PAKISTAN READER

Photo : Dawn

JUI-F to abstain from presidential elections and sit on opposition benches in Parliament

In Brief
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2024
PR EXCLUSIVE UPDATE #77
JUI-F to abstain from presidential elections and sit on opposition benches in Parliament
On 3 March, while addressing a press conference in Karachi, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that his party would abstain from voting in the presidential elections, reiterating this stance to the leaders of the coalition government who sought his support recently. Rehman added that he “personally” wanted to vote for the opposition candidate Mehmood Khan Achakzai; however, the party’s decision to abstain from voting was “supreme” over his “personal wishes.” He ruled out all the possibilities of aligning with the government, saying “no one should have any doubt” about the fact that the JUI-F would sit on the opposition in the parliament. While accusing the establishment of “stealing and managing” the mandate of the Pakistani people, he hinted at launching a “countrywide protest campaign” against the “rigged elections.” Rehman specifically spoke on  the provincial assemblies in Sindh and Balochistan, alleging that the mandates were “bought” by spending money. He further accused the establishment of coming up with a “weird plan distributing mandate on its own ignoring people’s will and votes.”  Speaking about a “grand alliance” of opposition parties in the parliament, Rehman chief said that he was “too early” for such a partnership. (Imran Ayub, “JUI-F to abstain, MQM-P sets conditions for presidential vote,” Dawn, 4 March 2024)
 
300 PTI activists booked for holding protests against election rigging
On 3 March, about 200 PTI activists were registered in two FIRs by the local police stations for “allegedly opening fire” during the protest rallies carried by the party on 2 March. The activists threatened police officials, blocked roads and took unlawful rallies under the MPO ordinance. Police officials further alleged that the protesters burnt tyres, carried petrol bombs, and threw stones at police. On the other hand, in Gujrat, around 100 PTI workers, two ticket-holders and11 lawyers were booked by the Gujrat police for holding a protest demonstration and blocking roads. The Civil Lines police lodged a case under sections 341, 290, 291, 147 and 147 of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960, against at least 46 nominated and 60 unidentified PTI workers. Senior PTI leader and former Federal Minister Chaudhary Moonis Elahi condemned the registration of the cases and the actions of the police. (“Protest rallies against ‘rigging’: 300 PTI activists booked in Bahawalpur, Gujrat,” Dawn, 4 March 2024)
 
PML-N MNAs express hope that “journey to progress” will continue under Shehbaz Sharif
On 3 March, members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from PML-N members stated that the “journey to progress,” that came to a pause in 2018, would continue under the tenure of Shehbaz Sharif as Pakistan’s prime minister. However, other assembly members belonging to PTI, claimed that the government had no plan for the country’s progress. While talking to the media persons, PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb, said it was a “blessing” that Sharif had become the prime minister, and lamented that despite him inviting the “opposition to play role for the development of the country,” they were “not interested.” Aurangzeb also accused the PTI of trying to derail the nation. MNA Jamshed Dasti asserted that the PML-N-led government would not sustain six months, while PPP’s Aijaz Jakhrani said his party decided to support the government since the country is “going through sensitive times.” PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan vowed to release thousands of workers from jails and warned of difficulties in running the parliament if the government’s attitude did not change. (Ikram Junaidi, “PML-N MNAs say Pakistan’s ‘journey to progress’ to resume with Shehbaz’s election,” Dawn, 4 March 2024)
 
POLITICS
HRCP condemns resolution seeking to ban social media
On 3 March, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) opposed a proposed senate resolution that sought to ban all the social media platforms, and cautioned the upper house that “ill-judged” measures would breach the constitutional right to freedom of expression. A day earlier,  Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi submitted a resolution that called for a complete ban on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, claiming that they had negative implications for the future of the young generation. The HRCP chairman Asad Iqbal Butt in a statement said: “In the first instance, such a resolution is as nonsensical as it is impractical. With social media platform X having been shut down since Feb 17, it is ironic to see that political parties, state institutions, government representatives and legislators (including Senator Bahramand Tangi, who moved this resolution) continue to use X by means of virtual private networks (VPNs).” The HRCP also pointed out how social media has empowered people to share information, express their rights and mobilizes around the social and political causes. Butt added that there was “no evidence to suggest” that decisions taken by successive governments to “arbitrarily shut down social media for ‘security concerns’” had actually made Pakistan safer. (“HRCP warns against social media curbs,” Dawn, 4 March 2024)
 
PkMAP condemns raid by Quetta administration at residence of party chairman
On 3 March, the Quetta administration allegedly recovered a piece of government-owned land “illegally occupied” by the Chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Mahmood Khan Achakzai, following a raid that was condemned by the party. The PkMAP stated that this raid, which was done at Achakzai’s house, was a reaction of the “state institutions” to a speech given by the chairman in the National Assembly. Quetta’s Deputy Commissioner, Saad Asad, maintained that the raid was to reclaim a part of land owned by Achakzai, and stated that the “revenue staff and law enforcement agencies recovered the illegally occupied land and took it into custody.” The PkMAP Secretary General Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal announced protest demonstrations in response to the raid on 4 March, claiming that everybody knew the “purpose of conducting a raid at the residence of Mahmood Khan Achakzai.” (Saleem Shahid, “PkMAP slams raid in Quetta targeting Mahmood Khan Achakzai,” Dawn, 4 March 2024)
 
EXTERNAL
Khunjerab Pass opens, allowing entry to 27 Chinese containers
On 4 March, Dawn reported that 27 Chinese containers with agricultural equipment entered Pakistan after the temporary opening of the Khunjerab Pass, amid a trial run for cross-border trade. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that the Chinese side had expressed willingness to open the crossing from 1 March for a second trial, after the Chinese government had shut down the pass on 30 November 1013. In 1986, both countries had signed an agreement under which the Khunjerab Pass is to remain open from April till November-end for trade and travel. Further, on 20 October 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to make the pass operation throughout the year, after which Chinese authorities said the agreement would need to be amended. From 2 to 16 January 2024, the crossing remained open to allow three dozen Chinese containers with export items to enter Pakistan.  (Jamil Nagri, “27 Chinese containers with farm equipment enter Pakistan,” Dawn, 4 March 2024)
 
Foreign Office strongly condemns Indian seizure of Pakistan-bound consignment
On 2 March, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) issued a rebuke in response to India’s “unjustified seizure” of a commercial consignment heading toward Pakistan. The FO spokesperson, Mumtaz Baloch, condemned “India’s high-handedness in seizure of commercial goods,” and actions underscored “the dangers inherent in the arbitrary assumption of policing roles by states with dubious credentials.” Earlier on 23 January, India intercepted a Malta-flagged merchant vessel heading to Pakistan from China, inspected the cargo and allegedly found an Italian- made computer numerical control machine. Authorities claimed that this machine could potentially be used in nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, and confiscated the machine. Baloch described the machine as a “commercial lathe machine,” adding that the equipment’s specifications indicated its “purely commercial use.” She further stated: “Such acts also highlight the growing impunity of certain states in violating international norms and taking arbitrary measures in violation of international law.” (Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Seizure of commercial consignment draws FO ire,” Dawn, 3 March 2024)
 
International community congratulates Shehbaz Sharif on being elected as prime minister
On 4 March, Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry stated that Shehbaz Sharif got a “congratulatory phone call” from the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on being elected as Pakistan’s prime minister. Erdogan “expressed confidence in his [Sharif’s] ability to steer Pakistan on a path of progress and prosperity,” and both leaders “reaffirmed their commitment to further advance bilateral cooperation.” Chinese President Xi Jinping was the first to congratulate Sharif, saying that Pakistan would make greater achievements under the latter’s rule, adding that the two countries would continue their friendship and cooperation. In an official statement, the Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi congratulated Sharif and expressed confidence that the two countries would deepen their long-standing historic ties. According to ‘diplomatic sources,’ Western countries are likely to soon follow suit. There is also a European Union-Pakistan dialogue scheduled to take place on 6 March. (“Leaders of Iran, Turkiye, China congratulate Shehbaz Sharif for winning Pakistani PM election,” Arab News, 4 March 2024; Kamran Yousaf, “World seems ready to work with Shehbaz govt despite controversial polls,” The Express Tribune, 3 March 2024)
 
PROVINCES
Pakistan: Several regions battle extreme weather conditions
On 3 March, the death toll from heavy rain and snow in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) reached 27, with 38 people being injured, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of KP. This was the third consecutive day of torrential rains, which destroyed 33 houses and partly damaged 129. The Chief Minister of KP, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, directed the secretary of relief and rehabilitation to collect details of losses to compensate the families of those who were killed. He stated that the families would receive PKR one million each, with PKR 0.3 million to the seriously injured and PKR 50,000 to the minor injured persons. Gandapur also instructed authorities to prioritize reopening and rehabilitating link roads. On the same day in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), power and water supply, and communication services were disrupted and thousands were left stranded as major roads remained closed. As per the GB Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), rainfall began on 1 March leading to landslides that forced roads like the Kakoram Highway to remain shut. Remote areas were worse hit. On 2 March, in parts of Balochistan and Quetta, temperatures dipped below zero forcing people to stay indoors. Main highways and inter-provincial roads remained closed as the region was hit with Siberian winds that led to water pipelines freezing and bursting. On 3 March, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, formed a committee headed by Balochistan’s Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, to submit a report in 20 days on the damage caused by the rains in Gwadar. (Mohammad Ashfaq, Jamil Nagri & Saleem Shahid, “Inclement weather takes its toll across the country,” Dawn, 4 March 2024; “CM Gandapur announces compensation as seven more killed in rain-hit KP,” Dawn, 4 March 2024; Behram Baloch, “CM Bugti forms committee for damage assessment in Gwadar,” Dawn, 4 March 2024)
 
Punjab: Conclusion of 2024’s second national immunization polio eradication campaign
On 3 March, the Punjab Emergency Operations Centre stated that the second national immunization polio eradication campaign of 2024 had been wrapped up in 35 districts, but was extended in Rawalpindi by a day due to excessive rains. In this campaign, 22.8 million children in Punjab were vaccinated, with Lahore topping the list of most vaccinated children. The Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre and head of the polio eradication programme in Punjab, Khizer Afzaal, instructed health officials to compile the data to begin the process of the campaign’s quality assurance. The campaign lasted for seven days in the bigger districts, and five days in the rest, with over 2,00,000 polio workers and supervisors participating. (Safdar Rasheed, “Campaign extended in Rawalpindi for a day: Punjab wraps anti-polio drive in 35 districts up,” Business Recorder, 3 March 2024)

Pakistan: PTI MNAs entered the first session of the National Assembly carrying posters of the jailed leader for the swearing-in ceremony. -Khaleej Mag   Pakistan has just one problem; unfortunately that problem thinks it’s the only solution. -Hussain Nadim   We are requesting our lawmakers in United States to give orders to fascist dictator in Pakistan that candidates elected via fraud form 47 will not acceptable at any cost. We also ask the PTI leadership to NOT accept defeat on the seats won under Form 45 election results. -Bilal Khan

“With constraints on its power the Sharif government has many challenges to navigate." -An opinion in Dawn, ‘Test of leadership'