Pakistan Roundup: Tajikistan cooperation, Christians protest, militant attacks

Investment ties

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has advocated for the expansion of trade, investment, and connectivity with Tajikistan. In a joint press conference with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, he highlighted the need to deepen collaboration across various sectors, such as agriculture, education, health, and commerce. Sharif announced that a series of Memorandums of Understanding was executed today, which will contribute positively to the bilateral ties. He underscored the significance of strategic partnership agreements, reports Dunya. He extended his congratulations to the Tajik authorities for their agreement, which promises to strengthen fraternal bonds and broaden the scope of cooperation for the future.

Christians protest blasphemy

Activists advocating for minority rights in Pakistan staged protests on Tuesday (July 2) in response to the capital punishment verdict given to a Christian individual accused of disseminating a blasphemous post on TikTok. The incident has ignited widespread indignation and underscored the persistent worries over the exploitation of blasphemy statutes in the nation. As reported by WION, the dispute originated in August following the extensive distribution of a graphic that implicated two Christian siblings in the defilement of a sacred scripture. The ensuing commotion prompted an assault by a crowd on a Christian community, resulting in the devastation of more than 80 residences and 19 places of worship.

‘Weakened’ SGPC

Sikhs in Pakistan have voiced concerns that recent events concerning the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Indian Punjab could potentially undermine a party that supports them politically in this region and an institution that serves as their customary source of religious direction beyond the Akal Takht. According to Times of India, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Ramesh Singh Arora, Pakistani Punjab's first Sikh minister, who holds the minority affairs portfolio, said: “Sikhs worldwide, for whom the SGPC is faith’s supreme body, are disappointed at the allegations that dissident Akalis have laid against its leadership. Pakistani Sikhs want a stronger, influential SGPC to represent them ably across the globe. A weakened SGPC is concerning news for us.”

Militant attacks in Pakistan

According to a report by a local think tank, Pakistan experienced a reduction in militant activities in June, leading to a decrease in casualties. The country witnessed 69 militant incidents that month, resulting in the loss of 60 lives, including 33 members of the security forces, 26 civilians, and one insurgent, as per the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. Additionally, the report indicated that 65 individuals sustained injuries, including 33 civilians and 31 security personnel. Compared to the previous month, there was a 20% drop in attacks, a 33% reduction in deaths, and a 25% decrease in injuries. The first half of the year saw Pakistan enduring 478 attacks, which caused 474 fatalities and 539 injuries, the Peoples Gazette reports.

Pakistan criticises UN

Pakistan has rejected a UN report's characterisation of the detention of its former prime minister, Imran Khan, as "arbitrary" and contrary to international law. The Pakistani authorities maintain that the arrest and legal proceedings involving the ex-cricketer and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party are domestic issues. Imran has been incarcerated since August of the previous year after being found guilty in the Toshakhana case. The Election Commission of Pakistan also barred him from holding political office for five years, just before the national elections in February. He is currently facing legal action in both the cipher and Iddat cases. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Geneva expressed in a recent statement that Imran's imprisonment lacked a legal foundation and seemed aimed at preventing his political candidacy, adds Times of India.