August 2006
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August 2006 |
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News Archives
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August 2006
How APHC was
Affiliated with the OIC Dear Editor Greetings from London. This bears reference to a news item captioned “OIC invites Mirwaiz for meeting” published in the issue of 31 August. The time difference makes it 11.03pm on August 30th when I am writing these lines. Kindly note that “The Hurriyat Conference enjoys the status of an observer at the OIC”, is not true as reported in the news item. I was present at the Islamic Summit (a meet of Muslim Heads of State) in December 1994 and it was for the first time that Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto used her influence to secure the travel of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Maulana Abbas Ansari to Casablanca to attend the Islamic Summit. It is at this Summit that PM Benazir Sahibah used her unique skills and managed to introduced Mirwaiz to the world press – a start given to him for which he can never repay her in any shade or manner. Even the people of Jammu and Kashmir owe a special debt of gratitude to Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto and the Bhutto family (Three Great Bhuttos Shaheed Zulfiqar A Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto). The King of Morocco as host of the Summit was not prepared to put Kashmir on the Summit Agenda. It was due to Benazir sahiba’s wisdom and courage that she informed the King that if Kashmir was not put on the agenda she and her entourage would not participate in the Summit. Her message unnerved the King and every leader ran helter skelter to please her and assure that Kashmir would be on the agenda. It was at this Summit (kindly note a difference between Summit, Conference of Foreign Ministers and OIC Contact Group on Kashmir) that basic resolution ICFM/22-94/PIL/DR.3/Rev.1 on Jammu and Kashmir Dispute was passed. It was here that Umar Farooq of Daily Nation Islamabad interviewed Mirwaiz and the latter subscribed his faith in three As, namely, Allah, America and Army. It is unfortunate that like any leadership on the Pakistani side of Kashmir Mirwaiz too has tuned turtle and become a ‘sarkari Kashmiri’. Kashmiri leadership continues to remain opportunistic and for it Pakistan means ruling elite of the day. In fact myself and Dr. G. N. Fai received Mirwaiz and Maulana Ansari at the airport in Casablanca. The Summit was also attended by President of Azad Kashmir Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and Prime Minister Sardar Qayyum at that time. But the Moroccan government restrained these two in Hotel Tubkal and denied them permission to move out during the duration of the Summit. Pakistan foreign office refused to intervene. It was myself and Dr. G. N. Fai who argued with the Moroccan foreign office and secured passes for the two Kashmiri leaders for the Summit. Some how our leaders seem to relish profiting in fake aura and exaggeration. Guest list more so in respect of Kashmir is proposed by Pakistan. It appears that UNI Srinagar has been deliberately mislead in this regard. There is no doubt that Pakistan has a telling influence on OIC ambassadors. But Pakistan has an unmatchable skill to dress any Kashmiri into any form or shape. An interesting point in this regard is that Kashmir Liberation Cell in Azad Kashmir terminated the services of one of its employees Faiz Naqasbandi. A month later he succeeded to have himself nominated by Mirwaiz as his representative in the AJK Chapter of Hurriet. Thereafter, Pakistan hoisted him on a bamboo stick – and decked him as ‘true and genuine’ representative of the people of Kashmir. Faiz who would be kicked left right and centre by Liberation Cell chairman, Sawar Khan, who himself used to be a taxi driver, in New York – was christened to represent Kashmir. Daily Excelsior is a State based prestigious publication. We trust that it would not let itself be fooled into such errors of substance. A future researcher may be genuinely lead to quote a wrong news item like this. I sincerely hope that in public interest and on account of your duty to fairness you will publish this explanation with the same prominence as the news item under discussion. Best regards Dr. Syed Nazir Gilani Chairman-IKA (London)
Mohtarma Bhutto condemns Nawab Bugti's murder
"The killing of the leader of a democratic political party (JWP) in a military operation whose party has representation in the federal and provincial legislatures will have far reaching consequences for the integrity of the federation", she said in a statement today. Mr. Akbar Bugti's party is a member of the opposition alliance known as the ARD. Mr. Bugti served as Governor of Baluchistan under Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He was Chief Minister of Baluchistan when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The former Prime Minister called for a bi-partisan parliamentary inquiry into the operation which culminated in the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto called for the restoration of the Constitution as it existed before the 1999 military coup, an end to military operations in Baluchistan, a political solution to the alienation of the Baluch people in particular and people of Pakistan in general. The former Prime Minister demanded the immediate lifting of the curfew in parts of Balochistan, the release of protestors expressing their grief and handing over of the dead body of Nawab Akbar Bugti to his family for burial in accordance with their traditions. Mohtarma Bhutto condoled with the members of Nawab Bugti's family. She prayed that God would grant them the patience to bear the loss.
Raza Rabbani denounces state repression in Balochistan
"State repression continues and the political workers in Balochistan are hounded. The arrest without cause of Senator Dr. Abdul Malik this morning is condemned in the strongest terms. "The respect this regime has for political workers is evident from the targeted killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti and the fact that, in violation of Islamic traditions, our culture and internationally recognized norms the dead body has not been given to the family for burial. This act is condemned and it is demanded that immediately the body be handed over to the family. "In the light of the political cleansing carried out by the regime, the policy of oppression should have been stopped but the arrest of Senator Malik, MPAs and political workers continues. It is demanded that they all be released immediately. "In the aftermath of Nawab Bugti's death the regime must realize that it is playing with fire and the political backlash will have serious consequences for the Federation. The publication by a US think tank of a map showing new geographical boundaries of Pakistan excluding Balochistan and parts of NWFP needs to be taken seriously and condemned at the same time. It is strange that the regime has not reacted to this. "The Balochistan crises was and is political, for economic rights, political rights, rights over natural resources as guaranteed under the Constitution. The way forward is through political dialogue. The writ of the State cannot be enforced through the might of the State, the writ of the State stems from its moral, political and legal legitimacy which is grounded in Constitutional rule which this regime lacks".
Opposition’s NA
‘session’ on Bugti
It appeared from the opposition anger, marked by slogan- chanting and bitter criticism of the army’s role in the country’s politics, that the veteran politician’s killing will overshadow their no-confidence move against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to be debated by the lower house on Tuesday. “Qaatil, qaatil, general qaatil”, opposition members chanted repeatedly, holding President General Pervez Musharraf responsible for the death of the veteran politician in a military operation in Balochistan province on Saturday. The Assembly has a tradition to adjourn for a day without conducting any business to mourn the death of a sitting or former member of the house. However, the opposition parties had planned to move a resolution as well to condemn what they called the “extra- judicial murder” of Mr Bugti, a former member of the house as well as a former governor and chief minister of Balochistan, and demand an immediate end to the military operation to find political solution to the troubled province’s problems. Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain did not allow this to happen and instead hurriedly led a brief prayer for Mr Bugti personally amid opposition protests and slogan-chanting and adjourned the house until 10am on Tuesday, when the opposition no-confidence resolution against the prime minister will be taken up. But the opposition parties stayed back in the house to hold their own session, where their members made speeches for more than an hour and passed the resolution condemning what it called “sad, horrible and worst military action” and hailed the dead politician and tribal chieftain as a martyr. Many ruling coalition members took time to leave the house and at least six stayed on till the fag-end of the proceedings for which MMA member Liaqat Baloch acted as a “speaker” without taking the Speaker’s chair and conducted the debate while standing on the steps of the dais, flanked by parliamentary group leaders. The resolution characterised Mr Bugti’s death as an “extra- judicial murder of an important personality of national and provincial politics” and said Gen Musharraf’s statement congratulating the forces on their operation had added fuel to the fire and made the nation worried about the country’s future. Expressing sympathies and solidarity with the family of “Nawab Akbar Bugti Shaheed (martyr)”, it demanded handover of the Mr Bugti’s body to his relatives, an immediate halt to the military operation in Balochistan, and adoption of the path of dialogue to find a political rather than a military solution of the province’s problems. Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and PPP chairman Amin Fahim said Mr Bugti was not a rebel but supporter of parliamentary democracy whose Jamhoori Watan Party is an ARD member and called the incident “murder of democracy”. He described the present situation as the last chance to save Pakistan and said the army had not right to rule and would “have to go back” to barracks. “Bombs and bullets have been fired not only at Mr Akbar Bugti’s body but also at the chest of Pakistan,” PPP secretary- general Raja Pervez Ashraf said, adding that “the general and Pakistan cannot go together”. PML-N parliamentary leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the incident was a blow to national security and unity, and added: “We pledge to our Baloch brothers that whenever they get an FIR of Akbar Bugti’s murder registered, we will be the first witnesses.” Balochistan National Party (M) member Abdul Rauf Mengal said the Baloch people would hold Gen Musharraf, Prime Minister Aziz and PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain responsible for the murder and would never forgive them. Pashtunkhawa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai said if Mr Bugti’s killing was a message that “such would be the fate of those who wanted to walk with their heads high” in this country “then we are ready for this”, adding that the role of generals and intelligence agencies in politics had to be ended. Liaqat Baloch said the opposition parties would launch a united struggle to eliminate military’s role from politics and suggested preparation of FIRs against President Musharraf about the killings of Mr Bugti and other prominent political and religious personalities in consultation with legal experts. Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan accused the president of high treason under article 6 of the constitution.
Opposition demands production order of Javed Hashmi
The production orders of Javaid Hashmi, MNA should be issued by the Speaker of the National Assembly. Rule 90 of the National Assembly Rules bestow this power on the Speaker, there is a tradition that the Speaker and the Chairman Senate have used these powers to ensure the production of Members of Parliament in custody. It is a fact that Jawaid Hashmi is one of the signatories to the No Confidence Motion moved against the Prime Minister and his signatures have been attested by the jail authorities. The Appeal of Mr. Hashmi is pending before the Courts. There is no ground in law for which the Speaker refuses to issue the Orders of Production. This is a critical vote; the combined Opposition has submitted a Charge Sheet of 500 pages based on documents on the corruption of the Prime Minister and his Government. The document has exposed the mega corruption that is rampant in the rank and file of the present Cabinet. It has exposed how assets of vital importance or economic life line projects have been sold to foreigners at throw away prices to create cartels. This is being done to further an international agenda to create slave markets. The manner in which the Government has on its knees before the multi national companies and disregarded the requirements / orders of NAB for an audit before the release of these funds amounting to Rs. 5 billion. (app.) It is now clear that this regime has become totally subservient to international capitalism, thus a security risk.
Mohtarma Bhutto's remarks about Taliban clarified
"It is clarified that the PPP stand about Taliban remains unchanged. "The PPP did not form the Taliban who arose indigenously after which PPP and other countries tried to work with them to moderate them and were successful in having them deal with the United Nations. "However, after overthrow of the PPP government the Taliban changed in character by inviting Al Qaeda and allowing it to use Afghan territory to declare war against other countries as well as to recruit and train Muslims for acts of terrorism. "The result of that flawed policy concluded in the attack on the twin towers and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as a growing suspicion about the Muslims".
Allotment of plots clarified
"The few plots allotted to officials when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the Prime Minister were according to the criteria and precedent set by earlier chief executives. "As a matter of fact the plots allotted during Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's premiership were in stark contrast to those allotted during General Zia's period. "Contrasted with allotments by General Zia who allotted plots also to his family and cronies no plot was allotted to any family member of Mohtarma Bhutto. "The former Prime Minister allotted plots only to those who contributed to the national interest or were victims of some calamity".
RESOLUTION FOR
VOTE OF THE NO-CONFIDENCE AGAINST THE PRIME MINISTER UNDER ARTICLE 95(1) OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN.
This House (National Assembly) is of the considered view that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Aziz has lost the confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the following, amongst other, reasons:- 1 That the Prime Minister is responsible for the gross violations of Constitutional mandate and privatization law and rules framed there under in the privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills as enunciated by the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan in its detailed judgment (ANNEXURE A) in support of the short order dated 23.6.2006. It is a shame that the Prime Minister, who himself presided over the CCOP has refused to resign despite the passage of eight weeks since the initial order of the Supreme Court. This conduct of the Prime Minister is against all norms of parliamentary practices and political decency and propriety. Hence the need to vote in favour of this motion. 2 In particular, the relevant observations of the nine member bench of the Honourable Supreme Court pointing out the acts of omission and commission of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation headed by the Prime Minister himself (as his own Finance Minister) take the cover off the mala fide and criminal transactions, and appear prima facie to establish the ingredients of offences which fall fairly and squarely under Sections 406, 409, 420 of the Pakistan Penal Code and under Section 9 of the NAB Ordinance insofar as it can be deduced therefrom: i. That what the Government of Pakistan (GOP) finally sought to transfer to the successful bidder was something far in excess of what had been initially advertised to attract Expressions of Interest. Thus, once the successful bidder was identified the GOP agreed to allow it, or take responsibility upon itself for (without any enhancement in price): a. Rs. 10 billion Stocks in Trade not originally offered; b. Rs. 1.0 billion in tax refund; c. Rs. 15 billion as liability towards Voluntary Separation from Service (equivalent to a Golden Handshake scheme); d. Rs. 7.67 billion as loan liability. ii. Most crucially, as observed by the apex Court: “The GOP has offered plant and machinery located on 4457 acres of land for bidding purposes but unfortunately in the reference sent to the Financial Adviser (FA) nothing was stated for the valuation of the land”. The Court was constrained to observe that even at the bar during arguments there was serious contention between the learned lawyer for the GOP, Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada and the learned counsel for the purchaser, Mr. Khalid Anwar on the status of the land. The “gifted” land, by the estimation of the learned lawyer of the PC is estimated at another Rs. 30 billion (at the most conservative basis). iii. In all, therefore, a benefit of Rs. Rs. 63.67 billion was being given to the already identified successful bidder against the payable price of about Rs. 22 billion. iv. This is like advertising for bids to sell a government-owned Suzuki car and then when the highest bid is identified, letting this favourite drive away with a Mercedes Benz for the same price. The criminality is evident. v. That as the Evaluator/Financial Adviser the Prime Minister was instrumental in the appointment of the City Group (an entity with which he had previous professional ties as a senior executive of City Bank International). vi. That the FA was bound to submit its evaluation at least six weeks before the finalization of the review by the Privatisation Commisssion (PC) to enable the PC to fully examine and study the evaluation and its basis over that substantial period but was permitted to submit it just one day before the meeting of the PC Board; vii. That what followed has been described as “indecent haste” by the Supreme Court itself in that: a. On 30.03.2006: · The FA submitted its evaluation; · The PC Board met in the evening on the same day to consider the report; · It purported and claimed to have expertly evaluated, examined, understood and analysed the several hundred pages of the detailed, intricate and specialist report with its annexures; · It then arrived at a different valuation of its own; · It prepared and formalized its report on the same day; · It calculated, devised and proposed its own Reserve Price of US $ 375 million for the sale based on that detailed report. · It worked out the price per share (of as many as 1,290,487,250 shares) at Rs. 17.43 per share. · On the same day tt submitted its report to the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation!. · All these processes, assessments and deliberations were done in the span of just one sitting on just one day! b. On 31.03.2006 (the very next day) heavens and earth again moved in “indecent haste”. This one day was just as eventful inasmuch as: · A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (presided over by the Prime Minister himself) was immediately called to consider the recommendations of the PC; · The CCOP met in the morning of 31.03.2006; · The entire report of the FA was again (presumably) studied in depth, examined, digested, analysed and approved with one significant modification; · The Reserve Price was, not inexplicably, reduced to US $ 348 million! · The price per share (of as many as 1,290,487,250 shares) was accordingly, and not unexpectedly, reduced to Rs. 16.18 per share. · On the same day the transfer was effected to the choice bidder but with the further previously unavailable offerings mentioned in sub-paras i. and ii. of para 2 above. c. It can thus easily be deduced by even the most uninitiated that in the course of a mere 24 hours heavens and earth had been moved, both the PC and the CCOP had convened and deliberated to provide safe passage to a favourite party to obtain Pakistan’s profit-making and largest steel Mills with an annual production capacity of 1.3 million tons and with assets including an enormous and expensive real estate (4457 acres of land) and stocks in trade of Rs. 10 billion, with its own jetty and railway line literally lock, stock and barrel. d. Thus did the Honourable Supreme Court aptly observe that privatization of this strategic asset was done with “indecent haste”. Who would even sell a car or a house in such haste (just within a span of 24 hours) except someone who wants to make a quick buck? Has any man even sold a house or a car in such haste? The absence of any explanation for this haste establishes the collateral personal and financial interest of the cartel patronized by the Prime Minister. e. The assumed claim of efficiency apart, (which is now being made by government supporters), when, if at all, has the GOP and its bureaucracy moved with such alacrity in any other case and that too, when discretion and prudence required due care and introspection at the sale of such an vital and critical asset? Will the Nuclear asset be next in line on the shop window? With the Prime Minister around, that may well be so. f. Why the “indecent haste”. There is no cogent answer. Indeed the apex Court has aptly observed that: “During lengthy hearing spread over almost three weeks, no counsel much less the Senior Advocate Supreme Court for the Federation, could offer any explanation for the haste in finalizing the process of privatization.” viii. What the Supreme Court has itself to say about the gentleman who was the real beneficiary of all this effort, Mr. Arif Habib, may not be as significant as the fact that his own learned counsel, a senior advocate, admitted that there were serious allegations of criminal prosecutions and civil litigation against him “which remained uncontroverted and this factual position had also been admitted by counsel for Mr. Arif Habib during hearing at the bar” (in the words of the Supreme Court) “with regard to his qualification to participate in the bidding process falling within the mischief of Condtion (i) and (ii) of the Basis of Disqualification”. Thus a person admittedly disqualified to participate in the bidding process was declared successful and was to be handed over the Mills had the court not intervened. ix. Not only that. The Honourable Court also expressly held that: “It is clear that the bidders are different than the purchasers”. (Para 90 of the judgment). These are the precise words, and this is the telling finding of the Supreme Court itself. Nothing more need be said except that even though the final purchaser may have been a “Special Purpose Vehicle”, (as subsequently argued by Government Ministers but not before the Supreme Court by senior advocates) its credentials were not accepted by the Court. x. The Honourable Court also pointed out the serious violation of codal rules and law that would prima facie bring the case within the ambit of Sub-Clauses (iii), (iv) and (vi) of Section 9 clause (a) of the NAB Ordinance under which none other than a former Speaker of this very House, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, is unjustly detained for the last several years even though there is not even the slightest allegation of any financial wrongdoing against him. xi. No cogent or credible defence has been presented on the floor of the House during the recent debate on the issue. In fact, all the facts, as found by the apex court, have had to be admitted. A feeble argument that the case of the government was not properly put before the Supreme Court has been presented in the media by the then Minister for Privatisation. But that is a lame excuse as the Government was represented by a galaxy of top lawyers of the country on whom it expended exorbitant fees. xii. The only other defence has been the attempt to launch a counterblast of false corruption allegations against past governments most of whose members, and certainly the allegedly corrupt elements in them, now adorn the Treasury Benches in the Prime Minister’s team. This is common knowledge and has become the top joke of the nation giving rise to much mirth and cynicism. His selection of a cabinet of defectors and erstwhile “NABzadas”, as well as NAB-escapees, also demands that the entire corrupt administration that he presides upon be brought to nought by this Motion. xiii. This is the first time in the history of South Asia that such an effective judgment, that really amounts to an indictment, has been rendered against a sitting and incumbent Prime Minister for wrongful actions capable of and designed to cause such a colossal loss to the state and the undue enrichment of cronies, associates and henchmen. xiv. Had the Prime Minister taken the honourable course of resigning in view of the Supreme Court judgment, this motion would perhaps not have been necessary. In fact he would have earned widespread appreciation for at least the act of resigning. It would have been in accordance with the highest traditions of democracy, probity and political propriety practiced in all civilized and democratic countries. Even in neighbouring India, whose system many of our people continue to decry, a Prime Minister would not have survived such a verdict and would have resigned without wasting a moment. Therefore his continuing in that office is all the more undeserved and reprehensible by his choosing to stick on to the position that he no longer deserves to occupy. xv. For Annexures on the Pakistan Steel Mills Privatisation see ANNEXURES A to F). 3 That consumed by the passion to disinvest the Steel Mills and hand it over to an associate, the Prime Minister is responsible for further and continuing unholy haste as even before the detailed judgment he had obtained a fresh decision for privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills from the Council of Common Interests without holding any debate in the National Assembly and without supplying proper material to the members of the C.C.I in order to enable them to formulate and regulate policies in relation to matters in Part-II of the Federal Legislative List and to exercise supervision and control over related institution. 4 That the Prime Minister and his team are now again conspiring to obtain fresh bids for the Pakistan Steel Mills at a price substantially less in real terms than that which was offered in the last bidding so as to prove the Supreme Court wrong. He must be removed from his office before this conspiracy bears fruit for him and his associates. 5 That the Prime Minister’s failure to take action against the stock brokers of Karachi & Lahore Stock exchanges who are responsible for the crashes of Stock Market in the years 2001, 2005 and 2006 and who caused loss of Rs. 1500 billion to the investors who are the middle class citizens of Pakistan establishes his own personal complicity in and profiting by each engineered crash. Such complicity is evidenced by the close relations of the Prime Minister with the key players of the stock markets and is criminal as well as fraudulent and has caused havoc in the lives of people. 6 The above is all the more evident in the light of the positive assertion of a person no less than the Chairman SECP (since retired) Dr. Tariq Hassan, before the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance. This is therefore now a matter of record wherein the direct allegations against the PM and against his finance associates and advisers, of malfeasance and misfeasance have been formally and solemnly levelled. Barring the dismissal of the Chairman, there has been no vigorous response from the Government to these serious allegations. These directly involve the Prime Minister in stock market manipulation causing colossal profit and widespread loss. 7 Is it then a coincidence that the two most important assets of the state that were recently privatized by the Prime Minister’s government: Pak-Arab Fertiliser and the Pakistan Steel Mills Ltd., should go to prominent stock-brokers (M/s Jahangir Siddiqui and Arif Habib) who have neither any experience nor expertise in running or managing any industry? That is not a coincidence. These establishments were doled out to associates of the Prime Minister. Only in the second attempt has the Prime Minister’s design been thwarted by the Supreme Court. 8 Where in the world can stockbrokers glean such wealth as to buy steel mills, banks and Fertilser Factories? Only in Mr. Shaukat Aziz’s Pakistan. And under his personal and direct patronage. And where does the wealth of cavalier stock-brokers come from? From the pockets of the innocent and ordinary investor of course. There is no extra-terrestrial creation of these riches. The loss of the many is the gain of the few select ones. The poor honest investor is impoverished to enrich the fat-cats of the stock exchanges. 9 It is also not surprising, therefore, that Arif Habib Securities and Jahangir Siddiqui Securities were at No.s 1 and 4 of the list of the largest net sellers in the March Futures in the most recent financial crisis in the Karachi Stock Exchange. Not only are they protected by the Government of the Prime Minister from prosecution for these actions and manipulation but they are handed over the family silver on a gold platter by him as the Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation. (For Annexures on the Stock Market Crashes see ANNEXURES G to L). 10 That the Prime Minster is responsible for promoting and encouraging corruption in various ministries of the government and he failed to take suitable steps to punish or expose those people who were responsible for cement, sugar, wheat scams and sale purchase of Railway land and Railway Locomotive Engines. In fact he has selected known and prominent persons involved in serious and criminal corrupt practices and acts of misappropriations and defalcation that were being investigated by the NAB, as members of his Cabinet and seeks to run the entire government of Pakistan through such personalities. Never has a cabinet been riddled with so many scandals concerning so many ministers. 11 While NAB continues to pursue, detain and prosecute political rivals of the regime, and while it spends billions on the prosecutions and lawyers, the Prime Minister has prevented it from investigating the grave and criminal sugar dacoity under pressure from party colleagues and cabinet members who control the sugar cartel of Pakistan and who are responsible for conspiratorially hoarding and artificially raising the price of sugar, just in a few months, from Rs. 18 to Rs 42 per kilo. Interestingly the country has an installed capacity of 6.7 million tons of sugar while the total annual demand is only 3.8 million tons. But the Prime Minister’s cabinet, peppered with sugar barons, purposefully facilitated the raking in of these massive profits. There was scant regard for the hapless citizens of Pakistan as the sugar cartel, represented by federal Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, shamelessly raked in billions of rupees in just a matter of months. On the Sugar scandal see the docments marked ANNEXURE S. 12 Meantime the cement cartel under the PM’s patronage, was allowed to jack up the price of cement from Rs. 260 per 50 kg bag to over Rs. 400 per 50 kg bag within a few months even as a number of foreign suppliers had offered to sell at Rs. 125 per 50 kg bag. Criminal windfall profits were made by the cartel. 13 In addition to the other incidents and transactions noted herein, the Prime Minister has directly and personally connived in the corruption associated with, among other matters, the following in which his incumbent and former Cabinet colleagues are also directly involved as beneficiaries and co-confederates: i. The award of the multi-billion rupee Mangla Dam Raising Project contract (MDR-10) in the face of gross violations of the tendering process favouring the consortium led by a former colleague of the PM wherein the recommendations of the independent international consultant were criminally ignored as were the findings of the Senate Committee on Water and Power brought to his personal attention through letter dated January 25, 2006 by the Chairman of the Committee. This was a blatant act of corruption designed to benefit an associate. On the MDR Project scam see documents at ANNEXURE T. ii. The audit of the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) was deliberately hushed up to enable a large corpus of funds amounting to about Rs. 4 billion to remain deposited with selected and favourite banks of the PM’s own choice at interest rates far below the prevailing market rates, and even as low as 0.9%. The matter was taken up by the Senate Committee and proper terms of deposit were finally obtained as a result thereof but the PM chose to turn a blind eye on it enabling his team to retain the proceeds of the corruption previously obtained from the unfavourable terms of deposit. iii. Additionally, the Prime Minister’s government deliberately and with ulterior motive parceled valuable land of the PQA into 1700 plots of 1,000 square yards each under the guise of an industrial development incentive scheme for overseas Pakistanis. These were then allotted to members of an allied party in violation of all rules and the law. Details of the allotment process were then withheld from the Senate Committee. On Port Qasim scams see ANNEXURES U and V iv. Profit was even made at the cost of the tragic victims of the devastating earthquake by procuring and providing the homeless destitute with substandard tents and shelters which were no protection from the elements of nature. The Senate Committee on Textiles took up the issue and as the relevant correspondence was made available it transpired that the procurement was made directly by the intervention of the PM’s Secretariat and hence under his direct orders. Thus profit was even made out the misery and at the expense of the hapless victims of the earthquake. v. To this day no proper accounts of the sums received and the amounts expended on Earthquake Relief have been provided to Parliament. In fact there are widespread complaints of broken promises. Even payments due to residents with demolished houses have not been made. The Prime Minister has thus failed in his oversight of the rehabilitation of the unfortunate victims of the tragedy and is only focused on his own fortunes. vi. The Prime Minister has failed to prevent the Pakistan Army and its associated Defence Housing Authorities from becoming the largest land-owner of state lands in the country. This has been accomplished by forcible eviction of haris, tenants, cultivators and the poor tillers of the soil, and by razing entire villages, throwing out belongings and using physical force and coercion against entire families including women and children. It was the duty of the Prime Minister to prevent such excesses but in his passionate and consuming desire to hold on to his office he has offered no resistance and has allowed the Army personnel to treat large areas of Pakistan such, in particular as Okara and Nawazabad, as occupied territory. For the activities of this land mafia see ANNEXURE V. vii. The Prime Minister, who in 2001, had been associated with the setting up of a system for the fixing of prices of Petroleum Products by the sellers themselves, i.e. the Oil Companies represented in the OCAC, continued to allow them to bleed the Pakistani citizen even after assuming the office of Prime Minister. As such the OCAC was enabled to play havoc with the prices of these products and to make exorbitant profits until, after immense public outcry, the function was finally entrusted to the OGRA in 2006. But enormous profits and incomes have been made meanwhile and the as the PM and his team have stood silent witnesses to the plunder. viii. That is not all. Recently the Government of the Prime Minister has released, contrary to the advice of the Petroleum Ministry and the NAB an amount of Rs. 5 billion to the Oil Marketing Companies as alleged arrears of price differential claims. The most alarming aspect is that this has been done without an audit. As the prices of oil rose with the OMCs only passing on the burden of the increase on to the hapless consumer and citizen, the amount under this head began to rise, particularly as, through the OCAC process these had been arbitrarily fixed. Now to make a huge payment of Rs. 5 billion without even an initial audit to determine whether the sum is even due, and if due how much is due, is a criminal warranting a NAB prosecution. On the Oil Scam see ANNEXURES M to R. ix. The Prime Minister has also been a party to the misuse and misapplication of the funds entrusted to the Human Development Fund. Vast sums received by the Fund, including US $ 2 billion contributed by the Government of Pakistan and much more by conscientious expatriate Pakistanis have been placed with private banks at nominal depository rates to leverage other private financial endeavours of the Prime Minister’s consortium of friends and associates. Enormous contributions made by Pakistanis and the Bill Gates Foundation have thus been used to facilitate private patronage even a private NGO created with a similar name! The question is: would the Prime Minister himself transfer even one dime of his millions in any such account at the rate at which the monies of the Human Development Fund have been entrusted to the Meezan Bank? On the Human Development Fund see ANNEXURE W. x. The sale of six airbus aircraft by PIA and the taking on lease of A310 aircraft has also caused a loss of at least US $ 60 million. Will there be an accounting of this mismanagement directly supervised by the Prime Minister? xi. In fact so consumed are the Prime Minister and the members of his government that they have devised schemes even to profit by the UMRA and HAJJ performed by the poor and devout Muslim citizens of Pakistan. Could something be so cruel and callous as to allow profiteers to make hay even on such a holy and pious duty of poor and middle class citizens? In every way this team continues to insert its hands into the pockets and purses of the Pakistani citizen. For report on PIA see ANNEXURE AA. 14 That the Prime Minister is responsible for privatization of valuable assets of this country such as Habib Bank, KESC, PTCL, Fertilizer plants and other valuable assets at throwaway prices. More particularly and in brief: i. Habib Bank Limited: with 1400 domestic and foreign branches and huge assets was given away a price less than the price at which the small Union Bank with only 60 branches has been bought by the Standard Chartered Bank. Again the real estate of the Bank, comprising of hundreds of buildings, offices, premises, guest houses and residences, situated in prime commercial and urban centres all over the country and abroad, have been sold for a song. The 23 storey Habib Bank Plaza on the I.I.Chundrigarh Road, Karachi, is alone worth more than the price obtained for the entire Bank. ii. KESC: Nine months after the transfer to the new owners, the KESC has produced grossly negative results. Shutdowns and power outages have led to the closure of industries, retrenchments, people sleeping in parks and on foot-paths, early close-down of shops and markets. The O&M contractor has no credentials or experience as an operator of utility companies and has utterly failed in its responsibilities and duties. The new management continues to thrive only because of the abysmally low price at which it was transferred the shares. iii. The KSE conspiracy has been effectively exposed by the conduct of the purchasers after the transfer of management where black-out and shut-downs are being imposed upon the citizens of Karachi so as to create a justification of a hype in the price of power. It is also stated that the new management is being black-mailed by the allies of the Prime Minister. iv. PTCL: The scandal is too stark to be elaborated in detail. The real estate alone is of a value far in excess of the price obtained. For a transfer of only 26% of the shares, absolute powers and ownership has been transferred. v. Pak-Arab Fertiliser Ltd: the pride of the fertiliser producing industry has also been handed over to another strong player on the stock-market, Mr. Jahangir Siddiqui. The process is again far from transparent. vi. Ostensibly under a policy of “privatisation, decontrol and deregulation” the Prime Minister’s team has caused the cartelization of the oil sector. There has thus been a systematic replacement of the Board of Directors in such public sectior and state-owned companies as Pakistan State Oil, the Oil and Gas Development Corporation, Pakistan Petroleum Ltd., Sui Southern Gas Co. Ltd., Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd. Mostly, ex-employees of multinationals, such as CALTEX, are being appointed. The Prime Minister’s cartel is taking over the oil import, refining and marketing business of the country. vii. The National Refinery Ltd has been sold to an Arab businessman wanted by the Interpol. Before privatization, the NRL was given the benefit and margin for Ocean Transit Loss thus filling its coffers before send-off, as in the case of the Pakistan Steel Mills. 15 These events and facts establish that as long as Mr. Shaukat Aziz and his cabinet colleagues continue to occupy their respective offices of Prime Minister and Ministers/Advisers, the country will remain hostage to the sugar mafia, land mafia, stocks mafia, and the commission mafia. On Cartels and Mafias see ANNEXURE Y. 16 The Prime Minister takes pride in his self-projected economic policies. That is his only claim to credit in his career. Yet his polices have only enriched the already filthy rich and spelt ruin for the hapless masses and the emerging middle classes of the country. His “trickle down” theory has been a disaster as is shown by all indicators on the actual ground including that: i. Inflation and the price spiral is unprecedented; ii. Unemployment is rampant. iii. Hundreds of people are committing suicide every day across the country. iv. Economic-hardship driven crime is on the increase and the Prime Minister’s rich-friendly policies have directly led to an explosion of street crimes such as car and cell-phone snatching, burglary, robbery and kidnapping. v. Children and infants are ferreting food in garbage heaps that abound in the cities of Pakistan. vi. The decline into poverty of the erstwhile middle class is evident from the nature of the new, sufaid posh beggars at every traffic light in the country. There has also been a sharp and manifest increase in the number of child and female beggars but these are obviously not visible to a Prime Minister racing past them behind dark-tinted glass panes on luxury cars. vii. Environmental degradation is widespread and there are no efforts to control it. viii. Agricultural performance in the key Kharif crop (cotton and sugar cane) has been described as “disappointing” in the State Bank of Pakistan’s Third Quarterly Report 2005-2006. ix. Large Scale Manufacturing has fallen as per the Report. x. Not a single Megawatt has been added in the entire tenure of the Prime Minister to a country starved of power and energy. Even the existing sources of power such as the Ghazi-Barotha, that this administration inherited, is being under-utilised to enrich another cartel. xi. National infrastructure continues to degrade on account of criminal neglect in the Prime Minister’s watch as is evident from the Ran-Pathani bridge collapse. xii. The country has been inflicted upon with a record budget deficit. xiii. It has also been confronted with a record trade deficit. xiv. And this emerges even after the figures have been criminally fudged by the Prime Minister’s finance team. For fudging of figures see Annexure X. xv. As pointed out above, corruption at the highest levels has touched record heights and is kept beyond the purview of the minders such as NAB which pliantly and obediently uses its powers and authority only against the opposition to coerce and win its members over to the government. xvi. Needless to say that the Outflow of Profits his an unprecedented US $ 102 million this year causing a great hemorrhage in the national economy. For Outflow of Profits see ANNEXURE Z. xvii. Even per the NAB’s own former ‘wanted list’ the greatest number of ‘NABzadas’ today adorn the cabinet of the Prime Minister. The cabinet and government benches presided over by the Prime Minister have thus become the refuge of the corruptest elements in the history of the country. The Prime Minister must take responsibility for the selection of his team. xviii. The Prime Minister’s economics, as has been observed by one perceptive analyst, amounts to “Public money for private pockets, consumer rip-off on an unprecedented scale. First came the oil companies cartel. Then the aurtomobile cartel followed by the cement cartel and the stockbrokers cartel. Where will it all end? xix. This is the “shining Pakistan” of Mr. Shaukat Aziz which he cannot see from the blackened window-panes of his bullet-proof Mercedes Benz as he is whisked on roads blocked from all sides. 17 The Prime Minister himself, and on his advice (a reference can be made to Article 48 of the Constitution), General Musharraf, make utterly miserable the lives of citizens of any city that they grace with their presence. Both are obsessed with personal security. Both travel in only one of the several identical convoys that are meant to deceive any would-be assailant. All roads are closed. Traffic is blocked for hours. People are harassed. Police and military sharp-shooters trespass into private homes and climb upon private roofs. Ambulances are known to have been caught up in blockades resulting in deaths of hundreds of critical patients. Routes to hospitals, schools and offices are blocked for hours. Children and the sick suffer the most. There is paralysis in the concerned and beleaguered city as if an occupying emperor has come to visit it. If such be their sense of insecurity, they better sit at home. People pray to the Almighty that these dignitaries do not visit their cities. 18 And on top of this paranoia, the Prime Minister has sanctioned the import of eighty bullet-proof Mercedes Benz Cars at a cost of Rs. 1 billion. All this from the pocket of the poor tax-payer who has to leg long distances in heat and cold. And this when his ministers and colleagues drive around with armed escorts of police cars and heavily armed personnel who cause great inconvenience and discomfort to all road users. How can such paranoid rulers be allowed to continue in office? 19 That the Prime Minster is responsible for creating confrontation between the Federation and the Provinces in general and for Law and Order situation in Sind & Balochistan where many valuable lives of the citizens are being lost in bomb blasts and insurgency and he has failed to resolve the disputes between the Provinces and the Federation in regard to Provincial Autonomy and distribution of the finances under the N.F.C. award. 20 That the Prime Minister, under the influence of his political allies, has deliberately avoided taking any steps to use his position and influence to curb the terrorism in the city of Karachi in which many political workers, social workers and police officers have been murdered, particularly where leaders of ARD, MMA, JUP and Sunni Tehrik have been subjected to Target killing. The colossal Nishtar Park has shaken the confidence of the citizens of the finance and commercial metropolis of Pakistan. 21 The Prime Minister is also responsible for the unjustified and illegal military action in Baluchistan. The process of dialogue initiated under Opposition pressure has been discarded and the ill-advised path of confrontation has been adopted by his government. Even the lawful and constitutional aspirations of the Baluch peoples are being suppressed by military force. Hundreds have been killed. Other citizens are being kidnapped by intelligence agencies including brothers of Senators Sanaullah Baluch and Shahid Bugti who have disappeared without an apparent trace. Areas like Kohlu and DEra Bugti have been sealed off and schools and hospitals closed. A situation is being created today in which the federation may not be able to survive tomorrow. Foreign powers are certain to take advantage of this situation that is of the Government’s own creation. His policies are, therefore, a serious and direct threat to the integrity and sovereignty of the federation. 22 That the Prime Minister is directly responsible for allowing the break-down of law and order in the country, especially the Federally Administered Tribal Areas including the tragedy taking place in South Waziristan. As the Chief Executive of the Federal Government of the Pakistan he must take full responsibility for the deaths of all Pakistani citizens in that area and for the disastrous consequences that the policies of the Government of Pakistan portend. 23 Although the Prime Minister was “elected” to the House in a questionable manner from the two constituencies of Attock and Tharparkar in patently rigged elections, and although he had made firm promises with the constituents that he would continue to visit those areas regularly and be of service to those people with direct contact with them, he has completely discarded his constituents and has hardly even visited those constituencies despite the firm and solemn promises. His constituents are thus forced to chase other members of this House for the redressal of their grievances. They can hardly afford to come to Islamabad and those who do make the costly journey from Tharparkar to the capital languish on the roadside and on footpaths of the twin cities of Rawalpindi_Islamabad and Karachi. This neglect and the patent and manifest failure to abide by his word shows that the PM is not a gentleman who can be trusted and certainly not one who can be entrusted with the future and fate of 160 million citizens of Pakistan. 24 That the Prime Minister is responsible for not convening the meeting of the C.C.I on the issue of construction of Dams and other inter provincial issues thus violating the mandate of the Constitution under articles 153 and 154 of the Constitution and thus creating a precarious condition with respect to water supply, storage and distribution in the country. This deliberate forbearance from action can do enormous damage to the country. 25 In violation of Article 160 of the Constitution the Prime Minister has not assisted the provinces to arrive at the mandatory National Finance Commission Award. ON the contrary, and on his advice under Article 48, General Musharraf has usurped that power and himself announced an illegal and unconstitutional Finance Award. This is leading to great misunderstanding and tension between the provinces threatening the Federation. 26 Article 56(3) of the Constitution provides: “At the commencement of the first session after each general election to the National Assembly, and at the commencement of the first session of each year the President shall address both Houses assembled together and inform the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) of the causes of its summons.” It was incumbent under Article 48 of the Constitution upon the Prime Minister to advise General Musharraf (whom both of them describe as the President) to comply with Article 56 (3). In having failed to do his duty under the Constitution towards both the Houses of Parliament he has compromised on the dignity, sovereignty and authority of Parliament. As such the Prime Minister has lost the right to continue in office. 27 Article 29 (1) provides that each year the President shall cause to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly a report on the observance and implementation of the Principles of Policy. There are some important obligations of the State contained in this Chapter including the duty to enable citizens to order their lives in accordance with the tenets of Islam and to provide facilities whereby they may be enabled to understand the meaning of life according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah (Article 31), the discouraging of parochial and similar prejudices (Article 33), enabling women to participate in national life (Article 34), protection of the family (Article 35), protection of minorities (Article 36), promotion of social justice (Article 37), promotion of social and economic well-being of the people (Article 38), participation of peoples from all regions in the Armed Forces (Article 39) and strengthening bonds with the Muslim World (Article 40). What has the Prime Minister done to promote these noble objects? There is no report that has been placed and then allowed to be debated in Parliament. Under Article 48 this must also be done on the advice of the Prime Minister but he has failed to discharge his constitutional obligation. Obviously, the Prime Minister has been more concerned with the enrichment of his colleagues and cronies than in the betterment of the people of Pakistan. 28 Under Article 153 read with Article 48, the Prime Minister is required to advise the President to constitute a Council of Common Interests so as to ensure and create federational harmony and balance among the provinces inter se as well as between the federation and the constituent units. In failing to submit the advice for two long years, since he assumed that office, he failed to uphold the Constitution and law. 29 Actually the Prime Minister has shown scant love and commitment to Pakistan. He continues to behave like a visiting consultant who keeps his own wealth, including sums siphoned from operations here, in the “safety” of foreign banks and capitals abroad. This is testified by the Assets Statements filed by him with the Election Commission in the last three years. If he himself has no confidence in a country and an economy over which he himself presides and controls, why should the country, as represented in this House, have confidence in him? 30 Above all, the Prime Minister must be one who can ensure the dignity and security of the House and its members. The manner in which he, despite being the Leader of the House, has allowed the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Makhdoom Javed Hashmi to remain in jail on a false, trumped up and ridiculous charge is a matter of shame and disgrace to the office of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister ought to have lent his support, and that of his government, to the motion under Rule 90 for the production of this distinguished member in the House. Having failed to do so he has degraded the House. In fact he should also have been concerned about the false and frivolous allegations against Makhdoom Yusuf Raza Gilani, former Speaker and custodian of this House. But the Prime Minister has turned a blind eye to such violation of the basic human rights and freedoms of Parliamentarians held upon fabricated and spurious allegations. How can such a gentleman be trusted with the security, well-being and future of the 160 million people of Pakistan? Therefore for the above mentioned reasons this House is of the view that the Prime Minister of Pakistan (Mr. Shaukat Aziz) should be removed from his office and a new Prime Minister be elected in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Constitution and the Rules made thereunder. (NOTE: Since this Notice and Resolution has been signed by circulating copies to members, some signatures are duplicated. These may kindly be counted only once). The undersigned Members of the National Assembly.
Annexure ‘A’ Judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Pakistan Steel Mills case Annexure ‘B’ MOU signed by General Pervez Musharraf with the President of Russian Federation for revamping of Pakistan Steel Mills. Annexure ‘C’ Documents pertaining to Privatization Commission including EOI, summary of PC for CCOP + CCOP decision. Annexure ‘D’ Fees paid to lawyers. Annexure ‘E’ Press cuttings on sale of PSM (April 06) Annexure ‘F’ Press cuttings on SC Judgment in PSM privatization case. Annexure ‘G’ Report of the task force to review the stock market crash in March, 05 headed by Justice Retd. Saleem Akhtar. Annexure ‘H’ White paper on Stock Market Situation submitted by Dr. Tariq Hassan, Ex-Chairman Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan. Annexure ‘I’ Letters from Dr. Tariq Hassan to the Prime Minister and Members of Policy Board and Commissioners of SECP explaining reasons for his removal. Annexure ‘J’ Press cutting of “Daily Dawn” 8th July, 2006 regarding National Assembly Finance Committee meeting. Annexure ‘K’ Press cuttings on KSE scandal. Annexure ‘L’ Copy of article entitled “The Great Stock Exchange Scandal” in Newsline August, 2006. Annexure ‘M’ Background of Oil scam. Annexure ‘N’ Copy of reference sent to NAB for misdoings by the Oil Companies. Annexure ‘O’ Minutes of meeting held with Secretary Petroleum on devaluation of formula by OGRA. Summary to the PM on rationalization of Petroleum Products pricing formula. Annexure ‘P’ Press cuttings on Oil Marketing Companies warming to disrupt Oil supplies if NAB presumes the inquiry against them. Annexure ‘Q’ Booklet entitled “Fuel for Thought” explaining the Oil Pricing scam. Annexure ‘R’ Letter from the Attorney General expressing his views that fixing of oil prices by a Private body OCAC are not in accordance with the constitution. Annexure ‘S’ Charge Sheet on sugar crisis alongwith press cuttings involving the Sugar Mills of sitting Cabinet Members for perpetuating the crisis. Annexure ‘T’ Papers pertaining to Mangla Dam Raising Project contract including the report of the Senate Committee on Water & Power and the letter written to the Prime Minister by Chairman of the Senate Committee for holding an inquiry. Annexure ‘U’ Working papers of Senate Committee on Port Qasim Authority. Annexure ‘V’ Issue of News Line of July, 2006 entitled “The new Land Barons”. Annexure ‘W’ Report from SA Tribune by Shaheen Sehbai related to Human Development Fund. Annexure ‘X’ Article entitled ‘Fudging Figures’ from the Herald of July, 2006. Annexure ‘Y’ Article entitled “A cartel Economy” by Dr. Farrukh Saleem. Annexure ‘Z’ News clipping “Outflow of frpfits to hit $102m this year” in daily “Dawn” 13th August, 2006. Annexure ‘AA’ Report of the Sub Committee on PIA of the Senate Standing Committee on Defense.
PPP voices
concern over increasing incidents of kidnappings by agencies
In a statement today spokesman of the Party former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that it was most disturbing that even state institutions appeared helpless to rescue the victims and their families from illegal and arbitrary kidnappings and detention. A woman Taj Mahal filed a petition in the Peshawar High court on Tuesday against intelligence agencies and the Frontier police for detaining her son for the last tow years without lawful authority. In her writ petition she accused the in charge of ISI in Mingora Swat and other police officials for raiding her house on August 29, 2004 and kidnapping her husband, her son and a guest. While her husband and the other person were released after a few weeks her son still remains missing she contended. Less than two weeks ago another woman Bibi Ameena had prayed the PHC to recover her husband who, she alleged, was kidnapped by the agencies some two years ago. Earlier educationist Masood Ahmed Janjua was kidnapped from Rawalpindi. Janjua remains untraced, as his family has been vainly knocking at all doors to trace him. "The increasing frequency of kidnapping citizens and holding them in detention without due process is most alarming and must be addressed on an urgent basis". Failure to trace those illegally kidnapped will only strengthen the perception that power flows from the gun and not from the law, he said. "Such a perception will only lead to anarchy and lawlessness". He said that recently the Ministry of Defence stated before the superior courts that it exercised only administrative control over the ISI and MI but had no operational control over them and as such was unable to enforce the court's directions in detention matters. It is a matter of national embarrassment that even as the list of kidnapped citizens has grown into several hundreds nobody can be held accountable for their disappearance, he said. "It is reminiscent of what happened in Chile under dictator Pinochet" The Party urges civil society organizations, the legal fraternity and the judiciary to demand and fight for the due process and not let Pakistan slip into becoming another Chile under dictator Pinochet, he said.
PPP sets up Election Management Cell for the General Elections
The meeting which was called on the instructions of the party Chairperson, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to deliberate on the strategies to quell any effort by the ruling regime to rig the election. The meeting decided to establish an Election Management Cell of the party to monitor the elections schedule for 2007 and to prevent rigging in the elections. The meeting took notice of General Musharraf's continued interference in the politics despite the statement by the Chief Election Commissioner that General Musharraf would not be allowed to take part in the political activities of any political party in the country and he will also not participate in running of election campaign of any political party. The meeting also took notice of the statement by a political party, an ally of the ruling regime, claiming that the decision of awarding the tickets in the elections would be taken by General Musharraf. The meeting noted that all these acts of General Musharraf are in violation of the directives issued by the Chief Election Commissioner. The meeting demanded of the Chief Election Commissioner to take measures to put an end to General Musharraf's continued involvement in political activities of the ruling party the PML(Q) including holding meetings of the ruling party in his office. The meeting also demanded that multi-identity be accepted for casting votes and everyone reaching the age of 18 years at the time of elections should be allowed to cast their votes.
PPP writes to Secretary General Commonwealth about misuse of funds by the military regime
Senator Rukhsana Zuberi in a letter addressed to the Secretary General Commonwealth wrote, "I am writing to inform you that the regime in Pakistan is misusing State funds meant for alleviating poverty in a political witch-hunt. Recently the military dictatorship's anti corruption bureau received a set back when the Isle of Man High Court dismissed a petition to which it was Party claiming corruption against Senator Asif Zardari a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a separate matter was asked to pay costs. Instead of accepting the verdict of the court, and keeping in mind the billions already spent in the last decade on this political witch-hunt on lawyers, detectives, media companies, liquidators and on NAB itself, the NAB has gone in for an appeal. The purpose of appeal is to keep alive charges of corruption which are false and remain unproven as part of a mudslinging campaign in the lead up to the next general elections. It is immoral to be using State funds to malign the main Opposition particularly when the courts in Pakistan have already spoken dismissing seven corruption charges over the last decade. Now the Isle of Man court has also dismissed the corruption charges." She further wrote, "Please remember that this is a regime which has pardoned the nuclear scientist Qadeer Khan who confessed to selling nuclear technology on the international market. General Musharaf, when he pardoned Khan, said, "he is still my hero and can keep the money too" in reference to ill-gotten gains from nuclear sales. It is outrageous that those who plead guilty to heinous crimes are pardoned while the democratic alternatives who plead innocence are hounded at the State expense from monies that should be spent on the welfare and well being of the people of Pakistan." Recalling the judgement of Isle of Man High Court, Rukhsana Zuberi wrote, "In the matter of Rockwood Estate in Surrey, an Isle of Man court had ordered the NAB to pay costs to the owner as well as Mr. Zardari and part costs to the liquidator. This order came after NAB had already squandered billions of rupees in a decade long media trial, wrongly claiming that the Rockwood Estate was bought through corruption proceeds by Mr. Zardari. The High Court in the Isle of Man dismissed the corruption charges as "unproven" and NAB was described as a "master puppeteer" as well as admonished for being "less than frank" with the court. It was ordered to pay costs to Mr. Zardari, to the owner as well as part costs to the liquidator who was admonished for entering into a conflict of interest situation with NAB. Given the judgment of the Isle of Mann, the NAB should accept the verdict and save the money of the people of Pakistan. However, it is hell bent on running a mudslinging campaign keeping in view the forthcoming general elections. Therefore it has spent more money first on a petition to stop payment of costs (which was dismissed on), second on a petition to stay the payment of costs, third on an appeal against payment of costs and fourth on moving jurisdiction and re-raising the Isle of Man matter in the British courts. What all this State funded shenanigan does is keep the matter alive for NAB as an instrument of the military dictatorship to use State funds for political purposes to slander its opponents for the forthcoming elections. This amounts not only to slander and judicial abuse but corruption and pre-election rigging." "The litmus test for a fair election to which the international community and the Musharaf military dictatorship has publicly pledged itself is whether the popular and democratic alternative is allowed to participate in the elections to which she is legally and constitutionally entitled to do. Any attempt to stop Mohtarma Bhutto now when after a decade she continues to be qualified to contest elections would taint the said elections as unfair and not free or representative of the true will of the people of Pakistan. NAB has squandered national resources by filing politically motivated complaints in a number of international jurisdictions for political propaganda, character assassination and for entangling the defendants in extraneous legal matters to divert their time from political activities" she wrote and requested the Secretary General Commonwealth to consider the matter with a view to stop national resources being squandered in a poverty ridden country on politically motivated litigations that have not been proved in a decade and which have ended up allowing one political Party supporting military dictatorship to use State funds against the democratic alternative.
Mohtarma Bhutto condoles death of PPP leader Riaz Mazari
Mr Riaz Ahmed Mazari who was also ticket holder of PPP from Karachi NA 256 during the last elections was gunned down in his village Rojhan Mazari in Kashmore on Tuesday In a condolence message the former Prime Minister said that she was deeply grieved o learn about the death of Riaz Mazari. She prayed for eternal peace to the soul of Riaz Mazari and for grant of courage to the members of bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude. Mohtarma Bhutto also demanded arrest and registration of case against the assailants and punishment to them in accordance with the law.
Mohtarma Bhutto asks regime to alleviate rain victims' sufferings
Islamabad August 16, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has expressed grief over the havoc played by rains in the country and asked the regime to seriously attend to alleviating the miseries of flood victims by paying them compensation and exempting the rain affected areas from payment of agricultural taxes and revenues. Monsoon rains have played havoc in Karachi, the coastal districts of Sindh, in Mardan in Frontier and in several other parts of the country killing hundreds of people and loss of property and cattle head worth scores of millions. Yet another spell of heavy rains in Sindh have inundated crops, villages and roads and made peoples lives in the coastal belt including Keti Bunder, Kharochhan, Jati, Baghan, Sajan Wari and several other villages already submerged in knee-deep water miserable. About 25 more villages were submerged in water after rise in the river's water level at Guddu barrage inundating cattle, cotton and paddy on hundred of acres in Kashmore district. With virtually no arrangement for draining out the water, the poor farmers would have to face unbearable losses. In Karachi during rains the civic system collapsed and parts of the city were cut off for days from each other. In Mardan nearly one hundred people were killed when torrential rains swept a bridge. Complaints of power breakdowns started pouring in at the newspaper offices as soon as it started raining in Karachi. Most of the complainants said they had approached the newspaper offices after failing to reach a KESC official at any of its complaint centres despite repeated attempts four hours. They said that the KESC phone numbers were either busy or not being attended. In a statement today the former Prime Minister said that she was grieved over the loss of lives and damage to property. She said that the damage could have been contained if the regime had taken necessary precautionary measures well in time. Mohtarma Bhutto said that it was a pity that the regime spent its time, effort and resources on witch hunting of political opponents while ignoring its basic responsibility towards the people to protest their lives and property. She said that the millions of dollars being spent of political witch hunting could be diverted towards public welfare and rehabilitation of flood affected people. The former Prime Minister demanded better support system for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affectees. She also asked the Party leadership and cadres to spread out in the affected areas and extend all possible material and moral support to the victims. She also prayed for those who lost their lives in the floods.
Mohtarma Bhutto pays tributes to late Justice Haleem
Islamabad August 16, 2006: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto has paid rich tributes to the former Chief Justice of Pakistan
Justice Mohammad Haleem who died in Karachi on Friday last at the age of 81.
The Agency That
runs Pakistan By Vikram Sood
They always refer to it in hushed tones, both in awe and fear, and never by
the full name. “The Agency” is how the nationalists in Pakistan or any
onewho has earned the wrath of this organisation, call the Inter Services
Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto, herself a victim of numerous
murderous ISI conspiracies, described it as “a State within a State,” —
which it is and which one of its former chiefs does not hesitate to admit.
Other similar honorifics have been bestowed upon this powerful agency over
time and not without reason. The most commonly used being “Invisible
Government” or Pakistan’s “Secret Godfathers.”
Benazir Bhutto
Combats Vote Rigging
In a letter to provincial chiefs issued here last night, she stressed that workers needed to be fully prepared. "In previous elections, our party has suffered due to massive and planned rigging and inequitable use of government machinery. "Unfortunately, we have not always been able to appoint polling agents fully equipped to deal with government excesses," Bhutto wrote. Bhutto, who is the leader of the largest political party in Pakistan, faces multiple counts of corruption charges in Pakistan. She has been living in Dubai and London, but she has said she would return to Pakistan before the general election. Pakistan's ruling Muslim League has been divided by so many factions that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is facing opposition from his own party colleagues. Muhammad Ali Durrani, the information minister, has hinted that an early dissolution of parliament is possible under the powers vested to the president by the constitution. The Pakistani parliament has been dissolved many times by military coup and by sitting presidents. President Pervez Musharraf's term ends in November 2007, as does parliament's. In this political context, Bhutto has written the manual of instructions for her party workers to prepare for the next elections. "Due to lack of training of polling agents, the party has suffered in previous elections and this must be overcome," she wrote. She stressed that training sessions for polling agents need to be initiated at the grassroots level, in coordination with party divisional coordinators. "The training sessions should be designed to teach prospective agents to detect illegal ballots and voters, verify each voter thoroughly, facilitate party voters, be well acquainted with the voters' lists, and not to feel threatened by violent excesses of the opposing camp," she wrote. The PPP election paper highlights the steps to be taken to prevent rigging in the general elections.
Opposition calls for establishment of commission to probe into irregularities in privatization
Taking part in the debate opposition member Ms Naheed Khan alleged one of the treasury members tried to malign Benazir Bhutto but she is not absconding. We don’t accept ’Kangroo Courts’ decisions of NAB. Zardari was kept in jail for 8 years and when no case was proved he was released. Cases were instituted against Benazir Bhutto in foreign courts who is also appearing in every court. If Surrey palace is owned by Benazir Bhutto, government should provide documents in support of its claim , she demanded. The SC verdict in PSM privatization case has exposed the so called transparency of government’s privatization policy, she remarked. Heavy loss of 22 billion rupees was caused to national kitty , she claimed. The deregulation of public entities was got approved within 90 minutes with reconstituting the Council of Common Interests (CCI) following the decision of SC , she charged. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is involved in stock market crisis and in corruption in PSM privatization, she blamed. Some one has to sacrifice now, she added. He should quit. Treasury member Sardar Ashiq said government accepts SC decision in PSM privatization case. The opposition should accept the decisions of the courts. Opposition member Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in PPP regime, the industrial units running into loss were privatized. Minister for I |
