DAWN Editorials - 15th february2025

[faheemustad]

Miners in danger

YESTERDAY’S devastating terrorist attack in Harnai, which killed at least 11 coal miners and injured seven others, is a reminder of the multiple hazards these workers confront. Coal miners in the region already contend with treacherous working conditions — labouring in poorly ventilated shafts, risking cave-ins, and facing chronic health issues. Clearly, they must also fear for their lives on their way to work. The attack, targeting labourers from KP, is not an isolated incident. Harnai’s coal mining community has fallen victim to both industrial accidents and terrorist violence. These miners, who leave their families behind to work in appalling conditions for minimal wages, represent some of Pakistan’s most vulnerable workers. Their targeting speaks to a broader crisis of security and governance in Balochistan. The security situation in Balochistan stems from historical grievances, economic marginalisation, and strategic neglect. Despite being Pakistan’s richest province in terms of natural resources, Balochistan has always lagged in development indicators. Successive governments have approached the province through a security-centric lens, failing to address issues of economic disparity, political representation, and social development. The province’s porous borders with Afghanistan and Iran have made it vulnerable to cross-border terrorism. However, the root causes run deeper. Decades of centralised decision-making have left the residents feeling disconnected from the development process. The exploitation of natural resources without proportionate benefit to local people has fuelled resentment, which militant groups exploit.

The state must move beyond purely military solutions and implement an agenda, which includes meaningful local participation in resource management, investment in education and healthcare, and creation of economic opportunities beyond extractive industries. The federal government must ensure fair resource distribution and give Balochistan’s elected representatives genuine authority in decision-making. Furthermore, specific attention must be paid to protecting vulnerable workers. Mining operations need enhanced security protocols, and intelligence gathering must be strengthened to prevent attacks. Sustainable peace will only come through addressing the underlying socioeconomic grievances. More than mere condemnation, the blood of these miners demands a fundamental shift in how the state approaches Balochistan’s challenges.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2025


Solar panels scam

THE scam involving over-invoicing to the tune of more than Rs69bn in the import of solar panels raises many questions regarding the capacity, and willingness, of various links in the import chain — banks and customs authorities, as well as regulatory bodies — to detect and prevent trade-based money laundering as per their responsibility. It also underlines the presence of chinks in our AML/ CFT regime. It is astounding that no one in the chain saw that most companies involved in money laundering did not have the financial capacity to import solar panels on such a large scale. It is unacceptable that the fact that many of them were closely linked to one another and stolen identities were used to pull off the scam, went unnoticed. Astonishingly, the banks through which the payments were routed did not raise red flags on the abnormally large cash deposits by importers. Where they were raised, it is unclear if any action was initiated. It is also mind-boggling that the customs authorities could not see that the imported equipment had been invoiced at a highly inflated price.

It is now more than a year and a half since the scandal came to light and an investigation was launched. Yet new details keep emerging, thanks to a painstaking inquiry by a parliamentary panel. The inquiry undertaken by the panel is crucial not just to hold those involved in this fraud accountable but also to identify the gaps in the current AML/ CFT regime and its enforcement to prevent the recurrence of future scams. Not too long ago, Pakistan faced the threat of being declared a pariah by the FATF because of its weak AML/ CFT regime. It was after three years of immense effort and improvement in the framework that the global watchdog let Pakistan off the hook. It is, therefore, crucial that the inquiry by the parliamentary panel be fully supported by the authorities.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2025


The Peca problem

THE movement against the deeply problematic Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the recent amendments made to it seems to be finding its voice. It has been encouraging to note that journalists across the country have made good on their promise to resist efforts to clamp down on the freedom of expression by organising protests, filing lawsuits and creating public awareness about the controversial law.

It has been doubly heartening that various rights activists and different civil society groups have started joining their voices, in the hope that, together, they may force the government to rethink.


On Thursday, a statement was issued from the Karachi Press Club, after a joint consultation organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in collaboration with the Karachi Union of Journalists and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, through which the participants unanimously rejected the Peca Amendment Act, 2025, as being violative of fundamental freedoms.

Those who shared their views on the occasion added enlightening perspectives to the debate. One speaker pointed out that it is not just social media that is affected, but any media platform that publishes its content on digital platforms. Another journalist, reflecting on widely held concerns regarding Peca, shared examples of how various other laws and regulatory mechanisms that had originally seemed to have been created with good intent were later used to target the media or political and rights activists.

A former KPC president also highlighted that press workers, or even ordinary citizens, could no longer expect any protection from state excesses, not even from the judiciary, especially after the 26th Amendment. The HRCP chairperson said it best: “It is not just a journalists’ issue, it is a political issue and also a labour issue. Actually, it is the issue of all those who stand up for the truth.”


Meanwhile in Islamabad, the PFUJ president made it clear that the movement would not back down. “If the court also [rubber] stamps this law like parliament has done, then we will remain on the streets,” he vowed.

The journalists’ community has also been protesting at hunger strike camps in Lahore, Sukkur, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Quetta, and elsewhere. It is about time civil society took a strong stand.

The fight for fundamental freedoms is not the media’s alone, but one that concerns every citizen. Media and press workers have taken a brave step by placing themselves at the forefront of the struggle; other social groups and organisations should take the cue and exercise their constitutional rights if they, too, feel that freedom of expression is worth fighting for.

Meanwhile, the government must reconsider whether its policy of steamrolling critical voices is a reasonable one. It must pay heed to valid criticism and address people’s concerns.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2025