Megalomaniac

Hamza Ali Abbasi, an actor close to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, tweeted earlier this month: “I am beginning to feel that PAKISTAN needs presidential system to get rid of the powerful MNA/MPA (members of the National and Provincial Assemblies) influence, abolition of large Provinces & Administrative Divisions made into smaller Provinces with powerful/empowered directly elected local body Governments.” Mr. Abbasi’s tweet led to a debate about a presidential system in Pakistan, from social networks to the mainstream media. Some people were of the opinion that this was coming from powerful quarters. Mr. Abbasi clarified on his tweets that when people accuse him of being “a stooge of the establishment” and that his words are “dictated” by the military and intelligence agencies “to help mould public opinion”, he likes it as it makes him feel way more important than he actually is. Mr. Abbasi is not the only one who has been talking about the presidential system i...

The government had earlier denied news of a shake-up Pakistan’s Finance Minister Asad Umar stepped down on Thursday as part of a reshuffle of the Cabinet initiated by Prime Minister Imran Khan. “As part of a Cabinet reshuffle, PM desired that I take the Energy Minister portfolio instead of Finance. However, I have obtained his consent to not take any Cabinet position. I strongly believe @ImranKhanPTI is the best hope for Pakistan and inshallah will make a naya Pakistan,” Mr. Umar tweeted on Thursday. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh will be Adviser on Finance. Sources said Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan was also asked to step down, but he refused to do so. He reportedly said that he will leave Prime Minister Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party if he’s forced to quit the Cabinet. He has now been made Federal Minister for Aviation. More changes Shehryar Afridi, State Minister for Interior, has now been made Minister for States and Frontier Regions. The new Federal Minister ...

“We have lost the narrative on Jammu and Kashmir.”— Abdul Basit Former High Commissioner of Pakistan to India Q. Why do you think India attacked Pakistan? AB: There is a context to the attack, post-Pulwama. One is domestic politics, i.e. the Indian elections. We say this, and so does the Congress Party. The second is to present Kashmir through the prism of terror and to isolate Pakistan. Had India given us the dossier earlier, they would not have been able to take the action that they did. Diplomatically it would have been difficult for them. I don’t know what the dossier contains but if we look at the old dossiers [they presented], there wasn’t much in them either. Some newspaper clippings and circumstantial evidence but no irrefutable evidence as such. Q. Realistically speaking, do you think there will ever be a resolution of the Kashmir dispute? AB: I think we will definitely see a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. How it happens…that remains to be seen. The Kashmir valle...

The recent conversion of two girls from Hinduism to Islam in Sindh has once again compelled the country to explore the possibilities of enacting a law to prevent forced conversions. But it is an uphill task, reports Mehmal Sarfraz For the Hindus of Sindh in Pakistan, March 20, the day Holi was celebrated, was a riot of colours. But for the Meghwars, it marked the beginning of a nightmare when two sisters, Reena Meghwar and Raveena Meghwar, suddenly disappeared from their home in Daharki, a city in Ghotki district of Sindh. Their disappearance not only brought back the spotlight on a persisting problem in the country, but also led to an online spat between Pakistan and India, which only recently saw simmering tensions reach a dangerous peak. After a fruitless search for his sisters, Shaman, his father, and others from the community finally decided to go to the neighbourhood police station to lodge a complaint. The Station House Officer (SHO) there assured them on March 20 that the c...

The bloodshed came two days after authorities freed Ramzan Mengal, a top leader of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). At least 20 people were killed and 48 injured when a blast hit the Hazarganji market in Quetta, Pakistan, on Friday. Nine people from the Hazara community and one Frontier Corps soldier were among the dead. Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted that he was deeply saddened by the attack. “I have asked for an immediate inquiry & increased security for the people. Prayers go to the families of the victims & for early recovery of the injured.” At the site of the blast, DIG Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema told the media that every day, people from the Hazara community come to this market from Hazara Town to buy groceries. Police and Frontier Corps personnel escort them and take them back as well. On Friday, there were 11 vehicles and 55 people in that convoy. To a question whether the Hazara community members were the targets, Mr. Cheema said that while the Hazaras have been ta...

Former Pakistan premier not allowed to leave the country Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been granted bail for six weeks by the Supreme Court on health grounds. The terms of the bail include that Mr. Sharif “shall not leave or be allowed to leave the country”. He can now be treated anywhere in the country. The leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) hailed this decision. Mr. Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and younger brother Shahbaz Sharif “thanked God” in their tweets for this temporary relief. Ahsan Iqbal, a senior leader of the PML-N, told The Hindu that this decision by the Supreme Court validates their position that Mr. Sharif has serious health issues. “It also negates what the [PTI] government was doing, such as making fun of his health, making statements to that effect and playing politics with Mian sahib’s health. The court has given him bail because he has serious health issues. We will now focus on his treatment as Mian sahib is an asset ...

President Alvi says the country’s real battle is against poverty Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi said on Saturday that the country wants to end long-standing disputes in South Asia through dialogue. “Our real war is against poverty and unemployment and should remain so. We are a responsible nation. We have learnt from our past mistakes and are now building our future keeping that in mind. We want to end hate and long-standing disputes in the region for prosperity and peace. As a democratic country, we don’t believe in wars,” Mr. Alvi said while addressing the annual military parade marking the Pakistan Day in Islamabad. “We respect the sovereignty of all nations and believe in peaceful relations with all countries. But our wish for peace should not be misconstrued as our weakness. Pakistan is a reality. India should also accept this reality. This region needs peace. Instead of war, we need to focus on education, health and providing employment,” he added. The event was attended ...

PM Modi’s message a welcome gesture, say analysts Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday evening tweeted: “Received msg from PM Modi: ‘I extend my greetings & best wishes to the people of Pakistan on the National Day of Pakistan. It is time that ppl of Sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive & prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence’.” Mr. Khan’s tweet came on a day when the Government of India boycotted Pakistan’s National Day event in Delhi and the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad also announced that he would not be attending the same event in Islamabad. In his next tweet, Mr. Khan added: “I welcome PM Modi's message to our people. As we celebrate Pakistan Day I believe it is time to begin a comprehensive dialogue with India to address & resolve all issues, esp the central issue of Kashmir, & forge a new relationship based on peace & prosperity for all our people.” Mr. Khan’s tweets created...

The 30 acres around Kartarpur gurdwara will be kept construction-free, says Pakistan Minister The Pakistan government has decided to keep 30 acres of land around the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara free of construction, said the country’s Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. Congress leader and a Minister in the Punjab government Navjot Singh Sidhu had written a letter to the Pakistani government, requesting Prime Minister Imran Khan to keep the land in Narowal district of Punjab out of construction as it was used by Guru Nanak for cultivation. Mr. Chaudhry said the 30-acre land would remain untouched in the honour of Guru Nanak. “By using biotechnology, the same vegetables and crops will be grown there that grew there during Guru Nanak’s time,” Mr. Chaudhry told The Hindu . “Despite the tensions between India and Pakistan, we believe in peace and will not indulge in any kind of politicking over Kartarpur.” “Pakistan’s Foreign Office suggested that we allow 500 Sikh pilgrims everyday...

His speech last week, which called for strong action against all terror outfits, resulted in a war of words “The government has responded to my demand to sack Ministers associated with banned outfits by declaring me anti-state, issuing death threats & NAB notices. None of this deters us from our principle[d] stand; form joint NSC parliamentary committee & act against banned outfits,” tweeted Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday. Last week, Mr. Bhutto-Zardari had demanded the removal of three federal Ministers for their links with proscribed organisations. He had not named the three Ministers but everyone had guessed their names — Finance Minister Asad Umar, Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi and Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad. In a series of tweets on Monday, Mr. Bhutto-Zardari confirmed these names by tweeting out news stories of these three Ministers hobnobbing with leaders of banned outfits. A united front There...

Earlier this month, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari visited former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat jail. Mr. Sharif, a heart patient, has been unwell recently. It was Mr. Bhutto-Zardari’s initiative to remove misunderstanding with Mr. Sharif, according to senior journalist Hamid Mir. “It was Bilawal who called Nawaz ‘ Modi ka yaar ’ when the PML-N was in power,” Mr. Mir said. Though the Opposition parties extended full support to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of Prime Minister Imran Khan during the recent tensions with India, the Opposition feels Mr. Khan never treated them well and did not even bother to attend a briefing on national security. “Both Nawaz and Bilawal definitely discussed some politics. Nawaz asked Bilawal to establish a strong working relationship with his brother Shehbaz Sharif, but the main focus of this meeting was on the health of Nawaz,” said Mr. Mir. He ad...

On March 7, Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari tweeted: “Appalled to hear of the callous and inhumane treatment of imprisoned former PM Nawaz Sharif by the government. His illness should be treated seriously, be provided with proper medical care and treated with respect.” On March 11, he visited an ailing Mian Nawaz Sharif in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail. Bilawal Bhutto’s gracious act of visiting the former prime minister and chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is being given a political angle by the PPP and PML-N’s opponents, namely the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). There are many reasons for this ‘spin’ by the PTI. For one, the PTI was caught off guard as it was an unexpected visit. Sure, we have heard the PPP leadership condemn the insensitive way the Punjab government has been treating Mian Nawaz Sharif’s health but most people did not expect that Chairman PPP would actually go and meet the PML-N leader in jail. After the meeting, ...

Imran Khan added that his government would implement the NAP “in letter and spirit”. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that his government would not allow Pakistan’s soil to be used for terrorist activities and that its focus is on economic development of the country. “Insha’Allah, Pakistan’s government will not allow our soil to be used for terrorist activities anywhere in the world. This is a new Pakistan, a new time. We want investment in this country. Our Naya Pakistan will be prosperous, stable and peaceful. As a responsible country, and part of the international community, we will not allow any militant group to function here,” he said while addressing a rally in Chachro, Sindh. “We sent the captured Indian pilot [Abhinandan Varthaman] back because we don’t want war. We sent this message [to India] time and again. We decided that we will help India in the Pulwama investigations. But no one should think this is due to any fear. This is because the ‘Naya Pakis...

Imran Khan will decide on detention of Masood Azhar in the next 24 hours, says Azaz Syed, author of The Secret of Pakistan’s War on Al-Qaeda , in Geo TV Pakistan has taken 44 members of banned organisations, including Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar’s son and brother, into preventive detention, and put Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) offshoots Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FiF) on its proscribed list, the Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday. New Delhi had criticised Pakistan for failing to ban the JuD and the FiF, which are banned by the UN Security Council, despite an announcement that it would do so on February 21. Both organisations were subsequently put on the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA)’s list under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. “In order to implement [the] National Action Plan, a high-level meeting was held in the Ministry on March 4, which was attended by representatives of all provincial governments. It was decided to speed up ac...

We did not want to increase India’s grief, says Foreign Minister Qureshi Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said the decision to release IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was not taken under any external pressure or compulsion. “We wanted to send a message to India. We don’t want to increase your grief, we don’t want to mistreat your citizens, we just want peace,” he told BBC Urdu in an interview. The pilot was captured by Pakistani troops after his jet crashed on the other side of the border on Wednesday. In a separate interview with BBC , the Foreign Minister said both countries were still in a very serious situation. “We still are... it isn’t over!... We are on high alert.” Both India and Pakistan have issues, “but how do we resolve these issues? By firing missiles at each other? No!” he said. Mr. Qureshi said Pakistan never wanted a crisis and was ready to cooperate with India. “We said share evidence with us; we said we are willing to coope...

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan, and asked India to give “solid inalienable evidence” for action to be taken against him. “According to my information, he is very unwell. He is unwell to the extent that he cannot leave his house because he is really unwell. That’s the information I have,” Mr. Qureshi told CNN in an interview. “If they [India] give us evidence which is acceptable to the courts of Pakistan — after all, we will have to justify. They will go to court. If they have solid inalienable evidence, share it with us so that we can convince the people and convince the independent judiciary of Pakistan,” said the Foreign Minister. “We will be open to any step that leads to de-escalation. If they have good solid evidence, please sit and talk. Please initiate a dialogue and we will show reasonableness.” When asked if he doubts the allegations spreading terror against Azhar and Jaish, Mr. Qureshi...

Prime Minister Imran Khan makes surprise announcement to a joint session of Parliament. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday that Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, now in Pakistan’s custody, would be released on Friday. “As a peace gesture, we are releasing the captured Indian pilot tomorrow,” he told a joint session of Parliament. On Wednesday night, there was a situation in which there could have been a missile strike from India, but it was defused, the Prime Minister said. “This is why I am saying to India not to take this any further. We will be left with no choice but to retaliate. Don’t do it,” he said. Mr. Khan added that he had tried to contact his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Wednesday evening. “We also sent a message to him. This wasn’t due to any weakness. Our forces are battle-hardened but we don’t want escalation.” On Thursday evening, the IAF said it was “extremely happy” to have Wing Cdr Varthaman back. “We want t...

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called for talks with India to defuse tensions and offered cooperation in the investigation into the February 14 Pulwama terror attack. In a televised address, he also warned against further escalation of the situation. “With the kind of weapons we have, can we afford any miscalculation? Should we not think about the consequences of an escalation at this point in time? If it escalates, it will neither be in my control nor [Indian PM Narendra] Modi’s. This is why I am inviting you again: we are ready to cooperate in the Pulwama investigation, dialogue on terrorism. Better sense should prevail. We should resolve our issues through dialogue.” He added that Pakistan “understands the pain of those who lost their loved ones in the Pulwama attack because Pakistan, too, has lost 70,000 of our own... We offered to cooperate with India. We said this because it is not in the interest of Pakistan for its soil to be used for terrorism anywhere.” A...

India has “committed uncalled for aggression”, says Pakistan’s top security committee Pakistan on Tuesday termed India’s cross-border air strike “uncalled for aggression” and vowed retaliation. “India has committed uncalled for aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at the time and place of its choosing,” Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) said in a statement. Prime Minister Imran Khan convened an emergency meeting of the NSC hours after Indian aircraft carried out the strike. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar and the military top brass, including Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The NSC called the Indian government’s claims of targeting a militant camp in Balakot “self-serving, reckless and fictitious.” Mr. Qureshi also held a press conference, along with the Defence and Finance Ministers in Islamabad. After reading out the NSC statement, Mr. Qureshi s...

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers” — Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In Pakistan, we love to give examples of people like Arundhati Roy when she challenges the Indian state and talks about atrocities in Indian-held Kashmir or student leader Kanhaiya Kumar when he talked about freedom to protest in India. More recently, the controversy surrounding students of the Aligarh Muslim University and Republic TV made headlines in Pakistan. We heard many an analyst criticising India for its sedition laws. While one agrees with the criticism and hails those challenging state narratives, one must always look inwards also. Unfortunately, when it comes to dissent in Pakistan, we suddenly take an ostrich-like position and turn a blind eye when our own freedom of expression and...