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.
|
