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Newly elected MPAs sworn in amid commotion for KP and Balochistan assemblies

In Brief
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2024
PR Exclusive Update #75
Newly elected MPAs sworn in amid commotion for KP and Balochistan assemblies
On 28 February, in the inaugural sessions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan assemblies, the newly elected members took their oaths of office in chaotic settings. In KP, all of the 116 provincial assembly members (MPA) brough along dozens of their own guests, leading to a commotion and broken windowpanes and the session commencing two hours late. During the session, a PML-N legislator, Sobia Shahid, had a water pot, empty bottles, and shoes thrown at her by PTI supporters after he made jest of the PTI MPAs and the conviction of Imran Khan. Meanwhile in Quetta, Balochistan, around 57 newly-elected took their oaths of office in a session that was conducted under tight security. The visitors’ gallery was filled with guests and supporters. Meanwhile, the four-party alliance encompassing, NP, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), and the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) carried out a protest against the alleged election rigging. Ghulam Nabi Marri of the BNP said that they “reject these engineered elections,” and PkMAP’s provincial chief, Qahar Wadan, stated that the “people of the province would not accept these elections.” (“K-P Assembly sworn in amid chaos,” The Express Tribune, 29 February 2024)
 
Nawaz Sharif nominates Ayaz for NA speaker, warns about the forthcoming challenges for new government
On 28 February, while addressing a PML-N parliamentary meeting, Nawaz Sharif warned about the forthcoming challenges that the incoming government would face, stating that the next two years will be crucial for a coalition with regard to economic and political instability. He expressed support for the coalition between the PML-N and the PPP, and asserted that Shehbaz Sharif would be able to revive the country from “gigantic problems.” Nawaz highlighted that the “primary goal is to provide relief to people in gas and electricity prices, tackle inflation and stabilize rupee dollar parity.” After two years, the administration will have the opportunity to fulfill the needs of the people. Along the sidelines of the meeting, Nawaz said: “Shehbaz is the party’s nominee for the office of prime minister while Sardar Ayaz Sadiq is our candidate for the post of the National Assembly speaker.” He lauded Shehbaz for his “dedicated and courageous service” and stated that he was the “best choice.”  (“Nawaz wary of challenges facing incoming govt,” Dawn, 29 February 2024; Rameez Khan, “Nawaz chooses Ayaz for NA speaker,” The Express Tribune, 29 February 2024)
 
JUI-F to boycott elections for the offices of CM, speaker, and deputy speaker of KP
On 28 February, senior JUI-F leader, Akram Khan Durrani, said that the party would boycott the  “electoral exercise” of electing the “chief minister, speaker, and deputy speaker” of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).  Durrani alleged that the JUI-F had the majority of the seats in Balochistan Assembly and could thus field its chief minister; however, it preferred to sit on the opposition and even turned down a PML-N proposal to join the federal government. He added that his party would continue its protest against election “rigging,” and that other parties had been informed of the party’s decision to boycott the electoral process set to take place in KP on 29 February. Durrani further alleged that he had videos showing his political rivals stamp ballot papers, and pointed out that “when a nation moves away from its culture and religion, then it can’t survive for long.” He also criticized the rowdy behaviour of PTI workers during the oath-taking ceremony. (“JUI-F to boycott elections for chief minister and PA speaker,” Dawn, 29 February 2024)
 
ECP reserves its verdict on petitions filed by SIC regarding allocation of reserved seats
On 28 February, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reserved its verdict on the petitions filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC wherein the party sought the allocation of reserved seats after most PTI-backed independents joined. ECP accepted the plea after President Dr Arif Alvi refused to sign the summary by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs that sought to convene a National Assembly (NA) session. According to Alvi, the reserved seats should be allocated before the commencement of the NA session. Barrister Zafar asserted that around 86 PTI-backed independents had joined the SIC, and since the SIC “is a political party which is registered and has an electoral symbol,” it has the right to form a government. When a commission member pointed out that the SIC did not contest in the polls, Zafar asserted that the independents would play a prominent role in the presidential elections, and that the Constitution mentioned who will get the reserved seat. The Chief Election Commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja, brought to light that the SIC had submitted a letter in which it said it did not contest the polls and did not want reserved seats; Zafar said the PTI was unaware of any such letter. A PPP member stated that the SIC had not submitted any priority list, while a PML-N member said a political party must win a few seats to claim reserved seats Since the SIC did not contest the polls, it had no claim; further, he claimed that as per the law, independents could not be given reserved seats. The MQM-P’s lawyer added that the SIC is not a parliamentary party, and even its head “contested the elections as an independent.” Following these arguments, the ECP reserved the verdict. (Nausheen Yusuf, “Verdict reserved on SIC petitions seeking share of reserved seats,” The News International, 28 February 2024)
 
PTI to launch protests against “massive poll theft”
On 28 February, Dawn reported that the PTI issued another call for protests against the election rigging, urging all the democratic forces to join hands with it to “strengthen democracy” in the country. PTI leader and MNA-elect Sher Afzal Khan Marwat asserted that as per the directives of Imran Khan, he would conduct a country-wide protest on 2 March. He stated that if Pakistan did not speak up against the “mega polls theft,” then democracy would never flourish in Pakistan. Meanwhile, PTI leader Ali Mohammad Khan alleged that the rights of the people “were breached through large-scale rigging” across Pakistan and in Balochistan in particular. PTI leader Saler Khan Kakar alleged that in Balochistan, there was widespread rigging as seats were sold to “contractors, smugglers and apolitical figures.” He clarified that this was not a “personal fight” of the PTI but a “matter of people’s mandate” and an attempt to “save democracy in Pakistan.” Mohammad Khan requested the chief justice of Pakistan on behalf of the PTI to “launch a probe into the allegations of the Rawalpindi commissioner regarding the massive poll theft.” (Ikram Junaidi and Malik Asad, “PTI announces countrywide street protests against ‘rigging’,” Dawn, 28 February 2024)
 
“Politics is a part of family,” says an opinion in Dawn
On 28 February, in an opinion piece in Dawn titled “Good examples,” Rafia Zakaria stated that “politics is a part of the family,” as politics in Pakistan have seen and will continue to see the entire family participating in politics irrespective of gender, and contesting in different constituencies. On these lines, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was sworn in as the first female CM of Punjab. Her “lengthy” debut parliamentary speech contained “many promises” that are “often lost in ether,” including transforming Punjab into an “economic hub,” providing scholarships and internships, and establishing a helpline for women. While commending the “intentions behind the promise,” Zakaria pointed out that subsidies in Pakistan are often given to businesses instead of “ordinary folk.” The opinion lauded the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed for achieving “significant economic success” and being responsible for a 42.6 per cent increase in the share of working women. However, in Punjab, “not even a fraction of the progress seems imminent” despite a significant amount of time passing, meaning “successful programmes” providing health services in the rural areas faced obstacles. Zakaria also pointed out that hotlines are being created on a “regular basis” without any idea of “how many women have been helped in any concrete way.” In Pakistan, a woman’s surname can be “powerful enough to allow her to transcend her gender.” This enables their achievements of carrying the “added glamour” of being the “first woman.” Zakaria concluded by advising that working towards “plain non-branded garments” would help make Maryam Nawaz a CM who “leads by example in times of complete deprivation.” (Rafia Zakaria, “Good examples,” Dawn, 28 February 2024)
 
PPP candidate Murad Ali Shah sworn in as the CM of Sindh for third time
On 27 February, the PPP’s Murad Ali Shah was sworn in as the 25th chief minister of Sindh. The oath- taking ceremony was administered by Governor Kamran Tessori with multiple PPP officials present. Shah vowed to guide the province on the path towards prosperity, unity, and progress while upholding the constitution. This is the third time in a row that Shah was elected as chief minister. While talking to Dawn, PPP member Sharjeel Memon asserted that Shah had prioritized the provision of potable water to all parts of the province, along with a focus on “curbing street crimes” and maintaining “law and order.” (Tahir Siddiqui, “Murad Ali Shah sworn in as Sindh chief minister,” Dawn, 28 February 2024)
 
PTI to seek contempt proceedings against ECP for non-compliance with SHC order
On 27 February, three PTI candidates sought contempt proceedings against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for not complying with the 13 February Sindh High Court Order. They accused the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, four ECP members and the Sindh election commissioner for allegedly not making a decision with regard to the PTI’s election complaints, flouting electoral laws, and rigging the polls. The PTI’s Sindh President alleged that he was leading in NA-238 with 65,000 votes; however,  the results were changed at the office of the RO. The other two PTI-candidates submitted similar applications. Earlier on 13 February, the applicants submitted the complaints regarding the election results to SHC; however, the court disposed of the petitions and ordered ECP to solve the complaints by 22 February. They further added that ECP had been requested to resolve the discrepancies in Forms 45 and 47; however, the alleged contemnors dismissed their complaints without speaking orders. Barrister Ali Tahir said that the ECP had rejected the complaints of around 50 PTI- backed candidates and the other candidates were also set to approach the SHC. (Ishaq Tanoli, “PTI seeks contempt proceedings against ECP,” Dawn, 28 February 2024)
 
PML-N and PPP to decide on the formation of a “new coalition government”
On 27 February, PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar stated that Shehbaz Sharif called for a “meeting of allied parties” on 28 February, in which the “formation of a new government will be discussed.” He added that both PPP and PML-N would field their joint candidates for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker of the national and Balochistan assemblies. Dar confirmed that both parties would support each other in the “functioning of the next government,” and have a clear plan on how to revive the country’s economy. He also touched upon the fact that the PML-N could “make reconciliation with the PTI, though 9 May incidents make it difficult.” Further, despite JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman alleging of rigging in the elections, Dar highlighted that the PML-N had been open to aligning with the JUI-F in Balochistan and the Centre. (Syed Irfan Raza, “Coalition to hammer out govt formation issues today,” Dawn, 28 February 2024)
 
JUI-F chief states party “will not become part of any government”
On 27 February, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman asserted that his party was not willing to join any government, was not keen to take the role of the opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, and would stay away from the presidential polls. He said: “It is our principled stance that we will not become part of any government.” Rehman clarified that the JUI-F had “not been pushed out of system” but had “decided to stay out of it,” adding that the party not want to “see politicians rely” on the “security establishment.” He criticized the establishment for “rigging in the 8 February elections,” pointing out that the establishment requested political parties to field particular candidates in key positions. Emphasizing that the parliament should represent the people and not the establishment, he warned that the upcoming government and system “will collapse.” Speaking on JUI-F’s association with the PTI, Rehman said despite the parties having “many obstacles to overcome” and “differences” to resolve, it was a “good beginning.” (“Fazl says his party not interested in PA opposition leader’s slot,” Dawn, 28 February 2024)
 
POLITICS
Kakar asserts that Pakistan as a whole cannot be held accountable for missing Baloch students
On 28 February, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar appeared in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) with regard to the missing Baloch students, and stated that Pakistan as a whole could not be blamed for the missing persons. This statement was in response to a remark made by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, who said that Pakistan was to blame if people went missing, and that state institutions were not above the law. Of the 59 students who had gone missing, four are yet to be found. The Attorney General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, reported that 11 students had been recovered recently; two were with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, and nine were in the custody of the Counter-terrorism Department (CTD). Kakar highlighted the armed struggle that is ongoing in Balochistan, that instigated that deployment of paramilitary forces and counter-terrorism agencies. He cited incidents of terrorism, including the killing of a former chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, people being “burnt alive on a bus on the Coastal Highway,” and people being killed if their surname was “Chaudhry or Gujjar.” With regard to these incidents of terrorism, which Kakar alleged killed 90,000 people, he questioned why not even 90 people were punished as the “Constitution requires its citizens to be unconditionally loyal to the state.” Kayani responded by acknowledging that the state institutions had failed by not prosecuting the perpetrators, emphasizing that the “law should be followed.” (Fiaz Mahmood, “PM says blaming state for missing persons not justified,” The Express Tribune, 28 February 2024)
 
President Alvi calls for an NA session and approves summary, shifting from earlier stance
On 28 February, President Arif Alvi shifted from his earlier stance of refusing to approve a summary seeking the summoning of the National Assembly (NA). In regards to this, a formal notification was issued: “Whereas, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affair has been pleased to approve that arrangements for the first sitting of the National Assembly may be made in terms of clause (2) of Article 91.” Later that day, Alvi approved the summary and called for a session on 29 February, with a statement adding that Alvi felt he “could not be oblivious of some incongruities in the electoral process and the process of formation of the Government.” The statement also claimed that Alvi “had to keep national interest in his view,” and the summary was returned “in accordance with the provisions of Article 48 (1). (Syed Irfan Raza and  Iftikhar A. Khan, “Alvi relents at eleventh hour, calls NA sitting himself,” Dawn, 29 February 2024)
 
Rawalpindi court indicts Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in GBP 190 million corruption case
On 27 February, a Rawalpindi accountability court indicted Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the GBP 190 million corruption case. The hearing, which took place at Adiala Jail, was regarding the corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in December 2023 against accused Khan, Bibi, and six others in connected with the Al-Qadir University. As per the case, Khan allegedly played a “pivotal role in the illicit transfer of funds meant for the state of Pakistan into an account designated for the payment of land by Bahria Town, Karachi.” It further alleged that the accused were “were given multiple opportunities to justify and provide information, but they deliberately, with malafide intention, refused to provide the information on one or the other pretext.” Bushra Bibi was described of playing a “significant” and “crucial” role in these “illegal activities.” The other six who were accused in the case were declared proclaimed offenders and their property was frozen. (Umer Burney, “Imran, Bushra Bibi indicted in £190m graft case,” Dawn, 27 February 2024)
 
ECONOMY
Committee denies NEPRA allegations that accused Discos of deliberate overbilling
On 28 February, a four-member inquiry committee on ‘Abject Failure — Illegal Overbilling’ absolved Discos of ‘‘deliberate and mala fide’ fleecing after confirming the overcharging allegations, and shifted some of the blame to the decisions taken by the then PDM-led coalition, and NEPRA for jumping to conclusions and issuing “extreme allegations.” The committee, led by the former Federal Secretary Irfan Ali, interviewed and collected data from all the stakeholders within the Discos, NEPRA, and technical resources like Power Information Technology Company (PITC) and Power Planning & Monitoring Company (PPMC). Earlier, an investigation by NEPRA found significant billing malpractices by all Discos, after which the Prime Minister’s Office instructed the Power Information Technology Company (PITC) to form the committee. The committee asserted that Dicos needed to address the issue of inaccurate and “delayed reading” of the meters on an “immediate basis.” It pointed out that the increase in tariff on 26 July 2023 that came into effect on 1 July, resulted in “a sudden increase in electricity bills heavily encumbering the common man’s capacity to pay.” However, the committee disagreed with NEPRA’s allegation of deliberate overbilling, attributing it to extreme weather, general holidays, and shortage of meter reading staff; it instead asserted that the inefficiency should be addressed quickly. As per the committee, if there was a deliberate fraud, the Discos would have gained more than0.22 per cent of the billing. It additionally called for a performance evaluation of all the boards and managements of the Discos. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Inquiry committee confirms overbilling by power firms,” Dawn, 29 February 2024)
 
SBP faces potential difficulties in repaying USD 1.8 billion loan to China
On 29 February, Dawn reported that as per ‘sources in the financial sector,’ the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is tasked with securing USD 1.8 billion to repay a loan from China in March. As per the source, ““The Ministry of Finance has yet not provided local currency equivalent to $1.8bn to the State Bank for making payment to China.” Though the local currency against USD 800 million has been given, the central bank is hesitant to repatriate this amount. While a balance of payments crisis was averted and the SBP has been trying to keep the foreign exchange reserves over USD eight billion, there are multiple repayments that are due. Further, the possibility of increasing imports by more than 50 per cent in the remaining half of FY24 in accordance with the IMF’s conditions could cause an increase in the current account deficit. A senior analyst pointed out that “The problem is that the IMF likes to see the reserves of the State Bank at USD nine billion at the end of this fiscal year, but the inflows and outflows have lost the balance.” Additionally, the prevailing interest rate is likely to go down, and the “industry has been suffering” as they have lost their international competitiveness. While there have been reports that China has rolled over the USD two billion loan that Pakistan has to repay in March, the Ministry of Finance is yet to confirm this. (Shahid Iqbal, “SBP arranging $1.8bn to repay China,” Dawn, 29 February 2024)
 
PKR reaches new four-month high following reports of loan rollover by China
On 28 February, the PKR appreciated to a four-month high at PKR 279.12 to one dollar, following reports claiming that China had agreed to roll over USD two billion worth deposits at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). As per the SBP, the PKR regained 0.05 per cent compared to Tuesday’s negative close, helping the central bank maintain its foreign exchange reserves above USD eight billion. These gains have helped the PKR appreciate a net ten per cent in the last five and a half months. The currency received additional support from a rise in foreign currency due to an increase in the number of remittances sent home on the onset of Ramazan. The IMF recommended the maximum difference between the dollar and the rupee to be 1.25 per cent; however, a Moody’s Investors Service on 27 February left the credit rating for Pakistan at “Caa3,” indicating difficulty in negotiating a new IMF loan. (“With loan rollover, rupee appreciates further,” The Express Tribune, 29 February 2024)
 
Volatility in KSE after president rejects summary for convening NA session
On 27 February, the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) closed in the red and lost 86.84 points, following President Dr Arif Alvi’s rejection of the summary for convening a National Assembly session. Ahsan Mehanti from the Arif Habib Corporation attributed the volatility to political uncertainty over the outcome of Alvi’s refusal, lack of clarity over a new IMF bailout deal, high inflation, and hike in gas prices, all of which instigated profit-taking by some investors. The KSE hit a high of 63,622 and a low of 63,055 levels, while both the overall trading volume and traded value fell by 9.47 per cent and 11.01 per cent respectively. Foreign investors purchased shares worth USD 0.71 million. (Muhammad Kashif, “Stocks falter as instability fears return,” Dawn, 28 February 2024)
 
Caretaker energy minister reveals circular debt in the energy sector stands at PKR 4.7 trillion
On 27 February, the caretaker Energy Minister, Muhammad Ali, said that the circular debt in the energy sector had reached PKR 4.7 trillion, with capacity payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) reaching PKR two trillion. When factoring in interest, the total circular debt in the energy sector is at PKR 5.422 trillion. While detailing that the primary circular debt in the petroleum sector stood at PKR 2.3 trillion (December 2023) and PKR 2.4 trillion (November 2023) in the power sector, Ali emphasized that the caretaker government’s recent initiatives had curbed the debt from increasing further. He also added that the power sector debt was contained within the IMF target of PKR 385 billion by the end of 2023, enabling a settlement of the circular debt in the petroleum and power sectors by 35 per cent and ten per cent respectively. Ali claimed that the anti-theft campaign launched in Pakistan against Discos in August 2023 resulted in a two per cent increase in recovery. On the matter of privatizing Discos, Ali stated that the government approved the private sector participation in two Discos through long-term concession agreements, without the sale of government assets. The minister highlighted that under the SCADA-III project by the National Transmission and Dispatch Company, 700 kilometers of optical fiber had been installed on transmission lines. Ali went on to warn that Pakistan would end up spending USD 60 billion on petroleum imports if a substantial investment was not made in indigenous energy resources and energy efficiency measures. (Israr Khan, “Energy sector circular debt reaches Rs4.7tr,” The News International, 28 February 2024)
 
JUDICIARY
Retired SC judge advises SC to revisit Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s case due to “murder of trial”
On 28 February, retired Supreme Court (SC) judge Manzoor Malik said that the presidential reference that sought to relook into the death penalty given to former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a “historical question.” He added that it was in the hands of the SC to either rectify the miscarriage of justice or brush it aside on technical grounds. Malik cited Article 187 of the Constitution, under which the SC had the authority to provide justice despite the reference being sent by the president under the court’s advisory jurisdiction. He stated that Bhutto’s trial ‘was not a trial of murder but a murder of trial,” pointing out that the sentence given to Bhutto was still considered an injustice by a section of people in Sindh. Zahid F Ebrahim, an amicus on behalf of Fatima Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto junior, said that “we will always be a prisoner to our crimes if we do not correct what we now know as plain miscarriage of justice.” Farooq H Naek, who appeared on behalf of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, further contended that the trial court violated the requirement of the due process by denying Ali Bhutto the right of appeal. (Nasir Iqbal, “SC asked to rectify ‘miscarriage of justice’ in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case,” Dawn, 29 February 2024)
 
EXTERNAL
Improvement in Pakistan’s ranking in ‘Trafficking in Persons’ report acknowledged in conference
On 28 February, at an international conference organized by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), it was stated that despite being on the Tier-II watch list, Pakistan improved its ranking in the annual ‘Trafficking in Persons’ (TIP) reports of the US State Department in the last two years. At the conference, which was directed at raising awareness on human trafficking, the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ahmad Ishaque Jehangir highlighted Pakistan’s alignment with international protocols and its cooperation. The SSDO’s Executive Director, Syed Kausar Abbas, pointed out that “despite consistently being placed on the Tier II Watch List in the US Department of State’s annual TIP reports since 2015, Pakistan’s ranking has significantly improved in the 2022 and 2023 reports.” He also noted the SSDO’s collaboration with the FIA, provincial police, and other departments to combat the TIP and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in Pakistan. There were also multiple sessions focused on increasing women’s voices on TIP efforts. (“‘Pakistan raking improves’ in US report on human trafficking,” The Express Tribune, 29 February 2024)
 
UK-Pakistan inward trade mission discusses enhancing bilateral trade ties
On 28 February, the leader of the UK-Pakistan Inward Trade Mission to the Karachi Chambers Commerce Industry (KCCI), Dr Michelle Kristy, called on Karachi’s business to make use of the opportunities given by the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). She highlighted the ongoing favourable conditions under which bilateral trade relations could be enhanced. The President of the KCCI, Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, and the President of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Nasir Awan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster trade and investment cooperation. Kristy urged the KCCI to make the International Trade Centre’s export handbook (launched at the British Deputy High Commission in Pakistan) available on its website to help Pakistani businessmen looking to export products to the UK. The Chairman of the Businessmen Group, Zubair Motiwala, acknowledged the historical ties between both countries and expressed hope that the mission would help enhance relations. He noted Pakistan’s diverse resources, investment opportunities in the agriculture sector at no cost, and how technology transfer could boost Pakistani exports. Kristy appreciated Karachi’s role as an economic hub, emphasizing the potential in deepening ties. (“UK-Pakistan inward trade mission promotes ties,” The Express Tribune, 29 February 2024)
 
US State Department spokesperson comments on allegations of poll rigging and US’ interference in Pakistan’s politics
On 27 February, the US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, asserted that the US wanted to see “see freedom of expression and the right to a free press observed in Pakistan, as is true anywhere around the world.” This statement was made with regard to a question on the allegations of rigging in the elections. He also addressed a question on America’s involvement in Pakistani politics and Imran Khan’s allegations of the US interfering in politics. Miller described the allegations as “incorrect” and “false,” asserting that the US wants “the people of Pakistan to be able to decide the future of Pakistan, including their own government.” (Wajid Ali Syed, “US rubbishes Imran’s allegation of meddling in Pak politics,” The News International, 28 February 2024; “Department Press Briefing – February 27, 2024,” US Department of State, 27 February 2024)
 
SECURITY
Intelligence operation results in death of six terrorists in North Waziristan
On 28 February, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that a fire exchange between security forces and terrorists in North Waziristan district as part of an intelligence-based operation killed six terrorists and injured a soldier. The ISPR claimed that “weapons, ammunition and explosives” were recovered from the terrorists who “remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities including target killing as well as extortion and abduction of innocent civilian.” A “sanitization operation” was underway, and locals expressed their support to combating terrorism. (Iftikhar Shirazi, “6 terrorists killed in North Waziristan IBO: ISPR,” Dawn, 28 February 2024)
 
PROVINCES
Balochistan: Heavy rains disrupt power supply, leave people shelter less
On 28 February, The Express Tribune reported that 16 hours of heavy rainfall had led the coastal city of Gwadar to become submerged in six to seven feet of water and many people to remain stranded. As the rains had detrimental effects on the already damaged infrastructure and sewage system of the city, a Balochistan Awami Party Senator, Khoda Babar, demanded the “government to ensure the launching of an immediate rescue operation.” The downpour also disrupted the power supply. A rescue operation is underway to provide relief to Gwadar. Further, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted widespread heavy rain and thunderstorm in Balochistan from 29 February to 1 March. (Syed Ali Shah, “Rains wreak havoc in Gwadar,” The Express Tribune, 28 February 2024)
 
 AF-PAK
JUI-S chief leads delegation of religious scholars to Kabul to strengthen bilateral ties
On 28 February, during a meeting between the Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Maulvi Abdul Kabir, and the Chief of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami (JUI-S), Maulana Hamidal Haq, Kabir said that “Afghan soil” would not pose a threat to any country. Haq led a delegation of Pakistani religious scholars to Afghanistan as part of “religious diplomacy,” with Kabir describing the role of scholars in bettering relations between the countries as “very important.” Kabir asserted that Afghanistan “wants good relations with all neighbours,” and since “complete peace has been established,” no one is “permitted to carry out subversive activities.” Haq told the Afghan leaders that the visits would “resolve difficulties in bilateral relations,” as Pakistani “religious scholars” want to maintain “cordial relations.” He went on to criticize the “unilateral and cruel” decision to freeze Afghanistan assets. (Tahir Khan, “Afghan soil poses no threat to any country, Taliban deputy PM tells Pakistani religious leaders,” Dawn, 28 February 2024)

Pakistan cannot progress until we do away with the trust deficit in the Government. People of Pakistan have bestowed upon a huge trust on Imran Khan via their votes on 8th Feb. This really is a great opportunity for Pakistan to capitalize on it by giving respect to the mandate and take the country forward. -Faisal Javed Khan   This is the Switzerland of Pakistan, Gwadar. The office of GDA itself is doomed by the water. It cannot defend its office, how it can make a plan to deal with the sewerage system of the entire city. -Naeema Zehri   Reminder to whom it may concern: Imran Khan won a 2/3rd majority in Pakistan's elections. Big & clear win. The people want Imran Khan as Prime Minister. The will of the Pakistani people should be respected. This is for the benefit of Pakistan and its reputation in the world. -Malhachimi

“It’s a Pyrrhic victory for a dynasty that seems to have lost much political capital.” -An opinion in Dawn, ‘Sharif dynasty’s new face’