In Brief
POLITICS
Three key bills to be passed in the National Assembly
On 4 November, the National Assembly is set to meet to consider the passage of two bills linked to the Supreme Court including the “Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act” and one in relation to “preventive detention of terror suspects.” The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure Act) would empower the newly sworn Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi in the decision-making process for selecting judges to constitute a bench. The committee that decides the composition of benches will now include the CJP, “the next senior most judge and a judge who is selected by CJP” in contrast to the earlier norm of having “CJP and the two senior-most judges.” The second bill related to the Supreme Court has provisions to increase the number of judges from 17 to 25 in the Supreme Court. The bill related to the detention of terror suspects would authorize the “army and civil armed forces” to detain any person on suspicion of being involved in terrorism for a maximum duration of three months. The bill also contains clauses for the formation of Joint Investigation Teams that would constitute officials from “intelligence and law enforcement agencies”.  Opposition parties, however, have remained silent on the bill related to terrorism. (Syed Irfan Raza, “NA set to pass bills related to SC, detention of suspects,” Dawn, 4 November 2024)

“By breaching the Constitution to favour centrist forces, the government is harming participatory federalism” argues an editorial in Dawn
On 4 November, an editorial in Dawn titled “Disregarding CCI” discussed how the political parties at the federal level have constantly undermined the authority of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to maintain the prominent role of the centre in decision making. CCI was formally institutionalized during the passage of the 18^th amendment that gave it full power over issues related to inter-provinces and centre-province. The rationale behind the constitution of the CCI was to reinforce the authority of the provinces and resolve disagreements linked to “devolved subjects.” CCI meetings were provisioned to be held every 90 days, however, governments over the past many years have been unwilling to come together for a meeting. The present Shehbaz Sharif government has not held any CCI meeting since its coming to power. The editorial pointed out that the centre fears potential delays in projects if it agrees to discuss it in the CCI meeting. (“Disregarding CCI,” Dawn, 4 November 2024)

JUDICIARY
Chief Justice committed to reforming the criminal justice system
On 3 November, The Nation reported that the Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has introduced plans for “comprehensive jail reforms” to increase the efficiency of the “prison system.” The reforms will stress the well-being of the inmates. He expressed concerns regarding overcrowding in jails, where they house significantly more inmates than their capacity. In the country, a total of 108,643 prisoners are kept in jails which only have a capacity of 66,625. Punjab remains at the top in terms of overcrowding in jails. Many of the inmates in the jails of Punjab still await their trial. CJP expressed commitment to first resolve the issue through a stepwise plan which would be replicated in the other party of the country. (“Chief Justice Yahya Afridi calls for modernizing criminal justice system,” The Nation, 3 November 2024)

ECONOMY
Government waives off liabilities in hope of finding a potential buyer for PIA
On 4 November, Dawn reported that the Federal government has planned to sell Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) without the earlier “PKR 200 billion liabilities.” The Privatization ministry is hopeful that the move will spark interest among private players, however, they have refused to waive off GST on the purchase owing to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) obligations. Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had also expressed interest in acquiring the airline. There are also speculations that CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz has had discussions with Nawaz Sharif regarding acquiring the airline by the Punjab Government. Abdul Ameen Khan who is the Privatization minister expressed optimism that the interest expressed by KP and Punjab might also lead Balochistan and Sindh to join in and he was open to the idea of running the PIA by all four provinces. (Khalid Hasnain, “Minister hints at PIA privatization with zero liability,” Dawn, 4 November 2024)

“The only viable way for PIA is privatization” argues an editorial in The Nation
On 4 November, an editorial in The Nation titled “Rescuing PIA” discussed why Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) must be privatized instead of giving its control to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. The editorial enumerated the reasons for the failure of PIA such as over-staffing, preferences given to ministers, no answerability, and unimpeded “political patronage.” It argued that the KP government does not have the resources to cope with its own errands and thus it would be foolish to expect that they can resuscitate PIA. The editorial suggested that privatization of PIA seems to be the only practical option which would untie it from government and political pressure.  (“Rescuing PIA,” The Nation, 4 November 2024)

“We cannot simply act as the IMF’s stenographer” argues an editorial in The Nation
On 4 November, an editorial in The Nation titled “Balancing Ambitions” discussed how the federal government should be sensitive to the economic realities on the ground when adhering to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s demands.  The editorial argued that Pakistan should not agree to every condition put forward by the IMF given the fact that the common man in the country is under economic distress. The editorial warned that if all the conditions put by IMF are agreed upon without any resistance, it might lead to more distress among the public, thereby decreasing financial output and disintegrating “social stability.””. The editorial stressed the importance of resistance to the measures proposed by the IMF that are not conducive to the country’s present situation. (“Balancing Ambitions,” The Nation, 4 November 2024)

HEALTH
“Through vaccination, testing and following the proper regimen, TB can be defeated,” suggests an editorial in Dawn
On 4 November, an editorial titled “Defeating TB” in  Dawn discussed the dire need to address the rise in Tuberculosis (TB) cases as Pakistan has been ranked the fifth most TB-affected country in the world by the World Health Organization reports. Despite it not being at the top of the public health authority’s priority list, the editorial emphasized that they must address the issue. It is an air-borne disease which has grown “multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant.” This has happened due to the “improper” prescription of medication by doctors and the failure of the patients to complete the medicine course. The editorial has suggested some of the achievable measures to curb and eliminate the spread of TB. On the personal front, the editorial emphasized the need to maintain personal hygiene. Besides, the editorial argued that the government must push for the BCG vaccine to prevent infants from contracting the illness and even make arrangements for curing the patients. Public awareness campaigns must be launched in areas mostly affected by TB. They must stress upon following medical instructions on the importance of maintaining a “drug dosage regimen.” (“Defeating TB,” Dawn, 4 November 2024)

SECURITY
Three killed terrorists in Musakhel, Balochistan, as a part of operation: CTD
On 3 November, the federal government deployed 31 units of the Pak Army and 107 wings of the Frontier Corps in Balochistan to address the law and order issue prevailing in the province. They were deployed under Article 245 of the Constitution. Reports from the government reveal that they have projected good results as many terrorists have been eliminated. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had launched an operation in the Musakhel district. A CTD spokesman announced that the three terrorists were killed while two others were arrested after receiving “credible information.” As per the notice, these terrorists belonged to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) which is active in the Rarhasham area. According to the CTD statement, forces consisting of the CTD and the Frontier Corps “were deployed in the general area and late at night one of the deployed force contingent came across a group of 10-12 terrorists, moving towards the main road.” There was an exchange of fire, where three terrorists were killed, two were arrested and five to seven fled from the scene because the gun battle took place at night.(Abdullah Zehri, “Three terrorists killed in Balochistan’s Musakhel district: CTD,” Dawn, 3 November 2024; “Army, FC deployed in Balochistan under Article 245”, 4 November 2024)

“Pakistan’s response to rising terrorist threats should not compromise rule of law,” suggests an editorial in Dawn
On 4 November, an editorial titled “ATA amendment,” discussed the recent amendments proposed to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 1997. The bill authorizes security personnel to detain those suspected of being involved in terrorist activity or a threat to public interest or national security for three months. The editorial criticized the bill for being employed on the mere basis of “suspicion” as it lies “fundamentally at odds with principles of justice and accountability.” The editorial observed how it leaves no room for judicial or civilian oversight thereby undermining people’s fundamental rights, including the “right to due process.” The editorial advised that instead of adopting measures that expand detention powers, the government must aim at bolstering “the capacity and accountability of law enforcement, equipping them to handle counterterrorism effectively within a transparent framework.” As police personnel have to operate within an environment of “severe resource and training constraints,” it would be helpful if they were provided these facilities it would help them to enforce a sustainable security situation in the long run effectively. The editorial also pointed out  that despite the bill having a security rationale, it should not be at the cost of following “due process.” The editorial noted the importance of establishing laws that do not clash with the citizens’ fundamental rights as it is a recipe for intensifying resentment towards the state. Pakistan will have to implement counter-terror laws with international human rights in mind. (“ATA amendment” Dawn, 4 November 2024)

PROVINCES
Punjab: Three coal trucks heading towards the province attacked
On 2 November, unidentified men attacked a coal truck in the Chamalang coal field, Duki district. According to Levies, the episode took place near the Killi-Kach area where the armed group first fired at the trucks and intercepted them. After setting three of them on fire, they fled the scene. This is not an isolated incident as attacks on coal mines, laborers, and trucks have progressively intensified since February. Among the casualties was one injured truck driver, while two others were killed after the coal-carrying vehicles overturned into a roadside ditch. (Saleem Shahid, “Three coal trucks en route to Punjab torched in Duki attack,” Dawn, 4 November 2024)

Punjab: Provincial government gets on the PIA bandwagon
On 2 November, the Punjab Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, expressed interest in acquiring Pakistan International Airlines or establishing a new airline, stated the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) President, Nawaz Sharif. He said: “Maryam proposed that the Punjab government launch a new airline, Air Punjab, and I advised her to proceed with further consultations on the potential acquisition of the PIA.” Speaking with reporters in New York, ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif expressed that the proposal has been taken under consideration and a new airline could be introduced that would direct flights from “Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta to New York, along with services to London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and other international destinations,” he said. This development comes after the PIA auction fell through as the amount offered by its sole bidder did not meet the government’s expectations and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government stated that it was willing to purchase the air vessel. He remarked that it was “disheartening to witness people “among us who have contributed to PIA’s downfall.” Referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf affiliated aviation minister, Ghulam Sarwar’s statement during the last February general elections, where he claimed that some of the PIA pilots held fake licenses, he questioned if disclosing such an allegation before the public was “appropriate.” (Zulqernain Tahir, “After KP, Punjab also jumps on PIA bandwagon,” Dawn, 3 November 2024)

EXTERNAL
PM encourages UK to invest in Pakistan
On 3 November, during a meeting with a delegation of key business figures from the UK, led by Zubair Isa, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need to attract investors from the UK. He highlighted the recent return to economic stability and urged them to invest in high-yielding ventures that Pakistan has to offer. He mentioned that excellent services are being offered to businesses and traders through the “One Window Operations” under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) that the investors can benefit from. During the discussion, both sides expressed the necessity to enhance cooperation and even business-to-business relations between the two countries. (“PM Shehbaz encourages UK investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan” The Express Tribune, 3 November 2024; “PM says facilitating foreign investment top priority,” 4 November 2024)

Iran FM to visit Islamabad to discuss Middle East crisis
On 4 November, =  The Express Tribune reported that Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragachi is likely to arrive in Islamabad this week to hold talks with other regional countries before responding to the recent strikes launched by Israel. The minister will seek Pakistan’s advice on the matter as it was among one of the few states that had voiced strong condemnation against Israel’s strikes against Iran. Pakistan has accused Israel of violating the Islamic Republic’s sovereignty and integrity. Besides the growing turmoil within the Middle East, both countries will also engage in discussions related to the current state of Afghanistan. (Kamran Yousaf, “Iran's top diplomat to visit Islamabad,” Dawn, 4 November 2024)

All over Pakistan, Imran Khan and I were punished for injustice, justice is not there, I did not come for justice, my blanket and other belongings are in the car, when you are somewhere I am ready to go to jail  Bushra Bibi in court -PTI Our Punjab Chief Minister is very creative and hard working. Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb -PMLN Digital It is better to show by doing than talking, you show that you are doing everything that people expect you to do and when they see it, they will be satisfied with you. They should see that the rates of electricity are decreasing. They should see that the rates of daily commodities are decreasing. They should see that their expenses are under control. By the grace and grace of Allah, the situation is improving day by day. President Muslim League-N Muhammad Nawaz Sharif -PMLN

"Dynastic politics undermines institutions and the very notion of meritocracy." - An opinion in Dawn, ‘Politics of ‘nepo-babies’