Opinion This week in Pakistani media: Holi attack on Hindu students and women’s right to protest at Aurat Azadi March

The first is the Hajj cost — the quota for which has been slashed for Pakistan-based pilgrims. Dawn (March 12) says that the rising costs “mean that only the rich are able to fulfil this pillar of faith”. Meanwhile, Express Tribune (March 7) says, “the cost of Hajj is rising significantly for everyone, regardless of nationality, due to inflation” but then again, “Should the government spend billions subsidising the pilgrimage when our envoys are running around the world, begging bowl in hand?”

The second issue is the threat to oil supply owing to depleting foreign reserves and the decreasing value of the Pakistan Rupee. According to Dawn (March 9), “The oil industry has been operating in dire circumstances for the last six months, with the government deluding itself that everything is under control.” The Nation (March 9) says that “we cannot afford a collapse of an industry so integral to functioning but the public must also be shielded from price hikes as much as they can.”

The third issue is the imposition of additional tax on “luxury” goods such as cigarettes, home appliances, pet food, SUVs etc. The Nation (March 10) says this “shows the lack of creativity in our attempts to increase state revenue”. This will give “a very minor boost in revenue as a result of the GST, but at the cost of making life for many citizens much harder.”

Jenin attack and UN Women for peace

The recent raids on the Palestinian city of Jenin invited comment across Pakistan’s press. The first attack left six people dead, while the second left three people dead. News International (March 10) applauded America’s response and said, “the Americans’ uncharacteristically aggressive rebuke of the Israeli finance minister’s comments are a breath of fresh air”. NI condemns the UN and Israeli allies’ response that “calls for ‘the parties to observe calm and restraint’”. The Nation (March 10) interprets the UN response differently saying, “The UN Middle East peace envoy has been urging both sides for a stream of calm. The commitments must move beyond words, and it is time that public sentiment must translate to formal channels.”

Express Tribune (March 9) took note of the counterterror talks between Pakistan and the US. It said that a “new understanding must be result-oriented and pro-security, rather than an agenda of hegemony”. In a separate editorial on the same day, Express Tribune (March 9) also presented its views on the UN Secretary General António Guterres’s statement that according to the latest estimates from UN Women, gender equality is “300 years away”. Bearing in mind the violence that had ensued during the Aurat March in Islamabad, Tribune said the “recent kerfuffle… shows that patriarchy is fighting back to maintain the status quo, trying to undermine all the progress that women have made in the past few decades”. But women and their allies must “fight back and persevere against all odds”.

Muzzling Dissent

Domestic issues in Pakistan this week include the legal challenges and violence at Aurat Azadi March, the Balochistan attack and the attack on Hindu students at the Punjab University campus.

The Lahore deputy commissioner was opposed to holding the Aurat March in the city due to “security concerns”. Dawn (March 6) believes, “It is their [the authorities’] duty to provide protection to the marchers instead of preventing them from exercising their fundamental right”. Daily Times (March 6) commented saying, “No matter where one may stand on the spectrum… the magnificent feat of the young feminist movement in sending shockwaves so that the nation is forced to open its eyes to the plight of over 109 million cannot be denied.” The Nation (March 7) criticise the stance of the authorities saying, “all eyes will be focused on picking apart the forms of ex­pression—like placards—instead of actually listening to the hard­ships faced by a significant portion of the population.”

The protests held in different cities on March 8 took a violent turn in Islamabad as protestors were attacked by the police. Commenting on this and another similar instance where the authorities attempted to curb public expression, Dawn (March 10) said, “The general ugliness of the state’s reaction suggests that those in power are frustrated to the point that they are willing to terrorise ordinary citizens to maintain their control.” News International (March 10) stated, “Even in a minimum democracy, the right to protest must be guaranteed. The Nation (March 9) calls for action saying, “Those responsible for this injustice must be held accountable”.

The suicide bombing in Bolan, Balochistan, left nine policeman dead. Express Tribune (March 7) says, “Balochistan can sooner find a solution, if the people are instantly taken on board by shunning prejudice.” Dawn (March 7) states, “the state needs to pay special attention to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Balochistan”, while The Nation (March 7) is asking for “more than condem­nations and reactive investigations”. Daily Times (March 7) writes that the state must “develop a consistent approach towards terrorism-force”.

There was also an attack on Hindu students celebrating Holi at Punjab University. The media thoroughly condemned this violence. News International (March 9) said, “Religious minorities have the constitutional right to celebrate their lives… and it is the state’s responsibility to make them feel protected”. Dawn (March 8) demanded that PU authorities “thoroughly investigate this brazen injustice and punish all involved”. Most agree that this attack on minorities leaves Pakistan in a “sticky position to lend a heated commentary on what goes around in other countries of the world” (Daily Times, March 8). The Nation (March 8) concludes by saying, “We need better standards for the way we treat our students, especially those that are non-Muslims and persecuted minorities in Pakistan.”

adya.goyal@expressindia.com