Demand for VPNs surge following social media blackouts; Two per cent rise in pending cases in special courts
In Focus
COAS highlights need to “safeguard the hard-earned peace”
On 10 April, the Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, highlighted a “collective imperative” to safeguard Pakistan’s hard-earned peace during a celebration of Eidul Fitr in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As per the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), he prayed for the “enduring stability and prosperity of Pakistan,” and “conveyed heartfelt Eidul Fitr greetings to the troops, commending their unwavering dedication and service to the nation.”
Following this, Munir was given a “comprehensive briefing on operational readiness and the prevailing security landscape, with a specific focus on border security measures along the Pak-Afghan border.” He attributed the strides taken in fostering peace and stability to the sacrifices of soldiers which have helped in “facilitating [a] secure environment conducive to socio-economic development, particularly in the newly merged districts and throughout KP.” Munir additionally called on “all stakeholders, especially the local populace, to remain vigilant against adversarial elements seeking to destabilise the region.” (Iftikhar Shirazi, “On Eidul Fitr, COAS Munir underscores ‘collective imperative’ to safeguard country’s hard-earned peace,” Dawn, 10 April 2024)
In Focus
Demand for VPNs surge following social media blackouts
On 10 April, The News International reported that as per Top10VPN, an independent review website which provides information on issues affecting internet freedom globally, Pakistan ranks third in the list of the five longest internet shutdowns in 2024. This prolonged social media blackouts and inaccessibility of X led to the demand for VPN increasing by more than double. The co-founder of Data Darbar, Mutaher Khan, said to The News: “As per data.ai, VPN services and web accelerators were the fastest growing subgenre in 2023, rising by 42 per cent. Pakistan too witnessed a spike in VPN usage during the year amid a host of internet restrictions.”
As per Top10VPN’s live tracker, following the access to X being blocked on 17 February, the VPN demand in Pakistan increased by 131 per cent on 19 February. Khan claimed that the use of VPN is “quite neutral and, in some cases, even needed,” and asserted that the “heavy-handed approach” being taken by the Pakistani government in “policing the internet” will not “work in technology, where innovation will always outspace the regulations.” Digital rights activist Usama Khilji stated VPNs provide security to those who are susceptible to surveillance from hostile state and non-state actors.” The News also cited the Global VPN Adoption Index, in which Pakistan ranks 19 out of 86 countries where VPN usage is high. A minimum of 27,622,389 VPN downloads were made in the country, an increase of over 50 per cent from 2022. (Aimen Siddiqui, “VPN apps in Pakistan see surge in demand,” The News International, 10 April 2024)
In Brief
POLITICS
Imran Khan warns that 1971 Dhaka tragedy may repeat itself
On 9 April, Imran Khan warned that the current developments in Pakistan could result in an economic collapse similar to the 1971 Dhaka tragedy, and advised powers that be that an unstable economy cannot support countries and institutions. This message was conveyed by PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan after the party’s legal team, including Salman Akram Raja, Intazar Panjutha, Shoaib Shaheen and Naeem Panjutha, met Khan at Adiala Jail. Raja claimed that Khan was worried for Pakistan and its people, and narrated the latter's message saying: “When you don’t give rights to the people, you cannot say the economy will grow. In 1970, army chief Yahya Khan wanted a hung parliament, but when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s party got a clear majority, the army held a fraud by-election in which 80 seats of Awami League were snatched as Yahya Khan wanted to become president.” He added that Khan wanted to remind the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report that Pakistan is “again going to repeat the same blunders which” were made in the past. The London Plan came about in 1979, and in 2024, a “government has been imposed through London Plan.” However, Raja claimed that Khan had consistently hinted at being open to talk to the military establishment. (Ikram Junaidi, “Events may lead to another ‘Dhaka tragedy’, PTI warns,” Dawn, 10 April 2024)
JUDICIARY
Two per cent rise in pending cases in special courts
On 10 April, Dawn cited the performance evaluation report of the Administrative Tribunals and Special Courts (ATSC) released by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), as per which the ATSC decided 137,316 cases in 2023 and pending litigation rose by two per cent. ASTC courts are established are federal and provincial law, and are supervised by ministries at the federal level and departments at the provincial level. Of the 324 ATSCs functioning across Pakistan, 145 were functioning federally and 179 provincially. 160,697 cases were already pending, 135,824 new cases were instituted in 2023, and the number of pending cases rose from 160,697 to 163,211. In the federal ASTCs, the number of pending cases rose by 5.7 per cent; 78,652 fresh cases were filed and 74,384 were decided. 83 per cent of the cases pertained to fiscal and service matters in the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, Banking Courts, and Federal Service Tribunal. In the provincial ASTCs, the number of pending cases was reduced by 11 per cent; 57,172 fresh cases were filed and 62,932 were decided. 82 per cent of the cases were pending in Anti-Corruption and Consumer Courts, Provincial Service Tribunals, and Labour Courts. In the report, the LJCP recommended federal and provincial governments streamline the working of the courts to reduce pendency and offer expeditious justice. (Nasir Iqbal, “Pending cases in special courts, tribunals rise 2pc in 2023,” Dawn, 10 April 2024)
PROVINCES
Sindh: PTI and JI issue sharp criticism of PPP-led government over rise in street crimes
On 9 April, a day after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) demanded Karachi be handed over to the army, both the PTI and the JI blamed the PPP government for being unable to curb crimes and control Sindh’s deteriorating security situation, particularly in Karachi. PTI-Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh called for the resignation of the Sindh police chief and condemned the rise in incidents of street crimes and murders in Karachi, stating that in the last three months, 59 Karachiites died while resisting robberies. In the month of Ramzan alone, 20 citizens were killed by robbers. Sheikh accused the PPP-led Sindh government of being responsible for “rampant corruption and violation.” He also highlighted the poor security situation in other parts of the province, pointing out that dacoits in Kandhkot and Kashmore abducted more than 400 people. PTI leader Jamal Siddiqui similarly accused the PPP of being uninterested in the welfare of the people of Karachi, alleging that the police had become ineffective due to political interference. JI Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman reinstated his demand to purge the Sindh police of “black sheep” and induct residents into the force. After visiting families of JI members who were killed during recent robbery bids, he stated that Karachiites were at the mercy of street criminals. Rehman also condemned senior police officials and the home minister for their “total failure in handling crimes and criminals” in Karachi. (“PPP under fire from opposition PTI, Jamaat over surge in street crime, killings in Karachi,” Dawn, 10 April 2024)
Sindh: Minister blames “illegal residents” for surge in street crimes
On 10 April, a senior Sindh minister, Sharjeel Inam Memon, claimed “illegal residents” in Karachi are to blame for the major spike in street crimes. He assured that the “Sindh government is making every possible effort to control street crimes.” As per the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, thousands of street crimes that left hundreds dead were registered in Karachi in 2023, and the same pattern continued in the first three months of 2024. Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi Imran Yaqoob Minhas shed light on the fact that around 300,000-400,000 professional beggars make their way to Karachi during Ramadan. (“‘Illegal residents behind rampant street crimes in Karachi’,” The News International, 10 April 2024)
Balochistan: Bus carrying pilgrims crashes, killing at least 17
On 10 April, the Assistant Superintendent of Police of Balochistan’s Hub district, Ahmed Talha Wali, confirmed that at least 17 people were killed and over 40 injured after a truck carrying pilgrims plunged into a ravine. The bus was headed to the Shah Norrani shrine from Thatta. Edhi Foundation’s Hub in-charge, Manan Baloch, confirmed that the rescue operation concluded on 11 April. As per Deputy Commissioner Munir Ahmed, the truck was overspeeding and the driver lost control while taking a turn. Following the accident, on 11 April, Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and directed officials to provide proper health facilities to the injured. Sindh’s Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah, also expressed grief at the number of casualties. Lax safety measures, poor driving training, decrepit transport infrastructure, and overcrowded passenger buses result in a large number of road accidents. According to the World Health Organization, more than 27,000 people were killed on Pakistan’s roads in 2018. (Ismail Sasoli, “17 killed as truck carrying pilgrims plunges into ravine in Balochistan’s Hub,” Dawn, 11 April 2024)
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Repealing the 18th Amendment in Pakistan would disrupt the federal-provincial balance and potentially destabilize the political landscape.
- Shareen Khan
Despite the challenges and controversies, Imran Khan remains a prominent figure in Pakistani politics. His supporters continue to rally behind him, inspired by his vision for a better Pakistan.
-Sufia Bukhari
Some in Pakistan attribute key economic performance indicators to politics. Other factors also play an important role, e.g., oil prices. They continued to fall during 2013-2017 before the trend changed.
-Yousuf Nazar
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Rafia Zakaria, ‘The American eclipse’
Dawn, 10 April 2024
“During the afternoon of April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse bisected the US. Not everyone sees solar and lunar eclipses as purely scientific events that have to do with the physical position of the moon or Earth and the sun’s light. According to myths and legends — and there are many in different religious traditions and cultures — solar eclipses are moments of omens and portents. For weeks leading up to the event, astrologers and psychics predict all kinds of things that could happen in the months following the eclipse. Astrologers say that the total time during which the sun is obscured, in this case three and a half to four minutes, corresponds to that many number of months in terms of the duration of the eclipse’s ‘effects’. As if the eclipse were not enough, a comet called 12/P Pons-Brooks has also appeared in the sky at the same time as the eclipse. This comet, which appears every 71 years, is called the ‘Devil’s comet’ because it has a horned shape. The first spectacular image of the comet, which can be seen with the naked eye in many parts of the US, shows a bluish tail against the darkness of the sky. The last time that this comet was seen was in 1954 and it will not appear again until the end of the century in 2095.”
Neda Mulji, ‘Teacher well-being’
Dawn, 10 April 2024
“With overworked and underpaid professionals, the teaching profession has earned itself a bad name. Many schools have to contend with disgruntled employees who have to get by with a second job or rely on a spouse’s earnings. Teachers have to keep themselves motivated riding on the gratification they get from developing potential in their students and enabling their academic success. Things could change if schools were to take responsibility for their teachers’ well-being. If we wish to create a ‘positive’ school culture where the pupils’ health, safety and emotional and social well-being are catered to, it is imperative that teachers learn the tools for self-care. Most teachers complain of a sub-optimal work-life balance but don’t take steps to rectify it. They have their own home lives, children and extended families, as well as pupils that they are responsible for. In this mix, well-being programmes are essential for teachers to remain motivated, sustain a healthy mindset and model the right behaviour in class.”
Aftab Ahmed Khanzada, ‘Waiting is like killing life’
The Express Tribune, 10 April 2024
“Canadian author Heidi Priebe says: “If there’s one thing we all need to stop doing, it’s waiting around for someone else to show up and change our lives. Just be the person you’ve been waiting for. Live your life as if you are the love of it. Because that’s the only thing you know for sure- that through every triumph, every failure, every fear and every gain that you will ever experience until the day you die, you are going to be present. You are going to be the person who shows up to accept your rewards. You are going to be the person who holds your own hand when you’re broken. You are going to be the person who gets yourself up off the floor every time you get knocked down and if those things are not love-of-your-life qualities, I don’t know what are.”
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“A transparent audit of stress factors is needed.”
- An opinion in Dawn, ‘Teacher well-being’
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