Russia offers FTA I India issues notice to rework Indus Water Treaty
In Brief
POLITICS
KP CM and Imran Khan urge citizens to participate in 21 September Lahore rally
On 19 September, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur and provincial general secretary Ali Asghar Khan held four meetings with their regional branches. Gandapur also held separate meetings with PTI’s regional chapters and other leaders. At the meeting, they discussed the upcoming public gatherings in Lahore and the leaders of the province were designated duties in relation to the Lahore power show to be held on 21 September. He directed the party leaders to carry out maximum participation. In a video message, he emphasized how the country’s predecessors lost their lives and property to secure a sovereign state and now was the time to reclaim what’s theirs from thieves and mafias. He said: “Every one of you needs to come out of your houses and the entire Pakistan will be on roads on September 21.”
Separately, speaking with journalists at the Adiala jail, Imran Khan spoke along the same lines as CM Gandapur. He cited the constitutional right to assemble and even urged the people to step out of their houses and participate in the Lahore rally. He spoke of the Supreme Court as the last resort for people and how its destruction would turn Pakistan into a “banana republic.” He said: “To destroy the Supreme Court is to destroy democracy, and to destroy democracy is to destroy freedom. When freedom is destroyed, people become slaves.” (“Gandapur urges lawmakers to ensure maximum participation of workers in Lahore rally ,” Dawn, 20 September 2024; Shabbir Dar, “September 21 Lahore rally is do or die for us: Imran,” The News International, 20 September 2024 )
JUDICIARY
SC rejects petition on constitution amendments bill
On 20 September, Dawn reported that the Supreme Court (SC) registrar office returned a petition moved by ex-Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Abid Shahid Zuberi thathad urged the SC to direct the government to stop the ‘Constitutional Package’ from the parliament being passed. A letter submitted by the assistant registrar deemed the issue raised in the petition as consisting of “hypothetical questions.” As the constitution rests lawmaking power with the parliament, no objection can be made to the bill before the law has been passed. The registrar also rejected the respondents, as secretaries to the prime minister and president cannot be parties to the petition as they enjoy immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution. It also highlighted how members of the National Assembly and Senate have not been made parties in the petition. On 19 September, in the Pakistan Bar Council meeting, the PBC Vice Chairman Farooq Hamid Naek had argued that the proposed legislation was “a blatant violation of the norms of parliamentary parties, rule of law and democratic values.” (Nasir Iqbal, “‘Proposed’ constitutional amendments can’t be challenged: SC ,” Dawn, 20 September 2024)
National Assembly members challenge SC verdict on PTI’s reserved seats
On 21 September, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to meet for the third consecutive day to discuss the Supreme Court order on reserved seats. On the other hand, the National Assembly Speaker sent a letter to the chief election commissioner emphasizing the principle of parliamentary integrity and sovereignty and pointing out that the commission must ensure that laws made by the parliament are respected. The Speaker stated that the Supreme Court’s 12 July decision which grants reserved seats to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) goes against the newly amended Elections Act and even claimed that the court was overriding its authority. He spoke of how the 2017 Elections Amendment Act had retrospective effects and that the ECP cannot make any allocation in this regard. Responding to the letter, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar called it a “milestone in the country’s parliamentary history.” In an interview, he highlighted how the Election Act 2017 calls for independent candidates to join a political party in 48 hours. He inquired: “How can the clock be turned back, allowing those independent MNAs who had already joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to join another political party?” In other news, two members of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) filed petitions against independent candidates of the PTI. It noted how the PTI remains ineligible for the reserved seats as the amendment made to the parliament law which dictates that under Section 66, “all those contesting candidates seeking symbol shall file a declaration before the Returning Officer about his affiliation with a particular political party and in case he or she failed to do so he or she shall be deemed to be considered as an independent candidate and not a candidate of a political party.” (Ifthikar A. Khan, “Lawmakers can’t join PTI under new law: speaker ,” Dawn, 20 September 2024)
ECONOMY
Finance Ministry briefs NA Standing Committee on IMF loan
On 20 September,The News International reported that according to Finance Ministry’s estimation, Pakistan’s foreign debt is set to reach USD 100 billion in four years. This was conveyed by the ministry in a meeting with the National Assembly’s Standing Committee.. The ministry also disclosed that all necessary steps towards fulfilling the external financing gap of USD 5 billion, as identified by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) demands have been completed. Pakistan may receive Executive Board’s approval on the IMF’s External Facility Fund of USD 7 billion on 25 September, 2024. However, during an off-camera session, a source quoted Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb as stating that the external financing of USD 12 billion is necessary for the IMF programme, where USD 7 billion will come from the IMF and the remainder shall be acquired via bilateral and multilateral lending. Additionally, the Director General Debt Office Ministry of Finance Mohsin Chandna briefed the committee that the debt to GDP ratio has improved and the tax to GDP ratio has declined in the previous fiscal year. At the meeting, Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan People’s Party, Nafisa Shah inquired if there was any other strategy besides taking loans, to which the finance minister responded that they had no other choice besides securing loans to settle all their outstanding debt and liabilities. (Mehtab Haider, “$100bn debt to be repaid over four years, NA panel told ,” The News International, 20 September 2024)
Reserve records USD 43 million increase
On 20 September, Dawn reported that the State Bank Pakistan has recorded an increase of USD 43 million foreign exchange reserves in the week ending on 13 September. The central bank recorded the current foreign exchange reserves at USD 14.826 billion. Though the SBP has not revealed the source of this inflow, currency experts believe that the central bank is a regular buyer of dollars. However, even if the central bank is able to raise USD 13 billion by the end of fiscal 2025, it is not sufficient to repay its massive debt of USD 26.2 billion in the present fiscal, nor will the IMF inflows be enough to increase the state banks foreign reserves to USD 13 billion. (“SBP reserves up; rupee hits five-month high ,” Dawn, 20 September 2024)
EXTERNAL
President Biden welcomes thirtieth Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, PM Sharif attend UNGA session next week
On 18 September, speaking at the Blair House, US President Josef Biden underlined the US- Pakistan partnership as a crucial element for stability at the global and regional level while accepting the newly appointed Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh’s letter of credence. He also highlighted the US-Pakistan cooperation in counter terrorism and lay emphasis on building on their security, trade investment and economic interests. These statements come after the US imposed sanctions on three firms of China and Pakistan for assisting the latter’s missile programme.
In his speech, Ambassador Sheikh conveyed Pakistan’s eagerness to expand its economic relations with the US via investment in higher education, digital platforms, industry, alternative energy and technology. He said: “Pakistan-US economic partnership is central to our engagement. The United States remains the largest destination for Pakistani expo.”
Separately, on 19 September, the Foreign Office announced that the Prime Minister is set to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York between 23 to 27 September. In the weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson, Zahra Baloch announced that the PM will represent the country at the Summit of the Future convened by the UN Secretary-General and will also attend other ministerial meetings such as Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) annual coordination meeting, the OIC contact group on Jammu and Kashmir, the Non-Aligned Movement meeting and even the G77 and China meeting.(Anwar Iqbal, “Ties with Pakistan vital for global stability: Biden ,” Dawn, 20 September 2024; “PM to address 79th UNGA session, highlighting Pakistan's commitment to global peace,” The Express Tribune, 20 September 2024)
Russia offers FTA after signing MoU with Pakistan
On 19 September, Pakistan and Russia formally expanded existing bilateral ties by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) across various sectors. The agreement enhances cooperation in the areas of trade, energy, connectivity and defence. Speaking with a Russian delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted Pakistan’s intention of strengthening relations with Russia, by making it the country’s top priority. The MoU signed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was an outcome of discussions between the two countries around existing sanctions on Russia which could impede logistics and strengthen trade. One of the outcomes of the meeting is Russia’s proposal of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Eurasian Economic Union and Pakistan. (Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Pakistan, Russia sign MoU for cooperation in multiple sectors ,” Dawn, 20 September 2024)
INDIA VIEW
Pakistan's response to India's notice on Indus Water Treaty
On 19 September, responding to India’s formal notification on bilateral Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) sent in the beginning of 2023, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahira Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the agreement. Baloch emphasized the need to have all issues settled between commissioners for Indus Waters appointed by both countries. Further, she added: “We believe it is the gold standard of bilateral treaties on water sharing, and Pakistan is fully committed to its implementation. We expect India to also remain committed to the treaty.” (Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Ready to discuss India’s concerns on Indus Waters Treaty, says FO ,” Dawn, 20 September 2024; “India issues second notice to Pakistan for '64-year-old' Indus Waters Treaty,” The Express Tribune, 19 September 2024)
PAK-CHINA
PM Shehbaz and President Zardari emphasize Pakistan’s relations with China
On 19 September, at the National Day Reception, hosted by the Chinese Embassy to observe the 75th anniversary of the founding of People’s Republic of China, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will help transform Pakistan’s economy. He said: “We are entering into the second phase of CPEC which has huge potential of mutual cooperation in the field of agriculture, information technology, mines and minerals and many other important areas of mutual interest.” He acknowledged China’s role in its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. He also emphasized that current partnership between the countries aligns with President Xi Jinping’s vision of fostering regional development, peace, global stability and progress. In a separate statement, President Asif Ali Zardari said that China is an “all-weather” friend and is a partner in “peace and progress.” He added, that the CPEC project would ““help unlock greater benefits for our people, besides enhancing connectivity and prosperity of the region.” (“New CPEC phase will transform the country’s economy: PM Shehbaz,” Dawn, 20 September 2024 ;“Pakistan celebrates China’s 75th National Day, reaffirming strong commitment to CPEC ,” The Express Tribune, 19 September 2024)
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Won't let Congress-NC implement Pakistan's agenda in J&K: PM Modi - Times of India
- Hamid Mir
The friendship between Pakistan and China is higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the oceans. Pakistan and China's ongoing partnership not only fostered regional development and peace but also contributed to global stability and progress, aligning with President Xi Jinping’s vision.
Prime Minister. Shebaz Sharif
- PMLN
I cannot back down from the promise of martyr Ms. Benazir Bhutto, God willing, I will continue to fight this struggle until we fulfill our promise as per the Charter of Democracy, then we will not back down. Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
- PPP
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"The govt that was installed after the Feb 8 election is representative of the power that installed it rather than of the people."
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Truth to power'
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