Examining PTI’s Prohibited Funding Fiasco
Last month, the Election Commission of Pakistan declared PTI guilty of receiving millions from 351 foreign companies, concealing 13 accounts, and receiving $35,651 from 34 foreign national citizens. Faran Feroze probes into PTI’s ‘prohibited funding’ case, uncovering both legal and political implications.
The Devastating Flooding in Pakistan
The destruction caused by heavy rainfalls and floods in Pakistan is reaching new heights as the days pass. The deadly floods have taken the lives of more than 1,300 people and impacted millions of Pakistanis. With lives at stake, extensive rescue operations are underway all over Pakistan.
ARY News Taken Off Air in Pakistan
On August 14, 2022, Pakistan celebrated 75 years of its independence. It also celebrated two decades of broadcasting operations of free, independent private satellite television in the country. Currently, the media industry of Pakistan is facing one of the most adverse crises of its history. Journalists are being arrested and tortured, and transmissions of various channels – such as ARY News – are being suspended. The suspension is based on varied grounds, but mostly for criticizing the policies of the current government, and the role of the establishment in the country’s politics.
Energy Crisis in Pakistan and Its Solution (Updated)
The rise in global oil prices, devaluation of the Pakistani rupee, and the domestic political and economic crisis in Pakistan are propelling the state towards becoming energy insecure. Maryam Ibrahim and Izza Ikram note that Pakistan has become heavily dependent upon energy exports. However, it still needs to find alternatives if it wants to overcome its energy insecurity and meet its domestic energy demand. If left unchecked, the current energy crisis will devastate the already struggling economy of Pakistan.
The US Drone That Killed Ayman Al-Zawahiri: Was Pakistan Involved?
Since the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri in a US-authorized drone strike on July 31st, there has been speculation about Pakistan’s alleged participation in the attack. Hamra Tariq assesses the allegations which continue to persist regardless of Pakistan’s continuous denial of its involvement. She argues that, instead of Pakistan, there might be other actors entangled in Al-Zawahiri’s death.
Pakistan’s Performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
With a total of 8 medals, including 2 gold, the 2022 Commonwealth Games was a relatively successful sporting event for Pakistan. The indomitable spirit of the 68 Pakistani athletes was reflected both in their winning and losing matches across 12 sports. Pakistan’s glorious victories in weightlifting, athletics, judo, and wrestling exceeded expectations and uplifted the people of the nation.
The Untouchables of Pakistan
In a nation that had been lulled into political apathy, Imran Khan awakened the masses and brought their attention to the widespread corruption, institutional conflicts, and economic distress in Pakistan. Given the public’s unyielding support, Mir Adnan Aziz considers Imran Khan to be an important piece in the political chessboard of the country.
Punjab By-elections, Article 63A & the Supreme Court
PTI won the by-elections in Punjab — but what really happened behind the scenes is a different matter. Hassan Saeed Khan reports how the judiciary’s varying interpretations of Article 63A have blurred the lines between the roles of each institution. These contradictory rulings have the potential to cause massive political turmoil.
Is Pakistan Becoming Another Sri Lanka?
Hasnain Haikal Memon compares the crisis in Sri Lanka with that of Pakistan. For him, the answer to whether or not Pakistan will become another Sri Lanka is not a simple “yes” or “no”. He argues that the two South Asian states are facing similar problems – inflation, currency devaluation, external debt, political instability – and if these issues persist, Pakistan might transform into a crisis state. However, even then, there’s a possibility that, unlike Sri Lanka, Pakistan might not descend into chaos.
The Suspension of Ehsaas & Other Welfare Initiatives
During his term as the prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan introduced numerous welfare projects. The Ehsaas program, in particular, has been a source of salvation for many Pakistanis. Summaiyya Qureshi notes that since the PDM government has assumed power, PTI-led projects like Panagah, the Ehsaas Langar program, Mera Pakistan Mera Ghar housing scheme, and the Miyawaki forest project have been suspended. Given the situation in Pakistan, the suspension of these projects has dire consequences for the state’s lower class.
India’s G20 Presidency: 2023 Summit in Jammu & Kashmir
The G20 is a strategic platform connecting the world’s major economies, with annual summits being hosted by one of the G20 member states. India will be hosting the G20 summit for the first time in 2023. Needless to say, some of the meetings are expected to be held in the Indian Administered Jammu & Kashmir. Huda Raza believes that this move disregards the sanctity of the internationally recognised disputed status of the territory.
Legal Debate over the Ocean Mall Incident
In this article, Wasif Hassan provides a legal analysis of the incident at Ocean Mall where a boy lost his foot after it was stuck in the escalator. He discusses the possible legal implications and the potential for this case to develop the law of torts in Pakistan.
CPEC Boosts Agricultural Development in Pakistan
Agricultural development in Pakistan is just one of the many facets of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Muhammad Bilal Farooq notes that the corridor is promoting corporate farming and boosting the agricultural productivity of Pakistan. CPEC’s infrastructure projects can reduce the transportation time and cost of agricultural produce. On top of dedicating 4 special economic zones (SEZs) to food processing, China and Pakistan, under CPEC, are also cooperating in the research and development of new varieties of crops.
The Changing Climate of Pakistan & India: From Floods to Heatwaves
Muhammad Azam Khan draws attention to the climatic catastrophe in Pakistan and India. While the two states are divided by borders, they’re united by the similar impact of the changing climate on their territories and populations. The rise in global temperatures has led the two neighbors to experience severe droughts, floods, heatwaves, and water shortages.
Are Early Elections Inevitable after PTI’s Landslide Victory in Punjab?
Given PTI’s landslide victory in Punjab’s by-elections and the confidence of the masses in Imran Khan and his party, Sarmad Ishfaq states that PTI’s return to the federal government is imminent.
He states that Imran Khan can now force early elections by either of these options:
1. Using his new majority in Punjab to pressurise PDM into dissolving the National Assembly
2. Resuming his ‘Long March’ & forcing PDM to step down
3. Dissolving the KPK & Punjab Assemblies.
One thing is for certain: it has become untenable for the PDM to sustain its contentious stay in power.
Reorienting the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Relationship
The asymmetrical relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has compromised Pakistan’s key strategic interests on various occasions. The volatility of this relationship has been the centre of attention of researchers and diplomats alike. Afifa Iqbal discusses the dissimilarity between Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives and the current state of bilateral ties.
Pakistan’s Israel Conundrum
While there have allegedly been quite a few secret meetings between the state officials of Pakistan and Israel in the past, the recent public visit of the Pakistani delegation to Israel has raised a lot of questions about whether Pakistan will recognize the state. Afifa Iqbal discusses the events that led to this meeting, and how it would be unwise to attempt to normalise ties with Israel without considering Pakistan’s national interests.
