India Narrative

  As the Pakistani National Assembly is set to start its session from February 18, all eyes are on the opposition parties, which have vowed to bring a no confidence motion against Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in a bid to oust him. Unlike their failed attempts in the past, the united opposition is confident of getting the magic number in the assembly. “The oppositions are trying to close all the loose ends before they go for the final. They want to be hundred percent sure of getting ‘blessings’ from the military establishment. For them it is now or never because the situation is ripe and people are fed up with the Imran Khan government ,” says Ansar Abbasi, a Pakistani journalist. But has the opposition got the magic number of 172 votes in the 342-member house to oust the Imran Khan government ? The leaders of the united opposition front PDM are holding their cards close to their chests, leaving the government to guess about how their plans will unveil. Political hobnobbing among

  Much to the relief of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved disbursement of $1 billion as part of its $6 billion loan programme under the Extended Fund Facility (EEF) that essentially facilitates assistance to countries with serious payment imbalances caused due to structural impediments or slow growth. Despite this, the road ahead for Khan may be even tougher, as he is expected to implement more structural reform measures. At a time when inflation is at a two-year high of 13 per cent -- in January inflation touched 13 per cent up from 12.3 per cent in December, announcing such measures would surely not be easy. Khan has already come under severe criticism for “surrendering” to the IMF. In April last year, the inflation rate in Pakistan touched 11.1 per cent. Though it eased a little after that, since August, prices have been rising again, impacting the poorer section the most. “The country’s economic situation has come as a blow for Imran

  The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Pakistan Taliban, killed two policemen guarding polio teams in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in north-west Pakistan over the weekend. Another policeman was wounded even as the polio workers escaped unharmed. The attacks began as soon as the one-month-long ceasefire ended between the TTP and the Imran Khan government. The TTP militants identify themselves closely with the Taliban militants in neighbouring Afghanistan and advocate for an Islamic rule in Pakistan—in a manner resembling Afghanistan. Soon after the Kabul takeover by Taliban in August, the TTP began its attacks on the Pakistani Army and security forces.  Aseefa B Zardari, polio ambassador and daughter of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, tweeted about the attacks. In a series of tweets, she said: “The cowardly TTP have taken responsibility for the attack on health workers and police. They are attacking those who are trying to protect our children from disease. Now t