PAKISTAN READER

Photo : Dawn

PML-N becomes the largest party in Parliament

In Brief
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2024
PR EXCLUSIVE UPDATE #79
PML-N becomes largest party in NA after distribution of reserved seats
On 6 March, Dawn reported on the PML-N becoming the largest political party in the National Assembly (NA), after the reserved seats that were not given to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) were distributed among three political parties. The PML-N’s seats increased to 123 from 107, and the PPP’s to 73 from 68. The number of JUI-F lawmakers also increased from seven to 11. Aside from this, in the NA, the MQM-P has 22 members, the PML-Q has five, the IPP has four, and the PML-Zia, Balochistan Awami Party, Balochistan National Party (Mengal), National Party, and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party have one member each. Of the 99 independents who won the election, nine did not join any party. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI-backed independents had won 91 seats compared to the 19 seats secured by other parties combined, the JUI-F has been allotted ten reserved seats, the PML-N has been given eight, the PPP has been given six, and the ANP and PTI-P one each. (Iftikhar A Khan, “PML-N gets lucky as reserved seats doled out,” Dawn, 6 March 2024)
 
KP CM meets Imran Khan to discuss forming provincial cabinet
On 5 March, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Ali Amin Gandapur, met with Imran Khan to discuss the formation of the provincial cabinet. Khan’s spokesperson, Raoof Hasan, stated: “It is the right of Mr Gandapur to announce the names of the cabinet members himself. I hope announcement will be made soon.” Gandapur explained that the PTI decided to “dissolve both assemblies of KP and Punjab for the democracy and the people of Pakistan.” He added that while Khan would decide on reconciling with the establishment, the PTI would never reconcile with the PML-N government, which was formed by “stealing the seats” that were originally won by the PTI. Despite this, the party intended to work smoothly with the federal government, while not compromising over the claim of its sets in the Centre. (Ikram Junaidi, “CM Gandapur meets Imran to finalise KP cabinet,” Dawn, 6 March 2024)
 
PTA claims Ministry of Interior called for internet suspension on polling day
On 5 March, The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said to a Sindh High Court (SHC) bench that the Ministry of Interior had called for the suspension of mobile services on 8 February. The authority said that since it was “under a legal obligation to comply with the instructions/directions based on the reports of intelligence agencies.” As part of a petition filed by activist Jibran Nasir against the closure of online services, there was a letter from the Ministry of Interior, dated 8 February and containing directives for the “temporary suspension of mobile services” on the pretext of “security environment.” The PTA was directed to ask cellular mobile operators to suspend services, and resume services the next day. Following these statements, the SHC gave the ministry time to respond till 20 March. (Ishaq Tanoli, “No network shutdown ordered after polling day, says PTA,” Dawn¸6 March 2024)

Army top brass expresses “dismay” over “unsubstantiated allegations of interference” in elections
On 5 March, during the 263rd Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military’s top brass “expressed dismay” that some parties and social media segments were “maligning the armed forces” with “unsubstantiated allegations of interference” in the poll process. This was in response to the legitimacy of the elections being questioned by the PTI, JUI-F, and GDP. JUI’s Chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, additionally alleged that the establishment “continues to interfere in the democratic process.” Following this, on 6 March, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a press release underscored that the armed forces helped maintain a secure environment for the elections and “had nothing to do with the electoral process.” It described the fact that “small segments of polity and media” were focusing on “creating political instability” instead of “real issues,” as “highly deplorable.” As the forum expressed its belief in “democratic consolidation” as the best way forward for Pakistan, the top brass said instead of “resorting to unconstitutional and uncalled for baseless political rhetoric and emotional outbursts,” a “due legal process” would take place with evidence. (Iftikhar Shirazi, “Army top brass dismayed at ‘unsubstantiated allegations’ of interference in electoral process,” Dawn, 5 March 2024)
 
ECP put on notice by Peshawar High Court, asked to respond to allegations of manipulated results
On 5 March, the Peshawar High Court put the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on notice, seeking its reply to the pleas of seven PTI-backed independents against the non-provision of documents containing poll results from the commission and returning officers (ROs). The petitioners asked the court to deem the act of denying attested copies of election results as illegal, asked for CCTV footage of the process, and alleged that Ros manipulated results and issued Form 47 that declared their rivals as winners. The three lawyers appearing for the petitioners argued that the failure to upload relevant Forms on the ECP’s website within 14 days of the polling, and now allowing the “public inspection” of election documents, were in violation of the Elections Act 2017. They detailed that after counting the votes following the polls on 8 February, a signed Form 45 that was given to the petitioners’ polling agents indicated their victory; however, when they asked the ROs for the result compilation for the provisional consolidation, they were not allowed to enter. The lawyers further alleged that their votes were reduced the next day and other candidates were declared as returned. Upon approaching the ECP on this, the petitions were rejected, and upon approaching the ROs, the responsibility of providing attested copies of forms 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49 was constantly shifted. The court fixed 7 March as the next date for the hearing. (“High court seeks ECP’s response in election ‘manipulation’ case,” Dawn, 6 March 2024)
 
SC claims it will not interfere in working of the ECP unless constitution is violated
On 5 March, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that it would not interfere in the operations of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), except in cases where there was a violation of the constitution. JUI-F’s Khalilur Rahman asked a three-member bench, headed by the chief justice, to call for re-polling at 11 polling stations of Balochistan’s PB-7 constituency. This appeal was denied as the chief justice claimed that the SC would not interfere in the ECP’s working unless it had been made aware of any illegal or unconstitutional act. Rahman was asked to approach the relevant forum and submit proof of election rigging. The chief justice added: “The Constitution is very clear, the Election Commission [of Pakistan] is a constitutional body and it must be respected.” (Jahanzeb Abbasi, “SC not to interfere in ECP’s work, says CJ,” The Express Tribune, 6 March 2024)
 
PTI leaders call for protests against ECP following distribution of reserved seats
On 5 March, PTI leaders including Sher Afzal Marwat, Shandana Gulzar, and Atif Khan announced that they would stage protests against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on 10 March after the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) was denied reserved seats, which were distributed among other parties including the PML-N and the PPP. The PTI accused the ECP of misusing its power as allocating the reserved seats to other parties contradicted the will of individuals who voted for the PTI. These leaders also criticized the condition of Pakistan’s economy, accusing the Sharif family of sending wealth abroad and calling on the IMF to conduct an audit of the election process. Only if the government was deemed legitimate should it be granted loans. Marwat pointed out that the opposition was unified in protests, and promised a historic demonstration against the ECP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). On the same day, PTI’s Asad Qaiser announced a nationwide movement against allegations of “stealing” of PTI’s mandate, and asserted that the PTI “will not back down as our war is not for [the survival] of just our politics but for the nation.” (“Reserved seats: PTI announces protest against ECP on Sunday,” The Express Tribune, 5 March 2024)
 
POLITICS
PML-N led coalition eyes three constitutional amendments
On 5 March, a PML-N leader said three constitutional amendments “are on the cards”- abolishing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), restoring articles 62 and 63 to their original position and empowering local governments. The PML-N led coalition had reportedly already begun working towards this. While the first two amendments had already been decided upon, the third was recently included based on talks between the PML-N and the PPP. The leader added that this was why the MQM-P decided to sit on treasury benches, and wants to establish local governments under Article 140-A while introducing Articles 140 B and C relating to the powers and functions, and the finances of the local governments respectively. PML-N leaders also revealed that the allocation of reserved seats helped the alliance to initiate taking these steps, as a two-thirds majority which is needed for a constitutional amendment to pass will be easier to attain. Earlier in 2018, Nawaz Sharif regretted being unable to eliminate “draconian NAB laws,” which is why in January 2024, he promised that the NAB would be abolished if the PML-N came to power. (Rizwan Shehzad, “Ruling alliance mulls discarding NAB,” The Express Tribune, 6 March 2024)
 
SOCIETY
“If there is one feminist quality that is worth celebrating this International Women’s Day it is resilience,” says an opinion in Dawn
On 6 March, in an opinion in Dawn titled ‘Humanitarian women,’ Rafia Zakaria pointed out while the world would celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, women in Gaza would continue to face an “inordinately harsh impact” of the war, as the famine is potentially killing more women than men. However, a “hopeful change” is that despite being “underrepresented in the leadership ranks of most humanitarian organisations,” women make up 40 per cent of the humanitarian workforce. This indicates that communities are “able to participate in crisis response and action,” and more women can be reached by humanitarian organization given that male workers in some places “do not have access to crisis-affected women at all.” Zakaria explained that most of these women are part of “local and grassroots organizations” and are able to “provide rapid crisis assessment by evaluating needs and communicating them to supply and distribution points.” Their success in doing this allowed the development industry to realize that “prompting” grassroots organizations would lead to empowering women. The opinion cited the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, wherein a statement called the ‘Grand Bargain’ indicated that to be effective and prevent gender-based violence and aggression, NGOs giving aid should involve other NGOs and community-led organizations. Applying this to the Pakistani context, attempts “closest to the ground” have been the most successful in reducing violence against women, meaning that to eliminate the practice which “treats women like toys and property,” women must “band together and protect the younger women.” They are also the only ones who can serve as a “bulwark against early marriages and the trafficking in women” that takes place during economic and social instability. Zakaria commended the “grit and resilience” of women and their humanitarian organizations in Gaza, including the ‘From Woman to Woman’ initiative that mobilizes young women to work in displacement camps and provide them with hygiene needs. The opinion highlighted how Muslim countries are often “wary of formal institutions” that seek to address sexual violence, which is why such efforts in these countries produce “only temporary change at best.” This is where “grassroots organizations” with women workers can make a difference. Further, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when money for women’s projects was redirected to Covid projects, women in community-based organizations built “networks and provided leadership in a crisis” by organizing informal networks on WhatsApp and exchanging information over Zoom. Zakaria maintained that “resilience” of women all over the world, including Gaza and Pakistan, should be celebrated this year. Despite global instability, “at least half of the world’s population realizes that the solutions lie not in more violence, more death, more mayhem, and more male egos.” (Rafia Zakaria, “Humanitarian women,” Dawn, 6 March 2024)
 
PROVINCES
Pakistan: Relief and rescue operations conducted following heavy rain, snow, and floods
On 5 March, rescue and relief operations were conducted in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KP), and Gilgit Baltistan (GB), after heavy rain and snow had catastrophic effects. At least 40 were killed in KP, hundreds were left home-less in Balochistan, and main roads were blocked in GB. Shehbaz Sharif visited calamity-hit Gwadar following torrential rains, where he was briefed on the relief activities and announced a compensation package for victims of the deluge. The compensation will include PKR 0.75 million to those whose homes were destroyed completely PKR 0.3 million to partially damaged homes, PKR two million for families of those who died, PKR 0.5 million for the injured, and would be “distributed within the next four days with the help of the national and provincial disaster management authorities” along with 7,000 ration bags. According to KP’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 40 were killed, 62 injured, 80 houses completely damaged, and 555 partially damaged. Relief material including tents, food, and blankets had been distributed. In GB, government spokesperson Fazillah Faraq stated: “The continuous closure of the Karakoram Highway for five days resulted in a severe shortage of petroleum products in various districts including Gilgit.” Dawn also reported that as per locals, there was a 20 to 25 per cent increase in the prices of fruits and vegetables. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department predicted a westerly wave would enter Balochistan, and would affect 16 districts. (Abdullah Zehri, Ismail Sasoli, Umar Bacha, Imtiaz Ali Taj, “Relief and rescue operations under way after rain, floods wreak havoc in KP, Balochistan, GB,” Dawn, 5 March 2024)
 
Punjab: Ration packages of food delivered to 1200 Rawalpindi houses
On 5 March, free food bags were given to 1200 houses in Rawalpindi as part of a trial run of the Punjab government’s Nighaban Ramazan Package, which will be formally launched on the second day of Ramazan. As part of this, dry rations would be given to registered houses by 15 March. The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, said the ration package was distributed on the instructions of Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and supervised by assistance commissioners. He stated that the “ration bag contains 10kg of flour and 2kg each of rice, sugar, ghee and gram flour.” Cheema claimed that the food was of sufficient quantity and would be delivered at the doorsteps of the people. (Aamir Yasin, “Trial run sees food items delivered to 1,200 Pindi households,” Dawn, 6 March 2024)

The authorities in Pakistan stuffed the parliament with up to 50% individuals who had actually lost elections by an ingenious trick; scribbling an extra digit in front of their vote counts at numerous polling stations. -Hammad Azhar   Corps Commanders of Pakistan assert that Army had nothing to do with Election results; so were these soldiers forcing their way into polling stations belonged to Indian Army? -Moeed Pirzada   Pakistan Navy is providing help to Gwadar City and other coastal area that are impacted by floods and rain. Pakistan Navy provided food, medication, and warm clothing to the people of Gwadar. It is our national duty that the whole Pakistan should unite and help the people of Balochistan in these difficult times . -Dukhtar-E-Balochistan

“The pedestal-messiah phenomenon unfortunately goes beyond people.” -An opinion in The Express Tribune, 'The Pedestal'