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Pakistan

No choices, no options

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After an American intelligence report stated that Saudi Prince Mohammad Bin Salman was directly involved in the murder of Washington Post columnist and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the US State Department placed restrictions and travel bans on 76 individuals belonging to the desert kingdom.

Tahir Malik Profile Tahir Malik

They were responsible for the murder, the State Department said.

Pakistan, however, immediately rejected the report and stood by its old ally.

Questions are being asked now, whether standing by Saudi Arabia instead of the only super power in the world, was a wise thing to do.

There are no permanent friends nor permanent enemies in the world of International Relations. Permanence is granted only to benefits. In our foreign policy, money, whether in the form of foreign aid or in the form of remittances, constitutes a very important cornerstone. Pakistan’s Achilles heel, if you will.

During the past 7 months, remittances have been rising steadily, now averaging about $2 billion monthly or more. From July last year till January, a record increase of 24.9% saw the amount reach $14.2 billion.

Approximately 60% of this amount is sent from Gulf countries, mainly Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Between July and December 2020, the country received $4 billion from the former and $3 billion from the later. A combined $1.2 billion came from the other gulf countries. One of the reason for this increase is the preference for banking channels instead of hundi. “Roshan Digital Accounts” have made it easy for the   diaspora to send money back home. I am happy that in just six months, over 86000 accounts were opened and $550 million made their way over to our banks.

More than 9 million Pakistanis are settled or working abroad. If just half of them open these accounts, then a sizable amount will start pouring in, providing much needed stability to our foreign reserves.

Perhaps it is now easier for the reader to understand why Pakistan stood by Saudi Arabia. Its not just about the brotherly or friendly relations between two Islamic countries but also the much needed foreign reserves. At no cost whatsoever, will Pakistan spoil its equation with the desert kingdom. Especially not now when it is going through a particularly rough patch. Loans from fleecing international organisations such as IMF and ADB have become a given; we just cannot survive without them.

Just recently, Pakistan revived the IMF program of $6 billion, implementing harsh conditions which were a prerequisite for the loan. Foreign loans have now reached the sum of $113 billion.

Can we afford to oppose Saudi Arabia? Do we have a choice here? No. Not in such a severe financial crunch. 

Tahir Malik

Tahir Malik is a seasoned journalist and analyst at GNN

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Election commission Sindh issues final list for senate elections

On women’s two seats between three candidates will be competing for senate elections.

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Karachi: The election commission Sindh has issued the final list of candidates for senate elections.

According to the details, in senate from Sindh 11 candidates will be contesting on seven general seats. In province, Pakistan Peoples party’s (PPP) six, four independent and Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) one candidates will be taking part in senate elections.

Former minister Faisal Vawda will be contesting on general seat as an independent candidate. On women’s two seats between three candidates will be competing for senate elections.

Two women candidates belonged to PPP whereas one is an independent candidate. In technocrat’s four candidates, two belonged to PPP while two are independent candidates.

On minority seat, PPP’s Ponjumil and independent candidate Bhagwan Das will be competing each other.    

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ECP reserves verdict on plea of recounting in NA-70  

He said that Hamid Raza’s 13,000 lead has been changed into defeat.

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Islamabad: Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved verdict on plea of recounting in NA-70 the constituency of national assembly.

According to the details, a three-member commission headed by chief election commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the case.

Member election commission Ikram Ullah Khan inquired that if Hamid Raza was arrested then how he submitted the plea to returning officer (RO) in person at 2am.

Hamid Raza’s lawyer stated that in accordance with the form-45, Hamid Raza got victory in NA-70 and police apprehended him from RO’s office while he was going to polling station. During that moment, form-40 was issued.

He said that Hamid Raza’s 13,000 lead has been changed into defeat.

On this chief election commissioner remarked that you have wrote in the plea that Hamid Raza was standing outside the RO’s office whole night on February 8 and now you are saying that Hamid Raza was apprehended by the police.

However, the ECP reserved the verdict on plea of recounting in NA-70.       

 

 

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ECP issues decision to postpone senate elections in KP

ECP said that to cast vote is the basic right of everyone.

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Islamabad: The election commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued verdict to postpone senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

According to the details, ECP issued verdict to postpone the senate elections in KP on the matter of oath on reserve seats of KP assembly.

ECP stated in the verdict that if speaker KP assembly would not have obeyed the court orders then we will be helpless to postpone the senate elections to the extent of KP.

ECP said that to cast vote is the basic right of everyone. No voter can be deprived from casting vote in any case.

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