PUNJAB JUDICIAL OFFICERS

ACADEMY
(A Project of Al-Bahria CSS Institute)
DAWN Editorials: 21 October 2023, Saturday
Homecoming
The prodigal son returns. With his party`s goodwill all but squandered by the disastrous
mismanagement that defined the PDM-led government, Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to return to
Pakistan today, hoping to revive his political fortunes. The state awaits him with open arms, and
his own party has left no stone unturned in preparing a grand welcome. He is to fly to Islamabad
on a chartered flight and proceed from there to Lahore, where he will be feted with songs,
flowers and celebration. The party has commissioned a new anthem for the occasion and hired
two planes to shower him with rose petals. In his hometown, Mr Sharif will address supporters at
the Minar-i-Pakistan, where attendees have been promised free motorbikes, roti, and even
absolution if they honour their quaid with a rousing welcome. A lot seems to be riding on the
occasion for the PML-N. Afraid of jinxing the Oct 21 festivities, the party had cancelled all
political engagements with constituents in the lead-up to the big day. It believes that a large
crowd will greatly help its efforts to renew its claim of being Punjab`s most popular party.

To ensure that Mr Sharif`s return is a comfortable one, all legal hurdles have been removed from
his path. The PML-N chief, who was declared a `proclaimed offender` by the Pakistani judicial
system for fleeing from the law, has been given some extraordinary relief. On Thursday, Mr
Sharif secured protective bail in the Al Azizia and Avenfield references, in which he currently
stands convicted, from the Islamabad High Court. The National Accountability Bureau, which
had once relentlessly hounded the Sharif family over their alleged corruption, suddenly found no
objections to Mr Sharif returning to the country and proceeding directly to a falsa instead of a
courthouse. Likewise, an Islamabad accountability court came to the timely conclusion that it
ought to suspend a perpetual arrest warrant outstanding against Mr Sharif in a graft case
involving vehicles taken from the Toshakhana. It has never seemed more obvious that neither Mr
Sharif`s past conviction nor this sudden relief has much to do with the law. Instead, his legal
fortunes seem to be dictated by his party`s willingness or unwillingness to play second fiddle to
the deep state. Indeed, this seems to be the only `law` that prevails over our political class. Toe
the line, and you can be prime minister; overstep, and you end up in jail. Mr Sharif should know:
he has tried and been made to suffer three times already. It is most unfortunate, however, to see
him standing on the wrong side of history once again. Clearly, his principles are not worth more
to him than another shot at power. Will he rue the choice he has made? Time will tell.

Sr.# Word Part of Speech Meaning in Urdu Synonyms

01 Prodigal Adjective ‫رسمف‬،‫وضفلرخچ‬ Profligate, extravagant

02 Squandered Verb ‫اضعئیک‬ Wasted, frivolous
03 Revive Verb ‫درہاان‬ Recover, resuscitate
04 Fete Verb ‫زعتازفایئرکان‬،‫وخشآدمدیانہک‬ Honour, recognize
05 absolution Noun ‫راہیئ‬،‫اعمیف‬ Forgiveness, release
06 Jinxing Verb ‫اجدورکان‬ Putting the evil eye on
07 Offender Noun ‫رجمم‬ Criminal, lawbreaker
08 Relentlessly Adverb ‫ےبریمحےس‬ Persistently, obstinately
09 Perpetual Adjective ‫ہشیمہرےنہوال‬،‫دایمئ‬ Continuous, unending
10 Rue Verb ‫اوسفسرکان‬،‫اتھچپان‬ Sorrow, regret

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609
 PUNJAB JUDICIAL OFFICERS
ACADEMY
(A Project of Al-Bahria CSS Institute)
DAWN Editorials: 21 October 2023, Saturday
Stock market surge
The bulls appear to have pushed the bears back into their cages to finally take over Pakistan`s
stock market, with the benchmark KSE-100 index crossing the 50,000 barrier for the first time in
six years. Although the index has been up by nearly 25pc in the past four months, it is not yet
clear if the bulls will be able to maintain their dominance for long. While some are celebrating
the current spike as `long overdue`, others remain wary of this surge. The market has mostly
been in decline since hitting the all-time high of over 53,000 in May 2017 over political
uncertainty caused by the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Since the
pandemic days, when the index dropped below 28,000, the market`s upward journey has been
erratic as political instability has been compounded by the economic downturn during the post-
Covid years. This was in spite of strong financial results delivered by the listed firms during this
period. Thus, it is not incorrect to say that the market has caught up with the listed companies
for the first time in years.

Many might link the present market surge with the homecoming of Mr Sharif after four years of
self-exile. But that is just a coincidence even if his return brings a semblance of political stability
to the country. The present spike in the market is driven mainly by growing expectations of a cut
in the interest rates going forward, an improving exchange rate due to action against illegal forex
trade and dollar smugglers, falling petrol prices, and, last but not the least, the agreements
signed by Pakistan with China for enhancing the bilateral economic cooperation on the sidelines
of the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing earlier this week. A balanced current account for the
last month and hopes of a successful review of the IMF programme must also have played a part
in uplifting investor sentiments. But concerns remain that the present spike might be temporary
and that some big investors could be manipulating the system. Such worries stem from the very
low public participation in the retail stock trade as only 0.1pc Pakistanis have invested in shares
compared with 61pc Americans, 13pc Chinese and 8pc Indians. Unless the number of retail
investors increases, the stock market will remain unhinged and at the mercy of large brokers and
investors.

Sr.# Word Part of Speech Meaning in Urdu Synonyms

01 Benchmark Noun ‫ایعمر‬ Standard, level, target

02 Barrier Noun ‫راکوٹ‬ Fence, blockade, wall
03 Spike Noun ‫ااترڑچاھؤ‬ Spur, projection
04 Erratic Adjective ‫ےبرتبیت‬ Unpredictable, irregular

05 Compounded Verb ‫دشدییک‬ Intensified, heightened

06 Downturn Noun ‫مک‬،‫ااصتقدیرحبان‬ Recession, decline

07 Coincidence Noun ‫اافتق‬ Chance, luck, accident
08 Semblance Noun ‫کلھج‬ Appearance, façade
09 Manipulating Verb ‫اامعتسلرکان‬ Employing, using
10 Unhinged Adjective ‫رطضمب‬ Unbalanced, disturbed

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609
 PUNJAB JUDICIAL OFFICERS
ACADEMY
(A Project of Al-Bahria CSS Institute)
DAWN Editorials: 21 October 2023, Saturday
Crushing protest
Ten days into protests in Punjab by members of the All-Government Employees Grand
Alliance things seem to be getting worse instead of better. In the latest police crackdown,
more than 100 demonstrators were detained after being brutally baton-charged. The
protests that kicked off on Oct 10 were prompted by the government`s proposed
privatisation of public schools, amendments to pension regulations and the end of-leave
encashment. Subjecting teachers, Lady Health Workers, and other public-sector
employees to severe violence stands as a harrowing reminder of the limits that the state
seems willing to impose on the democratic right to peaceful protest. As these words were
being written, around 200 government employees remained incarcerated under the
Maintenance of Public Order ordinance. What is most unfortunate is that despite all that
has happened, there has been no government figure even willing to lend an ear to the
protesters` demands. Troubling accounts of the employees` houses being raided and
family members being arrested have also surfaced.

AGEGA`s demands are neither novel, nor unreasonable. They echo the concerns of
public-sector workers throughout the country. It is the right of citizens to speak up
about policies they believe could adversely affect their livelihoods. The fact that these
concerns were met with batons instead of dialogue is a matter of concern. Education and
healthcare stand at the forefront of any progressive nation and to penalise the cogs
keeping these sectors running is a grave miscalculation. While the preservation of public
order is indeed a priority, it must not come at the expense of fundamental rights.
Suppressing peaceful protests not only alienates the public, it also diminishes the state`s
legitimacy. The government, as representatives of the people, must remember it exists
to serve, not subdue. The immediate release if all those arrested and a constructive
dialogue with AGEGA is the need of the hour. Anything less will only deepen the chasm of
discontent and mistrust.

Sr.# Word Part of Speech Meaning in Urdu Synonyms

01 Demonstrators Noun ‫اظمرہنی‬ Protestors, activists
02 Brutally Adverb ‫ےبدردیےس‬ Cruelly, viciously
03 Encashment Noun ‫دقنی‬ Cash out, exchange
04 Harrowing Adjective ‫رپاشیننک‬ Disturbing, distressing
05 Incarcerated Adjective ‫دیق‬ Imprisoned, enslaved

06 Batons Noun ‫لایھٹں‬ Sticks, rods

07 Legitimacy Noun ‫اقونینتیثیح‬ Legality, validity
08 Subdue Verb ‫ریخسترکان‬ Pacify, soothe, calm
09 Chasm Noun ‫اخیلہگج‬،‫اھکیئ‬ Gap, hole, gulf
10 Discontent Noun ‫دعماانیمطن‬ Dissatisfaction

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609