EDITORIALS

• Flood victims have knocked at the door of the Sindh High Court’s Sukkur bench. They complained that they were not receiving relief. It is not a new complaint but heard during flood season.  Justice Zafar Ahmad Rajput and Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi, who heard the case passed strictures against the government and its officials for wasting   funds and relief materials.   The court pulled up the officers, saying that they are employees of the public and not of MPAs, MNAs, and Wadera-mafia. If the government officials were honest, the victims would not have come to court. This indictment is not just against the incompetence of the officers. It is a FIR against the Sindh government, ministers, MLAs, and Wadera-mafia. (Edit Jasarat)

• Recently, FBR imposed 49% regulatory duty on the import of fresh and dry fruits and vegetables from Afghanistan. This resulted in a 90% drop in these imports and prices skyrocketed. In this situation, smuggling will be encouraged which will have a negative impact on FBR’s revenue. Smuggling has already taken the form of a parallel economy in the country, which has cost the national exchequer billions of rupees so far. Food transactions from Afghanistan generally fall under the category of local trade. Every year millions of tons wheat is being smuggled into Afghanistan from Pakistan.   Free trade agreement with Iran and Afghanistan is pending for several years.  We should expedite the free trade deal with both countries in order to discourage smuggling and facilitate food transactions. (Edit Jang)

• We urge all representatives to give priority to help people in their moment of distress. Flood ravaged Sindh people need to be helped urgently as starvation is gradually becoming a big tragedy.  There are reports of help reaching people late. There also reports of discrimination in distribution of aid. Politicians and elected representatives are helping only their near and dear. This is no time to do politics, this is time to help all without any discrimination. (Ibrat, Edit)  

• We would once again urge authorities to rush help to needy. Let people be not allowed to die of starvation and diseases. Let special care be taken of women, and children and also of aged ones. We appeal to NGOs and others who can afford to lend a helping hand at this hour of crisis, to assist people in whatever way possible. (Pahenji, Edit, Sept.8)  

• Just as nodal center was set up by Sindh government during COVID times, let some such center be set up again for help the flood victims.  In places where people can still be not moved out like at Nathan Shah, let some arrangements be made to send relief aid so that people do not die of starvation at such places. (Kawish, Edit, Sept.8) 

• With two-thirds of the country affected by floods, transportation and delivery of goods are also badly affected. Traders say delivery of vegetables, fruits and other commodities has been affected in many districts of Balochistan, Sindh, South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Local dairy farmers say that the supply of fodder has stopped due to which fodder has become expensive. The water supply infrastructure has been destroyed. It should be restored immediately. Flood affected areas should be declared tax free zones. At present, the economic management is being carried out through a heavy and burdensome taxation system on the poor people which cannot be sustained in the long run. The government should initiate serious and revolutionary reforms for the economic management in such a way that the dependence of the country ‘on foreign aid is minimized. Unnecessary expenses and privileges of government officials, and the elite should be banned and non-developmental expenses should be reduced substantially. (Edit, Daily Express)

• The Federal cabinet has approved the formation of a committee to distribute aid coming in for flood victims in a transparent manner. Bilawal Zardari briefed the Cabinet about the flood situation and relief activities in Sindh. The Prime Minister said that World Bank, Asian Development Bank and JICA are providing assistance to Pakistan to deal with this disaster. Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa spent Defense Day in the flood hit areas. Assistance for health, food, nutrition, water, sanitation, shelter and other emergency needs will be provided in collaboration with United Nations agencies. The government is trying to help the flood victims. Attention should be given to building dams and large reservoirs to control floods to avert disasters. (Edit Nawaiwaqt 8 Sept)

• The unfolding wheat and flour crisis demand urgent action against those responsible for the artificial shortage and the price hike. (Daily Pakistan Edit)

• Visiting the flood affected areas of Dera Ismail Khan, the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif asked flood victims to be patient. He promised that the Government will reach out to everyone everywhere. While the Prime Minister’s assurance is welcome, it is essential not to lose sight of the fact that several weeks have already passed and that the recovery process is a long way off. Relief goods have not reached all the flood victims. According to the data released by some NGOs, the Government and Welfare Organizations have been able to provide aid to 10 to 15 percent of the victims. (Edits- Daily Pakistan, Jehan Pakistan, Naibaat)

• PTI Chairman Imran Khan had an opportunity to avoid the contempt case by offering an unconditional apology to the lady judge whom he had criticised but he refused to do so. Instead, he issued a statement, which, the Court said, is unsatisfactory. Imran Khan has used bitter language many times against the judiciary, Election Commission and other important national institutions. It is not only Imran Khan, but all our political leaders do not have control over their tongue. They say whatever they want to say. They are nursing an irresponsible society with their irresponsible statements. They must realize their responsibility toward the society. (Edit-Dunya Daily)

NEWS

• Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s Chief Ministership is in danger. PTI provincial MLAs refused to accept him as the CM, sources said, adding that 7 to 10 MLAs have decided to withdraw their support to Elahi. Sources also said that the PTI group has prepared a strategy to remove Parvez Elahi by next week and Party chairman Imran Khan has been formally informed. They said that they are prepared to resign but will not support Pervez Elahi. They want the CM from PTI ranks. Sources have claimed that the PDM is in touch with disgruntled PTI lawmakers, and has given them a green signal. Pervaiz Elahi will lose his majority if these disgruntled PTI MLAs resign. (Jasarat)

• The 35th Annual World Conference on the End of Prophethood last night renewed pledges for the protection of the end of Prophethood, prayers for the security, stability and exaltation of the Islamic world and Pakistan. The final session was chaired by Maulana Ahmed Ali Siraj.  Maulana Umar Abdul Hafeez Makki participated from Saudi Arabia. The speakers said it is our religious and constitutional duty to protect the Prophethood Law 295-C and the doctrine of the end of Prophethood. Those who make national institutions controversial should be taught a lesson. We will not allow any conspiracy to weaken Pakistan. 6 September is the day of defense of the country’s borders and 7th September is the day of the defense of the borders of Prophethood. (Jasarat)

• Central President of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Allama Aurangzeb Farooqi, Allama Taj Mohammad Hanafi and others have said that on September 7, 1974, a historic decision was made on the disbelief of Qadianism and the sedition of Qadianism. Taking part in a seminar, they said no matter how sinful a Muslim is, he does not tolerate any kind of leniency on the belief of the end of Prophethood. It is the basic belief, without which no part of Islam is safe. They said that just as Qadianis were declared non-Muslim minority, we are continuously waging constitutional and legal struggle against the enemies of the Prophet’s companions. (Jasarat)  

• A rally was taken out from Kabir Masjid to the Press Club on behalf of the Day of Protection of Khatman-e-Nabuwat in connection with the declaration of Qadianis as a minority. Addressing the participants, Maulana Tajammul Hussain said that the religion of Mirzais and Qadianis should be mentioned in their identity card and marriage certificates. He also demanded that the Qadianis should be removed from key positions. (Jasarat)

• In Geo’s program “Report Card’’, analysts said Imran Khan will make a historic mistake by not apologizing to the woman judge in the threat case. The court is giving time and again Imran Khan a chance for an unconditional apology, but he has made it an ego issue. However, it is possible that Imran Khan will apologize at the next hearing. (Jang)

• Former Attorney General Irfan Qadir has said that Imran Khan used strong language against a female judge in his speech and as such, it will be very difficult for him to escape court strictures. Talking to a private TV, he also said in the past there were four such cases and in none of these cases the courts did not pardon to the contemnor.  In the case of Yusuf Raza Gilani, the court even disqualified him from contesting elections. (Jasarat)

• Shah Faisal Colony police (Karachi) recovered a large consignment of modern weapons from the refrigerator placed on the roof of a mosque. The weapons included a long-range machine gun, LMG, three Kalashnikovs, 2 short guns, 3 pistols 30 bore, one 12 bore rifle, more than 500 different types of bullets, and more than 20 loaded magazines.   (Jasarat)

• The administrative structure of the Sindh government has failed to help the flood victims. There is a strong reaction on social media against Sindh officers. (Jang)

• Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs has directed the Ministry of External Affairs to raise the issue of violence and vandalism by Afghan spectators in the stadium. The committee met with Senator Farooq H. Naik in the chair. (Jang)

• Due to the floods, the economy has lost 12 billion dollars. As a consequence, the growth rate is expected to decrease from 5% to 3.3% in the current fiscal year.  According to sources, the Ministry of Finance prepared a report on the flood damage and sent to the Prime Minister. (Daily Express, Ummat, Nawaiwaqt)

• After receiving 1.16 billion dollars from the IMF, the country’s foreign exchange reserves have reached the level of 14.47 billion dollars. According to the State Bank, currently the government’s foreign exchange reserves are at the level of 8.79 billion dollars, while commercial banks have 5.67 billion dollars. (Nawaiwaqt, Ummat, Daily Express, Daily Jinnah)

• The federal government has decided in principle to enter into agreements with Japan, Italy and Spain to defer payment of debts. Pakistan owes 189.5 million dollars to these three countries.  The Economic Affairs Division has finalized the drafts of loan deferment agreements. After the approval of the Federal Cabinet, these agreements will be signed. (Nawaiwaqt, Ummat, Daily Express, Daily Jinnah)

• The Election Commission of Pakistan has postponed by-elections to 11 seats of the National Assembly and two seats of the Provincial Assembly. Devastation caused by the floods and unavailability of security forces led to the postponement, sources said.   (Nawaiwaqt, Ummat, Daily Express, Daily Jinnah)

• On the assurance of the committee established by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the missing persons, the families of the missing persons ended their 50-day long sit-in protests at Quetta. On the instructions of the Prime Minister, the members of the committee held talks with the protesters. (Nawaiwaqt, Ummat, Daily Express, Daily Jinnah)

• Before appearing in the Islamabad High Court, Imran Khan interacted with journalists, and answered their questions. A journalist asked about reports that the government is planning to arrest him. Imran replied “I will become more dangerous by going to jail”. On a question about tight security at the court premises, Imran Khan said “I don’t know what they are afraid of. The security drill looks like Kulbhushan Jadhav is coming to the court”. (Daily Express, Ummat, Nawaiwaqt, Daily Jinnah)

• A fire broke out at Nine Zero, the headquarters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement London Group in Karachi on Thursday night. The flames soon went out of control. In a statement, the Sindh Rangers spokesperson, aid that a fire broke out in a residential building near Karachi Mukka Chowk, after which Ranger’s personnel reached the spot and the accident site was cordoned off. (Ummat)

• Although it has been a year since the Taliban seized power in Kabul, the Afghan foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, admitted that the Taliban government is still suffering from international isolation. He claimed that they have created a comprehensive governance system that can unite the Afghan people and provide them with security and prosperity. (Nawaiwaqt, Ummat, Daily Jinnah)

• According to the reliable sources, unknown terrorists threw grenades at a police station in Charsada area of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A policeman was martyred in the attack. The CCTV footage of the grenade attack has gone viral on social media. (Daily Express, Daily Jinnah, Ummat 8 Sept)

• Balochistan National Party Central Executive Committee Member Ghulam Nabi Marri, District Senior Vice President Malik Mohiuddin Lahri and others have expressed solidarity with the arrested innocent Baloch people and termed their arrest as illegal. (Urdu Point)

• Jamaat e Islami Chief Sirajul Haq has said while the entire country is in the grip of rains, floods, and inflation, the federal and provincial ministers and bureaucrats are addressing public meetings or issuing statements peacefully sitting in their drawing rooms or TV studios. Instead, of wasting time in such statements and comments they should come out and do some constructive work for the flood-affected people. It seems as if Sindh does not have anything resembling a government. The government cannot completely solve all the problems of the people, but it at least can alleviate them. People are losing their patience. He asked the government to drain the water from affected areas and spray anti-germ chemicals to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases. (Dunya Daily)

• The MQM Convener Doctor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said no one is concerned with the deteriorating law and order situation of Karachi. The Supreme Court should take cognizance of the grave situation of Karachi. The government has left the city at the mercy of the dacoits and criminals. So far, the dacoits have killed more than 300 persons. The brother of an MQM worker was killed yesterday by dacoits when he resisted them. It seems as if the government has given the criminal a license to rob and kill. The non-locals are responsible for these crimes. The people of the city pay tax even for disposal of the garbage, while the non-locals don’t pay even electricity bills. The government has become insensitive toward the local people. (Dunya Daily)

• The PTI received a big jolt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where, one of its senior leaders and a member of the provincial assembly Mohammed Fahim left the party. He stated he cannot work with the present leadership of the party. He said that the party Chairman Imran Khan is not working for the interests of the country. His words and works contradict each other. All development schemes are stalled. He claimed that more than 20 PTI members are in his contact and that at the proper time they will leave the party. He said that every department is involved in corruption. He said that soon he will disclose more facts. The spokesman of the provincial government avoided commenting on this report. (Dunya Daily)

• Secretary-General of the National Party, Jan Mohammed Buledi, said the mismanagement and incompetency of the government have done more damage to Balochistan than the rains and floods. The government was warned about the coming heavy rains but it did not take precautionary measures and people and their properties were left to the mercy of the flood water. Now when people are completely devastated, the government is unable to provide them any relief. The shelterless people are suffering from hunger and many diseases. But they are not getting food and medicines. The government has failed on every front. (Intekhab Daily)

COLUMNS

• Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Siraj-ul-Haq has said four-crore people have been affected by floods. which have wreaked havoc in 151 cities.  As many as 55 lakh houses have been completely destroyed. 2 million cattle died; trillions of rupees worth property was lost. It has been fifteen days since the flood, but the rulers are nowhere to share the pain of the victims. Mian Shahbaz Sharif is the Prime Minister of the country but he is only trying to get his pictures taken. The Sharif family owns trillions of rupees. If he had announced 10 billion rupees for the flood-affected people, their resources would not have decreased, but so far, the Sharif family has not announced any aid for the flood-hit people. Ditto with the Bhutto family, who are a billionaire. Asif Ali Zardari has earned trillions in the last 30 years. However, if they had announced   five billion rupees for the affected people of Sindh, it would have been a minor thing. But the Bhutto family did not announce any aid. Sharif family and Bhutto family are using state resources for flood relief work. Yet, flood victims are complaining that they have not received any government help so far. This scenario shows that Pakistan’s ruling class is failing miserably to manage the flood situation. This was the situation during the 2010 floods in Sindh. At that time too, Jamaat-e-Islami had helped the brothers of Sindh. (Shahnawaz Farooqi, Jasarat)

• The rains have stopped, but the Sindh government has failed to drain out stagnant waters. Of all places affected in current heavy floods, Daddu district is the worst hit. People are seen there moving in boats. Who knows how long the scenario will continue to be like that of Nathan Shah and how long Meher will be under heavy waters? People living around Manchar Lake are suffering the worst. If Juhi has survived, there is nothing for authorities to take credit for, it goes only to people there. Now, a warning has been issued to some cities asking people to leave their places. It is easy for authorities to make announcements and warnings that people leave their places, but none tells people as to where they should go. Sindh chief minister has not been able to save his own district in the current floods. (Sindh Exp, Aijaz Mungi) 

• Imran Khan has appealed to the Sindh people to be part of PTI team. He assured Sindh people that PTI would defeat PPP. He demanded that divisions be changed into provinces.  Hence it is almost certain that if he comes to power, he will break up Sindh to carve out more provinces. It is established beyond doubt that he never had any sympathy for the Sindh and that fact continues to remain unchanged till day. Much before he became PM, his statements to the media used to separate Karachi from Sindh. He had also made statements that those living in interior Sindh had no right to rule Karachi. All such statements speak only for his utter hatred unto Sindh. All in Sindh must rise together, forgetting differences, to oppose Imran Khan’s demand to turn divisions into provinces. Heed my appeal.  (Mohd Khan Saiyal, Sindh Express). 

• Every government in the country wants an army chief of its choice. In the past juniors were made army head superseding seniors. According to our constitution, the PM has discretionary power to appoint any one from the list of three-four names sent by the army. Top lieutenant generals in the race for this post include Asim Muneer, Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Izhar Abbas, Naiman Mahd, Faiz Hameed, and Mohamad Amir. Few weeks back, Imran Khan said it makes no difference as to whosoever comes as the new army chief. But, in his address at Faisalabad, he crossed his limits. He leveled several charges against Sharifs and Zardari. He also raised questions on the patriotism of army generals and questioned their efficiency. All such developments make one wonder as to what exactly Imran Khan wants? Following Imran Khan’s statements, there were reactions from several quarters including the army. None of the PTI sympathizers came in support of Imran Khan. Ever since Imran is out of power, he has been making hard-hitting statements against political opponents and also against institutions. He is seen very active on social media sparing none. In the past, Imran Khan escaped punishment in the contempt of court cases by promising that he would not repeat the mistake. Now, it remains to be seen as to what action Islamabad high court takes on the 19-page explanation submitted by Imran Khan in reply to the second opportunity given to him to explain his threats to a judge and two police officials in Shahbaz Gul’s case. In his explanation, he said he was moved after seeing Gul’s condition and made aforesaid statements without any intention to hurt anyone’s sentiments. Imran Khan has not apologized for what he had said against the lady judge/magistrate and two police officials. He only said “I am sorry for the statements”. The legal experts know it very well as to what matters more to the court between making an apology and feeling sorry. In the past, ML (N) leaders were sentenced even after tendering apology; so, it remains to be seen as to what happens in Imran Khan’s case. (Pahenji, Hakeem Naseerani, Sept.8) 

• The scourge of fuel price adjustment started in the previous PTI government which is not only continuing in the current government, but is being charged much more than before due to the increase in interest rate on petroleum products. Jamaat-e-Islami is the only party in Karachi which has been continuously protesting and holding sit-ins against K Electric. Jamaat-e-Islami has also set up a complaint cell against K-Electric. No other party is protesting against K Electric because all major parties have recruited their people in K Electric. People are worried about the continuous increase in electricity tariffs, and fuel prices. When electricity is not being generated by fuel, why is the fuel price charged on the electricity bill every month? (Mohammed Saeed Arain, Daily Express, 8 Sept) ###