Silencing the public HE stench of desperation hangs heavy over Islamabad. | The powerful have had a lot of trouble lately keeping the public under their thumb. Short of ideas, they have decided to block Pakistan’s access to X (formerly Twitter), one of the most popular digital mediums for self-expression. The authorities are seemingly so afraid of the public setting the narrative agenda that they have decided to simply pull the plug. Such repressive actions are a shame in this day and age: millions of opinion-makers and citizens around the world converge virtually each day on the platform to exchange important news and views — why can Pakistanis not be among them? There has been no word from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority or the IT ministry, which would previously issue at least a mealy-mouthed explanation when denying the citizenry access to mainstream internet services. Even they have not figured out how to justify what is being done. One marvels at the hypocrisy of some of our caretaker ministers, who have ostensibly been using VPN services to continue posting on X even as their own people are being denied the same privilege. The IT minister’s behaviour, in particular, is galling: during this latest blockage, he has celebrated the ‘take-off? of Pakistan’s IT industry and achieving 13 items on his agenda, while also announcing two new schemes for the industry — all while not saying a word about why Pakistani users suddenly cannot access one of the world’s most popular social mediums. It seems he is more interested in self-promotion while the state is busy broadcasting its abject disregard for the digital economy. He should be asked: why would any entrepreneur bother investing in Pakistan, especially when the country’s internet access and telecom policies always seem subject to change without notice? As for the PTA, the less said the better. In suspending mobile phone services without any prior warning throughout election day and well after, it had already wreaked immeasurable damage on Pakistan this month. Many citizens were left unable to exercise their constitutional rights due to the communications blackout, which also contributed towards worsening the political instability by providing a convenient cover for the alleged irregularities that occurred later that night. And yet, the authority refuses to learn. Acting as if it is unaccountable, it is now curtailing citizens’ digital rights without even bothering to come up with a justification. It seems that the PTA has quietly become just another tool in the hands of our habitually oppressive state, to be used against the people of Pakistan whenever they start inconveniencing the powers that be. It is important that it be checked immediately. With precedents available thanks to prior court rulings on internet bans, it should be sued for its actions.Fitch’s concern S political parties scramble to form a potentially weak coalition at the centre, the uncertainty unleashed by the inconclusive outcome of the Feb 8 polls is giving Pakistan’s creditors and investors the jitters. This nervousness stems from widespread doubts over the incoming government’s ability to quickly negotiate a new and larger bailout with the IMF to succeed the ongoing interim package ending soon, and adhere to tougher policy commitments under it. This is in spite of a strong political consensus within the country on the need for yet another IMF programme and wide structural reforms considered critical for Pakistan’s longer-term economic trajectory. The deal is also crucial for Pakistan to secure financing flows from other multilateral, bilateral and commercial creditors. These concerns were recently voiced by Moody’s in its post- poll comments on Pakistan’s macroeconomic vulnerabilities. Now Fitch Ratings has expressed its disquiet over the volatile political conditions obtaining in the country in the absence of a clear public mandate: “Finalising a new IMF deal is likely to be challenging.” Pointing to the election outcome, it warns that “near-term political uncertainty may complicate the country’s efforts to secure a financing agreement with the IMF to succeed the Stand-by Arrangement”. Fitch assumes that the new government will engage with the IMF relatively quickly and overcome any resistance to the new loan goals by vested interests, given the worrying nature of the economic challenges and the limited options, yet it fears that continued political volatility could prolong any discussions with the IMF and hamper the implementation of reforms. “Risks to political stability are likely to remain high. Public discontent could rise further...,” it cautions. That creditors and investors are worried about political uncertainty and possible delays in concluding anew IMF deal is not without reason. Our politicians are known for changing their stated position on crucial economic and other policy matters when in the opposition. Even past governments have pulled out of financial deals, when faced with political backlash. However, politicking over a new deal and the reforms mandated by it is no longer an option for Pakistan. As underscored by Fitch, extended negotiation or failure to secure a commitment would increase external liquidity stress and raise the possibility of default. If that happens the blame would rest with those who scuppered the deal.Zoo zealotry N a bizarre twist of faith and fur, the Indian right-wing Hindu [ nationalist group, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, has petitioned a Calcutta court over, of all things, the names of two lions residing in a West Bengal zoo, The pair in question, a lion named Akbar and a lioness named Sita, have unwittingly become the protagonists in a tale that could only be concocted in present-day India. The VHP’s contention: the pairing of lions with these names is “irrational”, “illogical”, and “tantamount to blasphemy”. And while their request to respect their deities’ names is perfectly reasonable, the justification that was given by a VHP leader is absurd: “Sita cannot stay with the Mughal emperor Akbar.” This isn’t the first time such silliness has reared its head. Take, for instance, the multiple times pigeons have been ‘arrested’ and probed after flying over from Pakistan or China into India, accused. of espionage. Most recently, a ‘spy’ pigeon, said to be from China, was detained for eight months while, presumably, investigators combed through its feathers in search of something incriminating. The pattern is unmistakable: a penchant for seeing slights where none exist, and a readiness to leap into the fray, legal briefs at the ready, over perceived insults to religion or threats to national security. While it is easy to dismiss the VHP’s legal battle as another quixotic quest for religious purity, it is emblematic of a broader struggle over identity, history, and the very soul of India. It brings to mind a 1977 Bollywood film, called Amar Akbar Anthony, about three brothers separated in childhood and raised in different faiths. Amar grew up a Hindu; Akbar, a Muslim; and Anthony, a Christian. They united as adults, and their adventures together were a powerful allegory in Indian pluralism. It is likely that if that film were to be made today, a right-wing group would challenge it in court. And that is a tragedy for modern India.AT the time of writing, almost five days after the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was reported to have su: denly died in an Arctic penal colony, his mother was still searching for his remains. Yesterday, the UK high court was sched- uled to begin a hearing on whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could have the right to appeal the decision to extradite him to the US, where he faces 18 charges that could potentially lead to a 175- year prison term, Navalny emerged as Vladimir Putin's most visible challenger little more than a decade ago. He was previously better known asa stalwart of the cthno-national- ist right who, in a 2007 video, compared immigrants to cockroaches. He subse- quently shifted his focus to the Putin clique’s extravagant corruption, which broadened his local appeal and turned him into something of a blue-eyed poster boy for Western liberals desperate for an alter native to the status quo in Moscow. Navalny does not seem to have formally recanted his xenophobic past, and he appeared to share Putin’s views that Russians and Ukrainians are essentially indistinguishable, although he opposed the war that enters its third year this week. He was also resistant to the idea of a broad antiPutin coalition. His videos exposing the venal elite that helps to prop up the creme de la Kremlin are a useful resource, bur their influence was largely restricted to Moscow and St Petersburg. There is speculation about why Putin might have wanted Navalny dead at this juncture, but none of it so far is convincing. Only an independent forensic examination of the 47-year-old’s corpse could reveal the immediate cause of death, little more than three years after he barely survived an assassination attempt by poisoning. His choice of returning to Russia for almost certain incarceration after treatment in Germany was undoubtedly brave, and pos- sibly foolhardy. Even if he hadn't been imprisoned, there is little Navalny could have done to thwart Putin’sre-election next month. Perhapsthe only possible explanation for Putin’s para- noid intolerance of even the mildest resist- ance is some kind of psychosis, His next term could propel him past Joseph Stalin's 29-year record as dictator. Stalin had a lot more blood on his hands, but Putin keeps striving to catch up. But why would ‘Genocide Joe’ — as US President Joe Biden has been dubbed after refusing to take action to halt Israeli atroci- ties in Gaza, and striving to expand the Middle Eastern conflict — wish to add Julian Assange to his lengthening list of Victims? BY MAHIR ALI Parallel travesties ‘The crux of the case against Assange hinges on the Iraq War Logs and Afghan War Diary that WikiLeaks helped to publi- cise almost 15 years ago. The massive trove of documents exposed the sordid reality and immoral grounding of the twin conflicts, spearheaded by Washington under false pretences — echoing the Pentagon Papers, which had, back in 1971, laid bare the egre- gious lies that kept the Vietnam War going. Barack Obama’s vice president absurdly labelled Assange a “high-tech terrorist”, but the administration wisely chose not to pursue charges, as that would have entailed also charging The New York Times and other respectable media outlets that worked with WikiLeaks to highlight US excesses and hypocrisies. Donald ‘Trump was exuberant when Wikileaks released internal Democratic Party messages broadly high- lighting the deficit of democracy in a fioun- dering political system, and specifically the dedicated efforts to deny Bernie Sanders the presidential nomination in 2016, Is open to question whether those rev- lations tipped the bal- ance in Trump's Assange favour, but he was must not briefly a Wikileaks enthusiast until the suffer outlet spilled — the 4g beans on some of the Navalny S CIA's egregious global fate. practices. The whistle- blower in this instance, Joshua Schulte, was sentenced this month to 40 years in prison for leaking classified information. Chelsea Manning, the Iraq/ Afghan whistleblower in the instance pertinent to the pending case against Assange, faced humiliation, torture, and a 35-year sentence, but Obama pardoned her after seven years. Biden has so far seemed incapable of even that modicum of decency, despite bipartisan parliamentary representations from various American allies.as well as the US Congress. If the travesty continues to unfold, the effect on journalism globally of the US persecuting an Australian conduit for uncomfortable truths whose publishing venture was based in Europe will be chilling. ‘Just as many who disagreed with some of Navalny’s inclinations are appalled by his fate, almost everyone who was rubbed the wrong way by Assange agrees that his unrelenting persecution is an abomina- tion. The British justice system can liber. ate him in short order after seven years of confinement and five years of brutal imprisonment, It’s too late for Alexei, but Julian must walk free. m mahir.dawn@ gmail.comPAKISTAN’S electoral history is a tale of evolving political consciousness, as evi- denced by voter turnout oscillations. The dismally low 44 per cent turnout in 2008, a manifestation of public scepticism, com trasted sharply with the more than 60pe turnout in 2024, indicating perhaps improved faith in electoral politics. Despite this progress, significant challenges per sist, especially in transparency, trust, and inclusivity. Let’s explore the potential of proportional representation (PR) in local government (LG) elections. Key issues in Pakistan’s elections include the transparency and trust crises. Allegations of rigging and doubts cast over the impartiality of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) erode pub- lic confidence, undermining demoeracy’s essenice, limiting societal participation and putting the legitimacy of poll outcomes in question. Pakistan faces daunting challenges, yet these are not entirely new. It is becoming, increasingly urgent for us to adopt both emergency measures for immediate relief and long-term strategies for sustainable solutions. Pakistan can draw on experi- ences globally, tackling these difficulties with self-confidence and determination. Despite internal conflicts and power strug: gles, the strength of its Constitution pro- vides hope. The document offers a compre- hensive governance framework, emphasising the separation of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary, which allows for amendments and adaptations to meet evolving national needs. Key to avercoming these crises is adhering to the Constitution, in letter and spirit, and seeking solutions within its framework, ‘To improve governance in Pakistan elec- toral reform is necessary, with the intro- duction of the PR system as a first step. ‘While on its own it won't resolve all govern ance issues, it would still be a move in the right direction. Effective governance also hinges on undertaking simultancous reforms, including judicial reforms for eff- cient justice, decentralisation of power, strengthening LG, and ensuring transpar ency and accountability in administrative processes. These reforms are vital for establishing a robust governance frame- work that can respond to the needs and challenges of modern Pakistan. Parliament's role is crucial in these elec- toral reforms. Systemic change faces resist ance from those benefiting from the status quo, but inclusive dialogue and consensus can pave the way. This prioritises govern- ance improvement and fulfils democratic potential, Globally, diverse electoral systems pro- BY ABDULLAH KHALID Better democracy vide helpful lessons. The first-past the-post (EPTP) system, in countries like the UK and India, can overlook minority voices but the PR system, popular in many European countries, ensuresinclusive representation of minority and smaller parties. A depend- able electoral system is key to fostering public trust. Pakistan’s frequent changes in electoral regulations have created con- fusion and distrust. Canada and Sweden, with their consistent and transparent elec. toral systems, exemplify public trust. Germany’s mixed-member PR model is compelling, for blending direct and PR votes to ensure local accountability and overall proportionality. Strengthening LG elections is vital for grassroots democracy. India’s LG offers a commendable model. In Pakistan, a simi- lar structure could bridge the gap between government and local communities, foster- ing a more direct and participatory approach to governance. Decentralisation could spur socioeconomic development. Pakistan's current electoral system, "though efficient, often verse omits minority and Diverse Siraller party voices. PR electoral ‘amid ensure imdiasivirg ‘ and reduce unrest from Systern® Tutsrrepreamasion, provide Critics fear fragmenta: helpful tions, but Pakistan's lessons. Political, ——_andseape might find stability in PR. Implementing PR requires consensus and constitutional ree- ognition. A hybrid system, blending FPTP, and PR, could suit Pakistan’s unique con- text, considering its political and demo- graphic fabric, Punjab, with its diverse population and intricate political dynamics, is an ideal candidate for testing PR in LG elections. A successful pilot model could lead to broader adoption nationwide, significantly contributing to democratic evolution and an effective electoral system. This initia tive, drawn from successful international models will truly mirror the aspirations of the Pakistani people, fostering a more sta- ble, inclusive, and prosperous democracy. Fortifying Pakistan's democracy entails overcoming electoral challenges and pro- viding innovative solutions. Starting with PR in Punjab’s LG elections and strength- ening the ECP can create a more participa: tory future — one that aligns with global practices and Pakistan’s political ethos, and promotes a representative, empow- ered democracy. The writer is a researcher associated with the Sustainable Development Policy Institute.BY RAFIA ZAKARIA Endless wait for a plan TILERE is no doube that the first few years tHiisticed decade of the 2st centuy bate be filled by unexpected calamities across the com nents, Covid19 dealt such a blow to the world’s ‘sconomy that even some wealthy countries faced Tacesionaty condisions, The less wealthy, nat rally, were beset by even more troubled times ‘whe the pandemic knocked on their door. Many had to close down factories. Slowly, however sich countries are recovering, oe ar least have plans in place to strengthen their economy. ‘ther words, they have acknowledged the iru that things canaot continue as they have been sand som Tn Pal elect ‘and even before — such plans and jeement ser to be missing, The after math of the kerieral elections his thrown the fcountey into greater miagma of tincerrainty fand fear, as a split verdict has omergod. Last ‘month, the State Banke confirmed receiving $700 million from the IMF — a part of the Fund's going Stand-by Arrangement of $3 billion. However, fallowing tie turmoll over the cous try's polifeal future and skyrocketing debt, the international eredit rating “ageney Fiteh has '4-deal with the Fund for Securing further funding onee the current ball font packaze expires next month. While the agency acknowledged thst the country’s exter ‘hal position had improved, withthe cent ‘bank's reserves going up from $2..1n on b 3, 2023 to 68bn on Feb 9, 2024, it also warned that ‘theincrease was “low relative to projected enter- nal Tunding needs, which we expect WHIl car tinue te excood reserves for st leas the next few Yyenra™. What wae algo of comesen was (it refer o “entrenched vested interests" I Which could ‘resist another package entailing "tougher conditions” “Apart from hese international observations, ina well-researched report, the Islamabad based think tank Tubadlab noted that the cou “unchecked spending and reliance on credit wi imply uinsnstainable. ‘The repert noted that SDebt accumulation has beer overwhelmingly uel © citi’ fetecap a commence Focused, Importaddicted ecanomy, —wehour investment in productive seetors or industry”: Gu tes of thin would be that micecatve governments have had a cavalier attitude and have dane litle to pull back on expenditures, allewing the same VIP culture of cars, lavish ite Styles, weddings, ete, 10 persist, thus creating a Sumpatertire rac nobody is willing to pat out for fear of Seeing the ashes that will be leit behind, Tn the meantime, the country’s industrial soe tor whlch ha fostered the geowtlt of smalland ‘mediumsized cities in Punjab in particular com Howes to suffer, battered by input costs, high Lnorest rates, curreucy depreciation, aneruy see for woor arid faulty teade policies: Vor the fae ial year 2022-2023, large-seale minnufaerurinis Shrunk by over 10 per cent in the country. Pakistan's poor credit performance means that lasindustrisl sector has heresion’shighest inter. The depressing prospect for the people of Pakistan is that there is no end in sight to their financial woes. stratcat a whopping 22pecompared toMalaysia at Spe, India at 6 Speand bangladesh at Ope. This Comparison reveals that whfle all countries have faced the blows of similar global forees, incline ing the pandemic, they are beginning to boanee ‘ack and.aronotat the direlavel hat Pakistan i "The second Imige risk foced by Pakistan 1s related ro the lethal impact of climate change. Tt SeestremelyIikely that ths continuing rapid rate Of global warming will cause more carastrophle Hoods in Pakistan as glacial melt and climate Conditions combine to create the certain storm. The consequences mean thav agricultural pro: Guetion will also be severely affected, as is already being witnessed. Not only will climate change displace thoasands, it willimake the pros eet of famnine very real ‘According to the report The Three Ps of Inequality: Power, People, and Policy, released by ‘che UNDP a few years ago, apprescimataly S17 bili were allocated forsaken or the ite, feudal elstex Ind the political class Elite privileges incladed lie breaks, cheap input prices, higher output prices, and preferential access to capital, land Bhd services! The report alsa fonnd that the eaun Ps richest 1pe gw Spe of the total income of country and that the feudal classes who still o.not pay taxos on agricultural income make up {Lape of the population and own 22pe of arable ‘auriculcural land. The milicary was mentioned as the “largest conglomerate of business entice * for the poople. of ‘end in sight to their There isn Tinancial Woes. No Figures have emorsed in tho country's history that show a plan for changing the system. And while that sort of revolutionary. change lea ral order, the current concern stat even if @ funding arrangement with the IMP is nee again successfully concluded and tho coun try docs nor default It wil not end the misery of ordinary Pakistanis, If funding is approved, i will almost cortainly bring more austerity mess lures, whet have already contributed to inflation thatis making it virtually impossible for millions of families to feed themselves. ‘Thore are solutions, but they will Likely bo Ignored. as they’ always have. The Tabadlaby report notes that “devrisking the business envi ronment, adopting fiscal diseipline and effective expenditure management, increasing foreign currency inflows for capital development Through creation of special funds and partner Ships fo bring In capital for important projects, making internal recalibratione by management bf state-owned entities and expansion of tho pub private partnership ecosysiom, expanding: direct fax nel, establishing ih export or! ented industrial peliey and rethinking climate finance through leveraging. debt for narars swaps" are all good strategies. Its a pity that Tike before, like always, none of them will be scetied, atten’ thw cooeery Ewer tm © bath ofno return The wntr is an atom teaching constutional lau and pattical pniesophy. Fata. zakaria@ gmail.comBY ZAHID HUSSAIN ==* Hybrid rule 3.0? Re-engineering work is on to prop up the old order already rejected by the electorate. [Pisa right soya moss that is hard to cloan wn. ‘Ahung parliament throogis controversial elec Hon tits pushed sheconntry deeper ito moles ira been almost wo weeks since the general lectins were held on Feb &, but a yr, there fs ho sign of a new dispensation taking shape. A ‘ick cloud of uncertainty continses oan over She country’ political Inndacnpe wile the BI is sill nor ou of the vce, the ‘veo other major political parties the PNIL-N {nd PPD are engaged in hard bargnining fOr the formarian of a new coalition arrangement, famid wideapread protests againe alleged poll ‘ging. The confetaon of the Rawalpinal com Imbobter, who recgned from his Pose about his ‘ole in vote mnipilarion haa raised more ques ‘lone about he lostimacy af the entire slectoral an certainly not the outcome of the long- swinited polls one wanted ro ace. ristheuneavel ing of the entire political powor seracrare. Fut reengincering work ion to propup the old order lve rejected by the electorate. The intermit Gorrhubdowa obatehlincdigceceueto baw pert {the effort to stifle opposition voices. One Fhowowsn, aot mire whether those sHfors will Tring any political stability to country in deep ree ‘Wish the official renult of the elections now simoat fuly compiled, the PTEsupported do Pendent bloc i clearly ahead of the other pal Selpertis in thoncat Nationa Asecrlys ea ‘ihe alaged eloctoral manipulation. The PICs feat docision to morse ite parliamentary party Sin the Sunn! fread Cou ipresed to im pert of tn teste te somo 70 reserve neo, thus keeping the OUP in Sherace to form tae neve government ‘Marecvey the PTT leadership else seems hope fal ef ecwickting wome nore sents'oy challeng Soe conteowetsiol toss t0 cout Bet ell Silltbe ditficul for the party to get the required smamler to form the poveenment at the centre on Sewn The party oe elrenty declared Swill Sor inoiany pewessioag orange eh the PML-N andPPe Yet its formidable presence in the National Assembly could present a constant challenge ta Prospective PMUCNled coalition government ‘The PI's decision to stay nthe game scems to have frustrated the plan that aimed to completely sideline the party. Notwithstanding the alleged ‘manipnlations, the elections have changed the ountry’spolitical dynamicamaking itextremely inard for the nbiquirans secmity establishment 1 set its own males. Irs londership seems to have ‘Come ont bruset in the process. Tehas been a vote against rhe rallitary’s role in the political powerplay aswell asits overarching [presence in tlmost all aspects of state. Yet there Brno indication of the generals taking a lock ‘seat. Instead, the meddling af the security estab, lishment in polities is likely to be enhanced, given the fragmented electoral mandate. ts reported role In pushing, the PMT-N and PPP 10 1e formation of @ coal. the PPP and smaller parties to s Bhecify the PML-N twmeires fee prise minister, there is no agreement yet-an the powersharing "The PPP, whose support is crucial for any future setup, is playing hard to get on the insti oF joining the cabinet, while bargaining for {Key eonatirutional positions, including the post of prosident. ‘The PPP hine maintainod its control Over Sindh and is also poised to lead a coalition government in Bolochistan, aking ite tke it the power game. ‘Past master in the polities of wheeling and ‘Asif Al Zardari is trying ia extract mas: Sdvantage for his party before. finally serccing tothe PPP joining the government. The arty hasalready made it public that Zardari Bea candidate for president. The tsaue seemsto ‘be atti poli in the congo negotiations Beteroun thefare patties. Meanwhile, there also seems to be establish: ‘ment pressure on the party to be a part of the Incoming administration rather than sipporting i foom the suits Ifa deal ts truck, he future ling coalition will mot be different frem the previous Shehbaz Sharifled hybrid administra lon, with The security establishment having ‘Significant role in all policy matters “Most interesting, Rowover, is Naar Sharif's decision to stond down nx candidate for prime ‘minister. Th Tact, he party's entire election cam alan had revolved around hisreturn fo pawer: Tr oem that his port's failure to achieve even simple majority wasthe main reason forthe wit ‘Graven of his cancidatire, It is apparent that Ae Sidn’t want to lead coalitan government That ‘would include the PPP. So, Shehbaz Sharif, who has worked well with the military ns well ay other political parties it the past, iseonsidered Merightcholee tp lead the furure ccalition governmant. Nawa2 Sharif has, however, made sure that the mantle of Punjab chet minister will go to his daughter and heir apparant Maryam Nava. Being the largest singie party in the Punjab [-N may’ not have ony it Assembly, tho PM cea od withithe PIT. Some of them have already Jumped onto the PMIL-N's bandwagon. Maryam Nawar's nomination marics the centinaation of naste contrat af dhe Sharif family over Panjab. ‘What is most peoblemaric, however, isthe issue of different polirical partisermline tte provinces. ‘While the Singh goverament, led by the PPP, cant count with the ruling, coalition at the centre, st ‘willnor be easy for the PII government in KP to eorke with “the PAHLN administration in Tslamabad. These sbercat problems would make it extre: ‘mely difficult for 8 minority government af the ‘confer to deliver on the critical problems elated {to governance, economy and iimerna security ‘There is no way the system can work in this ‘atmosphere of confrontation. The future doesn't Tok that good for the country, postelsetion. The wnter isan author and journalist zhussaini00@yanoe.com nus