Gohar Denies Deal Offer
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan has denied claims of Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, that the government had offered to release her brother if the party did not proceed to Islamabad’s D-Chowk during its protest last month. He has told media the government did not make any offer to release Khan within 20 days if the party ended the announced sit-in prior to entering the federal capital.
PPP, PMLN Seek to Mend Rifts
Ruling coalition partners PMLN and PPP will today (Monday) commence meetings to resolve contentious issues that have triggered barbed commentary over the past few weeks. The PPP is seeking greater say in decision-making and facilitation in Punjab, while the PMLN is hoping to convince the party to formally enter government and accept ministries in the federal cabinet.
AJK Withdraws Controversial Ordinance
Following days of protests and strikes that attracted thousands, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn a controversial presidential ordinance barring protests from unregistered organizations. The government has also accepted several other demands of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, including better quality flour.
‘Forced’ Negotiated IPP Settlements
After Germany, the U.K. has also issued notice to the Government of Pakistan over “forced” renegotiation of the tariff and contractual terms of Independent Power Projects. The Halmore Power Company has alleged Islamabad is reneging on a 2007 agreement in a discriminatory manner, claiming state-owned energy producers and IPPs owned by Chinese investors are facing similar coercion.
JUIF Defers Decision on Long March
The opposition Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) has warned it will decide on whether or not to conduct a long march on Islamabad at a meeting of the Tanzeem Ittehadul Madaris on Dec. 17. The party is continuing to ramp up pressure on the government to amend the Societies Registration Bill, easing requirements for registration of madrassas as educational institutions.
Declining Voter Participation
The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has issued a report noting that while a record 61.28 million voters participated in the 2024 general elections, overall turnout declined to 48% compared to 52% in 2018. Data issued by FAFEN says voter turnout was higher in rural areas compared to urban settings, adding the gender gap has shrank from 10 to 9%.
Syrian Regime Change
The decades-spanning rule of the Assad regime has come to an end, with Syrian rebels—including several militant groups—assuming control of Damascus and forcing Bashar al-Assad and his family to flee. Within hours, Israel conducted three airstrikes in Damascus and moved to occupy five Syrian towns in the Golan Heights, rubbishing a 50-year-old “disengagement agreement.”
Trump’s Citizenship ‘Reforms’
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has reiterated an intent to deport all undocumented immigrants and end birthright citizenship once he assumes office next month. In an interview, Trump has also vowed to reduce funding for the Ukraine war and hinted at severing Washington’s ties with NATO if other member states do not pay their due share for the alliance’s operations.
PTI’s Civil Disobedience Movement
The PTI has reiterated intent to launch a civil disobedience movement if the government doesn’t accept its demands for release of ‘political prisoners’ and a judicial inquiry into the May 9, 2023 riots and the Nov. 24 Islamabad protest. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has predicted the civil disobedience movement will fail, as the public prefers solutions to prevailing crises rather than more disruption.
Defaulting Textile Mills
The International Cotton Association has declared 84 Pakistani textile mills as “defaulters” over their failure to honor procuring agreements. In effect, this prevents these mills from importing any cotton. This year’s cotton harvest in Pakistan is roughly 33% lower than last year, with mills preferring to import rather than procure from the local market following the imposition of 18% sales tax.