The fragile state

Pakistan has been suffering from economic, political, and security challenges. The mounting insecurity and recent terrorist attacks that killed a number of security forces, have painted a grim picture ahead of general elections expected in October. No one can also deny the prospect of military interference that looms large.

Pakistan started the New Year “2023” with so many difficulties. The government that took over in April 2022 is finding it difficult to calm domestic politics and rescue the economy. It also failed miserably in the security arena. The incumbent government also failed to chalk out a clear foreign policy and bolster national security to help secure the nuclear South Asian nation of over 230 million populations.

The country’s new army chief just assumed the powerful post, and it is not clear how he might influence the course of events. The former army chief reiterated after six years, where many people accused him of incompetence that turned Pakistan into political instability.

Meanwhile, the former Prime Minister Imran Khan accused the army establishment of interfering to topple his government, where he called it a foreign conspiracy as well.

Ex-premier Khan is calm after Fawad’s arrest

Former PM, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday said that if the “state and cabal of crooks think they can create an environment of fear and terrify us into submission, they have got it all wrong.”

Khan’s comments come a day after PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, and a former federal minister was arrested from his Lahore residence in the wee hours of Wednesday after he publicly threatened the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and their families in a media talk a day earlier.

In a Twitter post, Khan said that the treatment being “meted out to Fawad Ch – being abducted, treated like a terrorist, given physical remand on a sham FIR – shows all that is wrong with Pakistan today.”

“There is no justice, just law of the jungle. If the State and cabal of crooks think they can create an environment of fear and terrify us into submission, they have got it all wrong,” he added.

Khan furthered, “People are more determined to stand up against this fascism and my Party and I are more resolute than ever before to fight against these fascist forces for democracy, rule of law and justice for our people.”

Fawad should be behind bar earlier

Ex-Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, without naming Fawad Chaudhry, said had the former federal minister been arrested earlier, it would have been more “favorable”.

“Imran Khan’s close aides struck at the roots of the PTI. One out of four or five people, who are close to Khan, has been arrested. Things would be better if he was arrested earlier,” Elahi said Thursday during his address at an event in Lahore according to The News.

Chaudhry was arrested and taken to Islamabad, where the capital’s police were granted a two-day remand of the PTI leader in the sedition case. His arrest also drew strong criticism.

However, hours after making remarks about PTI’s incarcerated leader, Elahi took a U-turn and tendered an apology for his statement during the event.

“We have long standing family terms with Fawad,” he said in a statement, adding that his recent remarks hurt the sentiments of his family and for it, he apologizes.

The new documentary

In a new documentary “Behind Closed Doors” ex-Primer Khan beside politics wrangling said that western nations are benefiting from corruption across Asia and that’s why they don’t have intention to stop corruption. Khan claimed that the West is “benefiting from money stolen from our countries.” The documentary will be coming out next month.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan

Khan voted out of confidence last April in what he believes was a US-orchestrated plot. He also survived an assassination attempt.

His testimony on corruption is the centerpiece of Behind Closed Doors, a daring new film by independent director Michael Oswald and producer Murtaza Mehdi.

Oswald is known for his previous work on tax havens, The Spider’s Web: Britain’s Second Empire.

“They are benefiting from billions of dollars which flow into their properties and their businesses stolen from this country,” Khan said according to Declassified UK.

“So, what incentive would they have? We are the ones who suffer, and this is the dilemma…this is the big problem which the entire developing world is facing.”

Khan was replaced by Shehbaz Sharif, who has been accused of embezzling funds to purchase a property in London. However, Shehbaz’s family denied the allegation.

Sluggish economy

Pakistan has so far failed to fulfill IMF conditions. Meanwhile, a $13 billion loan from Saudi Arabia and China has yet to materialize. Even if Pakistan gets the money, it will only add to the country’s $130 billion debt in a country with only a $376 billion economy in 2022.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has a plan to go for another $10 billion in debt to China with a significant upgrade of the national railway.

Pakistan has seen the economic growth by 2 percent in 2022, and its foreign reserves now stand at a perilously low of less than $6 billion. This money is not enough to cover even one month of imports.

The major setback was the extensive flooding in 2022 that killed 1,700 people and left billions of dollars in damage. Over 30 million people were displaced from their homes and also the flooding devastated agriculture and industrial park activities. Several industries have been forced to shut down after being unable to get access to electricity and natural gas. Pakistan has been considering a $16 billion flood-relief package from international donors.

It will be a great catastrophe for the country if the government fails to improve its economy before the next general election, and in that case, the incumbent government will be blameworthy for all the miseries.