Saturday, April 30, 2022
Address human rights violations seriously: Hina Jilani to Pak Government
Amid rising cases of forced disappearances in the country, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) chairperson Hina Jilani on Friday asked the Shehbaz Sharif’s government not to take the issues of human rights violations lightly.
The report said the PTI government failed to get the long-awaited bill passed to criminalise enforced disappearance as a separate autonomous offence despite making commitments since 2018, Dawn reported.
It further explained that the highest number of enforced disappearances (1,108) reported by the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance in 2021 was in Balochistan while the highest number of pending cases – 1,417 – were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In February, a large group of protesters held a week-long sit-in in Islamabad against enforced disappearances in Balochistan.Ms Jilani and HRCP Secretary General Harris Khalique, along with members of the commission, launched the report.Highlighting the issue of freedom of expression, the report pointed out that at least in nine cases, journalists were intimidated or silenced.
“Although the Prime Minister met a three-member delegation from the sit-in, no progress was made towards recovering their family members,” read the report, adding two students from the University of Balochistan allegedly disappeared in November, stated Dawn.
The report also threw light on the lynching of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot by a mob on allegations of blasphemy and the savage murder of human rights defender Nazim Jokhio allegedly by PPP lawmakers.The HRCP asked the government to take steps for protecting the freedom of expression and rights of vulnerable and excluded groups.“With 5,279 rape cases and 478 honour killings and the macabre murder of Noor Mukhaddam in Islamabad, women’s rights activists rightly spoke of a ‘femicide emergency’ in Pakistan in 2021,” the report said.
It further pointed out delays in court cases and said by year-end there were over 2.14 million cases pending in the judiciary against the 2.15 million in 2020, a slight fall in the backlog of cases.
The HRCP report said a total of 172 laws were enacted by parliament and provincial assemblies: 58 federal and 114 provincial laws.
The report said UN human rights experts called on Pakistan to halt evictions of residents from Gujjar nullah and Orangi nullah in Karachi, and separately appealed for the release of Stephen Masih, a Pakistani Christian from Sialkot detained for two years on blasphemy charges.
Death plenty was awarded to at least 125 convicts in 2021, including three women, a fall from at least 177 people in 2020, it added.
According to Dawn, the transgender community continues to be marginalised both socially and economically. In Karachi alone, more than 200 threatening video and audio messages sent to transgender persons were reported, creating a sense of fear and insecurity among the community.
Children between the ages of six and 15 years, both boys and girls, remained as susceptible to abuse and violence as other marginalised groups, the report quoted, citing sources.Moreover, in January, Islamic State militants kidnapped and killed 11 coal miners from the Shia Hazara community, which led to a multiple-day protest against the incident by the community in Quetta, demanding that the then Prime Minister Imran Khan visit their camp. However, Mr Khan termed their demand ‘blackmailing’ and refused to visit them.In August, the Prime Minister officially launched the much-disputed Single National Curriculum (SNC) for primary schools and seminaries, claiming that this initiative would reduce educational disparities.
However, the SNC drew strong criticism from education experts and human rights defenders for its lack of inclusivity, over-emphasis on Islamic religious content at the expense of religious minorities and poor pedagogy, read the report.
Islamabad’s state terror and crimes against humanity are most unconscionable. In fact, violence against women and girls, including rape, murder, acid attacks, domestic violence, and forced marriage, is quite endemic throughout Pakistan.
https://theprint.in/world/address-human-rights-violations-seriously-hina-jilani-to-pak-government/937845/
EDITORIAL: #Pakistan - Shame -
On International #LabourDay, #PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari links sustainable development to change in toiling workers’ conditions
Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the dream of sustainable development in the country will remain unfulfilled unless the conditions of the toiling workers change.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the ideology and manifesto of PPP is based on the welfare and progress of the workers. He said that the 1973 constitution piloted by Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto guarantees fair wages to the workers, protection of their lives, and equal relationships with the employers, adding that the first-ever Labour Policy introduced by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in the country is a paradigm for the rights of the workers in Pakistan. “The Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme (BESOS), the first provincial tripartite labor policy introduced by the Sindh government during 2013-18 tenure, and the provision of land for landless farmers are just a few of the countless other steps taken by the people’s governments”, he pointed out.
PPP Chairman praised the current unity government for raising the minimum wage to Rs 25,000 per month. He said that the failed economic policies of the previously selected regime had severely damaged the national economy, making it difficult for the poor to survive, adding that despite such a difficult situation, the PPP stands in the field to protect the interests of the workers and bring them relief.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has assured all the workers and trade unions of the country that his party, following the ideology of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the philosophy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, will continue to play the role of advocate and protector of Pakistani workers’ rights.
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/26940/
Friday, April 29, 2022
#Pakistan - No conspiracy, but what now?
It’s been clear for quite a while – to anybody but PTI and its supporters, that is – that there’s nothing substantial at all in former PM Imran Khan’s much-trumpeted claim about a US-backed and financed conspiracy to remove him from the top job.
And once again the National Security Committee (NSC) has come to the same conclusion about the controversial cable forwarded by the previous Pakistani ambassador to the US, especially since the latter was made to appear in person and answer questions this time, but that is hardly going to be the end of the matter because the ball is, once again, in PTI’s court; at least as far as the public sphere is concerned.
So, what now? Is Imran Khan going to reject this as well and brand everybody in the NSC a traitor to Pakistan for not blindly swallowing everything that is thrown to them? This is a very sensitive moment because the NSC involves all services chiefs and treating its verdicts with such contempt means crossing all the wrong red lines; which in turn means that he and his followers must be prepared for the legal and political fallout that is bound to come.
It’s a shame that he’s wound the pro-PTI crowd up so tightly about a threat that apparently does not even exist and, for all intents and purposes, was only hatched to avoid the embarrassment of seeing Imran Khan become the first Pakistani PM to be thrown out through a legal, constitutional vote of no confidence. But since that still happened, it’s not immediately clear why he’s hanging on to a narrative that is clearly not going to stand up to the scrutiny of any legal process.
Or does he intend to make the courts even more controversial than he already has? He’s been asking for an open judicial probe, but what’s that going to see that the NSC didn’t? And since the most likely result will be the same, and Imran’s most likely response will also be the same, when does the legal process step in to restore sanity? Also, shouldn’t the overarching national narrative also now touch upon the likely fate of individuals and crowds that take the law into their own hands and itch for a confrontation with central and powerful state institutions just because their fallen hero said so?
These are very worrying times. And the least the political elite can do is respect the law of the land and the pivotal institution that deliver and implement it. So far, PTI has shown little respect for the law. It should change its ways or take responsibility for the confrontation that is going to define this society for a while to come.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/924624/no-conspiracy-but-what-now/
Turkey tightens visa policy for Pakistan nationals
Days after some Pakistanis were found to be involved in the abduction of four Nepal citizens in Istanbul, Turkey has decided to tighten its visa policy for nationals from Pakistan, local media reported on Thursday.
This comes after four Nepal citizens were kidnapped “at gunpoint” from Taksim Square by a group of six Pakistan nationals. As per the reports, the Nepalis were also subjected to torture by these Pakistanis after being abducted.“The Turkish government has tightened the visa policy for Pakistanis after crimes reportedly involving Pakistanis,” reported Arab News quoting Pakistani media outlet, Aaj News.
“The government has also stopped issuing temporary residence permit for Pakistanis,” it added.
As per the media reports, the abductors also demanded a ransom of 10,000 euros. Later on, the police conducted a raid against the kidnappers and they were successfully nabbed and arrested.
In another incident earlier, some Pakistani nationals were also detained by the Turkish authorities for protesting the ouster of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan from power. However, after the intervention from Pakistani diplomats the arrested protesters were released.
Notably, a significant number of Pakistanis live and work in Istanbul, Ankara and other major cities across Turkey. In addition, every month hundreds of Pakistani citizens visit the transcontinental country, reported Arab News.
https://theprint.in/world/turkey-tightens-visa-policy-for-pakistan-nationals/936153/
ریاست مدینہ کے جھوٹے دعویداروں نے مسجد نبوی کی حرمت کو پامال کیا ہے، پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے سیکرٹری جنرل سید نیر حسین بخاری
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے سیکرٹری جنرل سید نیر حسین بخاری نے سانحہ مسجد نبوی ص پر شدید دکھ افسوس کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے زمہ داران کی شدید الفاظ میں مزمت کی ہے انہوں نے کہا ہے کہ ماہ مقدس رمضان المبارک میں مسلمان خوشنودی خداوند تعالیٰ کیلئے عمرہ ادائیگی کا فریضہ سر انجام دیتے ہیں افسوس کا مقام ہے کہ ریاست مدینہ کے جھوٹے دعویداروں نے مسجد نبوی کی حرمت کو پامال کیا ہے عبادت کے اعلئ ترین مقام پر عبادت کی بجائے دھینگامشتی اور بدامنی پھیلانے والے مزہب اسلام ہر بد نما دھبہ ہیں نیر بخاری نے مزید کہا ہے کہ حرمت و تقدس کی سرزمین جہاں اونچی آواز میں گفتگو کی ممانعت ہے وہاں شیطانیت کا مظاہرہ کیا گیا جسکی جتنی مزمت کی جائے کم ہے نیر بخاری نے مطالبہ کیا ہے کہ عمران خان حرمت رسول ص سے ناآشناء اپنے پیروکاران کے قابل مزمت اقدام پر مخلوق خدا سے معافی مانگے
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/26931/
Thursday, April 28, 2022
#Pakistan - Terrorists cannot sabotage Pak-China friendship - Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto and State minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Wednesday visited Chinese Embassy in Islamabad and extended their condolences over loss of lives during terrorist attack on Chinese nationals in Karachi yesterday.
During the meeting, they said that the terrorists cannot sabotage Pak-China friendship.
The Foreign Minister said the relationship between Pakistan and China is based on generations-long loyalty.
He said terrorists nefarious designs cannot sabotage Pak-China friendship and he also recorded his impressions in the guest s book at the Chinese Embassy.
Earlier today, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had taken oath as a federal minister.President of Pakistan ArifAlvi administered the oath to the PPP Chairman.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the oath-taking ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, which was attended by former president Asif Ali Zardari, ex-prime ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and a large number of parliamentarians, party workers, and government officials.
The close family members of Bilawal Bhutto including his sister Aseefa Bhutto and maternal auntSanam Bhutto – the sister of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, also attended the ceremony.
The development comes after Adviser to Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira said last week his party chairman would take oath within two days.
https://dunyanews.tv/en/World/650443-Terrorists-cannot-sabotage-Pak-China-friendship,-says-Bilawal
Iranian FM felicitates Bilawal for taking oath as foreign minister
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday received a felicitation call from his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
They underscored the importance of fraternal ties between the two countries.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari thanked Iran s support over the Kashmir issue.
"FM B (Bilawal) BhuttoZardari received felicitation call from Iranian FM Amirabdolahian. Underscored imp (importance) of fraternal ties. Thanked for Iran s support on Kashmir & solidarity with Palestine. Iranian FM invited B (Bilawal) Bhutto Zardari to visit Iran who also reciprocated the invitation," Foreign Office Spokesperson said in tweet.
https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/650460-Iranian-FM-felicitates-Bilawal-for-taking-oath-as-foreign-minister
ملک کو چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری جیسے وزیر خارجہ کی ضرورت ہے ،عمران خان نے پاکستان کو دنیا میں تنہا کردیا تھا اورچیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری اپنے نانا شہید اور والدہ شہید کی طرح ملک کا وقار بحال کریں گے۔
وفاقی وزیر تخفیف غربت اور سماجی تحفظ اور پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی پارلیمنٹیرینز کی مرکزی اطلاعات سیکرٹری شازیہ عطا مری نے کہا ہے کہ ملک کو
چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری جیسے وزیر خارجہ کی ضرورت ہے
،عمران خان نے پاکستان کو دنیا میں تنہا کردیا تھا اورچیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری اپنے نانا شہید اور والدہ شہید کی طرح ملک کا وقار بحال کریں گے۔ ان باتوں کا اظہار آج انہوں نے اپنے جاری کردہ بیان میں کیا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ صدر آصف علی زرداری نے عالمی سطح پر ملک کو باوقار ممالک میں شمار کرایا تھا ،آزاد، خود مختار اور باوقار خارجہ پالیسی ہمارا بنیادی اصول ہے اوردنیا چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کوبہترین وزیر خارجہ کی حیثیت سے دیکھے گی۔
انکا مزید کہا کہ موجودہ جمہوری حکومت کو بے شمار مسائل ورثے میں ملے ہیں اور یقین ہے پاکستان تمام مشکلات سے نجات حاصل کرے گابلاول بھٹو زرداری کا وزیر خارجہ بننا دنیا کیلئے بہترین پیغام ہے اوردنیا محترمہ بینظیر بھٹو شہید کیامن اور جمہوریت کیلئے جدوجہد کی قدر کرتی ہے
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/26923/
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
تاریخ کے سب سے کم عمر وزیر خارجہ کو مبارک ہو، آصفہ بھٹو
سابق صدر آصف زرداری اور شہید محترمہ بے نظیر بھٹو کی چھوٹی صاحبزادی آصفہ بھٹو نے اپنے بھائی اور چیئرمین پی پی بلاول بھٹو کو وزیر خارجہ بننے پر مبارکباد دی ہے۔
آصفہ بھٹو نے اپنے تصدیق شدہ ٹوئٹر اکاؤنٹ پر بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی حلف برداری کی تقریب کی تصویر شیئر کی جس میں وہ وفاقی وزیر کا حلف اُٹھا رہے ہیں۔
اُنہوں نے اپنے ٹوئٹ میں بلاول بھٹو سے مخاطب ہوتے ہوئے لکھا کہ پاکستان کی تاریخ میں سب سے کم عمر وزیر خارجہ کو مبارک ہو۔
اپنے ٹوئٹ میں آصفہ بھٹو کا کہنا تھا کہ یہ کام مشکل ہے اور پچھلی حکومت نے ہماری بین الاقوامی حیثیت کو ٹھیس پہنچائی ہے لیکن مجھے اس میں کوئی شک نہیں کہ آپ ہمارے ملک، پارٹی اور خاندان کا سر فخر سے بلند کریں گے۔
واضح رہے کہ پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے وزیر خارجہ کے عہدے کا حلف اٹھالیا۔
ایوانِ صدر اسلام آباد میں چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری سے صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی نے حلف لیا۔
صدر عارف علوی اور وزیر اعظم شہباز شریف نے وفاقی وزیر بلاول بھٹو سے حلف برداری کے بعد مصافحہ کیا۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی حلف برداری کی تقریب میں صدر پیپلز پارٹی پارلیمنٹیرین آصف علی زرداری اور آصفہ بھٹو زرداری موجود تھے۔
https://jang.com.pk/news/1079721
بلاول کا بطور وفاقی وزیر حلف، نواسے کو نانا والا عہدہ مل گیا
چیئرمین پیپلز پارٹی پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے محض 33 برس کی عمر میں پاکستان کے 37 ویں وزیرخارجہ کا حلف اُٹھا لیا اور ملک کے سب سے کم عمر ترین وزیر خارجہ ہونے کا اعزاز بھی اپنے نام کرلیا۔
لیکن کیا آپ جانتے ہیں کہ پیپلز پارٹی کے بانی ذوالفقار علی بھٹو بھی اس عہدے پر تین مرتبہ براجمان رہ چکے ہیں اور کئی کارہائے نمایاں انجام دے چکے ہیں۔
اب جب نئی حکومت میں بلاول بھٹو نے وفاقی وزیر کے عہدے کا حلف اٹھایا اس کے ساتھ ہی انہوں نے پاکستان کی سیاسی تاریخ میں ’دوسرے بھٹو‘ کی بطور وزیرخارجہ بننے کی تاریخ رقم کردی۔
کہا جاتا ہے کہ ذوالفقار علی بھٹو سے بہتر وزیر خارجہ ، پاکستان کی تاریخ میں کبھی کوئی دوسرا نہیں رہا اور ان کے کارہائے نمایاں تاریخ کا ایک سنہری باب ہیں۔
ذوالفقار علی بھٹو 24 جنوری 1963ء کو رسمی طور پر ایوب حکومت میں اس عہدہ پر فائز ہوئے لیکن یہ بات بھی دلچسپ ہے کہ اس سے قبل ہی وہ کئی بڑے بڑے خارجی امور سر انجام دے چکے تھے اور پھر بھٹو جیسا دور اندیش رہنما ایوب حکومت کی خارجہ پالیسی میں ریڑھ کی ہڈی کی حیثیت اختیار کرگیا۔
بھٹو ، ایوب حکومت میں صرف ساڑھے تین سال تک یعنی 66-1963 میں باقاعدہ وزیرخارجہ رہے، جنرل ایوب کے بعد 7 دسمبر 1971ء کو جنرل یحییٰ خان کو بھی بھٹو کی ضرورت پڑی تھی، ان نازک حالات میں جب بھارتی فوج ڈھاکہ کے دروازے پر کھڑی تھی۔
ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کی اصل صلاحیتیں اس وقت سامنے آئیں جب دسمبر 1971ء میں وہ صدر بنے، بھٹو پانچ سال سے زائد عرصہ تک ایک مکمل خودمختار وزیرخارجہ تھے جو سربراہ مملکت بھی تھے۔
https://jang.com.pk/news/1079689
بلاول بھٹو نے وفاقی وزیر خارجہ کے عہدے کا حلف اٹھالیا
ایوانِ صدر اسلام آباد میں چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری سے صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی نے حلف لیا۔
صدر عارف علوی اور وزیر اعظم شہباز شریف نے وفاقی وزیر بلاول بھٹو سے حلف برداری کے بعد مصافحہ کیا۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی حلف برداری کی تقریب میں صدر پیپلز پارٹی پارلیمنٹیرین آصف علی زرداری اور آصفہ بھٹو زرداری موجود تھے۔
تقریب حلف برداری میں وزیر داخلہ رانا ثناء اللّٰہ، نوید قمر، شیری رحمٰن، خورشید شاہ، وزیر مملکت خارجہ حنا ربانی کھر اور سلیم مانڈوی نے بھی شرکت کی۔
بلاول بھٹو کی حلف برداری کی تقریب میں شہید محترمہ بے نظیر بھٹو کی بہن محترمہ صنم بھٹو نے بھی خصوصی شرکت کی۔
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Families of disappeared people in Balochistan seek tangible govt intervention
Beleaguered families from Balochistan whose members have disappeared over the last many years due to action of the Pakistani security agencies, are demanding tangible government action on the issue than mere lip service by successive Prime Ministers.
Enforced disappearances, which began several years ago in Balochistan and erstwhile Fata on the pretext of fighting terrorists and insurgents, have extended to major urban centres, including Islamabad, KP and Sindh over the years, Dawn reported.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that he would raise the issue of Balochistan’s missing persons with “powerful quarters”, vowing to raise his voice on the issue, Dawn reported.
However, many including Sammi Deen Baloch, the daughter of Dr Deen Muhammad who has been missing since mid-2009, isn’t too optimistic about Prime Minister’s assurance, the report said.
“Ever since the PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) came to power in 2008, all Prime Ministers have talked about the missing persons,” Baloch said, adding, “All of them have vowed to address the issue. But there has been no progress to this day.”
“Like Shehbaz Sharif, other Prime Ministers, including Imran Khan, assured us that the issue of Baloch missing persons is their top priority, but we have yet to see the results,” Baloch further said.
Following persistent campaigning by family members of these missing people and human rights groups, the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances was established in March 2011, but that too managed to trace only a handful of those missing, the report said.
In 2022 alone, till now, 158 persons have been reported as “missing” to the commission.
Some rights activists estimate there still remain over 2,000 unresolved cases with the commission. In many cases, rights groups have blamed the security agencies for taking away people over suspicion of their involvement in militant activities — a charge repeatedly denied by the authorities.
Earlier this month, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah equated enforced disappearances with treason. The remark came during the hearing of missing journalist Mudassar Naaru’s case at the IHC. Naru, a journalist from Lahore, went missing in August 2018.
“Can anyone be disappeared without their [federal and provincial governments’] will? No,” the judge declared. “People going missing are the incompetence of the State. The Executive is responsible if the state agencies are not in control. Why don’t we declare the executive responsible for it?”
Enforced disappearances are used as a tool by Pakistani authorities to terrorize people who question the all-powerful army establishment of the country, or seek individual or social rights. Cases of enforced disappearances have been majorly recorded in the Balochistan and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces of the country which host active separatist movements.
A recent report unveiled by the US revealed that over 8,000 people were missing in the country during 2021 including 1,200 missing in Sindh province in the last six months.
https://theprint.in/world/families-of-disappeared-people-in-balochistan-seek-tangible-govt-intervention/929269/
Pakistan top body says no US plot in ex-PM Imran Khan’s removal
The National Security Council, a body of top civil and military leaders, says it found no evidence to support any conspiracy theory.Pakistan’s National Security Council, a body of top civil and military leaders, has rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s accusations that the United States had conspired to topple his government through a parliamentary vote of confidence.Khan, 69, who led the nuclear-armed South Asian country of 220 million people for three and a half years, had accused Washington of backing a conspiracy to remove him. Asad Majeed, former Pakistan ambassador to the US who had written a cable to Islamabad about Washington’s take on Khan’s Moscow visit, briefed the civil and military leaders on a forum called National Security Committee (NSC).“The NSC after reviewing the contents of the communication, the assessment received, and the conclusion presented by the security agencies, concludes that there has been no conspiracy,” a statement from the office of new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who chaired the NSC meeting, said on Friday. It said the country’s premier spy agencies informed the NSC that they found no evidence to support any conspiracy theory. The removed leader met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, the day Russian forces invaded neighbouring Ukraine. Khan initially blocked the no-confidence move, saying the NSC had endorsed the alleged conspiracy. Opposition parties and analysts have said the military helped Khan win the election in 2018, which they both deny, but that the support waned after a falling-out over the appointment of the country’s next intelligence chief late last year. Khan has aired his conspiracy allegations in three huge public rallies he has held since he was removed on April 10. He has demanded snap elections. The next parliamentary election is due in 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/23/pakistan-top-body-says-no-us-plot-in-ex-pm-imran-khans-removal
Ilhan Omar's trip to Islamabad may boost Pakistan's far-right - analysis
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
Ilhan Omar went on an apparently unofficial trip to Pakistan where she met with a number of officials including ousted PM Imran Khan.US Congress member Ilhan Omar visited Pakistan recently on a trip that potentially raises controversial subjects because she went to Kashmir and the trip could inflame Pakistani far-right nationalists. The Times of India noted that Omar’s visit was “unofficial” and that her visit to “occupied Kashmir (PoK) did not represent the United States government in any way.” The report noted that India had condemned her trip to contested Kashmir as violating India's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Omar has been outspoken in condemning Israel, Saudi Arabia and other US partners and allies, and it was unclear why she chose to make a controversial visit to Pakistan at this time. Recently, Pakistan carried out an airstrike in Afghanistan that massacred civilians. Reports say that dozens were killed in the airstrike and the New York Times said that 45 had been killed, citing to Afghan officials. Omar has in the past slammed the US for airstrikes in Somalia and Syria and in Afghanistan but has been silent on the Pakistani airstrike and human rights abuses. Omar tweeted about her trip from her personal Twitter account to her 3 million followers rather than her Congressional one which has 1 million followers. This was apparently an example of how this was a personal trip even though Pakistan officials took time to meet with her and highlighted her role as a member of Congress. Omar’s selective highlighting of human rights issues was noted by the Times of India. It noted that she has critiqued India and has been critical of the Biden administration for not critiquing human rights issues in India. The Tribune in India asked who funded the visit by the member of US Congress since it appeared the visit was not sponsored by the US. India External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters in New Delhi, "We have noted that US Representative Ilhan Omar has visited a part of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that is currently illegally occupied by Pakistan.” Meanwhile, Omar’s Twitter account has highlighted her trip. She retweeted an article published in the Asian Telegraph over the weekend that was headlined “Ilhan Omar exposes Indian deceitfulness.” She also posted a photo of her meeting a person at a “refugee village.” She retweeted a photo visiting a university and also visited a fence that apparently divides Pakistan-controlled Kashmir from India. She met the foreign minister of Pakistan, according to a video posted online; and she met with Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz. She also met Pakistani president Arif Alvi at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad and the speaker of the national assembly, according to tweets she shared. She also met with recently ousted Pakistan leader Imran Khan. A member of the Pakistan PTI party posted the photo of her and Khan, noting that they discussed Islamophobia and working against Islamophobia globally. Even as she met Pakistani officials, there were a series of attacks on Shi’ite Muslims in Afghanistan. Bombings targeted a boys' school and mosques during Ramadan. Some 33 people were murdered in the attack on a mosque in Kunduz province, including children. There were other attacks on Muslims in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan and in Kabul. Despite speaking about Islamophobia, it does not appear Omar condemned or mentioned the attacks. She did reference Ramadan, however, in tweets about Christians singing on an airplane in the US. She tweeted that “the original snowflakes had a complete and glorious meltdown,” noting in response to criticism that “it’s Ramadan and I am gonna pray for y’all….May God cleanse your hearts.” The trip to Pakistan is unusual for a member of Congress. India condemned the trip and her visit to “a part of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that is currently illegally occupied by Pakistan. If such a politician wishes to practice her narrow-minded politics at home, that may be her business.” While Pakistani officials who met Omar appeared to treat it as an official visit, The Dawn in Pakistan highlighted US comments that the visit was unofficial: “Imran Khan is still blaming the US for his ouster from PM’s office while he’s also asking his supporters to keep protesting outside the White House. But yesterday, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar met with Mr. Khan in Islamabad. It was an hour-long meeting. Close associates of Mr. Khan claim that the United States is trying to clear the air with Mr. Khan." Responding to a journalist who had asked if it was true that Omar was representing the Biden government on her trip, US State Department spokesman Ned Price replied, "Well, as I understand it, Representative Omar is not visiting Pakistan on US government-sponsored travel, so I’d need to refer you to her office for questions on her travel." This is one of the concerns that the trip raises. Imran Khan is a right-wing populist who often blames the US and others for problems in Pakistan. Pakistani politics leans to the far-right and has numerous extremist groups. In addition, there are often attacks on minorities in Pakistan. These include recent attacks on Sikhs, Hindus and Christians. Often in Pakistan, minorities are lynched or arrested on the basis of accusations of blasphemy. A man from Sri Lanka was beaten to death last year, and courts said that up to 88 people engaged in the lynching of the man. Videos were posted online of his corpse being burned by mobs. Pakistani leaders like Khan complain about Islamophobia, but Pakistan is one of the leading countries when it comes to attacks on Muslims, such as Shi’ites who are frequently attacked. More Muslims are killed in far-right Islamist attacks in Pakistan than in most countries in the world, meaning that it is Pakistan that appears to push Islamophobia. For instance, in March, a bombing of a mosque in Pakistan killed 56 Shi’ite Muslims. While Omar’s visit did not appear to mention human rights or condemn attacks on minorities in Pakistan, she has in the past raised issues of human rights in Kashmir, when it comes to Indian-controlled areas. In 2019, she led six members of Congress in a letter to call on the US ambassador to India and Charge d’Affaires in Pakistan to “use diplomatic relationships with the Indian and Pakistani governments to respect human rights and deescalate the current crisis in Jammu and Kashmir.” The letter noted that “this presents a tremendous danger to global peace and a clear national security risk for the United States. Pakistan and India are both valued allies, crucial to our interests in the region, including the Afghanistan peace process. It is of the utmost importance that we leverage our relationships with their governments to deescalate the situation.” The letter was signed by Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva, Andy Levin, James P. McGovern, Ted Lieu, Alan Lowenthal and Donald S. Beyer. In the past, Pakistan has supported extremists in Kashmir. This led to the Kargil war in 1999 which could have ignited a larger regional conflict. In 2008, Pakistani extremists from the group Lashkar-e-Taiba attacked the Indian port city of Mumbai, murdering 164 people. The murderers, who had been based in Pakistan, arrived by sea. The BBC noted that “ten heavily-armed militants, all Pakistani nationals, had arrived by sea in the evening, split into groups, hijacked vehicles and attacked targets including the main railway station, two luxury hotels, a Jewish cultural center and a hospital. The 60-hour siege of the city had left 166 dead and soured ties between India and Pakistan.” The Jewish cultural center in question was a Jewish Chabad center where Jews were purposely targeted. The recently ousted Pakistani leader Khan has often used dog whistles that could lead to antisemitism. For instance, his former wife was the target of antisemitic abuse. In 2021, Sky News reported that the vice-president of the Pakistan Muslim League had said her son was not being “raised in the lap of Jews.” Recently, as Khan was trying to avoid being ousted as Pakistan’s leader, he pushed conspiracies. “Embattled Pakistani premier Imran Khan is brandishing a big conspiracy, based on anti-Americanism and antisemitism. How many voters buy his claim of a coup will decide the country's future,” an oped at Haaretz noted. The overall context of all this is that Pakistan is a volatile place currently in political turmoil. The Pakistani air force attack on Afghanistan harmed civilians, and it appears extremists targeting Shi’ites are gaining more influence in Afghanistan which could spill over to Pakistan. The fact that Pakistani officials gave the US member of Congress a lot of time in meetings and a trip to Kashmir could portend Pakistan’s attempt to use the Kashmir issue to inflame tensions. Overall, the visit was a missed opportunity for Omar to hold Pakistan to the same standard as India in terms of human rights issues and to raise the rights of minorities in Pakistan. It’s possible that far-right populists in Pakistan might see the visit as an opening to push their agenda. This could be bad for Afghanistan and India and spread tensions in South Asia. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-704904
Pakistan: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to take oath as foreign minister 'in a day or two', confirms senior PPP leader
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will take oath as Pakistan’s foreign minister in a day or two, a senior party leader said on Saturday, ending speculation that all allies of the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are not on the same page. The Bhutto-Zardari family’s 33-year-old scion who is the front-runner for the coveted post of the foreign minister did not take the oath on Tuesday, giving rise to speculation about his reluctance to join the new government.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/pakistan-bilawal-bhutto-zardari-to-take-oath-as-foreign-minister-in-a-day-or-two-confirms-senior
Qamar Zaman Kaira, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, in a conversation with journalists on London confirmed that Bilawal will take oath as the foreign minister in a day or two, the Geo News reported. A day after he excused himself from taking the oath as the foreign minister, Bilawal headed to London where he met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif during which they discussed the “overall political situation” in Pakistan and vowed to work together on issues pertaining to politics and national interest. Information Minister Mariyum Aurangzeb had earlier assured that the PPP Chairman would take the oath after he returns to Pakistan.Kaira told reporters that Bilawal had left for Pakistan after he held two meetings with the PML-N supremo to exchange views on political matters, the Geo report said.PPP is the second largest party in the current coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who was appointed on April 11.In their last meeting, Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal — the two key allies in the ruling coalition — discussed ways forward after a “constitutional victory for democracy, the rule of law and supremacy of parliament” and agreed to work closely to “repair the rot across the board,” read a joint statement. The joint statement said that during the meeting both leaders agreed that they have accomplished a great deal whenever they work together. Matters relating to the broad roadmap for the future with the consensus of all democratic forces and the unfinished business left on the “Charter of Democracy” were also discussed in the meeting. Nawaz Sharif — against whom several corruption cases were launched by the government of former prime minister Imran Khan — had left for London in November 2019 after the Lahore High Court granted him a four-week permission allowing him to go abroad for his treatment. The 72-year-old former prime minister had given an undertaking to the Lahore High Court to return to Pakistan, citing his record to face the process of law and justice within four weeks or as soon as he is declared healthy and fit to travel by doctors.Chairman PPP @BBhuttoZardari will take oath as Pakistan’s Foreign Minister within 2 days. pic.twitter.com/AzGgfVgZYl
— Qamar Zaman Kaira (@QamarKairaPPP) April 23, 2022
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Taliban Bans TikTok, Popular Video Game In Afghanistan
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have banned the social media application TikTok and popular online game PUBG, saying the move is aimed to protect younger generations from a bad influence.
Spokesman Inamullah Samangani tweeted that the Taliban government on April 21 instructed the Communications and Information Technology Ministry to restrict access to the two digital platforms, as well as instructing it to close all channels that broadcast what he called immoral programs.
"The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is required to block PUBG games and an application called TikTok, which misleads the younger generation," Samangani tweeted.
"Likewise, it must prevent as much as possible the publication of any channel that publishes immoral material and programs."
Chinese-owned TikTok, a global short-video platform popular with younger audiences, has been criticized for what some experts said was a negative impact on children and young adults' mental health due to the risk of addiction and its potential for bullying and enabling sexual predators.
PUBG: Battlegrounds, or PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, is a player-versus-player online shooter game developed by South Korean gaming company Krafton. PUBG allows up to 100 players to engage in what is known as a battle royale -- a type of large-scale last-man-standing video deathmatch.
Experts say it would be difficult to completely bar the applications in Afghanistan because they can still be accessed via proxy applications and virtual private networks.
The Taliban returned to power in August following a blitz offensive across Afghanistan amid the hasty withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from the war-wracked country.
The militant group promised a softer version of the harsh Islamist rule that characterized its first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, when any form of entertainment was banned and punished severely.
But many restrictions, especially on women's rights to education, have still been imposed by the Taliban rulers since they seized control of the country last year.
https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-bans-tiktok-video-game-pubg/31814523.html
Friday, April 22, 2022
How Imran Khan Betrayed Pakistan’s Missing Persons
By Somaiyah Hafeez
Imran Khan recently became the first Pakistani prime minister to be ousted from power via a vote of no confidence. The former cricket star turned politician made several promises that he and his government couldn’t live up to in their three-and-a-half years of governance. One such promise was to resolve the missing persons’ issue. Before becoming the Prime Minister, Khan was a regular and prominent guest on Geo TV’s show “Capital Talk,” hosted by renowned anchor and journalist Hamid Mir. On the show, Khan criticized intelligence agencies for kidnapping people without evidence and he did not mince his words. “Once in the government, it is going to be me against the security agencies in case a single person goes missing during my government,” Khan proclaimed.In his book “Pakistan: A Personal History,” he proudly claims that he “led the first demonstration with the families of missing persons outside parliament [in 2003].” Khan became the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan after the controversial election of 2018, which his opponents termed as “rigged.” Shortly after, Dr. Shireen Mazari, the human rights minister in Khan’s cabinet, began to prepare the much-awaited bill to criminalize enforced disappearances. Mazari had long claimed that her party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is a pioneer in working on legislation to change the situation.The former prime minister had been outspoken about addressing the issue of enforced disappearances. But even before his ouster, Baloch had long since given up hope that he would take action.
Khan’s uncensored criticism of the intelligence agencies and his promises gave a faint hope to hundreds and thousands of missing persons’ families in Balochistan. The southwestern province of Pakistan is plagued by both an insurgency movement and counterinsurgency operations that violate human rights, such as enforced disappearances.As time passed and nothing happened, however, the desperate families lost hope. In February 2021, at least 15 families of missing persons from Balochistan came to protest in Pakistan’s capital to push Khan and Mazari to fulfil their promise.“We came to remind Imran Khan and Shireen Mazari that they have to bring back our loved ones who were forcefully abducted and criminalize enforced disappearances,” said Sammi Deen Baloch, who has been campaigning on behalf of her missing father, Dr. Deen Muhammed Baloch, for over a decade.The families weathered the harsh winter nights of the capital for five days, staging a sit-in outside the Islamabad Press Club, but not a single government representative came to visit them. They were eventually forced to take their protest to D-Chowk, close to the parliament.Baloch recounted that many students had come to support them. At least 10 were arrested for a day and a lot of obstacles were created for them before they reached D-Chowk. Eventually, Mazari visited the aggrieved families and assured them that Khan would meet them in a month’s time to discuss the issue of missing persons. Baloch, along with two other family members of missing persons, met the then-prime minister on March 18, 2021. “We had different expectations from the PM because we had been assured that when the PM will meet us, he will give us some information about our loved ones, who were missing for years,” said Baloch. She added, “PM did not make any promises or give us any reassurances. He just said he wants the issue of missing persons to be resolved. He said he would personally meet the Chief of Army Staff to discuss the cases, and would give us some information about our loved ones. We asked for a time-frame. He asked us to wait for a month. But nothing happened.”The bill banning enforced disappearances was introduced in Pakistan’s parliament in June 2021 and passed by the National Assembly in November. However, it never passed the Senate, and last month, Mazari said that the bill on missing persons had itself gone “missing.” The Diplomat reached out to Mazari for a comment but didn’t hear back.Khan was ousted from power through a no-confidence vote in parliament on April 9. The bill on missing persons was never made law. Hafeez Baloch and Racial Profiling of Baloch Students Amid silence from the government, enforced disappearances continue in Balochistan. Abdul Hafeez Baloch, enrolled in Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, went to his hometown, Khuzdar, Balochistan, in February but never returned to his school. Baloch was reportedly abducted from an academy where he was teaching. His father told BBC that “three masked armed men came in a black surf car and forcibly took Abdul Hafeez to an unknown location in front of his students.” Intelligence agencies are generally alleged to be involved in the enforced disappearances cases; however, Pakistan’s security agencies have regularly denied being complicit in disappearances. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed concerns about reports of a fresh wave of enforced disappearances in Balochistan and on the abduction of Hafeez Baloch. Baloch students staged a protest in front of the Islamabad press club. A case was registered in the Islamabad High Court against Hafeez Baloch’s abduction and racial profiling of the Baloch students at university campuses across the country. In its response, the Islamabad High Court noted, “There cannot be a graver grievance [than] for a citizen to feel that he/she is being subjected to racial profiling or is not being treated equally.” Imaan Hazir Mazari, the lawyer of Hafeez Baloch, said that “the last order of the Honourable Court notes that the Baloch students should not feel scared to return to their hometowns as a result of this profiling – that is an acknowledgment of the trauma and insecurity these students have been living in for many months now (and others before them). Measures are to be taken by the Interior Ministry and others in this regard.” Mazari added that it is deplorable and distressing, but most Pakistanis are not aware of the situation in Balochistan due to a media blackout. “When parents in those circumstances, against all odds, sacrifice to send their children to the Federal Capital, Punjab, or elsewhere so that they can have a safer existence, these students are profiled on campuses, which are meant to be safe and enabling spaces for them to learn, grow, and express themselves without fear,” Mazari told The Diplomat. Critics say that the administration of QAU did not pay heed to the issue of racial profiling of Baloch students. “If these students had been heard by QAU administration, they wouldn’t have had to come out onto the streets in the first place. There has been a massive failure on the part of QAU in allowing this profiling, harassment, and intimidation of Baloch students to take place on its campus,” said Mazari. Weeks later after protests across the country and the court intervention, Hafeez Baloch reappeared. However, charges of terrorism were registered against him in Balochistan and he has been imprisoned since then. His lawyer, family, and activists term the charges as “fake.” Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Just $5 a month. Imaan Mazari said that the matter is still ongoing in the court, but what is important is that the voice of the Baloch students has reached the constitutional court and subsequently those in government and the bureaucracy. “For those in the corridors of power to hear these voices is a first step toward rectifying the wrongs that have been perpetrated over decades,” she added. But one could argue that in the past the courts have taken notice of the gross human rights abuses and enforced disappearances in Balochistan, but the situation remains the same. Human rights activists in Balochistan say that unless the perpetrators are punished and held accountable nothing would change. And that brings us back to Khan’s broken promises and the “missing” bill on enforced disappearances. The Never-Ending Issue of Enforced Disappearances According to the Voice for the Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), an organization that keeps a record of missing persons, more than 5,000 people have been forcefully abducted over two decades in Balochistan. “During Imran Khan’s tenure, 430 missing persons were recovered while more than 600 went missing,” said Nasrullah Baloch, the chair of VBMP. “Since Shehbaz Sharif took oath as the prime minister, three people have been abducted. As per unconfirmed reports received by VBMP, on 19th April 2022, 7 more people were abducted including a female,” he added. The issue of missing persons is not confined to Balochistan. The former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), bordering Afghanistan, have reportedly seen the forced disappearance of thousands of civilians. In Balochistan, political workers, students, rights activists, insurgents, and their sympathizers or facilitators have been forcefully abducted. Whenever there is a rise in separatist attacks and rights activism by the Baloch – as is occurring today – an increase in missing persons is also seen. Many Baloch have raised eyebrows over mega development projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and multibillion dollar copper and gold Reko Diq projects. They claim the national resources of Balochistan are being exploited by the center and multinational companies. Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur, a renowned Baloch rights activist and columnist, said that before one talks about the missing persons issue it is necessary to see and understand the broader perspective of why people go missing. Without touching this important aspect there can never be any improvement or clarity, he said. Talpur explained that a sizable majority of Baloch people reject the mega development projects and secret deals on Saindak and Reko Diq, which they see as instruments of bringing about demographic changes, population displacement, and economic apartheid. But anyone subscribing to this view is considered a traitor by the central government, and because holding this view is not a crime the only way to deter people is to intimidate them by disappearing people. He added, “This is an unending cycle of oppression and resistance, as Baloch despite all the losses suffered have continued to resist and the state doesn’t relent in its oppressive policies.” According to Talpur, there isn’t a single political party in Balochistan that is willing to voice the sentiments at the root of the issue of missing persons, for this would mean a direct confrontation with the state. However, these parties do not shy away from falling back on the missing persons issue for their political redemption. The Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) joined an alliance with Khan’s PTI with six demands and on the top of the list was the demand for the release of Baloch missing persons. After two years, the BNP-M left the alliance, stating that none of their demands were fulfilled. Sardar Akthar Mengal, the chief of BNP-M, has been a vocal voice against enforced disappearances. He played an important role in ousting Khan and threw his support for the new government led by Shehbaz Sharif. A few days ago, while speaking on a Twitter space, Akhthar Mengal expressed his disappointment with the PTI and Khan’s handling of the issue of enforced disappearances. He also said that he was not hopeful that the current government would resolve the issue. On hearing this, Sammi Deen Baloch asked him why, if they are disappointed, Akhthar Mengal and Dr. Abdul Malik, the head of the National Party (NP), wouldn’t join the missing persons’ families to protest against the current government. He did not directly say that he would do so. Many critics of the BNP-M do not believe that the party is serious in taking substantial steps for the cause. “BNP-M is a political party and not a revolutionary one. It wants to work within the system and because it itself doesn’t have enough members to bring about a change, so it compromises with parties that matter at the moment,” explained Talpur. When the families of missing persons staged protests in Islamabad, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the vice president of the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – and niece of current PM Shehbaz Sharif – visited the families and criticized Khan’s government for not resolving the issue. But few hope for concrete action from the PML-N now that it is in the prime minster’s seat. “While political parties are out of power, they raise the issue of missing persons as this stance garners support for them and their democratic credentials are enhanced and reinforced. But after they come to power, they realize talking about the missing persons will ruffle the feathers of quarters that are powerful,” said Talpur.
https://thediplomat.com/2022/04/how-imran-khan-betrayed-pakistans-missing-persons/
عمران خان اور ہمنواؤں کی فارن فنڈنگ کیس کے فیصلے کے خوف سے سانسیں اکھڑ رہی ہیں -
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے سیکرٹری جنرل سید نیر حسین بخاری نے کہا ہے کہ عمران خان اور ہمنواؤں کی فارن فنڈنگ کیس کے فیصلے کے خوف سے سانسیں اکھڑ رہی ہیں گھبرانا نہیں والے نے اگر دشمن ممالک کے شہریوں سے مدد نہیں لی تو بھاگتے کیوں ہو الیکشن کمیشن میں زیر سماعت فارن فنڈنگ کیس میں بار بار التوا مانگنے کا واضح مطلب ہے کہ پی ٹی آئی کی چوری پکڑی گئی ہے
انہوں نے مزید کیا ہے کہ ریاست مدینہ کے جھوٹے دعویدار نے غریب قوم کا ایک ارب روپے صرف گھر سے دفتر تک ہیلی کاپٹر سواری کے نشے میں اڑا دیا قومی خزانہ قومی امانت ہے کسی کے باپ کا پیسہ نہیں کہ حساب اور احتساب نہ ہو
تحریک انصاف جو درحقیقت تاریک انصاف ہے کی تعریف صرف اتنی ہے کہ توشہ خانہ ان کی مرضی،کرپشن ان کا حق، نالایقی ان کا کردار، جھوٹ مکر فریب دھوکہ ان کی پہچان ہے
کراچی کے بعد آج لاہوریوں نے بھی آٹا چینی ادویات کھاد چوروں کو اوقات یاد دلادی ہے نیر بخاری نے مزید کہا ہے کہ آئین کا تماشہ بنانے والوں کیخلاف قانون اپنا راستہ خود بنائے گاریاستی اداروں فوج پولیس اور عدالتوں اور خانہ جنگی کی کھلی دھمکیوں سے لگتا ہے کرسی چھننے کے بعد بھی سستا نشہ جاری ہے
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/26877/
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Pakistan’s new Sharif, old problems
Former cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan, who was voted out by Pakistan’s parliament from the office of prime minister, is back doing what he does best: rabblerousing. Khan is blaming the United States for conspiring to oust him from office, while naming Pakistan’s judiciary and military as co-conspirators.
Khan’s incendiary rhetoric is threatening chaos in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation with 200 million people. The new government, headed by Shahbaz Sharif, three-time chief minister of Punjab province, now faces the difficult task of undoing the consequences of Khan’s bombast and incompetence.
Elected in 2018 as a “new broom sweeps clean” celebrity, Khan ended up dividing Pakistanis, mismanaging the economy and undermining Pakistan’s relationships abroad. Even in his last days, his claims of being victim of a foreign conspiracy have injected venom into the veins of an already troubled polity.
Many of Pakistan’s problems are endemic and predate Khan’s term in office. But like many populists, Khan paid little heed to policymaking and described himself as the solution to all problems. His followers saw him as a messiah opposing corrupt traditional politicians. But critics mocked the number of times he spoke about himself and used the words “I, me, mine,” in his longwinded speeches. In one recent 45-minute speech, the total number of first person references was more than 200.Khan claimed he wanted Pakistan to regain its honor, which had been lost due to dependence of the West, especially the U.S. He lectured everyone about his mixture of Islamic mysticism, hyper-nationalism and “all the nation needs is an honest man like me leading it” ideology.
Describing the Taliban as people who had “broken the shackles of slavery,” Khan went out of his way to criticize the West, without regard for Pakistan’s external economic relations. The U.S. remains Pakistan’s largest export market, while Europe and the United Kingdom are significant investors and trading partners. Khan even managed to annoy Pakistan’s traditional friends and economic benefactors China, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan has hoped for years to re-align its economy by expanding investments from and trade with China. But Khan failed to attract any new Chinese investment. China even expressed reservations about the competence of Khan’s economic managers in relation to ongoing infrastructure projects under the rubric of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).True to his bombastic form, Imran Khan showed up in Moscow to stand beside Vladimir Putin on the day Russian troops invaded Ukraine. The Russia trip made no foreign policy or economic sense and was undertaken against the advice of Pakistan’s military and foreign office. Pakistan’s trade with Russia is a meager $ 200 million, and Putin was no longer in a position to deliver on promises of future oil supplies, investment or trade.Under Khan, Pakistan’s economy dived into a tailspin, with per-capita GDP declining for the first time in years. Inflation reached double digits. The rupee plunged in value. The stock market never recovered to pre-2017 levels. Khan’s own finance minister, Shaukat Tarin, has now admitted that their government had no economic plan.
The economic mismanagement and poking of Pakistan’s foreign friends in the eye annoyed Pakistan’s all-powerful military, which had helped Khan’s rise as a way of getting rid of traditional politicians who tended to challenge the military’s dominance. Once Khan attempted to interfere with the appointment of the army’s next commander, the military withdrew political support. That, in turn, led to smaller parties in parliament switching support from Khan’s coalition to the opposition.
Instead of resigning after losing a majority in parliament, as is the general practice for prime ministers in parliamentary democracies, Khan tried to block the vote of no confidence against him by claiming that it was part of a conspiracy instigated by the United States. Pakistan’s supreme court ruled against Khan and forced the vote to go through. Khan was ousted from office but is now orchestrating protests.
Khan has a hardcore cult-like following that believes anyone who doesn’t agree with their leader is a traitor to Pakistan and Islam. Khan is also hoping that there are people in the military, especially in the middle ranks, who can be swayed by the sentiment that “Pakistan is under foreign attack” by other means.
The Pakistan military leadership has made it clear that it has seen no evidence of collusion between Khan’s opponents and any foreign power, let alone the United States. The army’s chief of staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, has repeatedly indicated that better relations with the U.S. are in Pakistan’s interest. But Khan is unlikely to step back from his false claims and will probably continue to fire up his base, hoping to ride an anti-American wave to success in the next elections.
That makes the task of the new prime minister, who presides over a coalition of disparate parties, all the more difficult. Sharif brings experience in governance and a calm demeanor to the job, which has helped lift the Pakistan rupee and the stock market. But changing the direction of Pakistan – which is often seen internationally as unstable and perennially crisis prone – might not be that easy.
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3274672-pakistans-new-sharif-old-problems/