Lahore High Court says interference of spy agencies in judiciary is an “open secret”; Unicef Pakistan introduces National Gender Strategy to uplift Pakistani girls
In Brief
POLITICS
Hundreds of students protest against Israeli aggression in Gaza and condemn the US
On 30 April, hundreds of students from various universities in Lahore held a protest demonstration against Israeli aggression in Gaza, carrying Palestine flags and gathering outside the US consulate. Both male and female students wore keffiyehs (a Palestinian national symbol) in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians and condemned the US for supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza. The Progressive Students Collective (PSC) led the protests, which were attended by students, social and political activists, academics, and artists. PSC spokesperson Ali Abdullah Khan highlighted how “Israel’s aggression has claimed the lives of over 34,000 innocent civilians, including more than 5,000 students and 300 educators, while leaving Gaza’s educational infrastructure decimated.” He condemned the US’ “unconscionable” decision to continue providing military support to Israel, thus “enabling these atrocities to persist unchecked.” Khan added that the protestors wanted to “express solidarity” with counterparts at Colombia University, and called on the “Pakistan government to unequivocally condemn this genocide.” PSC’s Vice President Hammad Kakar demanded Pakistan “take decisive steps to support the Palestinian cause,” including “pursuing legal avenues” such as taking Israel to the International Court of Justice and “championing pro-Palestinian student protests.” In order to mobilize students across Pakistan, he announced the formation of a “national-level Palestine Solidarity Committee.” Noting that the Pakistani government had earlier endorsed a two-state solution, he said that the solution “goes against the wishes of the Palestinian people,” meaning Pakistan should “support the call for the complete independence of the Palestinian people and the formation Palestine state.” (“Students protest outside US consulate against Israel,” Dawn, 1 May 2024)
JUDICIARY
IHC bench claims there is no evidence that Imran Khan was in possession of cipher
On 30 April, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) observed that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) did not have anything on record that proved Imran Khan retained the diplomatic cable and that it went missing while it was in his possession. An IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb made this observation while hearing appeals filed by Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi against their conviction. As per an earlier report filed by defence counsel Barrister Salman Safdar containing details of the cipher’s distribution, all of the recipients of the cipher had returned the confidential document after a case was registered against Khan. Farooq asked special prosecutor Hamid Ali Shah if there was “any record of cipher’s movement that it was handed over to the prime minister by the principal secretary.” Shah stated that the then-principal secretary, Azam Khan, had testified in court that the cipher had never been returned by Khan after he received it; however, Farooq noted it as “hearsay.” To further his argument, Shah pointed out that the court had enough reason to believe that Khan perused the cipher after which he sent a demarche to the US and that Khan himself admitted that the cipher was in his possession during a public speech. Aurangzeb countered this by saying that politicians are known to make such statements to pander to the crowd. Subsequently, Farooq directed the counsel to submit a challan or a discharge report in the FIR by 2 May. (“‘No evidence that cipher was in Imran’s custody’,” Dawn¸ 1 May 2024)
Lahore High Court says interference of spy agencies in judiciary is an “open secret”
On 1 May, The Express Tribune reported that the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and the Lahore High Court (LHC) both described the interference of intelligence agencies in judicial matters as an “open secret,” a claim that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had made earlier. In a suo motu case in connection with the letter submitted by six IHC judges, the PHC said to the Supreme Court (SC): “Interference in politics, functioning of parliament and the judicial working of the superior judiciary by the executive organs of the State is an open secret. Some of the participants/judges have expressed and shared the trauma, which they underwent due to [the] interference [of] the intelligence agencies when some political cases came up for hearing before the bench, which was presided over by them.” It also noted that there were complaints of the “direct approach” towards judges taken by the intelligence agencies, and how when “matters were decided impartially,” the judges received “life threats through non-State actors from the neighbouring country, Afghanistan.” While this matter was discussed with the Counter-Terrorism Department and brought to the notice of “all concerned at the highest level,” it was to no avail. Additionally, the LHC brought up how majority of judges in the meeting witnessed the “interference of agencies/executive in the independence of the judiciary,” and how earlier SC judgements to counter this interference had been “ineffective.” Thus the LHC judges asked the SC to give a “comprehensive mechanism to deal with the matter,” and called for a complete ban on the meeting of judges with members of intelligence agencies. They also advised setting up a permanent cell at the “the high court and Supreme Court level to process such reports/complaints and their decisions in accordance with the law.” Further, the LHC in its reply asserted: “If a judge of [the] high court or district judiciary is approached, intimidated or blackmailed by any member of the state agencies/executive, then [the] said judge apart from taking initiating legal proceedings against the responsible persons may also initiate contempt proceedings against him/them or he may proceed in the matter as envisaged under section 228 PPC as the case may be.” (Hasnaat Malik, “PHC also admits spy agencies ‘interfere’ in cases,” The Express Tribune, 1 May 2024)
SOCIETY
Pakistan ready to launch historic lunar mission
On 1 May, The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan will be embarking on a ‘ground-breaking lunar mission’ through the launch of the ICUBE-Q satellite on 3 May. This satellite will be carried on China’s Chan’E6 spacecraft. As per the Institute of Space Technology (IST), ICUBE-Q was designed and developed by the IST in collaboration with Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO and China’s Shanghai University SJTU. The satellite finished successful qualification and testing and is equipped with two optical cameras to capture images of the lunar surface. This mission is important for Pakistan as it will also take a Pakistan CubeSat Satellite iCube-Q, a miniature satellite constructed in a cubic shape. Developed by the IST, its primary purpose is to facilitate scientific research, technology development, and educational initiatives in space exploration. They can also be used for observing the Earth, remote sensing, communications astronomy and technology demonstration. (“Pakistan’s historic lunar mission to be launched on Friday,” The Express Tribune, 1 May 2024)
Unicef Pakistan introduces National Gender Strategy to uplift Pakistani girls
On 1 May, Unicef Pakistan launched a National Gender Strategy (2024-2027), with the objective of creating a lasting and transformative change for girls between the age of ten to 19. An effective implementation of the strategy could, as per Unicef, drive changes, address inequalities, and uplift the lives of girls. The Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women, Nilofar Bakhtiar, emphasized: “Striving for equal opportunities for all, especially girls, is fundamental to Pakistan’s progress. Investing in girls is a win-win for everyone.” This is because by “investing in girls’ leadership,” their full potential is unlocked and could lead to “higher incomes and increased productivity.” Unicef’s Deputy Representative in Pakistan, Inoussa Kabore, noted how millions of children, particularly girls, face “devastating challenges in their daily lives” which often prevent them from accessing “basic social services like health care.” They are also “forced to drop out of school due to early marriage, poverty, and deep-rooted social norms.” Unicef pointed out that Pakistan is home to 19 million child brides, while around 54 per cent of adolescent girls were pregnant before turning 18. Kabore explained that giving girls and women equal opportunities could allow them to “contribute to the economy and help Pakistan prosper,” and asserted that “no country will get ahead if half its population is left behind.” As part of the strategy, Unicef will invest in girls’ leadership, address harmful attitudes, and introduce social and behavioural change initiatives. The organization will work with leaders, religious figures, boys, men, and social media platforms to help further the cause. (“Unicef Pakistan launches National Gender Strategy,” Dawn, 1 May 2024)
PROVINCES
Punjab: Government proposes vague policy on wheat procurement
On 30 April, the Punjab government announced a ‘vague’ policy on wheat procurement, after blaming the caretaker government for causing a “wheat crisis” in the province. The policy did not include a date for initiating the drive and was criticized by the opposition for offering nothing new to the protesting farmers. Food Minister Bilal Yasin said in the Punjab Assembly: “Those who imported wheat [close to the harvesting season] are responsible for this crisis. However, despite this, the government will fully support the small farmers.” He promised a fact-finding probe into the import of the staple but failed to include any details on the mode and timeframe for this support. Yasin added that the drive would begin when the grain would have “ten per cent moisture.” (Amjad Mahmood, “Punjab comes up with ‘vague policy’ on wheat crisis,” Dawn, 1 May 2024)
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The Karakoram Highway, connecting Pakistan to China, is one of the highest paved roads in the world, at maximum elevation of 4,714 m. It is often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
-Massimo
Productive meeting with @Syedomair88, advancing legislation for Pakistan's disabled community, especially those making use of wheelchairs and simplifying process of disability certificate acquisition nationwide.
-Barrister Aqeel Malik
Students from Punjab University, the largest university in Pakistan, unite under @JamiatPK
to hold a massive rally showing solidarity with #Gaza. Their message is clear and powerful: From Islamabad to New York, from Karachi to California, We Stand as One!
-Jamshaid Msandhu
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Zahid Hussain, ‘The Dar story continues’
Dawn, 1 May 2024
“Indeed, Dar’s appointment as deputy prime minister has not drawn any criticism from the coalition partners, but it is a fact that the allied parties had reportedly opposed his return as finance minister. There may not be any provision for deputy prime minister in the Constitution, but there have been instances in the past of such appointment. However, the position has been largely ceremonial.”
Rafia Zakaria, ‘New era of realisation’
Dawn, 1 May 2024
“The Democrats do not know what to do with the pro-Palestinian protesters either. This is because both party politicians have long taken huge caches of cash from Jewish lobbyist organisations such as the AIPAC to run their campaigns. However, to come to power, many Democratic politicians, President Joe Biden chief among them, have relied on young voters. So while they would like to ignore the protesters and young people in general, the fact that two-thirds of the 18-29-year age group, polled by the New York Times in 2023, said that Israel should stop its killing of Palestinians, is threatening their hopes of staying in power. Forty eight per cent of the same age group said that Israel was intentionally killing civilians.”
Editorial, ‘Wheat protests’
Dawn, 1 May 2024
“However, a sudden curtailment of the government’s role will prove harmful for farmers amid collapsing wheat prices resulting from record production and unseasonal rains that are threatening the crop. The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.”
Editorial, ‘Polio drive’
Dawn, 1 May 2024
“However, achieving a polio-free Pakistan requires more than cross-border cooperation. It necessitates an approach that addresses both vaccination resistance and virus transmission. First, we must ensure the safety of our polio workers. These front-line heroes face significant risks, and their protection is essential for the continuity of immunisation drives. Second, addressing vaccine hesitancy through education campaigns is crucial. Misinformation and distrust have led to a high rate of vaccine refusal, even among well-educated families from Karachi, research has revealed. Overcoming this requires tailored communication strategies that resonate with various demographic groups. Moreover, enhanced surveillance must be implemented to promptly detect and contain virus outbreaks.”
Talat Masood, ‘Pakistan’s economic and political challenges’
The Express Tribune, 1 May 2024
“There are several internal measures that the leadership will have to undertake to improve the economy by increasing exports and reducing imports where feasible. In an effort to enhance exports the quality and range of our products has to increase, requiring both short- and long-term measures that we have been neglecting for long. Our industrial and technological base will have to be expanded. As this is an undertaking spread over years, it requires consensus on policy among political parties and cooperation and support of the establishment. It will require a review of our priorities that should focus on science and technology and ensuring hundred per cent literacy over a span of five to eight years. Pakistan cannot afford the drag of having close to 23% of the population that cannot read or write. In addition, focus on girl’s education should be a priority. It is common wisdom that if a woman is educated it has a far wider impact on the family and beyond.”
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