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Pakistan

What do the people want?

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Two and a half years have gone past since the day the current government took charge. What has been Prime Minister Imran Khan's mission in this time?

Tahir Malik Profile Tahir Malik

As per him, the biggest success and reason for the installation of his government was the return of looted wealth of his opponents Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari. This is what he has insisted he will do along with his mantra of not granting NRO and holding corrupt people accountable.

Whenever they were asked about the problems faced by the common man, both Imran Khan and his cabinet blamed former governments for inflation, poverty and joblessness.

What does the majority of the ruling party, the Prime Minister and his ministers want? The return of looted wealth. This much we understand.

But what do the people want, has anyone paid attention to this?

Has any of the powerful people in power even tried to asses how satisfied the common man is with their narrative? For me, the truth is different.

Yes, the people of Pakistan are against corruption. But what they really want is an improvement in their social and economic circumstances. They want an end to poverty, to joblessness and a reduction in inflation.

PTI's biggest failures are in stark contrast to these demands. Where as about 10 million jobs were ill affected in 2018, by now this number has reached 25 million. Per capita income has dropped by 6.1 percent. GDP has fallen by 16 percent. 2018's GDP of $315 billion now stands at $264 billion. Rupee depreciated by almost 45 percent, opening floodgates to crippling inflation. Wheat flour rose from Rs. 35 per kilogram to Rs. 70. Sugar went from Rs. 55 per kg to more than Rs. 100. This is record breaking inflation.

One day Imran Khan announces that inflation is falling and the very next day fuel prices are raised. For the first time in history, fuel prices rose six times in two short months. The less said about electricity rate hikes, the better. It has been raised by 15 percent and an equivalent hike is expected. A 16 percent hike in gas bills is under consideration.

Most cruelly, food inflation is hovering at 14 percent. Rising costs have raised production costs. Pakistan is losing its exports to its neighbours who have lesser production costs. This has led to stagnation in local and foreign investment.

Another dubious credit to this government is the incredible fall in cotton production rates. Now, along with sugar and wheat, Pakistan will import cotton too. What a tragedy for an agricultural economy.

The story doesn't end here. Corruption had increased too, taking us from 117 down to 120 in 2019 on the index.

The people of the country had wanted an end to corruption, believing it would lead to the end of all their other problems.

But, they were subjected to a cruel joke that continues even now.

The writer is a senior political analyst.

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World

ICJ orders Israel to allow aid to Gaza

The Israeli authorities have not expressed any official reaction regarding the order of the International Court of Justice.

Published by Noor Fatima

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Gaza: The food shortage in Gaza has become very serious. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), working under the United Nations, has ordered Israel to end the blockade of Gaza for the delivery of food.

According to the rack report of the British newspaper The Guardian, the judges of the ICJ pronounced a unanimous decision saying that the Palestinians are in urgent need of food on a large scale.

The court said that immediate and effective measures should be taken in cooperation with the United Nations. The citizens of Gaza are in urgent need of food, fuel and energy.

The International Court of Justice has asked Israel to ensure the immediate delivery of food to the residents of Gaza and to take all necessary measures for this.

Several international organizations have accused Israel of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Israel has condemned the accusation of massacre, saying that its use of force was in self-defense.

According to the resolution approved by the UN Security Council, the ICJ said that Hamas should organize the immediate release of all Israeli hostages.

Israel claims that it is allowing aid to go to Gaza, while officials from the United Nations, the United States and international organizations, as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), have alleged that the Israeli government is hindering the delivery of life-saving aid to people who are in trouble in Gaza, a region with a population of 2.3 million.

Israel says that every shipment of aid to Gaza must be inspected to ensure that Hamas does not take advantage of it. Trucks entering Gaza from Egypt are also searched while Egypt has a friendship and peace agreement with Israel.

Officials responsible for the delivery and distribution of aid supplies say that Israeli authorities deliberately delay inspections and erect unjustified barriers, which prevent timely delivery of aid to the distressed people of Gaza and increase their hardships. Truckloads of aid sometimes have to wait weeks for clearance.

The Israeli authorities have not expressed any official reaction regarding the order of the International Court of Justice.

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Regional

LHC orders to fix plea for hearing against Aun’s victory 

Today (Friday) the court removed the objection of registrar office.

Published by Qurrat Tul Ain

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Lahore: The Lahore High court (LHC) has ordered to fix plea for hearing against the victory of Istehkam Pakistan party’s (IPP) leader Aun Chaudhry from NA-128.

According to the details, justice Faisal Zaman Khan heard the plea as objectional of backed independent candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Salman Akram Raja from NA-128.

Applicant stated that he had approached to election commission against the victory of Aun Chaudhry from NA-128.

Election commission said that file a plea in election tribunal. Election commission had not used his legal jurisdiction.

It is pleaded in the petition that the court discarded the verdict of election commission and issued orders to cancel the notification of victory of Aun Chaudhry from NA-128.   

However, the registrar office imposed an objection on plea. Today (Friday) the court removed the objection of registrar office.

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Crime

Gujranwala: Uncle, aunt torture seven-year-old to death

The police stated that the children's parents are in jail on drug charges.

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Gujranwala: A seven-year-old child died due to the alleged violence of his uncle and aunt.

According to the police, uncle and aunt allegedly severely tortured their young nephews, as a result of which seven-year-old Sultan died and two-year-old Saqlain was injured in Gondlanwala, area of Gujranwala.

The police stated that the children's parents are in jail on drug charges.

When the incident took place, the uncle took the injured child to the hospital and claimed that he was injured in a traffic accident, added police.

According to the police, seeing the nature of the injuries on the child's body, the doctors called the police, while the child could not succumb to the injuries and died in the hospital.

Police continued that a case has been registered and the accused husband and wife have been arrested.

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