Here’s what’s happening across the border: Pakistan in a fix after using China trade finance to pay off loans, and media pay mess has SC seething.
Former CJP Chaudhry to file case against Imran for allegedly fathering a ‘love child’
Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has accused PTI chief Imran Khan of “lying about fathering a love child”, saying he will use the fact to challenge his eligibility to hold public office in court, reported The Express Tribune.
Chaudhry, now a politician himself, claimed to have documents to prove that Imran Khan, one of the aspirants to the PM’s chair, had “admitted to being the father of Tyrian White while abroad, but denies the same in Pakistan”. Tyrian is said to have been born of an affair the former cricketer had in the 1980s with the late British socialite and heiress Sita White.
In an interview with a news channel, Chaudhry said, “Khan has mentioned his sons (with ex-wife Jemima Khan) in his nomination papers but made no mention of his daughter.”
He also said there was a provision in law where politicians could be disqualified for dishonesty.
Pakistan uses Chinese funds to pay back loan
Pakistan has used Chinese trade finance to repay over $1 billion in foreign debt, leaving the foreign ministry struggling to find another way to finance the current account deficit to prevent the foreign currency reserves from falling further, The Express Tribune reported Sunday. Sources claim that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has exhausted $750 million out of the $ 1.5 billion additional trade financing facility available under the China-Pakistan currency swap arrangement.
Pakistan’s decision to use the finance facility will have a direct impact on reserves as it will have to return the loan in Chinese currency after three years, and will have to use dollars it holds to buy Chinese Yuan. It will be an expensive affair, as Pakistan will have to pay a higher markup.
A report published last month by Pakistan Today mentioned that Pakistan faces its highest debt distress from the Chinese-funded Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the country’s track record isn’t very good and China’s interest rates are relatively high. Earlier this year, the US government had cut down heavily on its foreign aid to Pakistan.
No gatherings and demonstrations in south Waziristan for a month: DM
The district magistrate (DM) for south Waziristan has barred rallies, gatherings and processions in the area for a month in the area, unless carried out with the approval of the district administration, reported the Dawn. Issued on 9 June, the order cites some alleged “anti-state rallies being arranged in the area”.
It comes days after the political administration in north Waziristan accused Mohsin Dawar, a leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, of “acting in a manner prejudicial to public peace and tranquility”.
Pashtuns have conducted several agitations of late against alleged state and military atrocities against the community during the country’s drive against militants.
Pashtun Tahafuz Movement brass file nomination papers as independents
Two senior leaders of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, have filed nomination papers as independent candidates for the upcoming general election, reported Pakistan Today. They seek to represent constituencies in the terror-struck south and north Waziristan in the national assembly.
Dawar and Wazir are contesting as independents as the PTM continues to be an apolitical non-parliamentary movement with the aim of providing Pashtuns their long-denied rights.
PTM founder Manzoor Pashteen had earlier said the organisation would not be used for political objectives. However, this does not translate to a ban on members from contesting, as political representation is expected to help raise the Pashtun cause in parliament.
Media owners summoned over unpaid scribes
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has summoned media owners, in their personal capacity, on 11 June to explain the non-payment of salaries to their journalists, reported The News on Sunday (TNS).
At an earlier hearing, in April, the court had warned the owners with the shutdown of their channels if salaries weren’t released in 15 days.
Electronic Media Reporters Association president Muhammad Asif Butt had earlier informed the court that media houses were, in fact, laying off journalists who demanded their salary.
The apex court consequently suspended the dismissals, and said, “Beg or borrow, but pay the journalists their salaries,” The Express Tribune reported.
Javed Sheikh says Bollywood may have banned Pakistani actors because of their ‘insecurity’
Veteran Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh, who has acted in many Bollywood films like Namastey London and Om Shanti Om, has told The Express Tribune that India’s ban on actors and singers from the country “probably” stemmed from their “insecurity”.
“I don’t understand why they’ve placed a ban on Pakistani actors. Film-makers in India love working with us but this ban has been enforced upon them as well,” he said. He further added, “I think our actors had started making a name there and perhaps that gave birth to some insecurity as well.”
The ban was imposed by The Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association of India in 2016, after the 18 September Uri attack in which 19 soldiers were killed.
Contributors: Sharanya Munsi, Priyamvada Grover, Prateek Gupta, Alind Chauhan, Manisha Mondal and Hansa Kapoor.