Imran Khan, PTI founder’s plea dismissed; PM briefs on SOEs
In Brief
PROVINCE
Balochistan: Standoff between Baloch protestors and Law Enforcement Agencies
On 22 December, a tense standoff unfolded in Islamabad between Baloch women marchers and Islamabad’s Law Enforcement Agencies as the protestors opposed the latter's effort to force some of them back to Quetta on busses and keep their leader detained. Mahrang Baloch, a Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC) member who led the protest posted in X, stated that she was still in custody at the police station. The outcome was that the remaining started protesting by staying in their vehicles and refusing to leave. Akbar Nasir Khan, Islamabad police chief reached the place to negotiate with the women protestors. Before this, the police used water cannons and baton charges to scatter the Baloch women’s Long March participants before arresting several of them in different parts of the state capital. The march was organized in opposition to enforced disappearances and unlawful killings. Immediately, after being arrested, BYC filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court. During the hearing, IHC warned the police chief about causing hindrance to the protest. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) accused the police crackdown in its statement, “This treatment of Baloch citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly is inexcusable. It also reflects how little the state thinks of the protesters’ demand that their right to life and liberty be upheld.”(“Baloch women and LEAs in a stand-off’,” The Express Tribune, 22 December 2023)
Balochistan: Protesters face brutal crackdown in Islamabad over extra judicial killing sit in protest
On 22 December, In a disturbing turn of events Baloch demonstrators, who had gathered in the capital to protest against forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in their province, were subjected to a forceful crackdown by Islamabad's police. The federal government's claim that over 90% of the protesters, including women and children, had been released contradicted scenes witnessed outside the Women's Police Station later that night. Despite assurances from caretaker ministers that the majority of demonstrators had been released, videos surfaced showing police forcibly expelling Baloch women from Islamabad. The protesters, adamant in their demand for the release of all, postponed their departure until the following day, awaiting a court appearance. Protests and sit-ins broke out throughout Balochistan in reaction to the crackdown, closing roads and disrupting transportation between Quetta and Sindh. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) sought a police report on the protesters' plea against unlawful detention.(Ikram Junaidi, Malik Asad, Syed Irfan Raza, “Baloch protesters rounded up in brutal overnight action, The Dawn, 22 December 2023”)
POLITICS
Imran Khan’s Petition seeking suspension of trial court verdict in the Toshakhana case dismissed by IHC
On 21 December, the Islamabad High Court dismissed ex-premier Imran Khan’s petition seeking the suspension of the trial court’s verdict in the Toshakhana case. A two-member bench of the IHC comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Imran dismissed the application as it was not maintainable. In the judgment, they argued that “Bare reading of the application for suspension filed by the appellant shows that it was for suspension of the sentence only,” which was granted. It is to be noted that on 5 August, a trial court in Islamabad found Imran Khan guilty in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in prison. As a consequence, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Imran for five years. However, on 29 August, the IHC had suspended the trial court’s three-year prison sentence following which Imran Khan had approached the IHC seeking suspension of the verdict itself. (Umer Burney, “IHC dismisses Imran’s plea seeking suspension of trial court verdict in the Toshakhana case,” Dawn, 21/12/2023)
Imran Khan, PTI founder’s plea dismissed
On 22 December, The News report says, the result of the Islamabad High Court ruling on Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former PM, faced another blow in his Toshakhana gift scandal was being excluded from the general elections. Despite challenging his disqualification from contesting elections due to the case, the Islamabad High Court dismissed his plea. Frustrated, the PTI is now taking the case to the Supreme Court, hoping to overturn the disqualification and allow Khan to participate in the upcoming February 2024 elections. In his plea to the IHC, he tried to nullify the convictions of section 426 under CrPC as per the notification by the Election Commission of Pakistan. However, IHC’s two-member bench of Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri stated in their order, that Khan’s plea was dismissed because it was not maintainable. , Naeem Haider Panjutha, lawyer and spokesman on legal affairs, posted on X, "Imran Khan's request to suspend the decision in the Tosha Khana criminal case was rejected so that disqualification would remain in place." (“PTI to move SC as Imran Khan's disqualification remains intact,” The News, 20 December 2023)
ECONOMY
PM briefs on SOEs
On 22 December, according to the Business Recorder, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the Caretaker Prime Minister was visited by Fawad Hassan Fawad, the caretaker minister for Privatization and Inter-Provincial Coordination. The Prime Minister was updated on the privatization process of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) by the Caretaker Minister for Privatization and Inter-Provincial Coordination. (“SOEs: PM briefed about privatisation process, Business Recorder, 22 December 2023)
State Bank of Pakistan reports a decline in foreign exchange reserves
On 21 December, the State Bank of Pakistan reported a decline of $136 million in its exchange reserves due to debt repayments. The Bank further stated that this is the first time in the current fiscal year that the reserves have fallen below $7 billion and currently stand at $6.904bn. The reserves had peaked in July in the current fiscal year and had amounted to $8.75 billion. It has been decreasing since as the government has fallen short of the borrowing target set for the current fiscal year. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, external borrowing fell by 51 per cent, with $4.3bn raised compared to the $24.2bn target, and a USD 10 billion five-month target. It is to be noted that experts and analysts do not see an improvement in the domestic situation shortly primarily because the country is due for general elections on Feb 8, 2024. (Shahid Iqbal, “SBP reserves fall below $7bn in FY24,” Dawn, 22/12/23)
EXTERNAL
The Foreign Office downplays Taliban's invitation to Maulana Fazlur Rehman and denies talks with TTP
On 22 December, The Foreign Office of Pakistan downplayed the recent invitation extended by the Afghan Taliban administration to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F). The invitation was characterised as a personal visit, with the Foreign Office emphasising its lack of official knowledge about the initiative. FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated during the weekly media briefing that they were not aware of any such initiative and suggested directing inquiries to the Afghan authorities. In response to questions about private individuals' visits to foreign countries, Baloch mentioned that the Foreign Office does not comment on such matters. The spokesperson highlighted Maulana Fazlur Rehman's influential role in religious and political circles, positioning him as a key mediator. The invitation reflects the Afghan Taliban's diplomatic shift to address tensions with Pakistan, indicating a significant step toward resolving security issues and fostering cooperation between the two countries. Regarding talks with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the FO reiterated Islamabad's clear position, stating that there were no ongoing talks with the TTP and emphasising the demand for Afghan authorities to take action against TTP elements operating from Afghan soil. (Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Foreign Office downplays Taliban’s invitation to Fazl, denies talks with TTP, Dawn, 22 December 2023”)
Pakistan reorients its Afghanistan engagement policy
On 21 December, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Munir Akram in his statement at the UN Security Council’s UNAMA briefing on Afghanistan argued that any future engagements between the international community and the interim Afghan government should depend on the latter’s actions against terrorist outfits, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He also argued that if these steps are not taken then “we will see the recurrence and proliferation of terrorism from Afghanistan as happened before 9/11, threatening not only the region but the entire world.” This indicates a significant policy shift in Pakistan’s engagement with the interim Afghan government. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Pakistan has advocated engagement with the interim government in Afghanistan despite reservations of the international community arguing that it was the new reality. It is to be noted that the lack of support from Pakistan would make the Taliban regime’s goal of international recognition as the representative of Afghanistan more difficult. (Kamran Yousaf, “Pakistan redefines engagement rules with Kabul,” The Express Tribune, 21/12/2023)
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2023
PR Exclusive Update 30
PML-N Faces intraparty turmoil as factional disputes escalate regarding allocation of election tickets
On 22 December, as the nomination papers were being filed for the February 8 elections, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) found itself entangled in internal disputes over the allocation of party tickets, particularly in Punjab. The leadership rift is evident as the party prepares for the upcoming polls. Despite internal conflicts, some leaders, such as PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah, have managed to secure party tickets for their preferred candidates. Notably, Sanaullah secured a ticket for his son-in-law for the provincial assembly. Another leader, Daniyal Aziz, known for previous clashes with senior party figures, is expected to receive a National Assembly ticket after reconciling with the Sharif brothers. Sources reveal that in certain Punjab constituencies, there's fierce competition between the factions led by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and the party's chief organiser, Maryam Nawaz Sharif. This internal struggle is evident in constituencies like Jaranwala's NA-76, where Maryam supports Talal Chaudhry, while Shehbaz endorses Malik Nawab Sher Waseer. Due to the redrawing of election borders, similar tensions occur in Gujranwala and Lahore, where various groups within the PML-N back rival candidates. The PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif is close to party heavyweights Ayaz Sadiq and Sheikh Rohail Asghar, who are both affected by the leadership conundrum in Lahore. In conclusion, the PML-N grapples with internal disputes over ticket allocations as the election season unfolds, with key figures vying for influence and party representation in crucial constituencies. (Zulqernain Tahir, “PML-N confronts internal rifts over election tickets, Dawn, 22 December 2023”)
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PTI must consider Kamal Salim Swati on MNA seat from Mansehra. He is the real fighter and the most deserving. All my support and prayers for my younger brother. Best of Luck Kamal Khan.
-Atif Khan
Ali Ahsan, son of Aitzaz Ahsan would be joining Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He is likely to contest from Lahore.
-Jasim Chatha
The Prime Minister of Pakistan has made a significant statement, acknowledging that the Kashmiris under occupation are essentially Pakistanis under foreign control. He questions the legitimacy of allowing one's own people to be under the occupation of foreign forces.
-Soza Jahan
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Faisal Bari, ‘Tourism and mindset’
Dawn, 22 December 2023
“At about 35 per cent, the female labour force participation rate is low in Turkey, compared to developed countries, but is still a lot higher than the 22pc or so in Pakistan. And it shows: women are visible in all shops, restaurants and places of business. Formal labour market participation in the larger cities might be higher than in the smaller cities or rural areas, but it shows in how public spaces are structured and how they provide a more open and welcoming environment for all, irrespective of gender, in shops, etc.”
Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, ‘Baloch question’
Dawn, 22 December 2023
“Why is it that raising such demands is so taboo? And why is it especially taboo for Baloch youth to state what pretty much everyone in Pakistan already knows: that there are some functionaries of the state who do what they want and cannot be held to account.”
Editorial, ‘Flies on the wall’
Dawn, 22 December 2023
“It is common practice the world over for intelligence agencies to monitor suspected hostile actors and foreign agents who intend to harm the country. To do so is no doubt necessary — while following SOPs to avoid violating the rights of innocent people. But to extend these powers to secretly record personal conversations of public figures and private citizens cannot be justified.”
Editorial, ‘Forgotten citizens’
Dawn, 22 December 2023
“While Pakistan has prisoner transfer agreements with countries like the UAE, the effectiveness of such arrangements is questionable, given the continuing plight of citizens abroad. The lack of access to legal rights, impartial translators, and adequate legal counsel worsens matters, often leading to disproportionately harsh punishments, including the death penalty.”
Shahzad Chaudhry, ‘How predictable are the next elections?’
The Express Tribune, 22 December 2023
“So, the next election is as open as an election should be. Especially in the wake of a period of governance which has seen most political players fail at harnessing the country’s potential and carving a way out of its multiplying troubles. From a presumptive winner, to a dark horse, to an unlikely throw-up, the options and permutations are as many as slips between the cup and the lips. PTI voters will likely write their own tale with their feet.”
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“Our currently passive and perverse political intelligentsia needs to have more integrity.’
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Facts, questions & solutions’
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