Update on the Performance of Democratic Institutions
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UPDATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS APRIL 2021 2 UPDATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS APRIL 2021 This update is meant to identify key developments during the month on Performance of Democratic Institutions in Pakistan with selected high-profile international developments included occasionally. IN THIS ISSUE 1 Sixth Reshuffle in the Federal Cabinet 2 CCI approves 2017 census 3 Backchannel talks between India and Pakistan 4 Cracks in the PDM 5 Justice Qazi Faez Isa Case 6 National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior approves draft bill penalising intentional disrespect of Armed Forces 7 The Pro-Tareen Legislators Group 8 Former DG LDA released from Jail 9 The curious case of Mr. Shehbaz Sharif’s bail 10 Former Chairman PEMRA shot 11 The TLP Strikes again 12 Pakistan slides down 3 places on Press Freedom Index 13 SC Contempt Notice to Registrar IHC 14 Senate Investigation Committee on installation of spy cameras 15 SC Orders removal of 53 FIA employees 16 Chief Justice Lahore High Court blames DHA for land grabbing 17 Former FIA DG alleges PM for filing case against Justice Qazi Faez Isa and later contradicts his own statement APRIL 2021 UPDATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS 3 IN THIS ISSUE 18 Pakistan’s powerful groups enjoy economic privileges of over US $ 17 Billion: UNDP NHDR 19 PM reviews progress on CPEC 20 NCC announces Army to assist Police in enforcing SOPs 21 Establishment Division refuses to disclose assets of civil servants 22 Speaker National Assembly receives Foreign Dignitaries 23 Chairman Senate recieves Foreign Dignitaries 24 COAS calls on PM to discuss security situation 25 Pakistan understands the impact of civil war in Afghanistan: Zalmay Khalilzad 26 240th Corps Commander Conference 27 FM visits to the Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine 28 COAS recieves Foreign Dignitaries 29 US President warns Taliban for accountability on Afghanistan 30 Premier-COAS Interactions 31 Somalia’s President extends term by 2 years Mr. Hammad Azhar has been replaced by Mr. Shaukat Tareen as Finance minister SIXTH RESHUFFLE IN THE FEDERAL CABINET In yet another reshuffle of the federal cabinet by Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan on April 15, Mr. Muhammad Hammad Azhar, MNA, who was Federal Minister for Industries and Production with additional Portfolio of Finance and Revenue given to him on March 29, 1 has been replaced by Mr. Shaukat Fayyaz Ahmed Tarin who has been appointed as Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue. Mr. Muhammad Hammad Azhar, MNA has been given the portfolio of Energy. 2 Since assuming office of the Prime Minister on August 18, 2018, this is the sixth time Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan has reshuffled his federal cabinet. Many have referred to the constant cabinet reshuffle as a game of musical chairs being played by the Prime Minister with the most important constitutional body charged with exercising executive authority of the Federation. Tweeting about the changes in the federal capital, the newly-appointed Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Fawad Ahmed, MNA, said that Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, MNA who earlier held the portfolio of Economic Affairs Division has now been appointed as Federal Minister for Industries and Production. The portfolio of Information and Broadcasting, earlier held by Senator Syed Shibli Faraz is given by the Prime Minister to Mr. Fawad Ahmed, earlier Minister for Science and Technology while Senator Syed Shibli Faraz is given the portfolio of Science and Technology . The portfolio of Mr. Omar Ayub Khan, who was earlier Federal Minister for Power Division with the additional charge of Petroleum Division, has now been appointed as Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Division. 3 Commenting on the recent cabinet reshuffle, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob wrote in Dawn that“Granted that the prime minister has the privilege to induct, fire or change the portfolio of any minister, some serious questions arise after these repeated and frequent reshufflings. For example, what useful purpose do these reshufflings serve? If it is the performance of a minister which leads to his or her transfer to another ministry, it hardly makes any sense. Bad performance should lead to showing the door to the minister, not a transfer to another ministry.” 4 1 Raza, S. I. (2021) PM shows Hafeez the door, elevates Azhar. Available at: https://www.dawn.com/news/1615422/pm-shows-hafeez-the-door-elevates-azhar (Accessed 22 April 2021) 2 Dawn (2021) Hammad Azhar given energy ministry, Shaukat Tarin made finance minister in latest cabinet reshuffle. Available at https://www.dawn.com/news/1618558 (Accessed 16 April 2021) 3 Ch Fawad Hussain. 16 April. Available at: https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1382993026335662081 (Accessed 22 April 2021) 4 Mehboob, A. B. (2021) Cabinet or a deck of cards? Available at: https://www.dawn.com/news/1620224/cabinet-or-a-deck-of-cards (Accessed 28 April 2021). APRIL 2021 UPDATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS 5 Announcing yet another change in the Federal Cabinet on April 28, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting tweeted that the Prime Minister has appointed Mr. Farrukh Habib, MNA as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. 5 Mr. Habib took oath of office on April 29. 6 In another notification by the cabinet division on April 29, Dr. Waqar Masood was redesignated as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Revenue with the status of Minister of State.7 On April 19, a cabinet division notification also announced that Prime Minister has appointed Mr. Jamshed Iqbal Cheema as Special Assistant on Food Security. 8 CCI APPROVES 2017 CENSUS Mr. Asad Umar addressing a press conference On April 12, the Council of Common Interest (CCI) approved the 2017 census with a majority except Sindh which opposed the approval. Addressing a press conference following the CCI meeting, Mr. Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Planning and Development, said that the CCI has decided to hold a new census by October 2021. 9 The 6th Population & Housing Census 2017 was conducted from March 15, 2017 to May 24, 2017. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Planning and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, provisional results of the census at block level were approved by the CCI on November 13, 2017. On February 02, 2020, the federal cabinet constituted a Ministers Committee for detailed deliberations on 2017 census results. Since then, the committee conducted six meetings and based on its recommendations to approve the results of Census-2017 and to conduct next census earlier,10 the federal cabinet approved the committee recommendations in its meeting held on December 12, 2020 11 while the CCI, in its April 12 meeting approved the 2017 Census results. On April 14, Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, said that the faulty census of 2017 had shown 47.8 million population of Sindh but a UNICEF survey suggested that the population of Sindh stood at 61.04 million adding if the population of the province is counted at 61.04 million, the share of the province in the national resources will go up from about 24 per cent to 29 per cent. He also said that earlier the CCI had decided that one per cent of census blocks would be verified. A similar suggestion had also been given from the Senate but the federal government in the CCI had vowed to verify five per cent of the census blocks. However, on May 27, 2018 the Statistics Division informed the CCI that they could not verify five per cent of the blocks. 12 5 Ch Fawad Hussain. 28 April. Available at: https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1387314481869557760 (Accessed 03 May 2021) 6 Nation (2021) Farrukh Habib takes oath as minister of state for info. Available at: https://nation.com.pk/30-Apr-2021/farrukh-habib-takes-oath-as-minister-of-state-for-info (Accessed 03 May 2021) 7 Business Recorder (2021) Waqar Masood redesignated. Available at https://www.brecorder.com/news/40089107/waqar-masood-redesignated (Accessed April 30, 2021) 8 Cabinet.gov.pk (2021) The Prime Minister has been pleased to appoint Mr. Jamshed lqbal Cheema as special assistant to the prime minister on food security. Available at: https://cabinet.gov.pk/NewsDetail/ZDY4MGM0NTktODM0Zi00Nzk2LTg4MjMtMTM5MTEyYzgzYjYw (Accessed 05 May 2021) 9 The News (2021) CCI approves 2017 Census: New census to begin in October. Available at https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/819107-cci-approves-2017-census-slug-new-census-to-begin-in-october (Accessed 15 April 2021) 10 The News (2021) CCI approves 2017 Census: New census to begin in October. Available at https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/819107-cci-approves-2017-census-slug-new-census-to-begin-in-october (Accessed 15 April 2021) 11 Raza, S. I. (2020) Govt okays 2017 census results after three years. Available at: https://www.dawn.com/news/1597329 (Accessed 22 April 2021) 12 Dawn (2021) Murad says Sindh’s share in national resources reduced due to ‘faulty’ census. Available at https://www.dawn.com/news/1618271/murad-says-sindhs-share-in-national-resources-reduced-due-to-faulty-census (Accessed 15 April 2021) 6 UPDATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS APRIL 2021 BACKCHANNEL TALKS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN Picture credit: Quint.com Quoting high-level sources, Mr. Fahd Husain, Resident Editor Islamabad, Dawn, reported on April 25 that backchannel talks have continued between the intelligence leaderships of Pakistan and India since December 2020 when India approached Pakistan with an offer to reduce tension and offered backchannel talks on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir. Reportedly, New Delhi had preferred that these quiet negotiations take place at this level instead of through a political platform, and Islamabad had consented. “It is an opportune time for us to take a strategic pause,” Mr.