A tragedy for Balochistan is a tragedy for Pakistan

Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area, the smallest by population and the richest by resource. You might have crammed these facts and much more about the province in your Pakistan Studies textbook. You might have also learnt, not through your textbook though, that it is the most deprived and underdeveloped area, despite its mineral affluence. However, even after being aware of these pertinent facts about the province, you wouldn’t have, in all probability, ever been compelled to dig deep into the complexities of the issues of Balochistan, nor would you have had the urge to visit and explore this vast and beautiful barrenness (unless you are a travel aficionado or a family member of someone in the security forces). I have been lucky enough to get the opportunity of inhabiting and exploring the province in the late 1990s when my father was posted in the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan. The city of Turbat, surrounded by the very interesting landscape of Central Makran Range, homed people from across Pakistan. I studied in a school that had teachers from all ethnicities in a class that had students from all provinces. It was an era of coherence – of blossoming brotherhoods, as it would appear, on the surface of Balochistan. As a teenager, I was absorbing the beautiful diversity of not just landscape but also of humankind – both summing up to inflate my patriotism. Fast forward to present day, 20 years later, when the region is hit by yet another massive flood – for it was hit by a terrible one in 1998 and several times in between – I recall and relive how my affinity with Balochistan evolved over all these years. In these two decades that followed my stay, all did not stay well in the province. For I have heard several news of the killing of ‘non- locals’ in Balochistan, predominantly that of the Punjabis. I have mourned the murders of school teachers, college principles and even barbers of diverse origins that had settled there for decades, apparently by the insurgents and separatist wings. While hundreds were killed sporadically in several districts all these years, thousands had to exit for survival, leaving behind successful jobs, established businesses and their homes. Though the situation has been far more complex than many of us can fathom, the consequences of these atrocious acts have been glaringly obvious for non-locals as well as Balochs. In this series of unfortunate events stands out the murder of the popular Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006. Amongst many of its bleak repercussions was an acceleration in the interethnic friction and killings. When has the killing of a prominent figure been curative? What such unpopular acts, however, do is re-kindle and surge fanaticism – they pave ways for the foreign agendas to add fuel to the fire. You may wonder what initially caused the locals to foster these feelings against other ethnic groups. Well, perhaps they have been told or maybe felt since their childhoods, that the rest of Pakistan has exploited their resources. Their feelings are, in fact, neither entirely justified nor completely groundless either. Of course, there is no explicit policy of discrimination but its existence cannot be denied altogether, but is it as blatant as it is claimed? Being deprived of the rightful share of its own gas resources for the last 70 years is the most debated grievance of Balochistan. Despite being the second largest producer of natural gas, the widening distrust between Balochistan and the rest of the country makes sense. But are they right in holding only the federal government accountable for this unjust distribution? How serious have the provincial governments appeared in the widespread delivery across Balochistan ever since the discovery of this reservoir in 1952? Has a substantial and sustainable solution ever been proposed by them especially keeping in mind the inherent logistic challenges in this context? These are all extremely important questions to be taken into consideration while understanding the current situation of Balochistan. People have been exploited at the hands of their own political elite but what has enabled their unabated exploitation? The political figures and the tribe heads keep them debilitated enough never to raise heads; subjugated enough never to raise a question. Perhaps the people have been made to believe that their leaders and civil administrators deliver to their maximum capacity, which is inherently limited. However, that is not the entire truth. The fact of the matter is that power has been decentralised since 2010 as per the 18th Amendment to Pakistan’s Constitution and despite the devolution, the region stays in abject poverty and adversity. Furthermore, amidst the province’s dismal infrastructure, what continues to swell and progress is the bank balance of the ruling elite. While there is a reality in the sense of deprivation, it is also a fact that the grievances of the Baloch people have been manipulated against other ethnicities rather than effectively being addressed, and while it has been a common practice to scapegoat Punjab and other areas, the fact that the dominant majority of Punjab is equally deprived and miserable is largely ignored. This brings me to the current record-breaking monsoon rainfall which has wreaked havoc not just in Balochistan but also in Sindh and Punjab. The existing infrastructure in Balochistan, too inadequate to survive the deluge, gave in quickly to the unyielding rainfall and flash floods, submerging almost 34 districts and leaving behind over three and a half lacs Baloch individuals vulnerable, unassisted, unfed, and uncovered. The civil administration perhaps is glad that the flaws and deficiencies of the infrastructure have also been washed away with the flood, and also content at the prospect of receiving another set of funds to construct another set of substandard constructions. As the ongoing monsoon inundates the vastness of Balochistan, it makes us ask certain questions and reach some realisations. The rains have fully exposed the deficiencies of National Disaster Management Authority (NMDA), Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and other civil authorities in issuing timely warnings, implementing the evacuation strategies and also the faulty infrastructure on account of local and national corruption. Thus, this unprecedented human tragedy that has hit the entire country, putting people from all provinces in this together, has made us realise that we are all equally plagued by profoundly inefficient institutions. We need to question the insufficient spending of provincial funds in Balochistan and in other downtrodden areas. We need to tell that the Zakat money spent as ‘rescue’ money can never be a substitute for properly and adequately spent provincial funds. In order to realise our collective vulnerabilities, we must check the breeding animosities among us, before it is too late. The people of Balochistan are beautiful and loveable; they deserve dire attention by provincial and national authorities alike. They don't deserve to be in this constant environment of mistrust – to be exploited at the hands of the separatist minds and at the hands of political elite. Let's sensitize ourselves to each other’s pain. Let’s learn that our survival depends on our harmonious coexistence. Let's try to know when, how and what went wrong in Balochistan and between us. It is time we realise that Balochistan is not just Balochistan. Balochistan is Pakistan!

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Hamid Khan to represent Imran in contempt case

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has engaged senior counsel Hamid Khan to represent him in the contempt case. The Islamabad High Court has formed a five-judge bench headed by its Chief Justice Athar Minallah to hear the contempt case for threatening a female additional district and sessions judge. The court will hear the case on August 31. The contempt proceedings were initiated against the PTI chief on the notice of the registrar’s office. Sources told The Express Tribune that the senior lawyer has given consent to representing the PTI chief in the contempt case. The founding member of the PTI was Imran’s counsel in the contempt matter which was taken up by the Supreme Court in 2013. Later the Supreme Court had discharged the show cause notice against him. Khan is a senior PTI leader. He was main counsel in even in the Panamagate case. Later he was replaced with Naeem Bukhari. Later, he disassociated himself from the PTI after the filing of a presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Initially, a three-member larger bench headed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani had issued a show-cause notice to Imran for contempt of court after hearing Advocate General Islamabad Jahangir Jadoon in the initial hearing. To include more judges on the bench, the matter was sent to the IHC chief justice. After the IHC CJ returned from his leave, he formed a bench for the case that he himself would head. The bench also includes Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri. The registrar’s office has already sent a show-cause notice to Imran at his Bani Gala residence, in which it has been asked that he should appear before the IHC on August 31 and explain why contempt proceedings should not be taken against him. Imran, while addressing a recent rally at Islamabad’s F-9 park, had alleged that Judge Zeba Chaudhry knew that incarcerated party leader Shahbaz Gill was tortured, but she did not release him on bail. He had threatened to take action against the judge and the Islamabad IGP. Imran was also booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for threatening the judge. The FIR, a copy of which was available with The Express Tribune, was lodged with the Margalla police station. The FIR carried Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The FIR was lodged hours before another Islamabad police station received a written complaint from a resident of G-11/2 for lodging a case against Imran over making hate-speeches, and inciting rebellion against the army, police and judiciary. The FIR lodged by Margalla police had read that the PTI chief threatened the additional sessions judge of Islamabad with a view to terrorise high officials of the police and the judiciary, so that they could not fulfil their duties and refrain from taking action against the PTI due to fear of Imran.

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Bilawal hits out at Imran for holding public rallies despite flood devastation

Lashing out at former prime minister Imran Khan for holding political gatherings despite devastation due to unprecedented floods in the country, Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that the PTI chief is busy in "political point-scoring". In an interview with BBC on Saturday, Bilawal said that there will be time for doing other activities including politics but at the moment it is time to assist the flood victims. "Our rivals whether in the government or in the opposition, always lacked interest in such matters." He said that the rain-related floods have wreaked havoc in Pakistan and the devastations are spread from one corner of the country to the other. Read more: Won’t rest until each one of flood affected is rehabilitated: COAS "Rain-related floods have ruined peoples’ shelters, crops and everything. Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit and Sindh provinces have been hit very badly. The Sindh province has undergone the worst of all-time high catastrophe," he said. The foreign minister said that every district of Sindh has been badly affected and the Sindh government has marked them as the worst calamity-hit zones. Bilawal said the rain-related floods have so far rendered above 80,000 homeless in district Larkana alone. The PPP chairman was of the view that amid this escalating catastrophe, the resources are very limited to cater to the needs of those affected. "There is an immediate need for tents, raw and cooked foods and medicine to help the affectees." He said that the rains that started in June continued till the end of August, and still the relief and rescue process is on the go. He said that a large-scale migration has already set in as the people are shifting from flood-affected areas to safer dry areas. "The government will provide all necessities such as tents and food and arrangements have been made at schools, colleges and government buildings for their temporary shelters." Bilawal said that the next process will be the rehabilitation of the affected areas, the houses of the victims and the infrastructure of flood-hit areas will have to be rebuilt. Counting on the high numbers of casualties and damages, the PPP leader feared an increase in human casualties. Also read: Won’t rest until each one of flood affected is rehabilitated: COAS Talking about the politics of the opposition, Bilawal said that it is sad that amid this huge devastation politicking is being intensely done. He said that wherever there is a flood or an earthquake in the world, the whole country unites and helps the victims. He said what could be said if the opposition wants to keep busy in political point scoring. "It is our priority to lessen the agonies of the flood victims. Wherever the victims can get relief, including the federal and provincial governments, let us deliver that relief," he added. The foreign minister said that this time it rained so heavily that he had to postpone his visit to the European Union because it was the call of the duty to stay among those affected. Bilawal pointed out that the current opposition was in the government in 2020, but it did not support the flood victims of Sindh province. "Imran Khan’s own province [K-P] has been affected but sadly he is busy in political point scoring. He is holding political gatherings," he added. Bilawal said that there is no government in the world, which is capable of dealing with a natural calamity on this huge scale, but they spare nothing and try their best to make redressal. "It is our top priority to provide tents to the victims for temporary shelters." He said that the Sindh government had 90,000 tents available which do not suffice the needs, adding that at least one million tents are required. He said that the government and society are working together to provide food and assistance to the affectees. The PPP chairman said that during the 2020 floods, the victims did not get anything, but today the victims are expected to receive assistance through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He admired the secure system of the BISP, through which people are being helped out. He said that before the BISP, there was no victim assistance system available in the country, through which we would have helped people in difficult times.

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FIA seeks foreign countries' assistance in PTI funding case

As former premier Imran Khan’s PTI remains under the scanner in prohibited funding controversy, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has sent letters to over six countries, including the United Arab Emirates and the United States, seeking information and assistance for the probe. In a letter written by the financial monitoring unit to the UAE, the country’s top investigative agency has sought assistance and details pertaining to a cricket club and the Abraaj Group, while seeking assistance. Similarly, in another letter, the FIA has asked for information about an individual named Obida Shetty in Singapore apparently shown to have some links to the alleged shady transactions. Also read: PTI funding probe: President Alvi among others received funds from ‘fake accounts’ Meanwhile, a similar letter sent to the authorities in the United States requests information about companies in the country and seeks access to other relevant information. All the companies operating from there had shown transactions to the accounts of various leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, sources privy to the matter said. The Federal Investigation Agency had kickstarted its countrywide investigation earlier this month into the utilisation of funds from “prohibited” sources by PTI after an Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruling that the party secured illegal donations. A total of six inquiries have been opened simultaneously in major cities of Pakistan, including federal capital Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi. Read more Foreign funding case: If found guilty, PTI may only face confiscation of funds According to FIA authorities, 13 accounts have been identified in which these funds were transferred, and the agency has issued notices to the banks under which these accounts have been operating. It is pertinent to note that the top agency has justified its inquiry into the PTI prohibited funding case, saying it is only probing the alleged bank irregularities within its mandate. In a reply submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which is hearing the PTI’s petition against the inquiry, the FIA has explained that it was strictly inquiring into the alleged illegalities within its mandate vested under laws concerning the businesses of banks, and not under laws that stipulated regulations for party funding.

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Boy swept away in flash flood miraculously found alive in DI Khan

A young boy, who was swept away in a flash flood, was miraculously found alive in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Saturday. The young boy worked as a mechanic and was missing for four days after the truck he was in was caught in a tumultuous flash flood. The body of the child's mechanic teacher was found in the flood water a day before. The truck driver is still missing and a search is underway to find him. Read more: Imran to hold int’l telethon to raise funds for flood affectees Locals told The Express Tribune that the people who went to search located the child on the tree and rescued him eventually. The joy of the people after saving the child’s life is worth seeing. A young boy who was swept away in a flash flood was miraculously found alive in Dera Ismail Khan. The young boy worked as a mechanic and was missing for four days after the truck he was in was caught in a tumultuous flash flood. The truck driver is still missing.#etribune #news pic.twitter.com/658lZIsL7r — The Express Tribune (@etribune) August 27, 2022 The child said that he had caught a tree floating in gushing waters. He stayed on it for four days and fought hunger, thirst and sleep deprivation to survive. Also read: UK to provide ‘urgent support’ of £1.5m for flood relief efforts Historic monsoon rains and flooding have affected more than 30 million people over the last few weeks across the country. The destruction of infrastructure and breakdown in communication links adds to the difficulties faced by the authorities in rescue and relief efforts in the region. The government has called on the international community to help as it struggles to cope with the aftermath of torrential rains that have triggered massive floods, killing nearly 1,000 people.

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Livestock department asked to increase vaccination task force

Abbottabad Deputy Commissioner Tariq Salam Marwat urged the Livestock Department to increase the strength of the District Task Force so that people can vaccinate their livestock against lumpy skin disease in time. He chaired a meeting regarding the control of Lumps Skin virus and Dengue fever on Friday. The Health and Livestock Departments' officials gave a briefing regarding dengue control and the Lumpy Skin outbreak. Marwat emphasised taking all possible measures regarding lumpy skin virus control. He said that vaccination of virus-infected animals should be ensured as soon as possible and also ensure the awareness campaign for the farmers which can enable them for the timely vaccination of their livestock. Additional Deputy Commissioner Relief and Human Rights Sajid Hussain, DHO Faisal Khanzada, District Director Livestock Akbar Ali, Assistant Manager WSSCA Wasiq Mansoor, representatives of Agriculture Department, TMA Havelian, Lora and Lower Tanwal and others participated in the meeting. Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2022.

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Miftah lashes out at K-P govt for attempting to ‘sabotage’ IMF pact

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has lashed out at the PTI-led Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government for attempting to “sabotage” Pakistan’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ahead of the global lender’s executive board meeting. “[K-P Finance Minister] Taimur Jhagra assured me that he did not send this letter to the IMF but they [IMF] must have got this letter since it’s circulating across the country,” he said while addressing a hurriedly called press conference in Islamabad Friday night. Miftah was referring to the letter written by K-P Finance Minister Jahagra in which he said that it will be “next to impossible” for the provincial government to leave a surplus budget if the federal government did not resolve the issues of the K-P government. 1. This imported govt doesn't need enemies. Their own party hierarchy & their chamchas in the press are enough to sabotage their own... Why would the KP govt or I write to the IMF? Please read the letter I wrote to the Federal Finance Minister for yourself. pic.twitter.com/NTaPGoniym — Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 26, 2022 Also read: IMF sees inflation peaking at 20% Pakistan has committed to the IMF that it would generate a primary budget surplus of Rs153 billion in this fiscal year to achieve the global lender’s programme objectives. Miftah slammed the PTI-led government, saying they are playing politics over matters of national interest at a time when the entire country is reeling from historic floods and heavy rains. 2. Note that when I last got time from the fed finance minister on July 5, I raised the same concerns; on the FATA budget; on NHP; but because it was in the national interest, returned the IMF MoU to Islamabad within 24 hours. Personally ensured that with the approval of the CM. — Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 26, 2022 “All other matters should take a back seat at this time... but no problem we will deal with it InshaAllah,” he added. Miftah also said PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in a recent statement admitted that the federal government would not be able to secure the IMF deal if their governments in Punjab and K-P did not cooperate. “However, they asked Punjab too to write the such letter but Punjab secretary refused to do so,” he claimed. Miftah said “power hunger” PTI could stoop to any level as their leader Imran Khan was not in power. “You are writing this letter today could not wait for 10 more days. You want to destroy this country because Imran Khan is no more in power but we will not let you burn this country,” he added. Also read: Pressure on rupee to ease after IMF deal Jhagra ‘s letter came just three days before the IMF board meeting on August 29 (Monday) to approve the disbursement of $1.18 billion to Pakistan under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). In the letter, the K-P minister while highlighting several issues including budget allocation for merged districts as well as devastating floods said without their resolution leaving a surplus budget “will be next to impossible” for the provincial government. Responding to his statement, Miftah said he will hold a meeting with Jaghra on Saturday (today) and will resolve their issues. “We will release funds for ex-Fata areas as they are our brothers… The IMF programme will be approved on Monday,” he added. ‘Flood of economic crisis’ Meanwhile, the coalition parties in a joint statement have come down hard on PTI’s government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for its efforts to derail the IMF deal and plunge Pakistan into a “flood of economic crisis”. In the wake of unprecedented flash floods across the country, the K-P government it said has refused to implement the terms of the agreement with the IMF while playing dirty politics. In a joint statement on Friday, the ruling parties said that K-P Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra's letter to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail is a “ploy to plunge Pakistan into a flood of economic crisis”. The coalition – mainly consisting of PML-N, PPP and JUI-F – said it was Imran Khan’s government that signed an agreement with the IMF on strict terms, “tying the hands and feet of Pakistan's economy”, adding that he [Khan] then himself violated this agreement, suspended the programme and laid mines in the foundations of Pakistan's economy by giving subsidies so that Pakistan becomes economically bankrupt. Also read: IMF shares LoI with govt to seal loan deal The statement said that the current government was forced to take extremely patient and difficult decisions just to save Pakistan from economic bankruptcy. “After four months of continuous hard work, the value of the rupee and the economic situation have started to improve. Although Imran Khan's four years of economic destruction and inflation, the people are still drowning.” The statement said that PTI is aware that the IMF board meeting is going to be held on August 29 in which the economic programme with Pakistan is going to be revived. “Under these circumstances, malicious action has been taken by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government. This move is proof that the foreign-aided party is committed to the agenda of bringing Pakistan to economic ruin. As before, we will thwart this conspiracy and defend Pakistan's economic independence.” The government's full focus and priority at this time is the relief and rescue of the flood victims because the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims should remain the national priority at this time, the joint communiqué further read. “We will not let anyone's politics interfere with the process of saving the lives of the flood victims and alleviating the difficulties faced by them.”

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