[Current Affairs] September 25,2020 Top Pakistan Current Affairs for PPSC Test Preparation

What’s going on? Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo, and former Prime Minister (PM), Nawaz Sharif, gave his party members an order on Twitter: no one can hold individual, private or delegation-level meetings with Pakistan’s military leadership. PML-N’s leadership has to approve such meetings first, which will be public.

The details: Sharif’s tweet came after army spokesperson, Maj General Babar Iftikhar, claimed that PML-N leader, Mohammad Zubair, talked about Sharif, and Sharif’s daughter, Maryam, during two meetings with Chief of Army Staff, Qamar Bajwa. In response, Zubair insisted that he never approached Bajwa while PML-N was in a tough spot, or to talk about issues regarding Sharif. Zubair also claimed that he has personally known Bajwa for 40+ years, so there is nothing unusual about their meetings.

The context: During an All-Parties Conference (APC) on Sunday, two of the country’s main opposition parties, PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), joined a coalition of other opposition parties to launch an anti-govt movement. The coalition accused PM Imran Khan of failing to govern properly. During the APC, opposition leaders also criticized the army’s alleged involvement in politics, claiming that the military establishment rigged the 2018 election and helped PM Khan’s political party win.

Still need more context: However, a few days before telling the army to mind its own business, several opposition leaders, including PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, reportedly had a meeting with Bajwa, and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief. There are mixed reports about what they talked about. However, PM Khan’s political ally, Sheikh Rashid, insists they discussed politics.

A little history: Pakistan’s army has directly ruled the country for nearly half of its 73-year history. The army reportedly still has control over some aspects of foreign and security policy.

The bottom line: There is reportedly a contradiction in Pakistan’s political landscape. Analysts are wondering why the opposition attended a meeting with the army chief days before condemning the military for its alleged interference in politics. According to journalist and political analyst, Owais Tohid, politicians talk about upholding civilian supremacy, but then look to the army for support. Political analyst, Mosharraf Zaidi, claimed that Pakistan’s political leadership looks to the military for approval.

• Lack of legislation and regulatory enforcement: Existing policies that restrict the advertisement of tobacco are not enforced properly. For example, numerous unregistered or unregulated cigarette brands openly conduct promotional activities, branding, and merchandising in shops. Also, a pack of cigarettes can’t be sold for less than PKR 62.76. However, in many cases, cigarettes are sold for PKR 25 or PKR 30 a pack, making them more affordable for the youth and low-income groups.

• Political influence: According to Dr. Hamid, unregulated cigarette manufacturers have ties to people in key political positions, which is why regulations aren’t enforced.

• Inaccurate reporting: Cigarette producers under-report production. Some barely pay taxes, or none at all.