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Sunday, May 22, 2022

PAKISTAN

Shireen Mazari’s arrest

Editorial
DAWN
Published May 22, 2022 -

AS if the political climate was not toxic enough, Punjab’s anti-corruption department took former human rights minister Shireen Mazari into custody in Islamabad yesterday. The incident ignited a firestorm of denunciation across the board.

Soon after her arrest, her daughter Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir alleged that she had been “beaten and taken away by male police officers”. While admittedly the entire episode was not captured on camera, a video clip that emerged later showed female police officers pulling Ms Mazari by the arm out of her car after she refused to step out. That said, the timing makes it seem like a clear case of political victimisation.

The former minister has ostensibly been arrested on the basis of an FIR in which she has been accused of encroaching on a piece of land in Rajanpur district, but the timing of the arrest is suspect. Ms Mazari has of late been harshly critical of the ruling coalition as well as the senior military leadership for its declared ‘neutrality’ in the events of the last few months that led to the ouster of the PTI government.

Read: Everyone knows 'neutrals' were not actually neutral during 'regime change conspiracy': Mazari

Given that Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz ordered her immediate release, at the time of writing it seemed highly likely she would be set free within a few hours. Nevertheless, there must be an investigation as to why Ms Mazari was taken into custody in the first place.

What happened yesterday came across as a regrettable attempt to intimidate a prominent opposition leader into silence. The PML-N-led coalition should not be using the same tactics against the PTI that the latter had employed while in government, and for which it was justifiably criticised.

And if there are other reasons behind Ms Mazari’s arrest rather than the somewhat prosaic contents of the aforementioned FIR, then she should be formally informed of what law she has violated, if any, and given full opportunity to defend herself. Abuse of power can never be condoned, regardless of who it targets or from where it emanates.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2022

'Smacks of political victimisation': Condemnations pour in from all quarters on Shireen Mazari's arrest

Dawn.com Published May 21, 2022 - Updated a day ago

After former human rights minister and PTI leader Shireen Mazari was

arrested from outside her Islamabad residence on Saturday, almost unanimous condemnation poured in, with journalists, analysts and politicians from

both the government and opposition's side criticising the development.

In footage of her arrest, which was aired by broadcasters, Mazari could be seen being dragged out of a car by female police personnel from outside her residence while she could be heard protesting: "No. Don't touch me."

PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said Mazari's arrest was "deplorable and the worst form of political oppression". "Things never seem to change in the land of the pure," he rued.

PPP MNA Nafisa Shah said it was "wrong to arrest" Mazari who had no allegations against her.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said the incident "smacks of political victimisation".

From the media fraternity, journalist Mazhar Abbas tweeted, "Shireen Mazari, the first political prisoner under the present government. Political leaders and governments not ready to learn lesson from the past. I don't agree with all her views but strongly condemned her arrest and humiliation."

Also condemning the detention was journalist Asma Shirazi, who said it was "simply harassment".

Senior journalist Hamid Mir said the PML-N government should clarify its position.

Dawn News anchor Absa Komal said Mazari's arrest in a "50 year old dubious property case is condemnable". "Evident from her Twitter timeline that she was stepping on some sacred toes," she added.

Journalist Saleem Safi demanded that no injustice should be committed with Mazari and condemned her arrest.

Journalist Ahmed Quraishi said Mazari had "tried to smear me, incite extremists in her political party by linking me to a fake conspiracy to topple ex-prime minister Imran Khan and provoke violence against me", yet he wished her well and hoped that her case would be resolved amicably.

The journalist and Mazari had recently been involved in a spat on Twitter revolving around allegations by the former that former prime minister Imran Khan had tried to establish formal relations with Israel through use of his personal and family contacts.

"Deplorable. This unlawful conduct is blatant harassment and a clear violation of fundamental rights," said Reema Omer, Legal adviser for the International Commission of Jurists.

Barrister Asad Rahim Khan, meanwhile, noted that Mazari was arrested "in a case that was investigated all of half a century later – but just 48 hours after the PTI govt fell".

Researcher Ammar Rashid said he had many political differences with Mazari, but, it was "clear" that her arrest was related to her recent criticism of the establishment.

Michael Kugelman, a scholar of South Asian affairs at the Wilson Centre, Washington, pointed out that the arrest would "further weaken an already beleaguered new government by giving Imran Khan and his party another rallying cry".

PAKISTAN
FIRs filed against senior journalists over alleged criticism of state institutions

Imtiaz Ali | Mohammad Hussain Khan

DAWN.COM

Published May 22, 2022 -

A combination photo of journalists Imran Riaz Khan, Sabir Shakir, Arshad Sharif and Sami Ibrahim — all of whom have seen FIRs registered against them this week. — Twitter

Cases have been registered against journalists Imran Riaz Khan, Sabir Shakir and Arshad Sharif for allegedly criticising state institutions and abetting mutiny, it emerged on Sunday.

The first information report (FIR) against Khan, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, was registered in Thatta's Dhabeji police station under Sections 131 (incitement to mutiny), 153 (provoking to cause riot), 452 (trespassing) and 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The FIR said that the complainant had heard Khan allegedly talking against the army and the institutions in a "derogatory and provocative language" on social media.

Meanwhile, a pair of FIRs were also registered against anchorperson Arshad Sharif on Friday and Thursday in Hyderabad and Karachi. The FIRs, copies of which are available with Dawn.com, were registered under Sections 131, 153 and 505 of the PPC.

They referred to Sharif's comments in a conversation with journalist Matiullah Jan on his YouTube channel wherein he allegedly "disrespected" state institutions and uttered statements that attempted to "spread hate in the army and create a hateful atmosphere".

Another FIR in Dadu, registered on Friday under PPC Sections 131, 153 and 505, mentioned Sharif and fellow ARY News journalist Sabir Shakir. The FIR said that "derogatory language" regarding state institutions was used in a conversation between the two and analogies were drawn to Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq. It added that the two were inciting people against the army and state institutions.

It is pertinent to mention that a similar FIR was also recently registered against journalist Sami Ibrahim in Attock under Sections 505, 131 and 499 (defamation) of the PPC, which deal with statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty.

The FIR was based on a complaint by Akhtar Javaid advocate, a resident of Attock city, who said he had viewed "Canadian Pak News", Ibrahim's Youtube channel. He said that Ibrahim had hatched a conspiracy and spread rumours against state institutions in a vlog.

Sharif claimed today that "multiple cases" were registered against the four journalists in various police stations across the country.

The journalists against whom the FIRs have been filed are commonly understood to be closer to the PTI.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan condemned the filing of FIRs against the journalists and branded it "political retaliation". He alleged that the government was behind the "fake FIRs" and said it was "absolutely unacceptable".

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (Pemra) had warned TV channels on Monday against airing content that "ridicules" state institutions, especially the judiciary and the army, or face retribution such as suspension of transmission and imposition of a fine without any prior notice. Pemra's instruction had followed after a similar warning on May 9 ago wherein it warned private electronic media from airing content against the armed forces and judiciary.

The army also recently took a "strong exception" to "intensified and deliberate attempts" to drag its name into the country's ongoing political discourse by "some political leaders, journalists and analysts".

The military's media wing had noted that attempts to involve the armed forces and its senior leadership in the political discourse were "manifest through direct, insinuated or nuanced references made by some political leaders, few journalists and analysts on public forums and various communication platforms, including social media".

PAKISTAN

Ministries to raise denial of fair trial to Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik globally: Marriyum

Dawn.com Published May 21, 2022 -

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb (C) and Yasin Malik's wife Mushaal Malik (L) at a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday. — APP

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Saturday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed ministries to raise the violation of Kashmiri leader Mohammed Yasin Malik's human rights after his conviction by an Indian court in a terror financing case — which she described as unfair.

Malik, who leads the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, had been charged with 'terrorist acts', illegally raising funds, being a member of a 'terrorist' organisation and criminal conspiracy and sedition — the charges carrying a maximum sentence of the death penalty or life imprisonment.

The Indian court has set May 25 as the date for Malik's sentencing.

The human rights and law ministries "will soon — today — devise a complete plan of action, which would [cover] legal and diplomatic bases, as well as those of the violations of human rights conventions and agreements, and present their recommendations to the prime minister and we will formally announce them," Aurangzeb said in a press briefing in Islamabad alongside Malik's wife, Mushaal and 10-year-old daughter Razia Sultana.

"They have been directed to take steps to prevent Malik's sentencing," Aurangzeb said.

She hailed Yasin as a leader who had dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom of India-occupied Kashmir.

Referring to the charges against Malik, she said India had framed "fake cases of terrorism against him", adding that "sudden court proceedings" against him were contrary to justice and human rights.

She added that the world acknowledged that Malik had been running a peaceful movement and that no allegations had ever been levelled against him at any international forum that would "include him in any negative activity".

Aurangzeb said a video of Malik, who is kept in Delhi's Tihar jail, had been made public by the prison in which he can be seen saying only one thing: "'I want to speak'".

"The way human rights and judicial procedures have been killed — fake cases were filed against him (Malik) and he was immediately indicted and date for his sentence was set," the minister said, adding that "the basic issue is that India has violated human rights [conventions, protocols and laws] of which it is a signatory".

"Such fascism," she said. "And if you are not afraid, if India is not afraid, why is it afraid of letting one man speak? Why is it afraid of allowing a free [and fair] trial? Why is it afraid of giving fundamental rights?"

Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik (centre) and other demonstrators scuffle with Indian police in Srinagar as they try to march during a protest against the recent killing of civilians in held Kashmir in 2018.—AFP/file

She added that it was the responsibility of the international community to raise the open violation of human rights that Malik was being subjected to.

"Everything is being written in history ... and the international community — all of us — will have to be answerable."

The minister again questioned that if India's case was genuine, why was it "scared" of letting Malik speak and suppressing his voice.

Marriyum said Mushaal had approached her regarding Yasin's case and it was "heart-wrenching" that she had not met her husband since September 2014. "At that time ... her daughter was two years old and today she is 10 years old."

"Religious card for religious divide'

Today, Aurangzeb said, there is a "complete blackout in [India-occupied] Kashmir, and that Malik was facing a media trial in India.

"Films are being played in cinemas to establish Yasin's involvement in terrorism plot — there are attempts to create a religious divide regarding Kashmiri pundits," she added. A "religious card" is being used to create a "religious divide" in occupied Kashmir, she said, adding that it was a botched attempt that would never succeed.

The people of occupied Kashmir, she said, would never be "enslaved" by such "fascism, thuggery and Indian barbarism", the minister said, adding that "this is why India is afraid of letting one person speak."

"Everyone knows that they are part of a peaceful movement" and "their resolve is bolstered after every act of cruelty."

She further alleged that India did not want "peaceful freedom" in occupied Kashmir.

But these attempts, this fascism, would not hurt the morale of the Kashmiris, she said. "Their morale will be boosted," she said, adding that Pakistan would continue to stand with the Kashmiris. "Kashmir is Pakistan's jugular vein and we are not ready to move even an inch from this [stance]."

She also lambasted the Modi government for stripping occupied Kashmir of its special autonomous status, calling the move a "violation" and "unacceptable".

The Kashmir issue, she said, would be resolved in line with the United Nations (UN) resolution and as per the will of the Kashmiri people.

Marriyum also paid tribute to other Kashmiri leaders.

Mushaal demands measures Yasin's release

For her part, Mushaal described the harrowing conditions Malik was being subjected to in the Indian jail.

She called on the world, Pakistan government and the UN for an independent investigation of Malik's case, declare him a prisoner of conscience, and get him immediately released on health grounds. She said steps were also needed to get him declared a "protected personality as he is a political prisoner. He is the voice of the people."

Pakistan's parliament should immediately pass a resolution for Malik's release and get him hospitalised.

Mushaal also appealed to the Pakistan government to take make measures to get her access to her husband and run a global campaign on the matter. She also called for a mass campaign at the national level, with people coming out on the streets to raise the issue.

She urged the government to assign "emergency tasks" to Pakistan embassies across the world as India intended to sentence him on May 25.

Mushaal further called for taking Malik's case to the International Court of Justice and demanding a commission of inquiry from the UN.

Recriminations fly as Indonesia resumes palm oil exports

Trucks with palm fruit queue for unloading at a factory in West Aceh, Indonesia, on May 17, 2022.

PHOTO: REUTERS

JAKARTA (REUTERS) - Long lines of trucks trying to unload palm fruit formed outside Indonesian processing mills this week, illustrating the growing cost of a palm oil export ban by the world's biggest producer.

The trucks were stuck for days as storage space for palm oil neared capacity and, with local crop prices slumping by 70 per cent, farmers took to the streets to demand a policy change.

President Joko Widodo has now agreed to lift the export ban, despite a bid to flood the local market with palm oil failing to bring down the price of cooking oil to a government target.

"Ultimately, an increasing realisation that the export ban was starting to hurt palm oil producers without benefiting the end-consumers all that much prompted the reversal," Mr Wellian Wiranto, an economist at OCBC Bank in Singapore, said in a note.

A oil palm farmer in West Sulawesi told Reuters trucks in his area had been stuck for days as farmers desperate to try to limit losses bypassed agents and offloaded their crop.

"But the mill is prioritising their partners, so the number of non-partner farmers is rising and waiting in a long queue," said Mr Irfan, who uses one name.

The pain caused to farmers comes after a string of policy changes aimed at containing the soaring price of palm oil, a staple for Indonesian families.

Mr Widodo, or Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, imposed the export ban, saying a need for affordable food trumped revenue concerns.

The President then justified ending the export ban by arguing cooking oil prices were expected to come down in coming weeks.

On Friday (May 20), his government unsettled markets again by announcing a domestic sales requirement to ensure supply at home.

Damage to trade relationships?

The cost of the export ban was estimated by the government at US$400 million (S$552 million) a month in lost state revenue, but there are also questions over longer-term damage in the eyes of Indonesia's trading partners.

India, the world's biggest buyer of palm oil, previously bought two-thirds of its supplies from Indonesia but has started to buy more from Malaysia and Thailand.

"We incurred losses this month as Indonesian shipments couldn't land because of the ban. We bought from other suppliers at a higher price," said a Mumbai-based palm oil buyer.

A Bangladesh-based vegetable oil refiner also expressed frustration over Indonesian flip-flops.

"Indonesia was our biggest supplier with a market share of more than 80 per cent. But we will bring down reliance even if Indonesia removes all the restrictions," said the Dhaka-based refiner.

Pakistan, another big buyer, was also looking to balance out it suppliers, including from the world's second-biggest producer, Malaysia.

"Pakistan would love to buy more from Malaysia, but they don't have enough stocks," said Mr Rasheed Jan Mohd, chairman of the Pakistan Edible oil Refiners Association.

Malaysia's Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said in a May 10 interview that some importing countries had sought to increase supplies of Malaysian palm oil.

Still, Mr Julian McGill, head of South-east Asia at LMC International, said importers were unlikely to cut themselves off from Indonesia.

"When Indonesia re-enters the market, as a distress seller of the large stocks that have accumulated during the export ban, they should find plenty of buyers," he said.