Imran Khan summoned for Toshakhana case hearing

Daily Briefs

Photo : Dawn

22 November 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.255

Imran Khan summoned for Toshakhana case hearing

LHC to getting replies on the plea against a single national curriculum, a report being sought over the forced child marriages in Balochistan and FDI falling 52 per cent in the first four months of the financial year

PR Daily Brief | PR Team

In Brief
INTERNAL
Imran summoned for Toshakhana case hearing
On 21 November, the criminal trial of Imran Khan for concealing information about the Toshakhana gifts formally began as the district and session’s court summoned him on a reference filed by the ECP. The ECP sent the reference to the court, asking it to proceed against Mr Khan under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister. The commission seeks a three-year jail term and imposition of fine as the punishment. The ECP requested the PTI chief be convicted for the offences mentioned under sections 167 and 173 of the Elections Act 2017. (Malik Asad, “Court summons Imran today as Toshakhana case hearing begins,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

PTI’s long march was a conspiracy to push its chief Imran Khan into a blind alley, says Faisal Vawda
On 21 November, former PTI leader Faisal Vawda claimed that the PTI’s long march was a conspiracy to push its chief Imran Khan into a blind alley. He said that Imran Khan will never become prime minister again, advising him to think of those who could become the premier and investigate who could be involved in the alleged conspiracy. Vawda made these comments while talking to the media after appearing before a fact-finding committee of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) set up to investigate the murder of Arshad Sharif in Kenya. While talking to the media, he claimed the journalist’s murder was planned in Pakistan and he hoped the culprits, who were very powerful, were arrested. However, he said the owner of a TV channel, who was being blamed for involvement in the case, had nothing to do with it. (“Ikram Junaidi, “March is ‘conspiracy’ to push Imran into ‘blind alley’: Vawda,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

No evidence of murder plot against Imran and journalist, says Tasnim Haider Shah
On 22 November, The News International reported that Syed Tasnim Haider Shah, who claimed that the assassination plot against Imran Khan and journalist Arshad Sharif was made by the PMLN in London, has accepted he has no evidence of any kind to prove his claims and that Imran Khan’s shooter has reached Kenya and belongings of Arshad Sharif have reached London too. Tasnim Haider claimed at the press conference that he has evidence that he has handed over to the police but during an interview with this publication denied having any evidence of the conspiracy and said he himself was the evidence.(Murtaza Ali Shah, “Tasnim Haider Shah says has no evidence of murder plot against Imran, journalist,” The News International, 22 November 2022)

JUDICIARY
Petition moved in PHC against Joyland movie as un-Islamic
On 21 November, the Peshawar High Court directed the federal government, regulators, filmmaker and the country’s top religious body to respond by 23 November to a petition seeking a ban on the movie Joy land and the removal of its trailers from social media. The petitioners made the federal government, law and justice ministry, and the movie’s director and producer the respondents. The petitioners insisted that Joy land was an unIslamic and unconstitutional movie and was made to “insult their religion, family system, bond and domestic life.” The petitioners also said Joy land didn’t fall in the category of entertainment and instead, it would negatively impact the people, especially youths, and destroy marriages and family institutions by promoting nudity, vulgarity and homosexuality, which was fatal for the entire society, and thus, inviting the extreme displeasure of the Almighty Allah. (“Lawyers move Peshawar High Court for a ban on ‘un-Islamic’ movie Joyland,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

LHC to get replies on the plea against a single national curriculum
On 21 November, the Lahore High Court sought replies from the federal and provincial governments on a petition challenging the introduction of the Single National Curriculum (SNC) and its implementation by the Punjab Curriculum & Textbook Board (PCTB). The barrister Ahmad Pansota argued both the books and the syllabus were biased, discriminatory and unfair, hence, ultra vires to the petitioners’ fundamental rights guaranteed under articles 22, 25-A, 36 and 38 of the Constitution. The counsel further submitted that under the SNC the non-Muslim Pakistani students were bound to study a religion, other than their own, which was a clear violation of Article 22(1) of the Constitution. Objecting to the composition of the board, he said it did not include members from all ethnicities and religious minorities while devising the curriculum. The counsel stated that some material in the SNC was socially incorrect, which would create different impressions among the children at a young age and lead to further complications in their minds with regard to the world at large. (“ LHC seeks replies from Centre, Punjab on plea against Single National Curriculum,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

ECONOMY
Credit default swaps increased up to 92.53 per cent owing to the political turmoil
On 21 November, local brokerage data showed that the cost of insuring exposure to Pakistan’s five-year sovereign debt rose by 1,224 basis points over the weekend, hitting the highest-ever level of 92.53 per cent. Analysts said the country’s sovereign dollar bonds would remain vulnerable until the political standoff between the government and the main opposition party is settled. Despite the recent rollover of Chinese debt and fresh infusions from the World Bank and ADB, reserves have been declining. As talks with the IMF over the ninth review of the loan facility come to a stalemate, its external financial strains are increasing. Friendly nations have not made any definite funding pledges. (Erum Zaidi, “Default risk: Credit default swap shoots up to 92.53pc on political unrest,” The News International, 22 November 2022)

FDI falls 52 per cent in the first four months of the financial year
On 21 November, the State Bank of Pakistan’s latest data issued showed that the FDI fell to USD 348.3 million in July-October FY23 from USD 726.5 million during the same period of the last fiscal year. Foreign direct investment fell 52 per cent during the first four months of the current fiscal year reflecting the poor economic health and political instability in the country. The FDI has been declining each year while the volume of investment is also very thin compared to that of regional countries like India, Bangladesh and China. While the main investment is limited to a few sectors, the FDI inflows are limited to a few countries. The highest FDI of USD 74.8m came from China during the first four months of the current fiscal year against USD 99.5m during the same period last year. China has been the biggest investor for the past several years, but its investment has started declining as reflected in the comparative figures for two years. (“Foreign direct investment plunges 52pc in four months,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

PROVINCES
Balochistan: Report sought over the forced child marriages in the province
On 21 November, the Federal Shariat Court sought a report from the government regarding the suo moto notice of the forced marriage of a six-year-old girl. When the law officer submitted a report regarding the incident, he was asked about the steps being taken by the legislature to prevent child marriages as well as forced marriages. The court directed the law officer to submit a detailed report regarding such legislation and the draft for such legislation before the next hearing. (Malik Asad, “FSC takes notice of child marriages in Balochistan,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

Punjab: Opposition walks out over denial of bill’s copies
On 21 November, opposition in the Punjab Assembly staged a walkout in protest against the government’s new norm of doing legislation without even sharing the draft law with the members. When Speaker Sibtain Khan suspended relevant rules of procedure to take up two bills, which were not on the order of the day, the Opposition members demanded copies of the proposed bills, particularly the Punjab Public Financial Management Bill 2022. The House passed the financial management bill, as well as the Layyah University Bill 2022, amid a walkout by the PML-N and PPP lawmakers over not distributing their copies among the members. The resolution demanded an end to police raids on Mr Sheikh’s residence and the withdrawal of all cases registered against him by Sindh police. The speaker later put off the proceedings for 5 December. (“Opposition in Punjab Assembly stages walkout over being denied bills’ copies,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

Balochistan: Reko Diq to restore international credibility and economic progress, says senior counsel
On 21 November, the Supreme Court was informed that Reko Diq settlement negotiations were effectively concluded by the previous government and the commitment to see these through was reinforced by the present coalition government, this was indeed a new start to build a consensus across the political divide to advance Pakistan’s economic progress. Senior counsel Zahid F. Ebrahim, who was appointed as amicus curiae, emphasized before a five-judge SC bench hearing a presidential reference on the mining deal for exploration of gold and copper in Balochistan’s Reko Diq area that the renewed settlement, when finalized, will restore Pakistan’s international credibility, economic credentials and help feature the country as a foreign investment destination on the world’s map. (Nasir Iqbal, “Reko Diq settlement reflects political consensus, SC told,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

Sindh: ECP to announce verdict on holding local elections in Karachi
On 22 November, Dawn reported that the ECP will announce its verdict on holding local government elections in the Karachi division. A five-member bench headed by CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja reserved the verdict on 15 November after hearing the pleas against delay in holding the polls. Joint Secretary Interior Muhammad Ramzan Malik told the ECP that the ministry could not provide civil armed forces for election duties. He said the bulk of security forces was still busy in the flood-affected areas of Sindh, “We are not in a position to fulfil the security needs of local government elections.” He also added that due to the shortage of personnel, it was not possible to provide security and administrative staff for the elections. (Ifthikar A. Khan, “ECP to decide fate of Karachi LG polls today,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

EXTERNAL
Pakistan rejects Indian references to terrorism against the nation
On 21 November, Pakistan rejected all references and insinuations by the Indian leadership directed against it at the ‘No Money for Terror’ ministerial meeting held in New Delhi. The Foreign Office said, “India’s hollow rhetoric has fallen flat in the face of Pakistan’s successful counter-terrorism measures, which have been accorded due recognition and acknowledgement from the FATF.” The FO alleged that India’s involvement in inciting terrorism inside Pakistan was widely established and documented. In November 2020. (“FO rejects India’s ‘hollow rhetoric’ on terrorism,” Dawn, 22 November 2022)

Special Notes

PTI’s ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March'

Where is the march?
For now, the march is suspended in Rawat.

Who said what?
Asad Umar called on the PTI members to set up a “khema basti” (tent city) in Rawapindi. He also stated that the next plan of action would be shared by Imran Khan on 26 November saying, “and if Khan sahib asks us to make people stay there, there will be arrangements for that as well.”

On Imran’s security, he said, “With regard to security you are absolutely right, we had apprehensions before — which turned out to be true — we were getting reports that Khan sahib’s life is in danger and you saw how the attempt on Khan sahib’s life was carried out in an organised manner, but life and death are in God’s hands.” He added, “However, there will be very special security arrangements, which will be unlike those of past PTI rallies,” adding, “It took a lot to convince Khan sahib, you know he’s a brave man, and he doesn’t want anything between the people and himself.”

Other developments
Imran Khan held a meeting with senior party leaders at his residence in Lahore. During the meeting, it was decided that the PTI convoys would reach Rawalpindi on 26 November from where Imran Khan would lead the march forward.

Meanwhile, the PTI has not formally sought any formal permission from the Rawalpindi administration and announced staging a sit-in at Faizabad on 26 November. This comes as the deputy commissioner was informed in writing that the PTI would stage a sit-in at Faizabad and that Imran Khan’s helicopter would land at the Parade Ground.

On 21 November, the Lahore High Court disposed of a petition seeking a restraining order against the PTI’s long march. The petition was filed by the chairman of the supreme council of the All Pakistan Traders Association. The court directed the police to hear aggrieved traders and decide the matter within a week.
Meanwhile, a sessions court rejected another plea challenging police refusal to book Imran Khan for sedition.

Follow-Up: Imran Khan’s assassination probe
Status of the probe
On 21 November, the members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) inspected the crime scene for the third time since its formation by the Punjab government. The members of JIT SP (Counter Terrorism Department) Naseebullah and SP Rawal town Rawalpindi Malik Tariq jointly inspected the crime scene. However, JIT head, CCPO Lahore Ghulam Mehmood did not accompany the team as he inspected the scene previously.

Pakistan on Twitter

"Nawaz Sharif's departure from the UK is extremely worrying right after the sensational statement of Tasneem Chaudhry, the spokesperson of the Non-League in Britain, that Nawaz Sharif will have to present himself to confirm the allegations of murder and attempted murder by his colleague.”
-Ch Fawad Hussain

"For the past seven months, Imran Khan was accusing America and the establishment of overthrowing the government, suddenly he realized that there was no external or internal conspiracy in his government family. After signing an agreement with an American lobbying firm, Imran Khan is constantly taking every U-turn with his narrative.”
-Sherry Rehman

"As long as the appointment of the new army chief is not resolved as a problem, there is no stability in politics. Garana Allah's statement that he will appoint a new army chief even without a summary is an alarm bell. It is clear from the statement of the interior minister that all is not good. All are not on the same page."
-Sheikh Rashid Ahmed

Daily Briefs

Imran Khan summoned for Toshakhana case hearing

LHC to getting replies on the plea against a single national curriculum, a report being sought over the forced child marriages in Balochistan and FDI falling 52 per cent in the first four months of the financial year

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