PTI holds workers' convention; IMF demands for a climate change budget
In Brief
EXTERNAL
Caretaker PM’s UAE visit raises questions over election law violation
On 26 November, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar left for a three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is being questioned for potential violation of election laws. Section 230(2)(d) of the Elections Act 2017 restricts caretaker governments from entering major international negotiations with foreign countries. The visit is said to involve the signing of memorandums of understanding in various sectors. Further, the caretaker government has said it would provide “an opportunity to advance bilateral ties in all spheres including political, economic, trade, investment, cultural, defence and people-to-people relations.” Critics argue that such engagements may exceed the caretaker government’s mandate, which is limited to routine, non-controversial, and urgent matters. (Sardar Sikander Shaheen, “Caretaker PM’s visit to UAE against electoral laws?” Business Recorder, 27 November 2023)
POLITICS
NAB team interrogates Imran Khan in Al Qadir Trust case
On 26 November, Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team visited the Adiala Jail to interrogate Imran Khan in connection with the GBP 140 million Al Qadir Trust case. The case involves allegations against Khan and his wife related to obtaining funds and land from Bahria Town Ltd. The NAB accused Khan of misleading the cabinet and illegally benefiting from the recovery of funds in the money laundering case against real estate tycoon Malik Riaz. The investigation focuses on the adjustment of funds against the liabilities of Bahria Town Karachi. (Syed Irfan Raza, “Imran quizzed for hours by NAB in Al Qadir Trust case,” Dawn, 27 November 2023)
Jamaat-e-Islami chief criticises Zardari, calls for neutral Institutions in upcoming elections
On 26 November, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq criticised Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, for predicting the formation of a “national unity government” after the upcoming general elections. Haq “those who have been in power for the last 76 years” for bringing Pakistan “to the brink of destruction.” He also said that the “children of Pakistan are in the IMF shackles of slavery” due to loans Pakistan has taken from the IMF, resulting in Washington taking decisions instead of Islamabad. On these lines, Haq called for neutral institutions in the upcoming elections and urged the nation to elect honest leadership. (“Siraj slams Zardari for ‘national unity govt’ forecast,” The Express Tribune, 27 November 2023)
PPP Senator Mandviwalla disputes appointment as chief whip in Senate
On 27 November, The News International reported that former PPP federal minister Senator Saleem H. Mandviwalla disputed his nomination as the chief whip in the Senate, claiming he was appointed without his consent. Mandviwalla, who is also the Chairman Standing Committee on Finance in the Senate, stated that he “about the appointment through TV news bulletin and had no prior knowledge about it.” The appointment was announced by the caretaker Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. Mandviwalla plans to consult with party leaders Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari before taking any action. (Muhammad Saleh Zaafir, “Mandviwalla says made chief whip without his consent,” The News International, 27 November 2023)
PPP objects to the nomination of Ishaq Dar as leader of the House in the Senate
On 27 November, the Business Recorder reported that Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar nominated PML-N leader Ishaq Dar as the Leader of the House in the Senate. However, sources indicate that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has raised objections to Dar’s nomination. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani claimed to have received consent from the Kakar to “retain Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar as Leader of the House.” The PPP has questioned the use of the title of Leader of the House by Dar when there is no elected government. (“PM nominates Dar as leader of house in Senate,” Business Recorder, 27 November 2023)
PTI holds workers' convention
On 26 November, PTI activists carried out a workers' convention in various districts of Pakistan. The conventions were held in Karak, Swat, and Abbottabad respectively. Amidst the convention, the police arrested the activists for initiating the convention. According to the activists from Upper Dir over 60 PTI were arrested, meanwhile in the Swat region, 200 people were arrested. However, the Karak division held a considerable amount of people who were holding the party’s flags and chanted slogans lauding the party chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The PTI central senior vice president Sher Afzal Marwat was set to arrive instead he wasn’t able to reach the destination. Abdul Malik, a close assistant to Mr Marwat apprised that, “We tried our best to reach the venue of the convention but the closure of roads by police left Mr Marwat and his companions with no option but to return to Islamabad.” Despite the restrictions imposed by the police, the activists did not surrender. ( “Amid police crackdown, PTI holds workers’ conventions,” Dawn, 27 November 2023)
ECONOMY
PKR 34 recovered in electricity theft drive
On 27 November, according to the statistics about PKR 34 billion was recovered from 125, 142 people who have arrested for electricity theft. This statistical report was reported from 7 September to 31 October. Around PKR 12 billion in electricity theft was reduced from September 2023 to October 2023. PKR 36,547 million is said to be recovered from 1 November to 19 November from14, 769 people who have seized. PKR 175 million was rescued from 1990 people who were arrested from Islamabad. An average of 1,617 from Gujranwala and Faisalabad were arrested respectively. (“Rs34b recovered, thousands held in anti-power theft drive,” The Express Tribune, 27 November 2023)
IMF demands for a climate change budget
On 26 November, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gas apprised that the government of Pakistan’s FY2024-25 budget should be allocated for climate change adaptation, where it focuses on planning and executing policies for climate change investment. This comes in line as Pakistan seeks international support at the global climate conference (COP28) in Dubai. The IMF stated, “There is a need to be transparent on climate-related actions that have budgetary implications to support policy making and climate financing.” Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar is leading a high-level delegation to attend the COP28 which begins on 30 November. The Ministry of Planning and Development stated, “Pakistan is all set to plead its case in COP28.” It was “aligning the future of Pakistan with the blueprint for a sustainable future, presented by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination” according to the ministry. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Next budget must adapt to climate change demands, IMF tells Pakistan," Dawn, 27 November 2023)
SECURITY
Terrorists killed by security forces
On 26 November, according to the media affairs wing of Pakistan, about eight terrorists were killed by security forces during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan district. The statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), IBO conducted its actions in the district’s Sararogha area where terrorists are presumed to be residing. The ISPR stated, “The killed terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well the innocent civilians. Arms, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from killed terrorists.” (Iftikhar Shirazi, “8 terrorists killed in intelligence-based operation in South Waziristan: ISPR,” Dawn, 27 November 2023)
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“At present, elements hostile to Pakistan are making numerous conspiracies against Pakistan through internal and external facilitators, but Alhamdulillah, Pakistan Army is keeping the country and nations united by thwarting every conspiracy. #PakistanArmy”
- Khan Zadi
“#Makran Coastal Highway, Pakistan, The N-10 or National Highway 10 is a 653 km national highway in Pakistan which extends along Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast from Karachi in Sindh province to #Gwadar in Balochistan province. It passes the towns of Ormara and Pasni #Pakistan”
- Palwasha Umrani
“Salute to the bravery and commitment of #Pakistan's security forces! Their successful intelligence-based operation in Sararogha reflects their unwavering dedication to eradicating terrorism. We stand united with our forces in ensuring peace and security. #IsraeliNewNazism #Gaza’
- NaghmaTajik
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Ajaz Ahmed, ‘Climate adaptation’
Dawn, 27 November 2023
“SOCIETIES across the globe face the hardest and most long-lasting challenge to human progress in terms of climate change. Many regions are already feeling the severe impact of climate change. The developing countries, with their limited preparedness to respond to natural disasters triggered by climate change, are especially vulnerable. Thus, reducing the risk of climate catastrophes and developing the resilience of vulnerable communities has become an increasingly urgent task. However, tackling the impact of climate change in fragile settings requires transformative, and not incremental, action. This is practically impossible without having adequate resources and the technical expertise required to make infrastructure and livelihood resilient to climate change. Yet, there is a substantial shortfall of resources, resulting in an adaptation gap, which is the difference between the climate adaptation needs of a society in terms of resources and what has been done to make social and economic systems resilient to climate change.”
Dr Farzana Bari, ‘Invisible women’
The News International, 27 November 2023
“The recently released UNDP 2023 Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) reveals the shocking persistence of gender biases globally. The index tracks people’s attitudes towards women across four dimensions – political, education, economic and physical integrity in both lower and higher HDI countries. Covering 85 per cent of the world’s population, the GSNI reveals that a staggering nine out of 10 men and women still hold gender biases against women, indicating that 90 per cent of the world’s population holds at least one bias against women. Twenty-five percent of the population believe it is justified for a man to physically harm his wife. Nearly half of the respondents believe men are better suited for political leadership, and 43 per cent hold the belief that men make better business executives compared to women. Furthermore, 28 per cent people think that higher education is more important for men than for women.”
Enem Ali Abbas, ‘Creating public value’
The News International, 27 November 2023
“Countries like Pakistan struggle for reforms because they struggle with perception more than the dearth of resources required to deliver on these reforms. Most of the decisions the government takes cannot be termed entirely as informed or more appropriately intelligent decisions because of the perception factor backed by abnormal public reaction to the same. This engages government machinery in a rut of routine affairs and quick fixes. Take torrential rains for example; the explanation by the chairperson of the PPP was quite logical but it was made fun of. Rains flood modern cities all over the world but the moment it rains in our country, we start comparing our country with modern countries – that too without any clue. We want government machinery to dry out cities miraculously even before the rain stops. This does not rid government machinery or public representatives of their duties to ensure drying of ponding points, but this asks for bigger questions at the same time.”
Sarwar Bari, ‘Beyond level-playing-field’
The Express Tribune, 27 November 2023
“Since 1970, no government ousted from the Centre ever won the election that followed. Not because the electorates didn’t vote for the ousted party again. In fact, they did. And in some cases, even with higher numbers. Yet, the parties would lose seats disproportionately. For instance, in GE-1988, PPP secured 7.5 million votes, and its nearest rival, the PMLN-led IJI, got 5.9 million. The PPP’s government was not even allowed to complete two years in power. In the next election, the PPP’s vote bank in fact surged to 7.8 million, but its seats in National Assembly dropped from 93 to 44. IJI’s vote bank also increased by 2 million to 7.9 million, but its seats increased from 54 to 105. PMLN-IJI formed the next government, but faced the same fate that it had designed for the PPP only a couple of years back. Isn’t it magical that in 1993 election, PPP’s vote bank dropped to the 1988 level, but its seats increased by two-fold to 86. While PMLN maintained its vote bank of the 1990, its seats dropped by 32 to 73. Resultantly, it faced the same fate that the PPP had faced in the 1990 election.”
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“The future trajectory of this critical relationship has far-reaching repercussions for the world.”
- An opinion in Dawn, US-China thaw?
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