PECA Protests
The Joint Action Committee representing various media bodies has announced nationwide protests today (Tuesday) against controversial amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. The JAC has also vowed to challenge the legislation in court and announced it will seek the support of civil society, human rights bodies, lawyers and politicians for a joint struggle.
PTI-Government Talks
The PTI has made clear it will not attend the fourth round of talks with the government, set to take place today (Tuesday). In response, PMLN Senator Irfan Siddiqui has warned that if the opposition party does not participate, the talks will be wrapped up and the ruling coalition’s negotiating committee dissolved. The government has indicated it has concessions to offer the PTI if it continues the dialogue process.
State of Economy
A report issued by the Finance Division states GDP has grown by 2.5% in the first half of the ongoing fiscal year, crediting sound macroeconomic management, effective inflation control, and improved fiscal and external account stability. The report also states the central bank’s foreign exchange reserves are sufficient to cover more than two months of imports.
Threat Alert
The London Metropolitan Police have warned of a “serious threat” of violent attack from unidentified individuals to family members of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The police have shared the threat alert with the Sharif family and urged them to stay vigilant and exercise caution in their movements. Authorities have also assured the family they are working to counter the threat.
Pak-China Ties
The Foreign Office has rejected “baseless and unfounded allegations” targeting Pak-China ties, reiterating Islamabad’s commitment to the “One China” policy. The clarification follows reports on social media and Indian media outlets claiming Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi attended an event in Washington organized by a group campaigning against China’s ruling Communist Party.
Blasphemy Convictions
A court in Rawalpindi has sentenced four men to death for allegedly posting blasphemous content online. A prosecution lawyer has claimed the offense was allegedly proven with forensic evidence from devices used by the convicts. The families of the men have vowed to challenge the verdict and urged the government to investigate the growing number of online blasphemy cases.
Easing Restrictions
The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has permitted Afghan women to pursue higher education in Pakistan—provided the country also grants visas to their male guardians to accompany their charges. According to Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan approximately 21,000 Afghan students, including over 5,000 women, have applied for the upcoming academic sessions under a scholarship program.
Seeking Relief
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra, have challenged their conviction in the £190 million corruption case before the Islamabad High Court. The appeal argues the ruling lacks credible evidence and suffers from procedural lapses, accusing NAB of withholding crucial evidence. An accountability court sentenced Khan to 14 years’ imprisonment and his wife 7 years in the case.
Public Disbelief
A survey conducted by Gallup Pakistan has revealed that 64 percent of Pakistanis do not believe inflation has declined, as indicated by official data. The findings represent the prevailing confusion about inflation among the general public, most of which believes a decline in inflation results in lower prices rather than a slowdown in the pace of price hikes.
Slashing Interest Rate
The State Bank of Pakistan has slashed the interest rate by 100 basis points, reducing it from 13 to 12%. The sixth consecutive cut to the basis policy rate since June 2024 has seen it decline from a peak of 22%. In a statement, the central bank has said it is maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance as it expects inflation to inch upwards after January.