In Focus
Majeed Brigade targets Turbat naval base
On 25 March, the Security forces claimed that they had swiftly intercepted an armed terrorist attack on the PNS Siddique, a naval airbase near Turbat of Balochistan city. The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed that its Majeed Brigade was behind the attack. Makran Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani asserted that heavy exchange of fire and explosions were reported near Turbat. He said: “The armed men attacked from three sides of the airport boundary, but security forces responded immediately and foiled their attempt to infiltrate the premises.” The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said: “Synergetic and effective response by the armed forces enabled the killing of all four terrorists in the ensuing joint clearance operation.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the swift move of the security forces.
Previously, on 20 March, the Majeed Brigade attacked the Gwadar Port Authority complex. The complex is located near the deep sea port where government offices are located. Makran Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani asserted that the terrorists carried out several blasts using grenades before switching to automatic weapons. The confrontation resulted in the killing of eight armed fighters. However, the security forces thwarted the attack. A senior official from the local administration said: “Gwadar port is safe and under tight security.” According to a press release from ISPR,” a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives was also recovered.”
President Asif Ali Zardari said that the “valiant security forces manifested courage and will.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the security forces, and asserted that the continuous targets in Gwadar are aimed at disrupting the peace in the country. Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti in his X said: “Whosoever chooses to use violence will see no mercy from the state. Kudos to all law enforcement bravehearts who fought bravely today for Pakistan.” Subsequently, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has also condemned the terrorist attack and lauded the Pakistani security forces. (Behram Baloch and Saleem Shahid, “Attack on navy base in Turbat ‘foiled’,” Dawn, 26 March 2024; Zarmeen Zehra, “Security forces thwart attack on Turbat naval base: ISPR,” The News International, 26 March 2024)
Also read
Editorial, ‘Gwadar attack’
Dawn, 21 March 2024
“This is not the first time Gwadar and its environs have been targeted by insurgents. Here, separatism and geopolitics combine in a lethal cocktail, as militants believed to have the support of hostile agencies target Chinese interests in what is supposed to be the jewel in the CPEC crown.”
In Brief
POLITICS
PTI approaches Sir Syed Town Police Station to file FIR against PML leader for issuing “death threats” to Imran Khan
On 25 March, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Karachi chapter moved to Sir Syed Town Police Station in the metropolis to seek registration of a first information report (FIR) against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Rana Sanaullah for rendering “death threats” to former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan. Sanaullah, in his recent interviews, asserted that Khan’s “political existence” was a “problem”. Meanwhile, PTI perceived his remarks as a demand for Imran Khan’s assassination. Sanaullah on the other hand swiftly refuted the claims and said that he was talking only about his “political existence” and has not issued any death threat to Khan. He said: “The matter will be resolved immediately if Khan quits politics or gives up his certain political thinking under which he says ‘I will not leave anyone’ and 'everybody is dacoit and looter.” According to PTI’s spokesperson, PTI Karachi chapter Vice President Tehmas Ali has applied to the Sir Syed police station for lodging an FIR against Sanaullah, however, the police ruled out the application as it does not come under any jurisdiction. (“PTI seeks FIR against PML-N's Sanaullah for 'issuing death threats' to Imran Khan,” The News International, 25 March 2024)
‘Fake news’ is a major challenge, says PM Shehbaz
On 25 March, while speaking to a delegation of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed fake news as a “major challenge” as it is critical to tackle the spread of disinformation. He called on the electronic media to bolster the government’s efforts for the development and prosperity of the country. He further termed the media as the fourth pillar of the state and asserted that electronic media is important in the development and progress of society. He added that the state is obliged to ensure the protection of media persons. Speaking about the economic challenges, Sharif said that reviving the economy from the situation will be the biggest challenge. Stressing the government's economic priorities, he said: “Efforts are afoot to ensure privatisation of loss-making state-owned enterprises, institutional reforms, internal and external investment and austerity.” He further said that international experts are hired to “digititalise” the revenues of the federal board. (“PM Shehbaz terms fake news a major challenge,” The News International, 25 March 2024)
Candidates challenge PHC on oath taking ceremony
On 26 March, Dawn reported that many candidates from the prominent opposition parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who were notified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have urged the Peshawar High Court (PHC) seeking confirmation regarding the oath-taking ceremony before the senate elections. On 25 March, six women MPA of the JUI-F filed a petition to PHC seeking “non-administration of oath to them “illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional”, meanwhile eight of the returned candidates of the PML-N and PPP issued joint petitions of the same. According to a JUI-F petitioner, the ECP through a notification on 4 March has declared victory in the election on the reserved seats for women in the KP assembly. They said: “By virtue of the 4 March notification, the petitioners have become MPAs of KP and have the right to be administered oath by the speaker and deputy speaker.” As per the petition, the assembly session is ordered either by the governor under Article 109 or by the speaker in terms of the quarter strength of the house. Since the majority had not met, the petitioners approached the opposition leader and KP governor to summon the session. (Manzoor Ali, “14 KP MPAs-elect challenge ‘denial of oath-taking,” Dawn, 26 March 2024)
“Cipher case is the most expensive cases in Pakistan’s history,” says Barrister Salman
On 25 March, the counsel for former Prime Minister Imran Khan categorised the cipher case as one of the “expensive cases in Pakistan’s history” as the witnesses came from abroad for every hearing. Barrister Salman Safdar asserted the aforementioned statement in the appeal against the conviction of Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Islamabad High Court (IHC). Probing ahead, the counsel claimed that the cipher was still the Foreign Office and thus called the witnesses at the Foreign Office to substantiate the claims. Barrister Salman further said that the cross-examinations had explained that the cipher was received from the Pakistan mission in Washington and they had decoded the encrypted message. Justice Farooq enquired whether the copies sent to the officials as original and called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for assistance regarding the mechanism of dealing with sensitive diplomatic cables. On the other hand, the PTI core committee expressed “no confidence” in Chief Justice Farooq and demanded recusal in cases related to Imran Khan. (Malik Asad, “Cipher trial among most expensive cases,” Dawn, 26 March 2024)
ECONOMY
New IMF bailout package would uncover tsunami of inflation, says Aslam
On 25 March, Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on finance Muzzammil Aslam cautioned about the new IMF bailout package as it would uncover a “tsunami of inflation and exacerbate public suffering”. PTI leader asserted that the government had refrained from signing an agreement with the lender and instead involved the federating units to negotiate for a better financial deal. Speaking at the press conference, Aslam said: “IMF staff and Pakistani authorities had successfully reached a staff-level agreement on the final review during meetings held from March 14-19 under Pakistan’s Stand-By Arrangement.” Nevertheless, he said that the IMF executive board meeting had yet to take place. According to Aslam, PTI’s letter to the IMF was not meant to block the financial package. (Ikram Junaidi, “New IMF deal to unleash tsunami of inflation, warns PTI,” Dawn, 26 March 2024)
Prime ministers set to identify tax evaders
On 25 March, while taking notice of delays in the implementation of the Trace and Track System (TTS) in the tobacco, sugar, cement and fertilizer industries Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for immediate action against tax defaulters and evaders. The PM issued orders to the authorities to form a committee to identify the hurdles in the implementation of TTS within seven days. He further said that all the legal impediments should be removed in the enforcement of the track and trace system. PM Shehbaz said: “Besides increasing the revenue, TTS could be utilised to curb counterfeit and substandard products.” (Syed Irfan Raza, “PM for action to identify tax evaders, enforce tracing system,” Dawn, 26 March 2024)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan anticipates US sanction waiver on Iran and Pakistan gas pipeline
On 25 March, Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik asserted that Pakistan has decided to procure a US waiver on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project in order to avoid sanctions. He said: “Pakistan will vigorously present its case and will try to seek exemption from US sanctions by presenting technical and political arguments.” According to The News International, the previous interim government decided to complete the gas pipeline project in two phases and carted a plan to lay 81km part of the pipeline from Gwadar. Malik further said that Pakistan will soon commence its gas pipeline project. Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu told the Congressional panel during the Congressional hearing on Pakistan: “We have warned them about our red lines, legislative, but also in terms of how we cooperate with Pakistan.” (“Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline: Islamabad pins hopes on US sanctions waiver,” The News International, 25 March 2024)
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“The Ambassador-Designate of Pakistan to Cote d'Ivoire, Mr Mahmood Akhtar Mahmood, called on President Asif Ali Zardari, at Aiwan-e-Sadr”
- AbdulGhaffarMalano
“The manner in which PTI's social media led the Haqeeqi Azadi movement last 2 years, especially during the election campaign after the Bat symbol was taken away from PTI and amidst cellular and Internet connectivity issues on February 8th, is truly a Harvard case study. We are immensely proud of our PTI social media team.”
-Atif Khan
“On this day in 1992, Pakistan won the ICC World Cup under the captaincy of Imran Khan.”
- Wajahat Kazmi
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Maleeha Lodhi, ‘Demystifying China’
Dawn, 25 March 2024
“China’s rise as a global power has evoked different reactions across the world. Much of the Global South has welcomed this and seen it as an opportunity to forge closer relations with and benefit from an economically resurgent China. The US has, of course, cast China as a strategic threat a classic response from an established superpower to the newest one, seen as a challenge to its dominant position. For the past several years, the bipartisan political consensus that has emerged in the US is to adopt a tougher stance towards Beijing and pursue a policy to contain China’s growing power. Successive administrations have adopted strategies to counter China on several fronts from trade to technology as well as militarily and diplomatically.”
Editorial, ‘Taxing traders’
Dawn, 25 March 2024
“Pakistan is once again making an attempt to get the slippery trade sector into the tax net. Will it finally succeed? That really is the only question worth asking at the moment. With the country already massively indebted and sources of funding beginning to run dry, it is clear that it cannot continue to borrow blindly to finance its expenditures. Those already in the tax net, especially the salaried class, have mostly been squeezed dry, and there is growing pressure on the government to now go after those who have traditionally not contributed their fair share to the kitty. The imbalance is staggering some would say criminal. According to figures reported in local media, compared to the Rs217bn extracted from the salaried class in taxes over the eight months since July, retail contributed only Rs11.2bn. The status quo cannot be sustained: despite the myriad economic challenges faced by the country for the past two years now, the trade sector has gotten away with paying almost nothing.”
Kamran Yousaf, ‘Pakistan, Afghanistan impasse’
The Express Tribune, 25 March 2024
“When terrorists had struck a military centre in DI Khan in December in which 23 soldiers were martyred, Pakistan told the Afghan Taliban government that any future attack would invoke a strong response. That warning did not deter the terrorist outfits and their patrons. On March 16, terrorists rammed a explosives-laden vehicle at a checkpost in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. There were multiple suicide bombings afterward. The incident resulted in the martyrdom of 7 Pakistani soldiers including two officers. Such was the enormity of the incident that the President and entire top brass attended the funeral of those who lost their lives in the attack. Two days later, the inevitable happened. Pakistan carried out what it said was an intelligence-based anti-terrorist operation inside Afghanistan.”
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“It is important for the PTA to understand the laws and court orders that pertain to its jurisdiction”
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Censorship with impunity’
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