Pakistan

Government, opposition and public!

Written

2 years ago

Nov 14, 2021 03:33 AM

Imran Yaqub Khan

The " criminal act" of petrol price hike that happened late Friday night (November 5), provoked public outrage. The hike was postponed till November 1, but was implemented on the night between November 3 and 4.

Imran Yaqub Khan

I am saying it a "criminal act" again and again because it was a routine decision that should have been made in broad daylight, but at 2am in the morning the news broke and the people woke up in the morning to find that a petrol bomb had dropped on them. Now the rise in prices and the pace of inflation is so fast that even the column written on inflation last week before November 5 seems old and this repeated cry is causing boredom.

Apart from petrol prices, electricity rates have also been increased. Basic electricity prices have been increased by Rs1.68 per unit. For commercial and industrial consumers, the price has been increased by Rs 1.39 per unit. For consumers using 300 units, the price of electricity has gone up to Rs13.83 per unit. The government believes that a household using 300 units of electricity is prosperous. And he can afford to raise rates, and if that is true, it would be pointless to talk about it.

Like the people under the news of inflation, the most important news of Friday was also suppressed and this was the news, the report of the Election Commission of Pakistan on the rigging in the by-election of Daska, this report is eye-opener and biggest charge sheet against the PTI government.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has detected systematic rigging in the NA-75 by-election investigation report. What do they think and do when they come to power, this report has put all the truth in front of them. This report is not limited to the disclosure of fraud but it is a criminal case. Several names have been written in this report but this systematic fraud must be thoroughly investigated. According to the report, the education department, police and district administration, ie the entire government machinery were used in the scam. The mastermind behind the rigging and its full implementation cannot be held responsible alone. Criminal proceedings should be initiated on the basis of this report and the culprits should be identified.

Reading this report, the question arises as to whether those who came with the mission of eradicating corruption have corrupted the entire government machinery. The Deputy Director of Colleges, the Presiding Officer, several officers of the Department of Education and then an army of police officers, all of which could not be managed by a single person. How SHOs remained election managers, police personnel stationed at polling stations continued to kidnap presiding officers instead of security, ignorance of returning officer and deputy returning officer, how many factors and roles are involved in this rigging. The story unfolds in layers.

Playing the role of opposition, the same PTI used to call others as ballot box thieves. Here, the entire election was rigged under the scheme. It will happen and the government will come down with a bang but now their own organized fraud has been proved. Those who call others "box thieves" are now ready for self-accountability.

The opposition's reservations about EVMs, ie electronic voting machines, seem to have come true after this report and the plan to snatch the powers of the Election Commission of Pakistan, this report has exposed the government's intentions. Who will now trust those who bulldoze the opposition and institutions and insist on bringing electronic voting machines? ۔

The political and administrative turmoil in the country over the last four or five weeks has made me think that the PTI government is on a "suicidal mission". Inflation bombs are being set off one after another and when there is a backlash against them, the captain addresses his Wasim Akram Plus (Usman Buzdar): "Whenever they ask you about performance tell them ask us after completion of five-year mandate."

Someone reminded the captain that if he had any mandate, it was economic justice, justice system, social justice, poverty alleviation, job creation, breaking status, eradicating corruption. The captain has a long list of promises that he may not even remember.

When the captain was saying this to the Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Bazdar, surely Bazdar must have been very encouraged that whoever had to ask me gave both a deal and a relaxation but is there any politician who is surrounded by political and economic challenges? Valuable can boldly reject all these questions under the pretext of a five year mandate ?? These are the evidences on which I believe that the captain and his team are on a mission of political suicide and the captain's advice to Bazdar was apparently a message to someone else.

The role of the opposition in this situation is also deplorable. The people are dying of poverty and inflation but the opposition is not making any effort to change the public mood into a movement. It seems that the opposition is thinking that the government may fall from its own stupidity or carry out the mission of political suicide itself. Perhaps that is why the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz talking to the media had said that it is the national responsibility of all political parties to find a constitutional way to handle the sinking economy of Pakistan and to get rid of the incumbant government. "

According to political analysts, if the opposition awaits like this, it should know that it will not be possible to get the people out to vote without representing the people. If politicians remain indifferent to the people today, then tomorrow the people will also be indifferent to them and then no one should complain that those who raised the slogan of step up didn't come along.

Up Next

Winter activity and political turmoil!

Don't Miss

Present regime and dengue!

Imran Yaqub Khan

Imran Yaqub is senior journalist and analyst

Pakistan

Rain likely at various parts of country: PMD

Heavy falls are also likely at few places in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Kashmir and adjacent hilly areas while dry weather with gusty winds is likely elsewhere in the country.

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 28, 2024 09:41 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Islamabad: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday forecast rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated hailstorm for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, upper/central Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Heavy falls are also likely at few places in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Kashmir and adjacent hilly areas. Dry weather with gusty winds is likely elsewhere in the country.

Isolated/moderate to heavy rainfall may generate flash flood in local nullahs/Streams of Dir, Swat, Chitral, Manshera, Kohistan and Kashmir till April 29.

Heavy fall may cause landslides in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan may affect the vulnerable locations during the period. Windstorm/hailstorm and lightning may affect human lives, standing crops, loose structures like electric poles, vehicles and solar panels etc during the period.

According to the synoptic situation, a strong westerly wave was affecting upper parts of the country and likely to persist during next 24 to 36 hours.

During the last 24 hours, rain-windstorm/thunderstorm occurred in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Punjab, northeast Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. Hailstorm is also observed at few places in Potohar region, Islamabad, Murree, Galliyat and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The rainfall recorded during the period was Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Saidu Sharif 55mm, Dir 54, Lower Dir 48, Mir Khani 42, Kalam 40, Drosh 36, Kakul 31, Chitral 30, Bacha Khan Airport 26, Malam Jabba, Parachinar 25, Pattan 24, Peshawar (Airport 24, City 17), Balakot 22, Cherat 14, Bannu, Takht Bai 10, Di Khan Airport 07, Kashmir: Garhi Dupatta 30, Muzaffarabad (Airport 27, City 24), Rawalakot 26, Kotli 05, Punjab: Murree 25, Attock 18, Islamabad (Golra 22, Zeropoint 16, Airport 09, Bokra 08), Bhakkar 16, Noor Purr Thal 11, Sargodha City 10, Joharabad 09, Rawalpindi (Chaklala 09, Kacheri, Shamsabad 05), Mandi Bahauddin 08, Mangla 04, Gujranwala 03, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Kasur 02, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sialkot Airport 01, Gilgit Baltistan: Astore 19, Bagrote 03, Chilas, Gupis 02, Gilgit 01, Balochistan: Kalat 08mm.

The highest temperature’s recorded were Chhor 41C, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mithi and Mohenjo Daro 40C.

Pakistan

PM calls for transforming Pak-Kuwait ties into economic partnership

Prime Minister Prime Minister thanks the Amir for sending him a warm congratulatory letter upon his re-election.

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 28, 2024 09:38 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Riyadh: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on the sidelines of Special Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh on Sunday.

The Prime Minister thanked the Amir for sending him a warm congratulatory letter upon his re-election.

While congratulating Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on assuming the role of Amir, Shehbaz Sharif expressed his desire to work closely with the Amir to transform bilateral ties into a mutually beneficial economic partnership that would serve the best interests of the peoples of both countries.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan and Kuwait signed a number of Memorandums of Understanding and agreements to deepen cooperation in trade and investment last year.

The Prime Minister assured the Kuwaiti leadership that these MoUs and agreements would be implemented in an efficient and timely manner.

In addition to bilateral ties, the regional situation, particularly with regards to the crisis in Gaza, was also discussed.

The Prime Minister reiterated his invitation to the Amir of Kuwait to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

Business

Pakistan’s economy on recovery path amid global tides: Governor SBP

Jameel Ahmad says that inflation had reached 38 per cent, the FX reserves were fast depleting, the exchange rate was under a lot of pressure and uncertainty was quite high.

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 28, 2024 10:02 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Karachi: Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Jameel Ahmad said that the firm commitment of the government and the SBP to respond to the macroeconomic challenges has resulted in significant improvement and Pakistan’s economy is on the path to recovery amid global challenges.

The SBP governor, while delivering a keynote address to the Members Convocation of ICMA Pakistan late Saturday night, elaborated on the recent improvement in Pakistan’s economy and shared that it is worth taking a step back and analysing where our economy is standing and where it is headed.

Referring to the challenging macroeconomic environment Pakistan was facing a year ago, he said that inflation had reached 38 per cent, the FX reserves were fast depleting, the exchange rate was under a lot of pressure and uncertainty was quite high.

However, today, inflation is coming down sharply, our reserves have risen to around US$8 billion despite heavy debt repayments and will so cross the $ 9 billion mark, the current account deficit has narrowed quite significantly, and as a result, the PKR is stable while the stock market is reaching new highs, Jameel Ahmed stated adding that uncertainty has also reduced and Pakistan’s bilateral and multilateral partners are continuing their support.

The governor, while citing Pakistan’s economic improvements, shared that progress was made possible because of a firm commitment of the government and the State Bank of Pakistan to effectively respond to the macroeconomic challenges.

“Unpopular yet necessary measures had to be taken as the State Bank raised the policy rate to 22 per cent, in order to reduce pressure on inflation and the current account,” the SBP governor said and added that the government also undertook fiscal consolidation by constraining non-essential current expenditures and the coordinated policy response was now yielding the desired results.

Governor SBP stressed the need for fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to address the longstanding issues facing our economy and said that fresh perspectives and innovative thinking have become more necessary, as the global shocks facing our economy are getting increasingly complex. He shared that climate change, technological advancements, cyber security threats, and financial innovations are adding new dimensions to the risks to economic and financial stability.

Governor Jameel Ahmad congratulated the graduating accounting professionals and encouraged them to make a mark for themselves and proactively respond to the emerging challenges as our country needs professionals with in-depth knowledge of economics, finance and accounting to find workable solutions.

He said that leadership skills are also paramount to designing and implementing the policy and regulatory decisions with courage and fortitude. In conclusion, the Governor encouraged the graduates to work with dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to excellence to help in shaping the economic landscape of Pakistan.

Earlier, President ICMA Pakistan Shehzad Ahmed Malik extended a warm welcome to Governor SBP Jameel Ahmed, Deputy Governor Dr. Inayat Hussain and Deputy Governor Saleem Ullah for attending the Convocation. He congratulated the SBP team on their efforts for stabilizing the economy.

In the end, Governor SBP bestowed degrees upon the graduating CMAs.