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The Rediff Interview/Benazir Bhutto
 

July 2006

Islamabad, 28 July 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party has filed a petition with the National Accountability Bureau against Wasi Zafar, the Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights for alleged involvement in corruption and corruption practices causing huge financial loss to the national exchequer.

The petition filed through Shabir Abbasi advocate citing the grounds of the petition reads, "The respondent was deeply involved in misusing power as Federal Minister for Law, Justice & Human Rights for mistreating a senior female officer of BPS 21, Saira Karim after the said officer refused to approve millions of rupees for 560 applications of Minister's constituency in the name of victims of human rights violations. It was astonishing to know that the respondent had reported 560 cases of human rights abuses in his own constituency and wanted to pay millions of rupees from the funds being maintained in his Ministry for human rights abuses. This was a sad day in the history of Pakistan that a woman officer, who refused to allow the respondent to misuse the funds, was made a horrible example by punishing the officer, instead of showing respect to her for being upright and honest. It was a question to which the respondent should be asked to give an answer as to why such a huge number of human right abuses had been reported only in his own constituency."

The petition further reads, "After the payment of funds was resisted, the respondent summoned the women officer and snubbed and charged her of collecting evidence against the respondent. The said women officer met Secretary Establishment Division and got herself transferred to Establishment Division. But fearing that the non-payment issue could explode and create trouble for the whole Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights, the woman officer was brought back to the Ministry and was given the charge of the same section dealing with payments to the victims of the human rights abuses. All these actions could not satisfy the furious respondent and he directed the Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights, Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan (appointed on contract basis after retirement) to proceed against the woman officer. The Secretary Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan immediately obliged the respondent and ordered to probe against the woman officer for "collecting documentary evidence against the respondent". Meanwhile all the applications from the respondent's constituency (Jarranwala) were in the custody of Secretary Mr. Mansoor Ahmad who is pushing the woman officer to reconsider her earlier decision."

The petition calls upon the Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau is called upon to initiate investigation in connection with matters set out hereinabove and further proceed to file a Reference against the respondent for violating the provisions of Section 9 of the NAB Ordinance punishable under Section 10 of the NAB Ordinance in a competent court of law and proceed against him for violating Section 9 of the NAB Ordinance 1999.

Says the present cases will also be proved as false and politically motivated

Islamabad July 27, 2006: Spokesman of the PPP former Senator Farhatullah Babar has issued the following statement today.

"The revelations before the Public Accounts Committee that the references filed against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by the former President Mr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan were illegal is the most categorical vindication of the former Prime Minister's innocence.

"Even though fifteen years late the Party welcomes this vindication. The Party believes that the current cases against her pursued by the regime both in the country and abroad will also be exposed as hollow, politically motivated and no more than a planned character assassination..

The Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament was informed by the Auditor-General of Pakistan (AGP) the other day that corruption references filed by former President Ghulam Ishaq Khan against Mohtarma Bhutto and the 28 million rupees spent on it by way of fees to the legal advisors were all illegal.

Eighteen corruption reference s had been filed against Mohtarma Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari at special courts in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Rawalpindi during 1990-92.

The Parliamentary Committee also directed the Cabinet Secretary to appear before it and explain how all these payments had been made for pursuing cases that had no basis in law.

"No civil suit can be initiated on behalf of the federal government by any division/department without the approval of Justice Division and in case of Benazir, the approval of the Justice Division was not obtained at all", said the report of the AGP to the Parliamentary Committee.

The report also says that the issue was discussed in one of the departmental accounts committee meetings in May 1997 but the Cabinet Division authorities failed to defend their position for such an irregular and exorbitant expenditure.

The spokesman said that though fifteen years late, the revelation explodes squarely the myth of corruption used by the then President to dismiss the elected government of Mohtarma Bhutto.

Sooner or later it will also be proved that the present set of cases were also being pursued by the military junta with the sole aim of subverting democracy in the country and to perpetuate military dictatorship, he said.

Islamabad, July 27: Mian Raza Rabbani, Leader of the Opposition, Senate of Pakistan has issued the following press statement;

"General Pervez Musharraf has once gains played partisan politics by presiding over a political meeting of the presidents, general secretaries and other office bearers of the King's Party in Sindh on Wednesday and lending them support in the election campaign.

"The Party has all along maintained that under the rules, law and Constitution General Musharraf cannot campaign or politically work for any party in the country. The playing continuously of the partisan political role by General Pervez Musharraf is condemned in the strongest terms.

"The Party recalls that recently the Chief Election Commissioner had publicly reiterated this position and stated that General Muhsarraf could not take part in the election campaign of PML (Q).

"The Party had at that time also stated that the nation will watch if the Chief Election Commissioner would indeed take action under the law in restraining General Musharraf from taking part in the election campaign of PML (Q).

"The Party calls upon the CEC to take action against General Pervez Musharraf in accordance with the Constitution and the law which he had publicly reiterated to take in case of its violation by any one.

"The unwillingness or inability of the CEC to take appropriate action under the law will only mean that his public reiteration a few days ago that General Musharra could not take part in the election campaign was meant only for public consumption and no more".

Islamabad, 26 July 2006: “Your decision is a clear message to the dictatorship to look inwardly and to reflect on where it stands in the eyes of the citizens whose fundamental rights have been ‘trampled under the boots’.” Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan People Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto wrote this in a letter addressed to noted literary figure Ahmad Faraz congratulating him on returning the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Civil), which was conferred on him by the military dictator, General Pervez Musharraf.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in her letter wrote, “The manner in which you have taken a strong moral position in returning the award will make many feel proud. It is most reassuring that you refused to be tempted by the trappings of illegal power that is based not on morality or constitutionalism but on the brute use of force and exploitation of the
armed forces of Pakistan. It takes courage to take such a decision that can be taken only by those who are fired by conviction in Constitutionalism and belief in rule of law. In demonstrating this courage you have earned the respect of all those who believe in the rule of law as opposed to the rule of the jungle. All those who love democracy whether in the country or abroad would not only welcome this decision of yours but also draw strength from it.”

She further wrote, “I noticed that you said in your letter ‘my lone voice may not achieve anything but I also cannot suppress the voice that comes from within and is rooted in conviction’. I wish to tell you that history is replete with instances when, not guns, but the voice of a single individual has dealt a deadly moral blow. I share your hope that
the voice raised by you would strengthen those millions of voices that reject dictatorship.”

“I also hope your example will encourage others to follow in your footsteps”, she concluded.

Islamabad July 24, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir has condoled the death of Abdul Sattar Gabol.

Former PPP Minister and noted politician and social worker Abdul Sattar Gabol breathed his last on Sunday in Karachi.

In a condolence message the former Prime Minister said that she was grieved to learn about the death of Abdul Sattar Gabol who she said was a prominent political figure, a worker of Pakistan movement and also a social worker of Lyari.

She prayed to Allah to rest his soul in eternal peace. Mohtarma Bhutto also expressed sympathy with the members of the bereaved family and prayed for them to bear the loss with fortitude.

GIK cases against Benazir were flawed: AGP report

By Rauf Klasra

ISLAMABAD: The Auditor-General of Pakistan (AGP) has informed the Public Accounts Committee that former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) had approved the controversial payment of Rs 28 million from taxpayers’ money to an army of legal advisers he had recruited to file 18 corruption references against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari in 1990-92.

An AGP report, out after a period of 15 years, has even challenged the legality of filing of 18 references against Benazir and her spouse by president GIK at special courts of Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Rawalpindi and said they were filed without meeting the legal requirements.

Cabinet Secretary Ejaz Rahim has now been directed by a subcommittee of the PAC — presided over by MNA Riaz Fatiana — to appear and explain as to how all these payments had been made without a formal clearance and approval of the Justice Division.

The AGP report has come as a new dramatic twist to cases against Benazir after a long period of 15 years. The AGP report while challenging the legality of references against Benazir stated, “No civil suit can be initiated on behalf of the federal government by any division/department without the approval of Justice Division and in case of Benazir, the approval of the Justice Division was not obtained at all.”

The AGP report might give a new colour to the corruption cases filed against Benzir and her spouse which are still being pursued by the government of the day. The then attorney-general had approved these payments on his own without any legal authority, confirmed the AGP report.

The AGP said the then attorney-general had even settled the terms and conditions and fees of each legal adviser on his own without consulting the Justice Division and then he also approved payment to these expensive lawyers. This is the first ever report alleging serious irregularities by a former president of Pakistan forwarded to the PAC for public debate.

The report says that accountability cell under the Cabinet Division paid a huge amount of Rs 28 million as fee to the legal advisers/senior counsel for preparing reference made by president GIK without the prior consultation with the Justice Division.

The report says that the issue was discussed in one of the departmental accounts committee meetings in May 1997 but the Cabinet Division authorities failed to defend their position for such an irregular and exorbitant expenditure.

While, in its defence, the Cabinet Division replied that after dissolution of the Benazir government on August 6, 1990 the GIK government filed references against her in various special courts under president post-proclamation order No 176 of 1977 against holders of public offices who had allegedly committed acts of misconduct.

A case was sent to the secretary law, justice and human rights with the request that the AG may be allowed to settle the terms and conditions of engagements of legal experts so that they are paid their fees. But the AGP said it all was illegal and waste of funds.

PPP condemns exploitation of Sindh by Musharaf's puppets
 

Islamabad July 24, 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party has strongly condemned by continued and systematic exploitation of Sindh by the Musharraf regime through its puppets in the province and demanded an end to the exploitation of the poor peasants, haris and workers of Sindh.

"Whether it is a matter of provision of irrigation water or giving of jobs or preservation of natural heritage or respecting the centuries old right of fisher folk to livelihood the poor people of Sindh have been the worst victims of exploitation at the hands of military dictatorship" said a spokesman of the PPP in a statement today.

To the economic and social exploitation of the people has also been added the political exploitation by hounding and chasing the Sindhi opposition leaders and political activists, he said.

Recalling latest incidents of exploitation the spokesman said that on Sunday the irrigation department filed a case with the police against some 150 political activists and poor farmers blaming them for stealing irrigation water. The police force was let loose against the victims forcing them to go underground to escape arrest and torture, he said.

Two days ago the Kotdiji police also booked 47 farmers of Shahnawaz Wah and Imdad Minor, including the son of the provincial Party President S. Qaim Ali Shah, allegedly for water theft. FIR was lodged against Qaim Ali Shah 's son Syed Muzaffar Shah, former Thari Mirwah taluka nazim Ali Gul Bozdar of Awam Dost Panel, and several other local farmers.

The spokesman said that continued denial of irrigation water the people had forced hundreds of farmers and political activists to take out a protest procession in the coastal town of Jati in Thatta. Shortage of irrigation water had damaged paddy, sugarcane and other crops cultivated on thousands of acres. A complete strike was also observed in the town on the call of Abadgars Action Committee and all shopping centres, small
vendors and the bazars remained closed but the regime retaliated by filing police cases against the farmers neglected by the regime, he said.

The spokesman said that the continued neglect of the social and economic problems of the province coupled with the victimisation of the peoples representatives was fraught with grave consequences for the federation. The Party urges human rights bodies to raise their voice against this latest wave of repression in Sindh, he said.

Transparent elections under national set up and reformed election laws best exit rout for military

Mohtarma Bhutto addresses public meeting in Birmingham

Denounces military regime for mega corruption and mega scandals

Islamabad, 23 July 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has said that the best exit route for the Musharraf's military regime was to adopt the ARD demand that a national government be formed to hold fair and free elections with election reforms as suggested by the Opposition.

She was addressing a large gathering of Pakistani Community in Birmingham, UK, today.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that it has become vital to save the federation from disintegration, terrorism and poverty and this could be done through holding a free, fair and transparent elections under an impartial and independent Election Commission. She asked the Chief Election Commission to take notice of pre-rigging efforts of the
government party including the campaign by General Musharraf in favour of the King's Party. She said that the nation needed and deserved free and transparent elections.

The former Prime Minister said that on one hand the nation in suffering because of hunger, poverty, price-hike and lawlessness in the country and on the other the military regime failed to take action against its ministers, advisors and members of ruling party, involved in mega corruption like privatisation at throw away prices of Steel Mills, Stock
market crashes, Chinese locomotive purchase, construction of Golf Courses, awarding contracts to relatives of the members of the regime, sugar scandal and the scandal of setting up oil prices. She said that the people of Pakistan are being forced to commit suicide because of hunger and poverty.

Former Prime Minister said that the government of Pakistan Peoples Party had a policy on power generation through which the independent power project (IPPs) where brought in Pakistan but after the unconstitutional removal of the PPP government these IPPs were scandalized. Now during the past seven years of military regime the power crises had worsened by the day and the entire country has been drowned in darkness. She said that the current load shedding throughout the country is sign of a malaise where state writ in nowhere to be seen.

She said that the Charter of Democracy signed by the majority of the Opposition is a document, which strengthens the federation, guarantees justice for all and peace and development for the people of Pakistan. She stressed the need for improving relations with the neighbouring countries especially India and Afghanistan.

She said that the Opposition believes that the elections cannot be free and fair under an army Chief occupying the office of the President. She said that the assemblies elected for five years terms couldn't elect a President twice giving him ten years as President. She said that the government should read the writing on the wall as international analysts are of the view that holding free and fair elections may result in the victory for the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Mohtarma Bhutto welcomes initiative of retired personnel
Demands fair and free elections and depoliticised army
 

Islamabad July 23, 2006: former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has welcomed the initiative of retired Pakistani diplomats, civil servants, intelligence chiefs and military officers in asking General Musharraf to separate the two offices of the President of Pakistan and the Chief of Army Staff and to build national reconciliation.

In a statement today welcoming the initiative the former Prime Minister said that the letter written by the cross section of retired officials to General Musharraf actually endorsed what the democratic forces in the country, indeed the whole nation, had been demanding for a long time as critical for the integrity of the country.

Fair and free elections under a set up of caretaker set up of national consensus and sending the military back o the barracks to perform its constitutional duties is critical for saving the country and the federation, she said.

A group of 18 prominent members of the society, including senior politicians, intellectuals, former governors, former diplomats, intelligence officers and ex-army generals Saturday asked General Musharraf to separate the two offices of President of Pakistan and Chief of Army Staff, which he is holding simultaneously, build national
reconciliation and form a neutral caretaker set up for free, fair and transparent elections.

Addressing General Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the letter is also sent to former Prime Ministers Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif and other important leaders of the country. The letter was written after a year-long dialogue among the senior civil society members who discussed host of political issues on a platform provided by PILDAT, an NGO working for strengthening the Parliament. The group had
also invited one member each form some of the political parties.

"The elections scheduled for 2007 will not be credible without neutral and impartial caretaker governments, both at the Centre and in the provinces", it said. Genuine empowerment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commission of Pakistan, the letter said, is essential for transparent elections which are not only held in fact and practice, but are also perceived by the people to be free, fair and transparent.

"It is necessary for the district administrations to be placed under the effective control of the Chief Election Commissioner during the 2007 elections", the letter said.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that while the PPP and the ARD has called for the formation of national government and electoral reforms to ensure fair and free elections it nonetheless agrees with the retired personnel that fair elections cannot be held under the present dispensation. She also urged the people and the international community to keep building pressure on Musharraf regime for holding free and fair elections.

PPP workers case hearing in Islamabad court today
 

Islamabad July 23, 2006: The case against PPP activists accused of attacking the Parliament House eight years ago will be heard in the court of civil judge and Judicial magistrate Islamabad on Monday July 24.

About fifty activists of the Party including Ms Naheed Khan MNA, Nayyer Bokhari MNA, ex Senator Farhatullah Babar, Qazi Sultan Mahmood, Syed Ibrar Rizvi, Abdul Majeed Rizvi, Babar Minhas, Syed Ibn-i-Rivi, Shahnawaz, Shabbir Babar, Jehangir Akhtar and Sohail Rumi besides others have been charged with storming the Parliament building on April 22, 1998 and threatening the Speaker National Assembly.

The case was registered when PPP activists staged a protest rally outside the Parliament House against the anti-terrorism legislation, which gave sweeping powers to the executive. The demonstrators were forcibly dispersed when the police resorted to baton charge resulting in injury to many Party workers and activists.

The protestors were demanding review of the law. Later the Supreme Court struck down various provisions of the proposed legislation including the one relating to the setting up of military courts to try terror cases.

A large number of protestors were arrested on the spot and sent to jail.

Initially the accused were booked under the anti-terror law against which they were protesting. Later however the government withdrew the terrorism charges and booked the protestors under eight different sections of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Meanwhile the PPP has asked all those named in the FIR to appear before the court today (Monday)

Mohtarma Bhutto aims to bring peace
 

Islamabad, 21 July 2006: "Terrorism and extremism are a by-product of military regimes and can be fought best by a democratically elected government". This was stated by the Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party and former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in an interview to the Indian newspaper, Hindustan Times.

Responding to a question about the Charter of Democracy, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said, "The Charter goes beyond elections to the pluralistic and accountable society that we dream of creating a moderate, enlightened and flourishing society is implemented. We affirmed that Mr. Sharif and I shall return to Pakistan before the general elections and warned that any attempt to stop our homecoming will be a denial of the constitutional right of impartial and free elections". On the topic, she further said, "we resolved that the military dictatorship has brought the Federation of Pakistan to the precipice when all but one road leads to strife, chaos and the threat of disintegration. The Federation today is at war with its peoples and itself. The regime today uses brute and naked state force in a war against its own people who demand their constitutional, economic, political and cultural rights. Parliament's sovereignty is vetoed by the National Security Council. Parliament is denied the right to freely formulate policy or to protect the rights of the federating units or intercede in the grave political crisis facing the Federation. Parliament has been reduced to a rubber stamp for the Chief of Army Staff who unconstitutionally occupies the Office of the President."

In reply to a question about the apprehension of her arrest on her return to the country, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said, "When Musharraf has pardoned the nuclear scientist A.Q.Khan who sold nuclear technology on the international market according to his confession, Musharraf has no moral right to persecute me on unproven allegations that are a decade old. I plan going back irrespective of what Musharraf does. When I was banned from contesting the last elections I did not go back for several reasons. Those elections were too close to 9/11 and Musharraf kept claiming he would not stop my party from forming the government if we won a majority. Well, we did win a majority but Musharraf postponed the parliament and factionalised my Party. My party knows I made the sacrifice for it. This time my Party wants me back with one voice and I shall be there for them and for our people who have stood by me just as I have stood by them. As I have suffered, I can understand the suffering of my people. They live on less than two dollars a day and young people find it difficult to get jobs. That's wrong. Our hospitals and schools are crying out for funding. My Party and I will invest in our people and in peace."

Regarding news about contacts with the regimes, she said, "I personally doubt that Musharraf or those that are around him would want an understanding with the PPP led by me. What he says is similar to the PPP platform but on the ground the situation is different. Pakistan is a critical country and the stakes are high for those around Musharraf who allowed Osama Bin Laden to escape from Tora Bora, allowed the Taliban to regroup and re-assert themselves as well as forced AQ Khan to fall on his sword to save others. It seems a contradiction in terms to think such elements would allow the PPP back to power if they can help it. Don't forget that PPP was overthrown twice to set the stage for the war against terrorism. After its first overthrow , Pakistan was on the brink of being declared a terrorist state in 1993. After the PPP's second overthrow the attacks of 9/11 took place. If the PPP had been in power, Al Qaeda would never have established camps in Afghanistan, the attacks on the Trade Towers would not have taken place, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would not have occurred and Muslims everywhere would not be under siege because extremists exploit the message of Islam. The policies of the PPP were aimed at bringing peace, harmony and brotherhood. Those who want a clash of civilizations cannot accept the PPP. They fear my popularity with the people whom my Father served and gave his life for and whom I served losing my Father, brothers, was imprisoned with my Mother, saw my husband held for eleven and a half years without a conviction and endured exile bringing up little children and looking after an ailing Mother."

Musharraf's address rubbing salt into wounds of people

Islamabad July 20, 2006: The Pakistan Peoples Party has dismissed General Pervez Musharraf's address to the Nation Thursday night as a failed bid to hoodwink the people on the one hand and criticise the opposition for rising inflation and myriad failures of the government in all spheres of national life on the other.

In a statement today a spokesman of the Party Ex- Senator Farhatullah Babar said that General Musharraf's unsuccessful bid to justify rising inflation and load shedding as proof of increase in income and industrialisation amounted to rubbing salt in the wounds of people.

The real causes of inflation are the wasteful expenses on unproductive projects like the building of new GHQ in Islamabad, purchase of SAAB aircrafts and of VVIP planes and the mega corruption that that have recently come to surface before the Parliamentary Committees and hearing before the Supreme Court, he said.

It is most painful that while people were committing economic suicides the regime was gloating that these suicides were a proof of the country's economic development.

He asked the regime to answer whether the three-fold increase in sugar prices in six months was the result of economic development or loot and plunder by sugar mafia protected by the regime? Was the oil price increase the result of increased industrialisation or the outcome of manipulations of oil prices by the scheming cartel of oil marketing companies with the connivance of the regime, he asked?

The load shedding is the result of the sheer incompetence of the regime for not adding a single MW to the national grid since 1999 and not the result of more industries coming on line as is claimed by General Musharraf. Never before the nation was fed on such blatant lies.

He said that instead of spending billions on the building of new GHQ in Islamabad and purchase of VVIP aircrafts the regime should have spent on poverty alleviation and job creation to mitigate the sufferings of the people.

General Musharraf admitted that the security of the country was in danger that could be strengthened by national unity but was pursuing a course of action quite opposite to what he prescribed, he said.

He said that on the one hand the regime had pitted the army against its own people in Baluchistan and in tribal areas and on the other it was chasing and hounding the political opposition in the country. To talk of national unity in such a situation is an affront to the sensibilities of the people, he said.

The spokesman said that General Musharraf spoke of military action in the Tribal areas but did not utter a single word whether the regime also realised the need for a political settlement instead of pursuing a military solution in both Balochiustan and in tribal areas. The talk of military action in the tribal areas and blaming unrest in Balochsitan on
a few Sardars had a familiar ring of when another set of military dictator blamed the unrest in East Pakistan in 1971 on a 'handful of miscreants'. His refrain of establishing the writ of the state, securing the state's installations at all cost, the contempt for the Baloch leaders, the claims of successful military operation and that the Marris and Bugtis were only a small minority in the province was painfully reminiscent of the language used by military dictators in 1971.

General Musharraf's prescription that a nation's strength lay in its military muscle is fundamentally flawed. National security is not enhanced by matching gun for a gun and tank for tank but by social cohesion, economic development and national integrity all of which had been gravely undermined during the military regime of Musharraf he said.

General Musharraf's speech to the nation was a typical specimen of a dialogue between the dumb and the deaf. What he said what not understood by the people as much as the General has refused to listen to the anguished cries of the hapless people groaning under the wheels of poverty, lawlessness and exploitation, the spokesman said.

Mohtarma Bhutto condemns violence in Middle East
Urges international community to intervene

Islamabad July 19, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has called upon the United Nations and the international community to bring about an immediate ceasefire to end the renewed violence in the Middle East.

In a statement today she said that the situation in the Middle East was explosive and it was important to contain the danger before it spread. She welcomed the report that the Socialist International has taken an initiative in this regard.

It may be noted that the Socialist International said, "This inertia of the international community obliges other bodies, such as Socialist International, to undertake initiatives".

Mohtarma Bhutto said that innocent men, women and children were losing their lives and property was being destroyed, as was infrastructure. She called for immediate measures to defuse the crisis and bring about a truce.

PPP Legislators deposit resignation with Party Chairperson

Renews call for resignation of Musharraf government by 31st July

Islamabad, July 19: At a meeting of all PPP MNAs and Senators held in London on 19th July the leadership of the party deliberated on the political situation in Pakistan. The meeting was chaired by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and attended by the Central office bearers as well including Vice President, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Secretary General Jehangir Badr, Deputy Secretary General, Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman, Punjab President Qaim Zia, Sindh President Qaim Ali Shah, Parliamentary leader Sindh, Nisar Khuro, PPPP Secretary-General Raja Parvez Ashraf, Senator Safdar Abbasi and Political Secretary Naheed Khan. Fifty four MNAs and Senators attended the meeting including Syed Khurshid Shah, Naveed Qamar, Yusuf Talpur, Senator Farouq Naek, and Senator Babur Awan.

In the morning session the entire parliamentary party reposed their confidence in Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and voluntarily submitted their resignations to be lodged at an appropriate an time.

In response to rumours about Musharraf's proposed re- election the party was unanimous that a five year assembly cannot elect anyone for a ten year period. It was also resolved that other opposition parties will be consulted in resigning in protest. The PPP meeting also protested the alleged statement made by General Musharraf at a recent PML Q party meeting where he asked the members to get him elected as president in exchange for an assurance that he will get them elected as MNAs and MPAs . This was condemned as blatantly illegal and a shameless violation of the Code of Conduct announced by the Election Commission and a clear indication of the malafide intentions of a regime hell-bent on rigging the next election.

The meeting exhorted the Chief Election Commissioner to undo the proposals that voters could only be enrolled if they had computerized NIC cards, as this move would disenfranchise at least 20 million voters by NADRA's own admission, and would amount to a clear case of pre- poll election rigging. The party reiterated its position on asking for
multiple identity criteria for the purpose of registering voters and casting votes, as the one source of computerized card was potentially open for manipulation and disenfranchisement through various ways on polling day itself.

The parliamentary party supported the ARD's proposal of a no-confidence motion against the Musharraf regime and called for the resignation of General Parvez Mushrarraf and PM Shaukat Aziz by 31st July. In this regard the party decided to initiate contact with other political parties and democratic elements to muster support against the regime in exposing corruption in the highest echelons in view of the judgement of the Supreme Court in the Pakistan Steel Mills case and the Stock Market inquiry by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

The meeting condemned the hypocritical policy of withdrawing corruption cases against the MQM and ministers, while every day it initiated false cases against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and other political rivals. The party was unanimous in seeking an end to this victimization of the elected leadership of the country and sought an end to the military dictatorship which had restricted the fundamental freedoms of movement, association and speech in Pakistan.

All participants committed themselves to taking the recently signed Charter of Democracy to the grassroots and discussed a strategy of mass mobilization around the objectives enshrined in the Charter.

The morning session ended with the meeting calling for the UN and G8 to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and called for an end to the disproportionate use of force as well as the massacre of innocent people, including women and children.

Interview of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to Hindustan Times
July 19, 2006.

* Since the agreement between you and Nawaz Sharif, have any further developments taken place for the re-emergence of real party system and removal of a military-run administration?

Ans: The Charter of Democracy was agreed on May 14 2006. Thereafter Mr Sharif and I met several times in Dubai and London to reaffirm our vision of Pakistan’s future as a Federal, Democratic and egalitarian state at peace with itself and its neighbours. On July 2 the Opposition alliance known as ARD met and adopted a number of wide ranging resolutions. The resolutions aim at building pressure for a government of national consensus to hold the next general elections. The Charter goes beyond elections to the pluralistic and accountable society that we dream of creating a moderate, enlightened and flourishing society is implemented . We affirmed that Mr. Sharif and I shall return to Pakistan before the general elections and warned that any attempt to stop our homecoming will be a denial of the constitutional right of impartial and free elections.

We reaffirmed that terrorism and extremism are a by-product of military regimes and can be fought best by a democratically elected Government.

We resolved that the military dictatorship has brought the Federation of Pakistan to the precipice when all but one road leads to strife, chaos and the threat of disintegration. The Federation today is at war with its peoples and itself. The regime today uses brute and naked state force in a war against its own people who demand their constitutional, economic, political and cultural rights.

Parliament’s sovereignty is vetoed by the National Ssecurity Council. Parliament is denied the right to freely formulate policy or to protect the rights of the federating units or intercede in the grave political crisis facing the Federation. Parliament has been reduced to a rubber stamp for the Chief of Army Staff who unconstitutionally occupies the Office of the President.

We have called upon all moderate and democratic political forces, irrespective of their Party positions, to unite on calling for the restoration of democracy, the formation of a government of national consensus to hold free, fair and honest elections within 90 days. We decided to consider reisgning from the Assemblies, in consultation with other Opposition Parties, should General Musharaff seek to elect himself through the present Assemblies.

* We had heard that another meeting with Nawaz Sharif was scheduled in Dubai. Have you two kept in contact in the pursuit of joint objectives outlined in the agreement?

Ans: We have met several times since the Charter was signed in May. However in the meantime senior leadership of the two parties are in regular contact for fine-tuning the political struggle and for consultations with other democratic parties to endorse the Charter of Democracy.

* Are there any plans for both of you together or you alone for returning to Pakistan?

Ans: As the two parties are together partners in the ARD it makes sense that both Nawaz Sharif and I return to the country together. But it is premature to decide such matters at this stage.

* IS the US Ambassador's statement that both of you must be allowed back in Pakistan, an indication of the official thinking in Washington. Do you feel that Musharraf could be swayed to relent, albeit under pressure to permit entry?

Ans: If the US Ambassador was correctly quoted in the media that the exiled prime ministers be freely allowed back in Pakistan, t it is a positive and welcome statement. The US is the world’s strongest democracy. President Bush has spoken of supporting democracy in different parts of the world. Those close to General Musharaf claim that he is a close ally of the international community and the principle of democracy will not be applied to Pakistan. Therefore the statement of the Ambassador, if correctly quoted, is important reflecting the democratic aspirations of the people of Pakistan. Pakistan needs to go forward regionally in relations with India and Pakistan as well as in dealing with those forces who are out to talibinise Pakistan. It needs to eliminate terrorism for its own survival and to protect its people from zealots who kill innocents in Mosques and Churches and Temples. It needs to give social and economic equality to its people. The last thing it needs is more of the last five years which have seen an army chief rule the country singlehandedly and one who has faced two assassination attempts. Moreover, poverty has risen in Pakistan and the international ratings for the country have gone down. People of Pakistan are hardworking, lawful and keen to join the march of civilization towards freedom. Justice, gender equality, peace and prosperity. They can do so through democracy.

* If you do return could Musharraf detain either or both of you? This will defeat the very purpose of your going back. What is then the alternative? Is it possible that Washington could persuade Musharraf from such an action? Or you would risk it. There are cases pending against you. He might use them as the reason for detention. Or that could prove the last straw for the people?

Ans: When Musharaf has pardoned the nuclear scientist A.Q.Khan who sold nuclear technology on the international market according to his confession, Musharaf has no moral right to persecute me on unproven allegations that are a decade old. I plan going back irrespective of what Musharaf does. When I was banned from contesting the last elections I did not go back for several reasons. Those elections were too close to 9/11 and Musharaf kept claiming he would not stop my party from forming the government if we won a majority. Well, we did win a majority but Musharaf postphoned the parliament and factionalised my Party. My party knows I made the sacrifice for it. This time my Party wants me back with one voice and I shall be there for them and for our people who have stood by me just as I have stood by them. As I have suffered, I can understand the suffering of my people. They live on less than two dollars a day and young people find it difficult to get jobs. That’s wrong. Our hospitals and schools are crying out for funding. My Party and I will invest in our people and in peace.

* Is there any understanding on how to decide about who will be the PM, if the party system is restored and elections held?

Ans: It is premature to talk about it at this stage. Our first concern is to end bonapartism and the military’s involvement in politics. In the Charter we have agreed to recognise the right of a political party to form government and not chased out of office before completing its term.

* Has Mushrraff or his people made any tentative move to establish contact with you for a formula to resolve the deadlock?

Ans: We read in the press that Musharaf and his aides are to contact me for a political solution and then we read that Musharaf has changed his mind. I personally doubt that Musharaf or those that are around him would want an understanding with the PPP led by me. What he says is similar to the PPP platform but on the ground the situation is different. Pakistan is a critical country and the stakes are high for those around Musharaf who allowed Osama Bin Laden to escape from Tora Bora, allowed the Taliban to regroup and re-assert themselves as well as forced AQ Khan to fall on his sword to save others. It seems a contradiction in terms to think such elements would allow the PPP back back to power if they can help it. Don’t forget that PPP was overthrown twice to set the stage for the war against terrorism. After its first overthrow , Pakistan was on the brink of being declared a terrorist state in 1993. After the PPP’s second overthrow the attacks of 9/11 took place. If the PPP had been in power, Al Qaeda would never have established camps in Afghanistan, the attacks on the Trade Towers would not have taken place, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would not have occurred and Muslims everywhere would not be under siege because extremists exploit the message of Islam. The policies of the PPP were aimed at bringing peace, harmony and brotherhood. Those who want a clash of civilizations cannot accept the PPP. They fear my popularity with the people whom my Father served and gave his life for and whom I served losing my Father, brothers, was imprisoned with my Mother , saw my husband held for eleven and a half years without a conviction and endured exile bringing up little children and looking after an ailing Mother.

* Do you apprehend that if Musharraf comes under extreme pressure to give way to you, he might venture into some sort of small-scale skirmish with India.

Ans: It is said that external threats help divert attention from the internal problems and that whenever Pakistan has had a military dictatorship there has been a skirmish or a conflict. I hope better sense prevails this time. Even though Musharaf and I are on different sides of the political spectrum in Pakistan, I am glad to see that he has adopted-- at least overtly-- the PPP policy enunciated at Simla for good relations between India and Pakistan.

Of course I remain skeptical of the ability of a military dictatorship to build peace due to inherent historical reasons.

Non Bailable warrants unlawful and biased

Islamabad July 19, 2007: Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has issued the following statement today.

"It is totally unlawful for the district and sessions judge Islamabad to issue non bailable warrants against former Prime Minister Mohtarma Bhutto and senator Asif Ali Zardari.

"According to the law of the land, the Session Judge lacks jurisdiction to entertain a case relating to the filing of electoral assets before the Election Commission of Pakistan.

"The complainant in the mis-declaration case is the National Accountability Bureau which has failed to act against a single Minister of the Musharraf regime for the last seven years. The NAB does not have the power or the authority or locus standi to file a complaint of this nature. It is the Pakistan Election Commission that can take cognisance of a misdeclaration if it has been committed. However, to date, the Pakistan Election Commission has not filed any such case against any individual leave alone the former Prime Minister and her husband whose assets are a correct formulation.

"The purpose for which the assets were filed has also lapsed. The purpose is to consider whether a person can contest an election or continue in a particular Assembly. The Assembly for which the election form was filled completed its term in 1996, a decade earlier.

"The misdeclaration case is time barred, mala fide and without jurisdiction. Moreover, the Judge was duty bound to issue summons on the known address of the defendants which he did not do. Further the process for serving as required by the Pakistan criminal law was violated.

"The issuance of non bailable warrant at this stage of the proceedings is not permitted by law. One of the grounds in challenging the Judge's order will be that the said order appears to fit the requirement of the NAB rather than the requirement of law.

"It is unfortunate that the Sessions Judge chose to give the orders he did which shall be challenged as shall his actions which the defendants view as biased and prejudicial to them given what the law states.

"Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's lawyers have proceeded to London and upon their return the order of the Sessions Judge shall be challenged on merit as well as bias.

"PPP research cell has meantime begun investigations into the allegations that the said Sessions Judge was facing inquiry for corruption at one time. While the PPP hopes that the allegations are incorrect, it nonetheless is morally bound to look into the matter
further."

PPP holds meeting in London

Islamabad, 17 July, 2006: The Pakistan Peoples Party held a meeting of its Central Executive Committee members from Punjab and ticket-holders and Office-bearers from Gujranwallah division in London on Sunday July 16 2006. The meeting was chaired by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the Chairperson of the PPP, and attended by Central Office- bearers Secretary General, Jehangir Badr, Deputy Secretary General, Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, Senator Safdar Abbasi, Central information, Secretary Sherry Rehman, Punjab President, Qasim Zia, and Political Secretary to the Chairperson, Naheed Khan.

The meeting discussed the current political situation as well as the overwhelming support witnessed all over Pakistan for the Charter of Democracy. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto expressed her profound regret that the meeting could not take place in Pakistan, where a dictator is holding the whole nation hostage for his personal power. She said that it was even more ironic that democratically elected forces were not free to live in a country, created through a democratic process and leaders like Quaid-e-Azam, who were committed to constitutional integrity and the rule of law.

Profound shock and sorrow was expressed at the murder of Allama Turabi and prayers also said for the souls of the 45 ill-fated innocent passengers killed in the plane crash in Multan.

The meeting took particular notice of the fact that with each passing day the regime's priorities, corruption and poor governance are bringing Pakistan closer to instability and institutional decay. The meeting condemned the inability of the regime to provide safety to the people and took particular note of the fact that apart from the declining law and order situation, kidnappings for ransom and cattle-lifting are crimes that Punjab has not witnessed before. The meeting noted that rising unemployment is causing turbulence and restlessness among young people, who are turning to crime in unprecedented numbers.. Almost all delegates noted the regime's crisis of governance where no district in the Punjab was safe from death by water poisoning and receiving toxic waste instead of drinking water in rusted pipes.

Delegates paid rich tributes to the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto under whose able governance the country never witnessed such power breakdowns, privatization scams and agricultural decline as seen today. The unannounced load-shedding prevalent in the whole country is causing agricultural and industrial breakdowns, but the regime has provided no relief to either the common man or to the institutions seeking to invest. The meeting noted that the PPP government used to borrow money only when required at low interest rates from development financial institutions, while this regime has borrowed billions of dollars at cripplingly high interest rates from commercial lenders. This has indebted the future generations of Pakistanis even further without their consent or knowledge.

The Chairperson directed the office bearers both from Punjab and the Central party to organize the party for the upcoming elections. She emphasized the point that defectors, despite their expressed desire, will not be taken back into the party.

All the delegates expressed their desire to see Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto back in Pakistan before the next elections, and she repeated her commitment to return to her home country to lead the party to victory in its election campaign.

House arrest of Baloch leader condemned
 

Islamabad, 16 July, 2006: Mian Raza Rabbani, Leader of the Opposition, Senate of Pakistan has issued the following press statement:

Senator Shaid Bugti has been placed under virtual house arrest in Quetta without warrants of arrest. In the early hours of this morning the police surrounded his house and no body is being allowed to come move in or leave. This act of the regime is condemned in the strongest terms.

It will be recalled that on Friday the brother of the Senator Bugti was picked up and the next day his cousin was also arrested. Till date their whereabouts are not known. This act of the regime is condemned and it is demanded that there whereabouts be informed and be released forthwith.

The regime must realize that the continued political victimization of the Balouch leadership is not the solution to the problem. Today the Province is faced with a political crisis where the only solution is through dialogue. The use of state force has only aggravated the situation and deepened the feeling of alienation in the people.

It is a paradox that only a few a few days ago the Prime Minister holds a meeting to review the recommendations of the Parliamentary committee on Balouchistan, on its heel the victimization of the political leadership starts. This is not the first time that the political process no matter how feeble has been derailed. The regime is no longer in
control of the situation.

The Federation is under severe strain and the military action in the Province must be stopped immediately. Those arrested must be released and those missing the regime must disclose their whereabouts and deal with them in accordance with law. The only answer lies in political dialogue for which the time is running out fast and the consequences will be the responsibility of the regime.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Addresses Leeds Council
 

Islamabad, 15 July, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto visited Leeds at the invitation of the Mayor of the city and addressed the Councillors of Leeds on Saturday. The President PPP, UK, Hassan Bokhari and the former President PSF and a covering candidate in the last Azad Jammu & Kashmir Council elections, Arshad Barki accompanied the former Prime Minister.

Addressing the congregation, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that the armed forces of Pakistan belong to the nation but General Musharraf has undermined the neutrality of the armed forces. A few ambitious military officers must not be allowed to exploit the armed forces for their narrow political ambitions and lust for power.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto expressing her concerns over the growing sense of deprivation among the small Provinces with each passing day said that instead of helping the people, the military operations in Balochistan and Waziristan have worsened the situation further. This is because of the General Musharraf's insistence of doing things his own way rather than the peoples' way.

She said that the lesson of the history is that democracy and development go together. Democracy gives the country honour and pride whereas dictatorship leads to neglect of peoples problems, undermining of the armed forces and culmination of conflicts of several types. She said that through freedom and the rule of law Pakistan can return to the path of progress and development. It is time to get our priorities right and putting country's resources into education, health and providing the necessities of life to the people.

The former Prime Minister talking about the Charter of Democracy said that dignity of our nation could be restored by uniting on the principles contained in the charter of democracy, which is light of beacon to a bewildered nation in the grip of a myopic dictatorship. The charter of democracy is born of the experiences of two elected Prime
Ministers viewing the challenges from different ends of the political spectrum. It contains the solution to build a vibrant and vital Pakistan whose people prosper and whose youth can reach fulfilment to bequeath to their children a better future than this generation has.

Former Prime Minister said that the current rulers have failed to support the vision of Quaid-e-Azam, the founder of Pakistan, for a federal, democratic and egalitarian country. This is the reason that Pakistan Peoples Party is calling for the restoration of democracy through an immediate end to military dictator, General Musharraf's rule.

General Musharraf not entitled to campaign for political parties

Islamabad, 14 July 2006: Mian Raza Rabbani, Leader of the Opposition, Senate of Pakistan has issued the following press statement;

The Opposition has continuously maintained that General Musharraf under the rules, law and Constitution is not entitled to campaign or politically work for any party in the country. The reiteration of this constitutional position by the Chief Election Commissioner is a vindication of the Opposition's position.

The Chief Election Commissioner being aware of this position in law failed to perform his constitutional obligation and duty by refraining General Musharraf from pursuing the election campaign of the PML(Q). The nation will now watch if in future the Chief Election Commissioner will take action under the law in restraining General Musharraf.

The criteria that only those persons possessing the National Data Base and Registration Authority's computerized national identity cards should be registered as voters is not acceptable. In the first place NADRA has failed to provide the national identity card to a over whelming majority of the people, particularly in the rural areas. Secondly, it will be recalled that many a flaw were found in the database of NADRA which lead to the cancellation of previous voter's lists. Thirdly, it has been admitted by the Chief Election Commissioner himself that at least 20 million voters will not be registered on this account.

Voter's lists prepared on such a criteria where a majority of the people are de-franchised because of no fault of there own is not acceptable and justifiable under the law or politically. The multi identity system should be acceptable for the registration of voters.

In case the Chief Election Commissioner insists on pursuing such a path it will be taken as a deliberate attempt to de-franchise particularly the rural population and the slum areas of the cities. It appears that that this Govt. of the elite has now decided that only the elite section of society be allowed to cast their vote.

PPP condemns rigging AJK Elections

Islamabad, 12 July 2006: Mian Raza Rabbani, Leader of the Opposition, Senate of Pakistan and Deputy Secretary General, Pakistan Peoples Party has issued the following press statement;

The Opposition and particularly the Pakistan Peoples Party had warned the nation that the regime will heavily rig and manipulate the elections in AJK. The manner in which the elections were conducted in AJK and for the reserved seats in Pakistan has exposed the claims of the Election Commission which watched as a silent spectator as the ruling party and its coalition partners blatantly played a fraud on the mandate of the people.

With regard to the reserved seats in Pakistan the PPP brought it to the notice of the Election Commission, through the press and otherwise that in the Province of Sindh particularly as in Punjab the ruling coalition has resorted to pre poll rigging. They intimidated the voters with the use of force and forcibly acquired the identity cards. On polling day they took over the polling stations and threw the Opposition out with the help of the local administration and stuffed ballot boxes at will.

A similar situation prevailed in AJK. These elections were no different to the Local Body elections held recently in which all records of rigging and use of state force were broken. The manner in which the elections have been conducted leaves no room for doubt that the next elections in Pakistan will be manipulated and rigged to achieve the political agenda of the regime.

The Pakistan Peoples Party is on record to have suggested electoral reforms to make the elections free, fair and transparent. The PPP, therefore, suggested that amongst other things the appointment of the Chief Election Commission and Members of the Election Commission should be in consultation with all major stakeholders and that the Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries, I.Gs and D.I.Gs should be persons who are politically neutral so that they can implement the directives of the Election Commission.

Under the present situation free, fair and transparent elections as contemplated under the Constitution will remain a dream for the people of Pakistan.

The Opposition will continue its struggle for achieving its objectives and will reject the anti democratic forces with the strength of the people.

Mohtarma Bhutto demands judicial probe into fokker crash

Islamabad July 12, 2006: Former Prime Minister and chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that a cover up into the crash of the ill fated fokker near Multan on Monday must be avoided to prevent further danger to passengers.

She was commenting on media reports that the fokker flight was not air worthy and should never have been used.


According to media reports the Civil Aviation Authority has also said that the fokker was not flight worthy.

In a statement today the former Prime Minster said that it was bad governance and anti people policies that the regime continued to fly outdated fokkers when so much money had come into the country after Pakistan became a front line state in the war against terrorism. She wondered where the public money had gone when the lives of citizens was being endangered because the military regime continued to ply old and worn out aircrafts despite warning that the aircrafts were not airworthy.

She said that the crash and death of innocent lives had deeply pained her as well as the Pakistan Peoples Party workers as well as the people at large. Mohtarma said that an unelected, unaccountable and unrepresentative regime did not care for the people of Pakistan or their opinion or their votes because they were used to rigging elections. Mohtarma said that when a government depends on the votes of a people, it serves the people. Unfortunately the people were not being served now because rigging elections had become a habit of power hungry military rulers.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that if the reports of the planes being non air worthy are true, the excruciating and painful death of 45 innocent people on Monday would squarely fall on the shoulders of the military dictatorship. She called for a n impartial judicial inquiry under one of the judges who had not sworn an oath under the PCO to determine whether the fokker were not airworthy apportion blame for those responsible for the use and the light and called for those responsible for the neglect to be brought to book.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that she rejected the military dictatorship's anti people policies where on the one hand the non-airworthy fokker planes were used for civilian passengers while the regime purchased two VVIP aircrafts for 60 million dollars and SAAB aircraft for over a billion dollars . Mohtarma said that this was criminal of neglect of passengers safety and exploitation of the resources of the state for the benefit of a few.

She said that the military dictatorship had money for buying bullet proof Mercedes for generals and ministers, building luxurious house for the Speaker and for building new GHQ in Islamabad , was spending billions on foreign travel and the so called National Accountability Bureau but had no money to buy safe and secure aircrafts for the travelling public.

She said that the issue of replacement of fokkers was also discussed in the senate committee on defence sometime back and according to press reports the members had expressed their apprehensions over the safety of the aging aircrafts but the regime refused to take note.

PPP condemns and rebuts Presidential leaks on political strategy

Islamabad July 10, 2006: The PPP rebutted presidential leaks on political strategy for the forthcoming General elections as carried in a section of the press quoting "top officials and ruling party leaders".

In a statement the PPP deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Raja Pervez Asharf said that the presidential aides quoted admit that pressure for fair elections is building. They fear the PPP and its allies in the ARD will win any elections that are fair. The presidential advisors and elements within the ruling party are putting up a brave face because they are relying on two factors: first to jail Mohtarma Bhutto upon her return and second to rig the elections.

However, the PPP said that the presidential aides and their co partners the Chaudhries of Gujrat are miscalculating and their strategy will backfire. The imprisonment of Mohtarma will be outrageous as she is free on all cases during filed during the Nawaz era. Thus the Musharaf regime will have to make Musharaf specific cases to arrest her, which will tarnish the elections. It will also galvanize all the PPP workers to fight to their last breath in the elections to ensure the success of the PPP. It will lead to public sympathy and greater condemnation of the regime which is already hated for its anti people polices which are threatening the existence of the country and causing widespread poverty.

It may be recalled that in last years local elections, General Musharaf's supporters faced a political massacre in central Punjab as well as elsewhere. One third of the seats in Sindh went uncontested as either the candidates or their proposers were kidnapped because the
regime was too frighttened to face the PPP in the electoral field. Such tactics may work in a local election but fail in a general election as the results of 1988 General Elections showed.

Thus the presidential aides can rely as much as they want to on "partners like the MQM and Pir Pagaro in Sindh and PPP Patriots in Sindh and in the Punjab" but they will face a greater political defeat in the general elections than they faced in the last local bodies election. There they even lost Rawalpindi, a Garrison city, to the combined Opposition.

They can fool some of the people some of the time by having used the administration after stage two of the local elections to manipulate the councillors to elect pliant Nazims in stage three but such a luxury will not be afforded to them in the general election, he said.


The PPP leader said that it was laughable that the JUI led by Maulana Fazlul Rahman or the ANP led by Afsandyar would become political puppets of the military regime as indicated in the governmental leaks. The JUI has the sword of Damocles hanging over the head of two provincial governments and is playing a diplomatic game with Musharaf for the time being of you scratch my back and I will scratch your back. But the moment the elections are over and Musharaf's fate is in the hands of the Parliament the JUI will not need any such diplomacy.


The PPP leader said that it was correct that there was speculation amongst powerful circles whether Musharaf was losing amongst the military establishment but denied that this idea was being propagated by the Opposition. The PPP said that it was expected that a professional armed forces would be unhappy about its army chief giving himself endless extensions while banning Prime Ministers from contesting a third term. Moreover, the armed forces belong to the Nation and it cannot cause satisfaction to see the army chief acting like a lieutenant of the Chaudhries of Gujrat and promoting their interests above and beyond the constitutional demands for fair elections and for the separation of the office of president and army chief.

The PPP leader said that it was correct that "The ruling PML leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi have been trying to convince the political managers of the regime as well as President Musharaf that any political agreement with the PPP could be suicidal for the ruling party as well as the regime". The Chaudhries want Musharaf to play their game and have cornered him into relying on them although they are disqualified from legitimately contesting elections having written off loans. An election petition seeking their disqualification filed by Imran Khan is pending.

The PPP also agrees that the moderates within the ruling party appreciate that fair elections can only be held and democracy restored if the state of confrontation with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who is the democratic alternative and political leader favoured to win the next elections with a landslide, ends. However, the PPP is clear that the Chaudhries will blackmail the Musharaf regime every last bit to prevent the withdrawal of cases, the release of all political prisoners, the return of the exiles, the establishment of a national government, the return of both the exiled prime ministers and electoral reforms for fair elections which bring the administration, including the Chief Secretaries and Inspector Generals of Police in the provinces under the Election Commission for the holding of General elections. It is to be seen whether national interests and constitutional obligations are sacrificed to promote the personal interests of the Chaudhries of Gujrat.

The Chaudhries of Gujrat are fearful that if there is Mohtarma Bhutto is not arrested upon her return, their entire party will collapse. Moreover, if the elections are not rigged, they will lose not only the chief ministership but their dreams to capture the prime ministership will be smashed. Mohtarma Bhutto as the presidential aides rightly point out is a "political heavyweight" and the Chaudhries would be sidelined. She would not be dependent on them for a majority nor be beholden to them.

The problem for the Chaudhries is that other moderate forces within the ruling party and their coalition partners have already stated that they could work with the PPP. Last week the MQM went on record to state that it would be prepared to work with the PPP if it worked out its problems with Musharaf. However, after the elections, the regime could find that MQM was ready to work with the PPP even if Musharaf had not worked out his problems with the PPP. And if Musharaf has not worked out problems with the PPP over the last seven years, it is unlikely that he is inclined to work them out over the next seventeen months.

The PPP leader said that in any event the PPP has a political course which it has charted out with the PML N and other ARD parties which are committed to a reform process that will end military rule in the country and build institutions that can help the young people of the country flourish while protecting the working classes and the middle classes from exploitation.

He said that the Party categorically denied that any meetings with General Taj had taken place in the last few months as wrongly leaked by the presidential aides. It also denied the report that a meeting with "a presidential aide" with Mohtarma was on the cards.

The PPP believes that the Musharaf regime is under no pressure to reach out to the Opposition. It is smug and self complacent in its miscalculated view that it can rig the elections, persecute the Opposition and replay the events since 2002.

The purpose of the Presidential leaks appears to be twofold. First to spread disinformation to divide the Opposition united on the Charter of Democracy. Secondly to wrongly signal that the Musharaf regime is reaching out to the Opposition prior to the next General Election.

The PPP and its allies are ready for the next General elections irrespective of whether they are fair or not. The PPP is emboldened by stage two results of the Local elections and knows that following the Steel Mills scam, the Stock Market scam, the Sugar cartel and Land Mafia, the regime and its partners are vulnerable. The rise of the Taliban is also damaging to the Musharaf regime and bleeding it of international goodwill. When American and British soldiers are being killed in Afghanistan and Iraq in the name of defending democracy, it is embarrassing for the international community to support a dictator in nearby Pakistan.

Failure to hold fair and free elections can only throw Pakistan into a greater crisis and no patriot or friend of Pakistan would like to see that.

Mohtarma Bhutto calls for resignation of government after the Steel Mill verdict

Islamabad July 10, 2006: Former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has called for the resignation of the Government following the verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan stopping the sale of the Steel Mills of Pakistan at a throwaway price.

In a statement today the Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples said that the Supreme Court verdict exposed the government's failure, manipulation, corruption and abuse of power.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan in its landmark verdict said that the deal is "vitiated by legal violations by state functionaries, including acts of omissions and commissions and the transaction caused the government a loss of Rs18 billion".

The former prime Minister said that for this reason, ethically the entire government must resign and announce a date of fresh and fair elections to be held under National Government with the help of an independent Election Commission.

She said that the PPP and other parties welcome the Supreme Court's judgment and support the verdict. She hoped that the Supreme Court would continue to be pro active on the issue of corruption, which was undermining the economy particularly through the privatisation at throwaway prices.

Technically the highest court of the country has exposed the real face behind the mask of Musharraf's so-called government, and the verdict itself must be considered as a No Confidence on government's ability to perform and safeguard the assets and the future of Pakistan.

PPP and other parties are agreeing that the verdict itself is a slap on the face of the government and that the verdict itself is a formal embarrassment to the government. Under the NAB laws all government ministers and officials involved should be arrested and prosecuted, she said.

She said that no evidence of this kind existed in any other case being tried by NAB whose officials were abusing their office by failing to take action following the verdict.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that the people of Pakistan have no trust and confidence left on Musharraf dictatorship and that exemplary punishment be awarded to all those who wanted to eat up a strategic profit-earning unit.

She said that the Supreme Court should put a hold on entire privatisation process till the new government comes into power after the next general elections.

The former Prime Minister called for a financial forensic expert to be appointed to investigate the crash of Karachi Stock Exchange where reports suggest that the government and its officials were directly involved in irregularities, kickbacks, profit making and conspiracies. Just because of this, thousands of small investors have lost their life long savings and the KSE lost almost $14 billion. The military regime tried to cover-up the crash to save the regime and its corrupt policies. Moreover, the NAB did not move either which shows that billions of rupees are being eaten up by the NAB without bothering about the real corruption in the country.

She said that the Steel Mills crisis, the Stock Market crash, the Sugar Cartel and the Land Mafia demonstrated that a military dictatorship could not serve the people of the country who were suffering hardship through unemployment and inflation. She said that democracy and development went together and that the PPP and its allies would safeguard the interest and betterment of people of Pakistan and the sovereignty, federation and future of Pakistan, that can only be done with true leadership. This should be the crux of the Vision 2007. Whereas the regime's vision is full of words, a uniform vision of barracks' mentality.

Mohtarma Bhutto shocked over PIA crash

Islamabad July 10, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party has expressed deep grief and anguish over the death of forty-five passengers in an air crash near Multan on Monday.

In a condolence message today the former Prime Minister said that she was deeply grieved over the tragedy and her thoughts went out to those who lost their lives in the crash and their near and dear ones.

She said that experts had pointed out long ago that it was not safe to continue to fly the Fokker aircrafts in the PIA fleet and that the old aircrafts should be grounded. The former Prime Minister demanded the holding of a thorough inquiry and fixing responsibility for the tragic accident in which many innocent lives were lost.

Mohtarma Bhutto also prayed for those who lost their lives in the crash and for grant of patience to the members of the bereaved families.

Islamabad July 9, 2006: The Pakistan Peoples Party has called the briefing on the A Q Khan N-proliferation network a white wash by the Musharaf regime to protect the real individuals behind the proliferation.

According to some press reports the Director General of Strategic Planning Division Lt General Khalid Kidwai claimed in a Parliamentary briefing on Friday that nuclear scientist A Q Khan had named two ex aides of former Premier Benazir Bhutto in ten "de-briefing" sessions on his proliferation efforts. It was claimed that Khan did not name any state functionary, except two dead individuals former defence advisor Maj-Gen Imtiaz Ahmed and Dr Zafar Niazi, according to the press reports. The private nuclear proliferation by Dr Khan was also described as a "sole act of an individual".

In a statement today a spokesman of the Party said that the PPP rejected this view of the Musharaf regime’s functionary as a "massive cover up" and an effort to discredit the PPP, which had enunciated the Benazir Nuclear Doctrine that included the No Export of Nuclear Technology.

The spokesman said that two dead men who could not defend themselves were being named. However, the military regime failed to explain how A Q Khan managed to break through the military security cordon and smuggle out centrifuge units weighing tons when the PPP leaders were under arrest, in exile or being hounded by the establishment for wanting to build a moderate federal, democratic and egalitarian state ending the exploitation of the masses. This point alone nailed the lie of the regime and its cover up, he said.

He said that the PPP noted that military dictator General Musharaf was opposed to the PPP and hounding its leaders relentlessly through every foul means. Its leaders were still under arrest including former Speaker Yusuf Reza Gillani, former provincial minister Bismillah Kakar and student leader Junaid Bulund. Husband of the former Prime Minister Asif Zardari was kept behind bars for eight years in solitary confinement and his health damaged. New cases were being filed against its leaders on a regular basis.

However, in the case of the nuclear scientist, General Musharaf had personally pardoned him after his confession and said, "He is still my hero and he can keep the money too" a reference to the allegedly illicit gains running into hundreds of millions dollars through proliferation.

Musharaf would never have pardoned Khan or allowed him to keep the money he is alleged to have made if he thought Khan was in any way connected to the PPP appointed Defence Advisor or with a PPP family friend. This gives rise to the suspicion that the Musharaf regime is covering up the real faces involved in the proliferation of nuclear technology which have undermined Pakistan’s nuclear capability and given rise to new tensions with the international community.

The spokesperson said that it was foolish of the Musharaf regime to try and cover up the Khan affair by blaming dead men linked to its opponents as such claims had no credibility nor did they answer questions as to how Khan and the individuals concerned could have broken through security cordons and had access to military aircraft.

He said that individuals linked to the PPP were being named meant that the regime was involved with Khan and were trying to create a smokescreen in exchange for the pardon they had granted Khan.

Islamabad July 9, 2006: Former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has lauded the Parliamentary committee for highlighting the corruption of the Musharaf regime by investigating the Stock market crashes.

In a statement today the former Prime Minister called for a forensic investigation into the manipulation of the stock market, which led to millions of middle class investors losing several hundred billion rupees.

The Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party drew attention to the statement of the Pakistan’s former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP) who indicated corruption in a white paper on the manipulation of the stock market.

She said that the National Accountability Bureau was abusing its office and squandering billions of rupees in a political witch-hunt while corruption flourished in the country and poverty increased with unemployed persons killing themselves for want of food.

The former Prime Minister said that the guilt of the Musharaf regime was evident for the failure to act when Dr Tariq Hassan Chairman SECP was removed for seeking to act against those connected to March 2005 stock exchange crash because they were close to the Musharaf regime.

Dr Tariq Hassan claimed he was removed from office for taking the decision to appoint forensic investigators to probe 11 high-profile brokers suspected for involvement in the Karachi Stock Exchange crash. He was speaking to a Parliamentary Committee. Dr Hassan claimed before the Parliamentary committee that the brokers had access to the Prime Minister. In his letters he had mentioned the names of the Finance Minister Omar Ayub as well as the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Privatisation Dr. Salman Shah.

It may be noted that the corruption in the sale of Steel Mills at a throwaway price was stopped by the Supreme Court of Pakistan which noted omissions and commissions in its sale and that the rules and procedures were not properly followed. Despite the Supreme Court verdict, the NAB refused to arrest government members who were behind the sale as required by NAB law.

The Stock Market manipulation scandal follows the accusations of corruption in the Steel Mills as well as manipulation of sugar prices by the sugar barons who are influential in the Musharaf regime.

Earlier the report of a Major beating up a retired and elderly Brigadier and his family because the child of a senior officer of the agency had fought with another child caused shock waves in the nation.

Despite the media reports on abuse of office and corruption in the Musharaf regime, no action has been taken against the elements identified. Earlier the Musharaf regime embraced members of the PPP accused of corruption when they switched sides. The Musharaf regime took no notice of the millions of dollars used to buy votes in the recently concluded Senate elections to stop Opposition candidates from being elected to the Senate. The stink of corruption in the Musharaf regime has led to widespread public dismay.

Opposition members demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister against whom a vote of no confidence is threatened following the Supreme Court’s decision stopping the controversial sale of Pakistan Steel Mills. Opposition members called for Mr. Aziz’s resignation for his alleged links with some brokers. He is accused of protecting the suspect brokers through abuse of office in initially stopping the SECP Chairman from acting against manipulators and secondly for sacking him when he initiated reforms.

The Opposition noted that during Shaukat Aziz’s era, first as the finance minister and later as the prime minister, the country’s stock market crashed in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 and May 2006. “Therefore, we demand resignation of the prime minister”.

Islamabad July 8, 2006: The Pakistan Peoples Party has demanded immediate arrest of the state functionaries and powerful brokers involved in the March 2005 stock market crash and placing their names in the Exit Control List.

"After the stunning disclosures of involvement of state functionaries in the mega robbery of 800 billion rupees of ordinary investors it will be a greater scandal if the regime looked the other way and took no action", said a spokesman of the Party in a statement today.

Tariq Hassan former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SCEP) disclosed before the NA Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue in Islamabad on Friday that both the Advisor on Finance Dr Salman Shah and Minister of State Omar Ayub had close links with the powerful brokers involved in the scam and pressurised him not to take action against them. He also said that he had reached a ‘few big fish’ but could not net them because the powerful brokers had access to the Prime Minister through the Advisor and Minister of State.

The disclosures made by the former Chairman of the market’s watchdog body were the clearest evidence of corruption at the top, he said adding, "The Party is shocked at the incontrovertible evidence of link between mega financial scandals and the high and mighty".

He said that trails in the scams of Steel Mill sale, the purchase of Chinese locomotives, the doling out of human rights funds only to the constituents of one Federal Minister, manipulation of sugar prices, fixation of oil prices, the sale of Khosgi sugar mill by the Fauji Foundation and the Tawana Pakistan project all passed through the corridors of power.

It is a dubious distinction of the Musharraf regime that the footprints of mega corruption invariably lead to the top leadership, he said.

He said that the code of honourable conduct demanded that both the Advisor and the State Minister named in the scam must immediately cease to hold offices until they had cleared their names.

He said that since powerful people protected the brokers involved in the March 2005 market crash they were emboldened to cause another crash recently wiping out another scores on billions of ordinary investors. Poor people will continue to be robbed if no action was taken.

"Never before there was so much of stinking corruption at the top on the one hand and the pathetic helplessness of the so-called accountability body called NAB on the other". The NAB and the government should stop fooling the people by incessantly talking of eradicating corruption in the country, he said.

Islamabad, 8 July 2006: Former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has said that the people of the country were suffering due to the lack of democracy in the country.

In a statement today the Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party said that the PPP gave good governance through transparent privatisation of the power projects. In contrast the bad governance was evident in the privatisation of the KESC which has led to power shuts downs and economic loss as well as hardship for day-to-day living for the people of Karachi.

The former Prime Minsiter pointed out that the most crucial mistake made by military dictatorship was that it lacked the wisdom to make the right policies that could benefit the people. For example, she said the PPP would never have privatised a key utility to a firm that lacked ten years experience in running one. She said that the regime should have made as a prerequisite, at time of pre-qualification of bidders, that only power utilities or companies with at least 10 years of operating & maintaining (O&M) power plants were eligible to bid.

She said that a ten-year experience is a standard condition when utilities are privatised recalling also that this policy was adopted when PPP privatised Kot Addu.

The former Prime Minister questioned the privatisation of the KESC asking how it was given to a group whose new owners reportedly had never seen a power plant, let alone owning and operating it.

According to reports received the new owners have taken an equipment manufacturer ( Siemens) as O&M after they got KESC -- Siemens have little experience of O&M and are more a company that supplies its equipment to power plants. So far, 9 grid stations that are to be constructed have been awarded to Siemens.

It is further reported that an IPP of 100 MW signed with Defence Housing Authority (DHA) is being put up on Siemens turbines 7 boilers. Two IPP sponsors are running from pillar to post -- although tariff offered is lower than DHA -- but equipment is not of Siemens.

Observers believe that there is some underhand deal involved as the right parties with the right credentials and experience were not awarded the contracts. This is the reason why despite nearly three times the price offered by PPP, the power shut downs continue in the country.

It may be noted that the PPP set the price of electricity at rupees four per unit whereas Musharraf regime has set it at nearly twelve rupees which means staggeringly high electricity rates for consumers in the years to come.

The Post. July 07,2006: Debate rages on about the possible re-election of President Musharraf for another term. It seems like the whole country is debating one or the other aspect of this re-election. Conspiracy theories aside, the Editorial Board at The Post came up with four key questions about the issue.

The first question relates to the impression of whether the current assemblies are justified in electing a President who will serve beyond the tenure of the Electing Assemblies.

The second question is about the modalities and legal requirements of the possible re-election. The third is about timing of the possible re-election and the last question calls into question a serious allegation raised by the Opposition, which is the eligibility of President Musharraf for any re-election to office of the President of Pakistan. We decided to put these questions to some experts of the constitution as well as practitioners of law. Here are their responses.

Khalid Ranjha
Senator and Ex-Law Minister
of the Punjab

Can President Musharraf be elected for his next 5-year term by this Parliament - when the Parliament expires before Musharraf's term?

There is no question of this parliament or which parliament. At the time of Presidential elections, whichever parliament exists can elect a President. There is no bar for any parliament

If there is going to be a Presidential election during this National Assembly's term, what constitutional and legal changes have to be made?

None, this parliament is fully competent to hold a presidential election.

When does the present tenure of President Musharraf end - and when should he seek re-election?

The present tenure of the President Musharraf ends at 3rd Nov 2007, and he can be re-elected anytime before his term expires.

How can/will President Musharraf meet the eligibility criteria for a Presidential candidate

It depends when the elections are held. This parliament has given immunity to President Musharraf staying in uniform till November 2007, and so he can contest while still in uniform before November 2007. If elected in uniform, he can complete his tenure in uniform.

Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum
Former Judge Lahore High Court, President Supreme Court Bar
Association, Pakistan

Can President Musharraf be elected for his next 5-year term by this Parliament - when the Parliament expires before Musharraf's term?

No. The principle for the interpretation of the constitution is what is known as "purposive interpretation". Which means the purpose of the provision and the purpose behind the reading of clause and the section must be taken into account. If you go by this kind of interpretation, first parliament and provincial assemblies would be elected for five years and having the mandate from the people to elect a president. So the parliament can only elect the president once subject to one exception - if office of the president falls vacant due to the death or physical incapacity or impeachment ­ the parliament can elect a new president as the president's office can not be kept vacant. This is not a general principle but an exception. The government's position is weak as the president can not hold the term third time. The constitution is very clear "…should not hold the office for third term". It means one can not be a president of Pakistan for three times as the constitution puts bar on being in office for third time. But the same does not stop a person to contest for third time.

If there is going to be a Presidential election during this National Assembly's term, what constitutional and legal changes have to be made?

Constitution is to be amended by a two third majority. Law can not change the electoral collage for the office of the president.

When does the present tenure of President Musharraf end - and when should he seek re-election?

The tenure of the President Musharraf ends on 15th of November 2007 when the tenure of the parliament also ends. Under the constitution, election to the office of the president should be held within thirty days before the expiry of term or sixty days after the expiry of the term. President Musharraf's terms ends on 15th of November 2007 so the election can be held on 15th of October. But the term of the national assembly also ends on 15ht of November and according to the constitution the next elections should be held within ninety days after the expiry of the national assembly tenure. The spirit of the law is that if the term of the president ends with the tenure of the national assembly, the president will retain his office till the creation of the new parliament. The new parliament will elect a new president within thirty days from the day of taking the oath. By applying this formula President Musharraf can hold the office maximum till 15 March 2008.

How can/will President Musharraf meet the eligibility criteria for a Presidential candidate

It is a very difficult question. The matter can be defined in two ways, A) Present situation as president was declared eligible in 17th amendment and the chief justice of Pakistan administered oath from him. That gives him cover for the present term only. The basic spirit of the constitution can not be changed even by the parliament. The constitution of Pakistan guarantees religion Islam, independence of judiciary, basic fundamental rights and democracy. A president in uniform is a contradiction of democracy. The 17th amendment was an exceptional case now the parliament can not pass an amendment to enable a person in uniform to be the president.

B) If President Musharraf sheds his uniform then he has to wait for two years, but there is a constitutional hurdle-the president can not hold the office for more than two terms. The term of the presidential office is five years and two terms mean ten years. If the constitution restricts a person to hold the office for more than two terms, the spirit is that one man can not be president for more then ten years. If the parliament elects President Musharraf again, to the office of president, his total tenure will be thirteen years, which is against the spirit of the constitution.

Muhammad Wasi Zafar
Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights

Can President Musharraf be elected for his next 5-year term by this Parliament - when the Parliament expires before Musharraf's term?

Yes president Musharraf can be elected by the present assemblies rather it is constitutional obligation on the present assemblies to elect a new president if they complete the tenure. The term of the president and the tenure of the assemblies end simultaneously-15 November 2007.

According the constitution the election to the president is mandatory 30 to 60 days before the end of the presidential term while the elections of the assemblies are to be held within 60 days after the expiry of term. The law is very clear on this point that the assembly is bound to elect the president if the office falls vacant by any reason or the term expires.

If there is going to be a Presidential election during this National Assembly's term, what constitutional and legal changes have to be made?

There is no need of making any amendment in the constitution or the as General Musharraf fulfills the requirement to become the president.

When does the present tenure of President Musharraf end - and when should he seek re-election?

The present tenure of president Musharraf ends on 15 November 2007 and the constitution says that the new president should be re-elected 30 to 60 days prior the end of term.

How can/will President Musharraf meet the eligibility criteria for a Presidential candidate

President Musharraf meets the eligibility criteria for the presidential candidate. The amendment in the law has clarified that he is not holding the office of profit. He can come for re-election if he wants so.

Aitzaz Ahsan
Member National Assembly,
Former Federal Minister for
Law and Parliamentary Affairs

Can President Musharraf be elected for his next 5-year term by this Parliament - when the Parliament expires before Musharraf's term?

An assembly elected for the term of five years can not elect a president for ten years. (The terms of the assembly and the president are ending simultaneously).

If there is going to be a Presidential election during this National Assembly's term, what constitutional and legal changes have to be made?

For getting another term in the office of president while in uniform, General Pervez Musharraf will have to amend the constitution with a two third majority and the bar in article 43 will have to be removed. General Musharraf can not retain office beyond November 16, 2007. While retaining his uniform, General Musharraf does not have support of two-thirds majority in the House. For this purpose he will have to massively rig the next general elections to get the required number of seats in the parliament. If so happens, there will be a Katmandu like situation and not even a king can face it.

When does the present tenure of President Musharraf end - and when should he seek re-election?

The tenure of General Musharraf ended on October 12, 1999 when he was removed from the office of Chief of the Army Staff. He can not seek re-election and his present tenure is illegal and unconstitutional.

How can/will President Musharraf meet the eligibility criteria for a Presidential candidate

He can not meet the eligibility criteria. His very occupation of the office of the president is illegal and unconstitutional.

Hafiz Abdur Rehman Ansari
Former President Lahore High Court Bar Association

Can President Musharraf be elected for his next 5-year term by this Parliament - when the Parliament expires before Musharraf's term?

Neither Mr Musharraf was elected before nor can he be elected this time. It was his uniform that provided him the opportunity to rule the country. Otherwise he has no right to call himself as president. Mr Musharraf has been administered oath for the office once after Referendum. Secondly, at the time when he issued the Office Order and thirdly after the 17th amendment. The term of the Assemblies is expiring most probably in October 2007.

If there is going to be a Presidential election during this National Assembly's term, what constitutional and legal changes have to be made?

First of all, constitutionally Mr Musharraf has no right to be elected as President. Constitution does not allow him to do so and for holding the President Election the interim setup will have to be formed in which Mr Musharraf should have no influence.

When does the present tenure of President Musharraf end - and when should he seek re-election?

This is all up to Mr Musharraf as what time he wants to quit. Mr Musharraf took charge of the country and become the President. I do not think that Mr Musharraf wants to be re-elected as President if the whole nation is against him.

Khawaja Tariq Rahim
Former Governor Punjab,
Former MNA and State Minister


How can/will President Musharraf meet the eligibility criteria for a Presidential candidate

Mr Musharraf is a government servant and can not hold the office of the President. The only solution for him to continue as President is by enforcing Martial Law. Other wise, neither the constitution nor principles of democracy allow him to stay on as President. He continues to be President because of his uniform and as soon he quits his army office, the Parliament will also be lost with him.

Can President Musharraf be elected for his next 5-year term by this Parliament - when the Parliament expires before Musharraf's term?

This has two aspects; first of all if there is the question of getting legitimacy on national and international level to stay in power with uniform then this is not possible. The second aspect is that an assembly elected for the term of five years can not elect a president for ten years. Morally it will be incorrect to seek re-election for a further period of five years especially in the circumstances when European Union and other international monitoring bodies have stated that the electoral process of 2002 was flawed. The US and international community for this very reason are insisting that the election of 2007 should not only be fair and transparent but honest too thereby implying that the election of 2002 did not meet the standard of honesty. Further, there is clear constitutional bar on the President seeking re-election since the president is holding an office of profit. The 17th amendment only gave him a certain time from this can be extended beyond Oct. 2007.

If there is going to be a Presidential election during this National Assembly's term, what constitutional and legal changes have to be made?

I have already stated that a President also having an office of profit could not possibly avoid disqualification mentioned in article 62 and 63 of the constitution. If the ruling party is adamant as it appears from the statement of the Chief Minister Punjab that the President would be re-elected from the same assembly, then it should be reminded that the President get elected by an electoral college consisting of the National assembly, Senate and the four provincial assemblies. If any one constituent of this college is not in existence then the election can not take place. MMA is major coalition partner in Balochistan and is running the government in NWFP. If one or two provincial assemblies are dissolved then how can we hold the Presidential elections? But as Mr Musharraf has repeatedly assured, both inside and outside the country, that the elections will be held in 2007, he will be morally bound to do the same which he has promised.

When does the present tenure of President Musharraf end - and when should he seek re-election?

The President has committed internationally and within Pakistan that fresh elections will be held in 2007, the question whether the president can seek re-election depends on the result of the fresh election which may not be of the same nature which had been maneuvered and managed in 2002. History is witness that once any national leader was isolated from the people, that chapter was closed. Take the example of late Zia-ul-Haq, Ms Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. They were all isolated and lost all room in the power corridors. At this time only PMLQ and MQM are supporting him otherwise he also stands isolated.

How can/will President Musharraf meet the eligibility criteria for a Presidential candidate

Musharraf can not meet the eligibility criteria. Amendment in the Constitution will be needed for facilitating this. And to do that, a two-thirds majority is required which this government does not enjoy at the moment. If President Musharraf wanted to prolong his tenure then he can do so only forcibly. Musharraf can continue his current status but only after suspending the constitution. Otherwise he has no moral or constitutional legitimacy. A government servant cannot be elected and the Article 63 of the constitution also keeps him away from the power corridors for a period of two years. In the present scenario Mr Musharraf cannot fulfill the criteria for a Presidential Candidate.

Islamabad July 7, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has expressed grave concern over the roughing up of a former Army officer and his family by a serving military officer using the clout and muscle of an intelligence agency over a petty play filed dispute among school going children.

Following a petty playground dispute between minor and teenagers, including reportedly the son of a senior officer of an intelligence agency in Islamabad last week two cavalcades of official vehicles bearing green number plates and carrying sleuths of an intelligence agency ransacked several houses in the neighbourhood before kidnapping a retired Brigadier, his daughter in law and a grandson. The raiding marauders were led by a serving Army major who called himself major Tipu.

In a statement today the former Prime Minister said she was shocked beyond measure over this display of lawlessness by serving officials as if they were goons of a private militia.

The former Prime Minister demanded the holding of a parliamentary inquiry into the incident over the gross abuse of office and disciplinary action against all those involved.

She also demanded that the name of the senior officer in the Agency at whose behest a former military officer and his family were publicly humiliated should also be disclosed besides punishing him severely. She said that the issue will not die down easily and will be agitated at different forums until justice is done to the aggrieved families both civilians and ex-service men.

Mohtarma Bhutto warned that any attempt to cover up the incident behind any other pretext would not succeed. She said that in the case of Tando Bahawal incident in 1992 also the bid to cover up was foiled by the relentless pursuit of the gory incident by free media.

It may be recalled that in 1992 in Tando Bahwal nine villages were killed by an Army Major in cold blood at the behest of a landlord of the village who wanted to grab their lands. The agencies at first claimed that those killed were enemy agents caught just before blowing up a power station. Later it turned out to be a case of a cold blooded and pre-meditated murder of innocent men and women by men in uniform.

She noted that the regime came into action only when a former army officer addressed a SoS to the army chief to ‘restore my dignity as an ex-army officer’. It had done nothing to assuage the hurt pride of the civilian victims as if they had no dignity and respect to be restored. "This is manifest double standards that can only breed contempt and is not acceptable".

The former Prime Minister also urged human rights bodies to raise their voice against the shameful conduct on the part of sleuths of the intelligence agency.

Islamabad July 6, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has expressed shock and grief over the brutal murder of Abul Samad Achakzai of the Pakhtoon Khwah Milli Awami Party in Quetta and asked the regime to immediately apprehend the culprits and punish them according to the law of the land.

Abdul Samad Achakzai and his guard were ambushed by assailants near Quetta on Tuesday and sprayed with bullets as a result of which both died.

In a statement the former Prime Minister said that it was most condemnable that the regime had abdicated its responsibility to protect the life, honour and property of citizens and was wasting time only in machinations to perpetuate itself in power. People are being killed on roads in broad daylight and in bazaars but the regime has failed to apprehend culprits, she said.

The former Prime Minister demanded of the regime to hold a judicial inquiry into the killings and arrest of the culprits. She also prayed for a place in heaven to the victims of the assassins’ bullets.

Islamabad July 6, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has thanked all those who have sent her messages of solidarity and support in the struggle for the restoration of democracy and for building a prosperous and democratic Pakistan.

Mohtarma Bhutto received a large number of messages from different walks of life on the Black Day (July 5) when the first directly elected Prime Minister was overthrown by a military dictator and later executed. Those who sent messages condemned the overthrow of a democratic government by the dictator and also pledged support to Mohtarma Bhutto in her struggle for the restoration of democracy and getting rid of the bonaparts.

In a statement today Mohtarma Bhutto said that she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of feelings of the people on the Black Day and wished to thank all the democracy loving people for expressing their solidarity and support.

"The sentiments of support expressed by the people has strengthened our resolve to continue the struggle until victory", she said adding, "The day is not far off when dictatorship will be banished for ever".

Islamabad, 5 July 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has denounced July 5 as black day in the history of Pakistan. In a message on the occasion she said that with the signing of Charter of Democracy the dictatorship will end for forever.

Following is the text of her message on July 5, which the PPP observed as black day.

"July 5 is a black day in the history of Pakistan. It was on this day in 1977 when a military dictator struck in the middle of the night to overthrow a democratic and popularly elected government.

"What followed thereafter is a sordid and unfortunate tale of destruction of democratic state institutions, decimation of the judiciary, usurpation of fundamental rights and disenfranchisement of the people of Pakistan. A reign of terror was let loose, innocent people were flogged and hanged merely for political dissent and ethnicity and sectarianism were deliberately promoted by the usurper to create an artificial constituency for perpetuating his rule.

"The ugly legacy of the military dictatorship culminated in a society where drugs and guns flourished known as the kalishnikov culture. The military dictatorship, believing in divide and rule, created ethnic and sectarian parties to spread bloodshed and fear in the country.

"Corruption flourished with the creation of dollar Generals who exploited the Soviet presence in Afghanistan to line their own pockets. Siachen Glacier was lost while the dictator watched cricket and films.

"The dictatorship promoted and patronised the most extreme religious groups that went on to form Taliban and Al Qaeda and plunge the world into a most dangerous situation with suspicion against Muslims rising globally. The Universities were destroyed as intellectual debate was prohibited and secular minded professors denied promotion. It was a brutal, barbaric period in the history of Pakistan, which will forever be a black chapter to warn future generations of the ills of military intervention.

"Most sordid was the cold blooded torture that was carried out of youth that with courage raised the flag of democracy. Hundreds of thousands were arrested in stages, thousands were whiplashed, women were taken to dark dungeons. Innocent young men, parliamentarians and press were tried by summary military courts, spread-eagled in a medieval fashion and whiplashed shaming the regime with its extreme despotism and fear of the public. Military summary courts were created to hand out death sentences to PPP and other democratic supporters who were then hanged. The decisions were taken by the military dictator individually and personally and then rubber stamped by his subordinates in the military courts.

"The dictator did a great disservice to religion when he exploited the fair name of Islam to provide a cover for some of the most oppressive measures of the usurper. "Today the dark clouds of military dictatorship once again envelop the country as another military adventurer exploits the situation in Afghanistan for his personal benefit. However, history proves that dictatorships do not last when the people have a will to oppose it and to fight for the truth.

"The Charter of Democracy has been signed which is a public vow by mainstream parties to banish dictatorship and end the military’s role in politics. Repeated military interventions was unacceptable. Military colonialism was unacceptable. Let us all work towards the realisation of the goal set out in the Charter of Democracy. Let us all also raise our voices to bring about the dawn of democracy.

"On this day the Pakistan Peoples Party workers salute Quaid e Awam and all those who gave their lives during the trial and terror the Zia military dictatorship to keep alive the flame of democracy which still burns brightly despite all the attempts to extinguish it by using state force and repression.

"At the end of the day, it is not the sword that triumphs but the ideals that win. Inshallah, the days of dictatorship will soon end."

Islamabad, 5 July 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party has filed an application with the Chairman National Accountability Bureau against General (r) Javed ashraf Qazi, General (r) Saeeduz Zafar and General (r) Hamid Butt for involvement in corruption and corrupt practices causing huge financial loss to the National Exchequer in the purchase of Chines locomotives.

The petition filed by Advocate Mohammad Aleem Abbasi on behalf of the PPP claims, "The respondents were facing charges of buying 69 locomotives from China on suppliers credit at an amount of $ 98 Million (Rs 5.96 billion approximately) without even trying to know that the locomotives could not operate in Pakistani environment / conditions."

It also says, "Secretary Railways, Mr. Shakeel Durrani informed in categorical terms to the sub-committee of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee that rules were seriously violated when the deal was struck with China. "Had I been the Chairman Railways at that time, I would have never gone for a such deal". Thirty three locomotives out of 69 Chinese locomotives had developed faults as the deal was struck in 2002 and the locomotives were brought to Pakistan only to become inoperative within couple of years."

The petition reads, "Some of the most deadliest recent rail accidents occurred due to the Chinese locomotives and bogies as they could not run on the Pakistani tracks mostly dating back to the era of British Raj."

The issue was raised in the meeting of the sub-committee of Public Accounts Committee and after hearing the arguments from the Secretary Railways Mr. Shakeel Durrani, passed a judgment for senior’s release saying "though there was misconduct in the procurement of locomotives, the then administration had made the deal in good faith, therefore, this issue stands settled".

"Although this deal played a role to murder and injure the passengers on the rail tracks in accidents and Secretary Railway Mr. Shakeel Durrani informed in categorical terms that rules were seriously violated. As the Audit representative stressed in another meeting of the Sub- Committee of Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee published in daily "The Dawn" dated 27-5-2006 that the Law Ministry had clearly stated in the recommendations sought by the sub committee of Public Accounts Committee that NAB could proceed against retired army officers involved in corrupt practices during their services under section 9 of the NAB Ordinance 1999", the petition reads.

The petition has called upon the Chairman, National Accountability Bureau, to initiate investigation in connection with matters set out herein above and further proceed to file a Reference against the respondents for violating the provisions of Section 9 of the Ordinance punishable under Section 10 of the Ordinance in competent court of law and proceed against those concerned for violating Section 9 of the NAB Ordinance 1999.

BUDGET 2006-7 came and went, passed by parliament in a record 17 days, with a great deal of sound and fury, most of it having brought little relief to the inflation-hit incomes of the Pakistani consumer. The government ignored the basic issues confronting the silent majority and instead focused its energies on silencing the opposition in parliament by repeatedly accusing it of criticising the recent budget for the sake of criticism.

The facts, however, reveal a picture that is actually worse than what the opposition has been able to convey through its limited resources. First of all, it is a little disingenuous to say that parliament had any role in the budgetary proposals, as a democratic parliament would in India, where the whole process lasts 75 days. But that is a little quibble compared to other issues. This time, in complete defiance of parliamentary practice, and Article 171 of the Constitution, the budget was presented without a preceding Auditor General’s Report for any department.

While many of us repeatedly asked for an explanation from the largest cabinet in the history of Pakistan, at no point was it answered by the treasury, and at no point did the Speaker of the National Assembly press the government for an answer. He preferred instead to have our microphones turned off and allowed treasury shouting to drown out dissenting voices, saying on record that it spoils the atmosphere in parliament to raise these issues.

Secondly, for the first time again, parliament was given no adequate answer when one of the largest departments of the interior ministry, Nadra, went suddenly missing from the Demands for Grants and Appropriation document, which basically lists in detail each ministry’s granted expenditures, revised spending and next year’s demand for funds. When this was queried on the seventh day of the budget session, the deputy speaker at least directed the finance minister, Omar Ayub, to provide an answer, but none came. Ayub was at least embarrassed to mumble that Nadra had become self-reliant, which, of course, he knew as well as anyone else, was a non-response.

When it was pointed out that Nadra’s expenditures can be detected all over the budget documents under other heads, like military pensions and cabinet expenses, no answer was given again. The fact that one of the largest public dealing departments of government had suddenly become self-reliant was not enough to stop proceedings or commit to an inquiry, but also that when Nadra’s misappropriations in the last Auditer-General’s reports worth several billions of rupees were brought up, no inquiry was promised by the Speaker or the relevant minister.

Thirdly, parliament was given no credible answer as to why the defence budget had climbed to Rs 250 billion officially, when if one includes pensions and other heads like garrison and cantonment expenditures, the real figure comes to Rs 312 billion, especially when the sound PPP policy of peace with India was being pursued.

But most importantly, even when parliament debated and discussed this budget as best as it could, most of it remained still outside its purview, as the bulk represented charged or fixed expenditures which were non-negotiable. For a Rs 1.3 trillion budget, parliament was presented a statement of Authorised Expenditure for 2006-7 worth Rs 3.4 trillion on the last day, which included a domestic debt retirement figure of Rs 1.7 trillion. This last amount is larger than the announced total budget of Rs 1.3 trillion for the budget, and represents a large proportion of the fixed or charged expenditure of Rs 2.1 trillion on the Federal Consolidated Fund.

This huge figure was explained by the finance ministry as a traditional accounting procedure where the total private debt of Rs 1.7 trillion was shown under charged expenditure whereas the budgeted figure of Rs 1.3 trillion included only the one-third of domestic debt that needed retirement this year. If this is the case, then my question about the total foreign debt being represented as Rs 56 billion with foreign debt retirement as Rs 48.7 billion should also be clarified as total debt incurred by Pakistan or the percentage needing retirement this year.

Because of all the contradictions in the budget documents, it would have been better if the regime had not continued to leave the Federal Bureau of Statistics without a director for the last three years. This is one of the key places where statistics are fudged, and base years changed in order to project high GDP.

No answer was given to the question about the integrity of statistics being undermined and how the new per capita figure of $ 847 was inflated by artificially lowering the population growth rate to 1.2 per cent, (since per capita is calculated by dividing GDP by the total population). But problems with the population growth rate suddenly going down from the 2.6 per cent, when all independent estimates project it at as much higher than the new official figure, were also never explained.

Lastly, this budget represented one of the largest deviations from this regime’s own stated goals of reducing fiscal expansion and indebtedness. One of the biggest problems facing ordinary people is the price of essential commodities and daily household goods. In the face of rising poverty and unemployment, what we have is an economy that is being run on a set of glaring paradoxes, which include low income and high consumption fuelled by consumer financing; low revenue and high public expenditure; and low deposit rates and high lending rates with a banking spread of 7.75 per cent. Instead of protecting the growing number of poor people, the government has chosen to reward an importers’ mafia through its subsidies and celebrated a growth plan that will only make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

The other problem is that given that deficits are inflationary, no structural attempt was made to address the massive fiscal deficit at Rs 373 billion. The ballooning current account deficit and the alarming trade deficit all point to a very dangerous trend where Pakistan’s reserves can become meaningless in the face of sudden devaluations driving a collapse along Mexican lines, where the economy sank in a matter of days despite dollar reserves.

In fact, the current $13 billion forex reserves, which accrued due to September 11 aid inflows and the kerb buying of $ 18 billion by the State Bank, cannot buy Pakistan more than six months of imports if push comes to a shove.

One of the biggest canards making the round is about the end of government borrowing to sustain its expenses. In fact, the government claimed last year that the begging bowl had been broken by repaying debt and ending aid dependence. So can it explain the new World Bank loan worth $ 6.5 billion that it is congratulating itself on? Or the four billion dollars coming in from the ADB and $ 400 million sought from Japan.?

The fact of the matter is that Pakistan is now securely in the grip of a debt cycle never witnessed before. The military-led regime is taking loans from the commercial market at much higher interest rates than the IMF ever charged. If one studies the fine print in the Economic Survey, it is clear that even for this year external debt and liabilities have gone up to $36. 557 billion for the first nine months of this fiscal year, showing a rise of 0.723 billion. And none of these rises ever went through parliament, as the Fiscal Responsibility Law required.

Because of this profligacy in government borrowing, foreign debt servicing has also gone up from Rs 45 billion to Rs 48 .7 billion. So all foreign debt trends in absolute terms show an upward graph. Domestic borrowing for this year (as opposed to the Rs 1.7 trillion total domestic debt incurred) has also gone up to Rs 58.8 billion from last year’s budgeted figure of Rs 34.1 billion, which itself represents a huge jump in government borrowing at commercial rates.

This year’s supplementary budget document, presented a week after the official budget, provides over-spending estimates to the tune of Rs 217 billion, and in tiny point size at the bottom of the debt page admits the growing burden of debt servicing due to borrowing in market treasury bills at high interest rates with a total appropriation of Rs 10 billion under the head servicing domestic debt.

As for the trumpeting on foreign direct investment, privatization remains the only major source of foreign investment for this government, but all of it has been non-transparent and controversial. In any other country, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Steel Mill privatisation as irregular would have prompted the downfall of an accountable government. But not in Pakistan, where the NAB is authorised to spend Rs 21 lakh a day to pursue political opponents of the regime while ignoring corrupt practices in government. What is problematic is that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, privatisation proceeds are being spent on meeting deficits in current expenditure.

Last year’s non-transparent sale of Pakistan’s assets generated Rs 90 billion, which was used to finance two billion rupees worth of bullet-proof Mercedez’ and Rs 776 million on servicing VVIP aircraft. No elected government could afford to use privatisation proceeds like this. An accountable government would have to use the income to retire public debt, not fund junkets and domestic VVIP movement costs, which alone cost the nation Rs 1.2 billion this year.

Although there is need for the state to spend on its officials and for a few limousines to ferry top officials, this kind of spending has never been seen before.

Islamabad, 4 July 2006: The PPP has called upon the chief minister Punjab to stop criticising the PML(N) for joining up with the PPP in the ARD democracy platform.

The leader of opposition Punjab Assembly and Punjab President of the Party Mr. Qasim Zia said in a statement today that it was a case of sour grapes as Q league had been desperate to join up with the PPP since 2002.

Qasim Zia said that PML(Q) leader Ch. Shujaat (first cousin of cm

Punjab) had repeatedly said that the Q wanted to have an understanding with the PPP and that he Shujaat had personally gone to the house of PPP vice president Makhdoom Amin Fahim in 2002 to make the offer. Chaudhry Shujaat made this statement several times on the floor of the house as well as outside the house. However, PPP had not wanted to join the military dictatorship.

Similarly many feelers were given by intermediaries for the PPP to consider seat adjustment with the Q league. However, PPP was uncomfortable with the Q league for many reasons including that it was supporting military dictatorship, rigging elections, and misbehaving with women protestors and cracking down on opposition rallies as illustrated by the reception of Asif Zardari at Lahore airport.

The PPP Punjab President said that rigging by the chief minister Punjab Pervaiz Elahi would be difficult in the next elections because of the unity of the ARD and because of the presence of foreign observers. He said that in a one to one contest, the Q league would be wiped out as proven by the local election results of all the major urban areas of Punjab after stage two namely Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faislabad, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Multan etc were q lost to the combined opposition. It had to resort to forcing defections to take some of these centres.

Qasim Zia said that the local elections were an eye opener. The general elections would be a flood gate where a lamppost would win against those opportunistic, selfish, greedy land mafia, steel mills plunderers, sugar cartels and regime of adventurers who had lost the opportunity to make Pakistan a self reliant, independent state respected in the world community. Instead they had put the chains of debts on the feet of unborn children simply so they could loot and plunder the country through sugar cartels, land mafias, stock market manipulations and other shabby tactics including the privatisation at throw away prices of national assets which had seen large scale retrenchment of the work force as well as a drop in tax collections.

The morally bankrupt Q league is nothing more than the bootlickers of generals put together by intelligence agencies and its only pastime is to abuse their office to factionalise other political parties. They forget that the individuals who defect are nobodies. It is the parties, their ideas, their manifesto, their mission, their courage and integrity to fight for a righteous cause that gives the parties the strength. The entire nation will see how their will be a tidal wave of support for freedom and an end to poverty and exploitation when the next elections are held and people will vote for a lamp-post rather than for the shameful defectors without conscience or morals or integrity. Even the civil servants, police officers, judiciary, military will be difficult to exploit as because other than a handful the rest will listen to the call of the motherland to be saved and not to the illegal orders to rig elections to keep a corrupt coterie which has sold out vital national interests such as the constitution, nation building, self reliance through debt repayment, eradicating poverty through developmental schemes for their lust of power.

Islamabad July 2, 2006: A meeting of the ARD was held on the 2nd July 2006, at Four Seasons, Park Lane, London and adopted a number of resolutions ranging from forcing Musharraf to resign to resignations from Assemblies in association with other political parties to ensuring the return of Mohtarma Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif and call for abandoning the new GHQ in Islamabad as waste of national resources.

Following are the resolutions adopted at the ARD meeting.

RESOLUTION – 1
The meeting recalled that politically motivated, false and fabricated cases have been instituted against the political leadership in the opposition Parties and leadership.

The meeting called for accountability of all officials involved in the abuse of the due process of law, perjury, violation of fundamental rights and the misuse of State funds in pursuing these cases. The NAB and its operators have been siphoning huge State funds to hound, malign, harass and defame Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto at home and abroad on charges that have not withstood the test of judicial review.

The meeting demanded that all politically motivated cases against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and other political leaders be withdrawn immediately and those living in exile be allowed to safely return home. Further demanded the release of Makdoom Jawaid Hashmi, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Afaq Ahmed Khan, Bismilla Khan Kakar, Junaid Buland and others.

The meeting affirmed that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mr. Mohammad Nawaz Sharif shall return to Pakistan before the general elections and cautioned the regime that any attempt by them to subvert there home coming will be resisted by the people of Pakistan.

RESOLUTION – 2
The meeting viewed with grave concern the state of the Federation, engulfed by internal civil strife. Where intra provincial disharmony threatens the very fabric of the Federation. Where in the absence of the NFC Award the Provinces feel deprived. Where in violation of the Constitution the Council of Common Interest, "which is the cornerstone of the Federal structure." (Supreme Court) has not been constituted for the past seven years, there by denying the protection of the rights of the Provinces.

The meeting expressed concern that political questions and issues are being quelled by State force. The crises in Balochistan is political, the peoples are demanding fuller participation in the affairs of the Federation and their legitimate economic, political and cultural rights.

The meeting berated the regime for branding the Baloch leadership as unpatriotic. It questioned the right of the establishment to issue decrees on patriotism and called on the regime to place before Parliament any material related to implication of foreign involvement as alleged by them.

The meeting recalled, a Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan was formed, which made recommendations on the political and economic reform of the Province. None of the recommendations have been implemented to date. It is evident that the powers that be do not seek a politically negotiated settlement of the issue.

The meeting condemned and demanded an immediate halt to the use of State force in the Province. The meeting further expressed concern on the use of gunship helicopters and the random arrest and disappearance of citizens of Pakistan by the security agencies.

The meeting called for a national dialogue to address the questions and concerns of the peoples of Balochistan with respect of their economic, political and cultural rights. It maintained that time was of the essence and each passing day further vitiates the atmosphere of political polarisation and takes the country to a point of no return.

The meeting reaffirmed its commitment to combat terrorism in all its form and manifestations.

The meeting stated that the regime is unrepresentative, therefore, it is unmindful of the sensitivities of the people in general and in the area of its military operations in particular.

The meeting noted the failure of the regime’s policy from the fact that it reverted to the Jirga after heavy loss of human life. The regime is responsible for the violation of human rights and the loss of life of innocent men, women and children in Waziristan and other tribal areas of the NWFP. The meeting condemned the brutal execution of journalists, Hayatullah and others. It further condemned the "disappearance policy" of the agencies.

The meeting reaffirmed that terrorism and extremism are a by product of military regimes and can best be combated by a democratically elected Government.

RESOLUTION - 3
This is a dictatorship of vested interests in which a clique of industrialists, bankers, stock brokers, land grabbers, large landowners, civil and military bureaucrats have benefited. The cost has been paid by the middle to low income groups, the millions of retrenched workers and teeming unemployed. The economic program of this regime is akin to Field Marshal Ayub’s in which wealth was concentrated in a few hands, giving rise to 22 families. Today wealth is concentrated in a few big business houses and the market players are in control of political offices, in terms of being Members of Cabinet. The seeds of a people’s revolution have been sown, as the class struggle in Pakistan has been sharpened.

The economic policies of this regime are designed to make Pakistan a client state of consumer market. Therefore, domestic production be it in industry or agriculture has declined.

That a record trade deficit of nearly $ 10 billion coupled with a ballooning current account deficit which is not sustainable.

The economic polices of this military dictatorship have led to retrenchment, economic suicides, squeeze of middle class and lower middle class, price hike and inflation thus forcing people to sell their bodies, people dying from drinking contaminated water, unemployment due to privatization, the capitalists being restored the right to hire and fire, creation of cartels and promotion of cronyism.

These cartels have captured unprecedented economic powers. The sugar cartel, cement cartel, Stock Exchange and the oil companies have maximized profits at the cost of the common man.

The privatization policy of the Musharraf regime is non transparent and a failure. It has resulted in the creation of cartels for the benefit of monopolies in Pakistan. The privatization of the Pakistan Steel Mills and other profitable enterprises have been sold at throw away prices. The privatization proceeds have been used to finance the fiscal deficit instead of retiring national debt.

After the privatization of the KESC, Karachi faces the worst electricity crises in its history. The foreign owners of KESC have failed to make an investment of $400 million in the system. Consequently all residential areas of the city are facing power break downs of over eight hours, which is also affecting the supply of water. The industrial units in the city are being shut down causing further unemployment and not allowing the industry to meet its export targets. The shops have been ordered to close at 7.00 p.m thus affecting business. Karachi has become a city without water, electricity and law and order.

The ARD condemn the increase in the prices of essential commodities which has become unbearable for the common man whose purchasing power has decreased. The people face mini budgets every fifteen days as the prices of petroleum products are increased. Similarly, the charges of utilities are also frequently enhanced. No economic remedy has been provided in the budget for controlling the price hike. The regime’s solution for controlling prices through supply of essential commodities in the Utility Stores is not practical as these cannot cater for more than 5 % of the population. There are total of 380 Tehsils in Pakistan out of which 182 Tehsils do not have utility stores. There are about 6,300 union councils in the country and only about 200 have outlets which are mainly in the big cities. In contrast to the misery of the common people we have the regime over-spending Rs 1.2 billion in foreign trips in addition to the allocated amount of Rs 1 billion by the PM and General Musharraf . At the same time an amount of over Rs 50 crores has been spent on the VVIP aircraft and an amount of more than Rs 60 crore were splurged on the import of ten Mercedes Benz for the luxury of the ruling Generals and politicians.

The meeting demanded that the new General Head-Quarters project in Islamabad is a waste of national resources and should be abandoned immediately.

There has been a huge increase in both the external and domestic loans. There has been a net increase of over Rs. 800 billion in domestic loans during this regime.

Some of the Chief Ministers announced that they have empowered General Musharaf to announce a new NFC award due for finalization in 2002. In view of this a Presidential Order has been issued conferring a new NFC award. This order is illegal and unconstitutional under Clause (4) of Article 160 of the Constitution.

RESOLUTION - 4
The meeting noted that the privatization of the Pakistan Steel Mills has exposed the corrupt manner in which national assets are being sold by the military regime. The abuse of office has once again been highlighted.

1. The Supreme Court decision in the matter of the privatization of the Pakistan Steel Mills has vindicated the position of the ARD on the issue.

2. The ARD noted that the Supreme Court in its short order stated that: , ", the process of privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation stands vitiated by acts of omissions and commissions on the part of certain State functionaries reflecting violation of mandatory provisions of law and rules framed thereunder which adversely affected the decisions qua prequalification of a member of the successful consortium (Mr. Arif Habib), valuation of the project and the final terms offered to the successful consortium which were not in accord with the initial public offering given through advertisement."

The indictment against the military dictatorship is complete. Therefore, the meeting demanded the resignation of General Musharraf and the Prime Minister by 31st July, 2006, failing which a vote of no –confidence shall be moved against the Musharraf regime.

RESOLUTION – 5
Military dictatorship has brought the Federation of Pakistan to the precipice when all but one road leads to strife, chaos and the threat of disintegration. The Federation today is at war with its peoples and itself. The regime today uses brute and naked state force in a war against its own people who demand their constitutional, economic, political and cultural rights. Provincial autonomy has been denied through the 17th Amendment. By placing various provincial laws in the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule One Unit was virtually resurrected.

Parliament’s sovereignty is vetoed by the NSC. Parliament is denied the right to legislate, to formulate policy or to protect the rights of the federating units or interceding in the grave political crisis facing the Federation. The Parliament is denied the right of information on Government polices, its voice is irrelevant to the regime. The Parliament is denied the right of accountability of the regime and has been excluded from the process of decision making. Parliament has been reduced to a rubber stamp for the Chief of Army Staff who unconstitutionally occupies the Office of the President.

General Musharraff’s usurpation of the Presidency and attempts at perpetuating himself in office are violative of the Constitution. The holding of the Referendum and the change in the electoral college make a mockery of the Constitution. The law, "The President to Hold Two Offices Act 2004," is ultra vires of the Constitution. Pakistan is a unique example where a serving Chief of the Army Staff is also the President of the Country against all democratic norms. This violates the oaths of both the Offices as prescribed by the Constitution.

Its actions demonstrate that the military regime will not hold free, fair and honest elections. The Referendum, the 2002 general elections and the Local Bodies elections 2001 and 2005 were rigged beyond imagination. The Election Commission was made redundant through intelligence-sponsored conspiracies helped by para-military forces to further the political agenda of General Musharaff. Instead of confirmation, the removal of the Acting Chief Election Commissioner after he ordered re-election in the rigged bye-election of Jacobabad, is one example. Refusing to consult the major stake-holders on the constitution of the Election Commission as a whole another. The rigging in the recently concluded bye-elections proves the helplessness of the Commission before the state functionaries in furtherance of the General’s political agenda. The preparation of fresh voters list under the present dispensation can only lead to the addition of more bogus votes.

The meeting questioned the regime’s declarations regarding provincial autonomy and came to the conclusion that; · The water dispute between the Provinces was further exacerbated by the regime which continues to violate the provisions of Article 154 in refusing to form the Council of Common interest for the settlement of the water dispute. · The powers of the Provincial Assemblies to legislate have been curtailed as the Police Order 2002 has been placed in the Sixth Schedule. Law and Order is exclusively a provincial subject. · The tenure of the Provincial Assemblies rests in the hands of the President as the Governor can dissolve them only after his approval. · The National Finance Commission Award has not been finalized and the Provinces are being denied their due share in resource distribution. · A federal police force is being created in the Province of Balochistan. · General Musharraf openly presides over provincial Cabinet meetings.

An Assembly elected for a five year term has no moral, political or legal justification to elect a President for a term of ten years. The ARD will forcefully oppose any such move on the part of this illegitimate regime.

The Federation faces turmoil and internal strife. It is experiencing the unprecedented murder of journalists, extra-judicial and target killings of political workers and police personnel, crippling price hikes, unemployment, redundancies, load shedding, intra provincial disharmony and a continuing violation of the Constitution. In order to save the Federation the meeting calls upon:

All moderate and democratic political forces to forge an alliance, irrespective of their Party positions on various internal and foreign polices to:

To exert pressure on General Musharaff to resign for refusing to restore democracy. § To call for the formation of a government of national consensus to hold free, fair and honest elections within 90 days. § To call for the repeal of all discriminatory election laws, to ensure even playing fields and the implementation of fair election proposals. § To be ready to resign from the Assemblies, in consultation with other Opposition Parties, should General Musharaff seek to elect himself from the present Assemblies. § To ensure the return of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mr.Mohammed Nawaz Shariff and vow to resist any attempt on the part of the regime to prevent or take into custody the popular leadership on their return. § To wage a decisive struggle inside and outside Parliament for the achievement of these objectives.

RESOLUTION- 6
The meeting of ARD expressed sympathy with the families of the victims of Nishtar Bagh, Karachi tragedy and suspected that Sindh Government is involved in the incident and is guilty of obstructing the investigations and protecting the culprits. The meeting demanded removal of Governor Sindh for fair and transparent investigation of the incident.

RESOLUTION - 7
The meeting of ARD condemned the incident of attack on Christian youth in Islamabad by a security agency on 15th June, 2006. It demanded proper investigation of the incident and legal action against the culprits.

Islamabad July 4, 2006: A spokesman of the Pakistan Peoples Party has issued the following statement today.

"Pakistan Peoples Party distances itself from the remarks made by Ms Fauzia Wahab, a member of National Assembly wherein she implicitly criticized a female provincial parliamentarian who was a target of gender discrimination in the province of Sindh.

"Instead of showing solidarity with the women of the country who are subjected to gender discrimination, Ms Wahab seemed to echo the military dictatorship’s line that women who do not dress properly invite harassment. This is a view shared by the so called virtue police supported by the extremists. Further, traditionalists have often claimed that women are subjected to harassment should keep quiet rather than give "a bad name to the country or to the family.

"This is contrary to the moderates who believe that there should be zero tolerance towards gender harassment and that bigots should be put on notice that Islam proclaims the equality of men and women. Therefore women have a right to their dignity and self respect and those rights must be defended by society at large.

"It may be recalled that Ms Fauzia Wahab, the PPP MNA in question from the PPP, while talking to the media remarked that the victim should not have blown the issue so much. She also stated that elected women should wear decent dress. Earlier a leading human rights organization had complained in writing of anti women rights views of Ms Wahab.

The Party had given Ms. Wahab the opportunity to clarify her remarks that women invite actions against them but she chose not to claiming that’s what she believed. It is therefore clear that Ms. Wahab has deviated from the Party policy for reasons best known to her.

The Party however, wants the women of Pakistan to know that the views of Ms. Wahab have nothing to do with the Party policy, the spokesperson said.

Pakistani military have a mind set of their own. They believe in claiming victories while surrendering their arms in humiliating defeats. They have lost almost every war fought since independence, their so-called finest performance pertains to frequent conquests of their own people who have kept them well-fed, fat and flabby by starving themselves.

We have suffered their blatant occupation, usurpation of the democratic rights of the people and exploitation of country’s resources to fill their coffers. By selling Pakistan’s vital interests, compromising on issues of life and death for the country, they have reduced national pride, its honour and patriotism. When the head of a state hands its citizens to foreign predators of new global imperialism, he deserves to be known as the person who would sell his mother to fill his pockets with dollars.

The generals scavenged Pakistan and its poor masses through corruption that, according to foreign experts, “will take years just to catalogue it.” Their acquisition of vast tracts of state-owned land at nominal rates, their domination of businesses and industries, ranging from banking to cereal factories to manufacturing of undergarments and even bangles—has made them the unchallenged usurpers of national wealth. Their control of the economy has grown so great it will present an enormous challenge to any future democratically elected government to free it from their stranglehold.

As one of the senior retired generals put it the other day that a soldier never dies, they assume they are in a battle when they are not and prefer to sleep with their uniforms on as General Pervez Musharraf declared it in his defence of retaining the army chief’s uniform. Besides the use of the gun to keep their people subdued, their other extensively employed weapon is psy war. It is a weapon employing lies to overwhelm truth, to brain wash people, to blind them from seeing the reality and to character-assassinate their political opponents.

General Musharraf’s failures is desperately making last ditch efforts including unleashing of a dirty tricks war on his arch political rival former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The most recent internet circulation of a digitally fabricated photograph of a lady in a short skirt with a caption: “Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on her birthday” is more of the same propogandathe Generals used since the time she entered politics in 1979 to oppose the General Zia dictatorship and to complete the mission of her Shaheed father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who lost his life ushering in an egalitarian socio-economic order for the greatest good of the largest number of his people.

Indeed, even most strong condemnation of such a slanderous attempt to undermine Pakistan’s most popular and internationally respected political leader would not be enough. It is reflective of the sick and depraved mindset in its basest macho spirit that most of our Bonapartist Praetorians have hidden behind their glittering medallions and ribbons acquired by them without performing any feat of genuine dare. No wonder the dirty tricks operation by Musharraf’s intelligence apparatus has been shown a boot of contempt by every one who received the computer forged pictures being circulated on the net. “The regime has sunk to the lowest depth of degradation resorting to this kind of forgery and character assassination”,” said the PPP vice Chair Makhdoom Amin Fahim in a statement issued by him after he was shown the superimposed, forged picture. One would fully share the views expressed by Makhdoom Sahib that such dirty tricks emanating from the military regime only revealed sickly souls and deceased minds behind “glittering medallion and shining ribbons” masquerading as so-called champions of moderate Islam and enlightened moderation.

On various occasions—whenever under public pressure—similar psywar methods were used to undermine the growing popularity of the Bhutto ladies. Makhdoom Sahib has rightly recalled that during Zia days the agencies had constantly tried to paint Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as unpatriotic by circulating forged letters purported to have been written by her to some foreign dignitaries. However, in terms of dirty tricks the Musharaf dictatorship had surpassed even its predecessor, he said. Obviously this is nothing but a sure sign of panic in the dictator’s camp where his band wagoners have started passing sleepless nights on learning about the determination of Bhutto’s valiant daughter to return home, come what may, to participate in the 2007 elections. “Do whatever dirty they need to save their house of cards, the Bhutto tide is on its way and Musharraf cannot save his regime from being swept away.”

While agreeing with Makhdoom Amin Fahim that such slander deserves to be condemned by all and sundry alike, it also needs to be pilloried at the bar of the people since "Islam condemns slander in the strongest terms”. “Never before the national and international laws were so flagrantly violated and never before a regime had sunk so low in morality to heap dirt on Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who is not only the most popular leader of the country but has also been the twice elected Prime Minister and the first woman prime Minister anywhere in the Muslim World”, he said. Besides, Makhdoom Amin Fahim reminded that Hazrat Ayesha Bibi (May peace be upon her) was also subjected to a campaign of slander but the perpetrators did not succeed in their designs. He said that Mohtarma Bhutto is also not deterred and will continue to fight the dictators and Bonapartists.

Well-informed sources have disclosed that this picture was circulated by ISI, what one would like to know is its ultimate purpose. If past was any experience for them, they would know it well that its circulation would hardly undermine Ms Bhutto’s popularity. In that case, the other suspect objective could rather be more alarming. It is both aimed at inciting the genuine fanatic into provoking him to act against her or it could also be used as an excuse by the regime’s intelligence apparatus to act on their own physically against her and then put the blame on any unknown fanatic. If the regime has any iota of decency then it should hold an inquiry into it since it clearly violates Pakistani laws that prohibit slander and fabrication. The international community too should put pressure on Musharraf not to resort to such brigandage. He should not be allowed to stoop so low to incite the fanatics in the traditionalist Islamic society by playing the Islamist card. Circulating of such material also poses a threat to one’s life because fundamentalists could be provoked into “upholding Islam” by eliminating some one who is a Muslim bringing disgrace to it by dressing “immodestly”. Most Muslims would find hard to understand that but bigots and obscurantist are brainwashed into believing they must defend Islam from those who violate Islamic injunctions and for them wearing clothes exposing flesh is considered to be violation of Islamic law.

Islamabad July 4, 2006: Senator Farooq Naek of the Pakistan Peoples Party has strongly condemned the hounding of former Senator Amanullah Kinrani Secretary Information of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) by state agencies ever since he was forcibly disembarked from a PIA flight on Wednesday on way to London for participating in the ARD moot on July 2.

Senator Amanaullah Kinrani who had been nominated by the JWP President Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti to represent the Party at the ARD meeting in London was not allowed by the regime to take his flight on Wednesday after he had been issued the boarding card and the luggage checked in.

Kinrani was in Islamabad today to appear before the Supreme Court in some cases when he found himself chased by gun wielding security sleuths in three official vehicles in the federal capital. The JWP leader later submitted an application in the apex court for the protection of his fundamental rights urging that his life and honour be protected from the hounding sleuths of intelligence agencies.

In a statement today PPP Senator Farooq Naek denounced the hounding and said that it amounted to violating the fundamental rights of Amanullah Kinrani to move around freely for the performance of his professional duties.

Farooq Naek said that the military rulers had turned the country into a police state in which the agencies were allowed a free hand and were acting as a state within state. The regime was seeking to re-write the political landscape through the agencies’ intimidating apparatus, he said.

He said that the security apparatus had run amuck under Musharraf and it was important that they were brought under some law.

He also asked the regime to stop harassing and intimidating the JWP leader Mr. Amanullah Kinrani.

Islamabad July 4 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan People Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari have condoled the death of father-in-law of Dr. Babar Awan.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a condolence message to Dr. Babar Awan, wrote, "Senator Asif Ali Zardari and I are writing to condole the sad demise of your father-in-law. The loss of a family member is a great tragedy. Our sympathies are with you at this difficult time."

She also prayed for the eternal peace to the deceased’s soul and courage to the bereaved family and friends to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.

Islamabad July 3, 2006: Senator Farooq Naek of the Pakistan Peoples Party has strongly condemned the hounding of former Senator Amanullah Kinrani Secretary Information of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) by state agencies ever since he was forcibly disembarked from a PIA flight on Wednesday on way to London for participating in the ARD moot on July 2.

Senator Amanaullah Kinrani who had been nominated by the JWP President Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti to represent the Party at the ARD meeting in London was not allowed by the regime to take his flight on Wednesday after he had been issued the boarding card and the luggage checked in.

Kinrani was in Islamabad today to appear before the Supreme Court in some cases when he found himself chased by gun wielding security sleuths in three official vehicles in the federal capital. The JWP leader later submitted an application in the apex court for the protection of his fundamental rights urging that his life and honour be protected from the hounding sleuths of intelligence agencies.

In a statement today PPP Senator Farooq Naek denounced the hounding and said that it amounted to violating the fundamental rights of Amanullah Kinrani to move around freely for the performance of his professional duties.

Farooq Naek said that the military rulers had turned the country into a police state in which the agencies were allowed a free hand and were acting as a state within state. The regime was seeking to re-write the political landscape through the agencies’ intimidating apparatus, he said.

He said that the security apparatus had run amuck under Musharraf and it was important that they were brought under some law.

He also asked the regime to stop harassing and intimidating the JWP leader Mr. Amanullah

Islamabad July 3, 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party has strongly condemned the forcible disembarkation of former Senator Amanullah Kinrani Secretary Information of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) from a PIA flight today to prevent him from participating in the ARD moot in London on July 2.

Senator Amanaullah Kinrani had been nominated by the JWP President Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti to represent the Party at the ARD meeting in London for signing the Charter of Democracy.

Kinrani arrived at Lahore airport Wednesday morning to take PIA flight PK 777 for Glasco and was given boarding card and his luggage checked in. As Kinrani was proceeding towards the departure lounge the immigration authorities at the airport received some urgent message from somewhere and Kinrani was stopped and told that he was not allowed to go abroad.

The JWP leader protested and said that although his name has been placed on the Exit Control List, he had already been given a one-time permission to leave the country on June 20. He also showed the official permission to the immigration authorities but was not allowed to proceed to the departure lounge and board the aircraft.

In a statement today spokesman of the Party said that this was a desperate act on the part of the military regime that had become unnerved ever since the Charter of Democracy was agreed to between the two major parties of the ARD.

He said that the JWP represented the ARD in Balohcisan and as such it was a proof that the JWP wanted a political solution to the problems of Balochistan in particular and that of the country in general.

Denying the JWP the opportunity to play its political role the regime was denying it the opportunity to be in mainstream national politics and forcing it to adopt non-political means for the resolution of political problems. "This can only spell disaster for the federation", he warned.

The PPP calls upon the military regime not to squeeze the political opposition and immediately allow Amanullah Kinrani to proceed to London for attending the ARD meeting. He said that such high handedness and strong-arm tactics will not deter the ARD from pursuing the Charter of Democracy.

"If anything it has strengthened the resolve of the democratic forces to pursue the goal of correcting the civil-military imbalance and banishing military bonaparts from the politics for ever".

The Party also urges human rights bodies to raise their voice against this highhandedness, the spokesman said.

Islamabad July 3, 2006: Central Information Secretary, PPP, Sherry Rehman has demanded that the National Accountability Bureau be disbanded if it cannot take action against the people involved in the Pakistan Steel Mill's irregular privatization.

Given the loss to the country's exchequer of Rs 18 billion in this transaction which was overturned by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, why has NAB not acted to arrest the culprits in this whole episode, which stinks of bad governance and underhand dealing by key players in the process, asked Rehman. In any other country, such an important decision by the apex court would have prompted the downfall of the government, if not the Minister involved, as it constitutes a strong vote of no confidence in the regime's governance.

Why is the NAB now not asking how the price of the Steel Mill land was reduced overnight, and to benefit whom? Why is not asking how the land valued at Rs 90 billion by its own Union was sold at a throwaway price of Rs 21.6 billion? Why is NAB not asking probing questions about the speed with which the decision to unload it was made, or how a decision was made to transfer 75 % of the behemoth's assets on 25 % payment? Why are there no queries on the absence of a guarantee in the Share Purchase Agreement by a Mauritius based company which was operating as a cover for some unknown bidders? Why is the privatization process for other units like Habib Bank and PTCL not being probed when it is clear that no rules of transparency and due process were followed in the Steel Mill sale?

If NAB can spend Rs 21 lakh per day on its expenses, as the new budget for this year tells us, then it should act in the public interest to bring all public wrong-doing to account. If NAB cannot act even at this stage, and its only job seems to be to persecute the military regime's political rivals, then it cannot be allowed to squander public money to meet private goals, she said.

It seems that NAB is only set up to function as a witch-hunting organization, which spends more than Rs760 million a year chasing elected popular leaders without anything to show for it. It harasses the genuine leadership while letting the corrupt protected by the military regime go scot free, she added.

It is clear that there can be no accountability in this country until NAB is disbanded and a new anti-corruption body set up to conduct across-the-board investigations in the public interest, said Rehman. Right now it seems that there is one accountability law for the political opposition, and another one for the cohorts and surrogates of this military regime.

Islamabad, 2 July 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party is holding a seminar "Fighting Terrorism – Promoting Democracy" at hotel Marriott on Tuesday the 27th June 2006 at 5:00 pm.

The Seminar would be presided over by Makhdoom Amin Fahim. Notable and distinguished social and political leaders would address the seminar.

Islamabad June 25, 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party has strongly condemned the dirty tricks campaign of the military dictatorship against the former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by issuing computer forged pictures of her and circulating it on the net.

Pictures showing the face of Mohtarma Bhutto superimposed on that of a model were circulated on the net Sunday that the Party has been informed is the work of intelligence agencies.

In a statement today the PPP vice Chair Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that the regime had sunk to the lowest depths of degradation in resorting to this kind of forgery and character assassination.

He said that such dirty tricks emanating from a regime only revealed sickly souls and deceased minds behind glittering medallion and shining ribbons.

The PPP vice chair recalled that during the days of previous military dictatorship of General Zia also the agencies had tried to paint Mohtarma Bhutto as unpatriotic by circulating forged letters purported to have been written by her to some foreign dignitaries. But in terms of dirty tricks the Musharaf dictatorship had surpassed its predecessor, he said.

He said that the regime had resorted to these tricks as it was frightened by Mohtarma’s determination to return to the country and take part in the elections.

"But such dirty tricks cannot stem the tide of the people", he said adding also, "nothing can save the Musharraf regime".

Makhdoom Amin Fahim urged the people of Pakistan to strongly condemn the latest dirty trick campaign by the regime. "Islam condemns slander in the strongest terms and this slanderous campaign must be condemned in the strongest terms".

Never before the national and international laws were so flagrantly violated and never before a regime had sunk so low in morality to heap dirt on Mohtarma Bhutto who is not only the most popular leader of the country but has also been the twice elected Prime Minister and the first woman prime Minister anywhere in the Muslim World, he said.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that Hazrat Ayesha Bibi (May peace be upon her) was also subjected to a campaign of slander but the perpetrators did not succeed in their designs. He said that Mohtarma Bhutto is also not deterred and will continue to fight the dictators and bonaparts.

Islamabad, July 2, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has expressed concern about the failure of the military regime's budget to address underlying economic problems. Mohtarma said that the PPP believed that democracy and development went together. The golden era of the PPP government where there was unprecedented investment, job creation and social development was testimony to the fact that only representative government could deliver the goods to the people.

She was addressing the expatriate community in Dubai today on the occasion of her birthday celebrations where tribute was paid to her determination, courage and perseverance in the cause of democracy, justice and the emancipation of the people from backwardness and poverty.

She said that the overthrow of the PPP government led once again to power shut downs, water shortages, drop in agricultural production, and increase in poverty, price hike and a growing trade deficit.

The former Prime Minister said that the military dictatorship had given a budget noted for its timid approach to the deep economic malaise. She said the regime lacked the ability to identify or address the causes of inflation or to bridge the gap between rich and poor.

In particular she was critical of the sky rocketing increase in the price of essential commodities that make up the average home in Pakistan. She said that the high rise in the prices of commodities such as sugar would hit every middle class and working family as well as the labour and peasant class.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that the regime had earned a lot of free money selling the projects built by the Quaid e Awam and the PPP, which included national assets like Pakistan Telecommunications. But she said that the regime had failed to use this money to retire debt. Without retiring debt, she said that people of Pakistan would continue to be stuck in the poverty cycle.

She said that trade and current account deficits have increased making the economy vulnerable to a sudden shock. Moreover, the freefall of the Pakistani rupee continued whereas under the PPP government the rupee had remained largely stable without affecting exports and making imports cheaper.

It was surprising given the initiatives the military regime had taken unilaterally with regard to India, making several proposals departing from UN resolutions as well as initiatives with Israel that defence expenditure was being increased. The security of the country was dear to every citizen however, in the name of security could not be exploited to keep the people forever hungry and poor especially after the country had deterrence through nuclear power thanks to the Bhuttos and the PPP.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that the military regime has a habit of making announcements with regard to funding for the Public Sector Development Programme, which is simply eyewash. She said the record of the regime shows that the amount under development is not utilised and the money spent elsewhere. With regard to the attempts to increase the income from taxes, the former Prime Minister noted that the regime wants the people to pay 17 per cent more in taxes than they did last year. A large amount of this money is to be raised through the imposition of a 2% tax on property sales. She said that it was not right for the central government to earn money from the sale of property. She said that rightfully the revenues from property should go partially to the local governments and partially to the provincial governments in the spirit of devolution and autonomy.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that by taxing heavily at the federal level, the regime left little for either the provinces or the local councils to raise. However, she said, that many of the basic needs of the people, including sanitation, clean drinking water, health, education, maintenance of canals and roads was the responsibility of the provinces and the local councils. She said that these basic amenities were in a frightful and dangerous state of affairs, with drinking water and sewerage water pipes getting mixed up through rust and leakage, roads had potholes in them or the tarmac had worn off, hepatitis, aids and other terrible diseases were on the rise and the authorities responsible for them were being denied funds.

She said that sales tax was the right of the provinces and they should be allowed their constitutional freedom to raise revenues from sales tax without this too being gobbled up by the centre.

She noted that while the taxation rate for salary groups was reduced, its benefits could not be accrued due to imposition of tax on gross salary, including benefits.

The former Prime Minister said that the regime had given a budget full of steam with little substance. She called upon the people of Pakistan, inside and outside the administration, to seize their destiny in their own hands and to vote for the PPP and its allies in the coming general elections. She noted that the regime relied on the civil and military bureaucracy, as well as the police, judicial and intelligence officers to do rigging. She said that such personnel should look at the misery around them and answer the call of their conscience by refusing to rig elections so that the people could bring change in the country for relief from the sufferings they endured socially and economically. She said that every citizen of the Federation of Pakistan must now come forward to strengthen the hands of the PPP and its allies to save the country before the fire from Balauchistan and Waziristan spread to other parts of the country and threatened its very territorial integrity and right to live as an independent nation state.

Islamabad July 2, 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party has asked Law Minister Wasi Zafar to stop terrorising a senior lady officer in the Law Ministry and also asked the NAB to arrest the Minister for gross abuse of office as it did with the PPP workers after arresting and torturing government servants.

According to press reports the ordeal of the victim Saira Karim, a BS 21 officer of the Law Ministry, started when she questioned making payments out of the Human Rights fund of the Ministry to 560 people from Minister Wasi Zafar’s constituency. She was rebuked and humiliated by the Minister for not complying with his illegal orders. The Minister has now ordered inquiry against the victim officer in violation of the rules and bypassing the Prime Minister.

In a statement today Deputy Parliamentary leader of the Party in the National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the NAB has been torturing government officials to give perjured evidence against the PPP leaders but in this case it was looking the other way as the lady officer was being threatened and harassed for not bowing to corrupt demands.

He said that the NAB was protecting institutionalised corruption on the one hand and using the NABO against political opponents to keep an illegal and unrepresentative regime in power, on the other.

It is a mockery of law and justice that the Minister should seek to dole out public funds solely to his constituents and the NAB should look the other way, he said.

Islamabad July 2, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has expressed concern over the mysterious disappearance of Dr Safdar Sarki, a political activist of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) a nationalist group who was kidnapped earlier this year reportedly by members of the intelligence.

In a statement today the former Prime Minister said that although PPP does not share the political views of JSQM, it believes that every individual is entitled to protection under the law.

She said that it was a matter of great concern that cases of mysterious disappearances were on the rise. No one must be incarcerated let alone tortured or killed for his or her political beliefs no matter what they might be, she said. Even those who have committed the most heinous crimes must be brought before the courts and no one held in habeas corpus, she said adding, "That is what the rule of law is all about".

The case of Dr. Sarki was brought to the attention of the PPP by Pak Origin Americans as Dr. Sarki is based in America.

Mohtarma Bhutto noted that a constitutional petition has been filed before the Sindh High Court but Dr Sarki has not been produced before the High Court, she said.

Recently two international human rights organizations, including the US State Department country report, mentioned that the Pakistani judiciary is susceptible to governmental pressure.

Reportedly several men in civilian clothes, one of whom is suspected of being a senior police officer kidnapped Dr Sarki from Karachi in the middle of the night. He was pushed into a van and he had been blindfolded.

The Pakistan Peoples Party called for the immediate release of Dr. Sarki and for following the due process of law, the former Prime Minister said.

Islamabad July 1, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has vowed to "write history with our sweat, blood and tears to ensure that our people can have a glorious future at peace with themselves and with their neighbours".

She said this in a message to the Party workers on the occasion of her 53rd birth day falling onWednesday June 21.

She said that throughout the triumphs and tragedies of long years she had never wavered in the commitment to a democratic Federation and for the emancipation of the people from hunger, disease, illiteracy and unemployment.

Paying tributes to the workers she said, "Together we have faced bullets, tear gas, baton charges, imprisonment and together we have stood strong".

Our unity, our faith and our discipline enabled us to succeed against one dictatorship. Inshallah the day will soon dawn when we succeed against the present military dictatorship, she said.

Following is the text of her message
"I take this occasion to thank the Party workers who are observing my birthday.

"The Party workers and I have traveled a long distance together from the dark days of the coup d'etat by General Zia ul Haq.

"It was the arrest and imprisonment of Quaid e Awam which led to my involvement in politics. In those days I never imagined that this would be a lifelong commitment. We all hoped that our struggle would lead to the release of Pakistan's popularly elected Prime Minister. It was not to be.

"During my last meeting with Quaid e Awam, I pledged to continue his mission for a democratic Federation and for the emancipation of the people from hunger, disease, illiteracy and unemployment.

"Throughout the long years, with its triumphs and tragedies, I have never wavered in the commitment that I made on that fateful day. For this I have to thank you, my brothers and sisters, who have stood shoulder to shoulder with me in facing tyranny.

"Together we have faced bullets, tear gas, baton charges, imprisonment and together we have stood strong.

"Our unity, our faith and our discipline enabled us to succeed against one dictatorship. Inshallah the day will soon dawn when we succeed against the present military dictatorship.

"For me the workers of the PPP are the true strength and treasure of the Party. Your political awareness and your commitment is acknowledged world wide.

"I take pride in the jiyalas of the PPP who have kept the banner of truth, justice and the people flying high.

"On this occasion, I call for the immediate release of PPP leaders Yusuf Raza Gillian, Bismillah Kakar, Junaid Bulund as well as for the release of the Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and other members of the ARD who are behind bars.

"I think of all our leaders, including former Chief Minister Abdullah Shah who have endured many a cold winter of exile. They are entitled to return to their country in safety.

"I think of those who are on the Exit Control List and cannot exercise their fundamental right of travel.

"Most of all I think of the downtrodden and desperate people of Pakistan

who are looking for light at the dark end of a tunnel, who dream of a better future for their children than the ones that they have seen.

"To them I say that the PPP workers are your voice and your strength. We will stand by you through thick and thin. We will complete the mission of Quaid e Azam and Quaid e Awam whose life was dedicated to giving each of our citizens’ respect, dignity and honour, which can only come through social and economic emancipation.

"Inshallah we will write history with our sweat, blood and tears to ensure that our people can have a glorious future at peace with themselves and with their neighbours".

Islamabad: July 1, 2006: PPP-P Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman has expressed deep anguish over the gruesome murder of missing journalist Hayatullah Khan in the North Waziristan tribal area.

We all stand in solidarity with the aggrieved family of this brave journalist, and hope that his survivors find the strength to bear their irreparable loss with fortitude, she said.

She condemned the killing of the journalist by terming the incident a direct result of the disastrous policies of the present government. At no point had Hayatullah Khan broken any law nor left any stone unturned in the honest discharge of his sincere duties and stood with unflinching resolution in the face of suppressive and oppressive forces, she said.

Rehman warned that this incident carries a powerful message to the press and civil society in Pakistan by the mere fact that it signals the regime's callousness as well as brutal intolerance for free speech or independent action. It is indeed a black chapter in the history of Pakistan's fundamental freedom record when three journalists including Hayatullah, have been murdered in cold blood in the tribal areas while attempting to report on the operations from that part of the country.

It is both tragic and chilling that half of Pakistan has become a no-go zone for journalists, civil society and common citizens, and we get no information on what is going on in huge swathes of the country which are either under military occupation or security lockdowns, she added.

Rehman also questioned the strange and irresponsible response of the regime when asked to investigate the heinous killing of Hayatullah Khan. Unfortunately, when parliament had asked for Hayatullah's protection when he was kidnapped initially, no action was taken by the Interior Ministry nor any interest taken in his fate. If the regime is indeed innocent of this crime then it should have no problem opening up this investigation to a bipartisan probe committee Rehman asked, suggesting that further delays will only deepen the suspicion on charges levelled by the victim's family who have squarely held the military and its security agencies responsible.

The PPP demands an immediate probe into the matter, added Rehman and asked why the regime is delaying sending a fact-finding mission to the area.

Words of Shaheed