Pakistan is reportedly deporting over 1.5 million Afghans from the country as part of the government&#8217;s removal of illegal immigrants as part of a “repatriation plan.”
“Of the roughly 4 million Afghans living in Pakistan, about 1.7 million people are thought to be in the crosshairs of this ‘repatriation plan,’” The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/06/pakistan-undocumented-afghanistan-refugee-expel-migrants/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“The UN estimates that more than 200,000 Afghans without papers have left Pakistan for Afghanistan since Islamabad announced its &#8216;Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan&#8217; just over a month ago,” the Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/d839746e-75e3-4dae-979b-d4160cddfe9c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>.
The current interior minister, Sarfraz Bugti, cited security from terrorism as a driving force behind the decision; he said that 14 out of 24 major terrorist attacks in Pakistan in 2023 were executed by Afghan nationals.
He <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-to-begin-deportation-of-1-7-million-undocumented-afghans/7294939.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the beginning of October, “All illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan have until November 1 to return to their countries voluntarily. And if they fail to leave by the deadline, all our state law enforcement agencies will unleash an operation with full-throttle to deport them.  &#8230; We have come under 24 suicide bomb attacks since January, and 14 of them were carried out by Afghan nationals. &#8230; We have evidence that Afghans were involved in these attacks and are taking up the issue through our foreign ministry with Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.”
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&#8220;The military, which exerts heavy influence over the caretaker regime, is likely driving the policy,” Michael Kugelman the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, said. “But it’s letting the caretaker regime — which need not worry about political blowback — take any public flak.”
After the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, between 600,000 and 800,000 Afghans reportedly fled Afghanistan and settled in Pakistan. The Pakistani government has <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghans-return-taliban-rule-pakistan-moves-expel-17-million-2023-10-31/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asserted</a> that only 2.2 million Afghans of the roughly 3.8 million living in Pakistan have a government-approved document that certifies their eligibility to stay in the country.
In July, after 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack, Pakistan’s military <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-terrorists-enjoy-safe-havens-in-afghanistan/7181276.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “Such attacks are intolerable and would elicit an effective response from the security forces of Pakistan. The involvement of Afghan nationals in acts of terrorism in Pakistan is another important concern that needs to be addressed.”

PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN-DEPORTATIONS

Pakistan To Expel Over 1.5 Million Afghans, Cites Terrorism As Reason

Afghanistan

Expulsion

Pakistan

Terrorism

A Christian community in Pakistan found itself under attack on Wednesday as a Muslim mob reportedly vandalized churches, torched homes, and burned Bibles after two Christians were accused of blasphemy. 
At least two churches were vandalized and one was burned in Jaranwala, a largely Christian area in the Faisalabad district in eastern Pakistan, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-muslim-attack-churches-blasphemy-christian-faisalabad-bc671037bdd389af6b67e0292cc18582" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Associated Press. In addition to the mob – <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/16/churches-attacked-faisalabad-pakistan-blasphemy-claim" target="_blank" rel="noopener">armed</a> with rocks and sticks – attacking places of worship, at least one home was demolished while several others were vandalized, though some reports say more churches were damaged. Many Christians were forced to flee their homes for safety. 
“We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan,” Bishop Azad Marshall, the moderator bishop of the Church of Pakistan, <a href="https://twitter.com/BishopAzadM/status/1691729068889354251" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted to X</a> Wednesday. “A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been tortured and harrased (sic) having been falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran.”
“We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom,” Marshall added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been… <a href="https://t.co/xruE83NPXL">pic.twitter.com/xruE83NPXL</a>
&mdash; Bishop Azad Marshall (@BishopAzadM) <a href="https://twitter.com/BishopAzadM/status/1691729068889354251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Two Christian members of the community were accused by the mob of blasphemy, alleging that they desecrated a Quran by tearing out pages and writing insulting things in others, according to the AP. Pakistan has notoriously harsh laws relating to blasphemy, and those convicted of it can be sentenced to death. 
The AP notes that even a simple accusation of blasphemy is enough for a mob to lynch and kill the accused, who are often Christians. According to <a href="https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/persecution/countries/pakistan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Open Doors</a>, a Christian organization committed to serving persecuted Christians worldwide, roughly 25% of blasphemy accusations are levied against Christians, who make up less than 2% of Pakistan’s population.   
Videos on social media have emerged showing the scenes in Pakistan, with the mob toppling crosses from the tops of churches, throwing furniture from windows, and burning fires in the streets. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Pakistan🚨 Alarming situation in Faisalabad. Christian community under attack over charges of Blasphemy.
Majority muslim mob has already burned 3 churches. Mob is heading to the 4th church in Faisalabad.
Several Christian homes, properties and churches have been burned down.… <a href="https://t.co/qjPjPFKaFf">pic.twitter.com/qjPjPFKaFf</a>
&mdash; Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1691744360906506433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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France24 news <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230816-mob-burns-pakistani-churches-vandalises-cemetery-over-alleged-blasphemy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that some videos showed mosque loudspeakers encouraging followers to demonstrate: &#8220;Christians have desecrated the Holy Koran. All the clerics, all the Muslims should unite and gather in front of the mosque. Better to die if you don&#8217;t care about Islam,&#8221; a Muslim cleric reportedly said.
&#8220;They broke the windows, doors and took out fridges, sofas, chairs and other household items to pile them up in front of the Church to be burnt. They also burnt and desecrated Bibles, they were ruthless,&#8221; one Christian who fled his home <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230816-mob-burns-pakistani-churches-vandalises-cemetery-over-alleged-blasphemy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> AFP.
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Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the interim Prime Minister of Pakistan – which is 97% Muslim – posted to X that “Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits &amp; bring them to justice.” However, as the AP notes, earlier video shows police officers failing to promptly intervene to stop the attacks. 
The crowd was eventually dispersed by police firing into the air and with assistance from Muslim clerics and Pakistani troops – and the promise to arrest the accused Christians. Police chief Rizwan Khan said that all people involved in the mob would be prosecuted. 
According to Open Doors, the police force in Pakistan “is more interested in appeasing local strongmen than implementing the law and protecting minorities.” The organization notes that Christians often sit in prison for years before the courts determine their fate. 
According to the <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1691744360906506433" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023 Open Doors World Watch List</a>, of the top 50 countries that most severely and frequently persecute Christians, Pakistan ranks number 7, with the most frequent types of persecution being Islamic oppression, ethno-religious hostility, dictatorial paranoia, and organized crime.

TOPSHOT-PAKISTAN-RELIGION-CRIME-CHURCH

Muslim Mob Attacks Christian Churches And Homes In Pakistan Following Blasphemy Allegations

Muslim Mob Attacks Several Christian Churches And Homes In Pakistan Following Blasphemy Allegations

Christianity

Christians

Religion

World

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Donald Trump-E. Jean Carroll Verdict
Former President Donald Trump was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jury-rules-trump-committed-battery-on-e-jean-carroll-defamed-her" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> liable Tuesday of sexual abuse and defamation in E. Jean Caroll’s lawsuit that accused him of raping her decades ago.
Title 42 Chaos
Law enforcement is sweeping the streets of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/law-enforcement-to-clear-thousands-of-illegal-migrants-from-el-paso-streets-as-end-of-title-42-looms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">El Paso, Texas</a>, for thousands of illegal immigrants camped in the city. Late Monday night, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced a “targeted enforcement operation” taking place in El Paso ahead of the repeal of Title 42. 
About 2,500 migrants are living on the streets of El Paso, some reportedly with gang ties. The operation comes as thousands more migrants are expected to cross the border from Mexico into El Paso after Title 42 is lifted on Thursday at 11:59 p.m. 
El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser previously estimated that up to 15,000 migrants could be in Ciudad Juárez, across the border from El Paso, preparing to enter the U.S. later this week. Meanwhile, in the last week, border patrol agents made 55,000 apprehensions of individuals who crossed the border illegally. That number is expected to rise dramatically with the expiration of Title 42.  So far, the Biden administration has indicated it will reject any Republican proposals to deal with the problem.
Janet Yellen Warns Corporations About Recession Risks
A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/janet-yellen-warns-ceos-about-recession-risks-from-debt-ceiling-battle-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new report indicates</a> that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen contacted multiple prominent American business leaders on Monday to detail the financial risk stemming from the current debt ceiling controversy. 
In recent days, Yellen held multiple one-on-one conversations with individual executives about the “dangerous consequences of the current brinkmanship,” according to a report from Reuters. Biden administration officials have repeatedly claimed that Republican lawmakers are risking a worldwide recession by insisting that any amendment to the debt ceiling must be accompanied by meaningful spending cuts. Meanwhile, Biden is meeting with Congressional GOP and Democratic leaders Tuesday afternoon to discuss a plan to raise the limit.
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Hunter Biden Criminal Proof?
Attorneys for the IRS <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/attorneys-for-irs-whistleblower-in-hunter-biden-probe-meet-with-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whistleblower</a> who alleges the criminal investigation into <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hunter-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hunter Biden</a> has become corrupted by lies and politics reportedly met with members of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Congress</a>.
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/politics/hunter-biden-irs-whistleblower-congressional-investigation/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sources told CNN</a> the conversation on Friday with investigators from the GOP-led House and Democrat-controlled Senate helps lay the groundwork for what could be a formal disclosure involving sensitive tax information in the near future. Meanwhile, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is urging the Justice Department <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/comer-urges-feds-not-to-indict-hunter-biden-before-wednesday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not to indict Hunter Biden</a> until Republicans hold a press conference. They intend to present evidence showing how a “web” of LLCs is being used by foreign adversaries to improperly pay members of the Biden family in exchange for favors.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 A very credible whistleblower has provided info to Congress.
I will press forward in my <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPoversight</a> investigation into the Biden family’s influence peddling to determine if <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> is compromised.
I intend to provide the American people more facts this week. <a href="https://twitter.com/MariaBartiromo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MariaBartiromo</a> <a href="https://t.co/2F2ntRiNgz">pic.twitter.com/2F2ntRiNgz</a>
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer/status/1655226994957729792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
The press conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
Ex- Pakistan Prime Minister Arrested
The former prime minister of Pakistan was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-prime-minister-of-south-asian-country-arrested-by-paramilitary-forces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> on Tuesday by paramilitary forces as the popular leader faces terrorism and corruption-related charges. Imran Khan was ousted from his role as prime minister in April 2022 by a no-confidence vote in parliament after being accused of corruption and violating the constitution. Khan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-pakistani-prime-minister-shot?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwbrand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survived a shooting</a> in November and has claimed that corrupt officials coordinated his removal from office. Police say after his arrest, he was taken to the National Accountability Bureau for questioning. Supporters took to the streets in protest, starting fires and clashing with police.
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Tuesday stock photo

Tuesday Afternoon Update: Donald Trump-E. Jean Carroll Verdict, Title 42 Chaos, Hunter Biden Criminal Proof?

Donald Trump

General

Hunter Biden

Janet Yellen

Morning Wire

Title 42

U.S.

Imran Khan, the former prime minister of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan</a>, was arrested on Tuesday by paramilitary forces as the popular leader faces terrorism and corruption-related charges and remains outspoken against the country’s military and political leadership. 
Khan, a former cricket player, was ousted from his role as prime minister in April 2022 by a no-confidence vote in parliament after being accused of corruption and violating the constitution. Khan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-pakistani-prime-minister-shot?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwbrand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survived a shooting</a> in November and has claimed that corrupt officials coordinated his removal from office. 
In a tweet before his arrest, Khan <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1655817459486580736?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Pakistan’s military and political opponents in the Pakistan Democratic Movement Party were trying to arrest him to “prevent me from campaigning” and to “prevent me from mobilising the masses for street movement in support of Constitution.”
After his arrest, he was taken to the National Accountability Bureau for questioning, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-imran-khan-arrested-charges-55a53535b91051da679c9b57b0bc9a54" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to police. Supporters took to the streets in protest, starting fires and clashing with police.
<div id="attachment_547553" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-547553" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-547553 size-medium" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1253330247-300x200.jpg" alt="Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party activists and supporters of former Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran gather amid teargas fired by police during a protest against the arrest of their leader, in Peshawar on May 9, 2023. Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was arrested on May 9, police said, during a court appearance for one of dozens of cases pending since he was booted from office last year. (Photo by Abdul MAJEED / AFP)" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1253330247-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1253330247-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1253330247-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1253330247.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Photo by ABDUL MAJEED/AFP via Getty Images.</div>
Khan’s arrest came as he was set to go before the Islamabad High Court over mutiny and attempted murder cases, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1751767/listen-to-me-carefully-imran-doubles-down-on-allegations-against-senior-military-official" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Dawn, an English-language Pakistani newspaper. Since his removal last year, Khan has been in court battles over whether he would be able to run for office and has faced allegations of corruption. 
He has also led the charge for earlier elections throughout Pakistan, as his populist political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has gained public support in the aftermath of Khan’s ouster.  
Just before he was arrested, Khan, 71,  had said that an intelligence officer was trying to kill him. “This man tried to kill me twice and whenever an investigation is carried out, I will prove that it was this man and there is a whole gang with him,” he said.
“If someone has a warrant, come to me directly … I am prepared to go to jail,” he added. “Do us a favor and don’t stage such a drama and directly provide a warrant.”
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The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing for Pakistan’s Armed Forces, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1751602/baseless-allegations-by-pti-chief-against-serving-military-officer-unacceptable-ispr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> Khan’s claims “irresponsible and baseless” as well as “extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable.”
“This has been a consistent pattern for the last year wherein military and intelligence agencies officials are targeted with insinuations and sensational propaganda for the furtherance of political objectives,” the statement continued. 
Pakistan&#8217;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned Khan’s comments, saying they wouldn’t be “tolerated.”
“Imran Niazi&#8217;s act of routinely maligning and threatening Pakistan Army and Intelligence Agency for the sake of petty political gains is highly condemnable. His leveling of allegations without any proof against Gen Faisal Naseer and officers of our Intelligence Agency cannot be allowed and will not be tolerated,” he said.

PAKISTAN-POLITICS-PROTEST-KHAN

Former Prime Minister Of South Asian Country Arrested By Paramilitary Forces

Global Politics

A suicide bomber targeted police at a crowded mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, killing at least 47 people and injuring more than 150 others.
Most of the people who died were police officers, The Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-peshawar-mosque-bombing-e632e0afcf948bc0502f5dfbd19359c1">reported</a>, in what is the latest attack against law enforcement in the city by Islamist militants. Hospital officials <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/blast-mosque-pakistans-peshawar-70-injured-2023-01-30/">told</a> Reuters that many of the wounded were in critical condition.
A Pakistani Taliban commander, Sarbakaf Mohmand, reportedly took responsibility for the attack on Twitter, the AP reported. His group, officially known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), comprises Sunni and sectarian Islamist groups dedicated to overthrowing the Pakistani government and imposing Islamic rule, Reuters reported. The group is separate from the Afghan Taliban but remains a close ally of the terrorist group that seized power in Afghanistan following the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal from the region.
Mohmand said the attack was revenge for the killing of Abdul Wali, also known as Omar Khalid Khurasani, who was killed in Afghanistan in August 2022, the AP reported.
The attack occurred during noon prayers and was strong enough to cause a wall to collapse on top of people who were worshiping. It is unclear how the bomber was able to get into the building, which is located inside a fortified compound that includes the Sunni mosque as well as the headquarters for the provincial police force and a counter-terrorism department, Reuters reported.
&#8220;We&#8217;re getting that the terrorist was standing in the first row,&#8221; Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said, according to the outlet.
More than 300 worshipers were inside the mosque for noon prayers, with even more coming in, when the bomber detonated his explosives vest, the AP reported. Police told the outlet that rescuers worked quickly to remove debris to reach worshippers trapped under the rubble.
The latest attack was the city&#8217;s deadliest since March 2022, when Islamic State militants committed a suicide bombing at a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Peshawar during a prayer service, killing at least 58 people and injuring nearly 200, Reuters reported.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif vowed “stern action” against the group behind the attack and traveled to Peshawar to visit those injured. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also spoke out against what he referred to as a “terrorist suicide attack” on Twitter, the AP reported.
“My prayers &amp; condolences go to victims (sic) families,” Khan wrote. “It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering &amp; properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism.”
Khan lost power last April when he received a no-confidence vote in parliament, leading to Sharif taking control of the government.

PAKISTAN-UNREST-BLAST

Suicide Bomber Targeting Police Kills 47, Injures More Than 150 During Prayer Service

Mosques

Taliban

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000008738334/pakistan-power-outage-blackout.html?playlistId=video/world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">experienced</a> a largescale <a href="https://sg.news.yahoo.com/pakistan-power-grid-hit-nationwide-043945570.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">power</a> <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2023/01/23/Pakistan-power-outage/5561674479393/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outage</a> on <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/lights-out-in-pakistan-as-energy-saving-move-backfires/2023/01/23/0b76a044-9af6-11ed-93e0-38551e88239c_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monday</a> morning, bringing to light problems with the country&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">electrical</a> grid.
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-23/pakistan-faces-major-nationwide-power-breakdown-ministry-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Millions</a> of <a href="https://time.com/6249261/pakistan-power-outage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">people</a> <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/pakistan-power-outage-today-blackout-latest-b2267156.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">across</a> the <a href="https://kelo.com/2023/01/23/factbox-why-were-millions-of-pakistanis-without-electricity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">country</a> were <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pakistan-power-outage-today-blackout-energy-crisis-economic-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">without</a> power when a major <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/22/asia/pakistan-power-outage-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blackout</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/23/world/asia/pakistan-power-outage-blackouts.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> at 7:34 in the morning local time. Authorities said that the power was back on in areas of Islamabad, as well as the nearby city of Rawalpindi, after eight hours had gone by, according to The New York Times. 
According to reporting from Pakistani <a href="https://dbpedia.org/page/Dawn_Media_Group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outlet</a> <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1733207/hours-after-major-outage-hits-pakistan-govt-says-power-restoration-under-way">Dawn</a>, the majority of the 220 million people who live in the country were impacted.
The blackout started in Sindh Province because of a power rush in voltage, according to local authorities. The energy minister, Khurram Dastgir Khan, said at a press conference that the voltage issue prompted a domino effect of electricity plants not working around Pakistan. 
Dastgir had also reportedly <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64369144" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the situation was “not a major crisis,” but lots of residences and businesses did not have power over 12 hours after the outage started. 
He told Geo TV that some of the power was shut off during the night because of the winter season, per the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64369144" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>.
“In winter, the demand for electricity reduces nationwide, hence, as an economic measure, we temporarily close down our power generation systems at night,&#8221; he said. 
However, when the systems were turned on again, &#8220;frequency variation and voltage fluctuation&#8221; were seen in the <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/pakistan-s-national-grid-fails-for-the-second-time-in-three-months-123012301409_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">southern</a> part of the country &#8220;somewhere between Dadu and Jamshoro&#8221; and then &#8220;power generating units shut down one by one,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also <a href="https://arynews.tv/pm-shehbaz-sharif-takes-notice-of-countrywide-power-break-down/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">established</a> a high level group to look into the massive blackout.
Even though areas started to see electricity come back on, per Dastgir, experts have <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-suffers-major-power-outage-after-grid-failure-2023-01-23/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the electric issues come from the fact that the electric grid is older. The government, however, reportedly claims that it doesn’t have the money to improve it.
In 2020, Prime Minister Imran Khan <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-energy-climate-change-featur/pakistan-faces-an-unexpected-dilemma-too-much-electricity-idUSKBN2AO27C" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that 60% of the country&#8217;s electricity would be made from renewable energy by 2030.
The electrical grid in the country has been a source of problems over the past several years. According to a 2018 blog <a href="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/what-s-keeping-pakistan-dark" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> for the World Bank regarding the <a href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/30923/9781464811548.pdf?sequence=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>, &#8220;In the Dark,&#8221; almost 50 million people in Pakistan weren’t able to utilize the electric grid. Pakistan also came in 115th place in a 2018 report on 137 economies’ power reliability. 
In 2021, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-energy-climate-change-featur/pakistan-faces-an-unexpected-dilemma-too-much-electricity-idUSKBN2AO27C" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on a new issue in the country, in that it could make much more electricity than it had been able to in the past, mainly due to an increase in coal plants that China has paid for. 
&#8220;We have been adding capacity, but we have been doing so without improving transmission infrastructure,&#8221; Fahad Rauf, leader of research at Karachi brokerage Ismail Iqbal Industries, said more recently, per <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-suffers-major-power-outage-after-grid-failure-2023-01-23/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>.

7803F027-9103-415D-979D-24C8C88493EA_1_201_a

Report: Tens Of Millions Experience Major Blackout In Pakistan

Energy

Power

The first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pakistan">Pakistani</a> movie to debut at <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cannes">Cannes</a> Film Festival, “Joyland,” has been banned in its home country due to themes that the government deemed inappropriate.
“Joyland” got yanked from the schedule just one week before it was supposed to premiere in theaters, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/15/asia/pakistan-joyland-release-blocked-intl-hnk/index.html">CNN</a>. The country’s Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) granted a certificate permitting the movie’s release as of this summer, but on Friday that decision changed. 
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a notice saying “Joyland” was now “uncertified” due to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">movie’s</a> content, which features a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a> love story.
The notice cited complaints accusing the film of having “highly objectionable material” that contradicts “social values and moral standards of our society.”
According to the movie’s page on the Cannes <a href="https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/films/joyland">website</a>, “Joyland” is about “a happily patriarchal joint family” who “yearn for the birth of a baby boy to continue the family line.” But then, “their youngest son secretly joins an erotic dance theatre and falls for an ambitious trans starlet. Their impossible love story slowly illuminates the entire Rana family’s desire for a sexual rebellion.”
“Joyland” won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and the unofficial Queer Palm at Cannes in May, the publication noted. It was submitted to the Oscars for consideration as Pakistan’s official entry. Now that it won’t be released locally as planned, “Joyland” runs the risk of being disqualified as it must be shown in theaters for at least seven days before November 30 to be eligible for the international feature film award.
Filmmakers could find a workaround if they’re able to release “Joyland” in another country besides the United States before that deadline. 
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan released a <a href="https://twitter.com/hrcp87/status/1591686495878152192">statement</a> on the withdrawal of certification for “Joyland” as “rabidly transphobic.” The organization also accused the Pakistani government of “[violating] the film producers&#8217; right to freedom of expression.” 
Director Saim Sadiq also complained about the decision on Instagram, saying the ban was “absolutely unconstitutional and illegal.”
“Return the right of our citizens to be able to watch the film that has made their country’s cinema proud world over,” Sadiq <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck6CNP5Mrlr/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D">shared</a>.
“Our film got seen and certified by all three censor boards in August 2022. The 18th amendment in the Pakistani constitution gives all of provinces the autonomy to make their own decision. Yet the Ministry suddenly caved under pressure from a few extremist factions – who have not seen the film – and made a mockery of our federal censor board by rendering their decision irrelevant.”
“Joyland” star Alina Khan, who is the first trans-identifying Pakistani person to star in a movie, also reacted strongly to the ban. 
“I’ve been very sad. There’s nothing against Islam and I don’t understand how Islam can get endangered by mere films,” Khan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/15/alina-khan-joyland-pakistani-trans-film-ban">told</a> The Guardian. “The Pakistani trans community was also very upset.&#8221;

“Joyland” Photocall  – The 75th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Pakistan Blocks Release Of Transgender Love Story ‘Joyland,’ Creator Seeks Workaround For Oscar Bid

Pakistan Blocks Release Of Transgender Love Story 'Joyland,' Creator Seeks Workaround For Oscar Bid

Cannes

Entertainment

Movies

Transgender

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was shot in an alleged assassination attempt Thursday. He was rushed to the hospital where he is in stable condition, and the alleged gunman has been arrested.
Khan was waving to a crowd from atop a container truck during a protest march when shots rang out. The former prime minister, as well as several of his supporters, were injured in the attack. One person has reportedly died.
A spokesperson for Khan’s political party, PTI, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/shots-fired-near-convoy-former-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-media-2022-11-03/">told</a> Reuters that “it was a clear assassination attempt. Khan was hit but he’s stable. There was a lot of bleeding.”
The suspected shooter was immediately taken into custody and police later released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWxyNGCEm7s&amp;ab_channel=ARYNews">video</a> of the suspect allegedly confessing to the shooting.
The suspect, who has been identified by Pakistan’s Information Minister as Faisal Butt, said in the video that he acted alone and  “Only Imran Khan was my target,” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-imran-khan-injured-d9f4bf37c30146fb8dbfce41ec102b97">according</a> to the Associated Press.
In April, Khan was removed from the his position as prime minister by a no-confidence vote in parliament after he was accused of corruption and violating the constitution, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/03/former-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-reportedly-shot-and-wounded.html">reported</a>. Then, in October, Pakistan&#8217;s election commission prohibited Khan from holding office again for five years because of &#8220;corrupt practices.&#8221;
As a result of Khan’s removal from office, small protests by his supporters erupted throughout the country.
For the past week, Khan has been on a campaign tour from Lahore to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, calling for early elections and radical change in Pakistan elections. A large convoy of trucks and cars has grown around Khan&#8217;s tour, and he was six days into the protest procession when he was shot.
In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KvKN5I4T5Y&amp;ab_channel=GeoNews">press conference</a> announcing his march, he explained, “I am marching to press the government to announce elections immediately,” adding that his supporters should avoid any violence.
Among the wounded was Faisal Javed, a Pakistani lawmaker, who said in a video after the shooting that the attack would not stop Khan’s march to the capital.
Khan’s calls for snap elections have not quite panned out. The Pakistani government has reaffirmed that elections will be held as scheduled next year.

The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Islamabad – Day Two

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Shot

A third of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan</a> is underwater amid intense flooding that began in mid-June and has claimed over a thousand lives. 
About 33 million people have been affected by the <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/08/1125752" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record levels of flooding</a>, leaving over 1,000 people dead and causing an <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/initial-economic-losses-pakistan-floods-least-10-bln-planning-minister-2022-08-29/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> $10 billion in damages. On Tuesday, the United Nations announced an appeal for $160 million in aid for the country. 
“The Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-nations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a video posted to Twitter, explaining the disaster as “the relentless impact of epochal levels of rain and flooding.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids. More than 1000 people have been killed &#8211; with millions more lives shattered. 
This colossal crisis requires urgent, collective action to help the Government &amp; people of Pakistan in their hour of need. <a href="https://t.co/aVFFy4Irwa">pic.twitter.com/aVFFy4Irwa</a>
&mdash; António Guterres (@antonioguterres) <a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres/status/1564556094680227841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN Humanitarian Coordination Office (OCHA), said Tuesday that 500,000 people have been displaced and almost one million homes have been damaged. Damaged infrastructure, including 3,500 km of roads and 150 bridges, has hindered people&#8217;s ability to flee to safer ground. Many of the dead are children, she said. 
Pakistan Climate Minister Sherry Rehman said on Monday that a third of the country is underwater, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pakistan-floods-un-appeal-aid-monsoon-climate-change-rcna45219" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calling</a> the floods “the monster monsoon of the decade.” She also attributed the disaster to climate change. 
The United Nations&#8217; $160 million aid plan is designed to reach “5.2 million of the most vulnerable people in the country,” with the objective of delivering lifesaving assistance, preventing disease outbreaks, and ensuring access to assistance and protection. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has also <a href="https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/aug-30-2022-united-states-providing-additional-30-million-critical-humanitarian-assistance-pakistan-flooding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">committed</a> $30 million in aid. 
The floodwaters in select areas of Pakistan started receding as the rain stopped three days ago, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/30/pakistan-flooding-underwater-monsoon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. After reviewing the damages caused by the floods, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “I can say without any fear of contradiction, this flood situation is probably the worst in the history of Pakistan.”
Intense flooding isn’t new to Pakistan. Historic floods <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62722117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crushed the country</a> in 2010, killing almost 2,000 people in what became at the time the deadliest flood in its history.
&nbsp;

Human settlement alongside of river

‘Monster Monsoon,’ Flooding Kills Over A Thousand In Pakistan: Officials

‘Monster Monsoon Of The Decade,’ Flooding Kills Over A Thousand In Pakistan

United Nations

Weather

Monsoon rains and widespread flooding have killed dozens of people in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/india">India</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pakistan">Pakistan</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/afghanistan">Afghanistan</a> in recent days, and the torrential downpours have displaced hundreds of thousands.
Officials <a href="https://weather.com/news/weather/video/monsoon-flood-kills-hundreds-in-india-pakistan">reported</a> that at least 40 people had been killed in flooding and landslides across Northern India, with several others reported missing. Hundreds more were displaced or needed to be evacuated by search and rescue teams.
In Pakistan, 37 people were killed in the <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flash-floods-afghanistan-pakistan-dozens-dead-today-2022-08-21/">most recent round</a> of floods — since the middle of June, authorities report that 820 have been killed and 320,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed.
Similar <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/23/asia/afghanistan-floods-august-deaths-intl-hnk/index.html">flash flooding</a> in Afghanistan has killed at least 95 people, according to authorities, and injured hundreds of others. Thousands of homes were reportedly destroyed.
“Winter is arriving soon and these affected families that include women and children do not have shelter to live under. All their agricultural farms and orchards have either been completely destroyed or their harvest has been damaged,&#8221; Deputy Minister of Disaster Management Mawlawi Sharafuddin Muslim <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/23/asia/afghanistan-floods-august-deaths-intl-hnk/index.html">told CNN</a>. &#8220;If these people are not helped to get back to normalcy, their situation will definitely get worse in the coming weeks and months.&#8221;
Muslim called for increased aid from international organizations such as the United Nations for emergency relief, but given the frosty relationship between the Taliban and the international community, it is unclear how closely such organizations would be willing to cooperate with Afghan officials.
The Taliban <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/taliban-takes-over-more-major-afghan-cities-controls-majority-of-nation-seizes-u-s-military-weapons">regained control of the country</a> last year after a two-decades long war with a U.S.-led NATO coalition, and international observers have expressed concern that the government is once again <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/al-qaeda-now-has-safe-haven-in-afghanistan-under-taliban-operating-with-freedom-of-action-u-n-report">providing a safe haven</a> for Al Qaeda and other radical islamist terror groups. Earlier this month, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Osama Bin Laden’s mentor and successor as leader of the infamous group behind the 9/11 terror attacks, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-u-s-intel-kills-leader-of-al-qaeda-who-took-over-after-bin-laden-reports-say">killed by a U.S. drone strike</a> in the Afghan capital of Kabul, at the home of a high ranking Taliban official.
The <a href="https://www.solaceglobal.com/report/2018-south-asia-monsoon-season/">monsoon season</a> in South Asia extends from June to September, although peak rainfall is usually seen in July and August.

PAKISTAN-WEATHER-FLOOD

Hundreds Killed In Monsoon Floods Across South Asia

India

Natural Disaster

In late June, Israel’s parliament<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israeli-parliament-votes-to-dissolve-itself-triggering-fifth-election-in-under-four-years"> voted</a> to dissolve itself, triggering the country’s fifth election in just three years. This forced Yair Lapid into the role of interim prime minister as yet another legislative election is scheduled for November 1. <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/poll-indicates-netanyahu-led-bloc-inching-toward-majority-with-60-seats/">Polls</a> indicate an uphill battle for Lapid as he is set to face off with the veteran former Prime Minister, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-130-benjamin-natanyahu">Benjamin Netanyahu</a>.
Just over a year ago, Lapid was the architect of a coalition government consisting of eight different parties which joined forces to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/06/13/world/israel-knesset-bennett-lapid-netanyahu">end</a> the 12-year reign of Netanyahu, who was Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.
For those not familiar with the parliamentary system of democracy, it differs from the American system. A parliamentary nation is led by a prime minister, who is the elected head of the legislative branch, instead of a separately elected executive like our president. This system was created primarily by nations with monarchies, such as Great Britain, Norway, or Spain, or who were formerly controlled by them. And while America has a two-party system, there are a myriad of parties in a parliamentary system, so deals have to be carefully crafted between multiple groups with differing policies.
Thus, it would be like a coalition of congressional members electing a speaker, and that person running the nation as opposed to having the checks and balances of a separate executive branch.
The majority of European nations are parliamentary democracies. Yet, thanks to political infighting, some of the world’s most stable parliamentary democracies have recently had their entire governments <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/democracy-retreat">upended</a>. Amid <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/as-america-sleeps-a-dangerous-axis-develops">growing threats</a> from the axis of China, Russia, and Iran, this instability projects a frightening level of western weakness to our enemies on the world stage.
<h4>Great Britain, France, and Italy</h4>
Last month, Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wlwt.com/article/whats-next-for-uk-boris-johnson/40549219">Boris Johnson</a> resigned as Conservative Party leader &#8212; and thus, as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – after an internal revolt. Now his party must choose his <a href="https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/world/boris-johnsons-successor-will-have-a-huge-mess-on-their-hands/">successor</a>.
Just across the channel, <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/france-learns-parliamentary-democracy-the-hard-way/">France</a> is having to relearn parliamentary democracy, and initial signs indicate that as a nation averse to compromise, it isn’t enjoying the experience. For the first time in a long time, French President Macron is ruling without a legislative majority in the National Assembly his favor. In June, his party <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/06/20/french-president-macron-loses-absolute-parliamentary-majority/">suffered losses</a> in their legislative elections.
For six decades, the French parliament served largely as an echo chamber for each party’s lofty policy goals. As the various opposition parties had little influence, these legislators were treated as “yes men” who created laws for the ruling party to implement. That changed after PM Macron failed to build a <a href="https://theconversation.com/german-election-explained-why-is-it-always-so-hard-to-form-a-government-168040">German-style coalition</a> based on a negotiated policy program, giving opposition groups scope to propose amendments and negotiate article-by-article on each bill. This instability is felt across France’s eastern border as well.
In February, Italian PM <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/26/italians-fear-return-of-instability-if-mario-draghi-quits-to-become-president">Mario Draghi</a> tried to run for President to shield his rule from feuding coalitions in parliament, and was <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/anyone-draghi-how-an-italian-presidential-bid-fell-flat-2022-02-02/">not successful</a>. Since the presidential vote, Draghi pushed back on calls by various political parties to expand the gaping Italian budget deficit, in order to address spiraling <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-30/italy-approves-energy-relief-as-draghi-battles-spike-in-prices">energy prices</a>. Draghi, the former European Central Bank (ECB) president, is determined<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-19/mario-draghi-is-putting-pressure-on-his-coalition-partners-after-missing-out-on-the-italian-presidency"> to re-establish his authority</a> and pull his fractious coalition into line at a time when the ECB is shifting toward <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-14/all-crisis-scenarios-lead-to-rome-as-ecb-starts-raising-rates">tightening monetary policy</a>, pushing up the cost of borrowing for the Italian state.
<h4>Pakistan and Tunisia</h4>
This shaking of the world’s most popular system of democracy also has major implications on global security.
Following the United States&#8217;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/one-year-later-bidens-botched-withdrawal-from-the-the-graveyard-of-empires"> botched withdrawal</a> from Afghanistan in 2021, neighboring Pakistan&#8217;s parliament held a <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2022/07/as-imran-khan-seeks-a-comeback-all-eyes-on-by-elections-in-pakistans-punjab/">no-confidence vote</a> in 2022 against its then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A popular former cricket star, Khan continues to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/02/world/asia/imran-khan-pakistan-no-confidence.html">speak out</a> against his country’s military leadership for its alleged role in orchestrating the no-confidence vote.
Now under <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/as-default-looms-pakistan-army-chief-bajwa-seeks-us-help-on-release-of-imf-loan/ar-AA10aUT3">questionable</a> military rule and <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/topstories/no-progress-in-resuming-trade-with-pakistan-centre-tells-parliament/ar-AA1041CD">fraying economic ties</a> with its neighbors, Pakistan &#8212; arguably the world&#8217;s most unstable nuclear power – now shares a border with a hardline Taliban government. Undeterred, Khan continues his plea <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/07/18/pakistan-imran-khan-elections/9741658158285/">for elections</a> for 20 seats in the Punjab provincial assembly.
Meanwhile, in the terrorist hot-bed of North Africa, formerly French-controlled <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20220702-tunisia-s-draft-constitution-ending-the-parliamentary-regime-or-undoing-democracy">Tunisia</a> may be ending their parliamentary system all together. Tunisian President Kais Saied delivered his draft for a new constitution to the public in February to decide the fate of the only democracy emerging from the 2014 <a href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/tunisia-was-the-only-democracy-to-blossom-from-the-arab-spring-now-its-a-mess/">Arab Spring</a>.
<a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/tunisia/">Tunisia</a>’s political crisis started on <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/tunisian-president-relieves-prime-minister-his-post-2021-07-25/">July 25, 2021</a>, when a poor response to the coronavirus, collapsing healthcare, and economic decline produced rampant protests. 
According to France24.com, the Tunisian president began with <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/kais-saied/">sweeping moves</a>, “ invoked emergency powers under Article 80 of the Constitution to remove the prime minister, suspend parliament for a month, revoke parliamentary immunity, and do away with most of the constitution itself.”
<h4>Democracy in The Middle East</h4>
This brings us back to Israel, arguably America’s biggest intelligence ally and the only true democracy in the Middle East. In recent months legacy Western media outlets have tried to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/27/israel-report-apartheid/">paint the Israeli government as an apartheid state.</a> While it’s clear that Israel’s democracy is <a href="https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-712746">under attack</a>, it is certainly not an apartheid state. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East with both a Jewish and an <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/new-israeli-government-ousts-longtime-prime-minister-netanyahu">outgoing coalition</a> which includes an Arab party.
Regardless, Israelis are going back to the polls in November for the fifth time in three and a half years because, under its broken parliamentary system, the populous leader of the country was unable to form a coalition of numerous parties to run the government. This is because in previous elections, the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/netanyahu-facing-ouster-claims-his-potential-replacement-cant-stand-up-to-biden">Benjamin Netanyahu</a>-led Likud party received the most votes from the public, but was boycotted by smaller parties in parliament, resulting in <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/03/23/israel-election-netanyahu/">political deadlock.</a>
After a year of disagreements, and while COVID was locking down world economies, Netanyahu formed a coalition government with Benny Gantz in May of 2020. Netanyahu’s Likud Party won with 36 seats and Gantz brought another 15.
But the political peace was short lived. Israel held another round of elections in March of 2021.
So in the context of recent arguments over America’s <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/many-liberal-pundits-hate-electoral-163306559.html">Electoral College</a>, imagine how Israelis feel. In recent elections, the Likud party won 30 seats, almost twice as many as the current prime minister’s left-wing party, who received 17 seats. Nonetheless, Lapid <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-bennett-lapid-reach-agreement-on-forming-coalition-to-oust-netanyahu/">formed a coalition</a> with former Prime Minister <a href="https://www.allisrael.com/israeli-pm-naftali-bennett-losing-political-altitude-his-chief-of-staff-resigns-amidst-growing-coalition-defections-turbulence">Naftali Bennett</a>, who resigned as PM just<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-reportedly-turned-down-offer-from-lapid-to-serve-as-interim-foreign-minister/"> weeks ago</a>, and whose party received only seven seats and appointed the current prime minister of Israel. This resulted in the election of a prime minister with under 5% popularity and the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/06/13/netanyahu-ousted-after-12-years-as-israels-prime-minister/?sh=1882efea4925">ouster of Netanyahu,</a> which seems to have been the overriding and perhaps only objective of the outgoing government.
In 2009, when Netanyahu’s Likud party received 27 seats and created a coalition with the Kadima party’s 28 seats, a movement reportedly <a href="https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Report-Senate-panel-probing-Obama-administration-ties-to-effort-to-unseat-Netanyahu-393905">funded by</a> left wing American and European interests began to undermine Netanyahu’s populist reign. One of the major reasons for the endless rounds of elections over the past three years is what many perceive to be a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obama-linked-nonprofit-filed-for-new-irs-status-after-accusation-of-meddling-in-israeli-election">politically motivated</a> legal witch hunt against Netanyahu, which included an <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/unprecedented-netanyahu-indictment-roils-israeli-election">indictment</a> against him filed on the eve of elections. The allegations, revised four times, <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/netanyahu-trial/">remain in court</a>.
Now, amid rising <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/04/middleeast/iran-nuclear-talks-doha-mime-intl/index.html">Iranian</a> aggression and <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-charged-with-terror-for-paving-stone-attack-that-seriously-injured-man/">Palestinian</a> terror attacks; recent polls show that voters want Netanyahu to <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/21/israel-government-dissolves-bennett-netanyahu-lapid-elections/">return</a> to office alongside a strong majority in parliament in upcoming elections. This is why it is imperative that Israel repair its parliamentary system by enacting a system similar to that more closely resembles the American system, where Israelis get to elect the leader of their choice in two-to-four year terms. This way, similar to our midterm congressional elections that offset our Presidential elections, Israelis may vote for representatives who can complement or balance the power of the elected prime minister, solidifying Israeli democracy in a time of great regional instability.
A. Benjamin <a href="https://abmannes.com/">Mannes</a>, MA, CPP served in both municipal and federal law enforcement, leading to his designation as a nationally recognized subject matter expert in security, public integrity, and criminal justice reform. He has served as a consultant and expert witness and as the Director, Office of Investigations for the American Board of Internal Medicine from 2008-2017.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Mannes – Are Parliamentary Democracies Dying On The World Stage_

Israel Is Not Alone With Parliamentary Upheaval

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Spidey-senses everywhere were tingling when President Joe Biden, greeting the crowd at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, was quickly spirited away by none other than the Easter Bunny the minute serious foreign policy questions arose.
At first glance, Biden appeared to <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/biden-mocked-over-video-of-white-house-event-literally-no-one-wants-to-talk-to-joe-biden/">simply wander</a> over to greet some spectators — only to be approached by the Easter Bunny and <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/watch-easter-bunny-blocks-joe-biden-from-commenting-on-foreign-policy/">guided back away</a> from the gathered crowd.
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Why is the Easter Bunny directing the President of the United States 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲 <a href="https://t.co/9bgXQJ6EXW">pic.twitter.com/9bgXQJ6EXW</a>
&mdash; Abigail Marone 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) <a href="https://twitter.com/abigailmarone/status/1516087183731535874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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But a closer look — from a different angle — revealed that Biden was talking foreign policy when the giant costumed rabbit intervened.
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Biden was incoherently mumbling about Afghanistan… so now we know why the Bunny ran over to interrupt… <a href="https://t.co/FthqFIgvHQ">pic.twitter.com/FthqFIgvHQ</a>
&mdash; Abigail Marone 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) <a href="https://twitter.com/abigailmarone/status/1516092382877470724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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And that was when people began asking in earnest: who was in the bunny suit?
&#8220;Gotta know who was in the bunny suit,&#8221; Abigail Marone, press secretary for Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) tweeted.
&#8220;Who&#8217;s inside the bunny suit?&#8221; the Washington Examiner&#8217;s Byron York asked.
And others quickly followed suit, with some offering their own theories — from press secretary Jen Psaki to Vice President Kamala Harris — as to who it might be:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;We need to know who was in that Easter Bunny suit.&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Surprised Ron Klain fit into the bunny suit, good for him.&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Plot twist: Trump is in the bunny suit.&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Is Kamala in the bunny suit? Seriously though this is genuinely disturbing.&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Odds that it’s Susan Rice in the bunny suit?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;How much do you want to bet Jill Biden is in the bunny suit?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Is Psaki in the bunny suit?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Was that Obama in the bunny suit guiding Biden today?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;I think I speak for most Americans when I ask @PressSec … Why is the Easter Bunny directing the President?&#8221;</li>
</ul>
Christian Datoc, White House correspondent for the Washington Examiner, <a href="https://twitter.com/TocRadio/status/1516050227333111810">tweeted</a>, &#8220;When will the Biden administration quit dodging questions and tell us who’s gonna be in the bunny suit today at the White House Easter egg roll? The American people deserve the truth!!!&#8221;
&#8220;Don’t rt this if it’s you @WHCOS,&#8221; Datoc <a href="https://twitter.com/TocRadio/status/1516050888233828355">added</a>.
White House press assistant Angela Perez gave a little peek behind the scenes, sharing a photo with the caption, &#8220;Hopping on a Zoom call.&#8221;
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Hopping on a zoom call. 🐰 <a href="https://t.co/voxLi3lA77">pic.twitter.com/voxLi3lA77</a>
&mdash; Angela Perez (@ADCPerez46) <a href="https://twitter.com/ADCPerez46/status/1516080822993960964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;So we now know the Easter Bunny was someone inside the comms shop,&#8221; Red State&#8217;s Bonchie <a href="https://twitter.com/bonchieredstate/status/1516102918365143048">tweeted</a>. &#8220;The White House literally put one of Biden&#8217;s handlers in an Easter Bunny suit to keep him from talking to reporters. Just incredible stuff.&#8221;
A second &#8220;reveal&#8221; came from White House Director of Message Planning Meghan Hays.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> SURPRISE! <a href="https://t.co/tE1dvRYkj6">pic.twitter.com/tE1dvRYkj6</a>
&mdash; Meghan Hays (@MegHays46) <a href="https://twitter.com/MegHays46/status/1516128094737813515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;It looks like Meghan Hays, the WH director of &#8216;message planning,&#8217; was the bunny who interrupted POTUS’ comments on Afghanistan,&#8221; Marone <a href="https://twitter.com/abigailmarone/status/1516130187473211395">responded</a>. &#8220;Clearly Biden’s message was not planned.&#8221;
&#8220;The Easter Bunny who censored Biden&#8217;s attempt to answer a reporter&#8217;s question today seems to be Meghan Hays, who has gotten much of the blame from reporters for poor WH press access,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/stevennelson10/status/1516180528101302272">added</a> the New York Post&#8217;s D.C. reporter Steven Nelson.

President Biden Hosts Annual White House Easter Egg Roll

‘Who’s Inside The Bunny Suit?’: The Big Reveal Explains Why The Easter Bunny Wouldn’t Let Biden Go Off-Script

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