Libya: Qadafi must step down

ISLAMABAD:

The US State Department has called on Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Qaddafi to step down, saying he had lost legitimacy when he turned guns on his own people.

US State Department spokesman Mark C Toner spoke to journalists in South Asia via an audio link on Friday, saying an unfolding humanitarian crisis in eastern Libya had been averted by quick and decisive action. “We call on Qaddafi to step down,” Toner said, but added that the current Nato-led air strikes were not to bring about a regime change but to protect Libyan civilians.

“UN Security Council Resolution 1973 is not about Qaddafi leaving power. It is about direct humanitarian assistance and relief and protection of civilians who are under attack in eastern Libya,” Toner stressed, but added: “We are going to seek to bring pressure on Qaddafi and we’ve done that already.”

When asked by The Express Tribune if sanctions or ground troops were on the cards, Toner said an arms embargo was already in place and Nato was allowed to board ships and ensure that Qaddafi’s arms supply was also cut down.

“The goal is to completely isolate him until his only choice is a stark one; that he steps down from power and allows a peaceful transition to take place,” Toner said.

Toner said the situation remained fluid in Libya but an emerging opposition in Libya was increasingly more coherent. “We need to understand their needs and their aspirations,” Toner said, adding that it was up to the Libyans to decide.

He repeatedly stressed that the enforcement of a no-fly zone over eastern Libya had averted a humanitarian crisis, especially in the eastern city of Benghazi, where, Toner said, 700,000 civilians had been warned by Qaddafi in an edict that they would receive “no mercy.”

Toner said he was not aware of any confirmed civilian casualties in the air strikes by coalition forces, adding he was aware of the Libyan regime’s claims in this regard.

The State Department spokesman said the US acted in concert with key allies and a transition to a broader coalition with Arab participation was underway, with the UAE sending in 12 planes to enforce the no-fly zone.

“We have a strong coalition. It’s an international effort in which Nato has command and control capability and has taken control,” Toner said, adding that support for UNSC Resolution 1973 came after a plea from the Arab League. “It’s up to each country what role they want to play,” he said.

Afridi accuses Indian media of negative campaign

Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, captain Shahid Afridi and Asad Shafiq (L-R) run during a cricket practice session ahead of their ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final match against India on Wednesday in Mohali March 28, 2011
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KARACHI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi accused the Indian media on Monday of conducting a negative campaign against his team before Wednesday’s eagerly anticpated World Cup semi-final in Mohali.

“There is so much negativity in the Indian media. There is nothing positive to watch on the channels and we are just sticking together as a team and it is just the hotel and ground for us,” Afridi told the Geo News channel.

“The only answer we can give is with our performance. We will try to give 110 percent in this big match. Everyone knows how big a match this is and the pressures that come with it. But we will just do our best whatever the result. After the match we just want to be content in our hearts we gave our best,” added Afridi.

Afridi also said Pakistan were considering playing their controversial fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar.

“I also want him to play but we have not taken a final decision as yet. And we have to take into consideration his match fitness and his form which we will see in the nets,” Afridi said.

“We want him in such a high-profile match but we don’t want him for just four or five overs, we want him to bowl his full quota of overs,” he added.

Pakistan has not played Akhtar, who has announced his decision to retire after the World Cup, since they lost to New Zealand in the pool matches.

Afridi played down his remarks about not allowing Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar to score runs in the semi-final.

“The Indian media has treated this negatively. There is never any doubt about Tendulkar’s greatness. But if someone approaches me and asks me about him obviously as Pakistan captain I will not say we will allow him to score runs I will say we will ensure he doesn’t get his 100th international century,” Afridi said.

The Pakistan skipper felt the dew factor would play an important role.

“Yes, there is a lot of dew in the evenings but they are using chemicals to counter it. But it is a factor we will have to take into consideration at the toss,” he said.

He also expressed disappointment at remarks from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik about the government keeping a close watch on the players in the semi-final because of last year’s spot-fixing scandal.

“I don’t think he should have said such a thing at such a time,” Afridi said.

Zero-rated status for all exports maintained: Hafeez

KARACHI: The government, following hue and cry from the industrial and trading sectors, has decided to maintain zero-rated status for all the five sectors � textile, leather, surgical, sport goods and carpet.

Federal Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh during a meeting with the business community assured them that this policy would be maintained for at least three years.

It was further decided to have two rates for tax, like, 6.0 percent on selling of yarn and 4.0 percent on any type of value-addition, which would be charged only from unregistered persons on the basis of value of their supply.

Issues pertaining to withholding tax were also resolved by reducing it from 3.5 percent to 1.0 percent on goods and services while federal excise duty will remain zero.

The 17 percent sales tax has been reduced to 4.0 percent on buying of finished and semi-finished products.

With regards to parameters for audit a committee would be formed, for which SRO 509 (I)/ 2007 has been restored.

The finance minister promised to solve all the problems up to the satisfaction of the textile sector.

Hafeez said the International Monetary Fund�s (IMF) conditions had made it imperative to impose taxes across-the-board on all sectors of the economy.

The businessmen expressed their contentions regarding problems due Afghan Transit Trade and multiplicity of taxes, which had seriously affected the backbone of the economy, especially the textile sector.

Dr Hafeez agreed that tax mechanism should be in such a way that the local textile products remain competitive against the smuggled goods under ATT.

He expressed his concern on the inflationary impact of taxes on the poor masses.

He appreciated the uniqueness of the textile sector, which was responsible for 60 percent of exports and 42 percent of the urban employment.

The finance minister understood the problems being faced by the textile sector due to the ATT and that any mode of front loading in form of sales tax on textile sector should result in lowering the costs of smuggled goods making them more viable.

The stakeholders were satisfied at the win-win situation as well as the textile sector expressed their profound gratitude to the finance minister and the government.

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Salman Siddique, former FBR chairman Abdullah Yousuf, FBR Revenue Division Additional Secretary Asrar Raouf and members of the revenue council were present.

Pakistan Apparel Forum Chairman Jawed Bilwani, former KCCI vice president Haroon Agar, Pakistan Chemicals and Dyes Merchants Association Chairman Maqsood Butt, APTMA Chairman Usman from Pakistan Yarn Merchant Association and Bashir Ali Muhammad from Gul Ahmed Textiles along with other stakeholders from all over Pakistan attended the meeting.