Another Deadline
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, a member of the PTI’s committee engaging in talks with the government, has warned the dialogue process will come to a halt if the government does not establish—by Jan. 31—a judicial commission to probe the May 9, 2023 riots and the Nov. 26 crackdown in Islamabad. Addressing media after a meeting with Imran Khan, he acknowledged no progress in the two rounds of talks so far.
Verdict Delayed
An accountability court has delayed—for a third time—the verdict in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case. The judge said the announcement of the ruling was being delayed until Jan. 17 because of accused Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s failure to appear in court. He further observed he had waited several hours for the accused, adding he was granting them one more chance to appear in court.
Call for Action
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on the world to hold the Afghan Taliban accountable for “apartheid against women.” Addressing an international conference on girls’ education in Muslim communities, she noted educated women also help a country’s economy. A Saudi cleric who also attended the conference said there are no grounds to block girls from education in Islam.
Three-year High
State Bank of Pakistan data has revealed the country’s total foreign exchange reserves have reached a three-year high of $18.7 billion. This includes gold reserves of $5.5 billion but not $4.7 billion held with commercial banks. Analysts have attributed this surge in reserves to import restrictions, debt rollovers and delays in dividend repatriation.
‘Ally’ No More
A U.S. congressman has reintroduced legislation seeking to revoke Pakistan’s status as a major non-NATO ally of Washington. The proposed bill says the ‘ally’ status should be withdrawn unless the U.S. president can certify Pakistan’s commitment to tackling the Haqqani Network. Analysts have noted the bill, even if adopted, will have limited impact as the U.S. has already suspended military aid to Pakistan.
Dividends of PIA’s Return to Europe
A PIA spokesman, in a statement, has claimed the resumption of direct flights to Europe has led to a decrease in fares of other airlines operating to Pakistan. The airline has also announced it will resume free transport for bodies of Pakistanis back to Pakistan from European countries. It has said PIA will commercially expand its network across Europe.
Unrest in Kurram
Despite claims that rival tribes in embattled Kurram have started demolishing private bunkers, life in the region has yet to normalize. Despite a peace agreement, roads connecting the region to the rest of the country remain blocked. Sit-ins staged by locals are ongoing, hampering the government’s attempts to transport relief supplies to affected residents.
Tackling Power Theft
The federal government has notified a Disco Support Unit comprising officers of intelligence, investigation and law enforcement agencies to curb power theft in Sindh. The initiative, spanning two years, also aims to improve recoveries and enhance operational efficiency. While this is the first such unit in Sindh, similar programs are already underway in Punjab and Balochistan.
Diverting Blame
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has accused Kabul of trying to shift blame onto Islamabad after Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister alleged Daesh has training centers in Pakistan. Asif has noted that an independent U.N. report has found over 24 terrorist groups are operating in Afghanistan. He has urged the interim Afghanistan government to act to prevent Afghan soil from being used for terrorism.
Banning TikTok
The U.S. is set to ban TikTok from Jan. 19 in accordance with a law signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024. The social media platform’s owner, ByteDance, is attempting to avert the ban through an appeal before the Supreme Court, arguing it is a violation of free speech rights. Under the law, TikTok will be allowed to operate in the U.S. if ByteDance divests from it.