The Afghan Digest is back again after a short hiatus.
[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS- PAKISTAN PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE RIOTS AFTER FORMER PM KHAN ARRESTED AND SENTENCED – The former Prime Minister was arrested in Lahore on 5 August after a court ruled on his involvement in a corruption scandal. Leaders of the PTI party called for only peaceful protests but the response was limited on the evening of the 5th and observers have credited the lack of public disobedience to the government’s crackdown after the 9 May riots. Lawyers for the former Prime Minister say they are appealing the conviction. Still, other legal experts say the ruling is likely enough to keep Khan from campaigning for the upcoming elections. As a precaution, Pakistan has deployed several thousand police to keep an eye on any potential gatherings.
- TORKHAM CLOSES FOR SHORT PERIOD YESTERDAY, DISPUTE BETWEEN BORDER GUARDS BLAMED FOR CLOSURE – A confrontation between Taliban and Pakistani border security forces forced the closure of the crossing for less than an hour on Saturday. The issue involved Afghan children who are often hired to carry products from one side of the border to the other. Local eyewitnesses say that Pakistani security personnel halted the children and the Taliban security personnel objected to the stoppage. The Taliban Commissioner for the border crossing announced later on Saturday that the gate had been reopened. In a separate report, Afghans who had recently traveled through Torkham complained to TOLO News that Pakistani police continue to demand bribes from Afghans in order to pass.
- POLICE ROUNDUP IN KARACHI NETS SEVERAL AFGHAN NATIONALS – A moderate police operation was carried out in Karachi on Saturday and at least 8 Afghans were detained. Initial reports suggested the roundup was part of a counter-terrorism operation but we have had no additional confirmation that this was the case.
- 5.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES BADAKHSHAN, TREMORS FELT IN PAKISTAN AND INDIA – The earthquake struck on Saturday evening and its epicenter was calculated to be near Jurm, Badakhshan at a depth of 200km. While the quake was deep, it still could be felt across the region. No casualties or damage had yet been reported.
NEXT 24 HOURS
PROTEST THREAT TO CONTINUE IN PAKISTAN AFTER KHAN’S ARREST – Police have deployed anti-riot squads in most major cities to counter any potential protests by PTI party members in the wake of Khan’s arrest on 5 August. The former Prime Minister released a video calling for his followers to protest peacefully but to ‘not sit silently at home’. Gatherings in Punjab on the afternoon of 5 August were sparsely attended and no violence was reported. However, Pakistan’s security forces appear to be in no mood to countenance any domestic disturbances. The former PM is being held at Attock jail (Punjab Province) and locals say there is a massive security presence in Attock. A source in Islamabad said that a risk of major protests is not likely at this time but will materialize in the coming days as the National Assembly is dissolved and the possible announcement that elections could be delayed by as many as 3 months. At-risk Afghans in Pakistan are advised to exit any public areas where possible gatherings take place.