The Complete Magazine for the Region July 2020 www.southasia.com.pk

Asif Ali Zardari Man for all Seasons! He has been through it all. From a care-free life to being the spouse of Pakistan’s Prime Minister – and then keeping the country together after her assassination. Asif Zardari is a man for all seasons!

Special Editorial Feature Petroleum Industry: Deregulate or Bust !

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Cover Story 13 What is the future of PPP?

Editor’s Desk 05 Peace Deal Readers’ Thoughts 06 Bumpy Ride 40 Who Said That! 07 Border Dispute Grapevine 07 Locking Horns 42 News Buzz 08 Opinion Cover Story The Devil in Us 44 PPP’s Leadership Crisis 13 International A Man for All Seasons! 15 Ankara There is a Dilemma 17 Lost Glory 46 The Future 19 Beijing Region Chinese Puzzle 48 Nation’s Saviours New York Centre of Gravity 21 Key Questions 49 Ladakh Brussels Wisdom or Folly? 22 Eye of the Storm 50 Mumbai Features 49 Clueless with Coronavirus 24 Psychology New Delhi The Suicide Bomber 52 Murky Waters 25 The Curve Islamabad Public Health for All 53 55 A Sweet Crisis 27 Air Safety Covid-19 May Day! May Day! 55 Never Too Late 28 Trends BRI-CPEC New Fashion Aesthetics 56 Development Continues 30 Tributes Markets Iqbal Akhund 58 Close Encounters 31 Syed Munawar Hassan 58 Governance Tariq Aziz 58 Into the Darkness 33 Reviews Society Books Towards Utopia 34 Hermes Explains: Thirty Questions Colombo about Western Esotericism 59 Reaping the Whirlwind 35 Pakistan’s Foreign Policy 1947-2019 60 Dhaka TV Serial 56 Disaster Within 36 Dirilis Ertugrul 61 Kabul Now or Never 39 24 27

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 3

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Karma Strikes Back! The BJP win for a second consecutive term in 2019 was a phenom- July, 2020 Vol.24 Issue 7 enal success for Narendra Modi. The junta was looking at him to PRESIDENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF help them get rid of hunger, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy Syed Jawaid Iqbal and other socio-economic evils. In August 2019, the BJP-dominated EDITOR Parliament revoked the Indian-occupied Kashmir’s constitutional Javed Ansari autonomy and split it into two federal territories: Jammu & Kash- CONTRIBUTING EDITOR mir and Ladakh. The unilateral action annoyed both Pakistan and S. G. Jilanee China. Modi followed with a legislation spree that targeted the 20 ASSISTANT EDITORS Faizan Usmani million Muslims of India. Syeda Areeba Rasheed These were the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Citizenship Amendment Special COrrespondent Bill (CAB), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Security Act (NSA). Rafi Khan - UK The legislation was primarily aimed at changing India from a secular to a Hindu state where Muslims would be relegated as second-class citizens. Modi thus revealed himself CONTRIBUTORS as a hardcore member of the RSS rather than the prime minister of India, a constitution- Aadil Nakhoda – Abdul Rasool Syed – Amjad Ali Siyal Asma Nisar – Atif Shamim Syed – Azhar Ali ally secular country and demographically a multi-religious, multi-cultural state. He rep- Cynthia Ritchie – Dr M Ali Hamza resents India’s fast-developing patronizing attitude towards its neighbours. Modi also Dr. Ahmed Saeed Minhas – Dr. Moonis Ahmar expedited the execution of India’s strategic plans in Iran and Afghanistan, primarily to Imran Jan – Khalid Hussain – Khawaja Amer Labbaba Jahangir – Meriam Sabih isolate and destabilise Pakistan by sponsoring terrorism through Afghan soil, fuelling Muhammad Ali Khan – Muhammad Omar Iftikhar an insurgency in Balochistan and sabotaging CPEC. Murtaza Talpur – Nadya Chishty-Mujahid However, karma (fate, destiny) tends to strike back as a result of one’s own actions. Nikhat Sattar – S.G. Jilanee – S.R.H. Hashmi Sabria Chowdhury Balland That started hap- pening earlier Saira Baig – Shahrukh Mehboob – Sophiya Qadeer in May 2020 when the Indian Syed Kamran Hashmi – Taha Kehar defence minister inaugurated the Wajid Shamsul Hasan – Zara Maqbool 80km Darchula- Lipulekh Pass

GRAPHICS & LAYOUT link road, cutting across Kalapani, Haroon Rasheed a disputed bor- der area between Kamran Ghulam Nabi Nepal and India. The Nepal Communist Party, the country’s ruling party, termed the Riaz Masih - Hassan Raza road as a sheer violation of Nepal’s sovereignty as well as a stark example of bullying by its much larger neighbour. In retaliation, an irate Nepalese Parliament approved a new General Manager-Marketing Syed Ovais Akhtar map that included Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, the areas claimed by India. PRODUCTION & COORDINATION The map is indeed a severe blow to India’s overblown geo-strategic interests in the re- Aqam-ud-Din Khan gion. Then the Galwan River Valley of the Ladakh region near the Line of Actual Control CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION (LAC) with China was turned into a graveyard of 20 Indian soldiers who were beaten to Shehryar Zulfiqar death in a border clash with Chinese forces. Showing India its true place, the Chinese also detained 10 Indian soldiers, who were later freed. India’s relations with China, Paki- EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE stan and Nepal may have been on the boil but its government does not get along very 20-C, Lane 12, off Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase II Extension, DHA, Karachi - 75500, Pakistan well with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka either. Quite surprisingly, with all the bad blood Phones: 92-21- 35313821-24 on its borders, India’s years-long diplomatic efforts came to fruition when it recently Fax: 92-21-35313832 became a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a Website: www.southasia.com.pk Email: [email protected] two-year term. India now needs all the more to act with responsibility so that its mem- bership of the UNSC is truly justified. The situation at the LAC is still tense and could

SouthAsia is published every month flare up into another border war between India and China. The Covid-19 pandemic has by Syed Jawaid Iqbal for and on behalf of India really cornered, along with its on-going economic crisis. The 1962 defeat is still JAWZ Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. and printed by fresh in India’s mind as it braces itself for another military hu- Ibn-e-Hasan Offset Printing Press, Karachi. miliation by China. It is a pity for Chanakya’s followers who Views expressed by the contributors are believe in befriending the enemy’s enemy that they are now not necessarily shared by the editors. Published since 1977 as Thirdworld, the magazine was losing their age-old friends next doors. For India, the law of re-launched in 1997 as SouthAsia. karma has come full circle.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal Read our digital edition at: President & Editor in Chief www.southasia.com.pk

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 5 Readers’ TSlughoughts

Social Catastrophe Brave New World

his is regarding the article ‘Biting his is related to your story on the Tthe Hand’ by Sabria Chowdhury Tthe novel coronavirus that has Balland about the plight of garment taken the world by storm. The tittle workers in Bangladesh, especially ‘New World Order’ emphasises the women. With businesses closing due kind of world we now live in - with to the pandemic, many in Bangladesh masks and gloves and sanitizers. are deprived of their basic salaries Easing lockdown protocols and their families are starving. The in many countries, the world workers had already survived hand- has once again stood up to to-mouth and, with not getting bear the brunt of the economic salaries, they have started protesting havoc caused by the pandemic. and ignoring social distancing. For an However, as more people come economy which is heavily dependent out on the streets and start going to jobs, the virus has begun spreading rapidly. Though manyb countries are working to manufacture a vaccine, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the virus is here to stay and that the people have to learn to live with it. Wasay Sheikh, Karachi, Pakistan.

of resources and awareness, they are decisions and encourage them being used by tamers to earn a living. to go that extra mile to fulfil the on its garments manufacturing and In order to end the animals’ miseries, needs keeping in view the extent to export industry, it is surprising that its better laws need to be imposed to which demands can be fulfilled. workers are treated this way in times of rescue and transfer the animals to Betty Cooper, crisis. Shame on you, Sheikh Hasina! countries with better facilities and, for Brighton, England. Mita Haque, that, we all need to work together. Dhaka, Bangladesh. Sachini Bandara, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Gender Bias Justice for Animals here have been a number of debates Learning to Say Ton how we stereotype a man and a his is with reference to the article woman. For a long time, one witnessed T‘A Bear Story’ by Labbaba Jahangir ‘No’ how women were taught to adjust and about the illegal trade of wildlife. compromise in a male-centric world Although animal rights and animal he phrase ‘the customer is always but gone are those days. Now, where welfare movements have improved in Tright’ is long gone. Yes, we must on the one hand, women are acquiring the 21st century, we still see animals satisfy the needs of customers but almost 50% in the corporate sector and being tortured and ill-treated for sometimes their demands are just not balancing both their jobs and home entertainment reasonable. We are taught never to say tremendously, men are cooking, doing purposes in circuses ‘no’ to a customer laundry and taking care of the kids, or individually. The but what we along with doing wonders at their IUCN Red List has don’t realise is workplace. That’s how we all want to described sloth bears that it can even see men and women complementing to be vulnerable and cost the business. each other. We have heard ‘in unity has banned their Learn to say ‘no’ there is strength’; just imagine how trade as they are when customers much we can prosper if we follow among endangered make unusual demands but also, this guideline in our homes as well. species. Despite that, one the other hand, empower Amit Kumar, as a result of lack your employees to make the right New Delhi, India.

6 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Who Said That! GrapevineSlug

Was Islam spread by them through force Happy Nabila and coercion? No. abila is the ultimate fashion icon in Pakistan. They preached Islam NShe is famous for her stylish haircuts and by personal example. her ‘zero makeup’. In fact, she has redefined – Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani fashion with her amazing talent. former President of Pakistan. A strong personality, Nabila parted ways with her first husband quite amicably At the moment we and later married again at the age of have a ruling class forty. She remarried after staying single that has one law and for some time and did so not because the people the other. she wanted to be rich or was looking for a handsome guy. She – Imran Khan, Prime remarried because all she wanted was to laugh and be happy. Minister of Pakistan.

I’m postponing it because I Atif’s Wish don’t feel that as a G7 it tif Aslam, the guy who has sung his properly represents Away to great popularity in Pakistan and what’s going on in India, says showbiz is so cruel that one has the world. – Donald to die to become a legend. He wants people Trump, President of to recognize legends when they are alive and the United States. give them credit and respect for their work. One of Atif Aslam’s fond desires, which Iran rejects weapons of he divulged in a TV interview, is to recite mass destruction Azaan from the Khana-e- Kaaba. based on its belief system, its religious belief system, as When Nida Cried well as well as its ida Yasir is said to have cried in a live show ethical standpoint. while talking about Covid-19. A dashing TV – Hassan Rouhani, N morning show host, the TV actress and model President of Iran is known for her role as Saima in the TV play I cannot see Modiji Hum Tum. She also hosts the morning television as separate from show Good Morning Pakistan at ARY Digital. BJP. Both are the She is the daughter of television directors- same. – Amit Shah, producers Kazim Pasha and Fehmida Nasreen. Indian minister. Hassan Ali dances A conventional relationship akistan cricket’s former head coach Mickey Arthur has commented on doesn’t make sense Pthe injury-prone pacer Hasan Ali's criticism that surfaced about a video in to me. I don’t want which Hassan Ali was seen dancing. to be stuck in an Mickey is of the view Hasan has abusive relationship ‘incredible talent’ and his character like my mother. was the defining feature that allowed – Saba Qamar, him to be the cricketer that he is. Pakistani actress. Part of Mickey Arthur’s tweet said: “I am amazed that Hasan Ali is being criticized for enjoying himself. He is There is absolutely a man of incredible talent with great a side of me that skills, his character defines him and people don’t know. allows him to be the cricketer he is.” – Kylie Jenner, American actress.

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 7 news buzz

Pakistan Lags Behind

akistan lags behind Iran, Nepal, Pakistan PUzbekistan and Sri Lanka and scored 39.8 in many other countries in mobile the GSMA’s internet access, says the GSMA report latest Mobile “Pakistan progressing towards a Connectivity fully-fledged digital economy.” Index, compared The country’s earlier delay in the to an average launch of 3G and 4G services left it of 45.7 for behind the competing countries in the South Asia. region. Pakistan led progress in the According sector with the highest teledensity in to GSMA, the South Asia till 2007. But the country’s penetration of development in telecom and related mobile internet in Pakistan stands at to the slow expansion of network services gradually slowed down, 26%, with a 54% percent untapped infrastructure in the country. particularly in broadband internet. market and a 2% uncovered area due Younis Khan Becomes Batting Coach

akistan’s former cricket captain Younis Khan has become Pthe Pakistan team’s batting coach. The appointment has been made to provide head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis the resources that can help them further uplift the performance of the side. After all, they have the England tour just coming up. Younis is Pakistan’s most successful Test batsman with over 10,000 runs at an average of over 52. PCB CEO, Wasim Khan has expressed his excitement about Younis Khan becoming Pakistan’s batting coach. Younis Khan has termed it an honour to be given the opportunity to contribute to Pakistan’s cricket.

TikTokers at Governor’s House

ome TikTok stars like Kanwal Aftab, Sehar Hayat, Haris SAli and Daniyal Sohail were invited to the Governor’s House in Lahore to spread awareness about COVID-19. One TikToker Kanwal Aftab said they invited TikTokers as for the past many months, doctors were requesting people to stay home and safe but no one was taking it seriously and people were thinking that the government was making a fool out of them. Will the Tik Tokers make a difference because most people in Pakistan still think that Covid-19 is just a hoax?

8 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 news buzz

Ali Habib new Chief Marketing & Communications Officer atH BL BL has appointed Mr. Ali this critical role for HBL. Ali knows played an integral HHabib as the Chief Marketing the HBL brand well, since he is role in building & Communications Officer. Ali already part of the team. He brings HBL’s profile is currently leading the Bank’s a rich experience of having worked externally and developing and Corporate Affairs function. He will in similar roles not only at other enhancing various communication now also lead the Bank’s marketing leading banks but also outside the channels across the Bank. Ali’s efforts, in addition to his current financial industry. His skills in career spans 30 years, in both portfolio. Ali’s appointment, managing multi-disciplinary teams local and international markets. effective immediately, reflects the and knowledge of the financial During his career, he has been Bank’s strategy of developing and industry is a bonus. We are confident associated with numerous blue- promoting talent from within. that under his leadership, HBL will chip organizations like Procter & Commenting on Ali Habib’s continue to evolve its brand.” Gamble (P&G), Reckitt Benckiser, appointment, Sagheer Mufti, Chief Ali joined HBL in November 2018 Standard Chartered, NIB and UBL. Operating Officer-HBL said, “We as Chief Corporate Communications Ali is an alumnus of IBA, Karachi are delighted that Ali is taking on Officer. Since his joining, he has and Aitchison College, Lahore. Lahore Gets Aima Baig Lip Job Ertugrul ima Baig has transformed her Alooks many times. Earlier, people ahore got its very own Ertugrul Ghazi statue. The used to call her out for copying Lstatue has been placed at the Maraghzar Housing Ariana Grande but now she has Scheme along been criticized for something else. the Multan The world is rapidly adapting to Road. The figure new ways of looking beautiful and is a depiction many people have been through of Ertugrul surgeries to enhance their features. atop a horse. People like Mehwish Hayat, Sadia Muhammad Imam, Mishi Khan, Sara Loren, Fiza Ali, etc. have been through Shahzad surgeries. Some actresses have managed to look normal Cheema, the even after surgery while some have ruined their faces. president of During the lockdown, Aima went live on her Instagram the Maraghzar Housing Scheme, says he decided to have a chitchat session with her fans. Some people to have the statue erected after some residents noticed something different in her face, especially her lips. floated the idea. The statue has been made using Many also made fun of her accent fibre and metal in Kamalia, Toba Tek Singh. and called it ‘fake and cringy’. Her First Crush

V actress Iqra Aziz says that she has had many crushes but Ther first one was Akshay Kumar. She loves watching his films. She especially loved him in Dhadkan which she watched around ten times. She doesn’t have a crush on any other actor. Iqra is a fun person and has appeared in supporting roles in many serials besides doing leading roles in Deewana, Laaj, Natak, Qurban and Tabeer. She played Jiya in the serial Suno Chanda.

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 9 news buzz

Amir to support Zohra’s family ritish-Pakistani Bboxer Amir Khan and his wife Faryal Makhdoom have said they will provide financial support to the family of Zohra Shah – the eight-year-old who was beaten to death by her employers after Bilal Abbas she accidently let some expensive parrots out QMobile Brand Ambassador of their cage. Many questioned why an 8-year old ilal Abbas has been appointed The couple told was sent to work in the first place? The Bbrand ambassador of QMobile. the girl’s family father said that he sent his daughter The actor would be endorsing they would help to Islamabad with her khala to study the brand on various fronts. The them financially. but the khala put Zohra to work. collaboration has been set off with a television commercial for the QMobile Rocket Pro.

Reading Ahad Raza for Dogs in Garnier Men Purina Project

eading Dogs, an initiative the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Roffering children in the United Russia, the United Arab Emirates Arab Emirates the opportunity and Saudi Arabia. Entrants were to interact meaningfully with welcomed across two streams: Early- pet dogs by reading to them, took stage ideas for innovations and Fully home 38,000 UAE dirhams in the piloted/implemented innovations. 2020 Purina BetterwithPets Prize, The prize winners and finalists which was announced in a virtual will be eligible to access additional forum streamed live on YouTube. programs designed to support Organized in collaboration further development of their ale grooming brand with Ashoka, a pioneer in social ventures. Selected innovators will MGarnier Men has named entrepreneurship, this second edition also be invited to participate in Ahad Raza Mir as its official of the prize drew more than 150 Purina and Ashoka’s Scaling Social spokesperson in Pakistan. applicants from across 23 countries Impact Program, while young Ahad becomes the first in Europe, the Middle East and North change makers will be eligible male actor to represent the Africa, producing eight finalists from for a mentoring program. brand in Pakistan.

10 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 news buzz

Anwar Maqsood on Twitter nwar Maqsood has finally joined Twitter. Sharing a video clip in his Afirst tweet, Maqsood said, “This is my official account. I request you to report all other accounts that are impersonating me. Thank you.” He received a warm welcome by fans on Twitter and just within a day, had 22.8K followers. Seems the lockdown helped to make up his mind about a social media account. Lately, he has also been doing live Instagram sessions with musician-singer Bilal Maqsood, his son. This father-son duo has brought a feeling of the good old days when studio talk shows used to be Anwar Maqsood’s specialty. Aima sings for Uppal

aadi Uppal’s new song ‘Te HQuiero’ features Aima Baig. From the lyrics to the tune, each element of the song resonates with the sentiments of what people feel Yasir’s ‘Azaad’ at certain points in their lives. asir Akhtar has produced Born and raised in New York, Ythe film ‘Azaad’. which Haadi has always been a huge fan is seen around the world. of western music. It fascinates ‘Azaad’ is a step up for Pakistani him to see and understand what content and Pakistan’s first film connects with the youth today. to have a premiere on a satellite Having also dabbled a bit in channel. It is a joint venture of playback singing, Hadi's song Motion Content Group and Yasir makes youngsters associate Akhtar’s Pegasus Productions. better with their emotions. The story revolves around a family that migrates to England for a better future but keeps Pakistan alive in their hearts. The film also has Mirage and ‘Ziddi Aashiq’ Parveen Akbar and Momal Sheikh.

akistani pop-rock band Mirage has Preleased its eighth track, a disco- pop number, ‘Ziddi Aashiq’. It is about a stubborn lover talking about his careless and carefree one-sided love for someone who doesn’t even know about his existence. The music was composed in 2016 by Saad Hayat and Bradley D’Souza, who also features on lead guitar in the track. The video was shot live at Saad Hayat’s studio, with a classic 70s look and a disco setup.

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 11 Hold Cover Story

PPP’s Leadership Crisis The PPP’s record of running the government has not been a very enviable one though its young leader Bilawal Bhutto believes in progressive politics, in learning from the past and looking forward.

bility, truth and trust. After a controversial trial, By Cynthia Ritchie This preamble reminds Z.A. Bhutto was found guilty esop’s fable “The Boy me of Pakistan’s politics. of murdering a political op- Who Cried Wolf” tells of Opinions regarding Pakistan ponent and hanged in 1979. a boy who got bored and Peoples Party (PPP) leadership vary Bhutto’s daughter, Benazir, was decided to amuse himself wildly. Historically the PPP has later elected twice as Prime Minister byA toying with local villagers’ emo- enjoyed a global reputation for but her government was dismissed tions. The boy played a practical joke progressive leadership, promoting both times on corruption charges and yelled, “Wolf, wolf!” knowing democracy, women’s rights, eradi- - Benazir herself was accused of the villagers would run, pitch forks cating the feudal system, poverty alleged corruption as well as extra in hand, to save the boy and sheep and upliftment of the masses. judicial killings. In 1990, Benazir was from ravenous wolves. After numer- During the 1970s, Zulfikar Ali removed from office by President ous jokes, the villagers no longer Bhutto’s PPP was a socialist na- Ghulum Ishaq Khan who accused her believed the boy and failed to come tionalist party with the mandate of corruption; then in 1996, President to his aid when he actually needed it. of ‘Roti, Kapra, Makan’. After the Farooq Leghari levelled similar al- “The boy cannot fool us again,” they war of 1971, PPP controlled the legations against the Prime Minister. said, ignoring his pleas. The wolves country. They went on to win the Despite countless reports of devoured the sheep, depriving the 1977 elections and ruled for some alleged massive-scale corrup- villagers of a major food supply. time. Opposition claimed rigging tion of Asif Ali Zardari and Mo- The fable’s themes include and, as tensions increased, Gen. htarama Benazir Bhutto, some deception, faith, responsi- Zia ul Haq declared martial law. continue to revere the late Mo-

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 13 Cover Story

htarama Benazir Bhutto – espe- state that Benazir was planning to able and qualifiable proofs? cially since she was Pakistan’s divorce Zardari. What would Zard- What about the jobs that are first female head of government. ari have lost if Benazir did divorce promised and water resources that To be fair, Pakistan having a him? During Benazir’s second term, are withheld from poor people prior female Prime Minister is to be Zardari served as Federal Investment to elections? What about South greatly admired. Even America –the Minister, Chief of the Intelligence Badin where water was redirected world’s premier superpower – has Bureau and Head of FIA. Zardari’s from thousands of people who had yet to elect a female president! academic background and other to migrate, because of a political And investigations into the Clin- qualifications remain unclear. dispute due to previous PPP party ton Foundation showed men were Benazir herself acknowledged members shifting to another party. being paid more than women for she was guilty of turning a blind eye What about the Sindh government the same jobs! So much for Hillary to Zardari’s abuses hospitals being so filthy Clinton’s claims for gender equality! of power, includ- no sane person who un- In 2007, Benazir was assassinated. ing free access to Bilawal derstands basic hygiene Neither Benazir’s husband, Zardari, people: “…one of the claims to be would set foot inside? nor her security advisor, Rehman mistakes [Zardari] Bilawal claims to Malik, were with her. After a cell made was that he an advocate be an advocate for phone call, Benazir was allegedly allowed too free an of freedom of freedom of expression, told by Sherry Rehman to stand access to people, women empowerment, up in the sunroof of a bulletproof and when you’re expression, minority rights. What white Toyota Land Cruiser – from in power, access women responsible steps has where this vehicle was procured can lead to abuse… Bilawal – or any of the remains a question for many – and And I was guilty of empower- PPP leadership – taken? Benazir, waving to the crowds, was turning a blind eye ment and In 2018 Bilawal fatally wounded shortly thereafter. to abuse that could traveled to the USA, According to The Washington have been caused by minority presumably to re- Post, the crime scene was cleared be- access to [Zardari]. rights. quest help towards fore any forensic examination could Or abuse that could democratic efforts. be completed. And Zardari did not al- have been caused Was his leisurely low a formal autopsy to be conducted to access to my federal cabinet.” California trip more productive – despite the ambiguity surrounding Just three days after Benazir’s than his Washington DC trip? Benazir’s death. Hospital reports and assassination, 19-year old Bilawal PPP’s chronic tales of decep- Ministry of Interior reports were was appointed leader of the PPP. tion have led to its own people in conflicting – did the Prime Minister The PPP’s official website: Sindh distrusting them with basics die from the shockwave from a bomb (www.ppp.org.pk) under ‘Achieve- such as water, economic empower- blast which fractured her skull, or ments by Government and Policy’ ment, shelter. Keep the poor un- shrapnel from the blast, or as a result includes three individuals: Z.A. educated, unempowered, illiterate of bullet wounds? The New York Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Asif and they will have no choice but Times questioned how Scotland Yard Ali Zardari. Two deceased persons to be slaves. Democracy is dead investigators could reach any conclu- and a third who has been globally but feudalism is alive and well. sion regarding her manner of death alleged to be one of the most corrupt A family legacy of deception, “absent autopsy results or poten- politicians in Pakistan’s history. with no real sense of responsibil- tially important evidence that was Bilawal is quoted as saying, “I ity – even to the poor people of washed away by cleanup crews in the have learned politics from both Sindh. If PPP can’t run a desert, immediate aftermath of the blast.” my father and mother… I engage in how can PPP run a country? In any case, Benazir’s legacy progressive politics, learning from The villagers, it seems, would be defined by her manner the past but looking forward….” no longer have faith in the of death. According to sources, PPP’s website claims, “Roti, boy who cried wolf. Benazir’s cell phone – which would Kapra Aur Makaan, Ilm, Sehat, Sab likely provide vital evidence – was Ko Kaam”: freedom from helpless- The writer is a vlogger and communications consultant. later retrieved from Bilawal House ness, economic justice, strengthen- She lives in Islamabad and can and presumably destroyed by Reh- ing democracy, ensuring rights be reached at cynthia.ritchie@ man Malik, at Zardari’s request. and peace, Naujawan Pakistan, throughadifferentlens.org Multiple reports and sources etc. But what are the quantifi-

14 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Cover Story Asif Ali Zardari - A Man for All Seasons Zardari’s life has been a long trail of unending challenges – and the narrative continues.

By Wajid Shamsul Hasan

fter many months of inac- tion in politics, former President Asif Zardari is back in the game to the disappointmentA of his adversar- ies. The vicious rumours that had been doing the rounds have been quashed. Earlier, no doubt Zardari found himself trapped in the eye of a storm immediately after the cold- blooded assassination of martyred Benazir Bhutto in December 2007 after she returned home to free Pakistan and its people from the stranglehold of a military ruler, his coterie of generals and self-seeking opportunist politicians, many of whom are now serving selected Prime Minister Imran Khan. Zardari’s life ever since he got married to Benazir Bhutto has been a long travail of unending chal- lenges. He has ever since remained the most persecuted politician ever. After Benazir’s assassination, Zardari being declared a failed state with office of the President to the Parlia- was pushed into the epicentre of a terrorists imposing their writ. ment, thus restoring its supremacy severely fractured and traumatized It was an Augean stable that he and absolute sovereignty. country. He had to pick up the had to go through when he assumed Previously, rulers had seized pieces of a bitterly divided society, power as elected President in 2008. power to dismiss elected govern- put together a party battered and It was his resolve that despite all the ments through presidential interven- wounded, its followers deeply hurt. political turmoil and intrigues by tions under arbitrary Article 58 (2) In that dark hour of uncertainty, powers that be, he waddled forward B. He became the first president in he saved Pakistan from imploding to resurrect the vision of SZAB and history to do so. He sought a gov- with his slogan “Pakistan Khap- martyred Benazir Bhutto by ousting ernment of national consensus as pay” and offering leadership to the General Pervez Musharraf without conceived by Benazir Bhutto in her crest-fallen masses to fill the vacuum bloodshed, impeachment or do- vision as manifested in the Charter caused by martyred Zulfikar Ali mestic unrest and re-established of Democracy and Reconciliation Bhutto’s elimination and Benazir the democratic foundations. One with monumental achievements like Bhutto’s assassination during the of his first acts as the president was creating the first social safety net, the rule of two military men. Pakistan, to willfully surrender arbitrary Benazir Income Support Programme indeed, was a hairline away from presidential powers vested in the that empowered women in low in-

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 15 Cover Story

come households. He had his party Zardari was singled out, along with bring the 18th Amendment into Nawaz Sharif, to face the plethora the Constitution to devolve powers of corruption allegations. Lately, a and funds to provinces allowing vicious campaign about his health, for more provincial autonomy and prompting the question after Zard- equitable distribution of resources. ari, what? - is being orchestrated at It was a major step to transfer the the behest of the vested interests. concurrent list to the provinces The earlier life of Zardari has and ensure equitable allocations had not been a bed of roses. He of national resources in the back- spent more than 11 years behind drop of the economic recession as bars without a conviction for well as the height of the war on baseless charges of corruption. terror. The cold-blooded murders Zardari was acquitted one after the of the Governor of Punjab Salman other through the courts and legal Taseer and his minister for minori- processes. Though he faced it all ties were threats that could not be bravely, he had to pay a heavy toll understated. Powers that be kept with his health as reflected now him and his government under the with impaired heart valves, high Damocles sword which was hang- blood pressure and uncontrolled ing over his head as no democratic diabetes and a severe back prob- government before it had ever been lem debilitating his movement. able to sustain a full term in power. The most deplorable feature It was to his credit that he over- from the time of his marriage is that saw peaceful transition of power he has been made a most vitriolic from one elected government to an- target of vendetta-loaded disinfor- other following the 2013 elections. mation campaigns that have con- This process was intrinsic to the tinued until now, beefed up by the evolution of democracy. As soon as establishment never to let Zardari he left the scene, the years leading have peace. They don’t want him to up to the 2018 elections saw Paki- be around as they see in him a man stan slipping back to its old ways. who has grown tough in stature Cricketer Imran Khan was selected through trials and tribulations to by the establishment to launch an pose an invincible threat to the forc- anti-corruption campaign against es representing the status quo. They politicians making empty promises see in Bilawal Bhutto the rise of a for repatriation of 200 billion dol- phoenix - a combination of the spir- lars of looted money stashed abroad it of Bhuttoism to defeat them at by the opposition. He spilled hatred their game of chicanery and deceit. in public for the leaders, man- As such, along with Zardari, ning previous governments and now Bilawal too is being tar- threatened to hang his opponents. geted for character assassination. Indeed, the greatest crime com- Last, but not the least, SZAB left mitted by Imran Khan backed by as his irreplaceable legacy for his uniformed collaborators was the national democratic goal a to create a hatred for civilian rule. progressive populist agenda for Though he claimed to have strug- the PPP as a harbinger of change gled as a politician, he had earned to be spearheaded by Bilawal national notoriety for his contempt Bhutto in the times to come. for Parliament as manifested in his lack of attendance in Parliamentary The writer is Pakistan’s former High Commissioner proceedings, deeming it as a waste- to Britain. He was also editor ful exercise. His propaganda was of Karachi’s Daily News. well-backed, funded and sold to the masses through the social media.

16 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Cover Story

There is a Dilemma As long as Asif Zardari has remained at the helm of affairs in the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto has not challenged his father’s politics. What happens after that?

By Dr. Moonis Ahmar was labeled as “Mr. Ten Percent” as he man, citing the ‘will’ of Benazir. was blamed for earning a bad name The fact that Zardari, despite being n November 30, 1967, in for the PPP government because of termed as a most controversial figure, the house of Dr. Mubashir alleged corruption and nepotism. In managed to get himself elected as Hasan in Lahore, Pakistan Benazir’s second government, from President of Pakistan in September People’s Party (PPP) under October 1993 till November 1996, 2008 is enough to prove his ma- ZulfiqarO Ali Bhutto was formed. Since again Zardari managed to strengthen nipulatory skills. Against all odds, then, the leadership of the PPP has his influence in the Prime Minister’s particularly the “Memogate” scandal, remained within the Bhutto fam- House and was held responsible for following ‘Operation Gerinimo” of ily. After the overthrow of Bhutto’s Benazir’s downfall. In both cases, May 2, 2011 which tracked down regime and the imposition of Martial Zardari was arrested under charges of and killed Osama bin Laden from a Law on July 5, 1977, Nusrat Bhutto, corruption and remained in prison for compound in Abbottabad, he proved the spouse of Z. A. Bhutto took the many years. After Benazir’s dismissal his survival instincts and skills. reins of the party, followed by Benazir for the second time on November 5, There are now reports about the Bhutto and Bilawal Bhutto. Benazir’s 1996 by the then hand-picked Presi- deteriorating health of Zardari and his assassination on December 27, 2007 dent Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, phasing out from the political scene. led to Asif Ali Zardari’s complete hold Benazir tried to marginalize Zard- This will raise a number of questions over the PPP and it will only diminish ari’s influence till the time she was about the future of PPP leadership. once he phases out from the scene. assassinated on December 27, 2007, Will PPP be able to fill the void left Enormous skills in political after addressing a public meeting with the departure of Zardari? Will manipulation and maneuvering, in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh. anti-Zardari elements within PPP have proved to be both an asset and Zardari’s rise to power began which, since the beginning were a liability for Asif Ali Zardari. During after Benazir’s death when he named against his mode of politics and held Benazir’s first government from De- himself as PPP’s co-Chairman and him responsible for the murder and cember 1988 till August 1990, Zardari his teenage son Bilawal as Chair- assassination of his brother-in-law Mir

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Murtaza Bhutto and his own spouse dealing with issues which required it has almost been wiped out from Benazir Bhutto, re-enter the fold of boldness and a policy of not compro- Punjab and KPK. In Sindh too, the PPP PPP and restore the party as what mising on principles. Acknowledging represents rural Sindh and lacks wide- it was during Z. A. Bhutto’s time? Zardari’s manipulatory skills and spread support in the non-Sindhi pop- The PPP’s leadership dilemma in his role as a champion of ‘reconcilia- ulation in the urban areas. This means the post-Zardari era needs to be ana- tion’, former PTI Vice Chairman Javed that Zardari’s magic and political lyzed in some detail from three angles. Hashmi once remarked that in order skills had started diminishing when First, the departure of Zardari from to “understand the politics of Asif Ali the PPP went out of power in 2013. In the scene will make it increasingly Zardari one needs to do PhD.” Zard- the last seven years, despite Zardari’s difficult for those PPP figures who ari’s enormous ability to compromise ‘art of impossible’ politics, the PPP has played with the politics of “recon- on principles led him to patch up been unable to regain its lost ground ciliation’ and used to cover up those with PML (Q) which he called the in Punjab and KPK. Therefore, it will involved in corruption and nepotism. “Qatil” (Murderer) league and appoint make no difference if Zardari lives or Critics blame Zardari of hijacking Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, whom Bena- is gone because PPP will not be able the PPP and planting his own type of zir Bhutto in her last days suspected to compete with PTI or PML (N) as people in various positions of power. of planning to assassinate her when it has lost its appeal in the masses. They also hold him re- she returned from It seems, there is no light at the sponsible for eroding Zardari’s Dubai in October 2007. end of the tunnel as far as the resur- Z. A. Bhutto’s style of magic and Such unprincipled gence of PPP is concerned because politics in which cha- and unethical politics the party, for the last several decades, risma, integrity and political of Zardari further is without an ideology which can welfare of the com- skills had alienated genuine attract the minds of the people and mon people mattered. and committed sup- strengthen its vote bank. It may be After Benazir’s assassi- started porters of the PPP. wishful thinking that once Zardari nation, her long-term diminishing It may be difficult phases out from the country’s politi- party worker Naheed for Bilawal to match cal scene, PPP will be able to reclaim Khan and her husband when the the calibre of his the legacy of Z. A. Bhutto and Benazir Safdar Abbasi blamed PPP went grandfather Z. A. Bhut- because, over the years, enough dam- Zardari of hijacking to and mother Benazir age has been done to the credibility of and monopolizing the out of power Bhutto because he Pakistan’s oldest mainstream politi- PPP and inducting his in 2013. lacks the required cal party. The only way PPP can be cronies in key posi- political skills and revitalized in the coming years is to tions. Both Naheed Khan and Safdar charisma to mesmerize the minds of weed out opportunists, sycophants Abbasi became disillusioned and people and get their electoral support. and corrupt elements that have used frustrated because of the attitude of Furthermore, critics argue that Bilaw- the name of Bhutto for their own Zardari and his supporters and were al cannot be the true successor of Z. A. political and financial benefits. left with no option but to leave the Bhutto as the only legitimate succes- It is said in Pakistani politics PPP. They couldn’t bear the culture sor of Bhutto can be either Zulfiqar Ali that, “What the Martial Law of of sycophancy, greed, corruption, Bhutto Junior or Fatima Bhutto, the Zia-ul-Haq couldn’t achieve in nepotism and lust for power which children of assassinated Mir Murtaza destroying PPP, has been done by received an impetus with the rise of Bhutto. The cultural angle of dynastic Asif Ali Zardari.” One can agree or Zardari after the demise of Benazir politics in Pakistan is a reality and disagree with this but the reality Bhutto. It is yet to be seen if anti- Bilawal, despite being patronized by on ground is quite bitter as the PPP Zardari elements within the PPP will Zardari, cannot claim to be a natural has actually been reduced to some seize the opportunity and reclaim successor of the Bhutto family. Per- constituencies of rural Sindh and the legacy of Z.A Bhutto and Benazir haps, those who hated Zardari because is run by those who lack political but one can expect the rise of the ‘old of his alleged involvement in large acumen, integrity and vision. guard’ once Zardari is phased out. scale corruption and nepotism, will Second, in the absence of Zard- try to convince Bilawal to get rid of The writer is Meritorious Professor of International Relations ari, the role of Bilawal may become the legacy of his father and move on. and former Dean, Faculty of crucial. As long as Zardari has re- Third, one cannot rule out the fact Social Sciences, University of mained at the helm of affairs, Bilawal that in the last 13 years, the PPP has Karachi. He can be reached at [email protected] has lacked the courage to challenge been reduced to the province of Sindh his father’s way of doing politics or as, in the elections of 2013 and 2018,

18 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Cover Story The Future It is time the Pakistan Peoples Party came out of the Bhutto mould and started grooming new blood to lead the party in the years to come.

handling of the Covid-19 pandemic even on important matters that By Meriam Sabih and even calling on him to resign. require consensus and collaboration, n June 11, EU Ambas- Bhutto, who often repeats a Bilawal has gone out of his way to sador, Androulla Kami- saying by his mother that, “Democ- meet publicly with his long standing nara, called on the young racy is the best revenge…” has also opponents of the PMLN, including chairman of the Pakistan been relentless in going after Imran Maryam Nawaz and shown that he People’sO Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zard- Khan amidst allegations of rigging can reach across the aisle to get work ari to discuss important issues such which is believed to have brought done when needed. All these traits as Covid-19 and praised the Sindh him into power, repeatedly refer- are both positive and necessary in government’s efforts in combatting ring to him as a “Selected Prime any good leader and are currently the pandemic. Bhutto expressed his Minister.” When it comes to the filling the void of a formidable op- gratitude for initiatives taken by failed policies of the past of support- position to Imran Khan’s PTI. the EU in Sindh such as the “Sindh ing terrorists and extremists, he is The Pakistan People’s Party is one Union Council” and the “Commu- bold in speaking out and especially of Pakistan’s oldest political parties. nity Economic Strengthening Sup- shines in interviews with interna- Charismatic leaders such as Zulifiqar port” (SUCCESS) Programme which tional media. Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto Ali Bhutto, Pakistan’s first elected tackles poverty in the province. The was known for his fiery display at Prime Minister, and Benazir Bhutto, Sindh government headed by PPP the United Nations in defending the Muslim world’s first female has been praised while the federal Kashmir, the young Bhutto has also Prime Minister, are synonymous government has been sharply criti- been vocal against Imran Khan for with it. These two leaders are held cized for its handling of Covid-19. Bi- what he terms as “losing Kashmir.” in the highest esteem and venerated lawal Bhutto joined those criticizing And whereas Prime Minister Imran as martyrs by millions even today. Prime Minister Imran Khan making Khan blatantly refuses to meet with Their popularity has been etched mention of his “negligence” in his opposition leaders to work together into the pages of history. Still no one

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Yousaf Raza Gilani Mian Raza Rabbani Sherry Rehman Hina Rabbani Khar has yet been convicted of Benazir defender of human rights, Yousaf should be investigated, but what Bhutto’s murder. The painful execu- Raza Gilani, the 18th Prime Minister most found in bad taste was why tion of Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto in the of Pakistan, former diplomat and she initially started mudslinging quiet of the night is also not forgot- first female leader of the opposition Benazir Bhutto’s name on an issue ten in the hearts and minds of the in the Senate, Senator Sherry Reh- which did not warrant it. Earlier she public. A democratic government man, and the outspoken Senator made bizarre claims against Bakhta- headed by Bilawal Bhutto, though he Raza Rabbani, one of the country’s war Bhutto and other activists. does not enjoy the same support his most respected and As the party finds mother did, in the future is a dream staunchest defenders Ultimately it is new ways to widen its that could serve as some solace. of democratic val- scope in other provinc- The assassination of Benazir ues. Hina Rabbani the people of es, attend to new chal- Bhutto brought forth an unlikely Khar, former foreign Pakistan who lenges, defend itself, leader, Asif Ali Zardari, to the fore- minister of Pakistan, and make space for front because Bilawal was too young is another notable are the final new leadership beyond to take on the burdens of leader- member of the PPP. judges and those in the direct fam- ship. In the years ahead, despite She proved herself to ily, the relationship many hardships whether it be its be fiercely articulate, it is in their between the PPP and rivalry with the establishment or keenly intelligent hands where the public will have to attacks from the Tehreek-e-Taliban and classy - all at be strengthened and Pakistan (TTP) which had forced once. In a political the future of its relationship with them to cancel election rallies, the party of many firsts the party’s the military will also People’s Party maintains a strong- for women, she was have to be mended hold in its native province of Sindh. the first female to leadership lies. without compromis- Eventually the party will need present Pakistan’s ing on principles. to remodel itself to be led by its finance Budget. The PPP has brought Ultimately it is the people of Paki- ideals, policies and manifesto and forward and passed important legis- stan who are the final judges and it not have its core leadership remain lation, especially when it comes to is in their hands where the future of within a dynastic family. Its leaders women’s and children’s rights, such the party’s leadership lies. Will the should be democratically elected as the domestic abuse bill. The Sindh public accept a more polished and within the party. There are some Assembly often leads with progres- mature Bilawal? Will new leader- notable leaders in its ranks which sive bills, another reason they often ship emerge after him that will lead serve as role models and are widely clash with the religious parties. with Benazir Bhutto’s ideals? For respected across political affiliations. In the age of social media, we now a vocal Bilawal Bhutto Zardari One was Salman Taseer who bravely are seeing new attacks on the party. carries the idealism of his mother defended Aasia Bibi, a Christian Social media has been ablaze with and grandfather and his voice of woman who was falsely accused of another recent controversy, this time opposition is very necessary. blasphemy and who has since then not about opening Swiss bank ac- been exonerated. He stood with counts, but allegations by an Ameri- The author is a columnist and former contributor to Al-Jazeera her against all odds and he too paid can blogger who lives in Islamabad. America. She can be reached the ultimate price with his life. Her aggressive tweets against the at [email protected] Other notable names include women of the PPP were found or twitter @meriamsabih Farhat Ullah Babar, a staunch distasteful. Her allegations of abuse

20 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Region

Nation’s Saviours Centre of Gravity The love affair between Pakistan’s armed forces and the people is based on mutual affection and respect.

By Dr. Ahmed Saeed Minhas

lausewitz (Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz, a 19th century CPrussian general and military theorist) viewed the centre of gravity of a country in an all-encompassing fashion. The Pakistan Armed Forces are the country’s centre of gravity. The decision of the Pakistan Army to not seek an increase in budget truly reflects their confidence in their potential to combat multi-dimensional security threats. The Pakistan Armed Forces have always been at the forefront to mitigate challenges faced by the country, whether kinetic or non-kinetic. Our enemies know fully well that to be paid to the issue. We need to put refine their techniques in order to if Pakistan is to be subjugated, this their thinking on the right track and identify all likely enemy options and will not materialize until such time guide them about being optimistic. to prepare for contingency responses. that its armed forces remain in high The Pakistan Armed Forces lead The strong belief of the armed forces esteem and enjoy the respect of the from the front and yet set an example in their capabilities is the primary nation. Pakistan’s security agencies of austerity for other institutions. Our factor. The Pakistan Air Force amply have relentlessly sacrificed their army spokesman has proudly claimed demonstrated its response capabilities lives with bravery and passion to that the surrendered increase in budget against India in February 2019. guard the country’s sovereignty. was a gift for the people of Balochistan Pakistan’s mighty neighbour could do War has changed its dimensions and FATA for their social development, better as the leading nation in South and is not restricted to the conventional including education. The army, after Asia if it did not choose to remain a platform anymore. Duels between mopping up FATA and Balochistan, hostage in the hands of its hardliner armies along the borders using focused on the rehabilitation process and extremist political elite. It is a fact conventional weapons is a phasing to provide all basic amenities to that India, a poor country by all other out. War has crept into our bedrooms terror-affected communities through standards, has been recognized as and sitting rooms in the form of initiating and supervising development South Asia’s largest arms importer for hybrid war and even our children projects. They made an effort to mitigate the last five years. The Sweden-based are lured by security-related issues. the development gap which occurred think-tank SIPRI has been reporting From the early decades of their lives, due to the Global War on Terror that on this regularly. Even then, while they question the probability of was fought in those areas. New schools Pakistan is a small country and has a success of security challenges posed and colleges were built and were run by limited defence budget, its strategic to Pakistan. It is too early for these the army to ensure quality education. deterrence is credible enough. young people to worry about their The Pakistan Armed Forces are The Pakistan Armed Forces, future, yet in this era of advanced now successfully developing new especially the army, have been communications and information methods of hybrid warfare and security playing a major role in nation- technology, much more heed needs planners are taking all measures to building. From helping the nation

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 21 Region

in natural calamaties such as floods, all bills before the 5th of every month. they are serving – from the lowest to earthquakes, droughts and accidents Maintaining good cars and keeping the highest. The newly passing out like the air crash in Karachi, the armed their military living quarters up to high officers from the military academies forces have always been the first standards is second nature to them as of the army, air force and navy are responders. Army jawans have been they don’t let themselves be seen below honoured to join units with a proud seen desilting canals, making roads minimum officers’ standards. They may war record and long lists of shaheeds. and communication infrastructures, eat eggs at lunch or dinner but they At the same time, parents of shaheed monitoring institutional performance, do not compromise on their posture. officers express pride in the conduct planting trees, providing drinking Their salaries are respectable of their offspring who laid down their water and giving rations out of their enough for them to live within their lives for the country. Whether it’s allocated quota to needy people in means and maintain their minimum an officer or a soldier, they always far-flung areas. These duties are over required standards. The United Nation’s come forward to take the first bullet. and above their successful execution Peace Keeping missions also select more It is also true that the armed forces of the primary task of thwarting than 50% of Pakistan Army personnel are completely welfare-oriented for internal and external enemy threats. at least for a year’s secondment, their martyred men and woman. The The quality of the armed forces’ depending on their service profile. chiefs of the various armed forces leadership is a central factor. The These army officers and men earn take personal interest in the well- respective chiefs have declined their emoluments from the UN in dollars being of the families of shaheeds. daily allowance, besides helping and that supplements their incomes. The selflessness of Pakistan’s armed the federal government to generate The long queues at the various forces makes them the most respected funds from their already meagre armed forces recruitment centres and trusted institution in Pakistan. salaries. Since 2019, there has been reflect the passion of the nation’s No armed force can fight unless it has no increase in the officers’ salaries. youth for playing a role in defending the backing and trust of the nation. For Pakistan’s armed forces officers, the country and that is very This is what makes the armed forces ‘living within means’ is their first encouraging despite the hard life of Pakistan a real center of gravity. lesson, though the advice to them is also they know they will have to face at to maintain high standards of training every step of their military careers. The writer is Pro-Vice Chancellor at DHA Suffa University, and discipline. Austerity is something The Pakistan Armed Forces officers Karachi. He can be reached at that is regularly practiced by them. The lead from the front. They don’t shy ahmedsaeedminhas81@yahoo. officers don’t have access to free food, away from laying their lives for the com and @DrAhmedSaeedMi1 electricity, gas or housing. They pay motherland, no matter on what rank Wisdom or Folly? India needs to build bridges of friendship and cooperation rather

Ladakh than indulge in foolish mis-adventures.

By Amjad Ali Siyal China against the spirit of the Wuhan untrustworthy in terms of honouring Consensus which aims at mutual sovereign agreements, a practice onfidence is good, but cooperation. China, constantly irked by common to Nazi Germany. overconfidence is self-destructive. annoying Indian behaviour, is forced to Additionally, through the Jammu CIn a bid to maintain an aggressive respond to Indian follies. India certainly and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, posture through unilateral annexation cannot sustain rivalry with China and the disputed region was divided into two of the disputed region of Jammu the champions of Hindutva know it well. union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Kashmir in violation of bilateral India has proved to be an unreliable and Ladakh. Historically, the disputed agreements and international norms, state in the international system. By nature of the region was accepted by India has committed a historical blunder. revoking the autonomous status of India itself as supported by its request As a result it has to pay a heavy price in Jammu and Kashmir in violation of to the UN for intervention and asking the long run. Then again, it is going to the UNSC resolutions and bilateral for a plebiscite. Moreover, the 1993 be a part of the bigger picture to contain agreements, India has come out as Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity

22 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Region

Agreement and subsequent protocols exhibited itself as a partner of the LAC and is reported to have lost many between India and China are a testament United States and a rival to China of its soldiers. It did not use military to the disputed nature of the region. in the region and beyond. Hence, muscle against the PLA when the Against that backdrop, it was a blunder India participated in the Asia-Pacific Indian soldiers were repulsed from on the part of India to unilaterally Quadrilateral Goup comprising Galwan and Pangong Tso and has alter the status of the region without the United States, Japan, India and been taught a lesson by the chinese. holding talks with China and Pakistan. Australia, to encircle China and contain New Delhi cannot sustain Ladakh is contested between it from becoming a global power. confrontation with Beijing, keeping in China and India. However, after the To deter Indian aggression in the view Beijing’s military and economic controversial constitutional amendment disputed region, China mobilised strength. China is an economy of $13.6 to (il)legally occupy the region, India its troops in the strategic areas of trillion whereas India is $2.7 trillion. issued new maps claiming Aksai Chin Ladakh and Sikkim. It is believed large Chinese military spending comprises from the Chinese side andAzad Jammu contingents of the Peoples Liberation $261 billion while Indian defence and Kashmir and Gilgit from the Army (PLA) have repulsed the India expenditure is $71 billion. Furthermore, Pakistani side as its part, further vitiating aggressors in the Galwan valley, according to Indian strategic analyst the environment in the troubled region. Pangong Tso, Demchok from the Ladakh Pravin Sawhney, the Chinese response India has now embarked on an side and Nakula Pass from Sikkim. could be multi-pronged, such as in the offensive path against Chinese interests India now finds itself in an awkward cyber and space arena, which may be far in the region. It has been working on position and is trying to convince China more lethal for India. Thus, there is stark a vast infrastructure development in to withdraw its troops. BJP-led India difference between the two countries. Ladakh with road networks, airstrips has committed mistakes one after the Above all, China is self-reliant with and bridges along the Line of Actual other and now it is paying dearly by massive economic and diplomatic clout Control (LAC) which are offensive in opening many fronts. At the LAC it while, on the contrary, India is not. nature. These roads are built with the is engaged with China, with freedom Military escalation is not possible dual purposes of mass movement and fighters in occupied Kashmir and with in the ongoing confrontation. China military uses. Since such development Pakistan along the Line of Control has the capability to change unruly was carried out in the disputed (LOC). It has now also developed a Indian behaviour into cooperation. region, it cannot be acceptable to border dispute with neighbouring India should realise that China is its the contesting parties. Apparently, Nepal. Such multiple fronts based on neighbouring state and is far more and surely, Indian intentions of Indian follies is no different than Nazi powerful than it and hence, it cannot infrastructure development in the Germany and is bound to end in disaster. sustain offending Beijing. It also does region are to exert pressure on China and The Modi government rightly knows not suit India to be a war-monger in Pakistan, keeping in view the strategic it can neither suppress nor challenge the region. Instead of rivalry, it is the importance of the region and the CPEC China at the behest of America or the right time for India to realise its follies route, which is the flagship project of Quad Group. The Quad partners cannot and make wiser choices of cooperation, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). militarily defend India as China is peaceful resolution of outstanding issues Consequently, the need for Indian neither Afghanistan nor Somalia. When and a sharing of prosperity for the good hubris, coupled with other geostrategic the powerful western cocktail cannot of the region. Arrogance will certainly issues compelling China to reconsider dethrone Bashar al-Assad in Syria, or fail down the road as witnessed in the its options vis-à-vis India. After the America cannot succeed in North Korea, Ladakh region or during the dogfight Doklam stand-off, Prime Minister it is unlikely and even impossible for it with Pakistan in February 2019. Modi and President Xi Jinping met to suppress the Chinese juggernaut. The in Wuhan and agreed that the two Quad can only support India through This writer is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected] countries would cooperate and diplomatic means at international fora. would not be rivals to each other. India, having realised the might Nonetheless, India continued to of Chinese power, has responded to violate the Wuhan Consensus and the current developments along the

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 23 Region Clueless with m bai

Mu Coronavirus The Indian economy was on a deterioration path even before the pandemic. It is now stuck in a demand drought that is not decreasing any time soon.

By Murtaza Talpur and management of the BJP-led India. and contracted by 2.2 per cent. The The Modi government says that revisions in the transport, hotels, he Coronavirus pandemic is the Covid-19 lockdown has impacted trade, communications, financial, playing havoc with the world data flow and, with constitutional real estate and professional services Teconomies in a way that has reporting timelines extended, the sectors have cut third-quarter growth never happened before. Developing estimates are likely to undergo figures by 1.6 to 4 per cent points. countries are most affected and India, revision. The Gross Value Added Currently, the Indian economy one of the biggest markets of about numbers for the first three quarters is noticeably stuck in a demand 1.35 billion people, is at the verge have been reviewed meaningfully drought that is not decreasing any of collapse in terms of its pathetic downwards and show that the time soon. Private consumption economic situation. spending that accounts for There are two 55-60 per cent of GDP, problems in India extended a down trend these days that go in as growth slipped to 2.7 parallel - one is the per cent. Investment BJP’s incompetent activity diminished and extremist for a third consecutive government and quarter and shrank 6.5 the other is the per cent. The current pandemic. It is a fiscal year data reveals bitter reality but it is the shocking impact true that the Modi- that the lockdown led government is has played on India. completely clueless Production in the eight on how to manage core industries that the economy in the signify 40 per cent of face of a coronavirus- the Index of Industrial induced recession. Production thinned Due to the by a disturbing 38 per lockdown, India cent in April. Apart is facing a problem of falling economic disorder was deep and from that, it is sad to say that investment. However, the Indian widespread even before the novel merchandise exports shrank by economy was in one of its worst coronavirus emerged. Four of the 60 per cent in the same month. phases even before the coronavirus eight industry sectors that together Though disturbing, the readings outbreak, with growth in the gross comprise the Gross Value Added do not come as a big amazement. domestic product (GDP) dwindling are now revealed to be in far worse The Indian economy had already to an 11-year low of 4.2 per cent in shape than was reported earlier. been on a deterioration path even 2019-2020. The economy grew by 3.1 This comprises manufacturing before the pandemic. This is apparent per cent in the January-March quarter that diminished for a third straight from the growth figures of latest of 2019-2020, against 5.7 per cent at quarter and tightened by 1.4 per quarters as depicted earlier. The the same time a year ago, the slowest cent in the fourth quarter; the outbreak of Covid has only made growth in at least eight years. This construction industry that creates a things more serious. When the vividly depicts the bad governance lot of jobs, also continued to weaken Indian government imposed a severe

24 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Region

nationwide lockdown in the last week of March to contain the spread of the virus, economic activity came to a complete Murky Waters halt. Though relaxations since have led to some resumption, businesses are still India is becoming one of the world’s operating much below capacity. The most dangerous places for journalists. full impact of the lockdown on demand New D e l hi and supply has made the deprived By Shahrukh Mehboob people’s lives even more pathetic. According to a new study at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Chicago and the Mumbai-based Centre for Monitoring, approximately 84 per cent of Indian households are seeing reductions in their incomes since the lockdown began. The studies further report a sharp and broad negative impact on household income as the pandemic has lessened their staying capacity. Almost a third of all households will not be able to survive beyond a week if they are not provided additional assistance. That punitive statistic finds justification in the unemployment rate, which crossed 27 per cent in early May, up nearly four-fold from levels in January- February. The jobless rate has since dropped to less than 24 per cent. India’s policymakers and its government should immediately respond to tackle the economic distress. he protests in India against the Citizenship Amendment Besides, there should be direct and Act (CAA), which grants a fast track to citizenship for instant transfers of food and cash to Tcertain religious-minority immigrants, have underlined the poor and deprived on very high the importance of not just the democratic process, which includes priority. Such transfers should be broad- the right to peaceful protest, but also the role of the media in based and reach most of the income covering the government's response to the protesters. distribution, as it is clear that about The R.S.S. is a Hindu-nationalist social movement with close everyone but the wealthiest have seen ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata their incomes fall and are in need of Party. India’s free press has played a crucial role in protecting the additional resources to survive. country’s democracy since independence from Britain in 1947. To tackle the economy amid the But journalists in India now feel they are under attack. Since Mr. coronavirus crisis, the BJP government Modi came to power in 2014, they say, his government has tried to needs to change its extremist policies. control the country’s news media, especially the airwaves, like no Instead of focusing on non-Hindus or other prime minister in decades. Modi has shrewdly cultivated the minorities, the government should put media to build a cult of personality that portrays him as the nation’s ita full efforts and focus on how to save selfless saviour. At the same time, senior government officials have India and its deteriorating economy. pressed news outlets by berating editors, cutting off advertising and ordering tax investigations so that maedia would ignore the The writer is a free-lance uglier side of the BJP’s campaign to transform India from a tolerant, contributor and can be reached at [email protected] religiously diverse country into an assertively Hindu one. With the coronavirus pandemic, Modi has become more blatant in his attempts to control coverage and, as with other difficult stories, some Indian news executives seem willing to go along. Right before

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 25 Region

he announced the world’s largest and told them to stop running proposing to introduce a compulsory coronavirus lockdown on 1.3 billion features like hate-crime trackers registration process for news people, Modi met with top news that have embarrassed Modi’s party. and current affairs websites. executives and urged them to publish Narendra Modi is backed by an A new tactic, which affects not “inspiring and positive stories” about army of online allies who discredit just media freedom but the freedom the government’s efforts. Then, after and harass independent journalists; of speech and communication of the lockdown stranded half a million female journalists, in particular, ordinary citizens, is the imposition migrant workers, with some dying have been besieged with abuse and of bans on the use of the internet along the highways, his lawyers rape threats. The police say Hindu and social media. In Jammu and persuaded the Supreme Court to nationalists were behind the 2017 Kashmir, a "temporary" ban on order all media to “publish the official murder of Gauri Lankesh, a female social media has gone beyond more version” of coronavirus developments, newspaper editor hailed as one of than 200 days. Broadband internet although outlets were still allowed India’s most crusading journalists. remains banned and limited data to carry independent reporting. Like other populist leaders, internet access was permitted after An association of leading Narendra Modi and his ministers a two-month hiatus but only for broadcasters was quick bristle at any public low-speed access to "whitelisted" sites. to praise the court criticism, whether The latest assault on freedom decision, which many The latest assault from business of speech is the government's intellectuals said was on freedom of executives, foreign decision to charge Kashmiris who yet another attack on speech is the leaders, or even access the internet via VPNs under India’s constitutionally schoolchildren. For the draconian Unlawful Activities guaranteed freedom government's the most part, Indian (Prevention) Act. Given the growing of speech. Through decision to news outlets have interface between social media and an aide, India’s charge Kashmiris knuckled under, news media, this clampdown can information and concluding that only have a further chilling effect broadcasting who access the since much of the on press freedom. While the media minister, Prakash internet via public supports the in India has always had to contend Javadekar, initially VPNs under prime minister, they with unfriendly politicians in the agreed to discuss the should, too. Even past, they could, with the exception government’s media the draconian skeptical journalists of the 1975-1977 Emergency, at policies. But in the Unlawful censor themselves, least count on the support of the weeks since then, Mr. Activities afraid to be branded country's judges if the going got Javadekar declined to anti-national by a tough. What makes the current answer any questions, (Prevention) Act. government that phase so dangerous is both the Modi including a written equates patriotism government's level of intolerance list emailed to him. His aide cited the with support for Mr. Modi. His and the reluctance of the courts to demands of the coronavirus crisis. government has also imposed the defend free speech and press freedom. India’s media universe is vast, strictest restrictions on foreign India is continuing its perhaps the biggest in the world: more journalists in decades, suddenly transformation into one of the than 17,000 newspapers, 100,000 and without explanation. world’s most dangerous places to be magazines, 178 television news Visas have been tightened, a journalist. While Prime Minister channels, and countless websites in and foreign journalists have been Narendra Modi did not quite manage dozens of languages. Thousands of banned from hotbeds of unrest such to pass legislation completely Facebook pages call themselves news as northeast India and Jammu and banning independent coverage publishers, and YouTube is filled Kashmir, a Muslim-majority area at the outset of the pandemic, with local bulletins on everything that was stripped of its statehood the journalistic climate has been from real estate trends to police raids. in August and put under a severe steadily deteriorating regardless. But Narendra Modi ministers have lockdown. In the past few months, leaned on business leaders to cut the government has sought new ways The writer is a legal practitioner and columnist. off support to independent media, to get a grip on the country's scrappy He tweets: @legal_bias slowly strangling their operations. digital media. It has announced new and can also be reached at His government has pressured restrictions on foreign investment [email protected] media owners to fire journalists who in digital media, including approval have criticized the prime minister on a case-by-case basis, and is also

26 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Region

abad A Sweet Crisis m

a The agro-based sugar industry has become so powerful in Pakistan

s l that it determines the economic priorities of the state. I

By Aadil Nakhoda

he recently published report of the commission to probe into Tthe increase in sugar prices has created major shockwaves across the political spectrum in Pakistan . The report suggests that sugar mill owners have often colluded to earn significant profits from the export of sugar through their ability to influence the government by political maneuvering, irrespective of the party in office. Approximately Rs 30 billion worth of export subsidies were provided to politically influential mill owners across Pakistan. As the before and after. Production of value in FY13-14. Comparatively, the report itself indicates, export subsidies sugarcane increased to 83.3 million export surge in FY18 was significantly create distortions in the market. This tonnes in 2017 compared to 62.8 lower. However, the base year not only allows other uncompetitive million tonnes in 2014. Similarly, the effect could have played a role as exporters to sell their products to production in 2013 increased to 67.5 exports in FY2012 were lower. foreign buyers in lieu of domestic million tonnes from 49.4 million in Considering the data extracted buyers at lower prices but increases the 2010. The largest spike was between from the International Trade Center’s price of sugar in the domestic market 2006 and 2008 as sugarcane increased Trademap.org, sugar exports peaked by creating an imbalance between from 44.7 million tonnes to 63.9 at approximately $600 million in demand and supply. In other words, million tonnes. The greatest volatility 2013. Sugar exports increased in 2008 the consumers bear the burden of was evident between 2008 and 2013. and 2017 as well, while bottoming inefficient producers by paying higher A closer look at the yearly out in 2011 and 2016. The most prices for goods otherwise available distribution of the beginning stock of commonly exported sugar product at a lower price while the government sugarcane suggests that its value was from Pakistan was molasses up to incurs greater expenditure as it the highest close to the election year. 2010. Approximately 60% of all sugar subsidizes uncompetitive exporters. The surge in production of sugarcane exports in 2009 were of molasses. Sugar According to the estimates around the election year resulted confectionary gained prominence in provided by the Food and Agricultural in higher ending stocks. The surge 2011. However, the trend in exports of Organization of the United Nations, followed with a fall in production in cane or beet sugar is relatively peculiar. Pakistan’s sugarcane harvest area the years subsequent to the elections. There was a surge in its share in 2008, peaked in 2017 at 1.3 million hectares. However, interestingly, domestic followed by a collapse to a negligible The acreage, yield and production was consumption followed a less volatile level till 2012. Since then the exports followed closely by the election cycle. pattern. On the other hand, the of cane or beet sugar have constituted The area increased by more than 20% increase in exports of refined sugar the highest percentage amongst all in 2008, 9% in 2013 and 9% in 2017. accompanied the surge in production. sugar products. In 2018, almost 80% However, there was a decline in the Exports increased three times between of all sugar products were exported in production area in 2018. The yield in 2012 and 2013 and increased four the form of cane or beet sugar. Further, terms of hectograms per hectare peaked times between 2017 and 2018 in exports were mostly confined to cane in 2017. The yield also spiked around quantity terms. According to data or beet sugar and chemically pure the election years of 2008 and 2013 from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, sucrose in solid form. Raw sugar is compared to the years immediately there was a strong surge in export unlikely to be exported from Pakistan.

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 27 Region

The world price of sugar as 2012 and 2018. This was reflected product was approximately 5%. Only determined by the International in the fall in export price of sugar. 0.6 percent of Pakistan’s exports were Sugar Agreement daily price in US Pakistan exported $384 million worth destined for the United States, China dollars peaked in early March 2011 of cane or beet sugar and chemically and Indonesia, which constitute 18% before declining to almost half its pure sucrose as defined in Trademap. of the global share in imports. The rate in early 2016. The world price org, with 15.5% growth in export value export patterns in the election years then again increased till late 2016. and 27.5% growth in quantity between differ from the non-election years. The world price settled at around 30 2012 and 2018. This growth was the The sugar report clearly highlights cents per kilogram in early 2018 and highest among the top eight exporters that the sugar industry’s contribution in 2020. Interestingly, the exports of the aforementioned product. to the national exchequer is in the from Pakistan were minimal during Pakistan’s most important export negative, primarily due to the export the peak price periods. Exports destination is Afghanistan. However, subsidies the mill owners have increased in 2013 and after 2016, the share of Afghanistan as the most availed. It is imperative that supply when the world price was declining dominant destination dropped in 2014 chains within the sugar industry be rather than increasing. In essence, compared to 2013 as well as in 2018 re-evaluated and the market structure the world price of sugar was an compared to 2017. Interestingly, Asia within the industry improved. unlikely factor contributing to the (not elsewhere specified), Djibouti, export of sugar from Pakistan. Montenegro and India ranked amongst The writer is an Assistant Professor of Economics and Research In the global context, the top destination markets for export Fellow at CBER, Institute of approximately $12 billion worth of cane or beet sugar and chemically Business Administration (IBA), of sugar was exported in 2018. The pure sucrose (in solid form) in 2018. Karachi. He can be reached at [email protected] export value decreased by 5%, while The total share of the aforementioned the quantity increased by 4% between markets in world imports of the Never Too Late The rising rate of infections and fatalities in Pakistan due to Covid-19

Covid-19 has at last forced the government to come down with an iron hand and enforce strict lockdowns in selected areas.

By S.R.H. Hashmi in the 22 years that he spent waiting for the opportunity to lead Pakistan. ost of us would have gone He landed the position of the Prime through the process. It Minister of a country like Pakistan – Mwould be based on starting which is not easy to govern anyway our careers and progressing with the - in a fairly raw condition, at the times. In the mean time, one would ripe old age of 66 when one’s habits learn to cultivate an appropriate become almost second nature, level of relations with the juniors, making adaptation difficult, if not equals and seniors, interact with impossible. But then, he is not the different people, alone and in only one who missed groups, keep an open mind and this opportunity. acquire the ability to cooperate Many of our with others despite differences of politicians opinion. One would also learn to started with develop the capacity to work as a similar team and rise to higher positions when fully prepared and ready. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Imran Khan missed this routine. What is worse, he even failed to learn

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backgrounds, but they succeeded Imran Khan’s stand is not entirely disclosed that in as many as eighty because they started early and devoid of merit, what he seems to percent of the mosques, the SOPs made serious efforts to learn. miss is that because of living in were partially or completely ignored. Remember the stellar over-crowded conditions and having Imran Khan also declared that performance of Zlulfiqar Ali Bhutto low immunity due to mal-nutrition, mosques played absolutely no who swept West Pakistan polls so such persons were most vulnerable role in the spread of Covid-19, and soon after his party’s launch, while to the spread of COVID-19. described the earlier relatively Imran Khan, after over two decades’ All things considered, of course lower figures of infections as struggle, barely managed a slim the right approach for Pakistan blessings of Allah Almighty and majority, and that too, with support would have been to strike a balance as a sort of reward for Pakistan from some coalition partners. and adopt a middle course, meaning being the only Islamic country that Starting with so many limitations easing the lockdown while strictly allowed traveeh prayers in mosques was bound to take its toll. We saw following the standard operating during Ramzan. This included his how, during his rare visits to the procedures (SOPs). Asad Umar did team’s ‘sound’ assessment of the parliament, Imran Khan made announce a policy to that effect. situation and the right decisions in deliberate attempts to avoid shaking Unfortunately, Imran Khan consequence. Of course, there is no hands with opposition politicians. and his mouthpieces presented denying God, or else how could this It is a fact that on the issue of the easing of lockdown as the country have survived for so long dealing with Covid-19, Sindh Chief vindication of his stance against despite the leadership it has had in Minister Murad Ali Shah made lockdowns. In fact, going a step the past many decades? However, a far better start as compared to further, they interpreted even the the lower infections earlier were other provinces for which he even easing of conditions in Europe and due to strict measures taken by received well-deserved international the United States as the ultimate the Sindh CM and followed even acclaim. Unfortunately, it proved acceptance of Imran Khan’s ‘vision’ in the provinces ruled by PTI. just too much for Imran Khan to by these countries. Of course, they Our carefree public took a bear and he started a campaign did not care to mention the fact that mile when given an inch in the against Murad Ali Shah, supported the easing of lockdowns in the West Eid shopping days. This is now by some of his lieutenants, bitterly came essentially at a time when producing stark figures like over criticizing and terming his lockdown the Covid-19 curve had flattened 100 deaths and 5,000 infected a day elitist and anti-poor. He kept up or was very near to it, whereas in and rising. The statistics have made the onslaught even when his our country, it is rising steeply. many of our officials lose their own governments in Punjab and The Sindh CM used to allow only complacency – and cool. As a result, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa took the the mosque committee members to the government had no recourse but same measures as introduced earlier offer prayers in the mosques, with to revert to complete lockdowns, by the Sindh CM. It was because additional three-hour complete though in selected areas. Imran Khan of strict measures introduced by lockdowns on Fridays, to prevent may seem a bit perturbed by this but Murad Ali Shah and followed by crowding in the mosques for Friday the rising number of infected persons other provinces, that infections prayers. This practice was quite and fatalities is alarming. It is late in the early stages remained low in line with Islamic injunctions in the day but the Prime Minister throughout the country, despite and was followed by Saudi Arabia has acceded to a major course initial mishandling of the ‘zaireen’ at and most Muslim countries. correction and this is heartening. Taftan and at international airports. However, the Pakistan President Unfortunately, Imran Khan’s Imran Khan’s basic stand has met a delegation of maulvis and in unwillingness or perhaps inability been that a poor country like the presence of other officials, but to adapt necessitates a drastic change Pakistan cannot afford lockdowns excluding any medical experts, made in the political setup or at least a because a large proportion of its an agreement for traveeh and regular significant redistribution of power workers like daily wagers, small prayers in mosques while observing between different power sectors. shop owners and their assistants, SOPs. Now, with many of our half- etc. would lose their earnings and baked maulvis suggesting larger than The writer is a free-lance contributor with interest in die of starvation rather than from usual congregations in the mosques regional, South Asian and Covid-19, in circumstances when in order to beg forgiveness from God, international affairs. the government could not sustain there was little chance of the SOPs He can be reached at [email protected] them indefinitely because of being followed. In fact, a credible its meager resources. While survey conducted in many cities

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 29 Region C E

CP Development

– BRI Continues Despite the global destruction that Covid-19 has caused, China’s development initiatives around the world have not stopped.

By Dr M Ali Hamza its BRI allies and CPEC beneficiary. will accordingly see a short-term Since 2013, China has refocused dip in BRI related activity, relative to he COVID-19 snowball has its efforts on its global development Southeast Asia, where supply chain gathered a huge amount of strategy now known as BRI and linkages with China are stronger and Tdiseased moss by visiting formerly known as the Silk Road investment returns more predictable. almost all nations on earth since Economic Belt and the 21st-century Despite the challenges to it began rolling from Wuhan in Maritime Silk Road. This connects 70 manufacturing and supply chain December 2019. It has negatively countries in three continents. The very activity, the pace of digital BRI activity affected all spheres of life and raised purpose of BRI is to enhance regional has ramped up. There are abundant unprecedented challenges. As the connectivity and embrace a brighter opportunities for a full digital value- nature, pace and scope of all businesses future. The western observers, mostly chain for digital BRI activities from has been altered in near and longer the Americans, British and their allies, ICT companies to e-commerce terms, so have the Belt and Road say BRI will push Chinese dominance platforms, comprising firms that are Initiative (BRI) activities and their in global affairs with a China-centered well established throughout the BRI flagship project CPEC (China Pakistan trading network. Whatever the geography such as Tencent, Huawei Economic Corridor). The opponents impact of COVID-19 on the global and Alibaba. Moreover there will be an of BRI and CPEC are criticizing these economy, BRI will remain a priority actual fit for Chinese tech companies temporary alterations and trying to with the possibility that China may such as Tencent’s WeChat Work, build a narrative that China’s dream divert official attention and resources Alibaba’s DingTalk and Huawei’s of becoming an economic giant might from BRI over the next 12 months or WeLink to attempt for market share topple and BRI-CPEC will never reach potentially longer for managing its outside China, particularly in the their completion. First and foremost, in-house unsettling circumstances. BRI region. The Chinese MedTech this is an irrational and non-justifiable This may mean reducing investments market is the third largest in the world, argument. There is no stopping in BRI’s smaller, critical markets therefore the MedTech sector of China China’s progress and no closure of where there are limited opportunities may also find opportunities abroad BRI and CPEC; rather, COVID-19 may to connect such investments to because, in the past few months, further incentivize China to adopt a the global supply. Central Asia, online medical consultation platforms more collaborative model towards sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe (Alibaba Health, Ping An Good Doctor)

30 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Region

have observed a considerable rise in The government-to-government participating in the construction of online medical consultations. Similar commitment is as observable as ever. CPEC projects are also actively making technologies may be successfully Contrary to negative speculation, contributions to the prevention and implemented abroad if staffed by China has not withdrawn engineers control of the pandemic at various locals, given health sector shortfalls working on CPEC projects nor laid off locations in Pakistan, donating in many BRI countries. It seems that Pakistani workers since the outbreak in materials to the local governments, COVID-19 will supercharge the Pakistan. Currently, CPEC hosts nearly schools and hospitals. All walks ongoing momentum of digital BRI 7000 Chinese and 40,000 Pakistani of life in Pakistan have reached a activities or China’s tech industry. employees. Over 40,000 Pakistani consensus that CPEC is the lifeline Of course, the pandemic will affect families are directly supported by of Pakistan; therefore, in times of CPEC construction to a certain extent CPEC projects. In the crisis, the Chinese crisis, the continued construction but within a controllable range. There government and headquarters of the of CPEC is of great significance. The is an opposition in the world that does Chinese enterprises have provided infrastructure projects as well as not wish to see the success of CPEC, sufficient prevention and medical special economic zones and industrial so they capriciously exaggerate the materials to workers onsite, and sent parks under CPEC are closely impact of the pandemic on CPEC medical teams to the construction related to the future development development. Is there any COVID-19 sites. China has also donated PCR of Pakistan as well as fulfilling case reported at any CPEC worksite? Kits, surgical masks, N95 masks, China’s dream to grow together. So far, none. Normal flights between medical gloves, medical protection China and Pakistan are temporarily suits and ventilators to Pakistan and The writer is a columnist and broadcast journalist. He teaches interrupted, so some workers of China has also provided millions of dollars at UVAS Business School in have been stuck in their hometowns to the Pakistan government for Lahore and can be reached at but Chinese technicians have returned building an emergency hospital. [email protected] to the sites by chartered flights. The Chinese enterprises Close Encounters Pakistan has had to pump in money to prop up a system in which

Markets too many people were hanging by their fingertips.

By Saira Baig economy this year is predicted to shrink by 3.2 percent, racking he financial markets up some $8.5 trillion in overall think the worst is over losses and wiping out nearly Tand done with (no, four years of output gains — not with the over-4.3-million since the Great Depression. Covid-19 cases worldwide, for But Covid-19 does not mean sure). Share prices have largely the end of globalisation: it is been rising for the past few a freak of nature, that’s all. months because some nations, The Third World’s fears most notably European and are mushrooming already: Japanese, are starting to lift the Covid-19 crisis could the lockdown restrictions extend further than anyone imposed to limit the Covid-19 could imagine. It could: pandemic. Amid sighs of relief all predicted. It was what economists • increase the number of people round on Wall Street, the hope is that call ‘an exogenous shock’: something battling acute hunger it will soon be business as usual. that has a big impact, but comes • overshadow climate change policies In a sense, it’s not an unreasonable from outside the system itself. as fighting converges on the virus thought after all, because the So, the argument goes. The global • worsen income losses for virulence of this particular strain of economy is going to suffer its worst informal economy workers the coronavirus could not have been year — to be honest, the world • result in 7 million

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 31 Region

unintended pregnancies cooperation been so lacking. The despite what American President • halt many mass job campaigns only effective form of international Donald Trump might think. Yet, the view that nothing coordination comes from central Currently, Pakistan is hardly fundamental will change as a result banks, which ensure that money is any different from among the worst of the twin health and economic cheap and plentiful. Any attempt Covid-19-hit cash cases worldwide. An emergencies may be right. There to raise interest rates to what would economy that was only just recovering was, after all, much talk of how once have been considered more from an external crisis that saw the global capitalism was going to be normal levels is met by stock market country go back to the International fundamentally reformed after the panic and is quickly reversed. Monetary Fund (IMF) and then on to banking crisis of 2008, but that’s The 2020 decade is the weakest G-20 nations has now been dealt a body all it turned out to be: talk. since 2010. This means that millions blow whose impact is unimaginable. In retrospect, the big lesson to be of workers are only one payday During every major economic crisis learned from 2008 was that the global away from penury. For most, self- in Pakistan — and there have been economic system was operating on employment is a daily struggle to make several of them — the wheels of the terrifyingly thin margins. Banks were enough to live on. Small businesses, informal economy have chugged taking ever-bigger bets on products such as family-run restaurants, along. Today, the country stands to they didn’t really understand but operate on wafer-thin margins. lose the most, particularly the tens of had very little capital in reserve For them, the cost of taking out an millions of workers who rely on the to cover any losses. There was emergency bank loan (assuming cash-based sector to provide them virtually no slack in the system and they could get one) would wipe out with the bare minimum income this almost proved fatal when the their profits for the next two years. required to meet their daily needs. bets went spectacularly wrong. What this amounts to is a world In many ways it was a cause for The same applies now, only on clinging on by its fingertips, even concern for what awaits vulnerable a much bigger scale. The financial in what passes for the ‘good times’. segments of society that led Imran system may perhaps be more resilient There are no lessons to be learned Khan to waver. The human and than it was in 2008 but the global from what has happened globally economic cost of this indecision economy as a whole operates with since China warned the World cannot be calculated for the time the scantiest of safety buffers and Health Organisation (WHO) on being, but one must recognise with no margin for error. And that’s New Year’s Eve that it might have a that it was empathy for the true from top to bottom: from the problem on its hands. It would be an vulnerable and not an anti-science ultra-low interest rates that have been act of supreme folly to write off 2020 worldview that delayed the federal keeping the global economy afloat as an aberration and assume that government’s response to the crisis. for the past decade to the scramble everything can return to normal. With more economists now to find intensive-care beds in public Some changes look inevitable. believing that Pakistan’s fiscal deficit hospitals. When politicians say the Companies will shorten their supply will be significantly worse than fundamentals of the economy are chains as a result of the disruption projected this year, and with the sound, they could not be more wrong. caused by the pandemic. Extra money fallout from the pandemic pushing Here’s the naked reality. The will have to be found for health millions into unemployment and past 30 years have seen global systems so that they can operate with poverty, the country could have the markets — especially global financial more spare capacity. Covid-19 has worst cash crisis since 2018, when markets — increase in both size exposed the risks of a country, such as economic growth fell to 3.4 percent and scope. Long and complicated Pakistan, running down its domestic — the lowest of all times. And it’s no supply chains have been built: goods manufacturing base and relying so longer just the human and economic moving backwards and forwards heavily on outside loans. Investment costs of the pandemic — other crises across borders in the pursuit of bankers are surplus to requirements are at risk of being neglected by efficiency gains; hot cash flowing into when the country is almost bereft our policy-makers or unwittingly emerging markets looking for high of testing kits and ventilators. exacerbated by the outbreak. returns and flowing out again just as Other reforms look tougher. swiftly at the first sign of trouble. There is a need for a stronger The writer is a freelance writer focusing on politics in Asia, The development of stronger international system to both manage the Middle East and Latin global institutions might have acted the fight against the pandemic and America. Her subjects cover to constrain some of the excesses minimise the economic damage it feminism, fashion, cinema and sport. She can be reached at of transnational capital but not has caused. No country can operate [email protected] since the 1930s has multilateral a go-it-alone approach to Covid-19,

32 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Special editorial feature

petroleum industry Deregulate OR

By Peerzada Faizan

il is an essential raw material for key Bust!economic activities and holds an undeniably Ostrategic value for an oil-dependent country like Pakistan. Comprising refineries and OMCs, the downstream oil sector in Pakistan is regulated by the Ministry of Energy – Petroleum Division (MEPD) and the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). However, deregulation of the petroleum sector has been the need of the hour for some time now due to various reasons. The oil marketing companies (OMCs) have been asking for the deregulation of the sector since the current regulated system is outdated and flawed and causes immense losses to the oil sector as well as deprives the public of the benefits it could gain from a deregulated oil regime. For an oil-dependent economy like ours, state-controlled oil prices have both short and long-term devastating consequences and decisions and import approvals have a direct impact on the supply chain functions. As things currently stand, the downstream petro- leum sector is arranging supplies at a huge financial

SOUTHASIA • July 2019 I Special Editorial Feature

loss to itself due to the volatility of prices in the international market. The Case for Deregulation is As per statistics released by the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), Stronger the replacement loss for June 2020 was - Zeeshan Tayyeb, Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Oil Ltd. around Rs 17 per litre which translated to around Rs 18 billion for refineries akistan has experienced an interesting yet un- and OMCs. Similarly OMCs suffered usual petroleum sector since the COVID-19 pan- foreign exchange losses in the range of Pdemic started to make itself known to the world. Rs 40 to 50 billion in the past two years In 2019, the country’s consumption of Motor Gasoline or so. and Gasoil was approximately 15 Million MTs split The downstream petroleum sector roughly down the middle. According to an estimate, the has been neglected for far too long. In consumption of smuggled Gasoil or Diesel was any- addition, the vagaries of prices of pe- where between 25-35% of the total Diesel consumed. troleum products in the international In 2020, with the lockdowns in sight and the oil market and foreign exchange fluctua- prices coming down rapidly, instead of rushing to fill tions directly impact the oil sector, up our tanks and lock in value deals for the future, the which is governed by a formula which Government rushed to protect the local refineries, put a ban on the import of is not able to handle price volatilities. not just Mogas and Gasoil but also Crude. As a rule, the government does not Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) that operate more than 8,500 retail outlets allow oil companies to set their own in the country pleaded with the Government not to ban imports as they were prices, but this policy is having a seeing a growth in demand. The growth was coming despite the COVID-19 devastating consequence on the sector pandemic, forcing shutdowns of industries and lockdowns to flatten the curve. while the general public is also de- Things were bad but they were not as bad for transport as everybody was fear- prived of benefits it could derive from ing. oil deregulation. Considering the way First, the strict lockdowns in the country did not last very long and you could things go in the international market, see a lot of traffic particularly in the smaller cities. On the Gasoil front, we had oil prices are always subject to change the onset of the harvesting season coupled with the sealed borders pushing on a day-to-day basis. This is also true demand from OMCs. And to top it all, the lack of any meaningful movement in for the US dollar rate since global oil the CNG prices meant consumers moved to Motor Gasoline, driving demand prices are set in dollars. In Pakistan, further up. unfortunately, changes in oil prices Despite these hurdles, the industry has tried to cope with the challenges albeit are brought once a month, causing a with some difficulties. What is disappointing is that Pakistan failed not only huge loss to the oil sector. In the given in taking the benefit of record low oil prices to fill up its tanks but also miser- scenario, it has now become more than ably failed in putting in place agreements that could have massively helped imperative to deregulate the pricing in reducing the burden on our foreign exchange outflows. A long-term vision mechanism for petroleum products. could have not just addressed this area but could have also have used the taxes Deregulation plays a decisive role on petroleum products to address gaps in Government revenues resulting from in successfully addressing the supply the pandemic. chain issues for good and smoothens The case for deregulation is now stronger than ever. Like any deregulation the cost and profit margins of OMCs. drive, after initial teething problems, a free market for petroleum products is It also helps the industry in adopting expected to not just encourage investments in our outdated refineries but also the latest fuel standards. Other than bring in improvements to the consumers in the form of better quality fuels, addressing the country’s supply and more retail outlets that, in a country like Pakistan, are the lifeline to rural com- demand requirements, deregulation munities, but also a move to more sustainable fuels and policy decisions in areas is also essential for ensuring that the such as solar energy, electric vehicles and a more balanced foreign exchange bill. kind of choked supply situation the country ran into recently does not hap- pen again. Deregulation of petroleum have started reducing their costs using the local oil industry from the adverse prices will help oil refineries to invest different strategies. Since energy sup- effects of COVID-19, which is turning in further expansions and the OMCs ply is generally considered a matter out to be a continuous disaster with no would also be able to expand their stor- of national interest, measures are end in sight in the near future. Refin- age capacity and retail networks. increasingly being implemented at a eries have either closed down or are Major oil companies in Pakistan national level to provide some relief to operating at low levels. The fuels that

II SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Special Editorial Feature

have been most seriously hit are motor not be perceived as the mainstay for margins for the oil companies, but gasoline and jet fuel. The country’s oil revenue generation since such an it must allow OMCs to set or change sector has to also grapple with poor approach limits our ability to explore their prices on a daily basis or when- decision-making by OGRA, which new foreign exchange avenues as well ever it is required. severely lacks clear-cut, result-oriented as sustainable growth areas, which The monthly movements in oil policies to drive the industry out of could earn the country a hundred prices are an outdated practice and do crisis situations. times more than its financial resourc- not go well with a modern economy. The long-term solution is to address es, accumulated through imposing To safeguard energy security and na- the country’s overdependence on heavy taxes and regulatory duties. tional logistics of petroleum products, oil revenue through heavy taxation, The government’s regulators mostly the oil sector demands some drastic which, together with faulty oil pricing, rely on point-in-time analysis of measures and structural reforms, such is a major hindrance to the attainment emerging pricing trends and disregard as complete deregulation of petrol of the economy’s long-term potential the changes that have already taken and diesel, provision of incentives for growth. To be honest, almost the entire place in the preceding month. There- up-gradation investments by refiner- revenue cycle of the national exche- fore, oil companies are forced to sell ies and the issuance of a Downstream quer revolves around driving money at the new prevailing prices, a costly Petroleum Policy in collaboration with from oil taxation and levies and that exercise that has both its short and industry members and major stake- too without consulting with the major long-term consequences for the entire holders. In doing so, deregulation of oil companies operating in the coun- sector. The government must critically prices and privatization of assets must try. A highly-taxed oil sector should monitor and keep regulating gross top the priority list. Pakistan Oil Industry Should Work in Free Market - Mohammad Wasi Khan, Director, Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited

he weakness part by the trajectory of the its participants. and volatility in pandemic and the subsequent In dynamic global energy markets, Tinternational oil government response. Paki- crude oil moves frequently from one prices, an unprecedented stan’s economy is expected to price point to another. The volatility devaluation of the contract by 2.6% in the fiscal has increased this year and oil prices Pakistani Rupees against year 2019-20 and by another can vastly vary on a daily basis. Any the US dollar, and a 0.2% during 2020-21, as per changes in the value of the US cur- large drop in furnace the IMF’s projections. The rency, in which all commodities are oil demand at home business environment, there- denominated, also influence oil prices and abroad, has created fore, will remain challenging in Pakistan. very challenging and for the sector’s oil companies. Since petroleum product prices in disturbing conditions for Paki- Some major oil companies, fearing the local market are linked with the stan’s downstream oil industry. a financial collapse, have asked the previous month’s prices, they do not The sector’s woes compounded sub- government for a support package reflect the prevailing conditions in the stantially this year as the spread of the that will help them navigate through global as well as domestic energy mar- novel coronavirus pushed commodity this crisis. The government, however, ket. This disconnect creates all sorts of prices to historic lows and knocked might not have enough fiscal space to problems. To avoid this, the govern- out a large chunk of demand. The sale fund a bailout during a recession when ment should deregulate the prices of the three key oil products - furnace the fiscal deficit will likely expand and adopt a new mechanism that oil (FO), high-speed diesel (HSD), and due to a decrease in revenues and an operates on the principles of a free motor spirit (MS) - fell by a total of increase in public spending on health market and without any government 15% in the eleven months of the fiscal and social sectors. The government, intervention. The authorities should year ending June 2020, as per analysts’ however, can still provide relief to join hands with the industry experts estimates. them by making the business envi- and the key stakeholders to develop Market conditions may get better as ronment more conducive for sustain- an autonomous platform, such as an business activity picks up after easing able operations. This can be done energy exchange, which will deter- of lockdown and travel restrictions but by deregulating the downstream oil mine petroleum prices, preferably on the future will be determined in large industry and setting attractive rules for a real-time basis.

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 III Special Editorial Feature

How would you describe the rise in petroleum prod- ucts sales in Pakistan over the last few months? Downstream Petroleum sector (Refineries and Oil Marketing Companies–OMCs) have experienced a high fluctuation in demand in the last 4 to 5 months wherein the demand for Motor Fuels (Petrol and Diesel) has experienced a steep decline with the start of COVID-19 lockdowns from March ‘20 to April ‘20 which was fol- lowed by a surge in demand in the month of June ‘20, resulting in shortages of petroleum products. Focusing on Petrol, the demand has grown from 439,000 MT in April to 663,000 MT in May (increase of 51% vs. April

‘Deregulation would bring in supply chain efficiencies.’ - Syed Zawar Haider, CEO, Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC)

‘20) while the anticipated demand for June was 750,000 wheels of the MT (increase of 71% vs April ‘20). It is important to men- economy mov- tion that average demand of Petrol from Jul ‘19 – May ‘20 ing under difficult (11 months) was around 600,000 MT and specifically in conditions in pre- and the month of June ‘19, it was 614,000 MT, which pro- post-COVID-19 lockdowns. It may also be noted that vides a perspective in terms of the increase in demand the Downstream Petroleum Sector is heavily regulated for Petrol. and monitored by the Ministry of Energy – Petroleum Division (MEPD) and the Oil & Gas Regulatory Author- What measures have the OMCs taken to meet this ity (OGRA), whereby decisions and import approvals of demand? MEPD directly impact the delicate supply chain of the Pakistan is a net importer of Petroleum products, country. especially Petrol (70% to 80%) and Diesel (40% to 50%), therefore to address the demand surge for the month of Are the OMCs bearing extra financial impact in ar- June 2020 and onwards, all OMCs are actively working ranging smooth POL supplies for the market? with the Ministry of Energy – Petroleum Division, to Yes, it is pertinent to mention here, that the prevailing import additional quantities of Motor Fuels; however it OMCs’ margin is only Rs 2.81 per litre, while the finan- is important to appreciate the challenges due to increas- cial loss incurred by OMCs was estimated at around Rs ing trend in International prices vs. prevailing prices in 25 per litre in June ‘20 alone. Pakistan causing huge financial loss to the Downstream Petroleum Sector. Can the OMCs be accused of hoarding POL prod- ucts? How are the OMCs performing their role as good Hoarding is a subject which is currently being incor- corporate citizens? rectly attributed to the Downstream Petroleum Sector As a responsible Corporate Citizen of Pakistan, the whose supply chain logistics of petroleum products are Downstream Petroleum Sector is fully committed to totally different from other commodities. Firstly, petro- serving the nation by supplying petroleum products in leum products are bulk in nature with heavy reliance on the country. All companies are working tirelessly round imports and limited storage availability in the country, the clock to improve the stock situation of petrol at a so there are spikes of high days cover when a vessel of huge financial loss of around Rs. 25 billion in the month imported products arrives and discharges its cargo into of June ‘20 alone to their respective organizations. It the Port Terminals of importing OMCs; however, it is needs to be appreciated that these extraordinary efforts important to note that stocks in the Port Terminals of have been deployed in arranging supplies to keep the OMCs are essentially transitory stocks which should

IV SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Special Editorial Feature

‘The unpredictability of prices of petroleum products in the international market has a direct impact which should be factored in while reviewing any supply chain situation.’ not be mistaken for hoarding. Similarly available stocks Despite its overdependence on oil, why has Pakistan in refineries are not entirely saleable as some quantities not been able to construct more strategic oil reserve are under testing for complying with product specifi- storage facilities? cations while some quantities have to be retained for Development of Strategic Oil reserves is a complex issue operational reasons to resume refinery start-up in case of which should be appreciated in its full context. Globally, unplanned shutdown. Notwithstanding the aforestated, the concept of strategic reserves for Petroleum products it is important to note the dichotomy of the situation and other commodities are a critical part of Government wherein Oil Companies requiring to maintain 20 days policies, ensuring availability and security of the com- stocks are also being held responsible for stock hoarding. modities which have been developed and implemented keeping in view the needs and resources of individual Since there is always price volatility in POL im- countries. ports, could deregulation be a good solution? What For Pakistan, there is no approved policy document should be the frequency of price fixing? which addresses the subject of Strategic Stocks and Com- The unpredictability of prices of petroleum products mercial Stocks; the last Downstream Petroleum Sector in the international market has a direct impact which policy dates back to 1997 which lacks comprehensiveness should be factored in while reviewing any supply of the subject. It is important to mention here that the chain situation as the prevailing pricing formula in the responsibilities of creating and maintaining Strategic Oil country is not capable of handling price volatilities as is Reserves rests with the Government which should not be being experienced during the COVID-19 crisis. A simple confused with the Commercial Stocks of Oil Companies. and short-term solution to managing price volatility could be to change the pricing frequency in the present About Syed Zawar Haider mechanism to weekly or fortnightly basis wherein the Syed Zawar Haider is an eminent professional of the down- exposure period would be reduced. Furthermore, the stream oil industry. He is the CEO of the Oil Companies present formula needs to be changed to weekly/ fort- Advisory Council (OCAC). He has over 32 years of diversified nightly prices linked to Platt’s Oil gram pricing postings, local and overseas experience of having worked in leading na- providing a correct reflection of the international prices. tional and multinational companies. He has previously served However, for structural reforms, complete de-regulation in important positions in Pak-Arab Refinery Limited, OCAC of Motor fuels should be taken in a phased program. and ExxonMobil. For 10 years, he worked as a General

Manager of Pak-Arab Refinery Limited. Mr. Zawar Haidar Will deregulation in pricing improve the perfor- carries a successful track record in achieving cost reductions, mance of oil marketing companies? high performances, negotiating contracts and streamlining Deregulation would bring in supply chain efficiencies joint ventures. He holds an MS in Engineering Management which will reduce the import procurement cycle and im- Sciences from the Wichita State University. prove availability of petroleum products in the country

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 V Special Editorial Feature

Abolish Price Regulation

By J. Enver upgradation investments by refiner- MT per month, translating into sales ies and issuance of a Downstream of around 20,000 MT per day. Another t is time when the petroleum Petroleum Policy in consultation with potential reason for the exceptionally product prices in Pakistan the industry. high sales was the easing of COVID-19 Iare deregulated and the At present, the Downstream Oil Sec- lockdown in May and falling prices of government considers introducing tor (comprising refineries and OMCs) petrol and related products in the in- a new mechanism that gives a is a heavily regulated sector in Paki- ternational market, with a correspond- greater role to the OMCs. Instead stan. It is monitored by the Ministry of ing reflection in Pakistan’s domestic of setting petroleum prices and Energy – Petroleum Division (MEPD) market. dealer margins on a monthly basis, and the Oil & Gas Regulatory Author- A typical supply chain of petroleum the government should encourage ity (OGRA). The decisions and import products ranges from 45 to 60 days. that prices of POL products to be set approvals of the MEPD directly impact In Pakistan, there has been heavy on a real-time fortnightly or daily the delicate oil products supply chain reliance on petrol imports which are basis. This should incorporate the in the country. based on various supply complexities principles of demand and supply, A broad perspective of sales and sup- such as securing appropriate quanti- take into consideration the landed plies of petrol across the nation needs ties through international suppliers/ cost of imported products and also to be given to explain the underlying traders, availability of bulk product consider other relevant factors. factors which resulted in the recent carriers (ships) in the marine freight At present, Pakistan’s petroleum shortage of petroleum and related market, port constraints, etc. The ex- sector is very vulnerable. To ensure products. There was a phenomenal traordinary efforts of the Downstream energy security and safeguard national increase in petrol sales in the past few Petroleum Sector need to be acknowl- logistics of petroleum products, it is months. Some 439,000 MT were sold edged in this regard. They arranged considered a matter of paramount in April. This rose to 663,000 MT in supplies and kept the wheels of the importance that structural reforms May (a growth of 51%). Such a sales country moving under very difficult be incorporated without any further pattern was quite unusual as was conditions. delay. Complete deregulation of petrol evident from average sales of petrol for Despite the constraints and diffi- and diesel is a must. This should be the period from July 2019 to May 2020 cult financial situation it was facing, accompanied with incentives for (11 months). It was around 600,000 the OMC sector continued to be a

VI SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Special Editorial Feature

responsible corporate citizens of the country and made a huge contribution Deregulation Will Bring Positive in maintaining the nation’s energy security. The sector never flinched in Competition arranging supplies at a huge financial - Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) loss to itself due to the volatility of oil prices in the international market. There are several reasons for ultimately resulted in increase in Since the supply chain logistics increase in sales demand for OMC products. Lastly, of petroleum products are totally of POL products due to lockdown and lower demand, different from other commodities, it during last few OMCs delayed / deferred their import was not correct to say that the Down- months. First, of POL products. When the lockdown stream Petroleum Sector was resorting the price differ- was unexpectedly eased much earlier, to hoarding. It needs to be emphasized ential between the refineries could not cope with the that petroleum products are bulk MS and CNG has rise in demand, especially for MS and in nature, there is heavy reliance on been consider- HSD. This resulted in dry outs in some imports with limited storage facilities ably reduced due parts of the country. in Pakistan and there are spikes in sup- to a decline in Deregulation of oil prices, except ply when a vessel arrives with import- POL prices. Sec- kerosene oil, will create an environ- ed petrol products and discharges its ond, after the lockdown due to Covid ment for ease of doing business while cargo at the port terminals of import- -19, economic activity almost stopped leading to positive competition and ing OMCs. Therefore the stocks at the but, before Eid, the lockdown was re- better customer service. A number of port terminals of OMCs are essentially moved and there was sudden increase shortcomings have been observed and transitory stocks which should not be in demand which was usually higher the policymakers (federal govern- mistaken for hoarding. than usual around Eid periods in the ment) and OGRA are working to Similarly available petrol stocks in country. Thirdly, due to Covid-19 eliminate the deficiencies of the sys- refineries are not entirely saleable as lockdown, borders with neighbouring tem through policymaking as well as some quantities are under testing for countries were sealed, which stopped enforcement actions in line with rules complying with product specifica- the smuggling of MS and HSD. This and regulations. tions while some of the quantity has to be retained for operational reasons such as refinery start-up in case of Covid-19 crisis. towards the OMCs was unnecessary unplanned shutdowns. The Downstream Petroleum Sector and counterproductive. What was The foreign exchange fluctuations has been neglected for far too long as urgently needed was a review and and the rapidly-changing oil prices the policy currently followed dates analysis of the inherent reasons for back to 1997. the shortage of petrol. There was an With the chang- import embargo in March 2020 under ing characteris- OGRA instructions. This embargo was tics of the mar- lifted after a month. Then, there were ket, simple and delayed approvals for imports. The more pragmatic easing of COVID-19 lockdowns added solutions should to the higher petrol consumption have been im- which was further aggravated by the plemented, such consumer’s tendency to expect POL as changing the prices to really fall and there were also price frequency stock buildups in the retail networks. to fifteen days What is needed now is that all or even less, stakeholders should work together to to cut down find workable solutions to any future in the international market have a the exposure period in times of price petrol crisis in a cooperative, prag- direct impact on the Downstream volatility. Such solutions were not put matic and judicious manner. A really Petroleum Sector, which is governed into practice despite repeated requests workable solution would be to deregu- by a pre-defined formula that cannot from the OMCs. late the downstream sector in which effectively handle price volatilities as The misinformation and blame prices should be set on a fortnightly or experienced because of the on-going game that was recently directed even a daily basis.

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 VII Special Editorial Feature

Pakistan’s Petroleum Industry can be saved by Deregulation, Not Bailouts

By Sarfaraz A Khan In addition to this, these companies have also tackle the problem though it had a very clear received subsidies worth billions of rupees in deadline. he oil refining sector in Pakistan is the past. In the early 2000s, for instance, when As a result, the oil refiners which con- going through one of its most chal- the oil refining sector was going through tinue producing furnace oil can now neither Tlenging periods. Energy companies another rough patch, it received Rs8 billion in sell the fuel to domestic utilities nor to the have been under pressure for the past few annual subsidies from the government. international shipping companies. This is years due to the weak levels of furnace oil The government’s supportive policies the result of years of under-investment due to consumption and the economic slowdown. devised to protect the domestic oil refiner- which some of the old refiners are finding it The business environment turned from bad to ies have not had any positive impact on the difficult to operate in today’s environment. If worse in 2020 after the Coronavirus derailed industry. On the contrary, such measures the government announces a major bailout global economic growth, pushed commod- have only made things worse since they have package by giving billions of rupees to the ity prices to historic lows and decimated oil reduced the incentive to improve efficiency, refiners, some of these old operators are likely demand. The demand for refined products invest, and compete. Although the oil refiners to further delay any upgradation plans. Many has fallen substantially this year, which will have gradually upgraded their facilities in might continue running their outdated facili- severely dent the industry’s performance. the last several years, these investments have ties, pumping out low-quality products like The four major Pakistani oil refiners have been few and far between. The industry des- HSFO which are being phased out from the already reported a combined loss of Rs 14 perately needed capital for modernization but global market. billion for the first three months of 2020 and its key players exhibited a laidback attitude Instead of offering tax payer’s hard- can announce even bigger losses in the future. despite being forewarned about the upcom- earned money to the energy companies, the The situation has become so dire that some ing headwinds several years in advance. policymakers should start rolling back the energy companies have reportedly asked the One of the main problems the industry incentives and lucrative contracts through government to take effective measures to has been facing in the last couple of years is which some of the old refiners have been support and protect the domestic oil refiners. the low upliftment of furnace oil. The power getting a guaranteed rate of return. At the The policymakers should take a moment to generation companies, who have been the same time, the industry should be deregulated reflect on how the industry, which plays such primary buyers of furnace oil, have replaced by removing laws that have been hampering a critical role in Pakistan’s energy mix, got the fuel with LNG which is cheaper and the sector’s growth, such as the inland freight into this situation in the first place. Although more environment-friendly. This has created equalization margin (IFEM) which creates some of the old and well-established refineries numerous problems for refiners whose plants a discrepancy in the oil market and is prone are now seemingly asking for government as- typically produce 30% to 40% furnace oil. to exploitation. This will give a level playing sistance, it is this very support and protection This change didn’t occur overnight. The field to all refiners, not just a selected few who which a select group of refiners has received power companies have been using natural have cashed their early-entrant advantage over decades, that has corroded the oil refin- gas for the last several years. About five years and drained the nation’s resources for far too ing industry. ago, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was the long. Those companies that can improve There are five major oil refining companies Petroleum Minister at that time, discussed the efficiency of their operations, respond in Pakistan - Byco Petroleum, Pakistan Refin- the issue with the heads of the major refining quickly to the market trends, reduce costs and ery, National Refinery, PARCO, and Attock companies. improve product quality, will survive this Refinery. Of these, Byco is the youngest. It was Moreover, Pakistan isn’t the only country difficult period and thrive in the long-run. On founded in the mid-1990s as a public limited which is phasing out furnace oil consump- the other hand, those oil refiners which fail to company. The other refineries have been tion, particularly the high-sulfur variant improve their business will be pushed out of operating for more than four decades. Attock called HSFO. In the international markets, the the market. Refinery is the oldest, tracing its roots to 1922. bunker industry has been the primary buyer More importantly, the government will Apart from Byco, all other oil refineries of this fuel but its demand and prices have also save billions of rupees it would otherwise have a long history of maintaining a strong re- plunged after IMO 2020 regulations came into spend on bailing out oil refining companies lationship with key sector participants. Some force from January. The regulation enacted by with unsustainable business models. That are backed by rich and powerful parents, such the International Maritime Organization aims money could be better spent on other critical as PARCO, which is a joint venture between to dramatically reduce sulphur oxides (SOx) areas, such as health and poverty alleviation, the Government of Pakistan and the Emirate emissions from ships by banning the use of that desperately need the government’s sup- of Abu Dhabi or the Pakistan Refinery which fuels with more than 0.5% sulphur content. port as the Coronavirus pandemic ravages on. is a subsidiary of the government-owned The IMO has been actively working to tackle Pakistan State Oil. These old refiners have maritime air pollution since the 1990s while The author is an Energy Analyst who contributes capitalized on this advantage by securing IMO 2020 was formally announced in Octo- extensively to American media, including Investing. attractive contracts which allows them to ber 2016. In this period, the old oil refiners in com and Seeking Alpha, as well as leading Pakistani earn a healthy and sustainable rate of return. Pakistan did not take any meaningful steps to dailies such as Dawn and Business Recorder.

VIII SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Region nc e a Into the Darkness Before the Coronavirus came, Imran Khan and his team had not

n Gover done a very good job of ruling Pakistan.

By Labbaba Jahangir poor had to pay for petty crimes. With to tackle the issue. What other policy the BJP in government in India, war options does the government have to he slogan of ‘Tabdeeli’ (change) rhetoric from across the bordr was at its bring Pakistan out of the quagmire was what brought Pakistan peak. There were false Indian claims like of loans and poverty? The public is TTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) into the the so-called surgical strike in Balakot seeking the answers to these questions spotlight after years of struggle. The and the Feb 27 episode in which an for the last 2 years but all they get are people of Pakistan were yearning for Indian jet was shot down by the PAF. words of sympathy and hope. Even change in the political system for quite a Today, Pakistan is a part of the world in the current Covid-19 crisis, there while. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, with its that faces one of the worst pandemics in seems to be lack of proper planning on new faces and young workers, came as human history – Covid-19. Th pandemic the government’s part. Various small a breath of fresh air for the nation. After has taken its toll in the most developed initiatives taken by the government 22 years of struggle under the leadership countries like the US, Britain and China. during these times like the Ehsas of Imran Khan, it came to power in 2018 Pakistan too is facing economic and program, etc. are commendable. with promises of changing the system social problems due to Covid-19. Two years is not a long period to and removing corruption. An equal rule There are still many areas where the change a social setup that has been of law was promised for the rich and government lacks and has not performed exploited by almost every previous poor. But soon after the elections it was according to expectations. Imran Khan’s government in one way or another. realized by the public that despite the team is nothing to write home about. What the public demands is to see at banner being new, those working under No one doubts Imran’s sincerity but least some solid steps in the direction it were the old, corruption-infested most of the people around him are the of change. The PTI government has lot. Despite this setback, the Pakistani ones who have already been a part of no doubt initiated some projects that people showed faith in Imran Khan’s previous governments, whether PML-N may bring change at the grassroot level leadership and supported his party. or PPP. The promise of bringing new but a nation that has been suffering After two years of PTI’s government, faces in politics and giving a chance for the past seven decades is bound the people are still waiting for change. to the middle class has been in vain. to become impatient at some point. The rhetoric of the government and The internal groupings in Pakistan These are unprecedented times that the ground facts present two different Tehreek-e-Insaf are also a source of not just Pakistan but the whole world stories. It would be fair to say that the worry. The party is internally divided is facing and the people need to display PTI formed a government in the toughest into sub-groups that are in a constant some patience to get through the of times that Pakistan had to face, both tussle over better ministries and crisis. Once it’s over, hopefully in the internally as well as externally. The more influence in the PM house. The near future, Imran Khan and his team national treasury was empty due to personal vendettas within the party will have to produce the results they the excessive corruption of previous have not only weakened it but have promised initially. If th PTI government governments. Pakistan was under a also shifted the Prime Minister’s focus does not perform, the future fate of debt of billions of dollars. The national from state issues to party problems. Pakistan appears quite dark. institutions had been destroyed by The PTI government seems to lack the curse of corruption, incompetent a clear vision or road map of how it The writer has an abiding interest in international relations. She has a officials and their non-serious and wants to achieve its goals and agendas. Masters degree in the subject from non-professional attitude. There was Is eradicating corruption from Pakistan the National Defence University, no rule of law due to precedents set in the only way to economic development? Islamabad and can be reached at [email protected] the past when the rich and powerful If so, there seems to be no policy could get away with murder while the formulation on the government’s part

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 33 Region

Society Towards Utopia There is much talk of establishing a Riyasat-e-Madina in Pakistan but no concrete steps seem to be taken in this direction. Gen. Ziaul Haq did try to tread the path.

By Khawaja Amer crept in. On the other hand, to enforcement of the Sharia Ordinance. switch over to eastern culture, Zia Four punishments were enforced he very idea of turning Pakistan ordered all high officials to wear through an Ordinance on Feb. 10, 1979. into Riyasat-e-Madina definitely shalwar and kameez, which is a part Mentioned in the Quran as “Had”, Tsounds fascinating but can of Pakistan’s national dress. The these punishments were, cutting of Prime Minister Imran Khan, with President and Prime Minister also hands for theft, hundred lashes and all the powers at his disposal, do wore the national dress on important stoning for death for adultery and it? The answer is a big NO. In the occasions. To promote the national eighty lashes for drinking or false state of Madina the second caliph language Urdu, it was said that the accusation of adultery. An appeal of Islam Hazrat Umar (RA) was President and Finance Minister against these punishments could asked to satisfy a complainant who would make their budget addresses in only be made in the Sharia Court. wanted to know what right had the Urdu. After a few years, all education A few steps were also taken to Caliph to get twice the share of an would be in Urdu, including official model the economic system on Islamic ordinary Muslim, before addressing correspondence, but no effective lines, such as the enforcement of the Juma congregation. He started steps were taken in this regard. the Zakat and Ushar system. Zakat his Khutba only after satisfying the Those who grew up during the is deducted annually from saving complainant. No leader can afford to regime of Gen Ziaul Haq, remember accounts and GDP funds on the first defeat his ego to that extent and Imran Mehtab Rashdi, the TV anchor-turned of Ramazan. Ushar was collected Khan should also accept the fact. politician. She preferred to quit from those landlords who had The only leader who had the will presenting news on TV rather than yields exceeding 948 kg of wheat. to convert Pakistan into Riyasat-e- cover her head while appearing on Institutions like the Industrial Madina -- you may agree or you may Pakistan Television. In those days, the Corporation of Pakistan, N.I.T. and not – was Gen. Ziaul Haq. He made a Ministry of Information had directed House Building Finance Corporation concerted effort to develop a society PTV’s women newscasters to appear were made to eradicate usury and where following the tenets of Islam on TV with a dupatta (scarf) covering these institutions were re-organized were appreciated and opposing Islam their heads and without makeup. on the principle of ‘partnership’ was disliked. His personal example Zia’s first major step was to reform instead of fixed interest. All banks played an important role in making the media which played an important opened profit and loss sharing his efforts successful. He offered role in promoting public opinion. A accounts and all saving accounts prayers regularly five times a day, law was enacted to eradicate vulgarity were converted into P.L.S. accounts. Ramazan was the month of fasting and obscenity on TV. However, with General Zia indeed is remembered for him and his speeches always the passage of time, censorship on as a controversial figure in the reflected his devotion to Islam. TV was relaxed and with the setting political history of Pakistan but the When I was a government up of democratic governments, fact remains that he made a concerted servant, I distinctly remember that ‘chaddar’ and ‘chardivari’ lost effort to convert Pakistan into an arrangements were made for attending its charm and credibility. Islamic state if not Riyasat-e-Madina. the Zuhr prayers for people working Gen. Zia’s other measures towards Can Imran Khan reintroduce the in government offices. On every Islamization include reorientation measures taken by Gen. Zia? Thursday, Maulana Shamsuddin of the country’s education policy, Shamsi used to lead the Asr prayers setting up of the International Islamic The writer is a veteran journalist. He can be reached and deliver a sermon. All the high University in Islamabad, enforcement at [email protected] government officers used to attend the of the Hudood Ordinance, setting up congregation with punctuality but, of Sharia Courts and the Sharia Bench with the passage of time, relaxation of the Supreme Court, Qazi Courts and

34 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Region

Colombo Reaping the Whirlwind Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa must have been in one of his weak moments when he ordered that Muslims who die in his country be cremated rather than being buried.

By S.G. Jilanee

ri Lanka has enjoyed domestic peace since Velupillai Prab- hakaran, who led the Tamil war for separation from Sri SLanka, was killed in action during a battle with the state’s troops in 2009. But, of late, there have been worrisome signs of serious trouble in the making. In the old days, absolute monarchs could ride rough-shod over the senti- ments of their subjects. But even today there are some cranks among elected a direct attack on the Muslim faith age, the president of a civilized coun- rulers who issue orders arbitrarily and by forcing Muslims to deviate from try did not consider it appropriate without giving a fleeting thought to one of their principal religious ritu- to volunteer a public justification the volatile implications of such orders. als. It amounts to forced apostasy. for his senseless action as it aims Interestingly, those who issue It seems the impugned order was to upend one of the fundamental such reckless orders appear in every issued without applying the mind to funeral rites of the Muslims. respect to be in good health and perfect its wider and volatile implications, However, a dead Muslim is al- control of their senses. An example because it runs blatantly counter to the ways required to be buried. That is is the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya fundamental rights relating to religion the funeral rite prescribed by Islam. Rajapaksa. He looks every inch quite guaranteed under the UN Charter. Any other method of disposing of healthy and in perfect control of his Compulsory cremation of Mus- the body of a dead Muslim would be wits. Yet, recently, he issued a fantastic lims is not only preposterous but also contrary to his faith. There is no scope order that amounts to stark lunacy. fraught with incendiary potential. of any compromise on this issue. What madness possessed him to Though, any tremors of the volcano The cremation that President order that dead Muslims should be it hides have not yet been felt in Sri Rajapaksa has ordered is out of the compulsorily cremated? This defies Lanka, yet it is certain that if the gov- question for the Muslims to follow. comprehension. In plain words, it ernment uses force to implement its Compelling the Muslim population is not only absurd but also fraught orders, the volcano will erupt. And if to adopt a religious practice that is with dangerous consequences. No it does so, Sri Lanka would be crimson against one of their cardinal religious other epithet, except utter madness, in blood, as there would be no ques- injunctions, would be as unaccept- could appropriately describe the tion that the Muslim population of able to the Muslims as giving up on bombshell order, since no one in the country would resist the imple- one of their basic religious beliefs. his right mind would ever think of mentation of the order tooth and nail Though the news has not yet interfering with or suppressing the and with the frenzy of a “holy war.” percolated fully about how Sri observance of religious rites by any Use of force by the state would be Lankan Muslims have responded to community in a civilized society. a sure recipe for bloodshed because the cremation order, but defiance of The order, therefore, is a sure this could lead to communal clashes the order and resisting its enforce- recipe for disturbing peace and ignit- between the Sinhala (Buddhist) and ment would seem to be the safest ing religious rage among Sri Lanka’s Muslim inhabitants of the country. bet. Compliance would be unimagi- Muslims, insofar as it amounts to Amazingly, even in this day and nable because it would tantamount

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 35 36 be reached at [email protected] and former editor of SouthAsia. He can The writer is a senior political analyst now preparetoreapthewhirlwind. Rajapaksa has sown the wind, he must The factremainsthatwhilePresident ful society is beyond comprehension. to disturbtheplacidwatersofapeace- ill-advised. However, what prodded him brainchild thoughhemayhavebeen lims ofSriLankaispurelyRajapaksa’s mation has only a limited following. a formofdisposaldeadbodies.Cre- because burial is a universal practice as for Muslims to be cremated, especially to his Muslim people why he prefers should take some time out to explain lim subjects.Infact,PresidentRajapaksa this disastrouscourseagainsthisMus- the Sri Lankan president from pursuing Sri Lanka poses a threat to regional peace. serious eruption of communal violence in at the UN Security Council because any through diplomatic channels as well as issue with the government of Sri Lanka OIC. The Organisation should take up the gious practice calls for attention of the callous encroachmentonMuslimreli- and plunge the country into a bloodbath. could igniteviolentprotestsinSriLanka cremation of Muslims after their death Rajapaksa’s crazy order for compulsory tion becauseenforcementofPresident In fact,itneedstheUN’surgentatten- it relates to Muslim fundamental rights. the United Nation’s cognizance insofar as to yieldingtheimpugnedorder. been ill-advised. though hemay have Rajapaksa’s brainchild of SriLanka ispurely irritant to theMuslims The uncalledfor Region

SOUTHASIA The uncalledforirritanttotheMus- Every effortmustbemadetodissuade Equally importantly, this crass and The issue also falls within the ambit of •

July 2020 By SabriaChowdhury Balland T an accountable and transparent administration to minimize the the minimize to administration transparent and accountable an led AwamiLeaguegovernment makingsufficienteffortstoensure severe adverseeffectsonmillions ofhouseholdsinBangladesh. have will monthly, $600 to $300 from average which amounts, remittance monthly in decrease The 2019. from decrease 25% a is This 2020. in billion $14 by decrease will workers Bangladeshi prices. oil in decline a been has there as country the to tances Middle Eastandareacontributingfactortothedecline inremit- the in are abroad migrants Bangladeshi of percentage largest The measures. lockdown strict very imposed have which countries in work and live them of majority the as abroad migrants Bangladeshi on effect acute an had has pandemic Covid-19 the However, rum. GDP inpre-Coviddays,accordingtotheTheWorldEconomic Fo- million garmentsworkershavelosttheirjobsduetothe globalcrisis. one addition, In severely. tourism and transport hotels, munication, business and trade, manufacturing and utilities, information and com- consequences. adverse in resulted only has economy the of ing ment ofimplementationthefirstone.Theprematurereopen- Dhaka Disaster Within All thisandmorebegacritical question:IstheSheikhHasina- According totheWorldBank,totalremittancesbymigrant International remittancesrepresentedaround7%ofBangladesh’s sector, agricultural the impacted have lockdowns of periods Long “The world will not be destroyed by those “The worldwillnotbedestroyedbythose who do evil, but by those who watch who doevil,butbythosewatch lockdown arisesgreatlyduetothetotalmismanage- second a for need The pandemic. Covid-19 the of spread the quell to order in lockdown a reimpose to but choice other no have to seems Bangladesh of government he them withoutdoinganything,’ - Albert Einstein Einstein Albert - Region

massive spread of the pandemic? A group of local NGOs conducted a study recently and found that every three out of five people in the coun- try were at high risk of facing serious health and economic vulnerabili- ties, with job losses affecting those who are already poverty-stricken. According to the study, among the 100.22 million people at high risk in terms of health and econom- ics, 53.64 million are facing extreme poverty, earning less than 160 BDT ($1.9) per day. The study also found that more than half of these people already live in extremely -providing adequate hospital care League were to be graded, it would poverty-stricken conditions and -training medical staff receive a dismal failing grade. have already run out of money. -treating patients This is not to rub salt on the According to the South Asian -creating Intensive Care Units and ventilators wound, but what more can be ex- Network on Economic Modeling -providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) pected of a government which has (SANEM), the rate of poverty in for healthcare workers - no allocation for the continuously, since 2009, coerced its Bangladesh may double to 40.9% 50 million unemployed daily workers way to power without the people’s since the beginning of the pandemic. - distribution of basic necessities mandate? There will obviously be Since March, the average family - distribution of funds to the abject poor no accountability or transparency, income has decreased by 74%. - medical waste management nor fear of losing votes. After all, the The country’s farmers have also - purchase of medical supplies Awami League does not bother with faced a loss of over $6 billion be- - transparency in the pur- votes, except to manipulate them. tween March and May of this year. chase of ventilators Regretfully, this status quo is one The manufacturing sector in Unfortunately, the list does not which Bangladesh is stuck with for Bangladesh has suffered tremen- end here. Even amidst the extremity the very simple reason that there dously, particularly the readymade of corruption and mismanagement, is no possibility visible even in the garments sector, which accounts for the Awami League government has distant future in which there will be 80% of the country’s total export not abandoned even temporarily its a regime change because there has earnings. More than 4 million gar- characteristic surveillance and abu- been an absence of proactive willing- ment workers depend on the textile sive actions against journalists. The ness from the people of Bangladesh industry for their livelihood and are Ministry of Information has formed for change, which does not appear thus severely affected. Due to the a cell to monitor 30 private televi- magically from rhetoric and criti- reduction of orders placed by the sion channels across the country to cism of the Awami League. It would United States and Europe, more than monitor “propaganda”. For those entail identifying the myriad of 1,000 factories have closed and more who know the Awami League, this problems which have resulted from than 2 million workers have be- is just a cover-up for monitoring any essentially one-party authoritarian- come unemployed. Conversely, the voices of dissent, of which there are ism and making efforts to establish price of food, rents and other basic many. Some 37 journalists had 67 and put into practice the solutions. necessities have been on the rise. cases filed against them for reporting That awakening has not oc- Recently, the anti-corruption on the corruption, theft and embez- curred in Bangladesh since 2009. organization, Transparency Interna- zlement of funds by the Awami The question is: will it and if and tional published a report detailing League during the relief efforts. when it does, will it be too late? the Bangladesh government’s mis- All things considered, the question management of the Covid-19 crisis. of whether the Sheikh Hasina-led gov- The writer is a teacher, politi- cal columnist and member According to the report, the ernment will be able to manage, coor- of the US Democratic Party. Sheikh Hasina-led government dinate and ensure the country’s well She can be reached at sabri- has failed in sectors such as: -being and security in terms of health, [email protected] -disaster management morale and economics is a rhetorical -testing one. If the performance of the Awami

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 37

Region

l Now or Never The Taliban should work towards a ceasefire and K abu show they are serious about providing relief to the Afghan people. The time to act is now.

By Meriam Sabih their lives in the attack, most of them tinue to support “their Afghan broth- mothers and two babies who had just ers and sisters” and that there would n May 17, Afghan Presi- entered the world. News of the horrific be consequences if the increased scale dent Ashraf Ghani and attack on a maternity ward and heart- of violence continues. According to Abdullah Abdullah signed breaking accounts of four hours of ter- Afghan officials, the Taliban have a power sharing deal to ror experienced by mothers and their orchestrated over 3,800 attacks since formO an inclusive government that newborn babies defenceless in the face the signing of the historic deal for will allow the two opponents to act of the senseless violence, shook people peace with the United States. Afghan on a united front towards peace in around the world. Though believed generals have also accused the Taliban the face of the Taliban, ISIS, and other to be an act of ISIS, it served as a stark of continuing to have close ties with obstacles facing Afghanistan. Accord- reminder to Afghans that the violence terror groups such as Al Qaeda and ing to the agreement Dr. Abdullah in the country, including from the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which, if true, would will appoint half of the cabinet and Taliban, has gone too far. After a wave be in defiance of a key promise the Tal- will head the negotiations with the of other attacks around the country by iban have made to the United States. Taliban. After the signing ceremony, Dr. Abdullah quickly dropped the title “President of Afghanistan’’ from his twitter handle marking the change. In the past, Abdullah has been a close aide of Ahmad Shah Masood and a staunch opponent of the Taliban, but with his new title as the Chairman of the High Council for National Recon- ciliation, he has vowed to work with ‘all sides.’ These are hopeful signs that the fragile intra-Afghan peace proc- ess can possibly move forward and its is good news for the international community to see the bitter politi- cal stalemate coming to an end. In a series of tweets, Abdullah stated, “... the Taliban, President Ashraf Ghani The recent political quarrelling we cannot afford to squander oppor- announced the resumption of offen- between President Ashraf Ghani and tunities and international goodwill, sive attacks on the Taliban after they Dr. Abdullah Abdullah in which each especially for a just and comprehen- refused repeated calls for a cease-fire. had their own inauguration cer- sive peace through talks.” He may be In the midst of the Covid-19 pan- emonies had also resulted in the US referring to the American administra- demic, attacks from the Taliban only announcing they would cut $1 billion tion’s consistent and desperate efforts continued to rise rather than show re- in aid. Unusually harsh language was to see a semblance of peace in the prieve. This led to a clarification from used by Secretary Pompeo marking country before the re-election cam- the United States that the peace deal the administration’s clear frustra- paign of President Donald Trump. meant an unwritten agreement for all tions. In a statement Pompeo had The power sharing agreement also sides for an 80% reduction in violence. reprimanded the two leaders stating, came at a difficult time for the country Col Sonny Legget clarified and also “Their failure has harmed U.S.-Afghan after a shocking terror attack on a ma- gave a warning to the Taliban against relations and, sadly, dishonours those ternity ward at Dasht-e-Barchi Hospi- the sharp increase in violence that the Afghan, Americans, and coalition tal in Kabul. Over twenty people lost United States was committed to con- partners who have sacrificed their

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 39 Region

lives and treasure in the struggle to violence does not let down, there can lah Abdullah? In-fighting between the build a new future for this country.” be increased calls from the Afghan political groups have further compli- The attempts to reconcile the two public to take a stricter stance against cated an already complicated matter were important enough for Pompeo the Taliban and other groups similar and weakened the stance of the govern- to travel to Afghanistan to person- to the reaction of the Pakistani public ment. Mike Pompeo also expressed his ally meet with all sides at the height after the horrific attack on the Army regrets on the delays while applaud- of the global Covid-19 pandemic. Public school. This has already taken ing the power sharing agreement. President Trump is keen to prove place with the recent attack on the One thing is for sure, that growing to his supporters not only that he Kabul maternity ward and pressure consensus and unity will do Afghani- has significantly reduced the pres- on the Afghan government to resume stan as a nation much good. Right ence of troops in the region, signal- offensive attacks on the Taliban. The now the Afghan people are trying to ling the United States pulling out of Afghan people may demand that build consensus and unite for peace. Afghanistan, but also that he can push the war be fought to win against the All sides should show that they care both sides to a dialogue for peace. A Taliban instead of what President more for peace and for Afghanistan recent Wall Street Journal editorial Trump called “policing.” This would than for themselves. The ball is in the has warned President Trump to not certainly be bad news for the Trump court of the Taliban to agree to resume act impulsively in Afghanistan nor to administration’s attempts for dialogue. talks, work towards a ceasefire, and give the wrong signal to the Taliban The Taliban had earlier rejected show they are serious in providing that the United States wants to pull calls by the government for a cease-fire relief to the Afghan people who have out without consequences. President during the holy month of Ramadan. suffered for decades. If not after the Trump responded by saying that the They have also walked out of meetings attack on newborn babies and a global United States “except for the begin- with the Afghan government over dis- pandemic which has cost hundreds ning, never really fought to win.” putes of the release of prisoners. Abdul- of thousands of lives, then when? The risks of the intra-Afghan lah Abdullah had previously criticized dialogue falling apart could mean Ghani’s “7 Point Peace Plan” as an The author is a columnist and former contributor to Al-Jazeera that continued violence can quickly “unrealistic wish list.” It is now to be America. She can be reached spiral out of control during the current seen how the peace deal negotiations at [email protected] global Covid-19 pandemic. If the intra- with the Taliban will resume. Will the or twitter @meriamsabih Afghan talks remain at a standstill and Taliban be willing to work with Abdul- l Bumpy Ride

c e D ea The success of the American peace deal in Afghanistan is closely tied to Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential elections.

Pea The picture is grim and the road ahead is bumpy.

By Imran Jan

or many years, the central debate was regarding the best way to end the war in Afghanistan. There was no questionF that the American people were tired of it and wanted the war to come to an end. The American war in Afghanistan has been its longest military engagement in history. Now the real worry is not about how to end it but rather does anyone even care? President Trump has been work-

40 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Region

ing towards ending this war. His aim from the virus to the death of George his reaction toward the protests. has been to end America’s longest Floyd. Protests broke out all across Given this context of President war so as to tout his deal-making the US and parts of Europe. People Trump struggling to keep his sup- credentials for the coming presi- demanded major police reforms in port alive, Americans are scared of dential election. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US and an end to systemic rac- the virus more than they were of the the US special diplomat, has been ism. The deserted American streets terrorists, and the loss of jobs and in charge of working out the nitty of Covid-19 lockdown turned into income. These would all become gritty of the peace deal between heavily crowded ones where mas- major issues defining the coming the Taliban and the United States. sive crowds protested against police presidential election. It doesn’t appear The peace deal was signed this year brutality. After that brief break, that peace in Afghanistan is going to right before the coronavirus in- the virus is back in the news. be even an issue of major concern. vaded the newsrooms worldwide Amid all this, what nobody, What is dangerous though is that and captured people’s imagination. however, is talking about is ending if President Trump ends up not end- Nobody could have seen this America’s longest war. Impeachment ing the war because it wouldn’t be a coming. Just as one of the symptoms couldn’t remove President Trump. sellable argument for the election, of the coronavirus is the loss of the The late response to the virus, which then it can become a cold case with no sense of taste and smell, the virus is has been the major argument of his interest left in it. Moreover, if Biden doing the same to the peace deal. It opponents may or may not affect his wins the election, which is quite like- is absolutely a great achievement to re-election campaign. What could ly, the peace deal will face the same end America’s longest war, a goal that perhaps truly affect his re-election fate that the Iran nuclear deal faced eluded other presidents before Trump. campaign would be his behaviour in when Trump came into office. Biden However, the coronavirus consum- the wake of the protests truly un- belongs to the smiling war criminals ing the daily news cycle and affecting becoming of a president. With the club. The war will continue if the Oval people’s lives in unforeseen ways nation seething with anger over the Office is occupied by Biden in 2021. has rendered the peace deal between police brutality, Trump has con- If Trump goes on to win the elec- the United States and the Taliban tinuously refusaed to acknowledge tion, the future of peace in Afghani- tasteless. Americans are not paying racism. He touts good job numbers stan would look no less disturbing. attention to what is happening in Af- and has said that the better than Because after winning the election, ghanistan or how soon the American expected job numbers meant that it President Trump would forget about troops would come home from that was “a great day” for George Floyd. Afghanistan and the peace deal battlefield. They are more worried He has called for the harshest because the only purpose for which about the more than a 100 thousand measures to deal with the protests. Trump signed that peace deal with corona deaths and the grim predic- He even considered bringing the US the Taliban is to win the election. tions of another 100 thousand deaths Army to American streets. Chemi- Once that purpose is no more to be before the presidential election. cal agents were used to suppress and achieved, Trump would lose any The year 2020 has been quite an drive away the protesters near the interest in Afghanistan and his coun- eventful year in many ways. It started White House just so that President try’s commitment to the peace deal. with calls for Trump’s impeach- Trump could have a photo-op where If Trump ends the war and goes ment, followed by the peace deal he held a Bible in his hand catering on to win the election, Afghanistan between the United States and the to the ultra-whilte nationalists and would not be a fairy tale in that Taliban. Then came the virus and it Republican supporters. He continues scenario either. America would be has not left us yet. Massive changes to paint himself as the “Law & Order” out of town within minutes, with- in lifestyles and work became the president. The only other times out even leaving a callback number. norm within days. Worshipping, one heard of the chemical agents This happened in the early 90s. It shopping, working, parenting, eve- being used were in different war would be deja vu all over again. rything changed and the shift was zones of the Middle East and Asia. In any simulation of peace in extremely sudden. Then came the At the time of writing this, Afghanistan, the picture is grim and death of a black man named George Trump’s poll numbers are as low the road ahead is bumpy at best. Floyd. He was killed when a white as they were around this time in police officer pressed his knee over the presidencies of George H.W. The writer is a political analyst. He can be reached at imran.jan@ his neck. He pressed so hard despite Bush and Jimmy Carter. Even im- gmail.com. Twitter @Imran_Jan the repeated pleas from George peachment moves couldn’t affect Floyd, that he ended up killing him. Trump’s poll numbers as much The news cycle briefly shifted as the death of George Floyd and

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 41 Region

Border Dispute Locking Horns Will India and Nepal settle their territorial disputes or will the two neighbours continue to bicker and fight over territorial hegemony?

By Muhammad Omar Iftikhar road passes through Lipulekh Pass. pal. According to it, Nepal owns the ar- It is on the border between India eas of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpi- egional disputes can arise at and China, near their junction. The yadhura. The Nepalese government any time. Either they blow Kalapani territory is situated on the also claims that these areas were never out of proportions or, at southeastern side of Lipulekh Pass. under colonial rule. According to times, countries use diplo- According to the plan, this Hima- reports, the areas were brought under Rmatic initiatives to reduce enmity. layan link road, a unilaterally built Nepal’s administration in line with the What began in May 2020 was a row motorway by India, connects the Sugauli Treaty with the British Raj fol- between India and Nepal when New Indian state of Uttarakhand to Kailash lowing the Anglo-Nepalese (Gurkha) Delhi inaugurated the Himalayan Mansarovar situated in Tibet. Histori- War in 1816. The Nepalese govern- road link. It was a part of India’s plan cally speaking, the Lipulekh Pass is ment has planned to use this new map to expand its road routes in the region also the shortest trade route between for administrative purposes. It will for trade and commerce. However, the India and China. It is yet to be seen also be put in textbooks. This may well Indian road link passed through Ka- how China will view the inauguration compel India to do the same. If this is lapani. This disputed region has been of this link road, given that Chinese the case, students on either side of the under siege since 1998. While India and Indian armed forces have been border will not get the true picture of claims the area comes under its con- engaged in a conflict in the Ladakh geography and geopolitics of the area. trol, Nepal also claims its ownership. region. Nepal, however, considers that This Sugauli Treaty defined the At a time when the world is the Himalayan road link is a way to Kali River as the western boundary of facing the atrocities caused by the bully smaller countries of the region. Nepal. The citizens of Kalapani, Lipule- Covid-19 and lockdowns, India and The controversy of the Himalayan link kh, and Limpiyadhura had even voted Nepal are preparing to lock horns. road is that a 17-kilometer part of the for Nepal during the 1959 general The border dispute between the two road passes through Nepalese territory. elections. They have been giving taxes neighbours may as well expand. Stepping up the game of conflicts, and consider themselves as Nepalese. India’s inauguration of the 80- the Prime Minister of Nepal, Khadga However, in 1962 when India and Chi- kilometer (50-mile) Himalayan link Prasad Sharma Oli issued a map of Ne- na fought the Sino-Indian War, India

42 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Region

claimed to have taken over these areas. complicated after a hardening of ence and hegemony in the region. India did reject Nepal’s claim stances on both sides. Nepal’s earlier Swaran Singh, a professor at the of the disputed territory. It consid- demands were focused on the with- Jawaharlal Nehru University in New ered it a unilateral act. In a broader drawal of troops from Kalapani; its Delhi thinks that the problem has to sense, constructing the road link in a recent position now includes the do with Nepal’s intricate association disputed region was India’s unilateral insistence of Limpiyadhura as the with China. According to Singh, “the move. Just a day after Nepal issued headwaters. The dispute looks like diplomatic landscape only reinforces the new map, Indian External Af- it is heading towards a point of no allegations of Nepal becoming more fairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag return. There had been proposals in emboldened to take a tough stand Srivastava said, “It is contrary to the the past where India would withdraw and use harsh language against India bilateral understanding to resolve its troops while Nepal would guar- to please their Chinese friends.” the outstanding boundary issues antee Indian security interests in the The Nepal-India border dispute through diplomatic dialogue. Such region. But this looks difficult now.” will continue until both sides do artificial enlargement of territorial The de-escalation of the move- not reach a meaningful resolution. claims will not be accepted by India.” ment of troops from India seems a Doing so will require talks and an Nepal and India have been previ- far-fetched idea now that the Hima- understanding of each other’s con- ously involved in other cartography layan road link has been inaugurated. cerns. Until then, the conflict and disputes. In November 2019, India Even if the 17-kilometer patch poses the blame game will linger. launched a map that showed Jammu a diplomatic problem for India as it and Kashmir as two union territories. crosses into Nepali territory, New The writer has a special interest in the region’s social and political It also showed Lipulekh as its territory. Delhi will make all efforts to protect affairs. He can be reached at According to Sudheer Sharma, its investment into the road link. It [email protected] editor of Kantipur Daily of Nepal, is yet to be seen to what extent will “The dispute has become more India go to protect its undue influ-

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 43 Opinion

The Devil in Us It is true that there is far more pluralism and freedom in most non-Muslim countries. The more we open our souls to the devil, the more he will find a nourishing environment.

phemy, was cleared by the Supreme system of beliefs that they are on By Nikhat Sattar Court and while he had to escape the absolute right and divine path, to Canada, he was killed. No news laid out for them through direct n 13th May, 2020, a delib- has come to light about the killers. intervention; their interpretations erate grenade attack on The seemingly unrelated events and those of the clergy they follow a maternity hospital in have two very important points in is the “sirat ul mustaqeem” that will Kabul left at least 24 dead, common. They resulted in killing of take them to Paradise and that all withO new born babies and mothers innocent humans and all three be- other paths lead to Hell. This is the among them. The latter were specifi- longed to minority groups. The logic foundation of extreme fanaticism cally targeted. The Taliban refused that drove the killers in the first case that results in killing of members to take responsibility and it seems was, presumably, that neither the of “other” sects and religions on that a faction of the ISIS had carried babies nor the mothers had a right the one end of the spectrum and out the attack. The hospital is in an to live. The distorted views that the their readiness to donate to their area inhabited mostly by the Hazara killers held of their religion, the “own” sect and not to another, even community, a persecuted sectarian victims were kafirs and deserved to if it is for the same purpose. This group, both in Afghanistan and Pa- die. Whatever the source of this line hatred of the other manifests itself kistan. This is a crime which defies of thought, it has found resonance in various and often bizarre ways. description: an evil manifestation among many Muslims, including In recent times, there has been of a logic that would be envied by those who would like to be seen much debate on pluralism and rights the devil. This was also a crime that as “open minded” and “tolerant”. of minorities, including the right to carried small headings in interna- These Muslims have an entrenched observe their faith without fear of tional news and disappeared a day later. Muslim leaders, governments and organisations were conspicuous by their absence in denouncing it. On 18th May, a 19 year old Lebanese law student, Aya Ismail Hachem, was shot dead in what is being termed a hate crime in Blackburn, UK, while she was out grocery-shopping. It is worth noting that no one is calling the perpetra- tor a terrorist. Aya’s friends have started a fund-raising campaign for her family to carry out Sadqah e Jariyah in her name. Until recently, more than $25,000 had been do- nated by over 270 people. When donors came to know that Aya belonged to a particular sect, many of them requested for a refund. In Punjab, Pakistan, a brother-in- law of Aasiya Bibi, the woman who was falsely incarcerated in prison for seven years on charges of blas-

44 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Opinion

oppression. Without doubt, there is or groups, especially the much collective progress by highlight- far more pluralism and freedom in maligned Ahmadis, is not men- ing and defining our dislikes based non-Muslim countries (except India tioned. By their absence, would on colour, religion, belief, race, and Israel), although the graph of their persecution be justified? ethnicity, class and status. Should Islamophobia has been The other issue is we really condemn or look down rising consistently in Tolerance the use of the word upon people of different beliefs? the West. Christian “tolerance”. There is The donors who wish their minorities in Egypt, usually something deeply arro- money to be refunded because Aya Bahais in Iran and means gant and self-righteous belonged to a different sect; the Ahamadis and Shias here. Tolerance usually killers of babies and mothers who in Saudi Arabia and acceptance, means acceptance, or were members of families of differ- Pakistan are targets or living with living with an action, ent beliefs and the killers of Aasia of both vilification views, ideas or people Bibi’s brother-in-law, are in the same and violence. At the an action, one dislikes. The root spectrum of hatred, albeit at differ- same time, there is views, ideas of the word is from ent ends. It does not take too much an oft-repeated and medieval toxicology: of an effort to move from one end self-righteous call for or people how much poison can of the spectrum to the other. In fact, tolerance in Islam. one dislikes. a body tolerate before most of us have seeds of hatred, lack Speakers claiming losing life? Pluralism, of empathy and indifference planted to possess deep understanding of which is what Muslims need to aim within us. The more we open our Islam pontificate about the legacy for, goes much beyond tolerance. It souls to the devil, the more he will of tolerant behaviour of the Muslim would be to embrace both similari- find a nourishing environment. civilisation towards non-Muslims. ties and differences of people and There are repeated requests to to work with them towards a world The writer is a development professional, researcher, Muslims to be more tolerant of order of social justice. So much translator and columnist other faiths and to “allow” them blood has been shed due to our small with an interest in religion to observe the requirements of and limited abilities to wonder at, and socio-political issues. She can be reached at their faith without oppression. learn from, bedazzled by and love [email protected] There are two issues here. One our differences. We have lost so is that persecution of other sects many opportunities for peace and

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 45 International

kara Lost Glory

An Turkey is one of the most powerful nations in the Islamic world. Will it win back the lost glory of the Ottoman Empire?

By Abdul Rasool Syed Abdul Rehman Dilliak, a Turkish daily life. thinker affiliated with Erdogan’s Erdogan appeared at the hat is Recip Tayyip regime, is of the opinion that the reception of Azerbaijani President Erdogan, the President transformation of Turkey’s political Ilham Aliyev in January 2015 with Wof Turkey, poised to dispensation to Presidential may just a contingent dressed in Ottoman do after the expiry of the Treaty of give it the opportunity to become attire and carrying flags of countries Lausanne in 2023? Is he trying to a country that is as powerful as the founded by the Ottomans. This resurrect the Ottoman Caliphate Ottoman Caliphate of the days of yore component has now been added (Sultanat-e-Osmaniya)? Almost It is apparent that Erdogan’s to formal parades in Turkey on every political discourse these approach is different from Kemal a permanent basis. Erdogan has days by political luminaries, spin Ataturk’s who was a champion of also authorized the teaching of the doctors and academicians, revolves secularism. Erdogan is using social Ottoman language in schools and has around the question. The world is re-engineering in a bid to restore slammed those who oppose the move. curious to know what Turkey will Ottoman values and practices. This In January 2015, the AKP do under Erdogan beyond 2023. includes exclusion of opponents members of parliament put forward The Turkish drama serial, “Dirilis: and keeping dissenting voices at a bill calling for the adoption of Ertugrul” is also premised on the bay. His crackdown after the failed the Ottoman Empire “tughra” as history of the Ottoman Empire military coup attempt in 2016 is the official emblem of the Turkish and is justifiably patronized by the a case in point. He dismissed state nation. The Constitutional Affairs Erdogan administration. It has also employees as well as police and Committee of the Turkish National sent shock waves across the world military officers and restructured the Assembly agreed to this proposal. as it rejuvenates the struggle for administrative apparatus of the state. Erdogan is also developing a reclaiming the Ottoman Empire. Erdogan is indubitably a man of Erdogan is paving the way to unprecedented political acumen. He create a state on the lines of the is employing all resources to turn Ottoman Empire when the Treaty secular Turkey into an Islamized of Lausanne expires in 2023. dispensation. Among his many Erdogan has taken numerous endeavours, he has made measures that clearly reflect religious education mandatory his policy and passion to regain in schools. He seeks to revive the lost glory of the Muslims. the historic and architectural He is restructuring the Turkish heritage of the Ottoman Empire. identity through manifestations He aims to reconstruct some and symbols of the Ottoman military barracks in Istanbul as heritage. This analysis explores an example of Ottoman military how Erdogan plans to recreate a might. He has also renamed the state like the Ottoman Empire. largest bridge on the Bosphorus Domestically, Erdogan always in Istanbul as “Selim I”. He is knew that without consolidating always seen as being keen to his power, it was almost impossible use Ottoman Empire- for him to re-build a country like inspired the Ottoman Caliphate. He began by symbols taking steps to make himself more in powerful. For this, he transformed the entire Turkish political outlook from parliamentary to presidential. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

46 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 International

new army called “The new Janisaries. Erdogan is known to encourage Turkish Treaty of Lausanne TV serials and films that show events dating The Treaty of Lausanne, (1923), was the final treaty concluding World War I. back to the Ottoman era and elevate its It was signed by representatives of Turkey (successor to the Ottoman Empire) administrative practices. In November 2016, on the one side and by Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Romania, and the he visited the locations of “Diriliş: Ertugrul,” Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) on the other. The treaty a series about the historical founders of the was signed at Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 24, 1923, after a seven-month Ottoman state; this was a great source of conference. encouragement to the creators of the serial. The treaty recognized the boundaries of the modern state of Turkey which Erdogan thinks that the Ottoman legacy made no claim to its former Arab provinces and recognized British possession gives the Turkish nation a historic right to of Cyprus and Italian possession of the Dodecanese. The Allies dropped their regional supremacy and to lead the Muslim demands of autonomy for Turkish Kurdistan and Turkish cession of territory to world. He sees deployment of Turkish Armenia, abandoned claims to spheres of influence in Turkey, and imposed no military forces in Syria and Iraq and support controls over Turkey’s finances or armed forces. The Turkish straits between the of religious organizations in the Arab states Aegean Sea and the Black Sea were declared open to all shipping. as part of the “imperial policy” that reinforce his vision of Turkey’s role in the Middle East. In the event of all other Muslim countries The Ottoman Empire being caught in a web of international politics dominated by the West, it is good to The Ottoman Empire was a state and caliphate that controlled much of see that Muslim Turkey is re-asserting itself Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa between the 14th as an emerging regional power. It has engaged and early 20th centuries. It was founded at the end of the 13th century in in direct military interventions in Syria and northwestern Anatolia in the town of Söğüt (modern-day Bilecik Province) by Iraq and maintains a number of military the Oghuz Turkish tribal leader Osman I. Although initially the dynasty was bases in Qatar, Northern Cyprus, Syria of Turkic origin, it was Persianised in terms of language, culture, literature and and Azerbaijan, It also plans to build more habits. After 1354, the Ottomans crossed into Europe, and the conquest of the military bases in the region in the near future. Balkans came about. The Ottomans ended the Byzantine Empire with the 1453 It goes to Erdogan’s credit that he is conquest of Constantinople by Mehmed the Conqueror. aggressively pursuing his mission to reenact During the 16th and 17th centuries, at the height of its power under the the glories of the Ottoman Empire as from the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire was a multinational, 1300s to the early part of the 20th century, multilingual empire controlling most of Southeastern Europe, Central Europe, an Islamic caliphate held its sway in three Western Asia, including parts of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Northern continents. The importance of Pakistan as the Africa, and the Horn of Africa. At the beginning of the 17th century, the empire only Muslim country with nuclear capability contained 32 provinces and numerous vassal states. Some of these were later will enhance Turkey’s mission to regain the absorbed into the Ottoman Empire. lead and to lay down the foundations of a With Constantinople (modern Istanbul) as its capital and control of lands campaign for winning back the lost prestige around the Mediterranean Basin, the Ottoman Empire was at the centre of and glory of the Muslims. Pakistan has the interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds for six centuries. Over the full support of Turkey and is a key nation in course of the 19th century, the Ottoman state became vastly more powerful and the Islamic world as it has a very strong army organised, despite suffering further territorial losses, especially in the Balkans, and is currently led by a man like Imran, who where a number of new states emerged. is a very honest man and strongly believes in In the early 20th century, the empire allied with Germany, hoping to escape the supremacy of the Muslims. He is also one from the diplomatic isolation which had contributed to its recent territorial Muslim leader who has opened the world’s losses, and thus joined World War I on the side of the Central Powers. While eyes to the growing spectre of Islamophobia. the Empire was able to largely hold its own during the conflict, it was struggling This is the time when Tayyip Erdogan must with internal dissent, especially with the Arab Revolt in its Arabian holdings. also tailor his foreign policy to meet the The Empire's defeat and the occupation of part of its territory by the Allied emerging new geopolitical realities. Powers in the aftermath of World War I resulted in its partitioning and the loss of its Middle Eastern territories, which were divided between the United The writer is an advocate and a columnist Kingdom and France. The successful Turkish War of Independence led by based in Quetta. He can be reached at [email protected] Mustafa Kemal Atatürk against the occupying Allies led to the emergence of the Republic of Turkey in the Anatolian heartland and the abolition of the Ottoman monarchy.

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 47 International

Chinese Puzzle eiji ng

B For some people, COVID-19 can be compared to a nuclear bomb that could change the direction of the human race.

By Khalid Hussain communication, etc. in almost the Black Death of 1346, lasted for every corner of the globe has been about eight years. This outbreak t was in December 2019 when the drastically disrupted. Do pandemics ravaged Europe, Africa and Asia world heard about an unknown, stop the survival of human life? and caused an estimated death toll Ifast spreading and communicable COVID-19, as similar pandemics between 75-200 million people. disease called Corona Virus previously, will be exterminated one COVID-19 and other previous (COVID-19). It ostensibely originated day. But it will leave behind many pandemics may be punishment in Wuhan, one of the commercially questions and lessons for mankind. from God or are due to man-made busiest cities of China. In just two When we look at history, we causes but this is not surprising. months, the virus engulfed the whole find that pandemics that spread Being technologically, socially, world and created an uncontrollable worldwide such as cholera, the politically, economically and worldwide emergency. bubonic plague, smallpox and culturally developed is not a What are the reasons behind influenza, played their roles as brutal bad thing. But the routes taken the origins and spread of COVID-19 killers and disrupted human life. towards such development and and who is responsible? Is it a Millions of people became victims progress in today’s globalized man-made virus or something of pandemics in every century. The world are less human-centered. else? All this is still a mystery. flu pandemic of 1968 that originated China is the world's largest There are so many questions but in Hong Kong, led to the loss of a exporter and second-largest importer information is mostly scarce or is million human lives. In the Asian of goods and has the world's largest being concealed. There are different flu of 1956 that also originated in standing army and second-largest opinions, speculations and theories China and lasted for two years, the defence budget. It is the most that are being discussed all over the death toll was over 2 million; The populous and fastest growing world but there is no hard proof. flu pandemic of 1918, that lasted country in scientific, technical and The situation is worsening day for two years, caused the death of commercial terms and is known after day but no scientific, medical 20-50 million people. The worst-ever for its disciplined civilization. It research or health organizations pandemic on earth, also known as has developed trade routes and have been able to find economic corridors a solution, treatment all over the world. or vaccine; many China is also research studies have popularly known for its been launched under production of viruses the W.H.O. and other and anti-viruses. After organizations but the second World War, it everyone is still waiting has changed its policies for any positive results. and is grabbing the global The pandemic has market more rapidly and completely crushed successfully by promoting the global economy; new scientific, technical millions of people have and commercial notions. lost their jobs and are Due to its policies in stuck in miserable and economics and commerce, unbearable conditions. China has increased its Education, trade, import tariffs against the business, social setups, USA; this has triggered

48 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 International

the US-China trade war. The impact of this war would be evident in the USA Key Questions after the disruption and deadly effects of COVID-19 become more obvious. ork Discrimination is carried out in different The USA’s current GDP rate has societies through various policies, decreased and the country is facing its procedures and structures. Cultural and worst-ever economic crisis. The recent

New Y religious trends also matter. riots over the death of a black American in the custody of white policemen in By Syed Kamran Hashmi Michigan have further worsened the situation. Other developed countries, lthough most Pakistanis hold no connection with the United especially the UK, Italy, France, States - they neither live there nor do they understand its Germany and Brazil are among the Apolitical dynamics - a small segment among them still finds most disrupted nations by corona virus. it necessary to comment on American events. Quite often, they bring They have always been hostile towards up the issue of racial discrimination in their discourse, criticize China over political and economic white supremacy, decry the inhumane treatment of blacks and voice issues. Like the USA, they are also police brutality as if they carry expert qualifications in the subject. facing medical and economic issues. Jumping into the fray, many columnists join in by lecturing on the China’s response to COVID-19 was importance of justice, laying down the principles of equal rights in stable so quick that the disease could not communities, predicting a grim future of a superpower or concluding spread to other parts of the country that the end of American hegemony is approaching, that the rise of and within a short time, the country China is coming and that one day the Yuan will take over the US dollar. was able to construct a number of This sounds funny. You cannot take the comments of an ordinary hospitals with advanced facilities Westerner seriously if that person talks about the culture of the to combat the disease; however, sub-continent after listening to news channels or they are still not able to understand watching Indian films. You also cannot give how to overcome the outbreak. credence to a Pakistani if he weighs in on There are also many other questions. American culture after watching the Was COVID-19 a pre-planned strategy Game of Thrones, Keeping up with by China? If not, then what kind of the Kardashians or Judge Judy. medication was used in Wuhan to rein This discussion is not about in the impact of the virus which other how George Floyd died, the countries did not have? Why were legal case filed against the other parts of China not affected by the police officers involved in virus while it spread all over the world? the killing, the protests that Why was the death and infection rate swept the whole country or in China less than even the developed the looting that took place countries? Is China using COVID-19 as a during the protests. It is also tool to further its 5G software and other not about how immaturely technical and commercial developments the US administration or to increase its GDP? Or is it using its the US President behaved, traditional techniques of taking revenge? or how such a situation must There could be so many reasons be handled in future. It is not behind this. For some people, COVID-19 about what police reforms are could even be termed as a nuclear needed to improve the relationship bomb that could cause the human between a predominantly white race to suffer for a long time. police force and non-white citizens. It is definitely not The writer is a doctoral fellow of about how badly the Islamic Studies at the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in black communities Rajouri, Kashmir. He can be reached need help. Major at [email protected] investments must be made into the George Floyd resources of health

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 49 International

and education to fight crime When push comes to shove, in the neighborhoods. our political leaders disappoint us Pakistan does not have a black too - way more than the American population, the second largest President disappoints the Americans. minority in America. At best, for He at least acknowledges the abuse the people of Pakistan, black lives of power. Ours do not even admit only matter as a matter of principle any wrongdoing by the police or not as a matter of political reality. sympathize with the victims. Asif We have our own minorities Ali Zardari, for example, a leader though, both ethnic and religious, of the Pakistan People’s Party and who suffer and are ignored. a former President of Pakistan, To empathize with African speaks in favour of Rao Anwar, Americans or to support the fact not in favour of Naquibullah. Naqeebullah Mehsud that black lives matter, we must The current leader of the also proclaim that Baluch lives These sentiments may be deeply opposition and the President of matter, Pashtun lives matter and unpopular but there is a need to look Pakistan Muslim League, Shahbaz Urdu-speaking or Sindhi lives inwards. Instead of throwing rocks Sharif too, as the Chief Minister of matter. In religious terms, Hindu at others while sitting in the glass Punjab, is rumoured to have blessed lives matter and Sikh lives matter. house, there is a need to see how the hundreds of extrajudicial killings. Everyone who has been oppressed state silences everyone who tries He has never been investigated for and discriminated against must get to bring up various injustices. A the alleged crimes. The list goes on. the right to speak. This must also prime example is that of the Pashtun Pakistanis need to protest and raise include women, their systematic Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a party concerns about the things going on in manipulation through polygamy that came into being after the killing their own backyard rather than crying and their subjugation through of Naqibullah Mehsud, an aspiring wolf on someone else’s misgivings. selective interpretation of religion. male model, on January 13, 2018, in a Not only the lives of the oppressed fake police encounter by Rao Anwar, The writer is a US-based freelance columnist. He can be reached at but their rights matter too, their a police officer who roams freely, [email protected] right to assemble, pray, celebrate, unlike Derek Chauvin who has been protest, breathe and to call themselves arrested and will face trial for first whatever they want to call themselves. degree murder of George Floyd. Eye of the Storm Europe is increasingly isolated as it finds itself at the

l s russe epicentre. Unfortunately, it does not have the tools to cope B with a crisis that has no parallels in history.

By Atif Shamim Syed experiencing an unprecedented of dwindling demand for goods slowdown in the bloc’s economic and services. The unemployment illions of people have output which is estimated to be rate around the continent is been affected by the around 7 percent. The consequent expected to rise by 2 percent. Mcoronavirus in Europe recession will be a ‘historic’ one, The magnitude of the recession, and around the world. But the the likes of which have never and the pace of recovery – if it actual damage caused by the been seen by the continent’s happens – cannot be predicted at pandemic – from the perspective of prosperous population. this moment. However, one of the healthcare, economy and society – The pandemic has affected main factors that will contribute is still unknown, and will become spending, investment, supply chains, towards Europe’s economic revival clear with the passage of time. and industrial output. It has also hit in the coming days will be the ability The European Union is the white collar workforce because of its governments to lift lockdowns

50 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 International

in a swift and efficient manner. It owing to the dwindling demand will also hinge on each country’s for consumer goods within Europe. available financial resources, This will result in trade imbalances and the capacity of its hardly-hit and further unemployment. sectors to spring back into action. Widespread protests started in The virus has hit the entire Lebanon and Syria. The worsening continent with variable degrees socio-economic situation will swell of severity in each country. Italy, the ranks of protestors. They will Spain and Greece are the hardest- likely spread to other countries hit while Luxembourg, Austria where large swathes of population and Malta have been spared the are experiencing unprecedented scathing effects of the pandemic. economic hardships. The situation Countries severely hit by the may also trigger a new wave pandemic will report growing of immigrants trying to reach budget deficits and increasing Europe’s prosperous shores. public debt. This will affect the The world – and especially economic outlook of the entire bloc. Europe - is at a critical juncture. Europe’s economic shock There is a storm brewing in its is further aggravated by the neighborhood waiting to explode deteriorating situation in at any time. In the aftermath its immediate proximity. Its of the pandemic, European neighbours to the east and countries are ill-prepared to cope south are inching towards total with the inflow of migrants. disaster. They are likely to upset From a strictly European Europe’s own prospects of a perspective, the coronavirus has swift economic recovery. not created any new problems, Countries like Turkey, Egypt rather, it has reinforced the existing and Morocco are not deemed as ones. Europe’s neighborhood was prosperous. They are generally never stable and prosperous to regarded as middle income countries In the aftermath begin with. Most of the countries with large poor populations. These of the pandemic, along the Mediterranean were countries do not have the means European countries already going through socio- or the resources to cope with the political turmoil. The first wave of looming recession. Further, the are ill-prepared migrants that started during the current global economic situation to cope with the Syrian civil war has already torn has rendered it extremely difficult inflow of migrants. Europe’s socio-political fabric. – if not impossible – to raise much- A resurgent Russia has not only needed funds through credit. positioned itself as a global power, Lockdowns, unemployment, and Tourism is one of the most but has also anchored itself firmly loss of income will culminate in vibrant revenue-generating in the Middle East. Meanwhile social and political instability. sectors in Egypt, Jordan, Tukey, Donald Trump has all but done This is one of the worst-case and Morocco. It contributed a away with – once widely celebrated scenarios that has petrified Europe’s sizeable percentage to the overall – the Trans-Atlantic unity. policy makers since 2016 when they GDP of their respective nations. Europe is increasingly isolated came up with a strategy to support Unfortunately, tourism has taken as it finds itself in the eye of a storm. economic and political progress the worst pandemic-related hit. It Unfortunately, it does not have the in its adjacent regions in order to has all but collapsed in the aftermath tools to cope with this crisis which bolster Europe’s own security. of the coronavirus, resulting in has no parallels in history. It is now obvious that Europe’s widespread unemployment reaching worst nightmares have come to around 7 percent. This has come at a The writer is a freelancer and an investment banker based in pass. The situation that is slowly time when there is little to no chance Karachi. He can be reached at emerging in its neighborhood is of capital inflows from outside. [email protected] exactly the one that it had been The export sectors of all these seeking to avoid for years. countries are set to take drastic hits

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 51 Psychology

n The Suicide Bomber What makes a suicide bomber? Here is a basic analysis of azirista

W the workings of his mind.

By Zara Maqbool background, history of any childhood abuse/trauma, etc., that s a practicing therapist I makes him an ideal candidate to have often come across be chosen by the bigger players Apeople who are at suicide for this dark and deathly game. risk and have a history of self- Adler, a well-known harming or a strong desire to psychotherapist, has said that end their lives. Contrary to the every human being is born with popular belief that a person an inferiority complex and commits suicide because of a spends his life striving towards current precipitating factor like superiority and visibility by loss of job, a breakup or some others. External factors like trauma, the suicide tendency poverty and toxic family systems comes from predisposing factors can add to that inferiority that lead to a powerful trigger and his drive and ambition that becomes all encompassing. It for superiority becomes more muddies the person’s perceptual powerful. This might be a strong lens and, in that space of darkness, factor in a bomber’s psyche. ending life is the ray of light Most suicide bombers are at the end of the tunnel. known to have been picked up It would be a bit different from very poor backgrounds, for a suicide bomber because with very toxic wounds like here his choice to end his life is physical and sexual abuse. A an illusion as this person is trained a moment for glory for Muslims as victim of abuse is more likely to for years on end for that moment it was a fight against the enemies of have a depression than a person who when he decides to end his life along Islam. This belief is not conclusive has not been subject to such abuse. with the lives of many others. because evidence has proved that The abused individual continues Questions that many people have many of these suicide bombers were to live life driven by unprocessed asked are: what goes on in the mind not Muslims though it can be said anger and depression and this can of a suicide bomber when he enters that any religion can be a factor. be a predisposing factor too in his a space and sees innocent people I am not informed enough to becoming a suicide bomber later. around with whom he has no personal comment on the global games A valid question that needs to be vendetta? What makes him end his that are being played but would explored is that why would these own life and the lives of others? In like to share my understanding as individuals sacrifice their personal the wake of global terrorism that a therapist of what goes into the goals for a collective goal via a violent hit the world in recent years, the making of a suicide bomber. act? Also, there are many people out term ‘suicide bomber’ was added to The most important thing there who have never showed violent our vocabularies. The first Islamists to understand here is that under tendencies and yet are picked up suicide bombings were carried out in the suicide bomber’s jacket is to become suicide bombers? What the UK, which some say were under a human being like any other; is the common link? One would the influence of drugs while some comprehending the psyche will require imagine that such people must have think the bombers were conditioned a multidisciplinary approach that developed some pathological traits to believe that it was ‘Jihad’ and was includes his family history, economic before they became terrorists. For

52 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 The Curve

those traits to develop, I would again glorified act. What are the odds he also stems from perhaps a loss in say that the nuclear family could be would not blow himself up in the significant human relationships and a common link. For example, the middle of a group of Indian soldiers? then this act is seen as resigning to most neglected child could be a prime There is a myth that such people the ultimate higher power. In a way, candidate in validating Adler’s theory have serious mental disorders in order the suicide might be perceived as about the struggle for superiority. to perform violent, immoral and an acceptance of the world being a The early years in a person’s senseless acts. This is probably not place of pain and the belief that peace life play a big role in personality true as people with serious mental can be achieved in the hereafter. development and some significant disorders cannot follow instructions Emotional pain is far more traits like low self-esteem, aggression, or follow a system the way the intolerable than physical pain and, as a etc. could be the criteria for a person to terrorists do. The entire event must therapist, I would believe that it is the be chosen to become a suicide bomber. be planned for months ahead and a emotional pain that is exploited and The individual would probably mentally challenged person cannot any avenue that promises the release be a shy under-confident person, a follow that. Also, these people are of such pain is blindly followed. loner, an outsider, a follower and an not socially isolated but are one of No one is born a suicide bomber. underdog who always wants to be those normal individuals whom There are internal predisposing included and would probably have one may have crossed on the road. psychological factors such as psyche some history of failure in early or They are amongst us all the time. traits and external social traits like later years of his life and would grab Age, education, status in society, poverty and political oppression any opportunity to prove himself. indication of any previous violence, that are all intertwined. Nothing The public attention, I would drug use, or a significant traumatic can be conclusively said for such a imagine, would draw such a person life event - all play a role here. dynamic and complex act in which towards an act that would give them For example, revenge can be one the bomber is the one blowing himself a better self-image. Here aggression factor and any human being who has up but many elements have played can be a cause too as it would need suffered a loss can use revenge as a way a role in creating him and pushing any outlet, especially if injustice and of coping with the grief. Such loss is him towards the heinous act. political oppression has occurred. exploited by terrorist organizations. It The writer is a psycho-therapist Imagine a Kashmiri who has lost can then lead to irrational behaviour as and a free-lance contributor. his entire family, has never had a violent as suicide bombing. Religious She can be reached at moment of glory in his life and is motivation that has always been [email protected] conditioned for years to perform this considered a most common reason Public Health for All Pakistan needs to take the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978

Lahore more seriously. There is a need to promote healthy habits among the people through a sustained campaign.

By Azhar Ali The main concern from the very caused heavy losses. Many countries beginning was to flatten the curve did not fit the best practices such as he Covid-19 epidemic took i.e. to slow down the spread so that the USA, Brazil and Pakistan. These the world off guard and existing health facilities could handle countries have large populations and TPakistan was no exception. the influx of patients. One option quite non-authoritarian government The death rate from the virus varied worked in some countries while regimes when it comes to the masses. from country to country and was another in other countries. A massive Though the literacy rates differ in these initially linked to climate, age of lockdown worked well in China countries, it has been observed that patients, etc. However, at later mainly due to its authoritarian regime people generally resent lockdowns stages, many myths about the virus and a higher level of compliance to and do not obey strict public health changed and made the coronavirus instructions by the public. In Europe, rules. The attitude has posed a disease even more unpredictable. the curve was controllable but it greater threat to Pakistan which is

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 53 The Curve

not as resourceful as other nations. specialized healthcare and medication consumerism. Since people learn and Pakistan’s health system has took the front seats. This approach adapt through repetition, perhaps a not been in a good condition for failed to provide health as it was campaign that can be sustained over decades. The huge population focused only on treating illnesses. years, would be required to promote growth has placed an immense Dr Margaret Chan, Director General healthy habits among the people. burden on resources. Private health of the World Health Organization Any improvement at the primary services providers have mushroomed wrote on 15 September 2008 that it healthcare level would bring the everywhere. The common man gets was time to ‘return to Alma-Ata’. pressure down on secondary and some kind of (mis)treatment even from Pakistan must reconsider Alma- tertiary-level hospitals. Adoption mediocre doctors. As Covid-19 has Ata and, under the supervision of Dr. of heathy habits would provide the expanded, every country has needed to Sania Nishtar, the goal is achievable. country with a more productive, re-think its health policy. Even then, She knows the problems very well and energetic and healthy workforce. few Pakistanis can be convinced to has written them clearly in her book, The loss of productive tenures due wash their hands or use water safely. ‘Choked Pipes: Reforming Pakistan's to simple illnesses and even mental It was in September 1978 when the Mixed Health System’. Pakistan’s post- stresses could be decreased. The world had a chance to make things Covid-19 Public Health Policy should most suitable way forward after better for the developing countries. be more focused on ‘public health’ and Covid-19 for Pakistan would be to In Alma-Ata (a city in Kazakhstan, just not restrict itself to treating the ‘return to Alma-Ata’ and implement now known as Almaty), the WHO sick. It must emphasize on primary an ‘inclusive health policy’ for all Annual Conference concluded with healthcare and public information to spread healthcare rather than a declaration commonly known as for an extended period and should be focusing on illness treatments at the “Alma-Ata Declaration”. This was extended to all segments of society. specialized centers. All segments the result of at least 6 to 7 decades The responsibility of handling of society should be included and of work done by legendary public public health should be shared with educational curricula should be health practitioners like Jim Grant, different people - doctors, nurses, para- equipped with public health topics John Gordon and Carl Taylor. medical staff, teachers, mosque imams, for all ages. A preventive and not a The declaration was simple and school teachers and, most importantly, curative approach should be adopted powerful and was very well-received mothers. Simple preventive measures by Pakistan to safeguard its future. by developing countries, including should be re-introduced to keep the Pakistan. It promised ‘health for all’ environment clean and consumption The writer is a senior specialist at the Urban Unit, mainly through a holistic approach of safe food and water must be Lahore. He studied at Johns of primary healthcare development ensured. Healthy habits among Hopkins. He can be reached and public information. However, children should be established by at [email protected] later the idea was dismissed and insisting on safe behaviour, not

54 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Air Safety

c hi May Day! May Day! The string of PIA accidents calls the airline’s safety record ara

K into question. It is time for civil aviation authorities in Pakistan to take more stringent measures.

By Asma Nisar injured. One of them died later. either of the airport's two runways. The flight was piloted by Captain According to PIA's CEO, Air n 22 May 2020, Pakistan Sajjad Gul and first officer Usman Marshal Arshad Malik, a technical International Airlines Flight Azam. It took off from Lahore shortly fault prompted the pilot to make O8303, a scheduled domestic after 1:00 p.m. and was near the end a go-around rather than land, flight, left Allama Iqbal International of its 90-minute journey when it even though both runways were Airport in Lahore for Jinnah crashed at around 2:45 p.m. in the available to him. The pilot told the International Airport in Karachi. Once Karachi neighbourhood at around 3 controller, "We are returning back, near the Karachi Airport, the A320 ran kilometers (1.9 miles) from the airport. sir, we have lost engines." Twelve into problems and crashed in Model The aircraft's wings were reported as seconds later, he declared a mayday Colony, a populated residential area being on fire in the moments before emergency, which was the final a few kilometers from the runway. the plane crashed into rooftops. communication with the aircraft. This was its second approach after The pilot had made an initial According to officials from a failed first landing attempt. Of aborted landing attempt. He later Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority the 91 passengers and eight crew radioed air traffic control, reporting (CAA), complications had arisen on board, 97 were killed, while two landing gear issues and the failure of during the aircraft's first descent. The passengers survived with injuries. both engines. The ATC confirmed to landing gear was still in the retracted Eight people on the ground were also the pilot that he was cleared to use position when the aircraft attempted its first landing. Friction marks on the runway suggested there had been some ground contact; at the runway's 1,400-metre (4,500 ft) mark, the plane's left engine is believed to have scraped the runway, while at the 1,700-metre (5,500 ft) mark, the right engine made contact. When the pilot went around, it is believed damage had already been caused to both engines from this contact, leading to engine failure after the go-around. This, in turn, made it impossible for the aircraft to maintain altitude, causing it to crash during its return to the runway. This is supported by the conversation between the aircraft and air traffic control which indicates that the aircraft was constantly losing altitude Observers noted that

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 55 Trends

the plane's backup ram air turbine was deployed, the Paris purpose of which is to supply power to the aircraft’s's control systems when both engines have failed. It was reported that the pilot had ignored warnings from air traffic control about the height and speed of the aircraft on approach. At 2:30 pm the plane was New Fashion 15 nautical miles from Karachi, flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet instead of the recommended 7,000 feet, when ATC issued its first warning to reduce altitude. Instead of descending, the pilot responded by saying Aesthetics that he was satisfied with the altitude. When only 10 The lifestyle circuit has designated Covid-19 nautical miles from the airport, the aircraft was at an a driving force behind the future of fashion. altitude of 7,000 feet instead of 3,000 feet. ATC issued a second warning to descend. The pilot responded again by stating that he was satisfied and able to handle the By Sophiya Qadeer situation and that he was prepared for landing. The pilot had a flying experience of 18,000 flight hours. PIA released details of the flight manifest which he world is surely transforming showed 91 passengers (51 men, 31 women, and 9 at a breakneck speed as children); there were also eight crew members. The TCovid-19 malignantly death toll was confirmed as 97, consisting solely continues to transform the of those on board the plane but later one of those way we greet, function, plan our injured on the ground died. The Pakistani model and activities, and - most imperatively actress Zara Abid was one of the flight's passengers. — the way we think. All the crew members were residents of Lahore. The fashion industry Pakistan had allowed domestic flights to resume, has always been following suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic, burgeoned by cashing six days earlier. Since the crash occurred during the in on the uniqueness last days of Ramadan, many people were travelling that each individual to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with their families. finds enticing. Like many other airlines, PIA too has a stained However, amidst the record of accidents. According to the website pandemic crisis, as planecrashinfo.com PIA’s accident rate is the highest the world leaders put among more than 80 airlines. The record of Pakistan’s their heads together Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is no better. in formulating After the crash, an investigation committee was set strategies to grapple up by the government. The committee was led by the with the situation, President of the Aircraft Accident and Investigation the fashion industry Board (AAIB) Air Commodore Muhammad Usman has also suffered Ghani along with AAIB Additional Director Technical at a large scale. Investigation, Wing Commander Malik Muhammad The industry is Imran, Operations Investigator of the Pakistan Air undergoing a Force Safety Board Kamra, Group Captain Touqeer nudging uncertainty and Joint Director Air Traffic Control Operations AAIB that has put obtuse Nasir Majeed. An aviation expert associated with the question marks on inquiry commission hinted that the crash was a result the future of fashion of human error, coupled with faulty equipment. weeks and the fashion calendar in general. With The writer is an Islamabad-based freelancer and uncertain economic a socio-economic analyst. She can be reached at [email protected] times plaguing the industry, the designers are not taking pains

56 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Trends

to launch new collections; instead what they are interested in is the notion of translating their fashion aesthetics into adding embellishments to Personal Protective Equipment, face masks and full-body suits. This is calling out on the individual designer companies to upgrade and revamp their factories, wherein they develop and improve their tools in tandem with the new changes. It is due to this, that the people in the fashion circuit are calling this pandemic a driving force behind the future of fashion. According to Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, a well- known French designer, “The key to reinvention is proximity and authenticity. With this pandemic, I see the idea of dystopia becoming more real than ever.” What he insinuates is an articulate sense of expression, in the past couple of months, which is the notion of Covid19 putting an reinvented in creativity, by designers is now offering DIYs, tutorials and end to the egotistical arrogance that who have perceived to add style crash courses on how to excel in is attached to the fashion industry. and individuality to these items. In homemade creativity with regard to New trends that allow for the idea these dark times, designers around clothes and protective equipment. This of taking delight in each humble the world are making endeavours has opened a window of opportunity moment of life, is what seems to be to lift people’s collective spirits by for budding artists to exhibit their growing as the future fashion. introducing stretchable, glamorous talent online. Visual literacy and Upscale malls around the world and vibrant face masks and bodysuits creative arts have suddenly become remain deserted. However, a peek that do not let this global health crisis people’s pivotal interest, as these inside the windows of brand stores like put a dampener on people’s morale. discourses are enticing enough Louis Vuitton, shows manikins draped Designers are also looking into the to offer a dynamic and expansive in a new sense of luxury: glamorous possibilities of creating these essential scope in the upcoming world. masks. Fashion maestros around the items out of paper and water-resistant The year 2020, by far, has been a world seem to be treating the global material. Brooklyn-based designer dangerous rollercoaster ride, jostling pandemic as a challenge, which has not Grisel Lopez, believes that “in the people into a herculean economic just jolted them out of their comfort world of fast fashion, sustainability struggle and survivalist strategies. cocoons, but also coaxed them into may be the new trend,” which is However, it is also a year of challenge carrying out a deep soul-searching why she realised her speciality in and competition. It is a year of that has resulted predominantly in PVC that could be incorporated as a rebirth, reinvention and reflection, pragmatic designs and inventions protective layer under PPE. For kids which is why it breeds optimism for the future lot. With the economic with compromised immunities, in the face of harsh difficulties. meltdown and the uncertainty that Disney has joined in the campaign Amidst all this, it is but inevitable has hit employees and businessmen to add creative touches to its masks how fashion is making its way into worldwide, making high purchases and protective gear designs. the lives of people by imbibing the on handbags and designer shoes is no Covid has pushed fashion shows need to adapt and remodel to the more a priority for the consumer class. to the digital space for the foreseeable new parameters, which seem to This is what has goaded designers future. Online streaming of catwalks define the world of tomorrow. to take the interplay of “fashion and the no-guest policy at fashion and function” emphatically. couture weeks has become the The writer is a Lahore- based free-lance contributor. Face masks are this year’s wardrobe new normal in fashion capitals and She can be reached at staple, as well as the idea of fully- for the front-row influencers. The [email protected] covered clothing that is now part of online fashion-based content writing a complete summer ensemble. There industry has grown measurelessly

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 57 Tributes

Remembering Iqbal Akhund t came as a real shock to me he remarked to me with General. He served as head of when I learned of Iqbal Akhund’s brightness in his eyes, “You the Centre Against Apartheid, Ideath. I had the good fortune to know, Jawaid, we have Secretary-General’s Special know him as a very senior diplomat something in common!” Representative and Resident and as an expert in foreign affairs. “What is that?” Coordinator in Lebanon and He was also a great friend and advi- I responded. Chairman of the Security Coun- sor. In the days when this magazine “We both have cil Committee on Sanctions was known as Thirdworld, especially ‘Iqbal’ in our names”. against Rhodesia. He became during the martial law days of Gen. Iqbal Akhund’s services Foreign Affairs Adviser to Prime Zia, whenever Iqbal Akhund was in to Pakistan are invaluable. He was Pa- Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1988-1990. town and I sought his advice on any kistan’s ambassador to Canada, Spain, Iqbal Akhund believed in sheer matter concerning foreign affairs, he the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and hard work and was always kind to oth- would be more than forthcoming. Malaysia and was also U.N. Assistant ers. May his soul rest in peace. Ameen! Once he had invited me to Secretary-General from 1979 to 1987. – Syed Jawaid Iqbal lunch at the Sind Club. Suddenly, He was even considered for Secretary Syed Munawar Hassan – End of an Era yed Munawar Hassan, The news of Munawar Has- injustice and oppression from soci- the former Amir of san’s death has come as a great ety. Entrapped in a kind of political SJamaat-e-Islami, passed shock to me because he was a romanticism, we could never think away in Karachi recently. He very close friend and had been of making careers in any other field. was a high-calibre politician my contemporary in so many I have not only lost a dear friend with a progressive outlook. ways. We had a relationship of but his death has, to a great extent, When he spoke, it would affection. At the Government killed a part of me. His was a great era seem he was talking poetry College in Nazimabad, we spent of accommodation, respect in political but in the form of prose. four years and later were to- relations and a distinct level of decency When he wrote anything, his words gether at university. There were many in everything he did. Munawar Hasan’s effortlessly stood for the case he was things in common between us. We era will serve as a point of reference for presenting. The arguments he offered were deeply engrossed in politics and future historians and political analysts. would be later proven by events. wanted to play a part in eliminating – Nafees Siddiqui End of Dekhti Aankhon, Suntay Kanon

enowned TV personality, Tariq On behalf of the public for being a part of the attack. Aziz passed away in Lahore at PML-N, he served His films were “Insaniyat”, “Haar Rthe age of 84. He was not just as a member of the Gaya Insaan” and “Salgirah”. He also a guy known for his long-running National Assem- won two Nigar awards. His knowledge Neelam Ghar which later became bly of Pakistan of Urdu literature was phenomenal and Tariq Aziz Show but was also a TV between 1997 and though he never laid claims to being a announcer, news readers, film actor, 1999. It was during major poet, he was quite adept in the poet, writer and much more. His was that period that craft both in Urdu and Punjabi. One the first male face that appeared on TV he became one of of his well-known Urdu couplets is: screens when PTV started its initial those who attacked the Supreme Court broadcasts from Lahore in 1964. when Sajjad Ali Shah was the Chief Tariq Aziz was born in 1936 Justice of Pakistan. This was seen in a in Jalandhar and received his video of the incident. Tariq Aziz was not early education there. looked upon with much favour by the – Syeda Areeba Rasheed

58 SOUTHASIA • july 2020 Reviews

Book

Hermes Explains: Thirty Questions about Western Esotericism Esotericism Redefined

By Nadya Chishty-Mujahid The essay is a joy to read, primarily because Godwin expertly his collection of thirty underscores the mathematical essays, predominantly aspects underlying musical Tconcerning the relatively harmony. He synoptically new academic field of Western presents the classical concept of Book Title : Hermes Explains: Thirty Questions Esotericism, commemorates the music of the spheres and the about Western Esotericism the twentieth anniversary significance of planetary motion, Editors : Hanegraaff, Forshaw, and Marco Pasi of the creation of a center for as evinced by the work of several Publisher : Amsterdam University Press Hermetic Philosophy and Related major composers. Naturally, Pages : Hardback, 320 pp Currents at the University of those who were imbuing their ISBN : 9789463720205 Amsterdam. The actualization compositions with esoteric aspect of his essay focuses on and materialization of this center codes did not intend for just how strict and violent penalties was made possible by the efforts of anyone to be able to appreciate could historically be imposed on Mrs. Rosalie Basten, and ever since this, but a highly skilled singer those who gave away Masonic the formalization of this venture, or musician would have been secrets, although this tenet the field has proudly witnessed able to get a sense of the implicit was eventually abolished over the proliferation of numerous symbolism. I should add that time. I especially enjoyed Olav publications, book series, Godwin has made enormous Hammer’s meticulously scientific conferences, and other modes contributions to the humanities essay on whether esotericism of scholarship, not just within branch of esotericism — most is irrational or not. Hammer Europe but across the globe. of the field’s major scholars are assesses that in aggregate it is The introduction creatively affiliated with religious studies. no more or less irrational than notes that just as Morpheus gave In Pride and Prejudice, Mr many other disciplines, but the Neo a choice between taking a Bennett said that when it came traps of perceiving false cause blue pill or a red pill in The Matrix to his five daughters, he was and effect are perhaps more (the blue led to a mainstream, partial to his Lizzy. I will indulge numerous in academic areas more mundane existence; the in my own partiality now by such as this field (as they are for red towards arguably greater alluding to the work of the ambiguous medical practices such awareness), the essays can be notable Scandinavians in the as homeopathy). Clear, logical and regarded as a red pill each, that field, Henrik Bogdan and Olav meticulously laid out, Hammer’s (separately as well as collectively) Hammer. Outside the United arguments should ideally have address questions about the Kingdom, Bogdan has virtually come right at the commencement field in order to promote greater single-handedly made several of the volume — I understand awareness within the reader as leading contributions to the the egalitarian manner in which to what this discipline primarily academic study of Freemasonry. the entries are alphabetized, but entails. No book review can do In response to a query by his Hammer’s contribution to the full justice to so many essays, school-going daughter as to volume is as significant as Richard but I hope the handful that I whether the Illuminati are III’s opening soliloquy is to the choose to dwell on will provide ruling the world in some sinister Shakespearean mini-canon. an academically enticing picture. fashion (he eventually informs Holding his own Emeritus Professor of us that they are not), Bogdan magnificently in this volume Music at Colgate University, outlines how Freemasonry has is CESNUR founder Massimo Joscelyn Godwin, outlines the survived and thrived from the Introvigne (an Italian), whose fundamentally close relationship Enlightenment up to the present highly illuminating piece between music and esotericism. day. A particularly fascinating on Satanism and esotericism

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 59 Reviews Book should be made required reading for every introductory Religious Studies course. Pakistan’s Foreign Policy 1947-2019 Introvigne asserts that those who worship an entity such as Satan have as much a right to their beliefs as the followers of any The Power of Policy other belief system, provided they remain within the boundaries laid down by the By Taha Kehar law. Ostensibly scary though the statue of Baphomet (based on Eliphas Levi’s famous cholarly insights have drawing of the Pan-like deity) might be, revealed that foreign policy the real threat to society is not Satan per se, Sdecision-making cannot but CRMs (criminal religious movements). be insulated from domestic and Introvigne’s argument is wonderful in its global politics. Since Pakistan’s simplicity and were more people to take inception, state leaders the time to grasp it, far less energy would be have negotiated a complex wasted chasing Satanists who may be doing geopolitical terrain and acted on nothing wrong whatsoever. Introvigne does copious strategic compulsions a great deal to dispel some of the phobias to safeguard national security associated with this issue, while sensibly and strengthen foreign noting that violence, homicide, sexual relations. This hasn’t been and child-abuse are exponentially more an easy undertaking because problematic than honouring Baphomet! Pakistan gained independence Mark Sedgwick’s essay usefully delineates in a climate of intense some of the commonalities between Islamic hostility – especially from Book Title : Pakistan’s Foreign Policy 1947-2019: esotericism and Western esotericism, India – and continues to A Concise History (Fifth Edition) while Julian Strube rightly calls for a more face a series of challenges. Author : Abdul Sattar nuanced assessment of the relationship Pakistan’s Foreign Publisher : Oxford University Press between occultism and fascism, with special Policy 1947-2019: A Pages : 795 respect to tropes such as the Nazis’ Black Concise History builds on ISBN : 9780190702571 Sun at Wewelsburg, among other things. Jeff this motif by situating the Kripal comments on comics, superheroes country’s consistent attempts to key foreign affairs portfolios. and esotericism, as he has on more than balance its domestic imperatives With an eye for detail, in the one occasion prior to contributing to this with its global interests in a book under review, the author volume. Particularly intriguing is his point historical context. Now in its enables readers to look with that while people now fanatically revere fifth edition, the book offers the benefit of hindsight at the superheroes, just a few decades ago they up-to-date information on the country’s search for a delicate were considered far more marginalized policy stances that Pakistan balance in foreign relations. figures. I suppose Kripal has subversively has adopted to secure good At its core, the book uses done a great deal to change that (especially diplomacy through effective history as a pivot to understand by means of his own scholarship), and the foreign policy decision-making. the strategic compulsions that book contains a delightful photograph It would be impossible to have shaped Pakistan’s ties with of his office which is crammed with fun chronicle the highs and lows other countries. What emerges stuff—like a sculpture of the Silver Surfer! of Pakistan’s foreign policy is not only a chronological Indeed, the general illustrations of the dynamics without painstaking survey of key foreign policy volume are eye-catching and academically research and a deft handling of milestones, but also a useful relevant, as well as beautifully presented. I facts. The author Abdul Sattar framework that illustrates the would not have minded though if a couple passed away in June 2019. He impact of the past on our current of pictures had been substituted by an essay comments on the underlying and future policy trajectories. from either Arthur Versluis or Kocku von motivations of major policy Sattar’s account may, therefore, Stuckrad, who have both made enormous undertakings. A distinguished serve to broaden the horizons contributions to the field of esotericism diplomat, he served in of those commentators who in their time. But I guess their scholarship tPakistan’s foreign service for view crucial developments now belongs to the realm of the blue pill. over three decades and held in international politics and I will reach for one of those instead.

60 SOUTHASIA • July 2020 Reviews

foreign affairs in a vacuum. consistently shift its allegiances also been scrutinized in a succinct In addition, the author without losing sight of its initial manner. At a time when Indian focuses on presenting an policy stance. According to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘objective history’ that isn’t author, the “aim remained constant Hindutva-inspired reforms have tainted by narrow ideologies. while policy was adjusted to weakened the scope for peace This allows him to explore issues evolutions in the international overtures, Sattar offers a concise from conflicting angles with a environment, especially the account on the pitfalls in India- surefootedness and authenticity changing policies of the Great Pakistan relations. Detailed notes that is rare among experts. Powers in the South Asian region”. have been included about the At the outset, Sattar outlines Sattar focuses on various consequences of the 2019 Pulwama how the turbulent events that led events and developments to attack and the illegal annexation to the creation of Pakistan impelled present the subtle shifts in the of Indian Occupied Kashmir. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali country’s foreign policy trajectory. In his compelling, honest Jinnah to chalk out an idealistic Through a detailed scrutiny of the style, Sattar maintains that policy approach to foreign relations Kashmir situation, the cold-war decisions have invariably been based on the principle of goodwill period, the India-Pakistan wars taken in an autonomous manner towards other nations. The author and the Soviet intervention in to secure national interests. demonstrates how “Jinnah’s Afghanistan, the author explores Though this may come across concept of Pakistan as a Muslim, how state leaders responded to a as an idealistic conclusion, the liberal, democratic and modern diverse spectrum of challenges. author doesn’t advocate blind nation-state naturally predisposed When a book tackles such a veneration for the decisions taken him in favour of close relations vast topic, skeptics often find that by state leaders in the past and with democratic countries”. In a some crucial debates and ideas emphasizes the need to learn from similar vein, the country’s founding have either been glossed over or are mistakes in the policy sphere. father didn’t want it to become insufficiently addressed. Pakistan’s An informative book that “involved in the ideological contest Foreign Policy 1947-2019: A Concise offers an authoritative account on between the emergent blocs led History doesn’t suffer from these Pakistan’s foreign policy initiatives, by the US and the Soviet Union”. lapses and appears to cover all Pakistan’s Foreign Policy 1947- Throughout the book, the the relevant areas pertaining to 2019: A Concise History ought to author illustrates how the nascent the country’s foreign affairs. be required reading for students of state struggled to preserve the The author has included well- international affairs and political impulse for idealism. Confronted researched chapters on Pakistan’s science. The insights gleaned from by the threat of war, the pressure policy initiatives after 9/11 and the this book may encourage even more to align itself with global powers country’s efforts to tackle militancy. holistic narratives on the direction and the desire to safeguard its Pakistan’s tumultuous relations of foreign affairs in Pakistan. own interests, Pakistan had to with the US and Afghanistan have TV Serial Dirilis Ertugrul History in Action

By Muhammad Ali Khan started when the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, met the he popular TV series Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that has taken Pakistani and then Malaysian Prime Minister Taudiences by storm is the Mahathir Mohammad at the UNGA Turkish serial Dirilis Ertugrul in September 2019. Together they (Resurrection Ertugrul), known as floated the idea of launching a TV Ertugrul Ghazi in Pakistan. It all channel to create a counter-narrative

SOUTHASIA • July 2020 61 Reviews

against what they called production has audiences rising Islamophobia. drawing similarities During their discussion, between Dirilis Ertugrul Ertugrul surfaced, and Game of Thrones. considering its The production scale is role in promoting grand as we see horses Islamic culture. galloping across beautiful One rarely expects the landscapes and violent Prime Minister of a nation sword-fighting scenes to become a cheerleader that transport the viewer for a television show but into another world, just considering the drama had like in a Hollywood film. a rich heritage, cultural Byzantine warriors and fearsome A famous Hollywood history and Islamic values, he advised Mongols. It is the story of Ertugrul’s stunt team named Nomad was PTV to broadcast it. Since PTV aired tribe who invokes Islam and specially hired as consultants for its first Urdu-dubbed episode on triumphs against all odds. Some the action sequences, to make them the first of Ramazan, the serial has historical facts are re-worked for more credible and exciting. In broken all popularity records and dramatic effect and the production addition, the beautifully dramatic has brought a massive viewership values are suitably overblown. The soundtrack serves well to highlight to the channel. Reviving PTV’s show is being screened for the third the acting and gripping storylines. ratings, the show was even trending time. It was earlier broadcast by One of the many reasons for the at No. 1 on YouTube in Pakistan. the Hum Sitaray channel in 2015 success of the show is its powerful Backing the show with words and has been available on Netflix portrayal of perseverance in the and action, the main aim of the since 2019 but for the first time face of adversity and a unique Prime Minister was to establish has appeared on public television. appreciation for Muslim culture and Pakistan as a pre-eminent player It was aired in approximately 146 faith. There is juxtaposition between in the Muslim world. His goal of countries and has been dubbed spirituality and social customs and promoting the Islamic historical in more than 60 languages. the show pays great emphasis to the narrative seemed pretty clear and The protagonist Ertugrul is importance of humanity and grace thus his decision unleashed a played by the talented Turkish during times of war and difficulty. phenomenon that has since gripped actor Engin Altan Düzyatan. His What makes the show so powerful his nation and become the talking charisma, wisdom, strong leadership and riveting is its fresh take on the point among fans and critics. skills, excellent swordsmanship and oft-ignored Muslim perspective Created by Mehmet Bozdag and vision have stuck audiences to their during the Crusades. Maybe that’s directed by Menit Gunay, the historic TV screens. The female characters why Dirilis Ertugrul is not just action-adventure series is based on are equally strong and skilled as making waves in the Muslim world the real-life events of 13th century their male counterparts, possessing but in Europe and America as well. Muslim Oghuz Turk leader, Ertugrul a strong work ethic. Women like Overall, Dirilis Ertugrul is what of the Kayi tribe. He was also the Hayme Hatun, Aykiz, Halima Hatun the audience needs most when father of Osman I, founder of the and Selcan are strong pillars of they are in lockdown. It is a story Ottoman Empire, which lasted for support who fight alongside men. of courage, bravery and sacrifice over 600 years and covered parts of These women give valuable advice for one’s beliefs. Filled with action Europe, Asia and North Africa. The regarding matters of business and and drama, it teaches viewers series spans five seasons, combining commerce within the tribe. An the significance of unity and personal narratives with the important character Ibn Arabi plays commitment to serve a greater good. expansion of the ethnic Oghuz Turks. the Andalusian mystic and serves For those who haven’t watched The internationally acclaimed as Ertugrul’s spiritual teacher and it yet, do it now for it also warns Turkish drama takes the name of guide. The drama has a talented you about the pitfalls of greed and the father and presents his tribe cast which portrays Ertugrul’s lust for power which can corrupt as a band of plucky rebels caught family, friends and tribesmen. not only a leader but also brings between Christian crusaders, Also, the visually aesthetic about the decline of a people.

62 SOUTHASIA • July 2020