Army chief desires transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan: Bilawal

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Wednesday that army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa desired free and transparent polls in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The PPP leader revealed this during a news conference, where he spoke about the recent meeting between the military and political leadership to discuss administrative matters pertaining to Gilgit-Baltistan.

Bilawal came down hard on "some irresponsible people" who were part of the meeting, for discussing sensitive matters relating to national security issues and foreign policy issues on TV.

"Whoever's spokesperson these people are, that person should tell them to be quiet at once," said the PPP chairman. "And refrain from issuing any irresponsible statements."

Bilawal said that it was necessary for political parties to attend meetings on national security matters. He criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for "failing to engage the opposition" on such important issues pertaining to national security.

"This prime minister, since day one, has completely failed when it comes to national security issues, including those of Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir," he said, accusing the prime minister of not being mature enough to set aside his ego to talk to the opposition.

"Due to this, national security meetings are being held without the prime minister, which should not have happened," said Bilawal, adding that this was a "failing of the government. "It is the responsibility of the prime minister, considering the chair that he occupies, to talk to the opposition."

He called on PM Imran to resign and hand over the job of leading the country to a prime minister "who takes his responsibilities seriously and doesn't think about his personal politics on every other matter".

Speaking about the national security meeting between the civil and military leadership, Bilawal regretted that there was no representative of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in the meeting. He said that transparent elections were the need of the hour for the area.

"There is no bigger threat to national security than elections that are not free and transparent," he said.

Terming it as a "welcome development", Bilawal said that army chief Gen Bajwa is also in favour of free and transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

"Even if we have differences over the past elections, I got an impression in this meeting that going forward from here, our army chief wants that future elections do not become controversial," he said, calling on political parties to carry out reforms through which holding transparent polls was possible.

In response to a question, the PPP chairman ruled out any discussion between the army leadership and the country's political leadership on any amendments or laws.

"The reason for the army chief to engage with the political leadership of the country was to discuss the overall situation, the overall environment of that region [Gilgit-Baltistan]," said Bilawal. "Would have been better if Prime Minister Imran Khan would have been there.

Answering another question, Bilawal said that the party did not agree with the military leadership on elections 2018 but going forward, expected that transparent elections will be held.

"Gilgit-Baltistan [election] is an opportunity after which if all political parties conduct electoral reforms in parliament and if we contest next elections on these reforms, I think this issue will be solved," he said.

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Active COVID-19 cases spike again in Balochistan

Spike in positive cases of coronavirus in Balochistan, in the last month, has set alarm bells ringing in the province.

From August 25 to date, over 1,000 people have been infected with the deadly COVID-19, bringing the total tally in the province to 14,607 on September 23 and the death count to 145.

Separately, close to two dozen education institutions in the province have reported outbreaks so far since September 15, when Pakistan decided to reopen some schools and colleges.

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, Balochistan’s capital city, Quetta, reported a positivity rate of 9.4% on September 20, which was higher than any major city or district in the country. The WHO recommends a positive rate of below 5% for two weeks before governments can consider lifting restrictions.

In order to stem the rise in cases, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan has directed health authorities to submit recommendations to him this week, including whether another smart lockdown needs to be imposed in the province.

“We are monitoring the situation very carefully,” Liaquat Shahwani, the spokesperson of the provincial government said, “We have to protect our children from coronavirus at all costs.”

Another health official, who asked not to be named, said the surge in cases is due to people neglecting government-mandated health guidelines. “If we are not careful, we could be headed for another lockdown,” he added.

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Exporters forced to cut production amid gas shortages

As textile exporters continue to face gas shortages, Sindh Government Spokesperson and Adviser to Chief Minister Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Tuesday urged the federal government to immediately resolve gas shortage issues being faced by Karachi-based industrialists.

Addressing Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) members on Tuesday, he said that Sindh has first right on the gas which is discovered from the province but the federation has deprived the city and province of this right.

He said that industry is our top priority and Sindh government is ready to provide any assistance to resolve their issues. Wahab claimed that the federal government only provided Rs350 billion for Karachi Transformation package, which doesn’t match PTI representation from Karachi.

He announced that a successful pilot project of palm oil plantation has started and production of oil on trial basis would begin soon. Meanwhile, he said the Malir Expressway would be inaugurated next month whereas a 30 MDG water line for Karachi south would also be established soon.

He also agreed to legislate for combine affluent plant for Karachi Industrial Area. Kati President Sheikh Umer Rehan informed Wahab that the industrial production is facing a setback due to interruption in gas supply which could prove disastrous for country’s economy.

Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association Chief Coordinator and Former Central Chairman Muhammad Jawed Bilwani said textile related units have been facing low gas pressure for the last 22 days as industries were producing 60 per cent less goods which would lead to decline in exports in September.

He claimed that Karachi-based exporters are not taking new export orders due to gas crisis.

Owing to low gas pressure, generators producing electricity are shutting down causing faults in machinery, electronic equipment and machinery programs are getting damaged due to power fluctuation and labor is sitting idle, he lamented.

He urged the federal government to issue orders to the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd for supplying uninterrupted gas supply to the textile export industries for meeting their timely export shipment schedule.

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Djokovic back on track with fifth Rome title

Novak Djokovic picked up where he left off before his US Open default two weeks ago, winning a fifth Italian Open title on Monday, days before the start of Roland Garros.

The world number one lifted a record 36th Masters crown, one more than great rival Rafael Nadal, after beating Diego Schwartzman 7-5, 6-3 in the final at the Foro Italico in Rome.

“Turning to Paris, I couldn’t ask for a better tournament here in Rome. Another big title and I’m super pleased,” said Djokovic. “I don’t think I played my best tennis throughout the entire week, but I think I found my best tennis when I needed it in the decisive moments.”

Djokovic extended his record to 31 wins from 32 matches this year, with his only loss the US Open disqualification for accidently hitting a line judge with a ball.

Schwartzman had shocked nine-time tournament winner Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.

But he ran out of steam in a final played under light drizzle, having also spent more than three hours on the court in Sunday’s semi-finals.

Despite a great start, with two breaks to lead 3-0, Schwartzman could not keep the momentum going against the 17-time Grand Slam winner, who notched up his fifth win over the Argentinian.

For Djokovic it was a fifth victory in 10 finals in Rome, but the first since 2015, having finished runner-up three times since including last year to Nadal. “It’s been a good week, even if I haven’t played my best tennis. I’m satisfied,” said Djokovic.

Top women’s seed Simona Halep lifted her first trophy in Rome, a confidence booster ahead of the French Open, after defending champion Karolina Pliskova retired injured while trailing 6-0, 2-1 in the final.

World number two Halep was competing in her third Rome WTA final, having finished runner-up in 2017 and 2018.

Halep said she was approaching Roland Garros “without pressure, smiling,” despite the 2018 winner now being among the favourites.

“It’s just another tournament. I’m not going to put pressure on myself,” the Wimbledon champion insi­sted. “I played really well this year. I have three titles already. I played so much on clay. I feel confident.

“I just try to be happy, to take the positives from this tournament, and to go there smiling.”

Pliskova’s title defence was hampered due to pain in her left thigh.

“It was growing worse and worse with every day,” she said. “This morning I even wondered if I was going to play, but you still want to try,” said the Czech, who “hopes” to recover in time for Roland Garros.

Swept aside 6-0 in the first set, she seemed to recover in the second and had just won her first game when she headed for Halep to call time on her match.

For Halep it was a third tournament win this year after Dubai in February and Prague last month, to extend her winning streak to 14 consecutive matches.

The 28-year-old Romanian did not compete in the US Open because of coronavirus fears, but said she had felt safe in the Italian capital.

“I want to thank everyone because the tournament went well, and in these conditions it’s not easy,” she said.

“We felt really safe and really good on and off the courts, even though we stayed often in our hotel rooms. We accepted it, because we like to play tournaments.”

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Zimbabwe to tour Pakistan next month for ODI, T20 series

Zimbabwe Cricket have received government permission for a six-match limited overs tour of Pakistan in October-November, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The teams will play three One-Day Internationals between October 30 and November 3, and another three Twenty20 International fixtures that have been pencilled in for Nov 7-10.

The ODI series will be part of the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.

It is also a further boost for Pakistan cricket, who recently welcomed back visitors after Sri Lanka and Bangladesh toured the country last December and January.

According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the 50-over matches will be played in Multan, while Rawalpindi will host the three T20Is. The matches will be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced the Super League to "provide context to ODI cricket" and will serve as a qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with the top seven sides automatically booking their berth in the India event. Featuring 13 teams, the 12 Test playing countries and the Netherlands, the Super League will see each side play four home and four away three-match series, the PCB said.

PCB's Director (International Cricket) Zakir Khan said the confirmation of the series schedule against Zimbabwe "after having successfully hosted Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as Marylebone Cricket Club and HBL Pakistan Super League V, in the 2019-20 season not only strengthens Pakistan’s reputation as a safe and secure country but also a healthy one after having successfully overcome the Covid-19 pandemic".

“This series is critical to Pakistan as it aspires to qualify directly for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and, as such, every point in the Super League will count," he was quoted as saying.

Khan said the Zimbabwe matches had been strategically scheduled in Multan and Rawalpindi, the venues that will host the National T20 Cup from September 30 to October 18.

"By the time Zimbabwe arrives, we would have gained enough experience on bio-securing hotels, player transportation, the venues and the players’ dressing rooms," he said, adding that the series will be held under "strict Covid-19 protocols" to ensure the health and safety of all participants.

Zimbabwe's 32-member squad will undergo two Covid-19 tests within a space of 48 hours prior to their departure in Harare, while the second tests will be conducted as soon as they land in Islamabad.

Players and support staff testing negative in Islamabad will be eligible to resume training at a venue, which the PCB said it will confirm "in due course".

According to the handout, players and support personnel testing positive for the virus during the tour will have to observe a five-day self-isolation and will only be allowed to re-integrate with the side after two negative tests.

Series schedule

Oct 20 – Zimbabwe arrival in Islamabad
Oct 30 – 1st ODI, Multan
Nov 1– 2nd ODI, Multan
Nov 3 – 3rd ODI, Multan
Nov 7 – 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
Nov 8 – 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi
Nov 10 – 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi

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AC rejects Zardari's pleas for dismissal of 3 corruption references

An accountability court in Islamabad on Wednesday ruled that Asif Ali Zardari be indicted in three corruption references against him while dismissing the former president's pleas against the cases.

The court had reserved its decision on September 17. According to the verdict, announced by Judge Azam Khan, Zardari cannot be acquitted in references pertaining to fake bank accounts.

The accountability court also summoned all the suspects, including Zardari, on September 28.

The former president had urged the court to dismiss corruption references pertaining to money laundering, Park Lane and Thatta water supply.
Zardari is facing multiple corruption cases that have stemmed from a mega money laundering scandal, which came into the limelight in 2018. The former president, his sibling Faryal Talpur and several of their business associates are being probed as part of a 2015 case regarding fake accounts and fictitious transactions —which were initially found to have totalled Rs35 billion — conducted through 29 ‘benami’ accounts in Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and UBL.

Zardari is accused of being involved “in extending loan and its misappropriation by M/s Parthenon Private Limited, M/s Park Lane Estate Private Limited and others”. His lawyer, however, has argued that the PPP co-chairperson had been a director of M/s Park Lane, but he resigned from the company in 2008 before assuming the office of the president of Pakistan.

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No representative of Nawaz Sharif met COAS, claims Maryam

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz has said that no any representative of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif met the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

She was referring to the meeting of the parliamentary leaders with the military leadership last week.

In an informal media talk, Maryam Nawaz said that her ailing father cannot be operated until coronavirus pandemic ends.

She added that the immune system of the former prime minister is weak and he is being treated through medicines currently.

It is pertinent to be noted here that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif and former foreign minister Khawaja Asif were in attendance in a meeting of parliamentary leaders who met the COAS.

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