In Brief
ON PTI FUNDING CASE
PTI withdraws case against CEC; Red Zone sealed to stop protesters from gathering outside ECP
On 4 August, the PTI withdrew a reference against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in view of adding evidence and highlight further legal aspects. While announcing the decision, Fawad Chaudhry said that the reference would be filed again after adding more evidence against the CEC, including amendments to the initial verdict and subsequent addition.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan accused the ruling coalition of using the ECP to control the “people of Pakistan.” He said, “They [the incumbent government] bought the loyalties of our people then they used money in an attempt to break our party and after suffering a shock defeat in Punjab by-elections despite rigging attempts, they are now trying to control the people through the ECP.”
On 4 August, authorities partially sealed the Red to stop members of the PTI from coming out on streets and protesting in front of ECP office. While speaking to Dawn, police officials stated that the area was sealed after an alert from the Special Branch of police stated that activists and leaders of PTI would stage a protest in front of ECP. (Malik Asad, “PTI withdraws case against CEC ‘to add more evidence’,” Dawn, 5 August 2022; Munawer Azeem, “Red Zone sealed to stop PTI workers from gathering outside ECP,” Dawn, 5 August 2022; “Imran says ECP being used to control masses,” The Express Tribune, 4 August 2022)
IHC issues notice to speaker and ECP over PTI resignation
On 4 August, the Islamabad High Court issued notices to the NA speaker, its secretary, and the ECP on a petition filed by the PTI against acceptance of its lawmaker’s resignations. The PTI argued that the resignations of all its 123 MNAs had been accepted months ago and the present speaker had no “lawful authority or jurisdiction” to verify the resignations as the former deputy speaker had already approved them. During the hearing, PTI’s counsel Faisal Chaudhry submitted the copy of Mr. Suri’s approval of resignation to the IHC acting chief justice. The party requested the court to direct the speaker to accept all resignations at once. (Malik Asad, Imran Gabol, “Notices to NA speaker, ECP over PTI resignations,” Dawn, 5 August 2022)
INTERNAL
NAB passed amidst opposition protests
On 4 August, The National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act 2022 was passed through the Senate after Shahadat Awan moved the motion amid strong protests by the opposition parties who termed the legislation an attempt to turn the NAB into a “toothless” organization. The motion was opposed as the coalition government wanted to save its leadership by restricting NAB. PTI leader Syed Shibli Faraz said the motion was passed by a government facing serious corruption charges with 60 per cent of its cabinet members on bail. The protest continued and the opposition senators stood up in their seats after a voice vote that allowed the house to consider the bill. They chanted slogans, ripped up copies of the agenda, and gathered around the speaker’s podium to register their disapproval. Subsequently, the opposition members walked out of the house before the bill was passed. (Iftikhar A Khan, “NAB bill passed amid PTI uproar,” Dawn, 5 August 2022)
Hamza to see Nawaz Sharif to explain by-elections failure
On 4 August, Hamza Shahbaz arrived in London to ‘give an explanation’ to Nawaz Sharif about the party’s humiliating defeat in the crucial by-polls in Punjab at the hands of PTI. Nawaz Sharif had been told at a party meeting about ‘reasons’ for PML-N’s defeat, he wanted to have an ‘in-person explanation’ in this regard. He was supposed to give explanations for poor coordination with Maryam Nawaz as he had not taken her lawmakers to his cabinet and followed Nawaz’s instructions when he was the chief minister. (Zulqernain Tahir, “Hamza off to London to ‘explain away Punjab by-polls drubbing’,” Dawn, 5 August 2022)
PROVINCES
Balochistan: Grenade attack hurt 14 and claim one life
On 4 August, unknown motorcyclists hurled the grenade at the stalls selling national flags and other decoration items in connection with the upcoming Independence Day. The grenade exploded near the stalls, killing one man and injuring 14 others. (Saleem Shahid, “One killed, 14 hurt in Quetta grenade blast,” Dawn, 5 August 2022)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Army sepoy and terrorist killed in North Waziristan IBO
On 4 August, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in general area Miran Shah, North Waziristan district, on the reported presence of terrorists in which a sepoy of the Pakistan Army was killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists. According to the ISPR, the terrorist remained actively involved in terror activities against the security forces. On July 23, the security forces apprehended a high-profile terrorist commander and killed three others in two separate IBOs in different areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkwa’s North Waziristan district. (“Army sepoy martyred, terrorist killed in North Waziristan IBO,” The Express Tribune, 5 August 2022)
Sindh: PTI to move Supreme Court to empower LG system ahead of 28 August polls
On 4 August, The PTI challenged before the Supreme Court, the 6 July Sindh High Court verdict of refusing to delay the local government elections and sought immediate compliance of the apex court’s 1 February directions regarding an empowered local government system before 28 August as the second phase LG elections are scheduled to be held on 28 August. The petition argued that the scheme of Article 140-A of the Constitution and the 1 February judgment of the apex court necessitated a prior and meaningful devolution of political, administrative, and financial powers to local governments before elections were held. The petition, moved jointly by Rabia Azfar Nizami and Sidra Imran, cited the Sindh government and ECP as respondents. (Nasir Iqbal, “PTI moves SC for empowered LG system ahead of Aug 28 polls in Sindh,” Dawn, 5 August 2022)
EXTERNAL
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister meets with US ambassador
On 4 August, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in a meeting with the US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome expressed his gratitude to the US for the cooperation extended to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. CM Khan said, “The KP government and people highly value the US cooperation being extended in various fields.” Further, during the meeting the two sides discussed US cooperation with Pakistan on economics development, commerce, educational partnerships, and investments that have helped the region and its people. (“US ambassador meets KP CM,” Dawn, 5 August 2022)
Pakistan rejects reports of airspace being used by a US drone strike
On 4 August, the Foreign Office spokesperson rejected reports that Pakistan’s airspace had been used by a US drone strike in Kabul killing al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri. The spokesperson said, “I would refer you to the statement that we have issued (earlier) on this incident, and that is our stated position. There is no evidence of this action having been undertaken using Pakistan’s airspace, so this is something that I can add to that.” (Mariana Baabar, “No Pak airspace used for US drone strike in Kabul: FO,” Dawn, 5 August 2022)
ECONOMY
Government to control imports for the next three months, says Finance Minister
On 5 August, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail stated that the government would control imports for the next three months. He said, “I will not allow imports to increase for three months and, in the meantime, we will come up with a policy. I understand that growth will be reduced for a bit but I have no other choice.” Further, he said, “When there was pressure, we imported a lot of oil and gas. At this time, we have [stock of] 30 days for diesel and petrol. We have furnace oil [supply] for six months. We are very comfortable in terms of our energy security and energy supply, and other obligations. We will control imports for the next four months.” (“Govt to limit imports for next 3 months: Miftah Ismail,” Dawn, 5 August 2022)
PKR appreciates against USD on import restrictions and positive sentiment around IMF deal
On 4 August, the local unit was traded at 224 after gaining 2.15 during intraday trade. It appreciated 2.65 per USD or 1.17 per cent against the dollar to close at 226.15. July trade numbers reduced pressure on the rupee, improving the outlook for the country’s fragile current account balance. The country’s trade deficit also fell 47 per cent month-on-month to USD 2.6 billion in July, driven by a drop in imports. Total imports dropped to USD 4.9 billion in July 2022 from USD 7.9 billion in the previous month, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reported. (Riaz Andy, “PKR to Dollar: Rupee appreciates further as Pakistan slowly recovers from currency crisis,” The News International, 5 August 2022)
Restrictions imposed on supplementary grants for tighter fiscal controls
On 4 August, the Ministry of Finance in an office memorandum to all the government ministries, divisions and related departments explained the extreme conditions to be fulfilled by the principal accounting officers (PAOs) of all ministries and divisions before seeking supplementary allocations. For ensuring tight fiscal control, the government has put restrictions on technical supplementary grants (TSGs) in the first quarter and imposed a ban on supplementary expenditure, both for developmental and current expenditure, throughout the current fiscal year, except in extreme and exceptional cases. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Govt puts tighter fiscal controls in place,” Dawn, 05 August 2022)
JUDICIARY
‘Anti- Institution’ drive gets questioned by SC
On 4 August, a two-bench Supreme Court bench took up the petition of violation of fundamental rights violation against PTI leadership for an alleged hate campaign targeting armed forces,, the Supreme Court and the ECP. The court asked the council to convince it that the present matter was an issue of public importance and that it could intervene under Article 184(3) against the private persons on the grounds of public interest. The court observed that it could invoke Article 204 whenever it deemed appropriate by initiating notice and taking action. The petition argued that it was in public knowledge that after his ouster as Imran Khan had been issuing provocative, derogatory statements in his interviews, at political rallies, and on social media which harms the good reputation of the national institutions. (Nasir Iqbal, “SC questions plea over ‘anti-institution’ drive,” Dawn, 5 August 2022)
ON GILGIT-BALTISTAN
JIT formed and security tightened after sectarian violence on 30 July
On 4 August, police tightened security arrangements in Gilgit amid tension in the city after violence claimed two lives and left 22 people injured last week. FIR had been registered under anti-terrorism law and raids were under way to arrest the remaining suspects. Pillion riding on motorcycles has been banned in Gilgit and 4G mobile internet will remain suspended till Ashura. Home Secretary Iqbal Hussain Khan said all Muharram processions across Gilgit-Baltistan were being monitored. (Jamil Nagri, “Security tightened in Gilgit,” Dawn, 05 August 2022)
ON INDIA
PM Shehbaz accuses India of using "unbridled force" in Jammu and Kashmir
On 5 August, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif via Twitter accused India of using "unbridled force" in Jammu and Kashmir. He said, "Today marks the third sombre anniversary of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 aimed at changing the internationally recognised disputed status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and altering the demographic structure of the occupied territory," adding, "The Jammu & Kashmir dispute has been a battle of hope against overwhelming odds, of courage against fear & of sacrifice against tyranny. Today, we pay rich tributes to all the martyrs of IIOJK for their ultimate sacrifice & to their families for their resolve & courage." Meanwhile, Pakistanis observed the "Yaum-e-Istehsal" across the country in retaliation to the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian constitution on 5 August 2019. (“Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir: PM Shehbaz condemns India's use of 'unbridled force' in IIOJK,” Dawn, 5 August 2022; “In support of Kashmiris Pakistan observes Yaum-e-Istehsal today,” The News International, 5 August 2022)
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