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In Brief
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2023
PR Exclusive Update 12
ECP announced tentative dates for the elections to be last week of January 2024
On 21 September, Election Commission of Pakistan declared that general elections would be held by the last week of January, more than two months after the constitutionally required limit of 90 days. The ECP's announcement did not specifically indicate the date of the elections, giving its schedule a degree of flexibility. This schedule is anticipated to be made public after the final notification of the delimitation procedure, which is scheduled to occur on 30 November. Dawn was informed by reliable sources that 28 January would likely be election day. The ECP also notified that on 27 September the preliminary delimitation list would be released. On 30 November, the final list would be made public after hearing any concerns or recommendations on the constituencies. A 54-day vote schedule would then be issued. (Iftikhar A. Khan, “Country told to prepare for chilly elections in January,” Dawn, 22 September 2023)
POLITICS
Supreme court to resume its hearing on the Faizabad verdict
On 22 September, the hearing of a number of review petitions filed against the Supreme Court's decision regarding the 2017 sit-in by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Faizabad, in Islamabad, is scheduled to resume soon. The infamous judgment by Justice Isa before he took the oath of office as Chief Justice of Pakistan ordered defence ministry and the tri-services leaders to discipline individuals under their charge who were found to have broken the oath. On 28 September, a three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa, will hear review petitions. The other two members of the bench are Justice Aminud Din Khan and Justice Athar Minallah. The Ministry of Defense, Intelligence Bureau, PTI, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, and Pemra all made arguments in favour of the petition. (Nasir Iqbal, “SC to resume hearing on review pleas against Faizabad verdict,” Dawn,22 September 2023)
PML-N leader Khawaja Asif suggests PIA to shut down
On 22 September, PML-N leader Khawaja Asif, referred to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as a “sick organization" and recommended that the national airline should be shut down. While speaking to DawnNewsTV he stated that “It should have been privatised 30 to 35 years ago. It’s a sick organisation that is haemorrhaging,”. Asif added that any new airlines that will replace the PIA should be run by the private sector rather than the government. Meanwhile, on 21 September, the Interim Minister for Privatization Fawad Hassan Fawad stated that no employee of any organization will be fired even if it is privatized, including the government's greatest loss-making firm, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). He also stated that “The prime minister has instructed me that the PIA would not be grounded. We have already worked out a way to keep the PIA flying,”. (Adil Shahzeb, ‘A sick organisation’: Khawaja Asif suggests PIA be shut down, replaced by new airline,” Dawn, 22 September 2023; Shahbaz Rana, “Govt won’t let PIA be grounded,” The Express Tribune, 22 September 2023)
ECONOMY
Caretaker finance minister highlights factors behind state-owned enterprises’ losses
On 21 September, Caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar addressed the issues contributing to the losses of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Pakistan estimated to be PKR 500 billion. Factors such as external interference, lack of accountability, weak management, and limited accountability were the reasons behind the losses. Akhtar emphasised the government’s efforts to finalize a policy framework and design for SOEs, with some institutions continuing the privatisation process. Furthermore, Akhtar held discussions on the vitality of enhancing the governance and performance of SEOs, to lessen their financial burden on public resources. Additionally, she mentioned the establishment of strategic and non-strategic SOEs and the nomination of independent directors as part of the SOEs Act, 2023. (Zaheer Abbasi, “Shamshad lists factors behind SOEs’ Rs500bn losses,” Business Recorder, 22 September 2023)
SECURITY
TLP threatens to demolish Ahmadiyya worship place minarets in Daska
On 21 September, tension rose in Daska as the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) threatened to destroy the minarets of a historic Ahmadiyya worship place. The place, built by Sir Zafarullah Khan before Partition, is located in old Daska city. TLP claimed that the minarets violated laws introduced in 1984 by General Ziaul Haq. The party filed a complaint with Daska police and urged its members to gather for a rally “to decide on the issue.” In response to the issue, Sialkot’s District Police Officer stated that “No one so far has demolished the minarets of the Ahmadi worship place at Daska.” However, as per a spokesman for the Jamaat Ahmadiyya in Pakistan, there have been 5 attacks on Ahmadi worship places in recent months, despite Lahore High Court’s recent order protecting such minarets. This has drawn concern from the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). (Asif Chaudhry, “Pre-partition Ahmadi worship place threatened in Punjab’s Daska,” Dawn, 22 September 2023)
Eight terrorists killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
On 21 September, eight terrorists were killed and five apprehended as a result of intelligence-based operations in Bannu and North Waziristan, conducted by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Bannu, an intense exchange of fire with a squad of 11 terrorists led to six terrorists being killed and five apprehended. These individuals were involved in multiple terrorist activities, including facilitating a suicide attack on a military convoy in Jani Khel on 31 August, 2023. Simultaneously in North Waziristan, forces engaged two terrorists, and were able to successfully recover ammunition from them. Search and sanitization operations followed to neutralise any remaining terrorists. (“Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the terrorists while a search operation was launched in adjoining areas to apprehend any other terrorists or facilitators,” The Friday Times, 22 September 2023)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan holds talks in Kabul to ease tensions
On 21 September, Pakistan's special representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani, made an unannounced trip to Kabul to hold talks with interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and other officials. The visit aims to ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have been strained due to continued cross-border terrorist attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the recent Torkham border closure. The Afghan foreign ministry stated: “Pakistan and Afghanistan, as two neighbours and Islamic countries, should refrain from giving statements against each other, so it does not cause further tensions.” The issue of Afghan refugees’ detention and the revival of a scholarship program for Afghan students were also discussed, with Pakistan’s envoy promising the revival of scholarships for Afghan students. (Kamrani Yousaf, “Pak envoy meets Afghan FM in Kabul,” The Express Tribune, 22 September 2023)
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