Category: Pakistan

Overview. The reporting period featured a slight increase in terrorist activities, but the country remained relatively politically stable. Significant events included the killing of senior politician Molana Sami-ul-Haq Haqqani, a court verdict ordering the release of Christian woman Asiya Bibi charged with blasphemy and subsequent countrywide protests, a terrorist attack on the Chinese Consulate in…

Overview. During the reporting period the political situation remained stable with no major agitation from opposition political parties. The Election Commission of Pakistan held peaceful by-elections in several constituencies. The leader of opposition in the national assembly, Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, stood before the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) trial, the Armed Forces underwent some major changes…

Overview. The reporting period featured a visit by US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, National Defence Day celebrations, an election for the President of Pakistan, frequent visits by the new PM to military institutions, and some steps towards electoral reforms. The frequency of terrorist incidents has significantly reduced, with no major terrorist incident this month.………

Overview. August was comparatively peaceful with no major terrorist incidents featuring. It had been presumed that the post-election period might witness a deterioration in law and order nationwide due to protest demonstrations by losing political parties.  However, the various opposition parties were unable to agree and coordinate any concrete action between them.…… Read the rest

Overview. The period was dominated by the General Elections and, as predicted, violence increased significantly with over 300 people killed and more than 350 wounded versus 24 and 22 respectively in June. The 2013 elections, by contrast, saw 128 people killed and 142 injured. For all the pre-election predictions, the scale of the PTI’s victory…

Overview. The period was dominated by the end of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, the run up to the general elections, the FATF’s re-addition of Pakistan to the “grey list”, and US drone strikes against TTP leaders.  As expected, all major political parties formally commenced their election campaigns soon after the end of Eid.…… Read the rest