PTI Skips Kurram APC
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to boycott an all-parties conference convened by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on unrest in Kurram. In a statement, the PTI said Kundi’s PPP has no mandate in the province. According to the governor, at least 16 other political parties believe otherwise, and have expressed an intent to participate in the forum.
Government Fire-fighting Continues
In a bid to dampen criticism over alleged state excesses during PTI’s Islamabad protest, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has told foreign journalists security forces were only equipped with water cannons and tear-gas, and not live ammunition. The war on narratives continues, with PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema, accusing P.M. Sharif, Army chief Gen. Munir, Interior Minister Naqvi for the violence.
Gandapur Seeks Release of KP Accused
In a letter to P.M. Shehbaz Sharif, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa C.M. Ali Amin Gandapur has called for the release of any civilians of his province who were ‘unjustly’ detained after the PTI’s Islamabad protest. The PTI leader has urged resolution of political matters through peaceful and constructive dialogue, rather than through a “majoritarian” lens.
PTI, Government Equally to Blame
The Islamabad High Court has censured the government for locking down the federal capital ahead of and during last month’s PTI protest, recalling a court ruling that had instructed authorities to ensure people’s fundamental rights. The court’s ire was also directed at the PTI, which violated a ruling preventing it from staging a protest in Islamabad without prior permission of the administration.
Neighborly Help
The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency has saved 12 survivors found adrift on a life raft after an Indian cargo vessel sank in the “exclusive economic zone” of Pakistan. In a statement, the agency said it acted on an urgent message from its Indian counterpart. The rival neighbors coordinated their response to enable an Indian Coast Guard vessel to recover the survivors saved by Pakistan.
Postponing LNG Cargoes
Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik has said Pakistan is seeking the postponement of 10 LNG cargoes next year amidst a sustained decline in electricity consumption due to hefty utility costs and minimal economic activity. He claimed five were already postponed while the postponement of another five was under consideration due to the fuel currently being in surplus.
Pakistan’s Improving Exports
Services exports climbed 13.43% to $688.95 million in October against $607.37 million in the same period last year, with the surge largely attributed to an increase in information technology exports. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the country’s I.T. exports reached $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2023-24, up 24% from $2.59 billion in the year prior.
Agricultural Tax Reticence
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has voiced his displeasure at the delay of Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in passing new agriculture income tax laws—a precondition of the ongoing $7 billion IMF bailout. Thus far, only the Punjab Assembly has passed the legislation. Aurangzeb has decided to raise the issue with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to avert any hiccups to the IMF deal.
Overvalued Dollar
A tax advisory and consultancy firm has claimed the IMF’s demand of a market-based exchange rate is overvaluing the U.S. dollar against the Pakistani rupee. In a report, Tola Associates has argued the average rupee-dollar parity in October was Rs. 211.5, roughly Rs. 67 less than the official value. The State Bank of Pakistan maintains the current rupee-dollar parity is in line with market expectations.
PPP vs. JUIF
President Asif Ali Zardari has returned the Madrassah Registration Bill to Parliament with legal objections, as JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman warns of a mass protest if the legislation is not adopted. The government earlier supported the bill in exchange for the JUIF’s support for the 26th Amendment. The JUIF has claimed opposition to the bill comes from ‘somewhere else.’