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The Million Dollar Question

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The million dollar question everyone is asking is, what the opposition will do next. Other queries arise from the first one, namely, will PDM succee

Imran Yaqub Khan Profile Imran Yaqub Khan

Will Prime Minister Imran Khan be able to finish his five years tenure? Will this country remain a democracy or is another system being prepped up for replacement? Will a new fix be set in place from within the current assemblies? When I sat down to write this column, these questions tormented me, as they do every Pakistani.

First, what will the opposition do next. Rumors abound, of in-house change, of long marches and of resignations. But what is the change that we bandy about in conversations on our television screens and in newspapers? Does it mean a change of government or a change of system? Only two systems have been tried in Pakistan, dictatorship or controlled democracy.

Are conditions currently ripe for dictatorship, a system we have often tried to our detriment? Three factors will be critical in determining that i.e., international reaction, internal situation and economic conditions. The first is easy to predict if one looks at the world’s reaction to the military coup in Myanmar. Aung Saan Suu Kyi’s controlled government was summarily dismissed but the military is now facing the onslaught of global wrath. USA has placed restrictions on all the main characters involved in the coup while other members of the UN’s Human Rights Council have been asked to place similar bans of their own. Although China shot down the American suggestion, it did remark that the situation in Myanmar was not what it should be. So Myanmar finds itself in the unenviable spot where even China refuses to endorse its military takeover. It also faces internal strife, with people revolting on the streets and doctors, engineers, teachers all going on strikes.

Such a misadventure would not find a welcome in Pakistan either. Civil society is stronger than before, and with the Lawyers Movement still fresh in people’s mind, there is awareness that resistance may be difficult but it is not impossible. Neither can any movement be completely blacked out from the public in the age of social media.

As for the economic conditions of the country, well, who will like his or her name to be tarnished in this financial crisis?

It will not be untoward to say that a change of system, then, is out of the question.

So now we come to in-house change. That too comes with its own set of requirement, three to be precise. If those requirements are met, then the ground is indeed fertile for in-house change to take place.

One of those requirements is that rulers become so weak and unpopular that people form within the party revolt against their leaders. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government does not appear to be at that stage yet. He is still the undisputed leader of his party, without whom the party itself may disintegrate.

So what of the umpire’s mood, unfortunately a vital factor in most third world countries? His whim can indeed create the perfect atmosphere for an in-house change but why would he change his bias? He can become 100% unbiased, giving a free hand to both the government and the opposition to play their game as equals. Again, why would the umpire do that?

So now we come to the only possible path left for the opposition, one that co-chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party, former President Asif Ali Zardari has been eyeing since a while now. This path involves assurances to the umpire, that the opposition can not only match but exceed the cooperation being offered by the current government.

If these assurances are offered by the opposition, and trusted by the umpire, then finally we may have a scenario where powerful circles consider a new arrangement instead of a government fast losing its popularity amidst spiraling inflation and an economy in free fall.

Will these assurances be offered, and will the umpire come to trust those that offer them? That is the million dollar question.

This article first appeared in Daily Dunya in Urdu. 

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Regional

Five killed, 18 injured in Mazda-bus collision in Jacobabad

Passenger coach was going from Quetta to Kandhkot

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Jacobabad: A collision between a passenger coach and a Mazda took place in Sindh's district Jacobabad, as a result of which five people were killed and 18 others injured, many of whom are in critical condition.

According to the police, the accident took place near Tuhal grid station and the killed also included three young children, while the injured have been shifted to the relevant hospital for medical assistance.

Police said that women and children are also among the injured, many of whom are in critical condition.

The police further said that the accident happened due to high speed. The passenger coach was going from Quetta to Kandhkot.

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World

Nov 2: Int’l Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

Objective of the UN to observe this day every year is to remember the journalists who were killed

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Lahore: The day for the elimination of crimes against journalists is being celebrated all over the world, including Pakistan on Saturday.

A journalist who raises the voice for the rights of every class is considered the eyes and ears of society. He performs his duties in very difficult and dangerous situations, tolerates violence, and accepts enmities, but often criminals involved in crimes against journalists are not brought to justice.

The objective of the United Nations to observe this day every year is to remember the journalists who were killed or suffered because of telling the truth to the people.

To say that a law has been made to protect journalists in Pakistan, however, despite this, the statistics of crimes against journalists are alarmingly high.

Pakistan is still among the countries that are dangerous for journalists. 150 journalists were killed in Pakistan from the year 2000 to 2022, while only two suspects were convicted.

Freedom Network, a Non-Government Organisation working to protect journalists, has named 2024 as the deadliest year for journalists working in Pakistan, with six journalists killed and 11 assassinated this year.

According to the organization's report, despite the legislation for the protection of journalists at the federal and provincial levels, the governments have not been able to fully implement these laws and journalists consider themselves unsafe.

According to another report, 57 incidents against journalists were recorded between November 2023 and August 2024, out of which 21 were reported in Sindh, 13 in Punjab, 12 in Islamabad, seven in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two in Balochistan.

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Pakistan

CTD Punjab arrest 12 terrorists in operation

Terrorists wanted to spread fear and panic among the people by acting in different places

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Lahore: Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab arrested 12 terrorists during 140 Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) because of terrorism concerns.

According to the CTD spokesman, these operations were carried out in Sargodha, Bhakkar, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, and Jhang. One of Fitna Al-Khawarij from Bhakkar while one of the most dangerous terrorists of Al-Zinbiun from Sargodha was arrested with weapons and explosive materials.

The spokesman said that explosives, seven detonators, seven feet of protective fuse wire, bullets, two IED bombs, mobile phones, banned pamphlets and cash were recovered from the possession of the terrorists.

CTD spokesman said that the terrorists were identified as Nadeem Murtaza, Mohammad Jaber, Asif Iftikhar, Shamsuddin, Ejaz Hussain, Hassan Khan, Shahid Saeed, Farooq Ahmed, etc.

According to the spokesman, the terrorists wanted to spread fear and panic among the people by acting in different places.

The spokesperson of CTD further said that 173 suspects were arrested during 1,318 combing operations this week while 40,952 people were interrogated in these combing operations. CTD is following the goal of safe Punjab and determined to root out the scourge of terrorism.

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