Sayem Z. Ali

Fitness freak and a very concerned citizen of Pakistan

[Asad Rahim Khan @AsadRahim]

Piece today on why our cheesiest genre ('Quaid kitnay udaas hotay') is all wrong: he'd still be in the arena, fighting it out. https://t.co/Tbn31ktx2a
Plus, Mr. Jinnah's own takes on emergency trials, civ supremacy, censored journalists, militancy, and parliamentarians' rights.

[Jemima Goldsmith @Jemima_Khan]

My children are not allowed to speak on the phone to their father @ImranKhanPTI. He has been in solitary confinement in prison for nearly 2 years.
Pakistan’s government has now said if they go there to try to see him, they too will be arrested and put behind bars.
This doesn’t happen in a democracy or a functioning state. This isn’t politics. It’s a personal vendetta.

[Hammad Azhar @Hammad_Azhar]

معیشت؛ اصلی حقائق بمقابلہ عسکری۔۔

پاکستان میں معاشرتی اور معاشی بحران سنگین نوعیت کے ہو چکے ہیں جن کو سینسر شدہ میڈیا پر دبا دیا گیا ہے۔ لیکن یہ بحران اب ہر گھرانے کو اثر کر رہیں ہیں۔ پاکستان کی معیشت زراعت اور صنعت سے وابستہ ہے۔ زراعت میں مسلسل دوسرے سال کسان شدید نقصان میں ہے۔ حکومت نے پرائس سپورٹ کی پاکیسی کو یک دم ختم کر دیا۔ بہتر ہوتا کے یہ transition ایک منصوبہ بندی کے ساتھ ہوتی کیونکہ گندم کا تیس فیصد کا خریدار جب منڈی سے ایک دم غائب ہوتا ہے تو قیمت کریش کرتی ہے۔ گندم سب سے بڑی فصل ہے اور نجی شعبہ اس کی absorption اور logistics کے لئے ایک ہی سال میں تیار نہیں ہو سکتا تھا۔ اوپر سے حکومت نے اپنی گندم جو پہلے سے ان کے پاس تھی اس کو بھی منڈی میں بیچنا شروع کر دیا۔ نتیجہ یہ نکلا کے پچھلے سال سے کم پیداوار کے باوجود آج گندم کی قیمت پہلے سے بھی کم ہے۔ اگر حساب لگایا جائے تو موجودہ قیمت پر کسان کو اوسطاً چالیس ہزار روپے فی ایکر کا نقصان اٹھانا پڑے گا۔ لاکھوں گھرانے مقروض ہوں گے اور غربت کی لکیر سے نیچے چلے جائیں گے۔

اب آئیں صنعت کی طرف۔ حلومت کے اپنے اعداد و شمار کے مطابق پچھلے دو سال سے بڑے درجے کی صنعت سکڑ رہی ہے۔ اس کا کچھ تعلق تو زراعت کی تباہی سے بھی ہے کیونکہ جب اکثریت گھرانوں کی آمدن ہی زرعی معیشت کی تباہی کی وجہ سے ختم ہو گئی تو صنعتی مال کا گاہک بھی مارکیٹ سے نکل گیا۔ باقی معاملہ بجلی کے نرخ کا ہے جو پچھلے تین سال میں تین گنا بڑھ گیا۔ بیکنوں نے بھی صنعت کی بجائے حکومت کو قرض دینے کوترجیح دی اور private sector credit offtake بھی منفی ہو گیا۔ یہ ہی وجہ ہے کے شرح سود میں کمی کے باعث صنعتی ترقی پر اس کا کوئی قرق نہیں پڑا۔ سٹاک ایکسینج کی بات ہوتی ہے لیکن وہ تو مہنگائی ، روپے کی قدر میں ریکارڈ کمی اور بینکوں کے منافع کے زور پر اوپر گئی اور سوائے دو تین لاکھ لوگوں کے کو active investors ہیں کسی کو اس کا فائدہ نہیں۔

ورلڈ بینک کے مطابق پچھلے تین سال میں کڑوروں لوگ پاکستان میں غربت کی لکیر سے نیچے جا چکے ہیں۔ ریٹنگ ایجنسیز تو ہر آئی ایم ایف پروگرام کے بعد کچھ بہتری دکھاتی ہیں لیکن ان کابنیادی پیمانہ صرف ملک کی قرضہ واپس کرنے کی صلاحیت سے تعلق رکھتا ہے چاہے اس کی قیمت عوام کی بدحالی اور معیشت کا پہیا جام ہو جانا ہی کیوں نا ہو۔

حکومت معمولی سی تین فیصد معاشی ترقی پر ڈھول بجا رہی ہے لیکن یہ اعداود و شمار بھی جھوٹ پر مبنی ہے۔ معاشی ترقی کا نمبر نکالنے کے لئے حکومت ہر شعبی میں ترقی کی رفتار دیکھتی ہے۔ لیکن کچھ شعبے ایسے ہوتے ہیں جہاں براہ راست data میسر نہیں ہوتا لہازا اندازے سے فرضی نمبر لکھے جاتے ہیں مثلاً livestock اور چھوٹے درجے کی صنعت۔ نون لیگ کا پرانا وتیرہ ہے کے اپنے دور میں ان نمبرز کو بڑھا چڑھا کر fudge کیا جاتا ہے اور ماہرین کے مطابق یہ تین فیصد کا نمبر بھی ایسے ہی لیا گیا ہے ورنہ معاشی ترقی کی حقیقی رفتار دو فیصد سے بھی کم ہے۔ یہ ہی وجہ ہے کے بجلی کی کھپت جو پچھلے سال کم ترین سطح پر تھی اس سال اس سے بھی %2.5 کم ہے پہلے 9 ماہ میں۔ اس کی بنیادی وجہ deindustrialization یعنی صنعتی بیس میں کمی۔

ایسی صورتحال میں کوئی تعجب کی بات نہیں کے ریکارڈ تعداد میں ہنر مند افراد اور سرمایہ دار ملک چھوڑ کر جا رہے ہیں۔ اس کی وجہ سے تریلات میں تو کچھ اضافہ ہوتا ہے لیکن پاکستان جیسا ملک جو پہلے ہی خطے میں اپنی lowest labor productivity اور ہیومن ریسورس سے جانا جاتا ہے اس کا بحران مزید سنگین ہو گا۔

سینسر شدہ میڈیا پر پراپوگینڈا اپنی جگہ لیکن یہ حقائق اپنی جگہ جو ایک معاشرتی اور معاشی تباہی کا واضھ منظر پیش کر رہیں ہیں۔

[Shahid Mehmood @ShahidMohmand79]

Proposal to introduce BPS-23 and 24 👏👏👏 Bureaucracy never disappoints...when it comes to looking after themselves and their interests. They now want to create more pay scales as if the existing ones have done the country and its people any favor https://t.co/tXeGWgfkpX

[Mohammad Zubair @Real_MZubair]

A series of actions in last 12 months have pushed Pakistan to become a totalitarian state. First election symbol was taken away, then elections were massively rigged, then reserve seats were denied, then 26th amendment to tame judiciary, then PECA law - where will it all end ?

[Muzzammil Aslam @MuzzammilAslam3]

While Pakistan increasing tax rates on Individuals
, India in its Union budget boosting their middle class consumption through reduction in Individual taxes.

[Michael Kugelman @MichaelKugelman]

Unbelievable! While on his trip to DC, Pakistan’s interior minister reportedly attended an event hosted by…a group that calls for the overthrow of China’s CCP.
That’s a colossal mistake, if true. It could provoke a diplomatic crisis with Pakistan’s most critical partner.

[Michael Kugelman @MichaelKugelman]

Pakistan’s interior minister meets with a US Congressman and soon thereafter the Congressman posts a “free Imran Khan” tweet.
That’s an epic fail for the interior minister and his superiors.

[Mushahid Hussain Sayed @Mushahid]

So, because of Fear of an incarcerated individual, & failure to curb, contain or control Opposition led by him, The Regime is damaging the Economy with a record documented loss of $ 1.6 billion in 2024, plus the loss of business & employment opportunities for our educated youth!

[Farieha Aziz @FariehaAziz]

Look at the stats for Pakistan in this report by @simonmigliano for @top10vpn on the cost of government internet shutdowns in 2024.
"Pakistan: the single most affected nation ($1.62 billion), followed by Myanmar ($1.58 billion) and Sudan ($1.12 billion)." https://t.co/UT2GDvmP2i

[Zalmay Khalilzad @realZalmayMK]

More on what happened in #Pakistan on November 25th.

https://t.co/QB3nlMYYK1

[Dr. Shahbaz GiLL @SHABAZGIL]

Retweet to participate for Imran Khan's safety :

We urge the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights @volker_turk to immediately send a delegation to Pakistan to directly investigate the condition of @ImranKhanPTI in prison as credible sources reveal his life is in imminent danger by the Pakistani state and the illegitimate government of Pakistan, who recently committed #IslamabadMassacre by firing on unarmed peaceful protesters in Islamabad on 26 November 2024.

The United Nations has itself demanded the immediate release of @ImranKhanPTI who has championed human rights and democracy in a 28 year ongoing struggle.

Further instability and chaos in Pakistan will negatively impact the world. We urge the United Nations @UN to uphold its duty to protect human rights and act now.

[Hussain Nadim @HNadim87]

How long are we going to continue to parrot this 'foreign enemy' destabilising Pakistan narrative line?

Did the foreign enemy:
- Rig the elections and stole its way into power?
- Keeping Imran Khan and his top leadership illegally in prison?
- Upend the Constitution through 26th Amendment?
- Switched off the lights and sprayed bullets on innocent and unarmed protestors seeking justice and rights?

If not, may be we are that 'foreign enemy'.

[Zafar Masud @zafar_masud]

Out Of The Box By Zafar Masud: Review

⁦@najamsethi⁩ ⁦@SayemZA⁩ ⁦@naqvi_sumera⁩ ⁦
https://t.co/AHgpxLVQI7

[Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal]

🇵🇰 IMRAN KHAN’S LIFE IN DANGER: IS PAKISTAN GOV TRYING TO KILL HIM BEFORE TRUMP?

Trump set to return to the White House in January, allegations emerge of a plot by Pakistan’s establishment to eliminate former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Khan is reportedly isolated, denied family access, and deprived of medical care, raising serious human rights concerns.

Former Deputy Speaker @QasimKhanSuri:

“Imran Khan has been given something that threatens to disrupt his mental balance, locked in a small room and sprayed with a poisonous substance whose smell is affecting his mind. Imran Khan’s health is bad, and there are serious threats to his life.”

Many believe this is an effort to silence Khan permanently before U.S. foreign policy shifts under Trump’s leadership, potentially bringing new scrutiny to Pakistan’s actions.

Source: X, @PTIofficial

[Jason Hood @JasonKHood]

Urgent Attention Needed
🚨 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

Dear Mr. President @realDonaldTrump and Madame First Lady @MELANIATRUMP, @FLOTUS45, @OfficeofMelania

I am a Pakistani/American/ Canadian citizen and would like to request you to intervene in the current open assassination aka murder attempt on the life of former PM @ImranKhanPTI

The current American government of Biden/Harris/Blinken has brought Pakistan to this stage since they initiated the Regime change in 2022. Pakistan has seen one of its worst times in terms of the Human Rights Violations since its creation in 1947 all thanks to the dictators and the PDM Regime Change Government imposed on it since 2022.

The dictators in Pakistan are now expediting everything because they know you will be coming in power in January in US of A.

You might already have heard about the #IslamabadMassacre which took place on 26th November where Pakistani Army openly attacked and killed many Pakistani unarmed civilians who were in Islamabad to do a peaceful protest. We, the Pakistanis world over are still trying to completely understand and some of the PTI Social Media Team members are working on compiling the fatalities and the facts as a result.

Now, these ruthless criminals have started torturing @ImranKhanPTI in order to eliminate him within next 5-7 days. According to updates just shared by @QasimKhanSuri …(Ex-19th Deputy Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly during our Ex-PM @ImranKhanPTI’s time) for the past 3 days this is what has been happening.

• They are keeping Imran Khan in a very small cell which is guarded by 150-200 army personnel.

• Throughout the day, they keep a black cloth over his face and some kind of poisonous fumes are being released in the small room which is supposed to impact his mental state.

• At night the cloth is lifted for a few hours

• He is not doing well and is not allowed any visitors including no lawyers or family members

• He will be moved to an unknown location soon and according to the sources that is where they will try to eliminate him (🥺💔🤲🏼).

I am reaching out to you because you are against deep state as you recently mentioned and this is the work of the deep state.

You have also met with @ImranKhanPTI and found him to be a very learned and amazing person as well as an excellent leader for his country. You know he also wants the best for the rest of the world. Your future partnership will be very beneficial for both the countries. You both know Imran Khan does not deserve this and is innocent.

I feel you might have some way to stop this from happening but am not sure. Still I feel it doesn’t hurt to try.

I would like to earnestly request you to please look at this matter closely and make sure these people pay for it should they bring any harm to @ImranKhanPTI before your Presidency starts.

Keep their names in your list of people who have destroyed not just Pakistani democracy but the future of the relations between Pakistan and USA should they succeed in their horrific plans.

Their overseas bank accounts and assets should be frozen and they should not be allowed to travel to USA or to any other foreign countries. They have committed numerous war crimes and human rights violations in Pakistan. Their corruption and money embezzlement has destroyed Pakistani economy and created overall crises. They have destroyed the justice system and have also messed up the constitution.

The names are:

@CMShehbaz
@MaryamNSharif
@NawazSharifMNS
@AAliZardari
@BBhuttoZardari
@AseefaBZ
@BakhtawarBZ
@MoulanaOfficial
@MohsinnaqviC42
@AttaTararoffice
@AzmaBokhariPMLN
@GFarooqi
@betterpakistan (Ahsan Iqbal)
@KhawajaMAsif
@KhSaad_Rafique

This is just the starting list. I am sure other Pakistanis will add to it.

Once again, this matter requires your urgent attention! Thanks so much for reading this and for any and all the help.

#IslamabadMassacre
#ReleaseImranKhan

[Zalmay Khalilzad @realZalmayMK]

I condemn in the strongest terms the brutal crackdown by Pakistani establishment of peaceful demonstrators seeking freedom and the release of Imran Khan and other political prisoners. #Pakistan

[Baqir Sajjad @baqirsajjad]

Guardian is claiming 17 fatalities during crackdown on PTI protest yesterday night and has quoted a doctor working at one of hospitals that received wounded as accusing govt of a cover up. Would Pakistan’s ‘vibrant’ media try to dig the truth?

https://t.co/TMXu8kbhwc

[Hamid Mir حامد میر @HamidMirPAK]

Journalist Shakir Mehmood Awan is missing since last many hours after he posted a clip of @dwnews @CPJAsia @RSF_inter @freepressunltd @hrw @UNHumanRights @amnestysasia

[Saeed Shah @SaeedShah]

Matiullah Jan is a leading journalist in Pakistan, known for standing up to the authorities. He was reporting on deaths from this week’s crackdown on the protest in the capital by the main opposition party