INTER-INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS IN PAKISTAN A P I L D A T M O N T H L Y M O N I T O R September 2020 CONTENT Paradigm Shift in the PML-N Stance Nawaz Sharif bars party leaders from meeting army, agencies Opposition Parties trying to create a wedge between Government and Army: Prime Minister Speaker National Assembly meets PM National Assembly Defence committee visits Miranshah Financial Action Task Force Legislations COAS Meets Business Leaders in Karachi CJP addresses NDU delegation Local Government System in Sindh has broken down: CJP Military Court Convictions IHC concerned about missing persons cases in Islamabad Contempt of Court notices issued in Musharraf High Mr. Nawaz Sharif addressing the PDM APC via Video Link Treason case APS Commission Report becomes Public Army Land Allotment case Paradigm Shift in the PML-N Stance Dr. Moeed Yusuf to head Economic Outreach Apex Committee 2 Railways Minister discloses Chief of Army Staff In a rst for the PML-N, Mr. Nawaz Movement (PDM). meeting with Opposition Leaders Sharif named the current Chairman Corps Commanders' Conference C P E C A u t h o r i t y a n d f o r m e r Mr. Nawaz Sharif alleged that prior to COAS Interactions with Foreign Dignitaries Commander Southern Command, Lt. the 2018 Senate election, a plot had Prime Minister's Interactions with Chief of Army Staff General (Retd.) Asim Saleem Bajwa, been hatched that he wanted to bring accusing him of being behind a to the attention of the gathering. The Belarus Protests conspiracy to remove the PMLN-led PML-N-led Balochistan Provincial Mali Opposition Rejects pro-junta transition Provincial Government of Balochistan Government was changed according Thailand pro-democracy protests continue prior to the Senate election in 2018.1 to the plot. Mr. Nawaz Sharif alleged Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asim Saleem Bajwa that Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asim Saleem This monitor is meant to identify key developments during the month on Inter-Institutional Relations in also holds the portfolio of Special Bajwa was part of the plot. He added Pakistan with selected high-prole international Advisor to the Prime Minister on that the public had already found out developments included occasionally. For the purpose of this monitor, the institutions are meant to be the Information and Broadcasting. about the business empire run by Lt. Legislature, Judiciary and Executive. Gen. (Retd.) Asim Saleem Bajwa. Mr. Nawaz Sharif was addressing the All Parties Conference organised by “2018 ki senate ke intekhabaat se the joint opposition parties which kuch arsa pehle, khawateen o hazrat, have come together under an alliance aik mazmoom saazish ki gayi, mein Pakistan Institute of Legislative named as the Pakistan Democratic aap ki tawajoh mabzool kara raha Development And Transparency 1. YouTube (2020) Live: Opening remarks of opposition leaders at the PPP hosted APC in Islamabad. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJRDyXuEKzc. (Accessed 19 October 2020) 2. Wasim, A. (2020) Opposition moot to devise anti-govt strategy today. Available at: https://www.dawn.com/news/1580646/opposition-moot-to-devise-anti-govt-strategy-today. (Accessed 20 September 2020) 2 September 2020 the rst time that he named a serving General at the time for allegedly sabotaging Senate election. The former Prime Minister also adopted a belligerent tone directly blaming military establishment for the loss suffered by the PML-N in the 2018 election. In another veiled reference, the former Prime Minister went on to say that their ght was not against Prime Minister Imran Khan, but was against the people who had selected him as the Prime Minister. “Humara muqabla Imran Khan se nai hai, aaj humari jad-o-jahad Imran Khan ko laane walon ke khilaf hai.” Mr. Nawaz Sharif said that a 'state above the state' existed in the country and the existence of this parallel government was DG ISI and Chief of Army Staff unacceptable and against democratic norms. He ended his speech by stating that institutions such as the media, judiciary and the bureaucracy had all been compromised hun. Uss mazmoom sazish ke zariye, Balochistan ki subayi and there was need for a change in the system and not just a hakumat gira di gayi. Uska maqsad kya tha maloom hai change in the party in power. aapko? Uska asal maqsad Senate ke intekhabaat mein saamne aaya. Uss saazish ke kirdaaron mein Lt General A day after the APC, senior ministers of the PTI-led Federal Asim Saleem Bajwa, jo wahan ke corps commander thay, Government including Mr. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Mr. Southern Command ke Commander thay, unka naam bhi Fawad Chaudhry, Mr. Asad Umar and Senator Shibli Faraz, aata hai. Yeh wohi General Asim Saleem Bajwa hain jin ke in a press conference, termed Mr. Nawaz Sharif's speech as khandaan ki be-panah daulat aur dunya bhar mein phele “anti-Pakistan”5 and said that he had furthered India's hue asaason ki tafseelaat poori qaum ke saamne aa chuki agenda.6 hai.” Nawaz Sharif bars party leaders from Former Prime Minister also said that no one had the courage to question the retired General or his family on how he had meeting army, agencies managed to accumulate assets during his service.3 Mr. Nawaz Sharif said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had given On September 29, the PML-N issued a directive barring all a clean chit to the former General and no details were asked party members from meeting representatives of Pakistan of him, no Joint Investigation Team was formed and no Army and Intelligence Agencies without permission from Mr. investigation took place. Nawaz Sharif, Quaid PML-N. It is pertinent to note here that Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asim Saleem The move came about as a result of a disclosure made by the Bajwa tendered his resignation from his position as Special Railways Minister Mr. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, that Mr. Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Muhammad Zubair, former Governor Sindh and a senior Broadcasting on September 4. Prime Minister Imran Khan, leader of the PML-N, had held secret meetings with the Chief 7 however, did not accept the resignation stating that he was of Army Staff. satised with the evidence and explanation provided by Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asim Saleem Bajwa.4 In a paradigm shift for the PML-N, Quaid PML-N, Mr. This move signals a paradigm shift for Mr. Nawaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif directly named military ofcials involved in who, since his ouster from power in July 2017, has chosen meddling in the Senate election in Balochistan to bring not to directly name the military or a particular personality in down the elected PML-N Government in the province. the military, choosing instead to question why was he ousted Former Prime Minister Mr. Nawaz Sharif also said that a and that 'khalai makhlooq' was responsible behind his ouster 'state above the state' existed in the country and its and PML-N's defeat in 2018 General Election. It is, therefore, existence was against democratic norms. 3. Wasim, A. (2020) Nawaz takes “parallel government” head-on. Available at: https://www.dawn.com/news/1580796/nawaz-takes-parallel-govt-head-on (Accessed 21 September 2020) 4. PMO (2020) Special Assistant Lieutenant General (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa today tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan which was not accepted by the Prime Minister. Available at: https://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=3601. (Accessed 04 September 2020) 5. Raza, S. (2020) Govt terms Nawaz's speech 'anti-Pakistan'. Available at: https://www.dawn.com/news/1580983/govt-terms-nawazs-speech-anti-pakistan. (Accessed 22 September 2020) 6. Alvi, M. (2020) Opposition and India towing same agenda: Opposition criticism illogical, says PM Imran Khan. Available at: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/718093-opposition-india- towing-same-agenda-opp-criticism-illogical-says-pm. (Accessed 22 September 2020) 7. Chaudhry, A. (2020) Nawaz asks party members to get approval before meeting military leadership. Available on: https://nation.com.pk/25-Sep-2020/nawaz-asks-party-members-to-get- approval-before-meeting-military-leadership. (Accessed 24 September 2020) September 2020 3 On September 23, Director General Inter Services Public Relations, Major General Babar Iftikhar, also disclosed that Mr. Muhammad Zubair had met the Chief of Army Staff twice on the request of Mr. Zubair and that DG ISI was also present in these meetings. The DG ISPR went on to say that the issues facing Mr. Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Ms. Maryam Nawaz Sharif were discussed in both meetings.8 He shared this during an interview given to journalist Mr. Arshad Sharif on ARY News. “Zyada detail mein tou nai jaon ga magar Chief of Army Staff ki mulaqat ke hawaale se mein yeh zarur waazeh kar doon ke Muhammad Zubair Sahab ne dou martaba Chief of Army Staff se mulaqat ki. Aik dafa August ke aakhri haftay mein aur Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan dusri martaba 7 September ko unki Chief of Army Staff se mulaqat hui jis mein DG ISI bhi maujood thay. Aur dono mulaqaatein unki darkhwast pe hi huin, aur dono mulaqaton Opposition Parties trying to create a wedge mein unhon ne Mian Nawaz Sharif Sahab aur Maryam between Government and Army: Prime Nawaz Sahiba ke hawaale se hi baat cheet ki. Inn mulaqaaton mein jo bhi baat cheet hui hai Army Chief ne un Minister pe waazeh kar diya ke jo bhi inn ke legal masail hain woh Pakistan ki adaalton mein hal hon ge aur jo siaasi masail On September 25, Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan said that hain unka hal parliament mein hoga.