Here’s what’s happening across the border: Pashtun rights activist Hayat Preghal to be released on bail; Terror financing watchdog FATF to visit Pakistan in October.
Now, ex-PM might be tried for treason
After Dawn journalist Cyril Almeida, former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has been accused of treason for his comments on the Army, reports SAMAA TV.
As per the report, the ruling Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly against Abbasi for his statement against the army in an exclusive interview with SAMAA TV on 22 September. Abbasi had claimed that the army has been secretly interfering in the country’s politics.
The PTI, in its resolution, claimed that Abbasi’s remarks gave the Indian media an opportunity to malign the Pakistani army.
According to the report, the resolution asked for barring Abbasi from holding public office for life.
Pashtun rights activist Hayat Preghal to be released on bail
Islamic High Court (IHC) Wednesday granted bail to the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) activist Hayat Preghal but imposed an Rs 1 million surety bond, reported The Dawn.
A single-member bench comprising Justice Amir Farooq, however, instructed the country’s interior ministry to place Preghal on the exit control list (people on this government-maintained list cannot leave the country) and also keep an eye on his social media activities.
The judge added that if he was found to put up content online against national interest, a petition for cancelling his bail could be moved against him. Preghal had been arrested for posting content online, allegedly critical of the government.
PTM leader and a member of the National Assembly, Mohsin Dawar, tweeted Wednesday thanking Amnesty International for its efforts in demanding justice for Preghal.
Islamabad High Court has finally ordered to release #HayatPreghal on Bail. We are extremely thankful to @amnesty @Rabail26 and all other friends who have supported us in his case.
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) September 26, 2018
Amnesty International had tweeted Tuesday urging Pakistani authorities to release Preghal.
We call for the immediate & unconditional release of human rights defender Muhammad Hayat Khan Preghal, a prisoner of conscience who has been detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression by Pakistani authorities. #Pakistanhttps://t.co/ajKGruWkhY
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) September 24, 2018
Interesting tweets of the day
Last week, the ministry of information and broadcasting planned to shift the Pakistan Broadcasting Company’s (PBC) headquarters to H-9 territory of Islamabad. IT, however, backed down after repeated protests by the Radio Pakistan staffers.
A media watchdog Twitter handle now claims that the PTI government was allegedly planning to lease out the building to Imran Khan’s friend and donor, Zafar Siddiqui, the owner of media house SAMAA TV.
Protest by Radio Pakistan employees works. PTI govt not to lease out building of Radio Pakistan to Imran Khan’s friend and donor Zafar Siddiqui, owner of SAMAA TV. Senator Faisal Javed was lobbying for him and risked lives of hundreds of employees pic.twitter.com/zjvVbQHJG1
— Pakistan Media Watch (@PakPressWatch) September 26, 2018
The Imran Khan government has formed a content committee that would grant approval for government advertisements appearing in print and electronic media.
Journalist Omar R. Quraishi tweeted, quoting the All Pakistan Newspapers Society as having said that the move was a “surgical strike that will perish” the independence of media in Pakistan.
We consider this [formation of a committee headed by the Info Minister to vet govt ads distribution] as a surgical strike which would perish the independence and viability of media and would be used as a lever to curb press freedom in the country: All Pakistan Newspapers Society
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) September 27, 2018
FATF delegation set to visit Pakistan in October
A delegation from Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other world threats, is set to visit Pakistan next month, The Nation has reported.
Officials from the policy board of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) have been summoned for a meeting Thursday to address concerns ahead of the visit. The meeting will be headed by the country’s finance secretary and a nine-point agenda will be tabled for discussion.
In a FATF meeting held in Paris earlier this June, Pakistan was placed on the ‘grey list’ of countries that provide financial assistance to terror outfits and similar groups or their activities. A FATF delegation had visited the country last month as well but finance minister Asad Umar cleared that this was not in relation to the grey list but was about: “27 deficiencies have been identified by the FATF having to deal with currency smuggling, hawala and terror financing of proscribed organisations”.
IK intervenes in issues regarding Dasu dam project, calls for an end to delays
Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday gave instructions to officials of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at a meeting to resolve the outstanding issue of land acquisition related to the Dasu hydroelectric dam project with immediate effect, reported The Express Tribune.
“Issues must be resolved on a priority basis in consultation with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government after taking into account legitimate demands of the affectees,” he was quoted as saying.
His personal intervention in the matter has come after World Bank cautioned against a hike in the cost of the $4.3 billion project if there was further delay. The international financing body has already sanctioned a loan of $588.4 million for the project.
It was former prime minister Nawaz Sharif who had inaugurated the 2,160 megawatt project back in June 2014 but authorities concerned have not completed the required task of settling matters on land acquisition since then.