Data shows 10.54 per cent rise in exports and 0.84 per cent fall in imports during FY24; Pakistan and Tajikistan: PM's Visit and Beyond
In Focus
SIC’s reserved seats case hearing divides judges
On 3 July, Dawn reported that the Supreme Court hearing related to Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)’s appeal against ECP’s decision to not allocate reserved seats to independents that had joined it has divided the judges. This polarization was evident during the full court hearing when judges invoked different principles on the matter. Here are some of the principles invoked and issues discussed:
Justice Athar Minallah
During the hearing, Justice Athar Minallah pointed out that the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan had argued that the court only look at Article 185 of the Constitution (appeal) as this was the question before the court. Justice Minallah, however, argued that this would mean that the apex court would be “validating a grave constitutional violation and invoking the ‘doctrine of necessity’ instead of Article 185.” This is because Justice Minallah is of the opinion that a political party was “excluded” on the basis of “misinterpretation of constitutional provisions and the Jan 13 judgement of the apex court.” He further argued that even though the case was about “the rights of people who were disenfranchised by an unconstitutional interpretation by a constitutional body, i.e. the ECP,” the AGP wanted the court to “validate this exercise.”
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa regretted Justice Minallah’s statement and responded “When judges, some of them may have great wisdom, forget what the Constitution says but erect the basis of their judgement on one word, ‘justice principle’, then we may have to do away with the Constitution because we may now be imposing our vision on the nation by saying constitution-makers are not right in framing the Constitution, but judges are.” Justice Isa also lamented that “judges were imposing their will on parliament” not because they intended to but they “believed in it.” During the course of the hearing, Justice Isa also made a reference to the “doctrine of necessity,” equating it with the “justice principle.” He also mentioned how the former was used to legalize military takeovers in the past even though there was no provision for military rule in the Constitution or for “sending elected representatives’ home.” In this regard, he also stated “When you cannot find a tangible reason to hang on to the Constitution, you open the doors for the doctrine of necessity.” He requested that “Pakistan should be allowed to get on the constitutional path for once.”
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah termed the exclusion of PTI from the elections “a grave constitutional violation.” Referring to the fact that the PTI-backed independents had projected their affiliation with the party during elections to the electorate, Justice Shah argued that it was important to look at the complete picture. In this regard, he stated “What I find difficult is to ignore one segment of electorates while overseeing a very grave illegality, therefore the court should not attend to it and close its eyes.” He further argued that PTI’s exclusion had disenfranchised voters that had voted for the party and it is the court’s duty to “as the highest constitutional court to correct this serious violation.” He invoked the principle of “complete justice” and argued that the court could not turn a “blind eye” to the details of the case and only focus on matter at hand. He further stated that had the ECP “declared the PTI a political party,” the independents would have had a choice of joining it.
Justice Munib Akhtar
Referring to the independents, Justice Munib Akhtar wondered whether they were “elected as independents” or “created by the ECP” due to the latter’s “faulty” interpretation of the Constitution and the Jan 13 judgement of the Supreme Court. He also argued that the Constitution mandates that no seats in the house should remain vacant, however, the presence of a large number of independents has resulted in the reserved seats being vacant. In his opinion, these “excess” seats should go to the political parties.
References
Nasir Iqbal, “‘Doctrine of necessity’ echoes in Courtroom No 1, again,” Dawn, 3 July 2024
Abdullah Momand, “SC forms full court to hear reserved seats case on Monday,” Dawn, 31 May 2024
Haseeb Bhatti, “PTI bat-tered, loses iconic electoral symbol as SC restores ECP order,” Dawn, 13 January 2024
In Brief
POLITICS
Imran Khan’s detention is an “internal matter,” says government and the US
On 2 July, the government and its allies rejected recommendations made by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding Imran Khan’s detention, calling it a conspiracy against the institutions. Earlier on 1 July, the group had said that the politically motivated cases against Khan were “without legal basis,” which is why the appropriate measure would be to release and compensate him. In response, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar rebuffed the legally non-binding recommendations, asserting that Khan’s detention, which was done as a result of legal action by courts, is an “internal matter.” He stated that Khan, who is in jail as a convicted prisoner, “is entitled to all rights under the Constitution and laws, as well as international principles.” On the same, the US State Department said on 1 July that Khan’s detention is “an internal matter for Pakistan.” Separately, Awn Chaudhry, a former confidant of Khan and currently a government ally, blamed PTI leaders for “hatching a conspiracy against Pakistan,” and being involved in “the worst kind of corruption.” (Syed Irfan Raza, “Govt, US call Imran’s trials ‘an internal matter’,” Dawn, 3 July 2024)
Imran Khan addresses party divisions and US resolution while speaking to media reporters
On 2 July, Imran Khan admitted to groupings in the PTI while ruling out any forward bloc in the party, saying he would speak to both groups on 4 July. He ruled out any major differences within the party, adding that there would be “separate judgements for party leaders who faced torture and those who left after seeing their files (of cases against them).” Khan addressed slogans raised against PTI’s Umar Ayub, which had been seen as a sign of internal divisions, and said that Ayub has “sacrificed immensely for the party and has seen a lot of hard times.” Speaking on the resolution passed by the US House of Representatives which called for a probe into alleged poll irregularities, Khan said that it “raised the same questions as those mentioned by Pildat, Fafen, and Pattan.” Given that the whole country along with domestic and foreign media have “questioned the transparency of the election,” it proves that “everyone knows that the election was rigged.” On speculations of whether the PTI had lobbied in the US for this resolution, he argued that despite being the “strongest lobby in the US,” even Israel could never bring such a resolution in its favour. Additionally, Khan asserted that the current government “is a product of rigging, and the whole country is running on lies,” while blaming the interior ministry for harming cricket. (“Imran admits to grouping in PTI,” The News International, 3 July 2024)
Legal warrants should be a mandate for states to initiate “surveillance of any individual,” argues an editorial in Dawn
On 3 July, an editorial in Dawn titled ‘Orwellian state’ claimed that the “security apparatus” listens to what ordinary citizens say on their phones, reads messages exchanged between people, and watches what they do on the internet. This observation was made following information submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which revealed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has “forced telecom companies to implement a mass surveillance system through which up to four million citizens can be monitored at any given time with the click of a button.” The editorial explained that in “Orwellian nomenclature,” this system is known as the ‘Lawful’ Intercept Management System (LIMS), and is run without any checks and balances, enabling “the intrusive eyes and ears of unnamed intelligence agencies to spy on anyone they want.” Recently, news headlines have covered leaked phone calls involving prominent citizens, after LIMS’ existence came to light following IHC Justice Babar Sattar demanding answers from the state on who had the power to conduct such surveillance of citizens. In his order, Sattar noted that data was “being collected without any human intervention or legal warrant,” and was being shared with unnamed agencies. The editorial pointed out that “any citizen at any time can be made vulnerable by the state simply listening to and watching what they are doing and using that information to blackmail them.” While acknowledging that there are “good justifications” for keeping tabs on criminals and terrorists, the state must be required to secure legal warrants as such immense power has the “potential for abuse and the consequences for personal freedoms can be disastrous.” (“Orwellian state,” Dawn, 3 July 2024)
ECONOMY
PBS data shows 10.54 per cent rise in exports and 0.84 per cent fall in imports during FY24
On 2 July, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) released data showing a 10.54 per cent rise in Pakistan’s merchandise exports from USD 27.72 billion in 2022-23 to USD 30.64 billion in 2023-24. Exports remained positive from July 2023 before turning negative in January, and then regaining momentum from May till June. Exports reached their highest level at USD 31.78 billion in 2021-22, though there was a drop to USD 27.54 billion in the next year. Initiatives by the caretaker government caused a significant export boost in FY24 to USD 30.65 billion. In June, exports increased from USD 2.35 billion a month earlier to USD 2.53 billion, growing by 7.34 per cent. There was negative growth in January (8.38 per cent), February (7.49 per cent), March (0.39 per cent), and April (1.06 per cent). PBS projected an export target of USD 32.3 billion for FY25, indicating a 6.6 per cent increase. However, exporter associations have warned the government over possible negative implications of the tax measures in the FY25 budgets, saying that they could cause a decline in export earnings. On imports, the PBS data showed a 0.84 per cent fall in FY24 compared to FY23, from USD 55.19 billion to USD 54.73 billion. The import target for FY25 has been kept at USD 57.3 billion. Comparing June to May, the trade deficit widened by 30.39 per cent from USD 1.83 billion to USD 2.39 billion. (Mubarak Zeb Khan, “Exports increase to $30.7bn in 2023-24,” Dawn, 3 July 2024)
Slowdown in construction activities causes fall in domestic cement sales during FY24
On 3 July, Dawn reported that a slowdown in construction activities led to a 4.6 per cent fall in domestic cement sales from 40.01 million tonnes in FY23 to 38.18 million tonnes in FY24. Export despatches saw an increase of 56 per cent from 4.56 million tonnes in FY23 to 7.11 million tonnes in FY24, causing a meagre rise of 1.6 per cent in overall cement despatches, from 44.58 million to 45.291 million tonnes. The spokesperson of the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association highlighted the role played by the domestic market in the cement district and called for the attention of policymakers towards the 4.6 per cent decline in domestic sales during FY24. He also pointed out that while the situation requires a reduction in duties and taxes on cement, the decision of the government to double excise duty in the FY25 budget will hamper demand. (“Local cement sales fall on slump in construction,” Dawn, 3 July 2024)
EXTERNAL
PM Sharif calls for enhancing bilateral trade volume with Tajikistan during two-day visit
On 2 July, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the need for expansion in bilateral trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan, while mentioning that the current trade volume did not mirror the strong ties between the two countries. Currently, he is in Dushanbe for a two-day visit, where he addressed a presser alongside Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon and announced the signing of several MoUs. He also assured Rahmon that he would work closely to strengthen ties in the fields of agriculture, education, health, and investment. On strengthening bilateral trade, Sharif said both countries would have to fix targets and transport goods from Karachi port to Tajikistan through Afghanistan, and then from Dushanbe to Karachi via Afghanistan through a rail-road project. He noted Pakistan’s interest in being a part of the China-Tajikistan-Afghanistan trade corridor project to broaden multilateral regional trade, expressing confidence separately over the completion of the CASA-1000 power project. Speaking on security, Sharif lamented that both countries have been victims of terrorism, and said to Rahmon that both countries could collectively combat terrorism. Rahmon underscored the brotherly relations between both countries.
According to an editorial in The Nation titled ‘Central Asian Pivot,’ since it is a part of China’s connectivity vision and shares historic cultural and religious links, Tajikistan is a “natural partner” for Pakistan. It can help with providing “transit connectivity, and gas and electricity transmission lanes,” becoming a “central pivot” in South-Central Asia. Since Pakistan faces “persistent setbacks” from its Western neighbour, China is its alternative to send its exports to Central Asian countries. Thus, the editorial advised that Sharif should “discuss the completion of the ongoing CASA-1000 and the possibility of new projects.” With China as its “ever-green friend” and Russia as an “emerging partner,” Pakistan has more opportunities than challenges in the “regional web,” but must “maximize bilateral trade volumes and increase codependency with Tajikistan.” (“PM seeks more bilateral trade with Dushanbe,” Dawn¸ 3 July 2024; “Central Asian Pivot,” The Nation, 3 July 2024)
UN ambassador calls on UN to help end conflict in Gaza following Israel evacuation orders
On 2 July, a UN agency warned that around 250,000 would be affected by new Israeli orders for evacuation from Khan Younis, after which Pakistan called for urgent intervention to stop the conflict in Gaza. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, emphasized that there is “no more apt situation calling for urgent intervention to stop the genocide than in Gaza where the international community has failed to restore peace.” During a UN General Assembly (UNGA) debate, Akram questioned where the “original eloquent proponents of the R2P are,” lamenting that some “block” the UN Security Council from “demanding a ceasefire, while others supply arms to Israel, even after the ICJ called to stop this plausible genocide.” He pointed out that Resolution 2735, which calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, has not been implemented, and stated: “Is this not a situation where the Security Council, acting under the Genocide Convention, reinforced by the R2P doctrine, should intervene to offer protection to the victims in Gaza?” He urged the UNSC to “urgently” consider creating a UN-led force to protect Palestinians while calling on the international community to find the best way to prevent genocides and war crimes. (Anwar Iqbal, “Pakistan seeks urgent UN intervention to stop Gaza genocide,” Dawn, 3 July 2024)
US envoy to Pakistan expresses desire increase durability of bilateral relations
On 2 July, the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, said in the US Embassy in Islamabad that though the US and Pakistan have had to tackle multiple challenges, those who have “worked together to strengthen this relationship have always recognized that the partnership” has been a “part of a longer journey toward increased prosperity and security” for both countries. He contended that both countries emerged from a “hard-won struggle for independence,” and leaders of both countries share an obsession with “discussing the very purpose” of their societies and politics. Blome noted the “leading role” of American businesses in employing Pakistanis “from top to bottom, training them to the highest technical and management levels,” and also in bringing “American values of openness, transparency, and community citizenship.” Further, he expressed pride in being a part of the US-Pakistan ‘Green Alliance,’ for which the US has contributed USD one billion, and called it a “transformative initiative committed to support Pakistan as it strengthens climate resilience.” Blome detailed the US’ investments in healthcare, such as USD nine million to address tuberculosis and more than USD 85 million to address malnutrition. (“Pak-US partnership part of longer journey toward prosperity, security: Blome,” The News International¸ 3 July 2024)
JUDICIARY
Judicial commission unanimously appoints Justice Aalia Neelum as first LHC chief justice
On 2 July, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) unanimously approved the elevation of Justice Aalia Neelum to the position of chief justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC), making her the first woman to hold this position. Neelum was enrolled as an advocate in 1996, later becoming a Supreme Court (SC) advocate in 2008 before being elevated to the LHC in 2013. The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Qazi Faez Isa, headed the JCP and approved her elevation after considering three other nominations. Justice Shafi Siddiqui was also unanimously recommended by the JCP to fill the vacant seat resulting from Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi’s elevation to the SC. On 7 June, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan had been elevated to the SC, vacating the office of the LHC chief justice. According to a ‘well-informed source’ to Dawn, Neelum, who was third in the seniority list of LHC judges, was elevated despite the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) advocating for adherence to the principle of seniority. A few PBC members had also written a letter to Isa on the matter before Neelum’s appointment, in which they stated: “We hope that in the case of the appointment of chief justice in the LHC, seniority principle will be adhered to promote credibility of the judiciary system in the country.” (“LHC gets first woman chief justice Aalia Neelum,” Dawn, 3 July 2024)
AF-PAK
Afghan Taliban delegation meets Pak officials on sidelines of Doha-III conference
On 3 July, The News International reported that an Afghan Taliban delegation led by Afghan interim government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid met with Pakistani diplomats on the sidelines of the Doha-III conference. The Pakistani Ambassador to Qatar, Muhammad Aejaz, hosted a dinner for the Afghan Taliban delegation which was also attended by senior diplomats including Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Asif Durrani and the country’s Deputy Head of Mission in Kabul Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani. Durrani said that both sides discussed developments at the conference along with “bilateral and regional issues.” Aejaz also took to X to state that both countries “remain neighbours and brothers and have a lot in common, including a strong desire for regional peace and security.” As per diplomatic sources, it was an “unusual meeting,” though the Afghan interim government thanked Islamabad for supporting Kabul’s stance in the conference. (Azaz Syed, “Cross-border terrorism row: Afghan Taliban, Pakistan diplomats meet in Doha,” The News International, 3 July 2024)
Experts link Taliban takeover to rising terrorism in Pakistan during panel discussion
On 2 July, human rights lawyer Syed Muaz Shah noted a surge in the number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan from 1.44 million to 2.18 million since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021. During a panel discussion, he noted Pakistan’s sovereignty in carrying out its repatriation policy, in spite of many Afghan refugees being in a situation where they wanted to settle and work in Pakistan. Shah also recognized their right to seek refuge and work in Pakistan under international law. During the discussion, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) expert Brigadier Shozab Majeed pointed out that Pakistan has been able to manage Afghan refugees without foreign assistance since 1996, though it has put pressure on Pakistan’s economy. He advised providing those opportunities to Afghan refugees that would add value to Pakistan and help combat its economic burden and prevent an increase in terrorism. Additionally, former Secretary of Defence, Lt Gen (retd.) Asif Yasin Malik called for incentivising Afghan refugees to repatriate as part of a well-planned and urgent policy action in collaboration with the UNHCR and the Afghan interim government, to ensure the safety of Pakistanis. (Rasheed Khalid, “‘Influx of refugees increased after Taliban takeover’,” The News International, 3 July 2024)
The situation is “back to square one” despite Doha-III conference, contends editorial in The News
On 3 July, an editorial in The News International titled ‘Doha talks’ said that despite the Doha-III conference, the situation between Afghanistan and the rest of the world remains “pretty much unchanged,” majorly because the Afghan Taliban delegation did not “pledge to make any reforms on key points of contention such as the exclusion of women and girls from education and other areas of civil life.” The international community for its part “did not make any concessions of its own,” meaning that the “entire scenario is stuck at square one.” While the men who lead the Afghan Taliban are “famed for their resilience” and are unlikely to budge, it is “hard to argue their intransigence is leading to any kind of freedom or liberation for their people.” The editorial pointed out that most other Muslim countries allow women to get an education. Aside from this, the problem of cross-border terrorism, which has “disproportionately affected Pakistan,” is still unresolved as Pakistan remains isolated on the global stage. Despite a meeting between Afghan Taliban and Pakistani officials, it is unclear if there will be any concrete improvement as “similar meetings in the past have not yielded the desired results.” During this meeting, the Pakistan side highlighted that 700,000 Afghans have fled to Pakistan since August 2021, and called for a “conducive environment in Afghanistan for repatriation.” The editorial concluded by questioning what can be done next since the Afghan Taliban will not “budge on women’s party” and the international community will not budge on “helping the Afghan people out.” (“Doha talks,” The News International, 3 July 2024)
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
Senator Rehman presents annual climate agenda, says government is not solely responsible to combat climate change
On 3 July, The News International reported that the Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Sherry Rehman, presented the annual climate agenda. Announcing plans to summon the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in the next meeting of the Senate’s Committee to discuss monsoon preparedness, she noted: “There is a forecast for unusual monsoon rains in the country. We will receive briefings from the NDMA and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on forecasts and government measures to manage the rains and potential damages.” Rehman said that committee meetings would be held twice a month while public hearings on climate change issues would be held twice a year, highlighting the importance of collective action in tackling climate change as citizens too must play their part in saving the environment. She spoke on the committee’s focus on renewable energy, asserting that Pakistan “must continue to advocate for the implementation of promises made.” Though constitutional constraints result in the committee’s decision being non-binding on the provinces, Rehman assured that she would “continue to raise climate-related issues of the Islamabad Capital Territory in every committee meeting.” Speaking on the problem of water scarcity, potential droughts, and desertification by 2024, she stated that Balochistan and Sindh are already facing a water crisis while Pakistan’s glaciers are rapidly melting. For this, the committee “will invite the Ministry of Water Resources and other relevant institutions to discuss the water scarcity and the available solutions.” Additionally, on the concern of plastic pollution, Rehman detailed that she “banned the dumping of plastic waste in Pakistan’s maritime boundaries,” calling on the committee to “encourage and ensure a plastic-free world for future generations.” (“Sherry presents annual climate agenda before Senate panel,” The News International, 3 July 2024)
Poor execution and “injudicious utilization of funds” weaken disaster preparedness, says editorial in Dawn
On 3 July, an editorial in Dawn titled ‘Coping with disaster’ stated that monsoons in Pakistan come with the “fear of urban flooding, flash floods, and accompanying devastation.” Given the number of times that the Met Office issues warnings of extreme rains and floods, it raises the question of preparedness and of how well Pakistan’s disaster management authorities and civic agencies can “cope and provide relief to the affected communities.” The editorial lamented that the response to the “increasing number of extreme weather events” across Pakistan has “consistently fallen short.” Though successive governments have promised to upgrade urban infrastructure and enhance the disaster management capacity, “little has actually been done,” causing a loss of life and property every year. The “poor execution of these plans and the injudicious utilisation of funds before and during the monsoons” is to be blamed for this. Even in 2024, both national and provincial disaster management authorities have “activated their emergency operations” and told civic agencies to stand ready in case of a potential crisis. However, few believe that this year will be different from the past as it is “impossible for disaster mitigation efforts to keep pace with extreme weather events.” Nonetheless, while many other countries have been investing in urban infrastructure and training civic agencies, in Pakistan, “even large cities like Karachi and Lahore remain ill-prepared and ill-equipped.” The editorial ended by contending that while Pakistan cannot reverse climate change, it can engage in better planning and execution to better “prepare itself to protect its citizens and infrastructure.” (“Coping with disaster,” Dawn, 3 July 2024)
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The Umeed Special Education Center, established by the Pakistan Army in Quetta, has been a beacon of hope for the past ten years, rehabilitating children with special needs. It offers comprehensive mental, educational, and technical training for 112 children with conditions like Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism. Parents praise the center's invaluable support for Quetta's specially-abled children.
- Balochistan Current Affairs
Excellent meeting with my dear brother H.E. Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan. We discussed bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, energy, agriculture, and security. Our meeting also focused on prospects for enhanced regional connectivity. We also witnessed signing of several MoUs/agreements between both sides. I appreciate President Rahmon’s personal commitment and leadership to strengthen Pakistan-Tajikistan friendship. I also extended to him a warm invitation to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
- Shehbaz Sharif
The father of the deceased, who was crushed by the daughter of a former judge of the Lahore High Court, said that instead of registering a case, the police came to my house and threatened me. Association Tanoli says that the person who influenced the post was promoted, Association demanded justice from the state.
-Pervaiz Sandhila
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“The untouchables are not to be touched. Fleecing the oppressed remains the name of the game.”
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘The budget and after’
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