The Modi government in India has decided to create its own framework for democracy ratings after it was downgraded by international groups and indexes. It has approached the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), one of India’s largest think tanks that has worked with the government on several projects and initiatives, for the same.
The Nation’s (March 22) sarcastic editorial, titled “People’s Republic of India” conveys the message. It says: “India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar firmly dismissed the international rankings from ‘self-appointed custodians’ and made it clear that India does not speak approval from anyone… This is India’s strive for excellence in motion… This excellence is clearly demonstrated through India’s rankings in other areas. In the World Press-Freedom Index, India reached an astonishingly high ranking of 161st last year.”
The editorial concludes by saying, “Despite the alterations, it seems India still has a tough hill to climb, as top contenders for the top ranking are currently China, Russia and of course, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
On March 20, eight members of the Majeed Brigade, the armed wing of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), attempted to enter the Gwadar Port Authority complex with explosives. They were countered by Pakistani security forces. All eight attackers and five security personnel were killed in the fighting.
The Gwadar facility is part of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the port city of Gwadar is also home to many Chinese nationals working on the project. The BLA is one of many militant groups demanding the secession of Balochistan, Pakistan’s least populous and marginalised province, from the country. The media believes that “poverty and deprivation in Balochistan need to be addressed if the issue of separatism is to be tackled successfully” (Dawn, March 22).
Dawn (March 22) says, “the ‘working relationship’ between religiously inspired militant groups such as the TTP, and Baloch separatist outfits, including the BLA… needs to be broken immediately, or else it will compromise the security situation to a dangerous extent in KP and Balochistan.”
Daily Times (March 21) agrees with this noting, “The so-called nexus between these separatist movements and intelligence agencies of hostile countries should also be investigated thoroughly… Meanwhile, odds might appear more promising if the state dedicates itself to the socioeconomic development of areas deemed breeding grounds for such militant groups.”
The social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has been experiencing a nationwide disruption in Pakistan since February 17. On February 8, the day of the polls, mobile services were temporarily disabled. According to DIMFawn, “The outage [of X] was reported after former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaqat Ali Chattha… accused the Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of involvement in the ‘rigging’ [of election results]” (February 19). The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was in a state of “confusion” about this blockage even though a document to the Sindh High Court that stated the interior ministry had ordered the ban on February 17.
Dawn (March 21) says, “It was suspicious that the PTA chief had simply not ordered the restoration of X when nobody was willing to take responsibility for its suspension… It is high time the PTA came clean and explained why it allowed the blockage to continue while initially denying it was even in place.”
The Nation (March 21) says, “the simplest solution to this conundrum would be to lift the ban on X. Not only is X clearly a vital communication platform for citizens, but this move will demonstrate the government’s commitment to upholding constitutional values and welcoming open dialogue.”
Earlier this week, Pakistan and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement (SLA) on the second and final review of the country’s “stabilisation programme”. After approval by the executive board, and before the deal expires on April 11, $1.1 bn will be disbursed by the IMF out of the $3 bn bailout programme for Pakistan to fend off its sovereign debt. The media believes that this loan should only be a stepping stone in its economy’s recovery, more long-term solutions must be sought so as to avoid a similar situation in the future.
News International (March 21) says, “From the public’s point of view, a lot of the reform on the government’s agenda will be inflationary… The government’s policy mainstay through these troubled waters should be meaningful fiscal consolidation, careful investment in targeted safety nets, and keeping a tight lid on waste and pilferage.”
The Express Tribune (March 21) notes, “Millions of people have dipped below the poverty line, coupled with socio-economic unrest in the wake of unemployment and a dismal law and order situation. This entails Pakistan to take a dig at a long-term strategy and sever the strings of aid. Seeking new debt for retiring old ones is myopic.”
adya.goyal@expressindia.com
