The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority refuted the worries that the hike in petroleum prices could disrupt the supply chain.
In Brief
POLITICS
PTI women leaders rearrested
On 25 September, PTI leaders were rearrested after their release from Kot Lakhpat Jail. The Anti-Terrorism Court granted the release of the PTI party members accused of the 9 May violence with a surety bond of PKR 0.1 million. The rearrested include Sanam Javed, Afshan Tariq Asma Shuja and Shah Noor, probed under another case related to the Jinnah House violence. The accused have been incarcerated for the past four months and now are shifted again to the police station for further investigation. (“PTI women activists rearrested in Lahore soon after their release,” Dawn, 26 September 2023)
CJP Qazi Faez Isa on pending cases and adjournment of case for future
On 25 September, the newly appointed Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa announced during a court hearing that the practice of adjourning the case for later will not be accepted and that no one will have to wait for six to eight months for court orders. Justice Isa expressed his discontent with the number of cases that remain under the Supreme Court and ordered that notice should be issued in the first hearing and the arguments provided in the next. Justice Isa since his appointment has been changing the course of the court by bringing in live broadcasting of full court for accountability and limits on the powers of top judges. (Jahanzeb Abbasi, “CJ Isa signals an end to case adjournments,” The Express Tribune,26 September 2023)
HRCP condemns PM Kakar’s statement on PTI chairman and party
On 25 September, the Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s statement on Imran Khan. He said that free and fair elections are possible even without the incarcerated PTI chairman Imran Khan and thousands of his supporters and party members behind bars facing or awaiting trial. HRCP chairperson Hina Jilani called the statement made by Kakar “ill-judged” and “anti-democratic” in light of the fact that the accused have not yet been found guilty. Additionally, she said that Kakar alone cannot decide as to what constitutes a “free” and “fair” election. HRCP called out the systemic attack against the PTI party and leadership by mass arrest, forced defections and the unfair treatment meted out to PTI leaders, especially Parvez Elahi. The commission urged the government from making “irresponsible, partisan statements on matters not within its mandate.” (“HRCP Deems Interim PM Kakar's Statement On Imran Khan 'Anti-Democratic', 'Ill-Judged',” The Friday Times, 25 September 2023)
CPEC
CPEC: China and Pakistan relations
On 26 September, an editorial in The Express Tribune “CPEC expansion plan in doldrums,” on the state of China and Pakistan’s economic ties as China did not agree to further their bilateral cooperation in areas of energy and water management. The op-ed expressed that Islamabad left its opposition to set up a coal-powered plant in Gwadar and that China refuses to agree to measures proposed by Pakistan. The negotiations signed upon largely exclude provisions proposed by Pakistan like the issue of financial challenges faced by power companies. They also advised that the imported fuel-based Gwadar plant converts to Thar coal. The Planning Ministry called the ratification of the 11th JCC meeting a testament to their strong cooperation. (Shahbaz Rana, “CPEC expansion plan in doldrums,” The Express Tribune, 26 September 2023)
ECONOMY
Orga warned against speculation over petroleum prices
On 25 September, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority refuted the worries that the hike in petroleum prices could disrupt the supply chain. Orga inferred that the prices were based on the value of international markets and the exchange rate. While the exchange rate has improved slightly Orga warned against any speculations of price increase or decrease in the period. The price movement could shift either way in the coming days. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Ogra cautions against ‘jumping the gun’ on petroleum prices,” Dawn, 26 September 2023)
CDWP approves USD 150 million energy capability loan
On 25 September, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved development schemes authorizing the acquisition of a USD 150 million World Bank programme aimed at energy efficiency and conservation, the package also includes a loan of USD 135 million. Pakistan is estimated to pay two per cent interest on the loan and the additional grant of USD 15 million. The loan is allocated to the Ministry of Science and Technology where the project aims to change the existing buildings to energy-efficient ones, shifting from gas dependency to electricity and on capacity building officers. (Shahbaz Rana, “$150m ‘energy efficiency’ loan okayed,” The Express Tribune, 26 September 2023)
SOCIETY
COAS applauds the Christian community's effort in national development
On 25 September, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir met with a thirteen-member delegation of the Christin community headed by the Church of Pakistan Bishop of Raiwand Dr. Azad Marshall. Inter-Services Public Relations applauded the measures taken by the Christian community and for their contribution to national development especially in the fields of education, healthcare and philanthropy. The meeting comes after the recent vandalism of a church in Pakistan and COAS expressed the need to further interfaith cooperation and harmony in Pakistan. He stressed that Islam is a religion that preaches peace and has no room for extremism and said: “No one can be allowed to take the law into their own hands in a civilized society.” (“COAS commends Christian community's contribution to national development,” The Express Tribune, 25 September 2023)
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“Total currency in circulation in Pakistan is over 9.15 trillion. One of the highest % in the world. 75% is Rs 5000 notes. Out the same at least 50% never comes in documented sectors & parallel economy. A simple answer. Demonetise old notes & issue new notes. Very simple & easy.”
-Syed Shabbar Zaidi
“'Fair' elections means no minus one, no mass arrests & rearrests, no reverse engineering, not silencing dissent & no sham accountability. It means level playing field for every one. A caretaker PM has no business to determine what is ‘fair' elections.”
- Farhatullah Babar
There is need for new party in Pakistan: Shahid Khaqan. What do friends here think? Do you think there is a need for a new federal party that focuses on reducing inflation, unemployment, poverty & illiteracy and stops worrying about their leaders’ issues?
- Miftah Ismail
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Shahzad Sharjeel, “Consensual census”
Dawn, 26 September 2023
“IN his foreword to the Census of India, 1941 report, commissioner M.W.M Yeatts likened the nature of the census exercise to “a 10-year convulsion”. He was, of course, referring to the attempts by certain sections to label the census an anthropological exercise, which he thought should be ongoing and not interspersed by 10-year intervals.”
Muhammad Hamid Zaman, “The trust issues”
The Express Tribune, 26 September 2023
“At this particular moment in time, there is a lot of discussion about reviving the economy, and getting outside investors to fund projects in the country. There are new national institutions and initiatives that go all the way to the top of the power ladder. But we should ask, why would investors from outside trust us with their resources, if we ourselves are unable to trust the system that protect the things that are most precious to us: our health and our lives. To convince others to trust us, we should build and support systems that we ourselves can trust. Public health should be at the top of that list.”
Zorain Nizamani, “God of Spinoza”
The Express Tribune, 26 September 2023
“We have politicians, bureaucrats and other very useful people making money off people’s miseries. Often leaving behind many who wish only foul upon such men. And why not? Such individuals, more often than not, garner vast amounts of wealth and fame at the behest of the notoriety that accompanies it.”
Adeel Wahid, ‘Fair play’
Dawn, 25 September 2023
“While the dynamics of Silicon Valley are completely distinct, there is still inspiration to be sought in its original story, which prominently features Arthur Rock and his key insight, that the most opportune investment is in the “intellectual book value” where the emphasis has to be “on the people who you hope will capitalise on their intellect”. As Arthur Rock would put it, it is all about “backing the right people”.”
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“It seems that political and technocratic choices for the finance ministry are limited to a few people.”
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Forever technocrats’
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