NEW DELHI: India's home minister will travel to Pakistan next week for a one-day regional meeting, New Delhi said on Thursday, as tensions flare between the nuclear-armed rivals over unrest in disputed Kashmir.

Rajnath Singh will attend a meeting of home ministers from countries belonging to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Islamabad but will not hold a one-on-one with his Pakistani counterpart, the Indian foreign ministry said.

It comes days after India lashed out at Pakistan, accusing its neighbour of fanning violent protests in Indian-administered Kashmir that have claimed more than 50 lives this month.

“There is no such proposal (for a bilateral meeting),” foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi.

“We want a peaceful, cooperative relation with Pakistan. We are prepared to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan but in an atmosphere free of terror and violence,” he said, without specifying which issues would be raised in the August 4 meeting.

The SAARC group includes India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

In a surprise move last December, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif with a view to restarting a stalled dialogue.

But planned peace talks were postponed after seven Indian soldiers died when an air base came under attack in January, which New Delhi blamed on a banned Pakistan-based group.

Indian-administered Kashmir has seen massive protests since the killing on July 8 of popular young rebel leader Burhan Wani in a gunfight with soldiers.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the rivals won independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said agreement of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is confidential and cannot be made public.

“Agreement of the economic corridor with China is sensitive and it cannot be disclosed,” Iqbal said in the Senate session.

However, the minister handed over a sealed copy of the CPEC agreement to Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani and asked the members to examine the agreement in the chamber of the chairman if they wished to do so.

Earlier Chairman Senate Rabbani, on the request of members of the Senate on Wednesday, directed the federal government to present the agreement of CPEC before the Senate, as some senators were of the view that the government is providing advantages of CPEC agreement only to Punjab.

Ahsan Iqbal said the CPEC agreement will be a game changer in the region and entire world is focusing on it.

“At the present, it will be inappropriate to make the document public.”

He added that there are several agreements with China under the umbrella of CPEC and work is under process on these agreements.

CPEC strategic game-changer

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, in his address commemorating the 89th Anniversary of the Founding of People’s Liberation Army, termed the CPEC as “strategic game-changer for entire region”.

“Let me emphasise that CPEC is a strategic game-changer not just for Pakistan but for the entire region. It is destined to bring significant improvement in the lives of millions of people, besides further promoting mutual interdependence among regional states,” General Raheel said.

The army chief said “affinity of views between China and Pakistan” reflected their common vision and shared destiny. “This convergence of our interests and commonality of purpose make us the most important strategic players in the region,” he added.

General Raheel maintained that the CPEC was Pakistan’s “national undertaking” and assured its full security. “I assure you that we will not leave any stone unturned to ensure its timely completion and uninterrupted success,” he asserted.

CPEC: background

The CPEC is a 3,000-kilometer network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas from Gwadar Port to Kashgar city, northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, China Daily reports.

Proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Pakistan in May 2013, the CPEC will act as a bridge for the new Maritime Silk Route that envisages linking three billion people in Asia, Africa and Europe.

An official agreement on the corridor was signed between the two countries in May this year during President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Pakistan.

A flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative as well, the CPEC intends to revive the ancient Silk Road with a focus on infrastructure, and constitutes the strategic framework of bilateral cooperation.

The project links China's strategy to develop its western region with Pakistan's focus on boosting its economy, including the infrastructure construction of Gwadar Port, together with some energy cooperation and investment programs.

It also involves road and railway construction including an upgrade of the 1,300-km Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world which connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountains.

The CPEC will reduce China's routes of oil and gas imports from Africa and the Middle East by thousands of kilometers, making Gwadar a potentially vital link in China's supply chain.

PESHAWAR: Pakistan on Thursday named the newly constructed gate at Torkham, the historic trade route and border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, as Bab-i-Pakistan.

With the gate completed, flag hoisting ceremony on the Pakistani side has commenced.

The flag is hoisted at 6am, signaling the opening of the gate, and is lowered at 7pm, with the border crossing closed for the day. The flag ceremony mirrors the one conducted daily at Wagah border crossing.

It was deliberated earlier that the under construction gate be called Major Ali Jawad Changezi gate, after the army major lost his life in skirmishes against Afghan security forces.

The crossing terminal has now been named Shaheed Major Ali Jawad Changezi terminal. The name for the gate and the crossing terminal was decided in a high level security meeting, said sources.

Clashes between Pakis­tani and Afghan security forces over the construction of the border gate last month left four soldiers dead on both sides, including Frontier Corp’s Major Ali Jawad Changezi.

The clashes kept Torkham, one of the busiest crossing points between the two countries and used by 15,000 to 20,000 people and hundreds of vehicles daily, closed for six days.

The newly constructed Bab-i-Pakistan gate at Torkham. -Photo by author.

Work on the construction of the gate and allied facilities began in 2014, but Afghan reservations over border regulation kept causing delays.

At least 10 border flag meetings have been held between local commanders since 2015 for resolving the matter, in addition to several other interactions at higher level.

The Afghan government has traditionally opposed Pakistani moves to regulate the border.

Pakistani authorities, meanwhile, insist that border regulation is crucial for curbing cross-border terrorist movement in both ways.

Under the new border management system, only people with valid travel documents will be allowed to cross the border.

Pakistan plans to have similar border control measures at all six major crossing points between the two countries that share a 2,600km-long porous border.

Additionally, there are about 200 crossing routes which are not frequently used because of difficult terrain and absence of roads. At least 88 of them are accessible only through jeeps.

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale on Thursday said "United States vigorously supports Pakistan's flourishing democracy".

Talking about comments made by Senator John McCain regarding extension in the tenure of Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, Hale said these kinds of questions are for Pakistan to answer and these are not the issues on which US will ever take a position.

"Frankly, I am impressed by how lively politics are in Pakistan. We have seen a peaceful transition from one elected government to another elected government," Hale said in an interview with Geo News.

Mansour was 'a hurdle in peace'

When asked about Taliban chief Mullah Mansour's death in a drone strike in Balochistan on May 21, Hale said that one must not forget "who was killed".

"The man had killed a number of civilians and US troops in Afghanistan, he also opposed dialogues and thus was a hurdle in peace dialogue," the US envoy added. "He was against negotiations, so we did what was needed to be done."

Afghan Taliban 'not interested' in peace talks

Hale lauded Pakistan's efforts in bringing Afghan Taliban on talk's table and the initiation of quadrilateral peace process in the last Heart Of Asia Conference, but claimed that Taliban are not interested in peace talks

"Twice they publicly rejected Pakistan's sincere calls to join peace talks. They have chosen the path of continued violence," Hale said, adding that we (US and Pakistan) need to find a way to Taliban's approach.

The US ambassador maintained that Afghan Taliban must renounce violence and enter political process.

Action against Haqqani network in 'Pakistan's interest'

Rejecting all possibilities of reconciliation with the Haqqani network, Hale opined that taking action against Haqqani network is in Pakistan's own interest.

Reminding Pakistan about COAS General Raheel Sharif's July 6 statement, he maintained that it is in Pakistan's own interest to take action against such groups.

"Haqqani network and other groups have demonstrated through their deeds that engagement isn't going to get the results," said Hale.

Pakistan have a theoretical chance of emerging as the top-ranked Test side during the ongoing summer tour of England – with a little help from Australia, and ironically, arch-rivals India.

Currently ranked third on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) rankings for the top 10 Test sides – one notch behind India – Pakistan last held the top slot for only a brief period 28 years ago.

For them to be the best again, merely beating England in England is not going to be enough to dislodge Australia from the pinnacle, where Steven Smith’s men have been roosting for the past four months.

A lot also depends on variables in distant Sri Lanka, where Australia are currently playing the first of a three-Test series.

Read: Pakistan will bounce back, says Inzamam

Pakistan cannot hope to become the number-one side – even if they defeat England – unless the mighty Australians register a series loss to a relatively weaker Sri Lankan squad.

The scenario

At the moment, the four top sides are simultaneously jostling for the number-one slot: Australia (with a rating of 116), will want to retain their spot, while India (112), Pakistan (111) and England (108), will try to wrest it from them.

(After every Test series, the two competing teams receive a certain number of points based on a mathematical formula. The rating is the nearest whole number arrived at after a team’s points have been divided by its match/series total).

Australia are numero uno by a long shot, and a series win over Sri Lanka will help them maintain the status quo, irrespective of what plays out in the England-Pakistan series, or the India and West Indies, currently underway.

They will have to win 2-0 or better against seventh-ranked Sri Lanka to ensure it does not go below its current 118 points. A 1-0 result in Sri Lanka’s favour will see Steve Smith’s side slip to 111 points.

India at the second spot with 2,238 points – 1,527 behind Australia – are in a position similar to that of Pakistan: the top slot depends on extraneous factors as much as their own performance.

To regain the number-one Test side status that they ceded to Australia this February, India must not only whitewash West Indies, but also hope for Australia to lose to Sri Lanka, and the England-Pakistan series to end in a draw.

Read: It is England’s method versus Pakistan’s madness now

A 3-0 margin or better will help it stay at 112, and even a 3-1 or 2-1 will see it slip to 110 points.

On the other hand, a 1-3 loss by India will see them dropping below the 100-point mark.

Breathing down their backs are the Pakistanis with 2,227 points, who would want to wrap up the next two Tests, having won the first and lost the second.

And if they do manage do that and the Australia lose to Sri Lanka, the outcome of the West Indies-India series will have no bearing; Pakistan will reach the number-one slot.

This, because West Indies are placed four spots below England, and a series win over them by the second-ranked India will bring less bonus points than a series win by the third-ranked Pakistan over England.

This difference becomes crucial as only 11 points separate India and Pakistan now.

Meanwhile, England are fourth on the rankings – with 3,872 points, but from 16 more matches than either Pakistan or India, and four more than Australia.

Their chance of claiming the top spot is slightly tougher than Pakistan’s. Like Misbah’s team, they not only have to win the next two games and hope for an Australian debacle, but they also need West Indies to beat a much stronger Indian side at least once.

The ranking story

The current Test ranking – notionally called the ICC Test Championship – is calculated on the performances of the top 10 Test playing teams including Bangladesh and Zimbabwe since 2003.

In the 157 months since then, three teams have primarily held sway: Australia, (number one in three stretches totalling 81 months or over 51 percent of the time), South Africa (thrice, totalling 42 months) and India (twice, totalling 21 months).

Read: Cold weather and England set to come down hard on Pakistan

England also featured once – for an even 12 months from August 2011 to August 2012.

The Pakistanis have never been the number-one Test team under the active ranking system effective since 2003.

However, they did feature as a top team about three decades ago. It was only once, and that too for only two months in the pre-ranking period of Test teams.

The ICC recently applied its current rating system to results going back to 1952, prior to which the data available is deemed insufficient for calculation purposes due to the infrequency of matches and the small number of competing teams.

In the 1952-2003 period, Pakistan was retrospectively rated the top side during August-September 1988.

Interestingly, even in this 51-year period, the Indians enjoy a better record, having being adjudged top side over three time spans totalling 24 months: April 1973-June 1974 (15 months), September 1980-February 1981 (six months), and September 1995-November 1995 (three months).

There is always scope for redemption, but it is up to Misbah-ul-Haq’s team to rewrite their ranking.

The question is: will they take up the challenge?

A section of the Indian media has faced criticism by fellow journalists for speaking against the human rights abuses carried out by Indian security forces in India-held Kashmir, however, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed praised the Indian journalists for supporting Kashmiri people.

India's senior journalist and consulting editor with NDTV, Barkha Dutt, spoke against the state's atrocities in held Kashmir following which she was met with criticism by Times Now President and Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.

Goswami criticised the section of "pseudo-liberals" in his programme, without naming any, for "compromising national security" and "supporting Pakistan".

"How long will we be silent against these elements?" he thundered. "Do these people compromise our national security or not? Your and my security. And if they do, which we know they do, why do you think we let them get away, why don't we take on these people?"

Saeed, however, lauded Dutt for her stance on the recent wave of violence in Kashmir that has claimed at least 60 innocent lives.

Talking to a private TV channel, Saeed said: "India accuses me of wrongdoings to cover for its terrorist activities when I talk about Kashmir. But, there are good people like Barkha Dutt."

However, Dutt took to the popular social media site — Twitter — to criticise Saeed.

In his Tuesday night's programme, Goswami hinted towards Dutt and demanded trial against "certain sections of Indian media".

"I agree bring them to trial," he said. "I say not bringing them to trial compromises my country further, and I don't care if some of these people are in the media. Bring them to trial too."

This time Dutt took to Facebook, which has been under severe criticism for blocking accounts of the people coming out in support of Burhan Wani, to respond to Goswami.

These events underscore a clear hostility among the Indian media on the recent wave of violent government crack down in the held Kashmir.

CILACAP: The execution of Zulfiqar Ali, a Pakistani national who was on death row in Indonesia, has been halted, on early Friday.

He was convicted of drug-related charges in a controversial trial.

However Indonesian authorities executed one local and three Nigerian drug convicts by firing squad, an official said. They were put to death shortly after midnight, Noor Rachmad, deputy attorney general for general crimes, told reporters.

He did not say why 10 other drug convicts, who had been expected to face the firing squad, were not executed.

Indonesian television networks say the government has carried out executions of people convicted of drug crimes.

Three networks said Friday the executions occurred out at the Nusa Kambangan prison island.

Indonesia's attorney-general had stated earlier this week that 14 people, mostly foreigners, would be executed.

Relatives, rights groups and foreign governments had urged Indonesia to spare the lives of the 14.

It is the third set of executions under President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo who was elected in 2014 and campaigned on promises to improve human rights in Indonesia.

Earlier, the family of Ali had carried out a protest in Lahore on Wednesday against his imminent execution.

Pakistan had been angered about the planned execution of Ali — whom rights groups claim was beaten into confessing — and summoned Indonesia's ambassador in Islamabad this week to convey their concerns.

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission on Thursday notified unopposed election of three candidates against one each seat reserved for technocrats, religious scholars and overseas Kashmiris, after withdrawal of papers by other nominees.

Abdul Rashid Turabi and Dr Mushtaq Ahmed of the AJK Jamaat-i-Islami and Abdul Khaliq Wasi of the PML-N had submitted nominations against the seat of technocrats, and Zubair Khan and Raja Javed Iqbal of the PML-N had submitted nominations against the seat of overseas Kashmiris. Mr Turabi had also submitted nominations against the seat of religious scholars along with Pir Ali Raza Bukhari of the PML-N.

On Thursday, Mr Turabi withdrew from the seat of religious scholars, Mr Ahmed and Mr Wasi withdrew from the seat of technocrats and Mr Khan withdrew from the seat of overseas Kashmiris, paving the way for unopposed election of Mr Turabi, Mr Bukhari and Mr Iqbal against the seats of technocrats, religious scholars and overseas Kashmiris, respectively.

The JI is an ally of the PML-N, though none of its members clinched any direct seat in general elections.

On Friday, election against the five seats reserved for women would be held by means of single non-transferable vote.

At the moment, eight candidates are in the fray.

They include Sehrish Qamar, Faiza Imtiaz, Nasima Wani and Shahnaz Zeb of the PML-N, Riffat Aziz of the JI, Nabila Irshad of the Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party (JKPP), Shazia Akbar of the PPP and Mehrun Nisa of the Muslim Conference (MC).

Like JI, the JKPP is also an ally of the PML-N and its one member has clinched a direct seat in general elections.

The PTI, which has entered into an alliance with the MC, has not fielded any candidate.

The MC and PTI have three and two seats, respectively, while the PPP has three seats.

Analysts say that if the opposition parties do not unite and field a joint candidate, the PML-N can clinch all five seats on Friday.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

ISLAMABAD: In what was seen as a landmark development in the country’s parliamentary history and the first step towards meaningful empowerment of the upper house of parliament, the government announced its decision on Thursday to give representation to the Senate in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The announcement, which surprised senators who have witnessed resistance to the idea from the lower house in the past, was made by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in a policy statement during the Senate proceedings.

Under the decision, six senators — three each from opposition and treasury benches — will be included in the PAC to transform it into a joint parliamentary committee. The committee will soon have one senator from each province, Islamabad Capital Territory and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Move hailed as landmark development amid calls for further empowerment of the house

Minutes after the announcement, the Senate adopted an amendment to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Senate 2012 to create room for senators becoming part of the PAC. The motion seeking the amendment to the rules was moved by Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq.

Mr Dar said the National Assembly would adopt a corresponding amendment to its rules when it would meet on Aug 1. The process will be completed in the next session of the Senate, which is to be prorogued sine die on Friday (today).

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said it would not have been possible without the minister and talked about his backdoor meetings with him in this regard.

Mr Dar described it as a difficult task and said, “Across the board, nobody was ready to listen to and entertain the idea.”

He said he had held backchannel meetings with the parliamentary leaders to convince them that the system could not afford to have two separate PACs of the two houses of parliament.

It is rare to see the opposition praising the government, but the entire house was all praise for Mr Dar to acknowledge his pivotal role in the major step in parliamentary history.

The Senate chairman suggested that an amendment be passed in the National Assembly for inclusion of senators in the Kashmir committee.

He also proposed revival of the parliamentary committee on national security and constitution of a joint parliamentary committee on law.

The National Assembly secretariat had earlier ‘regretted’ the proposal for inclusion of senators in the PAC, prompting many members of the upper house to insist that the Senate should have its own public accounts committee. On July 18, the business advisory committee of the Senate had approved a draft amendment to the constitution of a separate PAC, but it was decided that the government should be given two weeks to resolve the issue.

Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said it was for the first time in parliamentary history that a house of parliament had agreed to share its powers with the other. “Today we have strengthened parliament and parliamentary democracy.”

Usman Kakar expressed the hope that steps would be taken to give more powers to the Senate, including financial autonomy and the right to move a no-trust motion (against the prime minister).

Azam Swati termed the move a major milestone in parliamentary history. Sherry Rehman said she looked forward to the Senate having a role in the passing of budget. Saeed Ghani said the move would enhance the importance of the PAC.

Rehman Malik said the prime minister should not be chosen only from among members of the National Assembly and the scope of the relevant law should be enlarged to include the Senate in the process.

Raza Rabbani said it was a day of victory of constitutionalism and federalism.

CPEC agreement

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal handed over a copy of the memorandum of understanding signed with China on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to the Senate chairman. But he said it was a bilateral document and its wider circulation should be avoided.

Mr Rabbani told the senators that they could examine the document in his chamber.

Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister for National Health Services and Regulation, responding to a calling attention notice, said there was no shortage of TB drugs in the country as they were available at 5,000 public health facilities across the country free of cost.

Law Minister Zahid Hamid, who also holds additional charge of the ministry of climate change, told the house that the draft of the Pakistan Climate Change Bill had been prepared and sent to the provincial chief ministers for their input.

The proposed law envisaged creation of a climate change authority to implement adaptation and mitigation projects, he said. A climate change fund is also being created.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

LAHORE: Pakistan and India agreed on Thursday to encourage local commanders of their border security forces to resolve minor issues related to border management in their frequent flag meetings.

The agreement came at the conclusion of a biannual meeting of the border guarding forces of the two countries here on Thursday. The Pakistani delegation was led by Punjab Rangers Director General Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki and the Indian team by Border Security Force Director General K.K. Sharma.

Matters pertaining to border management, indiscriminate cross-border firing, smuggling and unintentional border crossing by people of both sides were discussed in the meeting.

It expanded upon the issue of expediting repatriation of those who cross the border inadvertently and agreed to ensure their safe return.

Capitalising on the decreasing trend of ceasefire violations along the working boundary, the two sides showed willingness to enhance contact at different levels to minimise the chances of misunderstanding.

Issues relating to defence construction close to the working boundary and the international border were also discussed to find out amicable solutions and address mutual concerns.

The two sides resolved to continue sharing information on cross-border smuggling of narcotics and contraband and decided to take appropriate measures to bring the illegal activity to an end.

They pledged to continue endeavours to reduce friction and create an environment for betterment and prosperity of the people of the two countries.

The next meeting will be held in the first quarter of 2017 in India.

Representatives of the interior ministry, Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, Anti-Narcotics Force and Survey of Pakistan also attend the meeting.

According to a spokesman for Rangers, the talks are a regular feature and are held alternately in Pakistan and India.

“The dialogue process provides an opportunity to discuss and resolve border management issues at bilateral level and strengthens confidence between the two border guarding forces,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to find the elements behind an anti-judiciary campaign and work out a mechanism to prevent such a vilification campaign on social and electronic media.

A four-judge bench headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim expressed concern over the lack of the mechanism and law to prevent campaigns aimed at maligning the judiciary, which enjoys constitutional protection from being discussed even in parliament or at public forums.

During a previous hearing, the court had taken notice of the vilification campaign through social and electronic media against judges of the superior judiciary and directed the chairmen of the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority as well as the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency to turn up along with their statements as to what action had been initiated against the perpetrators of such a campaign on social and electronic media.

When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, the PTA and Pemra chairmen submitted reports with regard to actions initiated against those running a campaign against the judiciary on the social medial as well as on the electronic media.

Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali informed the bench that the issue regarding the jurisdiction of the PTA and the Federal Investigation Agency in cybercrime had been looked into by the Senate’s committee a couple of days ago, adding that legislation on the issue was in progress.

PTA Chairman Syed Ismail Shah said that they were going to introduce a cell which would actively search scandalous content related to the judiciary and report it to the FIA.

He disclosed that at present there was no mechanism to effectively check the sources from where such defamatory campaigns originated.

The chairman further stated that at present there was no law in force regarding cybercrime.

Mr Shah said they had already reported the issue of vilification campaign against judges of the superior court to the FIA, which has taken cognizance of the matter.

Pemra Chairman Absar Alam said that a number of cases in which the regulatory body had taken action were pending adjudication in high courts. He assured the bench that a list of such cases would be provided to the court during the next hearing.

The bench members observed that they could not pass orders without scanning the record pertaining to the aforesaid proceedings.

The bench asked Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed to assist it in the proceedings as an amicus curiae (friend of court) on the issue and adjourned the hearing till Aug 11.

Earlier in the day, Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali distanced himself from a five-judge bench which was constituted to hear the case regarding ongoing campaign on the social media maligning the superior judiciary and its judges.

CJP Jamali declined to proceed with the case since he was among the superior judiciary judges being targeted during the ongoing campaign. Later, a four-judge bench was constituted to hear the case.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

ISLAMABAD: The deadlock between the real estate sector and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over the current value of properties in the three main cities of the country persisted on Thursday.

However, the FBR has agreed to market rates provided by realtors.

The government team, led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Revenue Haroon Akhtar, held a meeting with realtors’ representatives to discuss the list of current property prices in 18 cities of the country.

“There is no issue with current market rates in most cities in the list. But property prices in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad do not match the market survey conducted by the FBR,” Mr Akhtar said.

He added that a six-member subcommittee, consisting of real estate agents — one each from Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Islam­abad and two from Karachi — were scheduled to meet the FBR officials to compare the rates determined by the FBR and those provided by them.

Another meeting of the 13-member committee of the real estate sector is scheduled to be held on Friday (today) to further discuss the matter. A finance ministry official said that it is likely that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would be attending the meeting too.

“The meeting is scheduled after Friday prayers and will give representatives from the real estate sector and the FBR an opportunity to chalk out a middle ground, agreeable to all sides,” the official added.

The 13-member committee is led by Federation Of Pakistan Chambers Of Commerce & Industry President Rauf Alam and includes the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), the premier body of property developers and real estate agents.

“Our main concern is that if there is instability in the real estate market, the sale and purchase of properties will suffer, which will eventually lead to a loss of business for the builders and developers,” said ABAD Senior Vice Chairman Arif Jeewa.

“But we do not want to deprive the government of the due taxes, so this matter should be resolved at the earliest,” he added.

A realtor told Dawn that after property rates were settled, they would take up matters related to the rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Withholding Tax on the sale and purchase of property.

Though the government had increased tax rates on the sale and purchase of land and other properties in the federal budget 2016-17, but issues arose when a decision was made to appoint ‘valuators’ to determine the current market prices of the properties under consideration.

The government increased the rate of CGT to 10 per cent in the budget for 2016-17 on disposal of immovable property if it was being sold within five years of acquisition. Earlier, it was a two-year period and the tax rate was between two to five per cent, whereas if the buyer held the property for more than five years, it would be exempt from CGT.

In the Finance Bill 2016, withholding tax on the purchase and sale of immovable properties for tax filers and non-filers was also increased.

For the sale of property, the rate has been increased from 0.5 per cent to one per cent for filers and from 1 per cent to 2 per cent for non-filers.

In the case of purchase of property, an increase from 1 per cent to 2 per cent and 2 per cent and 4 per cent for filers and non-filers, respectively, has been made.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

KARACHI: Amid media speculations about some arrests and a headway in the Amjad Sabri investigations, police authorities denied any arrest in the murder case though initial findings indicated that over half a dozen suspects were picked up and grilled before being declared “clear” and set free, officials and sources said on Thursday.

The eight people picked up for interrogation included close friends, business aides and domestic worker of the renowned Qawwal apart from professional criminals and hitmen associated with a political party and a banned militant outfit.

The facts emerged in a report filed to the relevant authorities by a police team which had been given the task of investigation into the targeted killing.

The sources said the report was filed after untiring efforts which continued for weeks yet it could only be called “initial findings”, as the investigation were still on and police were busy connecting dots with the help of intelligence agencies and eyewitness accounts.

“The investigations are moving fast,” said a source privy to the so far details of the probe into Sabri murder. “But if you ask about any particular arrest on ground of solid evidence — the answer is no. Dozens of people, including eyewitnesses, the victim’s family members, friends, colleagues and others were questioned only to gather maximum facts about his life and any threat he had discussed with any of them. A number of credible facts have been gathered which has helped accelerated the pace of investigations.”

Asked about the people who were detained, interrogated and grilled on suspicion of murder, the sources cited the recently-filed report which had referred to details of eight people but all of them were set free after detailed investigation.

“A member of the political party, who lived near Sabri’s home, was picked up from Liaquatabad,” said another source citing the report. “He had history of police arrest and active political life in the area. He’s one of the very active members of the party’s organisational structure in his area. The police also conducted raids on his leads and picked up his fellow activists as well but nothing credible emerged so he was declared clear and set free.”

Then the police detained a member of the banned outfit but investigations which continued for some days did not lead the police investigators to anything related to Mr Sabri murder and convinced the police to declare him “clear” as well, he said, adding that the police also interrogated two suspects who were arrested by the Federal B. Area Industrial police after an encounter.

“The two were actually arrested during a street crime activity,” he said. “But during initial probe, their crime record and some facts cast doubts about their involvement in Mr Sabri’s murder. They were handed over to the police team tasked with the investigation of the Amjad Sabri murder case, but it set them free after questioning them and finding nothing to corroborate doubts with the facts.”

Apart from these four people who had history of criminal life and political association, he said, the police investigators also picked up the owner of an eatery, a domestic worker, a businessman and an old friend who had direct links with renowned Qawwal for different reasons. However, all of them were not found even close to the murder and were set free.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

KARACHI: A sessions court directed the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to confiscate properties of reti­red Gen Pervez Musharraf, it emerged on Thursday.

On the directive of the south district and sessions judge, a court official (Nazir) wrote a letter to the DHA administrator on July 26 asking him to attach four properties owned by the former military ruler within the jurisdiction of the DHA.

The DHA was asked to report progress over the matter within three days for its further transmission to the special court.

The court also directed that the properties, including a bungalow in Zamzama and three plots in other parts of the DHA, be attached under Section 88 (attachment of property of person absconding) of the criminal procedure code in connection with a high treason case pending against Gen Musharraf before a special court in Islamabad.

According to the letter, Gen Musharraf owns a bungalow in the Army Housing Scheme, Zamzama, Phase-V, DHA, Karachi, and three plots in the Army Housing Scheme, Part-II Clifton, Khayaban-i-Faisal, and Beach Street, Phase-VIII, DHA Karachi.

On July 19, a three-judge special court, headed by Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, the Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court, had ordered the authorities to attach Gen Musharraf’s moveable and immovable properties since he had failed to turn up in the court since March despite several court orders.

Gen Musharraf left the country on March 18 after his name was removed from the Exit Control List after the Supreme Court upheld a Sindh High Court order removing his name from the ECL.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

KARACHI: While waiting for government’s nod to stay in the province with special powers for operation that began in September 2013, the Pakistan Rangers on Thursday continued to assert the powers they were assigned to restore peace to the city and raided the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) offices in Shah Faisal Colony and Surjani Town.

The paramilitary force picked up a few activists resulting in the cancellation of party meetings, which were scheduled to be addressed by its London-based chief Altaf Hussain, officials and party sources said.

The raids were conducted in the second half of the day when dozens of workers were at the MQM offices in Shah Faisal Colony to listen to the party chief’s speech.

While the MQM came up with the claim about the arrest of more than half a dozen of its workers, there was no word from the Pakistan Rangers on the action, neither any statement to define the operation of the paramilitary force when the period of their stay and policing powers had already expired.

“Heavy contingent of the Rangers cordoned off the MQM offices in Shah Faisal Colony and Surjani Town where dozens of workers were present to attend regular Tarbiati Nishist,” sources said.

They added: “We are not aware of any arrest but the Rangers were seen taking a few workers along with them and the meetings came to end abruptly. The police of respective areas show unawareness about these episodes.”

The Sindh government has not yet come up with any formal announcement about the Rangers stay and powers to operate, but the paramilitary force continued to operate against the suspected criminals, hitmen associated with political parties and alleged extortionists, the sources explained.

As the Sindh government insisted that the Rangers had no ‘constitutional mandate’ to carry out actions in any other part of Sindh except Karachi, the paramilitary force had also lost legal cover earlier this month to operate even in Karachi that witnessed surge in criminal and terrorist activities in recent months.

The MQM called the paramilitary force action a “condemnable act”. In a statement, the party’s coordination committee asked the human rights’ bodies to take notice of the Rangers’ “illegal actions.”

“Rangers no more enjoy powers to raid or make arrests,” the party said.

“There is a law of jungle in Karachi. The meetings were scheduled at our Shah Faisal Colony and Surjani Town offices which were due to be addressed by Altaf Hussain but the Rangers harassed and threatened our workers. The MQM strongly condemns such acts.”

The party claimed that the Rangers in Shah Faisal Colony picked up organiser of UC-9 Muhammad Samad, committee member Imran Sarmadi and a worker, Adnan, from the party office. Another raid was conducted on the house of a worker Muhammad Yasir in the area, the MQM coordination committee said and added that the workers in Surjani Town were threatened with dire consequences.

“MQM is a peace-loving and truly democratic organisation,” said the statement. “Such acts cannot stop it from the struggle of justice, neither they can harass its workers. We appeal the human rights’ bodies to take notice of such illegal acts of the Rangers. We also appeal for immediate release of all workers who were arrested illegally.”

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

WASHINGTON: The United States and India focused on regional terrorist threats, information sharing, border security and efforts to counter violent extremism at a meeting of their joint working group on counter-terrorism in Washington this week.

Justin Siberell, an acting coordinator for counter-terrorism, led the US delegation, which included officials from the Departments of State and Justice, as well as Homeland Security, at the talks in Washington.

Ravi Thapar, an additional secretary at India’s ministry of external affairs, led the Indian delegation.

The US-India Counter-terrorism Joint Working Group is a policy consultation forum designed to “advance the common agenda of the two countries and opportunities for cooperation across the full range of counter-terrorism issues”, a media note from the State Department said.

“The United States looks forward to continued counter-terrorism exchanges with India to broaden and deepen the partnership between the two countries,” the note added.

NON-MILITARY OPTIONS: Two US experts on South Asian affairs, George Perkovich and Toby Dalton, both associated with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, have advised India to go for “non-military options” to seek Pakistan’s cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Mr Perkovich, who is vice president of the Washington think tank, and Mr Dalton, a co-director, argued in a joint essay published on Thursday that the “military options” India had used so far had not been very fruitful.

Reviewing the military options available to India, the two experts argued that the most “direct means of retribution” would involve operations by Indian armed forces.

Such options could include air strikes on alleged militant facilities inside Pakistan or even a ground incursion inside Pakistan.

The authors noted that India had been putting in place plans and capabilities —including the so-called ‘Cold Start’ option — to carry out such direct punitive actions.

Other options could involve using special operations forces or funding militant groups that attack the Pakistani state.

But the authors pointed out: “Thus far India’s development of punitive military options has not motivated Pakistani leaders to do more to stop such attacks from occurring.”

They warned that executing a limited military reprisal could satisfy the desire for punishment, but “risks triggering an escalating military conflict of profound cost and consequence.”

The authors argued that since the Pakistan Army was the only organisation capable of reining in militant groups, an attack on the military could further hurt the “war on terror”.

Instead, the authors suggested applying diplomatic and economic pressure on Pakistan to encourage it to cooperate. They claim that after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, India successfully used this option, causing the Pakistani economy to suffer.

“The value of the Pakistani rupee depreciated significantly, from 62 rupees per US dollar in Jan 2008 to a low of 108 rupees per dollar in Dec 2013. Total foreign direct investment declined significantly from $5.3 billion in FY 2008 to $820 million in FY 2012, and has remained low at $851 million in FY 2015 even after a rebound in the world economy,” the authors argue.

For seeking future cooperation from Pakistan, the authors suggest “marshalling diplomatic, economic, and social resources to build and sustain international pressure to force changes in its behaviour.”

If there’s another Pakistan-linked terrorist attack inside India, New Delhi could persuade its partners to postpone bilateral meetings with Pakistan or delay visa processing, the authors argue.

They also suggest highlighting anti-terrorism issues at the IMF to condition further financing for Pakistan on cracking down on terrorist groups that attack other states.

They also suggest seeking an advance commitment from the United States and other major powers to cut security assistance to Pakistan if there is another terrorist attack in India.

The authors say that while “the punitive benefits of this strategy may be less direct than military action, but they also come with far lower risks of an escalating conflict that could result in damage to India far greater than the instigating event”.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1273885/ptv-staff-refute-allegations-against-newsroom-boss

http://www.dawn.com/news/1273930/samias-neck-had-bruise-mark-says-autopsy-report

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Home Department on Wednesday directed Punjab police to take strict action against activists of Jamaat-ud-Dawa Pakistan (JuD), an organisation which is on the UN watch list and is accused by India of being involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

It is headed by Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, who has been engaged in fundraising throughout the country via the organisation’s charity wing Falah-e-Insayat Foundation (FIF).

In its directions issued to the additional inspector general of police operations Punjab and to divisional police chiefs across the province, the home department has asked for details of fundraising by JuD and other proscribed organisations as the activity is against the law.

According to the directive, JuD is making efforts to collect funds through fitrana, zakat and sadkaats. It said that members of the organisations were more active during Ramazan and distributed pamphlets, put up posters at various locations in Matiari Sindh, inviting people to give them their charity money.

Activists of the organisation asked Matirai locals to make donations to FIF in order to avoid the government ban on proscribed organisations being involved in fundraising.

The Madressah Umar Bin Khatab (RA) in new Saeedabad and Falah Markaz in New Hala, Matori have been designated as donation points for the fundraising.

A senior police official told Dawn that the action was based on reports from intelligence agencies who watched proscribed organisations. He said the step should have been taken earlier and that the provincial government had been reluctant to take direct action against religious parties without concrete reason.

“Though the international community put JuD under observation after the rumours spread by India, JuD’s charity organisation FIF was involved in a lot of welfare work in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the northern areas after the 2005 earthquake and the government gave it [leeway] for their work in the past,” he said.

However, he said, the government had realised that the charity organisation was not the real face of the outfit and had decided to look into how it spent the donations it collected from people in the name of charity.

Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer Mohammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan Raja and other senior officers were reluctant to talk on the issue.

“The instructions did come through and the police implemented the government’s directions,” was all RPO Raja said on the matter.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

MULTAN: Police on Friday handed over a questionnaire to Mufti Abdul Qavi in the ongoing investigation into Qandeel Baloch's murder.

While holding a press conference at his residence, Mufti Qavi said he had received a six-point questionnaire from the police. He added that a reply would be submitted by Saturday.

Qavi claimed his last contact with social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch was through mobile phone messages on June 22, and he met the model only once in his life.

Qavi said that he was in Lahore when Qandeel was murdered.

Earlier in June, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf had suspended Mufti Abdul Qavi’s membership of Ruet-i-Hilal Committee after pictures of him with Qandeel Baloch surfaced on social media.

Qavi's membership in the National Ulema Mushaikh Council was also suspended.

Who is Qandeel Baloch?

Baloch, who became famous through her tireless self-promotion and suggestive "selfies" posted on social media, had amassed tens of thousands of followers.

"Nothing is good in this society. This patriarchal society is bad," Qandeel had said in a recent interview with Images.

In one of her last Facebook posts, Qandeel reiterated her unapologetic approach: "No matter how many times I will be pushed down under... I am a fighter, I will bounce back."

"Qandeel Baloch [is an] inspiration to ladies who are treated badly... I know you will keep on hating, who cares?" wrote Qandeel, who often referred to herself as a "one-woman army".

She is derided and feted in equal measure in Pakistan, but the popularity of her videos evidence frustrations of many young people tired of being told how to behave.

She shot to fame in Pakistan in 2014.

Earlier this month, Qandeel released a music video which she starred in alongside little known young singer Aryan Khan. Titled 'Ban,' the music video touched on Qandeel's status as a controversial social media icon, and was provocative given Pakistan's conservative standards for entertainment.

Days later a man claiming to be Qandeel's ex-husband made an appearance on TV, saying that Qandeel had a son with him during their brief marriage.

Qandeel confirmed his claims, saying she was forced into the marriage.