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In Brief
POLITICS
ATC grants bail to PTI leaders arrested after the Islamabad rally
On 16 September, the Anti-Terrorism Court Judge granted bail to Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders who were arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024. During the hearing, their pleas were accepted after a PKR 30,000 bond was submitted. About 11 PTI members were released, a week after it held its power show in Sangjani. PTI counsel, Sardar Masroof Khan revealed that none of the sections under which they were arrested were applicable. He said: “The case was filed on political grounds and has nothing to do with reality,” as no-objection certificate applications were approved by the district administration to carry out their rally. On the opposing side, Prosecutor Raja Zahid urged the court to not grant them bail because the minimum prison sentence is three years. (Khalid Iqbal, “ATC orders release of PTI MPs arrested after rally ,” The News International, 17 September 2024)
JUDICIARY
Imran Khan’s court martial is not on the cards, government informs IHC
On 16 September, Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb asked the Ministry of Defence to give a clearer stance on whether Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan will be tried under the military court by 24 September. This direction by the court comes despite the Additional Attorney General (AAG) Barrister Munawar Iqbal Duggal informing the IHC Khan’s military trial is not under the government’s consideration. The hearing comes after the court accepted petitions submitted by Khan against his possible trial at the military court. Justice Aurangzeb stated that he could not go ahead with a verdict due to the lack of information. He said: “The Ministry of Defence has no information of military detention and trial till date.” The judge asked the Additional Attorney General (AAG), Falak Naz about how civilians are trialled at the military court, to which an attorney general responded that it was a “very clean procedure,” as a civilian can be tried under Section 2(1)(d) of the Pakistan Army Act. Justice Aurangzeb stated that if Khan is to be trialled at the military court then he should first be notified. He maintained that the incarcerated leader’s petition can be resolved only after he is given a proper notice beforehandThis development comes amid rumors of the possible court martial of Khan, fuelled by statements of Defence Minister and Law Minister made in July. Further, (Awais Yousafzai, “IHC again seeks govt’s clarification on Imran’s possible military trial ,” The News International, 17 September 2024; Malik Asad, “Imran’s military trial not on the cards, govt tells IHC ,” Dawn, 17 September 2024)
PTA seeks fresh order on X restoration claim, says lawyer was mistaken
On 16 September, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) told the Sindh High Court (SHC) that social media platform, X continues to be blocked. This development comes after the last hearing on 12 Septmeber, where two lawyers representing the telecom authority appeared before a two-judge bench to address petitions filed against the suspension and ban of X, mobile and internet services. Among the lawyers was Ahsan Imam Rizvi who claimed that the social media platform was no longer blocked as an order to reverse this action was given. Hence, the court disposed off the petition regarding the restoration of X. Interestingly, the telecom authority moved a new application claiming that the lawyer was mistaken and asked the court to reconsider its order. The petition read that the PTA had: “[mixed] up the petition in question with an intra-court appeal heard by the same bench.” Taking the fresh application, the judges asked the PTA’s representation lawyer if it sought a review of the previous order. To this, the lawyer replied that it was for modification, alteration and recalling of the verdict. However, this was not received well by the two-judge bench, as in the previous hearing the lawyer was repeatedly questioned about his statement. But now the PTA has claimed a “confusion in the mind of the lawyer.” (Khalid Iqbal, “X restoration claim was ‘mistake’, says PTA ,” Dawn, 17 September 2024)
Election commission to hear PTI’s intra-party election case before SC’s verdict
On 17 September, The News International reported that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to hear the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s intra-party election case on 18 September. This hearing comes as the Supreme Court (SC) accused the ECP for delaying the implementation of its 12 July judgment which had granted the PTI’s eligibility to reserved seats in the legislatures by applying for civil miscellaneous applications (CMA). However, the ECP submitted its petition within the legal frame time, on 7 August. The Commission’s petition urged the Supreme Court to review its 12 July order as it “granted relief to the PTI” as none of the party members approached the Peshawar High Court, the commission or the Supreme Court to claim the reserved seats for minorities. However, the ECP rejected the PTI’s request to hold its verdict on internal elections until the SC issued its ruling on the reserved seats, in its previous hearing. In its verdict, the ECP rejected all the four petitions of the PTI and even maintained that the commission had the power to assess the internal party elections as it was a matter which could not be further delayed.
In other news, the apex court has questioned how a copy of its clarification order to the ECP on 14 September, cautioning the regulatory body of unfavorable consequences if it did not fulfill its legal obligation of implementing, had become available online. Furthermore, an official notice signed by the Deputy Registrar Judicial stated that the official was unaware of how the clarification order was uploaded on the website as neither a cause list was released by the SC nor were there notices from the office to the parties. Interestingly, the 14 September clarification order is yet to be taken off the portal. Commenting on this situation, a senior lawyer on anonymity said: “The office note is a clear manifestation of raging infighting within the judiciary aimed at providing excuses to ECP to further delay the issuance of notification highlighting [that] the 41 MNAs belong to the PTI.”(“ ECP to hear PTI intra-party polls case tomorrow,” The News International, 17 September 2024; (Nasir Iqbal, “SC wonders how reserved seats order appeared online ,” Dawn, 17 September 2024)
ECONOMY
ADB to back Pakistan’s economic reforms
On 16 September, after bearing witness to two project loans worth more than USD 800 million for Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Asian Development Bank’s President, Masatagu Asakawa expressed the need for Pakistan to adopt a tenacious economic reform. The ADB official said: “Pakistan has requested a climate resilience related loan program of USD 500 million and is expected to get approval from the ADB’s Board within this ongoing calendar year.” An official statement from the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the ADB is expected to advance a USD 2 billion loan, annually to Pakistan from 2024 to 2027. Interestingly, the regional lender has not changed the rate of interest it charges on its loans, despite Pakistan securing the USD 7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund. This indicates the creditor’s skepticism of the country’s creditworthiness. Asakawa commended Pakistan’s efforts to economic recovery and even reaffirmed the ADB’s commitment to support Pakistan for adhering to its development and reform agenda. He also assured Pakistan of support over public private partnership, disaster and climate resilience, local resource mobilization, promotion of female inclusive finance and even energy sector reforms. (Mehtab Haider, “ADB chief advises Pakistan to stick to economic reforms ,” The News International, 17 September 2024; Mehtab Haider, “ADB assures Pakistan $2b annually in loans ,” The Express Tribune, 17 September 2024)
PBS data reveals increase in imports of petroleum crude, machinery and automobile
On 16 September, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PSB) revealed a surge in import bill by 23 per cent in the first quarter of the 2024-2025. The increase was marked by a monetary increase to USD 8.75 billion within the July-August period. This rise is owed to the increased imports of petroleum crude, machinery and automobiles. Though overall petroleum products imports reduced by 22.7 per cent, crude oil imports increased by 107 per cent. With respect to the import of liquified natural gas (LNG), they increased by 10.7 per cent and even imports of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) rose by 67 per cent. The import of machinery rose to USD 1.30 billion, by 15 per cent this year, compared to the previous year’s value at USD 1.13 billion. There was an increase of textile machinery, electrical machinery and construction machinery imports by 38.6 per cent, 76.3 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively. On the other hand, the automobile industry also witnessed a rise in imports of completely knocked down (CKD)/semi knocked down (SKD) and completely built units (CBU) of vehicles, by 13.5 per cent. (Mubarak Zen Khan, “Oil imports surge 23 per cent in July August,” Dawn, 17 September 2024)
Rice exports earn USD 3.9 billion in the last fiscal year
On 16 September, the Founder of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap), Shehzad Ali Malik announced that Pakistan has recorded its highest earning of USD 3.89 billion from rice exports owing to availability of agricultural inputs, a ban on India’s exports of non-Basmati rice and favorable weather conditions. Malik stated that the export of 5.8 million tonnes of Basmati and non-Basmati rice in the fiscal year July 2023- June 2024 allowed the economy to earn a USD 3.89 billion. (Amjad Mahmood, “Rice exports touched $3.9bn in 2023-24 ,” Dawn, 17 September 2024)
HEALTH
Seventh mpox case detected outside Peshawar
On 14 September, a 44 year old man, returning from a Gulf country was detected with mpox in Gujarat, Punjab. The man was immediately transferred to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and his symptoms were confirmed after samples were sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH). This marks the seventh confirmed case in Pakistan. The health ministry official commended the Border Health Services for being able to identify the patient outside Peshawar. Referring to the previous case, where an mpox patient passed health screening in the Islamabad Airport and was later detected in a separate region. The official clarified the reason behind why he passed through undetected was because he showed no visible symptoms like lesions, rashes and high temperature. (M Waqar Bhatti, “7th mpox case detected at Islamabad airport ,” The News International, 17 September 2024)
PROVINCES
Balochistan: Bus overturns in Buzi Top area, 25 injured
On 16 September, about 25 passengers sustained injuries after a coach travelling from Turbat to Karachi overturned at the Buzi Top area of the Coastal Highway. 14 frontier personnel corps were among the 25 injured passengers. The accident was caused when the driver lost control of the vehicle because of brake failure. A rescue team, police and levies arrived at the scene and rushed the injured to the hospital. It is worth noting that the Buzi Top is a dangerous area as many accidents have been reported from here, such as a bus carrying pilgrims met with an accident which led to the death and injury of many. In other news, two youngsters who arrived at the Pinjra bridge area of the Bolan River for a picnic. They drowned after they started bathing in the deep side of the river. Though the witnesses tried to rescue them, it was a failed attempt. Later, Levies recovered their bodies and transferred them to the hospital. (Behram Baloch, “14 personnel among 25 hurt in Balochistan's Buzi Top crash,” Dawn, 17 September 2024)
EXTERNAL
US expresses interest in developing closer bilateral ties in the areas of economy and defence
On 17 September, US Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, John Bass, engaged in dialogue with Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Bass congratulated Pakistan for being appointed as the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2025-2026 term. He also expressed his country’s interest in developing closer relations with Pakistan during its term. Separately, after a delegation level talks between Bass and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, the Foreign Office released a statement which read as follows: “Pakistan noted the importance attached to its relations with the United States, and underlined the need to upgrade the bilateral mechanisms, especially in the economic and defence fields, and working towards building a broad-based and meaningful bilateral relationship.” The statement also highlighted the US’ interest in assisting Pakistan’s efforts towards strengthening and stabilizing the economy. This statement comes as there has been no high level engagement between the countries since the Shehbaz administration has came to power. (Jamila Achakzai & Mariana Baabar, “US official holds talks with Dar, COAS ,” The News International, 17 September 2024; Kamran Yousaf, “Pakistan seeks upgrade in bilateral mechanisms with US ,” The Express Tribune, 16 September 2024)
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