PPP leader condemns
indifferent attitude of regime towards flood victims
Islamabad, 29 June
2007: The Central Coordinator Human Rights Cell, Pakistan Peoples
Party MNA Fauzia Wahab MNA has condemned the indifferent attitude of
Musharraf regime for neglecting the victims of floods and rain storm who
have been left on the mercy of harsh weather and demanded immediate relief
to the victims.
In a statement today, Fauzia Wahab said that it is a matter of grave concern
that the regime has once again totally failed to provide any relief to the
victims of natural disaster. She said that the torrential rain caused havoc
in Sindh and Balochistan and the situation further worsened with the
breaking of Mirani Dam where people are starving for the last five days. She
said that the people of Balochistan are being neglected by the military
regime, which is a bad omen for the federation.
Fauzia Wahab said that the tall claims of the military regime of development
work in Balochistan has proved false as a single gush of rain washed away
the entire infrastructure of the province. She demanded immediate inquiry
into the breaking of Mirani dam and several bridges in the province. She
also demanded preventive measure as the met office has predicted more rains
in the coming weeks.
Fauzia Wahab asked the regime to provide immediate relief to the victims of
this calamity. She also sympathised with the families who lost their loved
ones and prayed for the grant of eternal peace to the departed souls.
Rushdi Ijaz and PPP
June 29, 2007:
MBB statement was clear she said that UK did not show sensitivity for Islam
as it had shown to other religions by giving knighthood to Rushdi. She also
said that govt is involved in war against terrorist its religious minister
is justifying suicidal attacks he must be dismissed. Ijaz changed his stand
and criticized MBB as he brandished Kilashinikove and when law took its
course against him he said it was a toy. Ijaz inherited Kilashinikove from
his father who used the name of Islam for his power. MBB is daughter of ZAB
who protected the honor and dignity of prophet by introducing the amendment.
He held Islamic conference Shah Faisal said that ZAB is son of Islam. How a
man can be champion of Islam who has dollars in his blood. MBB keeps veil on
her head and Tasbih in her hand which shows her love for Islam. Ijaz is on
record that he saved Lal Mosque Mullahas when they were caught red handed.
PPP is committed to the vision of Quid and Iqbal and opposed to theocracy
and make Pakistan liberal progressive country in view of real Islam.
Senator Enver Baig
demands probe into NCHD affairs
Says financial bungling must not go un-punished
Islamabad June 28,
2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party has demanded thorough probe and
audit into the accounts of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD)
and the institution of a reference against those involved in the financial
mis-management and corruption in the Commission.
The first audit of the NCHD made public Wednesday exposed misuse of the
Pakistan Human Development Fund (PHDF) to the tune of nearly 1.3 billion
rupees and missing of 338 million rupees from the bank accounts of the NCHD
and PHDF.
“The revelations made in the special audit report on the accounts of the
Commission and the Development Fund of unauthorised utilisation of nearly
1.3 billion rupees is a serious indictment of the Commission that calls for
probe and action” said Senator Enver Baig of PPP in a statement today.
Senator Enver Baig said that the NCHD has thus far refused to submit itself
to audit on different pretexts but its mandarins have finally been caught
with what looks like their hands in the till. He demanded to know as to
where the over 22 million rupees received by the Commission from Telethon
was parked, as it was not shown in the accounts statements.
Senator Enver Baig said that the corruption involving big fish in the regime
was condoned sometime behind the pretext of ‘honest mistake made in good
faith’ and sometime behind the pretext that the agency involved was a
private sector enterprise and beyond the purview of government audit.
He said that sometime back when the affairs of the NCHD came up for
discussion on the floor of the Senate it transpired that it had a lot to
explain but the regime protected it from scrutiny using different pretexts.
Senator Enver Baig demanded that the matter of embezzlement in the NCHD must
be referred to NAB and an investigation held into it and the embezzlers
brought to book.
The PPP leader said that if the regime failed to file a reference against
the NCHD bosses he would place the matter before the Party for filing a
reference against it.
“The Party will not let the huge embezzlement in the Commission and the Fund
to go un-punished”
General Babar slates
Qazi's bid to take over Women College for madrassah
1. Islamabad June 27, 2007: Former Interior
Minister and a central PPP leader Major General (retired) Naseerullah Babar
has condemned Jamaat i Islami Chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad's bid to take over
buildings of the Government Degree College for Women in Pirpiai village in
district Nowshera for converting it into a madrassah and demanded a thorough
probe into the matter.
2. In a statement today the former Interior Minister said that the bid by
Jammat-i-Islami to take over buildings of the Government Degree College for
Women in Pirpiai in the guise of setting 'Qazi Public School' was not
acceptable and would be resisted at all forums.
3. He said that the Women College was set up some years ago on a piece of
land provided by the people of the village and not on government lands and
the ruling MMA had no business to take it over for setting up a so called
Public School in the name of Jamaat Chief but actually to build a madrassah
to pursue their own agenda.
4. He said that neither state funds nor private land already given to a
Women College could be used for setting up of a private academic institution
in the name of an individual.
5. "This is a cheap bid by the Jamaat chief in an election year which will
be challenged at all forums and never allowed to materialise", the former
Interior Minister said.
6. General Babar said that he would also challenge Jammat's bid in the
Peshawar High Court.
7. He demanded a probe into the matter and called upon the civil society to
restrain the Jamaat chief from pursuing a militaristic agenda in the guise
of setting up Qazi Public School.
Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto's Petition in Supreme Court of Pakistan on Electoral Rolls -
Elections 2007
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN
Constitutional Petition No.____________/2007
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto .................. PETITIONER
VERSUS
1. Chairman Election Commission Of
Pakistan. Election House, Constitution Avenue, Islamabad. G 5/2
2. The Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Election Commission of
Pakistan, through the Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan, Election
House, Constitution Avenue, Islamabad. G 5/2.
3. The Director General, National Registration Database Authority. Office of
Nadra, Islamabad.
4. The Government of Pakistan through The Secretary Parliamentary Affairs
Division, Islamabad.
a. The Secretary Law, Justice, and Human Rights Division, Islamabad.
........RESPONDENTS
PETITION UNDER ARTICLE 184(3) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
PAKISTAN, 1973.
Respectfully Sheweth,
1. That the petitioner is the Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP). She was twice elected Prime Minister of Pakistan. Even in the rigged
elections of October 2002, her party secured the highest number of votes in
the country. The PPP is bracing for the general elections which are
scheduled to be held during the latter part of this year, and is sanguine of
a landslide victory due to its soaring popularity amongst the masses. The
party in power formed and backed by the Army Chief General Pervez Musharaf
to forestall their route have embarked upon pre poll rigging. Apart from the
President in uniform openly campaigning for the ruling party, is massively
expending money on various projects shutting out the grant of opposition
members of Parliament for their developmental priorities. Through the LFO
(Legal Frame Work Order) accredited by the 17th amendment, General Pervez
Musharaf and his created NSC (National Security Council), usurped all powers
unto himself and militarized the Presidency rendering the Prime Minister,
the cabinet, and the Parliament, a mere rubber stamp. The judiciary was also
sought to be subjugated by coercing the CJP to resign, and on his failure to
oblige he was initially suspended, the made non-functional and henceforth
sent on forced leave with reference being sent for his removal to the
Supreme Judicial Council. The media (electronic and press) was assaulted,
and the 4rth pillar of the state was thus tried to be brow beaten into
submission. All such efforts were meant to get re-elected and bail out the
ruling coalition, which was facing wrath of the people, due to complete
failure of governance in all phases of life.
2. That the preparatory steps towards the general elections started with the
preparation of voters list through the Election Commission of Pakistan. The
electoral rolls were contemplated for which funds were provided by USAID,
the contract of which was awarded to parties having liaison with the Chief
Minister Punjab and President of the Ruling Party (PML-Q). The reservations
to which effect were notified to the Election Commission of Pakistan at the
very inception but to no avail. It was also pointed out in writing to the
Election Commission of Pakistan that only additions and exclusions be made
in the existing electoral rolls of 2002 and a completely substituted list of
voters was not required which could be done only at the time of census which
are held after every 10 years and are due in the year 2008. However, the
Election Commission of Pakistan went through the process by appointing
enumerators all over the country for enlistment of voters. In the province
of Sindh, the teachers were on strike and there were torrential rains. The
job was assigned to the MQM in the urban areas and to the Chief Minister
Sindh in the rural areas. They massively marginalized the strong hold of PPP
in all the constituencies and sliced away 47 lac votes in 23 districts of
Sindh. Even the constituency of the Chairperson in Larkana was brought down
from 601200 (Six hundred one thousand two hundred) votes existing in the
electoral list of 2002 to 348000 (Three hundred forty eight thousand) in
2007. Thus causing a shortfall of 251000 (Two hundred and fifty one
thousand) votes. The total percentage of non registration of votes in the
province of Sindh is 39 percent. Likewise, in the province of Punjab, the
enumerators after collecting the forms were required to submit the same to
the Nazims who by and large are under the control of the Chief Minister and
the President of Pakistan and where too 1.5 crore votes were axed mainly
from the strong hold constituencies of the opposition.
a. In Baluchistan, however, the votes have been increased, and where
generally the women folk are not even allowed to vote, a whopping 140
percent increase has been reflected in the preliminary list. The figures of
which have been given by Pildat, an organization of high repute.
3. That the overall position which emerges draft computerized voters list
displayed by the ECP is that the total number of voters registered are five
crore twenty one lac two thousand four hundred and twenty eight. Whereas, in
the electoral list of 2002 prepared by the election commission itself and on
the basis of which general elections were held in 2002 the number of voters
was 71.86 million. In the span of 5 years, the eligible voters should have
been increased to 82 million. Surprisingly, instead a shortfall of 27
million has been shown which is equivalent to 33 percent of the total number
of voters reflected in the electoral list of 2002. Thus one third of the
eligible voters of Pakistan have been dis franchised.
4. That decrease of women voters through identical comparison with the list
of 2002 and the year 2007 is as follows: FATA 96 percent, Sindh 41 percent,
Punjab 37 percent, Islamabad 19 percent. Such massive decrease cannot be
countenanced on any hypothesis.
5. That when the preliminary electronic lists were thus displayed by the ECP
on June 12, 2007, all these discrepancies have prominently surfaced. In the
process of preparation of the electronic voters lists, the PPP had been
constantly approaching the CEC respondent no. 2 and also submitting written
complaints seeking remedial action for registration of all eligible voters.
Even the National Democratic Institute (NDI) as well as the Center of Civic
Education Pakistan (CCE) had not only held multi party round table
conferences and sent its unanimous recommendations for enabling the complete
registration of voters towards ensuring transparency in the forthcoming
elections. Copies of the letters reflecting such recommendations are
attached as Annexure B periodical letters sent to the CEC and the
representations made by the PPP are attached as annexure C
6. That on June 16, 2007, the delegation of the Election Monitoring Cell PPP
headed by Senator Sardar Muhammad Latin Khan Khosa called upon the CEC and
apart from delivering the letter of the Chairperson PPP pleaded for
remedying the defects in the preliminary electoral lists to ensure that no
eligible voter is kept out and facilitated his entitlement to vote as
mandated by Articled 51 (2) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan. The copy of the letter of the Chairperson so delivered to the CEC
is attached as Annexure D.
7. That the CEC in response to the letter afforrefered replied to the
Chairperson. Copy of which is attached as annexure E. The Chairperson of
PPP, however wrote back requiring the commission to “fulfill the promise of
holding fair elections so that Pakistan can stand tall in the comity of
nations as having made the transition to democracy by accepting the true
will of the people of our great nation” Copy of the letter is attached as
annexure F.
8. That however, the discussions with the Chief Elections Commissioner as
well as his written response dated, June 20th, 2007 annexed hereto reveal
that there is no possibility of worthwhile rectification of the electoral
lists by the CEC. Hence this petition before the apex court as the matter is
of fundamental public importance and needs the most urgent rectification so
that 25 million citizens of Pakistan entitled to vote are not disfranchised,
inter alia on the following:
GROUNDS
(a) That Article 51 of the constitution postulated that there shall be 342
seats of the member of the National Assembly including seats reserved for
women and Non-Muslims. Sub Article (2) of the said Article reads that a
person shall be entitled to vote if he is a citizen of Pakistan and is not
less than 18 years of age and his name appears on the electoral roll. The
entire scheme of the constitution thus empowers the citizens of Pakistan
(above the age of 18 years) to elect members to the National Assembly and
the leader of which house would have the right of governance. It is thus the
people of Pakistan who through their representative would regulate the
affairs of the country for the stipulated period. The entitlement to vote is
not dependant on the possession of National Identity card. Thus no
conditionality contrary to the mandate of the constitution can be attached
to the enlistment of a voter in the electoral lists prepared by the ECP.
(b) (b). That even in the Electoral Rolls Act, 1974 section 6 (2) enjoins
upon the registration officer to enroll as a voter a citizen of Pakistan who
is not less than 18 years of age. Such enrollment is not dependant upon the
prior production of the NIC. Preliminary publication of the electoral rolls
in section 8 of the Act IBID does not postulate any condition of non-entry
of his name in such list. The stipulation for claims to inclusion,
exclusion, and correction in the preliminary list under section 10 mentions
21 days for so doing. However, such a stipulation would not stand in the way
of the ECP to ensure his constitutional obligation of entitling every
eligible voter to vote and his legal right to be enrolled and enlisted in
the voters list which is not dependant or clogged by the existence or
production of NIC. Likewise, for correction of electoral rolls under section
15, NIC is not required. Final publication under section 16 after making
additions, deletions, modifications or corrections thus is not dependant on
any conditionality of NIC. It is only thereafter, that section 18 caters for
production of NIC issued under the National Registration Act, 1973, when
enrollment and correction at a time other than the annual revision is
sought, which is not the case and hence not applicable.
(c) That even in the Peoples Representation Act, 1976 it was provided that
the voter shall not be issued the ballot paper unless he produced NIC, the
division bench of Lahore High Court in the reported case PLD 1989 Lahore 1
struck down the same holding that it was contrary to the constitutional
right of the citizen of Pakistan. Even this honorable court declared the law
accordingly holding that the constitutional right cannot be whittled down by
any subordinate legislation reliance 1985 SCMR 365
(d) That NADRA’s NIC is essentially required for the issuance of passport,
Arms and Driving license etc. and the Registration Act, 1973 does not carry
any stipulation to make it pre requisite for registration of vote or right
of franchise of a citizen of Pakistan. The issuance of NIC is statutory
functionary of the Director General in the Act IBID and if NADRA has been
able to issue only 57433474 NIC’s, then it is no fault of the over the 3
crore citizens who have not yet been issued the NIC’s. For such fault of the
statutory functionaries a citizen of Pakistan cannot be deprived of his
fundamental rights. The entire edifice of Parliamentary democracy and
grundnorm of the 1973 constitution depends upon facilitating the eligible
people of Pakistan to cast their votes and exercise their right to
franchise. It is pertinent to note that the Late Prime Minister Shamed
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto directed the free issuance of NIC which practice
continued during his tenure. The procedure and the fee hence forth being
extracted for obtaining NIC is harsh, cumbersome, and tantamount to denial
of the NIC to the citizens of Pakistan.
(e) That the preliminary electronic voters list is not being supplied to the
petitioner and other political parties despite repeated requests not only at
their end but also by the NDI and CCE. The display centers are an apology of
the process as the same are neither available in most of the rural union
councils nor is the staff present and the requisite forms are equally
unavailable. The ECP has declined to furnish copy of the preliminary
electronic voters list without which the political parties as well as the
eligible voters are completely at a loss to decipher whether there names are
reflected on the lists or not. Even the ECP has failed to conduct the
effective public awareness campaign. The public has little information about
the display centers where the hard copies of the voter lists are supposedly
being displayed. The exact location ad telephone numbers are not provided to
the general public without which the use of such centers is meaningless. The
ECP has time and again asked to engage in dialogue with the parties, provide
information and updates on the electoral process but the stake holders are
completely denied such a round table conference which was essentially
required for rendering the transparency to the electoral process.
(f) That the petitioner and other stake holders have constantly represented
and requested that the preliminary electronic list may be displayed on the
Web Site of the ECP from which it could be downloaded/viewed by the parties
for undergoing the process of correction, rectification, etc. However, even
such a request was turned down.
(g) That the petitioner and other political parties besides the NDI and the
CCE had also besieged the ECP to provide to all political parties the
computerized list in electronic format, which has unfortunately also been
turned down. It has been an informed that the final computerized list would
be available for sale the price of which is estimated 5 million rupees.
Obviously, such an exorbitant and excessive amount would be beyond the reach
of many political and social organizations, and this would tantamount to the
denial of the final computerized lists.
(h) That the political parties and the public at large are clamoring for
their right of enrollment of the eligible voters in the computerized lists
being finalized by the ECP. Although the time is running out and over 3
crore voted need to be registered, the respondents remain unmoved. Needless
to mention that Article 4 of the constitution confers inalienable right upon
every citizen to enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance
with law, wherever he maybe. Similarly, under Article 25 of the constitution
all citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of
law. Consequently depriving one third of the eligible voters from being
enlisted as voters and depriving them of their right of franchise is
negation of the inalienable and fundamental rights conferred and guaranteed
upon the people of Pakistan.
(i) That such process of eliminating huge number of voters from the 3
provinces and increasing the number of voted in Baluchistan are clearly acts
of malafide amounting to perpetuating the illegitimate existing regime which
came into power through usurpation of peoples rights. In case such
manipulated lists are made the basis of lections in the country the process
would be bereft of constitutional, legal, and moral premises and would not
be acceptable to the people of Pakistan. Such a fraud perpetrated would
endanger the very federation and be detrimental to the interest of Pakistan.
PRAYER:
It is therefore respectfully prayed that the respondents be directed to
update the computerized/ electronic voters lists to encompass the names of
all persons entitled to vote in terms of Article 51 (2) of The Constitution
of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
It is further prayed that non registration of votes of the entitled voters
conditioned to the availability of the NIC issued by NADRA may be declared
as without lawful authority and of no legal consequence.
It is further prayed that the respondent no. 1and 2 be directed to furnish
copy of the computerized/electronic voters list to the petitioner and other
political parties free of cost and also have the same displayed on the Web
Site of the ECP so as to facilitate the downloading of the same by the
stakeholders.
It is further prayed that till the decision of this petition the final
computerized/electronic may be held in abeyance.
Any other writ, relief or direction expedient in the interest of justice may
also be issued in vindication of the grievances afforerefered.
PETITIONER
THROUGH
1. SARDAR MUHAMMAD LATIF KHAN KHOSA
SENIOR ADVOCATE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN
2. FAROOQ H. NAEK
ADVOCATE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN
3. SARDAR KHURRAM KHAN KHOSA
ADVOCATE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN
25 June 2007
Mohtarma Bhutto calls
for elimination of torture
State sponsored kidnapping and illegal detention also mental torture
Islamabad June 26,
2007: "The International Day for the prevention of torture should
serve as a reminder that Pakistan is among the countries where the state
agencies routinely torture citizens with impunity and that the practice must
come to an end", said former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a
statement today.
She said that kidnapping and holding in illegal custody of citizens by the
agencies was also a form of mental torture and deplorable adding, "it has
necessitated that the agencies be urgently brought under the ambit of law.
She said that the regime in Pakistan not only tolerated but also appeared to
even promote it by turning a blind eye to the mysterious kidnapping of
people by agencies that then falsely deny the charges before the courts of
law.
The agencies deny kidnappings and torture only because the regime has taken
the position before the courts that the operations of the state's
intelligence agencies were beyond the control and oversight of the Defence
and Interior Ministries, she said.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the police force also needed to be reformed to
abjure the use of torture as an instrument of extraction of confession. The
objective of elimination of torture will not be achieved unless the police
is modernised and properly educated to respect the law and the Constitution.
Mohtarma Bhutto also called for the release of Akhtar Mengal, Makhdoom Javed
Hashmi, Zain Bugti and other detainees who have still not been release.
The former Prime Minister also called for the signing of the Convention
Against Torture (CAT) as a critical step in eliminating torture and holding
accountable those who resort to it.
Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto raises several concerns with the Election Commission
Reiterates demand for Voter lists in electronic format
Islamabad, 25 June
2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples
Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has reiterated the demand for voters lists in
electronic format asking the Chief Election Commission of Pakistan to fulfil
the promise and the constitutional obligation of holding fair elections so
that "Pakistan can stand tall in the comity of Nations as having made the
transition to democracy by accepting true will of the people".
She said this in a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner that
was delivered to him in the office by Amir Fida Pirach MPA.
The letter was in response to the June 20 letter of the Election Commission
to Mohtarma Bhutto giving reply to the June 16 letter of Chairperson PPP on
the issue of voters lists in which she had asked that the lists be put on
the web page of Election Commission and also provide a nationwide electoral
list to the PPP in electronic format.
She said that the answers given by the EC in its letter of June 20 failed to
remedy the defects pointed out in her letter of June 16, 2007 adding "The
PPP has a different view and would like the ECP's decisions reviewed".
She said that the PPP finds it impossible to verify voters lists in hard
copies in 45,000 centres across the Country. Moreover reports indicate that
the lists are either not available or the most display centres are not open
in up to 40 percent of the centres.
Secondly, with the generous money given by USAID for computerization of the
electoral rolls, the political parties would like copies of those electoral
rolls both at the preliminary and final stages, she said adding that the law
does not forbid the ECP from doing so. The ECP broke with past practice when
it took money from donors to prepare electronic rolls. Therefore it can also
break with past practice to provide electronic copies of the electoral rolls
to the stakeholders who are the political parties and civil society, she
said.
She also said that the law does not bar the ECP from placing provisional or
final voters lists on its Webpage. Judicial discretion can be used to
further transparency where the law is silent on an issue, she said.
She said that the fact that the ECP intends to put voters lists on the
Website is welcome. Since the ECP is receiving funds from international
donors, we would like the fee for providing the lists waived, she said. At
that stage, however, we will not be left with time to run verification tests
and remedy the flaws, she said.
"Voters need to know where to go to cast their votes. Therefore we would
like to have on the ECP Web page well in advance the name of the voter
against their area and the name of the area against the polling station
where the voter is to cast vote. We would like any changes made to the
location of polling stations and the change of the area assigned to a
polling station posted on the Web page"
She said that the law does not prevent the ECP from providing draft
electoral rolls to the political parties. "If the PPP is mistaken, kindly
inform us of the law which the ECP is relying as well as the wording of that
law if possible within a week".
She expressed concern that an estimated 27 million plus voters names have
not been entered in the electoral rolls on the grounds that they do not have
a NADRA Identity card. However, they do have other government issued
identity cards, she said.
"Article 51 (2) of the Constitution of Pakistan gives the right to vote to
every adult Pakistani. Section 6 of the Electoral Rolls Act 1974 also
enjoins upon the Registration Officer the very obligation to enroll as a
voter, a citizen of Pakistan who is not less than 18 years. Such enrolment
is not dependant upon the prior production of NADRA ID card. Electoral rolls
in Section 8 of the Act ibid does not postulate any condition of non entry
in such list.
"A division bench of the Lahore High Court struck down an amendment in the
Representation of Peoples Act 1976, when in Section 33 it was provided that
the voter shall not be issued the ballot paper unless he produces National
Identity Card, (PLD 1989 Lah.1) as it was found contrary to the
constitutional right of citizen of Pakistan. Even the Apex Court (SC) held
that the constitutional right cannot be whittled down by any subordinate
legislation (1985 SCMR 365).
"The Representation Act 1973 does not carry any stipulation to make it
pre-requisite for registration of vote or right of franchise of a citizen of
Pakistan. The entire edifice of Parliamentary democracy and the 1973
Constitution depends upon facilitating the eligible people of Pakistan to
cast their votes. I recall that the late Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto had directed the free issuance of National Identity Cards which
practice continued during his tenure. It would be proper that free National
Identity Cards are made available to all eligible citizens of Pakistan.
"Missing Voters: The 2002 voters list enrolled 71.86 million voters. This
should have increased to 82 million. Instead a shortfall of 27 million
slashes 33% voters in the draft computerized voters lists. This is an
alarming state of affairs.
"The PPP asks that judicial discretion be exercised by the ECP on the side
of the framers of the constitution and the internationally recognized right
of universal right to vote. An election with one-third of the voters
debarred from voting would not be fair. Kindly take steps to rectify this",
the letter said.
PPP extends last date
for applications for Party Tickets
Decision taken in light of demand of aspiring candidates
Islamabad June 25,
2007: Secretary General of the PPP Jehangir Bader has said that
last date for applications for Party tickets for the National and Provincial
Assemblies that expired on June 25 (today) has been extended until July 1.
In a statement today he said that in view of the overwhelming response and
the demand of aspiring candidates the Party chairperson had agreed to extend
the date for filing application for Party tickets.
He said that the application must be typed, contain a brief bio-data, an
attested copy of a Bachelor’s degree, Photostat copy of Party membership and
a non refundable fee by Bank Draft/Pay Order made out in name of Pakistan
People Party of Thirty Thousands Rupees for National Assembly applicants and
Twenty Five Thousands Rupees for Provincial Assembly applicants.
Successful applicants will need to fulfil other conditions including an
affidavit and a fee for award of symbol, as already notified.
He said that final Parliamentary Board will meet in London presided by the
Chairperson in July. All members of Central Executive Committee and Federal
Council in good standing will be members of the Board. All provincial
presidents, secretaries, leaders of opposition, deputy leader of opposition,
provincial presidents of women’s wing will be attending the Parliamentary
Board. Divisional presidents, district president and district secretary are
also invited for their division/district.
Booking Lal Masjid
Clerics under terrorism welcomed only if true
Islamabad June 25,
2007: Former Interior Minister and a central PPP leader Major
General (retired) Naseerullah Babar has said that booking the Lal Masji
clerics under terrorism laws would be welcomed only if the regime pursued it
vigorously and punished the terrorists wearing Islamic mask.
According to press reports two top cleric brothers of Lal Masjid namely
Maulana Abdul Aziz and Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi and nearly 70 students of
the Madressah Hafsa were booked by the Islamabad police on charges of
terrorism for kidnapping of nine persons including six Chinese women and
keeping them in illegal confinement.
In a statement today the former Interior Minister however apprehended that
the press reports about booking the clerics under terrorism charges may have
been planted only to serve as a false assurance on the eve of Interior
Minister’s forthcoming visit to China. He asked the civil society to closely
monitor and pressure the regime to pursue the case against the clerics.
“The Party is deeply concerned and condemns the brazen act of militancy and
lawlessness against the citizens of Pakistan’s great friend China and the
regime’s inexplicable inaction to bring the perpetrators to justice”.
He said that it appeared that the regime had abandoned its responsibility
and yielded before the fanatics and extremists not only in the tribal and
settled areas of the country but even the federal capital Islamabad.
He said that the emergence of Al Badar and Al Shams groups on the political
horizon played havoc in 1971 leading to the break-up of the country. Groups
like Lashkar-e-Islami (LI), Lashkar e Tayyaba and Jaish Mohammad and the Lal
Masjid brigade were now playing havoc with the country and harming our
relations with foreign powers, he said.
General Babar warned that if the fire ignited by religious militancy was not
extinguished it would enflame the whole country.
“If elections are rigged again to keep the PPP and its allies out, the
forces that enabled the taliban to regroup in the tribal areas and allowed
extremist groups to spread as far as Islamabad will be strengthened to the
detriment of Quaid e Azam's vision of Pakistan as a federal, democratic and
moderate state and threaten the way of life of our people and the destiny of
our nation”.
He said that unless thirty million voters who had been struck off the
electoral lists by the Election Commission were allowed to vote, the
elections would be fraudulent and would appear to be deliberately engineered
to cater to likes of the clerics of Lal Masjid.
Mohtarma Bhutto asks
workers to expose flaws in voters' lists
Islamabad, June
23,2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan
Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has asked Party workers, office
bearers and ticket holders to minutely examine the provisional voters lists,
point out the serious flaws in it and insist on a revision of the lists to
include the names of missing voters and delete the ghost voters in it.
The Election Commission claims to have put on display provisional voters
lists and invited claims and objections by July 3. However reports indicate
that lists are not available on 40% of the sites.
In a statement today the former Prime Minister said that accurate voters
list was the first step for ensuring fair elections. However, the
provisional lists prepared by the EC are seriously flawed as 27 million
voters have been deleted compared to the list issued in 2007.
Mohtarma Bhutto directed the Party cadres to hold regular meetings to enroll
voters and to eliminate ghost voters' from the lists.
PPP asked the ECP to put the provisional electoral lists on the web page of
the Electoral Commission Lists and provide a nationwide electoral list to
the Pakistan Peoples Party in electronic format.
However, neither the ECP has called a roundtable of the stakeholders nor
lists in electronic format have been provided to the parties even though
international donors have funded it generously for the purpose.
Mohtarma called upon PPP office bearers to take up inspection of voters list
as well as addition, deletion of voters name with enthusiasm and dedication.
Mohtarma Bhutto also directed the Party's Election Cell to keep a close eye
on the process and prepare daily reports on the issue.
Army officers accused
of irregularities: Defence Housing Authority scheme
By Amir Wasim
ISLAMABAD, June
22: Opposition members of the National Assembly on Friday alleged
that senior army officers were involved in serious “irregularities and
financial corruption” in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) scheme in
Lahore and a provincial minister was acting as a front man for them.
Speaking at a news conference at the Parliament House cafeteria, Liaqat
Baloch and Farid Ahmed Piracha of the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA),
Khawaja Mohammad Asif of the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) and Syed
Khurshid Shah of the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) alleged that the
DHA administration was causing billions of rupees loss to the national
exchequer in connivance with senior army officers and government-backed
private developers.
The opposition leaders said that Park View Cooperative Housing Society (PVCHS)
was merged into the DHA on December 30, 2006 in violation of the Societies
Cooperative Act as no permission was sought from any member of the society
before this merger. They claimed that several people had already lost their
lives in the clashes between the PVCHS and local land owners. They said a
large number of cases were still pending in courts.
The opposition leaders said that the total area of PVCHS in the documents
had been shown as 7,200 kanals whereas more than 2,800 kanal was not owned
by the PVCHS. They alleged that the society had already sold plots on these
2,800 kanals and now the DHA had started receiving Rs800,000 per kanal as
development charges from the people. They claimed that the total amount
being collected as development charges would amount to Rs12 billion, and it
would go into the pockets of a Punjab Minister, the DHA officials and some
senior army officers who had brokered the deal.
They further said that the DHA had prepared a plan to construct 10-marla
houses with the price of Rs7.4 million on this disputed land and its booking
would be starting on Saturday morning. They alleged that 100 kanals of the
land which had earlier been reserved for the construction of an interchange
near Lahore Airport had been given to the DHA in violation of rules.
The opposition leaders termed the DHA as the “biggest land mafia” of real
estate saying it had not paid any tax to the provincial government or the
cantonment boards.
Khwaja Asif said that those so-called politicians who were accumulating
wealth through illegal acts were preparing to “ buy” next elections.
Farid Piracha said that billions of rupees had been stuck up in DHA, Gwadar
and Bahria projects. He said that people knew name of each and every general
who were involved in these scams.
Syed Khurshid Shah said that the country had been run by several mafias such
as stock market, sugar and cement for the last eight years. These mafias, he
said, were present all over the country and operating under the regimes
patronage.
PPP to challenge
voters’ list in SC
By Amir Wasim
ISLAMABAD, June 22: The People’s Party
Parliamentarians has decided to challenge the voters’ list prepared by the
Election Commission in the Supreme Court.
The party will also set up a protest camp outside the EC to denounce
large-scale discrepancies in the list.
This was announced by head of the PPP’s Central Election Monitoring Cell
Senator Latif Khosa while briefing reporters after a meeting here on Friday.
Mr Khosa said the protest camp would be set up next week and the PPP leaders
and workers would observe a token hunger strike against the EC for preparing
the faulty voters’ list.
He said they would file the petition in the SC before July 3 objections and
applications for corrections in the voters’ list. He said the SC would be
asked to stop the EC from publishing the final list of the voters.
Mr Khosa said they had lost confidence in Chief Election Commissioner Qazi
Mohammad Farooq as he had failed to respond to their genuine demands.
Benazir Bhutto’s
birthday celebrated with the rain
Staff Report
KARACHI:
The first of the monsoon rains showered PPP workers, supporters and leader
who had gathered Thursday at Kakri Ground to celebrate Benazir Bhutto’s 54th
birthday.
“Thank God! The temperature will go down,” said a sloganeering worker with a
sigh of relief. Hundreds of supporters gathered in Lyari Town’s Kakri Ground
during the PPP chairperson’s birthday to show their strength, even though
the scorching heat kept many stay away.
Raza Rabbani, leader of the opposition in the Senate, former defense
minister Aftab Shaban Mirani, former chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, leader of
the opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, MNAs Nabil Gabol
and Dr Fehmida Mirza, former federal minister Prof. ND Khan, and MPAs Murad
Shah, Shazi Mari, Shama Mithani, former district nazim Larkana Khursheed
Junejo, Zafar Leghari, and others, cut the cake.
The workers chanted the slogan: ‘Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Now, Benazir
will rule Pakistan’. Rabbani, Shah, Khuhro and Nabil Gabol spoke to the
workers and vowed to continue their struggle against the regime. “This is
the President General Pervez Musharraf’s last year. Start preparing for
elections,” stated Raza Rabbani. He criticized the present’s government
budget calling it ‘anti-people’ and ‘pro-the rich’.
“Welcome the rainfall. It is a gesture showing that Benazir Bhutto will
return to Pakistan soon and lead you in person,” said Qaim Ali Shah. He said
that democracy will prevail and that democratic people will crush
dictatorship.
Gabol said that the people of Lyari have again proved that Lyari is the
stronghold of Bhutto’s followers. “We’ll not let Lyari go to anti-Bhutto
groups. The people of Lyari are committed supporters of the PPP and no other
party would be able to replace the PPP here,” he vowed. Rainfall made the
PPP leaders shorten their speeches and conclude the celebration within an
hour and a half. Otherwise, PPP leaders would have addressed the workers
till late night.
Benazir’s book
lauched in Lahore
LAHORE: The book launching ceremony of
“Wither Pakistan, Dictatorship or Democracy” was held on Thursday. The book
is a compilation of speeches by Benazir Bhutto on her ideology, edited and
compiled by Iqbal Narejo.
Intellectuals, members of nongovernmental organisations, Bar Council members
and People’s Party leaders participated to discuss the ideology of PPP. Shah
Mahmood Qureshi, President of PPP Punjab said at the occasion that it was
the time to give a proper line of action to people so that their efforts to
instate rights could be actualised. He added that the book defined ways to
be adopted in order to become a proud nation. He said intellectuals always
played an important role in creating awareness. Dr Iqbal Narejo said at the
occasion that Benazir was a politician cum intellectual who had a vision
that was communicated at an international level, which scared politicians,
which was why she was exiled. Qasim Zia, Opposition leader said PPP made no
deal with the government, as opposed to the popular rumour.
Prof Dr Imran Ali said that there was a link between the ideology of the
Benazir and the need of time. He added that her ideology was compatible with
the Western world, which was necessary for survival in the global village.
Retired General Safdar Ali Khan said that military and literature did not
have a strong connection, except for the book. He added that no system could
survive in Pakistan but the parliamentary.
Dr Mehdi Hassan, renowned intellectual, said that the party leader’s
ideology symbolized the ideology of its party workers. He said that Zulfiqar
Bhutto promised that Benazir would continue his mission, which was to fight
for to ensure the rights of people. Denying comments of general Safdar, he
said if the country survived with no system then it could survive with
socialism. He said the military ruled for about 32 years and that martial
laws weakened institutions. He said he did not recognise the current
government as a government. He said Benazir had told half the truth in her
book about terrorism and did not tell that imperialists made these terrorist
groups and were fighting against their own creation. Generals were becoming
billionaires, whereas the common man was striving to make ends meet, he
added.
Ehsan Bhoon, president of Lahore High Court (LHC) said the movement by
lawyers had become a mass movement in which people from every walk of life
contributed to ensure people’s rights and eradicate dictatorship from this
country.
Talking Points -
Voters Lists
ECP PAYS SPECIAL ATTENTION TO LARKANA:
ECP paid special attention to the constituency of Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto, Chairperson PPP and Senator Asif Ali Zardari. M ore than 250,000
voters have not been included in the fresh voter lists in Larkana district
alone. Consider: during the local bodies' elections, the number of
registered voters in Larkana was 601,200 but the new voter lists contained
349,000 names, depicting a difference of 251,000 voters.
A majority of the voters' whose names were missing was from the PPP's
constituencies, it is thus clear that the reduction in the number of voters
indicated that the government was indulging into pre-poll rigging to inflict
defeat on the PPP in the ensuing general elections.
WHERE ARE 20 MILLION MISSING VOTES? Why there is a huge decline in
the number of voters in the current, draft computerized voter list? It is
important to note that there were 71.86 million voters on the electoral
rolls used in the 2002 general elections and that this number should have
increased to around 82 million now (taking into account a 2.7 percent per
year voters population growth rate) The gap between currently registered
voters and the number to which the voting population should have risen is an
alarming 27 million or 33 percent.
WHY THERE IS LACK OF TRUST ON NEW VOTERS LIST? Majority of the
centers displaying computerized voter-lists were deserted, with each display
centre attracting 15 to 25 visitors during the past seven days in the
Peshawar, (Source:DailyTimes, June 19, 2007). The display centers have so
far received 7 to 10 complaints from voters and only 12 to 17 registration
forms have been submitted since the centers were opened. Why there is such a
huge trust deficit between ECP and people of Pakistan.
ALARMINGLY HUGE NUMBERS OF MISSING WOMEN VOTES: The number of women
voters has registered a huge decrease of 96 percent in FATA, 41 percent in
Sindh, 37 percent in Punjab and 19 percent in the Islamabad Capital
Territory (ICT) (Source: PILDAT Analysis)
ECP's FLIP-FLOP ABOUT ID-CARDS: The ECP has been saying that everyone
possessing Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) has now completed
the registration process. But, not everyone, particularly those in rural
areas, has been able to obtain this card, for a variety of reasons (mainly
related to cost and accessibility). Last year, the ECP permitted the use of
both old National Identity Cards and the new computerized ones for
registration purposes. Why can't the ECP allow the use of any of the
multiple identifications cards currently available, such as driving licenses
and passports, as this would enable many more voters to register?
BRIBES FOR REGISTRATION FORMS? Why can't the ECP make the voter
registration process both easy and affordable for all Pakistanis? In fact,
the PPP believes that the ECP should waive all fees associated with the
registration process and make registration forms downloadable as well. This
would reduce corruption, as some reports are coming in that indicate that
government employees are asking for bribes to provide these forms.
WHERE IS ELECTRONIC COPY? Why has the ECP refused to release a
preliminary, electronic copy of the voter list to Pakistani political
parties for verification purposes? If the forms are not released
immediately, then political parties and other civil society organizations
can't begin the important process of analyzing and verifying the information
currently on the lists.
FAILURE TO CONDUCT PUBLIC EFFECTIVE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN : Why has very
little information been provided to the public about the display centers
where hard copies of the voter lists are, supposedly, being displayed? Exact
locations and telephone numbers must be provided if the general public is to
make use of these centers.
WHAT'S THE HURRY? Why has the ECP established a very short time frame
(just 3 weeks) during which political parties can contest the information
currently found on the voter lists? It will simply be impossible for
analysts to traverse a rural country like Pakistan to review the lists in
such a short period.
WHY SHY AWAY FACING POLITICAL PARTIES? Why does the ECP refuse to engage
in any kind of dialogue with the parties to provide information and updates
on the electoral process?
PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR SALE? Why is the ECP demanding a large fee for
providing the hard-copies of the final voters lists to political parties and
civil society organizations? After the election is called, all political
parties are entitled to copies of the voters list. If current rules are not
changed, it is estimated that a political party will need to pay Rs. 5
million to purchase a complete a set of final voters list in hard copies
(paper printed copies).
WHY ECP IS SCARED OF VERIFICATION OF VOTERS LIST? Why are
representatives of political parties not being allowed to monitor the
ongoing activities in the data centre where the computerization and
preparation of the lists is taking place? If they are allowed to do so, it
would greatly increase the public's confidence in this process?
PPP will protect
lives and liberty of the journalists says Mohtarma Bhutto
Islamabad, 21 June
2007: Every journalist will be protected to the best ability of
the state by a Pakistan Peoples Party government, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
Chairperson PPP said in a statement today.
Condemning the murder and arrest of two journalists on June 17, 2007,
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the rise in violence against members of the media
was of deep concern to the PPP.
She said the present regime had dismally failed to protect the members of
the press or the electronic media. The former Prime Minister asked the
journalists and the media personalities to support the PPP and its allies so
that collectively stability, law and order and lives of every citizen could
be protected.
According to the reports received, Mr. Abdul Lateef Gola, a correspondent of
Daily Jang in Jafferabad city, Balochistan province was arrested on June 17,
2007 by the police officers at around 1: 00 AM from his house. His
whereabouts are unknown and the police are denying his arrest.
In another case, Mr. Noor Ahmed Solangi, a correspondent of the daily,
Khabroon, in Kingree, Sindh province was shot dead by six men riding on
motorcycles. He was struck by nine bullets from an A. K-47 and died
instantly. It was reported in the local press that deceased had received
threats from the tribal leaders of a tribe who are members of the Muslim
League Q, a political party in the regime of General Musharraf.
Mohtarma Bhutto vows
not to waver in her struggle for democracy and peoples' rights
Islamabad June 20,
2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan
Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has said that she has not wavered even
for a moment in her commitment to democracy and rights of the people and
shall not ever waver.
"How can I waver when I have the support of my brothers and sisters, the
workers and jiyalas who have stood shoulder to shoulder with me in facing
tyranny", she said in a message to the Party workers on the occasion of her
54th birthday falling on Thursday June 21.
She also called for the immediate release of all political leaders and
workers who have been incarcerated for their political beliefs.
She also paid tributes to the workers saying "Inshallah we will write
history with our sweat, blood and tears to ensure that our people can have a
glorious future at peace with themselves and with their neighbours"
Following is the text of her message
Mohtarma Bhutto's Message
On her 54 birthday
June 21, 2007
I wish to thank the Party workers and well-wishers who are observing my
birthday.
As I look back on the past I realise how far the Party workers and I have
travelled together through tortuous course from the dark days of the
military coup in 1977.
When the arrest and imprisonment of Quaid e Awam catapulted me into politics
I never realised that this would be a lifelong commitment. We all hoped
Quaid e Awam would be freed and able to lead our country once again.
Tragically for the nation, he was killed.
As I look back I also recall the pledge made during my last meeting with
Quaid e Awam to continue his mission for a democratic Federation, banish
dictatorship and emancipate the people from poverty and bondage.
I have not wavered even for a moment in the commitment that I made on that
fateful day. Nor shall I ever waver. How can I waver when I have the support
of my brothers and sisters, the workers and jiyalas who have stood shoulder
to shoulder with me in facing tyranny.
Together we faced bullets, tear gas, baton charges, imprisonment and
repression; together we have stood strong and together we will triumph.
Together we have triumphed over one dictatorship. Together Inshallah we will
triumph over the present dictatorship.
On this day as our workers observe my birthday I take pride in reiterating
my faith in the people and in the jiyalas of the PPP who have kept the
banner of truth, justice and the people flying high. The workers of the PPP
are the true strength and treasure of the Party. Your political awareness
and your commitment is the driving force.
On this occasion, I call for the immediate release of all political leaders
and workers who have been incarcerated for their political beliefs. I think
of all our leaders who have endured many a cold winter of exile. I call for
their return to their homeland in safety and in
dignity.
On this occasion my thoughts go to the downtrodden and desperate people of
Pakistan who are hoping for light at the end of a long and dark tunnel; to
those who dream of a better future for their children. I hope and pray their
dreams of a better tomorrow come true.
To them I say that I and the PPP will stand by you through thick and thin.
We will complete the mission of Quaid e Azam and Quaid e Awam whose life was
dedicated to giving each of our citizens' respect, dignity and honour.
Inshallah we will write history with our sweat, blood and tears to ensure
that our people can have a glorious future at peace with themselves and with
their neighbours.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
PPP Calls for
Dismissal of Minister who Justified Suicide Bombings
Islamabad: June
20, 2007: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has called upon
the Musharaf regime to dismiss a Cabinet minister who justified suicide
attacks on a British citizen.
Mohtarma said that the Minister, Ejaz ul Haq, son of a previous military
dictator who had patronized extremist groups, had done a great disservice
both to the image of Islam and the standing of Pakistan by calling for
murder of foreign citizens.
Mohtarma said that while the sentiments of a majority of the Muslims was
outraged that the author of the Satanic Verses received a knighthood, Islam
did not permit murder and nor did the law allow suicide killings for those
with divergent views no matter how abhorrent those views may be.
Mohtarma said that the PPP was disturbed that the sensitivity shown to other
social groups was not being extended to Muslims. However, PPP would make its
views known politically and peacefully.
Mohtarma said that Islam clearly preaches tolerance through the teaching,
“You shall have your religion and I shall have mine”.
Mohtarma noted that this was the second time round that the Musharaf aide
had justified suicide killings. Moreover as Minister of Religious affairs he
had appointed the cleric of the Red Mosque under whose influence are the
militant madrassas known as Jamia Hafsa and Jamia Fareedia.
The cleric has publicly disclosed that the Madrassas house suicide bombers
who can be sent out to create havoc.
Given the statements of the Minister justifying suicide attacks as well as
his connection with the Red Mosque, Mohtarma said that the Musharaf regime
should sack the minister or will be seen as covertly fueling extremism while
preaching moderation.
Mohtarma called upon the authorities to investigate the links of the
Minister with suicide bombers. She noted that the press had made corruption
allegations against the minister. Mohtarma said that it was essential to
investigate those corruption allegations to ascertain whether corrupt acts
had been committed and whether proceeds of those corrupt acts had been
funneled towards terrorism through patronage of the Red Mosque and the
affiliated political Madrassas which had confessed to housing suicide
bombers.
Mohtarma said it was strange that the Red Mosque cleric admitted housing
suicide bombers, the Minister justified suicide bombings and the Musharaf
regime neither investigated the Minister nor took steps to identify and stop
the suicide bombers.
According to media reports, Mohammed Ijaz Ul Haq, Pakistan's religious
affairs minister, said Monday of Rushdie's knighting that: "The West is
accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism. If someone exploded a bomb on
his body he would be right to do so unless the British government apologizes
and withdraws the 'sir' title."
When he found that the press had printed his remarks, Ul Haq tried on
Tuesday to water down his comments by claiming that he meant only that the
award could be used as a justification for suicide attacks.
Musharraf disliked for his
authoritarianism
Professor Haqqani rebuts claims in WSJ article about Musharraf
Islamabad June 18, 2007: Professor Hussain Haqqani has said that General
Musharraf is disliked for being an authoritarian ruler who took power in a
military coup and has since refused to fulfil his promises of a transition
to democracy. “The current protests against him were triggered by his
arbitrary firing of Pakistan’s Chief Justice”.
He said this in a rejoinder article to the Wall Street Journals rebutting
the contention of a correspondent Arthur Herman on June 14 that Musharraf
was good for Pakistan but was hated only by Mohtarma Bhutto and the elite
because Musharraf belonged to the immigrant community whose family migrated
from India in the wake of partition in 1947.
“If Musharraf had been good for Pakistan, as Mr. Herman claims, the people
in all provinces would not have been marching in the streets against him”,
Prof Haqqani said.
“General Musharraf is not hated for being from the immigrant Muhajir
community, to which I also belong”, he said adding, “The very fact that
Musharraf rose within the army’s officers corps to become its chief, before
becoming President through a coup, belies the assertion that other ethnic
groups cannot stand the sight of a Muhajir wielding power. Pakistan has had
a Muhajir President and at least two Muhajir prime ministers in its short
history of six decades”.
Haqqani also rejected Herman’s contention that if the US withdrew support
from Musharraf it could lead to a take over by the Taliban like elements. He
said, “The Taliban have made greater inroads in Pakistan under Musharraf and
military rule. A democratic government, backed by the US and fully supported
in counter-terrorism operations by the Pakistan military, would most likely
reverse the rise of the Taliban”.
Rejecting the allegations of corruption against her Haqqani said, Ms Bhutto
was removed from power through soft coups and charges of incompetence and
mismanagement are routinely leveled by coup-makers against elected
governments they topple. “The allegations of corruption against her, though
repeated often, have not been proven in any court of law. In any case, her
alleged flaws do not justify continued military rule and the consequent rise
of Islamist extremism in Pakistan”.
Professor Haqqani is Director of Centre for
International Relations, Boston University
Following is the text of Prof Haqqani’s article.
Arthur Herman’s letter attacking Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto
(Why Bhutto and the Elites Hate Musharraf, June 14) reflects the willingness
to take a position without detailed knowledge of Pakistani history and
politics. Expertise in Anglo-American history or even on Gandhi and
Churchill does not make Mr. Herman an expert on Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto’s support base in Pakistan is the rural and urban poor, not
the country’s elites, even if Ms Bhutto comes from an elite family herself.
Her Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has won two general elections under her
leadership. Even in the 2002 election organized by General Musharraf, the
PPP secured the largest number of votes notwithstanding Ms Bhutto’s absence
from the country and Musharraf’s allegations of corruption against her.
Ms Bhutto was removed from power through soft coups and charges of
incompetence and mismanagement are routinely leveled by coup-makers against
elected governments they topple. The allegations of corruption against her,
though repeated often, have not been proven in any court of law. In any
case, her alleged flaws do not justify continued military rule and the
consequent rise of Islamist extremism in Pakistan.
General Musharraf is not hated for being from the immigrant Muhajir
community, to which I also belong. The Muhajirs played a critical role in
Pakistan’s creation and remain a powerful community, and we are not an
endangered minority or “third-class citizens” as Mr. Herman portrays us. The
very fact that Musharraf rose within the army’s officers corps to become its
chief, before becoming President through a coup, belies Mr. Herman’s
assertion that other ethnic groups cannot stand the sight of a Muhajir
wielding power. Pakistan has had a Muhajir President and at least two
Muhajir prime ministers in its short history of six decades.
The reason why Musharraf faces popular opposition has little to do with his
foreign policy or ethnic origin. He is disliked for being an authoritarian
ruler who took power in a military coup and has since refused to fulfil his
promises of a transition to democracy. The current protests against him were
triggered by his arbitrary firing of Pakistan’s Chief Justice. If Musharraf
had been good for Pakistan, as Mr. Herman claims, the people in all
provinces would not have been marching in the streets against him.
Pakistan’s economy has indeed grown under Musharraf but it also grew under
his civilian predecessors, albeit at a slower rate. The success of the
capitalist spirit in Pakistan reflects the nation’s entrepreneurship and
hard work and should not be invoked as an argument against democratic rule.
Ms Bhutto’s call for an orderly transition to democracy is unlikely to pave
the way for a Taliban-like takeover of Pakistan. The Taliban have made
greater inroads in Pakistan under Musharraf and military rule. A democratic
government, backed by the US and fully supported in counter-terrorism
operations by the Pakistan military, would most likely reverse the rise of
the Taliban.
Mr. Herman is also wrong in his account of the fall of Iran’s Shah. The Shah
of Iran did not fall from power simply because the United States withdrew
its support. He fell because he was a despot who failed to allow fundamental
freedoms and antagonized his own people. The reason Ayatollah Khomeini
succeeded him rather than a democratic politician was that the Shah had
eliminated all viable pro-western democratic politicians. The US had put all
its eggs in the Shah’s basket, like Mr. Herman would have the US do in
Musharraf’s case.
Wherever the US has supported a viable democratic opposition against a
despot (e.g. at the end of the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines and in
the transition after Augusto Pinochet in Chile) U.S. interests have remained
protected even after the pro-US dictator lost power. The successors to both
Mr. Marcos and Gen. Pinochet may have been flawed in the eyes of scholars
such as Mr. Herman but they managed effective transitions from
authoritarianism to democracy. Ms Bhutto, too, is expected by many in
Pakistan and abroad to do the same.
PPP Demands a Consolidated
Provisional Voters List
Declares provisional voters list dubious and inaccurate.
Islamabad, June 16, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party has questioned the
accuracy and credibility of the provisional voters list issued in piecemeal
form by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The provisional voters list issued by the ECP early this week misses at
least 20million voters. In the list for the city of Lahore alone, the number
of voters has gone down by 1.1million. Another 200,000 voters have failed to
find their names in the list in district Nawabshah. An EC official himself
admitted that 5mn voters in Sindh failed to make it to the voters list as
they did not possess the CNIC.
Commenting on the ECP's exercise of opening up display centres to put out
disaggregated provisional lists only for each district, the Central
Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party criticised the non-transparent
and non-consultative nature of the whole process. "The entire voters
registration process is replete with irregularities and there are double
entries as well as huge numbers of missing voters at every level. The ECP
has been highly ambiguous all through the process and most shockingly, has
kept the biggest stakeholders, the mainstream political parties, outside the
ambit of the exercise. There is little point in making pilot projects out of
two Display Centres to show to international monitors when the consolidated
provisional list even at this stage remains mysteriously unavailable."
Rehman pointed out that the ECP also refused to allow access to the
monitoring bodies and the members of the opposition to database centres
conducting the data entry of the new voters despite repeated requests. "In
the latest development, the ECP has declined to provide the opposition
members the electronic copy of the total provisional list, on the vague
pretext that the constitution doesn't oblige the ECP to do so. With just 21
days given by the ECP to review the draft, it is next to impossible for the
political parties or civil society organisations to travel to remote areas
of Pakistan and conduct research into the discrepancies of the draft in each
district."
Rehman also questioned the ECP's refusal to hand out a consolidated list at
the provisional stage. "Firstly the ECP has a duty to provide the list free
of cost to anybody as the voters registration exercise was funded by the
taxpayers and the donor bodies, and not from General Musharraf's personal
account. Secondly, we, in the opposition, want the electronic copy of the
preliminary version in one place for the whole of Pakistan, and not the
'final' version since as peoples' representatives and stakeholders in the
system, it is our right to check the accuracy of the provisional list. If
the ECP has indeed done its job with honesty, why is it turning down our
requests for the electronic copy of the consolidated lists?"
Rehman said that that the PPP has been repeatedly asking for a consolidated
provisional list so it can check for double entries from the 2002 list, as
well as for thousands of missing voters, but not only did the ECP ignore the
PPP's 36 point paper on electoral reform needed, they also disregarded any
suggestions or concerns raised by the PPP at different platforms regarding
the flaws in the registration process. "As a result, you get a faulty
voters' list that misses swathes of population. The ECP officials themselves
had admitted that there are over 78 million voters and the number was set to
rise to 80mn by the election year. Why then, does the new list carry only
around 50mn voters."
Rehman said that the ECP's earlier announcement and the subsequent
withdrawal of the compulsion of the CNIC for the voters' registration has
created a lot of confusion. "Despite the withdrawal of the condition, a
significant portion of the population has been left out of the enlistment
process for reasons best known to the ECP. According to an IRC survey 40 to
50 percent of the voters, including a large majority of women, did not
possess the CNIC and were not enrolled in the list. If indeed the ECP had
lifted the CNIC condition why was such a whopping majority left out of the
registration process," Rehman asked.
"We have repeatedly demanded that rather than the CNIC or NIC, any other
government document such as passport, rural credit pass or driver's license
should be accepted for registration and voting." Rehman said that voters'
registration is the first step to elections and the regime's non-commitment
to the cause of holding free and fair elections is evident from
irregularities evident in the voters' registration process.
Rehman also observed that another reason for the decrease in the registered
voters is that the registration staff failed to carry out the job assigned
to it. "There have been complaints from all across the country that the
personnel deputed did not go door-to-door to register voters. Instead, for
many areas, they relied on the information provided by the individual in the
area that they were staying with. Similarly, despite repeated requests by
the opposition members, the ECP never provided mobile vans for the rural
areas to enable them to participate in the registration process."
Rehman said that the highly dubious manner in which the entire registration
procedure was carried out coupled with the ECP's refusal to allay the
oppositions concerns renders the entire exercise futile. "Many of the
display centres were closed on the first day. Many did not allow
stakeholders to check the lists, and all centres have yielded huge
discrepancies so far. We cannot have confidence in this process unless our
concerns are duly noted and acted upon at this stage. Three months later it
will be too late."
Witness asks
Washington for public statements in defence of Pakistani democracy
Islamabad June 16, 2007: A witness before a Congressional hearing into human
rights called on June 14 for public statements from the US administration
and Congress supporting judicial independence.
Raising the issue of events in Pakistan during his testimony on June 14,
2007, Mr Tom Malinowski Advocacy Director Human Rights Watch said, “We
desperately need, in the coming days, clear, public statements from both the
administration and the Congress urging full respect for the rule of law and
judicial independence in Pakistan, the release of political detainees, media
freedom, and a swift return to civilian, democratic rule".
Mr. Malinowski said, "This shouldn’t be about whether the United States
supports or opposes a particular leader - but it needs to be, clearly and
unequivocally, about U.S. support for the institutions of democracy and
law".
Giving background, Mr. Malinowski told the congressional committee on human
rights, "There has always been a tension in American foreign policy between
the belief that promoting human rights is vital to advancing long term
American interests around the world, and the tendency to forget that belief
when short-term interests get in the way. "
Disclosing policy since 9/11, Mr. Malinowski said, "President Bush has been
arguing that promoting democratic freedoms, especially in the Muslim world,
is key to fighting terrorism”. He said, " If U.S. government’s rhetoric
about democracy is seen as a weapon it uses only against its enemies, people
around the world become cynical about everything the United States does in
the name of freedom. "
Mr. Malinowski cited Islamabad as the, "harmful, example of a human rights
double standard in American foreign policy today " He asked that Washington
not, "reinforce all of General Musharraf`s bad tendencies - not just his
authoritarian crackdown, but his growing estrangement from moderate, secular
forces in the country, his growing political reliance on Islamists, and his
consequent refusal to crack down on the Taliban elements who are killing
American and NATO troops in Afghanistan”.
He said the policy was, "killing America’s image with the next generation
of, hopefully, democratic Pakistani leaders. "
Following is the full text of the testimony
COMMITTEE TESTIMONY
June 14, 2007
Human Rights & U.S. Policy Toward Saudi Arabia, Iran and Uzbekistan
CQ ABSTRACT
SCHEDULED WITNESSES
TESTIMONY
Committee Holding Hearing:
House Foreign Affairs Committee — Subcommittee on International
Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight
CQ Abstract:
International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight Subcommittee
(Chairman Delahunt, D-Mass.) of House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a
hearing titled "Is There a Human Rights Double Standard? U.S. Policy Toward
Saudi Arabia, Iran and Uzbekistan."
Scheduled Witnesses:
Amr Hamzawy - senior associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace;
Martha Brill Olcott - senior association, Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace; Thomas Malinowski - advocacy director, Human Rights
Watch; Thomas W. Lippman - adjunct scholar, Middle East Institute
Testimony:
Statement of Tom Malinowski Advocacy Director Human Rights Watch
Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee, thank you for holding this hearing
and for inviting me to testify.
You`ve asked a question today that unfortunately has a very simple answer.
Is there a human rights double standard? Yes, there is.
There has always been a tension in American foreign policy between the
belief that promoting human rights is vital to advancing long term American
interests around the world, and the tendency to forget that belief when
short-term interests get in the way.
The Bush administration has been no exception to this rule. Ever since 9/11,
President Bush has been arguing that promoting democratic freedoms,
especially in the Muslim world, is key to fighting terrorism. The president
appears to be sincere in this belief. I also think he is right. The only
sure way to defeat radical, violent groups like al Qaeda is to promote the
emergence of moderate political forces that will drown out the radicals`
message and give citizens peaceful avenues for expressing themselves. But
such forces can only thrive in politically open societies - unlike the
terrorists, they need freedom of speech and assembly, free elections and the
rule of law to survive.
Given this conviction on the part of President Bush, you`d think that the
more central a country was to the fight against terrorism, the more
vigorously the administration would promote democracy there. But more often
than not, the opposite has been true. This has been the case, to some
extent, with Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. It`s also been true with a number
of countries not on your list, such as Russia, Ethiopia, and above all today
with <Pakistan>. The more the administration has needed another country in
the short term to capture or kill individual terrorist suspects, the less
eager it’s been to press that country to reform in ways that will dry up
support for terrorism itself.
Now, let me be clear: I don’t expect pure and perfect consistency from our
government on this or any other matter. In fact, I think that there is only
way to be perfectly consistent in life, and that is to be consistently
unprincipled. Doing the wrong thing all the time is easy. Doing the right
thing all the time is a lot harder.
And, I`d rather have a foreign policy that’s inconsistently right than one
that’s consistently wrong.
What’s more, I don’t believe that the United States should treat every human
rights violator in the world in exactly the same way. The strategies the
U.S. government chooses to promote human rights should vary from country to
country. They must take into account what will be most effective in each
particular case, and respond to the needs and desires of those who are
struggling for human rights and democracy on the ground.
That said, while American strategies may differ from country to country,
America’s voice should not. There is no reason why the United States can’t
speak honestly, clearly, and publicly about human rights to every government
in the world, whether it is friend or foe. After all, engagement is not the
same thing as endorsement - you can have a relationship with a country like
<Pakistan> or Saudi Arabia without feeling you have to defend its
government’s policies whenever they’re criticized. Yet far too often, this
is something the U.S. government forgets. Too often, American diplomats
assume that to defend America’s choice of friends in the world, they have to
defend everything those friends do - or at least be silent. Again - this
should be seen as utterly unnecessary. It is also profoundly harmful to
America’s overall human rights message in the world.
The United States is most effective in promoting liberty and human rights
when people around the world believe it is rising above narrow self interest
to defend universal ideals. If, instead, the U.S. government’s rhetoric
about democracy is seen as a weapon it uses only against its enemies, people
around the world become cynical about everything the United States does in
the name of freedom. Under such circumstances, dictators in countries like
Iran or Cuba can deflect U.S. criticism by arguing that it’s selective.
Dissidents in places like Egypt and Saudi Arabia doubt that the United
States is really on their side; they suspect it is using its freedom agenda
to mask other ends, and they're less willing to be associated with U.S.
democracy programs.
Mr. Chairman, let me close by adding one additional country to the mix here,
and that is <Pakistan>. I believe that <Pakistan> represents the most
egregious, and harmful, example of a human rights double standard in
American foreign policy today. <Pakistan> appears to have little place in
President Bush's ``freedom agenda.`` On the contrary, President Bush has
repeatedly come to the defense of his friend President Musharraf against
anyone who criticizes his continued dictatorial rule over <Pakistan>.
In recent weeks, a growing movement of Pakistanis, led by the country's
lawyers, have been peacefully demanding a return to democratic government in
the country. Last week, President Bush responded by praising Pakistani
``democracy`` and referring to the growing protests against General
Musharraf as ``posturing. `.`
These statements appear to align the United States behind one man against
virtually every decent segment of Pakistani society - against the very
people in that country who are most likely to be America's friends and to
support a moderate, modern course for <Pakistan>. This kind of approach will
reinforce all of General Musharraf`s bad tendencies - not just his
authoritarian crackdown, but his growing estrangement from moderate, secular
forces in the country, his growing political reliance on Islamists, and his
consequent refusal to crack down on the Taliban elements who are killing
American and NATO troops in Afghanistan. It is a classic case of muting
human rights concerns to protect a security relationship. But it is in fact
as contrary to U.S. security interests as it is to America's commitment to
democracy. And it is killing America’s image with the next generation of,
hopefully, democratic Pakistani leaders.
I raise this, Mr. Chairman, because it is truly an urgent example of the
problem you are focusing on today, and one that requires immediate
attention. We desperately need, in the coming days, clear, public statements
from both the administration and the Congress urging full respect for the
rule of law and judicial independence in <Pakistan>, the release of
political detainees, media freedom, and a swift return to civilian,
democratic rule. This shouldn’t be about whether the United States supports
or opposes a particular leader - but it needs to be, clearly and
unequivocally, about U.S. support for the institutions of democracy and law.
Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to testify. I look forward to
answering any questions the committee may have.
Laura I. Preissman
PPP lambastes regime for
growing power shortage
Corruption and bad governance responsible for energy crisis
Islamabad, June 16, 2007: Pakistan Peoples Party has expressed deep concern
over the growing power crisis in the country on the one hand and the apathy
of the regime to urgently address the issue on the other.
“Massive load shedding in hot summer caused by corruption, neglect and bad
governance in the power sector had made the lives of people miserable while
the regime keeps spending on un productive and white elephant projects like
building a new GHQ in Islamabad”, said a spokesperson of the Party in a
statement today.
General Musharraf has been making promises of ending load shedding for the
past several years but has failed to undertake any new major power project
thus far he said, adding “the pathetic state of power in the country mocks
at the tall claims of the regime”.
He said that the PPP government during the three-year period between 1993-96
added seven thousand megawatts to the national grid from the Independent
Power Producers (IPPs) and another 1000 MW from Ghazi Barotha hydel station
but the vested interests maligned the projects with unsubstantiated
accusations of corruption.
Musharraf regime’s power policy stands on the two legs of corruption and bad
governance. “The corruption is evident from the way KESC was privatised in a
non-transparent manner and the utility was sold to a group who reportedly
had not even seen a power plant and bad governance was evident from the
sheer neglect of the power sector during the last 8 years”.
The Party asks the regime to address the issue of power shortage on an
urgent basis instead of wasting public funds on non-productive
American Interests in
Pakistan Are Larger than One Man
by Lisa Curtis - WebMemo #1497 - June 15, 2007
Pakistan's judicial crisis, sparked by the Musharraf government's March 9
dismissal of the country's Chief Justice, has grown into a broader movement
to restore democratic, civilian rule to the country. The U.S. response to
the crisis so far has been cautious, due to concerns that political
instability in the country could jeopardize counterterrorism cooperation,
especially against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces that are re-trenching in
Pakistan's Tribal Areas. But Musharraf's popularity has slipped considerably
in recent weeks and U.S. public support for him is growing increasingly
irrelevant in the current political environment.
U.S. reluctance to speak out against curbs on civilian freedoms also risks
deepening anti-American sentiment, which Islamic extremists could exploit to
further their anti-American agendas. Blindly supporting Musharraf--who is
seeking reelection from a five-year-old parliament, while maintaining his
role as Army Chief--is not worth the cost. Instead, Washington should
encourage and support a transition to democracy.
Focus on Democratic Principles
The United States is in a position to play a positive role in encouraging a
transition to civilian-led democracy in Pakistan, without backing any
particular leader or party. A U.S. State Department spokesman's remark last
Tuesday that Pakistan should not roll back advances in press freedom was a
step in the right direction and had an immediate positive impact: Pakistan
suspended the media restrictions it had decreed the day before and dismissed
hundreds of cases against journalists who had defied a government ban on
rallies in Islamabad.
The ideal scenario is a smooth transition to democracy, with Musharraf
playing a strong role. But if Musharraf continues to respond to the current
political crisis with an increasingly autocratic hand--taking away press
freedoms and arresting opposition politicians and peaceful protesters--he
will further undermine his credibility and lessen his chances of playing a
role in any transition to civilian rule.
The Bush Administration has only dealt with a military-ruled Pakistan and
therefore has trouble envisioning an alternative. Throughout the 1990s,
there were three power centers in Pakistan: the army, the president, and the
prime minister. Today, all power is centered in one individual--President
Musharraf--an inherently unstable situation for a country with a vibrant
civil society and developed political parties. The Pakistani people have
agitated for democracy in the past, which led the military to share power
with the civilian leaders.
U.S. policymakers worry that a civilian-led government would not be
committed to the fight against terrorism, particularly in the tribal areas
bordering Afghanistan. But this fear is largely unfounded. In any new
political order, the military would retain a major role in decision-making
on security matters. The military, in turn, seeks to maintain its strong
relationship with the U.S., due at least in part to large-scale military and
economic assistance programs from the U.S., and so would continue its
counterterrorism operations. A civilian-led government with broad support
from Pakistani society could even strengthen Pakistan's support for
countering terrorism, especially if part of the civilian leader's mandate
was to halt the Talibanization of Pakistani society that has begun in the
Northwest Frontier Province.
Promote Transition to Democracy
The U.S. can help bring about a peaceful transition to civilian-led
democratic rule in Pakistan by continuing to speak in favor of civilian and
democratic freedoms. If Washington stays in step with the evolving political
situation in Pakistan and focuses on enhancing democratic institutions in
the country, its credibility with the Pakistani people will grow as it works
to encourage a peaceful transition to a civilian-led government
representative of the Pakistani people. The alternative--blindly supporting
one ruler--would likely bring greater political instability and anti-U.S.
sentiment, a dangerous mix that could threaten U.S. interests in the region
for years to come.
Lisa A. Curtis is Senior Research Fellow for South Asia in the Asian Studies
Center at The Heritage Foundation.
PPP concerned about
negative impact of budget on poor
Islamabad June 14, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party is concerned about the
negative effect of the Budget on the working and middle classes of Pakistan
said former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a statement today.
Noting that inflation is the main problem facing the country and recalling
that inflation is running at ten percent if not more for the last three
years consecutively she said that this was the failure of the regime's
economic policies.
Calling inflation, "the most unjust hidden tax" on wage earners and workers
as well as middle classes and traders, Mohtarma Bhutto said that never in
the past history of Pakistan was such high inflation associated with growth.
"The international aid money has not trickled down to the masses" Mohtarma
Bhutto said adding, "but instead spent on the ruling classes who are
enjoying themselves while the people are suffering".
Mohtarma Bhutto assured the people that the PPP is with them and would
continue to fight for their rights. She said Quaid e Awam had created the
PPP for the protection of the oppressed, the weak the downtrodden and the
discriminated. She said that the vested interests opposed the PPP because it
was fighting for the different social groups in the country like the
peasants, the labour, for the rights for women and minorities, for
opportunities for youth and for the working and middle classes.
Citing the macro weaknesses in the economy, she said that the General
Musharaf's regime has done nothing to show that it is cutting on budget
deficit that is projected at 4% deficit. The PPP, she said, notes that this
translates nominally to Rs. 400 billion, which is a huge sum and will go to
further increase prices in the coming year making buying power even weaker
for ordinary housewives and workers.
The failure of the regime's economic policies could be seen in the poor
position of exports. The PPP noted that Exports are stagnant and the
unprecedented current account deficit points to unsustainability of
long-term growth. The PPP criticised the regime for not offering anything to
exporters in the Budget to stimulate growth.
Recalling the PPP allegations for inquiry into the Prime Minister over the
stock market crash of the past years she said that the PPP was also shocked
to note that huge tax breaks were given to the super rich. The super rich
were making huge profits trading in the stock market and operating in the
real estate business. The regime had made all this all tax-free.
The PPP rejected the skewered policy of taxing poor more than taxing the
rich. It believes in a balanced budget, which invests in human resource
development and seeks to meet the educational, health, housing and drinking
water needs of the ordinary citizens of the country.
The former Prime Minster asked the people of the four provinces of Pakistan
to come forward and vote for the PPP. "PPP needs a large mandate like
mandates enjoyed by the present regime to overcome the obstacles in the
progress of the people of Pakistan".
PPP welcomes rice statement
supporting democratic change in Pak
Islamabad, 12 June 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party welcomes the statement
by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stating that the United States is
pressing for a "democratic change" in Pakistan, said Party's Chairperson
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
"We are encouraging him to use the upcoming elections to make sure that they
are done democratically, free and fair; that opposition is brought in," Dr.
Rice said in an interview with an American news network.
Dr. Rice did not discuss a post Musharaf world saying: "I don't really think
that speculating on a post-Musharraf (period) makes much sense because he's
there and I think he has a number of strengths.
However she added, "But we are talking to and pressing for democratic change
in Pakistan; I think it's necessary,"
Dr Rice's statement came against the background of the New York Times
editorial that urged the Bush administration to distance itself from Gen
Pervez Musharraf and to promote the earliest possible democratic elections
in Pakistan.
"Pakistan seems to be rapidly approaching a critical turning point, with a
choice between intensified repression and instability or an orderly
transition back to democratic rule," The New York Times said in its second
editorial on the current unrest in the country.
Democracy for Pakistan
By BENAZIR BHUTTO
June 8, 2007: For the first time in Pakistan's history, the number of
religious-based parties is rising, and suicide bombings are becoming a
common occurrence of daily life. Extremists have expanded their presence
beyond the tribal areas into more settled areas like Islamabad, Karachi and
Tank. More militias, hiding under the guise of madrassas (Islamic religious
schools), have been established since 9/11. Now, armed vigilantes are
kidnapping police officials at gunpoint in the heart of the country's
capital, barely a mile from the country's Supreme Court and Parliament
buildings.
Although he resolutely eschews responsibility, Gen. Pervez Musharraf and his
regime have stoked these fires. Instead of building the strong, stable and
"enlightened democracy" that he promised after the 1999 coup, Gen. Musharraf
has undermined secular forces -- by openly rigging elections, clamping down
on media and free speech, failing to pursue investigations of innocent
civilians who have disappeared, as well as intimidating political opponents
by any means, including physical attacks.
He will not brook any opposition. In May, 48 peaceful protestors -- lawyers,
human-rights activists and ordinary Pakistanis -- were slaughtered on the
streets of Karachi as they rallied peacefully against Mr. Musharraf's
unlawful suspension of Pakistan's top judge, Chief Justice Iftikhar
Chaudhry. Pakistani media and eyewitness accounts report that members of the
Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), the ruling party and an ally of the regime,
shamelessly opened fire on these unarmed citizens. Hoping to silence any
challenges to their stranglehold over the port city and commercial jugular
of Pakistan, Mr. Musharraf's allies have also cracked down on independent
television networks and opposition leaders with impunity. Meanwhile,
opposition calls to establish an independent judicial inquiry into who
ordered the police to stand by while citizens were killed have been ignored.
Yet this tiger is clearly eating his own tail. Mr. Musharraf's dictatorship
is fueling instability in Pakistan: Oppressed citizens, who are denied a
truly representative government that can address their most basic issues,
now seek refuge in extremism and religious fundamentalism. In return, their
basic needs for clothing, food, shelter and health are being met by the
political madrassas.
These madrassas have been given permission to establish FM radio stations to
spread their message, something not yet granted to moderate political
parties. This has bred a dangerous slide into the kind of intolerance once
alien to moderate Pakistan. Faced with growing threats to stability, there
is a widespread consensus that restoring democracy through free, fair,
transparent and internationally-supervised elections is the only way to
return Pakistan to civilization, and to marginalize the extremists.
A return to democracy is not just important for Pakistanis -- it is
important for the entire world. Yet Mr. Musharraf and his regime are
promoting the perception that he is the only bulwark between the West and
nuclear-armed fundamentalists. By this self-serving logic, Mr. Musharraf's
fall would be disastrous to success in the war on terror.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In elections past, Islamic parties
have always been a marginal force in Pakistan's elections, having never
garnered more than 11% in any parliamentary election. And if free and fair
elections are allowed to take place now they will be marginalized again,
because the two major political parties -- the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)
and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) -- are secular, moderate and can
easily mobilize popular support for state action against terrorists. A
recent poll by the International Republican Institute confirmed this view.
Furthermore, no Pakistani, except those on the fringe, disagrees with the
movement to rid Pakistan and the region of terrorism, or any militancy
driven by misguided religious dogma or sectarian extremism. The truth
remains that more than two-thirds of Pakistanis are distinctly moderate and
see the tide of extremism currently rippling out from tribal Pakistan as a
danger to its self-image and stability. The notion that the toppling of Mr.
Musharraf's regime would be a disaster for Pakistan (or a nightmare for the
West) is nonsense.
Pakistan's counterterrorism objectives will never reach any semblance of
success if it is hamstrung by a regime that is dependent on the religious
right for its political survival. It is a well-known fact that the political
structure that Mr. Musharraf put into place following the most recent
general elections has enabled the Taliban to regroup. The Taliban now has an
irregular army whose soldiers receive monthly salaries for patrolling tribal
areas, collecting taxes and beheading those who are accused of being
so-called Western spies or alleged adulterers. An apostasy law, recently
proposed by the religious right, hovers dangerously -- unchallenged by the
regime in parliament.
Clearly, Mr. Musharraf's government has run out of both ideas and options.
The solution to stabilizing this anarchic state cannot be "stabilizing the
current regime" when the regime itself relies on fanning the flames of
religious and ethnic terrorism to justify its undemocratic hold on power.
Although tribal terrain offers many opportunities for resistance, there is
another reason why Osama bin Laden has not yet been intercepted -- or that
the Taliban find such easy sanctuary once again. If the Taliban are
eliminated, or if their poster-boy Osama bin Laden is caught, the
international cries for restoration of democracy will only deepen. Mr.
Musharraf's regime needs the threat of an "Islamist takeover" to keep the
rest of the world community supportive of its continued grip over Pakistan.
Anti-dictatorship sentiment in Pakistan today has reached a fever pitch. At
its core, Pakistan aspires to be a democratic nation. The public longs for a
return to democracy through the establishment of a cohesive national
government that can oversee election reforms to ensure free elections open
to all political personalities, including the exiled prime ministers,
observed by a robust international monitoring team under laws that ensure
rigging cannot take place.
The regime argues that Pakistani politicians are corrupt and incompetent.
The Pakistani public doesn't think so. They view the politically-motivated
corruption charges as an attempt to divert attention from the
institutionalized corruption of the military.
Transparency International said in a recent report that corruption under the
present regime is much worse than during its civilian predecessors.
Moreover, power shutdowns, unemployment and poverty have increased, despite
the massive international assistance to Islamabad, including $10 billion
from Washington alone.
Recent U.S. government actions toward Pakistan are increasingly encouraging.
Pressuring Mr. Musharraf into kick-starting the democratic process is
vitally important. It is democracy alone that can undermine the forces of
religious extremism as well as give hope and opportunity to the people of
Pakistan. The spread of political madrassas and militancy across the country
during the eight years of Mr. Musharraf's dictatorship proves the point.
Ms. Bhutto, chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party, was prime minister
of Pakistan from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996. She lives in exile in Dubai.
The Musharraf Dilemma
By MAX BOOT
June 11, 2007: Pakistan may be reaching a crisis point. Gen. Pervez
Musharraf, who is chief of both the country and the armed forces, is facing
the most serious threat to his rule since he seized power in 1999. His
high-handed suspension in March of the chief justice of the supreme court,
Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, has galvanized opposition from the urban
middle-class that had hitherto acquiesced in his rule. On May 12, street
protests got out of hand in Karachi, leaving 48 dead and contributing to a
sense of worsening crisis. Mr. Musharraf has since tried to regain control
by cracking down on independent media outlets and by jailing hundreds of
opposition political activists, but the protests continue.
The Bush administration is reaching a decision point: Will it continue to
provide unqualified support for Mr. Musharraf on the grounds that he is too
valuable an ally to give up in the Global War on Terror? Or will it pull the
rug out from under him and insist on a transition to civilian democratic
rule? In this matter as in so many others, George W. Bush should ask himself
the WWRD question: What Would Reagan Do?
As it happens, Ronald Reagan confronted a crisis remarkably similar to this
one 21 years ago involving another pro-American dictator in another
strategically important country. Ferdinand Marcos had ruled the Philippines,
home to two of America's biggest overseas military bases, by martial law
since 1972. He had loyally stood by the United States and fought against a
communist insurgency, but his rule started to unravel when opposition leader
Benigno Aquino returned to his homeland in 1983 and was assassinated on the
tarmac.
Evidence pointed to conspiracy involving Gen. Fabian Ver, commander of the
Philippine armed forces. But a three-judge panel acquitted Ver and 25
others, and Marcos promptly reinstated him. He then shamelessly stole the
1986 presidential election from Benigno's widow, Corazon Aquino. Hundreds of
thousands of people took to the streets to protest. "People power" was
supplemented by a rebellion within the Philippine armed forces. But Marcos
still had the loyalty of much of the army, and was prepared to use it to
hold onto power by force -- unless the U.S. intervened.
President Reagan confronted a difficult choice. He felt personally loyal to
Marcos and was afraid of the consequences of toppling him, having little
confidence in Ms. Aquino's leadership abilities. Reagan abhorred the way
Jimmy Carter had abandoned the Shah of Iran in 1979, and didn't want to make
the same mistake.
But his Secretary of State, George Shultz, had seen early on that Marcos's
legitimacy was eroding. "I became increasingly convinced that Marcos was the
problem, not the solution," Mr. Shultz wrote in his memoirs. The secretary
of state had refused to call for the dictator's ouster, but he had insisted
that the Philippines hold elections -- demands that Marcos had finally
agreed to.
The crisis came to a head on Sunday, Feb. 23, 1986, as Marcos was massing
troops in Manila to crack down on the post-election protests. The top-level
National Security Planning Group met that afternoon in the White House
Situation Room to decide whether to continue backing him. Only White House
chief of staff Don Regan offered any support for Marcos. The rest of the
foreign-policy team said his day was done. The president was reluctantly won
over. He authorized his friend, Sen. Paul Laxalt, to call Marcos and convey
the message. By Tuesday, the dictator and his gaudy wife Imelda were on
their way to exile aboard a U.S. Air Force jet.
This was no aberration. Even while protests were erupting in the
Philippines, a similar situation was occurring in Haiti. Here, too, another
pro-American dictator -- Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier -- was sinking. And
here, too, the Reagan administration refused to throw him a lifeline,
forcing him into exile.
The Reagan administration also played a role in getting the military regime
in South Korea to give up power and hold free elections in 1987. The same
year, with American encouragement, Taiwan's Chiang Ching-kuo ended martial
law and began the transition to democracy. The following year, again with
U.S. backing, Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet held a referendum, which he
lost, bringing his long reign to an end.
All these actions were taken notwithstanding the very real risk, at a time
when the Cold War was still going strong, of what would follow in the wake
of pro-American strongmen. Back then, just as today, lots of "realists" made
the better-the-devil-you-know argument. (Henry Kissinger wrote an op-ed
expressing "grave concerns" about Marcos's overthrow.) But what Reagan and
especially Mr. Shultz realized was that giving a blank check to dictators
was a bad deal. Sooner or later, it would lead to an explosion that would
make an anti-American regime -- of the kind that arose in Nicaragua and Iran
in 1979 -- more, not less, likely. The best way to prevent such a disaster
was by pushing for civil-society reforms culminating in free elections,
something that previous administrations failed to do with Somoza or the
Shah.
The choice is made more difficult in the case of Pakistan because, unlike
the Philippines or South Korea, it possesses nuclear weapons. Our ultimate
nightmare is for those weapons to fall into the hands of Osama bin Laden's
allies. But that is extremely unlikely. The coalition of religious parties,
the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, won only 12% of the seats in the legislative
assembly in 2002, even though Mr. Musharraf hindered more secular parties
from competing. There is no reason to think it is any more popular today.
The two main opposition parties, the Pakistan People's Party led by Benazir
Bhutto and the Pakistan Muslim League led by Nawaz Sharif, have their own
shortcomings, including corruption and a history of dealings with Islamic
radicals. But they represent the broad middle of Pakistani society, not the
extremist fringe.
Moreover, Mr. Musharraf has talked a better game than he has delivered. He
has taken at least $10 billion in American subsidies since 9/11, and in
return he has sent his troops to fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban. But
he has also struck deals with tribal authorities in South Waziristan, North
Waziristan and Bajaur that essentially turn over those vital border regions
to Taliban control. No wonder terrorism in Afghanistan is exploding. Taliban
fighters receive training and support in Pakistan, possibly still from their
historic patrons in the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency which reports to
none other than Mr. Musharraf. There have even been a number of incidents in
recent months of Pakistani troops providing covering fire from their side of
the border for Taliban militants assaulting Afghan army positions. Mr.
Musharraf has been useful, but he is either unwilling or unable to do enough
to combat the terrorists in his country.
There is no need for President Bush to call for his ouster at this point,
any more than Reagan called for Marcos's ouster early on. What he should do
-- what Reagan did in the Philippines -- is to insist that the
constitutional process play itself out. That means that, if he wants U.S.
aid to continue, Mr. Musharraf should give up either the presidency or his
post as army chief and allow free elections in October that could be
contested by all legitimate political parties.
Reagan's words at Moscow State University in 1988 still ring true today:
"Democracy is the standard by which governments are measured." Mr. Musharraf
is not living up to that standard.
Mr. Boot, winner of the 2007 Eric Breindel Award for Excellence in Opinion
Journalism, is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and
author of "War Made New"
Pakistan’s Dictator
June 11, 2007: If Gen. Pervez Musharraf were the democratic leader he
indignantly insists he is, he would not be so busy threatening independent
news outlets, arresting hundreds of opposition politicians and berating
parliamentary leaders and ministers from his own party for insufficient
loyalty to his arbitrary and widely unpopular policies.
But nobody takes General Musharraf’s democratic claims seriously anymore,
except for the Bush administration, which has put itself in the embarrassing
position of propping up the Muslim world’s most powerful military dictator
as an essential ally in its half-baked campaign to promote democracy
throughout the Muslim world. Washington needs to disentangle America,
quickly, from the general’s damaging embrace.
Ever since his high-handed dismissal of the country’s independent-minded
chief justice in March, the general has been busily digging himself into an
ever deeper political hole.
Last week, he issued a decree giving himself increased powers to shut down
independent television channels, but under mounting pressure he withdrew it
over the weekend. More than 300 local political leaders in Punjab were
arrested in an effort to head off protests against the decree. Still,
thousands of lawyers, journalists and political activists gathered to
protest the firing, the censorship and the general’s continued rule.
Pakistan seems to be rapidly approaching a critical turning point, with a
choice between intensified repression and instability or an orderly
transition back to democratic rule.
Were Washington now to begin distancing itself from the general, it would
greatly encourage civic-minded Pakistanis to step up the pressure for free
national elections. That’s a process the chief justice was trying to make
possible when he was fired. And that is what Pakistan’s last two
democratically elected leaders — Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif — are both
campaigning for from abroad. The United States should be supporting these
efforts, not continuing to make excuses for General Musharraf.
Pakistan has its share of violent Islamic extremists, military and civilian.
But they are clearly in the minority. The best hope for diluting their
political, and geopolitical, influence lies not in heating the pressure
cooker of repression, but in promoting the earliest possible democratic
elections.
Election Commission must
provide provisional electoral lists in electronic form for parties to run
checks, says PPP
Questions why about half of voters in Sindh have neither been given NADRA
cards nor enrolled
Says this is rigging before first cast of ballot
Islamabad, 11 June 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party calls upon the Chief
Election Commissioner to immediately issue all major political parties the
electronic provisional electoral lists to show his impartiality, said former
Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party in a statement today
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the law permitted the Election Commission to do
so. Moreover, in India lists were given to parties because such lists are
tamper proof when protected.
She said that the electronic format of provisional electoral lists was
essential for political parties to verify through electronic checks whether
an honest job was being done.
The Pakistan Peoples Party believes that a test of the impartiality of the
Election Commission is to provide the provisional lists in electronic format
to political parties. Failure to do so will give rise to the suspicion that
the Election Commission has something to hide and will cast a shadow over
the elections even before the first ballot is case.
The Pakistan Peoples Party believes that it is the constitutional duty of
the Election Commission to hold honest elections. However, unfortunately in
the past Election Commissions have broken the law with impunity by failing
rigging to stop through collusion or impunity.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the people of Pakistan are no longer prepared to
accept rigging of elections. The recent movement of the masses supporting
the Chief Justice who was ousted on corruption charges is a trailer of the
movement that will begin if the anti people forces try to steal another
election in a country groaning with poverty, injustice, lawlessness,
militancy, terrorism and extremism.
The Pakistan Peoples Party is concerned over the missing twenty million
votes in the new electoral rolls. It has been argued that the missing votes
are the ghost votes of past elections. However, if this is the case then the
Election Commission should not be reluctant to offer its electoral list to
the stakeholders, namely the political parties as well as NGOs and civil
groups in electronic format to hold verification checks.
The PPP understands that so far the Election Commission has declined to
issue the electronic version of the provisional electoral lists on the
ground that the Constitution does not insist they do so. However, the
Constitution does not prohibit the ECP from giving out the provisional
electoral lists so this argument of the ECP does not satisfy the
stakeholders whose suspicion about provisional electoral lists needs to be
removed.
Further the PPP demanded that the sole identification clause be removed and
any government identity be accepted at time of polling to prove identity
such as a passport, arms licence, drivers licence etc which are issued by
government bodies.
According to media reports, a survey conducted by IRC for the Asian
Foundation, about 60 per cent people of the Khairpur district do not have
Computerised Identity Cards, while 40 per cent adult population of Sukkur
also remain without them. As per media report IRC informed the media that a
network working for the Asian Foundation conducted the survey on the issue
in three districts of Khairpur, Shikarpur and Sukkur and found that more
than 50 per cent women in the Shikarpur district were without CNICs and not
enrolled in the voters' lists. Besides, more than 60 per cent people in
Khairpur and 40 per cent in Sukkur had not yet obtained their CNICs while
the majority of the women in these districts are not even aware of the
introduction of the CNIC and enrolments in the voter lists.
Additionally, Provincial head of the Election Commission reportedly admitted
the failure of the voter registration process in Sindh province, which PPP
believes reflects the trend in other provinces also. According to media
Election Commission member Sindh in his statement admitted that more than 5
millions of the people of Sindh had not yet been enlisted in the new voters
lists, as they did not have the new identity cards being issued by NADRA and
ECP did not therefore enrol them in.
PPP Senator Khawaja Slams
Budgetary Camouflage
Fragile growth and trade deficits pose serious challenges
Regime fails to address the underlying causes of increasing poverty
Islamabad June 11, 2007: PPP Former Senator Dr. Akbar Khawaja said in a
statement today that regime has failed to address remedies to the increasing
poverty and the underlying causes of inflationary pressures, low exports,
and unemployment.
Senator Khawaja said the concessions and subsidies are mere election
propaganda and the people are facing severe hardship in gaining access to
basic necessities under crippling price hike. Regime has failed to make any
inroads in cracking down on poverty.
Rejecting Regime earlier claims that it had broken the Kashkol, he
criticized that Regime has been shying to give out the real numbers. New
borrowings and donor funds are going into bureaucratic wastages and corrupt
cronies are even chewing up safety nets intended for the poor such as the
earthquake relief and reconstruction funds.
“Effectiveness of PSDP allocations and service delivery to the citizens
remains very weak because of rampant corruption”, the PPP leader said that
corruption and inadequate budget controls is the greatest obstacle to social
development.
It is regrettable that Prime Minister is silent on the transparency concerns
in the Privatization of national units and scams in the stock market, he
said.
Senator Khawaja rejected regime’s claims that the country was enjoying high
savings and investment rates. He said that these were mere political slogans
of the regime’s election campaign. He said that rise in the trade deficit
and weakening fiscal indicators reflect that fears for the economy and its
future were growing.
He pointed out that trend in the past five years of defence spending
indicates an overspending by defence administration without following the
budgetary thresholds.
Senator Khawaja further added that while significant problems persist and
the economy still has far to go to fulfill its real promise, there are
enormous challenges to restore true democracy, the rule of law and the
economic rights of the people of Pakistan.
Musharraf regime is
manufacturing growth at the expense of the poor, says Mohtarma Bhutto
Islamabad, 10 June 2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the
Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has said that the 2007-8
budget presented by the Federal Government is a major disappointment for the
nation.
The Pakistan Peoples Party rejects it on the grounds that it is a
continuation of the inegalitarian economic policies of the current military
regime. The PPP stands for egalitarianism and for reducing the gulf between
the rich and the poor by creating a vibrant middle class, she said in a
statement today.
She said that the tall claims of economic growth by the regime are only in
official statistics and remain a fiction for the majority of Pakistan’s
people who are groaning under inflation and unemployment with poverty having
increased.
General Musharraf’s economic teams policies are pushing poor people to the
wall and are leading to some of the worst inequality seen in recent decades.
Pockets of poverty are multiplying in the midst of plenty.
In a disturbing new trend, for the first time, Pakistan is facing Latin
American style inequality, where the rich become richer and the poor are
increasingly being marginalized and ignored, she said. “This is gross
injustice which the PPP repudiates. The PPP commits to helping the poor, the
disadvantaged and the discriminated to give security to every citizen of the
country”.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the most serious economic indictment of this
regime lies in its complete inability to control prices. Government has
singularly failed to keep a check on prices of food and other items of daily
use, she said.
She said that last year the government’s economic managers blamed increase
in global oil prices for rising inflation in Pakistan. However, the spectre
of inflation continues to haunt Pakistan’s economy despite a subsequent fall
in oil prices.
Food price inflation is now running in double digits (in excess of 10
percent) and this has been the biggest ever increase during the previous 15
years. Under no previous democratic government have the food prices
registered such a dramatic increase as under the current military
dispensation, she said.
The writ of this government only applies to those who are opposing
government policies, mainly the lawyers, media representatives and members
of opposition. The most basic task of a State is to ensure law and order and
to maintain minimum price stability. The present military regime has grossly
failed on both accounts and has, instead, given a completely free reign to
ruthless business cartels that are creating artificial shortages to extract
illegal profit.
It is in this context of rising inflation alone that one must evaluate
government claims about falling poverty, she said. Hardly any serious
economic observer in Pakistan believes in the official claims of falling
poverty.
She said that historically, economic growth in Pakistan has been unequal and
skewed, benefiting mainly the rich and cronies attached to rulers. But a
staggering increase in inflation, especially in food prices, is having the
most direct and damaging effect on ordinary people with limited economic
resources. These include the majority of rural dwellers, the self-employed,
the labourers, the schoolteachers and other millions of hardworking people
who are tirelessly working to make ends meet.
The PPP calls upon the people of Pakistan to come forward and support the
PPP in the forthcoming elections to together build a Pakistan that is just,
fair, modern, progressive and prosperous, she said.
Budget, A Cruel Joke With
the Public: PPP
Islamabad, June 9, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party described the budget
2007-08 presented in the National Assembly as "a cruel joke with the
public".
Assuming that the establishment holds free and fair elections in the country
this year, this is expected to be the last budget of the current regime that
has been managing the country's economy for the past seven years. All the
budgets during the regime's time in power have been declared by analysts of
national and international repute as pro-rich. The regime has never allowed
a proper debate over the successive budgets, which have been rushed through
the parliament without taking the opposition's objections into account.
Economic experts have repeatedly pointed out that the bubble of the
so-called growth and development blown by the regime can burst anytime in
the face of its impending time limit and a range of domestic and
international factors.
Commenting on the budget, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan
Peoples Party slammed the government for using the budget for its election
campaigning purpose demanding the regime to be "fair with facts and
figures." According to Rehman, the budget 2007-08 is full of unrealistic
promises and attempts to hide facts with flowery language.
"It is rather amusing that all the budgets the regime has presented so far
promise 'relief' to the public, which is mainly based on the price reduction
of a few food items. At the same time, it is busy nurturing cartels in all
the sectors of the economy allowing them the luxury to control the prices
their way. The common man continues to pay the highest utility rates in Asia
for a pathetic utility service while also relying on the private sector for
education and health services. An inflation rate of 7.6 percent and the food
inflation rate of 10.6 percent amply demonstrate how much of a relief the
budget has been for the public."
Rehman observed that it has been a common practice with the regime to
announce unrealistic targets at the start of the financial year, only to
fall short of it months later. "In its own words, the regime missed all the
targets it had set for the last financial year. This included trade, current
account deficit, inflation, industrial production and large-scale
manufacturing. What's the purpose of announcing ambitious target when the
regime is totally incapable of meeting them? It doesn't even help the
regime's public profile as the people know the wide gap between the promises
and the reality," Rehman stated.
Rehman strongly criticised the budgetary allocation exercise that is full of
irregularities and is rampant with corruption. "On the one hand, the regime
claims to allocate a certain amount to the PSDP funds and on the other hand
it works round the year to juggle the PSDP funds and to channel it to
non-productive avenues." Rehman cited the example of Rs 10bn PSDP funds
given away to the DISCOs in the FY 06-07. She also recalled that at least
100 PSDP projects were delayed or sidelined as the Finance Ministry delayed
the release of funds amounting to Rs 62bn in the fourth quarter of the
financial year. "Similarly the regime announced granting Rs 16bn to the HEC
but released only Rs 4.5bn,"
Pointing to the allocation for Defence expenditure, Rehman said that the
figures keep going up every year reflecting the political hold of the
military on the civilian structures . " No demands for cuts or freezes have
ever been entertained. This year the defence budget will once again go up by
10 percent, at Rs 275 billion from Rs224bn last year. It is worth noting
that due to lack of transparency, the actual defence expenditure is far
higher than what is stated in the budget. Last year it amounted to around
Rs300 billion. This year it is expected to cross the Rs 300bn mark, while
military pensions and a host of other military expenditures will be hidden
all across the civilian expenditures account."
Lamenting the peanuts allocated to the two most crucial sectors, health and
education, Rehman said that Pakistan's health and education spending is the
lowest in the region, despite an unprecedented fiscal space created after
9/11. The Rs. 24 bn allocated to education is a slap on the face of the
future generations that face tough times ahead thanks to the regime's wrong
policies in the education sector. Health at Rs 5240mn is embarrassingly low,
especially when compared with defence expenditures at Rs275bn. Is the
interest of the armed forces more important than the health of the ordinary
citizens?"
Rehman observed that the economic performance of the regime stands exposed
by the World Bank report that points that 74% of the population lives below
$2 a day. Despite strong criticism of the international monitoring bodies,
the regime continues to measure poverty on headcount basis claiming that 24%
of the population is left below the poverty line. "Experts have repeatedly
pointed out, the actual poverty figures run much higher when calculated on
the internationally recognised Purchasing Power Parity terms, according to
which the country's yearly per capita income growth rate is stagnant at only
4.62 per cent during 1999-2005."
Rehman said that people are getting tired of the fudging figures exercise
that is being slapped upon them by the regime year after year. She demanded
that the budget should not be passed by the NA without addressing the
reservations of the opposition. She also added that the heads of all
expenditures should be debated and it should be made obligatory on the
respective representatives of different departments to appear before the
parliament to justify the budgetary allocations made to them.
SILENCING THE MEDIA: Black
Laws Prop a Shaky Regime
PPP Condemns all Such Curbs and vows to fight for the Freedom of Expression
and Information.
Calls June 4 the Darkest Day in the History of the Press
The Pakistan Peoples Party also called a meeting in Karachi on June 7, 2007
to decide the future course of action in the face of the regime's onslaught
against the media. The Party's Central and Federal Executive committees
participated in the meeting that was chaired by the Senior Vice Chairman
Makhdoom Amin Fahim. The Party members expressed solidarity with the media
and vowed to take the struggle for free media at every forum. The meeting
recalled that during the PPP governments of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the
press was never subjected to harassment, threats and individual or
institutional curbs. In fact, it was noted that the first step the PPP
government took in 1988 was to remove all press censorship laws and
reinstate all journalists terminated from service during the martial law
regime of General Ziaul Haq. Freedom of expression was encouraged and the No
Objection Certificates needed by journalists to travel abroad were
abolished. During the second tenure of the PPP government the Sixth Wage
Board was announced for newspaper workers, and actually implemented in the
Associated Press of Pakistan service. It was also observed that it was the
PPP government under Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that opened up the air waves by
allowing satellite communications and transmissions to be broadcast outside
the official PTV medium, which laid the foundations for the internet, mobile
and satellite revolution in Pakistan, freeing up the air waves to private
enterprise and free expression like never before
Central Information Secretary PPP
PEMRA FACTSHEET
The new ordinance called the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, carries draconian amendments introduced by
General Pervez Musharraf to the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)
Ordinance, 2002. It puts new and unprecedented draconian restrictions on
electronic media and comes into force throughout the country at once.
These laws hark back to the darkest days of another military dictatorship
under General Ziul Haq, when the press was put in chains to silence
democratic dissent.
The Black Laws were imposed by bypassing the Parliament . The ordinance was
promulgated just when the Senate was in session and two days before the
National Assembly is to start its budget session. The regime has sidelined
people's representatives one more time, showing its true authoritarian face.
General Musharraf has now bestowed all powers to the pet Authority, the
PEMRA. The section 39(A), which is a new provision, authorizes the PEMRA to
make rules and regulations simply by issuing notifications
General Musharraf's recent move undoes major provisions of a law passed by
the Parliament in February 2007 . That bill came after a two-year long
debate and consultations with the stakeholders.
The PEMRA (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 carries 10 amendments made in the Act
passed in February. The amended sub-section (5) of Section 29 provides the
Authority or the chairman to "seize a broadcast or distribution service
equipment or seal the premises which is operating illegally or (in)
contravention of orders passed under Section 30."
The ordinance empowers the PEMRA to confiscate the equipment of broadcasters
and seal the premises without consulting a council of complaints.
In the PEMRA bill passed in February this year, complaints against
broadcasters were referred to a Council of Complaints and it was obligatory
for the PEMRA to seek the Council's opinion before the revocation of a
license. Thanks to the new amendments, the Council's role has been
abolished, and PEMRA has been empowered to cancel the license on its own.
Sub-section (4) in Section 30 of the law says: " License of a broadcast
media may be suspended on any or the grounds specified in sub-section (1),
by a duly constituted committee comprising members of the Authority ."
The amendment also seeks to increase the fine for violators to Rs10 million
from the existing Rs1 million, raising the cost of deviating from the
government line to new heights.
According to the rule, the ordinance shall remain in force for three months,
after which the President can extend it.
The ordinance covers mobile telephones and the internet too. In actual fact,
this move only demonstrates the desperation of this regime as it tries to
control the internet and cell phones.
After March 9, when its own writ and legitimacy nosedived, the regime first
tried to control the broadcast media through the denial of uplink facilities
to transmit to their headquarters for onward broadcast. In a valiant effort
to survive the broadcast media countered that through relaying the
transmission through mobile phones or the use of internet. This is why the
regime went on to slap restrictions on the mobile phones and the internet.
In order to bring the owners of private TV channels under the PEMRA laws,
they have also been bracketed along with operators in the new ordinance.
The June 4 Ordinance aims at enforcing the 'code of conduct' that was
imposed some years ago on the media without taking into confidence the
members of the media and the opposition leaders.
The regime has tried to pressure Pakistani private channels by leaning on
key commercial advertisers to pull their sponsorships.
The PEMRA has blatantly ignored all violations made by the cable operators
over the years. In collusion with cable operators PEMRA has managed to black
out transmission almost every day since March 9. The blockages are
widespread on any day when the opposition is protesting or the CJ is out to
address a bar association.
The Run-up to The Final Gagging of the Press
The ordinance just makes official the draconian measures the regime has been
resorting to since the day it ignited the judicial crisis on March 9, 2007.
Taken aback by the massive public outcry at the unconstitutional suspension
of the Chief Justice Pakistan and the media coverage the issue received, the
regime in panic, has been taking successive and suicidal measures to
clampdown on the media.
First, it briefly suspended the transmission of Aaj TV and Geo TV in March,
which was an unsubtle threat to those and other channels if they continued
with their live coverage of the CJ's activities or of popular protest.
Instead of seeking to end the grave political crisis across Pakistan, the
regime then carried out an attack on Geo TV in full public view and in the
close proximity of the Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani.
The latest clampdown on the media follows fast in the aftermath of the May
27 seminar of the Supreme Court Bar Association in Islamabad that was
covered live. The lawyers that spoke at the rally were merely exercising
their constitutional right to express their views. The regime found that
intolerable and apart from seeking court action against the participants of
the seminar also slapped a ban on media channels to cover the rally live.
On the eve of the Chief Justice's visit to Abbottabad on June 2, 2007, the
country's TV channels received a letter from the PEMRA that urged them not
to air programmes that "encourage" violence, or promote an "anti-state
attitude". They were ordered not to air programmes that contain "aspersions
against the judiciary and the integrity of the armed forces of Pakistan".
Apart from the written letter, the broadcasters were also warned verbally to
"Stop live coverage of Chaudhry rallies."
As if that wasn't enough the regime went ahead and blocked the transmission
of two TV channels, namely Geo and ARY in the first week of June. So far
there has been no official reason issued for such a violation of the
fundamental rights of the citizens.
Naked untruth followed brutal clampdowns. The PEMRA still expects people to
believe that the media blackout has been carried out by cable operators on
their own. Yet no one buys the canard that the Cable Operators Association
of Pakistan (CAP) have not been pressured to take GEO and Aaj TV off their
networks. Many have confessed to it in private.
In the last week of May 2007, General Musharraf bluntly criticized the media
for supposedly showing their lack of respect for the armed forces. What he
refused to acknowledge is that the criticism was mostly directed at him and
his misrule, not at the army as a professional institution. In the same
vein, while addressing army officers in Jhelum garrison, he used harsh words
against the lawyers and the media for "humiliating" and maligning the armed
forces.
PM Shaukat Aziz then went on to say that criticizing the Pakistan army would
not be tolerated since the army was the "real asset of the nation". The
liberal PM also stated that comments against the army were "tantamount to
conspiracy against Pakistan". And before one could recover from the
diatribe, a ban was slapped on Aaj, ARY and GEO TV by mysterious forces who
are yet to be named and seen.
In stark contrast to its claims of media freedom, the Musharraf regime has
shown a rather dismal record of protecting the media and its interests
during its seven years in power. According to a South Asia Free Media
Association report, Pakistan tops the list for abductions and killings of
journalists during the past year. The tribal areas have been turned into
no-go areas for journalists and the situation in Balochistan and interior
Sindh remains quite dangerous for journalists.
According to independent reports, over two dozen journalists have been
killed in Pakistan during the last seven years. 68 journalists have been
abducted, arrested or detained; 81 tortured or injured; more than 114
threatened or intimidated, while there have been 37 attacks on media
property.
The PPP strongly condemns all such actions as the last desperate acts of a
dying regime, and vows to struggle in solidarity with the media and the
press community in their struggle for fundamental rights and press freedoms.
PPP files constitutional
petitions against PEMRA Ordinance
Islamabad June 8, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party today filed
constitutional petitions in all the High Courts of the country challenging
the latest amendments to the PEMRA Ordinance.
The Peoples Lawyers Forum in all the four Provinces filed the constitutional
petitions. The respective Presidents of the PLF in the provinces filed the
petitions. In Lahore, Mian Mohammad Hanif Tahir President Peoples Lawyers
Forum, Punjab, filed the petition.
The constitutional petitions have been drafted and filed under the
supervision of Senior Supreme Advocate, Senator Sardar Lateef Khosa of PPP.
The identical petitions have prayed to the High Courts that the impugned
PEMRA ordinance XXVII of 2007, promulgated on June 4th, 2007 be declared as
without lawful authority and of no legal consequence.
The petitions also pray that the PEMRA Order prohibiting the live coverage
of the reception of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to various Bar
Associations of Pakistan may be adjudged as illegal and Ultra Vires to the
law and constitution of Pakistan.
It has also been prayed that till the decision of this petition operation of
the impugned ordinance XXVII of 2007 and orders of PEMRA Chairman may be
held in abeyance.
Besides, "any other writ, relief or direction, expedient in the interest of
justice may also be issued in vindication of the grievances afore referred".
The writ petition filed under Article 1999 of the Constitution has named the
Government of Pakistan through Federal Secretary Parliamentary Affairs,
Federal Minister Law and Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice and Chairman,
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulating Authority (PEMRA), Islamabad as
Respondents.
Bilawal Zardari receives
degree with distinction
Islamabad June 8, 2007: Bilawal Zardari, son of former Prime Minister
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Senator Asif Zardari graduated from his school
receiving an Emirate Degree.
He was one of the three students who graduated with distinction.
At convocation on Wednesday the graduating students were awarded degrees by
Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum the Deputy Ruler of Dubai in the United
Arab Emirates.
PPP Condemns Black Press
Laws
Resolution for the CEC/FC Meeting
June 7, 2007: The Central Executive Committee and Federal Council of the
Pakistan Peoples Party met on June 7, 2007 at Bilawal House, Karachi.
The meeting was chaired by Makhdoom Amin Fahim on the directives of the
Chairperson of the PPP, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
The agenda of the meeting was to discuss amendment in the PEMRA laws passed
on June 04, 2007 and the attacks on the electronics media with a view to
censor the press and deny information to the public.
The second agenda item was steps to be taken by PPP to defend the freedom of
press and show solidarity with the media.
The meeting noted that PEMRA formed as a regulatory body for the electronic
media. However its purpose was distorted by the PEMRA amendments into an
instrument to threaten, intimidate and shut down broadcasts of private
electronic media channels as part of an attempt to censor news channels by
the military regime.
The PPP slammed the curbs as a violation of the democratic right to a free
press which negated constitutional freedoms guaranteed under Article 19 of
the 1973 Constitution.
The meeting unanimously observed that the curbs were an effort to hide the
growing public unrest against the present unpopular regime. By muzzling the
press and television networks broadcasting live telecasts of chief justice's
procession the murder attacks by the regime on the public in Karachi on May
12, the killing of Registrar Hammad and other such incidents of the regime's
excesses and the reaction to them.
The meeting recalled that television channels were ordered to stop live
broadcasts relating to the suspended Chief Justice, and when they refused
PEMRA was given powers to cancel licenses, seize broadcast equipment, seal
premises and impose fines up to Rs ten million on private networks in
revenge. The meeting rejected the amendments allowing the regime to take
draconian action against the broadcasters without investigation or findings
that indicated culpability. The Party noted that earlier, to eliminate the
popular party of the people, the PPP, NAB had been created with similar
draconian powers in 1997.
The PPP said that first the establishment attached political parties, then
the judiciary and now the press. The PPP said that the political parties,
the judiciary and the press are all essential elements of a democratic
pluralistic society. Their common interest was to stand together for it was
well known, "United they stand, divided they fall".
The PPP deplored the military regime's press record noting that the
Committee to Protect Journalists in the USA had reported that over two dozen
journalists have been killed in Pakistan during the last seven years. 68
journalists have been abducted, arrested or detained; 81 tortured or
injured; more than 114 threatened or intimidated, while there have been 37
attacks on media property.
The PPP vowed to stand in solidarity with the media and the press recalling
that PPP had introduced press freedom in the country in 1988 as well as
introduced private electronic media.
The meeting recalled that the PPP government in 1988 removed all press
censorship laws and reinstated journalists terminated from government
service during an earlier martial law regime. The No Objection Certificates
needed by journalists to travel abroad were abolished, import of news print
was freely permitted and government permission to start publication was done
away with. During the second tenure of the PPP government the Sixth Wage
Board was announced for newspaper workers, and implemented in the Associated
Press of Pakistan service. The PPP government under Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
opened up the air waves by allowing satellite communications and
transmissions to be broadcast outside the official PTV medium, introduced
digital communication and laid the foundations for the internet, mobile and
satellite revolution in Pakistan, freeing up the air waves to private
enterprise and free expression like never before .
The PPP meeting condemned the arbitrary arrests of its workers as well as
workers from all other opposition parties all over Pakistan, particularly in
the Punjab, where thousands of office-bearers and activists have been
rounded up in midnight raids without reason or provocation. The CEC called
upon the Peoples lawyers Forum to immediately give free legal assistance to
those in prison. It called upon the district presidents to ensure their
organizations called upon in jail. It called upon the Women wing to visit
the families to give them moral support and it called upon all provincial
presidents of the mother organization as well as the Women's Wing to ensure
that those recommendation of the CEC, having been approved by the
Chairperson be implemented.
The meeting demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners, the
withdrawal of politically motivated cases against the Chief Justice,
Chairperson PPP, other opposition members and press, safe return of exiled
prime ministers, removal of all curbs on the media, and the immediate
announcement of an election date under a government of national consensus to
supervise elections in which all political candidates are allowed to
contest.
The meeting resolved to immediately convene for a rally against the PEMRA
offices right after the CEC/FC meeting. The meeting also resolved to
challenge the black laws in all four provincial High Courts and directed the
Peoples Lawyers Forum to proceed with the petitions forthwith. The party
also committed itself to all measures needed to express solidarity with the
media community and directed all its central and provincial leadership to
meet expeditiously with all the journalists unions and media bodies .
The meeting also condemned the new disinformation campaign launched by the
regime about the PEMRA Laws being under a " stay" as a deliberate distortion
of the truth. The meeting noted that the amendments have not been withdrawn
and hang like a Damocles Sword over the press in order to coerce, harass and
intimidate journalists to toe the government line, as originally intended by
the amendments introduced on June 4 2007.
The meeting concluded by re-asserting the PPP's commitment to peace,
democracy economic emancipation of the people of Pakistan under the
leadership of Duktar-e–Pakistan Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
PPP Invites Parliamentary
Seat Applications For General Elections 2007
Islamabad June 7, 2007: In view of the forthcoming General Elections
scheduled to be called sometime before the November 2007, the Secretary
General of the Pakistan Peoples Party has invited applications from those
interested in being considered for its parliamentary ticket.
All applicants must subscribe to the Manifesto and Program of the Pakistan
Peoples Party under the leadership of Dukhtar -e- Pakistan Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto.
As each constituency can have several applicants who support the Party, each
applicant must state clearly and in summary why they think they are in a
better position to win the seat for the Party.
The application must be typed, contain a brief bio-data, an attested copy of
a Bachelor's degree, Photostat copy of Party membership and a non refundable
fee by Bank Draft/Pay Order made out in name of Pakistan People Party of
Thirty Thousands Rupees for National Assembly applicants and Twenty Five
Thousands Rupees for Provincial Assembly applicants.
Those supporters who have never won election since 1988 although they have
received Party tickets may not apply.
Successful applicants will need to fulfil other conditions including an
affidavit and a fee for award of symbol.
Preliminary meetings have already taken place by the research teams, think
tank, provincial organizations and parliamentary groups.
Final Parliamentary Board will meet in London presided by the Chairperson in
July. All members of Central Executive Committee and Federal Council in good
standing will be members of the Board. All provincial presidents,
secretaries, leaders of opposition, deputy leader of opposition, provincial
presidents of women's wing will be attending the Parliamentary Board.
Divisional presidents, district president and district secretary are invited
for their division/district.
Those members who have violated discipline of the Party or been expelled
will not be eligible to apply.
All applications be made to Central Secretariat Islamabad or to Bilawal
House Karachi. Applications will be accepted from June 15th 2007 to June
25th 2007.
PPP tell regime to give
minorities protection
Islamabad, 7 June 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party called upon the military
regime to offer immediate protection for the students of the School of
Nursing who, it claimed, were being allegedly threatened by Lal Masjid
students.
This was stated by the Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a statement
today.
Mohtarma Bhutto said Constitution of Pakistan offered equal protection to
all citizens irrespective of class, gender or religion. PPP wanted the
constitutional guarantees fulfilled otherwise regime should resign.
She said PPP was proud that Islam preached tolerance and respected all
Prophets who came before the last Prophet (PBUH).
She said PPP was concerned that image of Pakistan damaged due to the
insecurity of citizen.
"Since dismissal of PPP government in 1996, country has slipped from one
crisis to another", the PPP Chairperson said.
She assured people in all provinces irrespective of race, religion or gender
protection under a PPP government. She asked people to give PPP two third
majority in forthcoming elections.
PPP hails the struggle by
electronic media
Expresses solidarity with the channels.
Islamabad, 7 June 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party has hailed the heroic
struggle of media to resist all attempts aimed at depriving them of their
independence.
Chief of the Federal Council PPP and former Information Minister, Khalid
Kharal visited on Wednesday visited the offices of private TV channels in
Lahore and presented flower bouquets on behalf of Chairperson PPP Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto.
The offices Khalid Kharal visited to express solidarity with the channels
and felicitate them on courageously rejecting the draconian amendments in
the PEMRA ordinance included that of Mr. Salman Iqbal, CEO ARY Digital, Mr.
Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Bureau Chief Geo Lahore and Mr. Noman Yawar, Bureau
Chief, Aaj TV Lahore.
PPP tell regime to give
minorities protection
Islamabad, 7 June 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party called upon the military
regime to offer immediate protection for the students of the School of
Nursing who, it claimed, were being allegedly threatened by Lal Masjid
students.
This was stated by the Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a statement
today.
Mohtarma Bhutto said Constitution of Pakistan offered equal protection to
all citizens irrespective of class, gender or religion. PPP wanted the
constitutional guarantees fulfilled otherwise regime should resign.
She said PPP was proud that Islam preached tolerance and respected all
Prophets who came before the last Prophet (PBUH).
She said PPP was concerned that image of Pakistan damaged due to the
insecurity of citizen.
"Since dismissal of PPP government in 1996, country has slipped from one
crisis to another", the PPP Chairperson said.
She assured people in all provinces irrespective of race, religion or gender
protection under a PPP government. She asked people to give PPP two third
majority in forthcoming elections.
Benazir Bhutto calls
meeting on new media curbs
Sherry Rehman terms PEMRA Ordinance
‘anti-democratic’, ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘draconian’
Announces protest rally in Karachi today
LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto has called an
urgent meeting of the party’s Central Executive Council and Federal Council
to discuss the recently promulgated Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory
Authority (Amendment) Ordinance in Karachi today (Thursday).
Sherry Rehman, information secretary of the party, said that the meeting has
been called to take strong note of the PEMRA amendments and their
ramifications on fundamental freedoms and the future of democracy in
Pakistan.
“The PPP has strongly condemned the laws as anti-democratic and
unconstitutional, and its Central Executive Committee will convene after the
meeting to lead a protest rally from Bilawal House to the PEMRA offices. The
rally will then join the press rally called to commemorate June 7 as a black
day,” she added.
In solidarity with the journalist community, the PPP has also called for
nationwide protests against these ‘draconian laws’, and will mobilise the
party for further action if the regime continues to suppress the voice of
the people through its “authoritarian actions,” added Rehman.
“The meeting will also finalise the decision to take up the PEMRA amendment
in court. The PPP stands by its commitment to press freedom and will remain
on the frontlines of this struggle as well,” she said
Rehman said that attacks on the press were attacks on the very survival of
democratic forces, and the PPP would leave no stone unturned until the media
was allowed to write, broadcast and inform without a “dictator’s axe”
hanging over their heads.
“These laws only reflect the desperate acts of an isolated regime and they
will only add to the political crisis in the country, created by a man who
refuses to shed his uniform,” she said.
Party insiders said senior vice chairman Makhdoom Amin Faheem would chair
the meeting and would also take party members into confidence as far as
ongoing rumours of a PPP-government deal is concerned.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, another senior vice chairman of the party, told
Daily Times that a course of action would be approved in the meeting to
counter the current situation and restore media freedom. Protecting the
Constitution was the party’s top priority, he added.
Khalid Ahmad Khan Kharal, former federal minister for information and
secretary general of the PPP Federal Council, condemned the promulgation of
the amended PEMRA Ordinance.
“Its is a shameful assault on the freedom of the press. The government was
feeling nervous with the way it was being exposed by the media. It is tragic
that the government has been repeatedly preventing live broadcasts by the
electronic media, and coverage of seminars, protests and rallies for the
independence of the judiciary,” a statement issued by Kharal read.
He also said that efforts were made to prevent the launching of a book by Dr
Ayesha Siddiqa, a reputed and respected non-political scholar. “We not only
support her cause but also admire her courageous act of writing such a
well-documented book on the economic empires of the army. If the regime
feels embarrassed by such publications, they should refrain from building
such empires,” he added.
Mohtarma Bhutto condemns
large scale arrest of Political activists
Demands their release, urges judiciary to take suo moto notice
Islamabad June 06, 2007: Former Prime Minster and Chairperson of the
Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has condemned the arrest of
PPP workers and pro democracy supporters in the country in connection with
the observance of black day against the assault on the independence of
media.
Hundreds of Party activists were arrested in Rawalpindi, Multan, Lahore,
Khanewal, Sahiwal and other cities ahead of the black day planned to be
observed on Thursday June 7 by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists
(PFUJ) against latest restrictions slammed on the private channels. The
Party has decided to support the PFUJ call to observe June 7 as black day in
protest against curbs on the media.
The activists were whisked away by security agencies and detained at
undisclosed locations.
In a statement today Mohtarma Bhutto said that staging of peaceful
demonstrations against the latest assault on the media was a democratic
right and the arrest of workers ahead of exercising their democratic right
was condemnable. She called for the immediate release of all those arrested.
It may be noted that the PPP has decided to support the PFUJ in its call for
observing Thursday June 7 as Black Day..
The largest number of arrests of any political party, ahead of the black day
has been of PPP workers who are in the forefront of the defence of the media
freedoms and the rule of law and independence of the judiciary.
Mohtarma Bhutto urged the judiciary to take suo moto notice and order
release of those arrested in violation of their human rights and their right
to peaceful assembly and peaceful protest.
Mohtarma Bhutto also saluted the courage of the workers and said that the
cowardly strong arm tactics of the regime will not cow down the Party
workers. “Your courage and sacrifice offers great hope to the civil society
in their struggle for upholding the independence of the media in the
country”.
PPP Condemns Amendments to
PEMRA Ordinance, Says Mohtarma Bhutto
Islamabad June 6, 2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the
Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto today condemned the
far-reaching restrictions slammed on private channels.
In a statement today the former Prime Minister said that the Pakistan
Peoples Party that had ushered in the period of press freedom was
particularly pained at the repressive steps taken against the media.
She said that the Pakistan Peoples Party would support the journalists and
media in support of press freedom.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the actions against the press were one of
desperation. She called upon the media to unite as it would be impossible
for the regime to shut down all the electronic media.
She said that by taking the steps against the media, the regime was
demonstrating an intolerance, which would undermine the attempts to create a
pluralistic and diverse society in the country.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the PPP is proud of the courage shown by the vast
majority of the members of the media who have been killed, kidnapped,
assaulted, threatened, suffered physical intimidation and been victims of
terror attacks but still kept up the flag of press freedom.
She said that in modern society the press is the fourth pillar of state.
It may be recalled that on Saturday electronic media were banned from
telecasting live shows relating to the suspended Chief Justice. On Sunday
the PEMRA law was amended giving the government sweeping powers to cancel
license, seize broadcast equipment, seal premises and impose heavy fines of
ten million rupees on private TV channels that do not toe the regime's line.
The amending ordinance also empowered the Authority to suspend the license
even before investigations are completed and culpability established.
Further a new clause was inserted under which the regime could slam new
curbs on the broadcasters just by issuing new regulations in an official
gazette without reference to Parliament and the stakeholders.
Mohtarma Bhutto Deplores
Violence Against Minorities and Citizens
Islamabad, 5 June 2007: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said the
Pakistan Peoples Party is deeply concerned that Pakistan's image as great
moderate Muslim state as envisaged by its Founder is being undermined by
acts of violence against minorities.
Mohtarma Bhutto recalled that Quaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had
proclaimed that all Pakistanis would be equal before the law. She noted that
Islam laid the basis of a pluralistic state by protecting minorities.
In a statement today she said that however since the dismissal of the PPP
government in 1996, a slide into extremism has begun which is undermining
the social and economic interest of the common man. She said PPP opposes the
politics of violence and intolerance that create insecurity for our citizens
and affects their economic livelihood and financial well-being.
Mohtarma Bhutto said the recent article by Pakistan Origin Bishop of
Rochester painting a grim picture of the state of minorities in Pakistan
would hurt the country's image unless remedial steps were taken.
She said that while violence against minorities was deplorable, it was also
equally deplorable against non-minorities. Mohtarma Bhutto noted that people
of Baluchistan were victims of violence through a military operation while
the women, lawyers, press and political activist were routinely victims of
violence due to their gender or their political
beliefs.
The former Prime Minister said that the PPP wanted a restoration of
democracy to weaken the forces of violence, give every citizens protection
of law and provide progress and prosperity through employment, education and
welfare schemes.
US think-tank lists MQM as
militant outfit
The Peninsular
ISLAMABAD 6/5/2007: Karachi-based ethnic Muttahida Qaumi Movement party is
included in the list of foreign terrorist organisations, furnished by a US
research institute that exclusively works on terrorism.
The National Memorial Institute for Preventing Terrorism (MIPT), funded by
the US Homeland Security Department, considers the MQM as a terrorist outfit
and brackets it with dozens of other Pakistan-based militant outfits.
The militant outfits the MQM has been bracketed with are Lashkare Jhangvi,
Balochistan Liberation Army, Sipahe Sahaba Pakistan, Lashkare Taeeba,
Harkatul Mujahideen and others.
Interestingly, all of the organisations displayed in the MIPT list have
already been banned by the Pakistani government except the MQM, presently a
major component of ruling coalition. It alleges the MQM for its involvement
in turf of war in Karachi and thus concludes that this ethnic-cum-political
party bears a history of violence. MQM, originally known as Mohajir Qaumi
Movement, has no strong religious or political ideology the MIPT says.
The MQM has been ranked in terrorist outfits as nationalist-separatist
organisation. The MIPT is considered a comprehensive databank of global
terrorist incidents and organisations often used by the US policymakers.
The MITP that is funded by Homeland Security, works in close coordination
with a reputed US think-tank, RAND that it gets verified all terrorist
incidents to be used by it later on in the Terrorism Knowledge Base (TKB).
The charge sheet that the think-tank furnished against the MQM for declaring
it a terrorist group includes attack on private citizens, religious leaders
and public property in previous years.
The MIPT put the MQM on its list of terrorist organisation after its violent
activities in 2001 and since then it has been among the declared terror
outfits of this research institute.
The MIPT has not recorded, however, any violence carried out by this
‘terrorist’ group since the time it came into power. According to the MIPT
report, the MQM has approximately 3,000 members
Although the MIPT has not elaborated whether these outfits were put onto the
terrorist lists on the instructions of the US government etc, it has
furnished the list of terrorist organisations working in different
countries.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's
Transcript for NPR interview
Bhutto Sees Return to Pakistan Aiding Democracy
June 4, 2007: Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan, has decided
to return to Pakistan to contest elections there, despite her risk of
getting arrested.
Bhutto left the country years ago to avoid graft charges. Now, she says, she
wants to pressure President Gen. Pervez Musharraf for a return to civilian
rule.
But Bhutto is not seen by many in Pakistan as a shining champion of
democracy. Her two terms in office destroyed the optimism and excitement
that were present when she began her first tenure as prime minister in 1988.
Bhutto tells Robert Siegel that she plans to return to Pakistan sometime
between September and December, depending on political developments there.
"This is an opportunity for the people of Pakistan to try and restore
democracy," Bhutto says. "And it's also an opportunity for us through the
restoration of democracy to undermine the forces of religious extremism who
have expanded their influence in Pakistan during the last five years. I
believe it's important for Pakistan's democratization as well as moderation
for me to go back and play a role."
Do you anticipate that if you went back, would there be an understanding
that you would not be arrested or prosecuted by the government if you
returned?
Right now, there is no such understanding on the cards, and it's very
possible that the regime might try to arrest me. I have consulted my
lawyers, and they too are ready to support me. But ultimately it's a
political decision. We do have a chief of army staff as president of
Pakistan, so the military is in a very strong position. And our judicial
institutions are a little weak. But nonetheless, I am prepared to take the
risk because I think it's important for Pakistan and for its future.
Now, there are many reports that you or your allies have been negotiating
with President Musharraf or his allies, possibly to share power in some
transition back to parliamentary or civilian rule. Was such an arrangement
on the table and is it still conceivable to you.
I'd say that that's partially true. The talks that we were having were
centered less on sharing power, and centered more — at least the way I would
like to see it — centered more on a transition to democracy. We understand
that in a transition to democracy, countries face many challenges, and we in
the PPP [Pakistan People's Party] wanted to facilitate such a transition.
And that's the reason why our party has had contacts with the military
regime.
Unfortunately, those contacts have not yet materialized into any
understanding that could lead to truly fair elections in Pakistan, to my
return, to be able to play a proper role in those elections. Just last
month, Gen. Musharraf said that he would not permit the two exiled former
prime ministers to participate in the elections. And I feel that if I can't
return to my country, if I can't participate in the elections, those
elections will not be fair, and secondly, it would give an unfair advantage
to the religious parties whose leadership is present in Pakistan.
You said these talks have not yet produced such an agreement. That's at
least an implicit statement of some optimism that the talks aren't finished
yet.
Well, Mr. Siegel, right now I don't want to talk about the talks, because it
makes people very angry. Certainly, after the events of May 12th when 48
people were killed in the city of Karachi at the hands — many suspect — of a
coalition partner of the regime, and until today, not a single person has
been arrested for those 48 murders. Our supporters say we shouldn't be
talking to a regime that has killed 48 people and not arrested a single
murderer. That's what they say. And they say we shouldn't be talking to a
regime that is not – that is refusing to reinstate the chief justice of
Pakistan because it wants to weaken the judiciary with a view to rig the
forthcoming elections.
What do you say to Pakistanis who would say, well, the return of Benazir
Bhutto or, for that matter, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, would be a
return to contested elections in parliamentary democracy, But those were
also days of mutually destructive politics, very intense rivalry, and
corruption?
I would say that Mr. Nawaz Sharif and I have signed a charter of democracy
where we have pledged to work together to bring about some fundamental
reforms to our political system to make it responsive to the needs of the
people. And I do believe that there needs to be a balance in the powers
between the president and the prime minister. One of the reasons that there
was so much political turmoil in the past was because the president had the
power to dismiss a parliament and a prime minister. And the president often
exercised that power, and all the parties played to the president because
they wanted to ally with him. So I think doing away with the dissolution
power is an important factor.
And secondly, I would say that the charges of corruption were made to
actually distract from the institutionalized corruption of the military
regime. I know that my party and I have both fought those charges with grim
determination for a decade and none of them have been proven. And I believe
it's for the courts to declare someone guilty or innocent, and so far, the
courts have declared on our side.
I want you to comment on something that former Sen. John Edwards said last
night in the Democratic candidate debate in New Hampshire. The question was
about Pakistan, democracy, and fighting against al-Qaida. And Sen. Edwards
said this:
And one danger that anyone has to recognize with the possible taking down of
Musharraf as the president of Pakistan — and I met with him also in
Islamabad a few years ago — one of the things we have to recognize is if he
goes out of power given the power of radical Islam in Pakistan, there is
absolutely no way to know what kind of government will take his place.
I know that this is an argument that has been made by Gen. Musharraf to
frighten the international community into prolonging his dictatorship. I see
things differently. I believe that the longer Gen. Musharraf continues with
the present political structure that he has put into place, the greater will
be the threat from the Taliban and the extremists. Back in 2002, the Taliban
had been defeated; they were dispersed; they were disorganized. And since
then, they have regrouped and reorganized and rearmed themselves to the
extent that they regularly carry out attacks on NATO troops, and Afghan
troops, in nearby Afghanistan. Secondly, within Pakistan itself, many of our
cities have been ceded to the militants one by one.
But how then would a democratic government deal with the rising authority of
Islamists in Pakistani cities, merely to contest with them at the polls and
run against them, or are you speaking of some sort of crackdown on them?
Contesting the polls is only the beginning of the journey to undermine
extremism, militancy and terrorism. But most fundamental is to address the
social and economic needs of the people of Pakistan. In a way, dictatorship
neglects the basic needs of the people. And when their basic needs to
clothing, to housing, to drinking water, to economic advancement is
neglected, the poverty and the desperation is a fertile ground for the
extremists to exploit.
Amendments to PEMRA
Ordinance condemned
New Ordinance shows regime's nervousness
Islamabad June 4, 2007: Pakistan Peoples Party has condemned the Pakistan
Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 issued
Monday as yet another shameful assault on the freedom of the media and
called upon the civil society, the professional media bodies and the human
rights organisations to reject it.
The government on Monday amended the PEMRA Ordinance giving itself sweeping
powers to cancel license, seize broadcast equipment and seal premises of
private TV channels and broadcast houses that do not toe the regime's line.
The amending ordinance also empowered the Authority to suspend the license
even before investigations are completed and culpability established.
In a statement today spokesperson of the PPP said that the amendment
ordinance was the second deadly blow dealt on the media in two days and
reflected the regime's nervousness with the way it was exposed by the media
before the world.
It may be mentioned that just a day before TV channels were banned from
airing live talk shows on the CJ issue and warned them of punitive action
for broadcasts that were "anti national and anti state" or cast "aspersions
on the integrity of the armed forces".
He said that by inserting of a new draconian clause 39-A in the ordinance
today the regime could slam new curbs on the broadcasters just by issuing
new regulations in an official gazette without reference to Parliament and
the stakeholders.
"This is unprecedented that a government body PEMRA comprising of government
officials is given the powers to make new regulations stifling the media
just by issuing an official notification"
The amending ordinance is an intolerable and unacceptable assault on the
independence of media, the spokesperson said.
Neutral armed forces in
national interest-Pakistan People's Party
Islamabad, 2 June 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party agrees with the
assessment of the Corp Commanders that a malicious campaign has begun
against institutions of state said Former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto.
In a statement today the former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said
PPP believes the only solution to end the malicious campaign; against state
institutions is for the military to go back to the barracks.
She said that for sometime Pakistan Peoples Party has pointed out that while
the armed forces enjoy respect among the people of Pakistan, its position is
being eroded through its involvement in political affairs and actions
impinging on the people by joining of the offices of President and Army
Chief.
Noting that the Constitution specifically calls upon the armed forces to
follow political decisions taken by an elected government, Mohtarma Bhutto
said this was to protect the armed forces as an institution from the
controversy and reaping the unpopularity of decisions which were
unacceptable to the people.
The former Prime Minister called upon the armed forces to remember their
oath to the Constitution and to uphold it.
Mohtarma Bhutto said Pakistan Peoples Party noted that Corp Commanders had
rightly noted that small minority should not obstruct the aspiration of the
vast majority.
She said that the views of the vast majority could only be ascertained
through fair elections under an independent election commission supervised
by a Government of national consensus, monitored by a robust international
team open to all personalities including exile Prime Ministers who should be
free to safely return to campaign and contest without government threats.
PPP condemns Tank incident
Says regime failed to establish writ of state
Islamabad, June 01, 2007: The PPP condemns the latest mayhem in Tank in the
tribal areas and calls upon the regime to establish the writ of the state as
the country continues to be ruled through the law of the jungle and the
principle of might is right reigns from Khyber to Karachi and in all walks
of life.
Thirteen people were killed including women and many injured including
children when militants attacked the house of a senior government official
in the Jatai Qala areas of tank district in frontier province on Wednesday.
In a statement today spokesperson of the Party said that the regime had
failed to establish the writ of the sate because it had systematically
decimated all state institutions and not permitted them to perform their
Constitutional functions.
The institutional collapse that is being witnessed all around is because the
military has penetrated all state institutions to control the economy’s
commanding heights without accountability and at huge cost to the civil
society.
He said that those wielding guns had hijacked the nation and the state had
set an example for warlords to set up their own fiefdoms by brandishing
guns. That was why fiefdoms had been set up in Swat by the TNSM, in Khyber
Agency by the Lashkar-i-Islami, in parts of Islamabad by the clerics of the
Lal Masjid, in Karachi by the MQM and in the tribal areas by the local
Talibans, he said.
While the law and order situation has sunk to the lowest depths and there is
anarchy all around the regime pursues a policy of political vendetta as
democratic leaders are in jail or in exile, he said.
The Party asks the regime to stop the policy of political vendetta and
address the issue of deteriorating law and order situation in the country.
Meanwhile Mohtarma Bhutto has condoled with the families of those whose near
and dear ones were killed in the Tank attack. She prayed for those killed in
the terrorist attack and for the early recovery of those injured.
PPP says NAB leaks create
false illusion of political trade off
Cases against Mohtarma and Party leadership not withdrawn
Islamabad May 31, 2007: Media leaks that NAB has withdrawn a case against
Mohtarma Bhutto as reported in a section of the media today are aimed at
creating the false illusion of a trade off between the regime and the PPP to
create confusion amongst the people and to divide the opposition.
This has been stated by a spokesperson of the PPP today commenting on
reports in a section of the press that the regime had withdrawn a case
against Mohtarma Bhutto pertaining to the oil for food program.
He said that not a single complaint against Mohtarma Bhutto either in a
domestic or a foreign jurisdiction has been withdrawn. Indeed not even the
Interpol notice has been withdrawn.
The spokesperson said that a game of political illusions is being played
with a series of disinformation fed to the media by vested interests.
Earlier false reports were fed that the Interpol notices were withdrawn,
that the Spanish lawyers were dismissed, and that NAB had been disbanded.
None of these reports were true although they received wide publicity.
The spokesperson said Millions of dollars of public money has been spent on
politically motivated cases to deny Mohtarma Bhutto and the PPP a level
political field with MMA and ruling PML Q.
The spokesperson said that the regime wanted to create the optical illusion
that it could reach a settlement with PPP in exchange for an end to the
political vendetta. If this had been the case, the PPP would have accepted
the offer in 2000 to go into exile for 10 years in exchange for release of
Mr. Zardari and end of cases.
However, PPP rejected such offerings with its workers and leaders suffering
as a consequence to keep alive the torch of democracy.
The PPP is fighting for the people to restore democracy, return military to
barracks, undermine religious militancy and bring hope of happiness to the
downtrodden people of Pakistan.
The PPP is opposed to a uniformed President, to re-election from the present
Parliament and seeks a balance of power between the Parliament and the
President, repeal of Presidential power to sack Parliament and ban on twice
elected Prime Minister.
The PPP said it wanted an end to its political victimization which had
caused loss to the national institutions and national treasury. However, to
say that cases had been withdrawn was false or that PPP could come on board
solely on cases was wrong.
There was a great Prime Minister, the first Prime Minister, the father
of the present Prime Minister of India, who said, "We were too old, we
were too tired to oppose Pakistan, and Pakistan had to come into being.
But we hope that one day we will get together gain." I too hope so, not
that Pakistan will emerge as subservient to India but in the sense that
we will get together again as equal friends, in a common fraternity,
living in a common subcontinent and sharing the common effort of seeing
that poverty, ignorance and misery are wiped out. If there are any two
countries in world that are the poorest in the world, they are Pakistan
and India. Our resources might be tremendous, but the fact is that we
two are the poorest in the world. Yet in the last 24 years, we have gone
to war three times. Three times there has been conflict in the
subcontinent. I remember that Prime Minister of the Soviet Union once
telling me that even rich nations try to avoide war; poorer nations
should make a greater attempt to avoid war.