Imran Khan blames â€˜neutralsâ€™ for the ongoing crackdown on the PTI

Daily Briefs

Photo : Dawn

22 August 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.189

Imran Khan blames â€˜neutralsâ€™ for the ongoing crackdown on the PTI

All 24 members of the Fundâ€™s executive board receiving copies of a staff report required to complete the process, PTI's leading in Karachi by-election and Pakistan works on reviewing a proposal to reciece upfront cost for CPEC projects

PR Daily Brief | PR Team

In Brief
INTERNAL
Imran Khan blames ‘neutrals’ for the ongoing crackdown on the PTI
On 21 August, Imran Khan while addressing a political gathering at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh alleged that the ‘neutrals’ in reference to the military establishment, were responsible for the ongoing crackdown on the PTI. He said, “On May 25, when the police used violence against us, I was told by insiders that the police were ordered from above, which means that neutrals pressurised them to give PTI workers a thrashing,” Mr Khan said and questioned whether the “neutrals were really neutral.” Further, on the ECP he claimed, “The chief election commission[er] is giving every decision against us … I got information from the inside that he [the CEC] was not doing anything on his own but there was pressure from above.”

Further, he claimed that the PTI was the “biggest party at the federal level” and any attempts to break the party would hurt the country, adding, “Political parties are the glue that keeps the country together.”

Following this, Imran Khan was booked under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (punishment for acts of terrorism) regarding his comments at his Islamabad rally. Later on, 22 August, the PTI issued a warning stating that Imran Khan would be a “red line”, as reports of Imran Khan’s imminent arrest made the rounds. Meanwhile, Imran Khan moved the Islamabad High Court seeking pre-arrest bail.

The PTI has also decided approach the court against the bad imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Imran Khan’s live telecast. (Tahir Naseer, “Pakistan ‘over-financed’: SBP acting governor,” Dawn, 22 August 2022; “Imran moves IHC for pre-arrest bail in terrorism case,” Dawn, 22 August 2022; Aamir Yasin, “PTI chief alleges ‘neutrals’ behind crackdown on party,” Dawn, 22 August 2022; “PTI warns Imran Khan a ‘red line’ as reports of warrants for his arrest make rounds,” Dawn, 22 August 2022; Ikram Junaidi, “PTI to challenge ban on live telecast of Imran’s speeches,” Dawn, 22 August 2022; “Imran fires ‘warning shots’ at police and judiciary,” Dawn, 22 August 2022)

PTI’s Woman leader shot dead
On 20 August, PTI local woman leader Nargis Mengal was shot dead by unknown armed men in the capital. Armed men on a motorcycle opened fire at Nargis Mengal near Shaheen Bungalows, killing her on the spot. Hospital officials said that she had several bullet injuries which caused her instant death. (Saleem Shahid, “PTI’s woman leader Nargis Mengal shot dead,” Dawn, 22 August 2022)

ON CPEC
Pakistan to review proposal to recieve upfront cost for CPEC projects
On 21 August, Pakistan is reviewing a proposal to receive upfront 20 per cent of the total cost of five China- CPEC projects as deposits in the central bank in a bid to get breathing space amid declining foreign exchange reserves. As per the proposal, Pakistan can receive at least USD 1.4 billion in its central bank out of the total cost of USD seven billion. In return, these five projects that are facing years of delay will be put on the fast track for implementation. According to the proposal, Chinese companies will not be allowed to take back these funds in any shape, including for opening Letters of Credit. (Shahbaz Rana, “Pakistan mulls taking upfront cost,” The Express Tribune, 22 August 2022)

ON GILGIT BALTISTAN
Revenue authority to be set up through legislation
On 20 August, Assembly passed legislation to set up a revenue authority. The bill titled “Gilgit-Baltistan Revenue Authority Bill 2022” was tabled by Javed Ali Manwa and passed with a majority, with four opposition members also voting in favour of the bill. (Jamil Nagri, “Bill passed to set up GB revenue authority,” Dawn, 21 August 2022)

ECONOMY
PTI on a comfortable lead in Karachi by-election
On 21 August, by-election on NA-245 was conducted. According to unofficial results, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) won the by-election of Karachi’s NA-245 and retained its mandate from the constituency in a major boost to the party a week before the local bodies’ elections in the city giving setback to MQM and TLP. PTI Sindh chapter president Ali Zaidi tweeted: “The result of NA-245 proves that the people of Pakistan are behind Imran Khan. If the imported government makes any foolish move to arrest Imran Khan, I fear the people of Pakistan would block the whole country.” (Imran Ayub, “In major boost, PTI wins Karachi by-election,” Dawn, 22 August 2022)

IMF board members get staff reports
On 21 August, Pakistan moved closer to clinching a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as all 24 members of the Fund’s executive board have received copies of a staff report required to complete the process. The board is meeting on 29 August to consider the report on the completion of seventh and eighth reviews of USD 6 billion loan package signed in 2019. The board will also consider to extend the facility till June 2023. A diplomatic source on the question of outcome of current agreement told Dawn: “But the present government has taken the sting out of anti-corruption tools, which may encourage corruption. The IMF would prefer to have an arrangement that could curb corruption but was not restrictive.” (Anwar Iqbal, “IMF board members get staff reports,” Dawn, 22 August 2022)

EXTERNAL
Jordanian princess in Pakistan to review nutrition programme
On 21 August, Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan arrived in Karachi on a week-long visit to Pakistan in her role as a Special Adviser on Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition of the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP). She will visit several nutrition projects to see how the government was addressing malnutrition and particularly stunting that affects 12 million or up to two-thirds of children in Pakistan. She will also visit the Benazir Income Support Programme to review the progress of Benazir Nashonuma Programme. (Amin Ahmed, “Jordanian princess arrives to review nutrition programme,” Dawn, 22 August 2022)

Pakistan on Twitter

"Pakistan's future lies in human capital formation with a focus on education, health & justice. Anything deviating from this path is anti-people.All reforms, no matter the time they take & pain they carry, should converge on this single point.This is where politics should compete."
-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

"Tehreek-e-Insaaf sources are claiming that Imran Khan is present in Bani Gala. If he is present in Bani Gala and the party leaders are also with him, then in a while this leader will release a video statement of Khan Sahib and clarify the situation. will give."
-Hamid Mir, Journalist

"If your only strategy to defeat a rival is to engage in censorship and engineer a technical knock out, you have already accepted defeat in the people's court. Increasingly appears PDM government has chosen this disastrous path."
-Ammar Ali Jan, Member of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Movement (HKM)

Daily Briefs

Imran Khan blames â€˜neutralsâ€™ for the ongoing crackdown on the PTI

All 24 members of the Fundâ€™s executive board receiving copies of a staff report required to complete the process, PTI's leading in Karachi by-election and Pakistan works on reviewing a proposal to reciece upfront cost for CPEC projects

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