FS Aijazuddin, ‘Three to tango’
Dawn, 18 April 2024
“The fate of our application to the IMF will be known very soon, after April 20. The US will decide its next president at year end. Meanwhile, the US, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan continue to cavort in a three-party tango. To paraphrase the US singer Melody Gardot, Pakistan, on its own, may be “a bad walker [but] it can dance the tango”.”
 
Editorial, ‘IMF’s projections’
Dawn, 18 April 2024
“The fact is that Pakistan has never been able to complete a longer programme with the Fund because of a breach in policy goals thanks to political reasons. What will be different this time around? So far, the minister has shown an understanding of the issues that have dragged the economy down and his commitment to implementing long-delayed structural reforms without any proviso.”
 
Editorial, ‘Never-ending suffering’
Dawn, 18 April 2024
“Unfortunately, while the Iranian projectiles targeted at the Zionist state have sparked moral outrage in Western capitals, there has not been similar condemnation of Israel’s murderous assault in Gaza, which has cost nearly 34,000 lives to date. These double standards are appalling.”
 
Inam Ul Haque, ‘War within wars — out of shadows’
The Express Tribune¸18 April 2024
“The strike debunks the effectiveness of Israeli AD against fast-moving ballistic missiles, especially when there was no surprise, and most of the barrage was slow moving. It also exposes IDF’s historic intelligence myth about Iran not having good means to retaliate. Iran claims informing its neighbours and the US well in advance, and that enabled Israeli/European Turkey shoots. Iran deliberately employed limited hypersonic missiles (like Kheibar Shikan and Fateh) and all such missiles penetrated and hit their targets. Compared to Iran, the cost of interception etc to Israel and its Western allies is huge.”

Zahid Hussain, ‘The risk of escalation’
Dawn, 17 April 2024
“Any direct Israeli military action against Iranian installations is bound to widen the conflagration, with serious ramifications for the Middle East and beyond. The risk of tensions escalating into a full-blown military confrontation between the two major regional powers is extremely high, with far-right Israeli groups calling for a swift and forceful retaliation to the Iranian response.”
 
Shahzad Sharjeel, ‘Bold and ugly’
Dawn, 17 April 2024
“It is seldom that the ‘lefties’ and their favourite punching bags, the IFIs, need to look no further than political suicide notes disguised as television interviews of individuals on the point of bursting with self-importance with their misplaced sense of indispensability to the establishment. The remaining autopsy of communism is a topic for another piece. The remainder of this piece is dedicated to the avarice of crony capitalism, which the Fund refuses to distinguish from a system at least ostensibly based on merit, competition, a level playing field, and the government getting out of the business of business.”
 
Editorial, ‘Saudi FM’s visit’
Dawn, 17 April 2024
“The government of Shehbaz Sharif will have to manage a delicate balancing act with Pakistan’s traditional Saudi allies and its Iranian neighbours. Too often, Pakistan has been caught between these two regional giants, though for the most part of our history we have been allied with the Saudi camp.”
 
Editorial, ‘Future energy’
Dawn, 17 April 2024
“The transition to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydel would undeniably shed our unsustainable reliance on oil imports. The transition would not only mitigate the fiscal haemorrhage caused by oil imports but also liberate us from the grip of the crude oil tanker ‘mafia’, which the PM has characterised as parasitic entities devouring national resources. Additionally, he has highlighted the need for all provinces to put a stop to power theft — an administrative problem — which is significant contributor to power losses.”
 
Syed Raza Ali, ‘Subsidising diseases’
The Express Tribune, 17 April 2024
“Government subsidies play a crucial role in shaping food systems and consumer behaviour. Unfortunately, subsidies often favour the production of cheap, calorie-dense, and nutritionally poor foods. This not only distorts market dynamics but also incentivises the consumption of unhealthy options. This past Ramazan, the PM announced a subsidy of Rs7.5 billion on the prices of daily-use items including Vanaspati Ghee and sugar. Vanaspati ghee contains a high amount of iTFA and a high amount of saturated fats which are harmful to public health and cause several chronic diseases. Similarly, according to the WHO guidelines, individuals should reduce their daily intake of sugar to less than 10% of total energy intake.”
 
Editorial, ‘The climate threat’
The News International, 17 April 2024
“Ever since the disastrous 2020 rains, our provincial and federal governments have shown urgency to tackle the climate threat. In 2022, flash floods compelled the Ministry of Climate Change to make a strong case for global funding for the rehabilitation of the affected areas. However, the response of the international community has been unsatisfactory. Pakistan is not a major carbon polluter. It contributes just 1.0 per cent to the total amount of carbon emissions, but it is the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change. While there is no denying that Pakistani leaders need to change course and allocate more funds to climate mitigation efforts, rich nations must realize that their unchecked growth and development are hurting smaller and relatively poor countries that do not have enough funds to make climate-resilient cities for their people.”

Riaz Riazuddin, ‘Concessions, debt & reforms’
Dawn, 16 April 2024
“Our economic system serves their interest through concessions in the tax system, the provision of cheaper inputs, higher output prices, and preferential access to land, capital, and infrastructure. Economic incentives directed towards these groups are not helping but retarding the productivity of our economy. Research done at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics shows that it is not only growth but also the total productivity factor of our economy that is on the declining path in the long term. This is extremely alarming.”
 
Editorial, ‘Tough talks’
Dawn, 16 April 2024
“Pakistan’s desperation to close a new deal with the IMF is reflective of the perilous state of its economy. In its April 2024 Asian Development Outlook report, the ADB describes Pakistan’s economic prospects as uncertain, with high risks on account of the impact of political uncertainty on the sustainability of stabilisation and reform efforts. Noting that potential supply chain disruptions from the escalation of the Middle East war would weigh on the economy, it says: “With Pakistan’s large external financing requirements and weak external buffers, disbursement from multilateral and bilateral partners remains crucial.” It points out that the IMF support for the reform agenda would improve market sentiment and catalyse affordable external financing from other sources, but warns that “these inflows could be hampered by lapses in policy implementation”.”
 
Editorial, ‘Caught unawares’
Dawn, 16 April 2024
“Furthermore, there is a dire need for flood-risk management plans that are regularly updated and rigorously implemented. These should include community-based early warning systems and evacuation plans that are well understood by the public. The efficacy of these measures depends significantly on awareness campaigns that educate people about what to do during floods and storms. Moreover, environmental degradation exacerbates the impact of heavy rains. We must not only maintain but expand our forest cover and manage watersheds and riverbanks with sustainable practices to reduce the speed and impact of run-off.”
 
Dr Shuja Ahmed Mahesar, ‘Gender dynamics of higher education leadership’
The Express Tribune, 16 April 2024
“Gender myths create women’s unsuitability for leadership roles because of the prevalent belief that women lack ambition to work in higher positions. Thus, hiring talented but less ambitious women is considered risky. Further the absence of certain traits and qualities traditionally associated with men’s physique make women undesirable incumbents for top positions. Moreover, gender gaps in educational curriculums and textbooks contribute to reinforcement of traditional way of thinking about gender roles, develop stereotypes and generate prejudice and unconscious bias among men causing exclusion of women in decision-making process in higher education.”
 
Dr Moonis Ahmar, ‘Will recognition of Palestine make a difference?’
The Express Tribune, 16 April 2024
“Will the recognition of Palestine as a state make a difference in changing the ground reality that presently 60% of occupied West Bank is inundated with Jewish settlements? Millions of Jews, against international law and UNSC resolutions, have been settled by Israeli authorities in Gaza leading to demographic transformation of a land which was occupied by the Jewish state in the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967. So much so that Israel annexed the Palestinian majority territory of East Jerusalem where Al-Aqsa mosque is located. Israel also shifted its capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem violating the UNSC resolution and is in no mood to withdraw from the occupied territories.”

Umair Javed, ‘After neoliberalism’
Dawn, 15 April 2024
“These economic shifts will become more apparent as countries across the Global South attempt to catch up using a variety of different interventionist approaches. Selective engagement with the world, rather than an unencumbered embrace, is likely to be the pattern in the years ahead.”
 
Editorial, ‘Opposition alliance’
Dawn, 15 April 2024
“With the government coalition handed two-thirds control of both houses of parliament, the opposition is concerned that this legislative power may be abused to alter the makeup of the Constitution — especially in light of past experience when controversial legislation was hastily approved by the then ruling PDM coalition. It is likely that the opposition parties feel they must be in a position to challenge any attempt at legislative overreach by the government and to build up enough public pressure to deter the current set-up from getting too adventurous in law-making.”
 
Muhammad Majid Bashir, ‘Judicial success of the Hague Convention in Pakistan’
The Express Tribune, 15 April 2024
“These judgments have opened and discussed all available legal avenues related to international parental child abduction issues that the judiciary will face while deciding child custody cases in near future. The judgments have covered and observed all issues related to child custody mentioned in Guardian and Ward Act and the Hague Convention. The judgments reflect and contain high standard of reciprocity of international comity, compliance and solution-oriented schemes and way forward to resolve international parental child abduction issues in an understandable and non-conflicting modes.”
 
Shahid Javed Burki, ‘The world has changed, so should the countries of Global South’
The Express Tribune, 15 April 2024
“With a weakening global economy and one that is under all kinds of stresses, countries in the global South will need to squeeze every bit of growth they can from every part of their economies. To do that, industrial policy is essential even though using that as the approach has been discouraged by development experts. Industrial policy is essential, says Harvard University’s Dani Rodrik. He and other development experts say that even the right kind of industrial policy in place gains are likely to be modest and achieved with a great deal of effort. “The envelope has shrunk,” said Rodrik. “How much growth we can get is definitely less than in the past.”

Afzal Ali Shigri, ‘An endless wait for rights’
Dawn, 13 April 2024
“After GB’s liberation, its simple and trusting locals witnessed Pakistani officials taking charge, raised the flag and presumed integration with Pakistan. Unbeknownst to them, the infamous Karachi Agreement of 1949 had transpired, wherein the Kashmiri leadership, deeming the area a financial burden, handed over its administration to Pakistan without securing any guarantees for the rights of the people, and sealing their fate in a constitutional limbo that continues to this day.”
 
Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, ‘Climate governance revisited’
Dawn, 13 April 2024
“The CCA, if established without revisiting its role, will violate the principles of good governance as it combines regulatory and policy functions. The only organic link between the climate division and the ministry is the person of the secretary, who will also serve as secretary of the proposed authority. But he will not formally be part of any federal forum where the provinces are also represented.”
 
Editorial, ‘Security lapses’
Dawn, 13 April 2024
“A re-evaluation of how security is conceptualised and implemented here is long overdue. Ensuring the safety of foreign citizens is paramount, not just for diplomatic relations but for our economic future. Our friendly ties can only weather so much. How long before the Chinese decide to reconsider their investments here? Their citizens have come under attack too many times since the multibillion-dollar CPEC project was announced in 2015 — one that has been seen as a game changer for infrastructure, transport and electricity.”
 
Editorial, ‘An eventful season’
Dawn, 13 April 2024
“The current state of affairs appears to be precisely what political observers had long predicted: that the general election would give birth to another fractured parliament which would be amenable to being controlled from behind the scenes. Although initial results made it seem that the voters may have briefly upset that plan, the final outcome has been that which many perceive to be ‘preordained’. The ECP dutifully kept moving the goalposts, seemingly to ensure that the ‘plan’ did not go awry.”
 
Rakhshanda Mehtab, ‘Modi’s election gambit: stirring controversy over Katchatheevu’
The Express Tribune, 13 April 2024
“As the election draws near, Modi has begun utilising cunning strategies to boost his popularity. He created a new narrative about Desh Rakhwali. A strange dispute concerning incidents that occurred fifty years ago is becoming a focal point of the Indian election campaign. Modi and BJP have started criticising the main opposition of the day for giving a small, uninhabited island to Sri Lanka in 1974, right before voting, which is scheduled to start in less than two weeks.”
 
Ishtiaq Ali Mehkri, ‘Of the poor, middle-class and the aristocrats’
The Express Tribune, 13 April 2024
“Health and education is a luxury for more than 75% of people, and relying on government-funded subsidies is no less than a nightmare and disgracefully subjugating. Pakistan’s per capita income is lowest in South Asia, and its out-of-school kids’ ratio is highest in the world.”

Rafia Zakaria, ‘The American eclipse’
Dawn, 10 April 2024
“During the afternoon of April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse bisected the US. Not everyone sees solar and lunar eclipses as purely scientific events that have to do with the physical position of the moon or Earth and the sun’s light. According to myths and legends — and there are many in different religious traditions and cultures — solar eclipses are moments of omens and portents. For weeks leading up to the event, astrologers and psychics predict all kinds of things that could happen in the months following the eclipse. Astrologers say that the total time during which the sun is obscured, in this case three and a half to four minutes, corresponds to that many number of months in terms of the duration of the eclipse’s ‘effects’. As if the eclipse were not enough, a comet called 12/P Pons-Brooks has also appeared in the sky at the same time as the eclipse. This comet, which appears every 71 years, is called the ‘Devil’s comet’ because it has a horned shape. The first spectacular image of the comet, which can be seen with the naked eye in many parts of the US, shows a bluish tail against the darkness of the sky. The last time that this comet was seen was in 1954 and it will not appear again until the end of the century in 2095.”

Neda Mulji, ‘Teacher well-being’
Dawn, 10 April 2024
“With overworked and underpaid professionals, the teaching profession has earned itself a bad name. Many schools have to contend with disgruntled employees who have to get by with a second job or rely on a spouse’s earnings. Teachers have to keep themselves motivated riding on the gratification they get from developing potential in their students and enabling their academic success. Things could change if schools were to take responsibility for their teachers’ well-being. If we wish to create a ‘positive’ school culture where the pupils’ health, safety and emotional and social well-being are catered to, it is imperative that teachers learn the tools for self-care. Most teachers complain of a sub-optimal work-life balance but don’t take steps to rectify it. They have their own home lives, children and extended families, as well as pupils that they are responsible for. In this mix, well-being programmes are essential for teachers to remain motivated, sustain a healthy mindset and model the right behaviour in class.”

Aftab Ahmed Khanzada, ‘Waiting is like killing life’
The Express Tribune, 10 April 2024
“Canadian author Heidi Priebe says: “If there’s one thing we all need to stop doing, it’s waiting around for someone else to show up and change our lives. Just be the person you’ve been waiting for. Live your life as if you are the love of it. Because that’s the only thing you know for sure- that through every triumph, every failure, every fear and every gain that you will ever experience until the day you die, you are going to be present. You are going to be the person who shows up to accept your rewards. You are going to be the person who holds your own hand when you’re broken. You are going to be the person who gets yourself up off the floor every time you get knocked down and if those things are not love-of-your-life qualities, I don’t know what are.”

Rafia Zakaria, ‘The American eclipse’
Dawn, 10 April 2024
“During the afternoon of April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse bisected the US. Not everyone sees solar and lunar eclipses as purely scientific events that have to do with the physical position of the moon or Earth and the sun’s light. According to myths and legends — and there are many in different religious traditions and cultures — solar eclipses are moments of omens and portents. For weeks leading up to the event, astrologers and psychics predict all kinds of things that could happen in the months following the eclipse. Astrologers say that the total time during which the sun is obscured, in this case three and a half to four minutes, corresponds to that many number of months in terms of the duration of the eclipse’s ‘effects’. As if the eclipse were not enough, a comet called 12/P Pons-Brooks has also appeared in the sky at the same time as the eclipse. This comet, which appears every 71 years, is called the ‘Devil’s comet’ because it has a horned shape. The first spectacular image of the comet, which can be seen with the naked eye in many parts of the US, shows a bluish tail against the darkness of the sky. The last time that this comet was seen was in 1954 and it will not appear again until the end of the century in 2095.”

Neda Mulji, ‘Teacher well-being’
Dawn, 10 April 2024
“With overworked and underpaid professionals, the teaching profession has earned itself a bad name. Many schools have to contend with disgruntled employees who have to get by with a second job or rely on a spouse’s earnings. Teachers have to keep themselves motivated riding on the gratification they get from developing potential in their students and enabling their academic success. Things could change if schools were to take responsibility for their teachers’ well-being. If we wish to create a ‘positive’ school culture where the pupils’ health, safety and emotional and social well-being are catered to, it is imperative that teachers learn the tools for self-care. Most teachers complain of a sub-optimal work-life balance but don’t take steps to rectify it. They have their own home lives, children and extended families, as well as pupils that they are responsible for. In this mix, well-being programmes are essential for teachers to remain motivated, sustain a healthy mindset and model the right behaviour in class.”

Aftab Ahmed Khanzada, ‘Waiting is like killing life’
The Express Tribune, 10 April 2024
“Canadian author Heidi Priebe says: “If there’s one thing we all need to stop doing, it’s waiting around for someone else to show up and change our lives. Just be the person you’ve been waiting for. Live your life as if you are the love of it. Because that’s the only thing you know for sure- that through every triumph, every failure, every fear and every gain that you will ever experience until the day you die, you are going to be present. You are going to be the person who shows up to accept your rewards. You are going to be the person who holds your own hand when you’re broken. You are going to be the person who gets yourself up off the floor every time you get knocked down and if those things are not love-of-your-life qualities, I don’t know what are.”

Farhan Bokhari, ‘A viable Pakistan?’
The News International, 10 April 2024
“The promise of turning around Pakistan’s destiny has been boldly made under regime after regime, without much success. It was therefore hardly surprising that this sorry history repeated itself when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif – the latest in a long lineup of leaders – made that claim upon taking charge.Put another way, promising the so-far-undelivered has been a repeated pattern in Pakistan’s unfortunate journey. Within this history, notably tragic for the country’s mainstream population, Pakistan’s leaders have taken their fellow citizens for granted. For instance, in tandem with the country’s worsening healthcare systems to cite a glaring example, prominent leaders have repeatedly opted for overseas medical care for themselves and their family members. Ironically, their commitment to decisively lift Pakistan’s healthcare facilities has received little more than lip service.”

Zahid Hussain, 'Complicit in genocide'
Dawn, 10 April 2024
"While proclaiming unconditional support for Israel, German leaders have expressed scant concern over the devastating impact of the war on the hapless Palestinian population. When asked about her government’s scant efforts towards ensuring a ceasefire, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: “It is not the job of politicians to tell the guns to shut up.” Her stance may have softened after her latest tour of the region, describing the situation in Gaza as “hell”, but there is still no call for a ceasefire from Germany."

Editorial, ‘Charity for change’
Dawn, 10 April 2024
“Pakistani are large-hearted people who empty their pockets at the slightest hint of another’s need. The Stanford Social Innovative Review reported a few years ago that the country contributed over 1pc of its GDP towards philanthropy. A study by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy said that approximately $2bn is donated by Pakistanis per year. Today, as Pakistanis celebrate Eid, it is apt to recall that the collective culture of compassion is rooted in the tradition of ‘giving’ in the Muslim faith, and it takes on various forms: zakat a mandatory duty on a Muslim’s assets for other needy Muslims  fitra, qarz-i-hasana, sadqa, infaaq, khairaat, etc. Moreover, religious tradition also mandates discretion in charity with the intention of protecting the identity and dignity of every beneficiary. While most Muslims are particularly generous during the holy month of Ramazan, the irony of crippling price hikes in the same period — a problem the country has to contend with every year  is not lost on anyone. The patterns of giving, however, have altered over the years: people now prefer to help individuals, trusted religious charities, medical institutes and schools instead of state-sponsored donation drives due to the absence of government accountability and a resounding trust deficit. When the state is involved, the donors question where the funds are going.”

Arifa Noor, 'Spinning the ministers’
Dawn, 9 April 2024
“The Punjab information minister was on television the evening ‘fee-gate’ blew up. For those unaware of this great Lahori scandal, it erupted when it emerged that a federal minister, Ahad Cheema, had pushed for a fee waiver for his sons, who had moved to Islamabad but were retaining their seats at school, while the principal of their school was resisting this. Having automatically become a ‘scandal’, it was picked up by television channels in the evening as an example of a government using its influence to interfere in an institution’s affairs. And when scandals arise, government officials have no choice but to defend. It was no different for the Punjab information minister, who got into a heated argument with a talk show host who had decided to pick up the cudgels for the school.”

Muhammad Faisal Ali, ‘Polls & the environment’
Dawn, 9 April 2024
“Sustainable future needs a sustainable environment. In 2023, recorded temperatures reached unprecedented heights, underscoring the global warming trend. These circumstances are increasingly attracting the world’s attention to environment-friendly practices. Such an approach includes electoral procedures. Numerous countries have embraced electronic voting systems, which began to take shape in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Countries like Brazil, Canada, and Australia were pioneers in adopting EVS on a significant scale. However, it was India that had a profound impact in the global context. In 1999, electronic voting machines were used on a limited scale during the Lok Sabha elections. By 2004, they had become the primary mode of voting nationwide. In fact, India’s adoption of EVMs inspired other nations, especially in the developing world.”

Dr Moonis Ahmar, 'Why is deterrence not working against Israel?'
The Express Tribune, 9 April 2024
"From every standpoint, Israel has been able to ensure its deterrence in the Middle East in terms of its military might and nuclear capability to an extent that no Arab state can match with the technological, economic and military edge of the Jewish state. Israel’s gradual enforcement of deterrence vis-à-vis its Arab neighbours could be gauged from the fact that since 1948, the Jewish state has never been defeated in any of the Arab-Israeli wars, which enabled Israel to occupy Arab territories of Golan Heights, West Bank, Gaza and Sinai. In 2005, Israel withdrew from Gaza but kept that Palestinian enclave under siege. Violating UN Security Council resolutions Israel annexed Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and established illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Deterrence has, thus, worked for Israel while the Arab states have miserably failed to ensure a balance of terror."
 
Muhammad Hamid Zaman, ‘Posthumous inequity’
The Express Tribune, 9 April 2024
“Feeding the hungry has always been a noble act. Across religions, cultures, traditions and societies, those who feed the hungry are admired and respected. Perhaps it is the universality of admiration for those who feed the hungry that the killing of seven aid workers  who worked for World Central Kitchen, an aid agency focusing on feeding the hungry in humanitarian emergencies and famine in Gaza provoked such a global response. There was widespread condemnation, and governments from the US and the UK to Australia and Poland wanted a swift, transparent and thorough investigation. Israeli government issued its apology, and two days later dismissed two senior officers who were supposedly involved in the deadly attack on the aid workers. While tragedy that unfolded in Gaza on April 2, with the killing of seven aid workers, has gotten many around the world upset, there are also important questions being asked. The seven incredible people who died doing the most noble of the deeds were among the many others who have been killed in this war while feeding the hungry and nursing the wounded.”

Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, ‘Senate election controversy’
Dawn, 8 April 2024
“Hardly any election in Pakistan has been free of controversy. This includes Senate elections. The recent presidential election was a rare exception. Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the runner-up and joint candidate of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) read: PTI displayed political maturity and a democratic spirit by accepting defeat and congratulating the winner, Asif Ali Zardari of the PPP. Not just that, he went on to acknowledge that it had been a clean election in which, unlike the past, no cash for votes was involved. Less than a month later, it was a different story in the case the election of half the Senate. Unlike in the past, there were no allegations of legislators voting for cash a significant improvement given the background of Pakistan’s Senate polls some serious constitutional and legal controversies arose, which continue to rage even after the winners have been notified.”

Editorial, ‘Water crisis’
Dawn, 8 April 2024
“Pakistan is starting its new summer cropping  kharif season with a whopping 30pc water shortage caused by lower-than-normal snowfall last winter. However, water regulator Irsa is hopeful that the monsoon rains will plug the shortage in the latter part of the kharif season. This pattern is not unfamiliar to most of us as it repeats itself every year without exception. Only the quantum of water scarcity varies from year to year, and is sometimes followed by discord among the provinces, particularly between Sindh and Punjab, over the formula used to share these shortages. It is also worrisome for smallholder farmers living at the tail-end of the canals. The water scarcity is predicted to worsen going forward, owing mainly to climate change unleashed by rapid global warming, which has already altered weather patterns significantly, as well as social and economic factors. Pakistan has been facing a severe water crisis that is putting millions of lives at risk. A UN report Global Water Security Assessment last year had placed Pakistan in the critically water-insecure category, indicating that the country is facing a water emergency that requires immediate attention.”

Dr Asifa Marium, ‘BRI and economic prosperity’
The Express Tribune, 8 April 2024
“In the prevalent era of globalisation, a country’s political standing is defined in terms of its economic growth. Likewise, regions integrated economically are well-positioned globally. The example of ASEAN is a testament to the fact that the Southeast Asian countries have evolved on world stage as an economic powerhouse. Due to ASEAN’s economic clout and China’s economic muscle, the East Asia as a whole is seen as an attractive destination for world players. China’s economic prowess has made inroads globally. Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has reached out to world regions. The vision behind China’s economic outreach is to diversify the trading links and look for new investment destinations. Seeing the economic progress of BRI, so far, 151 countries from world regions have joined the initiative. The vitality of BRI refers to the popularity of economic integration globally. Within the framework of BRI, development projects in recipient countries have led to job creation and improved socio-economic indicators.”

Hassan Hakeem, ‘Missing women’
The News International, 8 April 2024
“The 19-member cabinet of the newly elected government, which was formed on the heels of International Women’s Day (March 8), has only one woman (that too not as a federal minister) – Shaza Fatima Khawaja. The limited presence of women in the cabinet reflects a broader issue of gender underrepresentation and the overall commitment to gender equality in the country’s political landscape. While the inclusion of a woman in the cabinet may be seen as a symbolic representation, the fact that she holds a junior ministerial role (while being more qualified than some of the cabinet members) raises questions about the government’s commitment to substantive gender equality. Meaningful representation involves not only the presence of women but also their active participation in decision-making.”

In Brief
POLITICS
Sharif announces decision to personally review security SOPs
On 5 April, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced his decision to regularly review and audit Pakistan’s security standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the wake of increasing terrorist activities. He will personally monitor Pakistan’s security situation and audit SOPs. Further, as per the Prime Minister's Office, Sharif  “also instructed (officials) to chalk out a comprehensive strategy for the regular audit of the security SOPs.” He will “personally review the meetings with respect to the overall security of the country, especially the security of the Chinese citizens.” The interior ministry briefed Sharif about its performance and the overall law and order situation and was directed to enhance collaboration with provinces to improve the provincial anti-terrorism departments. As per Dawn’s source, Sharif will chair meetings on the audit of security SOPs monthly. He was additionally satisfied with the security procedures and called for their vigorous implementation. (Syed Irfan Raza & Baqir Sajjad Syed, “PM takes charge of security amid spike in terrorism,” Dawn, 6 April 2024)
 
Maryam Nawaz blames political instability for lack of investment
On 5 April, during her maiden Punjab apex committee meeting, Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz linked “political instability” to fear among foreign and local investors who are “afraid” of investing in the country. Referring to the 9 May riots, she stated: “A political party resorted to terrorism. What the TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) could not do, a specific political party did by attacking the military installations.” Nawaz also spoke on the various forms of terrorism taking shape. Since terrorism has become “digitalized,” the government needs to “be ahead of them.” Further, “terrorists have the latest weapons and technology.” Nawaz described weapons being smuggled from Afghanistan as a huge challenge and held that the gangs in south Punjab “have more sophisticated weapons” and are technologically ahead of the government. She also spoke on the need to counter right-wing terrorism, under which “social media is one of the major tools” being used to brainwash the youth. Emphasizing the government’s resolve to provide security to the Chinese nationals working in Punjab, Nawaz condemned the Bisham terror attack but pointed out that the “Chinese are resentful when they are asked to follow security protocols” and “don’t want to come under any discipline.” (Zulqernain Tahir, “Political instability keeping investors at bay, says Maryam,” Dawn, 6 April 2024)
 
JUDICIARY
PBC calls for investigation by commission of sitting SC judges into allegations of “meddling”
On 5 April, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the premier regulatory body of lawyers, called for a judicial commission of sitting Supreme Court (SC) judges to look into complaints over alleged meddling of intelligence agencies in judicial affairs. During the 242^nd meeting, the PBC said the commission was necessary for an impartial investigation without external interference. The council’s Vice Chairman, Riazat Ali Sahar, noted the demand for the resignation of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice and condemned the social media campaign against them. In the course of the meeting, the PBC said the trolling was uncalled for as it strengthened the hands of those who wanted divisions in the judiciary, leading to the judiciary being undermined and existing issues remaining unresolved. The issue of the alleged interference by intelligence agencies in judicial affairs in the wave of the 25 March letter by six IHC judges to the Supreme Judicial Council was discussed. A seven-judge SC bench took suo motu notice of the case, and the PBC in its resolution urged the SC to decide the case as expeditiously as possible. Further, the resolution highlighted how judges epitomize the legal system’s foundation, and when judges express concern through a written letter, it should be considered a moment of concern to the independent working of the judicial system of Pakistan. Thus the council asserted that a comprehensive investigation into the allegations was “not only justified but necessary” to safeguard the law. The PBC also expressed fear that the fact that judges raised the issue meant they had been “cornered” by the agencies. (Nasir Iqbal, “Pakistan Bar Council proposes sitting SC judges’ commission on ‘meddling’ issue,” Dawn, 6 April 2024)
 
EXTERNAL
FO describes alleged Indian network of extra-judicial killings as “global phenomenon”
On 5 April, the Foreign Office (FO) claimed that the alleged Indian network of extra-judicial and extra-territorial killings had become a “global phenomenon,” and raised a warning that India’s assassination of Pakistanis on Pakistani soil violated the country’s sovereignty and breached the UN Charter. The statement came following a report by The Guardian which cited intelligence officials from both countries and detailed how the Indian government assassinated individuals in Pakistan. The FO brought to light a press conference by Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi in January, where he alleged that there was “credible evidence” of links between Indian agents and the assassination of two Pakistani nations in Sialkot and Rawalkot. In its statement, the FO asserted: “These cases exposed the increasing sophistication and brazenness of Indian-sponsored terrorist acts inside Pakistan, with striking similarities to the pattern observed in other countries, including Canada and the United States.” The FO also emphasized the need to “bring to justice the perpetrators, facilitators, financiers and sponsors of these extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings, and added that
India must be held accountable internationally for its blatant violation of international law.” (“Extraterritorial killings by India need ‘coordinated response’,” The Express Tribune, 6 April 2024)
 
FM Dar and Blinken hold first phone call and discuss “key bilateral issues”
On 5 April, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received his first phone call from his US counterpart Antony Blinken, in which both officials reaffirmed their commitment to working together in various fields, including counter-terrorism in the light of a spike in terror cases in Pakistan. Earlier on 4 April, The Guardian published a report revealing that the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi “ordered killings” on Pakistan’s soil, while in January 2024, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Syrus Qazi claimed Pakistan had “credible evidence” of a link between Indian agents and the killing of two Pakistani citizens on Pakistani soil. Following the phone call, Dar wrote on X: “Pleased to receive a congratulatory telephone call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Discussed key bilateral issues and reaffirmed commitment to work together to promote cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, investment and counter-terrorism. Looking forward to continued collaboration between the two countries.” They also discussed matters of regional significance, including the situation in Gaza, the Red Sea, and the developments in Afghanistan. (“In first phone call, FM Dar, Blinken reaffirm commitment to promote cooperation against terrorism,” The News International, 5 April 2024)
 
AF-PAK
Investigation finds involvement of TTP in recent terror attacks in Pakistan
On 6 April, Business Recorder reported that Pakistani investigators looking into the recent terror incidents, including the Besham suicide attack, collected evidence pointing towards the involvement of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Claiming that the terrorists involved in these attacks received active support from Afghanistan, officials are set to take the matter up with Kabul shortly. A senior government official pointed out: “Pakistan’s stated policy has thus far been that it would not hold any talks with the TTP and that the Afghan interim government is bound under Doha agreement to take action against all militant organizations, including TTP that have taken refuge in Afghanistan.” Earlier on 4 April, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch clarified that Pakistan has “no plans to hold talks with TTP,” and expects “the Afghan authorities to take action against these terror groups and their leadership for the crimes they are committing and the terrorist attacks for which they are responsible in Pakistan.” This was said following a recent statement by senior Taliban official Muhammad Nabi Omari, in which he advised Pakistan and the TTP to resolve issues through talks. (Ali Hussain & Nuzhat Nazar, “Islamabad will take up matter with Kabul: Evidence shows TTP’s involvement in terror attacks,” Business Recorder, 6 April 2024)
 
PROVINCES
Punjab: Farmers to hold protests if wheat prices are not revised
On 5 April, the President of the Kisan Board Pakistan, Sardar Zafar Hussain, lamented during a press conference that Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had “failed her first trial on the agriculture front in the province.” This came after Nawaz decided to retain the previous year’s wheat support price, which was met with disappointment by farmers across Punjab and threats of legal action and protests. Hussain pointed out that Nawaz “decided to maintain the last year’s minimum support price of PKR 3,900 per 40kg of wheat, while the Sindh province has enhanced it to PKR 4,600 per 40kg.” Citing a rise in the rates of fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs, Hussain demanded the government fix the minimum support price at PKR 5,000 per 40kg to maintain farmers’ interest in the all-important crop. Lamenting that the interests of the rural population had been sacrificed at the altar of “feared reaction” by the urbanites in case of an increase in the prices of wheat flour, he warned that farmers might shift to an alternative and more profitable crop, forcing the government to import wheat at higher prices. Hussain added that the failure of the government to revise the wheat support price would lead to the Kisan Board approaching a court of law against the injustice with the farming community, and a protest staged by farmers. (Amjad Mahmood, “Farmers threaten protests over wheat price stagnation,” Dawn, 6 April 2024)

Naseer Memon, ‘Constant decline’
Dawn, 6 April 2024
“A country that spends 70pc of its reve­n­­­ue on debt-servicing is hardly able to concentrate on human development. However, a critical policy examination unveils that misplaced priorities are the real cause beh­ind this ignominious situation. Entangled in unending border conflicts, the country spends a lot more on border security than its internal human security. Whereas border security has its own imperatives, constant compromise on human security has even graver ramifications.”
 
Editorial, ‘Deadly campaign’
Dawn, 6 April 2024
“Our own internal lapses also need to be investigated, as the fact that 20 people were neutralised by foreign operatives on Pakistani soil should send alarm bells ringing within the intelligence and law-enforcement agencies. There are also reports, as mentioned by The Guardian and cited elsewhere earlier, that many of the operations in Pakistan were planned and orchestrated in a friendly Gulf country.”
 
Editorial, ‘Second phase’
Dawn, 6 April 2024
“While the Taliban’s call for the respectful treatment of its citizens is justified, it is essential for them to acknowledge that these refugees are, fundamentally, their own citizens. Although many refugees have known only Pakistan as their home, Afghanistan is their country of origin, and they should be welcomed back appropriately. It is vital for the Taliban to remember their responsibility towards them. Kabul should ensure the rights of returning citizens and adopt a governance style that does not repeat past mistakes which led to mass displacement.”
 
Noureen Akhtar, ‘Four horsemen of war and UNRWA blockade in Gaza’
The Express Tribune, 6 April 2024
“It comes with no surprise that the Israel government which is already under growing international pressure to stop its inhuman activities and bombardment and stop all kinds of ground offences in Gaza has now barred the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from making aid deliveries in northern Gaza, hence turning the situation even more miserable for the Palestinians, especially children and women.”
 
Imtiaz Gul, ‘IHC judges’ letter and implications’
The Express Tribune, 6 April 2024
“That would perhaps be a watershed — regardless of how it is treated by other institutions — in Pakistan’s history. Hence the nation awaits with anxiety as to how the majority of the Supreme Court judges positions itself on the issue at hand i.e. the culture of impunity as far as fundamental rights and institutional roles are concerned.”

In Brief
POLITICS
Naeem becomes the new party chief of JI
On 04 April, according to the intra-party election results, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) elects Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman as the new leader of the party. According to the JI Central Information Secretary Qaisar Sharif, about 45, 000 party members cast their votes in the intra-party polls. He said: “Naeem received over 80 per cent of the votes and became the sixth emir of the party.” He added that he would be the party’s leader until 2029. Sharif further said that JI had conducted polls regularly and that the JI party belongs to every member and worker and is certainly not affiliated with any individual or a family. The current party leader Emir Sirajul Haq is completing his second term on 8 April, added Sharif. Upon his victory as the party’s chief, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former president Arif Alvi along with other political leaders congratulated Naeem. (“Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman becomes new JI emir,” The News International, 04 April 2024)

PM vows to transfer ministries and departments under the 18th Constitutional Amendment
On 04 April, as per the idea put forth by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, under the 18^th Constitutional Amendment, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged to transfer relevant departments and ministries to “strengthen the provinces”.The 18^th Constitutional Amendment was passed on 08 April 2010 respectively. The announcement came as he was chairing a sectoral meeting regarding the Ministry of Finance where he also issued directives to revive the economy. He said that the expenditures will be reduce ‘financial losses.’ According to The News International, in December 2023, in his election campaign PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto rendered the “idea of abolishing 17 federal ministries to save taxpayers' PKR 300 billion if his party elected into power.” (“PM pledges to strengthen provinces by devolving relevant ministries,” The News International, 04 April 2024)

ON AFGHANISTAN
Kabul requests not to take ‘unilateral decision’ on Afghan migrants
On 04 April, after the reports regarding Pakistan’s new eviction campaign, the Taliban authorities requested Pakistan “not to make a unilateral decision on repatriating Afghan migrants” adding that they should not be “harassed”.  Refuting the claims on the expulsion of foreigners illegally residing in Pakistan, Islamabad denied and stated that it was not Afghan-specific.  Dawn stated: “There are no reports that the government is planning to expand what it calls ‘Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan’ to Pakistan-issued Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders after Eidul Fitr and subsequently to UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) card holders.” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch asserted that measures are under debate. Baloch further said that there will be “relaxation of visa requirement” for truck drivers crossing the borders. Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman Rashed said: “The issue of refugees is bilateral and decisions regarding them should be made through an understanding between both countries.” (Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Don’t unilaterally decide migrants’ fate, Kabul urges,” Dawn, 05 April 2024)

EXTERNAL
Japan grants USD 4.43 for healthcare facilities in Sindh
On 04 April, the Japanese government announced an additional grant of approximately USD 4.43 million for a project pertaining to “extending maternal and child healthcare facilities in Sindh province. As per the press release from the Japanese embassy, “Project for the Extension of Maternal and Child Healthcare Facility in Sindh was initially announced in August 2021 at an original cost of about USD 22.76 million. The statement said: “The maternal and child health center is expected to have departments for obstetrics and pediatrics, including a labour room, an obstetrics ward, a neonatal intensive care unit, a maternal and fetal intensive care unit, a laboratory, and outpatient consultation rooms. Additionally, around 120 pieces of medical equipment, including newborn incubators and ultrasonic diagnostic devices, will be installed. The project is scheduled to be completed by April 2025.” Dawn reported that grant agreements of the project were also signed and exchanged between the Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Pakistan Naoaki Miyata and Economic Affairs Joint Secretary Saeed Ashraf Siddiqui. According to the statement: “The decision to provide the additional grant is in response to a request made by the Pakistani government due to a shortfall in the project cost, caused by exchange rate fluctuations and market price escalation.” (Amin Ahmed, “Japan provides additional $4.43m for extension of Sindh’s maternal, child healthcare facilities,” Dawn, 05 April 2024)

Khalid Waleed, ‘Understanding electricity demand’
Dawn, 05 April 2024
“The aphorism ‘supply creates its own demand’, often attributed to economist Jean-Baptiste Say, encapsulates a fundamental principle of classical economics. This notion, known as Say’s Law, faced criticism during the Great Depression of the 1930s, when supply exceeded demand, leading to economic downturns. Similarly, Pakistan’s electri­city sector is experiencing a power sector depress­ion due to overexpansion and underutilisation of ca­p­acity, primarily fuelled by imported fossil fuels, thanks to poor planning and demand estimation.The demand for electricity is, by nature, a derived demand, meaning it is contingent upon the demand for the services that electricity powers. Thus, a country’s economic policy plays a pivotal role in shaping the demand for electricity. Ideally, such policies should position electricity as a catalyst for the nation’s production functions, complementing other essential inputs like land, labour, capital, and organisation to boost overall output.”

Editorial, ‘Failed experiment’
Dawn, 05 April 2024
 “AS Pakistan calibrates its response to the ongoing wave of terrorism, a strange but familiar suggestion has come from across the western border. Speaking recently at an iftar in Khost, Mohammad Nabi Omari, Afghanistan’s deputy interior minister, called for talks between the banned TTP and the government of Pakistan. While the regime in Kabul is long believed to have favoured this option, few top Afghan Taliban leaders have said so publicly. While advising both Islamabad and the ‘brothers’ in the TTP, Mr Omari observed that Al Qaeda was not active in his country. He also felt that the war between the TTP and Pakistan was unwinnable, and that the ‘brothers’ could continue their campaign for “100 years” and not see any results. The Foreign Office, meanwhile, has rejected the prospect of negotiations with the TTP.”

Zubeida Mustafa, ‘ASER’s verdict’
Dawn, 05 April 2024
 “More than 180 years later, we learn that Sindh has been ‘sinned’ against once more. How else would you describe the failure of those who control the destiny of this province to empower its children by educating them? This is no exaggeration. A look at the Annual Status of Education Report [ASER] 2023 is enough to inform the reader about the miserable state of education in the province. Aser is an independent citizens-led group that has been testing children in Pakistan every year since 2008-09 and its results are credible. In 2023, over 1,53,000 children were tested in 274 districts. The findings are shocking.”
 

In Brief
‘US plans to expand the security partnership with Pakistan,’ says Matthew Miller
On 03 April, the US State Department said that the country would expand its “security partnership” with Pakistan. Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Washington is also willing to work with Pakistan on the “shared targets of international peace and regional security.” When asked about US’s support in combating Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups, Miller said: “We have spoken to that a number of times from this podium. It has been a priority for us and will continue to be so.” Refuting the claims on US’s interest in India’s opposition leader arrest and not Pakistan, he said: “I would not agree with that characterisation. We have made clear on a number of occasions that we want to see everyone in Pakistan treated consistent with the rule of law, treated with respect for human rights as is our position with any country in the world.” Regarding the UN aid reaching UN aid militants in Afghanistan, Miller requested its partners to ensure that the aid reaches the needy. (Anwar Iqbal, “US pledges to expand security partnership with Pakistan,” Dawn, 03 April 2024)

POLITICS
Former FM Qureshi was implicated to a case for not testifying against Imran Khan, says Defence counsel Safdar
On 03 April, the defence counsel in the cipher case notified the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was subjected to legal proceedings for not testifying against the PTI leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The attorney of the two PTI leaders, Barrister Salman Safdar informed the division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb that Qureshi was “under tremendous pressure to testify against Khan.” He further said that as a result of Qureshi’s refusal to testify against Imran, he was hinged in a case. Safdar asserted that the former principal secretary to Imran Khan, Azam Khan had used ‘the offer’ and ‘got off scot-free’. He further mentioned that the complainant former interior secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar did not nominate Khan and Qureshi in his complaint. He added that these cases were registered under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). However, Chief Justice Farooq stated that the successive governments, which also includes the PTI government had “never tried to repeal the law, therefore, this argument did not carry weight.” (“Qureshi paying the price for siding with Imran: lawyer Salman Safdar,” Dawn, 04 April 2024)

President meets COAS, discusses to resolve baseless allegations with an iron hand
On 03 April, in a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir, President Asif Zardari said: “Baseless and unsubstantiated allegations levelled by a specific political party and its few individuals” against the army for their political interests.” According to the official statement, the COAS highlighted the ongoing operations of the army against terrorism. The statement said: “The COAS also intimated about the contributions of the army towards development initiatives, particularly in the regions of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” Zardari lauded the role of armed forces and affirmed that their contributions had been beneficial in “safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state.” According to the statement: “The president emphasised Pakistan’s steadfast commitment against terrorism and reaffirmed the nation’s resolve to respond with full force through all elements of national power.” According to Dawn, the meeting ended with a “determination to uphold the values of peace, security and progress in Pakistan.” (Nadir Guramani, “In meeting with COAS, president notes with concern ‘baseless’ claims against army by ‘certain political party,” Dawn, 03 April 2024)
 
EXTERNAL
Netherlands to enhance bilateral relations with the transfer of technology
On 03 April, according to a statement issued by the Finance Ministry, Ambassador Henny de Vries of the Netherlands called Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and exploring new opportunities in the areas of mutual interest. The discussion also emphasized Pakistan’s structural reforms for boosting economic growth and fiscal sustainability. The minister, on the other hand, stressed that Pakistan was interested in “technology transfer and leveraging the expertise of the Netherlands in agriculture, dairy, and farm production that would lead to increased production and exports, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s economy.” Meanwhile, de Vries reiterated further enhancing ties with Pakistan and cooperation across various sector. She also told about the projects run by the Netherlands in Pakistan which includes “fishing production, ensuring labor safety and environmental standards in textile industries, and projects on water management in agriculture.” (“Pakistan discusses technology transfer with Netherlands,” The Express Tribune, 04 April 2024)

ON AFGHANISTAN
Afghan minister Omari requests TTP and Pakistan to negotiate for peace
On 03 April, a senior Afghan Taliban leader urged the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamabad to negotiate for peace as the international community blames Afghanistan for TTP operations. Deputy interior minister of the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan Muhammad Nabi Omari said: “We ask the government of Pakistan and advise the brothers (TTP) who are fighting with them to come together and talk.” According to Dawn, the Afghan Taliban had facilitated talks between both sides, however, the parties were not able to reach an agreement. Afghanistan has denied the allegations of TTP’s operation from its soil and has urged Pakistan to address the internal security issues. Omari asserted that TTP could not win this war. He said: “And to our brothers (the TTP), whatever, they may call it – jihad or war, we don’t meddle in their affairs if they are fighting against the system (state), even if you fight the system for hundred years … you cannot win.” (“Afghan minister asks TTP, Islamabad to negotiate,” Dawn, 03 April 2024)

JUDICIARY
CJP Isa receives ‘threat letters’, confirms DIG
On 03 April, following the Islamabad High Court (IHC) jurists, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations informed that threat letters containing suspicious powder were sent to the Supreme Court (SC) judges including Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa. The letters sent to CJP Isa, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Aminuddin Khan have been handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). DIG asserted that the envelopes had a powdery substance and they have been sent to lab to examie, additionally, DIG enquired post master for his ignorance. The letters were sent by a woman namely “Resham” without mentioning her address. (“Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai, “CJP Isa, SC judges also received ‘threat letters’, DIG Operations tells IHC chief justice,” The News International, 03 April 2024)
 
 

Faisal Siddiqi, ‘Sword versus pen’
Dawn, 03 April 2024
“The letter dated March 25, 2024, written by six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the intimidation and interference of state agencies in their judicial work will perhaps go down as one of the greatest judicial acts in world judicial history. It signifies extraordinary judicial courage, a deep sense of constitutional duty, a heightened sense of moral clarity, and equally important, an understanding of relevance and immediacy, which requires action to be taken now, not tomorrow. But this letter of resistance also signifies something more fundamental. Firstly, this is the latest, most prominent example of its kind in the continuing conflict in Pakistan between de jure (constitutional) power of the pen/ judiciary and the de facto (actual) power of the sword/ establishment. Secondly, in historical terms, it denotes the age-old problem of power: the taming of the sword or raw power by the pen or ethics. In other words, is the pen mightier than the sword?”

Editorial, ‘Senate elections’
Dawn, 03 April 2024
 “The Senate returned to almost its full strength yesterday after an unusually sedate election. Unfortunately, polling for KP’s seats could not be held due to an ongoing stand-off between the provincial government and the ECP over reserved seats. Meanwhile, there were few reports of the feverish wheeling-dealing and horse-trading that have, in the past, marred the conduct of Senate polls, which are held every three years to elect half of the total strength of the Upper House. All of the candidates for Balochistan’s seats were declared winners unopposed, while in Punjab, the PTI, PML-N, and PPP reportedly reached an understanding that allowed its seven general seats to be filled without contest. Punjab’s five remaining seats two for women, two for technocrats, and one for minorities  were all grabbed by the PML-N, thanks to its majority in the provincial assembly. In Sindh, the PPP secured all seats but two, which went to the MQM-P and Faisal Vawda, respectively.”

Rafia Zakari, ‘Diminished spending power’
Dawn, 03 April 2024
“IT happens twice a month. Every 15 days the government decides whether or not to tighten the noose around the necks of Pakistan’s masses. Last Sunday, the masses got unlucky as the government decided to jack up petrol prices by Rs9.66 ahead of the Eid holidays. It is a tricky measure for the government — one that it says is based on price fluctuations in the global market — as it knows that this is an unpopular move. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund, which has long wanted the removal of subsidies on gas and electricity, among other items, in order to move towards market-based prices, has been dissatisfied with Pakistan’s efforts in this direction.”

In Brief
POLITICS
PM directs to formulate a strategy for a “two fold increase” in exports
On 02 April, while chairing a meeting on the export sector, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formulated strategies focusing on the “two-fold increase” in exports in the next five years. He requested the Ministry of Trade to put forth the strategy consulting entrepreneurs and stakeholders. Besides the issues of ‘made in Pakistan’ brand exports, the PM ordered to extend facilitation to the exporters in the e-commerce sector who were exporting the products to the international community. He asserted that the government is taking swift initiatives to maximise the utilisation of the export sector. He further said that “the promotion of IT, domestic use items, textile and other exceptional sectors, the relevant stakeholders should be taken on board.” The meeting resulted in proposals and recommendations for the export sector. PM highlighted the submission of recommendations over the endorsement of industries that were exporting products that are part of “global value chains.” (“PM seeks two-fold increase in exports in five years,” The Express Tribune, 04 April 2024)

ECP halts senate polls amid the delay in oath taking process
On 02 April, referring to the administration of oaths for the reserved seats, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) halted the senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). The KP Election Commissioner Shamshad Khan, upon his arrival to the assembly, asked the list of sworn-in MPAs from the assembly staff. Subsequently, the opposition members complained with the ECP regarding the postponement of senate elections in KP. According to Dawn, KP’s senate elections seem to be uncertain while other provinces conducted their senate elections. Although the election staff were prepared for the polls, KP senate elections failed to commence on the stipulated time. Meanwhile, the ECP citing its earlier stance in March, and upheld decision of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) announced the postponement of the elections. ECP stated that PHC had upheld its ruling and that no arrangements were made for the oath. The ECP said: “The commission is of the considered view that the standards of honesty, justness, and fairness of election cannot be fulfilled due to non-administration of oath to elected members.” (“K-P polls on hold amid oath-taking delay,” The Express Tribune, 04 April 2024)

“ECP has illegally denied awarding share to the PTI-SIC alliance of reserved seats,” says KP CM Gandapur
On 02 April, amid the dispute over the oath taking of opposition MPAs on reserved seats, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur asserted that the provincial government is not letting the MPA elects to take oath as the reserved seats belonged to PTI. According to Dawn, from the 25 lawmakers, 21 reserved seats for women and four for minorities awaited to take the oaths by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. Speaking to the media, Gandapur said: “The ECP has illegally denied awarding share to the PTI-SIC [alliance] of reserved seats and allocated our share to the opposition parties.” He added that political parties will not revoke their commitments. He said: “The ECP is constantly violating the Constitution; first it deprived the PTI of its symbol ‘bat’ in elections and then handed over its reserved seats to the opposition in the KP Assembly.” He questioned ECP regarding the share of PTI seats to the opposition parties in the assembly. Previously, the opposition leader Dr Ibadu­llah said: “It is very strange that provincial government does not follow any law, constitution and institutions rather it follows the directives of an Imran Khan.” (Mohammad Ashfaq and Manzoor Ali, “Ali Amin Gandapur vows to snatch back reserved seats,” Dawn, 03 April 2024)
 
PTI leader Imran Khan’s attorney requests to discard Azam Khan’s testimony as it was uncertain
On 02 April, as the testimony was seemingly procured uncertainly, the counsel for PTI leader and former Prime Minister requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to get rid of the testimony of the former principal secretary to PM Azam Khan in the cipher case. Barrister Salman Safdar made the aforementioned argument before the bench which resumed hearing on the pleas filed by Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi against their conviction in the cipher case. Safdar said that the principal secretary testified against Imran Khan before an investigation officer and magistrate instead of recording his confession. Recording the statement a month later, the IHC bench said that Azam Khan went missing on 15 June 2023 and came back on 20 July 2023. In response, Safdar argued that the testimony was recorded under “dubious circumstances.” And thus, “the court should not give any credence to his testimony.” said Safdar. (Malik Asad, “Imran’s lawyer asks court to disregard Azam’s testimony,” Dawn, 03 April 2024)

ON AFGHANISTAN
NHS coordinator Malik Mukhtar stresses the necessity for a result-oriented dialogue with Afghanistan
On 02 April, in a meeting with Michael Galway and Hamid Jafri of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to discuss Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services (NHS)  Malik Mukhtar Ahmed recommended “result-oriented dialogue with Afghanistan to combat the polio4.virus.” According to a statement, the Gates Foundation emphasized its engagement with the Pakistan government in polio eradication. Mukhtar said: “2024 was a pivotal year in the journey for making Pakistan polio-free by 2026.” He also highlighted the challenges faced by the people through frequent movements across the borders, stressing the necessity for a “result-oriented dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan to effectively combat the poliovirus.” (Ikram Junaidi, “Dialogue with Afghanistan on polio eradication stressed,” Dawn, 03 April 2024)

ECONOMY
PM seeks to promote FDI in the country
On 02 April, while heading a high level meeting to review progress on foreign investment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said: “promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country to transform challenges into opportunities was a top priority of the government.”  The meeting reviewed the detailed progress of the MoUs with the Gulf countries under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).  He further said that facilities would be given to the investors and that special cells in the federal ministries would also be formed to endorse “innovation and research in the investment sector.” (“Promoting FDI top priority of govt: PM,” The Express Tribune, 04 April 2024)

SECURITY
Policemen injure in an attack
On 02 April, six policemen were injured in an attack by unknown miscreants in the Township area of Bannu. An official said: “The law enforcers were going to Domel area to assist the police in actions against anti-social elements.” In response to the attack, police officials came and launched a search operation. Separately, in Bannu, two people were killed and four were injured in an accident between a van and a car. (“Six policemen injured in Bannu attack,” Dawn, 03 April 2024)

Mahir Ali,’Beyond Bhutto’
Dawn, 03 April 2024
 “It wasn’t entirely a surprise, but it was undoubtedly a shock. Many Pakistanis had harboured the hope of a last-minute rep­rieve of some sort. Almost every country with which Pakistan had diplomatic relations had appealed for clemency. (A notable exception was Suharto’s Indonesian reg­ime.) I have long suspected that at least two countries, had they so wished, could have exerted enough pressure to save Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s life: Saudi Arabia and the US. Both of them chose not to do so. The executioner, Gen Ziaul Haq, dismissed the global appeals as an initiative on behalf of the international union of politicians. Benazir Bhutto’s Daughter of the East notes that even the Supreme Court that had upheld the Lahore High Court’s death sentence by a 4-3 margin unanimously recommended that the sentence be commuted. But Zia ignored that inconvenient opinion.”

In Brief
POLITICS
PTI intends to form a grand opposition alliance
On 02 April, Dawn reported that The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is set to hold a meeting of opposition parties to form a ‘grand opposition alliance’ in order to launch a countrywide protest against the newly elected government. PTI leader Asad Qaiser will chair the meeting of the opposition parties. However, it is unclear of the participation of opposition parties. According to a PTI source, Qaiser has urged all the parties to join the opposition alliance, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). On the other hand, according to Dawn, PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan will likely be the declared leader of the opposition of the National Assembly (NA). On 01 April, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said: “Under rule 39 (2) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007, the count of the members voting for the opposition leader will be held.” As per Rule 39, the speaker shall appoint a member as the leader of the opposition. (Syed Irfan Raza, “PTI leader launches bid to form ‘grand opposition alliance,” Dawn, 02 April 2024)

ECP postpones senate elections in KP following opposition member's plea
On 02 April, The News International reported that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had postponed the senate elections in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly following the petition submitted by the opposition members amid their stand-off with the provincial government on the oath taking of MPAs for the reserved seats. Meanwhile, as the country’s ruling alliance sees a majority in the upper house of parliament, polling at NA and Punjab and Sindh assemblies are underway on the remaining vacant seats. Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) member Ahmad Karim Kundi, in the petition asserted that 25 of his party's members are yet to be sworn in and thus requested that the polls should be postponed. Upon the request, “KP Speaker Babar Saleem Swati filed a review petition with the court on the eve of the polling.” A senior official at the ECP said: “All arrangements are in place to hold the electoral process. Regarding the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Election Commission will closely watch the related developments today prior to deciding the future course of action.” The official said that the ECP’s stance in delaying the polls is to fill the Senate’s vacant seats in KP. He further said that this is the first time that the ECP faced such scenario. (Daniyal Aziz and Nausheen Yusuf, “ECP postpones Senate elections in KP,” The News International, 02 April 2024)

PML-N leader Nawaz co-chairs public meetings alongside his daughter CM Maryam Nawaz
On 01 April, despite criticism, the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif held meetings along with his daughter CM Maryam Nawaz. To review the issues faced by Punjab’s agriculture sector, Sharif co-chaired the meeting. Nawaz had kept a low profile since the recently concluded elections, however, presiding over public meetings along with his daughter has sparked criticism as he did not hold any official position except being the member of the National Assembly. While addressing the meeting, Nawaz asserted that “lack of availability of quality seeds even after decades is a matter of grave concern”. In order to protect 37 million acres feet (MAF) of water from being wasted, Nawaz urged to take “effective steps”. He highlighted the need to use advanced irrigation methods to save water. In the meeting, to save 1.7 MAF of water about 7,300 water courses across Punjab was highlighted. The rate of farm mechanization from 35 to 60 per cent was also discussed. It further discussed about granting PKR 150 billion loan to farmers for Rabi and Kharif crops. Nawaz issued directive to formulate the eligibility criteria for the farmers to avail the loans. Furthermore, Punjab CM approved research fund of PKR 500 million in the Agricultural Research Institute in Faisalabad. (Zulqernain Tahir, “Despite flak, Nawaz chairs another government meeting,” Dawn, 02 April 2024)
 
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES INTERVENTION IN THE JUDICIARY
PR UPDATE #04
PTI demands a general debate on the issue of the letter by IHC judges regarding the intervention of intelligence agencies
On 01 April, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) members protested in the National Assembly (NA) demanding a debate on the issue of the six judges of Islamabad High Court (IHC) letter regarding the interference of intelligence agencies in the judicial matters as the treasury benches and speaker subjected it as “sub judice matter.” PTI members carried placards seeking bail for their leader Imran Khan. PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan asserted that the opposition members had submitted an adjournment motion to the “NA Secretariat on the judges’ issue and asked him to allow a general debate on this matter, declaring that the agenda that had been issued by the secretariat “does not reflect the reality”. Khan further said that the letter had revealed the “role of agencies” and their interference in the case against the former PM Imran Khan. Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa had taken a “suo motu notice” and has scheduled a hearing as the matter had become “sub judice” and could not be debated in the assembly. (Amir Wasim, “Chaos in NA as opposition stopped from debating letter,” Dawn, 02 April 2024)

ECONOMY
Government to avail USD 500 million from ADB
On 01 April, the government approved the acquisition of a USD 500 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which aims to foster an “enabling environment to attract private investment.” Although this move helps in addressing fiscal requirements, nevertheless, it drives Pakistan into a debt trap. According to the Planning Ministry, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) highlighted the “concept proposal” for the USD 500 million loan under the “Promoting Sustainable Public-Private Partnership Programme.” The Express Tribune reported that the loan will be taken for budget support, in return Pakistan has revised its existing policies, formulated new policies and will establish two funds. ADB is expected to present this for the approval of the initial USD 250 million tranche if the conditions are met. According to the decision, Pakistan is anticipated to receive loans in two installments with an interest rate from 2 per cent to 6.5 per cent. The duration of the majority of loans is seven years. The Express Tribune stated: “ADB will finance the loan using its regular Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR) and Concessional Ordinary Capital Resources (COL).” (Shahbaz Rana, “Govt okays expensive $500m ADB loan,” The Express Tribune, 02 April 2024)
 
JUDICIARY
IHC rules out PTI leader Imran Khan and his wife Bushra's sentences in the Toshakhana case
On 01 April, suspending their sentences in the Toshakhana case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted relief to the PTI leader and former PM Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq asserted that the appeal against the conviction would be fixed post the Eid holidays. About the Toshakhana case, the accountability court’s judge Muhammad Bashir sentenced Khan and Bushra to 14 years in prison. The judge further disqualified Imran Khan and handed PKR 1.57 billion to both of them. During the hearing, IHC CJ Farooq asserted that the “cipher case would be completed in a few days. Also, we cannot fix the Toshakhana case for hearing the very next day after holding a hearing on it today.” (Awaid Yousafzai, “IHC suspends Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s sentences in Toshakhana case,” The News International, 02 April 2024)

SECURITY
Terrorism would continue until Kabul shut down camps of TTP, says Defence Minister Asif
On 01 April, speaking to journalists in the Parliament House the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif asserted that Afghanistan was the source of resurfacing of terrorism in Pakistan. He cautioned that this would continue until Afghanistan formally halts the training camps of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The minister said that the Pak-Afghan border should be the same as the other international borders around the world. He said: “People come to Pakistan from Afghanistan on visas and do business here. He added that this international status of the border was “not being respected by Afghanistan.” Addressing a question regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the minister said: “We have the means to provide relief to the people but tax cases worth PKR 2,700 billion were pending in courts. Thousands of billions is being stolen in taxes, electricity, gas, if these things are corrected, the people will get relief.” (Khalid Mahmood, “Terrorism to end if Kabul shuts TTP havens: Asif,” The Express Tribune, 02 April 2024)
 

Arifa Noor, ‘The IHC six’
Dawn, 02 April 2024
“Letters are the new black in Pakistani politics. If the week before it was about the letters related to Aitchison College, more recently, pen was put to paper in the Islamabad High Court. Off went the letter from the black-robed men to other black-robed men but on the way, it also appeared in many a social media inbox. It’s hard to keep secrets, especially the written kind, in Pakistan. And especially not when it concerns judges. Who would know this better than the Supreme Court residents? The letter was a charge-sheet, no doubt, with its detailed account of intimidatory tactics, from kidnapping and violence to secret recordings. The shadowy figures who carry out such acts were evident to all who read the letter.”

Dr Niaz Murtaza, ‘Pro-poor reform’
Dawn, 02 April 2024
“New set-up must quickly undertake substantial reforms to save our moribund economy and ensure durable economic stability, productive growth, equity and sustainability. The IMF, think tanks, business groups, etc. mainly propose technical reforms, such as deregulation and privatisation, to loosen the hold of an elite-run state on markets, assuming — against global evidence that unbridled markets can ensure progress. However, the elites that run our state run markets too. Thus, many state ills actually stem from market ills — twin deficits exist partially as businesses seek endless subsidies and engage in tax evasion and can’t compete globally. The outcome is that one can’t reform the state without reforming markets as market elites will soon recapture it.Reforms in which the bulk of the populace barely figures will produce an elite-run market that fails on all four aims mentioned above. With the Soviet state-monopolist model proved infeasible, the way forward is a welfare-cum developmental state that mainly serves the interests of the poor and also ensures that markets provide fair avenues to them. Such reforms must target the state and market, make masses their focus and use their political mobilisation as the key force to unleash reform.”

Editorial, ‘Letter inquiry’
Dawn, 02 April 2024
“There has been a twist in the tale. After the Supreme Court last week deferred to the federal cabinet, asking it to deal with a disturbing letter six Islamabad High Court justices had addressed to the chief justice, observers had worried that a government-sponsored inquiry into intelligence operatives’ alleged interference in judicial affairs would prove to be a non-starter. Even as voices from within the legal community were still criticising the Supreme Court for neglecting its responsibility and ceding full control over the inquiry to the government, a respected former judge, retired chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, was duly appointed to head the inquiry commission tasked with looking into the judges’ letter. By Monday, however  following an open statement from more than 300 lawyers, amidst whispers that the six IHC justices may be considering directly petitioning the Supreme Court, and a polite ‘no, thank you’ from Mr Jillani  the scheme seemed to have fallen apart.”

In Brief
POLITICS
IRSA to meet amid Wapda’s failure to complete its projects
On 01 April, The News International reported that the Advisory Committee of Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has scheduled a meeting on 02 April. The meeting might record turbulence as the “Wapda has failed to complete its tunnel projects at Tarbela Dam and its opposition to release the water to Sindh from low-level outlets and work out water availability for Kharif season with expected water shortfall of just below 30 per cent.” According to the officials, the IRSA’s technical committee has worked below 30 per cent water shortfall for the Kharif season. Despite the low percent, the early spanning (01 April to 10 June 2024) will be more than 30 per cent. Tarbela Dam at Indus is the main source to the irrigational needs of the four federating units of Sindh, Punjab, KP, and Balochistan. Wapda anticipates IRSA to release water from the Tarbela Dam beyond the storage level of 1,420 feet mark. However, given the current situation, the sowing of two main Kharif crops including cotton and rice, in Sindh would be at risk. Wapda’s instructions to IRSA came along the sidelines of the requirement of water for the construction of the tunnel project (T3). According to The News International, “The work by Wapda on T-3 and T-4 was to be completed by October-November 2023 but is still ongoing. However, on T-5, the construction work is to be completed in 33 months. With the completion of projects such as T-3, T-4, and T-5, Tarbela Dam would have the capacity to generate hydro generation of 6,298 MWs.” (Khalid Mustafa, “IRSA to discuss water issue in its stormy session tomorrow,” The News International, 01 April 2024)

Maleeha Lodhi, ‘Coercive diplomacy’
Dawn, 01 April 2024
“Pakistan and Afganistan relations have been on a downward trajectory. They plunged to a new low earlier this month when Pakistan carried out air strikes on hideouts of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan inside Afghanistan. This was in retaliation to a series of cross-border terrorist attacks in Pakistan from Afghan soil, including a deadly one in North Waziristan that claimed the lives of several security personnel. The attack prompted ISPR to directly hold Kabul responsible, saying, “The Afghan interim government is not only arming terrorists but also providing a safe haven for terrorist organisations involved in incidents of terrorism in Pakistan”. In fact, since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Islamabad repeatedly cautioned Kabul that its failure to act against TTP would force Pakistan’s hand. But these warnings were in vain.”

Muhammad Amir Rana, ‘Targeting Chinese nationals’
Dawn, 01 April 2024
“The Shangla terrorist attack on the Chinese engineers’ vehicle is having consequences. Chinese companies have suspended work on at least three critical hydropower projects: the Dasu dam, the Diamer-Basha dam, and the Tarbela 5th Extension. The attack has caused significant alarm. Apart from disrupting these vital infrastructure projects, it has shaken the confidence of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. Reports indicate some are considering leaving the country due to safety concerns. The Pakistani government has repeatedly pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, the recent incident has eroded trust. Chinese social media reflects growing anxiety, with calls for stricter security measures to protect Chinese lives. Whenever a major terrorist incident occurs in the country, the media, security experts, and even state institutions start to make sweeping generalisations about the event, the culprits, their motives, and the terrorist groups that could have been involved in such incidents.”

Javid Husain, ‘Pakistan’s grand strategy’
The News International, 01 April 2024
“Pakistan’s institutions and policymakers, with some rare exceptions here and there, are prone to think and act tactically when dealing with major national issues instead of deliberating and planning in strategic terms. Ideally, tactical decisions must be made within the framework of a well-thought-out strategy in the interest of safeguarding long-term national interests. Such an approach enables the nation to maintain a sense of direction in its day-to-day policy decisions. It also avoids the danger of lack of consistency in tactical or short-term decisions taken in the heat of the moment in the face of new and unforeseen challenges. There is a huge body of literature available on strategy in the military field. As elaborated by Liddell Hart, a well-known military thinker of the 20th century, in his classic book ‘Strategy’, the true aim of strategy “is not so much to seek battle as to seek a strategic situation so advantageous that if it does not of itself produce the decision, its continuation by a battle is sure to achieve it.”