For the second time in less than a year, Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam handed in his resignation — this time from white-ball captaincy. (File Photo)
PTI protests: Section 144, mobile and internet services blocked
In July, the Pakistan Supreme Court had delivered a verdict that legitimised Imran Khan’s PTI’s claim to seats reserved for women and minorities. This helped the party increase its numbers in the country’s legislature, the National Assembly. However, the implementation of this decision has been delayed. In response, earlier this week, PTI founder Imran Khan, who remains incarcerated, called on his supporters to gather for a “peaceful protest” in various cities across the country including Islamabad, Lahore and others in Punjab.
Apart from demonstrating against the delay in implementation, PTI leaders are also claiming that the autonomy of the judiciary is compromised. Ahead of the Islamabad rally, mobile and internet services were shut down, all entry and exit points blocked and Section 144 imposed in various other cities. The protestors clashed with the armed forces in Islamabad last night and are expected to protest in Lahore today.
The Nation (September 30) criticises the government for its inability to engage in dialogue which “is contributing to a growing sense of disillusionment among the public” and demands that the leadership put a stop to the protests.
The editorial says, “If political actors continue to prioritise personal power plays over national interests, the country risks further damage to its global reputation and internal stability… A failure to address the root causes of dissatisfaction and unrest could lead to a situation that spirals beyond control.”
SC’s historic judgment on Article 63A
On October 3, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict on the interpretation of Article 63A of the constitution. This clause prohibited lawmakers from voting against party lines. The latest decision by a five-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Esa, struck down a 2022 judgment that restricted the rights of parliamentarians and restored their autonomy. According to Dawn (October 5), this verdict “corrects a constitutional wrong”.
While the decision has unanimously been hailed by the press, there are questions over the timing and haste with which it was passed. This is because the ability of lawmakers to vote across party lines is seen to benefit the ruling establishment at this time.
Express Tribune (October 4) says, “While the correction now sits in line with the Constitution, it has revived the fears that allowing a vote of conscience — which is vulnerable to manipulation — will reopen the door to floor crossing.”
With the freedom of the judiciary having come under suspicion several times in recent years, Dawn (October 5) points out that “while the judgment undoes a past wrong, it risks being perceived as enabling a myopic political agenda. Such a perception could further erode public trust in the judiciary, especially in a climate already rife with accusations of political manoeuvring.”
Agreeing with Dawn, News International (October 4) weighs the pros and cons of this judgment and concludes its editorial by saying: “If this verdict marks the end of a damaging chapter in which party discipline outweighed individual autonomy, it also signals the beginning of another: a renewed debate over how to strike the right balance between the powers of the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive.”
Babar Azam resigns from captaincy
For the second time in less than a year, Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam handed in his resignation — this time from white-ball captaincy. Although Azam stepped down last year after Pakistan’s abysmal ODI World Cup run, the Pakistan Cricket Board reinstated him in March. When he was appointed as captain in 2019, Azam proved his mettle by providing stability to the team. But ever since, his leadership has come under criticism due to the team’s declining performance.
Daily Times (October 4) believes that this chaos is symptomatic of a larger issue in Pakistani cricket saying, “This should serve as a reminder to the PCB to address its internal problems. While the blame for Pakistan’s recent failures cannot be placed solely on Babar Azam, the board’s policies and lack of a clear direction have played a significant role in the team’s decline.”
Dawn (October 3) hopes that Azam’s resignation will benefit him, and the team, through an improvement in his performance as the pressure of captaincy is off him: “Perhaps Babar will return to his prolific best now that he has shed the weight of captaincy, thus boosting a side whose fortunes have been flailing of late.”
