Bomb attacks in Quetta and Bajaur I Fourth Mpox case detected
In Brief
POLITICS
PTI snubs PML-N Nawaz Sharif’s offer for multi-party dialogue
On 1 September, in an interview with Voice of America, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson Raoof Hasan emphasized emphasized the need for a dialogue between thye PTI and the establishment for the sake of Pakistan. He informed that Imran Khan has nominated some of his supporters to speak with the army, though some party leaders may have an “individual” relationship with the military establishment. Responding to a question regarding Pakistan Muslim League President Nawaz Sharif’s offer to hold a multi-party discussion, Hasan labeled the ruling government a product of Form 47 and even questioned its legitimacy. Separately, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan dismissed any possible negotiations between the opposition and the government.
Earlier, on the same day, amid discussions on the tariff relief to power consumers, reforms in local bodies and reorganization of the party in Punjab, PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif had proposed a dialogue with all opposition parties at the Model Town’s headquarters. A statement released following the meeting quoted him as saying: “All political parties, governments, and institutions should join hands in decision-making. [They] …need to sit together to steer the country out of crises.” This development comes as PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah has been directed to pursue the leader of the opposition and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
Additionally, PM Sharif and President Zardari have been seeking alliance with its former ally, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman. On thecontrary, Sanalluhah said that no member from the PML-N has approached the PTI for talks. He inquired: “How come we seek dialogue with PTI when it categorically said it would not hold talks with us.” Other senior members of the PML-N have also ruled out talks with the PTI. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, said: “How come talks can be held with the party (PTI) that brought a US Congress resolution through an Indian lobby against Pakistan, and was involved in the May 9 riots.” Another member of the PML-N, Khwaja Asif said: “I am against holding any talks with the PTI.” Responding tothese differening statements , PTI leader, Asad Qaiser questioned if the offer was sincere as the PML-N were making contradictory statements. He inquired if Nawaz Sharif’s announcement had more weight than the rest. He said: “We will respond once we get the suggestions.” Separately, PTI leader and member of the National Assembly, Omar Ayub stated that his party was willing to engage in dialogue with the Sharif administration only after all incarcerated PTI leaders, including, Imran Khan were released. (Ikram Junaidi, “ PTI snubs govt, looks to powers that be for talks,” Dawn, 2 September 2024; Zulqernain Tahir, “Nawaz seeks talks among all parties, govt, institutions,” Dawn, 1 September 2024)
Audit report divulges grave “financial irregularities” in the defence sector
On 2 September, an article in Dawn reviewed the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP)’s audit report on the accounts of Defence Services for the year 2023-2024.The report revealed several “financial irregularities” like “non-recoveries, over and advance payments, non-production of records, procurement-related irregularities and losses to the state and the non-production of records.” The report noted that the original budget was at PKR 1.563 trillion for the fiscal year 2022-23 and was increased to PKR 1.592 trillion via supplementary grants. It said: “Audit identified the non-compliance to the Defence Services Regulations in areas like advance payments before completion of works through Running Account Receipts (RARs), splitting of financial powers, non-recovery of rent and allied charges, non-deduction of applicable taxes, violation of public procurement rules, non-compliance of A-1 land policy and execution of unauthorized work as some of the key issues.” Additionally, it revealed the defence sector’s low compliance rate with audit objections. Further, inadequate efforts were made towards course correction and regularization of accounts in the last 40 years. For instance, since 1985, the Ministry of Defence adhered to only 659 Public Accounts Committee (PAC) directives out of 1974. In other cases, audit of some Army formations revealed that procurement and contract jobs were allocated to many and given only to favorite suppliers, on the same day, to skip transparent bidding. Besides, the defence failed to provide records of procurements above PKR 500,000 on the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) website, as per the mandate in the fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Audit reveals serious financial irregularities in defence sector,” Dawn, 2 September 2024)
SECURITY
Separate bomb attacks in Quetta and Bajaur
On 1 September, a bomb blast in Quetta and Bajaur led to the death of one and injuredfour. The blast in Quetta happened near the Chaman railway, close to a Frontier Corps checkpoint. A police officer informed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was fixed on the checkpoint’s wall, and a man and his son passing there sustained injuries. Damages include window panes of nearby structures, a car, two rickshaws and several motorcycles. The bomb disposal squad said that the device weighed about half a kilogram of explosives and even had a timer No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Investigators are screening cameras installed in the area. Separately, inBajaur district, a case was filed after an IED went off in Salarzai tehsil. The Rescue 1122 issued a statement revealing that of the three who were critically injured in the attack, one person has died. (Saleem Shahid & Amjad Mahmood, “One killed, four injured in Quetta, Bajaur blasts,” Dawn, 2 September 2024)
PROVINCES
Balochistan: CM Bugti decries killing of Punjabis, says violence is backed by RAW
On 1 September, speaking at a press conference on the killing of 23 persons travelling to Balochistan, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti announced that no negotiations will be made with the assailants.In this regard, he said: “The militants who made innocent citizens belonging to Punjab get off the buses and then killed them are terrorists, and they should not be called angry Baloch.” He further added: “No Baloch killed a Punjabi, but terrorists killed Pakistanis.” He termed the incident a conspiracy hatched “to weaken Pakistan.” He claimed that the Balochistan Liberation Army was being funded by the Indian Research and Analysis Wing for perpetrating such violence. As the China Pakistan Economic Corridor is vital for Pakistan’s future, such violence is an attempt at destabilizing the country. He stressed that these terrorists will be dealt through constitutional procedure. Responding to a question, he vowed to enforce a Swat like operation in Balochistan and even enforce writ of the government in the province. (“Bugti hints at Swat-like action in Balochistan ,” The News International, 2 September 2024)
ECONOMY
PM Sharif hails declining inflation rates, improved credit rating
On 2 September, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed the decline in inflation rates. The Ministry of Finance expects inflation to remain within the 9.5-10.5 per cent range in August and to further decline to 9-10 per cent in September. Responding to these developments, PM Shehbaz said: “After Fitch, the global rating agency, Moody’s recently upgraded Pakistan’s credit rating, which is an acknowledgement of the country’s positive economic indicators by the international financial institutions.” He added that the government has been actively working on economic reforms such as its “rightsizing policy” which aims at either laying off all jobs between grade 1 to grade 16, privatizing and dissolving various sectors. He stated that the petroleum prices were reduced from 1 September and even hailed the Punjab and central government’s efforts towards providing relief in electricity tariffs. (Syed Irfan Raza, “PM Shehbaz welcomes decline in inflation, upgraded credit rating,” Dawn, 2 September 2024)
FBR under pressure to collect PKR 1.196 trillion in September to avoid IMF’s mini-budget
On 1 September, the Federal Board Revenue (FBR) reported that it would have to increase its tax collection to PKR 1.196 billion in September. If the FBR is unable to attain a collection of PKR 2.652 billion till 30 September as per its agreement with the International Monetary Fund, it will have to implement a contingent budget in case collection falls by PKR 60 billion in the Q1 phase. The FBR was unable to meet the collection target of Augustat PKR 1.554 billion as the total collection amounted to PKR 1.456 billion. On the bright side, the FBR revealed a chart which demonstrated a decline in inflation from 28 per cent to 11 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year. In its statement, it also observed a 35 per cent cumulative growth in collection of tax from domestic sources. However, it failed to maintain similar performance on import duties. The imports in Pakistan fell by 2.2 per cent in August 2024compared to August 2023. (Mehtab Haider, “FBR has to collect Rs1.196tr in Sept to avoid IMF demand for more revenue steps ,” The News International, 2 September 2024)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan mulls strategy to “reset” ties with Bangladesh
On 1 September, The Express Tribune a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with former High Commissioners of Pakistan to Bangladesh and other retired diplomats. They assembled to discuss the political change in Bangladesh and a possible strategy towards the interim government in Dhaka. On the promise of anonymity, a source revealed that the PM has sought inputs from retired officials on resetting ties with Bangladesh after the conclusion of Sheikh Hasina’s 15 year rule. During her term, while Bangladesh grew increasingly close to India, Islamabad’s efforts towards improving ties with the country were rejected by Hasina. Her ouster is being seen as a setback for India and a potential opportunity for Pakistan. Against this backdrop, the government was warned against any “overt” or direct involvement with changes taking place in Bangladesh lest in give the impression of Pakistan’s interference in the country’s domestic affairs. It has been suggested that Pakistan must have its own Bangladesh policy independent of the India-Bangladesh dynamic. In a statement, a retired bureaucrat even suggested that Pakistan should consider appointing a high commissioner who speaks in Bengali. He added: “We must treat Dhaka as a station, meaning the post of high commissioner must go to a competent diplomat.” (Kamran Yousaf, “Strategy paper on mending ties with Bangladesh ready ,” The News International, 2 September 2024)
Pakistan calls India’s claims on J&K “misleading” and “dangerously delusional"
On 1 September, Pakistan termed Indian claims on Jammu and Kashmir as “misleading” and “dangerously delusional.” In a statement to the media, the Foreign Office spokesperson of Pakistan responded to Indian Ministry of External Affairs claims regarding Jammu and Kashmir. The spokesperson emphasized that this is an “internationally recognized issue” and the dispute must be resolved in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions and in consultation with the Kashmiri people. The spokesperson stressed that Pakistan is open to engaging in diplomatic dialogue but any hostile action will be responded with “unyielding resolve.” The statement called upon India to stop its “provocative rhetoric” on Jammu and Kashmir. It said: “India’s unilateral actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) cannot and will not change this reality.” (“Pakistan rejects India’s unilateral claims on IIOJ&K,” The News International, 2 September 2024)
HEALTH
Fourth mpox case confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
jOn 1 September, the provincial director of public health, Dr Irshad Ali Roghani confirmed the fourth mpox case this year detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). A 47 year old traveler from abroad was detected in Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar. After he was examined, he was shifted to the Police Services Hospital in Peshawar and kept in isolation. His samples were sent to Khyber Medical University (KMU). However, officials have not reported any local mpox case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as all those who tested positive arrived from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. (“KP reports fourth mpox case,” The News International, 2 September 2024)
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Petroleum prices have dropped for the third time in a row!
- Shehbaz Digital Media
A Pathan prisoner in military custody was subjected to all kinds of torture in order to confess his crime. They put a cloth over his mouth and poured water on him to suffocate him, but he did not confess, then they pulled out his fingernails so that he could do what the authorities wanted. Barrister Khadija Siddiqui
- PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Punjab is the only province that ensures reduction in transport fares as soon as there is a reduction in fuel prices. Alhamdolillah!
- Maryam Nawaz Sharif
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"It is ad hoc, reactive and spasmodic and lacks any vision or strategic direction."
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Foreign policy adrift’
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