July 2007

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The Rediff Interview/Benazir Bhutto
 

 

July 2007

Mohtarma Bhutto condoles death of King Zahir Shah


Islamabad July 24, 2007: Former Prime Minister and chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has condoled the death of former Afghan monarch Muhammad Zahir Shah.

Former King Zahir Shah who King of Afghanistan for 40 years after being deposed in a bloodless palace coup in 1973 died Monday at the age of 92 in Kabul.

In a condolence message the former Prime Minister said that King Zahir Shah’s policies were liberal, progressive and humane even though his rule was also occasionally marked by political instability. She said that the late King had extensive experience of government having served in different capacities including as privy counsellor, deputy war minister and minister of education.

She said that the late King would be remembered for promulgating in 1964 a new constitution, which established parliamentary democracy and stripped the royal family of many of their traditional powers, and for allowing a free press and free elections. It was a wise move by the late King to rule a country in which 20 languages were spoken, and which had never been moulded into a cohesive nation and had serious problems.

She said that Zahir Shah tried to maintain good relations with tribal leaders that prevented the outbreak of conflict within the country. In foreign policy he carefully treaded the path of balance in relations with the Soviet Union and the West, she said.

Mohtaram Bhutto said that the fact that Zahir Shah was recalled from decades of exile at a time of crisis in his country and given the title of ‘Father of the Nation’ showed that whatever his achievements and failings he was still an embodiment of Afghan political legitimacy.

Mohtarma Bhutto prayed for the soul of King Zahir Shah and for solace to the members of the bereaved family.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto pays glowing tributes to
Shaikh Rafiq Ahmed


Islamabad, 24 July 2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has paid rich tributes to late Shaikh Rafiq Ahmed terming him a father figure of the party in a letter addressed to his daughter, Mrs. Humera Rasheed.

Following is the text of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's letter.

"Senator Asif Ali Zardari and I are writing to express our deep sorrow and grief upon the sad demise of your great father Shaikh Rafiq Ahmed. He was a father figure of the Pakistan Peoples Party. May Allah bless his soul.

'Shaikh Rafiq was a stalwart of the Party whose courage, dedication, loyalty and enormous contributions to the PPP can never be forgotten.

'Coming from a working class background Shaikh Rafiq rose to be a lawyer and later a Federal Minister, a Senator, President of the Punjab PPP and Speaker of Punjab Assembly. He remained steadfast during the crucial years when General Zia was in power and party workers were being hanged and whip lashed and lady workers were being tortured in the notorious Kot Lakhpat Jail. During the darkest days of military rule when every attempt was being made to divide the Party and create phoney leaders, Shaikh Sahib took charge and held the fort for the PPP workers with great threat to himself and his family. His house was repeatedly raided, he was time and again arrested, when he could not work, his family faced dire situation but never put pressure on him to leave the Party.

'Throughout his life, when he agreed with Party policies or had differences, Shaikh Rafiq always maintained the unity of the Party. Indeed he was a key figure in my induction into and to rise to leadership of the PPP. I recall that it was Shaikh Rafiq who had presided over the Party convention in the Punjab to elect me as Co-Chairperson should Begum Bhutto be disqualified from public life. I have been informed that Shaikh Sahib's last wish was to see me elected Prime Minister of Pakistan for the third time as the Nation was facing its greatest crisis and the people were suffering untold misery through inflation and unemployment. In order to show his utmost sincerity, he would show visitors pictures of his long association with the PPP from the time of Quaid-e-Awam to mine. This gesture is simply unforgettable.

'At every turning point, Shaikh Rafiq was in the forefront of the Party's struggle until old age and ill health prevented him from actively participating. Yet even then he remained a source of encouragement and strength for the Party giving advice and mentoring younger Party members with his wealth of experience.

'Unfortunately Shaikh Sahib suffered many tragedies, which he faced with great dignity and respect. Such men as he who light up the political landscape with their clear thinking, vision, courage and determination are rarely found in the political history of our country. He was a principled man who never wavered in his commitment to his Party or to his leader and followed the path that Quaid-e-Awam had charted for a federal, democratic, egalitarian Pakistan where the people were the masters of their own destiny.

'Shaikh Sahib's sacrifices are a source of inspiration for the Party workers whose period of struggle in the face of authoritarianism still continues. The PPP workers have been subjected to numerous hardships during the past eight years as part of a policy to break the back of the most popular Party of the country. We owe it to leaders like Sheikh Rafiq that the Party workers have remained steadfast and have stood by the Party during its low phase.

'The PPP would continue to be guided by the ideals of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaikh Rafiq to pave the way for a representative and consultative system of governance in the country that reflects the democratic aspirations of the people of Pakistan. I hope that you and members of your family will continue the mission of your Father by supporting the Party with the same zeal and enthusiasm.

'Please accept our heartfelt condolences and convey the same to other members of the bereaved family.

May Allah rest Shaikh Sahib's soul in eternal peace and give you and members of your family fortitude to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity".

PPP upholds terms of Charter of Democracy


London, 24 July 2007: The PPP has taken a clear initiative in signing the COD, as well as formulating the ARD when its component parties needed support, including the PML N.

Central Information Secretary of the PPP, Sherry Rehman has said that instead of planting discord in the ARD, democracy would be better served if the N League stuck to the COD's aims of ridding politics of military interference.

The PPP has never cut any underhand deal with the military, nor has its leadership ever availed of an opportunity to flee jail. Its dialogue with the regime has been focused on steps for the restoration of democracy through constitutional means via a free and fair elections, added Rehman.

It was the N League, which has created a new alliance without consulting or obtaining consent from its partner in the ARD, not the other way round. It is in fact, the PPP, which continues to uphold the terms of the COD and preserve the ARD.

Rehman said that the ARD Chairman would call a meeting of the alliance under no terms from anyone, as most component parties still seek to adhere to the terms of the COD and no new charter crafted with a new alliance.

The PPP has made its position about allying with parties that are ambiguous about extremism very clear. The party sees religious militancy, suicide bombings and terrorism as a clear and present danger to the very survival of the federation, and will not lend its support to the politics of violence.

PPP condemns NAB notices to Syed Khursheed Shah


Islamabad July 23, 2007: Pakistan Peoples Party has condemned the fresh notices issued by NAB to PPP leader, former Minister and sitting MNA Syed Khursheed Sah as “putting pressure on political parties and political leaders just when elections are round the corner”.

Syed Khursheed Shah who in London in connection with Party meetings for the award of tickets for the forthcoming elections was summarily summoned by the NAB requiring him to appear before it on Wednesday July 25 along with his bank statements and other documents in support of his assets.

The PPP leader has cut short his visit to London and is returning to appear before the NAB authorities.

In a statement today a spokesperson of the Party said that the abrupt summons to Khursheed Shah by the NAB showed that the regime had once again singled out the PPP for victimization before elections.

“It is significant that the NAB’s move has come close on the heels of the interview by Chairperson Mohtarma Bhutto to the Sunday Times of London”. Mohtarma Bhutto said in her interview that with the restoration of the Chief Justice General Musharraf had lost all moral authority and any deal with him would be unpopular and damaging to the political party.

At a time when the Parliamentary Board of the Party is meeting in London to decide the award of tickets for elections, the summoning by NAB of a senior leader and member of the Board only shows how much the NAB is interfering in the electoral process, he said.

The PPP believes that elections can’t be fair and free unless the regime stopped using its coercive arms to manipulate polls process, he said.

He said that it was a sign of the weakness of the regime in the wake of reinstatement of Chief Justice that it had resorted to vendetta to brow beat opposition political leaders. “The NAB is mistaken if it thinks that the PPP can be brow beaten by such underhand tactics”.

Messages of felicitations on reinstatement of CJ pour in
Mohtarma Bhutto thanks well wishers


Islamabad, 23 July 2003: Former prime minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party has thanked all those who have sent her messages of congratulations on the landmark judgement by the Supreme Court of Pakistan restoring the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to his office.

Responding to the messages of felicitations Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said in her letter that the SC verdict was a triumph for the lawyers’ movement and especially for the PPP workers who made great sacrifices in life and liberty in showing solidarity with the Chief Justice. Its Lawyers wing and parliamentary leaders were the first to be baton charged, injured and maltreated when participating in the first protest called by the President of the Lahore High Court Bar Association. On the eve of judgement PPP workers were killed in a reception camp in a bomb blast when the Chief Justice was to address the Islamabad Bar Association, she said.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto wrote “ By restoring the Chief Justice and rendering military regime’s action unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has given hope to millions of people across the length and breadth of the country that in constitutional and legal matters which are disputed between the Opposition and the Government, the Supreme Court will act as an honest arbitrator in upholding the rule of law. This is the first decision that has been given by the Supreme Court against the Government at a time when the country is being ruled by an army chief. As such it will undermine the moral authority of the regime.

She further wrote “ We as a Party and Nation hope that in the coming days the obstacles in the path of the smooth functioning of the Constitution especially pertaining to the obstacles in the path of restoring the freedom of the people will be removed. Inshallah.

Praising the sacrifices of the workers she said, “I salute all those who laid down their lives in this struggle and to their families who will never get their loved ones back in this world. I also pay tribute to the lawyers’ community, members of civil society, the press and political workers who participated in the lawyers’ movement in sweltering heat and in violent conditions. The movement saw the tragedies of May 12 and July 17, 2007. Many loyal PPP workers laid down their lives and were martyred in our struggle for the restoration of constitutional supremacy and judicial independence. Although the loss of those who died has left a void, one must find solace in the fact that their sacrifice did not go in vain”.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party is heartened by the Supreme Court decision and sees it as a step forward for the rule of law and Constitution in Pakistan. I offer you my congratulations as the Nation rejoices”, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto concluded.

PPP supports the COD and the ARD


London, 23 July 2007: The PPP has taken a clear initiative in signing the COD, as well as formulating the ARD when its component parties needed support, including the PML- N.

Central Information Secretary of the PPP, Sherry Rehman has said that Instead of planting discord in the ARD, democracy would be better served if the N League stuck to the COD's aims of ridding politics of military interference.

The PPP has never cut any underhand deal with the military, nor has its leadership ever availed of an opportunity to flee jail. Its dialogue with the regime has been focused on steps for the restoration of democracy through constitutional means via a free and fair elections, added Rehman.

It was the N League which has created a new alliance without consulting or obtaining consent from its partner in the ARD, not the other way round. It is in fact, the PPP which continues to uphold the terms of the COD and preserve the ARD.

Rehman said that the ARD chairman will call a meeting of the alliance under no terms from anyone, as most component parties still seek to adhere to the terms of the COD and no new charter crafted with a new alliance.

The PPP has made its position about allying with parties that are ambiguous about extremism very clear. The party sees religious militancy, suicide bombings and terrorism as a clear and present danger to the very survival of the federation, and will not lend its support to the politics of violence.

Deal with Musharraf to damage PPP, says Benazir
By M. Ziauddin


LONDON, July 22: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has said that any deal with President Gen Pervez Musharraf in the present scenario will be damaging to her Pakistan People’s Party.

She said she is planning to return home early, tentatively in September.

In an interview published in the Sunday Times, she said the logic for a political deal that she had been contemplating with Gen Musharraf had been significantly weakened by the Supreme Court’s decision last week to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Any deal now with the general would be unpopular and damaging to her Pakistan People’s Party, she said. “He has lost his moral authority.

“His popularity rates are down and it would be very unpopular if we saved him. We would lose votes by being associated with him,” she said.

Ms Bhutto said the Supreme Court had reasserted the independence of the judiciary and the newly strengthened courts could topple Gen Musharraf through rulings on whether he could be appointed twice by the same assembly and whether he could continue to serve as both president and army chief of staff.

Critics said the real reason for the suspension of the Chief Justice had been that Gen Musharraf believed Justice Iftikhar would overrule his plans to be reappointed by the current parliament, in which he had a majority, rather than wait for a new assembly that was due to be elected by the end of this year.

The only circumstances in which Ms Bhutto might still consider an arrangement would be if she felt it necessary to guarantee fair parliamentary elections on time.

Ms Bhutto will wait to see if Gen Musharraf goes through with his plan to be reappointed by the assembly before deciding whether to abandon discussions with him.

She is, therefore, making plans for an early return to challenge plans by Gen Musharraf to secure a new term as president without waiting for elections.

Speaking in London, Ms Bhutto, who risks arrest on corruption charges on her return to Pakistan, said she felt that going home would be less hazardous than previously thought and she would make a final decision on the date next month.

“I said I would return by December, but now my people tell me we should go to court in regard to my return, and that I should come back as soon as possible, maybe in September. We will decide at a party meeting at the end of August,” she said. “I feel safer about returning after the Supreme Court’s decision.”

The reinstatement of the popular chief justice has left Gen Musharraf more isolated than at any time since he seized power in 1999.

This weekend Gen Musharraf was locked in emergency meetings with cabinet colleagues, plotting a strategy to save his leadership.

If he seeks a mandate from the current parliament but is overruled by the Supreme Court, he will be forced to hand over the presidency to a caretaker.

Ms Bhutto’s advisers are preparing to challenge his right to continue wearing his army chief’s uniform while serving as president, and are seeking to restore millions of voters to the electoral roll. They will also ask for a ruling on whether Ms Bhutto should be released if she is arrested when she returns to Pakistan.

Gen Musharraf’s strongest domestic ally in his war on the country’s militants has been Ms Bhutto. Despite public criticism of Gen Musharraf by US officials, they still believe that he is essential to hopes of restoring stability to the country. They also believe that he needs a deal with Ms Bhutto to make headway and restore democratic legitimacy.

The options:

A comeback by Benazir Bhutto: Likely, but she faces an uphill struggle to become prime minister again. She can nominate a colleague as prime minister while calling the shots as party boss.

Early election: Unlikely. Gen Musharraf will have to announce elections next week so that they can be held three months later, just before his term ends.

An army coup: Cannot be ruled out. There are rumblings in the ranks.

A return to barracks: Musharraf can choose to abandon politics, though his successor as president may regard him as a threat as chief of staff and pension him off.

Time for US to get tough on war-on-terror allies
David Cook - 19 July 2007


Lee Hamilton, one of Washington's wise men on national security issues, called for the US to take a firmer line with two key allies in the war on terror, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at Wednesday's Monitor breakfast.

"I think that our relationship with Pakistan needs to be reconsidered, reevaluated.... What has driven our relationship with Pakistan has been the fear that the alternative to Musharraf would be a radical government with a nuclear bomb. I think that fear is overstated.... I believe it is necessary for the United States to be able to go after the sanctuaries in Pakistan," he said.

When he was asked whether such action could cause the Musharraf government to fall, Mr. Hamilton responded, "It is a risk, and it is a risk I would be willing to take." The US also should be tougher in dealing with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on the need to meet performance benchmarks, Hamilton said.


"We have given him half a dozen deadlines. He comes up to the deadlines, and nothing happens. He doesn't do anything; nothing happens. Well, he has got that figured out. He doesn't need to pay attention to it, and he hasn't.... You have to have some enforcement mechanism, and I would not be too specific about what kind of enforcement," Hamilton said.

Hamilton, a Democrat, represented Indiana's Ninth District in Congress for 34 years where he served as chairman of the Committee on International Relations. More recently, he was vice chair of the 9/11 Commission and co-chair of the Iraq Study Group. Currently, he is a member of the president's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, the president's Homeland Security Advisory Council, and the FBI Director's Advisory Board,. As a member of the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, Hamilton had been briefed on the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) that the White House released Tuesday. The document, which offers the consensus view of the nation's intelligence agencies, said that Al Qaeda had found a "safe haven" in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

"The thing that is most worrisome to me about Al Qaeda is the sanctuary. It seems to me that, if anything, we have learned that we must not permit the terrorists to have a sanctuary from which to regroup, train, plan, and launch strikes within Europe or here or elsewhere," Hamilton said. On Iraq, Hamilton has not abandoned hope despite the major challenges the US faces there. "I still think there is a chance here. I don't know that I can quantify it. There is a chance that we can come out of this with a reasonable stability and a reasonable protection of the American national interest in the region," he said.


The former member of the House does not support congressional efforts to set a firm date for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. "I have not favored a rigid timetable. The Iraq Study Group report favored a goal," > Hamilton noted. "Once you set a rigid timetable it drives your policy. It becomes very inflexible. You can't respond to conditions on the ground. I understand, obviously, the political pressures for it but I don't think it represents good policy. Now having said that, if I were in the Senate ... I would give serious consideration to voting for it because I want to put pressure on the president to move, and I know he is not going to
accept the rigid timetables."

A lasting solution to the problem of terrorism requires dealing with the radicalization of Islam, Hamilton said. "The root of the problem then is how you get at this radicalization of Islam. I think we have to think far more deeply than we have and go far beyond a military and a law-enforcement, intelligence response.... if you are going to stop terrorism you clearly need to have vigorous law enforcement, intelligence, and military action. But I don't think it is sufficient," Hamilton said.

His view is that, "You have to figure out ways and means of approaching those [alienated] people and seeing if you can reduce, to a minimum, the alienation. And the depth of that alienation has to impress us all. These people hate us.... I don't think we solve the problem of terrorism without providing, if you would, a vision for these alienated people of what life could be like ... providing them, as we said in the 9/11 report, an agenda of opportunity."

PPP welcomes EU resolutions calling for free and fair elections


Islamabad July 22, 2007: Pakistan Peoples Party has welcomed the recent resolution of European Parliament calling for free, fair and democratic elections in Pakistan and warning against the imposition of emergency rule or adoption of other suppressive measures to stifle dissent.

In a statement spokesperson of the Party said that the PPP has all along maintained that the holding of free and fair elections was the only way out of the present political crisis.

The resolution adopted by the EU Parliament the other day also called upon General Musharraf "to respect the existing Constitution by allowing the new assemblies to hold presidential elections and by relinquishing his post of army chief, which he had previously agreed to do in an undertaking to the EU".

It recalled Article 1 of the Co-operation Agreement between the European Community which stipulates that 'respect for human rights and democratic principles...constitutes an essential element of this agreement'. It said that a series of constitutional amendments under the Musharraf administration have altered the political system in Pakistan and transformed governance from a parliamentary to a presidential one.

The EU resolution said that the military and the secret services exert undue influence in politics, government and the economy of Pakistan, which is contrary to the principle of the roadmap for the restoration of democracy envisaging that power would be transferred from the military back to a civilian administration.

The PPP spokesperson said that the role of secret agencies had also been exposed in the judicial crisis and it was time that the agencies were brought under the ambit of law and parliamentary scrutiny.

He said that the PPP welcomed the fact that the EU will monitor the parliamentary elections in Pakistan and has expressed concern over the lack of legitimacy of the future President of Pakistan if elected by the outgoing Assembly.

The spokesperson expressed the hope that the condemnation by EU of spate of disappearances in the country would put pressure on the regime to address the issue on an urgent basis.

Attack on PPP camp continues to draw widespread condemnation


Islamabad July 20, 2007: The bomb blast targeting the PPP reception camp in district Courts Islamabad on Tuesday continues to draw widespread condemnation from within and outside Pakistan.

The PPP Houston held a meeting to condemn the attack and to reiterate the pledge that the PPP would continue to oppose both the military dictatorship and the militancy.

President PPP Houston Hassan Raza speaking on the occasion said that the attack had not only targeted the PPP but it also was an attack on the country itself. The meeting offered deepest condolences to members and workers of Pakistan Peoples Party who lost their lives or were wounded in this dastardly attack. It also prayed for a high place in heaven for those who lost their lives. The PPP Houston also wrote a letter to Chairperson Mohtarma Bhutto condoling with her over the incident.


Hassan Raza said that growing terrorism can only be control through the restoration of democracy and promotion of culture of tolerance essential for the stability of the country.

The PPP Houston also demanded a thorough probe in the incident to expose the macabre faces behind it and bring them to beck.

In another condolence meeting the PPP California also denounced the attack on PPP camp and condoled with the members of bereaved families. President PPP California K. B Bhutto in a letter addressed to Mohtarma Bhutto said that such attack would not cow down the workers from continuing to oppose dictatorship in all its forms and manifestations, including the dictatorship of extremism and militancy.

The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance has also condemned the attack. In a letter to Mohtarma Bhutto the Chairman of the APMA Shahbaz Bhatti said the "All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) strongly condemns the brutal and horrendous act of terrorism". He offered condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones "in a coward and inhuman attack of bomb explosion that have killed innocent people and wounded several mostly PPP activists waiting to greet Chief Justice".

Religious minorities of Pakistan share the sorrows of grieved families and extend their prayers and sincere sympathies, his letter said.

"We are perturb at increased suicide attacks and terrorism in Pakistan but these terrorists can never achieve their devilish designs by killing or spreading fear nor can deter democratic and peace loving forces. Killings of innocent PPP activities and the blood of other innocent people will not go in vain rather it will strengthen and accelerate the struggle for restoration of democracy, supremacy of constitution and independence of judiciary".

Such acts of terrorism vividly show that the government is failed to maintain law and order situation and provide security and safety to its citizens that is the basic responsibility of every government, he said adding "the government must resign and form a care taker government of common censuses to hold free and fair elections".

The APMA also demanded the formation a judicial commission to enquire this tragic incident and to unmask the hidden hands behind this massacre.

Following is the text of Shabaz Bhatti to Mohtarma Bhutto.

 

Her Excellency,
Mohtarma Benzir Bhutto,
Chairperson
Pakistan Peoples Party.

Her Excellency,

We are shocked and grieved over the killings of innocent PPP members at the PPP reception camp out side the venue of lawyer's rally to be addressed by Chief Justice in Islamabad. All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) strongly condemns the brutal and horrendous act of terrorism.

I on behalf of all religious minorities of Pakistan extend our condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in a coward and inhuman attack of bomb explosion that have killed innocent people and wounded several mostly PPP activists waiting to greet Chief Justice. Religious minorities of Pakistan share the sorrows of grieved families and extend their prayers and sincere sympathies.

We are perturb at increased suicide attacks and terrorism in Pakistan but these terrorists can never achieve their devilish designs by killing or spreading fear nor can deter democratic and peace loving forces. Killings of innocent PPP activities and the blood of other innocent people will not go in vain rather it will strengthen and accelerate the struggle for restoration of democracy, supremacy of constitution and independence of judiciary.

Such acts of terrorism vividly show that the government is failed to maintain law and order situation and provide security and safety to its citizens that is the basic responsibility of every government. Moreover, it reveals government inability to control the situation and helplessness to stop the menaces. Therefore the government must resign and form a care taker government of common censuses to hold free and fair elections.

Her Excellency, APMA has issued statements to condemn this heinous act of terrorism. We have demanded the formation a judicial commission to enquire this tragic incident and to unmask the hidden hands behind this massacre.

I along with my colleagues visited wounded PPP members in the hospital and have extended our solidarity and prayers for their recovery.

We believe that growing terrorism can only be control through the restoration of democracy and promotion of culture conducive to the stability and prosperity of Pakistan.

With profound regards,
Shahbaz Bhatti,
Chairman,
All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA)

Mohtarma Bhutto welcomes Supreme Court verdict

Pays tributes to the martyrs in the cause of judiciary’s independence


Islamabad July 20, 2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has welcomed the Supreme Court verdict in the case of reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaoudhry as one of the most remarkable judgements in the history of the country’s judiciary.

The verdict will be long remembered as crucial in the struggle for the independence of judiciary, she said in her initial reaction to the verdict today.

Mohtarma Bhutto hoped that the verdict would not only be regarded as a giant step forward for ensuring independence of the judiciary but also for the supremacy of the Constitution and the Parliament.

She said that as the nation celebrates the triumph of the struggle for the independence of judiciary we should not forget the role played by the lawyers, the chief Justice, the civil society, the media and the political parties that fought the battle shoulder to shoulder with the lawyers’ community.

She said that if the Party’s demand that the Chief Justice be reinstated and the reference withdrawn had been accepted the nation would have been spared the agony of the loss of so many innocent lives.

She said that the nearly fifty people killed on May 12 in Karachi and seventeen PPP workers and others killed in Islamabad district courts on Tuesday last on July 17 were all martyrs in the cause of independence of judiciary.

“Those who were killed, maimed and suffered grievous injuries and those families who lost their bread earners and near and dear ones in this struggle deserve the gratitude of the nation for their sacrifices”. Their sacrifices will not go in vain she said.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that the struggle, which began with protests over the regime’s blatant bid to subjugate the judiciary had acquired new dimension that turned into struggle against dictatorship, restoration of the Constitution and for supremacy of the Parliament. She expressed the hope that the struggle will continue till the goal of complete restoration of democracy was achieved.

Recalling that a number of important issues bearing on the liberty and rights of citizens including that of missing persons awaited judicial review, she expressed the hope that the judicial activism demonstrated by the Supreme Court would continue in a healthy manner to restore the basic rights and rid the people of oppression.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that reference proceedings also brought into focus the role of the agencies that prepared reports that became the basis of reference against the Chief Justice. The fact that the Supreme Court threw out the agencies’ reports and banned the entry of intelligence officials in the Court premises has exposed once again these agencies and the need to hold them accountable.

PPP calls for ending the duality of control of the intelligence apparatus and bringing them under the ambit of Parliament and civil authority and making them accountable for their actions, she said.

The PPP would also give a detailed reaction after studying the verdict.

'PPP stands by the nation in critical times' - PPP


Islamabad, July 19, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party vowed to resist any attempt that threatens the stability of the country. In a statement condemning the terrorist attacks in Swat, Islamabad, Hub and Hangu during the past four days, the PPP pledged that it stands by the nation as the country faces the onslaught of extremist forces out to crush the morale of the nation.

More than 200 lives have been lost in a series of terrorist attacks carried out across the country in the month of July. The victims include civilians, political activists, army personnel and security forces. The Pakistan Peoples Party braved a suicide attack on its members at the reception for the Chief Justice of Pakistan in Islamabad on July 17, 2007. The attack directed at the party activists tragically killed several party members while many of the 34 injured lie in a critical condition.

Condemning the recent spate of terrorist attacks, Sherry Rehman the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, commented that these attacks are the outcome of years-long turmoil simmering under the dictatorial leadership in Islamabad that actively backed the extremist forces to stretch its own term in power. "Today these elements have assumed a monstrous face and have unleashed indiscriminate attacks on the entire nation. Even their supporters stand under attack today." Rehman said that the July bloodshed earns Pakistan the dubious distinction of being an example of how official support for extremism can bring the entire state down on its knees.

Rehman observed that the July 17 attack on the PPP camp was not surprising, "since the Party is known for its support for a democratic and progressive dispensation that reflects the choice of the majority of the people in Pakistan." She added that the July mayhem should be an eye-opener for the military leadership that has been harping on the "unity of command" formula to tackle the challenge of extremism. "For eight long years, the country has been functioning under the so-called unity of command system that also cobbled together a friendly political alliance for legitimacy. The result was that the nation became the worst victim of terrorism in the world."

Expressing her grief over the loss of over 200 lives that included valued members of the PPP during the July terrorist attacks, Rehman said that now is the time to decide if the blood loss should be allowed to go wasted or should this be used as an opportunity to pave the way for moderate forces to work in tandem with the nation to rid the country of the current mess. "The nation never voted for a military ruler to come to power and take all the decisions that has brought the country to the brink of a collapse. Today, the nation is paying the price for the rigged elections of the year 2002 that brutally sidelined the PPP that earned the public mandate to usher in a moderate era. Had the PPP been allowed to represent the nation at that time, the country would not have been going through yet another period of "critical times". Today the very unity of the country is under threat by forces of extremism and dictatorship"

Rehman pointed that the only way to bring some stability in the country rattled by violence and terrorist threat is to pave the way for free and fair elections. "We are confident that only transparent polls can facilitate a moderate dispensation that represents peoples' political and economic aspirations. Nobody has the right to play with the fate of 160 million lives and there has to be an end to the authoritarian and non-representative form of government that has been crushing the public will for decades now."

The Chairperson's message to all those who sent messages on Martyrdom Anniversary of Shahnawaz Bhutto Shaheed


I thank you for sharing the Bhutto family's grief on the tragic murder of my younger brother Shahnawaz Bhutto. Shahnawaz Shaheed was killed at the young age of twenty seven. He was in the prime of his life and had been fighting military dictatorship from the age of eighteen. He was in the forefront of the democratic struggle in Pakistan during the dark days of the Zia dictatorship. Shahnawaz followed the footsteps of Quaid e Awam Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who laid down his life while fighting for the democratic rights of the people of the country against a military regime which had usurped them.

Twenty two years have passed since Shahnawaz, a loving son, brother and father was snatched from us. Yet the pain is still as sharp as it was on that tragic morning when we found him cold on a foreign floor killed by our enemies. I will always remember the heroes welcome Shahnawaz received when I took his dead body back to our Motherland to bury him amongst those who loved and respected this brave young son of our soil.

After Shahnawaz, Murtaza was also taken from us. My Mother saw her husband and sons killed. My sister and I saw our Father and brothers murdered. It is your support and prayers which have enabled us to see through these dark and dreadful days. Inshallah the sacrifice that these great sons of our Motherland gave, and the sacrifices of all our other young sons and daughters, including those martyred in Islamabad on July 17, 2007 when a suicide bomber attacked a PPP camp, shall not go in vain. The day shall surely dawn when the sun of democracy will rise and with it a brighter future for our downtrodden people.

Sincerely,

Bibi

Mohtarma Bhutto writes to the CEC
Enclosed below is copy of the letter dated July 18, 2007 sent to the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan from Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto regarding Voters List of her Constituency NA-207 Larkana (Sindh).


July 18, 2007

Justice (Retd.) Qazi Muhammad Farooq
Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan
Election Commission of Pakistan
Islamabad

Dear Chief Election Commissioner,

This is my fourth letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the subject of the deficient electoral list for which the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is still awaiting a resolution. This letter is with reference to my home district of Larkana from where my family and I have traditionally contested elections. As the ECP is aware, the basis of a fair election lies in the fairness of the electoral rolls that are prepared wherein voters are registered and after registration permitted to cast their vote.

I attach a list as Annexure – I of the missing votes in constituency of NA 207 of District Larkana. This annexure shows in detail how the votes have been cut in 2007 lists as opposed to 2002 lists.

The Annexure – II indicates discrepancies in the registered votes in various Union Councils. For instance, 781 votes in respect of Channa Mohalla Naudero have been shown included in voter list of Larkana city Union Council (UC) -8 in 2007 lists. A number of votes of Block No. 94150210 from serial 74 to serial 237 belonging to Kausar Mill Mohalla and Brohi Mohalla, Larkana City have been shown in voter lists of year 2007 as part of Deh Khanwah of UC Pir Bux Bhutto. Whereas, a number of votes actually belonging to Block No. 094150210 from serial No. Ladies-66 to serial No. 150 have been shown included in list of same UC Pir Bux Bhutto. Also 800 votes actually belonging to a village of Larkana viz. Bugti have been included in UC Pir Bux Bhutto, as per 2007 lists. Also 470 votes of village Wikya Sangi have been included in voter list of UC-2 Ratodero city. Other details may be seen in Annexure – II.

Further National Data and Registration Authority (NADRA) has issued CNICs to 11 (eleven) minors of 13/14 years age, whose votes have been included in village Pir Goth of UC Naudero. There must be many more such instances which we can verify once you give us an electronic copy of the voters rolls.

More than 90,000 votes only from my own constituency i.e. NA-207 are missing in voter lists of year 2007 as compared to those of year 2002. In fact the numbers should have increased given that five years have passed since the preparation of last lists.

A large number of complaints have been received of large scale duplication of names in the preparation of new voter lists by way of including fake votes of one district in voter lists of other district and those of one Taluka in another Taluka (A list of some of the duplication / fake entries is enclosed as Annexure - III). These too need to be deleted for elections to be fair and we need the electronic rolls as well as names on the ECP webpage of all voters to enable us to help the ECP in correcting the dramatically faulty data wherein 30 percent of the voters have been left out of the electoral lists and 26 percent of those enrolled are duplicate names and fakes.

In addition it is noted from the Larkana survey conducted by the PPP that those polling stations have been targeted for reduction in votes wherein the Opposition had majority in the 2002 elections. In contrast in those polling stations where the ruling Party had won, the votes have gone up dramatically, for example in certain polling stations of Karachi and Hyderabad and elsewhere as reported in the Press. In other words, unless the ECP is able to fulfill its constitutional obligation to prepare accurate rolls and hold fair elections, the results of the rigged elections of 2007 can be calculated right now without a single candidate filing a nomination and without a single vote being cast.

NADRA has admitted that they have issued CNICs to less than 50 percent of people so far, and half of the population has yet to receive the new CNICs from NADRA. The Constitution of 1973 which was founded by Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made it a fundamental right of every citizen to vote and elect a government of their choice. Unless this is done, not only the fundamental rights of the citizens will be violated but so too the spirit of the Constitution.

Further copies of the new voter lists of year 2007 have not been provided to Party representatives and indeed to my representatives in Larkana despite being willing to pay the fee for the said lists.

I look forward to hearing from you as to how we can work together to resolve the issues that have been highlighted.

Sincerely,

(Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto)

Annexure - I

Difference of Votes in Talukas - NA-207 – District Larkana

 S. No. NAME OF TALUKA & CITY YEAR 2002  YEAR 2007 DIFFERENCE OF VOTES
 1. Taluka Ratodero  107977  77667  30310
 2.  Taluka Larkana  81143   48008  33135
 3.  Larkana City  146829  94946  51883
 4.  Taluka Bakrani  97086  62450  34636
 5.  Taluka Dokri  89378  57970  31408
  Total Votes :  522413  341041  181372

 

Annexure – II

Difference of Votes in various UCs - NA-207 – District Larkana

S. No. Polling Station  Deh / Block No. Votes Registered in 2002 Votes Register in 2007 Difference of Votes 
 1.  Pir Bux Khan Bhutto  Pir Bux Khan Bhutto / 94150201-9   3624  4173  549
 2.  Kot Illahi Bux  Doda Khan Bhutto / 94160310-11  1000  1408  408
 3.  Usman Unar  1.Unar  2.Sanjar Abro / 94150110-16   2348  2214  134
4  Ketty Mumtaz  1.Doso Daro  818  1279  168
 2.Rajo Daro / 94160503-4
 
 5.  Basic Health Unit Noorpur  1.Sharifpur  612  780  168
 2.Noorpur / 94160505-6
 
 6.  Phulpota  Phulpota / 94160501-2  1551  2234  683

 

 

Annexure – III 

Duplication of some votes in NA-207 – District Larkana 

 Serial No.  Name and Father Name Block No./ Area  Vote Block No./ Area  Vote No. 
1.