Ed Urdu Meaning File Sep 2022

Dawn Editorials & Opinions
September
DAWN
EDITORIALS
Edited by Hameed
Syed
Page 1 of 96
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Political calculus measures fail. For the nth time,

the ‘minus-one formula’ has
Editorial Published September allegedly been reinserted into the
12, 2022 calculus of power, with yet
FEW will be unfamiliar with the another civilian leader
‘minus-one formula’. Talk of it or apprehending forced removal
one of its iterations ‫ تکرکر‬seems from the political equation. This
to have coincided ‫ مکا قکہو نکا کک‬with time, it is the PTI chairman who
the peak of every period of claims that the forces opposed to
him — ie, the “imported
political turmoil ‫ سککک سککک و ر‬in
government” and its “handlers”
our history. The measure has
— want him removed from the
usually been taken as a signal
picture over fears he may return
that a political leader may be
to power stronger than he was
close to being declared persona
before.
non grata (an unacceptable or
unwelcome person) by the This alleged ‫‘ لز مولگ ی‬conspiracy’
powers that be and that those ‫ سککک و‬was a recurrent theme in
around the said individual Imran Khan’s addresses to
should seize the opportunity and supporters over the weekend. It
fill the vacuum that is about to be appears that as he feels the wrath
created. It Is an attempt to turn a of the establishment building,
political party against its own the former prime minister wants
leader, usually in return for a to use the public’s sympathies
survival guarantee. ‫قک وی ومکککک ک ک‬ ‫ ن د دی‬as a shield. However, it is
The ultimatum is one of several difficult to say whether his fears
unconstitutional means that are real or if he’s just creating
have been employed in the past noise to put the state under
to sabotage ‫ تخریبوی ی‬Pakistan’s pressure to give him relief. One
civilian leaders when other cannot simply ignore the fact
Page 2 of 96
that he started talking about the relationship with the state in

‘minus-one formula’ just a day recent months. If such a proposal
after the Islamabad High Court is put forward, the PDM must
decided to indict him for resist the temptation ‫ قککہککنکک‬to go
contempt of court, and that along with it. Both Asif Ali
particular bit of trouble was Zardari and Nawaz Sharif have
entirely his own doing. However, been targeted in the past under
the allegation ‫ لز م‬also cannot be different ‘minus-one’ schemes,
completely disregarded. There and they ought to realise the
are many precedents for the patent unfairness of it. No other
‘minus-one formula’ and entity except the people should
‘technical knockout’ in have the power to decide the fate
Pakistan’s political history. ‫ قسکککک ک‬of a political leader. Any
Several civilian leaders perceived transgression of this rule is
as having become too big for unacceptable in a democracy.
their boots (behaving as if you
are more important than you Published in Dawn, September
really are) have been sidelined or 12th, 2022
forced out through questionable
means. Prime ministers,
presidents, and even lesser Deep divisions
politicians deemed ‘undesirable
‫ ’ پسندیدہو‬for defying red lines have Editorial Published September
found themselves on the 12, 2022
receiving end of ‘minus-one’. SOCIAL hyperpolarisation, ‫تقط بو‬
Therefore, even if the threat of it gradually ‫ آنسککککہک وآنسککککہک‬becoming
being applied is being
apparent ‫ کک ک کک ک نککککر‬not just in
exaggerated, it is certainly not
developing democracies but also
unthinkable given the downward
in the more evolved ones, has
trajectory of Mr Khan’s
Page 3 of 96
emerged ‫ سک ک منیوآی ونی‬as a matter triggered by the arrival of digital

of grave concern for media. The chasm ‫ یھ ئ‬between
policymakers worldwide. The the haves and the have-nots had
Human Development Report always been wide, but digital
2021-22, issued by the United media shone a light on it like
Nations Development never before, in the process
Programme, explores it in detail, triggering the insecurities that
finding that the deep divisions underlie the general malcontent
we see in our communities today ‫ عککدمو یک ک کنکک‬and disillusionment
are borne of human insecurities ‫ م یاس‬we see in today’s youth.
‫ عدموت ف ت‬that have metastasised
due to the rapid economic, social The report finds that those who
and political shifts brought about suffer from higher insecurity are
by advancements in information attracted to more extreme views
technologies. The report’s about the government’s role in
findings will seem quite familiar the economy. This, it warns,
to anyone in Pakistan who has “hampers ‫ ویککککہکککک و نککککی‬public
noticed with concern the deliberation ‫ سککککککا‬in uncertain
alarming rise in political times when insecurity is higher”.
polarisation, deepening social In a country where every
divisions, religious and general economic decision is now looked
intolerance ‫ عکککدمو کککرد ککککک ک‬and at as a conspiracy ‫ سکککککک‬by a
deepening mistrust between the government in cahoots with the
citizenry and the state. Indeed, IMF or some shadowy world
our country, with its many power, this rings particularly
systemic problems, seems to true. The report also notes that
have provided particularly fertile “people with greater intolerance
ground (a situation or place that ‫ عدمو رد‬of uncertainty are likely
produces good results or a lot of to bond with politically like-
ideas) for social polarisation minded peers ‫ سک تھ‬and less with
Page 4 of 96
opponents, fuelling ‫ نککا و دیککنککی‬the

formation of polarised beliefs”. It
warns that this can be exploited
by politicians who can come up Orange Line inauguration
with attractive, extreme political
ideologies ‫ سکک سکک و ری ت‬that also Editorial Published September
impart a sense of moral 12, 2022
superiority to those who ascribe
to them. One does not need to AFTER over six years since the
name names to see where this is project was launched, Karachi
happening in our society and got its second multicoloured bus
who is responsible for it. Clearly, rapid transit line ‫ت زو قہکک و ار ز و‬
we are living through a period of ‫ الئن‬to chug off on Saturday. The
great social flux. Instead of Orange Line, named in honour of
leading their followers down a iconic social worker Abdul Sattar
destructive path, there is a dire Edhi, will ferry ‫لکککیو یکک ئکک کک و کککی‬
need ‫ سککخ ومککرو ت‬for leaders of commuters ‫ مسک قرو‬over a stretch
all shades to come together and measuring nearly four
formulate a shared vision of the kilometres between Orangi
future that is built on mutual Town and North Nazimabad. It
respect and tolerance. In follows the launch of the Green
exploiting the worst of human Line BRTS that hit the road in
nature, they are playing with a January of this year, connecting
fire that will one day burn them Karachi’s northern suburbs
too. ‫ مضککککککک قکک ک ت‬with Numaish, the
gateway to the city’s commercial
Published in Dawn, September area. However, both the Orange
12th, 2022 and Green lines were massively
‫ کے و پک ک کک کیوپکر‬behind schedule,
while in the case of the latter the
Page 5 of 96
cost ballooned to double the dreams (seems imaginary or

Rs16.85bn original estimate. Yet surrealistic). The Sindh
in a city where the public government has launched a
transport system is highly Peoples Bus Service, but there
inadequate ‫ ی ق‬for the needs of are serious questions about the
a modern, bustling metropolis reliability ‫ عکہکرکک‬and punctuality
‫نلچککمو مچ ک یوو الو کککک ر‬, we must be ‫ وقک وی وپک نکدی‬of this facility. The
thankful for these small mercies. fact that the megacity of Karachi
‫حہ‬ — or as some have put it, a
conglomeration ‫ مکمک کاعکک‬of cities
The federal government, which — has for decades not had a
planned and executed ‫ع لکد آمکدوی ک‬ modern transport system is
the Green Line, and the Sindh criminal, and both the federal
administration, which is and Sindh governments are
responsible for constructing the equally guilty ‫ مکمکرم‬of the sin of
Orange Line, must not rest on neglecting this forsaken
their ‘laurels (to be satisfied with metropolis. Citizens should not
your achievements and not to be happy with the status quo — a
make an effort to do anything bus line every decade or so,
else)’ and speed up work on the rickety buses and ‘Qingqis’ for a
other bus corridors. Work is city of millions. They must
underway on the Red Line, while demand that the rulers give this
the Blue, Yellow and Brown lines city a 21st century public
are still on the drawing board. transport system that puts
(under consideration and not yet emphasis ‫و‬ on comfort,
ready to put into practice) affordability ‫ سکککککککککہکککککطککککک عککککک‬,
Meanwhile, a modernised connectivity and dignity.
Karachi Circular Railway, or an
alternative commuter train Published in Dawn, September
system, remain the stuff of 12th, 2022
Page 6 of 96
repeated that the relief he was

talking about was “a matter of
Debt swap proposal justice and not of generosity ‫”یرم‬.
Editorial Published September Before his departure ‫ و ککگکک‬for
13, 2022 New York, he asserted: ‫و و دیک ک‬
“Pakistan has no resources to
UN Secretary General António compensate ‫ معک ومککککک ودینک‬for the
Guterres has made an loss of lives, crops and livestock.
impassioned ‫ پکککریکککا‬appeal for Those who have created this
substantial ‫ یکک قکک‬debt relief for situation must massively
developing nations. At the end of support the country.”
his ‘solidarity visit’ ‫یرم ہ وی ک ودو ہ‬
to Pakistan, he pledged ‫ وعدہوی‬to Pakistan’s total external debt
strongly advocate ‫‘ ح ی ویر‬debt and liabilities ‫ و یر ت‬have already
swaps’ with the IMF and World surged ‫ کے و ککرکیو نک ک‬to 39.7pc of
Bank, as well as at the G-20 the GDP or $130.2bn, and its
meeting, to enable poor and debt servicing jumped to over
middle-income countries, $15bn during the last fiscal year,
including Pakistan, to use that hampering growth ‫ترق وم و یک و‬
money to invest in climate and development as the country
resilience, sustainable is left with little to spend on the
infrastructure and green social sector and on disaster
transition of their economies management. That’s not all. The
instead of paying back loans to country is virtually in a debt trap
the creditors. Terming ‫قکر و دیکہکیو‬ ‫ قرمککا وییوی‬as it has to borrow
‫ نکائکی‬the flood devastation ‫تکرکک نک‬ more money every passing year
triggered by unprecedented to pay back its debt and support
monsoon rains and melting its budget. The IMF has forecast
glaciers ‫ پکگکھکلکہکیو نکائکیو کلک کککک ک کر‬as Pakistan’s external financing
“climate carnage”, Mr Guterres needs to be just below $31bn for
Page 7 of 96
the present financial year, and faces a debt burden it cannot

projected them to increase to manage, did not, for several
$39.1bn by FY27. The enormous reasons, create the impact it was
economic losses ‫ک و ے و قہاککک ک دیو‬ initially expected to. However, it
‫ قا ک‬and food shortages caused did help beneficiary nations
by massive flooding mean that boost their spending on
the external financing needs to infrastructure, education, health
spike significantly in the near to and other social services. Indeed,
mid-term, forcing the debt relief or forgiveness is not a
government to borrow ‫د کک و لک کنکک‬ sustainable solution to our
more to pay the swelling import liquidity problem. Yet there is a
bill and stay liquid in the face of fair chance a positive response to
declining foreign currency the call for debt swaps ‫قرمککا وی و‬
reserves. ‫ تر دل‬by the UN secretary general
would provide countries like
Should the multilateral lenders Pakistan, facing recurring
and the wealthy nations agree to climate-induced disasters on top
the UN secretary general’s of extreme financial difficulties,
proposal, it would provide a some room to increase their
chance to many countries like spending to fight the effects of
Pakistan to wriggle out (to avoid natural disasters ‫ قککد تکک و آقکک ت‬on
doing something that you do not their citizens and economies.
want to do) of the debt trap,
stand on their feet and pull their Published in Dawn, September
citizens out of abject poverty. 13th, 2022
‫ ککککدیدو ر‬The Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries initiative Poll postponement
launched in 1996 by the IMF and Editorial Published September
World Bank with the aim ‫ مقاکد‬of 13, 2022
ensuring that no poor country
Page 8 of 96
THE ECP’s reasoning for by floods. Even if a few

postponing by-elections just constituencies ‫ حکککلکککقکککی‬had been
days before the first few seats affected, the ECP could have
were to be contested ‫مقک لک ونا ک وتھک‬ considered granting a
has not held up under scrutiny. postponement on a case-by-case
Citing the “unavailability” of basis rather than issuing a
Pakistan Army, Rangers and FC blanket order. The ECP may have
personnel due to their been cognisant of its weak
engagement in flood relief reasoning, because it repeatedly
operations, the ECP had on Sept underlined the unavailability of
8 expressed its inability ‫ ی م‬to armed forces personnel as its
conduct ‫ یکککرو ککک‬elections in a main reason for postponement.
“peaceful environment” without However, this sounded like an
them. Based on that reasoning, it unreasonable argument ‫رومعقا و‬
had announced that polling for ‫ دلکک ککم‬given that the by-elections
10 National Assembly and three were spread over the length of
provincial assembly seats would the country, split in three rounds
be held on other dates, “when the and were to be held in just 13
situation improves, and law constituencies. ‫ حکلکقکی‬The human
enforcement agencies are resources requirement could not
available”. However, these have been as substantial as to
explanations seemed like an affect ongoing flood relief
eyewash (misleading or operations in any meaningful
deceptive statements) to many, way. It should also be asked why
and the political parties affected the ECP seemingly gave short
by the postponement ‫ مککلککہککای‬of shrift to civilian law-
polls were justified in feeling enforcement personnel for
frustrated. Most of the polling day security duties.
constituencies going to by-polls
had not been severely impacted
Page 9 of 96
Yesterday, the ECP announced Published in Dawn, September

that by-polls for three PA seats 13th, 2022
and one NA seat (NA 157) would
now be held on Oct 9. The date
for by-polls for the remaining NA Asia Cup final
seats, however, will be decided
on Sept 14. One of the NA seats Editorial Published September
(NA 246) is no longer expected to 13, 2022
be contested as the PTI
lawmaker who occupied ‫قرضکک وی‬ DESPITE their victory over the
it has had his resignation same opposition just days
overturned through the IHC. It earlier, Sri Lanka still went into
Is disappointing, however, that the Asia Cup final against
even with the new schedule, the Pakistan as the underdogs (a
commission has only expressed a person or group of people with
“hope” that all institutions will less power, money, etc). It was a
be available for polling day match that seemed Pakistan’s to
duties on the announced dates. lose but for the second time in
The democratic process should three nights, the tournament
not be subject to the availability favourites went down (reduced
of the armed forces. In choosing in price, value, amount, quality,
the easy way out of what should level, or size) without a whimper
now be routine logistical ‫ سکسکر ول ن‬and missed out (To fail
challenges ‫ الیسککککیکنوک لنمز‬for the to avail oneself of an
commission, the ECP has only opportunity) on a chance to win
stirred controversy ‫تنک عک ویھے وی ک و‬ the continental crown ‫وت ج‬ ‫رع‬
‫ نی‬and allowed its critics to assail for the first time in a decade.
its integrity. ‫سل‬ Sri Lanka had sounded a
warning on Friday, winning the
Page 10 of 96
Super Four clash between the which can’t be expected to

two teams that had largely been deliver every time. This time, it
reduced to a dress rehearsal didn’t. The upcoming England
‫ ڈ یسو ی رسم‬for the final. Pakistan series offers a chance to
did not heed (to pay attention to experiment and address those
something, especially advice or a issues, but Saqlain Mushtaq’s
warning) it. On Sunday, they contention ‫ تن ع‬in the aftermath
once again came unstuck (fail of the final that he sees no
completely), dashing the hopes problems with the team’s
of their expectant nation. For Sri strategy ‫ حکککرک ک ک ک و عک ک کککلک ک‬means
Lanka on the other hand, their Pakistan will once again be
well-deserved victory spread joy heavily reliant on the top three —
in their recession-hit country. Babar, Mohammad Rizwan and
.‫یوی و ر وملن‬ ‫ یس دو‬The manner Fakhar Zaman — to provide
of Pakistan’s defeat, though, was them with a solid, albeit slow
troubling. The toss has been ‫ کککرکک ک و سککککسکککککک‬, start. It was a
crucial ‫ نمو نک ونی‬at the Asia Cup, scintillating cameo ‫کککک ک ککد و ی ا‬
and when Babar put Sri Lanka from Mohammad Nawaz that
into bat after winning it, the odds saw Pakistan down India before
were stacked ‫ یکھکےیو تکھک ک‬firmly in tailender Naseem Shah’s blitz
Pakistan’s favour. The pacers’ secured a thrilling triumph ‫سنسن و‬
early burst put Pakistan well and ‫ خک کزو قکہک‬over Afghanistan. Those
truly on top but midway through wins had raised hopes that
the Sri Lanka innings everything Pakistan’s name was written on
started going quickly downhill. the trophy. Instead, it’s Sri Lanka
‫ چیوی ویرفوی یولگ‬Faced with a who are taking it home.
stiff 171 to win, Pakistan once
again used their sluggish, ‫سکککسک ک‬ Published in Dawn, September
safety-first strategy that puts 13th, 2022
pressure on a middle order
Page 11 of 96
this year; of these 1,066 have

been reported in September
Dengue emergency alone. Meanwhile, scores of
Editorial Published September cases are also surfacing ‫سککککک منیو‬
14, 2022 ‫ آ نکیو نک ک‬daily in Rawalpindi and
Lahore, while more than 200
A DENGUE emergency is patients on average are testing
looming, ‫ منکالالو ن ونی‬and judging positive for dengue each day in
from the inertia (a tendency to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Alarming
do nothing or to remain as these numbers are, they
unchanged) on the authorities’ nevertheless grossly ‫مکمک کاعک و یکا و‬
part, it is likely to get much ‫ پکر‬underrepresent the true scale
worse. According to Federal of the growing epidemic. Since
Climate Change Minister Sherry dengue fever is a viral infection,
Rehman, there has been at least health experts estimate that at
a 50pc increase in the incidence least 70pc of the patients do not
of dengue all across the country. need to be admitted to hospital
With hundreds of cases being and are treated through out-
reported each day, especially patient visits to doctors without
from Karachi — where hospitals undergoing lab test
have reportedly run out ‫خہموناو و‬ confirmation. In fact, some
‫ نکککی‬of space to accommodate experts estimate that the number
dengue patients — the situation of patients being treated for
is dire. Nevertheless, there is still dengue symptoms ‫ڈینگ وی وعالمک ت‬
little sign the authorities are on any given day in Karachi
addressing the issue with the nowadays is in the thousands.
attention ‫ تککککایکککک‬it deserves.
According to Sindh government Given the gravity of the situation,
data, there have been around one wonders what is preventing
3,300 cases of dengue in Karachi the authorities from doing the
Page 12 of 96
bare minimum, which involves reapply the lessons learnt in 2011

draining rainwater and carrying from beating a tenacious
out repeated fumigation (to (unwilling to accept ) dengue
apply smoke, vapor, or gas to outbreak ‫ پککھک ککال‬in Lahore. They
especially for the purpose of must carry out repeated
disinfecting or of destroying fumigation drives in all affected
pests) campaigns. In this regard, areas until all mosquitoes are
Karachi Administrator Murtaza eradicated, while ensuring that
Wahab’s tweet on Monday about rainwater does not accumulate
a fumigation drive ‫ مککک کککم‬in 28 ‫ ی عو ونات‬on the streets.
union councils in Karachi seems
quite ironic. ‫ ی ق وسکککہموفریف‬If this Published in Dawn, September
had been done earlier, perhaps 14th, 2022
the spread of the disease could
have been curtailed ‫وی وی وسکرہ وتھ‬
to some extent. It is not as if the Dirty mountain
government is unaware of what
is to be done since dengue Editorial Published September
outbreaks have for the past 14, 2022
decade become a perennial IT is an experience no
problem ‫ کک نک کک سککک ک ومسککک ک کلکک‬that mountaineer ‫ یککاہو پکک کک کک‬wants or
emerges after every monsoon expects: the sight ‫ ک ہ‬of heaps
season. However, the intensity ‫ ڈ کک کککرو‬of trash and the stench
‫ کدت‬of the rains this year and the ‫ یکککچکککر‬of refuse left behind by
disruption of health expeditions ‫ مککککک ککککک ککککک ت‬past.
infrastructure caused by the Adventurers who visit Pakistan
floods portends a dengue wishing to scale one of its many
outbreak many times worse than tall peaks come looking for
usual. The authorities need to
unforgettable experiences — for
stop dawdling ‫ نککنککگکک مکک و آ ئ ک‬and
Page 13 of 96
challenges that test their grit ‫ن‬ mountains) ended up

and determination, for the complaining of widespread
breathtaking vistas from the roof pollution on the world’s second-
of the world, and for a journey highest mountain. However,
that is described almost there is time still to fix the issues
reverentially ‫ حہر موسککی‬as ‘deeply that have plagued ‫قاک ک وپ نچ ی ونی‬
spiritual ‫’ ریو وح و‬. Yet, despite Pakistan’s tourism industry. It is
a major effort in the last few important to involve local
years to woo foreign tourists, it communities in the clean-up
appears that our authorities are effort — especially porters, who
not prepared to adequately ‫من سبو‬ are an integral part ‫ ال م وحاکک‬of
‫ یککا و پککر‬cater ‫ پککا و یککر کک‬to these every expedition. ‫ مکککک ککککم‬It is
needs. Due to official negligence important to impress upon them
‫ فلک‬and a lack of responsibility the need to keep our natural
on the part of climbers and their wonders pristine. These locals
teams, the path up to the summit should be asked to lead the effort
of K2 has now become littered to protect the landscape, with the
with waste. This is a shame, as it state providing incentives to
will undoubtedly turn away compensate ‫ مع ومکک ک ودین‬for their
people from visiting again in the effort. These could take the form
future. of, for example, an additional
‘preservation tax’ ‫ تک کفکیو اک کرکس‬on
This year was a record in terms licences granted to summit the
of the number of people who various mountains, which is then
turned up to summit the mighty spent on local communities’
peak. However, it now needs. Such partnerships have
represents a lost opportunity worked very well in the past: one
because of the negative message only needs to look at the
that went out to the world after successful conservation efforts to
many alpinists a (climber of high
Page 14 of 96
protect markhors and snow effectiveness is “low” on 10 of 11

leopards for inspiration. anti-money laundering and
combating the financing of terror
Published in Dawn, September goals, even though the country is
14th, 2022 compliant with 38 out of 40
technical recommendations.
While this is not expected to
FATF & militancy block Pakistan’s exit from the
FATF ‘grey list’ when the body
Editorial Published September holds its plenary ‫ مر کمو یال‬next
14, 2022 month, it would be in our best
TWO recent developments — interests to ensure all
separate but both related to requirements are met so that
militancy — require the attention there are no lacunae ‫ یک ک‬which
of the state as lack of action in hostile actors can exploit to keep
these matters can cost the Pakistan on this unenviable list.
country dearly in economic While it appears Pakistan is
terms, along with disturbing consistently ‫ مسکلسکم‬being asked to
internal security. The first Issue ‘do more’ on terror financing, we
concerns FATF, the multilateral have little choice in the matter.
‫ یکیک کر لکمک کہک‬anti-money laundering Among the areas flagged for
and terrorism financing improvement is the need to
watchdog. A delegation ‫ وقد‬of the investigate ‫ تکککفکککہککک ککک وویکککر ککک‬and
Asia/Pacific Group on Money prosecute those involved in
Laundering, a FATF affiliate, money laundering; FATF also
‫ و سکہ‬was recently in the country wants improvement in the
to monitor compliance with the prosecution of individuals
watchdog’s requirements. It has involved in terror financing, and
noted that Pakistan’s level of the disruption of their networks.
Page 15 of 96
Pakistan — already facing an killings and extortion in the

economic crisis compounded by sensitive area, while it was also
the devastating ‫ تکرکک ہو یکن‬floods — said that militants were roaming
simply cannot afford to ignore around freely in parts of the
this matter, as being put back on province. One ANP member
the grey list will impact the went as far as to accuse the
country’s ability to attract provincial administration of
foreign investment and trade playing the role of “Taliban
freely with the world. That is why facilitator”. Also, families from
the state must do all possible to Tirah in Khyber district have
take Pakistan off the grey list started to flee after TTP fighters
permanently. ‫ مسککککہقکمویا وپر‬That were reportedly spotted ‫دیرھک و ک و‬
said, the foreign powers that are ‫ تکککھککک‬in the region. Moreover,
influential ‫ ثر‬in FATF must also Tuesday’s bombing in Swat’s
deal with Pakistan’s case on Kabal area indicates that such
merit, and not be swayed ‫مہ ثرو و‬ fears are not unfounded. The
‫ نا‬by geopolitical considerations state can ill afford to ignore these
or the influence of states hostile warning signs. There must be
to this country. The second issue transparency vis-à-vis the status
of importance concerns the of negotiations ‫ مککک یکر ت‬with the
return of militancy in KP’s TTP, while under no
merged ‫ ضک م‬tribal districts and circumstances should space be
their adjacent regions. The issue given to these bloodthirsty ‫خککا و‬
was recently raised in the KP ‫ یکیو پک کک سکککککی‬actors to do as they
Assembly, with opposition please.
lawmakers hammering the PTI’s
provincial government for its Published in Dawn, September
‘poor’ response to the renewed 14th, 2022
threat. They pointed to the rising
incidents of gun attacks, targeted
Page 16 of 96
Short-sighted move the electricity tariff and

transportation costs, etc. On top
Editorial Published September of that, global inflation has led to
15, 2022 a significant spike in the cost of
THE prime minister and imported raw materials, forcing
cabinet’s populist decision to manufacturers to reduce or
reject a fresh proposal from the discontinue some essential
health ministry to raise prices of products ‫ مکرو یوماکناع ت‬because
10 medicines under ‘hardship of their unrealistically ‫ک کرووحکقک کقک و‬
cases’ will not benefit ‫ ق ئدہودین‬any ‫ یکا و پکر‬low retail prices, causing
stakeholder: the government, their shortage in the market. The
producers or patients. Last void ‫ ککک ک یکککککم‬created by the
month, the Shehbaz Sharif unavailability of these essential
government refused to increase medicines is encouraging an
the price of 35 medicines under influx of spurious, and in some
the hardship category; these cases smuggled, products into
represent cases where the the market at great expense to
production of a drug becomes public health safety. With
economically unviable ‫ک قک کموع کم‬ drugmakers having exhausted
at its existing fixed retail price, their raw material inventories, it
which then leads to its shortage is being feared that more drugs
and disappearance ‫کککد‬ from will vanish ‫ کک ئککبو ککا کک‬from the
the market. market unless the government
allows a price increase to
Over the last year, many compensate ‫ مککعکک ومکککککک و دیککنکک‬the
medicines have fallen into this manufacturers for the hike in
category due to runaway their production costs. As
inflation, steep exchange rate ‫ت زو‬ painful as the uptick in price will
‫ و مکرکک دلکک و یک و کککککر‬depreciation, be for many, medicine shortages
‫ قرسکککاد‬a sharp hike ‫ ت زو مک ک ق‬in can be even more distressing as
Page 17 of 96
can be seen with Panadol, a CLEARLY, the fiction ‫ قسک ک‬that

commonplace ‫ عکک م‬drug used to ‘all is well’ in KP — particularly in
treat aches ‫ د د‬and fever which is the province’s merged tribal
presently hard to find. People districts, and those areas which
then end up paying much more were worst affected by terrorism
than the medicine’s fixed price in — is unravelling fast. Two
order to get their hands on it. If separate blasts were reported in
the government wants to help the province on Tuesday and
the vulnerable ‫ یکک ککزو‬segments these violent ‫ پککرت ککککککدد‬incidents,
‫ یرق ت‬of society, it should learn to seen together with other recent
regulate drug prices by episodes linked to militancy
encouraging market competition ‫عسکککککرککریکک و پسکککککنککدی‬, point to the
rather than through price troubling reality that the
administration. For a longer- terrorists are back. A number of
term resolution, the health people, including policemen as
authorities could impose a levy well as the former head of a local
on manufacturers’ turnover to peace committee, lost their lives
fund provision of free medicines when their vehicle was targeted
to the poor. by a remote-controlled bomb in
Swat’s Kabal area. The banned
Published in Dawn, September TTP, which claimed
15th, 2022 responsibility for the atrocity ‫فلم‬,
said they had been waiting to
strike ex-peace committee head
KP bombings Idrees Khan for the past 13 years.
The tribal elder had played a
Editorial Published September major role in mobilising locals
15, 2022 against the militants ‫عسکرری وپسکن ود‬.
In another attack, a police
station was targeted in Kohat
Page 18 of 96
while seven workers of a mobile armed attacks had been reported

phone company were kidnapped this year, resulting in the loss of
in Swat. Moreover, three soldiers over 300 lives, while extortion
were martyred in the Kurram activities ‫ھہکک و خا یو ی و سککککر رم کک‬
tribal district after they were also in full swing.
reportedly came under fire from Moreover, security men have
Afghanistan, while late on been kidnapped, while a sitting
Tuesday security forces were MPA belonging to the PTI
attacked in Khyber’s Jamrud survived ‫ کک و کک و ک و ک ک‬a deadly
area. militant attack in which several
people were killed. It is apparent
The bombings, attacks on that the ceasefire ‫ یکنککنو کنککدی‬the
security forces and kidnappings government had reached with
in the affected area should put the TTP is in tatters, and the
the state on alert, as remaining in militants are not in a
denial mode will only add to the peacemaking mood. The state
worsening law and order must clarify what the status of
situation. Last month, after
these negotiations ‫ مکککک یکککر ت‬is,
protests against the militant
while the civilian and military
threat were held in parts of KP, authorities must tell the nation
the military’s media wing had
what they intend to do to ward
dismissed this threat as
off the militant threat. KP’s
“exaggerated ‫ ”مر لغ وآم ز‬and based people have been through hell
on “misperception”. ‫ککلککمو قکک کک کک‬ and back thanks to unchecked
However, as the recent violence militancy, and they cannot be left
indicates, the militant threat has to the mercy ‫ حکککککم‬of such
moved from “misperception” to murderous elements. ‫ق تموعن صر‬
painful reality. In a recent KP
Assembly session, an opposition Published in Dawn, September
MMA lawmaker said over 400 15th, 2022
Page 19 of 96
prevarications ‫ تکعاککککرکک ت‬instead.

One senior PTI leader criticised
Khan’s gamble the TV host for “deliberately ‫ی و‬
Editorial Published September ‫ ایکھویر‬misquoting ‫ ” لموحا لک‬Mr
15, 2022 Khan, while another applauded
‫ تککعککریکک و یکک‬him for presenting a
THE PTI has been acting coy “practical formula” to restore
(acting shy) ever since a democracy. The PTI chief then
television host, while promoting muddied the waters (make an
an interview of former prime issue or situation more confused
minister Imran Khan, triggered or complicated) further, saying
‫ ککککککرویو نکککاو کک کک‬a new round of he had not sought an ‘extension’
speculation ‫ قک کک و آ ئک کک‬over the but a ‘deferment ‫ ’ماخرویر‬of the
army chief’s retirement. The new chief’s appointment — even
interview had been publicised though there can be no
‫ کک ک ئعوی و وتھ‬with the claim that deferment without the army
Mr Khan had proposed an chief first being given an
extension ‫ تککککاسکککککککک ککککع‬for the extension. Several
incumbent. ‫ ذمککککککک و د‬The commentators sympathetic ‫ن کد د‬
controversy ‫ تککنکک عکک‬started well to Mr Khan have gloated that he
before the interview even aired, has delivered an “in-swinging
although it later became clear yorker” to his opponents. Others
that no direct statement was ever have asked, slyly ‫کک ک ال‬, why it
made to this effect. That would was that this particular interview
have been the end of it had the was allowed to air when Mr
PTI itself not encouraged further Khan’s speeches and fundraisers
speculation. had been blacked out (become
unconscious). His opponents, on
It avoided Issuing any the other hand, have criticised
clarification, opting for the sudden abandonment
Page 20 of 96
‫ دسکککہررد ی‬by the PTI chief of his be the PTI chief’s latest roll of the
‘anti-establishment stance’ and dice to win back the
for taking a U-turn on his establishment’s favour. It
erstwhile position on extensions remains to be seen what will
and appointments. Whatever the come of it. It Is, however,
reactions, the consensus ‫تف قو ئی‬ extraordinary ‫ ک کرو مکعک کالک‬to see
is that Mr Khan has made an tenure extension being used so
attempt to appease ‫ مط نویر‬the openly as a bargaining chip. To
military. have leadership be subject to the
whims of a select few cannot
It bears remembering that one of serve any institution well; least
the reasons the PTI chairman of all the military, which prides
was ousted from power by the itself on its professionalism. ‫پ ک و‬
PDM was that he was believed to ‫ و وم ت‬The repeated granting
have settled on one particular of extensions has ill-served the
general as the next army chief. army. It has only deprived many
Having been deprived ‫م رومویرودی و‬ equally if not more deserving
‫ ونی‬of the privilege, ‫ سکککہ ق ق‬Mr candidates of a chance to lead. It
Khan recently returned the is time the practice is done away
favour by stoking controversy with through necessary
‫ تن ع ویھے ویرویی‬over the soon-to- legislation. No individual needs
be-due appointment, claiming to occupy the seat for any longer
that the “corrupt and than the length of tenure ‫ومدت‬، ‫دو‬
degenerate” PML-N and PPP originally considered suitable.
leaders would only appoint
someone who would go easy on Published in Dawn, September
their ‘criminality’. This new 15th, 2022
proposal to give the incumbent
army chief an extension till the
next general election appears to
Page 21 of 96
No end to impunity workers. Meanwhile Sohail

Hassan’s remains were retrieved
Editorial Published September from floodwater in Umerkot; the
16, 2022 man is believed to have had links
SOME things in Pakistan, it with Lyari gang warfare
seems, never change. Among elements.
these is the abhorrent ‫‘ مرروہ‬kill- Earlier in the week, the body of
and-dump’ policy allegedly Irfan Basarat, who was also
employed by sections of the deep associated with the MQM and
state to get rid of ‫کککمککک تو پککک ک ک‬ was related to a party lawmaker,
‘undesirable’ elements. The was found in Sanghar. He had
discovery of the bodies of several gone ‘missing’ seven years ago.
missing persons in different The profiles of those who go
parts of Sindh over the past few missing in Pakistan, and
days indicates that the grim ‫سنگ ن‬ sometimes end up dead, vary.
practice of ‘disappearing’ They can include members of
individuals and then eliminating political parties, suspected ‫م کککہر‬
them illegally ‫ رو قکک ا ویا و پر‬is religious militants or their
alive and kicking. On sympathisers, as well as
Wednesday, it emerged that the nationalist or separatist
bodies of three men who had elements. The fact that this
been missing for years had dubious ‫ م ککککرکا‬practice exists,
turned up in various parts of and has continued to thrive
Sindh. The body of Abid Abbasi despite the fact that some of the
was dumped ‫ پکھک کنککنو دیو ک ک‬by a highest offices in the land have
road in Nawabshah, while that of slammed ‫ تنق ککدوی و نی‬it, indicates
Wasim Akhtar was found in a that powerful ‘invisible’ and
similar fashion in Mirpurkhas. unaccountable hands support it.
Both were reportedly MQM Even if it is assumed that some of
Page 22 of 96
the individuals picked up and crime, they must be brought

later killed had criminal or before a court. And if the powers
terrorist backgrounds — some of that be feel the courts are ill-
the men found dead in Sindh equipped to punish the guilty
were facing criminal cases — ‫مکککمکککرم‬, then the justice system
eliminating ‫ خککہککمو یککر ککی‬them in needs radical reform; ‫کککنککک ککک دیو‬
extrajudicial ‫ م و ئیوعد ل‬fashion ‫ صکککککککالحککک ت‬resorting to illegal
is an affront to the law. methods and playing judge, jury
and executioner cannot be
Moreover, it is shocking that just countenanced. The IHC CJ
days after the prime minister remarked during the aforesaid
vowed to reunite missing hearing that he would “summon
persons with their families, the someone else” if the Constitution
bodies of four missing men have continued to be violated.
turned up in Sindh. It seems as if Perhaps his lordship should
someone is trying to embarrass seriously explore this option.
‫ لککمککھکک کک‬the elected government,
and mocking ‫ یککنککز‬due process. Published in Dawn, September
While attending an IHC hearing 16th, 2022
on enforced disappearances last
week, PM Shehbaz Sharif said it
was his duty to trace ‫پککہکک و لککگکک کک‬ Dangerous turn
missing persons. Clearly certain
elements are telling the Editorial Published September
government, as well as the 16, 2022
judiciary, that they answer to no
one.As we have stated in these OVER the years, much ink has
pages multiple times, if the state been spilt warning against the
or the security establishment misuse of religion in settling
feels someone has committed a petty enmities ‫ د کککککک کککنک ک ک ک‬and
Page 23 of 96
political scores. It is depressing to say that Mr Khan shares no

to see that it has had little effect, blame. His frequent use of
even on those who should religion has forced his opponents
conduct themselves with more to play their own ugly hand. He
restraint ‫ ت م‬and maturity than repeatedly invokes sacred beliefs
the average citizen. The new to buttress his worthiness ‫قک ل ک‬
campaign to vilify ‫کککد ک ک مو یکککر کککی‬ as a leader and paints his
former prime minister Imran opponents as lesser Muslims for
Khan on religious grounds is crimes they allegedly committed.
both condemnable ‫ قک کمومککمک‬and It is, obviously, impossible to
unsettling, especially because judge his intentions, but if one
several senior PML-N leaders — were to consider some of his own
including Maryam Nawaz herself actions, it is apparent ‫ ک یک‬that
— seem to be quite unabashedly he falls well short of being the
promoting it. righteous leader ‫ صکککک ک لک و نکنک کک‬he
likes his supporters to believe
Party stalwart Mian Javed Latif’s him to be.
press conference on Wednesday
— in which he attacked Mr Khan He Is also rather lacking in
on vague grounds ‫مککر ک ککمو ککن ک کک دو و‬, wisdom, and his inability to
repeatedly denigrated ‫ ککد ک موی ک‬a clearly articulate ‫ و مککک ویر‬what
minority community and he has on his mind has led to him
seemed to willfully misinterpret putting his foot in his mouth
‫ لمومعن و ک ویر ک‬offhand remarks more times than one can count.
‫ ک کرو مکعک کالک و یک کک یکس‬made by the This becomes particularly
PTI chief during a recent event — troublesome ‫ ماکککک ک ککرکک‬when he
made for arguably ‫ دل موسکی‬one of starts speaking about religion. In
the worst displays of bigotry a country where, in matters of
‫ تعاکککب‬by a mainstream political faith, a slip of the tongue can
party in recent years. This is not result in a bullet in the back, one
Page 24 of 96
cannot always count on their Editorial Published September

privilege ‫ سکککککہک کقکک ق‬to save them 16, 2022
whenever they make a mistake.
For all these flaws, however, IT is highly likely that when the
targeting him by calling him a cumulative human cost caused
blasphemer ‫ تکککانکک کککنو یکککر کککیو و ال‬is by the floods is added up a few
unconscionable and cannot be months down the line, the toll
condoned. It is an extremely would be higher for women than
dangerous escalation by the for men. Evidence ‫ ثرات‬gathered
PML-N, which can expose Mr in the aftermath ‫ کککہک ک کککمک ک‬of a
Khan to grievous harm. ‫قا وپ نچ‬ number of natural disasters
The political leadership on both around the world clearly shows
sides needs to de-escalate and that women bear a
engage within the bounds of disproportionate ‫ک ککرو مککہککنکک سککککککب‬
civility. Using the religion card burden of loss in terms of death,
against a political opponent disease and emotional trauma.
crosses a major red line and In fact, according to the UN,
ought to be roundly condemned “when disaster strikes, women
by anyone who wishes to see a and children are 14 times more
progressive Pakistan freed from likely than men to die”. Take, for
the shackles of intolerance and example, the 2004 tsunami in
bigotry it has been caught in. the Indian Ocean that claimed
around 230,000 lives. A
Published in Dawn, September staggering ‫ ح ر وینویا وپر‬70pc of
16th, 2022 them were women. The disparity
between the impact of disasters
on men and women was also
Women in peril observed during the Covid-19
pandemic, when deaths and
injuries from domestic abuse
Page 25 of 96
spiked ‫ مک ک ق ونا‬because women, women of reproductive age have

although ironically ‫سکککککہککمو فککریککفک‬ been affected by the floods, out
more resilient against the virus, of which around 650,000 are
were locked in with abusive pregnant: 73,000 are reportedly
partners. due this month. The health of the
infants ‫ رخا‬being born during
In this context, while the flood this calamity is also inherently
may have seriously impacted linked to their mothers’ health.
Pakistan’s economy, agricultural Women and children must be at
output and created serious food the core of the authorities’ relief
insecurity among other things, and medical responses and a
the cumulative material, physical coherent strategy ‫مر ایوحر وع ل‬
and psychological impact being developed with international aid
felt by millions of women cannot organisations to address their
even be measured. Having lost immediate and short-term
their homes and the privacy that needs.
afforded, they are faced with
challenges others can scarcely Published in Dawn, September
‫ ککککک ک ذو وو ککک د و نککک‬imagine. In a 16th, 2022
patriarchal society where
women’s needs are often not Restraint needed
taken seriously even by their own Editorial Published September
family members, it is safe to 17, 2022
assume that in these
circumstances the general and IT is regrettable ‫ قسکاسکن‬that the
specific physiological and even country’s most senior judges
medical requirements of affected continue to air their internal
women (such as washrooms, disagreements in public, which
sanitary and childbirth kits) are has allowed partisan ‫مکککہکککعاککککککبو‬
far from being met. Around 8.2m critics to continue assailing ‫ح ل و‬
Page 26 of 96
‫ ی یو یھ‬the integrity ‫ سککک ل‬of chief justice had, at the JCP

the Supreme Court. After the forum, proposed five names for
chief justice publicly regretted elevation. However, most of the
‫ قسکککا وی و ف وی‬on Monday that nominations ‫ کککک مککککزد کککک‬were
the incumbent ‫مککککککککایککککککککادہ‬ resisted by the majority of the
government had scuttled ‫و ودی و‬ commission, which must
‫ تکککھکک‬the appointment of several approve all appointments to the
judges named by him for Supreme Court. The meeting had
elevation ‫ ترق‬to the apex court, a thereafter been adjourned ‫مکلکہکایو‬
letter addressed to the Judicial ‫ یرودی و‬without a decision.
Commission of Pakistan by the
The chief justice has now said
senior puisne judge and a
colleague — which was that the government’s
apparently leaked to the press — representatives in the
commission opposed his
communicated that the latter
two wanted to maintain a nominees ‫ مزدو قر د‬because of the
distance from the chief justice’s Supreme Court’s ruling in favour
position. Despite hopes that the of the PML-Q’s Pervaiz Elahi in
institution had been working on the Punjab chief minister
resolving its issues, it is apparent election case. On the other hand,
‫ ک نر‬that troubles persist. ‫رقر و‬ the dissenting JCP members
have maintained that the chief
‫ ن‬It Is important, for context, to
review the differences among the justice should not ignore ‫رو د و‬
senior judiciary. The pressing ‫ یککر کک‬the seniority principle and
issue at the moment is the that there needs to be a formal
appointment of judges to the criterion for the elevation of
Supreme Court, which has been judges rather than leaving
left with a considerably reduced nominations to the chief justice’s
strength after the retirement of discretion. Not only is the
several justices. In August, the deadlock ‫ تکککعکککطکککم‬on the issue
Page 27 of 96
getting uglier, it is also affecting prevailing differences. It would

the court’s functioning. It is clear also be better to keep this
that the Supreme Court, saddled dialogue away from the public
with a huge backlog of cases, eye, as most commentators are
needs those appointments ill-equipped to understand or
urgently. It is feared that participate in what should be an
divisions may deepen in the internal debate among the
judiciary and the bar councils, judges and bar representatives.
forcing stakeholders into The Supreme Court must not be
partisan camps. This would be destabilised any further.
immensely ‫ یوحد‬damaging to the
Supreme Court. The growing Published in Dawn, September
perception of internal 17th, 2022
differences appears to have
eroded ‫ خہمویر ونی‬the apex court’s
standing as a neutral arbiter ‫رو‬ Putin’s offer
‫ یک رکد وثک لک‬on matters that fall in
Editorial Published September
its domain. Already, its
17, 2022
judgements are being
interpreted as favouring one REALPOLITIK ‫حکقک کقک و سککککک کک سککک ک‬
political faction or the other, suggests that Pakistan should be
even though the institution had, considering all offers that can
till recent years, largely help shore up (to support) its
maintained a distance and fragile economy ‫ی زو ومع ککک‬. In
aloofness ‫ تن ئ‬from the political this regard, Russian President
domain. It Is imperative that Vladimir Putin’s offer to
both the judiciary and its reactivate the Pakistan Stream
attached institutions open an gas pipeline project, made to
honest dialogue and reach an Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
amicable resolution to their
Page 28 of 96
during the Shanghai or story). For example, the

Cooperation Organisation Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-
summit in Samarkand, should be Pakistan-India pipeline scheme,
taken up if it is beneficial to the announced in 2014, remains on
country. The project, finalised in the drawing board (under
2015 but largely dormant ‫ روقع‬, consideration and not yet ready
is designed to carry LNG from to put into practice). Meanwhile,
Karachi to power plants in the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline
Punjab. While critics would say it also hangs in the balance; while
is a political statement by the Tehran completed its side of the
Russian leader designed to pipeline in 2011, we have yet to
loosen his country’s West- build our portion ‫حاک‬. There are
imposed isolation following various reasons for lack of
Moscow’s invasion ‫ حکک ک ککککلکک ک‬of progress on both these projects,
Ukraine, Pakistan must consider which include geopolitical,
Mr Putin’s offer on its merit. financial and technical issues.
Therefore, while Mr Putin’s offer
Instead of geopolitical sounds good, Pakistan needs to
considerations, the two main do its homework before
questions Pakistani continuing, lest this scheme is
policymakers should be asking also put on hold for the
about the Russian gas project foreseeable future (at a time that
are: is it good for the country’s is not long from now). The fact
energy security, and is it that Pakistan needs affordable
achievable? The fact is that ‫ سسہ‬and reliable energy supplies
Pakistan has been involved in to power its industrial and
various regional pipeline economic activities, as well as for
projects, and nearly all of them domestic use, is obvious. The
have remained pipe dreams (an question is: how and where to
illusory or fantastic plan, hope, secure those supplies, along with
Page 29 of 96
improving the output of Published in Dawn, September

renewable sources? If Russia can 17th, 2022
supply affordable gas and oil,
there is no reason why Pakistan
should back off fearing a Crumbling heritage
backlash ‫ دع ککم‬from the US-led
Western bloc. While Pakistan Editorial Published September
should not seek conflict with any 17, 2022
bloc, energy security is a matter
of national sovereignty, ‫خادمخہ ی‬ THE failure to limit flood
and diktat ‫ آمکککریک ک‬from foreign damage to Mohenjo Daro despite
quarters is unwelcome. warnings from the heritage ‫آثکک و‬
Interestingly, India is straddling ‫ قککدی کک‬site’s administration is an
both the Western and ‘other’ unfortunate ‫ کککدقسکککککک کککہکک‬but apt
blocs; New Delhi is a member of metaphor for the attitude of the
the anti-China Quad, yet it also government towards both
partners with the SCO, of which conservation ‫ ت ک ککفککی‬and disaster
Beijing is a founding member, mitigation. The archaeology ‫عکلکمو‬
and has been snapping up (to ‫ آثکک و قککدیکک کک‬department has now
buy or obtain something quickly raised the alarm, saying the
and enthusiastically) deeply heritage site — that was
discounted Russian oil despite discovered 100 years ago in 1922
Western discomfort. In such a — would be removed from the
scenario, Pakistan’s Western World Heritage List if urgent
friends have no right to hector restoration work is not carried
‫ ککک تو یکککریککک‬this country about out. The flood damage to the site
deepening energy ties with had been highlighted by its
Russia. curator (a keeper or custodian of
a museum or other collection),
who in a letter said that the
Page 30 of 96
departments of irrigation, roads, after officials failed to do their

highways and forest had a part. Although Unesco has
critical role in protecting the site donated ‫ عط ودی ونی‬$350,000 for
as landlords ‫ م نککد‬and farmers repair works at heritage sites
had inserted pipes and made including Mohenjo Daro, the
cuts in canals ‫ کک ککریکک‬to release amount is a drop in the ocean
water towards the site. Sadly, when compared to the figure of
these departments failed to act, $45m that will reportedly be
and rainwater flooded the required to cover the cost of
ancient settlement. ‫ قدیمو سکہ‬Even repairs. The Sindh government
though the curator had must demand an explanation
approached the irrigation from officials of the
department, there was no abovementioned departments
response. The walls of one of the regarding their failure to act.
world’s oldest preserved Given the extent of rainfall and
archaeological sites are now flooding across the country, it
crumbling. ‫رو نیون‬ may have been difficult to
prevent ‫ ویککنکک‬any damage from
The letter written by the curator occurring, but the scale of it
and the inaction of the officials could certainly have been limited
reflect both a cry for help and the if government officials had
apathy ‫ کککککیو حسکککککککک‬towards responded in time to the
protecting heritage in the curator’s call.
country. The famed heritage site
gets international attention and Published in Dawn, September
is a source of revenue ‫ آمد‬for the 17th, 2022
government, and for locals,
because of tourism.
Unfortunately, once again we are Missing direction
turning to the world for help
Page 31 of 96
Editorial Published September “I don’t support this decision,

18, 2022 and it should be corrected,” she
had said, adding that her “first
IT is unfortunate that Finance responsibility was to the people”.
Minister Miftah Ismail seems to For Pakistani politicians across
have largely withdrawn from the the ideological spectrum, ‫ری ت و‬
public eye at a time when ‫و و‬،‫‘ سکککککمک کرکیکرم‬responsibility to the
someone with grit ‫ تککک ککک کککم‬and people’ is often just a euphemism
determination is needed to ‫ قککککا ہ‬to splurge scarce state
proactively ‫ قع ویا وپر‬manage the resources on vote-winning
economy. One hopes that he subsidies. Mr Ismail, on the
hasn’t been forced into the other hand, has inherited ‫و ثک و‬
shadows by detractors ‫عکککہکککر و‬ ‫ م ومالو نی‬an economy that gives
‫ یکر کیو و لکی‬from within the PML- him no room to sign off on such
N. There were some who had plans. His compulsions ‫مکمکرکا یکک‬
loudly protested the difficult yet must not be made the reason to
necessary decisions Mr Ismail sideline him. Instead, what he
had to make to plug fiscal may be able to offer, as he proved
leakages Pakistan cannot afford in his approach to reviving the
at this juncture. It is clear he has IMF programme, is hard-nosed
not yet been forgiven for those management of the economy.
decisions. Last Tuesday, PML-
N’s vice president Maryam Pakistan has been dealt a body
Nawaz, responding to questions blow by nationwide floods and
about the state of the economy, the devastation they have
had made it clear she remained caused. The impact on the
“categorically” ‫و مکککککک و یکککا و پکککر‬ economy will be felt for months.
opposed to the fuel and Meanwhile, the current account
electricity price increases Mr position continues to deteriorate
Ismail was forced to implement. ‫ کگکے کک‬due to the need to import
Page 32 of 96
fuel and cover food shortages, minister to forcefully resist

while exporters find it difficult to ‫ مز ح ک ویر ک‬internal demands for
fill orders due to a global ‘relief’ for special interest
slowdown, sharply higher groups. A grave mistake was
production costs and shortages made in withdrawing the
of inputs. The resumption of the electricity bill taxes from traders
dollar’s relentless ‫ کیو لکگکک م‬climb, under political pressure. Such
expected to continue in the near mistakes will have to be
future, also makes matters reversed. The economy cannot
worse. A finance minister freed be resuscitated ‫و وی وی وسکککرہ‬
from the trappings of election- if rival factions within the PML-
year considerations — especially N continue to make it impossible
someone who can put to take important decisions and
practicality above self-interest — stick to them.
may be just what the country
needs to chart its way out of the Published in Dawn, September
troubled waters it is in. The going 18th, 2022
won’t be easy. Weekly inflation
has persisted ‫ کککرقکککر و نکککی‬above
40pc for the past several weeks, Political interference
burning a massive hole in the
citizenry’s household budgets. Editorial Published September
However, with tighter 18, 2022
management of markets and PUNJAB Chief Secretary
robust ‫ مضکککککککرکککای‬price control Kamran Afzal’s decision to quit
mechanisms to set fair prices, his position and proceed on a
part of the inflationary pressure two-week leave of absence ‫عکککدمو‬
can be lifted. To ensure the ‫ مکایکاد ک‬is a clear manifestation
success of such efforts, it will be ‫ مکک کک ککر‬of the tense relationship
important for the finance
Page 33 of 96
‫ ی کک ک دہوتعلق ت‬between bureaucrats arguably what Mr Elahi, who has

and the current rulers of the repeatedly accused ‫ ملزم‬Mr Afzal
province. It is unfortunate that of having helped the rival PML-
he was driven by the ruling PTI- N get Hamza Shehbaz elected as
PML-Q alliance ‫ تکک کک د‬to a point chief minister in April, must
where he found himself have wanted all along.
repeatedly requesting the federal
government to pull him out (to The relationship between
depart) of the province. Ever politicians and bureaucrats has
since the ruling PTI-PML-Q never been free of tensions. It is
combine returned to power in common knowledge that
Punjab, as a consequence ‫ ہ م‬of politicians across party lines
a controversial ‫ مکککہکککنک ک عک ک‬court have used the fear of
interpretation of the punishment, abrupt transfers
Constitution’s defection clauses, and patronage systems ‫سککرپرسککہ و‬
Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has ‫ ییو ک م‬to keep the bureaucracy
given the province’s top in line. However, the last few
bureaucrat short shrift. years have been especially tough
Particularly frustrating ‫مکک یا و ین‬ for senior officers posted in
for Mr Afzal has been the Punjab. Many have had to suffer
excessive ‫ ککککیو ککککد ہ‬political at the hands of the National
interference in administrative Accountability Bureau. During
decisions, especially the abrupt the last five months, they have
been caught up (so involved in
‫ ککک ککن‬transfer of civil servants,
an activity that you do not notice
undermining the principle of
other things) in frequent
good governance. What the
political changes in the province;
future holds for him is unclear;
there have been wholesale
but he is unlikely to return to his
transfers by incoming
job under the present political
set-up in the province. That is governments, and this has made
Page 34 of 96
it difficult for them to take day- A long-awaited tour

to-day decisions that have a
direct bearing on the quality of Editorial Published September
service delivery to citizens. No 18, 2022
wonder governance has suffered IT is a tour that has been 17 years
immensely ‫ یوحد‬as bureaucrats, in the making and comes after
instead of doing their job, prefer one that was cancelled almost a
to curry favour with the ruling year ago. Finally, England have
politicians in their quest for arrived for their tour of Pakistan,
prized postings and additional having shunned ‫ یہن بوی‬trips to
perks ‫ مکککک ک ق ک و مککر عکک ت‬. Over the the country due to security
course of the last seven decades, concerns since their last visit in
several civil service reforms have 2005. A seven-match T20 series
been introduced to build starts in Karachi from Tuesday,
bureaucracy’s capacity and make and precedes ‫ پ لی‬a Test tour in
it capable of effective service winter. Pakistan breathed a sigh
delivery. None has succeeded of relief when the players landed
due to the politicisation of this on Thursday. Last year’s events,
important institution of state. when England withdrew ‫دسککہررد و‬
With the country mired ‫ پھنس ونا‬in ‫ نککاو کک کک‬from a two-match series
one of the most serious economic after New Zealand pulled out
crises in its history, it is high time from their tour due to events in
bureaucrats were depoliticised to Afghanistan, had not been
stop further erosion of the state’s forgotten and prompted a strong
legitimacy and writ. reaction from the PCB; the
Published in Dawn, September British high commissioner
18th, 2022 clarified ‫ و مککک ک و یک کک‬the decision
taken by the England and Wales
Cricket Board was not on his
Page 35 of 96
government’s advice. The envoy Despite the cancellations,

‫ سککککف ر‬also vowed ‫ ف و ھ وی‬that Pakistan exceeded expectations
England’s scheduled tour this at last year’s World Cup by
year would not be affected and reaching the semi-finals. Babar
that international cricket would Azam’s side is still a force to be
return to Pakistan. It has now, reckoned ‫ حسککککک بول ک ویک ک ونی‬with,
and the ECB has also agreed to although they will want to get
compensate ‫ معک ومکککک ودینک‬the PCB past the disappointment of
by adding two matches to the losing the T20 Asia Cup final to
five-match itinerary ‫ سککککفرو م‬for Sri Lanka recently. A series win
this tour. In fact, they have sent against England will burnish
most of their top players, which their credentials ‫ سکک ک یھ‬as one of
will allow cricket fans in Pakistan the favourites for the World Cup.
to witness some engaging
contests ‫مکقکک کلکی‬. England follow Published in Dawn, September
Australia in becoming the latest 18th, 2022
high-profile team to tour
Pakistan, completing the revival
‫ ک کک لک‬of international cricket in Sectarian concerns
the country, which has left no
stone unturned in ensuring the Editorial Published September
safety of travelling teams since 19, 2022
the attack on Sri Lankan players A RECENTLY released study by
in 2009. the Brussels-based International
This tour, like last year’s, comes Crisis Group has raised some
before the Twenty20 World Cup. pertinent ‫ مککہککعککلککقکک‬but disturbing
Both teams will be looking to questions about the state of
fine-tune their preparations ‫ت ی‬ sectarian militancy ‫قکککرقک ک و و ک ک و‬
for the tournament in Australia. ‫ عسککککرری ک وپسککککنککدی‬in Pakistan. In
Page 36 of 96
particular, A New Era ‫ دو‬of report’s contention ‫ تن ع‬that IS-

Sectarian Violence in Pakistan K has struck roots ‫یےی وپرےول ون‬
underscores the troubling in KP, Balochistan as well as
prospect of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi parts of Punjab. For example, it
cadres, largely dormant ‫رو قعکک و‬ says that LJ foot soldiers
at the moment, playing an active working as “hired guns” for IS-K
role in the malignant activities of in KP “number in the hundreds”.
the Islamic State-Khorasan To put things in perspective, LJ
chapter, as the local Daesh is one of Pakistan’s deadliest
affiliate is called. Separately, it sectarian terrorist groups. It is
also examines the role of the responsible for a long list of
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan in bloody anti-Shia purges. While
local communal politics and the LJ leadership may well be
militancy. Though some “decimated ‫”تر ہو کدہ‬, as the report
conclusions ‫ کککہک ک ئک ک‬of the think rightly points out, its political
tank’s report are a tad alarmist, supporters, in the shape of the
certain aspects send up instant Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan/ Ahle
red flags — which the state would Sunnat Wal Jamaat are very
be foolish to ignore. much active. And if the LJ
fighters combine their
The foremost point that the considerable local knowledge
state, particularly the security with the Islamic State group’s
establishment, should consider ‘expertise’ ‫ مکککک کککک ت‬in waging
is the budding alliance between transnational sectarian war, the
LJ fighters and IS-K. Quoting results for Pakistan’s internal
officials, the ICG document says security could be tragic ‫ ل ن‬. As
that LJ terrorists have mostly for the observations regarding
been absorbed by the Tehreek-i- the TLP, it is evident that the
Taliban Pakistan and IS-K. What latter has managed to weaponise
is especially alarming is the blasphemy ‫ تان ن‬and sectarianise
Page 37 of 96
the political discourse, which with the ICG report’s concluding

bodes ill for communal peace in observation that the federal and
the country. provincial governments, political
parties, the judiciary as well as
And yet, despite the presence of the military will all “have to play
these malign actors, Pakistan is a part in addressing the
not in the throes of a communal conditions in which sectarian
conflict pitting Shia citizens militants thrive”.
against their Sunni
counterparts ‫وونکککموومکککناکککککککرککک ککک و‬. Published in Dawn, September
Moreover, claims in the ICG 19th, 2022
report that mothers tell their
children to hide their Shia
identity, or people refrain from The youngest victims
giving their full names for fear of
revealing their confessional Editorial Published September
status ‫ عہر ق وح ی‬, may be true in 19, 2022
rare instances, but are not the
norm. And, notwithstanding the FOR millions of children in
existence ‫ ویاد‬of sectarian death Pakistan, life is going to be
squads that go back at least four particularly precarious ‫ رویق ن‬in
decades, Pakistan has thankfully the coming months, with
been spared the ugly ‫ککدصککککککا ت‬ consequences ‫ کہکک ئک‬that will last
communal violence witnessed in well into the future — at least for
Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. But, if those of them that manage to
new threats are allowed to thrive, make it to adulthood ‫یا‬. As the
‫ پکنکمکنکی‬such as an active LJ-IS-K aftermath of the cataclysmic
partnership, a return to violence floods ‫ ترک ہوینوسکککک الب‬continues to
is very possible. In this respect, unfold, and disease and
there can be little argument ‫دل کم‬ malnutrition set in, the youngest
Page 38 of 96
Pakistanis are the most at risk. ‫ — سکسکہ‬also manifested a higher

Of the nearly 1,500 fatalities ‫ما ت‬ incidence. ‫ و قع‬Then there is the
so far from flood-related causes, psychological fallout.
around 530 are children.
According to Unicef, an Routine gives children a sense of
estimated 16m children are security, and youngsters who
among the flood-affected have seen their lives upended ‫تر ہو‬
population, with at least 3.4m of ‫ نکاتکی‬overnight by a cataclysmic
them in need of immediate, event, ‫ ترک ہوینوو قعک‬with no end in
lifesaving support. Following a sight to the disruption, are at
two-day visit to the inundated enormous risk for post-
‫ یروآب‬areas of Sindh, the Unicef traumatic stress disorder. The
representative in Pakistan said super flood compounds the
that malnourished ‫ک ئ وی و ککککر‬ tragedy of an unconscionably
boys and girls were battling inequitable society where vast
diarrhoea, dengue fever and numbers of children already
painful skin diseases as a direct contend with profound
result of the catastrophe. ‫تککرکک نکک‬ disadvantages from birth.
Disasters tend to discriminate Consider that malnutrition ‫ک ئ‬
along generational (and gender) leaves 38pc of under-fives in the
lines. Even in a country like the country stunted, one of the
US, research indicates that highest prevalence rates in the
within a month of a natural world — a situation the Unicef
disaster, young children has described as a “rising
manifested ‫ فکک نرو ی کک وو کک‬a 9pc to emergency” for Pakistan. It
18pc increase in acute illnesses, dooms ‫ تکرکک ہو یکرو دیکہکک و نکی‬millions of
including diarrhoea, ‫ پک کچک‬fever them to a future in which they
and respiratory ailments. ‫سکک ک سو‬ will never achieve their full
‫ ی و ک یا‬Somatic symptoms — potential. Moreover, although
headaches, nausea ‫مکہکلک‬, lethargy infant and under-five mortality
Page 39 of 96
rates have been falling steadily in Authority over the installation of

recent years, there is clear solar panels on their rooftops has
disparity ‫ تف وت‬between rural and once again brought into focus the
urban areas, with the latter sometimes fraught relationship
showing more of a decline between the area’s residents and
because of access to better health its administration. According to
facilities. Given the floods have the report, the DHA has notified
impacted rural areas the most and imposed financial penalties
severely, even those gains may be ‫ سکککز ئ‬on some residents after it
reversed — at least to some deemed ‫ س مھ‬their installation of
extent. Increasing poverty is also solar panels a “violation” of its
likely to lead to a rise in child building control regulations. The
marriage, with all its deleterious notices have apparently ‫ک ک ک ک نکککر‬
effects ‫ ککقاکککک ک و دہو ثککر ت‬on girls’ been served mainly on houses
mental and physical health. where steel structures were
Going forward, Pakistan’s installed to elevate ‫ لندویر ی‬solar
children must be at the heart of panels. The move has invited the
the rehabilitation ‫ ل‬effort. ire ‫ اکککی‬of those affected, who
seem not to have been aware that
Published in Dawn, September they may have been committing
19th, 2022 a violation when they were doing
Solar debate the installation. Some have
bitterly ‫ تلخ وسککی‬complained that
Editorial Published September the authority’s recent
19, 2022 Updated about 3 hours ‘awakening’ to the installation of
ago 3 solar panels is just to force
residents to cough up hundreds
A NEWS report on notices of thousands of rupees more in
received by citizens living in fees and charges.
Karachi’s Defence Housing
Page 40 of 96
The DHA’s response is that the authority must not use its
‘proper process’ for solar considerable powers to strong-
installation ensures safety and arm citizens, as it has in the past.
uniformity in construction. “We Otherwise law-abiding citizens
can’t let everyone do as they should not be subject to the
please […] There needs to be whims ‫ خکککککا ن ککککککک ک ت‬of an
some sort of symmetry ‫نکمو آنکنکگک و‬, administration whose own
too,” a spokesperson for the actions have not been beyond
authority told this paper. That reproach.
may be valid, but the DHA
should perhaps consider its own Published in Dawn, September
failures in providing residents 19th, 2022
the high standards of living it
aspires to — the recent flooding
of residential areas being a case Sharifs’ silence
in point — before demonstrating
‫ مک کک نکرہ‬so much rigidity ‫سکککککخکہک و‬. Editorial Published September
Penalising people, in some cases 20, 2022
years after installation has been WITH the political environment
done, is unreasonable and will in Pakistan fraught with
cause distress. Instead of making uncertainty, the benign press
things difficult for residents, statement from London has done
perhaps the authority should little to ease the pressures
consider issuing a set of gradually ‫ آنسکہ وآنسکہ‬building up in
guidelines for solar installation Islamabad. Nothing new or of
and impose penalties only in substance has been shared with
cases where there has been a the public since the prime
violation or where a minister met his older brother,
demonstrable safety hazard ‫خطرہ‬ PML-N ‘supreme leader’ Nawaz
may have been created. The
Page 41 of 96
Sharif, for what was reportedly a strategy? How does it plan to

‘family only’ discussion. If the steady the listing economy in the
reports are accurate ‫د سک ک‬, even months it has when the man who
the PML-N federal ministers should be leading that task has
present in the city were not been tied down by his own party?
invited. We do know that Is he to be replaced, and by
important business was whom? If not, will he be allowed
discussed, particularly the fate to do his job without worrying
‫ قسک ک‬of the Punjab government about fulminations ‫ تککر ک ک ککم‬from
— where the Sharifs seem to once the Nawaz camp? Every day that
again want to instal their scion, passes in stasis inflicts further
Hamza Shehbaz, as chief damage on the economy.
minister — and the timing of the Likewise, how does bringing
next general elections — which, Hamza Shehbaz back as Punjab
they decided, will be held chief minister help the
according to the official instability? Will it not cause
schedule. However, instead of further chaos ‫ ? قر تفری‬What is it
offering any insight into what is apart from another attempt by
going on in their minds, or the PML-N to wrest back lost
providing assurances ‫یکقک کنو دنکک ک کک‬ clout in the constituencies ‫حکلکقکی‬
that matters are under control, that have traditionally brought it
the Sharif brothers left even old to power? Most importantly,
questions unanswered. how do the government and the
PML-N plan to counter the
For example, if the government resurgent ‫ دو ہوپ د ونا یوو ال‬Imran
is indeed intent on limping Khan, who has made it clear that
‫ لکککنکککگکککے کککی‬to the next general he is not going to rest unless he is
elections, to be held in the latter shown a path back to power?
part of next year according to the Will they, as some have
official schedule, what is its threatened, unleash Interior
Page 42 of 96
Minister Rana Sanuallah to keep Editorial Published September

the PTI in check? How will they 20, 2022
deal ‫ ین‬with the blowback if the
party pushes back and the law- HINDSIGHT ‫پچھہ ک و‬, they say, is
enforcement agencies once again usually 20/20. But in the case of
go overboard in their response? the flood disaster, the lessons of
2010 have not been learnt.
It Is clear that the Sharifs want to Nowhere is this more evident
hold their cards very close to ‫ و م ک‬than in the UN’s response:
their chest. Such is the distrust both the appeal and allocations
prevalent in the party — split into made so far do not come close to
camps as it is — that even the the amount pledged ‫وعککدہو ی کک و کک‬
prime minister’s cabinet is being and released to Islamabad in the
kept in the dark. This is hardly aftermath of the 2010 floods.
assuring. It is alarming that the Although a flash appeal has
government, while seeming generated $150m, the UN’s
intent on completing its tenure Central Emergency Response
‫دو‬, has no clear plans for the Fund had only released $7m as
future to share. With its own of the first week of September.
silence exacerbating the Compared to this, CERF
evaporation ‫ خک ت ک‬of faith in the allocations ‫ مکککخکککہک ک‬for various
government, the PML-N is interventions in Pakistan in 2010
taking a strange path indeed. totalled nearly $52m. This
included funding for WASH
Published in Dawn, September projects, emergency shelter ‫پکنکک وہ‬,
20th, 2022 food security, education, etc.
While most of the UN system is
still intact today, dozens of other
Cluster approach agencies that supplemented the
Page 43 of 96
global body’s efforts have moved system cannot reflect victims’

on from Pakistan. needs without input from those
working on the ground.
The ‘cluster approach’, which Regrettably, ‫ قسککککا وییوسکککک تکھ‬the
involved various agencies previous PML-N government
working in the same sector refused permission to scores of
coordinating their response for INGOs to operate here. While
better allocation of resources, there may have been legitimate
has also been absent. For security concerns, the fact is that
example, a typical cluster today, the number of
meeting on shelter would include humanitarian agencies that
representatives from UN- helped in the 2010 effort stands
Habitat, International halved. Then there are concerns
Organisation for Migration, about transparency; ‫ ککککفکک قک کک‬in
UNHCR, WFP, Unicef and other 2010, international donors were
organisations with staff on the concerned about whether their
ground constantly feeding funds were being utilised
information to their teams in properly. The concern remains
Islamabad. This means that facts today. The UN, and by extension
being shared with decision- ‫ تکاسکککک کع‬the aid sector, must shift
makers would enable the latter into high gear. Relief work is
to determine ‫ تع ن‬where and how drawing to a close and the
best to utilise the funds. transition to rehabilitation ‫ک ل‬
Currently, UN-OCHA and the and reconstruction must be swift
resident coordinator’s office are and seamless. That cannot be
working as a sort of secretariat to accomplished unless needs
fill this role. But while such joint
assessments ‫ ت کککککککخککک اککککک ک ت‬are
working groups keep in close completed and verified lists of
contact with the relevant potential beneficiaries prepared.
government bodies, a centralised
This will be an extensive process,
Page 44 of 96
during which those displaced school. The UN has termed ‫قر و‬

will be forced to live with ‫ دیکک ونی‬the ban “tragic ‫ ل نکک‬and
relatives, in camps or other shameful” and its secretary
improvised dwellings. It is time general has deplored the “year of
to rebuild the right way. lost knowledge and opportunity”
for the girls. According to UN
Published in Dawn, September figures, over a million girls have
20th, 2022 been affected by the Taliban’s
Deprived of education short-sighted decision.
Editorial Published September Afghanistan’s de facto (existing

20, 2022 in fact, although not necessarily
intended or legal) rulers have
THE fact that Afghanistan’s claimed the ban is “temporary”,
Taliban rulers continue to while adding that they need time
disallow girls from attending to remodel the curriculum
secondary school indicates that according to “Islamic lines”.
the hard-line outfit remains Moreover, the regime’s ‫یککککر و‬
wedded to its regressive ‫یع وپسند‬ ‫ حککرککامکک‬education minister has
worldview, despite promises of termed it a “cultural issue”,
change. When the Taliban swept saying that many rural Afghans
back to power just over a year don’t want their teenage
ago, there were valid concerns daughters to go to school. These
that the group would again crack excuses are mostly without
down on women’s rights. These merit. From a human rights, as
fears were not unfounded: ‫کککیو‬ well as a religious and cultural,
‫ کنک کک دو ک ک ک و تکھکی‬while younger girls perspective ‫پ لا‬, the Taliban’s ban
have been allowed to attend on girls’ education is
school, the older ones have been indefensible ‫ ک ک قک ک کککمو دقک ک ی‬. If the
stopped from attending high TalIban claim religious sanction
Page 45 of 96
for stopping older girls from Published in Dawn, September

learning, they must be asked why 20th, 2022
Saudi Arabia and Iran — states
run by religious law — allow girls
to attend high school. Moreover, Karachi chaos
while much of the Afghan
population is conservative, ‫قد م و‬ Editorial Published September
‫ پسککککککنککد‬the Taliban appear to be 21, 2022
foisting ‫ مسککککککلککمو یککرتککی‬their own
vision upon the people. It is hard THERE is a palpable sense ‫و مک و‬
to believe that culturally ‫ حسک ک‬of insecurity that citizens
appropriate educational across the country must have felt
institutions cannot be set up to recently, thanks to the harsh
allow Afghan schoolgirls to realities ‫ تلخوحق ئہ‬of living through
continue their education. What a slow-burning economic crisis.
is missing is the Taliban’s However, in Karachi, this
intention to educate girls. insecurity has taken a
Furthermore, the high school particularly twisted form ever
ban makes no sense when since some elements tried to tie a
women can attend universities, series of recent mugging-related
albeit ‫ ک ک ویکککاد‬with restrictions. (an act of attacking someone and
Instead of coming up with lame stealing their money) deaths to
excuses, Afghanistan’s rulers rumours ‫ قکا نک ک‬about ‘dangerous
need to speedily open girls’ high criminals’ relocating to the city
schools, while Muslim states after the recent floods.
particularly should put pressure WhatsApp groups are now abuzz
on the regime to do away with ‫ بکھرے ہوئے ہیں‬with moral panic,
this archaic ban. ‫قدیموپ ندی‬ and the MQM, true to its roots, is
demanding more firearm
licences (an official document
Page 46 of 96
granting a person permission to While conferring the award, a

own and use a gun) for locals. former Sindh police chief had
encouraged other citizens to
A worrying increase in lynching ‘assist’ the police through similar
incidents and vigilante ‫ککککایکککس‬ ‘efforts’. It appears Mr Odho has
justice has followed the initial taken a leaf out of that playbook
wave of citizen deaths during (to copy something that someone
mugging attempts. The city’s else does because it will bring
police chief, Additional you advantages). While public
Inspector General Javed Odho, anger against violent crime is
has made matters worse. After and should remain high, it is
initially dismissing complaints of highly irresponsible for the
rising street crime as panic- police to encourage people to
mongering (a person who mete out (to give something to
spreads panic), he has taken a the people who one decides
problematic step that will should get it) punishments on
encourage ‫و ے‬ more people the streets. It is the police which
to take the law into their hands. is ultimately responsible for
After a mugging incident on ensuring the safety of life and
Monday saw the victim kill one property of all citizens; it should
of the suspects, ‫ م کککککہککرکک‬the city make an effort to uphold that
police chief promptly announced responsibility to the best of its
a Rs50,000 ‘award’ for the abilities, not look for an easy way
former. There is a troubling out by encouraging vigilantism.
history to such rewards. A In a city that still smoulders with
similar one was handed to a ethnic, sectarian and political
citizen in 2016 for acting tensions, it can quickly turn into
‘valiantly ‫ ’ د یوسککککی‬in gunning a recipe for disaster.
down ‫ ال وم تیونائی‬two suspects
who had tried to rob his family.
Page 47 of 96
Published in Dawn, September occurring in the British city of

21st, 2022 Leicester. The city has been on
edge since the Aug 28 Asia Cup
match between Pakistan and
Exporting Hindutva India, when fans of the latter
reportedly shouted ‘death to
Editorial Published September Pakistan’. The crisis escalated
21, 2022 ‫ ے و‬after some 200 men staged
an aggressive march in the
AS Hindutva ideologues have Midlands city chanting ‫عرہولگ تیو‬
moved from the fringes ‫ ینک‬of ‫‘ نککککائککککی‬Jai Shri Ram’. Indian
Indian society to the centre of Muslims are familiar with this
power, this anti-Muslim ideology refrain ‫ ;پرہیز‬what is supposed to
is now being ‘exported’ to foreign be a religious exclamation has
shores ‫سک ک حلا‬. A recent incident been transformed by the Sangh
in the US state of New Jersey Parivar into a battle cry against
created an uproar when a Muslims. Members of the
bulldozer — festooned with the Muslim community have staged
picture of the chief minister of counter protests, and local police
Uttar Pradesh, who doubles as a say they have arrested 47
radical ‫ انتہا پسکککند‬Hindu holy man individuals in connection with
— participated in an Indian the disturbances. According to
independence day parade. The the Muslim Council of Britain, an
bulldozer has been used to advocacy group, this is part of a
terrorise ‫ خکککاقکککزدہوویکککر ک ک‬Muslim “series of provocations ‫کککککہکعکک و‬
communities by demolishing ‫ ” کککگککک کککزی‬which have included
‫ مسکک ک ویر ی‬homes in India. The chanting outside mosques, as
hate is spreading, with the latest well as targeting Muslim homes
ugly ‫ ککدصککککککا ت‬manifestation of and businesses.
Hindutva in foreign climes
Page 48 of 96
These grim ‫ سکککنگ ن‬developments US have spoken out against

indicate that Hindutva now also Hindutva mischief in that
poses a significant threat to country. Indeed, to defeat the
communal harmony ‫قرقک و ک ونمو‬ designs of fanatics, ‫ ینا‬Hindu,
‫ آنکککنکککگکک‬in the West. Illustrating Muslim and Sikh community
‫ ہک تیونائی‬how serious the threat leaders need to work together to
is, members of the Democratic prevent the poison of
Party in New Jersey have asked communalism from further
the American government to infecting the diaspora. ‫ت ی نووین‬
investigate US-based Hindutva
outfits ‫ ننکدوتا وتن‬as “domestic Published in Dawn, September
branches” of “foreign hate 21st, 2022
groups”. Western governments
must not underestimate ‫یموسک مھن‬
the threat that outfits connected Self-inflicted wounds
to the Sangh Parivar pose to their
domestic security. Just as these
21, 2022
states keep a vigilant eye )to
watch closely) on Muslim TRUTH be told, the selection of
extremists, pro-Hindutva the army chief has always been a
fanatics must also be watched to political issue. How could it be
stop them from creating otherwise in a country where the
communal problems in the West. military has ruled directly for
Moreover, numerous ‫ یک ک‬West- many years of its existence, ‫ویاد‬
based charities linked to the and — with the establishment’s
Sangh Parivar need to be machinations ‫ — سکککک کککک‬spent
investigated to ensure they are much of the remainder
not funnelling funds to India that manipulating the political
help finance anti-Muslim hatred. landscape, including through the
Progressive Hindu groups in the
Page 49 of 96
once-powerful presidency, to that “thieves ‫ ”کا ی‬should never

ensure its preeminence ‫? کککرتکککری‬ be allowed to undertake the task.
For civilian governments,
therefore, a principal Why Mr Khan is currently
consideration in selecting the priming this issue as the main
head of this powerful institution weapon in his arsenal ‫ نککہککھ ک کک‬is
is to maximise the chances of its difficult to say. Perhaps it is a
own survival — making this as realisation that the pressure he is
political a decision as one could building on the establishment
be. Never before, however, has may be reaching critical mass
the impending ‫آ ککککککیو و لکککک ک‬ and elections could be sooner
appointment whipped up (to rather than later; perhaps it is
excite) so much sound and fury. payback for the PDM having
‫ اککککک ک‬Courtesy Imran Khan’s deprived ‫ مک کرومو یکرو دیکک‬him of the
fulminations, ‫ ی الت‬the issue has opportunity. Certainly, part of
been made controversial to an the impetus behind the
unprecedented degree. Having coalition’s no-confidence motion
said only a few weeks ago that against the PTI government was
the opposition had nothing to do its suspicion ‫ ن‬that Mr Khan as
with the selection, the PTI premier had settled on a
chairman now appears to have particular general believed to
made it into the holy grail have facilitated his rise to power
(something that a person or a — and kept the then opposition
particular group of people want on the ropes — to be the next
very much to have or achieve) of COAS. However, as the
his campaign to regain power. At artificially engineered demise of
a rally in Chakwal on Monday, he several governments, including
again thundered that the army that of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,
chief be selected on “merit” and Benazir Bhutto (twice) and
Nawaz Sharif (twice) illustrate,
Page 50 of 96
institutional allegiance overrides routine appointment. But that is

all else. So deeply embedded is part of a much bigger problem,
this skewed power dynamic that one that stems from the fact that
the converse — the absence of the military has repeatedly
meddling — also has political overstepped ‫تککککمککک و و یککک ککک و نککککی‬
repercussions ‫ ثکککککر ت‬. Former constitutional boundaries.
prime minister Imran Khan Having queered this pitch
himself has alleged ‫لز مو لگکک یکک و نی‬ throughout Pakistan’s history, it
that his government fell because must suggest a way out and then
the establishment chose a leave governance to those elected
strategic ‘hands-off (allows other by the people.
people to make decisions about
how things should be done and Published in Dawn, September
avoids becoming directly 21st, 2022
involved) approach. In other
words, his undoing was the
‘neutral’ stance — which, it bears
reminding, is a constitutional
requirement for the military. Controversial project
The civilian leadership must Editorial Published September

shoulder part of the blame for 22, 2022
the extreme distortion of the THE controversial ‫ مکہکنکک عکک‬Ravi
political landscape. Extensions Riverfront Urban Development
in the tenure ‫ دو‬of army chiefs, Project launched ‫ ککککرویوی ک و ک‬by
whose first beneficiary (under a former prime minister Imran
civilian dispensation) was Gen Khan is again making headlines
Ashfaq Kayani during the PPP owing to a series of protests held
government, have further by the affected farmers whose
politicised what should be a land is ‘forcibly’ being acquired
Page 51 of 96
‫ ح صککموی وی و ن ونی‬for the scheme been paid to the owners”. The

at ‘throwaway prices ‫ک کرو مکعک کالک و‬ farmers contend that few were
‫’قکک کک کککہکک کک‬. The images of heavy paid compensation. But Ruda
machinery being used by Ruda to claims that development work
destroy crops to take possession was started after making
of the land it says it has already payments to all landowners
acquired and paid for have under the law and that the entire
triggered ‫ ینمودی ونی‬a fresh wave of amount had been deposited in
criticism of the project and the the treasury. ‫خز‬
treatment being meted out (to
give something to the people who Even if the objections of
one decides should get it) to the environmentalists and urban
development experts on the
farmers. The illustrations ‫عر سکک‬
project spread over more than
of the future development along
100,000 acres of land are put
the Ravi river tweeted by Mr
aside for a moment, the design of
Khan recently have led many to
the planned city completely
believe that he is pushing the
ignores the owners of the land
Punjab government to move
who should have been the
faster on the scheme. The
primary beneficiaries ‫قک ئکدہو اھک یو‬
affected landowners insist ‫صکر و‬
‫ و لککککککی‬of this development.
‫ یککر کک‬that Ruda has violated the
Supreme Court order in its fresh Evicting ‫ یودخککمویر ی‬them from
push for land acquisition. ‫حاککا‬ the land they have owned for
generations and depriving ‫م رومو‬
While suspending a Lahore High
Court order scrapping ‫خکہکمو یکر کی‬ ‫ یککر ککی‬them of their livelihoods
the project and declaring it ‫ و یو وا‬by paying them a small
illegal for violation of the law, the compensation is not the correct
SC had given Ruda “conditional approach for any government. If
permission to work on the land the government and the former
whose compensation ‫ مع وم ک‬had premier want this project to
Page 52 of 96
move ahead, they should ensure (abolish a law or regulation) two

that the landowners and other important provisions ‫ دقع ت‬in the
residents of the area are the first law: the question of who is to be
beneficiaries of this real estate considered a transgender
development unless it is person, as well as an individual’s
envisaged ‫تاککککککا و یکک کک و یکک تکک و نککی‬ right to be recognised according
exclusively for the elite and the to their perceived ‫سک مھ وی یوو ل‬
rich land developers. gender identity. The court
subsequently invited a number
Published in Dawn, September of people, including
22nd, 2022 representatives from the
transgender community, to join
the proceedings and plead ‫لکہکمکک‬
Transgender identity their perspectives on the matter.
The move, though commendable
Editorial Published September ‫ ق موتعری و‬for giving an equal voice
22, 2022 to all stakeholders, has also
THE question of the considerably prolonged ‫یککککایککککم‬
‘compatibility’ ‫ مکککطک ک کککقک ک و‬of the deliberations ‫ ا وووخا‬. This has
Transgender Persons meant that all those who will be
(Protection of Rights) Act of affected by the case’s eventual
2018 with ‘Islamic values’, which outcome continue to live under a
has been contested in a long- shadow.
running case being heard by the The law In question marked a
Federal Shariat Court, should be
major milestone ‫ سککککککنککنو مکک ککم‬in
laid to rest (to remove or end
Pakistan’s journey to enshrine
something). The petitioners
‫ ت فیویر‬the rights of individuals
‫ د خککا سکککککک و ککز‬in the case had
whose gender identities are at
moved the court to strike down
odds with their biological sex,
Page 53 of 96
either due to an accident of birth who wish to do so than any

or castration, etc. However, the rational desire to prevent ‫ویککنکک‬
petitioners and like-minded abuse of the law. The deep
individuals have argued ‫سہدال وی و‬ distrust of transgender persons
‫ نی‬that granting people the right evident in the petition and those
to self-identify as male or female supporting it is one of the root
is ‘against religion’ and ‘opens causes behind the community
the door to homosexuality’. ‫نکککمو‬ being as marginalised as it is
‫ یککنککسو پککرسککککککہکک و‬This is a similar today. We as a nation must
argument ‫ دل م‬to the one brought learn` to stop ostracising ‫یودخمو‬
forth by the Jamaat-i-Islami in a ‫ یککککر ککککی‬people based on their
bill presented to the Senate deviances ‫ف‬ ‫ ککک کککر و‬from widely
earlier. It sought the formation held norms. It is hoped that good
of a medical board that would sense will prevail ‫ لبویر‬in this
control who could seek a gender case, and the transgender
change rather than leaving the community will be allowed their
matter to individuals’ personal long-denied right to identify and
identification. These arguments be treated as equal citizens.
reflect an unfortunate ‫ دقسک ہ‬and
misinformed view of what it Published in Dawn, September
means to be transgender. 22nd, 2022
Further, equating gender non-
conformity with homosexuality
is deeply problematic, as being Funding gaps
transgender has nothing to do
with an individual’s sexual Editorial Published September
orientation. ‫ ینس و ی‬The move 22, 2022
to block transgender individuals’ AS Pakistan moves to the
right to self-identify speaks more rehabilitation ‫ ککککک ککککک لککککک‬and
about the insecurities of those
Page 54 of 96
rebuilding phases in the amount has landed, while

aftermath of this year’s minors’ health, nutrition ‫ککک ئ کک‬
devastating ‫ تکککرکک ہو یکککن‬floods, the and education needs will only
glaring gaps ‫ و م ک وقرق‬in funding grow. A US State Department
needed to finance these critical official has also said the world
activities are becoming obvious. needs to make more of an effort
‫ و مککک‬The unfortunate fact that to help Pakistan, while American
the country was going through Senator Bob Menendez has
intense economic ‫کککککدیکدو قہاکککک دی‬ described his country’s flood-
turbulence ‫ ننگک مک وخ زی‬before the related help to Pakistan as a
floods hit — and is yet to find its “drop in the bucket”.
fiscal balance — is certainly not Additionally, while meeting an
helping. Pakistan’s plight in this EU delegation on Tuesday,
regard was raised at the UN Senator Mushahid Hussain
General Assembly where termed the bloc’s help to
Secretary General António Pakistan as “peanuts”(A very
Guterres, who was recently in the small amount of money).
country on a solidarity visit,
It Is quite clear that donor
‫ یرم ہ وی ک ودو ہ‬told the world that
fatigue has set in, and the
“Pakistan is drowning, not only
amounts pledged ‫ وعکدہوی ک و ک‬and
in floodwater but in debt” too.
delivered to Pakistan are indeed
Regrettably ‫ قسککککککا و یککیو سکککککک تکک وھ‬,
‘peanuts’, especially when the
international appeals to help
prime minister has said post-
Pakistan at this difficult time
flood rehabilitation will cost
have yet to receive a robust ‫مضرای‬
“trillions” of rupees. The cold,
response. For example, a senior
hard truth is that developed
Unicef official has said that out of
states can spend billions of
the $39m needed for the
dollars on waging war, yet are
country’s flood-hit children, less
quite stingy ‫ ینما‬when it comes
than a third of the required
Page 55 of 96
to helping developing states cope help Pakistan rebuild. Moreover,

with catastrophes. ‫ ترک ن‬Both the Pakistan’s elite must loosen their
US and EU have funnelled purse strings and help fellow
billions of dollars into the citizens in this time of dire crisis.
Ukraine war, while the cost of The middle class is hard-pressed
America’s Iraq and Afghanistan and cannot donate ‫کخ ککک ک ک و دیکنکک‬
campaigns is in the trillions. Yet much due to economic
both these foreign actors have stagnation ‫ ; قہا دیوی اد؛‬but those
given only a few million dollars with means can certainly make a
for Pakistan’s flood relief. It greater contribution to the
should be reiterated ‫عک دہوی ک ویک ک و‬ rehabilitation effort. Further,
‫ ک ن ی‬that Pakistan is not asking foreign creditors should also
for charity ‫صککککدق‬, but justice, as consider the UN secretary
the prime minister has stressed. general’s appeal for debt
There is wide consensus that the reduction and debt-swap
floods were exacerbated by mechanisms. Pakistan is at this
climate change, and Pakistan has point in no position to
hardly contributed to immediately repay heavy debts,
greenhouse gas emissions and the focus should be on
(Combustion of natural gas and rebuilding.
petroleum products for heating
and cooking needs emits carbon Published in Dawn, September
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), 22nd, 2022
and nitrous oxide (N2O)), and is
paying the price for the
ecological negligence of others.
While the global economy may Timely remorse

be slowing down, our foreign
friends can certainly do more to
Page 56 of 96
Editorial Published September his ways. Even a symbolic

23, 2022 punishment for contempt — as
once prescribed for former prime
THE remorse ‫ پچھہ و‬and humility minister Yousuf Raza Gilani — is
on display at the Islamabad High enough to knock a politician out
Court yesterday would have been of the race for a five-year period.
unremarkable ‫ کک قکک ککمو ذیککر‬had it Perhaps that is why the apology
been any other person on the ‫ معک ق‬yesterday was humble ‫عک یز‬
stand. The august courts of this and unequivocal. ‫ ک کرو و مکککک‬Mr
land have usually given short Khan even expressed a
shrift to hubris. ‫ حکککرکککس‬Yet, Mr willingness to seek Judge
Imran Khan had survived Chaudhry’s forgiveness in
hearing ‫ سکککک ک کک عکک‬after hearing, person if the court so desired.
refusing to tender a straight Quite the change of heart in a
apology ‫ مکککعککک قککک‬to Additional man whose pride keeps getting
District and Sessions Judge Zeba in his way.
Chaudhry, against whom he had,
during a public rally on Aug 20 in Mr Khan should never have used
Islamabad, used language the sort of language he did
considered contemptuous ‫تکانک کنو‬ against the judge, and it is hoped
‫ آم ز‬by many. One had wondered that he has learnt his lesson.
why the IHC was seemingly Hopefully, he will take the
lenient ‫وو حک ککد‬-‫ کرمو مکز جوو‬towards opportunity to reflect on his
Mr Khan when he was not needless disparagement ‫کیو عکزتک‬
interested in making any of other state institutions as well
amends. It was only when the as his political opponents. If
IHC finally ran out of patience Pakistan had more rigid libel
and made it clear that it would laws, ‫ سککککخ وتان نوییوقا ن‬the PTI
prosecute ‫ مقکدمک وکال ک‬him if need chairman would have been sued
be that Mr Khan saw the error of mercilessly ‫ یو ح وسککککی‬for the
Page 57 of 96
litany of unfounded allegations rights to do so. The government,

he keeps making against anyone too, would be well-advised not to
who dares cross him. Bullying resort to high-handed tactics
‫ کککنکککالہو کککردی‬opponents from the ‫ حر ی‬in its zeal ‫ یا‬to block Mr
pulpit is easy when your star is Khan’s pursuit ‫ حاکککککککا‬of his
rising, and the might of the ambitions. ‫ عکککز ئکککم‬The interior
people is behind you. However, minister has recently taken to
this is a demagogue’s path to threatening ‘fumigation’ of D-
power, and the country needs chowk, as if protesters are
more leaders, not rabble- nothing more than cockroaches.
rousers. ‫نے ے یوو لی‬ ‫ ی یرو‬Let us hope that this is not
how he sees citizens in opposing
As Mr Khan embarks on phase political camps.
two of his mission to topple the
government — which kicks off Published in Dawn, September
(to become full of action and 23rd, 2022
excitement) this Saturday — now
would be a good time to reassess Nuclear geopolitics
strategies. Spreading chaos Editorial Published September
shouldn’t be an option in 23, 2022
achieving political objectives.
There is much for the country to TWO key international issues —
lose if political instability crosses Iran’s stand-off ‫ مکککاقک ک و‬with the
the threshold ‫ دنل ز‬and results in West over the former’s nuclear
a confrontation ‫ تاکککک ک دم‬between programme, and Russian
the citizens and the state. President Vladimir Putin’s
Whatever Mr Khan wants, he apparent threat ‫ ف نریوخطرہ‬to use
must demand civilly and while nukes ‫ یکانکریو نکہکھک کک و‬against his
remaining within the bounds of Western adversaries — have
the law. He will be well within his highlighted the use of the nuclear
Page 58 of 96
card in geopolitics. Regarding termed the threat

Iran, the country’s President “irresponsible”, while Nato
Ebrahim Raisi told the UN called it “reckless”.
General Assembly that Tehran
was not seeking nuclear As for the new Iran deal, a wide
weapons, in an obvious reference gulf of mistrust prevents Tehran
‫ و م وحا ل‬to the stalled, and some and the Western states from
would say doomed, negotiations reaching a compromise that
‫ مکک یر ت‬to revive ‫ پنمنک‬the nuclear would protect the interests of all
deal with the P5+1. Mr Raisi involved. The fervent ‫پککککریککککا‬
reiterated the call for American Israeli lobbying in Western
guarantees that any new deal capitals to sabotage ‫سککککرات نویر یو‬
would not be scuttled, as the ‫ یکیو لک کی‬a new deal has certainly
JCPOA was during the Trump not helped matters. If Tehran
presidency ‫صکککککد ت‬. The second has repeatedly said it does not
development — which raises the want nukes, ‫ یککانککری‬the Western
spectre of a 21st century nuclear states should take it at its word
war — should be cause for and help forge a new nuclear deal
considerable concern that protects the interests of all
throughout the global signatories, ‫ دسککککہخمویننککد ک‬while
community. While addressing Iran should also be willing to
his nation, Mr Putin ominously make compromises. Coming to
‫ دقس ہ وسی‬warned that those who Mr Putin’s threat, it is hoped he
were trying to “blackmail” Russia was indulging in mere rhetoric,
with “nuclear weapons should even though he insisted “this is
know that the wind can also turn not a bluff (try to deceive
in their direction”. There was someone as to one's abilities or
little nuance ‫ و ز ی‬in the Russian intentions)”. A nuclear exchange
leader’s pronouncement, as between Russia and Nato would
American President Joe Biden be an unmitigated catastrophe
Page 59 of 96
‫ ترک ن‬and any such plans need to those without money or

be immediately abandoned. influence — are barely ‫ک ککککککرککمو‬
Instead of fanning the flames, considered human beings, let
both sides need to back down alone citizens with
and work towards a solution that constitutionally protected rights.
guarantees Ukrainian As a result, many are left broken
independence, while allowing in body and spirit after being
Russia to save face. detained by law enforcement;
some succumb ‫ دمو تکککا ک ک‬to the
Published in Dawn, September brutality. ‫ ککر ککریکک‬In this sordid
23rd, 2022 environment, where violation of
Miranda Warning the right to due process is
routine, the police leadership has
Editorial Published September introduced a pilot project in
23, 2022 Faisalabad district modelled
after the ‘Miranda Warning’ as
BEATINGS, rape, sleep practised in the US since 1966. In
deprivation ‫ ک کنککدویک و یک ک‬, electric that country, cops ‫ پکککالککک کککس‬are
shocks, even waterboarding (an bound to communicate the
interrogation technique usually Miranda Warning/ Rights to
regarded as a form of torture in individuals when taking them
which water is forced into a into custody. These inform the
detainee's mouth and nose so as accused person that they have
to induce the sensation of the right to remain silent and
drowning — the Punjab Police is refuse to answer self-
notorious for employing a gamut incriminating questions ‫ممرم ک ک و‬
‫ سککلسککل‬of torture ‫ ت ککدد‬tactics ‫حر ی‬ ‫سکا الت‬. The impetus ‫ م ر‬behind
while ‘interrogating’ suspects. adopting ‫ پن ک ی‬the procedure in
‫ م ککہر و قر دوسککیوپاکھو چھ‬Individuals Faisalabad, according to a senior
in custody — inevitably ‫المکک کک لکک‬ police official quoted in this
Page 60 of 96
paper yesterday, is to address the Torture is endemic ‫ مق م‬because

practice of custodial torture it stems from a particular
‫ حر سہ وت دد‬and deaths. mindset shaped by an
authoritarian subculture within
Faisalabad is certainly an law enforcement; also, the
appropriate place to launch such politics of policing are premised
a project. A study conducted by ‫ مکککرکککنک ک و نکککی‬on the institutional
Yale University and the Justice weakness of law-enforcement
Project Pakistan on 1,867 agencies. Perhaps most crucially
medico-legal certificates dated ‫ نککمو یککا و پککر‬, torture is yet to be
between 2006 and 2012 from the expressly criminalised in
district, confirmed 1,424 Pakistan. There is no mention of
allegations of police torture with it in the PPC or the CrPC. While
physical evidence. Yet not a the Police Order 2002, under
single case, by the time the which the Punjab Police
findings were made public in functions, does stipulate
2015, had been investigated or penalties ‫سکککککز ئک ک و مکقکر و یک و یکک ئک ک‬
the cops responsible prosecuted. against police officers who inflict
This impunity indicates a “violence or torture” upon
sociocultural acceptance of anyone in their custody, there is
torture as a legitimate ‫ ی ئز‬means no definition of torture, which is
of investigating crime. While the a critical omission. Lawmakers
move to introduce the practice of must step up to make torture
Miranda Warning/ Rights unacceptable, with severe
constitutes at least an repercussions for those who
acknowledgment of the rights of resort to it.
people in custody and is a shift in
the correct direction, it will likely Published in Dawn, September
prove insufficient to tip the 23rd, 2022
scales to any significant degree.
Page 61 of 96
struck cops unnecessarily

entered the state lounge; they
Star-struck cops gate-crashed while the UN head
Editorial Published September was giving an interview to the
24, 2022 BBC, even though his personal
guards tried to stop them, and
IN this age of selfies and social even barged ‫ ککھککسو کک ککی‬into the
media, it is easy to get carried dignitary’s suite to present him a
away in the presence ‫ مکایکاد ک‬of ‘gift’, and grab some more
famous people, even if you are a pictures.
government servant assigned
‫ تع نک توی ک و ک‬to protect those well- Awkward ‫ عم ب‬and unedifying as
known personalities. This was the police officials’ behaviour is,
apparently ‫ کک کک نککر‬the case with there appear to be precedents
officers of the Sindh Police’s quite high up the pecking order.
Special Branch and Special For example, while meeting then
Security Unit, which were Alaska governor Sarah Palin
supposed to provide security to during his US visit in 2008, Asif
UN Secretary General António Zardari exhibited ‫ کک ئ وی‬some
Guterres during his recent visit very un-presidential, cringe-
to Karachi as part of his worthy public behaviour while
solidarity mission to the flood- chatting up (to talk informally)
affected population. Apparently, the hawkish (watching
the SSU personnel thought it something very closely)
would be a good opportunity to Republican politician. Moreover,
grab ‫ ح صمویر‬a few snaps ‫تاایری‬ if a biography ‫ سا وح ت‬of former
with the visiting dignitary and US secretary of state
gain some publicity. What Condoleezza Rice is to be
resulted was an embarrassing believed, then prime minister
breach of protocol; the star- Shaukat Aziz also illustrated ‫می و‬
Page 62 of 96
‫ دی‬some undiplomatic traits FROM headaches ‫ سککرد د‬to fever

‫ خاککلہا‬when he tried to impress to bodily pain — paracetamol is
the American visitor during a used ubiquitously ‫ نکککرو یکککگککک‬in
2005 visit to Islamabad. Much to Pakistan as the go-to remedy for
the embarrassment of many, Ms most common ailments. In
Rice was reportedly recent months, the drug’s most
unimpressed with Mr Aziz’s familiar brand, ‘Panadol’, has
charms. The point is that been in short supply in the
whether it is presidents and country. The company that
prime ministers, or those manufactures Panadol had
manning other important public recently halted ‫ ویکک‬production,
service roles, SOPs and protocols saying that it is no longer viable
should not be lost sight of, to keep producing the drug due
especially when interacting ‫کک تو‬ to higher input prices. Though
‫ ک‬with foreign guests. The way the drug itself, paracetamol, is
the SSU Personnel behaved with still available and is being sold
the UN chief was unbecoming, under other names, such is the
and the Sindh government, as power of the brand that the
well as other administrative disappearance ‫کد‬ of Panadol
bodies, must ensure such from pharmacy shelves has been
shenanigans are not repeated. taken by many to mean that
there is a shortage of medicine to
Published in Dawn, September treat fever and common pains.
24th, 2022 Other companies manufacturing
paracetamol had also raised
issues relating to pricing.
Panadol shortage
The authorities know they have a
Editorial Published September problem on their hands, but they
24, 2022 seem to be struggling with how
Page 63 of 96
to fix it. Drug pricing, which is that the government will

controlled through the Drug subsidise ‫سککککککککرسککککککککالیو د و کککک‬
Regulatory Authority of paracetamol production to keep
Pakistan, has become a political it ‘affordable’ ‫ سککککسککککککہکک و‬for the
issue over the years as various masses. This is unlikely to work
parties have lobbied ‫ال نککنوی ونی‬ as a long-term fix for a cash-
to block any price increases in a starved economy. At some point,
bid to win favour with the public. the government will have to
What makes matters more realise that the availability of
complicated is that Pakistan drugs is sometimes more
does not produce many active important than affordability.
ingredients ‫ یککککز‬required to With dengue ripping ‫تر ک ن ومچ ک ی‬
manufacture drugs, even some of through the country and the cold
the most commonly used ones, and flu season right around the
which means the industry corner, demand for paracetamol
remains highly dependent on the is expected to remain strong or
import of raw materials to even pick up in the weeks to
continue production. These come. The government may, by
imports have in recent months all means, take action to prevent
been vulnerable ‫ یک ککزو‬to global ‫ ویککنکک‬hoarding ‫ ذخکک ککرہو ککدو ی‬of
supply shortages and medicines and illicit profiteering
disruptions, as well as currency by black marketeers. However, it
rate depreciation. The combined needs to get the economics of the
effect of these factors has put drugs market right if it wants to
drug manufacturers under prevent similar crises in the
pressure, as they are having future.
difficulty meeting costs while the
government does not allow them Published in Dawn, September
to raise prices. The prime 24th, 2022
minister has now announced
Page 64 of 96
that even the revised growth

projections are too optimistic ‫پرو‬
Post-flood economy ‫ مکک کککد‬in light of the devastation
Editorial Published September wrought by a deluge of epic
24, 2022 proportions that will leave the
country with little or no growth
WITH a third of the country — at all this year. Hyperinflation,
especially Sindh and Balochistan (monetary inflation occurring at
— under water, over 33m people a very high rate) a weakening
displaced, and homes, roads, rail rupee, and fiscal and monetary
tracks, bridges, crops, livestock tightening under the IMF
and livelihoods washed away, to package had already been
carry something away by the affecting economic growth when
movement of water) it is the torrential ‫ یککاقکک کک‬monsoon
improbable ‫ ککک مککک کککرکککن‬that the rains and melting glaciers
economic targets set by the drowned large parts of the
government for the present fiscal country. It, therefore, isn’t
will be met. No wonder ‫تعمب‬, the surprising to see the catastrophic
government has slashed ‫یمویرویی‬ ‫ تکککرک ک ہو یکککن‬floods curtail ‫یکککمو یکککر کک‬
its budgeted economic growth whatever modest growth we
target of 5pc to just 2pc; the were expecting to achieve and
climate calamity has hit the push the nation to the brink.
country at a time when the ‫ودن‬،‫ ین ہ‬Finance Minister Miftah
economy was already in a Ismail has rightly pointed out
tailspin (become increasingly that “the path to solvency was
chaotic and out of control) as the narrow; it has gotten narrower”.
government struggled with one
of Pakistan’s worst balance-of- Early flood-related economic
payments crises, piling debt and losses are estimated to be almost
soaring inflation. Many believe $30bn; the calls for debt relief
Page 65 of 96
for Pakistan are growing louder slumped to just half their face
as Islamabad desperately ‫م یاس ک و‬ value, despite Mr Ismail’s
‫ ی ک و حکک لکک و م ک ک‬looks towards the statement a few days earlier that
developed world to help it in a the country would “absolutely
big way — and quickly. With a not default on its debt payments
large number of affected people in spite of the floods”. The only
still awaiting rescue services and silver lining is the indication
relief, and the rehabilitation ‫ل‬ from the IMF that it is willing to
and recovery phase yet to begin, ease the conditions under the
UN Secretary General António bailout programme in a changed
Guterres has sought to draw post-floods economic situation
global attention to the crisis in and increase the amount
Pakistan, pointing out that the Pakistan would receive in the
country was “drowning not only next tranche, ‫ قسم‬subject to a “lot
in floodwater, but also in debt”. of negotiations” in the coming
A UN policy memo suggested weeks. Chances are Pakistan will
that Islamabad should suspend secure some additional
international debt repayments multilateral financing. But that
and restructure loans with isn’t the solution to the current
creditors after the recent floods crisis. It’s time the world stepped
exacerbated ‫ ے ک ودیک‬the financial forward to provide debt relief to
crisis. It states that the country’s prevent the economy from
creditors should consider debt collapsing. ‫ر ی‬
relief so that policymakers can
prioritise financing its disaster Published in Dawn, September
response over loan repayment. 24th, 2022
So far, the report has only spiked

‫ مکک ک ق ونا ونی‬fears of a default as UNGA speech
Pakistan’s sovereign bonds
Page 66 of 96
Editorial Published September It Is important for the prime

25, 2022 minister to seek reparations ‫تالق‬
for those already suffering from
CRISES test a nation’s resilience the impact of climate change. Yet
but also provide opportunities to things also need to change back
rise and move forward. Prime home. “Life in Pakistan has
Minister Shehbaz Sharif on changed forever,” Mr Sharif told
Friday delivered an impassioned other leaders at the UN General
‫ یکککک ککک تککک‬speech at the United Assembly — but has it really, or
Nations about the climate will it? The people of this country
injustice countries like Pakistan are no strangers to suffering
are facing. Much of what he said brought about by the vagaries ‫مر م‬
was an adequate articulation of nature and compounded by
‫ من سککبو‬of the many challenges the short-sightedness and
being faced by us today due to ineptitudes ‫ کک نل کک‬of the people
the vicissitudes ‫ تککک و ککککے ککک‬of responsible for preventing or at
weather deeply and perhaps least mitigating ‫ تکخکفک ک و یکر کی‬such
irrevocably ‫ امویا وپر‬altered ‫تردیمو‬ tragedies ‫سککککککک کک ک کک ک ت‬. Natural
‫ یرودیک و ک و‬by global warming. He disasters will inevitably return to
spoke of the searing, our lands — no amount of
unprecedented heatwaves this ‘climate justice’ can prevent ‫وین‬
year and the flood of “biblical them from doing so — and it is
proportions” which followed — a imperative ‫ مککککککرو ی‬that we be
disaster the likes of which we prepared when they do.
have never seen. “Why are my
people paying the price of such “When the cameras leave, and
high global warming through no the story just shifts away to
fault of their own?” he asked the conflicts like Ukraine, my
world. question is, will we be left alone
to cope ‫ ینک‬with a crisis we did
Page 67 of 96
not create?” the prime minister misery ‫ ماک ر‬unleashed ‫ ت ودی‬on

asked at the UNGA. The short our country, but our leaders
answer to that is yes; that is likely must also take responsibility for
what will happen. For years, the the future. They cannot leave it
most powerful world leaders dependent on the goodwill of
have bickered ‫ یھگے وی ک ونی‬about countries that got us here in the
how best to address climate first place. The passion shown at
change. It is clear that they will the UN should be seen in actions
not be interested in doing more taken back at home.
than the bare minimum,
although at this time they should Published in Dawn, September
be strongly urged ‫و ودی وی وک ن ی‬ 25th, 2022
to go beyond short-term aid for
relief and rehabilitation. It will,
ultimately, be up to our leaders Dar’s return
to rebuild the country to be
stronger and more resilient to Editorial Published September
the kind of destruction seen this 25, 2022
year. Mr Sharif called Pakistan WITH Interior Minister Rana
“ground zero” of climate change: Sanaullah confirming the return
our policies will have to change of Ishaq Dar next week to
at the highest level if we wish to ‘facilitate’ ‫ سکککک ال ک ودین ک‬the PM in
adapt ‫ پککنکک کک‬to this new reality. economic affairs, we may soon
Climate change is as much an have our third finance minister
existential crisis ‫ ویادیو ر‬now for this year and the sixth since
as the other conventional threats the current National Assembly
‫ و یہ وخطر ت‬we spend trillions on took oath. Following opportune
avoiding. It is important to hold developments on the legal front,
nations responsible for heavy there had already been much
pollution to account for the
Page 68 of 96
speculation ‫ ق ک‬that the former the International Monetary

finance minister, PML-N Fund.
stalwart ‫ مضکرای‬and Nawaz Sharif
confidant would soon be The future of that programme,
returning to the country to which Mr Ismail painstakingly
snatch back the reins from ‫ کککےیو مکک کککنکک و سککککککی‬renegotiated
Miftah Ismail. The PML-N’s recently, will be closely watched
decision to change horses if Mr Dar takes over and goes for
midstream appears to have been any expansionary policies ‫تاسک ع و‬
driven by the incumbent’s ‫پ ل س ک‬. It would appear from Mr
unyielding ‫ ک کرمکہکزلکز‬pragmatism Dar’s recent statements that the
‫ ع ل وپسککندی‬given the state of the interests of the two would be at
economy and his unwillingness odds ‫ مکککہضکککککک د‬with each other.
to dish out populist ‘relief’ when Meanwhile, the finance minister
the economy can ill afford it. Mr again faces the prospect of
Dar will now be expected by his returning unappreciated from a
party to conjure up fiscal space gruelling assignment ‫سکککخ وتفای‬
for the government to start that required him to clean up
spending ahead of the next someone else’s mess. It will not
elections. What financial make it any easier for him
wizardry ‫ م ل وی دو ر‬he employs to knowing it will be Mr Dar who
do so remains to be seen, but if gets to enjoy any fruits that his
the past is anything to go by, Mr labours may have yielded. Mr
Dar’s arrival could portend ‫سککربو‬ Dar had overtly challenged Mr
‫ کنو سکککککرکہک و نکی‬more trouble. His Ismail and undermined his
disastrous exchange rate policy decision-making over the past
during his last tenure is widely months. Mr Ismail’s looming
seen as a key reason why ‫ ک ک ہویرت ونائ‬ouster ‫ یودخل‬also
Pakistan had to return for yet hints that the Nawaz camp —
another bailout programme to which had made no secret of its
Page 69 of 96
disdain for Mr Ismail’s economic the custody of the country’s

policies — appears to have morality police. Mahsa Amini
prevailed within the PML-N. All was visiting Tehran with her
of this does not bode well for the family when she was reportedly
economy, which has suffered apprehended ‫ پرے و‬by members
much from the uncertainty of the force for not complying
brought about by the party’s ‫ تکعک ک ککمو کک و یکر کی‬with the country’s
infighting. The country would strict dress code. Activists blame
have done well with a stable the young woman’s death on
hand at the helm. Now, with a police brutality, while the
new finance minister likely to authorities claim she died as a
take over, instability is bound to result of a “heart attack”.
return as the markets speculate Numerous demonstrators ‫یک ک ک ک و‬
‫ومناککککا ک و ک کد نک و‬، ‫ ق ک وآ ئ‬on the ‫ م ک کک نککر‬have been killed as the
direction he will take in the state has sought to crush the
weeks and months ahead. protests, while security men
have also been targeted in deadly
Published in Dawn, September attacks. Yet, hijacking the
25th, 2022 tragedy, Iran’s foreign foes have
sought to use the protests as a
geopolitical tool to embarrass
Iran hijab protests ‫ کککرمند‬the clerical regime. ‫عل و‬
. ‫ ی وحرام‬This not only takes the
focus away from the protesters’
25, 20225x
genuine demands for greater
FOR over a week now, Iran has rights, it also exposes the West’s
been witnessing considerable hypocrisy, ‫ منکک ققکک‬as the US and
tumult ‫ نکککنکککگککک مککک‬after a young Europe prefer to keep quiet when
woman died earlier this month in their allies indulge in similar
authoritarian behaviour.
Page 70 of 96
Iran’s rulers should examine the condemnation ‫ مکم‬when Salma

issues fuelling public discontent. al-Shehab, a female Saudi PhD
If it is confirmed that Mahsa scholar, was handed a 34-year
Amini died due to police jail sentence for following the
brutality, those responsible must ‘wrong’ Twitter accounts last
be punished, and such a tragedy month. This selective outrage
should not be repeated. As for needs to end.
the Western bloc, their sudden
benevolence ‫ حسک‬for the Iranian Published in Dawn, September
people smacks more of politics 25th, 2022
than of genuine compassion. For
example, the US has now felt the
need to ease internet curbs ‫پ ندی‬ Debt deferment
for Iranians so that the country’s
people are “not kept isolated”. Editorial Published September
America would be better off 26, 2022
lifting its sanctions that prevent PAKISTAN is seeking deferment
‫ ویکککنککک‬critical medicines from ‫ ماخرو یر ی‬of its bilateral ‫دوو یرقکک و‬
reaching Iranian patients. debt of nearly $10bn for a few
Though humanitarian exports to years, which, if approved by the
the country are allowed, wealthy Paris Club creditors, will
America’s secondary sanctions save it $1.1bn in loan repayments
“have drastically ‫سککککککخککہکک و سککککککی‬ this fiscal year. That will ease
constrained Iran’s ability to pressure on the nation’s
finance such humanitarian dwindling ‫ یک ک‬foreign exchange
imports”, according to Human reserves, that have already
Rights Watch. Moreover, while dropped to $8.3bn, and generate
the West has roasted Iran over its some space for the government
handling of the Mahsa Amini to rehabilitate ‫ ک ک ک ک و یکککر ک ک‬and
case, there was little in the way of
Page 71 of 96
reconstruct after the floods. An where creditors would let go of

announcement to this effect was repayments in exchange for the
made by Finance Minister country agreeing to invest in
Miftah Ismail a day after the infrastructure resilient to
prime minister said in an climate change.
interview that all hell would
break loose (a situation suddenly For long, Pakistan has faced
becomes violent and noisy) if the severe external financing
rich countries did not challenges. Even before the
immediately provide Pakistan current floods, it was struggling
debt relief to help it get back on to tackle ‫ ین‬its growing balance-
its feet. However, in order to of-payments troubles, as official
calm jittery investors, ‫پکرسکککککرکا و‬ and private capital inflows
، ‫ سککککککرمکک یکک و یکک‬the minister also slumped, the import bill soared
sought to assure Pakistan’s to unsustainable levels amid
creditors that “we are neither high global energy and food
seeking, nor do we need, any prices, and exports declined
relief from commercial banks”. because of recessionary
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pressures ‫یوییود‬ ‫ یسک دو‬in the
has already requested the IMF to advanced economies. Reserves
release the remaining amount of continue to erode. Pakistan’s
around $3bn from its bailout dollar funding needs for the next
programme in November. five years, projected by the IMF
Separately ‫ لککنو لککن‬, a draft UN at $181bn for the next five years,
policy paper advises creditors to have never been so large and the
“consider debt relief so that world’s appetite ‫ ھا‬to hold its
policymakers can prioritise ‫تری و‬ hands never so poor. The
‫ دین‬financing its disaster response calamitous ‫ تر ہوین‬floods could not
over loan repayment”; it suggests have come at a worse time. With
debt restructuring or swaps, its public sector foreign debt
Page 72 of 96
standing at $97bn at the end of Published in Dawn, September

the last fiscal, Islamabad is 26th, 2022
scheduled to pay $75.4bn,
including $9.4bn in interest Dengue concerns
payments, in the next five years. Editorial Published September
True, much of this debt will get 26, 2022
rolled over, but the country will
still need a significant amount of AS weather conditions change in
dollars to meet its debt Pakistan, the threat of dengue
obligations. ‫قر ئ‬ looms ‫ منکالال ک‬large over the land.
According to a warning issued by
The experience of recent months the Met department last week,
shows that bilateral and the current weather conditions
multilateral creditors are in the country mean that a
reluctant ‫ نچرچ‬to advance fresh dengue outbreak ‫ پکھک کال‬is on the
loans due mainly to our constant horizon, ‫ عککروج‬specifically in 10
craving ‫ تر‬for their money and cities. These include Karachi,
failure to put our house in order. Lahore, Peshawar and
But the world must help Pakistan Rawalpindi-Islamabad. Our
in its tough times. It is true that creaky health infrastructure is
had Pakistan taken steps to already being severely tested —
strengthen its economy over the just as in years past — by
years, matters might not have thousands of dengue cases
been as precarious ‫ ک کرو یکقک کنک‬as across the country. According to
they are today. And yet, at this figures published in the media,
time, Pakistan’s debt should be Sindh has logged ‫ د خمونائیون و‬in
deferred, swapped and forgiven. over 7,000 cases, while KP
Helping Pakistan get back on its comes in second with more than
feet won’t be possible without 6,000 cases. Hospitals in
outside help. Karachi, for example, are
Page 73 of 96
reportedly flooded with patients, a fumigation campaign, but most

while some public health citizens have yet to see the
institutions in the city have successful effects of this anti-
apparently ‫ ککک ک ککک ک نکککککر‬stopped dengue operation. The fact is
admitting dengue cases. that the authorities in all the
Meanwhile, millions of flood- provinces facing the dengue
affected people are also threat need to shake off (to get
vulnerable to vector-borne away from someone) their
ailments. This means that unless lethargy, and deal with this
there is a nationally coordinated public health emergency before
anti-dengue campaign, the it metastasises (spread to other
illness risks spreading further, parts of the body and cause
with the health infrastructure tumours to grow there) into an
incapable of coping with a deluge epidemic. Regular spraying and
of cases and fumigation efforts ensuring sanitary conditions in
unable to keep pace with cities and towns can play an
mosquito breeding. ‫مککچککھککرو و ی ک و‬ effective role in reducing vector-
‫قز ئ‬ borne ailments such as dengue,
malaria and chikungunya.
Punjab has in the past Health authorities also need to
successfully dealt ‫ کک ک ککککیکک ک‬with use the mainstream and social
dengue outbreaks, and proven media to communicate messages
methods need to be deployed to about dengue prevention, and
keep the virus-bearing where to get treatment if a case is
mosquitoes at bay. Experts have suspected. The Sindh
stressed the need to fumigate ‫خہمو‬ government has reduced the
‫ یر ی‬dengue larvae to prevent the prices of dengue tests, but
mosquitoes from proliferating. clichéd as it may sound,
‫ پکھک کال کیو و ال‬The administration in prevention is better than the
Karachi claims it has undertaken cure, so the emphasis ‫ و‬should
Page 74 of 96
be on getting rid of the dengue Islamabad High Court for being

mosquitoes before they can non-maintainable. Like most
infect large chunks of the laws designed not for the ends of
populace. International best justice but as a tool to suppress
practices on fighting dengue dissent ‫ف‬ ‫ خکککہکککال و‬, this one is also
exist which need to be reviewed phrased in extremely broad
by our health experts. Pakistan language, allowing the
has had several years to authorities considerable leeway
understand and come to terms ‫ ککککھکککیک ک‬when they do decide to
with the dengue threat. The state detain ‫ حر سککک ک وم و یھنک‬someone
must now prioritise ‫تککریکک کک و دیککنکک‬ under its provisions. Given that
public healthcare. life imprisonment is the
maximum punishment
Published in Dawn, September stipulated for sedition, that
26th, 2022 makes it a formidable weapon
Relic of colonialism with which to beat down today’s
recalcitrant ‫‘ مککککہککککزلککککز‬natives’.
Editorial Published September Fortunately, the courts have
26, 2022 taken a lenient view ‫ کرمو ک کر‬and
anyone being prosecuted under
THE law on sedition, ‫ د ی‬one of the section has been acquitted
several holdovers of colonial
‫ ریویرودی و ونی‬at some point.
times, is among the most handy
instruments for controlling the PTI leader Shahbaz Gill is among
citizenry. On Saturday, a petition the latest who have found
filed ‫ د ئککروویکک و کک کک‬by PTI leader themselves charged with
Shireen Mazari seeking the sedition, after a television
annulment of the PPC’s Section interview in which he uttered
124-A, which pertains ‫ مکہکعکلکقکک‬to language that, in the words of
sedition, was dismissed by the Interior Minister Rana
Page 75 of 96
Sanaullah, was intended “to law as “perhaps the prince

create rifts” within the military’s among the political sections of
ranks. Mr Gill was granted bail the Indian Penal Code designed
‫ مکککک ک ک ومکمو‬after more than a to suppress the liberty ‫ آ دی‬of a
month in custody. Earlier, citizen”. The sooner it is removed
during the PTI government, an from the statute books, the
FIR was registered against better.
several PML-N leaders,
including Nawaz Sharif, for Published in Dawn, September
sedition. And now sedition 26th, 2022
allegations are flying thick and
fast. The PTI’s provincial
government in Khyber Noon leaks
Pakhtunkhwa last month
announced it was filing FIRs Editorial Published September
against several PDM leaders — 27, 2022
apparently ‫ کک کک نککر‬in retaliation A SET of audio clippings of
‫ کہکقکک مک و یکک و ئک‬against Mr Gill’s discreetly recorded, closed-door
travails. ‫ م ککککرکالت‬A sedition law conversations between the prime
has no place In a democracy, and minister and other key decision-
violates several fundamental makers have surfaced on social
rights including freedom of media — capturing the nation’s
expression. Moreover, attention at a time when political
international law holds that even tensions are on the boil. (in a
trenchant criticism ‫ دیدوتنق د‬of the state of activity or development)
government and its institutions The content of these recordings
is protected. Indeed, Gandhi will be dissected in great detail
wore the charge of sedition by opinion makers in the coming
brought against him In 1922 like days. The PTI has already started
a badge of honour, describing the
Page 76 of 96
spinning them in its favour: However, things seem quite

pointing fingers at Maryam different this time, as everything
Nawaz and demanding that the about these latest leaks raises
chief election commissioner questions. Firstly, the clippings
resign. There is an element of that have been released so far do
hesitation ‫ نکچکرکچکک نکک‬even in the not seem to be from recordings
PTI’s posturing, however, as the of intercepted telephone calls.
national security implications of Instead, a recording or bugging
this leak become clearer. The device (a covert listening device,
biggest question at the moment more commonly known as a bug
is how a lapse ‫ خر‬of such grave or a wire, is usually a
proportions happened on the combination of a miniature radio
watch of multiple security transmitter with a microphone)
institutions tasked with seems to have been placed inside
protecting the prime minister PM Office, the security of which
against exactly such threats. is the responsibility of the
Intelligence Bureau and the
When former finance minister Special Branch. As of now, it is
Shaukat Tarin’s telephone call unclear how many places were
with Taimur Jhagra over the IMF bugged, how long the bug or bugs
deal was ‘leaked’ recently, there remained active, and why they
had been little question about were not detected. Then there is
who may have been snooping the question of how these audios
‫ ی سککاسکک ویرو نیونا و ی‬in on their have been released. Some
conversation. Phone tapping is reports suggest that a large cache
par for the course in a country ‫ ذخک ک کککرہ‬of audio recordings was
where civilian leaders are fair uploaded to a hackers’ forum
game for illegal surveillance ‫رو‬ sometime last month and offered
‫ قکک کا ک و کگکر ک‬and few care about for sale. A clipping from the
individuals’ right to privacy. cache was also seemingly
Page 77 of 96
uploaded to Twitter much earlier available on the internet is a

this month, but appeared to have major embarrassment.
evaded ‫ چنیوییول ی‬attention till
this weekend. Were these Published in Dawn, September
carefully placed red herrings, or 27th, 2022
is an external player actually
involved? Relatedly, will more
such clips be released in the Cipher probe offer
coming days, or have the ones
already released done the job? Editorial Published September
27, 2022
The serving prime minister and
his cabinet are not ordinary CONSIDERING the toxic
people, or even out-of-favour political polarisation in the
politicians whose privacy may be country, former prime minister
casually compromised without Imran Khan’s suggestion that his
many consequences. ‫ کہکک ئک‬Their party is willing to return to
conversations are not something parliament if a probe ‫ تک کقک کقکک ت‬is
that ought to be on the internet initiated into the ‘Cablegate’
for anyone with money to affair is not without merit. If the
purchase and listen to. This is a PTI chief sticks to this offer and
national security emergency that does not make another U-turn,
ought to be investigated at the such a development could lead to
highest level. Heads must roll. a much-needed political truce
For a security apparatus ‫قسککککر و‬ ‫ سک ک سک ک ویننو ندی‬between the PTI
obsessed ‫ مکرکہکال‬with ‘5G warfare’ and the ruling PDM. While
and what dissenters are saying speaking in Islamabad on
online, the fact that Saturday, Mr Khan said he would
conversations hosted by the consider taking back the
country’s chief executive are resignations his MNAs had
Page 78 of 96
submitted in April after the PTI The government should take up

leader was removed from the Mr Khan’s offer and form a probe
office of prime minister in a vote committee acceptable to all,
of no-confidence. The PTI’s particularly the PTI. If the prime
narrative ‫ کک کک کک کک‬has since then minister and his allies feel such
been that its government at the sensitive material should not be
centre was ousted because of a made public in the national
‘conspiracy’ ‫ سکک ک‬hatched ‫ک و‬ interest, perhaps the probe
by the US in connivance ‫مل و‬ committee can be briefed in
‫ ھگ‬with powerful local players. camera. Such a committee would
To date no substantive evidence help settle the question of this
has emerged of any such grand controversial episode in our
conspiracy, and observers have recent history, and may bring
noted that the cipher (a secret or back PTI’s lawmakers to the
disguised way of writing) sent by House. If Mr Khan refuses to
Pakistan’s then envoy in return to the National Assembly
Washington after meeting a despite the findings of a credible
State Department official, and ‫ قکک ککمو عہ کک د‬probe committee, his
which lies at the heart of this bluff would stand exposed.
affair, was a routine diplomatic However, if Imran Khan and his
communication that was used by party’s MNAs do return to the
the PTI to gain domestic political House, it would be a victory for
mileage. ‫ قکککککک ئککککککدہ‬Since its democracy in Pakistan. Settling
government’s removal, the PTI matters on the streets and
has been calling for a probe, with further raising political
Mr Khan writing to the president temperatures is not the sensible
as well as the chief justice to route; parliament is the right
investigate the cipher. forum for both sides to address
their differences, and reach
compromises that would help
Page 79 of 96
extricate ‫ رک لنک‬Pakistan from the was largely assumed that the

political paralysis ‫ سک سک ومفلاج‬it is work that was started before the
currently experiencing. Mr Khan prime minister’s Doha visit to
has lobbed the ball into the remove impediments ‫ یکک واک ک‬to
ruling coalition’s court, and now the Qatari plan to develop a new
it is up to the PDM to take RLNG terminal and buy two
matters forward. RLNG-powered generation
plants would make rapid
Published in Dawn, September progress on fast-tracking the
27th, 2022 promised investments. However,
a report in this paper suggests
that bureaucratic red tape and
vested interests ‫ ذ ت ودلچسککککم ک‬are
stalling ‫ و و نککککیو نکککک کککک‬any
meaningful headway on those
Delaying Doha plans reforms. This is in spite of the
urgency ‫ عککککمککککلکککک‬with which
Editorial Published September Pakistan needs foreign loans and
27, 20225 non-debt-creating investments
to tackle its balance-of-payments
WHEN Doha announced its troubles. Though Qatar did not
intention to spend $3bn in give any time frame for its
different commercial and investments, the gas-rich state is
investment sectors of Pakistan expected to spend much of the
around a month ago to support money on the LNG
this country’s teetering economy infrastructure project and the
‫تر ہوح ومع ک‬, no one expected the purchase of power plants during
government here to immediately the current fiscal to support
implement the actions needed to Islamabad’s efforts to double its
facilitate the Qatari plans. Yet, it foreign exchange reserves to
Page 80 of 96
$16bn under the IMF’s bailout decisions to invest $1bn each in

programme. Pakistan if we continue to drag
our feet on important policy
Any other country dealing with a reforms meant to ease the way of
serious economic turmoil ‫مع کک و‬ foreign investors.
‫ ککککدحکککک لکککک‬amid a balance-of-
payments crisis and falling Published in Dawn, September
foreign currency reserves would 27th, 2022
have moved swiftly ‫ تک کزیو سککککی‬to
push reforms forward and The whole truth
remove the barriers to such a Editorial Published September
large investment in a sector on 28, 2022
which depends the nation’s
energy security. The lack of THE war on truth has never been
progress on reforms and policy more relentless ‫و کیو حکم‬,‫کیو لکگکک م‬
decisions approved by the than it is today.
federal cabinet shows that the Authoritarianism is on the rise
gas sector bureaucracy is more and purveyors of ‘alternative
concerned about its own facts’ have multiple channels of
interests than those of the communication whereby they
country. It goes without saying can obfuscate, ‫مکرک کمو یکرو سککککرکہکیو نک ک‬
that the delay ‫ تککک خککک ککککر‬in the deflect and deliberately ‫یک و ایکھو‬
implementation ‫ ککفکک ذ‬of reforms ‫ یککر‬misinform. World News Day
required to facilitate long-term 2022 is an occasion to celebrate
foreign investment will not only fact-based journalism and
jeopardise ‫خککطککر و مکک کک و ڈ لککیو کک‬ remind people why this calling is
Qatari plans in the gas sector but so critical to democracy and
in other areas as well. Saudi human rights, to all those values
Arabia and the UAE may also that make the world a more
rethink their recently announced livable place. When journalism is
Page 81 of 96
done well, when journalists can context and shades of grey,

do their job without having to fostering ‫ قککککککرو و دیککککککنککککککی‬a
second-guess themselves for fear correspondingly reductive
of putting a step ‘wrong’, they thought process. Together, both
have the power to shine a light in have led to the extreme social
the darkest corners and hold polarisation that we can see
governments’ feet to the fire. today. Nevertheless, many
Granted, this may seem like a journalists, despite threats and
utopian fantasy, ‫ تاککا‬and many intimidation, ‫ د ک کرک‬continue to
a time vested interests do come do stellar work, uncovering facts
in the way of this objective — but and asking the searching
it should nevertheless be at least questions that all those who
an aspirational goal. wield power and must be held
accountable should face as a
Unfortunately, in Pakistan we matter of course. Perhaps the
seem to be drifting in reverse. media as a whole must do more
With hugely consequential to showcase such journalism. It
decisions ‫ ہ مک وخ زوق اککککلی‬on the could also do a better job of
political landscape happening explaining to its audience why
behind closed doors, it is fertile they, the people, must fiercely
ground for conjecture and ‫ سککککخکہک و سککککی‬guard their right to
conspiracy theories ‫ت‬ ‫سک ک و ری و‬. information which, in turn,
To that, add propaganda and depends on the right to free
‘fake news’ wheeled out as speech exercised by the press. No
‘journalism’, and the result is a trade-off is worth the price of
citizenry losing trust in being kept in ignorance.
mainstream media. Social media
— the go-to news source Noxious though some of its
especially for Pakistan’s massive effects are, social media is the
youth demographic — erases apotheosis of a process that
Page 82 of 96
began some two decades ago Published in Dawn, September

when Pakistani television news 28th, 2022
channels exploded on the scene.
The frenetic news cycle reduced
information to easily digestible, Real-world trolls
‫ نضکم‬transient sound bites. As the
audience, with advertisers Editorial Published September
following suit, shifted to the 28, 2022
electronic medium, the
circulation of newspapers went AMONG the many criticisms the
into steady decline. Sept 25 was PTI receives, perhaps the most
National Newspaper Readership common complaint is its role in
Day, an opportunity to promoting a culture of
appreciate the unique intolerance ‫ عدمو رد کک‬and abuse
advantages that print journalism in Pakistan’s modern political
enjoys. An island of stability discourse. Though it certainly is
amid the din of digital and not the first or the only party to
electronic media, print — sully its opponents with slurs
especially newspapers of record ‫ ل‬and unfounded accusations
— still inspires a certain level of ‫ یو ن دو لز م ت‬, its supporters have
trust. After all, the permanence taken matters several steps
‫ مسککککککہککقککمو مککز یکک‬of the medium further by internalising their
demands a higher level of leaders’ hate and channelling it
diligence on the part of its in their interactions with rival
practitioners as well as the grace politicians. ‫ حری وس ک سککہد‬At first,
‫ قضکککم‬to acknowledge errors. For the hate would flow thick and
those reasons alone, newspapers freely from anonymous accounts
are more relevant ‫ مہعلق‬than ever ‫ ن مو ی یس‬on social media. Now,
today. it is repeatedly spilling over into
the real world.
Page 83 of 96
Several videos were uploaded has rapidly eroded the PTI’s

recently to Twitter and other promise as a progressive party to
platforms, showing some UK- lead the youth. It is in this
based PTI supporters heckling context that Mr Khan’s Monday
and accosting Minister for address to students at a 158-
Information Marriyum year-old institute of learning in
Aurangzeb in London. The Lahore becomes all the more
videos were condemned ‫مکم وی و‬ disquieting. Invited to address a
‫ ک‬by many, and Ms Aurangzeb ceremony being held to launch
was lauded for keeping her an ‘Education and Skills
composure while being Integration ‫’مک کک تکا و یکک و ضککک ک کک م‬
subjected to an ugly verbal project at the Government
onslaught. It is reprehensible College University, Lahore, the
how many PTI supporters now former prime minister loaded his
seem convinced that politicians speech with the usual attacks
from opposing camps are not against the individuals and
entitled to even basic dignity ‫وق‬ institutions he sees as standing
and respect. That sentiment against him. It was a piteous
explains why they exult in display ‫ قکک ککمو حکمو ڈسکککککمکلکی‬of self-
harassing Imran Khan’s absorption from a man who
opponents and even celebrate promises the keys to a better,
their exploits by sharing them on more prosperous future. If all Mr
various platforms. The party Khan has to offer the students of
leadership’s refusal over the an institution as prestigious ‫معہرر‬
years to condemn such repeated as the GCU is his hate for the
displays of uncouth, ‫ک ککرو خککالق ک‬ chief election commissioner and
mob-like behaviour has only Maryam Nawaz, it is little
encouraged them further. The wonder that his most ardent
resulting nastiness, ‫ کنککد ک‬which supporters, both young and old,
Ms Aurangzeb was subjected to, have taken to acting like real-
Page 84 of 96
world trolls rather than capital’s woodlands are also a

upstanding potential leaders of haven for diverse creatures and
tomorrow. Mr Khan must plant life. Of late, it has been
reconsider the means he is observed that many animals that
adopting in his blind pursuit of had been driven deep into the
power, lest he goes down in woods by human activity are now
history as Pakistan’s Pied Piper making a return to the areas
of hate. closer to the trails frequented by
tourists and nature lovers.
Published in Dawn, September Talking to this paper, the head of
28th, 2022 the Islamabad Wildlife
Management Board said that
beasts ‫ د د‬such as porcupines,
Islamabad wildlife Khalij pheasants and foxes have
begun to roam relatively freely
Editorial Published September and reclaim their habitat ‫مسکککرن‬.
28, 2022 Even a leopard — a creature of
PRESERVING biodiversity the night — was spotted by
‫ حک کک تک کک تک و تکنکای‬is low on the list of camera traps on the prowl
priorities of both state and during the day. Much of the
society. However, successful animals’ newfound freedom is
attempts at living in harmony ‫نمو‬ the outcome of the leopard
‫ آننگ‬with nature and preserving sanctuary ‫ پککنکک ہو کک ہ‬set up by the
the flora and fauna ‫ر ت تو و وح ا ت‬ wildlife board and designed to
of this country should be minimise human impact on the
applauded ‫ سککککر ن ک وی ک ک وک ک ن ی‬and big cat’s habitat. In fact, visitors
are now taken on guided tours to
replicated. While Islamabad’s
view the animals’ natural
Margalla Hills are known as a
picturesque tourist spot, the habitat.
Page 85 of 96
Such small-scale interventions extinction, let us learn to share

‫ مد خلہ‬can be replicated in other the planet with them.
parts of the country where
biodiversity is threatened by Published in Dawn, September
human activity. For example, 28th, 2022
Sindh’s lakes, including
Keenjhar and Haleji — which are
havens for migratory birds — as More leaks
well as other spots across
Pakistan can be developed as Editorial Published September
proper wildlife sanctuaries ‫ینگل و‬ 29, 2022
‫ح ک توی وپن ک ہو ک ن‬, with input and THE PM Office needs pest
participation from local control, as well as a good
communities. For too long, plumber or two. The place
human beings, in the name of appears to have had a bug
‘development’, have encroached problem for months, if not years,
on nature. Now, a progressive and private conversations held
vision is needed to help protect inside its usually secure walls are
biodiversity, and the advantages now casually leaking into the
a flourishing ecosystem can give, public domain. Starting on the
free from pollution and other weekend, a steady drip of audio
destructive human intrusions. clippings had put the incumbent
‫ دخمو د ی‬Such natural preserves government ‫ مایادہو حرام‬in an
can also be developed to promote embarrassing spot; yesterday,
sustainable tourism, though the equation was balanced with a
people would need to be leaked audio featuring former
sensitised about respecting the prime minister Imran Khan and
animals’ space, and not littering. his chief secretary, Azam Khan,
Instead of driving species to strategising ‫ حر و ع ل‬their
Page 86 of 96
moves on the so-called ‫مو ود‬ are not safe from surveillance.
Cablegate affair. The Imran ‫ گر‬The blame ultimately rests
Khan leak added an interesting with our own security apparatus
dimension to the controversy ‫ — د‬whether for failing to
‫ تن ع‬raging over this serious remove the bugs or for failing to
national security breach ‫خوالفو‬ prevent ‫وین‬ private
‫و ی‬: it is now clear that the PM conversations recorded inside
Office had been under illegal the chief executive’s office from
surveillance for longer than just becoming a national and
one brief period. Clearly, the international spectacle ‫نو القا م و‬
Intelligence Bureau miserably ‫ت‬. The entire saga has
and repeatedly failed in its sworn demeaned the office of the prime
duty ‫ حل و ییو قر ئ‬to secure the minister of Pakistan and reduced
facility and protect the prime its standing. Whatever the
minister. investigation into the matter
concludes, there should be
To a casual observer, it would be severe penalties ‫ سز ئ‬for all
a little perplexing why no one has those found responsible, in order
so far bothered to blame the to make sure something like this
leaks on a foreign conspiracy. To will never happen again.
others more familiar with the
underbelly of Pakistani politics, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
it is clear why they have not: had remarked on Tuesday that
these leaks look more like an foreign dignitaries ‫ معز ین‬would
inside job than the work of a be “apprehensive ‫ خاقزدہ‬and
foreign power. They have uncomfortable” in their
confirmed for civilian leaders interactions with locals if official
something they had always buildings were expected to be
feared: no matter how far one bugged. The prime minister
rises in the pecking order, they should perhaps also have given
Page 87 of 96
some thought to government Editorial Published September

functionaries: how will they 29, 2022
work freely if they are always
watching over their shoulders? If WINTER is on its way, with a
the events of the past year have massive gas crunch looming as
taught anyone anything, it is elevated ‫ ے ہ و نائ‬global LNG
that, regardless ‫ قطعو رو‬of what prices have eroded ‫ خہمویرودی ونی‬the
position you take on the political cash-strapped government’s
divide, you cannot expect the ability to make spot purchases of
interests of the ‘establishment’ to the imported fuel to fill the
always remain aligned with your growing supply gaps in
own. According to the press dwindling domestic stocks. Will
release issued after Wednesday’s this be a harsher winter than the
National Security Committee, last one? Probably yes — despite
the government has been given a the expected addition of
briefing on “cyberspace”, and a 1,320MW of fresh electricity
“legal framework for generation from Thar coal in the
cybersecurity” is being prepared next couple of months. With just
to prevent another ‘incident’. eight LNG cargoes a month
One hopes that the measures available — thanks to cheaper
being taken will be considerably long-term contracts with Qatar
more substantive ‫ صم‬than the — against a requirement of 12
word salad the government has vessels, the two public-sector gas
issued. utilities will be compelled ‫ممرا و‬
‫ ی و ی ئیو‬to ration the fuel for
Published in Dawn, September cooking, heating and industry as
29th, 2022 temperatures start to drop in the
country. Short of dollars,
Pakistan was pushed out of the
A depressing winter spot market almost a year ago as
Page 88 of 96
LNG prices surged ‫ م ق و نا‬to gas prices rose by 12pc on

record highs, and short-term Tuesday following damage to the
international suppliers started to Nord Stream pipeline.
default on their (cheaper
contracted) commitments to A gas crunch ‫ سوی وی‬in winter
make quick money on rising has been a permanent part of life
European demand. The Russian in Pakistan for over a decade,
invasion ‫ ح ل‬of Ukraine earlier with no significant new discovery
this year exacerbated the supply amid exhausted domestic
situation for Pakistan that was reserves. With the spot LNG
already strapped for foreign market effectively out of reach of
exchange when Moscow Pakistan owing to the country’s
drastically ‫ ت زیو سی‬cut its gas balance-of-payments troubles
exports to Europe, further and soaring international prices,
disrupting the market. In July, the next few winters are going to
Islamabad did not receive a be tougher for gas users —
single bid in response to a tender domestic and industrial both —
floated to import 10 cargoes. The unless Islamabad is able to
authorities have now invited bids conjure up enough spare dollars
for securing 72 cargoes from to buy expensive spot cargoes.
international suppliers over a That will impose large costs on
period of six years. But few the economy. The situation
expect a favourable response due demands that the government
to the current price volatility, chalk out an effective energy
which is unlikely to abate conservation plan to survive this
anytime soon after the damage difficult period. If rich countries
done to the gas pipeline like Germany are doing so, why
transporting Russian gas to can’t we?
Germany in a suspected act of Published in Dawn, September
sabotage ‫تخریبو ی ی‬. European 29th, 2022
Page 89 of 96
Moreover, Mr Potzel claimed

that the Afghan rulers had
Great expectations “dismissed” the UN’s warnings
Editorial Published September about the activities of IS-
29, 2022 Khorasan. He also mentioned
allegations ‫ لز م ت‬of extrajudicial
CONSIDERING that the Afghan ‫ م و ئیو عد ل‬killings levelled
Taliban have been in the saddle against the Taliban, as well as the
‫ ق‬for over a year now, the UN fact that the ruling movement
has expressed frustration ‫م یاس و‬ has not set up any “mechanisms
with the lack of progress the for citizens” to express their
hard-line group has made in views to the rulers.
several key areas. Expectedly,
lack of rights for girls and There can be little argument with
women, as well as a soft stance the UN official’s plaints against
‫ ماق و‬on terrorism, top the list. the Taliban. Yet during the same
Addressing the UN Security UNSC session, Mr Potzel
Council on Tuesday, the highlighted the conundrum ‫مع‬
multilateral body’s deputy confronting the international
special representative for community by saying that not
Afghanistan Markus Potzel said talking to the Taliban is not a
that for many in the feasible option. The fact is that
international community, the Taliban may be unreliable
“patience is running out” with and rigid partners, but with a
the Taliban. He went on to list lack of any viable alternatives in
the areas where the Taliban have Afghanistan, what choice does
performed poorly, particularly the world have? Moreover, as the
criticising the continued ban on Afghan economy has practically
girls’ secondary education collapsed, the funds belonging to
enforced by Afghanistan’s rulers. the country being held by the US
Page 90 of 96
need to be utilised for the benefit out one by one. Since Senator
of the Afghan people. Pushing Ishaq Dar’s perpetual arrest
the Taliban to the wall may only warrants were suspended, he has
bring the outfit closer to even returned home and is now
more violent actors, as was the heading the finance ministry
case the last time the group was despite spending five years
in power. Both the prime absconding ‫ مفرو‬from the law.
minister and the foreign minister Four years after they were
have argued ‫ و و دی و نی‬against convicted ‫سز و سن ئیو ی ی‬, the
isolating the Taliban. As the UN Islamabad High Court has given
official put it, “continued PML-N vice president Maryam
qualified engagement” is the best Nawaz and her husband,
solution to protect Afghan Muhammad Safdar, a big
citizens’ rights, and prevent ‫وینو‬ reprieve. Setting aside a July
Afghanistan from slipping back 2018 accountability court ruling
into chaos. ‫قر تفری‬ that had held Ms Nawaz guilty of
concealing her father’s
Published in Dawn, September properties in the Avenfield
29th, 2022 Apartments reference, the IHC
has now given her a clean chit
‫ یل نو ک‬and overturned the
Avenfield relief sentence. There is now little
stopping Ms Nawaz from
Editorial Published September contesting elections and
30, 2022 becoming a formal member of
THE legal firewalls erected ‫یھے و‬ the legislature. Whether or not
the ‘relief’ granted to Ms Nawaz
‫ ی و‬between the PML-N’s
and Mr Dar has legal merit is not
Nawaz camp and the corridors of
power now seem to be flickering the question at the moment. It is
the integrity ‫ س ل‬of our legal
Page 91 of 96
and accountability systems that judgements were never

stand thoroughly discredited. impeached till now? It also does
There are but two ways of not help that the acquittal has
looking at these developments: come at the height of a populist
either the cases never had movement against the
enough in them for Ms Nawaz government by a resurgent
and Mr Dar to have faced the Imran Khan. He has, for months,
tribulations ‫ قہنا‬they did, or they been accusing the PDM of
are being dropped now as the staying in power just to shut
times have changed, along with down the cases pending against
the preferences of powerful its leaders. Since his ouster, Mr
quarters. In either case, the law Khan has talked about certain
will not be able to easily shake off quarters keeping a ‘hand on the
the pointing fingers of the public. pedal’ of the accountability
process — applying pressure and
“Maryam’s acquittal in the taking it off when they wished.
Avenfield reference is a slap in Mr Dar’s return and Ms Nawaz’s
the face of the so-called ‫مو ود‬ acquittal have given him
accountability system that was ammunition for his narrative.
employed to target the Sharif Will he once again turn his guns
family,” Prime Minister Shehbaz on the establishment? Does he
Sharif has said. What of the also expect the political cases
judicial system that was against him to disappear? It
supposed to keep a check on the remains to be seen. The one
accountability system by lesson that should be learnt from
evaluating ‫ ی ئزہول نی‬the evidence the past few years is that
in each case in an impartial, ‫رو‬ Pakistan desperately needs a
‫ ی رد‬unbiased manner? How complete overhaul (to
does the acquittal reflect on the completely change something) of
fact that the accountability court its anti-corruption regime.
Page 92 of 96
Accountability cannot continue the dollar in the interbank

to be treated like a revolving door market in the last four sessions.
in which politicians can be Whether the market is shedding
shoved in or pulled out on a the speculative fat or pricing in
whim. Mr Dar’s interventionist policies
، ‫مد خل و ی و پ ل س‬, or both, will
Published in Dawn, September soon be apparent. We have seen
30th, 2022 the exchange rate improve twice
in six months for brief periods —
the first after the new
Dar’s plans government took over, and later,
when the IMF agreed to restore
Editorial Published September its stalled loan package — only to
30, 2022 decline again. How long the
ON Wednesday, the country’s current rally will last is
new finance minister, Ishaq Dar, anybody’s guess.
gave us a glimpse ‫ یھلن‬of his The truth is that Mr Dar has
plans to stabilise ‫ مسہ رمو یر‬the come back to a Pakistan different
economy. Predictably, a strong to what he had left five years ago
exchange rate remains his top to live in self-exile. The country’s
priority ‫ تری‬as he believes that macroeconomic environment
the rupee is heavily undervalued has become much more
at the moment owing to precarious ‫رو یق ن‬ and his
speculative pressures ‫ق و آ ئ و‬ strong-arming the State Bank
‫ییو د‬. Next on his agenda is a into injecting dollars in the
reduction in inflation and market to create an illusion ‫ رم‬of
borrowing costs for economic rapid growth by keeping the
revival. The home currency has rupee overvalued may not work
already risen by 4.18pc against this time. For starters, the
Page 93 of 96
country doesn’t have spare relief and waivers in the

dollars to burn. Even if it had, the aftermath of the devastating
new State Bank law severely floods, ‫ تر ہو ینو س الب‬any
limits its ability to artificially misadventure ‫ لمو م مو یائ‬in
prop up (to lift and give support managing the currency will
to something) the exchange rate. prove counterproductive for the
Then we have the dollar rising to economy. We have been there
its 20-year high on continued before multiple times and
monetary tightening by the Fed suffered enormously. It is time to
to tame inflation, causing major move away from market
currencies to slump ‫ ر ودین‬to all- manipulations ‫ ن ر وپھ ری‬and seek
time lows. How can the rupee, long-term solutions to our
already under pressure due to economic troubles.
the foreign exchange crunch and
elevated inflation, ،‫م نگ ئ وم و م ق و‬ Published in Dawn, September
remain insulated? The value of a 30th, 2022
currency is but a reflection of an
economy’s strength or weakness,
and cannot be controlled in Another targeted attack
isolation. It is critical to defend
the rupee against speculative Editorial Published September
attacks to end market volatility. 30, 2022
But long-term sustainability of WEDNESDAY’S deadly attack
the exchange rate depends upon on three Chinese-origin
the government’s ability to shore individuals in Karachi’s Saddar
up reserves by boosting exports, area demonstrates ‫ ف نرونات ونی‬the
remittances ‫ ترس الت‬and foreign threat separatist militant outfits
investment. With the economy pose to the city’s fragile ‫و‬
already in a tailspin, and the security, particularly to Chinese
government looking for debt
Page 94 of 96
citizens working or settled in However, this incident, in which

Pakistan. A suspect posing as a defenceless ‫ یو دق ی‬victims who
patient opened fire on a dental had chosen to make Pakistan
clinic run by Dr Richard Hu, their home were attacked, is
injuring the doctor and his wife particularly appalling. ‫خاقن و‬
while the dentist’s ‫د ہا و ی و ڈ یی ور‬ Moreover, none of the locals
employee Ronald Chou died on present in the clinic were
the spot. All three victims were of targeted by the assailant ‫ح ل وآو‬.
Chinese origin but reportedly The attacks in Saddar linked to
held Pakistani citizenship; the Sindhi separatist groups, as well
doctor had been settled in this as the April attack on Karachi
country for the last five decades. University’s Confucius Institute
The attack occurred in one of the claimed by Baloch militants, in
city’s busiest areas, and police which three Chinese teachers
say it was a targeted killing. were killed, point to the fact that
According to some media the threat from nationalist
reports, a hitherto ‫بو تن‬ militants is considerable. As it is
unknown group calling itself the Karachi is plagued ‫ لم و م و نی‬by
Sindhudesh People’s Army violence, and foreigners make
claimed responsibility for the for easy, ‘soft’ targets. But in
attack. Earlier in May, a deadly these particular cases, the
bombing in the same area had violence has apparently ‫نر‬
been claimed by the banned geopolitical dimensions —
Sindhudesh Revolutionary damaging Pakistan-China ties
Army. and stopping work on
development projects. Whatever
Previous attacks by terrorist the militants’ grievances, ‫ت‬ ‫ری و‬
groups have usually targeted
the murder of innocent people
Chinese nationals working on cannot be condoned. The fact is
mega projects in Pakistan. Karachi is flush with weapons,
Page 95 of 96
and large, barely governed

spaces prove ideal for elements
seeking to sow chaos ‫ قر تفری‬. It is
clear that the security apparatus
needs to carry out intelligence-
based operations in order to bust
the cells responsible for acts of
terrorism.
Published in Dawn, September

30th, 2022
Page 96 of 96

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Dawn Editorials & Opinions

Political calculus measures fail. For the nth time,

that he started talking about the relationship with the state in

emerged ‫ سک ک منیوآی ونی‬as a matter triggered by the arrival of digital

opponents, fuelling ‫ نککا و دیککنککی‬the

cost ballooned to double the dreams (seems imaginary or

repeated that the relief he was

the present financial year, and faces a debt burden it cannot

THE ECP’s reasoning for by floods. Even if a few

Yesterday, the ECP announced Published in Dawn, September

Super Four clash between the which can’t be expected to

this year; of these 1,066 have

bare minimum, which involves reapply the lessons learnt in 2011

challenges that test their grit ‫ن‬ mountains) ended up

protect markhors and snow effectiveness is “low” on 10 of 11

Pakistan — already facing an killings and extortion in the

Short-sighted move the electricity tariff and

can be seen with Panadol, a CLEARLY, the fiction ‫ قسک ک‬that

while seven workers of a mobile armed attacks had been reported

prevarications ‫ تکعاککککرکک ت‬instead.

No end to impunity workers. Meanwhile Sohail

the individuals picked up and crime, they must be brought

political scores. It is depressing to say that Mr Khan shares no

cannot always count on their Editorial Published September

spiked ‫ مک ک ق ونا‬because women, women of reproductive age have

‫ ی یو یھ‬the integrity ‫ سککک ل‬of chief justice had, at the JCP

getting uglier, it is also affecting prevailing differences. It would

during the Shanghai or story). For example, the

improving the output of Published in Dawn, September

departments of irrigation, roads, after officials failed to do their

Editorial Published September “I don’t support this decision,

fuel and cover food shortages, minister to forcefully resist

‫ ی کک ک دہوتعلق ت‬between bureaucrats arguably what Mr Elahi, who has

it difficult for them to take day- A long-awaited tour

government’s advice. The envoy Despite the cancellations,

particular, A New Era ‫ دو‬of report’s contention ‫ تن ع‬that IS-

the political discourse, which with the ICG report’s concluding

Pakistanis are the most at risk. ‫ — سکسکہ‬also manifested a higher

rates have been falling steadily in Authority over the installation of

Sharif, for what was reportedly a strategy? How does it plan to

Minister Rana Sanuallah to keep Editorial Published September

global body’s efforts have moved system cannot reflect victims’

during which those displaced school. The UN has termed ‫قر و‬

Editorial Published September Afghanistan’s de facto (existing

for stopping older girls from Published in Dawn, September

granting a person permission to While conferring the award, a

Published in Dawn, September occurring in the British city of

These grim ‫ سکککنگ ن‬developments US have spoken out against

once-powerful presidency, to that “thieves ‫ ”کا ی‬should never

institutional allegiance overrides routine appointment. But that is

The civilian leadership must Editorial Published September

‫ ح صککموی وی و ن ونی‬for the scheme been paid to the owners”. The

move ahead, they should ensure (abolish a law or regulation) two

either due to an accident of birth who wish to do so than any

rebuilding phases in the amount has landed, while

to helping developing states cope help Pakistan rebuild. Moreover,

While the global economy may Timely remorse

Editorial Published September his ways. Even a symbolic

litany of unfounded allegations rights to do so. The government,

card in geopolitics. Regarding termed the threat

‫ ترک ن‬and any such plans need to those without money or

paper yesterday, is to address the Torture is endemic ‫ مق م‬because