YouTube ban: LHC summons IT minister on March 13

Remarking against the ban, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said one should no see or read any thing (on internet) which is not appealing to him. CREATIVE COMMONS

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench, which is hearing a petition against YouTube ban, asked the state minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rahman to appear before the court on March 13, 2014 after she failed to appear before the court on Tuesday.

The bench had issued summons to the minister on the previous hearing to appear before the court. Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Naseer Bhutta submitted before the court that Rahman could not appear before the court on Tuesday due to security reasons.

Secretary IT Akhlaq Ahmed Tarar appeared before the court on behalf of the minister and filed a reply on the matter. While the court allowed the reply to be included in the record, it maintained that it could not be consider as a policy statement.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of LHC said after 18th constitutional amendment, policy matters are not in domain of secretaries but that of ministers. Therefore, the minister should file the policy statement, the judge said.

The court adjourned the hearing till March 13, and directed the IT minister to submit the reply before the court on next hearing.

Remarking about the ban, Justice Shah said if something does not appeal to one’s taste, they should not see or read such things (on Internet).

Justice Shah observed that not a single Muslim country in the world had banned YouTube because of an sacrilegious film, and Pakistan was the only exception.

When the bench asked the secretary IT  on whose orders YouTube was blocked, the DAG replied on the behalf of secretary that on September 17, 2012 the website was banned on the orders of the Supreme Court. As per the operational part of the order, DAG Bhutta said Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had been asked to block the objectionable material from the site.

On this, Justice Shah remarked that apex court had asked for the removal or blockage of the objectionable material but PTA had blocked the whole website. The judge asked him that if there was any direction from the apex court for blockage of YouTube, to which the DAG replied in the negative.

The secretary submitted that PTA  does not have any technology to block specific material from a website.

The court was hearing the petition filed by Bytes for All, an NGO. The petitioner submitted that any filtering and blocking on internet is counter productive and predatory.

The petitioner had sought directions for the Ministry of Information Technology and the PTA to reopen the functioning of YouTube and prayed to the court to order for restoring access to YouTube in Pakistan.

The petitioner in the case at the LHC had argued that the ban is counter-productive as it limits access to a vital educational and research tool.

The website was blocked by former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on September 17, 2012. Since then various segments of the society have demanded the restoration of access to the website.

Big Three’ monopoly: India offered PCB quid pro quo

India had offered a minimum of three home and three away tours between 2015 and 2023. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: 

The Big Three’s takeover of the International Cricket Council (ICC) took place despite strong opposition from some boards – including Pakistan’s. But it has transpired that the row had briefly opened up a window of opportunity for Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

India – which is now known as the biggest of ‘Big Three’ – had offered the PCB quite an attractive quid pro quo.

The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) had offered the PCB three home and three away tours between 2015 and 2023 in return for support at the ICC. The deal would have fetched PCB around $100 million.

The deal, however, broke down when the then PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf, asked for guarantees which the BCCI was reluctant to commit. Details of the collapsed deal were shared with members of the PCB governing board at a meeting held on January 18.

Ashraf had chaired the meeting at the National Cricket Academy which also discussed a position paper about the distribution of ICC revenues in the years to come, according to minutes of the meeting, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune.

“India had offered a minimum of three home and three away tours between 2015 and 2023,” a senior PCB official told The Express Tribune. “The estimated income from these tours was to the tune of $100 million. But it was conditional upon the PCB agreeing to the terms of the position paper presented by the Big Three.”

In addition to this, a short tour to the UAE was also offered by India while in an initial discussion before the ICC meetings on new changes, Pakistan was told that they could become a fourth permanent member of the group led by India, Australia and England.

Ashraf wanted the BCCI to include clauses in the contracts that if the promise was not kept then the case would be heard in Switzerland – where all ICC-related cases are decided.

At the January 18 meeting, Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed suggested that the proposal be looked at pragmatically and negotiation with India, England and Australia be done to extract the best bargain for Pakistan.

The whole saga led to the sacking of Ashraf by PM Nawaz Sharif, who is now also the patron of PCB.

History will hold judges responsible if anything happens to Musharraf: Kasuri

Former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri told the special court that former president Pervez Musharraf could not make it to court as his life was still under threat, Express News reported on Tuesday.

During the hearing of the treason case against Musharraf, Kasuri stated that the interior ministry had said that there was a threat to Musharraf’s life.

The interior ministry, which happens to be his prosecutor, had warned that there is a serious threat to his life from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al Qaeda.

Kasuri further stated that if something happens to the retired general, history would hold the three judges of the special court – Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali - responsible.

Prosecutor Akram Sheikh told the court that security was increased as 2,200 officers – compared to earlier 1,100 – were deployed to ensure Musharraf’s safety.

Kasuri said proper screening of security officers was necessary to ensure safety.

Rana Ijaz Ahmed Khan, a member of Musharraf’s legal team was escorted out of the courtroom for exchanging harsh words with the judges.

Escorted out

Khan claimed that the judges were “killers for hire” to which the court responded that he committed contempt of court and a notice would be issued to him in this regard.

Speaking to the media, Musharraf’s counsel Barrister Saif said that the judges asked security to escort Khan out of the court, claiming that this action by the judges was proof that they were biased against Musharraf.

Musharraf was ordered to appear before the court on March 14.

Background

The former president faces treason charges under Article 6 for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts.

The 70-year-old had fallen ill and taken to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi over three months ago where he is still under treatment.

Cricket World T20: Wasim tips Pakistan amongst favourites

Wasim during a press conference in Karachi on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain and legendary paceman Wasim Akram on Tuesday tipped Pakistan as one of the top three favourites to win the World Twenty20 starting in Bangladesh next week.

The fifth edition of the World Twenty20 with 16 teams in competition will be held in Bangladesh from March 16 to April 6.

“For me Pakistan, India and the West Indies are top three favourites as they play this format well and have enough experience at their disposal,” Wasim said during a reception.

India won the inaugural World Twenty20 held in South Africa in 2007 while Pakistan won the second edition held in England two years later.

Hosts Bangladesh and Zimbabwe along with six qualifiers will open the first round of the fifth edition of the World Twenty20.

The top two teams from the first round will join the eight seeded teams in the second round which kicks off with a much-awaited India-Pakistan clash in Dhaka on March 21.

Wasim said an Indo-Pak match will be an ideal kick off to the main round.

“What else do you want as an opening match,” said Wasim, who will be commentating on the event. “Whenever Pakistan and India play, millions watch the game and there are no favourites in that match.”

Wasim said the Asia Cup finalists must enter the event with a positive frame of mind.

“Pakistan had a very balanced squad and all they need to do is to enter the event with a positive frame of mind,” said Wasim, who criticised Pakistan’s loss in the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka last week.

Sri Lanka chased down a challenging 261-run target in 46.2 overs with opener Lahiru Thirimanne notching a brilliant 101.

Defending champions Pakistan had posted a tough 260-5 with Fawad Alam hitting a maiden hundred with 114 not out.

This was Sri Lanka’s fifth Asia Cup title, equaling India’s number of triumphs in the event initiated in 1984.

“I couldn’t sleep for two days as I failed to understand the manner in which we used our bowlers in the final,” said Wasim.

“I think in the first place the decision to bat first was not correct because Pakistan had chased well in the matches against India and Bangladesh and then defending a 260-plus total we didn’t use our bowlers well

9-month high: Rupee strengthens to 99 against dollar

Expects to gather $10.1 billion through remittances, auction of 3G licences and outstanding CSF payments. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The US dollar depreciated against the Pakistani rupee, reaching a 9-month low, Express News reported on Tuesday.

The rupee-dollar parity now stands at Rs99.90 in the interbank market, decreasing by Rs1.52 today.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Standard Chartered Bank Senior Economist Sayem Ali had said the rally is driven more by sentiments, as macros remain largely weak.

“Sentiments have shifted due to positive IMF staff reviews, expectations of significant aid and investment inflows in 2014, and interventions by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) through the forward/swap market,” Ali had said.

An inflow of investment in fiscal year 2013-14 also helped shift market sentiments in favour of the rupee. According to the SBP, Pakistan received foreign direct investment (FDI) of $523 million in the first seven months of 2013-14. FDI amounted to $106.9 million in January alone.

In addition, the expected receipt of $550 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with the launch of Eurobonds amounting to $500 million likely next month, has also led to positivity in the foreign exchange market.

While appreciation of the rupee will contain inflation, a stronger currency will inevitably make exports less competitive.

“Hence, a widening trade gap will put more pressure on foreign exchange reserves, forcing the SBP to readjust the rupee to equilibrium levels,” Ali had noted.

22,000MW of electricity to be added within 7 years: Iqbal

Federal minister for planning, development and reform Ahsan Iqbal speaking at the International Marketing Congress (Marcon). PHOTO: PPI

LAHORE: The government has signed energy generation projects with China through which 22,000 megawatts (MW) of energy will be added to the system in the coming five to seven years, said Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal.

The country’s total energy production is 22,000MW, with the same amount being added to the grid in this time span, Iqbal said, while speaking at the International Marketing Congress (Marcon).

The government is focused on overcoming the development lag of the last 14 years, he said, adding that the government was turning towards China as its Foreign Direct Investment was very low in the context of the relations the two countries enjoy.

To strengthen economic cooperation, Pakistan has signed an agreement for the development of the Karakoram Highway, construction of six lane Mansehra-Islamabad and Lahore-Karachi Motorways. Through this, the country will be connected to the North-South corridor. Construction of a modern Airport in Gwadar, linking of the Gwadar deep sea port to the northern part of the country is also part of the plan. Through this, Pakistan will become a connecting bridge for the North-South and East-West regions and play a pivotal role in regional connectivity and development, Iqbal said.

Development in Gwadar and the Gadani coal generation project will start a new era of prosperity and economic development in Balochistan, said Iqbal, adding that the Thar Coal power generation project will change the fate of the people of Sindh.

Iqbal said that the government’s vision is to bring about an industrial revolution in Sindh through Thar coal as reserves there could generate electricity for the next 200 years.

Poverty, unemployment, law and order issue, hopelessness is the main tides faced by the government and we are committed to turn these tides during the next five years, he stated.

Iqbal believed that Pakistan has been run on the ‘sale paradigm’ and the time had come to shift to the ‘marketing paradigm’. The government is focused on producing and exporting items which were in line with international market requirements, Iqbal said.

Relief for auto part vendors: Govt paves way for withdrawal of 2% additional sales tax

Ishaq Dar in a meeting with Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) on Monday. PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD: 

The federal government agreed on Monday with auto part vendors to treat their sales to car assemblers as input instead of value-addition, paving way for the withdrawal of 2% additional sales tax being charged from vendors.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and representatives of the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM).

“The finance minister acknowledged that the imposition of an extra tax of 2% on sales of auto parts to automobile manufacturers by auto parts manufacturers constitute a hardship for the industry and may have the undesired effect of escalation in the prices of vehicles,” according to an official handout issued by the ministry.

Paapam Chairman Usman Malik stated during the meeting that the additional 2% tax on items sold in retail markets was leading to an increase in vehicle cost.

Dar agreed with the assertion that sales made by auto parts manufacturers to automobile manufacturers were not to be treated as retail sales and it was not the intention of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to subject these sales to extra tax.

Dar directed FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa to institute a case for removing the anomaly in the taxation system.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Bajwa maintained that the government was not withdrawing the additional tax but merely issuing interpretations of law that will help treat the auto parts supplies as inputs instead of value-addition.

The association also proposed the federal government to levy 5% tax on the transfer of vehicle within six months of new purchases, a move aimed at discouraging hoarding and curtail the dealers’ practice of earning money by creating an artificial shortage.

Bajwa said the government may consider the proposal at an appropriate time.

Meanwhile, the association expressed concerns over the government’s decision to completely normalise trade ties with India and sought protection against opening the auto sector to Indian firms.

Dar directed officials of the Ministry of Industries and Engineering Development Board (EDB) to hold a meeting with the stakeholders of the automobile industry in order to resolve issues.

The Finance Minister also directed officials of the Ministry of Commerce to hold a meeting with the automobile industry representatives and present a report within one month on issues related to the Ministry. He assured Paapam that the recommendations will be considered in the next financial year 2014-15.

Malik gave a detailed presentation to Dar on the current status of the Pakistan automobile industry and its future potential. He said that there were 13 vehicles per 1,000 persons in Pakistan, while in Indonesia and Brazil the numbers 79 and 259 per 1,000 persons respectively.

Probably, what he did not highlight the fact that affording a vehicle in these countries was easier than in Pakistan where car manufacturers were fleecing customers.