View from Pakistan: India’s media crackdown, death penalty for rape and specter of tax hikes

Sunrise (October 5) says: “Tuesday’s raids on high-level journalists in Delhi “It seems directly related to the impending elections.” He also mentions the “strong opposition alliance” and the Bihar caste poll as possible reasons for the move. Referring to the claim that “the raids were carried out in the context of… reports (that) include anti-terrorism laws,” Sunrise comments that “a worried Mr Modi could be a bigger threat to free speech and independent media, even by his own humble standards.”

Deportation deadline

Acting Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced that all illegal immigrants must leave Pakistan by November 1 or they will be deported. ID cards for legitimacy will be accepted from October 10 to 31, after which authorities will crack down on illegal establishments and individuals. This is especially worrying for the 1.73 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

The nation (October 5) says: “Pakistan aims to protect its own interests and national security… Compassion and security must be balanced… considering the complexity of the situation, it is a sensible decision.” He also talks about the “broader regional and international implications” and says: “Any change in the Afghan situation could have an impact on trade, financial markets, investor confidence and exchange rates.”

daily schedules (October 5) expresses concern about “the role of Afghan citizens within the militant group (Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP))” and says that Pakistan’s “hospitality cannot be confused with an open invitation to spread chaos and violence.” However, with respect to the November 1 deadline, “Pakistan can review its approach and design an inclusive nation-building project… distinguish between ordinary people with a penchant for peace and extremists hardened by violence.” .

Death penalty bill

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, last week approved by majority a bill with some amendments in favor of public hanging of rapists. The bill was introduced by Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed “to amend sections 375, 375A and 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Schedule II of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrCP).” The media is largely critical of this bill.

The common argument is that “there is little solid evidence to show that hanging criminals, in public or anywhere else, reduces the crime rate in any way” (International NewsOctober 3). Express tribune (October 2) says: “A justice system must prioritize rehabilitation and address the root causes of criminal behavior… Nipping the problem in the bud means going beyond punitive measures and proactively shaping a society where conditions are minimized. for such crimes.”

International News (October 3) notes: “Our legal system is certainly plagued by delays and inefficiencies… (but) those most skeptical of the current justice system suddenly begin to believe that it is capable of determining who should live and die when the question of death arises the penalty.”

Sunrise (October 2) adds that “such statements are not focused on justice, but on the idea of ​​immediate revenge, which means that they do not produce any positive long-term results.”

Polio in Pakistan

Recently, Pakistan reported its third polio case this year in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This occurred shortly after the second national campaign against the virus. It highlights health care among children and evaluates the effectiveness of the anti-polio campaign. But there appears to be “high levels of mistrust between the people and the government,” which has led to Pakistan being “one of the last two countries facing a polio epidemic” (International NewsOctober 6).

International News (October 6) says: “While it is true that the government has taken several measures to eradicate polio, the disconnection of trust has continued. It is up to the State to counteract this misinformation with carefully coordinated campaigns.”

daily schedules (Oct. 6) comments on the state’s “frankly authoritarian” move to potentially jail parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. He says: “This law is said to be used as a deterrent to end vaccination refusal. However, any criticism of the agreements that already exist should consider how Pakistan is forced to fight each fight on a myriad of fronts. “Anti-vaccine sentiment in Pakistan is deeply rooted.”

Tax outrage

A recent update to the World Bank report suggested that Pakistani authorities consider raising taxes for more income categories, including those earning less than Rs 50,000 (PKR). This caused outrage among the salaried class that has had to bear the weight of the economic crisis largely due to high inflation in food products and skyrocketing electricity bills.

Sunrise (October 7) calls for a rethink of the tax system saying: “The first priority for the tax authorities should be to remove the huge incentives, concessions and exemptions given to various sectors of the economy and ensure that the untaxed segments pay taxes fairly ”. He goes on to say that until this system is fixed, “the government should leave honest taxpayers alone. “They have already suffered enough.”

Express tribune (October 7) echoes this sentiment while commenting on the World Bank’s concern over the sustainability of Pakistan’s economy and its potential failure saying: “Ending the prevailing culture of perks and privilege and introducing savings can inject new life to the currency”.

adya.goyal@expressindia.com