Sunday, May 19, 2019
The divisive politics of Afghan peace
While Taliban speak with one voice, at least up to now, their interlocutors are a divided house.
The ongoing Afghan peace talks have both strengths and weaknesses. On the former count, the US, better late than never, is willing to engage regional states, with the exception of Iran, to find out a solution to the Afghan conflict. Likewise, talks with Taliban have not failed as yet. On the latter count, the Afghan government remains sidelined.
The US, surrendering to the Taliban pressure, has found it convenient to talk to Taliban directly. Similarly, Afghanistan is a divided house. It is the president versus CEO; the president versus his political opposition, the likes of former Afghan president Karzai; the government versus Taliban and the Afghan president versus the US State Department. President Ashraf Ghani has been trying to carve a niche for himself.
In March, Afghan President Ghani mounted his government spring offensive dubbed Operation Khalid. The government offensive contradicted its own stance. On various occasions, Ghani implored Taliban for peace. The government offensive should be seen as the president’s growing frustration emanating from his administration exclusion from the peace talks. It was a warning to the US in the sense that without participation from the incumbent Afghan government in peace talks, the war is far from over.
Similarly, Ghani wants to be relevant in an environment in which he has been increasingly losing his relevance. Initiating offensive, holding Loya Jirga, sticking to power with no intent to vacating seat in run-up to presidential election in September 2019 are all instances of Ghani finding relevance. Ghani’s tenure as president ends on 22 May. 12 out of 18 presidential candidates have asked him to either step down or quit presidential race scheduled for September 2019. The Supreme Court has allowed the incumbent government to continue until the election, however.
On April 9, the militant movement announced its spring offensive, Operation Al-Fath — victory. Had it not for the government offensive, Taliban wouldn’t have announced their own. Ghani was criticised for announcing his government offensive which, critics believed, provided a justification to Taliban to initiate their own spring offensive. This position is hardly tenable.
A militant movement, which has reaped the dividends of violence, would have hardly stopped short of announcing its offensive even if the Ghani administration had not announced one. Taliban have, at times, said it publically that it is because of their ground victories that the US has started peace talks with them. Keeping the Afghan government aside, the militants could have taken their cue from the US action other than the Afghan government, which Taliban have been labeling as “puppet” of the West.
Initiating offensive, holding Loya Jirga, sticking to power with no intent to vacating seat in run-up to presidential election in September 2019 are all instances of Ghani finding relevance.
The US sought waivers to travel ban of a number of Taliban negotiators to participate in talks. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), on April 6, exempted 11 members of Taliban from travel ban to participate in peace negotiations in a range of countries. The exemption is for a nine-month period beginning on April 1 and ending on December 31, 2019. “The requested exemption is solely for travels required for participation in peace and reconciliation discussions,” UNSC notification read adding “the Committee has also decided to grant a limited asset freeze exemption only for financing exempted travels.”
Even if for the sake of argument, it is accepted that Taliban launched their offensive because the Afghan government’s offensive preceded theirs, why did Taliban reject the call of recently held Loya Jirga for immediate ceasefire between the government and Taliban in the Muslim holy month of Ramzan. The terrorist movement derided the jirga’s call for ceasefire and instead said that waging war in Ramzan bestows “even more rewards.”
The April 20-21 meeting between Taliban and 250 participants from Afghanistan, including the Afghan government representatives in personal capacity, was cancelled. “The decision is due to lack of agreement around participation and representation…”, the official statement issued from Professor Sultan Barakat, Director for Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies Qatar, read so. The centre had been facilitating the meeting. President Ghani bristled at Qatari authorities saying that they had authorised a list of Afghan participants that is different from the one proposed by Kabul. Taliban mocked the 200 plus participants’ list as “wedding party”.
From April 21 to May 11, Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad travelled to the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Russia and Qatar “to facilitate a political settlement that ends the conflict in Afghanistan”, US Department of State media note stated. His travel to Afghanistan was aimed at building consensus around making of a national team to talking to Taliban, an intra-Afghan dialogue. Khalilzad visited the rest of countries on his itinerary to help build “international consensus to US approach to end the war”, he tweeted after he met with representatives from Russia and China in Moscow.
A joint statement issued called upon Taliban to participate in peace talks with a broad, representative Afghan delegation that includes Afghan government and supported a comprehensive ceasefire.
Back to Doha, on May 2, in the opening ceremony of the recently held talks, Khalilzad’s call to Taliban “to put down arms, stop the violence, and embrace peace” did not get any positive response from the Islamist militia. On May 9, the sixth round of talks came to an end. “We made steady but slow progress on aspects of the framework for ending the Afghan war. We are getting into the nitty gritty. The devil is always in the details,” the Special Representative tweeted. The desire for a comprehensive ceasefire couldn’t be realised. “Our proposal for all sides to reduce violence also remains on the table,” he tweeted.
The biggest weakness, in the talks to convince Taliban to concede to a ceasefire and talk to the Afghan government, is the spectre of urgency on the part of the US to withdraw from Afghanistan. While Taliban speak with one voice, at least up to now, their interlocutors are a divided house.
Hope of finding oil and gas in Arabian Sea in Pakistan dashed
Ashfaq Ahmed
Pakistan stopped drilling after no oil and gas reserves were found as expected.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s hopes to be self-sufficient in oil production were dashed as the expected oil and gas reserves in the Arabia Sea were not found.
Exploration mission has been stopped off the coast of Karachi as the drillers hit the dry ‘wells’ despite drilling more than 5500 metres deep into the sea.
It was officially announced on Saturday that the much-celebrated offshore drilling in Kekra-1 had been stopped because no reserves were found. The operators of the well have decided to plug it in the coming days, according to reports in Pakistani media.
Around 18 attempts have been made in the past, but all remained unsuccessful despite encouraging data from each drilling, says the official.
"We have only drilled 18 holes for oil. Only the 18th attempt. India had offshore discoveries after 43rd attempt, Libya after 58th, and Norway, another country which nobody believed could have reserves, drilled 78 holes between 1954 to 1963 and then hit it big," Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, told Gulf News. He said that hope and resilience is the way forward as the government would continue to look for alternate resources.
Talking to a private news channel, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar announced that the offshore drilling in Kekra-1 did not yield desired results.
Pakistanis were exceptionally hopeful about finding large oil and gas reserves in the country’s territorial waters in the Arabian Sea. Kekra-1 well at Indus G-Block is located around 280 kilometres southwest of Karachi coast near Iran.
The bad news of failure to discover the oil and gas reserves came as a big blow to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government which has pinned great expectation on oil discovery and had already celebrated its expected discovery.
In March this year, Prime Minister Imran had said Pakistan would not need to import oil after reserves were found near Karachi coast.
"We are hopeful of finding large reserves of gas and oil in the sea near Karachi. The nation should pray for this and I will soon share good news regarding this," Khan had told reporters in Islamabad. God willing the reserves will be so large that we will not need to import any oil," Imran had said in an earlier statement.
Imran’s government has been facing tough economic situation since he came into power in August last year.
The Pakistan rupee has dipped so much in the last few days that it has been termed as the worst-performing currency in Asia.
The rupee continued to fall to record lows, after the government agreed in principle to a $6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The rupee, which lost 3.6 per cent on Thursday to close at 146.2 against the US dollar in the interbank market, dipped further on Friday selling at Rs149.50 in the interbank market and Rs150 in the open market.
Analysts predict that the worst is not yet over. The rupee is expected to go through another bout of devaluation in the coming days when Pakistan gets the first credit tranche of the IMF loan.
Speaking to Geo News, Babar said the process of drilling up to more than 5500 meters was completed on Kekra-1 (Indus G-Block) off Karachi coast.
He said Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) also assisted Exxon Mobil and ENI in drilling the oil well.He further informed that the cost of drilling project, which has now been abandoned, remained over $100 million.At the same time, the officials say, oil and gas E&P is described as a ‘high risk- high reward’ business and the failures should not be taken as a loss. “India found offshore reserves from its ‘Bombay High well’ after 40 attempts,” they add.The drilling was initiated around four months back by ENI, an Italian oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) giant, which is the operator of Kekra-1.
The other four partners of the well were ExxonMobil of the US — one of the world’s largest oil and gas firms — Pakistan Petroleum Limited and the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).
According to data of a recent study, existing deposits in Pakistan will further deplete 60 per cent by the year 2027. It underlined the need to step up exploration in potential areas on a war-footing.
Pakistan currently meets only 15 per cent of its domestic petroleum needs with crude oil production of around 22 million tons; the other 85 per cent is met through imports.
The country is facing a huge current account deficit of up to $18 billion and is spending a substantial amount of foreign exchange reserves on import of oil.
https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/hope-of-finding-oil-and-gas-in-arabian-sea-in-pakistan-dashed-1.1558254382047
’ہم آج بھی کسی کے خلاف نے بلکہ پاکستان کے حق میں جمع ہوئے ہیں۔‘ - بلاول بھٹو
پاکستان میں حزب اختلاف کی بڑی جماعتوں نے پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو کی جانب سے دی گئی افطار دعوت میں شرکت کی جس میں بلاول بھٹو کے بقول ملک کو درپیش مسائل پر بات چیت کی گئی۔
ملاقات کے بعد تمام جماعتوں کے رہنماؤں نے مشترکہ نیوز کانفرنس کی جس میں بتایا گیا آج کی ملاقات کا مقصد پاکستانی عوام کو درپیش مشکلات پر غور و فکر کرنا تھا۔
زرداری ہاؤس اسلام آباد میں منعقد افطار ڈنر میں مسلم لیگ (ن) کے وفد میں مریم نواز کے ہمراہ پارٹی کے نائب صدر حمزہ شہباز، سابق وزیراعظم شاہد خاقان عباسی، سابق اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی سردار ایاز صادق اور پارٹی رہنما پرویز رشید موجود تھے۔ جبکہ اجلاس میں جماعت اسلامی کے لیاقت بلوچ، عوامی نیشنل پارٹی کے ایمل ولی خان، زاہد خان، میاں افتخار حسین کے علاوہ قومی وطن پارٹی کے آفتاب احمد خان شیر پاؤ، نیشنل پارٹی کے حاصل بزنجو، بلوچستان نیشنل پارٹی کے جہانزیب جمالدینی نے بھی شرکت کی۔
نیوز کانفرنس کے دوران بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کہنا تھا ’ملک کے عوام مہنگائی کی سونامی میں ڈوب رہے ہیں۔ اس سے احساس ہوتا ہے کہ موجودہ حکومت کو غریبوں کا کوئی درد نہیں۔ اگر ہماری معیشت ایسی چلتی رہی تو ملک کو بہت نقصان ہو گا۔ ‘
بلاول کا کہنا تھا ’ہم آج بھی کسی کے خلاف نے بلکہ پاکستان کے حق میں جمع ہوئے ہیں۔‘
افطار ڈنر پر دیگر سیاسی جماعتوں کے ساتھ ہونے والی بات چیت کے بارے میں ان کا کہنا تھا ’آج ہم نے معیشت سے سکیورٹی تک اور فارن پالسیی سے انسانی حقوق تک بہت سے مسائل پر بات چیت کی۔ ان سب مسائل کا حل بھی مل بیٹھ کر ہی نکالا جا سکتا ہے۔ ‘
اس موقع پر بلاول بھٹو نے کہا کہ 'تمام جماعتیں پارلیمان کے اندر اور باہر علیحدہ علیحدہ احتجاج کریں گی'۔
تاہم ان کا کہنا تھا کہ ’کوئی سیاسی جماعت تنہا پاکستان کے مسائل کا حل نہیں نکال سکتی۔ جہاں تک ہمارے احتجاج کا تعلق ہے ہم عید کے بعد ایک مشترکہ لائحہ عمل دیں گے۔ ‘
بلاول بھٹو کا کہنا تھا ’میں نے انتخابات کے دوران ہی کہا تھا کہ ہمیں میثاق جمہوریت کو آگے لے کر چلنا ہے۔ پاکستان کے نوجوان سیاسی رہنماؤں اور سیاسی جماعتیں کی رائے لینے کی کوشش کریں گے۔ ‘
انھوں نے زور دیا کہ ’جمہوریت ہی پاکستان کے سارے مسائل کا حل ہے۔ ‘
میثاق جمہوریت کا فائدہ
صحافیوں کی جانب سے میثاق جمہوریت پر رائے طلب کرنے پر پہلے تو مریم نواز نے بلاول کا شکریہ ادا کیا کہ انھوں نے افطار کی دعوت دی۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ یہ بلاول سے ان کی پہلی ملاقات نہیں ہے ’بلاول میری والدہ کی وفات پر تعزیت کی تو اسی لیے میں نے یہ دعوت قبول کی۔ بلاول نے میاں صاحب کی طبیعت بھی پوچھی۔ مجھے اچھا لگا۔‘
مریم نواز کا کہنا تھا کہ ’چارٹر آف ڈیموکریسی ( میثاق جمہوریت) کا پاکستان کو یہ فائدہ ہے کہ ملکی تاریخ میں دو جمہوری حکومتوں نے اپنی مدت پوری کی۔ ‘
ان کا کہنا تھا اس میثاق جمہوریت کو آگے بڑھایا جائے گا۔ ’ہم آنے والے وقت میں اس میں مزید چیزیں شامل کریں گے اور آگے لے کر چلیں گے۔ ہماری پارٹیاں پیپلز پارٹی اور ن لیگ روایتی حریف رہی ہیں لیکن ہمارے پارٹی اقدار اور تربیت ایسی ہے کہ بات کرتے ہیں اور معاملات کو ناقابلِ واپسی حد تک نہیں لے کر جاتے۔‘
اس موقع پر مسلم لیگ نواز کے رہنما شاہد خاقان عباسی کا کہنا تھا ’آج کی ماقات کا ہدف مہنگائی کو خِتم کرنا، معیشت کو سہارا دینا تھا، پاکستان کے عوام کے مسائل کو ختم کیا جائے جس میں موجودہ حکومت ناکام ہوئی ہے۔‘
حزب اختلاف کی جماعتوں کے یوں مل بیٹھنے کو حکومت کو گرانے کی کوشش قرار دیے جانے کے خدشے کے جواب میں کہا انھوں نے استہزایہ انداز میں کہا کہ ’اس حکومت کو گرانے کی ضرورت نہیں یہ پہلے ہی ہر طریقے سے گری ہوئی ہے۔‘
عید کے بعد مولانا فضل الرحمن ایک آل پارٹیز کانفرنس بلائیں گے جس میں آئندہ کا لائحہ عمل طے کیا جائے گا۔
فردوس عاشق اعوان کا ایک نجی ٹیلی وژن سے بات کرتے ہوئے کہنا تھا ’تحریک چلانے کے لیے بیانیہ چاہیے ہوتا ہے ن لیگ کا جو بیانیہ ہے اس کی حقیقت سے عوام آگاہ ہیں کہ معیشت کی تباہ حالی اور مہنگائی کا کون ذمہ دار ہے۔ ‘
۔‘دیگر رہنماوں کا موقف
اس موقع پر صحافیوں سے بات کرتے ہوئے دیگر جماعتوں کے رہنماؤں نے بھی اظہار خیال کیا۔
جمعیت علماء اسلام (ف) کے سربراہ مولانا فضل الرحمٰن نے کہا کہ ’نااہل لوگوں کو اقتدار سونپنے کی وجہ سے ملک متعدد مسائل سے دوچار ہے۔‘
نیشنل پارٹی کے رہنما سینیٹر میر حاصل بزنجو کا کہنا تھا کہ اے پی سی سے ملک میں تاریخی طور پر ایک نئے اپوزیشن اتحاد سامنے آئے گا۔
قومی وطن پارٹی کے آفتاب احمد شیر پاؤ نے کہا کہ ملک جن حالات سے گزر رہا ایسی صورتحال میں اپوزیشن جماعتیں بیٹھی نہیں رہ سکتیں۔
پشتون تحفظ موومنٹ کہ رہنما محسن داوڑ کا کہنا تھا کہ ’ملک میں ہر ادارہ یرغمال ہے یرغمال شدہ نظام کو واپس عوام کے ہاتھوں میں لانے کے لیے شاید مشکلات کا سامنا ہو لیکن شاید ہم ریاست کو بچا سکیں۔ ‘
کیا قمرالزمان کائرہ کو بیٹے کے حادثے کی اطلاع غلط انداز میں دی گئی؟
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے رہنما قمرالزمان کائرہ کے نوجوان بیٹے کی گذشتہ روز ٹریفک کے حادثے میں ہلاکت کی خبر آتے ہی سوشل میڈیا پر جہاں ایک طرف سوگوار خاندان کے لیے تعزیتی پیغامات کا سلسلہ شروع ہوا، وہیں سماجی شخصیات، صحافیوں اور ٹوئٹر صارفین نے مختلف زاویوں سے بحث کا آغاز کر دیا۔
تعزیتی پیغامات
قمرالزمان کائرہ کے بیٹے کی ہلاکت کی خبر کے فوراً بعد سوگوار خاندان کے لیے تعزیتی پیغامات بھیجے گیے۔ ان پیغامات کو بھیجنے والوں میں سیاسی حالیف، سیاسی حریف، سماجی شخصیات، صحافی اور عام صارفین شامل تھے جنہوں نے اس ناقابل تلافی نقصان پر انتہائی افسوس اور صدمے کا اظہار کیا۔
یہ بھی پڑھیے!
پاکستان مسلم لیگ ن کی رہنما مریم نواز شریف نے ٹویٹ کرتے ہوئے اپنے تعزیتی پیغام میں قمرالزمان کائرہ کے بیٹے کی ہلاکت پر افسوس کیا اور اس ناقابل تلافی نقصان پر اہلِخانہ کو صبر کی دعا کی۔
وزیراعظم عمران خان، چیرمین پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو، اور آئی ایس پی آر کے مطابق آرمی چیف جنرل قمر جاوید باجوہ نے بھی قمر الزمان کائرہ کے بیٹے کی وفات پر اظہار افسوس اور غمزدہ والدین کے صبر کی دعا کی۔
واضح رہے کہ پیپلز پارٹی پنجاب وسطی کے صدر قمر الزمان کائرہ کو اپنے جواں سال بیٹے کی ٹریفک حادثے میں ہلاک ہونے کی خبر اسلام آباد میں ایک پریس کانفرنس کے دوران ملی تھی۔
صحافتی اقدار پر بحث
ٹوئٹرصارفین نے قمرالزمان کائرہ کو ان کے بیٹے کے ٹریفک حادثے کی خبر دینے والے صحافی کے انداز کو شدید تنقید کا نشانہ بنایا۔
ایک ٹوئٹر صارف مہر بانو قریشی کا کہنا تھا کہ قمرالزمان کائرہ کے بیٹے کی موت سے بہت صدمہ ہوا لیکن ان کا کہنا تھا کہ جس سنگدلی سے اس حادثے کی انھیں اطلاع دی گئی ہے اس نے انھیں بہت طیش دلایا ہے.
انھوں نے ٹویٹ میں کہا: ’ہمارے نیوز چینلز کو ذمے داری کا کوئی احساس نہیں ہے. اتنے بڑے نقصان کا ایک تماشا بنانے پر شرم کرنی چاہیے۔‘
چند صارفین نے تو جذبات میں آکر نجی میڈیا کے اس رپورٹر کو اخلاقیات کا درس بھی دیا اور چند نے اس کو نوکری سے فارغ کرنے کا مطالبہ بھی کیا۔
البتہ ایک ٹوئٹر صارف اور صحافی عدنان طارق نے رپورٹرز کی حساسیت کے حوالے سے ٹریننگ پر زور دیتے ہوئے کہا کہ کسی بھی والد کو ان کے بیٹے کی ہلاکت کے خبر اس انداز میں دینے کا یہ کوئی مناسب طریقہ نہیں ہے۔
@ADNAANTARIQ/TWITTER
اسی حوالے سے صحافتی اقدار پر بات کرتے ہوئے عینی نامی ایک ٹوئٹر صارف نے ٹویٹ میں کہا کہ جس طرح سے آج قمرالزمان کائرہ کو ایک افسوس ناک خبر دی گئی اس پر میڈیا نیوز رومز اور صحافتی اکیڈمیوں میں بات ہونی چاہیے۔
اس بحث میں جامع نقطہ پیش کرتے ہوئے خضرا منیر نامی ایک ٹوئٹر صارف کا کہنا تھا کہ جس بے دردی سے قمرالزمان کائرہ کو ان کے بیٹے کی ہلاکت کی خبر دی گئی اس پر کوئی معافی نہیں ہے مگر وہ صرف رپورٹر کے لیے ناقابل معافی ہی نہیں جو کسی جرنلزم سکول سے نہیں پڑھا بلکہ اس فرسودہ نظام کے لیے بھی ناقابل معافی ہے جو ناکام ہو چکا ہے۔
البتہ خضرا نے لکھا کہ وہ رپورٹر کو نوکری سے نکالے جانے کے مطالبے سے متفق نہیں ہیں۔
سیاسی اختلافات و عدم برداشت
پاکستان کے نوجوان طبقے میں سیاسی بلوغت کی کمی بھی دیکھنے میں آئی جب اس افسوسناک واقعے پر قمرالزمان کی سیاسی جماعت کے حریفوں نے ان کے ناقابل تلافی نقصان سیاسی اختلافات کے بیانے کی نظر کر دیا۔
ایک ٹوئٹر صارف نے سیاسی تنقید اور طنز کرتے ہوئے اس حادثے کو ان کی جماعت کی جانب سے کی گئی مبینہ کرپشن کے الزامات کا نتیجہ اور مکافاتِ عمل قرار دیا۔
اس پر صحافی ندیم فاروق پراچہ سمیت دیگر صارفین نے ان خیالات کی سخت الفاظ میں مذمت کی۔
Pakistan stock market, currency reel after it seals 13th IMF bailout since 1980s
FASEEH MANGI
Pakistan’s rupee and stocks fell, extending the week’s losses, after the nation secured a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
Market Highlights Rupee fell 0.9% to 147.88 per dollar at the close, according to central bank data compiled by Bloomberg. It tumbled 3.6% Thursday. KSE-100 Index dropped 2.4% to close down for a seventh straight week, the longest streak since 2001.
The South Asian nation is expected to adopt tough measures as part of its deal with the IMF, which investors speculate may include further currency devaluation. It secured its 13th IMF bailout since the late 1980s for about $6 billion earlier this week after a six-month delay.
“The IMF program was supposed to bring certainty. Unfortunately until now there is confusion,” Arif Habib, chief executive office at Arif Habib Corporation said in a televised program after meeting finance adviser Abdul Hafeez Shaikh as part of a business community delegation in Karachi on May 16. “We have asked the finance adviser to tell us what is going to happen. People have not been able to anticipate where the rupee and interest rates will stand.”
Pakistan’s benchmark stock index has erased half its market value over the past two years as the deterioration in the economy prompted rating agencies to downgrade the nation. The currency has plunged more than 20% in the past year, the worst performer in a basket of 13 currencies in Asia compiled by Bloomberg.The central bank is due to meet Monday to decide on monetary policy, with economists from Intermarket Securities Ltd. and Foundation Securities Pvt among those expecting a seventh straight hike in interest rates. – Bloomberg
#Pakistan - #IMF tsunami bulldozing #Pakistani Rupee
I had predicted three months back that Rupee will hit to 150 to a dollar before the budget and now according to the Economic indicators I can say that it is going to hit further increase up to 160 to 165 post budget. It is yet to see whether the government would try to hold Rupee to at least to the present value to avoid further fall by using its abilities.
It looks as if the government has decided to allow the fall to fulfil its commitments to IMF for devaluation of rupees. The economic team must know that IMF had its own hidden agenda as this devaluation along with the other strict conditions are going to further black mail our country. This devaluation will create serious impacts over Pak economy. The price hike graphs will jump upward unhindered and inflation will increase further, also the essential imported items will become even more expensive. These pre-conditions of IMF have started giving jolts to our economy and sleepless nights to a common man as more growing price hike will now become a nightmare for the poor masses.
In fact the IMF deal was already done as the indicators of depleting rupee and new taxes were the part of the conditions but the economic teams preferred to keep it hidden from the nation due to their ulterior motives. The new economic team was “brought-in to materialize the IMF demands and convert it into the form of an agreement for further mortgaging the nation. The deal of further mortgaging of national assets is done and so we must be ready for additional burden.
This deal coupled with other economic parameters suggests that the price hike will be like a bigger tsunami which will bring bigger monster of price hike and thanks to IMF lovers in Pakistan.The public was expecting that the government would not increase the price of petrol as almost every cabinet member had denied any further increase in petroleum prices. It is fortunate to note that despite constant denials at all levels the price was increased at the cost of the peace of mind and happiness of a common man.
The price of petrol was increased by Rs. 9/- before the open IMF deal but it is said that it was also part of the covert deal with IMF. This increase will leave accumulative effects to escalate more price hike and people will come under more economic pressure.
The condition of the IMF to increase the oil prices was met and is further dreadful to note that the Inflation in Pakistan has now reached to 9.41% from 8.82% in March only; the highest in last 5 years. It happened obviously because the government allowed it go higher as the controlling parameters were allowed to behave freely and additional printing of currency notes and more internal and external loans attributed in the increase inflation. The common man has been further burned with massive price hikes in all commonly used items across the country during Ramadan A view on the common italics are that Meat sellers increased prices by Rs. 20 -50 per kg, mutton dealers have increased prices to Rs. 1050 /- from Rs. 950 /-, boneless meat is now being sold at Rs 620 - 640 from Rs 600/- per kg, chicken dealers are charging as high as Rs 380 - 390 per kg, whereas in the last week of March, the chicken meat was being sold between Rs. 310 - 320 per kg.It is a picture of one item being consumed by the public
Among non-perishable items, flour prices have been raised twice. Sugar prices have also risen to Rs 70 /- per kg from Rs65 /- per kg. On the other hand, among vegetables, prices of onion have been increased.Oil and Ghee Manufacturers also did not hesitate to do theirs by increasing the price of good quality cooking oil and ghee to Rs200/- per liter, after a jump of Rs20, as two months back it was being sold at Rs180 per liter.
Recently the government threw another inflation bomb on people by increasing the price of petroleum once again as a 12% increase in the price of petrol and 17% increase in diesel, light diesel and furnace oil has been announced. It seems as if the government is playing with the sentiments of people by first relaxing them with false hopes of no petroleum price hike and then actually making an increase over night. Petrol now costs Rs108 per liter and diesel costs Rs122.32 per liter.
It is unfortunate to note that this is still not the end of story as Pakistan is yet to deal with a fiscal budget 2019 ahead in few days and further taxes and price hikes will bring more burdens on the economy as indirect and direct taxes are expected to be imposed. The post budget situation is going to be dreadful for a common man.
The budget deficit is another dangerous factor and how will the government will be able to narrow down the deficit of 38 Kharab (i.e. 3.8 Trillion) and at the same time how the government will be able to do debt servicing.
The present increase in oil prices, decline in exports, rise in imports, increased price of utilities, debt servicing in the form of interest and repayments, increased taxes and duties etc. are the biggest challenges for the Government. Apparently the government has neither shared such a plan before the parliament nor before the public.
Moreover, the most alarming thing to note is that this new budget of 2019-20 will be made in the light of the IMF program rather duly dictated by the IMF. I pray to Almighty Allah to guide our economy handlers to follow the correct path to pull the country out of the present economic crises. The dependence on IMF is driving us gradually towards bankruptcy unless we act wise to avert it. I demand, on behalf of the public, to place the IMF agreement in the Parliament and no further such agreement should be done without taking the Parliament into confidence.
All eyes on Zardari House as Bilawal hosts 'informal get-together' for opposition in Islamabad
The most significant aspect of the Iftar-dinner being hosted by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is the participation of Maryam Nawaz, daughter of currently incarcerated Nawaz Sharif. Maryam last week was appointed vice-president ─ 1 of 16 ─ of the main opposition PML-N.
This is the first formal interaction between the kin of the two former prime ministers and arch rivals of the past — Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.
Maryam Nawaz's convoy, which includes Captain Safdar, and former information minister Pervaiz Rasheed and party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, reached former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's residence prior to the gathering where a meeting was held. Hamza Shahbaz also joined in shortly before the PML-N delegation left for Zardari House.The PML-N leaders, a delegation of Awami National Party leaders, National Party chief Mir Hasil Bizenjo and PPP members, including Khurshid Shah and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, reached Zardari House prior to Maghrib Azan.Bilawal greeted and received the PML-N delegation upon their arrival. The PPP chairman embraced and shook hands with Hamza before inviting the party leaders in.The iftar-dinner was also attended by Jamaat-i-Islami's Liaqat Baloch, Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao as well as Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) MNAs Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir.
JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman was unable to make it in time for the gathering. He, however, arrived at Zardari House after the iftar-dinner.
While political analysts and media circles are giving importance to the Iftar-dinner being hosted by Bilawal, opposition leaders are trying to downplay the occasion, terming it "merely a get-together."Expressing concern over the prevailing economic situation in the country in the wake of increase in oil prices and unprecedented devaluation of Pakistani rupee against the US dollar, leaders of almost all major opposition parties have announced or hinted at launching a protest campaign against the government soon after Eid.PPP Secretary General Farhatullah Babar said it is not a formal meeting with a formal agenda ─ "just a get-together of the opposition leaders as the party chairman (Bilawal) wants to establish a rapport with them".
However, he said, when "politicians meet, they do discuss politics" and "you can call it a tentative grand meeting of the opposition parties and it can be seen as a step towards a formal get-together in the near future."The meeting is taking place at a time when PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif is in jail and his younger brother and party president Shahbaz Sharif in London.Moreover, background interviews with a number of office-bearers and members of the opposition parties reveal that an internal discussion on the "mode of protest" is going on in all the parties.With the religious parties announcing that they have decided to launch an anti-government movement soon after Eid, the two major opposition parties — the PPP and the PML-N — are still undecided on the timing.
Sources in the PPP told Dawn earlier that launching an anti-government campaign was discussed by senior party leaders on Friday during a meeting of the party's core committee in Islamabad.
The participants were unanimous that if they did not protest against recent government decisions to increase the prices of electricity, gas and oil, it would "politically damage" the PPP. Party members are, however, undecided on the timing and mode of protest.PPP sources told DawnNewsTV that they would make efforts so that the opposition could be united on a few points. The sources said the gathering would discuss on which basis to launch an anti-government protest, and the PPP would also seek help from the PML-N for a bill on a separate province for South Punjab and Bahawalpur.
The PPP requested live coverage of a joint press conference at Zardari House at 9pm tonight, after the gathering.
Who's invited?
The dinner will be hosted by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Zardari. The PPP chairman's sister, Asifa, will be in attendance, along with the PPP core committee.
From the PML-N, Maryam, Captain Safdar, Ayaz Sadiq, Pervaiz Rasheed, and Hamza Shahbaz will attend.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will lead a party delegation at the dinner, sources said.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief, was also invited but unable to secure a flight on such short notice, sources said.
Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali, who was invited, will not be attending due to illness, but the party will be represented by Aimal Wali Khan and Zahid Khan, DawnNewsTV reported, citing party sources.
Balochistan National Party chief Akhtar Mengal was invited, but declined to attend.
JI Emir Sirajul Haq was invited to participate, but declined as he has other engagements. A delegation of top JI leaders, however, will represent the party at the gathering. Sources in the party told DawnNewsTV that the JI has decided not to become part of any anti-government drive against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership was not invited to participate in the meeting.
Govt's response
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday alleged that the purpose of the opposition parties' meeting was to determine a plan to secure ill-gotten wealth.
"The beneficiaries for whom this looted wealth was gathered will decide on a course of action to ensure security of this wealth," Awan alleged.
"They don't feel the pain of the people. At Iftar today, they will only think up plans to take care of their ill-gotten wealth abroad and how to protect Omni Group," she said.
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