Pakistan play like children, crash out of World T20

DHAKA: Pakistan played like children as defending champions West Indies easily defeated them by 84 runs in a key Super-10 match of the World Twenty20 in Dhaka on Tuesday and sailed into the semi-finals.

The West Indies recovered from a top-order meltdown to post 166-6 after electing to take first strike, before three wickets each by spin twins Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine skittled Pakistan for 82 in 17.5 overs.

The West Indies, who finished second behind unbeaten India in group two, will clash with group one champions Sri Lanka in the first semi-final in Dhaka tomorrow (Thursday).India, who won all their four league matches, meet South Africa at the same venue on Friday. The final will take place in Dhaka on Sunday.

It was the first time Pakistan, finalists in the inaugural World T20 in 2007 and champions in 2009, failed to reach the knock-out rounds in the five editions of the tournament.

Will govt allow Musharraf to go abroad?

ISLAMABAD: Government ministers, in their deliberations on Musharraf’s request to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL), have referred to the case of an ex-diplomat who despite the commitment given to the apex court never returned to face trial.

Sources told The News that during intense discussions among the top government leadership on Tuesday, some ministers opposed those who were making a case for allowing Musharraf to leave the country after “he became ready to be indicted” by arguing that the PML-N will lose face forever and the remaining part of the trial will become a mere joke. Musharraf is facing charges of treason for abrogating and breaching the Constitution on November 3, 2007.

However, a senior PML-N minister told The News that the top ruling party leadership had not reached any decision on Tuesday and there would be another top-level meeting on Wednesday. The statement of this top minister of Nawaz cabinet only certifies that Musharraf will not leave the country, at least on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

The former diplomat was allowed to leave the country by the Supreme Court for a short period after strong assurances given by himself and his lawyer on January 30, 2012. To get his name removed from the Exit Control List, the former diplomat had submitted an application through his counsel before a nine-member larger bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and volunteered to return to Pakistan any time on four-day notice to join the proceedings, if and when required to do so. On the basis of these assurances, he had sought from the apex court the removal of his name from the Exit Control List, so that he could travel outside Pakistan and join his family abroad.

According to sources, even now some PML-N leaders, due to certain pressure, want to allow Musharraf to leave the country after giving ‘assurances’ that he will return when required. Others say that even those putting forward this suggestion know that he will never return.

The former diplomat had feared that his life might be in danger if he came back. On the other hand, Musharraf, to avoid court appearances while being in Pakistan, has repeatedly taken the plea that his life was in danger.

After leaving the country, the former diplomat refused to return despite all assurances. Later, on July 9, 2012, the Supreme Court summoned him to appear before the apex court on July 12, 2012 but he never turned up.

Similarly, on November 12, 2012, when the former diplomat did not appear on grounds of security concerns, the apex court summoned the federal secretary interior on November 13, 2012, who assured foolproof security but the former diplomat still never came to Pakistan.

Then on June 4, 2013, a larger bench of the Supreme Court directed the federal government to use all legal and constitutional measures to bring the former diplomat back to Pakistan. Interestingly, the counsel for the former diplomat told the Supreme Court that as one of the petitioners against her client, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, was set to become the prime minister of Pakistan, so he could not come to Pakistan because of severe security threats.

The Supreme Court order to bring the former diplomat was directed to the Nawaz Sharif government but the record establishes that no effort was made through diplomatic channels to bring him back. It is obvious that if the Nawaz government was unable to bring the former diplomat back, who enjoyed very little backing of foreign rulers as compared to Musharraf, it would be unable to do anything in the case of Musharraf.

Though saner elements in the cabinet are advising the top leadership to save the public image and credibility of the party, sources say the leadership is inclined to allow Musharraf to flee. No one was ready to speak on the record from the federal government’s side.

While those who participated in Tuesday’s deliberations say that the top leadership is now ready to allow Musharraf to go, the party’s Central Secretary Information Senator Mushahidullah Khan says that the final decision will be taken in the “next meeting”. When asked by The News when this next meeting would be held, Mushahidullah said that it could be held anytime. When told that a senior minister had informed The News that the next meeting would be held on Wednesday, Mushahidullah said, “No. It could be held any time, even tonight (the night between Tuesday and Wednesday) or it can be delayed.”

Mushahidullah Khan was told by The News that the senior PML-N leadership was confirming that the decision to allow Musharraf to leave the country had been taken and would be announced and defended publicly at an appropriate time. Will such a decision hurt the credibility of a leading democratic party of the country? Mushahidullah said that as the decision would be taken in the next meeting, so he would comment after that and any comment on the credibility of the party before the next meeting would be unfair.

Mushahidullah’s tone was subdued and apparently he was preparing himself to defend his party in the public for helping a dictator flee the country at a time when the judiciary has indicted him in the high-treason trial.

Nawaz decides not to let Musharraf get away

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has made up his mind that no extraordinary concessions which in any manner may be construed as discriminatory and against the rule of law, would be offered by the government to General Musharraf.
A key adviser of the prime minister confided to The News here on Tuesday that the premier was consulting the civilian and military authorities but Nawaz Sharif and his cabinet ministers had no intention to allow Musharraf to go abroad for treatment or to visit his ailing mother.

The source said the government may formally say “no” today (Wednesday) to the request made by Musharraf’s counsel for the removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL). Everybody is clear in the government that once Musharraf goes abroad, he, like a former diplomat, will never come back.

“There is no ambiguity in the minds of those who have to take the decision,” the source said, adding that it was also wrong to suggest that there was a great division in the cabinet on the issue of allowing Musharraf to get off the hook.

The source said that not only the government would reject Musharraf’s plea for removing his name from the ECL but would also contest it if such an application was moved before the court of law.

“The consequences of allowing Musharraf go abroad in the middle of the high treason case would be too serious for both the system and the rule of law,” the source said.Regarding the Monday night’s speculation of Musharraf’s possible exit, the government source said the advisers of the VVIP accused were behind this rumour mongering. It is said that Musharraf and his advisers are cleverly playing their cards.

It is said that starting from his doubtful “illness” and dash to the AFIC, to his and his mother’s admission to the intensive care units a day before his indictment, everything seems to be cleverly orchestrated to escape from the high treason case.

The source, while referring to media reports, wondered as to why Musharraf’s two brothers and other close relatives could not reach Dubai to attend their old mother.The government, however, would stick to its offer of providing all possible means to get Musharraf’s old and ailing mother shifted to Pakistan.

When asked about the foreign pressure to give a safe exit to Musharraf, the government source insisted that the decision to try Musharraf under Article 6 was taken after due consideration of all such pressures, whether internal or international.So far, Musharraf has approached different courts to get his name removed from the ECL but none of the courts accepted the frustrated plea of the former dictator.

Pakistan’s Syria policy neutral, claims Sartaj

 

LONDON: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz has said Pakistan wants to strike a balance between Saudi Arabia and Iran to ease tensions between the two countries.
In an interview with BBC’s Urdu Service, Sartaj said Pakistan was following a neutral policy on Syria in line with UN resolutions. He said that sectarian divisions were very harmful for the Islamic world. In reply to a question, the adviser said the $1.5 billion aid provided by Saudi Arabia was direly needed by the country.

He said Pakistan had released Afghan Taliban to take forward the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. Pakistan wanted the Afghan Taliban to take part in the election process and join the mainstream, but they are no more in our control. He regretted that soon after the start of the election campaign in Afghanistan, negative statements had been increased against Pakistan by Afghan leaders.

Sartaj said no request had been made for getting additional US arms and ammunition in Afghanistan and if Pakistan would need them, it would be acquired from other US bases in other parts of the world.

The adviser said without resolving the issues with the neighbouring country, the Pakistan military had reservations over friendship and trade with India. He said the environment will have to be improved to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Iran in May or June to discuss bilateral relations and world issues. When he was asked if Pakistan was sending arms to Syria, he said there was no specific agreement about Syria in the present circumstances.

He said Islamabad was making efforts to sell small arms and fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia. He said it was strange that objections were being raised about it, though all world nations wanted to sell their weapons to other countries. He said there was no difficulty for Saudi Arabia to purchase weapons from any other country. There was no need for creating any doubts on the issue, he added.

He said the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project was intact, but due to sanctions the time limit for its implementation would have to be reset.

Musharraf longs for farmhouse, doctors disallow

ISLAMABAD: Former President Pervez Musharraf insists on being shifted to his Chak Shahzad farmhouse complaining that he feels suffocated at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), sources said.

Following his request, a seven-member medical board of the institute, headed by Major General Imran Majid, examined the former president and recommended that he could not be shifted to his farmhouse as his diabetes and cholesterol level were continuously rising.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Raza Kasuri, the senior counsel for former President Pervez Musharraf, on Tuesday said they would knock at the door of the court if the name of his client was not removed from the Exit Control List (ECL).

Talking to media persons here, Kasuri said during Monday’s hearing Barrister Farogh Nasim submitted his power of attorney to the Special Court but emphasised that all other members were still part of the legal team.

He hoped that Musharraf’s name would be removed from the ECL because in its verdict the Special Court had clearly stated that the former president’s movement could not be restricted.Meanwhile, a private TV channel claimed that Pervez Musharraf would leave Pakistan for the UAE this week following the removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

It was conveyed to the ex-army ruler by his counsel Farogh Nasim during a meeting at the AFIC where he has been under treatment since January 2.Sources said Nasim apprised Musharraf that his name could possibly be excluded from the ECL which would enable him to leave for Sharjah where his 95-year-old mother, Zarin Musharraf, is under treatment at the W.W. Wilson Hospital and is said to be in critical state.

Musharraf was told that the Sindh High Court and the Supreme Court may issue rulings in this regard, and that the government was also giving positive signals over his exit.Meanwhile, the Shuhada Foundation of Pakistan on Tuesday filed an application with the Interior Ministry pleading that the name of former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf should not be removed from the ECL to enable him to leave Pakistan.

Forex reserves cross $10 bn mark: Dar

ISLAMABAD: The foreign exchange reserves of the country have crossed the threshold of $10 billion on March 31 as the government has strengthened the foundation of the economy, said Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in an official statement on Tuesday.

The minister claimed that after repayment of the power sector circular debt of up to Rs500 billion in 45 days and strengthening of the value of the Pakistani rupee, the government had fulfilled its commitment.

The total liquid reserves stood at $10.072 billion, he said, adding the net reserves with the State Bank of Pakistan were $5.365 billion.He said a solid foundation for economic uplift of the country had been laid down and building of foreign exchange reserves will bring in stability and strength to the economy. He said that Pakistan had an encouraging macro-economic framework and this will lead to enhanced confidence in Pakistan by foreign investors, the international community and institutions in energy and infrastructure projects.

Treasury MNAs oppose lifting ban on YouTube

 

ISLAMABAD: The treasury members of the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday opposed a resolution demanding the lifting of the ban on YouTube while another resolution, seeking an improvement and regulation in the curriculum of religious seminaries, was passed in the House. Both resolutions were tabled by Pakistan People’s Party MNAs from the opposition.
MNA Shazia Marri submitted the resolution seeking to lift the imposed YouTube ban. She was of the view that YouTube was accessible through proxy websites and there was no point in maintaining the ban. The resolution was opposed by the treasury members of the House while NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq delayed the matter.

Syed Naveed Qamar said, “We have agreed with the government to modify the resolution and move it next week.”Shazia Marri said that around one billion people were using YouTube across the world and students were also using it for their research work.

Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid said that the issue of YouTube was in the high court and a decision would be taken after the verdict of the court.Dr Arif Alvi also supported the idea of lifting the ban on the website after taking protective measures to remove objectionable material from it.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf on Tuesday apprised the NA that the government had launched the “Madrassa Reforms Scheme” to provide modern education along with religious teachings in Madrassas across the country. He said the reforms had been brought after a consensus amongst religious scholars of different school of thoughts.

There are 8,000 Madrassas in the country registered under this reforms scheme in which scientific education was being provided to students keeping in view the need of the hour, he said.Dr Nafisa Shah had moved a resolution in the Lower House urging the government to take adequate steps for regulating and improving the Madrassa education system, which was not opposed by the treasury benches. She was of the view that this kind of initiative would assist in bringing peace in the country.

She said majority of the Madrassas were playing a constructive role but many were also engaged in promoting sectarianism and extremism.She added that science should also be taught as a subject in religious schools.

S A Iqbal Qadri pointed out that the motion could not be adopted before discussion on the floor in detail.Speaker of NA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that according to the rules of the House, it could be adopted and later it could be discussed from all aspects by the parliamentarians.

Opposition member from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Kishwar Zehra expressed dissatisfaction over the explanation given by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar over the grant of $1.5 bn by a ‘friendly’ country.Moreover, the Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed staged a walkout protesting the lack of quorum in the House.

Pakistan should stop power, gas theft: ADB

 

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has asked Pakistan to stop power and gas theft as an increase in their tariffs may increase inflation.
The Bank will provide Islamabad $3 billion over a three-year period, said its country director Werner E Liepach on Tuesday.“The ADB is going to disburse between $500 million and $600 million in the current fiscal year - before June 30. Further, we are expecting to provide between $900 million and $1 billion each year, over the next three years, in the shape of project aid and programme loans,” said Liepach, while addressing a news conference to launch the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) report for 2014.

According to the report, Pakistan’s economy is heading towards improvement and net international reserves held by the central bank will jump from $5 billion dollars to $9 billion within a few months. The ADB expects inflows from privatisation proceeds, foreign donors, the auction of 3G/4G licences as well as other measures.

Flanked by ADB’s economist Farzana Noshab, Liepach said that the bank had revised upward its GDP growth projection for Pakistan from 3 percent to 3.4 percent for 2013-14. This growth rate is marginally slower than the rate in FY13.

However, cautioned Liepach, inflation would rise to nine percent in FY14 as a consequence of the expected increase in the gas and electricity tariffs.“Things are improving,” he said, citing reasons for appreciating the government policies. “But Pakistan’s economy willhave to consolidate in 2014 and 2015 by pursuing reforms. And then the stage will be set for higher growth trajectory in the range of six to seven percent per annum in the subsequent years that can dent poverty and bring prosperity in the lives of the people of Pakistan.”

Liepach said macroeconomic and security challenges continue to weigh on the economy. Agriculture is expected to be weaker due to a drop in cotton output, which will partly offset the improvements in sugarcane and rice production. Ongoing rains, however, may benefit the upcoming wheat crop, despite a reduction in the sowing area this year.

However, the ABD believes that the pickup in large scale manufacturing, which grew by 6.7 percent during the first six months of FY14 (three times the rate during the same period a year earlier), may compensate for the weaknesses of the agriculture sector.

The report expects larger and more reliable power supply, partly due to better load management as well as the increasing use of alternative fuels. This, in turn, is expected to help revive the production of food, fertilisers, chemicals, electronics, and leather products, while petroleum refinery output will continue its robust growth.

Textiles are expected to stage a recovery from their weak growth trajectory due to the benefits of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus status granted by the European Union to Pakistan from January 2014.

According to the report, in the first eight months of FY14, inflation averaged 8.6 percent, reflecting the one-percent increase in the general sales tax rate to 17 percent, increases in power tariffs in August and October 2013 for commercial and bulk residential and industrial users, and significant currency depreciation against the major currencies.

Reflecting the shortages in the supply of perishable items and higher wheat prices, food inflation rose to 13 percent in November 2013 before receding to 7.2 percent in January 2014, making for an average of 9.3 percent over the eight-month period. Core inflation was relatively stable and averaged 8.4 percent during the period.

Further adjustments to electric and gas tariffs, as well as a levy to support gas infrastructure development, are expected to keep inflation high over the forecast period, said the report. Average consumer price inflation is projected at nine percent in FY14 and 9.2 percent in FY15.

The authors of the report believe that achieving fiscal sustainability will remain a major challenge for policymakers in Pakistan.The report said that the fiscal discipline had eroded in recent years with the persistent need to finance expanding energy sector subsidies, growing losses incurred by state-owned enterprises and high expenditures for security.

Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio stood at 8.5 percent in FY13, which is one of the lowest in the region and reflects structural and administrative issues, notes the report. As a result, spending for badly needed infrastructure has relied largely on foreign inflows.

Additional spending requirements have emanated from consecutive natural disasters in the past few years, as well as from the need to establish social safety nets, added the report.

Higher fiscal deficits and very limited foreign inflows during the past two years increased significantly short-term domestic borrowing, causing interest payments to balloon.Moreover, high government borrowing from commercial banks also contributes to low private sector credit.

The report noted that the domestic portion of public debt rose sharply for the second year in a row, from 38 percent of GDP at the end of FY12 to 41.5 percent in FY13, to finance high fiscal deficits.

Foreign debt fell by 4.6 percent of GDP in FY13, mainly as International Monetary Fund’s debt was repaid. Total public debt (including external liabilities) at the end of FY13 amounted to 63.3 percent of GDP, exceeding the legal limit of 60 percent set under the Fiscal Responsibility Debt Limitation Act of 2005.

The federal government is implementing its fiscal framework under the IMF’s 3-year programme.According to the ADB report, the implementation on fiscal framework in the aftermath of 18th constitutional amendment and NFC (National Finance Commission) Award is challenging.

Efforts would be required from federal and provincial governments alike, as some taxes (notably on agriculture) fall under provincial administration and reforms would help enhance their own revenues.

Currently, over 90 percent of provincial revenues are transfers of federal shared taxes. As provinces have assumed a greater share of federal resources and spending responsibilities through devolution, their fiscal performance has become even more important in relation to the national fiscal outcomes.

A mechanism to ensure provincial fiscal discipline is likely to be a crucial consideration in the upcoming discussions for the 2015 award, the report concluded.

Government to fulfil legal needs on Musharraf issue: PM

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that his government will fulfil all the legal and constitutional requirements on the Pervez Musharraf issue.
The prime minister said this while chairing an informal consultative meeting of senior PML-N leaders held here to discuss key issues.

Nawaz said the government will uphold the supremacy of the Constitution in all circumstances. He said the rule of law can ensure development of the country. He said there was an independent judiciary in the country and the government respects its every decision.

The prime minister said a way out would be found for peace in the country by continuing the dialogue process with the Taliban. He said preserving the national interest was the top priority of the government.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and other party leaders.

According to sources, the meeting reviewed the process of negotiations with the Taliban and former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s request for removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

Sources said most party members were against removing the former president’s name from the ECL. The party leaders believed that a decision to allow Musharraf to leave the country would have a negative impact.

Sources said the prime minister has decided to hold thorough consultations over the issue.It may be mentioned here that the three-member special court hearing the treason case against Musharraf rejected his application on Monday advising him to approach the federal government to seek the removal of his name from the ECL.

The court said it had no jurisdiction to bar Musharraf from leaving the country as he was not under arrest.Separately, a meeting headed by the prime minister discussed developments in the ongoing dialogue process with the Taliban. The leaders also discussed the future course of action in the meeting.

Agencies add: During the consultative meeting, some PML-N leaders suggested that the government should move towards resolving the Musharraf issue instead of further complicating it. Some leaders said if the government removed Musharraf’s name from the ECL it would cause huge damage to the credibility of the PML-N which had followed a hard line against military dictatorship.

Most of the party leaders were of the opinion that if the government allowed Musharraf to travel abroad, it would give the impression that it has entered into a deal with the former president on the pattern of the NRO and closed the matter of his trial for high treason. They said once out of the country, Musharraf would not return home.

Some key ministers, however, advised the prime minister that if a High Court or the Supreme Court grants permission to Musharraf to leave the country, the move should not be resisted. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with former president Asif Ali Zardari over the issue of Musharraf’s treason trial.Media reports quoting the PPP leader Farhatullah Babar said that during the conversation, the overall political situation in the country was also discussed.

UK submarine joins MH370 plane hunt

 

AP Royal New Zealand Air Force flight Sgt. Chris Poole on board a P-3 Orion, flicks switches on an instrument panel in the cockpit during an operation to find missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.

The prolonged search for the crashed airliner continued on Wednesday as a British nuclear submarine joined the multinational hunt in the Indian Ocean, ahead of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s visit to Perth, Australia.

Mr. Razak will visit the RAAF Pearce air base — the departure point for the seven-nation search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 that went mysteriously missing on March 8 after its take-off from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board.

According to media reports here, Britain’s Royal Navy submarine HMS Tireless arrived in the search area about 1,500 kilometres northwest of Perth this morning. The personal jet of Peter Jackson — Oscar-winning New Zealand movie director — is also being used in the hunt.

Up to 10 planes and nine ships will assist in Wednesday’s search for the Boeing 777-200, a new Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre (JACC) here managing the search said in a statement.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has determined a search area of about 2,21,000 square kilometres, 1,504 kilometres northwest of Perth.

Nine military planes will assist in the search, while one civil jet will provide a communications relay. The first aircraft departed for the search area at 6am local time.

Nine ships have been tasked for the search that entered its 25th day on Wednesday.

The weather forecast for today’s search is for marginal conditions, with areas of broken cloud, sea fog and isolated thunderstorms, reducing visibility, the statement said.

Retired Australian Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, heading the JACC, yesterday said it was the most challenging search and rescue operation he had ever seen and warned efforts to trace the wreckage could take time.

He said the task was “very complex”, “very demanding” because the teams had no hard information to work from.