In Brief
POLITICS
ECP holds meeting to review the Supreme Court’s 14 September order
On 16 September, The Express Tribune reported that a meeting was convened by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in response to the Supreme Court’s (SC) order of 12 July pertaining to the implementation of the reserved seats verdict. The ECP had sought directions from the court in the reserved seats verdict case and the commission is is set to review the recent SC order and come up with a future strategy. In the backdrop, the apex court had accused the ECP of deliberately delaying the implementation of the order via petitions such as the civil miscellaneous applications (CMA), which was during the legal time allotted. But the ECP pointed out that the SC had issued its verdict on the CMA only on 14 September. Such delay in implementation of the apex institution is not the ECP’s responsibility. An ECP source said: “The ECP is a constitutional organization and it will not accept any threat against it.“Such a treatment with a constitutional organization is inappropriate.” (Amna Ali, “ECP convenes meeting to review SC order,” The Express Tribune, 16 September 2024)
Pakistan Essential Services Act applicable to power companies for six months
On 16 September, Dawn reported on the government’s plan to extend the Pakistan Essential Services Act to all power generation, transmission, distribution and supply companies’ up to 25 January 2025 while it works to restructure state-owned entities (SOEs). This action is aimed at providing uninterrupted electricity supply as it could lead to union action. This development comes as Pakistan has been dealing with circular debt, power outages, transmission losses, reliance on imported fuel and limited renewable energy resources share. It is also a product of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s recommendation, as a structural reform in order to acquire the Fund’s Extended Facility Fund of USD 7 billion. The privatization of said companies is aimed at achieving improved efficiency, overcome monetary losses and lure private investment. A notification issued by the Ministry of Interior stated that Distribution companies (Discos), Generation Companies (Gencos), National Transmission and Dispatch Companies (NTDC) will provide “all-essential services for a period of six months,” as per Section 3 of the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act-1952. The law came into effect on 26 July, for a period of six months and even applies to SOEs. During this period the companies’ employees took to the streets as they feared that the restructuring would unfavorably impact their jobs. The Act also allows the government to declare employment for six months and order workers to either remain in specific areas or not enter these areas unless they receive federal approval. This is necessary as the government believes that such employment is required to secure “the defence of the security of Pakistan or any part thereof and maintenance of such supplies or services as relates to any matter with regard to which Central Legislature power to make laws and are essential to the life of the community.” (Khaled Kiani, “Essential services law extended to power firms ,” Dawn, 16 September 2024; Khalid Mustafa, “Privatisation of power sector entities: Essential Services Act enforced to bar employees from protests,” The News International, 16 September 2024)
From Elections Commission to the Establishment, tweets of Imran Khan continue to stir controversy
On 15 September, according to an article in Dawn, a series of tweets posted on social media platform X from Imran Khan’s account has stirred up a hornet’s nest between the opposition and the ruling party. Speaking on this development, Khan said: “It is more likely that someone who is authorised to post on the X account is not living in Pakistan, but nobody knows who has been given access to manage the ‘X’ handle.” Interestingly, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf member on anonymity revealed to Dawn that any post on X is not carried out without Khan’s permission. A “message to the nation” tweet led the Federal Investigation Agency to register a sedition case against the PTI chief. Despite this, the tweets did not stop. Two posts along the establishment’s role in Bangladesh and the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report were published on 13 and 14 September. In one of the posts, Khan criticized the extension given to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s office. The post under the PTI leader’s designation claimed that the CJP was protecting the government from accountability. The tweets also alleged the participation of the Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq in the “London Plan” and compromising the rule of law. Referring to the recent arrest of PTI members of national assembly, the post read: “The country is currently experiencing Yahya Khan’s (Martial Law Dictator) rule all over again. (General) Yahya Khan conducted an operation against the country’s largest political party. Yahya Khan Part Two is doing the same and destroying the country’s institutions.” In the meantime, during a conversation between Khan and journalists after the GBP 190 million hearing, the former stated that if an FIR was registered against him then the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report to the nation must be read. (Malik Asad & Akram Junaidi, “Imran’s tweets create uproar, mystery over who runs account ,” Dawn, 15 September 2024)
ECONOMY
FBR to apprise government on tax reforms to pinpoint tax evaders
On 16 September, The News International reported that as a part of its campaign to flush out all tax evaders and defaulters, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to outsource audits to private audit firms. They will be tasked with scrutinizing the revenue and assets of the top five high-net-worth (HNWs) individuals. However, the implementation of such a proposal requires a budget which runs into billions of rupees. Hence, the FBR Chairman is going to put this initiative before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the near future by briefing him on the prevailing tax gap, where PKR 7,100 billion can be acquired via amendments to the taxation policy. Data shared by tax authorities on General Sales Tax and Income Tax revealed that of 5.5 million filers, only eight percent, who are also under filers contribute to 92 per cent of tax payments. Additionally, there are 0.6 million filers who belong to the below taxable limit category which means that taxes are being collected from these individuals despite their income levels are too low to be taxed. Hence, with the help of National Database and Registration Authority’s data the FBR will used to send notices to under filers with the help of Artificial Intelligence. They will be required to share details of their financial transactions so that they can be incorporate in the tax returns of the current fiscal. (Mehtab Haider, “To detect potential tax evaders: FBR to outsource audit of individuals, companies ,” The News International, 16 September 2024)
Government announces price drop in petrol and diesel as per international market rates
On 15 September, Dawn reported a further cut in the prices of petrol and diesel in the country. A notification from the government’s Finance Division revealed: “The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has worked out the consumer prices of petroleum products, based on the price variations in the international market.” As a result, petroleum prices are set to decline to PKR 249.10 to PKR 259.10 and high speed diesel (HSD) is ought to fall from Rs262.75 to Rs249.69, indicating a cut of PKR 10 and PKR 13.06, respectively. This price change shall remain for the next two weeks, beginning from 16 September. (Mehtab Haider, “Government slashes petrol prices by PKR 10, diesel by PKR 13.06,” Dawn, 15 September 2024)
ENVIRONMENT
Expert on climate change says Pakistan has successfully eliminated CFC use
On 16 September, on the occasion of World Ozone Day, a specialist in the climate change education and environmental coordination at the Ministry of Climate Change remarked that Pakistan has successfully stopped its chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and is working to phase out even hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). He argued that this development aligns with Pakistan’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol by not only reviving the ozone layer but also the country’s action against climate change. He said: “Our commitment to a greener and healthier future is unwavering.” On the other hand, Coordinator to Prime Minister for Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam urged the global state and non-state actors to extend efforts towards sustainable development, climate action climate resilient actions to protect the depleting ozone layer. She said: “Although the ozone layer is gradually recovering, the continued use of harmful chemicals and unsustainable practices in various parts of the world still threaten the progress made over the past few decades regarding restoring the ozone layer that shield earth from harmful impacts of ultraviolet rays of sun.” (Amin Ahmed, “Pakistan succeeds in eliminating CFCs use: official ,” Dawn, 16 September 2024)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan and Bangladesh to renew ties after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster
On 15 September, The Express Tribune quoted sources who revealed that to mend ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh after the ouster of Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. During her rule it was a daunting task for Pakistan’s diplomats to meet with government officials. However, this is not so in the present scenario. There have been telephone conversations between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Adviser of Bangladesh interim government Dr Muhammad Younus and many meetings between members of the interim government and Pakistani diplomats. Additionally, Prime Minister Shehbaz and Dr Younus are set to meet on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in New York in late September.
In recent news, during Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof proposed the restoration of the Joint Economic Commission, a forum for economic and political cooperation between the two countries during his visit to foreign adviser Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry on 10 September. During their meeting the country representatives discussed easing visa to and fro the countries and resuming direct flights. They maintained the necessity to strengthen their bilateral relationship and resuming activities at the foreign security level consultations and the Joint Economic Commission. (Kamran Yousaf, “Major shift in Pak-BD ties on horizon ,” Dawn, 16 September 2024)
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"The manner in which this package is being brought is itself a negation of democracy, even the members of the government do not know what package is coming, they have only received an order to approve it"
Rabia Bajwa
- PTI
Lawyers movement started from September 19, amendments rejected, The judiciary will be protected. Hamid Khan
- Imran Khan
The Constitution of Pakistan is a consensus document, what amendment does the government want to bring secretly? This is how crimes happen, not corrections! Members of the government themselves do not know what the nature of the constitutional amendment is? The meeting is getting delayed after delay and MPs are clueless. Constitutional amendment is not a child's play, first its draft is brought forward, debate takes place. After all, what is the matter of the future of the country, why secrecy? Why political parties and lawyers were not consulted?
- Naeem ur Rehman.
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"Sadly, the social contract in Pakistan seems non-existent."
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘State and citizens'
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