PML-N to start meetings for party ticket decision; Pakistan Navy installs its ship in the Gulf of Aden
In Brief
JUDICIARY
Supreme Court: Repatriation of “Illegal migrants” bound to UN convention rights of refugees
On 1 December, Supreme Court Judge Justice Ayesha A. Malik stated that they are bound to observe the United Nations conventions on the rights of refugees. The remarks were made at the hearing petition demanding to restrict the government’s policy to deport “illegal migrants” especially Afghan nationals. The bench noted that the deportation of migrants provision was also based on “constitutional interpretation,” the petitioner PPP senator Farhatullah Babar questioned the mandate of the interim government to deport illegal Afghan migrants/refugees. He said: “Afghan citizens are being treated inhumanely by the government of Pakistan,” and that the interim governments do not have constitutional authority to make lasting policy-based decisions. (Haseeb Bhatti, “Pakistan bound by UN conventions protecting rights of refugees: Justice Ayesha,” Dawn, 1 December 2023)
ELECTIONS
MOM-P to contest in polls after threatening to boycott them
On 1 December, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) announced that they would be contesting in the upcoming polls and retracting their vow to boycott the polls. The party accused the delimitation and the election commissioner’s support of PPP was unfair. They accused the Sindh election commissioner Ejaz Anwar of “betraying the people of Karachi” and of gerrymandering. They snide that he was not a government servant by a party member of PPP and that they weren’t hopeful that the elections would be impartial. They also accused that there are flaws in the voter list and that thousands of voters are shifted to other areas. (Imran Ayub, “Despite having doubts about electoral process, MQM-P vows to contest polls,” Dawn, 2 December 2023)
Bilawal on the upcoming polls
On 1 December, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged for the public’s involvement in the country’s politics and other concerns. While addressing the Balochistan High Court Bar Association in Quetta he expressed that when the people of Pakistan wake up, no one can stop them. While discussing the future elections he commented that the former Prime Minister is set to become one again for the fourth time, hinting at Nawaz Sharif. He also criticized Imran Khan’s policies and requested that on 8 February when the election happens, they do not leave the fate of the country in the hands of two people. He also clarified that he is not against the old politicians and said: “You can adopt a new style of politics for this country even when you are old, and you can be interested in the same old style of politics even when you are young.” (Saleem Shahid, “People should decide country’s future, says Bilawal,” Dawn, 2 December 2023)
PML-N to start meetings for party ticket decision
On 1 December, PML-N kickstarted the process for the selection of candidates for national and provincial seats. The party would start allocating the party tickets and soon finalize the candidacy. This information was shared by the PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb. The party would participate in regular board meetings to rigorously select the PML-N leader to stand for elections. (“PML-N kicks off party ticket allocations,” The Express Tribune, 2 December 2023)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan Foreign Office disappointed with Afghan's inaction against TTP
On 1 December, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch expressed its displacement with the Afghan administration’s unresponsiveness to the issue of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan terrorist group. She outlined the concerns over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. She said: “With respect to the terrorist groups, which have sanctuaries and hideouts in Afghanistan, Pakistan has serious concerns about their continued presence as these individuals and entities continue to attack Pakistan and cause loss of life inside Pakistan.” Mumtaz also stated that channels of communication should continue between the two countries and that Afghanistan should take concrete actions. (Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Kabul’s response to call for action against TTP ‘disappointing’: FO,” Dawn, 2 December 2023)
Pakistan Navy installs its ship in the Gulf of Aden
On 2 December, The News International reported that the Pakistan Navy had installed its ship in the Gulf of Aden. The ship PNS Tughril is situated to ensure the safety and security of the merchant ships travelling the area from Pakistan port. The Pakistan Navy stated that they vow to ensure freedom of navigation in the High Seas and protect the international sea line communication. It also stated: “Pakistan Navy regularly deploys its ships on Regional Maritime Security Patrols and also contributes to collaborative maritime security efforts under the ambit of Combined Maritime Forces.” They expressed that the protection of sea lines is the prime role of the navies and that the sophisticated technology would prevent them from hitting any ships. (Muhammad Anis, “Amid rising tension in Middle East: Pakistan deploys its ship in Gulf of Aden,” The News International, 2 December 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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Naseer Memon, ‘Poll challenges after the deluge’
Dawn, 1 December 2023
“THE effects of the unprecedented floods of 2022 are not confined to the loss of life, assets and livelihood. Little attention has been paid to understanding how the deluge’s after-effects can disenfranchise a large population if not addressed immediately.”
Shahzad Chaudhry, ‘When demons hold you back’
The Express Tribune, 1 December 2023
“A free and fair election in these conditions is unlikely to be so perceived by the wider electorate hence any outcome will be heavily qualified. This only leaves space for a composite, even if representative, outcome to continue the path to incremental restoration of essential elements of governance, economy and to engender hope. It will also help move politics out of the detent it is currently stuck in, and still be a better option than persisting with a limping non-democratic order.”
Arif Azad, ‘Rooted in evidence’
Dawn, 1 December 2023
“An earlier multi-country initiative, Strengthening Evidence Use for Development Impact, has focused on increasing the use of evidence in policymaking in Uganda, Ghana and Pakistan. Its flagship report on policymaking in the areas of child labour, education and economic development in Pakistan spotlighted the centrality of using evidence. But there was no further follow-up. The Global Evidence Commission, in its 2022 report and the follow-up 2023 update, further reinforced the importance of improving the use of evidence by formalising domestic evidence-support systems, leveraging global evidence architecture and placing evidence at the heart of policymaking at all levels.”
Naeem Sadiq, ‘Why sink in our own sewage?’
The Express Tribune, 1 December 2023
“Pakistan dumps 99% raw municipal sewage and industrial effluent into sea and other water bodies. The country’s once functional sewage treatment plants in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad have been largely rendered dysfunctional by encroachments, stolen machinery, ghost staff, lack of maintenance and misgovernance. Sinking in one’s own sewage may best describe our existing environmental status.”
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“This period of calm is only there to build upon, not to settle down in.”
- An opinion in Dawn, ‘Delaying elections’
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