Heavy monsoon rains and landslides hit Balochistan; Supreme Court considers appointing retired judges to clear backlog cases
In Brief
POLITICS
37 MNAs submit their affidavit of allegiance for the PTI to the ECP
On 16 July, The News International reported that almost 37 MNAs out of 41 have submitted their "affidavit of allegiance” for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). An additional four of the 41 independent lawmakers supported by the PTI are anticipated to do the same in the next couple of days. Further, The News International was informed by senior PTI leader Shibli Faraz that three senators were in the process of sending relevant documents from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He clarified that while Riaz Fatyana is being searched, the three lawmakers are Mobeen Arif, Umar Farooq, and Mehboob Sultan. (“Allegiance to PTI 37 out of 41 MNAs submit affidavits to ECP,” The News International, 16 July 2024)
President Zardari meets envoys from seven countries
On 15 July, during a ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr, envoys of seven countries including Zimbabwe, Tajikistan, Rwanda, Argentina, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Botswana presented their diplomatic credentials to President Asif Zardari. The president also offered massive investment opportunities and invited foreign countries to invest and benefit from those. He highlighted that the foreign investors should explore investment opportunities in agriculture, livestock, information technology, energy and mining sectors. Further, he expressed his desire to expand the cooperation with all the friendly countries especially in terms of trade, investment and culture. In addition, the President also held separate meetings with all the envoys. At last, he congratulated the envoys for their respective appointments as ambassador to Pakistan. (Kashif Abbasi, “Envoys of 7 countries present diplomatic credentials to president,” Dawn, 16 July 2024)
Anti-Terrorism court grants 10-day physical remand for Imran Khan in 12 “9 May” cases
On 16 July, The News International reported that Imran Khan who was arrested in twelve 9 May cases was given a 10-day physical remand by an Anti-Terrorism Court. Imran Khan, who participated in the court’s hearing through a video link stated: “No one conducted an independent inquiry into the May 9 incidents. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court that there should be an independent inquiry into the May 9 incidents.” He further alleged that he was attacked at Gujranwala and wanted to file an FIR, but told the court that it was rejected. After the arguments were heard from the lawyers and the prosecution, the court granted a 10-day physical remand in 12 cases. Similarly, a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team interrogated Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi at Adiala Jail regarding the Toshakhana case reference. Earlier, on 14 July, Imran Khan and his wife were remanded for eight days by the NAB team. (“ATC allows Imran’s physical remand in 12 May 9 cases,” The News International, 16 July 2024)
JUDICIARY
PML-N files petition in Supreme Court urging reversal of the reserved seats verdict
On 15 July, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) decided to seek the Supreme Court to recall its judgment on reserved seats. The PML-N claimed that the PTI was a separate party and was not entitled to the relief because it had not filed a similar plea before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or any other court. In its review petition, PML-N asked the Supreme Court to recall the ruling in the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) case and to suspend operations until the matter was resolved. Earlier, on 12 July, the apex court in its order had declared PTI eligible to receive reserved seats for women and minorities in the assemblies and also directed the 41 members who contested in the general elections as independent candidates to approach ECP within 15 days to present their party affiliation. This procedure, however, is not provided under the Constitution. In response to this move, PML-N in its petition alleged that the short order rewrites the constitution and claims these procedures are in “stark contradiction to the settled jurisprudence, the constitution and the Elections Act, 2017.” In the petition, it was also mentioned that the short order had provoked a controversy between parties regarding whether the SIC should be granted the reserved seats. In addition, the petition argues that the SIC was the only party that fought the entire case, however, the short order “went beyond the scope of the case, and thus could not be sustained.” It also urged the court to treat SIC and PTI as separate parties and claimed that the “PTI was not entitled to any relief.” (Nasir Iqbal, “PML-N knocks at SC door for review of reserved seats verdict,” Dawn, 16 July 2024)
Supreme Court considers appointing retired judges to clear backlog cases
On 16 July, Dawn reported that the Supreme Court was considering appointing retired judges to hear over 54,000 pending cases. It was announced that the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) — which appoints judges to superior courts will appoint four retired judges as ad hoc members of the court on 19 July 2024. The JCP will consider the names of retired justices Mushir Alam, Maqbool Baqar, Mazhar Alam Miankhel, and Sardar Tariq Masood for the appointment. However, CJP in his note mentioned that the retired judges will be appointed only if three years have not expired since their retirement. This move is being considered following the record of huge pending cases and continuing new cases. The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan in its bi-annual report observed that the overall pendency of cases in all courts increased by 3.9 per cent during the second half of 2023. Thereby, the record reaches 2.26 million pending cases. The report also details that almost 82 per cent of the pending cases rest at the district level and the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court, and High Courts holds responsible for the remaining 18 per cent of the cases. (Nasir Iqbal, “SC mulling appointment of retired judges to clear backlog,” Dawn, 16 July 2024)
Lahore Anti-Terrorism court indicts Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in 9 May case
On 15 July, Lahore anti-terrorism court indicted Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi regarding the 9 May case filed at the Shadman police station. On 9 May last year, nationwide protests were demonstrated after the arrest of Imran Khan in a corruption case. Shadman police had filed a case against PTI leaders and activists for attacking and burning the police station. Last week, the prosecution had also shared a copy of the investigation report with Qureshi. Anti-Terrorism Court-I Judge Khalid Arshad held the hearing in Kot Lakhpat Jail where Qureshi pleaded guilty. Judge Arshad adjourned the next hearing till 18 July.
Similarly, in December, Qureshi was implicated in 12 different cases filed by the Rawalpindi district police relating to the 9 May cases. Later, he secured bail in 13 cases in February. He is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail for eight cases related to the 9 May violence. (Rana Bilal, “Lahore ATC indicts PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi in May 9 case,” Dawn, 16 July 2024)
ECONOMY
Finance division notifies increase in fuel prices
On 16 July, the finance division issued a notification on the latest fuel prices in accordance with the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) directives. The notification revealed that the petrol price in Pakistan was increased by PKR 9.99 per litre for the next fortnight due to the rise of oil prices in the international market. This will be effective from 16 July. Similarly, the federal government increased the price of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) from PKR 277.45 per litre to PKR 283.63. This shows an increase of PKR 6.18 per litre. The statement reads: “The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has worked out the consumer prices, based on the price variations in the international market.” Earlier, in the federal budget 2024-25, the government had increased the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) by PKR 10 per litre (from PKR 60 to PKR 70). However, the finance division clarified that there will be no change in levies or duties under the new fuel prices, meaning the PDL remains PKR 60 per litre. This is the second time that the government has not increased the levy on petroleum products since the federal budget. (“Petrol price hiked by Rs9.99, diesel Rs6.18 per litre,” The News International, 16 July 2024)
ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE CHANGE
Heavy monsoon rains and landslides hit Balochistan
On 16 July, Dawn reported on Balochistan’s sustained monsoon rains and landslides. Monsoon rains have continued to hit northeastern and central parts of Balochistan, causing landslides and suspending traffic on the inter-provincial highway linking the province with Punjab. The Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority highlighted that at least 17 districts have been listed under ‘high alert’ due to the rains. The Sulaiman Range received heavy rains, triggering a landslide along the inter-provincial highway between Barkhan and Dera Ghazi Khan. The heavy downpour and the landslide severely affected the traffic between Balochistan and southern Punjab. About 10-kilo meters of the road between Barkhan and D.G. Khan was damaged. A senior security official stated: “We are making all-out efforts to remove the boulders and mud from the inter-provincial highway.” In Kohlu and Dera Bugti, roads have been affected, with mud houses damaged which left several families homeless. The Nari River, which passes through Sibi and Bolan districts, is carrying flood water. Traffic on the Quetta-Sibi highway has been temporarily suspended due to the Bolan River flowing over a small bridge. (Saleem Shahid, “Monsoon rains, landslides hit parts of Balochistan,” Dawn, 16 July 2024)
Climate Change’s “disproportionate effect on women are often relegated or subsumed,” highlights an opinion in The News International
On 16 July, in an opinion titled “The gendered costs of climate change” in The News International Ayiza Rahman highlighted that the “disproportionate effect on women” of climate change is “often relegated or subsumed” due to its massive “scope and scale.” Rahman emphasized that there is now overwhelming evidence for the same. The opinion piece further enumerated ways in which this happens: Climate induced disasters “disrupt jugular healthcare infrastructure,” including the supply chain of women’s healthcare needs, and contribute to “earning losses, gender-based violence (GBV), exacerbated resource dependency, widening economic inequality, migratory imbalance, and consequently, intersectional vulnerabilities.” Rahman also highlighted some key efforts made on this front, including the adoption of the National Climate Change Policy in 2021 and the Climate Change Gender Action Plan 2022 both of which were “gender-inclusive.”
Rahman argues that one way to fix the problem is make women “agents of change in climate conversations and decision-making.” This will also help in ensuring “climate justice” and “a climate-resilient Pakistan.” (Ayiza Rahman, “The gendered costs of climate change,” The News International, 16 July 2024)
WORLD VIEW
“No place in Gaza is safe from Israel’s murderous forays,” argues an editorial in Dawn
On 16 July, an editorial in Dawn titled “Non-stop massacres” described Israel’s offensive in Gaza as “one of the bloodiest campaigns of extermination against a civilian population in the modern era.” The editorial referred to the recent attacks on the Mawasi refugee camp in Khan Younis and a refugee camp in Nuseirat and argued that no space was safe in Gaza for the civilians, including the safe zones. The editorial also highlighted that those condemning Israeli actions, especially the West, were “shedding crocodile tears over the Palestinians’ suffering” as they continue to “arm and support” Israel. The editorial also accused the Muslim world of being “conspicuous by its absence.” The editorial further argued that Benjamin Netanyahu is “cunningly pretending to talk peace” while pounding Gaza. According to the editorial, this has turned the situation into one where Palestinians are fighting for their “survival.” The editorial concluded that there can only be one of the following to outcomes when the war ends: “either the Palestinians will secure freedom and dignity, or Israel will succeed in its mission of ethnically cleansing this ancient people from their homeland.” (“Non-stop massacres,” Dawn, 16 July 2024)
NATO states must shed their “Cold War mentality” to ensure a ‘rules-based’ international order, argue as editorial in Dawn
On 16 July, an editorial in Dawn titled “Nato at 75” reviewed the 75 years of existence of Nato. The editorial argued that rather than “bringing long-lasting global stability” the alliance has led to “instability by maintaining a warlike posture that has threatened other states.” For instance, the editorial argues that while the Russian invasion of Ukraine is “unjustified,” continued Nato expansion eastwards contributed to this “collision course.” The editorial further argued that if Nato states are interested in “maintaining a ‘rules-based’ international order,” they must give up “Cold War mentality,” shun “threats and gunboat diplomacy.” A “new global geopolitical order” must be envisioned and created based on “mutual respect, beneficial and sustainable trade, as well as human development.” The editorial emphasized that in a “changed world,” “warmongering and neo-imperial rhetoric” will not do Nato any favors. NATO must stop fueling “forever wars” and equally condemn the “Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and the ongoing genocidal violence in Gaza” as they do the Ukraine War. The editorial stressed that the ball is in “NATO’s court” and it must decide whether it wants to end its confrontation will its adversaries or “prepare for an era of open-ended confrontation.”(“ Nato at 75”, Dawn, 16 July 2024)
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All workers should fully participate in this trend to completely ban a party like Tehreek Antarah.
- Imran Bilal
Whatever is happened today because of the attitude of PTI leadership and their extremist policies. Imran khan is responsible for this situation. Violence, extremism and fascism can’t work along with politics of Pakistan.
- Sharjeel Inam Memon
Our moral training, patience and tolerance were considered as our weakness and the anarchy in Pakistan was brought to an end. We will fight it vigorously and will not allow Pakistan to become a victim of instability.
-Attaullah Tarar
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"Regular inspections of Sukkur Barrage gates are needed."
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Lessons not learnt’
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