PAKISTAN READER

Photo : The Express Tribune

Asif Ali Zardari takes oath as the President for a record second time

In Brief
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2024
PR EXCLUSIVE UPDATE #82
Asif Ali Zardari takes oath as the President for a record second time
On 10 March, PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari took oath as the President of Pakistan for the second time, creating history. He is the only individual to have been elected to the highest office for a second time in the country’s history. He is also one out of the four democratically elected presidents to have finished their five-year term. He was administered the oath by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa at the Presidency. The recently elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former president Dr Arif Alvi were also present at the oath taking ceremony. Other notable attendees included Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Sindh and Balochistan Chief Ministers Syed Murad Ali Shah and Sarfraz Bugti. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of PTI was absent from the ceremony. On 9 March, Asif Ali Zardari had defeated his opponent, chief of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Mehmood Khan Achakzai, by securing 411 electoral votes as opposed to the late chief of the PkMAP, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, garnering 181 electoral votes. (Syed Irfan Raza, “Zardari sworn in for second stint as president,” Dawn, 11 March 2024)

Omar Ayub Khan formally nominated for the leader of the opposition by PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) alliance
On 10 March, Dawn reported that the PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) alliance has officially nominated Omar Ayub Khan for the leader of the opposition position in the National Assembly. The nomination papers in this regard were submitted to the office of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on 9 March. Regarding this development, Dr Nisar Ahmad Jatt told Dawn that “All the members supported by the PTI have signed the nomination papers.” He further revealed that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Balochistan National Party-Mengal did not sign the nomination. This means that the JUI-F and BNP-M will not be legally obligated to support the call by the opposition leader to boycott any session of the National Assembly. Dr Jatt also “expressed hope” that Ayub would become the opposition leader through nomination, bypassing the election. It is to be noted that the leader of the opposition enjoys the status equivalent to that of a federal minister and is conventionally the head of the Public Accounts Committee. (“PTI-SIC names Omar Ayub as NA leader of opposition,” Dawn, 10 March 2024)
 
Punjab police cracks down on demonstrators protesting alleged election rigging
On 10 March, the Punjab police continued to use force to deal with the protestors demonstrating against alleged rigging in elections. There were reports of leaders, workers, activists and supporters being beaten, dragged out of cars and arrested. Videos of the manhandling of protestors, and demonstrators being dragged out of PTI-flagged cars surfaced on social media. Some of those arrested include PTI MNA Sardar Latif Khosa, senior leader Salman Akram Raja and MPAs Farhat Abbas and Mian Haroon Akbar. Taking cognizance of the arrests of lawyers, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SBCA) demanded “immediate release” of PTI lawyers Sardar Latif Khosa, Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Mumtaz Mustafa and others. The SCBA also agreed to call an emergency meeting of its executive committee to decide a further course of action. SCBA President Shahzad Shaukat and Secretary Syed Ali Imran termed the arrests “a matter of grave concern, asking the authorities to respect the legal and democratic rights of citizens.” Separately, protests were also held in Islamabad where PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat asserted that people were willing to suffer to retrieve the “stolen mandate.” Further, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, led the protests in Peshawar demanding the release of Imran Khan and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the cipher case. Additionally, in Balochistan, a rally was organized from the PTI’s provincial secretariat to the Quetta Press club by the party’s workers and supporters, including a large number of women. It is to be noted that the call for protests had been made by PTI founder Imran Khan following which rallies and protests were held across the country. (Mansoor Malik & Ikram Junaidi, “Punjab Police unleash might on PTI protesters,” Dawn, 11 March 2024)
 
ECONOMY
Ogra “helpless” in the wake of soaring LPG prices
On 10 March, Dawn reported that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Auth­o­rity (Ogra) appeared ‘helpless’ with regard to rising prices of liquefied pet­ro­leum gas (LPG), following an increase in the market rate by over PKR 40 per kilogram, with further surges expected during Ramazan. For March, Ogra set the consumer prices of LPG at PKR 257.59 per kilogram; however, the arrival of Ramazan has led to the average market price of LPG increasing to PKR 310 per kilogram. Domestic cylinders, which usually cost PKR 3,040, have now increased to between PKR 3,700 and PKR 4,000. Political instability has also been linked to the soaring prices. The Chairman of the LPG Industries Association Pakistan, Irfan Kokhar, explained that “importers create shortages for a brief period and use that situation to raise the prices.” This leads to an “open black marketing of LPG.” Further, the “closure of the local LPG plant JJV around three years ago, the country is at the mercy of LPG importers and it seems that even Ogra is helpless in front of these people.” As per a ‘customs department official,’ around 70 per cent of LPG imports come to Pakistan legally, while the remainder is smuggled in majorly from Iran. (Kalbe Ali, “Ogra watches helplessly as LPG prices soar ahead of Ramazan,” Dawn, 10 March 2024)
 
PM Sharif increases scope of Ramazan Relief Package
On 11 March, Business Recorder reported on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to increase the allocation of the Ramazan Relief Package from PKR 7.5 billion to PKR 12.5 billion, with the intention of providing relief to the inflation-hit people. As per the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the scope of the relief package will also be broadened, while utility stores and mobile units will provide food items at prices lower than the market rate. To begin with, 1200 mobile points and 300 permanent package relief centres will be established. Trucks will also be directed to deliver cheap food items to the needy in different areas, while a digital technology enabled dashboard will be developed to monitor mobile flour sales. (“Ramazan package’ increased,” Business Recorder, 11 March 2024)
 
FIA begins investigation into allegations of illegal import of LPG
On 11 March, Dawn reported that following directives from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) began an investigation into allegations of illicit imports and operational irregularities within the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector. The allegations, which claimed that the illicit imports caused billions of rupees of loss to consumers and foreign exchange reserves, were being reviewed under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) 2010 and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The FIA’s investigation will look into the management of Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGC) and several top executives of its subsidiary, SSGC LPG Ltd (SLL). Earlier, the SIFC received complaints from individuals including those involved in the LPG sector, and a report from an ‘intelligence agency’’ containing allegations of irregularities. The FIA has asked top SLL executives to appear before an inquiry committee on 12 March. It added that it received allegations against SSGC and SLL from the SIFC, along with concerns from the council over “unauthorised importation of LPG, illegalities and irregularities in the expenditure of foreign reserves and involvement of SSGC and SLL’s management in the bogus tendering process, corruption and misuse of authority.” According to an ‘official,’ a few years ago the federal government had instructed SSGC and SNGPL to start LPG imports to consumers at reasonable rates, following which the SSGC created the SLL and gave it the freedom to procure LPG cargoes on short notice. The complaints thus mainly centred around deficiencies in procurement rules and pressure tactics by market players to oust SOEs from the LPG business. As per the FIA: “Such alleged acts have promoted monopolistic practices, black marketing of imported LPG and practical control of select individuals over LPG supply translating to guild-price control and exploitation of the population’s poorest quintile.” (Khaleeq Kiani, “FIA digs into claims of financial misconduct in LPG imports,” Dawn, 11 March 2024)
 
PROVINCES
Punjab: Inspector general of police announces initiative for proper handling and streamlining of criminal’s data
On 11 March, Dawn reported on a standing order issued by the Punjab Police Department, for the responsible collection, processing, dissemination and removal of ‘criminals’ data stored in the police’s database. Primary focus will be placed on gender-based violence cases, while the misuse of sensitive information will also be checked to save people concerned from unnecessary exploitation. The Punjab Inspector General of Police, Dr Usman Anwar, issued the order under articles 163 and 166 of the Police Order 2002 and the Police Rules 1934. This initiative seeks to stop the Punjab police from misusing data in the criminal records, and streamline the system of processing and protecting data. As per an ‘official privy to the development,’ the move was taken due to an increase in the litigations against the Punjab police, with the Lahore High Court being moved with serious complaints of misuse of people’s names that created issues for them in obtaining jobs and going abroad. Further, an absence of a centralized forum for removing the complainants’ names from the criminal record of police even after they were discharged exacerbated the issue. There were also complaints about falsely implicating people in forged FIRs. As per the standing order (SRO) issued by the police department, the Information Technology DIG will be “the chief data officer and in this capacity he shall be the custodian of the data and servers of the data collected, processed, retained, edited, disseminated and shared by the Punjab police.” The IGP’s staff officers will assist the DIG in maintaining the integrity of the data, with the help of the Punjab Information Technology Board and the Punjab Safe Cities Authority. Additionally, the data will be maintained as per the IGP’s instructions, while the “data related to the CRO shall be entered and processed under the supervision of the head of the district police.” To streamline the data processing, the IGP constituted a verification committee tasked with making recommendations for any required rectification. The committee will be headed by the capital city police officer, and will follow a process of processing a receipt related to the data. In case of a data leak, concerned officers will be punished. (Asif Chaudhry, “Punjab IG orders proper storage, protection, deletion of ‘criminals’ data with police,” Dawn, 11 March 2024)
                                                                                 
Balochistan: CM to give “general amnesty” to Baloch insurgents
On 10 March, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti asked Baloch insurgents to avail upcoming “general amnesty” if they were willing to become a part of mainstream politics instead of engaging in violence. He claimed to have forgiven the “many assassination attempts” which targeted him, and clarified that he did not have “any personal feud” or “revenge” in his heart. Instead, he stated that a “peaceful Balochistan policy” would be revived under which the provincial government would try and make insurgents a part of “mainstream politics.” However, if the insurgents chose not to do so and continued engaging in violence, he would have “no other option but to establish a writ of the state.” On the “dicey” matter of the missing persons, Bugti referred to a commission that had been formed by the federal government, which resolved 80 per cent of the cases. He said he would not give any “justification as there is no justification even if a single person is missing.” Bugti also blamed Baloch separatists for rebelling “against the state in a bid to disintegrate Pakistan.” (“‘General amnesty’: CM Bugti extends olive branch to Baloch separatists,” The News International, 11 March 2024)
 
EXTERNAL
JI to stage ‘million march’ in a move to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza
On 10 March, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Sirajul Haq announced that a ‘million march’ would be carried out by his party, in a move to express solidarity with the people of Palestine. In the march, “more than a million people will stage a march towards the US embassy on Friday, the 27th day of Ramazan,” to try and pressure the US to stop supporting Israel’s activities in Gaza. Haq vowed to stand by the Gaza people who have been victims of Israel’s actions, while lamenting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had not expressed support for Palestinians in Gaza during his inaugural address. He claimed that since the government had not raised the issue of more than 30,000 people in Gaza being killed due to the war, his party would surround the US embassy. (“JI plans ‘million march’ against Israeli atrocities,” Dawn, 11 March 2024)
 
Pakistan sends 16 trucks of kinnows to Russia
On 10 March, a convoy of 16 trucks carrying Pakistani kinnows entered Russia, a citrus fruit which is high in demand globally. The convoy contained refrigerated trucks of the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), and travelled through Iran and Azerbaijan to reach the Russian cities of Derbent and Grozny. Due to lack of cold chain facility, Pakistan faced difficulties in exporting products via land routes; however, the NLC used its reefer capabilities to enter previously untapped markets. Russian officials lauded NLC’s efforts, and ‘experts’ claimed that the direct cargo service helped reshape trade relations between both. Currently, Pakistan’s exports to Russia stand at USD 150 million, but there is a potential for bilateral trade to reach USD 20 billion. (“16 truckloads of Pakistani kinnows reach Russia,” Dawn, 11 March 2024)

Authorities have booked dozens of PTI workers in terrorism cases for undertaking a peaceful protest. Rule of Law & Human Rights are non existent in Pakistan. -Hammad Azhar Yet another massive country wide protest against Election Rigging. Mandate Thieves will not be able to get away with the daylight robbery. This is not the 1990s, this is the most charged and most politically aware version of Pakistan! -Jibran Ilyas Unfortunately, Pakistan shares all the wrong attributes of Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer. There are many similarities in terms of economic weaknesses, poor governance, ingress of military into politics, restrictions on freedom of expression and media, victimization of political opponents, repeated failure to hold free and fair elections, compromised judiciary, and a perpetual reliance on the IMF and bilateral creditors to avoid economic default. -Yousuf M Farooq

“The ongoing blocking of X signifies an institutional breakdown in Pakistan.” -An opinion in Dawn, ‘Divide and rule’