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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 th