Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Pakistan’s all-powerful military to determine Imran Khan’s fate
Monday, February 14, 2022
Fearing persecution in Pakistan, Hazara youths undertake perilous journeys to Australia, Europe
https://theprint.in/world/fearing-persecution-in-pakistan-hazara-youths-undertake-perilous-journeys-to-australia-europe/831921/
#Pakistan #PPP - Any tinkering with the present Constitutional frame will have disastrous effects on the Federation – Senator Mian Raza Rabbani
PRESS RELEASE
Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Former Chairman Senate, has issued the following press release;
The proverb, “a bad workman always blames his tools” or in Urdu “naach na jaane angan tedha” is the call of the Government as it has failed to implement it’s election theme of Change or Tabdeeli.
The attack on the 18th Amendment and Parliament as a stubble, reflects a autocratic, centrist mind set. It also exposes the hands behind the debate on a Presidential form of government, like the Ayub era for which admiration has been shown by the PTI.
It is incorrect to say that Parliament or the Senate has stood in the way of legislation. The Government has bulldozed Bills by overriding rules, brining supplementary Orders of Day and horse trading. Following a foreign agenda of colonisation of Pakistan, all Bills of subjugation to the IMF were passed but legislation for the people cannot be, the reason being the lack of political will of the Government.
How has the 18th Amendment and Parliament stood in the way of the Government to deal with and bring before law the various Mafias, cartels and hoarders? The Government has failed because it supports cronyism.
How has the 18th Amendment or Parliament prevented the Government from controlling the record price hike, corruption, depreciation of the Rupee, delayed decisions on the import of gas etc.
As the day of Judgment draws near the Government is trying to find whipping boys to place their failures on at times it is the bureaucracy which is not taking decisions.
At times it is the Judiciary which is creating obstacles in the way of the Government, and now;
The 18th Amendment and Parliament. No institution functioning under the Constitution or the Constitution itself has been spared to cover for the collective failure of the political Government.
The 18th Amendment and Parliament is the life line that holds the Federation. Any attempt to roll back the 18th Amendment will give rise to extreme movements of nationalism and even federalists, can raise the slogan, let the provinces collect all the taxes and the Federation place its expenditures before the provinces, which verify and meet them.
Any tinkering with the present Constitutional frame will have disastrous effects on the Federation.
(SENATOR MIAN RAZA RABBANI)
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/26262/
Sunday, February 13, 2022
Did PTI fail? Khan must now step down of the container and deliver...
By Usman TorwaliFrom the very beginning, Imran Khan seemed to have a visionary outlook towards the development of the nation and country. The sincerity and determination reflected in his speeches and the novel slogan of change in Pakistani politics, attracted the masses, entrusting him with a government to change things. Soon the practicability of the Khan’s motto entangled by different elements proved less progressive and more retrogressive, as more and more support suffering was inflicted on the masses. Did it result from the incompetency of leadership or structural barriers posed hindrances to the implementation of programs? Whatever might be the case Khan’s government is stumbling is likely to be dropped out of the arena in the next general elections. Why is it so? Maybe Khan’s attitude towards government or rather politics. It perhaps is now revealed upon Mr. Imran Khan that running a government is far more difficult an activity than standing on a container and criticizing the then government. Mobilizing people and staging protests against the then government was fruitful if to suppose so, but continuously degrading the moral by repeatedly passing immoral phrases against the political rivals has done irreversible harm to Pakistani politics. The fierce claims of ridding off corruption, nepotism, and favoritism from the personnel and institutions in the country have also proved mere a political point-scoring tool for the triumph in the general elections – as no solid goals have been achieved so far. Citizens and especially workers of the PTI are also left with no choice except to keep their lips closed when and if there is any opposition to the ruling party. Being the valiant soldiers of PTI, how would have they swallowed criticism over their party and leaders! Three years have passed but the citizens have not witnessed changes anywhere in the country. The economy is shambling, the foreign policy is shattered, the national security is compromised, poverty and unemployment soaring up above unbelievable levels. The leisure, wealth, and prestige of the corrupt and criminal elites are the same. The taxation system is one that prevailed before the government. The bureaucracy, Police, and NAB-like institutions are unreformed, not unpoliticized, and not even budged in their operative fields. The autonomy of Media, Journalists and other civil society members has been put in the pocket of PEMRA. Still and all, the hard county moves on under the leader on the container. Will he step down in the last and perhaps in the defeating stage? Perhaps No. Well, time and bosses decide fate. But still, Khan should have a bit of leverage of the masses’ support, which is rapidly vanishing. The continuous deterioration of citizens’ security also leaves one flabbergasted. How a rational being can shut his eyes to the onslaught of humankind. Be that poverty, extremism, terrorism, or other security-related matters. The citizens are done of all these. As apart from the rising cases of violence, prevalent in the religious circles, against the minorities there are rampant abuses against women and girls that have been consecutively increased in the past three years in the PTI government. According to the World Report 2022 “Violence against women and girls—including rape, murder, acid attacks, domestic violence, and forced marriage—is endemic throughout Pakistan. Human rights defenders estimate that roughly 1,000 women are killed in so-called honor killings every year.” Another report issued by the World Economic Forum says, “Pakistan ranks 153 out of 156 nations on the Global Gender Gap 2021 index.” The unpopular single national curriculum education policy is also a slap on the face of national integration. Introducing SNC to such a diverse and heterogeneous population is not going to work in the long term: but despite the strong opposition from different circles the incumbent government imposed it. Another hallmark of the PTI’s achievements is undemocratization and centralization. Again and over again presidential ordinances have been promulgated while parliament is sidelined. To the common masses, this might not make any sense but there is little democracy since the ordinances have by far outnumbered laws passed by the national assembly. This attitude is again demonstrated in repeatedly resorting to the debate of presidential setup, which the current government holds fit for the country. Along with all these self-destructive policies of the PTI, there is a naïve and apathetic attitude towards the provincial governments in the top leadership. Mr. Buzdar and Mehmood Khan have long been proved the most incompetent boys but still are cherished by the PM. In the past three years, one big thing that has been seen and experienced everywhere is the reluctance of Imran Khan. Be that is related to the provincial top boys, implementing a national policy, rising inflation, the EVMs, or in meeting with the opposition leader. There is reluctance on the part of Imran Khan. Even the constitutional methods have been ignored.
https://en.humsub.com.pk/3604/did-pti-fail/Khan must now step down of the container and deliver what he had promised before the elections. The ongoing presidential system debate has no realism as the PTI cannot afford the amendment procedure. Abreast with that, there is also a legal limitation to the presidential setup. It is a futile debate just to divert and distract citizens from the problems at hand. Moreover, there is very little time left for anything worthwhile to be done for keeping the party image and unity intact. The PTI is stranded in the waters. It seems from different sources that the party has lost its connections with the establishment as well. So, it can be concluded that PTI is struggling to win an already lost game.
#Pakistan - PTI and the bitter IMF pill
By Abdul Rauf Shakoori & Huzaima Bukhari
The government must introduce economic reforms and focus on privatisation and exploration of new avenues for taxation.
In 2019, the government led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), reached the brink of a severe fiscal crisis through its indecisiveness and lack of control. Despite tall claims to the contrary, Prime Minister Imran Khan travelled to the United Arab Emirates to meet the International Monetary Fund’s chief and assured her of his government’s commitment to undertake structural and governance reforms.
Responding to the rescue call, the IMF approved a programme for Pakistan in July 2019, through which the crisis was averted and the government managed to partially stabilise the economy.
Accordingly, IMF’s Executive Board approved a $6 billion Extended Finance Facility (EFF) for Pakistan. Since then, the IMF-Pakistan relationship has moved through several phases. At times, the disbursement was delayed due to non-performance of commitments by Pakistan. These delays reflected badly on the national economy.
The conditions of the IMF’s programme and a letter of intent signed by Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the advisor to the prime minister of Pakistan, and Reza Baqir, the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), required Pakistan to undertake numerous strategic, technical and transactional changes. However, on some review intervals, Pakistan failed to initiate the reforms as agreed.
The IMF has always emphasised maintaining a prudent monetary policy that should be reflective of real interest rates, rebuilding external buffers through natural means like bolstering exports and at the same time allowing exchange rate flexibility. This is because previously the exchange rate was allegedly managed through significant forex interventions, which contributed to imbalances on the external front.
In parallel, interest rates were kept low to support the local economy. However, this triggered consumption and import-driven growth, which added fuel to the fire of external imbalance and government’s reliance on local and international borrowing channels.
Currently, Pakistan is facing a challenge on account of debts. In the fiscal year (FY) 21, they rose to 100.3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Pakistan’s gross external financing needs in FY 23 and FY 24 are estimated to be around $77 billion. Given the deteriorating current account balance, the situation is getting more complicated.
Pakistan therefore needs to work on increasing its exports, to explore new markets and must focus on technological advancements. Currently, the goods offered by Pakistan remain at the southern end of the global value chain.
Although Pakistan has signed free trade agreements (FTA) with China, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, and has preferential trade agreements with Iran, Indonesia, and Mauritius, except for China, not one of these countries falls in the category of main importers of Pakistan’s products.
According to the IMF report, in FY 2021 trade with the United States, United Kingdom, Afghanistan and Germany comprised about 37 percent of the exports. Exports to the three FTA markets were only around 10 percent. Entering FTAs with major export market destinations can boost Pakistan’s exports and reduce the external imbalance.
It is pertinent to mention here that, after a recent IMF staff review, the government has agreed to assess its export refinancing scheme by the end of this month. This might pose new challenges for export-oriented industries. The IMF has also raised concerns over refinancing schemes offered by the SBP to address long-standing large credit gaps and market failures and has warned that this expansion, if not temporary, would undermine its efforts to credibly implement monetary policy to achieve its primary objective and improve monetary policy transmission channels.
The conditions in the International Monetary Fund’s programme and a letter of intent signed by advisor to the prime minister of Pakistan and governor of the State Bank of Pakistan required that Pakistan undertake numerous strategic, technical and transactional changes.
To bring efficiency to its domestic financial operations, Pakistan needs to ensure that the energy sector is working in a financially viable way. Addressing the circular debt issue and strengthening the applicable regulatory framework is therefore of paramount importance. High transmission losses and low recoveries hamper payments to power companies. This is a major cause for accumulation of circular debt that is alarming not only for the power sector but also for the whole economy.
As of June 2021, the circular debt had reached a historic high level of Rs 2.3 trillion. The inefficiencies in power generation, transmission and distribution, and non-payment of subsidies in a timely manner are the main causes of increase in circular debt. In parallel, a new phenomenon of gas sector circular debt has emerged.
The IMF estimates provided in its Country Report No. 22/27 dated February 2022, warn that circular debt in the gas sector peaked at Rs 654 billion at the end of June 2021 (Rs 554 billion in system gas arrears and about Rs 100 billion in regassified liquefied natural gas arrears).
The constant bleeding of scarce resources in the hands of inefficient and loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is also a great concern. The SOEs have a significant market presence, particularly in key service sectors like power generation and distribution, energy, aviation and railways.
The recent State-Owned Enterprises Triage report provides a snapshot of the federal SOE landscape. It states that as of FY 2019, there are 213 SOEs, out of which only 85 have commercial operations (18 financial and 67 non-financial). The overall revenues of these SOEs in 2018-19 were recorded as Rs 4 trillion, that is roughly 10 percent of the nominal GDP. These SOEs employed more than 450,000 people which constitutes around 0.8 percent of the total workforce. The financial performance of several SOEs has remained worrisome, and in 2018-19, commercial SOEs collectively recorded net losses of Rs 143 billion.
The government must go for restructuring state-owned entities to reduce the state’s burden of funding these loss-making ventures. Their privatisation is the only viable option for modernising and revamping these institutions. This can generate employment and more tax revenues for the government. Otherwise, the state would be left at the mercy of global lenders who propose and impose policies with no consideration for challenges faced by the common man.
The recent resumption of the EFF indicates that the government has undertaken aggressive revenue measures by introducing amendments in indirect tax legislation by moving most goods from zero-rating (5th Schedule items) or reduced rates (8th Schedule items) to the standard sales tax rates by eliminating many exemptions listed under the Sixth Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990.
The finance minister, Shaukat Tareen, has also expressed the government’s intention of increasing petroleum levy (PL) which is expected to help bridge the revenue deficit. According to the recently published IMF staff report, in early November, the authorities started gradually increasing the levy on gasoline and diesel oil by Rs 4 per litre, with a further Rs 4 per litre increase in December. The government will continue to increase the levy by Rs 4 per litre per month until it reaches Rs 30 per litre.
The global lender has also emphasised sales tax harmonisation. Currently, services are subject to provincial taxation and goods fall under the purview of federal sales tax. This dichotomy has created several compliance issues for taxpayers and administrative problems for taxation authorities. Further, in terms of direct taxation, the IMF staff reports indicate that Pakistani authorities are in the process of drafting Personal Income Tax legislation for next financial year, i.e., FY 22-23, which aims at reducing the number of rates, income tax brackets, tax credits and allowances.
After swallowing these bitter pills and consenting to “aggressive reform measures” Pakistan has now completed the sixth EFF review and the earlier withheld $1 billion tranche has been released. Pakistan has now obtained the $3 billion from the IMF under the current programme with $3 billion to be issued subject to successful completion of the remaining reviews.
These commitments are expected to attract a wave of taxes and duties, which can make the common man’s life more challenging. The government must achieve the equilibrium in a way that its revenue objectives are met without being regressive to the common man. This can be done by introducing economic reforms focusing on privatisation and exploration of new avenues for taxation.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/932991-pti-and-the-bitter-imf-pill
Taliban’s Kabul takeover security nightmare to Islamabad as terror groups ramp up attack in Pakistan
The recent surge in terror attacks in Pakistan has shown that the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan is a security nightmare for Islamabad, according to a media report.
The last two weeks have raised major red flags for Pakistan’s security apparatus, especially in Balochistan where the Pakistan army lost several of its soldiers in three different major terrorist attacks, reported The Diplomat.
Further, the US-based magazines said that first, on January 25, terrorists attacked Kech, Balochistan, which is located near the country’s western border with Iran, roughly 600 km south of provincial capital Quetta. Over 10 Pakistani military personnel were killed in that terrorist attack. Just over a week later, on February 2, another terrorist plot unfolded in Noshki and Panjgur districts of the same province. Although the Noshki attack was repulsed within hours, the standoff in Panjgur lasted for more than 60 hours and resulted in the death of seven military personnel, including an officer.
Muhammad Wali, an Islamabad-based security expert, believes that Afghanistan’s political situation is still in limbo as not a single country has accepted the Taliban regime so far.Emphasising that the Afghan economy is on the verge of collapse, and the country is still believed to be a haven for different terrorist outfits, Wali argued that all these developments should be a concern for Pakistan. The impending crisis may engulf Pakistan too, creating instability on the economic front, which is already struggling with inflation and low economic growth, added Wali.
The security expert also stressed that Pakistan needs to engage the Afghan Taliban to deal with the TTP and also emphasised that Islamabad should implement the National Action Plan (NAP) in letter and spirit.
Urging the government to finalize the NAP by paying heed to the 20-point plan, Wali said that the plan was established by the Government of Pakistan in January 2015 to crack down on terrorism. Seven years later, many of its points are yet to be fulfilled, and terrorism is on the rise yet again, Wali added.
The recent attacks which show a surge in terrorist activities in the country after the Taliban takeover in Kabul endorses a fear that Pakistan has been slowly sliding into chaos and instability for the last couple of years, said a recent report by Islamabad-based think tank the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies.
https://theprint.in/world/talibans-kabul-takeover-security-nightmare-to-islamabad-as-terror-groups-ramp-up-attack-in-pak/830448/
As Minorities Suffer In Pakistan, Imran Khan Attempts Damage Control After Punjab Lynching
By Bhavya Sukheja
After a man was tortured and killed by a mob in Mian Channu, Pakistan PM condemned the incident and said that the mob lynching will be dealt with full severity.
After a homeless beggar accused of blasphemy was tortured and killed by a mob in Mian Channu in Pakistan’s Punjab on Saturday, PM Imran Khan condemned the incident and said that the mob lynching will be dealt with “full severity of the law”. According to local media reports, a mob in Punjab’s Khanewal district tortured and killed a man accused of burning pages of the Holy Quran. The Islamist mob stoned the man to death, following which his corpse was hung on the tree.His response came two hours after Republic exposed the incident in Pakistan. The embarrassed Imran khan who attacked India on hijab was forced to eat crow on attacks on people over religion in Pakistan. Now, even though this is not the first incident in Pakistan of citizens becoming judges and executioners, Imran Khan has stated that the ruling PTI-led government has “zero tolerance” for anyone taking the law into their own hands. The Pakistani leader assured that the mob lynchings will be dealt with the full severity of the law. He also informed that he has asked the Punjab Inspector General for a report on the action taken against perpetrators of Saturday’s lynching and against police who failed in their duty.
According to local media reports, the incident took place at Mian Channu’s Tulamba Madrasa at Khanewal. It happened in front of a police station, where the victim was taken after people accused him of trying to tear off the pages of the Holy Quran inside the mosque. In order to protect themselves from the angry mob, the local police allegedly allowed the accused to leave the police station where the mob was present.‘Sialkot like incident’ The victim was dragged by the crowd when he came out of the police station, while the cops allegedly played the role of a silent spectator. He was lynched and was tied to a pole and left to die. Local Pakistani media outlets said that Saturday’s incident was a “Sialkot like incident” when an angry mob killed a Sri Lankan man for alleged blasphemy. Back in December 2021, Sri Lankan man Priyantha Diyawadana was tortured, killed and then set on fire after being accused of blasphemy over some posters that he had allegedly taken down. The widely reported incident involved a Sri Lankan national who worked as general manager of a factory of the industrial engineering company Rajco Industries in Sialkot, Punjab. The horrific images and videos also emerged on social media that showed Diyawadana being thrown on the floor where hundreds of people had started tearing his clothes and violently beating him.
https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/pakistan-news/as-minorities-suffer-in-pakistan-imran-khan-attempts-damage-control-after-punjab-lynching-articleshow.html
Man accused of blasphemy stoned to death by mob in Pakistan
By ASIM TANVEERAn enraged mob stoned to death a middle-aged man for allegedly desecrating the Quran in a remote village in eastern Pakistan, police said Sunday. The custodian of a local mosque said he saw the man burning the Muslim holy book inside the mosque Saturday evening and told others before informing police, according to police spokesman Chaudhry Imran. The violence took place in a village in the district of Khanewal in Punjab province.Imran said police rushed to the scene, where a man was found surrounded by an angry crowd. Officer Mohammad Iqbal and two subordinates tried to take custody of the man but the group began throwing stones at them, seriously injuring Iqbal and slightly injuring the other two officers. Munawar Gujjar, chief of Tulamba police station, said he rushed reinforcements to the mosque but they did not arrive before the mob had stoned to death the man and hung his body from a tree. Gujjar said the victim was identified as Mushtaq Ahmed, 41, of a nearby village. “The ill-fated man has been mentally unstable for the last 15 years and according to his family often went missing from home for days begging and eating whatever he could find,” he said. He said the body was handed over to the family. Mian Mohammad Ramzan, the mosque custodian, said he saw smoke inside the mosque, which is adjacent to his home, and rushed over to investigate. He found one Quran burned and saw a man attempting to burn another. He said people were starting to arrive for evening prayers as he was shouting for the man to stop. Witnesses said a police team that reached the village before the stoning began took custody of a man but the mob snatched him away from them and beat the police as they tried to rescue him. Later, more officers and constables reached the scene and took custody of the body, they said. Gujjar, the area police chief, said investigators were scanning available videos to try to identify the assailants. He said police had so far detained about 80 men living in the mosque's surroundings but that about 300 suspects took part. Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his anguish over the incident and said he was seeking a report from Punjab's chief minister on the police handling of the case. He said they “failed in their duty.” “We have zero tolerance for anyone taking the law into their own hands and mob lynching will be dealt with with the full severity of the law,” he said in a tweet hours after the incident. Khan also asked the Punjab police chief for a report on the actions taken against perpetrators of the lynching. The killing comes months after the lynching of a Sri Lankan manager of a sporting goods factory in Sialkot in Punjab province on Dec. 3 who was accused by workers of blasphemy. Mob attacks on people accused of blasphemy are common in this conservative Islamic nation. International and national rights groups say blasphemy accusations have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and settle personal scores. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/man-accused-blasphemy-stoned-death-mob-pakistan-82858123
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Uyghur Muslims protest in Turkey against Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s clean chit to China
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Istanbul [Turkey], February 12 (ANI): Uyghur diaspora held protests in Istanbul, against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for his remarks on China just prior to departing to attend the inaugural ceremony of Beijing Olympics 2022.
Uyghur Muslim protesters gathered in front of the Pakistan consulate in Istanbul on February 11 and raised slogans against Imran Khan’s statement in which he gave a clean chit to China with respect to its suppressions on Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, according to reports.
Uyghurs stated that the main reason for the protest was “the lies of Imran Khan and the deportation of Uyghur Muslims from Pakistan.”
After much argument, only 25 protesters were allowed at the site with the assurance they would not disrupt the traffic. However, starting with 25, the number of protesters increased to 70. After half an hour the Turkish police forcibly boarded the protesters and sent them back. During the protest clash between the security officials and protestors occurred many times. A minor skirmish occurred when the consulate senior officer stopped a few Uyghurs from raising anti-Imran Khan slogans.Imran Khan, who has long projected himself as a champion of Islamic causes, continues to support China on its policy regarding Xinjiang, despite the global bid to hold Beijing accountable for suppressing Uyghur Muslims in the region. Italian political advisor and geopolitical expert Sergio Restelli said the growing dependence on China for economic aid and diplomatic support is the major reason that Pakistani leadership is left with no option but to publicly commit to China’s policies even though they are responsible for the genocide of Uyghur Muslims. (ANI)
However, only 10 protestors were allowed to stand in front of the Pakistan consulate main gate at a time. A memorandum was submitted to security officials who refused to receive it. The envelope containing the memorandum was pasted on the main gate of the consulate. Senior officers of the Pakistan embassy came out to reason with the protesters. Interestingly they tried to convince the protesters to go and protest in front of the Chinese embassy.
https://theprint.in/world/uyghur-muslims-protest-in-turkey-against-pakistan-pm-imran-khans-clean-chit-to-china/829130/
Pakistan witnesses four heinous crimes against women in one week
#PPP #Pakistan - ‘The Sindh Students Unions Bill, 2019’ revives student unions after a 38 year long eclipse -Mian Raza Rabbani, Former Chairman Senate
PRESS RELEASE
Mian Raza Rabbani, Former Chairman Senate, has issued the following press statement;
The Pakistan People’s Party has kept its pledge with the nation, and youth in particular, as the Sindh Assembly has passed ‘The Sindh Students Unions Bill, 2019’. 
The Bill revives student unions after 38 years’ eclipse. Student union had been banned in public sector universities and colleges of the country in 1984 during regime of the dictator Gen. Ziaul Haque. This was a deliberate step taken by the state in order to crush the student unions as well as labour unions which were on the forefront of the struggle against Gen. Ayub Khan.
The Bill provides for promoting the general interest of students in academic, disciplinary, extracurricular or other matters relating to the affairs of the students in the educational institutions. It further provides that a student or students shall be the member of the Syndicate, Senate or Board of the educational institution.
Student unions have been a nursery for producing political workers with ideological commitment, believing in transparency. A cursory glance at the present political leadership will unravel that those who have grown from student politics are committed to their ideology, party, believe and are upright and honest not compromising on principles.
Student unions will also help in promoting academic freedom in educational institutions.
Friday, February 11, 2022
سندھ نے طلبہ یونین بحالی کا بل منظور کر کے تاریخ رقم کی، بلاول
چیئرمین پیپلزپارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ سندھ اسمبلی نے طلبہ
یونین بحالی کا بل منظور کر کے تاریخ رقم کی ہے۔
بلاول بھٹو نے سندھ میں طلبہ یونین کی بحالی پر مبارک باد دیتے ہوئے کہا کہ طلبہ سے یونین سازی اور اپنے نمائندے کے چناؤ کا حق چھین کر نوجوانوں کی آواز کو دبانے کی کوشش کی گئی تھی۔
بلاول بھٹو کا کہنا تھا کہ اب درس گاہوں میں طلبہ سے متعلق فیصلہ لینے والی انتظامیہ میں طلبہ کا اپنا نمائندہ ہوگا، ہمارا مطالبہ ہے کہ ملک بھر میں طلبہ تنظیمیں بحال ہوں۔
واضح رہے کہ گزشتہ روز سندھ اسمبلی نے 38 سال سے عائد طلبہ یونینز پر پابندی ختم کرنے کا بل متفقہ طور پر منظور کرلیا تھا۔
ایوان میں طلبہ یونین سے متعلق مجوزہ بل قائمہ کمیٹی برائے قانون سے منظوری کے بعد پیر مجیب الحق نے پیش کیا تھا۔
Pakistan Is in Denial Over Baloch Revolt, and That Can Cost It Heavily
FRANCESCA MARINO
While Islamabad is trying to paint a happy picture, the Baloch are up in arms and are not going to give up.
Imran Khan has finally gone to Balochistan – to Nushka, to be precise – along with Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa to spend the day “with the troops who repulsed terrorist attacks”. And he is promising 'panem et circenses', meaning food and amusement, to the Baloch, while announcing a raise in the salary of the Frontier Corps and other paramilitary organs. Those same corps, to be clear, who are exploiting, disappearing and killing Baloch people every day in connection with criminal squads, and, of course, with the Chinese protectors of the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) interests in the area.Contesting Claims The premier and his guardian flew to Balochistan a few days after the Balochistan Liberation Army launched on February 2 what they called ‘Operation Ganjal’ carried out by their Majeed Brigade. The attack, targeting military posts both in Panjgur and Nushki, lasted almost 72 hours. According to the BLA spokesperson: “More than 90 enemy personnel, including approximately 55 personnel of Frontier Corps, 18 SSG Commandos and 7 Lite Commandos were killed in Noshki, whereas at least 105 enemy personnel were neutralised in Panjgur. This includes 85 personnel of Frontier Corps and 20 SSG Commandos. During the battle, a military drone was shot, whereas a helicopter was also targeted. However, it could not be ascertained if this helicopter crashed or not. Two armoured vehicles of Pakistani military were destroyed, whereas both military camps were partially destroyed.” According to the Pakistani military, “Both attacks have been successfully repulsed while inflicting heavy casualties to terrorists.” In Panjgur, terrorists tried to enter a security forces' camp from two locations, the statement read. “However, timely response by troops foiled the terrorist attempt. During intense exchange of fire, one soldier has been martyred. Terrorists have fled while their casualties are being ascertained.” So, they flew drones and helicopters and evacuated the area just for fun, it seems, while Imran and Bajwa went to Balochistan just to have a picnic with the soldiers carrying out a routine operation. The truth might be in the middle, as what happens during war operations. The Baloch Are Up in Arms, And Pak Is Deluded But besides the numbers and figures of casualties, there’s another truth, a more unpalatable one – the Baloch are up in arms and are not going to give up. Islamabad tries to silence the press about the military operations carried by the BRAS almost every day, the region is sealed for journalists and independent observers, but the reality on the ground still seeps out of the region. Islamabad maintains the usual narrative: that Baloch handlers are in Afghanistan and in India, that it is not a freedom movement or a spontaneous revolt, that the Baloch are happy and dancing in the streets like Uighurs in China, and that the revolt is just due to terrorist elements funded and armed by India.Interestingly enough, talking about terrorists, Mohammed Hafiz Saeed flew to Balochistan before Bajwa and Imran and gave a scandalised statement about the anti-Pakistan (and anti-China) feelings brewing there. Imran's Own Words in 2009 The same feelings were highlighted in the past by Imran himself who, in 2009, had said on record: “Hundreds disappeared, there was extrajudicial killing. It was treated more like a colony rather than a part of Pakistan”. He added that if he were a Baloch, he may well be someone who “would turn to arms” in order to “defend the rights” of his people. “I think I would turn to arms if I had no access to getting into Parliament because most of the elections are heavily rigged there.” Imran testified in favour of Hyrbyair Marri and Faiz Baloch during a trial for terrorism held in the UK against them under Pervez Musharraf's pressure. According to the record of Henry Blaxland QC’s (Marri's lawyer) final speech, in a video call from Islamabad the actual Prime Minister of Pakistan “described that sense of military occupation, the roadblocks, the military cantonments everywhere – I think he described the one in Quetta being the biggest he had ever seen – that permanent sense of occupation.” Interestingly enough, in his testimony in the Hyrbyair and Faiz case, Imran maintained the same position currently held by Bashir Zeb, the actual commander of the BLA, who stated: “We consider armed struggle a form of political approach. Our movement stems from established political concepts and it is in its current status only because peaceful means of struggle have been banned on us and armed struggle has been left as the only choice”. A Warning to Pakistan
The latest BLA statement says, “The Baloch freedom movement is a homegrown movement, and its power sources lie in the Baloch public. All Baloch fidayees involved in the Operation were educated Baloch youth who were born in Balochistan and, following the philosophy of General Aslam Baloch, died defending the motherland. It should be now clear that this freedom movement cannot be weakened by any changes in neighbouring countries or by being labelled as a proxy movement”.But it also offers an overture to the government: “The Baloch Liberation Army values human lives and we do not find happiness in ending any life. If Pakistan, instead of bloodshed and carnage, opts for peace then we in the presence of an international guarantor invite Pakistan to the negotiation table. We are ready for negotiations on agendas of secure withdrawal of Pakistani forces from Balochistan and complete independence of our motherland.” Otherwise, they say, the attacks will go on against military posts and Chinese economic interests, in Balochistan and all over Pakistan. Why Pak Must Learn From History But it might be too late for Islamabad to end the state of denial and the narrative they are carrying on with for many years now. They sold Balochistan to the Chinese, telling Beijing that they could easily manage a few rioters funded by the usual 'foreign powers', and the only way out Pakistan could think of was escalating the repression, the human rights violations, and the level of violence against Baloch people. The Chinese gave them a good hand, trying to adopt in Balochistan the same strategies they adopted in Xinjiang, including showing happy people playing golf in Gwadar. But that has only resulted in a new generation of fighters who are even more motivated than their elders.A negotiation table might be a better idea for both Islamabad and China. They should all, in fact, go back to history books and remember what happened to East Pakistan. History, if you don't learn from it, will always repeat itself.
https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/pakistan-is-in-denial-over-baloch-revolt-and-that-can-cost-it-heavily#read-more
#Pakistan #PPP - Bilawal waxes satirical about top-10 ministers
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Thursday Prime Minister Imran Khan had himself admitted failure of his entire cabinet by awarding ‘best performance’ certificates to only 10 ‘blue-eyed’ federal ministers.
He was addressing a workers’ convention of the party’s south Punjab chapter at the Gilani House in Multan.
Almost all PPP office-bearers, including divisional, district, tehsil and union councils and other allied wings of lawyers, labour, youth and students were present at the convention. He said Imran Khan had committed a ‘great injustice’ to Multan for not conferring a certificate on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while distributing performance certificates.
Says ‘injustice’ was done to Multan by depriving foreign minister of award
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Imran Khan will face the same fate as his mentor General Musharraf- Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/26250/
صدر زرداری، بی بی آصفہ اور میں پاکستان میں موجود ہیں، عمران خان میں ہمت ہے تو ہمیں گرفتار کرکے دکھائیں، چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے بلاو ل بھٹو زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ عمران خان کی
کرپشن کے بارے میں لگائی رٹ ویسے ہی اپنا اعتبار کھو چکی ہے جیسے اس کے لیڈر جنرل مشرف جو ایک غدار اور بھگوڑے ہیں اپنا اعتبار کھو چکے ہیں۔ عمران خان کی قسمت بھی جنرل مشرف ہی کی طرح ہوگی۔ چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو نے عمران خان کو چیلنج کیا کہ صدر زرداری وہ خود اور آصفہ بھٹو زرداری پاکستان ہی میں موجود ہیں اور اگر عمران خان میں ہمت ہے تو انہیں گرفتار کرکے دکھائیں۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ قائد عوام، شہید محترمہ بینظیر بھٹو اور صدر زرداری کرپشن کے تمام جعلی کیسوں سے باعزت بری ہوئے ہیں۔
چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو نے یہ باتیں جمعرات کے روز ملتان میں پارٹی ورکرز کنونشن سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے کہیں۔ اپنے خطاب میں انہوں نے کہا کہ عمران خان نے اپنے وزیر خارجہ کو کارکردگی کا سرٹیفکیٹ نہ دے کر ملتان کے ساتھ سخت ناانصافی کی ہے۔ عمران خان نے آج اپنے چمچوں کو سرٹیفکیٹ بانٹے ہیں۔ ایک جانب حکومت اپنی کامیاب خارجہ پالیسی اور چین کے کامیاب دورے کا دعویٰ کرتی ہے اور دوسری جانب اپنے وزیر خارجہ کو سرٹیفکیٹ نہیں دیتی۔ چیئرمین بلاول نے کہا کہ پارٹی کی سی ای سی نے اس نالائق، سلیکٹڈ اور کٹ پتلی حکومت کے خلاف اعلان جنگ کر دیا ہے اور پارٹی کا ہر ورکر اس جنگ کا سپاہی ہے۔ پارٹی نے ملک بھر میں تمام مسائل پر احتجاج کئے جن میں پٹرول، گیس، چینی اور کھاد کے بحران شامل ہیں۔
پی پی پی نے کسان مارچ اور ٹریکٹر مارچ کا بھی انعقاد کیا تاکہ ان کسانوں کے حقوق کے لئے آواز بلند کی جائے جو ملک کو غذا کی سکیورٹی مہیا کرتے ہیں۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ہمارا مارچ 27فروری کو کراچی سے اسلام آباد کی جانب روانہ ہوگا اور عمران کو عوام کی تکالیف کا جواب دینا ہوگا۔ ہم اس سلیکٹڈ کو عوام پر مزید مشکلات سے دوچار کرنے کی اجازت نہیں دیں گے۔ ہم ہر اس شخص سے رابطہ کریں گے جس نے کبھی بھی جئے بھٹو کا نعرہ لگایا ہے اور انہیں پاکستان کے عوام اور پارٹی کی حمایت پر آمادہ کریں گے۔ انہوں نے پارٹی کارکنوں کو ہدایت کی کہ پرانے کارکنوں اور حمایتیوں کی جانب یہ پیغام لے کر جائیں کہ شہید بینظیر بھٹو کا بیٹا ان کے ملک کی قسمت بدلنے اور ملک کو بچانے کے لئے نکلا ہے۔ ہم اس نااہل، سلیکٹڈ اور کٹھ پتلی کو پاکستان کے عوام کے سامنے ننگا کریں گے۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ ہمارا لانگ مارچ تمام ملک سے گزرے گا اور ہم عوام کو مطلع کریں گے کہ ٹرانسپیرنسی انٹرنیشن نے اس سلیکٹڈ حکومت کو پاکستان کی تاریخ کی سب سے کرپٹ حکومت قرار دیا ہے۔ پاکستان کا ہر کرپٹ عمران خان کے دائیں اور بائیں بیٹھا ہوا ہے۔ آج عمران خان نے اپنے کچھ وزراءکو سرٹیفکیٹ دئیے جن میں وہ وزیر بھی شامل ہے جس نے سی پیک کے پراجیکٹ کو روک دیا، وہ وزیر بھی شامل ہے جس نے ایک صوبہ بنانے کا وعدہ کیا تھا اور وہ وزیر بھی شامل ہے جسے پہلے ایک وزارت سے ہٹایا گیا اور اب وہ پلاننگ کا وزیر بن کر چینی، گیس، پٹرول، دواﺅں وغیرہ کا بحران پیدا کر رہا ہے۔
انہوں نے کہا کہ عمران کی کابینہ میں بے تحاشہ وزراءشامل ہیں جبکہ اس نے دس وزراءکو سرٹیفیکیٹ دئیے جس سے ظاہر ہوگیا کہ عمران کو اپنی کابینہ کی اکثریتی وزراءپر اعتماد نہیں۔ عوام اس نالائق کابینہ کا بوجھ اٹھا رہے ہیں لیک اب بہت ہو چکا ہے اور عمران کو اپنی کابینہ سمیت جانا ہوگا۔ چیئرمین پی پی پی نے کہا کہ لانگ مارچ کی کامیابی ابھی سے ظاہر ہو رہی ہے۔
عمران کا ایک دوست پارلیمان سے نااہل ہوگیا ہے اور حکومت کے اتحادی بھی حکومت کے بارے اپنی رائے تبدیل کرنے پر تیار ہو رہے ہیں۔ ہم ان اتحادیوں کے حلقہ انتخاب سے بھی گزریں گے اور انہیں عوام کا فیصلہ سنائیں گے کہ عمران کو جانا ہوگا۔ ہم اسلام آباد کے راستے میں آنے والے تمام عمران کے سہولت کاروں کو بتائیں گے کہ یہ حکومت ناکام ہو چکی ہے اور جب ہم اسلام آباد پہنچیں گے تو عدم اعتماد کے وقت دنیا دیکھ لے گی کہ کون عمران خان کے ساتھ ہے اور کون نہیں ہے۔
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
#Pakistan: Cousin marriages create high risk of genetic disorders
Scientists say inbreeding is causing an unusually high number of genetic mutations to spread in Pakistan, leading to disabilities in children of consanguineous marriages. Still, this social custom persists.
Ghafoor Hussain Shah is a 56-year-old teacher and father of eight children in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. According to tribal customs in Pakistan, Shah said he is expected to arrange the children's marriages within his extended family. However, Shah knows about the potential risks of genetic disease prevalent in children from inter-family marriages. He married his maternal cousin in 1987, and three of their children suffer from disorders. Shah told DW his son's brain did not develop to a normal size. One of his daughters has a speech disorder and another has hearing problems. "My biggest regret is that they could not get education," he said. "I am always worried about them … who will look after them after my wife and I are gone?" he added. Despite the risks of genetic disorders, Shah said there is enormous social pressure to adhere to customs calling for cousins to marry. Anyone who refuses to offer their children for marriage within the family risks being ostracized. Shah said he had to marry off his one son and two daughters to close relatives. His family's medical history includes cases of blood disorders, learning disabilities, blindness and deafness. Doctors have said inbreeding could be to blame. Pakistan's 'genetic mutation' problem According to a 2017 report on genetic mutations in Pakistan, the "heterogenous composition" of Pakistan's population, including high levels of "consanguinity" has led to a prevalence of genetic disorders. The report introduces a Pakistan "genetic mutation" database, which identifies and tracks different types of mutations and the disorders they lead to. According to the database, more than 1,000 mutations have been reported in 130 different kinds of genetic disorders found in Pakistan. Huma Arshad Cheema, a pediatrician specializing in genetic disorders, told DW that Pakistan has a huge burden of generic disorders due to inbreeding.She said specific disorders can be pinpointed to particular castes and tribes where inter-marriage is common. One of the most common genetic disorders seen right now in Pakistan is the inherited blood disorder, Thalassemia, which keeps red blood cells from absorbing oxygen.Genetic testing and pre-natal screenings for hereditary disorders are not widely available in Pakistan, Cheema said, adding that many health facilities also lack the capacity to treat genetic disorders. Why do cousin marriages continue? Karachi-based health expert Seraj ud Daulah said that the practice of cousin marriages in Pakistan can be traced to Islamic religious doctrines. "I asked clerics to help create awareness about genetic diseases, asking them to explain to people how cousin marriages are contributing to the rise in genetic diseases," Daulah told DW. However, he said the clerics he spoke with flatly refused, claiming that such marriages are in accordance with Islamic Sharia law and the traditions of the Prophet Mohammad. Shah said many families in Pakistan go through with consanguineous marriages because they believe it is called for by their Islamic religion. Even if the government were to make such marriages illegal, it would be met with fierce resistance, he added. Tribal and caste systems are deeply rooted in remote areas of Pakistan. Cheema said that the caste system, particularly among the Arain people living in Punjab province, is especially rigid and leads to many inter-family marriages. She said several genetic disorders are commonly found in this community.In Pakistan's western province of Balochistan, the southern region of Sindh, and in the northwestern provinces, tribal systems dictate family life.Ghulam Hussain Baloch, a resident of Balochistan, told DW that marrying outside of your tribe is considered a major social taboo. The situation in Sindh is not much different, where marriage outside one's clan or tribe could lead to murders and tribal clashes. Health officials respond In March 2020, the government in Punjab formed a task force aimed at preventing genetic diseases. The children's hospital in Lahore is now offering free genetic screening services in cooperation with Germany's CENTOGENE diagnostics company and other international organizations.Cheema said pre-natal screening will help parents decide whether to terminate the pregnancy in cases where lethal disorders are detected. Early detection can also aid treatment of a child born with a hereditary disorder. "We have screened 30,000 families in Pakistan with suspected genetic disorders," an official from Punjab's health department told DW on condition of anonymity. Health expert Daulah, however, said that more needs to be done to change people's mindsets on the danger of having children with close family members."In religious matters, people have blind faith and they do not want to listen to any logic," he said. "Perhaps if the government asked all clerics to spread awareness about the rising number of genetic disorders, and its connection with cousin marriage, then perhaps more Pakistanis would pay heed," he added. https://www.dw.com/en/top-stories/s-9097
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