ISLAMABAD: Yousaf Raza Gillani, the opposition leader in Pakistan’s Senate, on Monday announced his resignation, days after the upper house passed a controversial bill as a precondition by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive the country’s $6 billion loan program.
The government had the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill passed by the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, on January 13 to secure the next tranche of the IMF’s Extended Funds Facility. The central bank autonomy bill also required approval of the Pakistani parliament’s upper house to become a law.
The passage of the bill from parliament was a pre-requisite for the disbursement of around $1 billion from the IMF. The global lender’s executive board is scheduled to meet on February 2 for Pakistan’s sixth review under the $6 billion program.
The opposition has a majority of at least 14 votes in the Senate, but some of its members, including Gillani, were absent from the January 28 session, during which the bill was passed.
“I am not astonished by the harsh words of my opponents, but I am astonished by the silence of my well-wishers,” Gillani said in his address with the Senate on Monday.
“But those, who do not have credibility and who are turncoats, they are saying that I helped the government. I have already submitted my resignation to my party that I don’t want to be the leader of the opposition.”
The SBP Amendment Bill had been a major source of contention between the government and the opposition as the latter believed the legislation would compromise Pakistan’s economic sovereignty.
But the government was of the view that an autonomous central bank would help boost economic growth and stability in the country.
The revival of the IMF program would make available $1,059 million that would bring total disbursements to Pakistan to about $3,027 million and help unlock significant funding from bilateral and multilateral partners.
Pakistan secured the $6 billion Extended Funds Facility in 2019, which has been stalled since March 2021.
Opposition leader announces resignation after Pakistan’s Senate adopts IMF-backed bill
https://arab.news/9u4vg
Opposition leader announces resignation after Pakistan’s Senate adopts IMF-backed bill
- The central bank autonomy bill had been a major source of contention between government, opposition
- Yousaf Raza Gillani was among senators missing in last week’s session of opposition-majority upper house
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
