NEWS

• Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, has said that they were warning from Day One that Imran Khan Niazi was brought to the field by external forces but no one believed them. Now he himself has justified our contention by launching a broad side against the Army and talking of disintegration of Pakistan into three parts.  He said Pakistan is not the land of clowns like Imran Khan fostered by external powers but the home to millions of followers of Islam. National and religious parties have made Pakistan invincible. Rehman warned that they will shatter the dream of patrons of Imran Khan. “We will not allow the security of Pakistan undermined, and the dignity of the army (limited to its constitutional role) to be tarnished. The JUI Chief also said, after being deprived of power, Imran Khan seems to have completely lost his mental balance and his party is about to split into several factions. (Jasarat- Dunya Daily)

• Pakistan has met all the targets of the FATF, brightening the chances of exit from the Grey List, according to the Foreign Office (FO). Diplomatic sources said that the four-day meeting of FATF will be held in Berlin from June 13 to 17. Issues related to Pakistan will be considered in the plenary session on June 15 and 16. Moreover, Minister of state for foreign affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar will accompany the delegation to Berlin to represent Pakistan at the meeting. (Jasarat-Jang)

• Mirza Shehzad Akbar, who Special Assistant for Accountability in the Imran Khan regime, had gone abroad immediately after his removal from his post and allegedly made properties worth billions of rupees. Mirza brief was to hold the PML-N accountable but he recklessly used government resources and government machinery to raise money. (Jang, Jasarat)

• Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari want that PML N and PPP to work together for the next 10 years, says PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, who is also advisor to the Prime Minister. In a statement he also said general elections are likely to be held in August 2023. He added that neutrals are at present neutral and remarked, “Hopefully they will remain neutral”. (Khabrain)

•  Qabael Awami Party (Tribal Public Party) Chief Abdul Razzak Afridi has welcomed Peace Jirga’s visit to Afghanistan to meet TTP leadership. He added that the ceasefire since the past three months is proof that both sides are moving ahead positively and sensibly and this should continue as peace is the key to development. (Aeen)

• Decision has been taken to form District Foreigners’ Security Cell for security of Chinese engineers working in CPEC, non-CPEC and private companies in the country. The cell is being set up on the directives of home ministry.   The Special Branch, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), and Security Division will keep auditing security arrangements from time to time and DIG (Operations) will monitor the working of the District Foreigners’ Security Cell  which will headed by additional SP(Ops). (Kawish, June 5)

• The Chief of Jamaat e Islami Siraj Ul Haq has criticised Shahbaz Sharif saying that prime minister while saying that he would sell his clothes to provide relief to the people, has actually removed the clothes of the people. The names, banners and slogans of political parties are different but their aim and interests are the same. We don’t need a change of faces; we need a change of the system. Corruption is flourishing in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The political parties and the ruling elites are responsible for this state of affairs. He announced that his party would start a march on 11th June against interest-based economy, corruption and inflation. (Ausaf Daily)

• IRSA report’s says water crisis this year is a 22-year record. Tarbela dam has dried up for the past one and half months while in Mangla dam water is as good as nil. Right now, provinces are facing more than 50 per cent shortage. Deficit in reservoirs has now reached 97 per cent. The detailed report released by IRSA says inflow into rivers has decreased by 56 per cent. Total water aggregate 1.25 lakh cusec as against 2.84 lakh cusec during corresponding period last year. Water left in the dams is one lakh acre feet as against 35 lakh acre feet during corresponding period last year. (Sindh Exp, Ausaf Daily, Daily Pakistan, Nawaiwaqt, Daily Jinnah, Ummat, Daily Express)

• PTI leaders have worked out their strategy in view of the possible arrest of their supremo Imran Khan.  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Shahram Turkai directed party workers to closely monitor newspapers, TV and social media. “The moment you hear about Imran’s arrest,  rush out of your homes and stage protests.  (Urdu Point)

• Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sindh, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti Sindh has appealed for donations to run the party campaign during the local bodies’ polls. He directed each worker to deposit 20% of his monthly income with the party treasurer.  (Daily Pakistan)

• PTI will participate in the 20 byelections to the Punjab assembly, party Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a press conference at Bani Gala after the PTI core committee meeting. He said candidates would be selected the provincial parliamentary board which is meeting tomorrow. He added that the by-polls would be a test to the poll body in conducting a transparent ballot.  He alleged that the Punjab government could commit electoral malpractices with the help of the police. (Nawaiwaqt, Daily Jinnah)

•  PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he is happy that the present government was holding talks with the Taliban though as an Opposition leader, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had criticized Imran government for doing the same. This shows out policies were relevant. (Daily Express, Nawaiwaqt)

• PTI has rejected Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s proposal for wide-ranging talks with all stake holders on issues before the nation. In a statement, the party’s Central Secretary for Information, Farrukh Habib, said the very dialogue offer is an acknowledgment of the failure of the coalition government.  (Ummat, Nawaiwaqt)

• Security forces killed seven terrorists and heavy weapons recovered in North Waziristan and Bannu. The operations were carried out in Jani Khel and Hassan Khel areas.  According to ISPR, the terrorists were involved in attacks on security forces and acts of terrorism. (Jang)

EDITORIALS

• Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Siraj-ul-Haq has announced that his party will participate in the elections with its flag and manifesto. He has also clearly diagnosed the disease Pakistan is suffering from. It is moral, ideological, and financial corruption which has made it difficult for the poor to breathe. (Edit Jasarat)

• PM Shahbaz Sharif has been making earnest efforts to end the problem of load shedding from Day One in office but the severity of the problem has increased. He held a five – hour review with officials concerned yesterday.  Come what may load shedding should not exceed two-hours, he told them bluntly.  (Edits- Jang- Jehan Pakistan)

• Inflation is raging high. Yet petrol prices have been increased. The poor are facing the brunt of price spiral. Prime Minister M Shahbaz Sharif is speaking of a grand dialogue with all the stakeholders to resolve all the issues but what country needs is not mere dialogue but sacrifices by all stake holders politicians including to bring the economic situation under control. (Edits – Qudrat, Aeen, Asas, Aaj)

• It is time the government started paying serious attention to the fact that a weakening economy is taking serious toll on peoples’ daily life. As the old adage says, hungry man is angry man.  If people fail to get two meals a day to their near and dear ones, People will surely be very aggrieved with powers that be and in such a situation no place can be safe enough for them to take a shelter. There is nothing else in the world which can turn any wise person into a crazy one as much as hunger can do it. It would be better if our rulers take a note well in time before it is too late. (Pahenji, Edit, June 5)

• In the two months the present government came to power, day-to-day essential items have almost gone out of reach of common man due to recent hike in petrol prices and power tariff. So much so the federal and provincial governments should control price-rise, and ensure that public transport will not be costly. Like-wise labourers should get minimum wages as announced by PM.  The authorities say that they are providing flour, sugar, oil and other essentials at subsidized prices; this is a tall claim; the poor continue to live a very tough and rough life. In fact, the poor are literally reduced to being picture of pity looking up to authorities with high hopes that their big claims are implemented. (Ibrat, Edit)

• The Sindh government should be serious about fake Sindh domicile certificates, which is no more than an invitation for outsiders to come and stay in the province. The issue concerns Sindh’s coming generations and future of our children. No one can dare take admission in educational institutions in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or apply for jobs there with help of these fake certificates. Hence, first thing to be done is action against the bureaucrats who issue such fake domiciles for petty financial gains. Action should also be taken against those seeking such fake certificates in Sindh. (Sindh Exp, Edit)

• Prices of everything in Pakistan are based on the prices of petroleum products. During the last ten days, petroleum prices were raised by 60 rupees per litre. So, the traders arbitrary increased the prices of all daily use items, and the transporters increased the bus/auto/ freight fare to a astronomical level. Even the Punjab government is considering to increase the minimum fare on Orange Train from 40 to 60 rupees. At a time when inflation is practically killing people, the government should at least not increase the fare of public transport. (Edit-Dunya Daily)

• The term, ‘difficult decision’ is coined to fool people. A decision can either be right or wrong. It can’t be difficult. Pakistan needed dams for the storage of water and producing inexpensive electricity. But objections were raised against building dams. On contrary India built dams where it needed them. We borrowed loans from IMF to produce electricity. It gave us loans but with it also gave costly coal and gas-based powerhouses, which are producing costly electricity and increasing pollution. We are suffering from the wrong decision of the government. We need the right decisions, not hard decisions. (Edit-Intekhab Daily)

• The federal cabinet approved taking of a loan from China with a three-year tenor.  China also agreed to refinance Pakistan’s 2.3-billion-dollar debt. Ever since the PML-N coalition government came to power, it has been facing many problems and challenges. The biggest and most important of these issues is the state of the economy. The IMF has imposed strict conditions for releasing the instalment of a loan approved during the Imran regime. Consequently, the government has raised petrol prices and power tariff to alarming levels. Friendly countries will also be willing to provide financial assistance to Pakistan, if the IMF releases the instalment. Realizing Pakistan’s financial difficulties, China has hinted at refinancing to repay its 2.3 billion dollars debt which was approved by the federal cabinet on Saturday. After China, Saudi Arabia will definitely provide financial assistance to Pakistan. Debt from these sources will definitely reduce the financial difficulties of the country and will also reduce the obstacles in the way of the government to run the affairs of the state but the plight of the Pakistani nation cannot be alleviated until we get out of debt. Therefore, we must formulate a workable policy to put the country on its feet because dependence on loans cannot make any country economically strong and stable. (Edit, Nawaiwaqt)

•  President Dr. Arif Alvi has not given his assent to Election Amendment Bill 2022 and NAB Amendment Bill 2022 and has sent them back for a review under Article 75 (b) of the Constitution. The government will now have to present these bills to a joint sitting of Parliament for approval and then send them afresh to the President for assent.  Objecting to the Election Amendment Bill, the President pointed out that Article 17 of the Constitution gives the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis. The amendment does away with the right. On NAB Bill, the President said that the amendments are against the spirit of Islamic jurisprudence. And would bury the process of accountability in Pakistan.  

(Edits- Nawaiwaqt, Naibaat)

COLUMNS

• Former PM Imran Khan has admitted in a statement that his government was under a lot of pressure to recognize Israel, and claimed that he did not yield to the pressure. However, the current imported government is making progress in this regard. Proof of this is the meeting of the Pakistani delegation with the Israeli PM, which the Israeli PM himself described as very pleasant and positive. The permit for this meeting was issued during the Imran government but the present government is implementing it. On the economic front, the current 13-party government defaulting on loan repayments is real. Some economists claim that Pakistan has practically “defaulted” but this is not being announced.  The finance minister says that the IMF and the World Bank are ready to give new loans but with some conditions. He did not mention these conditions but everyone knows that the international financial institutions are under the spell of the United States and the US has only two conditions for Pakistan. One Pakistan must surrender its nuclear capability, and the second Pakistan must recognize Israel. (Matin Fikri, Jasarat)

• • On one hand, Nawaz Sharif is leading Opposition’s campaign “Give Respect to Vote” and on the other hand, his brother, Shahbaz, is busy with his campaign, “Give respect to one particular institution (establishment)”. We know whatever Shahbaz does has implicit approval of Nawaz Sharif.  too. A notification was leaked from the President’s office. This notification says power to control bureaucracy is being handed over to one key institution. This key institution’s officers will henceforth will vet all information about bureaucrats including their promotions. Also, these bureaucrats cannot get promotions till okayed by this key institution. This notification gives impression that like Imran Khan had put NAB on a job to control bureaucrats, Shahbaz is going two steps ahead by entrusting this job to one key institution. Those who see this as positive development say this key institution is connected with the country’s security and hence there is nothing wrong if it is given additional power/authority to control bureaucrats. But those who know about Pakistan’s history do not see this development as positive. According to them this is no ordinary notification. Now that job of keeping an eye on bureaucrats is being handed over to one key institution, this will make officers in related civilian department jobless. If the civilian department also continues with its job of keeping an eye on bureaucrats, then there is a possibility of clash between officers working in both departments with the same task. These days social media is questioning Nawaz Sharif as to what had happened to his earlier campaign against the establishment meddling in civilians’ matters. Now, questions are also being raised as to whom will this key institution, be accountable to/be answerable to? Will it report to the PM or to their chief? In times of civilian supremacy, it is parliament that is supreme. Interference by any other department or institution will be against civilian supremacy. (Allah Bux Rathod   in Sindh Exp,)

• The outcome of local bodies elections in Balochistan were along expected lines. Maulana Hidayat Al Rehman’s “Haq Do Tehreek. (Give Us Rights Movement)” did well in Makran’s most sensitive part, Gwadar, known for its CPEC connection. I am not surprised with the big success by Maulana Hidayat in these polls because he got immense popularity with his 32- day dharna last year. He is connected with Jamaat-e-Islami that has not been doing well in polls, be they federal, provincial or even local bodies. When we started hearing about Maulana’s Haq Do Tehreek at Gwadar in February the so-called national media gave any coverage. Neither Quetta nor Islamabad establishment bothered about him. but when the Maulana’s protests started spreading across Makran, across Balochistan and also in areas touching the border belt, he became the most- wanted person for the media and the establishment alike.  The best thing about Maulana’s movement was that it succeeded in getting most of its demands acceded to without any bloodshed. Maulana is playing a legendary role not only in Gwadar but across Makran district. The civic polls in Balochistan, which recorded 60 per cent turnout, have come as a ray of big hope in Balochistan that has been burning since decades. But this turnout   should not make Balochistan rulers complacent with regards to these protesting /rebel organizations. As a student of political science, I can say that Islamabad cannot stop protests in Balochistan by using force through their emissaries/through the Balochistan government; establishments ultimately talk to dissenters for the sake of the nation’s future. The more we delay, the greater the losses ahead for us. (Ibrat, Mujahid Brelvi, June 4)

• If we take stock of new rulers’ performance during the past two months, we find that the new government has not been able to give any relief to people. However hard Shahbaz-led government may try to explain that conditions are very bad because of the earlier government, people would not be able to appreciate. Hence, the government’s charge against Imran Khan will automatically lose steam and Imran Khan stands absolved. No wonder political pundits are whispering once again that the prevailing scenario is engineered to keep Imran Khan out of power for one and half year and bring him back as stronger PM after making people taste bitter times under new government. (Kawish, Mohamad Khan Aabroo, June 5)

• The conditions today in the country can lead to big human tragedy and socio-political crisis. Big challenge before the government of the day is the economy and it is repeating very things done in the past   like hiking prices and tariffs. New government that came up in the aftermath of the ouster of the Imran Khan government through a no-confidence motion has not done anything for relief to the people. Whosoever rules the country and whichever party is in power, none has been able to control price rise. There are some capitalists in the country who help form governments only on the condition that they will be allowed rich rewards as pay nack. Be it PPP, ML, (N or S), or even PTI they all have their specified constituencies to appease like feudal, industrialist classes and other elites just as in times of army rule, establishment’s interests are taken care of. None of them has a common man’s day- to -day life as part of their agenda. More than these interests of the common man which can get better one or other day, right now we should be concerned about what Imran Khan has said in his interview about conspiracies cooking up to split the country into three parts. Government should not take these things lightly and nor should they be politicized. Instead, the government   should set up a commission to look into all that Imran Khan has said. The issues at stake are very critical like the survival of the country and its atomic assets. (Pahenji, Sikandar G Soomro, June 5)