize the Muslims of India and turning India into a [email protected] seen promoting lawlessness he PTI govt needs to take urgent measures to project a positive image of Pakistan abroad, especially in T friendly countries who render significant help and Afghanistan: An insurgency free tomorrow? assistance to Pakistan. The govt has to specially value its relations with the and european countries Foreign interference must end first Taliban. There are reports that many soldiers of the after US’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, India has al - that have been nurtured over decades of diplomacy. Afghan Army are joining Taliban troops as they think ready started planning to bring a shift in its policy to - Pakistan has been the top recipient of UK aid and it is in better interest of their country. The Ashraf wards the Taliban. According to Aljazeera, ‘in early remained a strategic priority for its Department for Ghani government is also aware of the fact that the June, the Indian media reported that New has International Development (DFID) over the last many years. Afghan Army lacks professional skills and it won’t started talking to certain factions and leaders of the The Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) of the be a wise step to instigate the Taliban by showing armed group against the backdrop of the withdrawal european Union allows Pakistan to pay less or no duties on closeness to India at this crucial time. That is the rea - of the United States forces from Afghanistan. A few its exports to the eU. GSP+, a component of GSP, offers son that recently on 26 July days later, India’s Ministry additional trade incentives in return for the implementation Afghan Army Chief Gen. of external Affairs also con - of 27 international covenants, treaties and conventions. The Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai firmed these reports, stating eU is mandated to review Pakistan’s human rights progress cancelled his planned visit Control of Taliban on Afghan that they were in touch with every two years under GSP+. to India just because of the various stakeholders.’ european countries give importance to human rights and possibility of offending the affairs would simply deprive India is well aware of media freedom. In May, Information Minister Fawad Taliban leadership. The pur - India of this golden opportunity. the fact that the Taliban Choudhry was grilled by Stephen Sackur in BBC’s hard Talk pose of his three-day visit to regime could never be very about incidents of violence against journalists in Pakistan India was to explore ways to The fact of the matter is that pleasant and encouraging allegedly by security agencies. This should have sent the deepen bilateral military ties Afghanistan could never move for India as the Taliban right message to the government. however, within days of in the backdrop of the Tal - claim to struggle for su - iban carrying out offensive premacy of the Muslim the interview a veteran Geo TV host was sent on long leave ali SUkHaNVEr to a better direction unless against his will. Last week two journalists were picked up in operations across community. In case, the Tal - defiance of legal procedures, only to be released after strong Afghanistan following the foreign interference in Afghan iban come into full power reaction from the community. A report in the withdrawal of foreign forces affairs is not eliminated. Peace with all authority, the ball Guardian/Observer now tells of european and British OMe are happy and some are grieved at US’ but according to an official would not remain in India’s intelligences agencies having warned Pakistani dissidents decision of pulling out its forces from the of the Afghan embassy, and prosperity in Afghanistan court. The Taliban would and rights activist living in the region who criticize Afghan land but at the same time some are “The visit by our Army could be a desire of countries never honour the deals al - Pakistan’s agencies that their lives are in danger. According yet not clear whether to be happy or to be sad Chief has been postponed ready done between the to the report the concern now is that Pakistan appears to be on this ‘epoch-making’ decision. Definitely due to intensity of war and like Pakistan, Iran, Russia and Ashraf Ghani government tShe decision is going to change the whole future scenario Taliban’s increased assault and India. It is also a fact moving from suppressing criticism within its borders to targeting critics based in foreign countries. This is a highly of the war-torn Afghanistan, might be in a positive way and offensive.” Reports say China but for US and India the that India has invested a lot serious allegation that must not be taken lightly. Any action and might be negatively. But one thing is very much that Gen Ahmadzai had desire might be otherwise. Let in Afghanistan specifically of the sort would do irreparable damage to Pakistan. clear that things would take a long time in permanent plans to hold wide-ranging in the last ten years. This in - The government needs to realize that Pakistan’s settlement. At present a tug of war between the Afghan talks with top Indian mili - us wish our Afghan brothers an vestment is mainly in con - opponents would use the situation to create a rift between government and the Taliban is simply making the situ - tary brass including his insurgency-free tomorrow. struction of roads, dams and Islamabad and its Western partners. The government needs to ation over there more horrible and more atrocious. The counterpart Gen. MM. Nar - infrastructure projects. assure the countries concerned that being a responsible Taliban have to fight not only the Afghan government avane and National Security Other than an economic ac - administration it will not allow any department or agency to but also the veiled supporters of US in Afghanistan. Advisor Ajit Doval. tivity, this investment pro - indulge in any illegality at home or abroad. Agents of the R&AW are also there to counter Taliban however, there is an - vides India an opportunity with all their zeal and zest, even the Ashraf Ghani gov - other question too; would the Taliban-control be fruit - of sending terrorists to Afghanistan in guise of labor - ernment is doing all the best possible for its survival. In ful for the people of Afghanistan? It is a bitter fact ers and other technical staff. Control of Taliban on short, situation there is not very favourable for the Tal - that for the last three decades, Afghanistan has been Afghan affairs would simply deprive India of this iban but not in control at the Ashraf Ghani government ‘misused’ rather exploited as a battlefield of interests golden opportunity. The fact of the matter is that Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami at the same time. And no doubt this was the situation de - for so many western countries. In the name of war on Afghanistan could never move to a better direction sired by the US policy makers. terror, a very fertile and minerals-enriched country unless foreign interference in Afghan affairs is not Arif Nizami (Late) experts are of the opinion that the Taliban could has been changed into debris. No doubt India had al - eliminated. Peace and prosperity in Afghanistan Founding Editor be successful but not in blinking of an eye; things ways been a facilitator to all those who joined hands could be a desire of countries like Pakistan, Iran, could take time. There is expected a long tug of war together with one another in ‘excavating’ the Afghan Russia and China but for US and India the desire Yousaf Nizami in which it would be very difficult to defeat the Tal - lands. It has been in media-analysis that the Taliban might be otherwise. Let us wish our Afghan brothers Editor iban as they are enjoying a very strong support of the being ‘sons of the soil’ could never forget the atroci - an insurgency-free tomorrow. local people. Moreover, after US withdrawal, they ties and cruelties of the NATO forces and the US M. A. Niazi Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Umar Aziz would be having no strong military opposition as the troops, done against the real land-owners. Appre - The writer is an Associate Professor of English Joint Editor Joint Editor Executive Editor Afghan Army has no professional skill to compete the hending the ‘danger’ of Taliban’s coming into power at Govt College of Science, Multan Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 I Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 I Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545 I Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk I Email: [email protected] Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. e-mail: [email protected] Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively Effect of COVID 19 on Mental Health SINCe the outbreak of COVID 19 in late 2019, hundreds of thousands have died worldwide. In order to control the spread of the virus, countries im - posed lockdown, confining people to the boundaries of their home. With the outburst of Corona dating back to over a year, many people have suf - fered severe mental health issues due to the confinement faced after the an - nouncement of lockdown. Mental health issues are a range of conditions which can have a negative effect on one's mood or behaviour. Common mental health issues include depression and anxiety. Stress, pressure and loneliness faced by people, often due to self-isolation can be inducing factors that can ultimately lead to mental health issues. In the months since COVIDs outbreak in Pakistan, the number of people diag - nosed with mental issues has dramatically risen, as well as the suicide rate across provinces. Over 25 suicide cases have been linked with COVID since its outbreak, with likely more to come if measures aren’t taken. It is estimated that about 50 million people suffer from mental health issues in Pakistan, with a severe lack of psychiatrists to treat them. This means that obtaining mental health treatment can be an issue for many people, resulting in their disorders worsening. Fear of coronavirus as well as sadness caused by iso - lation and the thought of confinement has only increased the number of men - tal health issues not only in Pakistan but worldwide. however efforts are being made by the government in order to curb the spread of mental illnesses, through methods such as, providing relevant in - formation about mental issues impact and methods of prevention. In addition the government has published a 26 page document providing instructions on how to avoid mental issues, especially during lockdown. NGOs across Pak - Kashmir Premier League istan have taken charge of raising mental health awareness as well, with talks being organized to achieve this. state has forcibly banned its retired cricketers’ Kashmir cause. From the very name “Kashmir Waleed Qasim Bashir And Indian sports terrorism participation. The commentators and broadcast - Premier League” it is evident that its axis is lahore ers have also been terrorized not to be a part of Kashmir cause, Kashmiri identity, Kashmiri cul - KPL. India must bear in mind that spirits and ture and freedom struggle of Kashmiri nation. vigor can never be ter - We, Kashmir, want minated by brutal force. peace. We want a bat Afghan war: Who is to blame? The Indian sports jeal - not a bullet. The hindu SePTeMBeR 11th is the deadline for the American army to leave ousy is now crystal Actually, KPL has given a new state terrorism brutali - Afghanistan and end it’s decades long war. A lot of people are asking clear to every soul. ties, massacre of Mus - questions of why this war went on for so long and why America has lost this India has heartened the dimension to the Kashmir lims, the streets are war. And a lot of people end up blaming Pakistan for America’s failures. universal feelings of cause. From the very name littered with Kashmiri “Directorate S” is a book written by Steve Coll, that explains sports and peace by op - blood and India has Pakistan’s position categorically from the start of the war till the end. From posing, conspiring and “Kashmir Premier League” it is turned occupied Kash - ex President Musharraf till current Prime Minister Imran Khan, every propagating against mir into world’s largest Pakistani military and civilian leader have been telling the US only one KPL. It is all due to In - evident that its axis is Kashmir prison. The human thing, negotiate with the Taliban as they are local Afghani’s and cannot be dian Luciferian enmity cause, Kashmiri identity, rights violations are at expelled from their own country. with Kashmiris. peak, the women are The book also categorically tells us how the USA always went against India can never Kashmiri culture and freedom raped, the children are Pakistan’s advice, whether it was to help the Northern Alliance take over stomach Kashmiri blinded, the houses are Prof. abdUl SHakoor SHaH struggle of Kashmiri nation. Kabul, or whether to give Pakistan time to deploy troops to the borders identity and their voice on fire, the properties before the USA bombed Tora Bora mountains or even when Pakistan being heard interna - We, Kashmir, want peace. We are burned to ashes, the asked them to negotiate a peace with Taliban. tionally. It is really a hearths are cold, the The book also highlights how the USA used India’s funded Ahmed “Sports taught me to set goals; it really gave death delirium for fas - want a bat not a bullet. The youths are kidnapped, Shah Masood’s Northern Alliance group whose second command was me a voice and identity”, Mia Hamm. cist India to watch Hindu state terrorism misplaced, tortured and Amrullah Saleh, the current VP of Afghanistan who likes to spew hatred Kashmir youths sitting, killed, the old are against Pakistan at every opportunity he gets. Incidently Ahmad Shah eSPITe all the trials, tribulations and playing and practicing brutalities, massacre of dragged on the roads, Masood was killed in a suicide attack, two days before September 11th difficulties, Kashmir Premier League with international play - Muslims, the streets are littered the parents are shot World Trade Center incident, and he was pronounced dead in an Indian is hailed and celebrated as a national ers. KPL is going to dead in front of their funded hospital in Tajikistan. Reading the book the readers would triumph throughout the country. es - usher in a new era of with Kashmiri blood and India kids and the dead bod - understand how Pakistan had always tried to help the USA and even how pecially the Kashmiri glee knew no Kashmiri culture, iden - ies are humiliated. the Taliban continuously asked to negotiate Peace with the USA, but in bDounds. The zeal, zest and vigor of Kashmiri tity and their peaceful has turned occupied Kashmir KPL will lead to both cases their requests were turned down. Therefore at this juncture the worldwide is exemplary. The unexpressed feel - struggle for freedom. It into world’s largest prison. the Kashmir people of America, Afghanistan and Pakistan should be asking themselves ings of gratitude are like wrapping a gift and not will also pave the way team in future and will is why the USA Government and CIA allowed the US Army and coalition giving it. KPL is going to dawn a new era for for tourism, sports jour - prove an ambassador of forces to continue a war, when in the end the USA Government had to Kashmir cause. It is a nontraditional step ahead nalism, regional har - Kashmiri people world - negotiate a peace settlement anyways? to accentuate Kashmir cause. The paramount mony, sports wide. KPL has once shahryar Khan Baseer P.engr. significance of KPL can be ballpark figured investment and world peace. India has licked the again enlivened and highlighted the Kashmir PeshaWar from its popularity and opposition. It is a lining dust by opposing KPL as it has utterly failed to issue to the international front. A lay man is un - in the dark clouds for the Kashmir nation. KPL politicize the event. India is cocked sure that aware of the vitality of this league. he is limited is the harbinger of KPL is going to be a milestone for Kashmir to the sports level of KPL while the reality is Kashmiri culture, iden - cause which is not in quite different. KPL is much more than a sports Vaccine hesitancy tity, freedom and fun - her favor in any way. festival. Its results will be revealed in the near damental rights. The The international play - future. The win or defeat are part of the game, The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc all over the country. Many inborn right of freedom ers of the League are a but so far as KPL is concerned we have a win- countries are trying hard to get rid of the virus. The government of can never be snatched The series of KPL must be source of highlighting win position from every angle. Kashmir Premier Pakistan is also working tirelessly to make Pakistan free from this highly away by brutal force continued in future to promote Kashmir cause interna - League is also in the spotlight of international transmissible virus. There is no doubt that the government is playing a and winds of state ter - tionally. The event will media. The hindu state has utterly failed to laudable role in dealing with this disastrous situation. however, the people rorism. India is too sports, investment, tourism, equip the Kashmiri politicize the League. We need to take solid ini - are not ready to listen to the authorities. Many people are still reluctant to scared to bear the real - peace, harmony and equal youths with the oppor - tiatives regarding the Kashmir issue, the anxiety get vaccinated because of the misconceptions that they are viral on social ity that Kashmiri nei - tunity of sharing inter - of Kashmiris cannot be minimized only by media and other platforms. A few days ago, I found myself in a queue ther will surrender nor opportunities especially for national experience, sports. Pakistan should include Kashmiri crick - outside a vaccination centre. While waiting for my turn, I talked to a few will be taken in their practice, new opportu - eters in its national and international teams for people who were standing behind me in the queue. They said that they are struggle for self deter - AJK and GB. Kashmiris also nities, discipline and in - representation like the rest of the provinces. It is getting vaccinated because of the restrictions that the government had mination. aspire to gain representation in ternational relations. the need of the hour to give the Kashmiri repre - announced for the unvaccinated. India has cun - KPL is like a window sentation on all national, regional and interna - They added that had it been up to them, they would have remained ningly endeavored to international organizations to opening to new hori - tional fronts. It is the fundamental right of the unvaccinated because they had heard that the Covid-19 vaccines have sabotage the event by present their case on zons of sports and people of AJK and GB to be selected for all adverse side effects. These misconceptions are the reason that many people contacting ICC not to peace. This event will sports so that they can become a source of their are still unvaccinated. Religious scholars and political leaders must take recognize the League. international level. It is the give a chance to Kash - identity. The series of KPL must be continued in steps to encourage people to get vaccinated. The hindu conspiracy mir youths to prove future to promote sports, investment, tourism, hammal Zahid and eternal enmity with responsibility of Pakistan to their abilities, capabili - peace, harmony and equal opportunities espe - Kolahoo Kashmiri has also been ensure Kashmiri representation ties, sportsmanship and cially for AJK and GB. Kashmiris also aspire to exposed by letter to the unflinching courage, gain representation in international organizations english and South with the help of intimate persistence and spirits. to present their case on international level. It is Protecting our kids African Cricket countries. Kashmiris are highly The event will trig - the responsibility of Pakistan to ensure Kashmiri Boards. Marshal Gibbs ger, enliven and boost representation with the help of intimate coun - AT this stage when the child abuse cases, be it in terms of sexual assault, and some other interna - grateful to KPL management the national spirit of tries. Kashmiris are highly grateful to KPL man - pornography or child trafficking are taking alarming proportions and tional players have un - and we are fully optimistic that freedom in Kash - agement and we are fully optimistic that in adversely affecting the individuals, families as well as the whole society, it veiled the Indian fascist miris. KPL is the mes - future, KPL will be a stalwart event. We must was a beautiful piece of jurisdiction by the Senate. Dearth of laws and face. Some of the inter - in future sage to the whole improve the drawbacks and uplift KPL to inter - bodies to check such incidents had led the numbers to suffer in the past but national players have civilized world that national level. Kashmiri must be given their due today the imposition of this law would assist in curbing the rate of such been horrified, terror - Kashmiris are a peace - share from KPL income. cases which are leading to serious threats including guilt, self blames, ized and threatened not ful nation and they be - nightmares, insomnia, suicidal ideation, self injury, depression, aggressive to be a part of KPL. The India sport terrorism is lieve in the peaceful solution of the long The Writer is Prof. in English and Freelance behavior etc among the children. highly hoping to see a positive change. unbearable. BCCI is once again middling in the standing Kashmir issue as per UN resolutions. Columnist based in Lahore. He can be reached Usman mir internal affairs of the ICC members. The fascist Actually, KPL has given a new dimension to the at [email protected] Karachi Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 08 WORLD VIEW AN IGNOMINIOUS AMERICAN DEPARTURE FROM AFGHANISTAN Don’t lose AfghAnistAn WOULD SEND A TERRIBLE SIGNAL TO OTHER COUNTRIES AS THE UNITED STATES COMPETES WITH CHINA AND OTHER AUTHORITARIAN STATES. IF US SECURITY GUARANTEES

JamEs cunningham hugo llorEns ronald nEumann richard olson Earl anthony WaynE ARE NOT CREDIBLE, WHY NOT CUT DEALS WITH CHINA? New AtlANticist of Herat—celebrations that were soon echoed in Kabul. out sufficient planning for what comes next. Supporting government imposed by force. Yet while afghans’ willingness to take up arms against negotiations is helpful, but only talking about negotiating Helpfully, the Un Security Council this week issued taging a major military offensive. ignoring the taliban appears to be growing, it is not yet wide- while the other side is winning militarily and pushing for a strong condemnation of escalating violence, human- calls for peace negotiations. threatening spread. Significant in some provinces—such takhar and surrender is futile. rights abuses, and civilian causalities. But Un sanctions women and executing prisoners and civilians. Baghlan in the north and nangahar in the east—but weak the US approach should be to prevent the defeat and on the taliban should not be lifted and no more taliban given the taliban’s behavior lately, US Presi- in others, the resistance remains disorganized. On Friday, collapse of the afghan state until a stalemate can force se- prisoners should be released until the group takes tangi- dent Joe Biden’s decision to rapidly withdraw for example, the capital of the southern nimruz province rious negotiations and a sustainable settlement. a deal that ble steps to reduce violence and engage in good-faith sUS forces from afghanistan appears increasingly ques- fell to the taliban despite local resistance by security protects the broad spectrum of ethnic and tribal interests, talks with the Kabul government. the Security Council tionable. While it’s not certain the afghan resistance to forces and civilians. But if the latter are properly led and including guarantees protecting the hard-fought gains of should urgently consider imposing new restrictions on the taliban will crumble, a catastrophic outcome is still supported, they may yet become a potent force. afghan women, will only be possible through these kinds the taliban, including a travel ban, unless such signifi- possible. abandoning a courageous people as they at- For its part, the taliban is trying to counter this re- of talks. this is why negotiations should be constantly cant steps are taken. tempt to fight back could leave millions of afghans vul- sistance with a combination of military moves and offers supported but not allowed to cripple military action, as the US government also needs to consider the wider nerable to taliban repression. to cut deals with power brokers for privileged positions was the case during the past year when the United States impact and long-term effects of its new policy in that’s why we recommend a course correction in- in a taliban-ruled afghanistan. was largely on the defensive. Providing humanitarian as- afghanistan. the toppling of the government in Kabul volving redoubled efforts to support the afghan security WHY AIR SUPPORT MATTERS: a pivotal element sistance is also crucial, as the taliban’s military offensive would destabilize South asia—a region dominated by forces—particularly through airpower, which is imme- to holding Herat, as well as avoiding the loss of other has displaced tens of thousands of people and pushed india and Pakistan, two antagonistic, nuclear-armed diately critical—as well as the vigorous implementation key cities, effective air support not only boosts the afghanistan toward a humanitarian and refugee crisis. the powers. But above all, an ignominious american depar- of US promises of continued security, economic, human- morale of afghan officials and security forces but also United States, which now shoulders an even greater re- ture from the country would send a terrible signal to itarian, and diplomatic support. supports intelligence and logistics operations. For the sponsibility for those left behind amid its withdrawal, other countries as the United States competes with China With continued limited engagement, which is the ap- afghan state, it buys time to recover its balance; for the should lead an international effort to marshal emergency and other authoritarian states. if US security guarantees proach the United States is currently taking in iraq, it is United States and its allies, it provides space to consider humanitarian support for those affected by the violence. are not credible, why not cut deals with China? not too late to avoid complete state collapse and more what might still be salvaged after twenty years of devel- this could help avoid a potentially massive refugee move- it is late in the day, but the United States can, and chaos in the region. But the US government must act opment work. this is why the Biden administration must ment throughout the region and beyond. must, act forcefully in afghanistan with air and de- swiftly and resolutely in afghanistan and in mustering urgently reconsider its decision to end close air support there is no reason for americans to turn their backs fense support along with robust diplomacy. the coun- global support. for afghan forces by august 31. on the suffering afghan people—especially when those try’s future—as well as Washington’s global A COUNTRY IN THE BALANCE: in consistently More broadly, the United States needs to work with afghans are still putting up a fight. Many have adopted credibility—is at stake. failing to engage the afghan government in good-faith the afghans to establish an air force of the size and struc- the values of freedom, human rights, and political liber- negotiations, the taliban has signaled that it is going for ture that they need. after all, the slow development of alism that the United States has preached for twenty Ambassador James Cunningham was US all-out victory. the terms the group seeks—control over the afghan air force—though it is now performing years. now they seek refuge from death and persecution. ambassador and deputy representative to the United the country’s police, military, and intelligence service, well—is partly a US responsibility: While corruption and Most want to stay and help afghanistan; the US govern- Nations (1999-2004), US ambassador to Israel (2008- as well as the power to effectively remove and appoint mismanagement plagued the afghan side, the United ment must empower them. 11), and US deputy ambassador and ambassador to the head of state and other top officials—amount to a de- States also wasted $549 million on shoddy cargo planes MUSTERING GLOBAL SUPPORT: Peace, no matter Afghanistan (2011-2014). Ambassador Hugo Llorens mand for surrender. and lost a great deal of time by switching from rebuilt how far off it seems, still needs diplomatic support. With was US assistant chief of mission in Afghanistan from the taliban has also broken promises to keep freed Russian helicopters to more complicated american the Doha agreement on the withdrawal of american forces 2012-2013 and special charge d’affairs from 2016-2017. prisoners off the battlefield and maintained its ties with al- Blackhawks. Washington also devised a system heavily failing to deliver serious afghan-to-afghan negotiations, Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann was the US Qaeda, while continuing to mistreat women and girls as dependent on support from foreign contractors and then Biden should appoint and support a new US envoy for ambassador to Afghanistan from 2005-2007 as well as well as mete out brutal justice against perceived enemies. decided to pull those contractors out of afghanistan as afghanistan and the region to reinvigorate diplomacy. ambassador to Algeria and Bahrain. He is president of its members are flouting the supposed commitments they part of the sudden withdrawal. the envoy should be complemented by a United na- the American Academy of Diplomacy. Ambassador made to take the Doha peace process seriously. the urgent work ahead must include adequate train- tions (Un) counterpart with the authority to take the lead Richard Olson was US special representative for all this suggests that the taliban is intent on remov- ing and maintenance to keep the afghan air force flying. in working with the afghan government, the taliban, and Afghanistan and Pakistan (2015-2016), US ambassador ing the current elected government in Kabul and restor- Plans and timelines should be realistic and developed regional players with a strong interest in stability in to Pakistan (2012-2015) and coordinating director for ing something resembling the islamic Emirate of with natO and other allied cooperation and funding. afghanistan. these regional powers will not come together economics and development at the US Embassy in Kabul afghanistan. natO should also renew its commitment to providing on their own, and the United States cannot lead such a (2011-2012). He previously served as US ambassador to Meanwhile, consistent polling over many years sug- its own air support until the afghan air force is fully built process given its lack of relationship with iran, a key actor. the . Ambassador Earl Anthony gests that large numbers of afghans do not want to live (or peace negotiations are successful). this will spread the United States needs to play a supportive role in Wayne was US deputy ambassador to Afghanistan and under the taliban. those figures are now reflected on the out the burden and risk. importantly, the United States this process rather than engaging in independent initia- coordinating director for development (2009-2011). He battlefield as civilians increasingly join the resistance. in should designate a senior Department of Defense official tives. it should also get clear and collective agreement is a nonresident senior fellow in the Atlantic Council’s the western provincial capital of Herat, for example, an to oversee defense-assistance efforts. from crucial stakeholders—such as China, Russia, the GeoEconomics Center and a diplomat in residence at uprising led by former warlord ismail Khan and aided CLEAR-CUT POLICY IS KEY: Continued air sup- European Union, the United Kingdom, india, Saudi ara- American University’s School of International Service. by afghan security forces pushed the taliban back in re- port, however, is a short-term tactic to avoid defeat—not bia, and Pakistan—that they will not recognize or pro- He also oversees the Wilson Center’s USMCA and North cent days. that led to dancing and singing in the streets a policy. nor is withdrawing US and natO forces with- vide economic or financial assistance to a taliban America program. gadhafi’s son announces return to libyan politics AS SOON AS SAIF ALISLAM, THE SON OF LATE LIBYAN PRESIDENT MOAMMAR GADHAFI, ANNOUNCED HIS PLAN TO RETURN TO POLITICAL LIFE, MEDIA OUTLETS CLOSE TO THE REGIME IN EGYPT RUSHED TO ANNOUNCE THEIR SUPPORT, THUS RAISING MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT EGYPT’S POSITION AND WHETHER CAIRO WOULD Al-MoNitor Khalid hassan SUPPORT HIM IF HE RUNS FOR THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN NEIGHBOURING LIBYA

EiF al-islam gadhafi, son of late “they raped the country — it’s on its order to get Libya out of its repression. former intelligence chief, and Baghdadi al- Libyan member of parliament ali al- Libyan President Moammar gad- knees,” he said in his interview. “there’s no abdel Hamid tried to acquit Seif al- Mahmoudi, the last prime minister of gad- Saidi told al-Monitor that Seif al-islam has hafi, reared his head again, 10 money, no security. there’s no life here. go islam from the crises that the Libyan citizens hafi’s regime, on charges of committing war the right to run for the upcoming presidential years after his disappearance fol- to the gas station — there’s no diesel. We ex- suffered during his father’s rule, saying that crimes and killing citizens during the Libyan elections, and that the decisions of the iCC lowing the outbreak of popular port oil and gas to italy — we’re lighting he had always sought to solve the country’s revolution that erupted in February 2011. are not binding. sprotests against the gadhafi regime back in half of italy — and we have blackouts here. crises, but a conspiracy was being hatched this year, on May 27, the Supreme Court asked about the Egyptian stance on Seif February 2011. it’s more than a failure. it’s a fiasco.” in Libya to bring the country down. of Libya — the highest judicial authority — al-islam’s candidacy, Saidi said that Egypt is in an interview published by the new as soon as he reappeared to the public Egyptian member of parliament Mustafa ruled to overturn the death sentence issued well aware that Libya’s security affects its York times Magazine July 30, he revealed eye, pro-regime Egyptian media outlets Bakri told al-Monitor that Seif al-islam will against Seif al-islam and to accept the appeal. own security. He stressed that the security his intention to return to political life: “after rushed to defend him and announce their change the equation in Libya, not only be- On Sept. 9, 2020, the appeals Chamber of and stability of Libya will only be established an awkward silence, i asked Seif if he was support for him. cause he is gadhafi’s son, but also because the international Criminal Court (iCC) unan- if a person who is able to reunite the Libyans still a prisoner. He told me he was a free man On his tV program “Bel War’a wel he has a vision and many supporters across imously ruled that the case against Seif al- arrives at the helm to fight the armed militias and was organizing a political return. the alam” (“Paper and Pen”) broadcast July 31, Libya, unlike any other political faction that islam for crimes against humanity was backed by Qatar and turkey and seeking to rebels who arrested him a decade ago became neshat al-Dhehi, a journalist close to the is present in a particular region. Bakri be- accepted and heard before the court. control the Libyan soil and its wealth. disenchanted with the revolution, he said, and Egyptian government, promoted the candi- lieves Seif al-islam may be an option for Recently, on aug. 3, the Libyan House On Sept. 18, 2018, high-ranking Libyan eventually realized that he could be a power- dacy of Seif al-islam in the upcoming Libya Libyan reunification. of Representatives based in tobruk and and Egyptian sources from within a commit- ful ally. Seif smiled as he described his trans- elections slated for Dec. 24. He said that Seif Seif al-islam enjoys the support of all headed by aguila Saleh, discussed a draft tee concerned with the Libyan file, revealed formation from captive to prince in waiting. al-islam admitted that there were mistakes be- Libyan regions, as he is backed by the Qad- law regulating the presidential elections, to al-araby al-Jadeed newspaper that a high- ‘Can you imagine?’ he said. ‘the men who fore 2011 “during the rule of his father, hadhfa, Magarha and Warfalla tribes, who are along with the conditions and procedures for level meeting had been held between Seif al- used to be my guards are now my friends.’” Moammar gadhafi.” Dhehi accused foreign spread across the city of Sirte in central Libya; candidacy for the presidency. islam and officials from Egypt and the United Seif al-islam said in the interview with intelligence services of tampering with the Bani Walid and Shwerif in western Libya; and in an attempt to respond to Seif al- arab Emirates to discuss ways to rearrange new York times Magazine reporter Robert Libyan internal scene and distorting the image Brak al-Shati and Sabha in the south. islam’s statements, Saleh stressed during the the Libyan house, Seif al-islam’s political fu- F. Worth conducted back in May that he was of Seif al-islam with the aim of keeping him On aug. 21, 2020, rallies were held in aug. 3 parliament session that no person ture and the possibility of using him again to no longer a prisoner and that he is arranging from running for the Libyan elections. several Libyan cities calling for the nomina- convicted by the iCC shall be entitled to run unite some Libyan tribes around him. for his return to the political arena. He said He continued that Seif al-islam intends tion of Seif al-islam in the presidential elec- for the presidency of Libya. asked about Meanwhile, on Libya’s eastern military the fighters who arrested him 10 years ago to run for the elections and is now seeking tions. Bakri indicated that there are some Egypt’s support for Seif al-islam in the up- commander Khalifa Hifter, who enjoys the have become free of the illusion of revolu- to salvage Libya and fulfill the popular de- legal obstacles that could hinder Seif al- coming elections, Bakri said that Egypt’s backing of Egypt, Khaled al-Mishri, head of tion and have come to the realization that he sire. However, he added, Seif al-islam re- islam’s candidacy, which he said must be policy is clear and based on the stability of the Muslim Brotherhood-controlled High could serve as a powerful ally for them. fuses to ascend to power through military based on a strong popular opinion and Libya and confronting extremist groups that Council of State, which serves as an advi- Seif al-islam was captured by rebel fight- force or to be imposed by a certain side. should result from consultations with various drain Libya and plunder its resources. sory body to the tripoli-based government, ers following the ouster and killing of his fa- amr abdel Hamid, a pro-regime jour- political forces. He stressed that Egypt will support the per- said in a panel discussion on the “Club ther in 2011. a Libyan court sentenced him nalist, said on the “Rai aam” (“Public Opin- On July 28, 2015, the tripoli Criminal son that the Libyans will choose and the person House” app, which was reported by the to death in 2015, before releasing him two ion”) program aug. 1 that Seif al-islam tried, Court issued a death sentence in absentia capable of uniting Libya and putting an end to media June 26, that most of the international years later. Since then, he has been living in through his interview, to urge the Libyans to against Seif al-islam and eight members of the the years of chaos and collapse that it witnessed powers, notably Russia and Egypt, have hiding in the northwestern city of Zintan. participate in the upcoming elections in former regime, including abdullah al-Senussi, in the wake of the fall of gadhafi’s rule. abandoned Hifter. Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 LAHORE BUSINESS 09 InTellIGenT ReHABIlITATIon CoulD TRAnSFoRM MeDICARe InDuSTRy In PAkISTAn, CHInA SHAngHAi velopment of a series of core technologies, uals with health conditions in interaction widening accessibility. (PIA) has announced discounted fares for INP such as multi-axial force sensors, flexible with their environment”. To promote smart technology, the gov - Canada to Pakistan flights. joints, advanced robot control algorithms, Globally, an estimated 2.4 billion peo - ernment has establish the Presidential Initia - The national carrier announced to reduce EALTh Silk Road”, the and complex medical interaction technology. ple are currently living with a health con - tive for Artificial Intelligence & Computing fares up to 25 per cent for flights from cutting-edge technology of An open robotic technology platform dition that benefits from rehabilitation. (PIAIC) to train future tech talent. Canada to Pakistan for a limited period. intelligent rehabilitation has been built, on which intelligent rehabil - Instead of a service for people with long- A research paper on the health impera - According to the spokesperson, the pas - has the potential to trans - itation products have been developed contin - term or physical impairments, rehabilita - tives in Pakistan also proposes that high-tech sengers from Toronto could avail the dis - form the medicare indus - uously according to clinical needs”, tion is for anyone with an acute or chronic medical equipment should be mobilized to counted fares by August 15. t“ry in PH akistan and China, according to a commented Gu Jie, president of the com - health condition, impairment or injury that realize its Vision 2030 by the Ministry of Earlier in the month, PIA had announced report published by Gwadar Pro. pany. Empowered by the robot technology, limits functioning. Planning, which can be achieved through special flight operations for the Najaf pil - Fourier Intelligence, a leading Chinese the company provides comprehensive intel - In Pakistan, the 6th populous country in public-private partnership. A Community of grimage starting August 11 where 11 flights company in the field of intelligent rehabili - ligent rehabilitation solutions for medical the world with 64% of the population living health for All requires modern technology. will take off with pilgrims willing to visit tation, gained a sizable amount of invest - institutions and patients. in the rural areas, rehabilitation services ur - In the wave of the fourth industrial Revolu - Najaf ahead of Ashura. ment from Prosperity7 Ventures, a fund Rehabilitation is an emerging industry in gently call for upgrading and modernisation. tion, intelligent technologies hold broad The 11 Najaf-bound flights will operate under the wing of the world's largest petro - Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia. World In Pakistan, rehabilitation services are prospects to empower the construction of the from Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore starting leum group Saudi Aramco. health Organisation defines the term as “a dominated by the public sector. In its Na - “health Silk Road”. PIA announces dis - August 11, while the return begins from Au - “Over the years, Fourier Intelligence has set of interventions designed to optimize tional health Vision 2016-25, innovative counted fares for Canada-Pakistan flights gust 21, the PIA chief Air Marshal Arshad completed the independent research and de - functioning and reduce disability in individ - technologies are highlighted as a means of The Pakistan International Airlines Malik had announced.

India top court says CORPORATE CORNER China plays crucial role antitrust probe of Dr Amineh Hoti’s book Gems enhancing tea production Amazon, Walmart's and Jewels: The Religions of Flipkart should Pakistan sponsored by in Pakistan: report continue Murree Brewery company neW DeLHi iSLAMABAD Out of the proposed 25,000 acres of land, 10,000 AGENCIES rAWALpinDi INP are government-owned forests, 12,000 acres are pri - PRESS RELEASE vate land where the Forest Department has planted India's Supreme Court on Monday said an an - titrust investigation into business practices of China from the very beginning has played a crucial forests while 3,000 acres of land have been identified Amazon.com Inc and Walmart's Flipkart Dr Amineh hoti, a well-known author and researcher’s role in enhancing tea production in Pakistan, says a in . must continue, rejecting demands of the two book GEMS and JEWELS: The Religions of Pakistan” report appeared in Gwadar Pro, quoting experts. During the next phase, the tea plantation would e-commerce giants to put them on hold. The was launched on Monday at the Christian Study Centre, As potential suitable sites and land for tea culti - be extended to all tea-cultivable land of the country, Competition Commission of India ordered Rawalpindi. The book was sponsored by Murree Brew - vation are located alongside the CPEC, China has a as per the government plan. the investigation in 2020 against the compa - ery Company Limited, distinguished guest such as Dr big role to play in promoting tea on a commercial Pakistan has great potential for growing tea, ac - nies for allegedly promoting select sellers on Qibla Ayaz the chairman of Islamic Council and Isphan - scale through joint ventures and technical and finan - cording to Mr. Cheema, as the country has 178,000 their e-commerce platforms and using busi - yar Bhandara the Chief Executive of Murree Brewery cial support, they added. acres of tea cultivable land. “Pakistan can grow its ness practices that stifle competition. The Company Limited were present there along with the rep - According to the report, while pursuing tea plan - own tea,” he said, adding that the country imported companies deny any wrongdoing and have resentatives of different religions in Pakistan. The au - tations on a commercial scale, the Government of 30 million tonnes of tea each year from 15 different repeatedly tried to mount legal challenges thor of the book, Dr Amineh hoti said that the book and Pakistan has decided to cultivate tea on an area of tea-producing countries. against the investigation. The three-judge the launch event was sponsored by Murree Brewery about 25,000 acres over the next five years. Jamshed Iqbal Cheema said Pakistan spent Rs. 90 Supreme Court bench said companies like Company Limited, she took this opportunity to thank the “This year we are going to approve a project billion annually on importing tea. The import value of Amazon and Flipkart should volunteer for chief of Murree Brewery Company Limited Isphanyar where we are growing tea on an area of 25,000 acres; black tea is Rs. 89 billion while Rs. one billion goes such investigations. Bhandara. People perceive Pakistan as a Muslim nation we are creating history; we plan to complete the pro - to green tea’s import. only throughout the globe, though people from different posed tea plantations over the next five years ”, said While inviting private tea companies to invest in religions reside in this country too and in this book Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Special Assistant to Prime the tea sector, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema said, “We are Amineh hoti has discussed these religions thoroughly. Minister on Food Security. he was visiting National ready to facilitate and solve any problems of the pri - Commercial Furthermore, she added that she named the book because Tea and high-Value Crops Research Institute vate companies regarding their investment.” she believes people residing in Pakistan with different (NThRI) at Shinkiari, Mansehra. The government is providing an opportunity to the activities resume as faiths are the real gems and jewels of Pakistan. Lastly, On the recommendation of Chinese tea experts, private companies to invest and to promote the tea she thanked each and every one of the guests and people the National Tea Research Institute (NTRI), later re - trade, which would also create thousands of jobs for Sindh eases Covid-19 part of the launch ceremony. At this occasion, the chief named as NThRI, was set up on 50 acres of land in the locals. The Ministry of Food Security has allo - executive of Murree Brewery Company said, “People Shinkiari in 1986. NThRI is playing a crucial role in cated Rs. 8.5 billion budget for high-value crops and restrictions from different faiths residing in Pakistan are wishful of a promoting tea cultivation in the country. cluster development, the report added. prosperous and peaceful Pakistan, with patience, re - neWS DeSK silience and discipline he minorities of Pakistan are en - joying their lives with freedom in the country and this Commercial activities in Sindh resumed on brotherhood amongst everyone in the country shall for - PIA announces discounted fares for Monday as the provincial government re - ever remain intact for the positive upbringing of the laxed Covid-19 lockdown restrictions that country.” While talking about the book, Bhandara added were imposed from July 31 due to the fast that this book along with the facts about different reli - spreading Delta variant of coronavirus. Ac - gions of Pakistan has also brought to light the notion of Canada-Pakistan flights cording to a notification issued from the inter faith harmony and the historical facts about these provincial home department, the lockdown fares by August 15 . Earlier in the month, PIA had religion and reading this book will most definitely help Monitoring report has been lifted in the province with ease in announced special flight operations for the Najaf our young generation know more about the different restrictions announced until August 31. Ac - pilgrimage starting August 11 where 11 flights people with different faiths in the country. This book is The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has an - cording to the notification, the businesses will take off with pilgrims willing to visit Najaf showcasing the soft image of Pakistan where we tell the nounced discounted fares for Canada to Pakistan have been allowed to open in the province ahead of Ashura. world the people of all faith living in Pakistan peace - flights. The national carrier announced to reduce fares until 8pm with Friday and Sunday declared The 11 Najaf-bound flights will operate from fully. This is not just a book but it is a service to the up to 25 per cent for flights from Canada to Pakistan as safe days.“Milk, pharmacies, petrol Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore starting August 11, motherland. This book will help building positive image for a limited period. pumps, vegetable, and meat shops are ex - while the return begins from August 21, the PIA chief of Pakistan amongst the global world and proves that According to the spokesperson, the passen - empted from timing restrictions and could re - Air Marshal Arshad Malik had announced. Pakistan is a peace striving nation. gers from Toronto could avail the discounted main open round the clock,” it said. Oil slides on China Covid-19 curbs, strengthening US dollar

MeLBoUrne ANZ analysts pointed to new restrictions of imports below 10 million bpd and sharply AGENCIES in China, the world's second largest oil con - down on a record 12.94 million bpd in June sumer, as a major factor clouding the outlook 2020 when refiners were stocking up on Oil prices fell nearly 2% on Monday, extend - for demand growth. cheap crude, data released on Saturday ing last week's steep losses on the back of a The curbs include flight cancellations, showed. rising US dollar and concerns that new pan - warnings by 46 cities against travel, and lim - China's export growth slowed more than demic curbs in Asia, especially China, may its on public transport and taxi services in expected in July following outbreaks of set back the global recovery in fuel demand. 144 of the worst hit areas. COVID-19 cases and floods, while import Brent crude futures slid by $1.27, or On Monday, China reported 125 new growth was also weaker than expected, 1.8%, to $69.43 a barrel by 0434 GMT, after COVID-19 cases, up from 96 a day earlier. pointing to a slowdown in the country's in - having slumped 6% last week, their biggest In Malaysia and Thailand, infections con - dustrial sector in the second half. weekly loss in four months. tinue to hit daily records of more than A rally in the US dollar to a four-month US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) 20,000. high against the euro also weighed on oil crude futures fell $1.29, or 1.9%, to $66.99 "While the number of cases (in China) is prices, after Friday's stronger-than-expected a barrel, after having slumped nearly 7% low, it comes just as the summer travel sea - US jobs report spurred bets that the Federal last week in their steepest weekly decline son peaks," ANZ commodity analysts said in Reserve may move more quickly to tighten in nine months. a note. "This has overshadowed signs of US monetary policy. "Concerns about potential global oil de - strong demand elsewhere." A stronger US dollar makes oil more ex - mand erosion have resurfaced with the ac - China's crude oil imports dipped slightly pensive for holders of other currencies. celeration of the Delta variant infection rate," on a daily basis in July to 9.71 million bar - Trading was quiet with holidays in Japan RBC analyst Gordon Ramsay said in a note. rels per day (bpd), a fourth month in a row and Singapore. Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 10 FOREIGN NEWS LAHORE China reports more Covid-19 At leAst 51 killed in MAli cases while villAge rAids by MilitAnts BAMAKO No group has yet taken responsi - some cities kick AFP bility for the attacks in the area where Malian troops, French and European T least 51 people were killed forces, and United Nations peacekeep - off new tests when militants raided three vil - ers have been battling insurgents lages in central Mali near the linked to the Islamic State and Al border with Niger, a district ad - Qaeda. BEIJING Mali's army spokesman Colonel REUTERS ministrator said on Monday. AThe towns of Ouatagouna, Karou SouleymaneDembele confirmed the at - and Deouteguef were simultaneously at - tacks but gave no further details. China reported more Covid-19 cases as it en - tacked at around 6pm on Sunday, ac - Other local sources told Reuters tered the third week of its current outbreak on cording to a note from the Asongo that the militants stationed themselves Monday, while some cities added rounds of district administrator to the governor of at the towns' entrances and fired indis - mass testing in the effort to stamp out locally- Gao region. criminately upon civilians. transmitted infections. The highly infectious Houses were ransacked and burned The administrator said Malian Delta variant has been detected in more than a to the ground and herds of livestock car - troops were sweeping the area. He also dozen cities since July 20, and officials have ried away, said the note, which was seen requested a military escort to "help asked local government authorities to rigor - by Reuters. with the funerals, reassure the popula - ously track infections and close loopholes in "Provisional toll is 51 killed, several tions and offer condolences to the be - control efforts. “A laxity of mind should be other injured," it said. reaved families", according to the note. firmly overcome,” the National Health Com - mission said in a statement on Sunday that called for the outbreak to be curbed. Analysts see the Delta variant as the biggest test of China’s zero-Covid strategy since last year’s initial outbreak, but expect authorities will quash it before it gets out of control, even if at some economic cost. Sunday’s 125 new confirmed infections on the mainland included 94 locally transmitted cases, up from the pre - vious day’s figure of 96, with 81 locally trans - mitted, while the rest were imported from abroad, the NHC said on Monday. Most of Sunday’s local patients were in the central city of Zhengzhou and the eastern city of Yangzhou, government figures showed. Yangzhou has started a fifth round of mass tests, city authorities said on Monday, when Zhengzhou is expected to wrap up sample col - lection for its third round of citywide tests. The eastern city of Nanjing, hit hard in the outbreak that began late in July, though it re - ported no more than five daily local cases since August 2, has also started a third round of targeted testing in some areas, after three rounds citywide. The number of new asympto - matic infections was 39, up from 30 a day ear - lier. China does not classify them as confirmed cases. China’s tally of infections stands at 93,826 since the outbreak began, while deaths stayed at 4,636. Locals evacuate the area with their animals as a wildfire rages in the suburb of Thrakomakedones, north of Athens, Greece. REUTERS

He said authorities had to devote more since December 2017. The still-blackened resources to managing forests and prevent - scars of previous fires have aided Dixie Fire California wildfire now second-worst in state history ing fires. crews at times, reducing available fuel. But he added that “the dries are getting Thousands of residents have fled the flames. As of Sunday, the fire had destroyed a lot drier, it is hotter than it has ever been ... area, many forced to find temporary housing 489,287 acres, authorities said, up from the we need to acknowledge just straight up — even living in tents, and often unsure previous day's 447,723 acres. It now covers these are climate-induced wildfires.” whether their homes have survived. an area larger than Los Angeles. Climate change amplifies droughts, cre - At an evacuation site under smoky The Dixie blaze is the largest active ating ideal conditions for wildfires to spread skies in Susanville, exhausted families sat wildfire in the US, but only one of 11 major out of control and inflict unprecedented ma - in folding chairs beside tents and vehicles wildfires in California. terial and environmental damage. The Dixie packed with belongings grabbed from their Over the weekend, it surpassed the 2018 blaze, which on Saturday left three firefight - abandoned homes. Mendocino Complex Fire to make it the sec - ers injured, remained 21 per cent contained The Plumas County sheriff's office said ond-worst fire in state history. on Sunday, unchanged from the day before, it was still searching for three people listed “It was like driving out of a war zone the CalFire website reported. as missing, after two others were found that you see in a movie,” Tami Kugler told Crews estimate the fire, which began on over the weekend. AFP, sitting beside her tent at an evacuation July 13, will not be fully extinguished for The Dixie Fire has already destroyed station after fleeing the historic town of two weeks. about 400 structures — gutting Greenville Greenville before it burned down. HIGHER TEMPERATURES FORE - — and CalFire said workers and equipment “My neighbourhood is gone — I mean CAST: Weak winds and higher humidity were being deployed to save homes in the gone, gone. Everybody I care and love about have provided some succour to firefighters, small town of Crescent Mills, three miles that's in that neighbourhood, their homes are but they are bracing for higher temperatures (five kilometres) southeast of Greenville. gone,” she said, adding: “I didn't have insur - expected to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit More than 5,000 personnel are now bat - ance.” (38 degrees Celsius) in the coming days. tling the Dixie blaze. Despite repeated evac - SACRAMENTO fornia has grown to become the second- On Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom Heavy smoke was making driving haz - uation orders from the authorities, some AFP largest wildfire in state history, authorities visited the charred remains of Greenville, ardous for fire crews in some areas, and residents have refused to flee, preferring to said on Sunday, with three people reported expressing his “deep gratitude” to the teams steep trails also made access difficult. The try to fight the fire on their own rather than The monstrous Dixie Fire in northern Cali - missing and thousands fleeing the advancing fighting the flames. state's eight largest wildfires have all come leave their property. US, UK to levy new sanctions on Belarus

WASHINGTON since the fraudulent election," he added. The package includes preventing Be - purchases of transferable securities and Belarusian sports figures who in August AGENCIES US President Joe Biden will sign an ex - larusian air carriers from flying over or land - money market instruments issued by the Be - 2020 publicly criticised violence against pro - ecutive order targeting Lukashenko over an ing in Britain, and a ban on "technical larusian state and state-owned banks, plus testers at demonstrations that gripped the ex- Britain on Monday broadened its sanctions ongoing "assault against the democratic as - assistance" to Lukashenko's private jet fleet. loans. The FCDO said the ban would be ex - Soviet country after the presidential vote. on Belarus and President Alexander pirations and human rights of the Belarusian It also bans trade in potash, petroleum tended to insurance and reinsurance to state In May, Lukashenko's government inter - Lukashenko while the US said it will also people, transnational repression ... and cor - products, interception and monitoring goods bodies in Minsk. cepted a Ryanair plane en route to Vilnius levy new sanctions on the regime, a year ruption", a White House official told AFP. and technology, goods used in cigarette man - Lukashenko has ruled the ex-Soviet state with Protasevich and his girlfriend aboard after disputed elections that kept the strong - Britain in June joined the United States, ufacturing, and "dual-use" goods, which can since 1994 but has so far shrugged off West - and forced it to land in Minsk, where both man in power. Canada and the European Union in slapping be used for both civilian and military pur - ern pressure with the support of key ally were arrested. Announcing the new British sanctions, sanctions on Belarus after the detention of poses. The Foreign, Commonwealth and De - Russia. At the now-completed Tokyo “Since then, the regime has only further Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "The opposition journalist Roman Protasevich. velopment Office (FCDO) said that would Olympics, Belarusian sprinter KrystsinaTsi - expanded its repression, including by threat - Lukashenko regime continues to crush The UK's latest measures have been in - "reduce the amount of revenue flowing to manouskaya sought protection to avoid ening the safety of an Olympic athlete out - democracy and violate human rights in Be - troduced because of "the continued under - the Lukashenko regime and to limit its ac - being forced onto a plane home, saying she side its borders," the US official said. larus." mining of democracy and human rights cess to items that could enable the internal feared for her life if she returned to Belarus "With today's actions, President Biden is "These sanctions demonstrate that the violations by the Lukashenko regime", the repression" of the public. after she criticised her coaches. abiding by his pledge to hold the Belarussian UK will not accept Lukashenko's actions government said. The financial sanctions cover a ban on Tsimanouskaya was among the many regime accountable for its abuses." Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 LAHORE SPORTS 11 BangLadesh dOWn austRaLia tO cOMPLete t20 seRies Win NEWS DESK things back as Bangladesh managed Nasum's skidder. In the fourth over, only 32 off the next eight. Crucially, in-form Mitchell Marsh was trapped T was a nightmarish end to a they lost three in that pas - plumb in front trying to sweep. tough tour for Australia. As if sage to be placed at 65 for 3 at the Saifuddin then killed the chase losing the series was not end of 11 overs. when he arrived in the middle overs enough, in the final T20I, they Australia perhaps picked three to first fox Alex Carey off a slower lost 8 for 24 to collapse to 62 frontline spinners in the hope that ball. As if that was not enough, two aill out in a chase of 123. This was the slowness off the surface and the balls later, Moises Henriques tickled their lowest total across limited- turn would help apply the brakes, one behind to the wicketkeeper overs cricket. It meant Bangladesh but Ellis reaped the rewards for tight while trying to run one down to third took the series 4-1 in Dhaka. lines, delivering four dots amid a man. And after Shakib delivered his Shakib Al Hasan, who nabbed heap of slower deliveries. maiden, Saifuddin got Agar, who his 100th T20I on the way, Christian was then introduced was castled after trying to led with a haul of 4 for 9, with Mo - immediately after the powerplay, step down and slog hammad Saifuddin grabbing 3 for 12 and he used the angle from wide of one away. as Bangladesh choked Australia, not the crease to good effect, stifling On his way Bangladesh for the first time, with spin. both Naim and Shakib with his to those mag - 122 for 8 (naim 23, Bangladesh decided to open slower variations. These two were ical figures, with Mahedi Hasan in place of reg - instrumental in sapping Bangladesh Shakib be - ellis 2-16, Christian ular opener Soumya Sarkar, and the of any momentum towards the end, came just 2-17) Beat australia move paid off. Along with Moham - they managed just 20 off the last five the second mad Naim, he ensured the hosts wal - as Christian and Ellis finished with bowler to 62 (Wade 22, shakiB loped 33 off the first three overs, all a combined 4 for 33. reach a hun - 4-9, saifuddin 3-12) bowled by the spinners. Matthew Left-arm spinner Nasum dred wickets By 60 runs Wade first went to Ashton Turner's Ahmed's twin blows within the first in T20Is after part-time offspin, then to Ashton four overs meant Australia were on Lasith Malinga. He off pole. figures. He got one to turn away off the innings three balls later, Aus - Agar and finally to Adam Zampa, the back foot straightaway. Chris - wasn't introduced until At that stage, Australia were 54 from the right-hander, as the batter tralia had been skittled out for their before introducing pace in the fourth tian, promoted to open after clobber - the seventh over, but struck off his for 6 after 11 overs with the game all cut straight to cover. Shakib then had lowest T20I total. over through Nathan Ellis. ing Shakib for five sixes in an over second ball when he dismissed Wade but decided, which is when Shakib Ellis in the 14th over. When Adam Originally published on ESP - Ellis and Dan Christian pulled two nights ago, was foxed by with an arm ball that knocked back his dismissed Turner to complete three Zampa pushed one to cover to finish Ncricinfo

KPL: Mirpur Royals down Belarusian sprinter auctions medal to support Overseas Warriors by 5 wickets athletes caught up in crackdown NEWS DESK Mirpur Royals defeated Overseas Warriors by five wickets in the WARSAW and observers say was rigged. He denies electoral sixth match of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) at the Muzaf - REUTERS fraud. farabad Cricket Stadium on Monday. The Shoaib Malik-led Roy - The crackdown has affected elite athletes, some als and ImadWasim-led Warriors had faced defeat in their earlier Sprinter KrystsinaTsimanouskaya, who was removed of whom have been jailed for joining street protests. games. On Monday, Overseas Warriors won the toss and elected from the Tokyo Olympics by the Belarusian team In a statement carried by the foundation, Tsi - to bat first against Mirpur Royals. They scored a total of 145 after she criticised her coaches, is auctioning a medal manouskaya said the silver medal she won in the runs with Kamran Ghulam and Azam Khan scoring the highest from the 2019 European Games to support athletes team relay at the 2019 European Games in the Be - runs, 47 and 32 respectively. The Royals' bowlers took a total of who say they have been targeted by authorities. larusian capital Minsk carried special meaning. six wickets with Salman Irshad being the highest wicket-taker as Belarusian team officials took the 24-year-old to "Those competitions were extremely important he sent three batsmen back to the pavilion. Then Royals chased Tokyo's Haneda airport against her wishes on Aug. for me as they were held at the home arena," she said. the 145 target set by Warriors in 18.1 overs as openers, Mukhtar 1, a day before she had been set to run the 200m. "Lots of people, including my family and relatives, Ahmed and Sharjeel Khan, held an impressive partnership with She refused to board the flight home and has came to cheer for me." Mukhtar scoring 45 runs andSharjeel hitting 35. In the middle since sought refuge in Poland, fearing for her safety The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on order, Shoaib Malik scored 36 runs off 24 balls. Overseas War - if she returned to Belarus. Friday ordered two Belarusian officials - athletics riors’ bowler picked up five wickets with Musa Khan taking Tsimanouskaya told Reuters the reason she had head coach Yuri Moisevich and team official Artur - three. Man of the match award was given to Salman Irshad of been removed from the team was her public criticism Shumak - to have their accreditation revoked and be Mirpur Royals for his superb performance. of "the negligence of our coaches." removed from the Games. TEAMS: She said she had been entered in the 4x400m port of Belarusian athletes "who suffered from the The Belarusian Olympic Committee has said Overseas Warriors: Nasir Nawaz, Uthman Ali Khan, Haider relay without her knowledge after some team mem - actions of Lukashenko's regime." coaches withdrew Tsimanouskaya from the Tokyo Ali, Azam Khan, ImadWasim (), Kamran Ghulam, Mo - bers were found to be ineligible to compete because As of Monday morning, bids for the medal had Olympics on doctors' advice about her emotional and hammad Haris, ,Sohail Khan, Mohammad Musal, they had not undergone enough doping tests. reached $5,200 on eBay. psychological state. M Abbas Afridi. The Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation, a President Alexander Lukashenko has been ac - In an exclusive interview with Reuters in War - Mirpur Royals: Shoaib Malik (captain), Mukhtar Ahmed, Shar - group that supports athletes jailed or sidelined for cused of orchestrating an unprecedented crackdown saw on Thursday, Tsimanouskaya said the two offi - jeel Khan, Muhammad Akhlaq, Khushdil Shah, Ammad Butt, their political views, said on Monday the medal was on demonstrators and opposition figures in the wake cials had told her the order to send her home came , Salman Irshad, Abrar Ahmed, ShadabMajeed, being auctioned at Tsimanouskaya's request in sup - of a presidential election held a year ago that critics from "high up" in Belarus. Sameen Gul Afridi, Barcelona fans 'devastated' at messi exit, one files legal complaints BARCELONA Messi said he had agreed a 50% pay cut order to help PSG become a force in Euro - REUTERS in order to stay at Barca and sign a new con - pean football. tract but was unable to finalise the deal due Barcelona, like their main La Liga rivals Barcelona fans gathered outside Lionel to the Spanish league's financial control Real Madrid, are fully owned by their sub - Messi's house on Monday and spoke of their rules and the club's debts, which total more scription-paying members known as "so - sadness at the club's greatest player leaving than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion). cios". after 21 years, while Paris St Germain fans La Liga said last Wednesday it had se - The FFP rules notably forbid top Euro - eagerly awaited his arrival in the French cap - cured a private equity injection of 2.7 billion pean soccer clubs to pay their playing squads ital. euros from firm CVC, with the funds to be an excessive share of their total revenues, ac - One Barca member filed complaints shared among the clubs in return for 10% of cording to the complaints, which also state with a French court and with the European the league's revenue. that the transfer of Messi to PSG would Commission to try to block any move by It had been believed this would allow breach the code. PSG to sign Messi, according to documents Barcelona to get the Messi deal done, but PSG and the French football league did seen by Reuters on Monday. after Real Madrid rejected the proposal and not immediately respond to emailed requests The 34-year-old on Sunday bid farewell said they would take legal action against La for comment. to the club he has spent his entire career at Liga, Barca also came out against it. French newspaper L'Equipe reported on and confirmed that he was talking with the "I don't think the club has done enough Sunday that Messi would travel to Paris on Paris club over a possible move. to make hi m stay, I think it was in the club's Sunday or Monday for a medical and to fi - There were no signs of movement hands to make him stay, beyond the money," nalise a deal with the Qatar Sports Invest - around Messi's house in the hills of the said Barca and Argentina fan Gonzalo ment-owned club. wealthy Barcelona district of Castelldefels Moreno. Spanish newspaper Marca reported that on Monday, however, where fans waited to Messi said on Sunday that PSG was "a PSG had formally sent their offer to Messi catch a glimpse of the player. possibility" but that he had not yet signed on Sunday morning. "I feel devastated," said Cristian Garcia, any deal. While Messi did not confirm he would wearing a Barca shirt with Messi's name and LEGAL COMPLAINT: In the Barcelona definitely join the Parisians, he said his plans number 10 on the back. member's legal complaints, shared by the were to carry on playing as long as possible, "To see a player that I have always fol - fan's lawyer, the member claims that French adding he still harbours ambitions to win an - lowed, who is an example for me, to see him football authorities have failed to enforce other Champions League trophy. that is Leo Messi," said PSG fan Mehmet Paris' Le Bourget airport since 2 a.m. for a leave now brings me a lot of pain." their own financial fair play (FFP) rules in "We're waiting for a legend, the legend Sen, who had been waiting at the gates to glimpse of the star. Tuesday, 10 August, 2021 PrAyer Timings FAJR SUNRISE ZUHR ASR MAGHRIB ISHA NEWS 3:54 5:24 12:08 4:54 6:52 8:21 TAlibAn Seize SixTh provinCiAl CApiTAl, preSS on wiTh norThern offenSive AfTer weeKenD bliTz kABUL cials to spare the city from more violence AFP following weeks of clashes on the outskirts, said Sefatullah Samangani, deputy governor HE Taliban seized a sixth Afghan of Samangan province. Afghanistan forces battling to retake provincial capital on Monday fol - “The governor accepted and withdrew lowing a weekend blitz across the all the forces from the city,” Samangani north that saw urban centres fall in added, saying the Taliban were now in “full Kunduz as Taliban advance in north quick succession and the govern - control”. A Taliban spokesman confirmed Tment struggle to keep the militants at bay. the city had been taken. Command spokesperson, told CNN on Sunday, without specifying kABUL Insurgents entered Aibak without a fight The insurgents have overrun five provin - reuTers where those strikes were made. after community elders pleaded with offi - cial capitals across the north, sparking fears FAMILIES FLEE: In Kunduz, many desperate families, some the government is rapidly losing control of Afghan commandoes launched a counter-attack on Monday to try with young children and pregnant women, abandoned their homes, the region. to beat back Taliban fighters who overran the northern city of Kun - hoping to reach the relative safety of Kabul, 315 kilometres (196 Taliban kill Afghan They have also taken Zaranj, capital of duz a day earlier, with residents fleeing the conflict describing the miles) to the south — a drive that would normally take around ten Nimroz province, in the southwest. almost constant sound of gunfire and explosions. hours. Police had abandoned their check-posts on the roads around radio station Earlier Monday, the Taliban said they Kunduz was one of at least three provincial capitals seized by the city. Ghulam Rasool, an engineer, was trying to hire a bus to manager, kidnap were moving in on Mazar-i-Sharif — the the insurgents in the north over the weekend, as their offensive get his family to the capital as the sound of gunfire reverberated largest city in the north and a linchpin for the gathered pace following Washington’s announcement that it would through the streets of his hometown. journalist: officials government’s control of the region — after end its military mission in Afghanistan by the end of August. “We may just be forced to walk till Kabul, but we are not sure capturing Sheberghan to its west, and Kun - A Taliban spokesman had warned the United States on Sunday if we could be killed on the way […] ground clashes were not just kABUL duz and Taloqan to its east. A spokesman against intervening following US airstrikes to support beleaguered stopping even for 10 minutes,” Rasool told Reuters. reuTers said Taliban fighters had entered the city, but Afghan government forces. “It’s best we leave this city till it’s decided whether the Afghan officials — and residents contacted by phone In the West, near the border with Iran, security officials told government or the Taliban will now govern it.” He and several Suspected Taliban fighters killed an — said the group was exaggerating, with Reuters heavy fighting was underway on the outskirts of Herat. other residents, and a security official, said Afghan commandoes Afghan radio station manager in Kabul clashes confined to surrounding districts. Arif Jalali, head of Herat Zonal Hospital said 36 people had been had launched an operation to clear the insurgents from the city. Tal - and kidnapped a journalist in southern “The enemy is trying to distort public killed and 220 wounded in fighting over the past eleven days. iban fighters had holed up in government buildings in the city cen - Helmand province, local government offi - opinion and create anxiety for the civilian More than half of the wounded were civilians, he said, and tre and had occupied positions commanding roads into two defence cials said on Monday, reporting the latest population by their propaganda,” said a women and children were among the dead. bases on the outskirts, according to local government officials. in a long line of attacks targeting media statement from the provincial police force in In the southern province of Helmand, a hotbed of Taliban ac - Over the weekend, the insurgents also occupied government workers. Gunmen shot Toofan Omar, the Balkh, where Mazar-i-Sharif is the capital. tivity, security officials reported a loud explosion in Lashkar Gah, buildings in the northern provincial capital of Sar-e Pol, driving station manager of Paktia Ghag radio and Mazar’s longtime strongman Atta Mo - the provincial capital, on Monday morning. The insurgents have officials out of the main city to a nearby military base, Mohammad an officer for NAI, a rights group sup - hammad Noor vowed to fight to the end, taken dozens of districts and border crossings in recent months and Noor Rahmani, a provincial council member of Sar-e Pol province, porting independent media in saying there would be “resistance until the put pressure on several provincial capitals, including Herat and said. On Sunday evening, Ashraf Ayni, a representative in parlia - Afghanistan, in a targeted killing in the last drop of my blood”. “I prefer dying in Kandahar in the south, as foreign troops withdraw. ment for Takhar province, said its capital Taloqan had fallen to the capital on Sunday. “Omari was killed by dignity than dying in despair,” he tweeted. “US forces have conducted several airstrikes in defence of our Taliban who had freed prisoners and taken control of all govern - unidentified gunmen […] he was liberal The loss of the city, steeped in history Afghan partners in recent days,” Maj. Nicole Ferrara, a US Central ment buildings, driving officials to a nearby district. man […] we are being targeted for work - and long an economic hub, would signal the ing independently,” said Mujeeb Khel - collapse of Kabul’s control of the north and watgar, the head of NAI. Officials in likely raise major questions about the future food and water shortages. ’s 215 Corps, told AFP from Lashkar Gah. eral militias and is also a fertile recruiting Kabul suspected Taliban fighters had car - of the government. In neighbouring Kunduz, Fighting in the south: As the Taliban The ministry of defence said hundreds of ground for the country’s armed forces. Fight - ried out the attack. Last month the NAI the second-largest city in the north that fell pressed ahead in the north, fighting also Taliban fighters had been killed or injured in ing in Afghanistan’s long-running conflict report at least 30 journalists and media to the Taliban on Sunday, residents said in - raged in the south, where Afghan forces have the last 24 hours. Both sides routinely exag - has escalated dramatically since May, workers have been killed, wounded or ab - surgents were all over the city, occupying been locked in heavy street-to-street fighting gerate death tolls that are virtually impossi - when the US-led military coalition began ducted by militant groups in Afghanistan government offices and institutions. with the Taliban. The insurgents have for ble to verify. The claims come a day after the final stage of a withdrawal set to be this year. In southern Helmand province, “The security situation is not good and weeks been trying to take Kandahar and Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan in the north completed before the end of the month. officials said Taliban fighters had seized a we fled to save our lives,” Rahmatullah, a Lashkar Gah — both with Pashtun majori - fell within hours of each other. The withdrawal of foreign forces is due local journalist, Nematullah Hemat, from 28-year-old resident, told AFP. ties from where the Taliban draw their Northern Afghanistan has long been con - to finish at the end of this month ahead of the his home in Lashkar Gah, the provincial “It is like a horror movie,” he added. strength. “We’re clearing houses, roads, and sidered an anti-Taliban stronghold that saw 20th anniversary of the September 11 at - capital, on Sunday. Another resident Abdul Qudoos said buildings that the Taliban occupy,” General some of the stiffest resistance to militant rule tacks. The US-led invasion sparked by 9/11 fears were growing that Kunduz would face Sami Sadat, commander of the Afghan arm in the 1990s. The region remains home to sev - toppled the first Taliban regime in 2001.

Contractors who powered shireen Mazari says uK never asked US war in Afghanistan stuck in Dubai Pakistan for covid-19 data DUBAI The AssociATed Press News Desk Islamabad had provided data to the British govern - from Pakistan compared to India were testing positive ment was discussed. for coronavirus. Some of the foreign contractors who powered the logistics of Slamming the British government’s decision of re - “According to the MPs, Umar told them that the Earlier, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had America’s “forever war” in Afghanistan now find themselves taining Pakistan on its list of countries facing travel data was publicly available on the NCOC forums, in - said that the country was looking into Pakistan’s stranded on an unending layover in Dubai without a way to get restrictions, Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr cluding and YouTube, and the UK authorities placement on the Red List. The PM’s remarks indi - home. After nearly two decades, the rapid US withdrawal from Shireen Mazari said on Monday that Pakistan was could have accessed it,” the report said. cated that there was a chance that Pakistan may be Afghanistan has upended the lives of thousands of private secu - never asked to share its data on the local coronavirus It also quoted one of the British lawmakers as moved to the Amber List in a few weeks. rity contractors from some of the world’s poorest countries — situation. saying: “It’s clear looking at these sheets that Pakistan The Pakistani delegation included top envoy not the hired guns but the hired hands who serviced the Ameri - In a tweet, she said that the government of United has up to date data but I feel Pakistan authorities Moazzam Ali Khan and three other diplomats. can war effort. For years, they toiled in the shadows as cleaners, Kingdom is dominated by ‘Indophiles’. should have shared the same with the UK government Geo News reported that PM Johnson’s remarks cooks, construction workers, servers and technicians on sprawl - “Ridiculous! UK govt, dominated by Indophiles and run effective lobbying.” were in response to the Pakistani delegation raising ing American bases. In the rushed evacuation, scores of these and despite globally documented India’s continuing After the meeting, the planning minister had the issue of the “red list” and how inconvenient it was foreign workers trying to get home to the Philippines and other disastrous handling of the COVID pandemic, moved tweeted that data regarding Covid surveillance and for thousands of Pakistanis. countries that restricted international travel because of the pan - India to the Amber List but keeps Pakistan on the red; Pakistan’s Covid response strategy had been shared Johnson had assured the delegation that his gov - demic have become stuck in limbo at hotels across Dubai. As then under pressure from Opposition MPs, gives fee - with the group. “Will engage with the UK govern - ernment was looking at the data and “considering the US brings home its remaining troops and abandons its ble excuse that Pakistan didn’t share data,” she ment to try and ensure that red list decisions are based possibilities” based on scientific advice. bases, experts say the chaotic departure of the Pentagon’s logis - tweeted. on science [and] not politics,” he had said. PM Johnson had said that he is looking forward tics army lays bare an uncomfortable truth about a privatized Her tweet came in response to a report published She further defended her stance, saying British to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to the United system long susceptible to mismanagement — one largely in a local newspaper. authorities never asked for the data as the National Kingdom soon. The Pakistani delegation told the UK funded by American taxpayers but outside the purview of According to the report, British MPs of Pakistani- Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has “the premier that the South Asian country, too, is looking American law. “It’s the same situation that affects foreign con - origin had held a virtual meeting with Minister for most centralised & daily updated data bases anywhere forward to the visit. tractors all over the world, people who have little understanding Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad & data shared with UK HC”. Last week, British lawmakers had criticised their of where they’re going and very uncertain relationships once Umar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on She criticised the UK government for ‘shifting government’s move to keep Pakistan on its ‘red list’ they arrive determining their legal status and movements,” said Health Dr Faisal Sultan on Friday. goalposts’, noting that it had earlier said Pakistan had while promoting India to amber despite the latter’s Anthony Cordesman, a national security analyst at the Center During the meeting, the issue of whether or not been placed on the Red List because more passengers Covid-19 situation being more serious. for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Lynching threats to MusLiMs india books ‘unidentified’ people even as footage shows participant News Desk ticipants, Scroll.in reported. Authority Act for violating Covid-19 proto - Muslims will chant Ram Ram when they ficer told The Indian Express. A local Bharatiya Janata Party leader, col. Upadhyay had called for the march at will be slaughtered.” “Police arrangements were in place and The police in New Delhi on Monday filed a Ashwini Upadhyay, posted several tweets Jantar Mantar as part of his “Bharat Jor’ro Those who attended the rally also we thought around 50 people would come, first information report against unidentified asking people to join the event. Another BJP [Unite India] movement” on Sunday flouted Covid-19 guidelines as they neither but suddenly many people in small groups persons, a day after inflammatory slogans leader, Gajendra Chauhan, was also among evening. The organisers demanded an end to wore masks nor maintained physical distanc - started gathering. They were protesting calling for lynchings against Muslims were the participants in the rally. “colonial-era laws” by setting up a uniform ing norms. A journalist present at Jantar peacefully, but started raising slogans when shouted at a rally in Jantar Mantar, an obser - The unknown persons have been booked civil code in the country. Mantar was also assaulted and asked to chant they were dispersing.” vatory in the Indian capital, less than two under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity be - They had not taken permission for the “Jai Shri Ram”. However, an officer from the Intelli - kilometres from the Parliament. tween different groups) and 188 (disobedi - event, the Delhi Police told The Indian Ex - “We refused permission after informing gence Wing said Delhi Police’s Special The FIR did not name any specific per - ence to order duly promulgated by public press. Videos from the event showed a group them about DDMA [Delhi Disaster Manage - Branch had informed New Delhi district po - son even though several videos from the servant) of the Indian Penal Code and Sec - of people shouting slogans such as: “Jab ment Authority] guidelines [about Covid lice that a large crowd was expected, the rally clearly showed the identities of the par - tion 51 of the Delhi Disaster Management mullah kaate jayenge, Ram Ram chillayenge protocols],” an unidentified Delhi Police of - newspaper reported.

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