Balochistan: Government to undertake comprehensive reassessment of security plan; FO expresses “deep concern” over escalating tensions in the Middle East following Iran strike
In Focus
Heavy rains and lightening across Pakistan lead to 12 more deaths
On 14 April, continuing heavy rains in parts of the country caused 12 more deaths- six in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), four in Punjab, and two in Balochistan. In the last few days, at least 39 people have been killed as a result of the recent spate of rains and lightning strikes. In Balochistan, officials claimed there were severe damages in the port city of Gwadar and coastal towns such as Kech and Panjgur. This included heavy losses to houses, and infrastructure, and disruptions to transportation networks that cut off access to areas from Quetta. Electric pylons have also been uprooted, affecting the power supply, while gas supply disruptions and low pressure have been reported in multiple areas. Several mud houses and link roads have also sustained damage.
In Punjab, the deaths on 14 April caused the lightning-related death toll in the province to rise to 21, as per a spokesperson of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). The Director General of PDMA, Irfan Ali Kathia, issued instructions to provide the best medical care to the injured and assured that financial assistance would be given to the families of the deceased. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari offered condolences for the loss of lives, saying the surge in lightning incidents is due to climate change. He highlighted the role of universities and research institutions in addressing this issue, saying that the challenges posed by climate change need substantive action instead of superficial discourse. Zardari also asked provincial governments to use all possible resources to help the victims. (“Dozen more die in heavy rains, lightning,” Dawn, 15 April 2024)
In Focus
Balochistan: Government to undertake comprehensive reassessment of security plan
On 14 April, a day after nine people were shot dead in Noshki, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti chaired a high-level meeting on law and order, in which a decision was made to revise the province’s security plan to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack wherein nine people were abducted from a Taftan-bound bus based on their ethnicity and shot dead, and for a similar attack where two people were killed after they attempted to escape the cordon set up by assailants on the Quetta-Noshki highway. Balochistan Inspector General Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan and other senior civil and military officers attended the meeting. A statement from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat said that the attendees strongly criticized the attack, and agreed to comprehensively revise the security plan. As per the statement, Bugti asserted that the “war against terrorism is not only for security forces,” and that the “war against the enemies of peace is state’s war.”
Aside from security forces, “politicians, civil armed forces, bureaucracy, judiciary, [and] media” have to fight with “political responsibility and a common plan of action.” He also insisted that the heirs of the victims must be compensated within seven days. Earlier on 13 April, Bugti asserted that the security checkpoints on national highways would be revived to protect passengers. He stated: “National highways are the most important routes, and we will protect them. We will formulate a security plan again in the province, establishing checkpoints with joint patrolling of the police, Levies, and the FC [Frontier Corps].” Following the funeral prayers of the victims, he said that the government would probe the incident and would not give any room for negotiations. (Abdullah Zehri, “Balochistan govt to revise security plan following killings in Noshki,” Dawn, 14 April 2024)
In Brief
POLITICS
Bilawal Bhutto calls for talks instead of sit-ins to ensure political stability
On 14 April, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warned against the “politics of sit-ins” and called for reconciliation, as a multi-party opposition alliance protested against the coalition government. Accusing “some people” of trying to form the “PNA 2.0” and playing with the fate of Pakistan, he reminded them of the history of the “nine stars” who campaigned against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and ended up with a decade-long dictatorship. The Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) was a multi-party movement formed against the PPP government in 1977. Bilawal Bhutto highlighted how the Charter of Democracy and Charter of Reconciliation were the only ways of achieving political stability, adding that the former had been implemented up to 90 per cent. Asserting that the PPP would be at the forefront of this process to achieve stability, he said that the party wanted to use legal fraternity and civil society to achieve the reforms, claiming that since the confidence of people in getting justice from the courts had gone down, “judicial reforms” need to be implemented. The PPP is also “ready to work on the federal level” to implement the 10-point agenda announced during the election campaign. (MB Kalhoro, “Bilawal for talks, warns against ‘sit-in politics’,” Dawn, 15 April 2024)
PTI leader expresses confidence that opposition coalition will oust PML-N led government
On 14 April, PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan said the PTI had “already contacted political parties” to shore up the six-party opposition alliance aimed at ousting the PML-N-led government. Labour organizations and other segments of society would also be reached out to. Following a “very successful” opening public meeting, Khan emphasized that the government formed on the basis of ‘Forms-47s’ in three provinces and the Centre would not be in power for much longer since “they are a product of rigged elections.” Thus the alliance of the six opposition parties, the Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), would successfully oust the incumbent government with the help of people who had voted for PTI in the 8 February elections. Khan also stated that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi would be released from Adiala Jail soon. (Saleem Shahid, “Opposition alliance’s ranks swelling, claims PTI,” Dawn¸15 April 2024)
ECONOMY
Finance minister and team reach Washington to hold talks on new IMF package
On 14 April, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team arrived in Washington, where they will participate in the IMF and World Bank’s spring meetings and begin discussions on a new financial package worth USD six to eight billion. The meetings will be held from 17 to 19 April, with the team participating in bilateral meetings with IMF and World Bank leaders, senior officials from international financial institutions, and finance ministers from countries including China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Turkey. Earlier, IMF’s Director of Communications, Julie Kozack, stated that the Fund was ready to begin talks on a new loan package on the sides of the upcoming meetings. (Anwar Iqbal, “Finance minister reaches Washington for crucial talks with IMF,” Dawn¸15 April 2024)
EXTERNAL
FO expresses “deep concern” over escalating tensions in the Middle East following Iran strike
On 14 April, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) released a statement expressing “deep concern” over the developments in the Middle East following Iran’s drone strikes on Israel. The Iranian strike came following Israel’s attack on the Iranian consular office in Syria, which the FO had earlier described as a “major escalation in an already volatile region.” However, the rising tensions caused by strikes and retaliatory actions “demonstrate the consequences of the breakdown of diplomacy.” In the statement, the FO also sharply criticized the UN Security Council for being “unable to fulfil its responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security.” In light of the heightening tensions and increasing possibility for a larger regional spillover, the FO highlighted the need to “stabilize the situation and restore peace.” It also called on “all parties to exercise utmost restraint and move towards de-escalation.” (“Pakistan’s Deep Concern over the Ongoing Developments in the Middle East,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan, 14 April 2024)
PROVINCES
Sindh: Police plans “massive” action against criminals amid surge in violent street crimes
On 13 April, Karachi’s police announced they would launch “massive” action against illegal markets and shops involved in selling and purchasing snatched phones and stolen parts of cars and motorcycles. DIG-West Irfan Ali Baloch said the police were “dismantling” drug dens selling narcotics to “drug addict robbers” in exchange for snatched cell phones. The police had decided to act against shopkeepers who were selling stolen phones after changing their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, as citizens were being shot during the snatching of mobile phones. In the last 11 days, eight suspected robbers were shot dead and 42 were arrested with bullet wounds. However, Baloch admitted that robbers could change the IMEI of snatched phones as they have access to software developed for this purpose. In 2023, around 100 people were shot dead by robbers in the city, but in 2024, there has been an upsurge in violent street crimes. As per Baloch, the main reason behind this is the “emergence/establishment of organized gangs” With the police investigating every suspect, it emerged that robbers had set up gangs and networks to commit street crimes. Many who had been arrested and sent to prison multiple times come out as “hardened criminals” and tend to re-engage in violent street crimes without hesitating to kill anyone over resistance. Another factor of concern is the easy availability of arms, and Baloch assured that the police were trying to ascertain where the robbers were getting small arms from. (Imtiaz Ali, “Major action planned in Karachi against buyers of snatched cell phones,” Dawn, 14 April 2024)
WORLDVIEW
“Deft statesmanship is the need of the hour to prevent a devastating showdown,” says an editorial in Dawn
On 15 April, an editorial in Dawn titled ‘Iran’s counterstrike’ highlighted how the “entire international community” was on “tenterhooks” following Israel’s strike on Iran’s embassy in Damascus, which killed several members of the Sepah-i-Pasdaran. Iran’s retaliation came in the form of a “barrage of drones and missiles” directed at Israel. While Israel has launched multiple strikes on Iran and its allies in Syria for more than a decade, this was the first time Israel hit an official Iranian facility, and was thus seen by Iran as a “declaration of war.” Following the attack and the response, it is “into the unknown.” The first possibility is “diplomacy and de-escalation,” which can bring the region and the world back from the brink; the second is that a “catastrophic conflagration” can lead to “more devastation, bloodshed and global economic misery.” Israel’s allies in the West have used “sanctimonious adjectives to denounce Tehran’s ‘reckless’ counterstrike,” and have assured of their “ironclad commitment” to Israel’s security. However, the rest of the international community, such as China, Russia, and Pakistan, had taken a “more measured approach” and highlighted the need for de-escalation. The editorial asserted that Israel’s attack on Iran’s diplomatic facilities is “largely responsible for this dangerous situation,” and indicates that its “recklessness must be reined in.” Iran was described as having taken the “pragmatic route by demonstrating its deterrence capability while stepping back from all-out war.” However, while officials say the matter has been “concluded,” top generals have emphasized that any Israeli response would face another retaliation. The editorial contended that the Western bloc has to prevent Israel from taking provocative steps instead of “mollycoddling” it, as a decisive Israeli response could mean that a full-scale war is “inevitable.” Thus, Israel must end “the slaughter in Gaza” to end the regional confrontation. It should also cease its “roguish acts of targeting sovereign states. (“Iran’s counterstrike,” Dawn, 15 April 2024)
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We are deeply saddened and shocked over the terrible and tragic events at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney, Australia on Saturday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have lost their lives. We also pray for early recovery of the injured.
-Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Pakistan
President AAliZardari reaffirms his unwavering commitment to propelling Pakistan towards prosperity and development, while addressing a Jalsa on 45th martyrdom anniversary of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto today at Garhi Khuda Bux.
-PPP
Imran Khan will resume his leadership and be amongst us soon, leading Pakistan towards prosperity once again. God willing.
-Sher Afzal Khan Marwat
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Umair Javed, ‘After neoliberalism’
Dawn, 15 April 2024
“These economic shifts will become more apparent as countries across the Global South attempt to catch up using a variety of different interventionist approaches. Selective engagement with the world, rather than an unencumbered embrace, is likely to be the pattern in the years ahead.”
Editorial, ‘Opposition alliance’
Dawn, 15 April 2024
“With the government coalition handed two-thirds control of both houses of parliament, the opposition is concerned that this legislative power may be abused to alter the makeup of the Constitution — especially in light of past experience when controversial legislation was hastily approved by the then ruling PDM coalition. It is likely that the opposition parties feel they must be in a position to challenge any attempt at legislative overreach by the government and to build up enough public pressure to deter the current set-up from getting too adventurous in law-making.”
Muhammad Majid Bashir, ‘Judicial success of the Hague Convention in Pakistan’
The Express Tribune, 15 April 2024
“These judgments have opened and discussed all available legal avenues related to international parental child abduction issues that the judiciary will face while deciding child custody cases in near future. The judgments have covered and observed all issues related to child custody mentioned in Guardian and Ward Act and the Hague Convention. The judgments reflect and contain high standard of reciprocity of international comity, compliance and solution-oriented schemes and way forward to resolve international parental child abduction issues in an understandable and non-conflicting modes.”
Shahid Javed Burki, ‘The world has changed, so should the countries of Global South’
The Express Tribune, 15 April 2024
“With a weakening global economy and one that is under all kinds of stresses, countries in the global South will need to squeeze every bit of growth they can from every part of their economies. To do that, industrial policy is essential even though using that as the approach has been discouraged by development experts. Industrial policy is essential, says Harvard University’s Dani Rodrik. He and other development experts say that even the right kind of industrial policy in place gains are likely to be modest and achieved with a great deal of effort. “The envelope has shrunk,” said Rodrik. “How much growth we can get is definitely less than in the past.”
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