PUNJAB JUDICIAL OFFICERS

ACADEMY
(A Project of Al-Bahria
Al Bahria CSS Institute)
DAWN Editorials: 29 September 2023, Friday
Moving forward
THE
HE Election Commission has taken a first formal step towards the delayed general election by
issuing its preliminary delimitation of constituencies based on the 2023 census. For those not well-
well
versed in the intricacies of the electoral process, this is ECP`s way of communicating to voters
which seats in the national and provincial assemblies they will be casting their votes for in the
th
upcoming elections. From citizens` perspective, how the delimitation has been conducted may not
seem to be a big issue. However, if looked at from the macro perspective, with an eye on the
demographics, ethnicities, cultures and spoken languages that def define
ine each constituency, how the
ECP has drawn its boundaries between constituencies can have a significant impact on poll results.
A line here or a line there can split up a party`s vote bank and be the difference between winning
and losing a seat.

It is for
or this reason that what comes next should be dealt with quickly and carefully if elections are
not to be delayed further beyond the last week of January the timeline provided by the ECP. While
it is still very early for there to be a clear picture of how fairly the delimitation exercise has been
conducted by the ECP, we do know that there have been some significant changes, with seats taken
away from some districts and added to others, and parts of different districts merged together to
form new constituencies.cies. It should be expected that some important stakeholders will not be happy
with these changes and will agitate against them. The ECP has invited the citizenry to share their
objections regarding the new delimitations so that it can revise its decisions wherever justifiable.
However, there is a good chance that some cases may still end up in courts, which would throw the
ECP-provided
provided timeline for elections in disarray.

It is hoped that the ECP was wary of this possibility while conducting the exercise aand
nd followed the
set rules diligently while demarcating constituency boundaries. Considering that the `necessity` of
conducting a fresh delimitation has been the crux of its justification to violate the 90
90-day
day deadline
for polls laid out in the Constitution,
Constitution, it is expected of the ECP that it completes the exercise in a
manner that minimises the possibility of its delimitation decisions becoming a reason for further
delay. Where concerned citizens, CSOs and politicians still have valid objections to how their
constituencies have been demarcated, they must act quickly, follow the prescribed process to
register their complaints, and be prepared to comprehensively argue their positions whenever their
objections are taken up by the ECP. It is the responsibility of stakeholders on both sides to ensure
that this process is completed fairly and without avoidable delays.

Sr.# Word Part of Speech Meaning in Urdu Synonyms

01 Preliminary Adjective Prelude, beginning

02 Delimitation Noun Differentiation, distinction

03 Constituencies Noun Factions, districts

04 Merged Verb Combined, fused
05 Agitate Verb Disturb, trouble, rouse
06 Disarray Noun Disorder, hysteria
07 Wary Adjective Cautious, distressful
08 Diligently Adverb Attentively, hastily
09 Demarcating Verb Delimit, separate, divide
10 Prescribed Adjective Prearranged, suggested

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610
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 PUNJAB JUDICIAL OFFICERS
ACADEMY
(A Project of Al-Bahria
Al Bahria CSS Institute)

DAWN Editorials: 29 September 2023, Friday

Pipeline in stasis
DESPITE
ESPITE repeated assurances by successive governments that the scheme is still on the table, the
Iran-Pakistan
Pakistan gas pipeline is going nowhere. The principal opposition to the project comes from
foreign actors who do not wish to see the pipeline completed. Th This
is troubling reality was again
highlighted during a Senate committee meeting on Wednesday, during which officials told
lawmakers that `commercial and foreign concerns` were standing in the way of the long long-awaited
awaited
completion of the project. The foreign quarters
quarters referred to are the US and, to a lesser extent, Saudi
Arabia, who have geopolitical qualms about Pakistan deepening economic ties with Iran. Where
commercial concerns go gas pricing, project financing, etc these can be negotiated with Iran
bilaterally. However, dispelling the concerns our foreign friends have about the scheme is proving
to be a complex proposition for Pakistan.

The confusion and lack of commitment surrounding the scheme does not present Pakistan in a very
positive light where honouring
honourin international obligations is concerned. The PDM government had
assured the nation during its final days that efforts were being made to secure waivers for the
project from the US to ward off potential sanctions. Whenever the next elected government takes
charge, they must handle this issue with clarity, keeping national interest above all else. There can
be little disagreement that Pakistan needs cheap gas for its homes and industries. Yet a fragile
economy cannot afford debilitating sanctions. Therefore, a legally sound approach needs to be
pursued on the diplomatic front to communicate to the US that Pakistan must honour its
commitment to Iran. If finding dollars to fund the scheme is difficult, alternative currencies can be
used, just as the yuan was used
used to buy Russian oil. The fact is that in the future, geopolitical
turbulence is likely to increase, and developing states, including Pakistan, will directly and
indirectly be asked to take sides. The US, for example, also has issues with CPEC. If, in the future,
Washington asks us to abandon this and other Chinese-backed
Chinese backed schemes, will we comply?? With the
pipeline, too, we can either continue to stall and risk messy international arbitration and get ready
to pay billions in penalties, or we can keep our interests
interests paramount, tell foreign critics that
Pakistan needs cheap energy, and move forward with this and other schemes beneficial to the
country.

Sr.# Word Part of Speech Meaning in Urdu Synonyms

01 Stasis Noun Tension, parity

02 Qualms Noun Doubts,, uncertainties
03 Bilaterally Adverb Mutually, two-sided
sided

04 Dispelling Verb Eliminating, Banishing

05 Obligations Noun Duties,, responsibilities

06 Waivers Noun Deferrals,, abdications
07 Ward off Verb Deflect, fend off
08 Debilitating Adjective Devastating,, weakening
09 Turbulence Noun Confusion, disorder

10 Comply Verb Obey, fulfill, observe

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610
4438610 0300-4469650
0300 0300-1905555
1905555 042-35911609
 PUNJAB JUDICIAL OFFICERS
ACADEMY
(A Project of Al-Bahria
Al Bahria CSS Institute)

DAWN Editorials: 29 September 2023, Friday

Playing in India
WITH
ITH visa issues resolved, and after slight alterations in travel plans, Pakistan`s cricket
team finally touched down in India on Wednesday night ahead of the World Cup. There
were smiles and cheers as Babar Azam`s men landed in Hyderabad amid tight security
as Pakistan began their first visit to India since 2016.
2016. Crowds had gathered to welcome
the team, with fans chanting Babar`s name, but they were prevented by police from
getting close to the players. Security for the team will be tight throughout the seven-
seven
week World Cup, mainly due to the tense political relations
relations between the neighbours.

The team was issued visas only after the Pakistan Cricket Board complained to the
International Cricket Council about an `extraordinary delay` in getting clearance from
India. The delay, it said, had disrupted the team`s p preparations for the quadrennial
showpiece.. For security reasons, Pakistan`s first warm
warm-up
up match against New Zealand,
scheduled for today, will be held behind closed doors as it clashes with a Hindu festival,
which will see large crowds gather in Hyderabad. Pakistan`s second warm
warm-up
up is against
Australia in the same city on Oct 3, before they start their campaign against the
Netherlands three days later, also in Hyderabad.

A few months ago, the team`s participation at the tournament was in doubt when the
PCB threatened to boycott the tournament following the Board of Cricket Control in
India`s attempt to prevent Pakistan from hosting the Asia Cup. Having already stated
that the Indian team couldn`t visit Pakistan, the BCCI was reluctant to accept the hybrid
model
odel proposed by the PCB, which would see India playing its matches at neutral
venues. A compromise was reached, with Pakistan hosting four out of 13 matches, and
the rest being played in Sri Lanka. The PCB has fulfilled its part in sending the team to
India
ia and it is hoped that the gesture will be reciprocated in two years` time when
Pakistan hosts the Champions Trophy.

Sr.# Word Part of Speech Meaning in Urdu Synonyms

01 Alterations Noun Changes,, modifications
02 Chanting Verb Shouting, repeating
03 Prevented Verb Banned, prohibited

04 Disrupted Verb Disturbed,, interrupted

05 Quadrennial Adjective Four years’ duration

06 Showpiece Noun Center piece, focus

07 Clashes Noun Confrontations, fights

08 Threatened Verb Alarmed, scared

09 Reluctant Adjective Unwilling,, helpless
10 Reciprocated Verb Given back, returned

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

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