Arrest of former PM Imran Khan
An Islamabad trial court found PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan guilty of “corrupt practices” in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in prison with a fine of Rs 100,000. Khan was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on August 5 and this time, he “didn’t resist the arrest” (Dawn). There have been mixed reactions to this verdict with some hinting at political motives and others claiming that Khan deserved what he got.
Dawn (August 6) says, “…for the court to hand Mr Khan the maximum possible sentence for the offence he was charged with seems excessive.” Express Tribune (August 6) says, “his conviction in the case — of which there was ample justification — is widely interpreted in the context of his fall from favour with the movers and shakers.” News International (August 6) presents the views of legal experts and other analysts saying, “The Toshakhana case was an open and shut case, with legal experts reiterating that at the heart of the matter was the fact not that he had obtained and then resold gifts from the Toshakhana but that he did not declare them as a parliamentarian, which is grounds for his conviction and disqualification.”Daily Times (August 6) believes that “Mr Khan has no one to blame for it but himself. Instead of being all cagey, his legal counsel should have fully cooperated with the investigation.”
Four years since the revocation of Article 370 in J&K
August 5 marked the four-year anniversary of the Modi government revoking the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. News International calls it a “Black Day” while Daily Times calls it a “Dark Day” — both echoing each other’s sentiments.
Daily Times (August 5) says, “With an unprecedented rise in arrests and illegal detentions, a severe crackdown on the voice of dissent and little to no regard for fundamental human rights, the picturesque heaven on earth has been reduced to the largest open-air concentration camp on the face of this earth.” News International (August 5) adds, “the international community has turned a blind eye to the plight of the Kashmiris because of its economic and geo-political interests related to India.” Express Tribune (August 5), however, emphasises that even so, “Pakistan on its part must relentlessly continue its support in the realms of diplomacy, and constitute a special lawfare division to highlight India’s transgression. It is an existential crisis for a million people and cannot be ignored.”
Haryana violence
On July 31, communal clashes broke out after participants in a religious procession led by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal were pelted with stones in the Muslim-dominated town of Nuh in Haryana. The immediate trigger is said to be a video posted by self-proclaimed cow vigilante Monu Manesar who urged Hindus to attend the procession in large numbers and claimed that he will be present with his entire team. He is also an accused in a murder case from earlier this year involving two Muslim “cow smugglers” in Bhiwani, Haryana.
In response to the attack on the procession, a mob burnt a mosque down in Gurgaon. A curfew was announced in many parts of the state and internet access was restricted. As of now, a total of six people have lost their lives, including the imam of the mosque, two police personnel and three others.
Talking about the communal tensions, Dawn (August 2) discusses the Nuh riots and cites the recent violence in Manipur and says, “India’s central government needs to control these disturbing trends and rein in the Sangh Parivar as elections won after brutalising the country’s minorities will have little legitimacy.” Express Tribune (August 4) comments on the communal tension and also hints at the election angle reminding people of the 2019 Pulwama attack on Pakistan: “Several experts have previously noted that tensions with Pakistan also rise ahead of elections — the most glaring example is the Pulwama attack… After the attack, however, the BJP and RSS relentlessly mobilised national emotions, and even though they took India to the brink of a disastrous war with Pakistan, it did win Modi another election.” The Nation (August 2) says, “The current state of communal violence in India is deeply disturbing, yet it remains inadequately highlighted on the international stage… It is essential for the international community to recognise and address this pressing issue, supporting efforts to restore peace, harmony, and inclusivity in India.”
Official visit from China
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng visited Pakistan from July 30 – August 1 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The media is hopeful that this will strengthen bilateral trade and relations. But it also reflects on the shortcomings on Pakistan’s part that require mending.
The Nation (August 1) says, “[China] has been showing its commitment towards uplifting the country economically through providing additional help via debt restructuring, emergency aid and diplomatic support.” News International (August 2) adds that “For Pakistan, being more closely tied to China has meant not only an increase in aid and investment but having a powerful ally in the region that would keep India in check.” Express Tribune (August 2) says, “The signing of six new agreements, during the visit, was icing on the cake as socio-economics was cemented with political commitments… Pakistan and China are at the crossroads of knitting the region, and no amount of revulsion at home or abroad should derail the momentum.”
