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Pakistan Governance Forum (PGF) - July, 2014
Edition X, Volume 5
July 2014
Edition X, Volume 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GOVERNANCE WATCH --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Government’s Working ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Musharraf ‘Exit Deal’: Gilani Spills the Beans ---------------------------------------------------------------- 3
President Mamnoon Signs Protection of Pakistan Bill into Law ----------------------------------------- 3
People’s Courts to Become Reality Soon---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Article 245 Invoked: Army Called Out For Islamabad’s Security ---------------------------------------- 5
National Assembly & Senate ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
‘Divided’ NA Puts Stamp on New Anti-Terror Laws -------------------------------------------------------- 6
PML-N Eyes Bigger Federal Cabinet --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
NA Speaker Notifies 33 Members of Electoral Reforms Body -------------------------------------------- 8
Operation Zarb-e-Azb ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9
COAS Vows to Pursue Militants to the Finish ---------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Zarb-e-Azb: 80 Percent of Miranshah Cleared ------------------------------------------------------------ 10
Haqqanis No Exception: Operation Targeting All Militants--------------------------------------------- 10
Army Mops up Targets, Secures 70% of Mirali------------------------------------------------------------ 11
BALOCHISTAN WATCH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13
Governance Watch -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13
Missing Persons: Govt, VFBMP Unable To Agree On Number ------------------------------------------ 13
POLITICAL & ELECTION WATCH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15
Political Parties ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
PTI Approaches ECP for Nawaz’ Disqualification--------------------------------------------------- 15
Elections & Stakeholders ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15
By-Election: PPP Candidate Wins AJK Women’s Seat ---------------------------------------------------- 15
PML-N, PPP Make Space for Smaller Parties on Poll Reforms Committee --------------------------- 16
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
Human Rights in Pakistan ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
Pakistan ranks 146 on UN’s Human Development Index ----------------------------------------------- 17
Human Rights Related Issues------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
Woman and Two Girls Killed In Gujranwala ‘Blasphemy’ Row ---------------------------------------- 17
GENDER WATCH -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19
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Women Empowerment--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19
Her Right to Education: Gender Inequality Major Hurdle in Access to Education ----------------- 19
Gender Based Violence/Violence against Women ---------------------------------------------------- 20
‘Girl Summit’ Seeks Worldwide Ban on Horrifying Practice -------------------------------------------- 20
SECTARIAN CRISES & CONFLICT WATCH ------------------------------------------------------------------- 21
Conflict & Sectarian Crisis Incidents ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 21
Security Briefs for the Month of July ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21
ECONOMIC WATCH ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25
Facts & Figures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25
$6.7b IMF Bailout: If Needed, Pakistan May Introduce Mini-Budget --------------------------------- 25
Bailout Review: IMF Sets Deadline for Making SBP Fully Autonomous ------------------------------ 26
Economic Fortunes: Economy Has Turned a Corner, Says Central Bank ---------------------------- 27
Budget 2014-2015: Government Underestimated Spending By Rs. 112b, Says IMF -------------- 27
ADB ‘Surprised’ Over 4.1% Growth Claims ---------------------------------------------------------------- 28
Future Projection: IMF Sees 13% Depreciation of Pakistani Rupee ---------------------------------- 29
DEVELOPMENT WATCH ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31
Developmental Projects ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31
Mou Signed: Norway Pledges $700,000 for Capacity Building of Punjab Police ------------------- 31
CDA Has Allocated 44% Budget for Various Projects: Chairman -------------------------------------- 31
‘Millennium Goals Missed Because Of Low Savings’ ----------------------------------------------------- 32
Health Projects ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33
Health Reports/Controls--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33
Immunisation Campaign: Arrival of 6,000 Children Sets Polio Drive in Motion ---------------- 33
ENERGY CRISIS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35
Government’s Role in Oil and Gas & Energy Crisis ---------------------------------------------------- 35
OGRA Okays 14% Increase in Gas Price for Consumers for 2014-15 --------------------------------- 35
OGRA Approves 5-14pc Hike in Gas Tariff ----------------------------------------------------------------- 35
NEPRA Withdraws Relief; Domestic Lifeline Consumers to Pay Rs 3.79 per Unit More ---------- 36
REGIONAL WATCH ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37
Pakistan & India ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37
Government working on MFN status for India ------------------------------------------------------------ 37
Pakistan & Afghanistan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38
Pak-Afghan Security: Neighbours to Devise Better Border Control ---------------------------------- 38
Afghan presidential elections: Ghani declared winner as Abdullah cries foul ---------------------- 39
Feuding Afghan Rivals Study UN Vote Plan As Kerry Mediates ---------------------------------------- 39
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GOVERNANCE WATCH
Government’s Working
Musharraf ‘Exit Deal’: Gilani Spills the Beans
Former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani revealed that the PPP had held several rounds of
talks with the establishment over Pervez Musharraf’s exit, and the former military ruler had
resigned after an “agreement” between the government, opposition and the establishment.
Addressing a press conference, Gilani said he, along with then president Asif Ali Zardari, held
talks with the establishment. He said that it was not possible to have Musharraf resign without
the consent of establishment, and confirmed that the PML-N was also involved in the dialogue
process. The former premier said the PML-N should not have lodged a case against Musharraf,
as it was decided that he would not be impeached if he resigned himself. “How could a strong
general resign without any agreement!” he remarked. Gilani said the PPP and PML-N leadership
had decided to go for impeachment of the former military ruler, however, negotiations were
held between the civilian leadership and establishment in which it was decided that if
Musharraf resigns from the Presidency he would be given a safe passage. Responding to a query
regarding whether the PML-N was taken onboard by the then PPP government on giving safe
passage to Musharraf, Gilani said that all political forces were taken on board. He said PML-N’s
decision to frame charges of treason against Musharraf was not justified, and the matter should
be left to the courts to decide.
Gilani claimed that during the negotiations, the former army strongman had been guaranteed a
safe passage in exchange for his resignation from the president’s office. He said that the PML-N’s
stance on and treatment of Musharraf was not appropriate and reiterated that the PPP had
adhered to the reconciliation policy of former premier Benazir Bhutto, adding that it would not
side with those seeking to undermine democracy. He said there was no chance of any positive
change in the country in the coming months. The former PM also said that the Pakistan People’s
Party (PPP) government had not focused on launching an operation in North Waziristan during
its tenure because former army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani wanted the decision to be
his alone. His statement on the matter comes days after former ISPR DG Gen (r) Athar Abbas
disclosed that General Kayani was reluctant to launch a military operation in North Waziristan.
Gilani said that he sees no danger to democracy in the near future from the protest calls of cleric
Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan. “There is no danger to democracy in the country,” he said, adding
that Imran and Qadri had the democratic right to stage rallies and protests; however, the PPP
would not support any unconstitutional step. He said that the PPP was not on the side of the
PML-N but was playing the role of a responsible opposition.
Daily Times - July 12, 2014
President Mamnoon Signs Protection of Pakistan Bill into Law
President Mamnoon Hussain signed into law the Protection of Pakistan Bill. The new law
doubles the maximum sentence for terrorism offences to 20 years and allows security forces to
hold suspects for up to 60 days without disclosing their whereabouts or allegations against
them. Moreover, it permits security forces to shoot suspects on sight with the permission of a
grade-15 official. According to the law, the order to shoot a person on suspicion will come only
from an official of a law-enforcement agency or a police officer of grade-15 or above. Based on
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two presidential ordinances decreed in October 2013 and last January, the legislation had
recently been approved in the Parliament and only awaited the president's signature for it to
come into effect. With the formal presidential assent today, the legislation has finally become
law for two years, instead of the previously stipulated three years. Earlier on July 2, the National
Assembly had passed the legislation with a majority vote in a special one-day session of the 342seat lower house. The legislation was able to make it through the houses of Parliament following
accommodation of many opposition amendments to what had become the most controversial
legislation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s one-year-old administration on grounds of violation
of fundamental rights.
Dangers of Abuse
The legislation has been criticised by various quarters and rights groups and is being viewed as
a tool that can be used to suppress peaceful political opposition and criticism of government
policies. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) went so far as to say that Pakistan’s new antiterrorism law has given a “green light for abusing suspects” and should be withdrawn. The
group also said that the legislation has violated Pakistan’s international legal obligations.
The News – July 23, 2014
People’s Courts to Become Reality Soon
After long deliberations, the law ministry has finalised the draft law for Alternative Dispute
Resolution system to provide inexpensive and expeditious justice and would send the same to
the Prime Minister’s Office to get the cabinet’s approval. Law Secretary Zafarullah Khan told that
it would be a major step towards speedy and inexpensive justice. He said that the prime
minister was being requested to place the draft law before the next cabinet meeting for
approval. The draft law for the Alternative Dispute Resolution system, when enforced, would
pave the way for an effective method of resolving disputes in the light of our cultural and social
norms. It would be effective in settling civil cases, commercial matters, matrimonial disputes,
land disputes, partition property rows, labour cases, etc. Disputing parties in civil and
commercial matters would be required to get their issues settled through mediators failing
which they could proceed with the normal litigation.This system of Alternative Dispute
Resolution is already successfully working in different countries of the world.
The draft law envisages that in civil and commercial cases, all courts of original jurisdiction shall
require from parties to adopt mediation prior to permitting the parties’ cases to be tried. The
purpose of the law is to get rid of delays and prolonged litigation in civil and commercial
matters, which besides hurting the people has burdened the courts with huge backlog of cases.
The draft law suggests if as a result of the efforts of the mediator, a settlement is reached
between the parties, the mediator shall record such settlement on a legal document. In case of
failure, the court would proceed with normal litigation. The mediation job would be done by an
ADR centre duly approved by the government for the purpose of arbitration. The courts may
also refer the matter to a retired judge of superior judiciary or a subordinate court, a technocrat
having professional experience in the field, lawyer from the panel approved and maintained by
the high court or to an ADR centre.
Upon referring the matter, the court shall direct the parties to engage in ADR on the date and
time fixed by the court under intimation to the arbitrator. According to the draft law, the parties
may resort to ADR even after the legal proceedings are commenced in a court and for that
purpose, they may apply to the concerned court of law for resolution of their dispute through
ADR. If either of the parties applies for the court for resolution of their dispute through ADR, the
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court would serve notice on the other party or parties. If both or all the parties agree, the court
shall refer the matter to an arbitrator. The parties to the dispute would take part in the ADR
proceedings in person or through an authorised representative, duly empowered in this behalf
to settle the matter. The arbitrator to whom a matter is referred would try to resolve the
dispute within a period of 60 days, extendable by the court for sufficient causes for a further
period of 30 days and during this period the court proceedings would remain stayed. The
proceedings before the mediator or arbitrator would not be admissible before any court and the
mediator or the arbitrator would not be required to appear as a witness or otherwise in any
arbitration or judicial proceedings with respect to a dispute that is or was the subject matter of
mediation or arbitration.
Article 245 Invoked: Army Called Out For Islamabad’s Security
In an attempt to ward off any blowback from the military operation in North Waziristan Agency,
the civilian government has placed key installations in the federal capital under the army’s
control for the next three months. The army troops will also serve as a rapid response force in
the federal capital. “The army had been requisitioned at the ICT [Islamabad Capital Territory]
under Article 245 of the Constitution read with Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 to pre-empt any
possible blowback of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. The army will be used for rapid response, patrolling
and checking for a period of 90 days,” a government spokesperson said. Some television
channels had earlier quoted Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan as saying that the
government was handing over Islamabad’s security to the army from August 1. The objective is
to secure the federal capital and pre-empt any possible terrorist attack. But critics say this is
just another underhand way to thwart the upcoming rallies of opposition parties. Imran Khan’s
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is scheduled to stage a long march in Islamabad on August 14. And Dr
Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek has also threatened to topple the government in what
it calls a ‘green revolution’.
Interior Minister Nisar, however, clarified that Islamabad was not being handed over to the
army. “Neither Islamabad is being handed over to the army nor is there any relevance of August
1. In fact, the army has been called out to assist the police and civil administration for a limited
period to avert any possible terrorist attack and to maintain law and order in Islamabad,” he
added. The minister said the government had been studying legal and constitutional aspects for
the past few weeks and decided to issue a formal notification in this regard on July 24. Under
this order, contingents of the army’s special units will be deputed at Islamabad airport and
some other sensitive installations to assist the police and civil administration. “Army troops will
also act as a rapid response force and they will be provided a legal cover under Article 245 of
the Constitution,” the minister said in a statement. If needed, the same could be replicated in the
provincial capitals, he added. Strangely, however, army officials denied receiving any such
notification. Interestingly, government officials don’t appear to be speaking with one voice. The
statements of ministers do not corroborate each other.
The interior minister’s statement doesn’t mention any role for army troops at security
checkpoints erected at all entry points to the capital city and at dozens of other places inside the
city. There is also no mention of army troops joining patrolling duties, as claimed earlier by a
government spokesman in a text message to journalists. “The army has been called out for the
whole of Islamabad. The entire federal capital is sensitive. It will be up to the army how to
deploy its troops,” Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid told when asked to clear the ambiguity.
In a separate statement, he sought to quash the impression that the army will take over security
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of Islamabad. “The decision was taken just to provide a constitutional cover to earlier
responsibilities of securing sensitive installations given to the army in wake of Operation Zarbe-Azb,” he said. These responsibilities were given to the army to deal only with terrorists and
anti-state elements and not to stop any political activity. However, his cabinet colleague,
Railways Minister Khawja Saad Rafique gave a different interpretation. Article 245 is being
invoked to deal with any possible chaos, he said. “This decision has been taken to avoid any kind
of ‘Fasad’ [chaos],” he tweeted on micro-blogging website Twitter.
Military officials, meanwhile, say they haven’t received any new directions from the
government. “Article 245 was invoked after we launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb. The army will
perform its duties in case of any terrorist threat in the wake of the military operation. The army
cannot be used for political purposes,” a senior army official said requesting not to be named.
Currently, the army is only deputed at Islamabad airport, he added.
PPP Opposes the Move
The main opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is strongly opposed to the handing over of
Islamabad to the army under Article 245 of the Constitution. “The decision is pregnant with
serious consequences for the people and the country as it means not only failure of the civil
administration but also total suspension of the jurisdiction of the high courts. Worse still, in
practical terms it also means setting up of military courts which cannot be permitted,” PPP
spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said in a statement. The PPP has always opposed
invoking Article 245 for calling out the army in aid of civil power whether it was in Karachi or
other parts of the country, he said. “The government fails to recognise that if today it is
Islamabad tomorrow Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, indeed the whole country, may have to
be handed over to the army under Article 245 and practically dispense with the high courts,”
Senator Babar said.
The Express Tribune - July 26, 2014
National Assembly & Senate
‘Divided’ NA Puts Stamp on New Anti-Terror Laws
The National Assembly finally passed the Protection of Pakistan Bill (PPB) 2014 with majority
vote, with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) abstaining. Contrary to the Senate that passed the
PPB unanimously, consensus evaded the legislation in the National Assembly, with the Jamaate-Islami (JI) voting against it. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended the session of the House;
however, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan was conspicuous by his absence. When Speaker Ayaz
Sadiq put the key anti-terrorism legislation to vote, the House resounded with “ayes”, giving law
enforcing agencies extraordinary powers to hunt down the anti-state elements. Following the
incorporation of many amendments proposed by the opposition, the passed version of the bill
was less stringent than the one that was termed draconian by the opposition parties and civil
society at large. Federal Minister Science and Technology Zahid Hamid, who moved the bill, said
that government has taken on board leaders of all the parliamentary parties in order to get their
recommendations regarding the bill. He said that the government had already included the
recommendations of the opposition parties before having the bill passed from the Upper House.
The bill defines “enemy alien” as “a militant” whose identity “is unascertainable as a Pakistani,
in the locality where he has been arrested or in the locality where he claims to be residing,
whether by documentary or oral evidence; or who has been deprived of his citizenship by
naturalisation”.
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It also defines “militant” as “any person who wages war or insurrection against Pakistan, or
raises arms against Pakistan, its citizens, the armed forces or civil armed forces; or takes up
advocates or encourages or aids or abets the raising of arms or waging of war or a violent
struggle against Pakistan; or threatens or acts or attempts to act in a manner prejudicial to the
security, integrity or defence of Pakistan; or commits or threatens to commit any scheduled
offence; and includes; a person who commits any act outside the territory of Pakistan for which
he has used the soil of Pakistan for preparing to commit such act that constitutes scheduled
offence under this act”. The law doubles the maximum prison sentence for those convicted of
terror offences and allowing security forces to detain suspects for up to 60 days. It allows
security forces to detain suspects for up to 60 days without disclosing their whereabouts or the
allegations against them. It also allows for people who have been found guilty of terror offences
to go to jail for 20 years, up from ten. Security forces had been granted powers to open fire on
anyone they see committing or “likely to commit” terror-related offences, but the amendment
means now only senior officers can “as a last resort”.
PML-N Eyes Bigger Federal Cabinet
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has picked out some six to eight lawmakers
for possible induction into an expanded cabinet to be announced later, The Express Tribune has
learnt. The proposed cabinet members will take their place as ministers, ministers of state and
advisers. But before that can happen the Punjab cabinet will undergo an expansion, according to
sources close to the PML-N. PML-N lawmaker Muham-mad Talal Chaudhry confirmed that the
federal cabinet would be enlarged following the induction of six to eight new faces. He, however,
wouldn’t say when the expansion would take place. “Consultations are under way for this
purpose,” Chaudhry told The Express Tribune.
State Ministers
Currently, there are 10 ministers of state in the federal cabinet. Four more MNAs - Marvi
Memon, Muhammad Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry, Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju, Makhdoom Khusro
Bakhtiar - are likely to be inducted as ministers of state, sources said. Marvi Memon, an MNA on
a reserved seat, was recommended by Maryam Nawaz Sharif in recognition of her efforts to
make the Prime Minister Youth Programme a success. Sources said Memon has shown interest
in the finance ministry because she has expertise in the field. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has
agreed to train her, sources added. Anwaar Chaudhry, MNA from NA-93 (TT Singh), was
recommended by none other than Nawaz Sharif himself for his ‘untiring work’ in the PML-N
Parliamentary Board during the 2013 general elections. He was a member of the party’s
committee that formed the house standing committee.
Additionally, he had led the PML-N youth delegation that recently visited China along with
Hamza Shahbaz Sharif. Abdul Rehman Kanju, MNA from NA-155 (Lodhran), is the head of a
group of five independent lawmakers – three MPAs and two MNAs – who had defeated their
rivals in the 2013 elections and later joined the PML-N unconditionally. Siddique Khan Baloch, a
member of the Kanju group, had defeated PTI General Secretary Jahangir Khan Tareen. Khusro
Bakhtiar had won the 2013 elections from NA-194 (Rahim Yar Khan) as an independent
candidate and later joined the PML-N. He is the only politician who could challenge former
governor Makhdom Ahmed Mehmood in the district. By inducting him in the federal cabinet, the
PML-N is said to be further strengthening Bakhtiar’s political clout in the region.
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Advisers
Out of the three advisers to the prime minister, only one, Sartaj Aziz, has been given the
portfolio of national security and foreign affairs. The other two – Amir Bux Bhutto and Amir
Muqam respectively from Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa – are awaiting portfolios. The
expanded cabinet will see one more adviser. And MNA Chaudhry Saud Majeed is being tipped as
the fourth adviser to the premier. Majeed is the focal person for the lawmakers from South
Punjab. His proposal for development in South Punjab has been incorporated in the PSDP 201415. He, together with Hamza Shahbaz, had been instrumental in the PML-N’s victory in the byelections. He has also been credited for the party’s victory in the 2013 general elections in four
divisions: Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan.
Reshuffle in Portfolios
A few ministers will be inducted in the 20-member cabinet while the portfolios of some
ministers are likely to be reshuffled, sources said. They added that Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami
Party, a coalition partner of the PML-N in the Centre and in Punjab, will be given a ministry in
the federal cabinet. Currently, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has the additional portfolio
of law ministry, though Minister for Science & Technology Zahid Hamid looks after the ministry
unofficially. Hamid, according to sources, is likely to be assigned the portfolio. Similarly, Water
and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who also looks after the defence ministry, is
likely to be relieved of the additional portfolio. The PML-N is said to have reservations over
Kamran Michael’s handling of the ministry for ports and shipping. He would mostly likely retain
his ministry – but with some restrictions. According to a PML-N official, almost 99% members of
the party who wanted to have flag cars have been accommodated in the committees or made
parliamentary secretaries.
NA Speaker Notifies 33 Members of Electoral Reforms Body
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq notified the 33-member Parliamentary
Committee on Electoral Reforms that will make recommendations within three months to
ensure free, fair and transparent elections and submit its report to parliament. The speaker
notified the committee after receiving the names of 11 members from the Senate Chairman Syed
Nayyar Hussain Bokhari. The National Assembly passed the motion for the constitution of the
committee on June 19 while the Senate adopted a similar motion on June 30. The 33-member
committee comprises 22 MNAs and 11 senators. The committee represents all the
parliamentary parties whether small or large. It comprises MNAs Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Zahid
Hamid, Anusha Rehman Khan, Abdul Qadir Baloch, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Abdul Hakeem
Baluch, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Abdul Rahim Mandokhail, Ms Naeema Kishwar Khan, Ghulam
Murtaza Khan Jatoi, Ghaus Bux Khan Mahar, Syed Ghazi Ghulab Jamal, Usman Khan Tarakai,
Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Ejazul Haq, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Syed Naveed Qamar, Ms. Shazia
Mari, Sahibzada Tariqullah, MNA, Shafqat Mehmood, Dr. Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari, Dr. Arif
Alvi, Dr. Muhammad Farooq Sattar and senators Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana,
Muhammad Talha Mehmood, Hilalur Rehman, Aitzaz Ahsan, Mian Raza Rabbani, Farooq Hamid
Naek, Haji Mohammad Adeel, Mir Israrullah Khan Zehri, Mushahid Hussain Syed and Syed Tahir
Hussain Mashhadi.
It was agreed upon between the Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari and Speaker
National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq last week during consultation that the 33-member
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committee will comprise 22 MNAs and 11 senators. The committee has been constituted at a
time when Imran Khan has announced a long march on the Independence Day to protest against
rigging in the 2013 general election.Political observers term the constitution of the committee a
smart move by the government to engage parliament for reforming the electoral system. The
first committee meeting is likely to be held after Eid in which it will elect its chairman. The
government has proposed the name of Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid.
However, the opposition camp has reservations about him, as he was the key author of the NRO
and law minister when General Pervez Musharraf had imposed emergency on November 3,
2007.
Sources said the opposition wanted Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar to lead the committee. Zahid
Hamid suits to be the committee head as his legal background will him to propose amendments
to the election laws and even constitutional amendments for ensuring free, fair and transparent
election. The committee will work on the pattern of Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional
Reforms that had drafted the 18th Amendment, but this committee was given a time frame of
three months to complete its task and propose necessary legislation and constitutional
amendments. The NA speaker may replace any member of the committee on the request of the
leader of the parliamentary party concerned.It will present its report to parliament within three
months from the date of issuance of notification and there will be no extension if it failed to
submit the report within the prescribed period.
Operation Zarb-e-Azb
COAS Vows to Pursue Militants to the Finish
Army Chief General Raheel Sharif visited troops on the frontlines in North Waziristan and
talking to officers and men stressed the need for eliminating all terrorists and their sanctuaries
in the area. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the army chief was given a detailed
briefing by the General Officer Comman-ding on the ongoing Zarb-i-Azb Operation. It was Gen
Sharif’s first visit to North Waziristan since the start of the operation against militants and their
masterminds involved in acts of terrorism in the country. A source told that the COAS also
visited Miramshah Bazaar and got first-hand information from officers about the progress of the
operation and outcome. An ISPR spokesman said while talking to troops carrying out the
operation in Miramshah, the army chief praised them for their courage, dedication and high
state of morale and expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved so far. He praised the entire
chain of command for their determined efforts in planning, preparation, mobilisation and
execution of the operation. “General Raheel Sharif once again emphasised on the officers and
men to eliminate all local and foreign terrorists and their sanctuaries,” he said. “Alluding to the
end-objective, the COAS affirmed that terrorists would be chased and hunted down across the
country till their final elimination.”
Gen Sharif acknowledged and appreciated what he called the support of the entire nation. He
was quoted as saying: “With unflinching national resolve and clear direction, we will accomplish
our mission and rid Pakistan of the scourge of terrorism.” The army chief paid rich tribute to the
troops who sacrificed their lives and suffered injuries during the operation. Praising internally
displaced persons (IDPs) for their sacrifices to restore the writ of the state, the army chief
acknowledged the national spirit and support forthcoming for them from across the country. He
reaffirmed that the army would not abandon the tribal brethren in their hour of need and
renders all possible assistance to the government and various organisations in providing them
maximum relief. Gen Sharif also assured that the army would play its role in rebuilding and
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restoring normalcy in North Waziristan. On his arrival at Miramshah, he was received by Lt Gen
Khalid Rabbani, Corps Commander, Peshawar.
Reacting to reports that terrorists in North Waziristan were shaving their beards in order to
penetrate into settled areas, sources in the army said terrorists had been encircled in a way that
they could not escape. They said IDPs coming out of the surrounded area had to pass through a
verification process. Their computerised national identity cards were checked and matched
with their family tree from the National Database Registration Authority’s data. After going
through the verification process, displaced persons were asked where they wanted to go and if
they mentioned any of their relatives, details of the relatives were sought and they were
contacted to ascertain if they had any relation or link with these people.
Dawn - July 08, 2014
Zarb-e-Azb: 80 Percent of Miranshah Cleared
The military has cleared 80 percent of Miranshah of terrorists during the ongoing operation
Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan, media reports said. Seventh Infantry Division General Officer
Commanding (GOC) Major General Zafarullah Khan made the revelation, adding that the
outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur would be eliminated
without any delay, if spotted. Bahadur is known to have links with notorious militant groups in
tribal North Waziristan, including the Haqqani network. He further said that there has been
evidence of al Qaeda’s presence in the area, and the army is still facing resistance in some areas.
Khan said that the civilian population was not targeted during the operation. This information,
however, could not be independently verified. General Khan acknowledged that foreign and
local militants were residing in the area. The security forces claimed to have killed at least 11
terrorists following surgical assaults on the terror hideouts in Shawal area of the North
Waziristan Agency.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet fighters led the surgical mission during the pre-dawn hours.
This was the third aerial mission launched since the start of ground action in the tribal agency
on June 30. Since last week, surgical strikes are being carried out in different parts of NWA,
especially in Miranshah, after security forces faced enormous resistance from the militants
during ground operation. According to military sources, Shawal is regarded as the “den” of
terrorists, with maximum concentration of high-valued targets from Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan. “A significant number of terrorists in NWA is based in Shawal. This is the breeding
ground of the militants,” a security official told Daily Times. “Adequate aerial response is vital to
secure the area before ground enforcements,” the official observed. One of the major challenges
for the security forces in Shawal involved underground caves and tunnels the militants were
taking refuge in, the official said. Some of them are up to hundred-foot deep, he added. “The
destruction of such kind of hideouts requires powerful ground action augmented by surgical
strikes to crush resistance.” Presently, the ground operation is underway only in the Miranshah
subdivision of the NWA.
Haqqanis No Exception: Operation Targeting All Militants
Pakistan has conveyed to the United States that its ongoing military offensive in the restive
North Waziristan Agency (NWA) is targeting both local and foreign militants, including the
deadliest Haqqani Network, officials said. The message was relayed to US Special
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Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan James Dobbins, who here met Prime Minister’s
Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Federal Minister for Interior
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif. This was Dobbins farewell trip
to Islamabad before he relinquishes the office of President Barrack Obama’s point man for the
region. A foreign ministry statement issued here confirmed that a range of issues including the
operation, Zarb-e-Azb, was discussed during meeting between Aziz and Dobbins. The statement
quoted Aziz as saying that he highlighted Pakistan’s ‘monumental effort’ to address the threat of
terrorism and underscored that the military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, was addressing this menace
‘without any discrimination or distinction’. The United States had long pushed Pakistan to carry
out full-scale operation against the Haqqani Network, which is said to be based in North
Waziristan.
Since the operation began, both the civilian and military leadership have publicly announced
that the security forces would not spare any terrorist group in what is seen as paradigm shift in
the country’s approach towards dealing with the threat of terrorism. However, some reports
suggested that many of the hardcore militants including Haqqani network might have already
slipped into Afghanistan ahead of the operation. The discussions between Aziz and Dobbins also
covered Pakistan-US bilateral relations and developments in Afghanistan. The adviser took the
opportunity to laud Ambassador Dobbins’ efforts for the promotion of stable, cooperative and
durable relations between Pakistan and the US during his term as the SRAP. The two sides
reiterated their resolve to further deepen the bilateral relationship and strengthen mutual
consultations on Afghanistan post-2014 with a view to advancing the shared objectives of peace,
stability and economic development in the region and beyond. The adviser highlighted the
instrumental role of Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue in fostering closer collaboration between
the two countries in diverse fields including trade, economy, energy, counter-terrorism,
education and science and technology.
Reviewing the process since its revitalisation last year, the two sides expressed satisfaction over
the steady enhancement of mutual understanding and fruitful cooperation. In the regional
context, the adviser reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable and united
Afghanistan. He appreciated the efforts of Secretary John Kerry, who had contributed to an
amicable understanding on election-related issues. Aziz also underlined Pakistan’s support for a
peaceful democratic transition, underscoring its vital importance for stability in Afghanistan
and the region. The meeting was also attended by US Ambassador Richard Olson and Foreign
Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry. Ambassador Dobbins also held a separate meeting with Army
Chief General Raheel Sharif in the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The Inter-Services
Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that during the meeting, matters of mutual interest
came under discussion including post-election situation in Afghanistan and coordination along
Pakistan-Afghanistan border. A statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad said
Ambassador Dobbins appreciated the opportunity to meet with Pakistani leadership. He
reaffirmed the importance of the US-Pakistani relationship to regional stability and agreed to
continue to work together in order to build a stronger partnership to advance our common
objectives.
Army Mops up Targets, Secures 70% of Mirali
In the ongoing terrorism purge the military claims to have cleared 70% of Mirali Town and its
adjoining villages which were once the second biggest stronghold of terrorists in North
Waziristan Agency. This comes as officials revised downwards the number of internally
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displaced tribesmen to around half a million. “After clearing Miramshah, Boya and Degan of
terrorists, security forces have cleared 70% of Mirali Town and its adjoining villages, the second
largest stronghold of terrorists, till Sunday morning,” the military’s media wing, the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR), said in the latest updates on Operation Zarb-e-Azb. A house-tohouse search is ongoing in the area, it added. Two huge ammunition factories with stockpiles
were recovered on Saturday. Thirty barrels rigged with explosives and chemicals used for
making improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also seized from two underground tunnels
during the clearance operation in Mirali. “A massive IED, weighing 5,000kg was recovered from
Boya and subsequently defused by an expert counter-IED team of the Army Engineers,” the ISPR
said. The controlled detonation of the device shook the entire agency and the loud bang was
heard as far afield as the settled areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the military, a total of 570 terrorists have been killed since the start of Operation
Zarb-e-Azb on June 15. Thirty-four troops have also died in the offensive so far, it added.
Similarly, 98 hideouts of terrorists and 30 IED-making factories, three ammunition factories and
training centres for suicide bombers have also been decimated. “A huge cache of arms,
communication equipment and propaganda literature have been recovered,” the statement
added. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the operation would continue till all the objectives
were achieved. “Success of Pakistani armed forces in Mirali against terrorists shows the resolve
and commitment of our jawans. We have started Zarb-e-Azb to liberate Pakistan from terrorists
and our forces will find them from their hideouts,” he said in a statement issued by the PM
Office. Tens of thousands of tribesmen have been displaced by the operation. On July 22,
SAFRON Minister Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch confirmed that over a million IDPs have
been registered and warned that the number could go up to two million as the government
plans to expand the scope of the operation to the settled areas.
However, government officials said that after verification it transpired that the actual number of
IDPs was much less. “A report of Nadra has been submitted to the PM office regarding the actual
number of IDPs after verification from digital NADRA records,” the authority said in a statement.
According to details, 94,152 family heads have been registered. Of which, 53,186 were found
correct, while the remaining 40,966 were rejected because of (a) duplicate registrations (b)
addresses were not from North Wazirstan, and (c) data was wrong or bogus, it added. The
average size of the family is eight to 10 members. The ISPR statement said that distribution of
relief items among the IDPs continues in Bannu, DI Khan and Tank. As many as 152,000 ration
packs, each weighing 110kg, have been distributed so far. Similarly, 53,000 special Eid packages
have been distributed among the IDPs thus far.
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BALOCHISTAN WATCH
Governance Watch
Missing Persons: Govt, VFBMP Unable To Agree On Number
While the search for Balochistan’s missing persons continues, their cases are complicated by the
discrepancies between the records of those involved. The home department, for instance, said in
a recent report that 71 people are missing in the province, while human rights organisations
estimate that the figure is closer to 8,000. The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VFBMP)
advocacy group insists that more than 19,000 Baloch political activists and sympathisers have
been subjected to enforced disappearances over the last 13 years. For his part, Akbar Durrani,
the provincial home secretary, has reiterated the government’s resolve to finding the missing
persons. Monthly reports are submitted to the Supreme Court, according to him. VFBMP vice
president Mama Qadir says his organisation has submitted a detailed report to the United
Nations with evidence regarding missing persons. “There are more than 19,000 people who
were subjected to enforced disappearance in Balochistan and none of them have been
recovered yet,” he told The Express Tribune. “The government has done nothing, except to
release those who were detained for a brief period.”
The home department has stated that 135 cases of missing persons have been registered in the
province and the provincial government has received the details of 194 people claimed to be
missing. “Human rights organisations have claimed that there are 8,000 people missing and
they hold secret agencies responsible for these enforced disappearances,” a routine
departmental report stated. “The rights groups were asked to submit evidence in court but they
provided only 989 names.” The department has set up a special cell on the directives of the
interior ministry and the cell has published these 989 names in various newspapers, requesting
the relatives of these missing persons to submit further details. Only 194 applicants came
forward with additional data. “There is a committee looking into the cases and it is doing its
job,” Home Secretary Akbar Durrani insisted, adding that those agencies blamed for the
disappearances have also been represented in the committee. “The special cell is set up to
collect information. The cases are also with the Supreme Court,” he said.
A special task force was also set up by the interior ministry last year, mandated to formulate a
national policy on the missing people, monitor the progress and coordinate efforts of all the
stakeholders working on the issue. The force included officers from the agencies, home
secretaries of the four provinces, the additional attorney general, a member of the Commission
of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, additional inspectors-general of special branches of the
four provinces and additional chief secretaries. The task force has met 31 times since July 2013.
The interior ministry also formed three special commissions headed by DIG Police Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Sharif Werak, Justice Retired Fazalur Rehman and Justice retired Javed Iqbal and
Iqbal continues to head a commission regarding the missing persons’ cases. The government
claims that 80 missing persons of 194 were recovered and the commission dismissed 43 cases
after declaring that these cases do not fulfill the criteria of ‘missing persons’. The commission is
currently probing 71 cases. The Home Department says 135 cases are currently registered, 64
of which are with the Supreme Court.
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Bodies Recovered
As many as 612 dead bodies have been recovered from across Balochistan from 2010-2013,
according to the Home Department. 373 of these cases were identified as Baloch, 95 Pashtun, 71
un-identifiable and 73 belonging to women, children, members of the Hazara community, those
of Punjabi ethnicity and Afghan nationals. All these bodies were found dumped in isolated
spaces in Quetta, Khuzdar, Kalat, Mekran, Naseerabad, Sibi and Zhob. The VFBMP contests this
information, saying the number of recovered bodies is higher than that declared by the
provincial government. “We have evidence that more than 2,000 people were killed in illegal
detention cells and their bodies dumped in places across Balochistan,” says Mama Qadir.
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POLITICAL & ELECTION WATCH
Political Parties
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
PTI Approaches ECP for Nawaz’ Disqualification
Two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members of the National Assembly, Ali Muhammad Khan
and Murad Saeed, filed a petition in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the
disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The duo challenged the legitimacy of the prime
minister as a member of the National Assembly. While talking to the media outside the ECP
office Ali Muhammad Khan said the prime minister does not fulfill the requirements set forth in
articles 62 and 63 of the constitution. He stated that Nawaz was not eligible to contest the
general elections as it is suspected that he has not provided the ECP with correct information in
his nomination papers. Khan said the PM Nawaz was involved in the Asghar Khan case and
claimed that he took money from agencies in 1990 for elections. Meanwhile, Murad Saeed added
that the prime minister had struck a deal with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to be
allowed to flee abroad after the military coup in 1999. “We require a copy of Mian Nawaz
Sharif’s nomination papers to move for his disqualification through the proper channel,” he said.
According to the petition of the PTI Nawaz Sharif was convicted under civil and criminal
liability, and he concealed this, according to the book Upset 2008 written by Mehmud Sham.
Saeed said that in the Asghar Khan case, the prime minister had taken political bribes for
elections - “a fact he concealed in his nomination papers”. He also referred to the prime
minister’s involvement in the Mehran Bank scandal which, he said, directly disqualifies him
under articles 62 and 63 of the constitution. Citing reports in two Urdu dailies dated June 5,
2013 the PTI MNA said NAB had declared Nawaz Sharif a defaulter and criminally liable and had
submitted its reservations to the Election Commission of Pakistan. He said they wish to exercise
their right to know the information in the nomination papers of Nawaz Sharif.
Elections & Stakeholders
By-Election: PPP Candidate Wins AJK Women’s Seat
Shamshad, who got elected on reserved seat for women, is wife of former close aide of former
President General (retired) Musharraf, General (retd) Muhammad Aziz. The seat fell vacant
after Dr Fozai Ashraf belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) resigned due to
personal reasons on May 6th. The polling started at 10am in the legislative assembly and
continued till 3pm. Shamshad secured 25 votes, while All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim
Conference (AJKMC) candidate Summya Sajjad bagged only four votes. PML-N Azad Kashmir
President and Leader of the Opposition Raja Farooq Haider Khan while talking to The Express
Tribune alleged that the present assembly was imposed by the then federal government
through the money meant for Benzair Income Support Programme (BISP). “Ruling party
members in the assembly have stolen the mandate of the people of Azad Kashmir with the help
of Manzoor Wattoo, the then-minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas,” he blamed.
Khan said that this was the reason that they boycotted the election and did not field a candidate
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for the reserved seat for women. Earlier, Speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq administered oath to
Shamshad. AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, President Sardar Yaqoob and General
(retired) Aziz along with other family members attended the oath-taking ceremony. In AJK, only
directly-elected members can vote for the election on reserved seats in the assembly. After the
election of Shamshad, PPP now has 30 members in the assembly, PML-N has 11, AJKMC has five,
and MQM has two. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of AJK has yet to announce elections on
refugees’ seat LA-17 Lahore.
PML-N, PPP Make Space for Smaller Parties on Poll Reforms Committee
The ruling PML-N and opposition PPP have restricted their nominations to the parliamentary
committee on electoral reforms in order to accommodate members from the smaller parties.
The 33-member parliamentary committee is yet to start functioning as it is awaits nominations
from the Senate chairman, who has asked the parties in the House to submit the names of their
nominees by July 24. As per the consensus reached between the National Assembly and Senate,
the committee would comprise of 22 members from the former and eleven from the latter. The
ruling PML-N was able to secure the majority of members from the quota of the National
Assembly because of its overwhelming majority in the House. The party was allotted a quota of
15 members from the total of 22 for the Lower House. That did not leave space in the committee
for the smaller parties. The ruling party accommodated Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party
(PkMAP) by letting its MNA Abdul Rahim Mandokhel become a member of the committee which,
otherwise, could not have secured a place in it.
Also, the party wanted to accommodate Ijazul Haq, Aftab Sherpao and Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed,
all three of whom are the sole members of their respective parties in the assembly and were not
in a position to be part of this committee. All three would now be part of the committee after the
ruling party conceded its seats to them, the sources said. On the other hand, the Jamaat-e-Islami
was accommodated on the committee by the PPP, which agreed to give one of its seats to JI’s
Sahibzada Tariqullah. Meanwhile, National Assembly speaker rejected the government’s request
to extend the deadline to the committee for submission of its report by a month. The committee
has been tasked to submit a report within three months after it started functioning. Meanwhile,
the ruling party has finalised its candidates for this committee from Senate. Senators Ishaq Dar,
Raja Zafarul Haq, Rafiq Rajwana and Bilalur Rahman would represent the ruling party from
Senate. With a majority in the Senate PPP has already okayed the names of its members for the
committee.
Senators Aitzaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani and Farooq H Naek would represent PPP along with four
other senators from opposition benches in the committee. Parliamentary sources believe that
the committee would likely meet after Eid. After the notification of the committee, a big issue
would be the chairmanship of the committee, which the ruling party wants for its legal wizard
Zahid Hamid. However, the opposition side does not agree to Hamid’s candidature because of
his controversial role in the past when he has the law minister in Shaukat Aziz government
under the umbrella of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf.
Daily Times – July 22, 2014
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HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Human Rights in Pakistan
Pakistan ranks 146 on UN’s Human Development Index
Pakistan is ranked at 146 – the same spot as in the previous year - among the 187 countries in
UN’s 2013 Human Development Index (HDI)’s annual rankings that is worked out by combining
indicators of life expectancy, educational attainment and income. The HDI forms part of the
Human Development Report (HDR) 2014, a flagship study produced annually by the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The report, entitled: “Sustaining Human Progress:
Reducing vulnerabilities and Building Resilience” is 23rd in a series which began in 1990. The
first UNDP Human Development Report (HDR) was prepared and launched under the
leadership of the late Dr. Mahbubul Haq, a former Pakistan finance minister. The HDR especially
notes that over 200 million people are affected by natural disasters and 45 million, the largest
number in 18 years, were displaced by conflicts at the end of 2012. These factors contributed to
denting the improvement in human development.
In other South Asian countries, India ranked 135, one step up from last year, Bangladesh rose
four steps to 142, while Sri Lanka ranked 73, a big rise from last year’s 92, Maldives: 103, up one
step, while Nepal rose to 145 from 157. Bhutan finished 140, up four steps. Oil-rich Norway was
the country with the best quality of life and is ranked number 1 on the 2013 HDI, as it did last
year. Australia and Switzerland followed at the top of the standings. Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Chad
and Mozambique are at the bottom of the annual ranking. Netherlands, United States, Germany,
New Zealand, Canada, Singapore and Denmark are placed among the top 10 countries in the
2013 HDI. With nearly a third of humanity poor or vulnerable to poverty, governments need to
put a higher priority on creating jobs and providing basic social services, the United Nations
Development Program said in the report.
It warned that improvements in longevity, education and income, which are the three main
components of the UNDP’s influential index of human development, are slowing due to
worsening inequality and economic disruptions, to droughts and other natural disasters and to
poor government policies. But the agency also said the solutions are not complicated. “As this
report says, it’s not rocket science,” UNDP head Helen Clark said before the report’s release.
“Where people do address these things, development can come along very, very nicely. Where
they haven’t addressed a lot of vulnerabilities and development deficits, as in Syria, it all comes
spectacularly unstuck.” “Eradicating poverty is not just about “getting to zero,” Clark said, “but
about staying there.” Most people in most countries are doing better than ever before thanks to
advances in education, technology and incomes, the report said. But it notes a “widespread
sense of precariousness in the world today in livelihoods, the environment, personal security
and politics.”
Human Rights Related Issues
Woman and Two Girls Killed In Gujranwala ‘Blasphemy’ Row
An angry mob torched an Ahmadi neighbourhood, killing a woman and two girls in a row over
blasphemy, police said. The incident took place Sunday evening in the low-income Arafat Colony
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of Gujranwala. “An Ahmadi boy, Aqib Salim, aged 17, who belong to a lower middle-class family
allegedly, posted a blasphemous picture on Facebook, which infuriated his Muslim friend
Saddam Hussain,” a local police official Salim Akhtar told. He said the pair scuffled on the street,
as hundreds of onlookers gathered and began protesting. “A violent mob set fire to five or six
houses of the Ahmadi community after they accused the minority members of opening fire on
them from the houses.” Akhtar said a woman and two girls, aged seven and one, were killed due
to suffocation and eight others were injured. Another local senior police official confirmed the
incident and causalities. The officer, who did not want to be identified, said the police was
investigating the charges of blasphemy levelled by the Muslims of the area. Police said the late
Sunday violence started with an altercation between young men, one of whom was an Ahmadi
accused of posting “objectionable material”. “Later, a crowd of 150 people came to the police
station demanding the registration of a blasphemy case against the accused,” said one police
officer who declined to be identified. “As police were negotiating with the crowd, another mob
attacked and started burning the houses of Ahmadis.” The youth accused of making the
Facebook post had not been injured, he said. Resident Munawar Ahmed, 60, said he drove
terrified neighbours to safety as the mob attacked.
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GENDER WATCH
Women Empowerment
Her Right to Education: Gender Inequality Major Hurdle in Access to Education
Inequality in education remains a reality across the world, especially in terms of gender. While
the situation in developed countries has significantly improved, the underdeveloped and
developing countries still face considerable gender gaps in access to education and learning.
Idara Taleem-o-Agahi (ITA) Research and Programme Coordinator Ayesha Bilal, while sharing a
presentation on “Evidence on girls’ education: challenges of implementation in
emergencies/conflict” brought forward the diverse gender gaps in education, which were
perpetrated by conflict, most severely in the province of Balochistan and the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) according to ‘The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER),
Pakistan’. Bilal was speaking at a seminar titled, “Her right to education: ensuring quality
education for all girls” organised by Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi and Oxfam GB in collaboration
with young activists and civil society members at a local hotel here to throw light on the current
statistics on education for girls and the challenges being faced by them in conflict areas in
Pakistan.
A session in the consultation was conducted by members of Beydaar (a youth-led social work
organisation) outlining the voice of youth for girls’ education and the efforts being made to
bring girls at par with boys. The seminar aimed at gauging the themes affecting girls’ education
such as gender responsive budgeting, policy and law and international progress for the rights of
girls’ education. There are 11.3 per cent girls out of school, according to the ASER Pakistan
Report (2013). Additionally, gaps in learning outcomes for girls at the national level are lower
than boys, where only 40 per cent of girls can read at least sentences in Urdu/Pushto/Sindhi in
comparison to 46 per cent boys. Similarly, only 43 per cent and 38 per cent girls can read
English words and do basic subtraction respectively. Vast differences also exist in some
provinces with 17.3 per cent of girls being out-of-school in Balochistan and 15.4 per cent in
Sindh. The moderated session included panellists such as Saeedul Hassan, head of Girls
Education Programme at Oxfam and Nargis Sultana, senior programme officer at Open Society
Foundation.
They highlighted the urgent need to address the gaps in education and encouraged the youth to
target parents who are reluctant to send their girls to school. Issues such as the kidnapping of
the 276 Nigerian girls, atrocities against the children of Gaza and Palestine, and the
displacement of children in North Waziristan Agency and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were all
thoroughly highlighted as challenges towards girl’s education. A general debate among the
audience brought forth the concrete issues on girls’ education such as access, quality and equity
and how they play a vital role. The consultation concluded with a commitment by the youth,
civil society organisations and other members of the community to work towards girls’
education and improve the gaps that plague the society.
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Gender Based Violence/Violence against Women
‘Girl Summit’ Seeks Worldwide Ban on Horrifying Practice
British Prime Minister David Cameron called for a worldwide ban on female genital mutilation
and child marriage as he launched the first UN-backed “Girl Summit” on issues that affect
millions around the globe. Mr. Cameron announced that parents in Britain would face
prosecution for failing to prevent their daughters from being subjected to FGM, while setting out
steps to tackle both practices in developing nations. “Our aim is to outlaw FGM and child
marriage everywhere for everyone, “Cameron told the summit in London, to applause from an
audience of experts and campaigners from around the world. FGM, which affects tens of millions
of women, particularly in the Horn of Africa, ranges from removal of the clitoris to the
mutilation and removal of other female genitalia. It can leave girls at risk of prolonged bleeding,
infection, infertility and even death. Mr. Cameron acknowledged that ending FGM and child
marriage was no easy task, saying they ranked alongside the global health threats of polio and
tuberculosis in terms of the commitment needed to tackle them. But he argued: “All girls have
the right to live free from violence and coercion, without being forced into marriage or the
lifelong physical and psychological effects of female genital mutilation.
“Abhorrent practices like these, no matter how deeply rooted in societies, violate the rights of
girls and women across the world, including here in the UK. “I want to build a better future for
all our girls and I am hosting the Girl Summit today so that we say with one voice –let’s end
these practices once and for all.” The summit, which is co-hosted by the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will produce an “international charter” calling for the eradication of
FGM and child marriage within a generation. The summit will also launch new programmes to
prevent child and forced marriage in 12 developing nations. Speakers at the event included
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who recovered from being shot in the head by the
Taliban and is now a campaigner for girls’ education. “We should have the right to change
traditions and we should make the changes. We ask that there be no more FGM or child
marriage,” Malala told the summit. “We should not be followers of traditions that go against
human rights...we are human beings and we make traditions.”
UNICEF warned in a new report that while the rate of FGM and child marriage has fallen over
the past three decades, population increase in developing nations alone could reverse this trend
if “intensive action” is not introduced. More than 130 million girls and women have experienced
some form of FGM in the 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where the practice is most
common, it said. More than 700 million women worldwide were married as children, UNICEF
added. “The numbers tell us we must accelerate our efforts,” said UNICEF executive director
Anthony Lake. “FGM and child marriage profoundly and permanently harm girls, denying them
their right to make their own decisions and to reach their full potential.” Mr Cameron confirmed
that Britain would introduce legislation under which doctors and teachers would be required by
law to report FGM, while parents who allow their daughters to be cut will be prosecuted. British
lawmakers earlier this month said the prevalence of FGM in the country was a “national
scandal”, warning that up to 170,000 women may have had the procedure and another 65,000
young girls were at risk.
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SECTARIAN CRISES & CONFLICT WATCH
Conflict & Sectarian Crisis Incidents
Security Briefs for the Month of July
DATE
KILLED
INJURED
TOTAL
10 militants were killed when military
helicopters pounded militant's compounds
as part of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in the
Khar Warsak area, 12 kilometres north of
Miranshah, and the main town in NWA of
FATA.
10
0
10
Four militants were killed in a Police
encounter near Northern Bypass of Aliabad
area. A senior Police official confirmed that
four militants were killed by the Police in an
encounter. He said that the slain militants
were affiliated with the TTP.
4
0
4
July 03, 2014
Six bullet-riddled dead bodies were
recovered from the Hurmaz village in Mir Ali
area of NWA in FATA.
6
0
6
July 05, 2014
At least five suspected militants were killed
and five militant hideouts were destroyed as
jet fighters pounded parts of the NWA in
FATA.
5
0
5
July 06, 2014
At least three Policemen were killed and two
others were injured by unidentified
assailants in Latifabad area of Hyderabad
city of Hyderabad District in Sindh.
3
2
5
July 07, 2014
At least three suspected militants were shot
dead in an encounter in Pak Colony area of
Karachi in Sindh.
3
0
3
July 08, 2014
At least 13 militants were killed when the
Air Force fighter jets pounded seven
suspected hideouts of militants in the Degan
village of North Waziristan Agency in FATA.
13
0
13
Three unidentified persons, aged between
30 and 35, were shot dead by unknown
assailants in SITE area of Karachi in Sindh.
3
0
3
The Anti-Violent Crime Cell and the CPLC
said that six abductors were killed in
shootouts in joint raids in different areas of
6
0
6
July 02, 2014
July 09, 2014
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DATE
INCIDENTS
KILLED
INJURED
TOTAL
At least 11 militants were killed when Air
Force jets pounded militant hideouts in the
Zoi Darasaidgi and Shawal tehsil areas of
NWA in FATA.
11
0
11
At least two Policemen were killed in a firing
incident within the remit of Chamkani Police
Station in Peshawar of KP. One of the
assailants was killed in Police retaliatory
firing.
3
1
4
Six unidentified militants were killed in a US
drone missile strike in Doga Madakhel
village of Dattakhel tehsil in North
Waziristan Agency of FATA.
6
0
6
Armed militants gunned down five FC
personnel in Dukki area of Loralai District in
Balochistan during pre-dawn hours.
5
0
5
Three dead bodies were recovered from
Afshani Gali of Lyari area in Karachi of
Sindh.
3
0
3
July 12, 2014
Militants attacked a security checkpost
along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in
Mamond area of Bajaur Agency in FATA in
the early hours, killing three Security Force
personnel including a captain.
3
0
3
July 13, 2014
At least 13 militants were killed when Army
jets and artillery pounded alleged militant
hideouts in Mosaki area, 25 kilometres (15
miles) east of Miranshah, the main town of
NWA in FATA.
13
0
13
July 14, 2014
Fighter jets struck militant hideouts around
the Mir Ali tehsil of NWA in FATA in the
earlier hours of killing five militants.
5
0
5
July 15, 2014
11 militants and five soldiers were killed
and eight others were injured in two
separate encounters with the militants in
the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb in NWA
of FATA.
16
8
24
Three family members were shot dead when
unidentified assailants barged into a house
and killed Iqbal Shah, his wife and daughter
in Yakatoot area of Peshawar in KP.
3
0
3
At least five suspected militants were shot
5
0
5
Karachi in Sindh
July 10, 2014
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DATE
INCIDENTS
KILLED
INJURED
TOTAL
SF killed 35 militants who were trying to
escape from the remote mountainous
Shawal Valley in NWA of FATA.
35
0
35
At least 20 suspected militants were killed
when US drone fired missiles on a
compound in Saidgai area of Dattakhel in
NWA of FATA.
20
0
20
At least eight persons were killed and three
others were injured in two consecutive
explosions in Dorri Banda area of Hangu
town of Hangu District.
8
3
11
At least seven suspected militants were
killed and one trooper was killed and five
others were injured in an armed clash
between SFs and suspected militants during
a search operation in a compound situated
in Raiwind Road area of Lahore in Punjab.
8
5
13
At least eight paramilitary soldiers were
killed and three others were injured as
militants mounted an assault on a FC checkpost at Ghundi area of Jamrud tehsil in
Khyber Agency of FATA.
8
3
11
Four persons were killed in firing outside a
mosque as they came out after offering the
Friday prayers in the area of Satellite Town
in Quetta of Balochistan.
4
0
4
July 19, 2014
A US drone strike targeting a TTP compound
killed 11 militants in Mada Khel suburb of
Dattakhel town in NWA of FATA.
11
0
11
July 20, 2014
28 local and foreign militants were killed in
air strikes when fighter aircraft hit hideouts
in the Shawal Valley of NWA in FATA.
28
0
28
At least three persons, including one FC
personnel were killed and 27 others,
including five FC personnel, were injured
when IED attached to a motorcycle exploded
in Seerat Chowk area of Khuzdar town
(Khuzdar District) in Balochistan.
3
27
30
At least 20 militants were killed and their
hideouts were destroyed when fighter jets
20
0
20
dead by Law Enforcement Agencies in an
encounter in Gulshan-i-Buner area of Malir
Town in Karachi.
July 16, 2014
July 17, 2014
July 18, 2014
July 23, 2014
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DATE
INCIDENTS
KILLED
INJURED
TOTAL
pounded sanctuaries in the mountainous
Shawal Valley of NWA in FATA.
July 24, 2014
A senior 'commander' of the TTP, Amir
Salam, was among five militants killed in the
night in a blast at a compound in Out Mela
area of Orakzai Agency in FATA.
5
0
5
July 25, 2014
Three TTP terrorists were killed and two
others were arrested in an injured condition
in a joint operation by the Police and
Rangers near the Ijtima Gah Road in the
Manghopir area of Karachi in Sindh.
3
2
5
July 27, 2014
Eight militants were killed during ground
Army operation in NWA of FATA.
8
0
8
Two Rangers personnel, identified as
Sanaullah (30) and Saif-ur-Rehman (30),
were killed when unidentified assailants
riding a motorcycle sprayed bullets on them
in Landhi area. Two passers-by, identified as
Ayesha Riaz (12) and Nisar (35), also
suffered bullet wounds in the incident.
However, Ayesha succumbed to her injuries
later.
3
1
4
An angry mob killed two young girls and a
woman when they set fire to a number of
Ahmadi homes in Arafat Colony of
Gujranwala District in Punjab.
3
0
3
At least seven militants were killed and nine
others were injured as a Pakistan Army
check post was attacked in Lower Dir
District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
7
9
16
July 30, 2014
Compiled from different dialies
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ECONOMIC WATCH
Facts & Figures
$6.7b IMF Bailout: If Needed, Pakistan May Introduce Mini-Budget
In a bid to keep the $6.7 billion bailout programme afloat, Pakistan has assured the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will introduce a mini-budget and slow down
development spending to create a cushion of Rs. 145 billion in case problems arise in delivering
the budget deficit target. “To help ensure programme targets can be met, the [Pakistani]
authorities have identified several contingency measures that can be implemented if the
expected fiscal adjustment begins to fall short of the objective,” an IMF report revealed. The
objective IMF mentions is keeping the budget deficit – the gap between income and expenses –
equal to 4.8% of the country’s GDP or Rs. 1.398 trillion. This is lower by 0.1% of the GDP – or Rs.
32 billion – than the target approved by Parliament. According to the written assurance, the
government, on the revenue side, plans to eliminate statutory regulatory orders (SROs) in fiscal
year 2015-16 if tax revenues fall below the level envisaged in the programme.
For 2015-16, the government has already given an SRO-elimination plan that promises slating
the orders equivalent to 0.3% of the GDP or Rs. 81 billion at the current size of the economy.
These Rs. 81 billion measures will be over and above the Rs. 231 billion net new taxes that the
government imposed from July 1. For the new fiscal, the government has set a Rs. 2.81 trillion
tax target that many, including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), privately admit is
unachievable. “The chances of a mini-budget are high as FBR cannot collect more than Rs. 2.6 to
Rs. 2.65 trillion in this fiscal year … this is what I told the finance minister before the finalisation
of the budget,” said Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan, a renowned economist and member of the
Economic Advisory Council.
“On the expenditure side, we will again reduce expenditure allocations in the first nine months
of the year compared to the budget to create a reserve against any shortfall,” Finance Minister
Ishaq Dar assured the IMF. This policy is consistent with a contingency plan that the
government adopted in the previous financial year, which led to a severe under-spending on the
development side. Pakistan has assured that these measures could yield savings amounting to
0.5% of the GDP or Rs145 billion. “In any case, we stand ready to take compensatory measures
as needed, including adjustment on the revenue side, to reach our fiscal target,” the finance
minister told the IMF. According to independent economists, such policies are anti-growth and
will adversely affect the current fiscal year’s economic growth rate target of 5.1%. Apparently,
the IMF doesn’t trust the government will achieve this target. “For FY2014-15, the economy is
forecast to expand by around 4%,” the international lender noted in its report.
New Surcharge: Pakistan has also assured the IMF that it will slap a new surcharge on
electricity consumers to recover the circular debt if the National Electric Power Regulatory
Authority (NEPRA) rejected its plan to recover circular debt from consumers by increasing
tariffs. The report puts the total circular debt at Rs. 500 billion.
New Conditions: The IMF has imposed four new conditions on Pakistan after the government
showed reluctance in reforming some of the critical areas. These conditions, known as
structural benchmarks, are steps to give real operational independence to the State Bank (SBP).
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The second new condition is filling vacancies in the NEPRA board by end of current month. The
third condition is offering minority shares in UBL and PPL to domestic and international
investors, which has been met.
Bailout Review: IMF Sets Deadline for Making SBP Fully Autonomous
In a bid to free central bank from the clutches of the federal government, the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has given Islamabad two months to give full autonomy to the State Bank
of Pakistan (SBP). In a recent report on the third review of the $6.7 billion bailout package, the
IMF has expressed its reservations over a proposed SBP amendment bill that the government
earlier tabled in parliament to fulfill the international lender’s condition that seeks meaningful
autonomy for the central bank. The report shows IMF’s seriousness in getting the desired
results as it has imposed another condition with firm timelines. The IMF has relayed its
discomfort over the piece of proposed legislation at a time when independent economists and
former central bankers have mounted pressure on the finance ministry to give real
independence to the SBP that has become subservient to the federal government. “While the
draft (of the bill) addresses some key weaknesses identified in the Safeguards Report [of the
IMF], other weaknesses remain, including constraints to the SBP’s autonomy in the pursuit of its
objective, and weaknesses in the SBP’s governance and internal control framework,” said the
report.
The IMF seems determined in its bid to get the SBP free from the influence of the finance
ministry and has inserted a new structural benchmark in the $6.7 billion programme that binds
the government to ensure statutory independence by end of August. The IMF stressed that the
law should strengthen the autonomy of the SBP, through full operational independence in
pursuit of price stability as SBP’s primary objective, enhanced governance structure – including
strong internal controls – and strengthened personal autonomy of Board members and the
financial autonomy of the SBP. Earlier, instead of addressing these issues through the proposed
bill, the government opted for seeking an extension in a statutory deadline to return over Rs2.6
trillion loans that successive governments obtained from the central bank for budget financing.
The law binds the government to retire this huge sum by 2019. The government has proposed
that Parliament extend the deadline to 2023. The IMF said that among other things, the
proposed amendments should also establish an independent decision-making monetary policy
committee to design and implement the monetary policy and prohibit any form of new direct
lending from the SBP to the government.
The IMF has been pushing Pakistan to shift its financing to commercial banks, as SBP
borrowings are considered highly inflationary. The interest the government pays on the SBP
borrowings comes back to it in the shape of SBP profits, making the central bank borrowings
virtually interest-free. For the new fiscal year, the government has estimated Rs270 billion SBP
profits. Further, the IMF asked Pakistan that the final law should also ensure re-establishment of
an advisory monetary policy committee to advise the Board on its policy decisions, which could
then be converted into a decision-making body once the legislation is approved. It also seeks the
establishment of a Board committee to centralise and oversee risk management activities across
the bank and start publishing summaries of the monetary policy proceedings of the Board
meetings and monetary policy committee deliberations. All these amendments have to be
incorporated and get passed from Parliament in the next two months. The proposed bill also
does not reflect what the IMF had sought. The government had assured the IMF that it’ll
withdraw its nominee, federal finance secretary, from the Central Board of the SBP. But the
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proposed bill is silent on this aspect. In a letter of intent, jointly signed by Finance Minister
Ishaq Dar and SBP Governor Ashraf Wathra, which the IMF released along with its report,
Pakistan has assured the IMF that the final law will incorporate the IMF recommendations.
Economic Fortunes: Economy Has Turned a Corner, Says Central Bank
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has said the country’s economy ‘appears to have turned a
corner’ during the third quarter (January-March) of 2013-14. In its third quarterly report for
2013-14 on the state of the economy released, the central bank termed the ‘revival of economic
activity’ a key development in the last fiscal year when real gross domestic product (GDP)
growth clocked up at 4.1 per cent - highest in the last five years. The report says that after many
years of low growth, sentiments about the economy seem to have improved. Manifestations can
be seen in the rebound in real GDP growth, rise in private sector credit, contained fiscal deficit,
subdued inflation outlook, sharp increase in foreign exchange reserves, and the appreciation
and subsequent stability in the exchange rate. It mentioned that improvements in the economy
were the result of the government’s resolve to address the energy shortage, growing perception
of business-friendly policies, and external inflows that have recently been realised. More
specifically, the auction of 3G/4G licences, larger than projected inflow via Eurobonds,
programme loans from the international financial institutions (IFIs), and SBP’s efforts to
support the foreign exchange reserves have sharply improved the outlook of the country’s
external sector as well as fiscal position, it said. However, the report emphasised that “these
signs of improvements should not discount the challenges faced by the economy; and efforts for
much needed structural reforms should continue.”
Budget 2014-2015: Government Underestimated Spending By Rs. 112b, Says IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has worked out the federal government’s current
expenditure requirements at Rs. 3.242 trillion, which is Rs. 112 billion higher than the expenses
approved by the National Assembly. The IMF estimates suggest that while approving the new
fiscal year’s budget the federal government understated its expenses on defence, debt servicing,
subsidies and grants. These components were also under-pitched in the last fiscal year by the
previous government. Analysts and independent economists say the purpose of understating
these expenses is to hide the actual budget deficit – an exercise that is tantamount to doctoring
the figures. The federal government has been accused of understating its expenses, in order to
keep spending under the limits prescribed by the IMF. Rana Assad Amin, the finance ministry’s
spokesman, was not available for comment. According to the IMF’s report on the third review of
the $6.7billion bailout programme, the federal government’s current expenditures in the fiscal
year 2014-15 will be Rs3.242 trillion. According to the budget-in-brief document approved by
the NA last months, the current expenditures are estimated at Rs3.130 trillion.
The report has also dealt a blow to the government’s claim that 4.1 per cent economic growth
was achieved in the last fiscal year, raising another question over the credibility of the finance
ministry and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Asad Umer has said
that a privilege motion will be moved against the government for misleading the National
Assembly. While the government has estimated Rs1.325 trillion in debt servicing expenses, the
IMF has projected the figure at Rs1.352 trillion. The difference of opinion was on external debt
servicing, which the government understated by Rs28 billion. In the last fiscal year, the federal
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government understated the expenses on interest payments by Rs34 billion, according to
budget documents. Similarly, contrary to the federal government’s estimates of Rs203 billion
expenditure on subsidies, the IMF says spending may increase to Rs229 billion. In the last fiscal
year, the actual spending on subsidies was Rs83 billion higher than the budgeted amount.
The IMF has projected a defence budget of Rs706 billion – higher by Rs7 billion over the
parliament’s approved amount. The real increase it has shown is under ‘grants and transfers’.
The IMF has projected Rs442 billion spending on grants, Rs71 billion higher than official claims.
Most of these grants are given to the armed forces to meet their expenses as the stated defence
budget does not reflect the full expenditure on defence affairs. In order to keep the overall
budget deficit at its dictated level of 4.8 per cent or Rs1.404 trillion of the GDP, the IMF’s
estimates show a steep cut of Rs164 billion on development spending, entirely on provincial
annual development plans. The IMF has shown the total development spending at Rs1.012
trillion against the national development budget of Rs1.175 trillion, which is approved by the
National Economic Council. The IMF has projected the federal development spending at Rs525
billion, the same level approved by the National Assembly.
However, the IMF has shown provincial spending at Rs486 billion as the official figure of Rs650
billion on provincial development plans. Sources said the IMF’s understanding is based on the
federal government’s assurance that the four provinces will save Rs289 billion from their
budgets to keep the overall budget deficit at 4.8 per cent of the GDP. According to the IMF, the
budget deficit of 4.8 per cent is also slightly lower than the one approved by the National
Assembly. In the last fiscal year, the National Assembly approved the budget deficit equivalent
to 6.3 per cent of the GDP but eventually it was the IMF’s determined budget deficit of 5.8 per
cent of the GDP that the government followed throughout the fiscal year.
ADB ‘Surprised’ Over 4.1% Growth Claims
While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remains mum over Pakistan’s latest official claim
of achieving 4.3% growth, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed surprise over the
high growth rate. “Pakistan’s recorded growth in the fiscal year that ended in June [this year],
which surprised on the high side at 4.1%, is above the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2014
forecast of 3.4%,” stated the ADO Supplement 2014 that the Manila-based lending agency
released. The figure quoted by ADB in its publication is based on information provided by the
government in the Economic Survey of Pakistan. The lender will give its own judgment in
September this year when it will release the ADO Updated report. ADB’s comments highlight
growing doubt over the credibility of official statistics. The lender had forecast 3.4% growth for
fiscal year 2013-14 – close to the IMF’s projection of 3.3%. However, the government surprised
independent economists and international lending agencies when it announced that the country
achieved 4.1% growth in the previous fiscal. The government later admitted the actual growth
rate was 3.3% and not 4.1% in a policy document submitted to IMF. When the discrepancy was
highlighted, however, the government claimed the 3.3% figure mentioned in the document was
a ‘typo’ and an ‘inadvertent oversight’. Instead, it insisted that the growth rate for 2013-14 was
4.3% – higher than the 4.1% growth rate it announced earlier.
In a press release, the government has claimed that a clarification has been issued to the IMF,
asking it to consider the growth rate for 2013-14 as 4.3%. Five days ago, sent a set of questions
to Jeffery Franks – IMF’s Washington-based mission chief for Pakistan – seeking his response to
the government’s latest claims. While an aide to Franks acknowledged that she received the
questions, the IMF did not respond any further till the filing of this report. Franks was requested
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to comment on the official claims of an ‘inadvertent oversight’ and whether IMF staff will
entertain any clarification in the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) that
was approved by the lender’s board and will be the base for disbursement of a future loan
tranche. The IMF mission chief was also asked whether its staff has the authority to accept the
clarification without calling a board meeting and was there any precedent to amend the MEFP
after it has been approved by the board.
Instead of responding to these questions, the IMF’s Resident Mission in Pakistan issued a
message on its official Twitter account, IMF_Pakistan: “What a lot of nonsense in Pak press
about GDP growth numbers! No one knew for sure 2013/14 growth until PBS publishes. No
lying possible.” “The language used by IMF in the tweet is shocking and indicates that its staff
lacks manners while dealing with the press,” said Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan, a former official of
Ministry of Finance. He added that until the lender gave a proper response, the controversy over
the growth figure will not end. According to analysts, the main issue was not whether the
country’s growth rate was 3.3% or 4.4%, but rather the credibility of the government.
Independent economists, meanwhile, say even 4.3% growth is not sufficient to create jobs for
tens of thousands young people entering the market every year. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has
already announced it will move a privilege motion against the government for concealing facts
from Parliament.
Future Projection: IMF Sees 13% Depreciation of Pakistani Rupee
The International Monetary Fund has taken into account the rupee-dollar parity at Rs. 113.7 to a
dollar while making projections for the current fiscal year – a rate that implies over 13%
depreciation of the Pak rupee against the greenback. Though the Washington based lender has
not explicitly stated the exchange rate in its latest report on Pakistan, the projections for the
current account deficit and the nominal size of the economy suggest that it considers the rupee
as overvalued. The average exchange rate for the current fiscal year is being worked out at
Rs111.4 to a dollar by the IMF. The IMF also raised a red flag over the appreciation of the
nominal exchange rate during the last fiscal year and stressed that a more flexible exchange rate
will help State Bank of Pakistan to better reach its reserves objectives. Currently the rupee is
traded at Rs. 98.725 to a dollar while for the fiscal year 2014-15 the government has expected
marginal depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar. The IMF’s report on third review of
Pakistan’s economy suggests that the IMF values Pakistan’s rupee at Rs. 113.7 to a dollar.
Commenting on IMF’s projection Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan, a renowned economist and member
of government’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC) said the forecasts of balance of payments and
imports and exports are based on Rs113.7 to a dollar exchange rate and if this rate is not
materialized, the Fund’s all projections would go wrong. During the last fiscal year, the IMF had
claimed that Pakistan’s rupee was overvalued and worked out its value at around Rs114 to a
dollar. After initial depreciation, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Ministry of Finance
managed to bring down the parity to around Rs98 to a dollar. The average exchange rate during
the last fiscal year remained at Rs102.8 to a dollar. According to analysts, a strong rupee may
dent the government’s export target of $26.9 billion but it will help contain inflation. They
added the rupee depreciation will increase the prices of oil and electricity, which the
government may not afford at a time when it has failed to ensure power supplies despite
massively increasing tariffs.
In its report released this month, the IMF staff noted that greater willingness on part of Pakistan
to accommodate downward exchange rate flexibility could play an important role in accelerated
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reserves accumulation, while helping boost exports over time. The report stated that although
recent grants of $1.5 billion from Saudi Arabia and the successful $2 billion Eurobond issue have
eased foreign exchange market pressures and have begun to alleviate balance of payments crisis
concerns, the IMF staff suggested that the SBP should not place its bets on one-off inflows. In
addition, it further advised that the central bank should align monetary and exchange rate
policy to further boost reserves. The country’s total foreign currency reserves slightly dipped to
$14.45 billion including $9.398 billion held by the SBP. The report also said that while the SBP
agreed with IMF that one of the major challenges faced by the economy is to build foreign
exchange reserves, the central bank differed with its assessment of an overvalued rupee. The
IMF said the SBP understood that higher interest rates could help attract private inflows to
finance the current account deficit, but believes that currently the current account deficit was
low and the main deterrent to private inflows was not the interest rate. “(Pakistani) authorities
do not share IMF staff’s view that the exchange rate is somewhat overvalued, and place greater
priority on the nominal exchange rate stability”, said the IMF.
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DEVELOPMENT WATCH
Developmental Projects
Mou Signed: Norway Pledges $700,000 for Capacity Building of Punjab Police
The Norwegian government has pledged to donate $700,000 to help enhance training and
investigation capabilities of the Punjab Police. The move was motivated by a desire to ensure
security for Norwegian citizens of Pakistani origin settled in Punjab. A memorandum of
understanding (MoU) was signed between Norwegian Ambassador Cecilie Landsverk and
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative Cesar Guedes here
at the Norwegian embassy. Guedes explained that the three-year pilot project aimed to provide
trainings and enhance the capabilities of Punjab Police officials to identify, collect and preserve
physical evidences at crime scenes and improve investigation in Gujrat, Gujranwala and Sialkot.
The programme will also focus on basic and specialised policing training of new recruits at
police academies. In a statement issued by the agency, it said that to develop investigative
capacities of the Punjab Police in Gujrat, a two-phased effort will be undertaken. The first phase
had been completed which included a partial renovation to the physical space housing the crime
scene investigation unit, provision of equipment, first responders and crime scene investigation
kits. The second phase will include additional renovations to expand the space available to
facilitate investigations, provision of specialised forensic and investigation equipment and
specialised trainings.
UNODC has also provided this training in partnership with the Police College Lahore and has
provided 2,000 first responders’ kits for distribution to Punjab Police departments in the
Gujranwala range. Landsverk said that the programme also aimed to develop the relationship of
trust between the people and the police. “Unless police improve their operations, people will not
believe in the police,” she said. The ambassador said that the programme will allow police
officials from Norway to be part of the training programme. She said Punjab has been focused
on because it very important for the future of the country. UNODC Criminal Justice Adviser
Collie Brown said that the nature of crime experienced in Gujrat was complex and violent. He
said that the crime rate which was high required high level of capacity response. “This program
is going to provide capacity to the police providing support between investigators and
prosecutors,” he said. Landsverk expressed her satisfaction with the good cooperation with the
UNODC and the police in Punjab. “Since 2012, when the cooperation started, this programme
has also represented a solid basis for improved contact and cooperation between the
Norwegian and Pakistani police. Exchange of skills and experiences in the law and order sector
benefits both countries tremendously.” All together with the previous and the new agreement
with the UNODC, Norway has contributed more than $1 million to improve the capabilities of
the police and prosecutors in Punjab.
CDA Has Allocated 44% Budget for Various Projects: Chairman
Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Maroof Afzal said that the civic body has
allocated 44 percent of its total budget for development of new sectors as well as to complete
the infrastructure development and left over work in stalled sectors to overcome the shortage
of housing units in the city.CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal said this on the eve of his visit to the
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Sector I12 along with the Administration and Estate Member, Amer Ali Ahmed, officers of the
CDA’s Engineering Wing and other concerned formations of the authority.He said that during
the budget of current fiscal year 2014-15, priority has been given to complete the development
works in stalled sectors where development work is pending since many years. Similarly, he
said that during the current fiscal year, we have allocated the funds not only for mega projects,
but also for repair, maintenance and up-gradation of existing infrastructure. This time, the
authority has presented development-oriented budget where focus prevails on public welfare
projects and schemes.
The chairman said that the development of the Sector I12 is in the list of our priority projects
and would be completed at the earnest.He directed the engineering wing to start the
development work in the I12 immediately. The civic body will construct all roads in this sector
with its own available resources. He said that initially Rs. 200 million has been allocated for the
development of this sector, however, he added that more funds would be provided, if needed, to
ensure complete the development of this sector in short span of the time.Administration and
estate member briefed the chairman about the plan of development work to be started in the
Sector I12. The chairman directed the engineering wing to start development work in the I12
immediately. He apprised the chairman that fencing of the Sector I12 would commence with the
development activities to protect the land from the encroachers. Directions to the Enforcement
Directorate have also been issued to keep the Sector I12 free from encroachments and to ensure
effective monitoring of the land. He also ensured that special teams of the enforcement
directorate would monitor the land in the Sector I12 on daily basis to discourage the
encroachers.
Administration and estate member said that under a comprehensive plan, teams of land survey
in collaboration with the estate wing have completed the survey of Sector I12, adding that the
sector has been handed over to the engineering wing for the construction of roads.The CDA
chairman has directed the engineering wing to move the heavy machinery of MPO Directorate
for construction of roads in Sector I12 from the next week, so that the earthwork initiate. The
concerned formations assured the chairman that the earthwork would formally be initiated
during the next week. He was further informed that in the first phase, construction work on the
Service Road (West) would be started in the Sector I12 and the chairman directed to start the
construction work on major roads, connecting roads and internal roads after completion of
Service Road (West) to meet the residential necessities of the people. He said that sufficient
funds are available for development of the city. He added that the engineering wing must ensure
timely completion of development projects with quality.
‘Millennium Goals Missed Because Of Low Savings’
Planning and Development Secretary Hassan Nawaz Tarar has blamed Pakistan’s failure to meet
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on low savings and financial crises. According to the
secretary, Pakistan’s savings were only at 13.2 per cent, almost 50 per cent less than its
neighbours such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia. Mr Tarar said that the national
savings of Bangladesh are currently at 29 per cent. The planning secretary was briefing
members of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms, chaired by
Senator Rehman Malik. He claimed that Pakistanis preferred to invest their money in property
and automobiles rather than income-generating businesses, which was the cause of the
problem. “Because of different lifestyles and nature of people, Pakistanis give less importance to
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business,” he said, “However, in other countries people prefer to invest their savings in
businesses.”
Planning & development secretary says Pakistan lagging behind in healthcare, education;
security expenditure forces country to seek IMF assistance. “A large number of children are
suffering from malnutrition. As per the MDGs, we have to bring down the under-five mortality
rate to 52, but the current rate is 89 deaths per 1,000 children. The immunisation rate has to be
90 per cent, but it is actually 80 per cent,” he said. “Lady Health Workers’ (LHWs) coverage
should be 100 per cent in the country, but at the moment LHWs are only working in 80 per cent
of the country. The literacy rate of the country should be 88 per cent, but right now, it is at 58
per cent,” he said. Mr Tarar said that the MDGs require that at least 55 per cent of all couples
should be using contraceptives, but so far this figure has only reached 35 per cent. The goals
also state that forest cover should be six per cent, which at the moment is 5.2 per cent, he said.
Report Sounds Alarm Bells over Education Crisis, Calls for Reform
Committee Chairman Rehman Malik said that almost 65 per cent of Pakistan’s revenue is spent
on security and foreign debts. We have no choice but to go for International Monetary Fund
(IMF)’s programmes and follow its policies. We should aim for self reliance, Senator Malik said.
“At the moment, major businessmen are shifting their businesses out of the country. The money
is also being shifted out through hawala and hundi. Our biggest issue is income generation,” he
said. The senator added that planning is considered the backbone of every country and lauded
the ‘Vision 2025’ presented by planning ministry, but he said there is nothing in terms of
practical work. “A number of projects have been delayed and the cost of those projects has
increased due to inflation.
The government has announced that loans will be given to the students, but there are no criteria
to ensure the recovery of those loans,” he said. He also pointed out the lack of an awareness
programme regarding HIV/AIDS. A member of the committee, Amar Jeet, diverted the attention
of the committee towards Swat, where more than 30 cases of dengue have been reported.
Resultantly, Rehman Malik instructed the committee secretary to write to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
(KP) chief minister and ask him to address the issue. Nisar Muhammad, another member of the
committee, said that some areas, such as communication, health, water and power, are not clear
in the 18th amendment. “Funds are being spent on unapproved projects in Lahore, but
approved projects of KP, such as Munda Dam, are being ignored. KP is facing all the brunt of the
war against terrorism, but only one per cent of the coalition support fund is being given to KP,”
he said.
Health Projects
Health Reports/Controls
Immunisation Campaign: Arrival of 6,000 Children Sets Polio Drive in Motion
Around 6,000 children have reached the city’s ‘high-risk’ areas in terms of the polio virus,
setting in motion a four-day immunisation campaign. The campaign will start on July 5 and will
last till July 8, and will be carried out in 34 union councils of the city. Seven polio cases have
been detected in the last six months in the city and the health officials said that all of the victims
hail from the northern parts of the country. “Yes, the drive is being launched in targeted areas,”
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confirmed the provincial head of the Extended Programme on Immunisation (EPI), Dr Mazhar
Khamisani. The second part of the campaign will be launched from July 17 to July 20, he added.
Dr Khamisani, like other officials in the government, is unaware of the exact number of families
who have come down from Waziristan and where they are living. Most of these families have
sought shelter with their relatives, he explained. “The relatives of the IDPs are already residing
in the most-sensitive areas,” he said. “They need polio drops immediately.” Dr Khamisani
estimated that around 6,000 children have arrived in the city, while other officials believed the
number could be double.
The EPI officials and the polio workers have, however, yet to receive any orders from the
provincial government on what steps to take in the wake of the incoming refugees. An official of
the EPI said that neither the federal government nor the provincial government has directed
them to launch the campaign for the children coming from Waziristan. “Our workers are already
performing their jobs well at all the entry points,” claimed Dr Khamisani. The polio workers
have already been deployed at railway stations, toll plazas and bus stops, he said, adding that
there are very few children who could have crossed the border without being administered the
two drops of the polio vaccine.
Better Management
The IDPs are not being accommodated in camps and the situation can spiral out of control if the
IDPs continue to move around different parts of the city, feared some health experts. The
movement of children carrying the virus to other parts of the province is also a cause of concern
for the official. “Our children are at higher risk now,” claimed a UC medical officer on polio, Dr
Muhammad Ali Thalho. “The virus would not easily transmit to other children if the children
from Waziristan don’t move.” Dr Thalho felt the success of this special polio campaign will be
limited. “They [children] are coming on a daily basis and there is no mechanism to keep a check
on them,” he said. Dr Thalho also believed that it would be not possible for polio workers to
target all the children in these highly sensitive areas. “Polio workers won’t enter these areas
unless complete security is provided,” he pointed out. Meanwhile, the health officials have
collected an estimate of the number of children in areas where the IDP families have reportedly
settled. The polio workers in different areas have made a list of children who ‘seem like guests’
from up North, said one worker.
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Edition X, Volume 5
ENERGY CRISIS
Government’s Role in Oil and Gas & Energy Crisis
OGRA Okays 14% Increase in Gas Price for Consumers for 2014-15
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has approved up to 14 percent hike in the price of
gas for the ongoing fiscal year, 2014-15, official sources say. The increase in price has been
approved for all categories of gas consumers, including the domestic. The sources also said that
OGRA has recommended a raise in the price of gas for the customers of Sui Northern Gas
Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) by 58.29/mmbtu, raising the price to Rs 464.94/mmbtu. This hike in
gas price would lead to a Rs 29 billion burden on the consumers in the ongoing financial year. A
Rs 22.90/mmbtu hike has been suggested in the tariff of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited
(SSGCL), which is 5% higher than the present tariff. After this raise the price of SSGCL gas will
reach Rs 469/mmbtu.
A senior official at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, who wished not to be
named, said that OGRA has forwarded its decision to the Ministry of Petroleum for approval.
The ministry has the powers to maintain the gas tariff for domestic consumers at current level
while increasing the price for remaining categories of consumers. The official added that if the
government approves the subsidy then SNGPL and SSGC will not raise the gas price. It is
noteworthy that the Petroleum Ministry has already dispatched a summary to the federal
cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and sought approval for passing on gas
losses worth Rs 49 billion to the already overburdened gas consumers of the country. The ECC
is likely to take a decision on this on July 5 in its scheduled meeting under the chair of Finance
Minister Ishaq Dar.
It is noteworthy that OGRA had earlier decided to increase the gas tariff of both state-owned gas
utilities for the current fiscal year by 12% and 17%, respectively. The summary had been
dispatched to the Petroleum Ministry for final approval. Sources at the Petroleum Ministry had
told Daily Times that the regulator has determined increase in gas tariff of Sui Northern Gas
Pipelines Limited by Rs 50.62 per mmbtu and Rs 73.12 per mmbtu for the Sui Southern Gas
Company Limited for the outgoing fiscal year 2013-14. They said that though OGRA has
determined the hike in the tariff for the outgoing financial year 2013-14, the impact of colossal
raise amounting to around Rs 32 billion from a total Rs 47 billion will not affect the gas
consumers.
OGRA Approves 5-14pc Hike in Gas Tariff
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) approved up to 14 per cent increase in the average
rates for consumers of the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) and Sui Northern Gas
Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). Ogra has worked out a five per cent increase in the average rates for
SSGCL and 14 per cent for SNGPL on the basis of 4.5 per cent unaccounted for gas (UFG) losses.
The authority arrived at the figure for the UFG losses after public hearings in various cities
about estimated revenue requirements of the gas utilities. The new rates would be notified after
the federal government decides how to distribute the tariff increase among the various
consumer categories.
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Edition X, Volume 5
Meanwhile, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet would decide on Friday
(today) how to distribute among consumers the Rs50 billon losses of the two utilities for
financial years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 on account of gas theft, non-recovery due to the
poor law and order situation, increase in retail network and sabotage. The ministry of
petroleum and natural resources has recommended that the amount be recovered from the
consumers by allowing higher UFG losses (up to 7 per cent) along with theft etc to bail out the
gas companies.
The issue is already in various courts including the case involving two former prime ministers
and former Ogra chief Tauqir Sadiq in the Rs82bn case of alleged corruption. In its
determination sent to the government, Ogra approved Rs58.29 per mmbtu (million British
thermal unit) or about 14 per cent average increase in its prescribed price for SNGPL, to
Rs464.94 per mmbtu. Likewise, the prescribed price for SSGCL has now been determined at
Rs469 per mmbtu with an increase of Rs22.9 per mmbtu or 5 per cent higher.
The government has the power under the law to advice Ogra to fix different rates for different
consumer categories like domestic, commercial, industrial, power sector, cement but remaining
within the average rate approved by Ogra. Earlier, Ogra had requested the government to issue
a policy advice to recover greater amounts from consumers on account of gas lost due to theft
and leakages, effectively bailing the companies out. This is being seen by many as recognition by
both the government and the regulator of the utilities’ inability to control gas losses and to
legitimise a change in performance standards. Such a change in standards when made by former
Ogra chairman Tauqir Sadiq landed him in legal trouble.
NEPRA Withdraws Relief; Domestic Lifeline Consumers to Pay Rs 3.79 per Unit More
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has decided to end provision of
cheap electricity to lifeline consumers of domestic category using 50 units a month, and with
effect to this decision, power price for these consumers will go up by Rs 3.79/unit. Official
sources told that the regulatory authority had made a decision to end power supply on cheap
rates to lifeline consumers, which are 70 percent of the total domestic consumers of the country.
At present, power tariff for this category of domestic consumers is fixed at Rs 2/unit. A senior
official, who wished not to be named, said that lifeline consumers’ tariff would end for five
kilowatt load, while tariff of lifeline consumers would be effective only for one kilowatt load,
after NEPRA’s decision. Sources also informed that NEPRA had decided to change the tariff for
mobile phone towers and it is likely that their tariff would also be jacked up in the near future,
as the authority had completed hearing the process on a suo motu notice. Ironically, power
consumers are already bearing the heavy brunt of skyrocketing power tariff, coupled with long
hours of power load shedding, for a long time. The recent decision of the regulator will add to
the miseries of the lifeline consumers.
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Edition X, Volume 5
REGIONAL WATCH
Pakistan & India
Government working on MFN status for India
Pakistan said it would restart work on improving trade ties with arch-rival India when the two
nations’ foreign secretaries meet in Islamabad next month. Pakistan is determined to work
together with India “to find the solution of all the issue as the dialogue process is the only way to
resolve these issues”, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told a weekly press briefing in a
rare appearance. About the possibility of granting Most Favourite Status (MFN) status to India,
he said discussions are going on in the Ministry of Commerce so that there should be even
chances to the traders from both the sides to promote bilateral trade. “When the dialogue
process resumes, then we hope to build on the work already done in this regard.” The foreign
secretaries of Pakistan and India are set to meet in Islamabad on August 25 in the neighbouring
countries’ latest attempt at improving ties. Commenting on his telephonic conversation with
Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, Aizaz said both the countries are going to resume the
dialogue process to discuss and resolve all the issues including the core issue of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Aizaz said keeping in view the vision of the two prime ministers, who met on May 27 this year in
New Delhi, the countries have agreed to improve and establish good neighbourly relations. He
said during the conversation, it was agreed that the two foreign secretaries would meet in
Islamabad on August 25 to carry forward the dialogue process. It was also agreed that the
dialogue process between the two countries should be result-oriented. About the recent
remarks made by the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Aizaz said there was no
justification in the allegation of infiltration from Pakistan’s side at working boundary in Sialkot.
He said according to confirmed reports, there has been no incident of infiltration from Pakistan
side. He said the mechanism of direct contacts between Director General Military Operations
(DGMOs) of Pakistan and India is working very effectively and in their every Tuesday meeting,
all the disputes across the Line of Control are being discussed amicably.
Commenting on the statement of Indian High Commissioner about the importance of United
Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), the foreign secretary said
Pakistan still considered this arrangement of UN very relevant. He said this group conveys any
violation across LoC to its headquarters and keeps a watch on day-to-day activities. Strongly
condemning the continued Israeli aggression against innocent Palestinians in Gaza, the top
Pakistan diplomat sought immediate ceasefire and demanded peaceful resolution of the
Palestine issue. “We are deeply appalled at this carnage in Gaza and urge the UN Security
Council to act by adopting a resolution that would call for an immediate and an unconditional
ceasefire, halt Israeli air, ground and naval offensive, and remove Israeli forces from Gaza.” He
said Pakistan had always backed the Palestinian cause and raised voice in the UNSC against
Israeli attacks violating human rights, adding that Pakistan has also been actively engaged
through the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and moved a resolution in Geneva to raise
voice for the Palestinian people. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also gave a strong
statement condemning the Israeli attack and expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of lives in
Gaza.
To a question about his recent visit to Kabul along with Prime Minister’s Special Representative
Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Aizaz said they went to Afghanistan after Islamabad received reports
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Edition X, Volume 5
that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was planning attacks on border posts from the
Afghan soil. He said there were reports that a big incident could happen in Afghanistan “and we
wanted to inform the Afghanistan government about the threat.” The foreign secretary said
Pakistan has officially requested Afghanistan not to allow its territory to be used against
Pakistan. He said Pakistan expected that Afghanistan should take action to stop the movement
of terrorists to Pakistan and eliminate the sanctuaries of terrorists on the Afghan soil. “As
Pakistan is determined not to allow its territory to be used against them, we expect similar
commitment from Afghanistan.”
The Nation - July 25, 2014
Pakistan & Afghanistan
Pak-Afghan Security: Neighbours to Devise Better Border Control
Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to develop a ‘robust and effective’ bilateral bordercoordination mechanism as part of efforts to deal with cross-border attacks, as well as the
movement of terrorists. The agreement was reached after high-level talks between senior
military officials from the two countries held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
An eight-member Afghan military delegation led by Director General Military Operation
(DGMO) Major General Afzal Aman, with representatives from the Afghan National Security
Council (NSC), Afghan military intelligence and Afghan border police, visited the GHQ for this
purpose. The Pakistani side was headed by DGMO Major General Aamer Riaz, said a statement
issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The military’s media wing said the meeting
was held in a cordial, congenial and professional atmosphere. A detailed briefing was given to
the Afghan delegation on border coordination, it said. Both sides agreed to build trust, continue
to talk under all circumstances and develop a robust and effective bilateral border-coordination
mechanism. “The issue of terrorists’ sanctuaries in Kunar and Nuristan province of Afghanistan
and attacks from those sanctuaries on a Pakistani border village and posts came under
discussion,” the statement said.
The Afghan delegation was told that Pakistan only fires back in self-defence when Pakistani
border posts are physically attacked or fired upon by terrorists from Afghan territory. No
indiscriminate firing was carried out, they maintained. Both sides agreed to hold another
meeting for which a schedule is being finalized. The talks between the senior security officials
from the two sides took place against the backdrop of Pakistan’s efforts seeking Afghanistan’s
help in fighting terrorism. The two countries agreed to arrange a meeting of military officials
following last week’s visit by Afghan National Security Adviser Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta where
the two neighbours pledged to eliminate all terrorists without any discrimination. Pakistan is
seeking Afghanistan’s support to deal with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has safe
havens in Kunar and Nuristan provinces. Islamabad has already informed Kabul that its ongoing
operation in North Waziristan Agency would not spare any group, including the Haqqani
network. In return for Pakistan’s across-the-board operation, Islamabad expects Kabul to
dismantle TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan. A senior military official pointed out that it was a rare
opportunity for the two sides to cooperate with each other in eradicating terrorism. “The ball is
in Afghanistan’s court,” the official said, requesting anonymity. He said Pakistani authorities
provided evidence of apparent support being given to TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah by Afghan
intelligence agencies.
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Afghan presidential elections: Ghani declared winner as Abdullah cries foul
Former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai won Afghanistan’s presidential election,
according to preliminary results released, with 56.4 per cent of the run-off vote to Abdullah
Abdullah’s 43.5 per cent. Officials said the turnout was more than eight million in the June 14
vote out of an estimated electorate of 13.5 million voters – far higher than expected, and a figure
likely to trigger further allegations of fraud from both sides. “The IEC (Independent Election
Commission) admits that despite best efforts for a better election, there were some technical
mistakes and shortcomings in the process,” IEC head Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani told reporters. “We
cannot deny fraud and violations in the process, in some cases some security forces were
involved, in other cases senior government officials like the governors or lower-level officials
were involved.” Last-minute talks delayed the release of the results by nearly five hours, as the
two campaigns tried to thrash out a deal over fraud allegations that threaten to fuel instability.
Abdullah has vowed to reject the preliminary result, alleging he was the victim of “industrialscale” ballot-box stuffing, while Ghani has said he won fairly. Central to the talks is how many of
the total 23,000 polling stations will now be put through an anti-fraud audit. “We agreed for an
audit of 7,000 polling stations, but they had other conditions that we couldn’t agree with, so for
now there is only partial agreement,” Ghani’s spokesman Daud Sultanzoy told AFP before the
result. Abdullah’s spokesman Fazel Sancharaki said, “Our main demand was for the inspection
of 11,000 polling stations under the close supervision of the United Nations. 7,000 polling
stations is not enough. The negotiations are still ongoing. If they produce a result, we will enter
the process; otherwise… we will not recognise it.” Both sides said the UN was involved in the
talks, but its spokesman declined to give further details. Following the preliminary result, the
official result is scheduled for July 24 after a period for the audit and adjudication of complaints.
Feuding Afghan Rivals Study UN Vote Plan As Kerry Mediates
Afghanistan's presidential rivals were on Friday mulling a UN plan for a sweeping review of the
disputed polls, as US Secretary of State John Kerry sought to broker an end to the political
turmoil. Under a proposal put forward by the United Nations, the country's elections
commission would audit ballot boxes from just over 8,000 polling stations where suspicions
have been raised about the vote count. The bitter standoff between Abdullah Abdullah and
Ashraf Ghani over the run-off vote to succeed President Hamid Karzai has plunged Afghanistan
into crisis and raised fears of a return to the ethnic violence of the 1990s. As Kerry met
separately with the rival candidates, he stressed that results released on Monday showing Ghani
in the lead were only "preliminary". "They are neither authoritative nor final, and no-one should
be stating a victory at this point in time," Kerry said. "We want a unified, stable, democratic
Afghanistan. It is important that whoever is president is recognised by the people as having
become president through a legitimate process," he said.
Despite announcement, Abdullah, who has already lost one presidential bid in controversial
circumstances, has declared himself as the true winner, saying massive fraud robbed him of
victory in the June 14 run-off vote. After back-to-back meetings all day and deep into the night
at the heavily-fortified US embassy, American officials announced Kerry would go into
unexpected fresh talks with all the main players. Although they said the talks had been
"constructive," they stressed it was too early to say if there would be a breakthrough. In a swift
boost for the top US diplomat's efforts, Ghani backed a wide audit of the elections. "Our
commitment is to ensure that the election process enjoys the integrity and the legitimacy of the
people of Afghanistan and the world," Ghani said as he met Kerry.
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Edition X, Volume 5
"Therefore we believe in the most intensive and extensive audit possible to restore faith." UN
officials late Thursday presented a plan to Karzai to audit polling stations across 34 provinces, a
process that would take two weeks. These would be selected according to five criteria that could
indicate fraud such as whether the results were multiples of 50, or where women's polling
stations were staffed by men. "These criteria would create an audit that entails 8,050 polling
stations (35 percent of all polling stations) and 3.5 million ballots (44 percent of all ballots
cast)," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a statement. A Ghani campaign official,
Azita Rafaat, told they had "accepted the audit of those polling stations". Abdullah's team said
they were reviewing the proposal, but campaign spokesman Fazal Sancharaki remained
sceptical, saying it did not meet all their demands. "This is an incomplete proposal, it's not an
inclusive one," he told. US officials told reporters that "many ideas were under consideration" as
they try to find a path forward."There were millions of people that voted they deserve to be
counted accurately and to demonstrate that democracy works," a senior US administration
official said.
In his talks, Kerry also renewed warnings about "abandoning" the process, and stressed that any
violence or power grab "will cost them the support of their people and the international
community," the official said. Another US official said the UN audit would be very important.
"There were serious allegations of fraud that were raised that have not been sufficiently
investigated," he said. Little headway seemed to have been made, however, in persuading Ghani
and Abdullah to meet and discuss a way forward. After more than 13 years since the 2001 US
invasion to oust the hardline Taliban Islamic regime, all sides are keen to maintain the gains
made in such areas as literacy rates and women's rights. But Afghan forces know they will
increasingly have to stand up to a bloody Taliban insurgency on their own, as President Barack
Obama has announced the withdrawal of all US troops by the end of 2016. The Obama
administration is also waiting for Afghan leaders to sign a bilateral pact governing the presence
of US forces in the country beyond this year, which both candidates say they will sign.
The Express Tribune – July 12, 2014
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