In this rapidly growing and changing world, we are watching new developments across the world. Countries are committed with their own interests and politics has become the world’s largest business and point of attraction.
2019 cannot be considered as a positive or a good year for world as we seen a lot of issues everywhere. If we talk about Pakistan, it was absolutely not a good year for Pakistan because of economic issues.
In 2019,Pakistan faced several issues including threats from neighboring countries. In the starting months of year 2019; people were hopeful that a new government will make some changes and will provide them relief but due to economic issues all expectation were gradually converted in criticism.
In whole year, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was the main news for print and electronic media as NAB took action against corrupt elements and arrested several politicians including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, former president Asif Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, and former prime minister Shahid Khakan Abbasi and many others.
Later, people witnessed skirmishes between India and Pakistani forces at Line of Control (LoC). These skirmishes were started when Indian Air force entered into Pakistani air space and its jets dropped some bombs. According to Indian Air Force they targeted some militant training camps while in reality they dropped their bombs in a forest of AJK.
People also witnessed the speech of DG ISPR who said that “Pakistan will retaliate” and then Pakistan retaliated and shoot-down two Indian fighter jets and arrested 1 pilot “Abhinandan”. Later, Pakistan released him on humanitarian grounds and again offered dialogues to Indian government.
People saw an incident in Waziristan where Pakistan Army opened fire on PTM workers and arrested two MNAs Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir. Arrest of both MNAs and firing on workers become a big issue as international media also highlighted the incident.
Pakistani citizens also saw rallies of Maryam Nawaz in different cities and media blackout by government. Maryam was actively doing her political activities and then NAB arrested Maryam in Ramzan Sugar Mill case.
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We will remember the SOS call by Syed Ali Geelani regarding Kashmir and reaction of whole international community. Kashmir faced a big crackdown and a long curfew. We also witnessed Prime Minister Imran Khan visits to USA and meeting with US President Donald Trump and later Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech at UNGA regarding Kashmir and other issues.
It was a disturbing moment when India suspended the Article 370 and imposed curfew in Kashmir. At the same time world witnessed that Pakistan opened the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims.
Visit of Britain’s royal couple to Pakistan was also a big event of the year whole country warmly welcomed them and appreciated the dressing of princess.
In the month of October people saw a big rail incident in Rahim-Yar-Khan where more than 70 people lost their lives. In the same days people witnessed the Azadi March of Fazal-ur-Rehman, right-wing Pakistani politician and president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in Islamabad against government policies. Molana Fazal-ur-Rehman come Islamabad to get resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan but later he converted his Azadi March into Plan A, B, and C.
People saw the lawyer attack at PIC Lahore as well. It was a disturbing moment for whole nation as no one could expect that attack from lawyers.
Then we witnessed an issue related to extension of Army Chief tenure and verdict of Supreme Court on extension of his term. First time in the history of Pakistan Supreme Court directed the government to make law regarding Army Chief.
In the month of December 2019, people saw the verdict of special court regarding high treason case against Pervez Musharraf former president of Pakistan and Chief of Army Staff. Court announced capital punishment to Musharraf in violation of Article 6.
We can see that whole 2019 was a year of political activities and failures of the government. I hope, the 2020 will be a year of public and a year of justice.
[box type=”note” align=”” class=”” width=””]The writer is Asad Ullah (Media Manager –Timesaco)[/box]