|
In Brief
POLITICS
PM Sharif remarks no tolerance for any steps “against the country, its innocent people, and its armed forces.”
On 24 July, The News International reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against peddling the smear campaign targeting Pakistan and the army chief. While chairing a federal cabinet meeting, he stated: “The perpetrators of the 9 May riots, who had also attacked parliament and PTV and besieged the PM House in the past, have resorted to new tactics to malign the country and its armed forces as a malicious campaign was run against Army Chief General Asim Munir from the official website of the PTI.” He warned that the government would not tolerate any “steps against the country, its innocent people and its armed forces,” reiterating his firm stance on national unity to protect national interests. Following Sharif’s remarks. the Inter-Services Public Relations Director-General (DG ISPR) Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s called on the government to “stand up against militants and “digital terrorists.” Additionally, Shehbaz pointed out the increasing terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He denounced the recent “unacceptable” incidents involving TTP, which killed several security force personnel and law enforcement agencies. Referrning to the wave of terrorist incidents as “machination against the country.” Sharif detailed that the government is in contact with the Afghanistan government regarding their involvement. (“PM Shehbaz vows zero tolerance for PTI's 'propaganda against armed forces',” The News International, 24 July 2024)
Pakistan needs a “political environment where democracy can thrive, ” says an editorial in The News International
On 25 July, an editorial in The News International titled ‘A recipe for chaos?’ questioned whether the government would ban the PTI, given the “different camps” on a potentially “dangerous precedent set under an ostensibly ‘democratic’ dispensation.”. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the government will proceed to ban the PTI “after consultations and legal preparations,” which the article referred to as a “profoundly misguided step” as it would destroy democratic stability when the economic stability is already deteriorating. The editorial noted that banning a party like PTI, which has “substantial popular support,” is a “self-defeating step” that was taken on the grounds of PTI’s alleged involvement in the 9 May events and its attempts to disrupt the International Monetary deal (IMF) with Pakistan. Though both events were against the national interests and justice must be given, a “transparent legal” process should trump a ban that would only “ “exacerbate polarization and unrest.” This view is shared by majority of the civil society and “saner political voices” who have called for restraint; however, restraint seems to be “in short supply,” given that the government has decided to establish special courts for trials under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. In the past, Peca has faced criticism for allegedly granting “overarching powers to law-enforcement agencies” and violating fundamental rights. The article also maintained that though there is a necessity to combat misinformation and anti-state propaganda, there should be a maintained balance with free expression. The article stressed that “strengthening democratic institutions, fostering inclusive political dialogue, and addressing economic challenges through consensus,” should be the government’s focus and not “banning a political party or introducing problematic laws.” (“A recipe for chaos?,” The News International, 25 July 2024)
SC rules right to profess religion is subject to law and morality
On 24 July, the Supreme Court (SC) issued a 27-page judgment on a set of review petitions filed by the Prosecutor General of Punjab, other individuals, as well as organizations over the Mubarak Ahmad Sani case order. It declared that the right to profess religion and religious freedom as enscribed in the Constitution is subject to law, morality, and public order. The SC accepted the Punjab government’s request to relook the Mubarak Ahmad Sani case order. Earlier, on 6 February, the SC verdict overturned the conviction of Mubarak Sani, who was accused of an offence under the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act enforced in 2021. This prompted a “malicious and slanderous campaign” against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa according to the government and legal community. Subsequently, the Punjab government challenged the decision and argued that the finding of the 6 February verdict needed to be modified to the extent that the rights of the citizens given by the Constitution are not absolute. A three-judge bench of the SC ruled that no court in the country has the power to legislate, except for what has been provided in the Constitution or the law. The ruling also highlighted the importance of treating enemies with affability and warmth, stating “Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) has been described by the Holy Quran as Rahmatul-lil-Alameen — a blessing, the showering of which was not limited to the Muslims alone, but even to adversaries, enemies and all beings.” (Nasir Iqbal, “Right to profess religion subject to law, morality, apex court rules,” Dawn, 25 July 2024)
ECONOMY
Oil and Gas Regulation Authority instructed to deregulate fuel prices
On 24 July, the Ministry of Energy issued a letter to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), instructing the authority to transfer the responsibility of determining fuel prices to the oil industry, setting neoliberal norms in the industry. Currently, four out of eight petroleum products are deregulated, which include jet fuels, hi-octane and furnace fuels. These products are purchased by businesses for industrial use. Meanwhile, consumer end products, meaning petrol, high-speed diesel, light diesel oil and kerosene, remained regulated. Though oil marketing companies are in favour of deregulating the remaining fuels, the move has been opposed by dealers, including petrol pump owners, who contended that this would place their commissions under OMC control. Currently, OMCs earn a margin of PLR 7/87 per litre for petrol and diesel, and dealers earn around PKR 8.7 per litre. An industry experttold Dawn that this move might lead to fluctuating fuel prices, but it could encourage companies to invest in quality and service. (“Energy ministry calls for framework to deregulate fuel prices,” Dawn, 25 July 2024)
“Women face a disproportionate number of barriers when trying to enter the workforce,” says an opinion in Dawn
On 25 July, in an opinion in Dawn titled ‘A caring economy,’ Samia Liaquat Ali Khan cited the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, which noted how women “disproportionately” take on the “burden of caring for children,” causing global female labor force participation rates to dip during and immediately after COVID-19. South Asia is a region where the inequality of the burden of care is much higher. Khan advised companies in Pakistan to look into what factors help women enter or re-enter the workforce, in order to “enhance inclusive workplaces.” Though some companies are focused on “developing their female cohort and talent,” most are of the opinion that employing women is not “good business sense,” as the short-term cost of integration in a largely male work environment holds companies back. The “disproportionate number of barriers” facing women trying to enter the workforce include discriminatory job adverts, which are a result of the “normative patriarchal environment which governs” thoughts. Companies assume that women will eventually leave the company once they get married or pregnant, and the lack of support within their home environment means the assumptions often are true.
Khan noted how from a young age, men are considered the “primary breadwinners” while women are made to “feel that they are burdens,” as their roles at home are given no value. However, this is where the “care economy develops.” The opinion took the example of econonimist Nancy Folbre, who identified that caring for others “is highly productive, yet greatly undervalued.” Women are either not compensated or compensated insignificantly for this work, but if they decided to stop providing this service, “the cost to the economy and to society cannot be estimated.” Given that it has a society which “cares for its elders,” Pakistan has an “opportunity to break a negative paradigm” by rewarding men for actively taking on the role of a caregiver and giving women better economic opportunities. Khan suggested that men should be encouraged to take time for sick parents, while women should be encouraged to take up economic activity. If the government and corporate policies help facilitate this change, women can fully understand their rights and find their voices, becoming “confident and powerful.” (Samia Liaquat Ali Khan, “A caring economy,” Dawn¸ 25 July 2024)
EXTERNAL
US seeks USD 101 million to assist Pakistan in fighting terrorism and strengthening economy and democracy
On 23 July, US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu stated that the US administration sought USD 101 million for Pakistan to “strengthen democracy, fight terrorism, and stabilise the country’s economy,” While presenting a budget request for South and Central Asian Affairs to the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. The budget seeks a total of USD 1.01 billion in foreign assistance for the South and Central Asian region, to help it “compete with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), counter Russian and Chinese disinformation, and prevent terrorist groups from threatening the US security.” Additional resources would be given to South Asia, for which the president requested USD 585.7 million for the region, a 4.84 per cent increase from the last budget. Lu stressed that the US wanted the Pakistani government to prevent itself from “further overreliance” on Beijing. In response to a query on how the US is planning to tackle China’s “strong and growing influence” in Pakistan, he explained that the US would supersede Chinese investments. He stated: “China is the past in terms of investment; we are the future.”. (“US seeks $101m to help Pakistan fight terror, strengthen economy,” Dawn, 25 July 2024)
Pakistan remains the fourth worst passport in the fourth consecutive year
On 25 July, Dawn reported that the Henley Passport Index released its ranking of the world’s 199 passports, in which passports are ranked based on the number of destinations their holders can access without getting a visa beforehand. Pakistan remained in the bottom five for the fourth consecutive time, and was ranked the fourth worst. Pakistan’s and Yemen’s passports allow their citizens to travel to 33 countries without a visa. The number is higher than only Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Afghanistan turned out to be the weakest passport this year, with only 26 visa-free travel destinations, the lowest number recorded in the last 19 years. Another record was established by Singapore this year, which had the strongest passport with 195 visa-free travel destinations for its holders. The passport strength remains a concern for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. (“Green passport in ‘bottom 5’ for fourth straight year,” Dawn, 25 July 2024)
PROVINCES
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Police force arrests several armed suspects as part of operation targeting “good Taliban” in Bannu
On 24 July, during a clean-up operation targeting “good Taliban” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bannu district, the police force arrested over a dozen armed suspects, while a sit-in continued for the fifth day in southern Bannu for the restoration of peace. A police official stated: “Law enforcement raided three locations in the southern district, rounding up 17 suspects.” They also seized arms and ammunition as well as their vehicles. The suspects were shifted to the local police station where police will determine “their involvement in any terrorism-related or subversive activities.”
At the same time, the protests continued for the fifth consecutive day in the southern district of Bannu, where protestors demanded peace and indiscriminate action against armed groups. The district health department established a free medical camp at the protest site. Bannu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Nasir Bangash asserted that the sit-in would continue until 26 July. (Ghulam Mursalin Marwat, “Arrests in Bannu following govt-jirga agreement,” Dawn, 25 July 2024)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: CM Gandapur agrees to demands of the Bannu Aman Jirga
On 24 July, sources revealed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur accepted the demands of the Bannu Aman Jirga. These demands included dismantling armed groups in the province, enhancement of night patrols, allowing Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to conduct search operations, and ensuring that missing persons are presented before courts. Gandapur addressed the Bannu jirga members’ concern during a meeting held on 22 July, and remarked that the position of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Operation Azm-e-Istehkam was strategic approach than a conventional military approach. It was decided that the jirga demands would be tabled before the apex committee on 25 July. Gandapur also highlighted the new counterterrorism strategy in which the KP police and the CTD would carry out search operations. During the meeting, he assured that the Jumma Khan Road would soon be reopened for movement. In addition, the Adviser to Gandapur on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, assured that the steps would be taken to eliminate terrorism across the province, and he added: “The Bannu [firing] incident will be addressed in the upcoming apex committee session, including the establishment of a commission to investigate the incident.” (“CM Gandapur accepts demands of Bannu jirga leaders,” The Express Tribune, 24 July 2024)
INDIA VIEW
“The BJP’s Hindutva project is fundamentally a discriminatory campaign against Muslims and other minorities,” argues an opinion in The Express Tribune
On 25 July, an opinion in The Express Tribune titled ‘Muslims in India facing a thousand shades of hatred’ by Durdana Najam highlighted a “concerted effort” in India to “marginalize” the Muslim community. After the “ultra-right-wing Hindu nationalist” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power, a generation “steeped in victim mentality” began projecting Muslims as “violaters of human rights,” making their lives a “chore.” A campaign called ‘Ghar Wapsi’ was launched to convert those who had been allegedly forced to convert to Islam, and according to Najam, the mission’s main aim is to bring back “under the Sanatan Dharma the lost, strayed, misled, captured, and stolen Muslims and Christians.” The political history for an ordinary Hindu is a “painful narrative” involving stolen identities and partition, which has today resulted in hate speech and violence against Muslims, as part of which Kashmiri freedom fighters were labelled as terrorists. Najam also pointed out how hundreds of Muslim boys were accused falsely of ‘Love Jihad,’ the practice of Muslim men “alluring Hindu girls” to marry them and then convert them to Islam. In 2023 in Assam, Muslims who constructed embankments to protect communities of flooding were accused of being ‘Flood Jihads’ after an “untimely” monsoon wiped out the flood defences in the Hindu-majority city of Silchar. Five Muslims were arrested on charges of purposely building weak embankments. Similarly during COVID-19, the term ‘Corona Jihad’ was used for Muslims accused of deliberately spreading the virus. This “growing intolerance” agains the community caused a significant backlash against the BJP in the recent elections, and “not a single Muslim” voted for them. The opinion described the BJP’s Hindutva project as “fundamentally a discriminatory campaign against Muslims and other minorities;” however, the recent elections proved that “politics of hate has a short shelf life.” (Durdana Najam, “Muslims in India facing a thousand shades of hatred,” The Express Tribune, 25 July 2024)
WORLDVIEW
“The uniting of Palestinian factions in Beijing is another indication of a changing world order,” opines an editorial in Dawn
On 25 July, an editorial in Dawn, titled ‘Hamas-Fatah deal’ discussed the Beijing declaration signed in China, which seeks the “formation of a unity government and the achievement of Palestinian independence at an early date.” The editorial stressed the need for “internal Palestinian unity.” It also noted that the “diplomatic coup” has strengthened China’s image as a “peacemaker” in the Middle East, something which many other foreign powers have failed to do. The declaration was signed by 14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas (which controls Gaza), and Fatah (which controls the West Bank). Both factions have been rivals since 2007. Israel, which the editorial noted h as “no intention of vacating the occupied territories,” was furious with China for inviting Hamas to the talk and further. The editorial claimed that “the idea of a unity government” is more feasible than Israel, the US, and the Arab states’ “questionable schemes.” It argued that the Palestinian people must be given the freedom to “decide their own future” instead of foreign powers, includingIsrael. Further, the editorial underlined China’s major accomplishment in the Middle East in setting its foothold after the Iran-Saudi reproachment. The editorial described this unification of the Palestinian faction in Beijing as “another indication of a changing world order.” (“Hamas-Fatah deal,” Dawn, 25 July 2024)
|
