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In Brief
POLITICS
PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi discharged in a corruption case
On 17 September, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was discharged from a corruption case related to the Lahore Master Plan 2050 and subsequently shifted to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The judicial magistrate stated that there was no evidence to incriminate him on the claim that accused Elahi of allegations of corruption. This development comes as part of the state's crackdown on PTI leaders and workers following the 9 May violent protests. Elahi had been detained multiple times since 1 June in connection with the same incident and still faces legal proceedings in a case related to the 9 May riots. (Wajih Ahmad Sheikh, “Elahi moved to Adiala after being discharged in Lahore,” Dawn, 18 September 2023)
Awami Muslim League Chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmad arrested
On 17 September, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) arrested the Chairman of the Awami Muslim League (AML), Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, along with two other individuals, including his nephew. After his arrest, which happened in a housing society, Ahmad was taken to an undisclosed location for questioning. While no official case had been registered against him in Punjab, he was nominated in a case by the Kohsar police station related to a protest rally held by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on 10 May. His lawyer stated that efforts were being made to trace his whereabouts, and the PTI condemned the arrest as part of ongoing political victimization and authoritarianism. (Shakeel Anjum, “Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid arrested in Pindi,” The News International, 18 September 2023)
ECONOMY
Pakistan's development expenditure stalls amid rising interest payments and government transition
On 18 September, Dawn reported that Pakistan's development expenditure had almost come to a standstill in the first two months (July-August) of the fiscal year, with just PKR 22.5 billion spent against an annual budget allocation of PKR 950 billion. The slow expenditure has been attributed to rising interest payments and political disruptions that were caused due to a change in government. Even the spent amount primarily consists of funds allocated before the caretaker government took office. This stall implies that development projects will face setbacks, as they will not receive the necessary funding to move forward. In turn, this will negatively impact the country’s already strained standard of living. Caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar has noted the challenges in public sector spending, highlighting the need for a review, particularly under the IMF program, to create a primary surplus. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Development spending stagnates amid fiscal challenges,” Dawn, 18 September 2023)
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2023
PR Exclusive Update 09
Major political parties walking away from the PDM coalition
On 18 September, an editorial in Dawn reported that as the country gears for elections, major political parties with sizeable vote banks in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition are pushing away, as they feel they do not need the platform. Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) spokesperson Aslam Ghori stated that the alliance was a short-term strategy “to end the hybrid regime,” and the PML-N senator Irfan Siddiqui expressed that the PDM was established based on the electoral alliance. PDM was formed to oust Imran Khan’s PTI government, after which the PDM coalition has become redundant. (Kalbe Ali, “As elections near, major players steer away from PDM,” Dawn, 18 September 2023)
POK
Gilgit Baltistan: Skardu city is power-starved
On 18 September, The News International reported on Gilgit- Baltistan’s capital Skardu power issues. Gilgit- Baltistan is the ideal tourist spot for trekkers and mountaineers. Skardu was given an international airport in 2021 with tourists flying from Dubai. There has been an exponential rise in Skardu’s tourism business with expansive valleys. The region faces the woes of poor power generation where many locals have to travel to other cities to continue to work in the winter season. The city is facing power starvation even though there is potential to generate electricity from wind, solar, and hydro powers. The Satpara Dam generates only 13MW of electricity where the city demands at least 45MV in winter and 30 MW. The authorities have failed to install an effective system to generate proper power flow. (Alefia T Hussain, “Skardu’s battle to stay lit,” The News International, 18 September)
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