Pakistan Elections

Pakistan Elections: No Funds, Security Concerns, Political Turmoil

Pakistan has been plagued by a deep socio-political and economic crisis, bringing the country to a near standstill with no visible signs of a turnaround.

Now, credit rating agency Moody’s fresh assessment has brought more distressing news for Islamabad that the country could default anytime.

This is another disappointment in the grim list of successive setbacks for Pakistan, which is already struggling to contain the fallouts of extended political turmoil, a weakening security situation and an unprecedented economic crisis that has taken a severe toll on the common people’s wallets.

The IMF, in declining to assist Pakistan by rejecting a loan request, dealt it the most crushing blow.

“It is very unlikely that this programme is going to be revived. But even if it is revived, it doesn’t really pull Pakistan out of the mess in which it is,” said Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, Observers Research Foundation.

Even Pakistan’s sole and solid supporter, China’s assistance is not enough to undo, correct or improve the situation.

“What they keep on boasting about getting from China is all in terms of loans on extremely exorbitant conditions. They keep on saying the loans are on subsidized rates but an overwhelming proportion of the loans are actually commercial loans. They are not government-to-government loans. So, they are going to impose increasing burdens of debt,” said Ajay Sahni, executive director, South Asia Terrorism Portal.

Pakistan announced one of its most anticipated budgets earlier this month. The budget was the final opportunity for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government to appeal to the public before the country goes to the polls later this year. It was also imperative for the government to incorporate measures aimed at bringing the ailing economy back on track. The IMF conditions were to be met, so some structural reforms were expected.

However, the budget presented a stark contrast. Neither did it satisfy the common Pakistan citizen nor the global lender.

Sushant Sareen, a senior fellow from Observers Research Foundation said given the mood of the IMF and the international financial markets, he did not think anybody is ready to cut any slack for Pakistan right now, unless, of course, some major geopolitical event takes place, like what has happened in the past.

Whether it was 9/11 or the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, earlier, something at a mega scale takes place where Pakistan once again becomes a player in the international system, otherwise it’s a marginal country. It only has nuisance value because of its nuclear weapons.

In what experts believe could have been a better target with tight spending measures, Pakistan has set a fiscal deficit target of 6.54 per cent, slightly lower than the current deficit of 7 per cent. In addition to this, Pakistan increased subsidies and gave an unexpected salary hike to government employees- leaving the IMF dissatisfied and the informal and private sectors furious.

“We were hoping that there would be some relief for the poor but there is no relief for the poor. They have increased salaries of government servants but the common man will remain reeling under the skyrocketing prices,” said Mohammad Ramzan, a roadside vendor from Karachi.

Civil servants in Pakistan will get a 35 per cent hike, and state pensions will be 17 per cent higher. Pakistan entered into a deal in 2019, according to which, the IMF was supposed to give 6.5 billion USD to Pakistan, out of this, 1.1 billion USD is still undisbursed. This deal will expire at the end of June. Pakistan’s crumbling situation is screaming for this tranche of the bailout.

Sareen said the IMF is quite miffed with what has been presented because there is no reform, and there is no effort to put things right. In fact, they are spending money which they don’t have. The situation is so grim that they are now taking loans to even service their debt and that is an untenable situation.

The recently released budget doesn’t seem to satisfy the IMF. Cash-strapped Pakistan will spend 50.4 billion USD, of which 50 per cent of which is USD 25 billion, will be on debt service. 13 per cent of which, 6 billion USD, has been allocated to Defence. Pakistan is facing a balance of payment crisis. Its currency has plunged into a downward spiral; the dollar reserves are dwindling, there is an energy crisis, and inflation is skyrocketing. However, the government seems to have different priorities altogether.

The country’s economy, which was struggling for months, is now facing another major challenge as the protracted political war between the government and Imran Khan, which has already taken a massive socioeconomic and political toll on the country, is not seemingly ceasing anytime soon.

The ‘tragicomedy’ storyline of Pakistan is also featuring upcoming elections. The more pressing question here is: Can Pakistan even bear the burden of holding elections?

The critics say the country has no choice but to proceed with the scheduled elections. Abandoning this plan will do nothing to disavow the notion that civilian authorities are operating under the influence of the army.

The present security situation of the country has only compounded worries for Pakistan. Unabated militant attacks have claimed several Pakistani security personnel’s lives and little has been done to prevent any such future attacks. The government’s ineffective policies coupled with the growth of new rebel forces have contributed to Pakistan’s worsening security situation.

Despite claims of robust counterterrorism measures, militants continue to carry out attacks with impunity. The IMF has criticised the budgeting of the bankrupt economy as insufficient to accomplish the goals of its bailout program. This signals that the IMF may not give the last tranche to Pakistan.

The current government seems to be targeting in the dark. With Pakistan’s existing problems and the complex political economy, the produced budget is a meaningless document. (ANI)

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MoS Nityanand's Security

MoS Nityanand’s Security Upgraded To ‘Z’ Category

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has upgraded the security of Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai to ‘Z’ category for all India level, sources said on Tuesday.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be providing round-the-clock security cover to the minister at his residence as well as during his travel to other states across the country.
Earlier, the CRPF used to provide Rai ‘Z’ category security during his stay and travel in West Bengal. Rai was provided a ‘Z’ category CRPF security cover during the West Bengal polls in 2021 when he was given charge of central observer for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal.

Besides West Bengal, Rai was being given state protection in other states so far.

The security of the MoS was upgraded following a recent Intelligence Bureau report and threat assessment.

The armed squad has taken over the task after the MHA directed the CRPF VIP security wing to ensure protection for the 57-year-old politician.

The armed personnel, about eight to ten working in shifts, will escort Rai whenever he moves across the country. (ANI)

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Shinde on ram mandir

Shinde’s Security Beefed Up Amid Death Threat

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s security has been beefed up following inputs about a threat to his life.

“I don’t pay attention to it.” Our home department and home minister, Devendra Fadanavis, are capable and we trust them. I won’t be scared of such threats. Nobody can stop me from working for the public. I will continue to work for them, “said Shinde.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday instructed police officials to tighten up Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s security in the wake of repeated threats to the latter, said sources.

Fadnavis also asked the Director General of Police (DGP), Mumbai Commissioners of Police (CP), and Intelligence Commissioner to put a high-level team to find out the culprit.

“Maharashtra Deputy CM gave instructions to tighten up CM Eknath Shinde’s security and asked DGP, CP Mumbai, and commissioner intelligence to put a high-level team to find out the culprit in the wake of repeated threats to the CM,” informed Maharashtra Home Department sources. (ANI)

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Samajwadi

Samajwadi Takes Out March Against UP Govt, Security Tight In Lucknow

A large number of security personnel were deployed at the State Assembly as Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday held a protest march against the UP government, raising various demands.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and many party legislators and leaders led the march from the party office to Vidhan Sabha highlighting issues in the state before the Monsoon Session of the state legislature commenced today.

“We have come here to protest on the various issues of public interest. This is our constitutional right, but the BJP is not letting the legislators go to the assembly,” said a party leader.

Hitting back at the protest led by Akhilesh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prashad Maurya said that the march is not related to the benefit of the common people.

“SP’s protest is not related to the benefit of the common people. If they want to discuss this, they are free to do it in the Assembly. Our government is ready for discussions. Such protests will only create problems for people,” Maurya said.

Maurya also took a jibe at Samajwadi and said that the party is jobless now and they have nothing to do.

Massive security deployment in Lucknow had been done in view of the march.

“They had not taken permission.” Still, they were assigned a designated route which would not have caused traffic congestion. They refused to take that. We have no option but to stop them here. If they take the designated route, there would not be a problem,” Joint Commissioner of Police, Law and Order Piyush Mordia said. (ANI)

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Queen's Funeral

Queen’s Funeral Security To Cost Rs 59 Cr INR

More than USD 7 million (around INR 59 crores) will be shelled out to beef up the security for the Queen’s funeral on September 19.

According to New York Post, protecting Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will be the most expensive single-day operation in UK history, costing over USD 7.5 million.
To secure the unprecedented number of foreign leaders, who are expected at the funeral on Monday, the British Mi5 and Mi6 intelligence agencies, London’s Metropolitan Police, and the Secret Service will work together.

“This is the biggest policing operation that the United Kingdom policing has ever undertaken,” New York Post quoted Simon Morgan, a former Royal security officer, as saying.

“When you look at the other events, they were big — the Prince and Prince of Wales’ wedding in 2011 was the biggest — but in comparison to this, you can’t compare it,” he said.

William and Kate’s 2011 wedding had heavy police deployment. According to New York Post, Police costs for the 2011 wedding were an estimated USD 7.2 million.

London will be covered with heavy security — from marksmen and observers perched on rooftops and observation points, to police dispersed among the crowd — with police and intelligence officers anticipating a “substantial threat of terrorism,” Morgan said.

The online new portal reports that parts of the city are already cordoned off and it’s likely that more streets will shut down ahead of the funeral.

Despite the fact that 750,000 people are expected to attend the funeral — considerably more than at Will and Kate’s wedding — Morgan, who currently oversees the London-based, private international security company Trojan Consultancy, predicted that London will essentially “shut down” for the late Queen’s memorial.

New York Post further reports that extremist environmental activist groups like Extinction Rebellion, which has been organizing large-scale protests across England with the intention of obstructing daily life, are being closely monitored by British authorities.

Royal protection has also been given to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who lost their right to taxpayer-funded security when they quit their royal duties.

Most dignitaries planning to attend will likely take shared buses, but some, like President Biden, will make their own arrangements. (ANI)

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