In Brief
POLITICS
Government considering the removal of PTM ban
On 10 October, Dawn reported on government's announcement on removing the ban on Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). The ban was imposed by the federation on national security. The PTM has been authorised to hold its Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga scheduled for 11 October. It is said that the Jirga will be hosted by the KP government and attended by the province's chief minister. Dawn quoted a source saying: “KP government will be hosting the PTM’s jirga and will make all the necessary arrangements but with certain conditions there will be no inflammatory slogans during the PTM’s Jirga nor will anyone bring the Afghan national flag.” Meanwhile, a 'grand jirga' was organised by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was attended by other party representatives. (Umer Farooq, “Federal govt ‘agrees’ to rescind ban on PTM,” Dawn, 11 October 2024)
Constitutional package to be reintroduced after the SCO meeting
On 10 October, according to a Dawn report, based on a meeting between the PPP chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the PML-N chief, the constitutional amendment package would be re-introduced at the National Assembly after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO) took place. Both agreed to include the Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Islami (JUI-F) chief's suggestions on the constitutional package. Depite Fazlur Rahman being on the fence,the PPP chairman assured that he would soon be won over. The previous bill which seeks to reform the judicial structure did not receive a parliamentary approval, three separate drafts of the package were being prepared by, including one by the government, the other by the PPP and the last one by the JUI-F. (Syed Irfan Raza, “‘Constitutional Package’ to be shelved until after SCO moot ,” Dawn, 11 October 2024)
JUDICIARY
Article 63-A: Another reference and another Supreme Court verdict
The Supreme Court in its latest judgement on Article 63-A, has criticised its earlier judgement in May 2022. The latest judgement authored by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa has questioned the previous judgement in May 2022 by former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial.
In May 2022, responding to a Presidential reference by the then President Alvi, in a 3-2 majority judgement said that a member of a parliamentary party in a house cannot cast a vote contrary to a direction issued by the party. According to the judgement, the vote "cannot be counted and must be disregarded, and this is so regardless of whether the party head, subsequent to such vote, proceeds to take, or refrains from taking, action that would result in a declaration of defection." The Presidential reference had posed the following four questions: Should Article 63-A have a limited or a broad, purpose-oriented interpretation?; Will the defecting members' vote be counted, given equal weightage?; Will the defectors be disqualified for life? and Measures that can be taken to prevent defection, floor crossing and vote-buying.
In response to the May 2022 verdict by the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) filed a review petition in June 2022. According to a Dawn news report, the SCBA petition contended "that the SC's interpretation...was not in accordance with the letter and spirit, as well as the system of parliamentary democracy, established by the Constitution."
The latest judgement (10 October 2024) by the Supreme Court, according to a Dawn news report, "unanimously accepted a review petition against its 2022 verdict" and said: "Today’s ruling means that in any future legislation, the ballots of lawmakers who vote against party policy will be counted."(Haseeb Bhatti, "Article 63-A: SC decides defecting lawmakers' votes will not be counted," Dawn, 17 May 2022; Haseeb Bhatti,“SCBA files for review of Supreme Court's opinion on Article 63-A," 23 June 2022; Umer Mehtab, “In major relief to govt, SC strikes down 2022 ruling on defection clause under Article 63-A," Dawn, 3 October 2024; Nasir Iqbal, "Original 63A ruling deemed party head ‘infallible’," Dawn, 11 October 2024; "Explainer: What is Article 63-A and why does it matter?," Dawn, 30 September 2024)
ECONOMY
World Bank report warning on economy, forecasts 2.8 per cent growth
On 11 October, the News International reported on a World Bank report titled PakistanDevelopment Update released on 10 October underlining challenges to the Pakistanieconomy. their mentioned Pakistan charging the highest tariffs, compared to other South Asian countries. The report forecasts a GDP growth of 2.8 per cent, whereas the government aims at 3.5 per cent. It states: Policy uncertainty poses downside risks to the fiscal year 2025 and FY2026 outlook. The macroeconomic outlook depends on the effective implementation of the new IMF-EFF programme, fiscal restraint, expected rollovers, fresh external financing, and the absence of major policy disruptions or external shocks.” (Mehtab Haider, “World Bank warns Pakistan’s economic outlook hinges on IMF programme and external financing ,” Dawn, 11 October 2024)
Hubco agrees to terminate power generation project
On 10 October, the Hub Power Company Limited (Hubco) announced signing a settlement agreement with the government, aims at accelerating the termination of its power project. A company’s statement to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) read: “In response to a request from the task force constituted under the Prime Minister’s Office, and in the greater national interest, [Hubco] has initialled a negotiated settlement agreement for the early termination of its agreements, originally set to expire in March 2027. These agreements, related to the company’s 1,292 MW power generation project at Mouza Kund, Gaddani, District Lasbela, Balochistan, will now expire on1 October 2024.” The agreement states that the government and the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CGAP) have decided to settling the outstanding receivables to the HubCo. This settlement shall result in a reduction of PKR 0.28 per kilowatt-hour (KWh) in fiscal 2025. (“Hubco agrees to end power project early ,” The News International, 11 October 2024)
Government to terminate agreements with five IPPs
On 10 October, during a federal cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced government’s plans to terminate the power purchase agreements with five independent power producers -Saba, Lalpir, Atlas and Rousch which come under the purview of the 1994 power policy and the 1,292 MW Hub Power Company Ltd via the constitution of a National Task Force. This is being done to secure PKR 411 billion and reduce the electricity tariffs by 71 paise pr unit. At a news conference, the Power Minister Awais Laghari assured that the contracts with the other IPPs and state-owned power plants would be reviewed with an aim to reduce electricity prices by PKR 8-10 per unit. Referring to the termination of the contracts, Laghari stated that they were terminated on the basis of mutual understanding. He observed that the IPP owners were keen on advancing national interest instead of focusing on their personal gain. He said that the government also wanted to alter the 2002 power policy clause under which IPPs were established, from “take or pay” to “take and pay.”
The minister claimed that the government was also planning to offer a subsidised electricity package for winter. The objective is to increase electricity consumption by providing PKR 20 to 30 per unit for additional use. The minister added a merger will be carried out between Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) and the National Power Control Centre (NPCC) to establish the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO). (Khaled Kiani, “Govt ends contracts with five IPPs to save Rs411bn ,” Dawn, 11 October 2024)
SECURITY
Two policemen killed in Tank, four militant neutralized in Bannu and North Waziristan
On 10 October, a group of 15-25 militants armed with modern weapons attacked a mobile police van while it was on a routine patrol in Tank district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) killing two policemen and injured three others. Police in response opened fire on the militants but remained unsuccessful to neutralize any of them. KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur expressed condemnation for the attack and gave his condolences to the families of the police personals who were martyred. In other two separate incidents, two militants were neutralized as a result of an Intelligence Based operation in Bannu, KP where as two other militants were killed by the security forces in Hassan Khel Area, North Waziristan. ISPR reported that it has recovered weapons and ammunition from the militants and the area is being searched to eliminate any other present militants. (“Two policemen martyred in Tank Attack,” Dawn, 11 October 2024)
Rocket attack devastates coal miners in Dukki
On 10 October, SHO Humayun Khan Nasir in Quetta informed that a rocket attack on Junaid coal mines in Dukki had killed at least 13 coal miners and injured 8 of them. The attack also led causing serious damage to the coal mine machinery. (“13 killed in rocket attack on Dukki coal mine,” The News International, 11 October 2024)
Chinese Investigation team in Karachi to inquire into suicide attack
On 11 October, Dawn reported that a Chinese investigation team has landed in Karachi to look into the suicide attack which took place near the airport signal aimed at killing a Chinese delegation and their security convoy. The suicide attacker had struck his vehicle full of explosives in to a convoy of Chinese engineers causing casualties and damage to 15 other vehicles. The responsibility of the attack which killed 3 people including 2 Chinese and injured 16 others was taken by Baloch Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade. Pakistaniinvestigators conveyed to their Chinese counterparts that it was because of the high security at the airport, suicide attackers executed the attack near the airport signal. The Chinese team collected their own evidence in addition to what Pakistani investigators had provided them. Sources of Dawn revealed that body parts of the suicide bomber Shah Fahad were found on explosion site. Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah had expressed his sympathies to the families of Chinese killed in the attack and to the Chinese Government. (Faraz Khan, “Chinese investigation team arrives in Karachi, inspects the suicide attack site,” The News International, 11 October 2024)
INDIA VIEW
Pakistan calls on UNSC to look into the illegal possession and trading of nuclear materials in India
On 11 October, The News International reported that Pakistan has expressed its concern on media reports of thefts and illegal sale of nuclear and radioactive substances in India and has asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to inspect the same. Pakistanenvoy to the UN Ambassador Munir Akram, stressed on following of non-discriminatory practices by the Export control regimes which must prevent non-state actors acquiring radioactive materials but at the same time also allows nation states in the peaceful use of it. He further claimed that Pakistan has maintained stringent control on the transfer of sensitive materials which are on par with the highest International standards and that Pakistan remains committed to UNSC's resolution 1540 that prohibits states from giving any kind of assistance to non-state actors to develop, acquire or manufacture nuclear weapons. (“At United Nations: Pakistan demands probe into theft and illicit sale of N-materials in India,” The News International, 11 October 2024)
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The party leadership and lawyers must be allowed to meet Imran Khan immediately so that they inform the nation about his well-being. You probably are unaware of the difference in political power of Imran Khan and martyred Mohammad Morsi. Give up the desire to play with this fire, otherwise nothing good will come of it for anyone.
- PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
All have supported that there must be a political consensus for the constitutional amendment. The process of consultation with all the coalition parties is going on. There is a strong hope that the constitutional amendment will be approved by consensus very soon.
- PMLN
Talks and negotiations with PTM should have been done first, only after the talks you can see that everything is happening in a peaceful environment. In the Jirga held yesterday, all political parties including PTI and Chief Minister were represented, it was decided that the issues will be heard and efforts will be made to resolve them. I believe that the problems of Pakhtuns are many, but we will try our best to solve them peacefully.
Amil Wali Khan Central President Awami National Party
- Awami National Party
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