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Pakistan

"Don't panic!"

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As soon I woke up in the morning, the news dropped like a bomb that the government has increased the prices of petroleum products by Rs12 per liter. Petrol price rose by Rs10.49 to Rs137.79 and diesel by Rs 12.44.

Imran Yaqub Khan Profile Imran Yaqub Khan

In the last one month, the price of petrol has gone up by a total of Rs20, which has really made the people scream. Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan, addressing the inaugural function of Kisan Portal, was saying that imported goods import inflation, the pressure on the rupee is temporary, we have imported wheat, sugar, ghee, we are trying that everything be produced in the country.

During the reporting of this (PM's) speech, I was looking for a phrase, "Don't panic", but despite searching all the newspapers, I couldn't find these words of consolation from the Prime Minister. I was searching for these words because I was nervous. The reason for the panic was the announcement of the Federal Minister of Energy, the announcement of the Utility Stores Corporation and the ticking of the petrol bomb.

Electricity has been increased by Rs39 paise per unit but there is no need to panic. The slab of cheap electricity for the poor has been reduced from 300 units to 200 units, but there is no need to panic. The price of essentials at utility stores has gone up by Rs15-45 but there is no need to panic. Edible oil prices of 5 companies have been increased from Rs14 to Rs110 at utility stores but there is no need to panic. The price of a two kilogram  pack of washing powder has been increased from Rs10 to Rs21 but there is no need to panic. Repeated instructions about hand wash to avoid coronavirus and an increase of up to Rs15 in the price of bath soup and an increase of Rs9 in the price of a 228 ml pack of handwash but do not panic. The poor used to eat bread with pickles and the price of pickles has been increased by more than 200 per cent. The price of three grams of pickles has been increased from Rs20 to Rs44 but there is no need to worry.

The government's own statistics agency says the overall inflation rate has reached 12.66 per cent. Inflation for low-income earners has reached 14.12%. Prices of 22 essential commodities rose in one week. The price of tomato increased by Rs11 per kg, LPG cylinder for domestic use has gone up by more than Rs43, 2.5kg ghee price jumped Rs6.9, while prices of rice, garlic, potato, mutton and Gurr also went up.     

Despite the words "don't panic", there is no moment of relief and it seems that the captain's famous slogan "I will make them cry" was not for political rivals but for the people. The average income of the salaried class in the country is 20,000 to 25,000. What was left of this revenue after paying electricity, gas and water bills, which the government is now bent on squeezing further.

The word squeezing was used because Federal Minister for Energy Hamad Azhar, while announcing the increase in electricity rates, had admitted that the burden of revolving loans is currently being borne by the people mainly due to capacity payments, which are now Rs700 to Rs800 billion. Thus, the confession of the federal minister proved that arrangements are being made to squeeze Rs800 billion from the people.

The working class and a sslaried class were interested in the captain's slogans. Addressing the Kisan Card Portal function, the captain pointed this out, saying the PTI has launched a movement for justice, Allah Almighty especially listens to the voice of the weak and working class. A man in the street is seen seeking justice. Captain sahib what to talk about your slogan of 'Insaaf' you have forced even poor class to beg for food. The rulers should come ourt on the streets without protocols to see the poor queuing up at traffic signals for begging. Poverty and unemployment could be seen among youth standing alongthe banks of the city canal and injecting drugs into their bodies, while young girls could be seen wearing burqas with their hands outstretched.

Rising electricity, oil and gas prices, continouous depriciation of Pak rupee, the collapse of economy sinks, the world's laughter at a "sensitive deployment" are the outcome of change (of government) that came in 2018. Though the Opposition still insist the change didn;t come, but was brought. Whatever the case, the loss is happening to Pakistan and the millions of people living in it. The scourge of inflation has grappled the country so badly that there is not a single household whose expenditure and income have not "changed". People are now fed up with hollow claims of accountability.

While blowing the horn on inflation, mismanagement and unnecessary issues from institutions, is the government realizing that there will be no response? The patience of the people is running out. The opposition is gearing up for the last battle. The government has reached the abyss of its popularity.

Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen also made it clear during a press conference in Washington that inflation wouldn't come down. In such a situation, whatever the government does to entertain the people cannot be stopped in the face of public outrage. The billions of rupees of subsidies and amnesty schemes if were directed towards modernizing the industry, there would be economic activity in the country today and jobs would be created.

If it is to be accepted that the previous governments haven't paid attention to these problems, but question is what have you (PTI) done in these three years? How long will the rulers and governments of the past continue to cover up their incompetence and worthlessness? The time for elections-- the day of reckoning for any government-- is also coming and of course the people are watching and testing everything. You will have to run a knife on your development budget due to the IMF conditions. Are you ready for that too? Treat inflation immediately or the "Tsunami of change" will knock you to the brink of public outrage!

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Pakistan

Faisal Karim claims PTI make new plan similar to May 9 

PTI should talk to politicians.

Published by Qurrat Tul Ain

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Karachi: Pakistan Peoples party’s (PPP) leader Faisal Karim Kundi stated that PTI is pushing the establishment again into politics and making a new plan of another May 9.

According to the details, Faisal Karim Kundi was doing a press conference in Islamabad regarding the PTI’s new strategy towards politics nowadays.

He said that PTI is again doing the politics of hatred. So many voices have raised from PTI and they are under a conflict for the posts.

PPP’s leader also said that PTI had protested on the visit of Chinese president. Being a politician, it is necessary to believe on table talks. PTI should talk to politicians.

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Pakistan

SC issues written decree of encroachment case

The supreme court (SC) Karachi registry has issued written decree of Karachi encroachment case.

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Karachi: The supreme court (SC) Karachi registry has issued written decree of Karachi encroachment case.

According to the details, the SC ordered to remove encroachment from footpath and on roads across the country. It has been ordered to send the copy of written decree to attorney general, all advocate generals and all the official departments.

In this context, an order has been given to Pakistan electronic media regulatory authority (PEMRA) to broadcast a public service message and publish it regarding this matter.  

In accordance with the written decree of SC the federal and provincial governments should be diminished the encroachment within three days.

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Pakistan

Judiciary has to subject to system than individuals, Justice Mansoor

The judge also added that corruption in the judiciary should be completely eradicated.

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Islamabad: Supreme Court judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah Saturday said that the judiciary will have to be subject to the system instead of individuals.

Addressing the Asma Jahangir Conference in Islamabad, he stated that Asma Jahangir has great services for human rights, it is an honor for him to participate in the Conference and will talk about the future today.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah added that our judicial history is not proud, ‘We have to reform our institution,’ it is not even that the judicial system is not working. It is written in the constitution that the judiciary should give easy justice. Some decisions may be bad, 4,000 judges are working daily, 2.4 million cases are pending in Pakistan. From January 2023 to December 2023, 1.39 million cases were given decisions.

It is necessary to resort to technology for the pending cases. If we do not incorporate IT in our system, it will be difficult to deal with 2.4 million, stated the judge.

He said that if I ask a session judge, he cannot tell about the case. We have to take smart technology to the district level, the data about our judiciary in the world is a concern.

He further said: “We have 4,000 cases reported daily in the Supreme Court, 1,000 cases are filed in the lower courts, globally there are 90 judges per one million people, here we have 13 judges per one million people, we need 90,000 judges. The highest budget in Brazil is for the judiciary, the army is second”.

He said that in UK there is one lawyer for 203 people, in Pakistan there is one lawyer for 1000 people. The number of lawyers in Pakistan should increase but the lawyers should be right. The commercial courts are given importance all over the world, we should pay attention to it. A commercial corridor will be built in Pakistan, it will facilitate solving the economic issues.

Mansoor Ali also stated that it is everyone's right to criticize the decisions of the courts. According to the constitution, the judiciary should be completely independent.

The judge also added that corruption in the judiciary should be completely eradicated.

Judge who does not deliver should be removed. There should be zero tolerance on corruption. The case management system is very important, it should not be that any case is set to any judge for hearing, said Mansoor Ali Shah.

He said that in Pakistan there is a strike on anything, there will be a strike if the cricket match is lost, people come to the courts by selling goats and buffaloes.

Justice Mansoor continued that according to the World Bank report, 80% of the cases are postponed, where something happens from the side of the judiciary, the lawyers also delay the cases. Realize what it costs a person to come to court during strike.

He further added that 50% of the population of Pakistan are women, but we are not bringing in women judges, only 562 female judges are there. We have to take important steps for this. Unless there is training, the system cannot work. If we leave training and reforms, the system will not improve.

He also stated that if the justice system is weak then no system will work, a strong justice system will strengthen other institutions as well.

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