Political Crisis: A constitutional crisis has triggered in Pakistan after President Arif Alvi made a shocking revelation that he didn’t sign the Pakistan Army Act Amendment Bill and Official Secret Act Amendment Bill. He made a statement on social media that he had asked his staff to return the bills unsigned within stipulated time to make them in effective.
Pakistan’s Federal Law Ministry had to make a statement and rejected the president’s claim and termed it against the Constitution. According to them under Article 75 of Pakistan’s Constitution, the president has two options, first to sign a bill or reject it, and in case of rejection, he has to mention clear reasons for returning the bills. In second case, if the president does not have two options, a bill becomes a law after time frame of 10 days and Dr Alvi didn’t use any of the options and kept the bills pending, and following the completion of the given timeframe, they automatically became laws. Hours after President Arif Alvi denied singing two pivotal bills, gazette notifications of the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill 2023 and Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2023 becoming law were issued.
The amendments in the secrets act have broadened the powers of intelligence agencies and were opposed by the rival parties and PPP leader Raza Rabbani, who said that he could not support any such laws. The bill recommends up to a two-year jail sentence and fine for those involved in defaming the military, adding that those using electronic channels for this purpose would be tried under electronic crime.
Key members of the caretaker government expressed serious concerns over startling revelations made by President Dr Arif Alvi about the approval of contentious legislation giving almost blanket power to intelligence agencies. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have demanded of President Arif Alvi to resign. The legal team of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has also sought ‘suo-moto’ action by the supreme court of Pakistan to ascertain against those committed alleged fraud with President Dr. Arif Alvi.
(Web Desk, Daily Pakistan; Web Desk, Daily Pakistan, News Desk, The Nation; Shafqat Ali, The Nation; Tahir Niaz, The Nation; Web Desk, Daily Pakistan)
Election Watch: The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Sunday called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to prioritize the principle of population equality in electoral constituencies during the upcoming delimitation exercise. They said in a press release that the 7th Population and Housing Census-2023, necessitates adjustments to constituency boundaries to ensure fair representation for all citizens. ECP has crafted a strategy for the creation of new constituencies throughout Pakistan. These constituencies will be established based on the prevailing seats, utilizing data from the recent digital population census. The current count of seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies will remain unaltered. The constituencies will span from the northern to the southern regions of the country.
(News Desk, The Nation; Web Desk, Bol News)
Social Narratives: On Sunday, all cabinet ministers and the Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi reached Jaranwala to show complete solidarity with the Christian community. All of them sat in the AEC Church in the same coach and participated in the prayer ceremony of the Christian community. Earlier on Saturday, Pakistan’s supreme court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa also visited Jaranwala to review the situation after several churches and Christian homes were vandalized and torched over blasphemy allegations.
(Staff Reporter, The Nation; Web Desk, Daily Pakistan)
Security Concerns: Two years after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, there is growing consensus that the country is again devolving into a hotbed of terrorism activity that is already beginning to affect the region, if not yet capable of reaching the West. Their relationship with Pakistan, their longtime ally and neighbour, looks increasingly fraught. Islamabad is blaming Kabul for a string of deadly attacks in Pakistan’s tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The latest attack, a suicide bombing in Bajaur district in late July, which killed more than 54 people, was claimed by an ISIL (ISIS) affiliate – the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP or ISIS-K). Some of the more damning assessments have come from a United Nations sanctions monitoring team, which warned in a report in June that the Taliban “have not delivered on the counter-terrorism provisions” in the Doha Accords, the agreement that paved the way for the withdrawal of U.S. forces. Instead, the report, based on U.N. member state intelligence, warned that “a range of terrorist groups have greater freedom of maneuver under the Taliban de facto authorities.”
(Abid Hussain, Aljazeera; Jeff Seldin, VOA News)
Afghanistan Situation: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is likely to end the financial running of 25 Afghan hospitals by the end of August because of funding constraints, a spokesperson told Reuters, amid growing concerns over a plunge in aid to Afghanistan. The program’s end comes amid growing concerns over cuts to Afghanistan’s humanitarian aid, two years after the Taliban took over and most other forms of international assistance, which formed the backbone of the economy, were halted. The Geneva-based organization would continue its other Afghanistan health programs, including rehabilitation support for people with disabilities. It was not clear how much was needed to pay for the operations, which fund salaries and other costs at many of Afghanistan’s major hospitals serving millions of people, and if Taliban authorities could cover that amount from the fiscal budget.
Imran Khan vs. State of Pakistan: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan’s transfer to Adiala jail from Attock Jail was further delayed last week due to non-availability of Chief Justice of Pakistan. In the last hearing, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Amir Farooq had sought a report on the reasons for keeping Imran Khan in Attock Jail. In its remarks, the court had said that it should be told based on what Imran Khan was kept in Attock Jail, besides seeking assistance on the request to provide him home food in the jail. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan is interrogating Imran Khan in Attock Jail in a case related to a diplomatic cable that reportedly went missing from his custody.
(Web Desk, Minute Mirror; Staff Reporter, Dawn)
Important update: Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Yasin Malik’s wife Mishal Hussain Malik has been appointed special assistant to Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar. There are four other special assistants along with her. She was assigned the portfolio of human rights and women’s empowerment. JKLF has announced that the organization or Yasin Malik had nothing to do with the appointment of his wife. In 2021, Mushaal Malick had demanded that Pakistan cut off all diplomatic ties with India and nullify the Simla Agreement to show solidarity with the Kashmiri seperatists.
(Tariq Naqash, Dawn; Staff Reporter, Dawn-2021)
Infographic
Estimated nuclear warhead stockpiles, 1945 to 2022. Stockpiles include warheads assigned to military forces, but exclude retired warheads queued for dismantlement.
Deep Analysis
Jonathan Gerstein, a Research Assistant at the Wisconsin Project does a deep analysis of how a procurement network based in Pakistan and the UAE that continues to acquire sensitive goods for Pakistan’s nuclear program, despite trade restrictions.
Sidestepping Sanctions: How a Pakistani Procurement Network Circumvents Trade Restrictions; Wisconsin Project
Bangladesh Dispatch – 21 August 2023
Top Stories from this week
PM Hasina’s visit to South Africa: What does BRICS mean for Bangladesh?
Bangladesh wishes to join the BRICS group of five major emerging economies. Experts, on the other hand, do not see an expansion or common currency occurring anytime soon. Many see Bangladesh’s interest in joining BRICS as an attempt to counteract Western pressure ahead of the general elections. PM Sheikh Hasina is expected to attend the annual summit which is taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa this week. Read more: Dhaka Tribune
Over 200 injured on Sunday as AL-BNP engage in clashes in Habiganj
Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters clashed in Habiganj town, with both sides claiming 100 people were injured. The AL organised a road march to protest the “terror and anarchy of the BNP,” which resulted in a clash when some attacked a temporary BNP office and attempted to attack the home of a BNP leader. To control the situation, police used tear gas and rubber bullets. A clash between BNP activists and police the day before had left 150 people injured. Read more: Daily Star
Dengue cases in Bangladesh reach nearly 100,000 on Sunday
This year, the number of dengue cases in Bangladesh has nearly reached 100,000, with 2,134 new cases reported over Saturday night and 10 deaths in a 24-hour period. Due to an increased number of Aedes mosquitos and prolonged rainfall, experts predict that the dengue outbreak will last until November. To combat the situation, health officials are urged to launch a large-scale anti-mosquito campaign. Read more: Daily Ittefaq
International Outlook
Bangladesh is expected to hold general elections in early 2024, which could be the most important election in the country’s history. The upcoming election has piqued the interest of the entire international community, with various Western powers competing for influence in Dhaka. Following the contentious nature of the 2014 and 2018 general elections, there is concern that the country’s current political climate will not allow for free and fair elections. There is a widespread belief that the outcome of the next election will determine the region’s stability for the foreseeable future.
Relevant Stories
Yao Wen, China’s ambassador to Bangladesh, stated that China will not interfere in the country’s upcoming general election. He stated that the people of Bangladesh will elect their leaders. Read more: bdnews24
A US rights group urged the US government to use more policy tools, such as visa restrictions and sanctions, to pressure Bangladesh to hold a free and fair election in January 2024. Read more: New Age
During a visit this week, US expert Geoffrey Macdonald has said he believes Bangladesh has made progress towards a free and fair election, but more work is needed to build trust in the political process. Read more: Dhaka Tribune
India has informed the US that the manner in which the US is taking various steps to destabilise the Hasina government is not conducive to the overall security of India as a neighbouring country and South Asia as a whole. Read more: Daily Asian Age
National Politics
This week has seen the usual stirrings in the political landscape with the ruling Awami League engaged in constant back and forth with the opposition over whether or not a caretaker government should be formed. The AL remains confident in their ability to hold free elections without any domestic or foreign interference. There have also been rumblings of discontent from within the AL, with certain members perhaps looking to break off from the party and contest in the elections as a separate party. Recent political rallies have seen their fair share of violence across the nation and this may only continue to get worse as the election nears unless an agreement can be made over the electoral process.
Relevant Stories
Anisul Huq, Bangladesh’s Law Minister, stated that the government has zero tolerance for corruption and has taken numerous measures to combat it, including the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the passage of the Money Laundering Prevention Act. Read more: Daily Star
On Tuesday, in Cox’s Bazar, police clashed with a group of people who were holding a prayer for Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee. During the clash, one person was killed and several others were injured. The police have denied opening fire, but the Jamaat claims the man was killed by police. Read more: Prothom Alo
On Wednesday, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the BNP, warned the government not to hold the election without a caretaker government. He stated that the government would not be allowed to do so, and that the people of Bangladesh have awoken and are holding massive anti-government rallies. Read more: Daily Observer
On Thursday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader warned BNP-Jamaat of carrying out terror attacks with fire. He also alleged that BNP wants to wipe out Awami League and that they are the main sponsors of militants. Read more: Daily Manab Zamin
Business and Economy
Since 2008, Bangladesh has done well to transform their economic landscape. They have placed an importance on trade liberalisation and creating a business-friendly environment. At the same time, they have focused on creating strong bilateral ties with other countries, which has led to increased investment from foreign enterprises. The majority of Bangladesh’s workforce is employed in the tertiary sector, which is growing, while the primary sector, including agriculture, is shrinking. Bangladesh has one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Relevant Stories
On Monday it was announced that Bangladesh will receive a $490 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund two projects. The first project will improve rural connectivity by improving rural roads, while the second will improve urban governance and infrastructure. The loans will have a 25-year repayment period with a 5-year grace period. Read more: Business Post
On Tuesday, Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong made a statement in Hanoi about ties between Vietnam and Bangladesh. He stated that the two countries have a long history of cooperation and have maintained close ties in recent years. In the coming years, the two countries hope to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion. They also intend to expand cooperation in areas such as tourism, investment, and education. Read more: Voice of Vietnam
On Wednesday, Bangladesh launched the Universal Pension Scheme (UPS), a social safety net initiative for citizens aged 18 to 50 years. The scheme offers four types of pension plans: Progoti (for private sector employees), Probash (for expatriates), Surokkha (for self-employed persons), and Somota (for the underprivileged). Read more: Business Post
Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports increased by 17.43% year on year in July 2023, reaching $3.95 billion. The BGMEA President, on the other hand, warned that the global economic slowdown could have an impact on RMG exports in the coming months. Read more: The Financial Express
Bangladesh’s export receipts totalled $43 billion in FY23, 22% less than the $55.6 billion in export shipment value. The unrealised export value was twice as high as in FY22 and six times higher than in FY20. Exporters cite buyer payment delays and quality issues while denying any involvement in money laundering. Read more: The Business Standard
Rohingya refugee situation
Last week, in Cox’s Bazar, 34 Rohingyas, mostly children, were rescued from human traffickers. Two suspected drug traffickers were apprehended. The rescued Rohingyas were handed over to the administrations of their respective camps. Read more: Shampratik Deshkal
On Monday, a US Congress delegation visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. They met with UNHCR and US officials, visited the camps, and met with Rohingya community leaders. Read more: bdnews24
On 16th August, foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen revealed that Bangladesh had rejected a US proposal to assimilate Rohingya refugees, claiming that the country is too densely populated and does not require citizens from other countries. According to the foreign minister, the US previously expressed willingness to accept Rohingyas but did not follow through. He stated that the priority is repatriation to Myanmar, which is willing to accept them. Read more: Pakistan Defence
Security Update
On Tuesday, police discovered an extremist hideout in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila and arrested 17 suspects during a raid. They also recovered 5-6 kg of explosives, 14 rounds of bullets, 2 lakhs in cash, and 95 detonators from the hideout. Read more: BDnews24
Ø On August 19, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) apprehended a convicted militant named Mohammad Rasel Rony alias Talukder Shamim from the Dhaka Udyan area of Dhaka District (Dhaka Division). He is also a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI). The suspect was charged with arson and terrorism in a case filed with Haziganj Police Station in Chandpur District (Chittagong Division) in 2014. The suspect apparently went into hiding after receiving bail according to police officials. Read more: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
Opinions and Views
Bangladesh pauses plan to reintroduce tigers in Chittagong Hills
Bangladesh has halted plans to reintroduce tigers to the Chittagong Hill Tracts after a feasibility study revealed that the habitat is unsuitable and there is insufficient prey for the tigers. Once the forests have been restored and the local community has agreed to the plan, the government will consider releasing tigers in the area. Read more: The Third Pole
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the publishers.
