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INSIDE
AFGHANISTAN
Crisis of Governance
THE MALDIVES
Who Is Incharge?
INDIA
Bold Experiment
NEIGHBOUR
Beyond the Corruption
peaceful nation.
Maldives Rf 45
Myanmar MMK10
Nepal NcRs. 75
New Zealand NZ$ 7
Pakistan Rs. 150
Philippines P 75
Saudi Arabia SR 15
Singapore S$ 8
Sri Lanka Rs. 100
Thailand B 100
Turkey Lira. 2
UAE AED 10
UK £ 3
USA $ 5
Contents
12
A Lonely
Stance
Pakistan could do well
to open more bridges
of communication with
its neighbours.
India
22
Bouquets and
Brickbats Afghanistan
24
The partial demonetization
move in India has its pros Crisis of
and cons. Governance
Any working
democracy must tackle
key matters.
Sri Lanka
The Maldives
34
Who Is Incharge?
There is a tug of war between
two brothers for the control of
26
the Maldives.
Bangladesh
Price of Violence
Killing of political opponents in
Bangladesh is on the rise.
40
The Democracy Trail 20
India
Bouquets and Brickbats 22
Afghanistan
Crisis of Governance 24
International Bangladesh
Playing a New Tune Price of Violence 26
Will he or won’t he succeed as
the next US President? Sri Lanka
Footprints in the Waste 29
50
Bhutan
Towards Functional Rule 32
The Maldives
Who Is Incharge? 34
Afghanistan Nepal
Woman Power Elusive Peace 36
More women are coming
into practical life in this INTERNATIONAL
‘closed’ country. Playing a New Tune 40
NEIGHBOUR
Beyond the Corruption 44
FEATURES
Pakistan
Nepal A Global Issue 46
56
Agents of Change India
Efforts are on to remove
medieval rituals in Nepal. Bold Experiment 48
Afghanistan
Woman Power 50
Bangladesh
Pollution Problems 52
44
Sri Lanka
Riding the Tuk Tuk 54
Nepal
Agents of Change 56
The Maldives
Neighbour
Where Have All the Tourists Gone? 58
Beyond the Corruption
There are concrete moves BOOKS & REVIEWS
in Indonesia to curb Media Law Revisited 60
corruption.
SOUTHASIA 15 Years Ago 62
Census At Last
T
JANUARY 2017 Vol.21 Issue 1 hough the official word on the fate of population census is finally positive, it
has been such a tricky ride announcement after announcement and deadline
PRESIDENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF after deadline that it is hard to actually believe that it will really be executed
Syed Jawaid Iqbal this time round. The best bet, however, is to hope for the best. On its part, the
MANAGING EDITOR
Supreme Court of Pakistan deserves definite commendation for making a concerted
Zeba Jawaid effort to save the country from a rudderless leadership by rejecting reasons for delay
in conducting the population census and ordering the government to announce a
EDITOR definitive timeframe for holding the much-needed headcount. While taking suo
Javed Ansari
motu notice on delay in census, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali was quoted as
ASSISTANT EDITORS saying, “We have beautifully decorated the green book [Constitution] in cupboards
Mahrukh Farooq – Faizan Usmani only to be forgotten. Our only anxiety is that the constitutional obligations should
Feature Writer: Khawaja Amer be implemented in letter and spirit at all costs.” Following the decision, Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif presided over a meeting of the Council of Common Interests
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
which agreed to begin Pakistan's sixth population census on March 15, 2017.
S. G. Jilanee
If history is anything to take cue from, fears of uncertainty on this crucial count
CONTRIBUTORS are not misplaced. After the first census in 1951, there should have been six held
Dr. Moonis Ahmar - Zeeshan Ahmed - Khawaja Amer by now and, in line with the Constitution, a seventh would have been due in the
Zufah Ansari - Huzaima Bukhari - Muhammad Ali Ehsan next few years. Instead, we have just had four – 1961, 1972, 1981 and 1998 – and,
Tariq Faruqi - Dr. Ikramul Haq rhetoric aside, there was never a realistic chance of the various deadlines being met
Muhammad Omar Iftikhar - Hafiz Inam - S.G. Jilanee that were announced in the last ten or so years. Financial constraints and logistical
Dr. Raza Khan - Taha Kehar - Zehra Khawaja issues have been often cited for the delay, but it is not too hard to detect the basic
Dr. Syed Ali Madni - K.A. Naqshbandi - S. Mubashir Noor reason: lack of political will to hold census, which is nothing but raw material
Tahira Sajid - Faizan Usmani for all the key social, economic and demographic indicators. These, in turn, form
the basis to work out formulae for distribution of resources among the provinces,
GRAPHICS & LAYOUT delimitation of electoral constituencies, job quotas, water apportionment and
Kamran Ghulam Nabi such other sensitive issues. Without census data, socio-economic planning is just
Haroon Rasheed guesswork. And if one were to point any one reason behind the mess in Pakistan,
Riaz Masih
it would be poor planning because the headcount required for preparing a correct
MARKETING & ADVERTISING cost-effective forecast is not available. The last census in Pakistan was conducted
Aqam-ud-Din Khan in 1998 and during the last 18 years the massive migration to the major cities
SPECIAL PROJECTS
has given birth to new demographic realities across the country. The unaccounted
Waqas Jan - Syed Ovais Akhtar immigrants have worsened the situation further.
Hira Sarwar The government now must act on a war footing for making arrangements for
holding the census without any further delay and assign the task to a parliamentary
COORDINATOR committee comprising representatives of all parties in parliament to avoid
Shehryar Zulfiqar unnecessary confusion. The committee should be headed by a federal minister
CIRCULATION
and prepare a list of requirements, including collecting cost estimates from the
Danish Shahid Census Bureau, meet with relevant staff to make plans, review and update Census
Boundary and Annexation Survey maps, and return to Census Bureau with its input.
EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE This should be followed with recruitment and subsequent training to enumerators,
20-C, Lane 12, off Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase II crew leaders and clerks. It is also important that this census use the state-of-the-
Extension, DHA, Karachi - 75500, Pakistan art technology for enumeration and data tabulation. This will eliminate the errors
Phones: 92-21- 35313821-24
when data is digitised later. Aerial photography and GPS units should be used
Fax: 92-21-35313832
Website: www.southasia.com.pk
to demarcate Census geography. The government should consider collaborating
Email: info@southasia.com.pk with digital giants like Google, which has extensive experience in collecting such
data. In fact, such tasks could be outsourced to such companies so that data is
MIDDLE EAST digitised and archived using the global best practices parameters. It may even be
REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE cost-effective.
Pirana Advertising JLT Other than logistics, there are a couple of technicalities that the authorities need
PO Box 486207, 1704, Level 17, HDS Tower, to be clear about before undertaking the exercise. It is a bit surprising that after all
Jumeirah Lake Towers Cluster F, Dubai, UAE the bad blood that was created in 1998, there has been no procedural change
Phone: +97-14- 4508309 planned for enumeration purposes. The anomalies had led to serious protests in
Fax: +97-14-3688487 Urban Sindh, which plays host to a large immigrant population. In the wake of
Email: info@piranagroup.com
unrest in Northern Areas and the resultant southward movement, the issue this time
round is bound to be even more crucial. Besides, the definition of urban and rural
SouthAsia is published every month areas is also up in the air because of the change the local governance system has
by Syed Jawaid Iqbal for and on behalf of undergone in the intervening period. The delay, though unconstitutional, could still
JAWZ Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. have had a positive connotation if it could have been used to sort out such thorny
and printed by Union Graphics, Karachi. issues. It is advisable to preempt political backlash afterwards and everything
Views expressed by the contributors are
should be done to ensure that much. After all, it is not like asking for the moon,
or is it?
not necessarily shared by the editors.
“Terrorist organi-
“The first prior- sations are hurting
ity is to hold both Islam and
elections, and it Muslim countries
currency notes of the denomination of Rupees 500 and will and must be and everyone
1000 comprise over 80 per cent of the total currency held.” knows the West is
circulation in the country. However, the sudden ban on Pushpa Kamal helping them.”
Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has created a serious cash Dahal Prachanda, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
crisis, causing major unrest among the people of the Prime Minister of Nepal Turkish President
country. Quite a bold step, the burning issue of black
money circulation and its generation needs to be handled
with some sustainable, long-term reforms, compared to
drastic, short-term interventions or politically-influenced
one-time measures. A long-term remedy, issuing e-coins “My main “The develop-
or e-currency can help such corruption-hit countries as message to you ment of Islam in
India and Pakistan to control black money, eradicate and the message China should stick
corruption and encourage the general public to disclose I delivered in to socialism with
their hidden assets to the government. Resorting to digital Europe is don’t Chinese character-
currency is a viable option and will help eradicate or, at just assume the istics.”
least minimise corruption. worst.” Wang Zuoan,
Barack Hussein Obama, Director, State Administration for
Syed Farman Ghani, former U.S. President Religious Affairs, China
Torotno, Canada.
PAKISTAN
CPEC Opens
T
he China-Pakistan Economic Corridor formally of the world through Gwadar Port. The route will reduce
became operational when a fleet of trucks from China the distance between western China and Gwadar by 9,000
arrived last month at Sost Dry Port in Gilgit-Baltistan km. For the security of Chinese trade convoys, Pakistan
(G-B), the northernmost administrative territory of Pakistan. has installed 285 high-resolution, closed-circuit cameras
Loaded on more than 250 trucks, the first consignment with night vision capability along the route. Equipped with
was received by G-B Chief Minister, marking the formal modern security gear, some 25 vehicles have been donated
initiation of a trade corridor that connects China to the rest by China as well.
PAKISTAN
Nuclear Safety
H
aving established a preliminary, sea-based arm of its nuclear deterrent, Pakistan
Navy has unveiled a Very Low Frequency (VLF) communication facility. The VLF
facility has been designed for command and control of deployed submarines,
carrying a nuclear deterrent patrol. VLF signals can penetrate some 20 metres below
the sea surface. The military communication link in the VLF spectrum will extend the
overall reach and flexibility of submarine operations. Multiplying its second-strike
capability through its Minimum Credible Deterrence (MCD), Pakistan will soon deploy
a nuclear-armed, submarine-launched variant of Babur, similar to the United States'
BGM-109 Tomahawk.
INDIA
Wildlife Protection
T
o strengthen its wildlife conservation initiatives, the Indian
government has recently finalised the National Wildlife Action
Plan (NWAP) 2017-31. The 14-year conservation plan aims to
increase the number of protected areas for endangered animals in the
country. Currently, there are a total of 726 protected areas in India. Using
centralised web-based equipment, surveillance drones and mobile-based
technology, the NWAP 2017-31 will address conservation issues such
as control of poaching, wildlife crimes and illegal trade, integration of
climate change in wildlife planning, rehabilitation of threatened species,
mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts and management of tourism in
wildlife sanctuaries and forests.
INDIA
Sun Energy
I
n India, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is setting up two solar
storage plants with a total capacity of 25 megawatts at Port Blair, the capital city
of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal, India. Setting
up large-sized solar power plants will help generate sufficient power to supply to
remote locations that use diesel-generated electricity, a major source of pollution
in the area. Under the government’s anti-pollution drive, the NTPC will set up 50
solar plants across the country by June 2018.
Golden Vitamin
A
group of scientists in Bangladesh has successfully
developed Golden Rice, a vitamin A-rich rice variety
that can successfully address vitamin-A deficiency
(VAD) in the country. Developed by the Bangladesh
Rice Research Institute (BRRI), the grains of Golden Rice
accumulate beta carotene, a substance that is the main
source of vitamin A, which is essential for vision, immune 24 per cent of pregnant women in Bangladesh are vitamin
system function and for the overall growth and development A-deficient and one in every five pre-school children suffers
of the human body. According to statistics of WHO, nearly from VAD.
SRI LANKA
National Strategy
L
aunched by the Sri Lankan government in collaboration with the UN
Population Fund, the National STD/Aids Control Programme has become a
huge success. According to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria, Sri Lanka has recorded a significant decline in the total number of HIV/
Aids cases, compared to other South Asian nations.
Following its vision to end the Aids epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable
Development Goals, Sri Lanka has recently implemented a five-year National
Condom Strategy, promoting the correct and consistent use of condoms among
the rural and urban populations.
NEPAL
Wow Factor
T
he world’s largest travel guidebook publisher, Lonely Planet
has named Nepal as the ‘Best Value Destination’ in the world.
The country also ranked 5th in the Lonely Planet’s ‘Top Ten
Destinations Guidebook.’ It is the only South Asian country that
has been featured in the list of the top 10 countries to visit in 2017.
Among the other countries are Finland, Canada, Oman, Dominica,
Colombia, Bermuda, Ethiopia, Mongolia and Myanmar. As per the
ranking criteria of the Lonely Planet, each destination is chosen
because of its scenic beauty, topicality and a ‘wow’ factor, offering
a unique experience to international tourists.
BHUTAN
Easy Banking
T
he Central Bank of Bhutan has recently introduced ‘Agent Banking,’
allowing financial institutions to provide banking services to people
outside the bank premises. Under the initiative, a bank agent can
accept cash deposits and withdrawals, process loan applications and is
entitled to collect utility bills on behalf of the bank. Post offices, private
courier companies, agents of telecom operators, insurance companies,
pharmacies and shopping outlets are eligible to become a bank agent.
Aimed to serve unbanked populations across the country, the access to
financial services and loans through agent banking will help unemployed
youth to start their own businesses.
A Lonely
Stance That Pakistan supports terrorists is a common complaint.
Pakistan must make strong efforts to shed this global
perception or it may run into more trouble.
By S.G. Jilanee
I
ndia has mounted a relentless as well with it. The meeting had to be going on since July 8 when Hizb ul
campaign to smear Pakistan as a cancelled. Next, Prime Minister Modi Mujahedeen leader Burhan Muzaffar’
sponsor of terrorists. It uses every again reviled Pakistan at the BRICS Wani, was shot dead by troops
gimmick to embarrass and every forum summit in Goa. and, as a result, the entire Valley
to vilify Pakistan. The latest occasion India’s defamatory drive has erupted in protest. Five months
was the Heart of Asia Conference in led to two, parallel, perceptions. have gone passed and is still a
Amritsar, where Afghanistan president, One, that it is a dastardly attempt curfew and hartal. About one
Ashraf Ghani also chimed in to give an on India’s part to divert world hundred protesters have been
earful to Pakistan’s delegate – the PM’s attention from India’s on-going killed and more than one
foreign affairs adviser, Sartaj Aziz. atrocities in Kashmir. This is thousand blinded by pellet
Earlier, India boycotted the SAARC Pakistan’s official viewpoint. guns, yet there is no sign of
summit to be held in Islamabad, But this argument does not any let up in the intensity of
pulling Bangladesh stand the test of ground realities. the agitation.
and Afghanistan Indian brutalities have been But the international
O
n September 24, 2016, the
Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi while delivering a
speech in the southern Indian city of
Kozhikode warned Pakistan that, “we
will isolate you. I will work for that.
India would continue to push to make
Pakistan a pariah state in the eyes of
the international community. We will
intensify our efforts and force you to
be alone all over the world.” Modi’s
outburst against Pakistan and his threat
to isolate Pakistan in the region and
in the world took place shortly after a
terrorist attack on the Indian army camp
located in Uri in its controlled parts
of Jammu & Kashmir which killed 18
soldiers. India also claimed to launch
what it called “surgical strikes” inside
Pakistani territory to target what it called
“terrorist camps.” Pakistan swiftly and
vehemently denied the Indian claim
and termed it as baseless and a blatant
lie.
What is meant by the Indian policy
to isolate Pakistan and is New Delhi
capable of implementing such a policy?
What should Pakistan do to cope with
the challenge of isolation? These are
the questions raised in the aftermath
of Modi’s assertion to isolate Pakistan
and the chain of events prove how
serious is the Indian government about
implementing such a policy. First was
the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa) summit which was
held in Goa in October and was used by
the Indian Prime Minister for ‘Pakistan
bashing.’ But his efforts failed as Russia
and China, the two key members of
BRICS, refused to endorse his assertion
against Pakistan and called it irrelevant
and inconsistent with the agenda of that
conference. Second was the successful
Indian attempt to postpone the 19th
SAARC summit which was scheduled
to be held in Islamabad in November.
Challenge of
India not only announced a boycott of
the conference alleging that Pakistan
was involved in spreading terrorism
in India and in the region but it also
succeeded in convincing three more
members of SAARC, i.e. Afghanistan,
Isolation
Bhutan and Bangladesh to express
their unwillingness to attend the
SAARC summit. Therefore, when four
out of eight SAARC member countries
decided not to attend SAARC summit
in Islamabad, it was tantamount to
depriving Pakistan of an opportunity
to host that summit. Technically, even Pakistan must climb out of the isolation that it has been
if one member of SAARC refuses to driven into in the South Asian region and make efforts
attend the summit, it cannot be held.
Third was the Heart of Asia conference to get rid of its perceived image of a state that backs and
which was held in Amritsar in early
December on discussing terrorism in
exports terrorism.
the context of Afghanistan which was
also used by the Indian Prime Minister By Dr. Moonis Ahmar
Hunter or
Hunted?
Rather than walking the lonely path, Pakistan could increase its relevance in the region if
it were to adopt a more inclusive approach and follow a logical foreign policy.
By Khawaja Amer
A
fter the cancellation of the
SAARC summit in Islamabad
and Pakistan’s embarrassment
at the Heart of Asia conference in
Amritsar, political observers and
commentators on international affairs
believe that Pakistan is fast heading
towards complete isolation. They argue
that barring China, most countries in
the region consider Pakistan a terrorist
state while others perceive it as a
‘bad boy’ and, as such, they prefer to
keep a safe distance. Afghanistan has
started toeing the line of India, Iran
believes in maintaining a complex if
not hostile attitude towards Pakistan,
while the US-India defence agreement
has further consolidated New Delhi
in the region, seemingly weakening
the position of Islamabad. It sounds
pretty strange that despite atrocities in
Kashmir, violation of the Line of control
(LoC) and a generally uncompromising
attitude, India has been very successful
in foiling Pakistan’s efforts to convince
the international community to listen to counter allegations against it with any US Congress is aware of Pakistan's
its narratives. good results. Reasons may range from importance in the Islamic world and
Refusal to listen to Pakistan’s side incompetent diplomacy to its failure to South Asia and in resolving the Afghan
of story, in fact, can be termed as successfully woo the world's media. issue. But some congressmen who
diplomatic failure and poor lobbying by The reason gets due credence while are "either not updated or have some
the country. Some ascribe this ‘failure’ referring to the recent discussion in the concerns" have raised these fears which
exclusively to the absence of a fulltime US Congress whether to categorise are baseless and efforts are being made
foreign minister while others attribute it Pakistan as a "friend or foe." Adviser to to address their concerns.
to the inept tilt towards China. But the the Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign According to the latest definition,
fact remains that India has somehow Affairs, Sartaj Aziz has also admitted international diplomacy is the conduct
been successful in conveying the that while the concerns were caused by of international relations through the
message to the world that Pakistan Afghan and Indian propaganda which intercession of professional diplomats
is a terrorist state. This has also been led to anti-Pakistan views by some with regard to issues of peace-making,
affirmed by many countries like US, Congressmen, it’s only a section of US trade, war, economics, culture,
UK and various think tanks in the intelligentsia which thinks that Pakistan environment, and human rights. Since
world. In short, despite its stand against should be treated as a foe by United the beginning and application of
terrorism, Islamabad has failed to States. The adviser maintains that the modern international systems, states
Making of a
Future Leader
Her father may believe that Maryam Nawaz Sharif has still a long way to go
but she certainly has the germs for leadership as she is proving in the many
assignments she is currently handling.
By Dr. Syed Ali Madni
S
ome political pundits predict a on Maryam’s recommendation, even
rather interesting change in the though some of its key members held
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) academic qualifications irrelevant to
after a decade when Nawaz Sharif communications.
reaches the age of 72. They foresee Originally groomed to fill the slot
Maryam Nawaz calling the shots and of the Foreign Minister, the idea was
they have valid reasons. In 2012, it was dropped when Maryam had to resign as
announced that Maryam will participate the Chairperson of the Prime Minister
in politics to assist her father in the 2013 Youth Loan Programme — a position she
general elections. Since then, she has claimed to have been holding purely “as
been active in politics, and currently a volunteer and on an honorary basis”
serves as an aide in the Pakistan Muslim --- following a Lahore High Court order
League (N) heading the most important which asked the federal government to
organ of the party -- the media cell. replace her and devise a transparent
According to a report published in an mechanism for fresh appointment she
English language newspaper, the little- had to resign. The judge also raised
known Strategic Media Communication queries about a unique combination of
Cell (SMCC), operating out of the Prime her degrees – M.A. (English Literature)
Minister’s Office is working under the and Ph.D. in Political Science –
watchful eye of Maryam Nawaz Sharif. which was presented to the court
Set up with the special approval of the by a government lawyer in
PM as part of the information ministry support of Maryam Nawaz’s
in late 2015, the SMCC has since eligibility for the position.
evolved into a powerful unit. Initially, The slot of the Foreign
the SMCC was provided with a staff of Minister is still lying
15 people and a budgetary allocation of vacant despite the fact
Rs. 20 million for the current financial that foreign affairs is a
year. But only recently, the information complicated business
ministry sought the PM’s approval and every country
to increase the number of SMCC needs a full-time,
employees to 38. With this increase, the cabinet-level, officially
cell requires another Rs. 20 million to appointed foreign
meet operating costs. minister. According to
In the opinion of several an editorial published
government officials privy to the in a leading English
SMCC’s operations, the cell had language daily,
actually taken over functions from the “There was a relatively
information ministry. As explained in straightforward solution
its original summary, the SMCC was to the problem: to use
given the mandate to create favourable the Senate elections in
public opinion for the government by March to elevate Mr Aziz
preparing special media campaigns. or Mr Fatemi to parliament
An insider told the newspaper that the and hence be eligible to
cell’s entire staff had been recruited become a full cabinet
E
lection Commission of Pakistan that arises is – what does ECP stand for? accountable. The department will audit
(ECP) has been under the Who it stands with is also something the statements of assets and liabilities
spotlight since the time the last that is very much in play. What is of the legislators. Armed with the sword
elections were held. There have been certain is that the elections watchdog of bringing under its ambit lawmakers,
a number of accusations and counter has not been treating all stakeholders it would not be an easy job to perform.
accusations with the opposition with the same stick, forcing many Ideally, ECP’s department of political
parties, especially Tehreek-e-Insaf people to question the very nature of finance would warrant the appointment
accusing the ECP for acting as a independence, freedom, transparency of the Director, managerial staff and
facilitating body that sees nothing and unquestionable accountability technical assistants. Their selection
wrong with the elected legislators of that the ECP enjoys as one of the most and appointment should have
the government and pursues all cases important institutions of the state. nothing to do with the interference
pertaining to the opposition with deep In making the announcement, of politicians. If their purpose is to
interest and visible intent. Given the Modi made good his stated campaign act as a check on the legislators, then
Panama Papers scandal, politics in pledge of fighting “black money” the they must not and cannot have any
Pakistan is in great turmoil and the ECP illicit proceeds – often held in cash – association with a political party and
finds itself in the middle of a political of tax evasion, crime and corruption. must be non-partisan in all political
environment that showcases it as a He has now approved the creation matters. The creation of the department
biased institution. With politicians of a department of Political Finance would obviously require a functional
vying for influence, the main question – a new tool to make the legislators directorate and a huge bureaucratic
The Democracy
Trail
The road to true democracy lies through an efficient and honest institution whose job
should always be to scrutinize election contestants and ensure transparency.
By Muhammad Ali Ehsan
D
emonetization of ₹500 and illicit proceeds – often held in cash – economy went into a tail spin. All
₹1,000 banknotes was a of tax evasion, crime and corruption. indicators – sales, traders’ incomes,
policy enacted by the Indian He stated that some 14 trillion rupees production and employment - took a
government on November 8, 2016, worth of 500 and 1,000-rupee notes of plunge. It appeared the demonetization
ceasing the usage of all 500 and 1,000 the Mahatma Gandhi series (equal to drive had resulted in severe economic
rupee notes in the current series as 86% of all the currency in circulation) disruption. Small producers, lacking
legal tender after November 9, 2016. had ceased to be legal tender. By doing capital to stay afloat, just shut down.
The announcement was made by this, he hoped to render worthless the India’s huge number of daily wage
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a counterfeit notes reportedly printed workers couldn’t find employers with
live television address. by Pakistan to fuel terrorism in India. the cash to pay them. Local industries
In making the announcement, But the move sent shock waves suspended work for lack of money.
Modi made good his stated campaign throughout the country and the short- According to one report, 10,000
pledge of fighting “black money” the term impact was disastrous as India’s construction workers left Gurgaon
Bouquets and
Brickbats
In the long-term it may prove to be a blessing, but for the time being, demonetization
seems to be a curse for India as Modi’s action has adversely affected a large population.
By S.G. Jilanee
Crisis of
Governance
There is a clear failure of governance in Afghanistan which is impacting utilization of
funds and continues to create obstacles for the administration.
By Dr. Raza Khan
A
fter a public and civil society Baleegh. Ministers for education finance minister Eklil Hakimi is one of
expression of displeasure and transportation have also been the few cabinet ministers of President
over the poor performance disqualified. Ashraf Ghani who have survived
of various Afghan ministries the The ministers were dismissed in the parliamentary vote over their
country’s parliament has also showed November as the parliament begun performance.
its utter dejection over the situation the process to summon as many as During his address to the Wolesi
which resulted in the sacking of five 18 of them over their failure to utilize Jirga to answer questions about his
ministers. Many other ministers are less than 70 percent of the 2015 ministry’s performance, Rabbani
also facing the legal wrath of members budget in their respective ministries. blamed MPs and power transition for
of Afghanistan’s Lower House Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, non-implementation of a $1.5 million
named Wolesi Jirga (Pashto: People’s who is the son of former Mujahideen complex for the Afghan embassy in
Council), which is constitutionally era Afghan president, Ustad Rabbani, Islamabad. Labour Minister Oryakheil
empowered to sack cabinet members argued on the floor of the Wolesi cited 'insecurity' as one of the
for performing poorly. The cabinet Jirga that his ministry had spent more reasons why the budget could not be
members who were sacked included than 70 percent of the 2015 budget, adequately used by her ministry. The
Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, and instead raised questions on the parliamentary vote on the ministers’
Labour Minister Nasrin Oryakheil authenticity of the year’s financial performance took place despite pleas
and Public Works Minister Mahmoud report. Interestingly and intriguingly, from President Ghani and Chief
Price of
Violence
Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness.
We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.
– Martin Luther King
I
ntra-party violence in recent (AL) in Bangladesh. It can aptly be the party and outside in the entire
months leading to a large number called as “violence boomeranged.” political arena. Violence begets
of killings sadly reflects on the The legacy of violence of the AL violence and hatred can never be
conduct of the ruling Awami League is now creating mayhem within countered through use of brute force.
Footprints in
the Waste The Polluter Pays Principle is one rib in an umbrella approach to
solving Sri Lanka’s waste management problems.
By S. Mubashir Noor
D
ismissed for decades as quack hype surrounding the Paris Agreement renewable energy have entered dinner
science, climate change is on climate change adopted at the table talk of many global households,
now a permanent fixture of the United Nations COP 21 conference especially those in developed
24-hour news cycle around the world. in December last year. Consequently, countries. Meanwhile, signatory states
This is thanks largely to the media the once fringe terms recycling and scramble to stave off the worst effects
Towards
Functional Rule
Successful conclusion of the second local government elections in Bhutan demonstrates
its commitment to strengthening democracy.
By Faizan Usmani
H
eld for the second time in governance structure based on national third-level administrative division of
Bhutan’s political history, Local and local bodies. In 2011, Bhutan Bhutan in January 2016. The second
Government (LG) Elections elected its first local government, phase was held in June in the western
concluded in November last year. which has now been replaced by part of the country, while the third and
In 2007, Bhutan marked the end of newly-elected local bodies. fourth phases were completed in July
a century-old monarchy and became In 2016, the Election Commission and November, 2016.
a democratic state. After a year, the of Bhutan (ECB) organised second- “To strengthen democracy, it is
country enacted its first national Local government elections in three necessary to empower the lower
constitution, which instituted a two-tier stages. The first round was held in the bodies in the government and it is
Who Is
Incharge?
Sibling rivalry between brothers Maumoun Abdul Gayoom and his half brother
Yameen Abdul Gayoom – leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The Maldives needs to look
for fresh leadership to move forward on the road to democracy.
By K.A. Naqshbandi
T
he bedrock of democracy is the sold to the highest bidder, democratic and luxury flats and meet regularly
rule of law and that means to norms are flouted. The Maldives is an with the president and his deputy,
have an independent judiciary instance. who meddle in high-profile cases
– an institution where judges are not According to a recent Al Jazeera and judicial appointments. In one
subject to pressure and influence and report, text message conversations text message, the former prosecutor-
are free to take impartial decisions reveal that the judiciary in the general declared absolute loyalty to
based solely on fact and law. Maldives is far from independent. Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and
Whenever and wherever justice is Senior judges have received money promised "no one can touch" him. In
Elusive
Peace
After ten years, there is still lack of clarity in the peace legislation aimed at bringing in
transitional justice to Nepal. The fear is that the situation could again throw the country
into conflict and violence.
By Zehra Khawaja
T
o end the crippling war that
continued for more than 10
years killing over 17,000 Maoist
rebels, the Nepal government signed a
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
with rebel CPN (Maoist) on November
27, 2006. Unfortunately, even after ten
years, transitional justice – an important
component of the peace process – is
still elusive as the justice mechanisms
lack resources and a strong mandate.
This inordinate delay could push
Nepal towards a new dimension of
conflict, resulting in a possible return to
violence.
The 2004 Secretary General’s
Report to the Security Council defines
transitional justice as “the full range of
processes and mechanisms associated
with a society’s attempts to come to
terms with a legacy of large scale past
human rights abuses in order to ensure
accountability, serve justice and achieve
reconciliation. The primary objective of
transitional justice is to end impunity
and establish the rule of law in the
context of democratic governance.”
To ensure transitional justice for the
sufferers of the Nepal civil war, the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
and the Commission of Investigation
on Enforced Disappeared Persons
(CIEDP) were made a part of the peace
process and considered instrumental
in ending the decade-long conflict.
The two commissions were, however,
unfortunately formed on February 10,
2015, nine years after the CPA was War II period. After the Second World serious violations of human rights during
signed. War, the Nuremberg Trials held between the war, to bringi Nazi war criminals to
The origins of transitional justice 1945 and 1949, were assigned the task justice. Although the legal justifications
can be traced back to the post-World of prosecuting those who committed for the trials and their procedural
Playing a
New Tune
Trump brings a whiff of fresh air to the White House. His radical policies
may succeed but there are possibilities that they may fall flat.
The next four years will tell.
By Tahira Sajid
T
he U.S. President-elect, Donald Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of to the Pakistani premier. Sharif
Trump, recently caused quite Pakistan. Trump’s characteristic style promptly released a transcript of the
a stir in the media with his of communication that digresses from call to the local media as proof of his
overly enthusiastic comments in traditional diplomacy expected of a own popularity with the incoming
a congratulatory phone call from president, was a complete surprise American leader.
Beyond the
Corruption
Corruption is ingrained in Indonesian life. President Widodo has made
efforts to overcome the problem but his path is littered with many
obstacles which just refuse to go away.
By Taha Kehar
I
ndonesia’s downward spiral into (CSIS) are anything to go by, these news since President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo
a cesspool of corruption and reports have steered public perception assumed public office in 2014. On the
mismanagement has been widely in a negative direction. other hand, 10.8% of respondents were
reported by the media. If the findings of At least 66.4% of respondents of the view that corrupt practices have
a survey commissioned by the Centre believe the roots of corruption remain gradually started losing traction after
for Strategic and International Studies firmly entrenched in the state and society Widodo seized the reins.
P
akistan has ratified the Paris 2015, a big milestone was achieved,
Agreement on Climate Change. which will determine the direction for
Its ratification is in line with its the times to come. Called Conference
firm commitment to the purposes and of the Parties to the United Nations
objectives of the Climate Convention. Framework Convention on Climate
It also highlights the resolve of Pakistan Change, or more commonly known
to remain fully committed to the as the ‘Paris Conference,’ the first ever
implementation of the Paris Agreement. agreement on a global level was signed.
Climate change and global warming There are around 195 nations involved,
are serious issues that the world faces including Pakistan, which participated.
and the threat keeps increasing with All of them agreed on the initiative.
every passing day. It can be said that The primary objective of the agreement
while the world has countless issues, is to reduce global warming to well
they all pale in front of it. It affects the below 2 degree Celsius i.e. 1.5 degrees
entire planet and has been damaging Celsius. Moreover, it was decided that
it greatly. If things are left as they are, developing nations would be assisted
there would be no return from the in tackling global warming. Also, there
catastrophe. is a provision of granting $100 billion
Several organizations, both annually to the cause by developed
governmental and non-governmental, countries from 2020. There was a pledge
have been trying to create awareness made by the developing countries to
regarding the issue. On December 12, bring down the GHG (Greenhouse
Bold
Experiment
By demonetizing the Rs. 1000 and Rs. 500 notes,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have miscalculated his strategy.
By Zufah Ansari
I
n a noble attempt to relieve India economies, this crude clampdown on 1 percent of the population pays taxes,
from the plague of corruption and ‘black money’ in India comes with an while it is also stated that India’s illicit
threats of terrorism, Prime Minister air of fear and uncertainty leading to untaxed economy takes up one-fifth of
Narendara Modi’s recent move to nationwide chaos as Indians scamper the GDP.
demonetize Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 to get their existing currency changed The ideology that has given birth to
rupee notes, has brought millions to for new banknotes. this solution is backed by the notion
the streets protesting against the risky What has triggered this need that as more and more people get
move. is the widespread phenomenon of currency exchanged, the government
As demonetization is put into the corruption. A government survey, will be able to track down incidents
works in the world’s fastest growing published in 2013, revealed that only of tax evasion, eradicate black money
Woman
Power
Afghanistan is finding new solutions to sustain its socio-economic balance and providing
more opportunities to women to participate in national development.
By Muhammad Omar Iftikhar
T
he humanitarian situation in fabric, social understand the marketing and
Afghanistan worsened during entrepreneurship is financial dynamics of their
the period when the US and its gaining momentum, country, create a vision and
coalition forces were actively present especially among mission for their business, and
there. Considered a ‘worn-torn the youth – and work on a strategy to build
nation,’ Afghanistan is in dire need particularly women. viable ideas to transform their
for a far-reaching change in mindset However, with foreign society and eventually their
and development of its various social aid and investment country. Perhaps building and
sectors. Moreover, with the thinning becoming a distant maintaining relations with
of international aid coming to dream for Afghanistan, key government officials,
Afghanistan, Kabul is desperately in social entrepreneurs businessmen and influential
need for solutions to sustain its socio- from the country are decision-makers from the
economic balance. aiming to change their bureaucracy, these social
During these bleak times society. To accomplish entrepreneurs can move
overshadowing the country’s this task, they must ahead in their dream of changing
socio-economic and Afghanistan. Starting a business will be
political a challenge altogether in a country that
has not seen social development in a
long time. However, it is high time that
Afghanistan’s youth brings constructive
social change.
Shethab Afghanistan Center
for Business and Social Innovation
facilitates innovation and
social ventures driven by
young social
Pollution
Problems
Bangladesh faces the menace of pollution because of the lifestyle it has followed so far.
But the government is now employing a cleaner fuel policy to prevent a catastrophe.
By Hafiz Inam
S
outh Asia is prone to adversities country is largely food secure now. Surveys were conducted
of natural calamities. Climate But all these milestones seem to be between 1990 and 1999 to study the
change, in recent times, has fading away against the onslaught of environment. These studies showed
posed a serious threat to economic the global climate change. that the concentration of particulate
and social development of the region Climatic abnormalities, especially matter in air exceeds the red line. It
which has gone through all around those affecting the atmosphere, had reached 3000 micrograms per
progress in many spheres of life. Being foreshadow a bleak future for the cubic meter around the Farmsgate area
a low-lying and riverine country in inhabitants of this part of the world. in the capital whereas the allowable
South Asia, Bangladesh fears the most The capital and the hub of national limit was 400 micrograms per cubic
in the face of climate change as its 580 commercial activity, Dhaka ranks meter. Similarly, sulphur dioxide was
km coastline is exposed on one side, highly amongst major cities of found at the rate of 385 micrograms
to the savage Bay of Bengal and, on the the world for its environmental per cubic meter in the same vicinity
other, to the Ganges and Brahmaputra degradation. Poor air quality in the while the permissible limit was 100
rivers. But the real intimidation is in urban habitat accounts for around micrograms per cubic meter. It was
the air. With its smoggy urban skies, 230 million cases of respiratory also supported by the fact that Dhaka
Bangladesh’s economic landscape is ailments annually. According to the ranked 169th out of 178 countries on
slowly moving towards ruination. Air Quality Management Project the Air Quality Index in 2014.
After independence in 1971, (AQMP) founded by the government Presence of sulphur content in
Bangladesh emerged as a nation with and the World Bank, around 15,000 both crude oil and diesel imperils air
a booming economy in the region. Its premature deaths and several million quality. It trades in sulphur dioxide, a
GDP has tripled since then with more cases of pulmonary and neurological toxic gas, with other toxic outcomes
job opportunities being created. The illness are caused by sulphur dioxide through industrial and vehicular
population growth rate has declined and particulate matter in the urban emissions. These emissions are
to 1.4% from 2.9% in 1974 and the atmosphere. chiefly responsible for atmosphere-
Riding the
Tuk Tuk
The Tuk Tuk Safari makes your visit to Colombo a memorable experience because it has
so much more to offer than just a boring taxi ride.
By Tariq Faruqi
T
hinking about having a vacation one. The Tuk Tuk Safari Service offers new, the Australian founders of the
and looking for fun? If yes, Sri a great travelling experience across Tuk Tuk Safari have designed it in such
Lanka has a special surprise for Colombo. Happy customers give a way that it suits tourists. With the
you to turn your trip into a memorable good reviews. Although relatively Safari, bustling streets, mouthwatering
Agents of Change
A
ccording to the United Nations 20-24 years are married before the age of
Children's Fund (UNICEF), early 18, whereas less than 25 per cent of the
marriage or child marriage is a marriages that take place in the country
formal marriage or a statutory, customary are registered in the civil registry office.
or an informal union that is entered into In Nepal, girls aged 15-20 are twice
by an individual before he or she becomes as likely to die in childbirth as those in
18. their twenties, while suicide tends to be
In 2005, UNICEF conducted a the leading cause of death for women of
household survey in some 49 developing reproductive age, says Nepal’s Population
countries, which revealed around 48 per Census 2011.
cent or over 32.5 million females in South A common practice throughout the
Asia aged 15-24 were married or in union country, child marriage is more prevalent
before the age of 18. in the mid and far western regions of
Nepal is among the top ten countries Nepal, wherein the majority of Terai and
with a higher rate of females being Madhesi ethnic groups live. Interestingly,
married before 18, according to the State the minimum age of marriage is 20 for both
of the World's Children by UNICEF. It men and women in Nepal and arranging
says more than 23 per cent of Nepalese an underage marriage could result in a
girls aged 15-18 were married in 2012. In three-year imprisonment with a fine of up
Nepal, over 50 per cent of women aged to 10,000 rupees ($127). However, owing
Where
Have All the
Tourists Gone?
The Chinese visit the Maldives in much lesser numbers these days, which is a cause for
concern. The country is coming to grips with the problem but it needs to do much more.
T
he Maldives, a tourism-driven
country, offers its tourists and
international visitors hotels, guest
houses, safari vessels and resorts. As per
the 2014 statistics issued by the Maldives
Ministry of Tourism, the number of
tourism facilities has exponentially
increased in the country over the last
few years.
As of 2014, according to the
ministry, there were some 511 registered
accommodation outlets with a total
bed capacity of over 31,500. This was
a significant increase from 14 per cent
in 2013 to 19 per cent rise in 2014.
A positive development in a tourism-
dependent economy, the leading factor
behind the rise was the international-
standard resorts and guest houses
which are being added every year to the
tourism infrastructure.
Built under the ‘one-island-one-
resort’ concept, a resort in the Maldives
is referred to as a ‘resort island’ and
tends to be quite a popular tourist
accommodation because of its friendly
environs, gourmet cuisine and other
modern features. In 2014, according to
the Ministry of Tourism, there were some
111 resort islands in the archipelago
with more than 23,500 registered beds.
Kandholhu Island and Loama Resort are
the two new resorts while the Soneva
Jani Resorts, the latest addition to the
high-end resort sector of the country,
will start its operation in January 2017.
Derived from a Sanskrit word
Media Law
Revisited By Faizan Usmani
I
n most developing countries, poor advocate of the Lahore High Court,
law enforcement remains the Rawalpindi Bench. Book Title: Pakistani Media Law
most common concern. Besides Using both primary and Author: Muhammad Abrar
struggling with such never-ending secondary sources, the book is
social evils as poverty, unemployment, purely research-based and offers Publisher: Oxford University Press
illiteracy, etc., what else ails these comparative, descriptive, explanatory
countries is their inability to enforce and perspective analyses on the ISBN: 978-0-19-940345-5
law and order effectively. TV broadcasting industry. Divided Price: PKR. 995
A developing nation, Pakistan is into nine chapters, it attempts to
no exception. Through the country fill in the research gap in the field Pages: 275
has shown commendable progress in of law enforcement and regulatory
terms of legislation and policymaking supervision of electronic media in
pertaining to different areas and Pakistan. laws in the country and describe
sectors, it has not been able to The book’s first two chapters how the electronic media industry is
effectively implement the existing introduce the current state of media regulated, with the key focus on the
laws, which includes its relevant legislation and its
media regulations and enforcement. In this section,
policies. the author gives a detailed
The book ‘Pakistani overview of the Pakistan’s
Media Law: A Comparative legal system in the context
Study,’ written by Dr of the media and critically
Muhammad Abrar, is the highlights the deficiencies in
latest contribution to this the enforcement mechanism.
important subject that has The writer rightly points out
received more attention in the fact that, though Pakistan
recent years, particularly has introduced some laws
after the privatisation of to control and regulate the
electronic media in Pakistan electronic media, it has failed to
in the early 2000s. enforce the relevant regulations
A PhD in Law from and has not been able to deal
the University of Glasgow, with a range of regulatory issues
U.K., Dr Mohammad relating to terrestrial, satellite,
Abrar is a Pakistan-based cable, mobile TV and Internet
writer. He has published Protocol Television (IPTV).
extensively in international According to him, the
scholarly journals and President of Pakistan has the
magazines and also has sole right to appoint people
presented research papers on key media posts, which
at many international in the end, turns out to be a
conferences. Prior to political selection rather than
his doctorate in law, he appointments made purely on
served the Faculty of Law merit, thus severely affecting
at the International Islamic the maintenance and running
University, Islamabad as of a fair system. For instance,
a visiting lecturer and according to the PEMRA Act,
programme coordinator. the authority consists of a
He has also served as an chairman and 12 members,
A page from
Southasia, 2002