January 2018
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SPECIAL FEATURE Switzerland Today 2018 Reg. ss-973 January www.southasia.com.pk INSIDE PAKISTAN INDIA AFGHANISTAN INTERNATIONAL Dharna Politics Quota Monster The Poppy Growers Butcher of Bosnia Switching Gears To Moderation Winds of moderation are sweeping Saudi Arabia. The changes in the Kingdom, led by Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, aim to enter a new era of economic and social change to help create a more tolerant and progressive society. Contents 14 Turmoil in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is moving towards moderation. Islamabad Dharna Politics A new tool in the hands 22 of politicians. Dhaka Rajhastan 27 The Quota Monster Black Past, The backward communities in Black Present 24 India see a ray of hope. Bangladesh furthers its political ambitions through court verdicts. Jafna Power Devolvement Seeking democracy, not 28 mobocracy. 29 Kathmandu Picking up the Pieces A political re-think is underway. 4 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2018 REGULAR FEATURES Editor’s Mail 8 On Record 9 Briefs 10 COVER STORY Turmoil in Saudi Arabia 14 The Big Leap 15 Friend or Foe? 16 Moment of Trruth 18 REGION Islamabad Dharna Politics 22 Gawadar Quest to Win Friends 23 Rajasthan The Quota Monster 24 Mumbai Controversy Compounded 25 Dhaka Black Past, Black Present 27 38 Jafna International Power Devolvement 28 Madness at Midnight Kathmandu Tourism works in Picking up the Pieces 29 many ways. Thimphu Courting a Neighbour 31 Malé Lawyers on the Warpath 32 Kabul The Loya Jirga Solution 34 INTERVIEW Syed Mazhar Hussain, PTCL 35 70 INTERNATIONAL Turbat Madness at Midnight 38 Human Trafficking Water Starved 40 The lure of foreign lands Butcher of Bosnia 42 ruins many in Pakistan. Black and Blue 43 SPECIAL FEATURE Switzerland Today 45 PERSPECTIVE Why Pakistan Broke - 2 56 SPECIAL FEATURE Hulhumale Asset Management & Plastic Menace Capital Markets 59 Solutions are being developed FEATURES to use plastic flotsam for 74 Turbat beneficial uses. Human Trafficking 70 Rajhastan Guru of Bling 71 New Delhi Going Nowhere 72 Hulhumale Plastic Menace 74 Helmand The Poppy Growers 75 Dhaka A Suffering City 77 80 Thimphu Colombo Refugee Rescue 78 Wildlife Woes Colombo A country known for Wildlife Woes 80 its elephants and other BOOK REVIEWS wildlife may soon lose its Timely Lessons 81 attractions. Understanding Ground Realities 82 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2018 5 COMMENT A Tough Warning JANUARY 2018 VOL.22 ISSUE 1 to America PRESIDENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF Syed Jawaid Iqbal espite President Trump’s threat to cut US funding to countries that did not back the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and a firm MANAGING EDITOR warning from the US’s UN representative Nikki Haley, that Washington Zeba Jawaid D would remember which countries “disrespected” America by voting against it, 128 EDITOR UN members rejected Trump and his policies --- obviously a very clear message Javed Ansari to the US president that the world is not going to accept any nonsense from him. Even Pope Francis rebuked Trump’s Jerusalem decision. “I cannot remain silent ASSISTANT EDITORS about my deep concern for the situation that has developed in recent days,” the Faizan Usmani – Khawaja Amer Syeda Areeba Rasheed Pope said. A clear majority of the global community — in fact, more than half of the UN’s member countries — voted overwhelmingly for a resolution, sponsored by Egypt and co-sponsored by Pakistan, calling the US decision to alter the status CONTRIBUTING EDITOR S. G. Jilanee of Jerusalem as “null and void” while stressing upon all states to refrain from the shifting of diplomatic missions to Jerusalem. CONTRIBUTORS The 128 countries that favoured the resolution calling for Tel Aviv to be retained Ulfat Amer – Sajjad Ahmad – Dr. Moonis Ahmar as the capital of Israel, included Muslim states as well as the wider community Mirza Aqeel Baig – Mujtaba Baig – Huzaima Bukhari of the global south, along with most EU member states. Amongst the nine who Shahid Javed Burki – Dr. Muhammad Ali Ehsan – J. Enver voted against, apart from the US and Israel, were tiny island nations and a couple S. M. Hali – Dr. Ikramul Haq – Muhammad Omar Iftikhar of Central American states. Many other countries abstained. This united stand S.G. Jilanee – Taha Kehar – Dr. Raza Khan – Taj M Khattak to restrict any act of bullying by America has established the fact that from now Zehra Khawaja – Dr. Syed Ali Madni – K. A. Naqshbandi onwards, the hegemony of any single country will not be accepted. It was quite S. Mubashir Noor – Vice Admiral (R) Iqbal.F. Quadir interesting though that just after the voting results came out, a CNN analyst was seen celebrating the US’s upper hand in the vote, based on the fact that 9 members GRAPHICS & LAYOUT had voted against the resolution and 35 had abstained. There was no mention in Kamran Ghulam Nabi the analysis that 128 UN members had trampled the resolution. Haroon Rasheed The voting result has proved that if a country tries to influence or threaten Riaz Masih another country by flouting international law and globally accepted norms, there GENERAL MANAGER is a forum strong enough to rebuke that country. Now every nation, irrespective of MARKETING & SALES its status and strength can make its voice heard. It is definitely encouraging to note Syed Ovais Akhtar that countries alike Egypt and Pakistan, who receive billions in US aid, voted as per BRAND MANAGER their conscience and did not succumb to threats. The vote was not only a powerful Muhammad Aamir moral victory for Palestine but a victory of human rights and dignity. Moreover, it CIRCULATION & COORDINATOR has been proved that the Palestine and Kashmir problems cannot be solved through Aqam-ud-Din Khan bullying or intimidation. The solution is in recognising the rights of the people of these territories. EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE The overwhelming support in favour of the resolution tabled by the less 20-C, Lane 12, off Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase II Extension, DHA, Karachi - 75500, Pakistan developed countries despite the ham-fisted intervention by Trump and Haley can, Phones: 92-21- 35313821-24 in a way, be termed as a referendum against Trump’s often unilateral and rude Fax: 92-21-35313832 foreign policy. It also shows that the developing countries have grown up enough Website: www.southasia.com.pk to sacrifice aids and grants for a bigger cause. The awakening is definitely historic Email: [email protected] in context of US comments. “... when we make generous contributions to the UN, we also have expectation that we will be respected,” said Nikki Haley. She went MIDDLE EAST on: “If our investment fails, we have an obligation to spend our investment in other REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE ways … The United States will remember this day.” Pirana Advertising JLT Commenting on the US style of dictation, the Turkish Foreign Minister said, PO Box 486207, 1704, Level 17, HDS Tower, “Before this meeting, a U.N. member state threatened all the other members and Jumeirah Lake Towers Cluster F, Dubai, UAE we were all asked to vote ‘no’ or face the consequences. This is bullying.” The Phone: +97-14- 4508309 historic event has proved that time has come for the US to redraft its foreign policy Fax: +97-14-3688487 and change strategies based on personal whims and not on ground realities. It Email: [email protected] is, in fact, time for America to think about the changing world scenario after the overwhelming rejection at the UN. Well done Egypt, well done Pakistan! This was further emphasized when US SouthAsia is published every month Vice President Mike Pence recently said in Kabul that President Donald Trump by Syed Jawaid Iqbal for and on behalf of had put Pakistan on notice for providing safe havens to the Taliban. Chairman of JAWZ Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. the Pakistan Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, retorted in the same coin by saying that Pakistan accepted no such ‘notices.’ and printed by Union Graphics, Karachi. Views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily shared by the editors. Published since 1977 as Thirdworld, the magazine was re-launched in 1997 as SouthAsia. Syed Jawaid Iqbal Editor in Chief EDITOR’S MAIL it is better to strengthen The makers of the film should Rohingya of Myanmar, Viability of democracy than opting for also realise the sensitivity they can be referred to as Technocracy unconstitutional means to of the matter and avoid another oppressed minority govern the country. featuring historical figures in in the world that has been films. deprived of its homeland Farid Uddin Shahab, because of ethnic reasons. Karachi, Pakistan. Arjun S. Kumar, Sandwiched between the Chhattisgarh, India. Bhutanese and Nepalese nationalism, Lhotshampa Politics around is an ethnic minority with Padmavati A Historical Nepalese origin, but they are The film ‘Padmavati’ has Move become a bone of contention In October 2016, the and some Indian states then Nepalese parliament such as Madhya Pradesh, passed the National Health Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Insurance Act. A historical Karnataka, Gujarat and move by the former Bihar have already banned government, the Act entitles the film even before its a family of five to receive release. Despite the fact that Rs. 50,000 per year for the Central Board of Film health coverage after paying Certification has yet to issue a minimum premium of Rs a clearance certificate to the 2,500 per year. not allowed to live in Nepal film, most politicians in India Thanks to the National because the country does believe it is more of a religious Health Insurance Act, now not consider them as its own issue than a cultural matter acquiring health insurance citizens. They are supposed and therefore Padmavati has become mandatory for to be native to southern This is with reference should not go on screen each family in Nepal, while Bhutan, but Bhutan does not to your cover story on the even if the Central Board a separate budget is also recognise them as its legal viability of a government passes the film after some being allocated to provide citizens because of their led by technocrats in necessary cuts.