Here’s what’s happening across the border: Nawaz Sharif didn’t apply for parole after wife’s death; and horrifying graffiti appears on girls’ school walls.
Imran visits ISI HQ and heaps praise on it, gets called out for doublespeak
Prime Minister Imran Khan paid a visit to the headquarters of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Wednesday and was received by army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and Lieutenant-General Naveed Mukhtar, director general of the ISI.
During the meeting, Khan said: “ISI is our first line of defence and stands out as the best intelligence agency of the world.”
Imran Khan was given an eight-hour long briefing on matters of strategic intelligence and national security. He reportedly also laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada, the agency’s martyr monument, and offered Fateha (reading of verses from Quran).
Prime Minister Imran Khan visited the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). PM Imran Khan was briefed on the national security.He also laid a floral wreath at the martyrs monument. @ImranKhanPTI #PrimeMinisterImranKhan pic.twitter.com/gekCXcXpdD
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 12, 2018
The prime minister also lauded ISI’s contributions towards securing the country’s security, especially in reference to anti-terrorism efforts. He added that the armed forces and the intelligence agencies had the backing of the government as well as the people of Pakistan.
Govt, people of #Pakistan firmly stand behind their armed forces & intelligence agencies: #PM speaks during his visit to #ISI headquartershttps://t.co/98HLJjsJ8s …@ImranKhanPTI @fawadchaudhry pic.twitter.com/TlI9BNfe7M
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 12, 2018
Soon after his comments, an old video surfaced, which shows Imran attacking the role of ‘agencies’ in running the country. He can be heard accusing agencies of bringing only those to the top who can be controlled, and also levelling charges against these agencies of manipulating elections.
ISI stands out as word’s best intelligence agency: PM Imran Khan.
Wait, what? pic.twitter.com/k3EgDdNS0A
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) September 12, 2018
Nawaz Sharif was reluctant to apply for parole on wife’s death
Jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif left for London late Tuesday after the death of his wife Kulsoom, accompanied by daughter Maryam and her husband Captain Muhammad Safdar Awan (retd), who are also serving a prison term.
The trio left after being granted parole by the government of Punjab.
However, The News reported that Nawaz Sharif was not willing to file a plea for parole to bring back the body.
“Nawaz Sharif refused to sign parole plea and his daughter Maryam Nawaz supported father’s move,” sources close to the matter were quoted as saying.
It was later reported that Nawaz’s brother Shahbaz Sharif then wrote a letter asking for the release of the trio.
Hamid Mir, a well-known journalist, attached a copy of Shahbaz’s letter and the subsequent parole granted by the Punjab government.
Public listed company to fund Diamer-Bhasha dam
Imran Khan’s government is thinking of floating a company, Diamer Bhasha Private Ltd, to raise funds for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams by extending ownership of the company’s shares to the people of the country and overseas Pakistanis, Pakistan Today reported.
Shares will be marketed through the Pakistan Stock Exchange, with the government owning 52 per cent and the rest in the possession of the public.
The PM is also exploring various options through which additional donations can be generated for the dams; a policy will be introduced after all the provinces given their nod.
Sources also added: “Pakistanis will find a reduction in monthly utility bills, while overseas Pakistanis will be given a profit in dollars.”
Horrifying graffiti on school walls in Gilgit-Baltistan
Staying with Diamer, Dawn reported that horrifying graffiti was found on the walls of schools burnt down in the district in the Gilgit-Baltistan region last month.
In all, 14 schools were torched, most of them girls-only, and the graffiti read: “We will not rest until we’ve burned down all the girls schools.”
Locals are said to be deeply disturbed, and are wondering if such incidents will be repeated in future.
There are people around, including Muhammad Jaffar, a volunteer at an NGO, who believe that this is the work of ‘a terrorist group’ and some extremists. Earlier too, a tribal leader and an ex-speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly had voiced a similar opinion on the matter.
Pak military accused of intimidating media
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in its report Wednesday, claimed that even though there was decreased violence reported against journalists in Pakistan, the press continued to be threatened in various ways, Pakistan Today reported.
The CPJ blamed the military for bringing the media under the scanner and said: “The military has quietly but effectively set restrictions on reporting: from barring access to regions… to encouraging self-censorship through direct and indirect methods of intimidation, including … allegedly instigating violence against reporters.”
The military has consistently refuted claims of interference in political and media affairs. Information minister Fawad Chaudhry said till now, no media complaints have been lodged with his ministry, but if any cases were lodged, they would be investigated.
Kulsoom’s death forces Twitterati into reflection
For a country that has lived more than half its life under military rule, Pakistan is familiar with the games its rulers play. Elected governments have come and gone, mostly dismissed by military chiefs. But what happens to the families of these elected leaders, who go through hell?
The death of Nawaz Sharif’s wife Kulsoom while Nawaz and his daughter and son-in-law are in jail has prompted some self-reflection among Pakistan’s Twitterati.
Was Ayub Khan's wife stopped from attending his funeral?
Nusrat Bhutto was.
Was Ali Yahya Khan not allowed to see his father's body before burial?
Benazir was.
Was Musharaf's ill mother denied a chance to see her child?
Kulsoom Nawaz was.Nothing has changed. Nothing.
— Natasha (@OhTripe) September 12, 2018