MNAs given SIC’s reserved seats take oath in NA and Punjab assemblies; Ishaq Dar calls for political unity to address Pakistan’s crises
In Brief
SOCIETY
Aurat March participants make multiple political demands
On 8 March, hundreds of women participated in the Aurat March to demand rights and freedoms on International Women’s Day, focusing on political demands, calls for transparency in election results, and an increase in the number of seats reserved for women. Calls were also raised for an end to the enforced disappearances, and an elimination of surveillance systems which perpetuated a paternalistic vision of women’s safety. Marchers carried placards and banners, sang, danced, and chanted slogans in an expression of solidarity with women’s struggles globally. Before the march, a 12-point charter of demands had also been announced. Women demanded the strengthening of campaign finance laws to ensure transparency, equitable resource distribution, and strengthening grassroots politics. They further called for the rejection of all proposed bills which violated the dignity of the transgender community and asked the government to decriminalize defamation, sedition and anti-dissent laws, including Section 144. Additional demands included restoring student unions on campuses to allow the right to organize, recognizing unpaid labour, and providing climate adaptation support through proactive disaster resilience measures. Multiple women’s rights organizations, transgender persons, civil society groups, political parties, lawyers, and activists took part in the march and endorsed these demands. (Imran Gabol, “Aurat March turns political, demands election results transparency,” Dawn, 9 March 2024)
HRCP commends resilience of women and calls for actions to bridge gender parity
On 8 March, which was International Women’s Day, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) appreciated the resilience of working women in the face of misogyny and economic instability, while expressing concern over Pakistan’s poor performance in addressing chronic gender disparities. As per the Global Gender Gap Index 2023, Pakistan stands at 143 out of 146 countries for women’s economic participation and opportunity, and as per the Pakistan Labour Force Survey (2020-21), women accounted for 23.5 per cent of the total labour force despite constituting 49.4 per of the working-age population. Additionally, Christian and Hindu women in particular are consistently denied their rightful share in inheritance due to the failure of implementing laws guaranteeing their rights. The HRCP thus called for more inclusive measures to ensure women’s political participation and demanded actionable steps by the state that would give women more economic opportunities and protect their right to work in an environment free of harassment and with equal pay. Further, the commission asked the state to address the rights of incarcerated women who have little access to healthcare and limited economic resources to have legal representation. (“HRCP lauds resilience of working women,” Dawn, 9 March 2024)
NAVTTC launches initiative to empower and train women
On 9 March, Dawn reported that in accordance with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision to do away with barriers restricting women’s independence, the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) will introduce the ‘She Fixes, (#theekkardungi)’ initiative for Pakistani women. This initiative seeks to empower 500 women by giving them accessible vocational training in fields that are dominated by men (such as plumbing and electrical work) and will align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5,8, and 10 by contributing to gender equality, economic growth and reducing inequalities. NAVTTC Chairperson Gilmina Bilal Ahmad explained: “This initiative is a catalyst for gender equality, fostering self-reliance and independence. It begins with fixing household appliances, transcending into empowering women to address broader societal issues.” The pilot programme will be open to women from all social segments, and will initially be launched in nine cities, including Islamabad and Lahore. Ahmad added that the initiative’s goal was to “transform the lives of women by providing practical skills,” and encouraged women to apply for the pilot programme. (“NAVTTC launches skill advancement initiative for women,” Dawn, 9 March 2024)
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2024
PR EXCLUSIVE UPDATE #81
MNAs given SIC’s reserved seats take oath in NA and Punjab assemblies
On 8 March, lawmakers who had been given the reserved seats that were denied to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) took oath in the National and Punjab assemblies. While PTI-SIC members objected and cited restraining orders by the courts, the Attorney General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, said that the Peshawar High Court’s stay order was only applicable in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also said to the NA that he had not received any notice regarding oaths of MNAs on reserved seats from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or the court. Following the oath, PTI’s Omar Ayub said the PHC has banned administering oaths to new members, while Barrister Gohar Ali Khan claimed that the PTI-SIC deserved reserved seats. (Syed Irfan Raza, Amjad Mahmood, Ishaq Tanoli, “Reserved seats row echoes in two assemblies,” Dawn, 9 March 2024)
PkMAP chief asks ECP to delay presidential elections citing “incomplete” electoral college
On 8 March, the Chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Mahmood Khan Achakzai, asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the polls due to an “incomplete” electoral college. Achakzai, who is the SIC- backed presidential candidate, wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and claimed that the electoral college as “prescribed by law and Constitution” was “still incomplete” given “some reserved seats” in the National Assembly (NA) and all provincial assemblies remained vacant. He claimed that conducting presidential polls before filling the seats would be “illegal, unlawful and against the spirit of the Constitution,” and would be a “denial” of the votes of the people who are yet to be elected on those reserved seats. Citing the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) stay order on the reserved seats, Achakzai requested the postponement or delay of elections until the electoral college was completed in “the best interest of justice, fair play and equity.” The presidential elections have been scheduled for 9 March. (Nausheen Yusuf, “‘Incomplete’ electoral college: Achakzai asks ECP to delay presidential elections,” The News International, 8 March 2024)
POLITICS
Ishaq Dar calls for political unity to address Pakistan’s crises
On 8 March, the outgoing leader of the house in the Senate, Ishaq Dar, called on the opposition to collaborate in helping Pakistan make its way out of crises using the charters of democracy and economy. He emphasized that if they “keep on fighting with each other, it would benefit the enemy country,” which means they should “consciously work together not to allow” slumps in the country. Dar stated that a truth and reconciliation commission and constitutional court should be established, and reiterated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s stance on economy and reconciliation. According to Dar, a consensus economic roadmap should be drafted, as economic challenges could neither be solved overnight nor without full political support. Former Senate Chairman, Mian Raza Rabbani, spoke after Dar and urged political parties to engage in a national dialogue to eliminate international financial imperialism and hybrid politics. He added that the Senate was enough for this, and a truth and reconciliation commission was not needed. Additionally, National Party’s Senator Tahir Bijenzo warned against the role of defence institutions in political affairs and noted that the country would face a crisis till the Constitution was fully implemented. (Iftikhar A Khan, “Let’s work together, Dar tells opposition,” Dawn, 9 March 2024)
IMF says it looks forward to working with new government, calls for resolving electoral issues
On 8 March, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it would support forming a new economic programme for Pakistan upon any request from the new government while urging Pakistan to peacefully resolve electoral disputes. An IMF spokesperson stated: “We look forward to engaging with the new government to complete the second review under the current Stand-by Arrangement and, should the government request, support the formulation of a new medium-term economic programme.” Though the spokesperson did not comment on domestic politics, the call to political leaders asking them to resolve electoral disputes was seen as an unusual step taken by the IMF. The spokesperson clarified that while the current focus was on “the completion of the current Stand-by program, which ends in April 2024,” the IMF was looking “forward to working with the new government on policies to ensure macroeconomic stability.” Pakistan’s authorities had earlier stated that they intend to seek a USD six billion loan from the IMF to help debt repayments in 2024. (“Anwar Iqbal, “In rare political message, IMF urges resolution of all electoral disputes,” Dawn, 9 March 2024)
ECONOMY
PM Sharif reiterates government’s resolve to tackle economic challenges
On 8 March, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reemphasized the government’s determination to implement structural reforms in the economic sector to provide maximum facilities to people, in a bid to tackle Pakistan’s economic crisis. He added that measures such as increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio, utilizing the potential of natural and agricultural sources, stopping smuggling, power theft, and losses of the State Owned Entities would also be undertaken. Sharif said differences would be cast aside to work towards the larger national interest at a faster pace. Citing a shortfall in the tax collection target for FY24, he asserted that tax evasion would be resolved. Sharif stated: “If we have no resources, how we will build the infrastructure of health, education and other important sectors?” Given that the salaries of federal employees were being paid using borrowed money, Sharif contended that it was high time to take tough decisions to resolve all of Pakistan’s economic challenges. (“PM vows structural reforms,” Business Recorder, 9 March 2024)
Hike in prices of fruits and vegetables in lead up to Ramazan
On 9 March, Dawn reported on a fresh wave of inflation following a surge in prices of fruits and vegetables in the lead-up to Ramazan and amid poor efforts from the government to curb profiteering practices. Onion, a staple in Ramzan diets, shot up from PKR 150/kg to PKR 300/kg, primarily due to unchecked exports that leave very little produce for domestic consumers. Other essential items like potatoes, cabbage, melons, and apples have experienced similar price increases. The president of the Karachi Fresh Fruits Association at Super Highway claimed that the price of fruits in the wholesale market rose by 30-40 per cent. Urging the government to ban fruit exports during Ramzan, he stated: “Strict monitoring at the border to curb illegal outflow can help bring down local prices.” Additionally, the senior vice president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry called on the Sindh chief minister to put stringent measures in place to combat the soaring prices of household items. (Aamir Shafaat Khan, “Pre-Ramazan price hikes leave consumers in a bind,” Dawn, 9 March 2024)
SECURITY
Security forces kill four terrorists in KP
On 8 March, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that security forces killed four terrorists as part of an intelligence-based operation in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Weapons and ammunition were recovered, and a sanitization operation was underway. (“Four terrorists killed in North Waziristan IBO,” The Express Tribune, 8 March 2024)
PROVINCES
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: CM Gandapur announces withdrawal of perks for former CMs, details cabinet priorities
On 8 March, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced that perks and privileges of former chief ministers, including “guards and government vehicles, are being taken back.” He stated that since Pakistan is a “poor country,” they could not “afford to provide” these perks. Gandapur went on to say that his Cabinet was prioritizing giving “maximum possible relief to the inflation-hit people.” He highlighted that the federal government had to clear KP’s PKR 1,510 billion dues, and if the payments could not be made by the Centre, then it should “subsidize power and gas for KP and deduct that subsidy from the province’s arrears.” Gandapur also brought up the PKR 8.5 billion Ramazan relief package that was approved by the Cabinet, under which “850,000 households listed in the Ehsaas-Benazir Income Support Programme will be provided with PKR 10,000 cash each.” The reactivation of langars established by the previous government will be reactivated, with food points established in district headquarters across the province. Gandapur additionally stated that employment opportunities would be promoted with special attention on developing skills in the youth. (“KP govt to withdraw perks and privileges of former CMs,” Dawn, 9 March 2024)
Balochistan: COAS claims Balochistan’s success is the “success of Pakistan”
On 8 March, as per a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Chief of the Army Staff, General Asim Munir, highlighted that the “success of Balochistan is the success of Pakistan” during a visit to Balochistan’s Awaran district. Munir stated that Pakistan was “proud of the “brave people of Balochistan who have stood tall against all odds,” and assured that armed forces and law enforcement agencies would continue to “ender their services in support of the people of Balochistan for peace and prosperity.” He was briefed on efforts taken by the army for socio-economic development in Balochistan, and interacted with local elders, farmers, and families of soldiers who had been killed. During these interactions, he “emphasized the importance of agriculture and the army's commitment to the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI).” Munir further claimed that farmers would be given agricultural facilities such as easy agricultural loans, seeds, and solar tube wells, to assist them in cultivation. He also inaugurated Cadet College Awaran, and “appreciated the establishment of yet another cadet college in Balochistan for the people of the area.” (“Pakistan's success tied to Balochistan's, says army chief during Awaran visit,” The Express Tribune, 8 March 2024)
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Once again PPP and PMLN have come together to save the billions of dollars they have plundered from the people, and to completely destroy democracy in Pakistan.
-PTI
The PTI's descent into extremism under Imran Khan's leadership is evident in their attacks on Pakistan Army installations and vandalism of historic government buildings like the attack on Radio Pakistan Peshawar.
-Usama Ali
Flood the streets for Pakistan and Imran Khan on Sunday, 10th, 2024.
-Zeeshan Khan
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Arif Hasan, ‘Gaza war imapct’
Dawn, 9 March 2024
“Palestinian music, art, architecture, dance, and literature — especially poetry — too, have been screened and discussed. This has blunted the decades of propaganda by the West and Israel of Arabs and Muslims being an inferior and inhumane people, who need to be feared and suppressed. Al Jazeera and social media have also exposed the hypocrisy and lies of Western media reporting on global and regional affairs. It is unlikely that the credibility of the Western media will ever be restored.”
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, ‘Caretaker system’s failure’
Dawn, 9 March 2024
“Sadly, the gulf between the government and opposition has widened over time. It is difficult to say whether relations between the two were worse in 1977 or today. At least, despite deep mistrust, both the government led by PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the opposition alliance, the PNA, headed by Mufti Mehmood, had agreed to sit down for a structured dialogue spanning many weeks in 1977.”
Mirza Moiz Baig, ‘Protecting children’
Dawn, 9 March 2024
“The purpose of creating such an authority is to streamline applications from aggrieved parents, instead of having a parent agonised by the abduction of their child go through the rigmaroles of approaching multiple agencies, particularly when they are a stranger to the country their child is taken to. Eight years since the convention’s ratification, however, Pakistan is yet to create a ‘Central Authority’.”
Editorial, ‘Civilian dreams’
Dawn, 9 March 2024
“Though the people of Pakistan managed to deny the powerful what they wanted, the powerful also managed to deny the people the outcome they wanted. We are, therefore, once again at a stalemate. It would be delusional to call it anything else.”
Imtiaz Gul, ‘Ban on girls’ education: Afghan humanitarian aid in peril’
The Express Tribune, 9 March 2024
“Kabul’s aspirations for the UN seat are legitimate but require critical endorsement from all key global stakeholders. That endorsement will remain elusive as long as Kabul’s de facto rulers drag their heels on women’s rights with a religious logic that scholars across the Muslim world reject.”
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“Will the judges remain in their ivory towers or see the reality of political injustice in Pakistan?”
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Incomplete justice’
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