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Interview/Benazir Bhutto
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March 2005

PPP slams Speaker for ordering new Mercedes
Islamabad March 30, 2005:
Opposition Leader in the Senate Mian Raza Rabani has issued the following
statement today:
"The decision by the Speaker National Assembly to buy a new latest model
Mercedes car worth over 11 million rupees is most insensitive, imprudent,
thoughtless and mocking at the abysmal poverty, economic suicides,
excruciating hunger and rampant joblessness in the country and must be
reversed.
"The decision will only increase the alienation of the common people from
the elected representatives. The parliamentarians will now be widely
perceived as driven by the motivations of self-interest rather than
addressing issues of the common people.
"Furthermore, the decision will increase the leverage of the anti democratic
forces and the establishment to paint the public representatives black as
selfish, greedy and insensitive to the plight of the masses.
"The Speaker’s reasoning that a new Mercedes for him should not be grudged
as the Speaker of the Majlis in Iran has an aircraft is both hollow and
spurious.
"By the same logic the Speaker may well demand an annual salary of over a
million dollars as is paid to law makers in the United Sates.
"The decision also dramatizes the double standards employed by the regime.
"Former Speaker Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani has been sentenced to ten years in
jail for allegedly making appointments in violation of the rules.
"Gillani was sentenced for what is called 'misuse of authority', a new
offence incorporated into the statute in 1999 and given retrospective
effect.
"When Speaker Gillani made appointments in the National Assembly Secretariat
in 1995 there was no such offense as 'misuse of authority'. However, he was
convicted by giving back dated effect to the law created in 1999 through an
executive fiat.
"One speaker used his legitimate authority to give jobs to people and ended
in jail; the other used his powers to order a new Mercedes for himself. What
a fall.
"The former speaker is dragged from court to court from prison cell huddled
in a police van. The sitting Speaker yearns for a special aircraft. What a
shame.
"The Party salutes the towering Yousuf Raza Gillani and thanks Chaudhry Amir
Hussain for making it obvious".

PPP backs PONM strike call
Islamabad March 28, 2005:
Pakistan Peoples Party has decided to support the shutter down and wheel jam
strike call given by the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM) on March
31.
Announcing this a spokesperson of the Party said that PPP has all along
expressed solidarity with the teeming masses groaning under the wheel of
exploitation set in motion by military dictators. . The Party also believes
in peaceful political struggle to protest against the wrong polices of the
rulers which have heaped miseries on the people, he said.
He said that the people were already alienated, as the current political
dispensation is based on fraudulent referendum, rigged elections and
politically motivated accountability.
The rising inflation, unemployment, throwing out of civilians from jobs to
accommodate serving and retired military officers, the gung-ho military
operation in Baluchistan and undertaking of mega projects without consensus
on them has further increased the alienation of the people, he said.
The militarisation of civil institutions and the politicization of the
military was eroding the professionalism of the armed forces and resulting
in an erosion of trust in them.
It is for these reasons that the Party has decided to back the PONM call for
a total strike on March 31 within the framework of the 1973 Constitution,
the spokesman said.
The spokesman called upon the rulers to heed the cry of anguish of the
people before it was too late.

Martial law-like situation in Badin
March 26, 2005:
‘Martial law’ has been imposed in Badin ahead of Musharraf’s visit.
The army and other paramilitary forces have cordoned off the areas close to
Wahani Sharif and LBOD before General Musharraf’s visit to Badin. On Friday
different areas were completely sealed off by the forces and the local
people were asked to stay behind closed door. The state’s apparatus has got
in to the act and have started requisitioning vehicles from Badin and
surrounding districts. This has already paralyzed life not only in Badin
district but the people of Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Thatta, Tharparkar and
others have faced great troubles in getting to their destinations.
On Friday, for the second consecutive day more vehicles including buses,
coasters, and vans were either impounded by the police or disappeared off
the roads to avoid being requisitioned. The impounded vehicles were handed
over to the local ruling parties activists to cart people to the ‘public’
gathering of the President.
General Musharraf during his visit to Badin on the invitation of the
provincial minister Syed Puppoo shah is expected to go to the ongoing repair
work of the deadly LBOD and announce the ruler’s usual relief package for
Badin, remission of small loans for growers, gas, grid station and a degree
college for Tando Bago town.

Mohtarma Bhutto condoles with Mrs. Saleem Chaudhry
Islamabad, March 28, 2005:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto and her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari have condoled with
Mrs. Saleem Chaudhry over the brutal murder of her husband Professor
Muhammad Saleem Chaudhry in Karachi the other day.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in her condolence letter addressed to Mrs. Saleem
Chaudhry, wrote, "The untimely death of your husband reflects the failure of
the present administration in providing the basic right of life to the
citizens of our country. The Pakistan Peoples Party condemns the murder and
hopes that the culprits will be brought to book".
She also prayed to Almighty Allah to grant eternal peace to the departed
soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with
equanimity.

Government fails to prevent
crash of stock market
Must act immediately to save small investors
Islamabad, 26 March 2005:
Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA and Coordinator Economic Coordination Cell of the PPP
has criticized the failure of the government to prevent the crash of the
stock market. In a statement issued here today, the former federal minister
for Finance has said that the failure of the Securities and Exchange
Commission of Pakistan was sitting smugly and watching the stock market
ballooning artificially. "In this process major players of the market as
well as financial institutions were manipulating the artificial hype created
to lure in widows, pensioners and other small investors. They poured in
their life savings into the equities only to see them being swallowed away
by the big fish in the market. A day did not pass when the president or his
army of ministers did not gloat over the "boom" in the market as a sign of
economic miracles being performed by the financial wizards of the regime.
Any calls towards bringing in sanity to the market were criticized as bad
tidings of the spoilers", he said.
A stock market gone out of control is not only dangerous for domestic
investors but also gives an image of immaturity to foreign investors. We
should not have celebrated the "fastest growing market in the world ,"when
we were aware that this growth is not based on sound footings. There is word
of government functionaries being hand in glove with the sharks playing the
market,. Those players and their god fathers must be brought to book and
made to pay for the siphoning of funds of small investors. Heads must also
roll in SECP and the ministry of finance for failing to ward off the
disaster for which Pakistani people will have to pay through their noses.
"Today the government has to act quickly to save the day for small
investors. While in the past the government has acted through its financial
institutions to give a feel good image artificially, now it must use the
same institutions to bring stability to the market. Not only will that
prevent the small investors from being completely wiped out but it will also
help the ongoing privatisation program of the government. Unless confidence
is restored, government will not be able to bring more scripts to the stock
market thus stalling the process".

Mohtarma
Bhutto welcomes F 16s to Pakistan
Islamabad March 26, 2005:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto has welcomed the US decision to supply F-16 aircrafts to
Pakistan.
In a statement today the former Prime Minister said that F 16s were an
operational requirement of the PAF to maintain its defensive capability. She
recalled that it was the PPP government in 1989 which had got the F-16s for
Pakistan. The offer was suspended following the dismissal of the PPP
government in 1990. Subsequently it was the PPP government in 1993 which had
restored the payments made towards the purchase of the F-16s. Mohtarma noted
that the PPP has all along been supportive of the meeting this requirement
of the Air Force.
"It therefore augurs well for our Air force and for the country and is
reassuring that Pakistan will be given these state of the art aircrafts".
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that while the PPP welcomed defence cooperation
between the Washington and Islamabad, these relations need not grow at the
expense of democracy which is declared corner stone of Bush Administrations
second term.
Any support by Washington to Islamabad may not be interpreted by the latter
as endorsement of military dictatorship. It should be accompanied by
policies that promote the holding of fair and free elections open to all
parties and personalities.
If this is not done the danger is that putting democracy at the back burner
a situation could be created which in the long run will not serve the
national interest of Pakistan and it's friends including the sole super
power.
She therefore hoped that the deal will enhance the leverage of the US
administration to persuade Musharraf regime to hold fair and free elections
this year to over come the crisis of legitimacy.
A regime with legitimacy defends the country more strongly by involving the
people and giving them a sense of participation, she said and added,
"legitimacy comes from the ballot and not from the bullet".

NAB Misleading Public and Regime Over its Spectacular Failure
Islamabad, 26 March 2005:
A PPP spokesperson said that the NAB was once again fooling the people by
claiming that the Swiss court had not quashed the Dargal Tractor case and
had sent the case back to the examining magistrate.
In a statement today, the spokesperson said that a copy of the Swiss order
was available in its offices in French which clearly showed that the order
did not state, as wrongly alleged by NAB, that the case was to return to the
examining magistrate. NAB officials were misleading both the regime as well
as the public over their spectacular failure after years of black propaganda
and wastage of public funds.
It may be recalled that an Ehtesab (accountability) reference was filed in
1998 wherein it was falsely alleged that Ms Bhutto and Mr Zardari, in
collusion with Schlegelmilch and others, received kickbacks in the purchase
of Ursus tractors under the Awami Tractor Scheme (ATS). Both Ms. Bhutto and
Mr. Zardari denied the charges. Mr. Schlaglemilch also said that the company
had nothing to do with Ms. Bhutto and Mr. Zardari. Nonetheless, NAB
continued with its propaganda and false allegations taking advantage of
issuing state sponsored lies.
NAB claimed it was making the allegations to restore funds to Pakistan. The
spokesman said that it was making false allegations as part of the character
assassination campaign. Now the party calls for accountability of the NAB
officials who abused their offices for political purposes by concocting a
case in light of the fact that monies are not to be restituted to Pakistan
as they were not part of corruption.

Mohtarma Bhutto felicitates Christians on Easter
Islamabad, 26 March, 2005:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto has extended her heartfelt felicitations to the Christian
Community of Pakistan and throughout the world on the holy occasion of
Easter on Sunday March 27.
In a message she said she along with her party joins all Christian brothers
and sisters on this happy and solemn occasion of Easter.
May the blessings of Easter fill the hearts and minds of each and every one
in the world particularly of all Pakistanis with sublime faith, honest
convictions and sincere hopes, she said in her message.
Marking the culmination of a forty-day season of fasting, alms giving,
repentance and spiritual renewal Easter is not only an occasion for
celebrations but also an occasion to make a solemn pledge that the
commitment to spiritual enhancement will not be allowed to wither away or
weaken, Mohtarma Bhutto said.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also commended the struggle waged by member of the
Christian Community for democracy, social justice and human rights in
Pakistan during the past more than half a century. "Christians have always
been in the forefront of country's struggle for democracy and human rights",
she said.
"On the part of Pakistan Peoples Party", the Party Chairperson said in her
message, "we will continue to work for the social uplift and integration in
the mainstream of national life of the Christians as well as all other
minorities".

Pakistan’ tottering Institutions
The latest US State Department country report on Pakistan's human rights
raises serious concerns about our crumbling institutions. Pronouncing the
General’ ‘Referendum’ as ‘controversial’, it holds the national elections of
2002 as ‘deeply flawed’.
Earlier, a similar report by the Pakistan Human Rights Commission depicted
the sorry state of affairs in our so-called Islamic Republic. As the Govt is
not accountable to the people, nothing much may happen to rectify the
mindset of the ‘rulers’. It is, therefore, ironic to find fantastic
statements about Good Governance etc in the media by the General and his
men. This is only a gimmick to sell authoritarian Pakistan abroad with the
help of such buzz-words. Unfortunately, it does not wash either at home or
abroad.
The ground realities are getting worse by the day. Life is becoming a burden
for about 70% people as inflation mounts dangerously hand in hand with
large-scale unemployment. As the disaster struck the Baluchs, besides the
rape of Dr. Shazia, the make-believe administration was unable to provide
genuine relief. The ‘Chief Minister’, tried to play down the losses suffered
by the people while the General stressed the favour the army was doing by
helping those destroyed by the crumbling-dams and flash floods. No genuinely
elected Govt would have dared to use such antics in dealing with a
devastating crisis. People in the Frontier suffer more due to the shutting
of 90% of the industry promoted by short-sighted monetary policy.
We appear to have short memories. The Bengalis were resentful about the
seizure of power by the army. The crimes against humanity supplemented by
Yahya Khan’ nonchalance towards the sufferings caused by the Cyclone of 1970
in East Pakistan, brought the point of no-return.
The bureaucracy is hard-pressed as cost of living rises perilously. The All
Pakistan Clerks Association staged a pen-down strike on 2nd March to protest
against the inequitable policies of the regime. Projecting their inability
to meet their subsistence-expenses, they were resentful of the periodical
pay-raises of the General and the powerless Parliament at the cost of the
poor. For honest officers, life is becoming a hell.
Despondency is all over the country. Recently, a member in a National
Assembly call-attention notice pointed to the increasing number of suicides
and requested that a survey assess the extent of the menace. The General’
men shot down the initiative on the plea that as suicide was a universal
fact, nobody should lose his sleep on such a matter.
The cumulative gloom prompted by the anti-poor policies of the regime is
undermining the national institutions. As pointed out by the State Dept
report, the regime is here in defiance of the Constitution. The people are
at the mercy of the powers-that-be while the judiciary can’t function
independently. Pakistan today is Fukuyama’ typical no-trust society wherein
even the COAS feels insecure and dons his uniform, while grabbing the office
of the President on a part-time basis. This is against the Constitution and
the oath he took but he feels nobody would listen to him if he sheds his
uniform as he fooled the MMA for the passage of the controversial 17th
amendment. In this perspective, what future this "Islamic Republic" can
have. While army belongs to the Punjab and NWFP, Sindh and Balucistan feel
left out of the affairs of the Federation. If a genuinely elected Govt does
not emerge in Pakistan anytime soon, which promotes a democratic
reconciliation, we may invite serious trouble.
The army is also becoming controversial. It must be demoralized as channels
of regular promotion have been eroded. The above-mentioned US report also
projects Pak army in a bad light. However, the DFID report as explained by
the British High Commissioner, Sir Alfred Lyall, should worry all
Pakistanis. Despite protests from the Foreign Office, the facts stressed are
rather damaging. How such howlers would weaken our position vis-à-vis India
in our search for a solution of the Kashmir dispute becomes more than
obvious?
The cauldron of discontent is boiling with Baluchistan and Sindh nearing a
blow-up. Pakistanis must wage a political struggle to contain the damage
being done before it is too late.
IMMohsin
The writer is a former Secretary Interior.

Musharraf’s vow to not allow leaders to return to Pakistan debunked
Islamabad March 26, 2005:
"Any election in which the true leaders of the people are not allowed to
participate will be sham and the resultant political dispensation will
continue to be devoid of legitimacy and multiply peoples’ woes".
Spokesman of the Party was commenting on General Pervez Musharraf’s remarks
that former Prime Ministers Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif
would not be allowed to return to the country before 2007.
The spokesman said that the problems besetting the country arose out of lack
of legitimacy of the post October 2002 elections dispensation. Pakistan will
never be a truly democratic country as long as the dark shadows of military
dictatorship are not wiped out through fair and free elections under an
autonomous Election Commission at the earliest.
The spokesman said that in the absence of true democracy and in the
prevalence of dictatorship the problems of the country such as that of
Baluchistan will continue to multiply.
The test tube assemblies produced as a result of elections described by the
Commonwealth as ‘flawed’ cannot even address the issue of quorum let alone
addressing the myriad problems of governance, he said.
The spokesman said that the dictators should draw lesson from the example of
the Central Asian states which recently saw misgovernance, mayhem followed
by the toppling of the regimes because the political dispensation in those
countries was perceived to be based on fraudulent elections and manipulated
power transfer.
Two days ago the President of Kyrgyzstan fled with his family and the
opposition parties took control of the state amid protests over the rigging
in March 13 elections. President Askar Akayev is now cooling heels in
neighboring Kazakhstan. Earlier protests over rigged elections in Georgia
and Ukraine also led to violent protests and regime changes amid compounding
of the peoples miseries and problems, he said.
General Musharraf would do well to remember that President Askar Akayev was
also considered to be liberal and progressive among the Central Asian
leaders.
"Claims of enlightened moderation can not save a system which is perceived
to be based on fraudulent elections and in which people have been robbed of
their mandate", the spokesman reminded General Musharraf.

NAB an institution for political restructuring
Islamabad March 19, 2005:
Pakistan Peoples party has condemned the withdrawal of cases against Federal
Minister Liaquat Jatoi and the non arrest of another Federal Minister Faisal
Saleh Hayat despite cancellation of bail.
The selective withdrawal of cases against sitting ministers and non arrest
of another minister even after the cancellation of his bail showed that the
majesty of law was being trampled for the sake of political opportunism and
expediency, said Mr. Taj Haider central information secretary in a statement
today.
He said that it had been established beyond doubt that NAB was a partisan
political entity for the purposes of re-engineering the political landscape
of the country to suit the political ambitions of undemocratic rulers.
Mr Taj Haider demanded of the NAB bosses to resign instead of allowing
themselves to be used for advancing partisan political agenda of the rulers.
He said that the Nuremberg trials had established the principle that the
reason that a certain functionary was forced to carry out unlawful orders of
his superiors was not a valid reason and the state functionary was equally
culpable.

PPP welcomes Shaikh Rashid’s remarks about not creating hurdles in way of
Senator Zardari’s return
Islamabad March 21, 2005:
Raja Pervez Ashraf MNA and deputy parliamentary leader of the PPPP in the
National Assembly has welcomed the remarks of Information Minister Shaikh
Rashid Ahmad that the rulers will not put up obstacles in the way of Asif
Zardari’s return to the country.
Shaikh Rashid reportedly said in a newspaper interview with the Gulf News
that the regime "would neither do anything to welcome him (Senator Asif Ali
Zardari) nor create any problem for those wanting to receive him".
In a statement today the PPP leader said that it was a basic democratic
right of Asif Zardari to return to the country and be received by the Party
workers. It is a measure of the decadence of political culture that what
should be a normal democratic right is made to appear as a favor and a
privilege, he said.
He recalled that tow months ago when Asif Zardari travelled to Islamabad
from Karachi soon after getting he was re-arrested and sent back to Karachi.
A large number of Party workers who had gathered at the Islamabad airport to
welcome him were brutally beaten up by the police, he said.
Raja Prevez Ashraf expressed the hope that the regime will live up to its
promise not to "create any problems for those wanting to receive him".
He said that Party workers had already started making preparations for
according a grand reception to Senator Zardari on his return to the country
on April 16.

Dissing Democracy in Asia
By LARRY PRESSLER
Washington:
ONE big story from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's trip to South Asia
was that once again Washington's policymakers are trying to send F-16 jet
fighters to Pakistan. This is like a broken record - the argument has come
up repeatedly since 1990, when an amendment I wrote quashed a deal involving
28 of the planes - but unfortunately this time the sale may well happen.
Pakistan is a declared ally in the fight against terrorism, and thus we give
it huge amounts of military aid. But F-16's have nothing to do with fighting
Al Qaeda and the Taliban. So what is really going on here? The answer is
entwined in two decades of misguided United States policy toward India and
Pakistan.
The truth is, we should have a robust pro-India stance. India is a democracy
with a free market and a highly developed system of human rights. It could
become our major bulwark against China in East Asia. It also has a large
Muslim minority and, generally speaking, is an example of tolerance. And we
have a mutually beneficial trade relationship with India that is helping us
keep our technological edge. (Disclosure: I am on the board of Infosys
Technologies, an Indian software company.)
Pakistan, on the other hand, is a corrupt, absolute dictatorship. It has a
horrendous record on human rights and religious tolerance, and it has been
found again and again to be selling nuclear materials to our worst enemies.
It claims to be helping us to fight terrorism, although many intelligence
experts have suggested that most of our money actually goes to strengthening
the rule of Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
Yes, during the cold war India often sided with the Soviet Union while
Pakistan went with the United States. Some old hands at the Pentagon still
seem to think we should be rewarding Pakistan for that. But the cold war is
long over. We have given the Pakistanis their due many times over.
From the late 1970's to the mid-1990's, as a member of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, I repeatedly warned that Pakistan was selling nuclear
materials to other nations. Administrations, both Democratic and Republican,
turned a blind eye; they even got leaders of our intelligence community to
say that I didn't know what I was talking about. Well, everything I said has
been proved absolutely true - to an even more worrisome degree than I had
described.
Our military-industrial complex, which I believe dominates our foreign
policy, favors Pakistan not only because we can sell it arms, but also
because the Pentagon would often rather deal with dictatorships than
democracies. When a top Pentagon official goes to Pakistan, he can meet with
one general and get everything settled. On the other hand, if he goes to
India, he has to talk to the prime minister, the Parliament, the courts and,
God forbid, the free press.
Meeting with Pakistani leaders last week, Secretary Rice did say she looked
forward to "the evolution of a democratic path toward elections in 2007."
But she neither asked for nor received any sort of guarantees about
elections, human rights or freedom of the press. She did bring up nuclear
proliferation, but only in a perfunctory way. Likewise, President Bush had
General Musharraf as a guest at Camp David in 2003, apparently without ever
mentioning the administration's democracy program. This all makes a mockery
of President Bush's inaugural speech in January, and is a prime example of
the sort of dictator-coddling that, eventually, always comes back to haunt
us.
We need a fundamental policy shift for the subcontinent. First, we should
enthusiastically improve our treatment of India. We should not reject
Pakistan entirely - we need it as an ally - but to treat India and Pakistan
the same is a great mistake. Instead, we need to speak frankly in public
about Pakistan's democratic and human-rights failures, as well as
acknowledge that we can achieve our objectives in Pakistan with a much lower
level of aid and a closer eye to ensuring that it goes toward the fight
against terrorists. And we should not sell it any F-16's.
We should also make it clear that we will favor India in all major regional
disputes. Without American support, Pakistan would be forced to drop its
claims to the disputed region of Kashmir, as well as end its support of the
region's Muslim militants (whom many in our intelligence services feel have
ties to Al Qaeda).
Freeing ourselves from our profitless Pakistan policy would allow us to look
clearly at the biggest problem in the region: China. We should tell Beijing
that we will help India match China's arms buildup and that we will work
toward a modified free-trade agreement with India to help it offset China's
state-dominated trade practices.
The Bush administration is right to put the expansion of liberty and
democracy at the center of its foreign policy. But as long as we favor
dictatorships like Pakistan over free countries like India, the world will
be right not to take our words seriously.
Larry Pressler is a former Republican senator from South Dakota

PPP delegation to meet Minister of Foreign Affairs Canada
Islamabad, 24 March 2005:
A delegation led by Saleem Janjua will be meeting Minister of Foreign
Affairs Canada, Honourable Pierre Pettigrew on April 7th, 2005 to present
memorandum against the military regime of General Musharraf for the
selective accountability of PPP leadership.
The delegation will request the Canadian Foreign Minister to demand of the
Musharraf regime to withdraw all politically motivated cases against the
former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and her husband
Asif Ali Zardari and to allow her return to Pakistan.
Delegation will be comprise of Liauqat Malik, Alamdar Kamzi, Dr. Arshad
Shah, Malik Aftab, Qaiser Farooqui and Aleem Siddiqui.

Former Prime Minister Felicitates Hindus on Holi
Islamabad March 24, 2005:
Former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has greeted the Hindu
community of Pakistan on the occasion of Holi being celebrated by Hindus
today on Friday March 25.
"I wish to extend on my behalf, on behalf of the Pakistan Peoples Party and
on behalf of the people of Pakistan heartiest greetings to Hindu community
on the occasion of Holi" she said in a statement.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the Pakistan Peoples Party believed in the
principles enunciated by our father founder Quaid-e-Azam that all citizens
irrespective of their religious faith and social status were equal citizens
of the state and enjoyed equal rights as enshrined in our Constitution.
She said that the Pakistan Peoples Party believes that the Hindus, indeed
all minorities, of Pakistan are equal citizens of the state and must be
given equal rights including the right to vote for all candidates along with
Muslim voters.
"I am happy to say that as a result of the struggle of the PPP the provision
in the original 1973 Constitution of joint electorate has been restored and
the religious apartheid foisted by a military dictator ended". She said that
the PPP will not let the system of separate electorate foisted again on the
nation.
The former Prime Minister said that the PPP has been in the forefront in
protecting the rights of minorities in the country in accordance with the
teachings of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and that she was proud of it.
"The Party’s struggle for the emancipation of downtrodden and the exploited
covers the people belonging to all the communities regardless of their cast,
creed and faith".

RESTORATION OF RELIGIOUS COLUMNS EXPOSES DUPLICITY OF REGIME
Islamabad, March 24, 2005:
The Pakistan Peoples Party Information Secretary condemned the decision
of the regime to restore the religious column in National Passports. He said
that religion and nationality are two different issues. Quaid e Azam had
made it clear that all Pakistanis will be treated equally before the law
irrespective of their religious affiliation. By including the religious
column in the passport, which is not done in most Muslim countries, the
regime was allowing bigots and fanatics information they could use to
harass, discriminate and otherwise mistreat minorities in the country.
Senator Taj Haider said that by restoring the religious column in the
passports, the regime was illustrating the gulf between stated policies of
the regime and the ground realities. Senator Haider said that while the
regime claims that it is going to implement democracy, it imposes
dictatorship, while it says that it is fighting militancy, it undermines
moderate political parties, while it claims its policies are enlightened, it
marks out religious minorities for harassment and discrimination, while it
claims that the economy is flourishing it does nothing to reverse the hunger
and poverty which is leading to economic suicides.
Senator Taj Haider said that the Pakistan Peoples Party was calling for the
restoration of true democracy through holding of fair elections with an
accurate and immediate vote count because it believed that people of
Pakistan opposed the reactionary steps being taken. Mr. Haider said that the
people of Pakistan are determined to march on the road of freedom and
dignity highlighted by Quaid e Azam for which Quaid e Awam and workers of
PPP gave their lives and liberty. Senator Haider said that unrepresentative
persons were holding the country hostage through use of state machinery and
creating conditions for chaos.

Mohtarma Bhutto warns against unravelling of system Failed System must Go
Fair and free elections must for resolving crisis of legitimacy
Islamabad March 24, 2005:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has expressed deep concern over the unravelling of
the system and demanded the holding of fair and free elections under an
autonomous Election Commission to overcome the problem of legitimacy.
Rising inflation as predicted in the just released SBP report, seething
discontent in Baluchistan manifested in the blowing up WAPDA towers, the
fast deteriorating law and order situation and the barbaric treatment meted
out to the representatives of the people show that the system is falling
apart at its seams, she said in a statement today.
"If corrective measures are not taken now and the crisis of legitimacy not
resolved through fair and free elections the militancy would certainly
spread to other parts of the country".
The State Bank has said in its second quarterly report that the inflation in
the country may go up by 8.2 to 8.8 per cent this fiscal year, up from 4.6
pc last year. Shockingly, foreign and multilateral loans have also gone up
increasing debt. She said that Islamabad should have used the 9/11 financial
support to Pakistan for making the country economically self reliant and for
investing in the people by giving them clean drinking water and saving them
from disease.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto noted that people were being killed in Waziristan
and in Balauchistan. She said that Jawans were also being killed in
Waziristan and Balauchistan. Mohtarma said that this confrontation between
the people and the army due to a failed political system was creating civil
war like situation.
Mohtarma said that failed political orphans wanted to see confrontation
between people and army. Mohtarma said that it was neither in the interest
of the people nor of the armed forces to continue with a failed political
system which was causing bloodshed, anarchy and threatening chaos. She said
that the failed political system and failed regime had given rise to the
religious parties which could hold million man marches whereas the former
prime ministers were not allowed into their homeland. Mohtarma said that the
failed political system had led to increased miseries for the masses
including joblessness, hunger and inflation.
She said that the financial assistance following the events of September 11
had temporarily helped the country but the future of Pakistan had been
mortgaged through rescheduling instead of writing off of debts by the
regime. That is why inflation is rising and poor people are committing
economic suicides, she said.
Worst still, the interest monies saved through deferred interest payments
are being squandered on unnecessary projects.
She said that without a representative and democratic government, the basic
needs of the people were being ignored. Joblessness, inflation, hunger,
economic suicides were creating misery and suffering and the future of the
country was being mortgaged.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that the unity and integrity of the country, as
well as the well being of its people could be best guaranteed by
constitutional measures such as the holding of fair elections and an
accurate and immediate vote count. Mohtarma said that by empowering the
people and involving them in the destiny of the Nation, the frustration and
despair could be overcome. Mohtarma said that those who wanted to continue
with the present failed political system born out of an illegitimate
election widely condemned as rigged were doing a great disservice to the
country.

NAB LOSES DARGAL TRACTOR CASE IN APPEAL
Islamabad March 23, 2005:
After spending billions of rupees in hurling wild allegations against the
PPP leadership, the NAB suffered a stunning defeat in the Geneva
jurisdiction.
The set back came in the much-touted Dargal tractor case where the NAB had
wrongly alleged that bribes were paid in the sale of tractors.
The PPP strenuously denied these allegations. The PPP Minister of
Agriculture Yousaf Talpur pointed out that PPP government had obtained
tractors at throwaway prices of one lac each bringing enormous benefit to
the small farmers and increasing agricultural output. In contrast, the
subsequent regime had purchased the same tractors for almost four times more
at nearly four lac rupees each.
However, despite the huge benefit to Pakistan, in cheap tractors, a hue and
cry was made of corruption clouding the real benefits to the country by the
vested, anti democratic forces against democratic leaders.
In a statement today a spokesman of the Party said that for eight long
years, the charges and counter charges were repeated in a blaze of
publicity.
Last year the NAB claimed that the Dargal funds were to be returned to
Pakistan. The real owners of Dargal went into appeal. There appeal was
granted.
In a short translation of the decision sent to the PPP Media Office, it has
been learnt that NAB suffered a stunning set back after having spent more
than ten times what was in the Dargal accounts, the spokesman said.
According to the short translation of the letter sent on March 3, 2005, the
authorities from the Chamber of Accusation of Geneva inform the Dargal
lawyer that it has accepted the appeal of Dargal and decided to annul the
decision by the examining judge to restitute the funds to Pakistan, he said.
That the Chamber of Accusation also estimated that the Counsel of Dargal
should have had access to the document requesting the transfer of the funds
and that the examining judge had not respected the rights of Dargal. The
ordinance also underlines that the conditions of a transfer to the demanding
State were not fulfilled taking into account the incertitude around the
procedure in Pakistan.
The Chamber of Accusation's conclusions translate into the following:
1. As Switzerland and Pakistan did not sign any convention, one has to refer
to the Federal Law, which rules the domain of Mutual Assistance (EIMP)
2. Following the rules of EIMP only can appeal a person or entity directly
touched by a measure of Mutual Assistance. In its quality of account holder
Dargal has the quality to appeal and it is not relevant to know who the real
beneficial owner is because he or she would not have the quality to act.
3. The guarantee of the "right to be heard" is imposed on the authority to
motivate its decisions so that the parties can understand and appreciate the
opportunity to eventually appeal. In this case, to justify the restitution
of the funds to Pakistan, the examining judge based herself only on the
explanations of the counsel of the State of Pakistan that there is a link
between the funds of Dargal and the trials in Pakistan against the Bhutto
family. This motivation, in view of the complexity of the case, can hardly
be considered sufficient.
4. Restitution can only be done on a definitive and executive decision of
the requiring State in this case Pakistan. According to the federal
jurisprudence, the restitution of funds from corruption and abuse of office
is reserved to cases which are not ambiguous, for example "caught in the
act" cases. These are cases when monies are siphoned from the state
treasuries and accounts and transferred overseas.
The authorities go on to state that they are unaware whether there is any
trial in Pakistan, or whether any prior crime has been conclusively proved
and if so against whom in the absence of which the situation is unclear.
Given that the situation is unclear the decision of the Magistrate on 18
November 2003 is annulled.
The Dargal decision has far reaching consequences for other cases being
investigated in Geneva. It means that it is insufficient to make an unproven
allegation to a foreign country.
So far Islamabad had been making baseless charges and expecting governments
to accept politically motivated charges at face value. Despite Dargal
documents of bank and company formation clearly showing the innocence of
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari, Islamabad carried on a massive
propaganda battle. In the face of the propaganda battle it was first
difficult for neutral observers to know the truth. However, after eight
years of an uphill battle, the first success for the innocent defendants has
been reached.
It is now expected that wild charges will not be accepted simply because a
state is making them and that those charges will have to be established on
the basis of facts and proofs.
After eight years, and many special courts and handpicked judges, it is
clear that there are no facts and proofs against the PPP leadership. Entire
nation has suffered due to politically motivated cases for which billions of
state funds were wasted in a country with a staggering fifty seven percent
poverty rate.
Hereunder a short translation of the fax received from Pierre on 4 March
2005:
This is the ordinance received by Vincent Solari on 3 March 2005 from the
Chamber of Accusation of Geneva regarding the audience of 22 February 2005.
In the letter of Solari to Pierre he states that the Chamber of Accusation
has accepted the appeal of Dargal and decided to annul the decision by the
examining judge to restitute the funds to Pakistan. That the Chamber of
Accusation also estimated that the Counsel of Dargal should have had access
to the document requesting the transfer of the funds and that the examining
judge had not respected the rights of Dargal. The ordinance also underlines
that the conditions of a transfer to the demanding State were not fulfilled
taking into account the incertitude around the procedure in Pakistan.
Also, the Chamber of Accusation estimated that the declarations of AL could
not be interpreted as an approval to transfer the funds. Only the Federal
Office of Justice now has the quality to contest this ordinance by appealing
to the Federal Tribunal. This seems to Solari highly unjustified.
Ordinance by the Chamber of Accusation dated 22 February 2005
- Mainly repeating the history of the facts. The Chamber of Accusation's
conclusions are as follows:
1. As Switzerland and Pakistan did not sign any convention, one has to refer
to the Federal Law which rules the domain of Mutual Assistance
(EIMP)
2. Following the rules of EIMP only can appeal a person or entity directly
touched by a measure of Mutual Assistance. In its quality of account holder
Dargal has the quality to appeal and it is not rele-vant to know who the
real beneficial owner is because he or she would not have the quality to
act.
3. The request of restitution of the funds by the Study Python of 31 July
2002 does not respect the procedure of transmission, by diplomatic way,
previewed by the EIMP. If the representation by a counsel is not forbidden,
the requests of Mutual Assistance, as well as the complements of Mutual
Assistance, have to provide from the competent foreign authorities. The
lawyers appointed by the requesting authorities are limited to counsel &
represent. Consequently the request formed by the Study Python cannot be
considered as a request for Mutual Assistance, which annuls the decision
taken by the examining magistrate.
4. The guarantee of the "right to be heard" is imposed on the authority to
motivate its decisions so that the parties can understand and appreciate the
opportunity to eventually appeal. In this case, to justify the restitution
of the funds to the requesting state, the examining judge based herself only
on the explanations of the counsel of the State of Pakistan affirming there
is a link between the funds of Dargal and the infractions under trial in
Pakistan against the Bhutto family. This motivation, in view of the
complexity of the case, can hardly be considered sufficient.
5. But there is more. Indeed, further to art. 74a al.3 of EIMP, the
restitution can intervene at all stages of the procedure, but only on a
definitive and executive decision of the requiring State. Further to the
federal jurisprudence, the restitution of objects and values coming from an
infraction apart from any penal procedure is reserved to cases which are not
ambiguous, for example "caught in the act" cases.
In this case, nobody contests that there is no definitive and executive
decision in Pakistan regarding the confiscation of the funds.
But we even do not know if there is still a procedure pending in this State,
and also, against whom. This is to emphasize that the situation is not
clear.
With regard to the declaration by AL on 23 June 1998, they are rather
curious, but from a declaration made by a person who pretends to have
nothing to do with the funds, one cannot deduct the approval of the account
holder to transfer any funds.
Thus, we have to retain that the situation is not clear and full of
ambiguity and in these conditions it appears that the decision of 18
November 2003 has to be annulled for this motif as well.
BY THESE MOTIFS THE CHAMBER OF ACCUSATION
- Declares receivable the appeal by Dargal against the ordinance of the
examining judge dated 18 November 2003
- Declares null the above decision
- Orders the restitution to Dargal of the sum of 7000 Sfr paid as a
guarantee
- Informs the parties that they can appeal at the Federal Tribunal in a
delay of 30 days



Mohtarma Bhutto felicitates Justice (r) Fakhar-un-Nisa
Islamabad, March 18, 2005:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto and Senator Asif Ali Zardari have congratulated Justice (r)
Mrs. Fakhar-un-Nisa Khokhar on her election as President Lahore High Court
Bar Association.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a letter congratulating Justice (r) Mrs.
Fakhar-un-Nisa wrote, "It is a matter of great pride to all the women of
Pakistan that you have been elected as the president of the prestigious
Lahore High Court Bar Association. In fact, had military rule not undermined
women’s rights, according to law you would have been the first woman Judge
on the Supreme Court of Pakistan. This election to the Presidency of the
Lahore High Court is a measure of the trust and confidence that the vibrant
lawyers community have in your leadership. It is also proof that the people
of Pakistan are moderate and enlightened in the reflection of their leaders
Quaid-e-Azam and Quaid-e-Awam."
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto requested Justice (r) Fakhar-un-Nisa to convey her
congratulations to other members of the Bar Association who have earned the
confidence of their colleagues through the recent elections to the Bar
Association.

PPP demands fair and free elections
Islamabad March 19, 2005:
Raja Pervez Ashraf Deputy Parliamentary leader of the PPPP in the National
Assembly has said that US Secretary of State comments on democracy and fair
and free elections in Pakistan clearly showed that the world did not
recognise the last elections as fair and free.
US Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice on Thursday conveyed to her hosts
Washington's concerns about democracy in Pakistan and underscored the need
for fair and free elections.
"We talked about Pakistan's internal politics and the need for a democratic
path ahead for Pakistan," Ms Rice told a joint news conference following
delegation-level talks at the foreign ministry.
Rice also said that talk of democracy was central to the US dialogue with
every country in the world as it was with Pakistan. The Bush Administration,
she underlined, looked forward to more democratic Pakistan in future.
The PPP leader said that the major political issue in Pakistan was
manipulated power transfer through rigged and manipulated elections due to
which people felt cheated of their mandate and their right to choose a
government of their liking. He said unless this issue was addressed
seriously Pakistan's political problems will keep growing.
Raja Pervez Ashraf said that it was absolutely important that free and fair
elections were held this year under an autonomous Election Commission with
immediate vote count and in which all political parties and leaders were
allowed to prticipate..

NAB fails to pressurise PPP leadership
Khurshid Shah
Islamabad, 19 March 2004:
The Pakistan Peoples Party said that NAB had exposed itself by admitting
that it was pursuing cases against the PPP leadership in Switzerland. The
PPP leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah MNA in a statement said that the
statement by NAB that it would continue to pursue those cases, while
withdrawing cases against Federal Ministers, was a clear admission of
illegal and intolerant behaviour to the Opposition. This behaviour of NAB
was born out of sheer fear of the popularity of the PPP and the
determination of the PPP not to compromise on issues of human rights and
democracy. The PPP was the voice of the people. Those exploiting the people
and usurping their political and social rights were using NAB to conspire
against the people but they would never succeed in their nefarious designs,
he said.
Khursheed Shah said that NAB has wasted one hundred million dollars on the
witch-hunt against the PPP leadership by concocting false cases. He said
that the black drama was being waged for propaganda purposes and for
character assassination for the last eight years because PPP leadership
refused to compromise on the suffering of the common citizen of Pakistan.
He welcomed NAB's admission that the Swiss case was actually a NAB sponsored
Pakistani case as PPP had always alleged.
NAB made false claims to the Swiss regime, which remain unproven to date,
which triggered the investigations in Switzerland. In fact NAB is exploiting
the Swiss judicial system to settle political scores in Pakistan. However,
NAB and its masters would fail as truth always triumphs in the end. It may
be recalled that NAB had cases against Interior Minister, Kashmir Affairs
Minister, Industries Minister, Petroleum Minister, Sindh Chief Minister,
Sindh Revenue Minister. However, once they switched sides, the cases died
down as they were meant to politically pressurise the personalities, he
concluded.

Mohtarma Bhutto condoles the death of Masood Sharif’s Mother and Air Chief
Marshal Zulfikar Ali Khan
Islamabad, 15 March 2005:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto and her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari has condoled the
death of former DG Intelligence Bureau, Masood Sharif Khattak’s mother.
Former Prime Minister in a condolence letter addressed to Masood Sharif
wrote, "The loss of a parent is a great tragedy. Our sympathies are with you
at this difficult time. Please accept our heartfelt condolences and convey
the same to other members of the bereaved family." She also prayed to
Almighty Allah to rest her soul in eternal peace and courage to family
members to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.
In a separate condolence letter addressed to the widow of Air Chief Marshal
Zulfikar Ali Khan, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto wrote, "Your family has suffered
many tragedies during the last two years which must have had telling effect
on Air Marshal Zulfikar's health. He was a brilliant Officer who commanded
the Air Force with efficiency and turned it into an efficient organization.
His services for the country will be long remembered. In his death the
Nation has lost a devoted son. I had the opportunity to know him personally
I found him to be a fine gentleman. His friends and well wishers will miss
him".
She also prayed to Almighty Allah to rest his soul in eternal peace and
strength to Mrs. Sajida Zulfikar Ali Khan to bear this irreparable loss with
equanimity.

President PML(N) meets Mohtarma Bhutto

Islamabad, 14 March 2005:
President PML N Mian Shahbaz Sharif met with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party in London on Sunday March 13, 2005.
Also in the picture are Secretary General PPP Mr Jehangir Badr, Mr. Hassan
Nawaz, Syed Ghous Ali Shah and Wajid Shamsul Hassan.
They discussed the general political situation in Pakistan including the
"National Reconciliation Process" said to have been launched by the
Government.
They had a detailed and cordial discussion, in an atmosphere of
understanding, cooperation and commitment, which was first launched by the
meeting of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif in Jeddah.
They reiterated full support and commitment to the Charter of Democracy
which was initialed by Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in
Jeddah and which is now being prepared by Working Groups of both the
political parties.
They emphasized the basic principles of the Charter of Democracy including
restoration of the 1973 Constitution, revival and real empowerment of vital
national institutions including the Parliament, the Judiciary and the
Election Commission.
They called for immediate return to undiluted democracy restoration of
political rights of the people, withdrawal of all fake cases against leading
politicians of the country and return of all the exiles to their homeland.
They emphasized that Reconciliation should mean reaching out to all those
key national players who have been shut out of the process.
They affirmed that their parties would pursue the course of consolidation of
the political forces in Pakistan under the banner of the Alliance for
Restoration of Democracy (ARD) to achieve the common goals mentioned in the
Charter of Democracy.
They took note of attempts by elements to create doubts between various
political forces. They expressed their firm resolve not to allow these
attempts to succeed.
Also present were former senator Janhgir Badar, Secretary General Pakistan
People Party, Ex-Ambassador Wajid Shamas ul Hassan, Syed Ghois Ali Shah and
Hasan Nawaz Sharif.

PPP condemns baton charge on lawyer community
Islamabad, 15 March 2005:
Chairman ARD and Vice Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Makhdoom Amin Fahim
has very strongly condemned use of force against lawyers in Rawalpindi
District Bar, who were holding a meeting in protest of dismantling lawyers
chambers in Gojar Khan and demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter.
Lawyers were holding a peaceful meeting protesting dismantling lawyers
chambers in Gujar Khan. Lawyers were inside the Bar when police attacked
them and baton charged them injury several lawyers including Dr. Babar Awan,
the defense lawyers of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto whose left hand has been
severely bruised.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim in a statement said that it is despicable that the
government is continuously targeting lawyers community ever since they have
been agitating against Legal Framework Order, the seventeenth constitutional
amendment and the president in uniform. Dr. Babar Awan was especially
targeted by the sleuths of intelligence agencies to convey a message to the
political parties apposed to LFO, the seventeenth constitutional amendment
and the president in uniform.
The PPP leader said that the government in fact wanted to teach a lesson to
the lawyers’ community and convey a warning to the political parties to
surrender their stance on LFO, seventeenth amendment and the uniform issue.
PPP leader said that if the government thinks that it can suppress the
opposition then it is totally wrong because the uniform and presidency can
never go together.
Makhdoom Amin Faheem reiterated the resolve that the party will never
succumb to the high handedness of the intelligence agencies who want to
convey the governments message to the political opposition. He said that the
lawyers’ community has displayed courage to stand up to dictatorship and it
should be commended. He said that the party would support the lawyers’
community in the fight against injustices meted out by the despotic regime.
He demanded that everyone responsible of torturing lawyers should be
suspended and brought to book.
Meanwhile in a separate statement Naheed Khan MNA, the political secretary
to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also condemning the use of brutal force against
peaceful lawyers has sympathised with the injured lawyers and prayed for
their early recovery. She vowed to take the fight against tyranny to its
logical end so that the people of Pakistan are emancipated from the jaws of
dictatorship. She warned the government of dire consequences of using force
on innocent citizens. She said that the time is near when the usurpers would
be on the run.

Mohtarma Bhutto to contest next election
Islamabad, 16 March 2005:
Pakistan Peoples Party has rebutted statements by Federal Ministers that an
agreement has been reached by which the Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson
would not be contesting the next elections.
In a statement today, a spokesperson of the party said that the regime had
announced a policy of reconciliation and said that it would establish
contacts with the Opposition parties. The regime had also said that it would
pursue enlightened polices.
The Opposition has welcomed the policy of reconciliation and kept its doors
open for dialogue on issue of enlightenment. The Opposition believes that
democracy and human rights are part of an enlightened society. Moreover, the
PPP believes that terrorism and extremism are best undermined through
respect of the democratic rights of the people as well as enhancing human
rights.
It may be pointed out that dialogue is one element whereas agreement is
another. While the regime has remained in contact with the PPP since October
1999, the Party has not reached agreement with the regime and nor has the
regime reached an agreement with the PPP.
The elements of an enlightened society are yet to be met. Political leaders
in Pakistan continue to be kept imprisoned. Others are in exile. Politically
motivated cases continue to be used to re-engineer Pakistan's political
landscape.
The PPP supports the process of contact and dialogue. However, it reaffirms
that there has been no agreement that Mohtarma would not contest the next
general elections or that the PPP has accepted that the next general
elections be held in 2007.
From time to time the regime claims that Mohtarma went into exile on her own
accord and can return on her own accord. It is clarified that Mohtarma went
into exile when the enemies of democracy became active and prevented her
from freely functioning in Pakistan. It may be remembered that the Holy
Prophet of Islam, PBUH, also went into exile from Mecca to Medina when the
enemies of Islam became active in Mecca only to return at an opportune time.
It may be clarified that Mohtarma has faced the court cases since last eight
years through her defence counsel. Therefore assertions that if she returns
she would have to face court cases are ridiculous. The facts are that the
regime has privately conveyed that it would obstruct Mohtarma's freedom of
movement and action were she to return now. Mohtarma and the PPP reserve the
right for Mohtarma to return as and when it is considered politically
appropriate. However, the impression that she is "free" to return, as
conveyed formally by the regime is incorrect according to what is being
privately conveyed.
Rumours are also being spread that Mohtarma would strike a deal with the
regime because of the Swiss investigation. These too are false. The accounts
in Switzerland, as the documents prove, do not belong to Mohtarma. Mohtarma
has been wrongly involved by the regime. It is the regime which has made the
false claim to the Swiss authorities that Mohtarma abused her office to
award the preshipment contract. The Swiss investigation would collapse the
moment the regime admits that Mohtarma did no such thing. Moreover, the
Swiss case is seven years old and if in seven years the regime was unable to
use it to pressure Mohtarma it is ridiculous and false to claim that it can
use it now to pressure the Party leader.
However, PPP is clear that friends and foes do not go together. Therefore if
the regime is to accord a place to the Opposition, it must respect the human
rights of the Opposition whether it pertain to human rights regarding
imprisonment, exile or false cases.
The spokesperson said that elections can only be fair when all political
leaders and all political personalities are permitted to contest, votes are
freely cast in preordained polling stations through accurate polling lists
and votes are accurately counted and announced immediately after cast.
The spokesperson said that PPP has called upon the Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan to hold the elections.
The spokesperson said that the present Assemblies came into being as part of
rigged elections. Moreover, they had failed to deliver to the people of
Pakistan who were suffering. Nearly sixty percent of the population was
living on the poverty line and one third of this had occurred under the
present regime. It was due to the present assemblies being unable to give
the country democratic credentials or to end the misery of the people that
PPP was demanding early elections.
The Spokesperson clarified that the impression that PPP supported the
construction of Kalabagh Dam was false. The said Dam was controversial and
not in keeping with national or international law on water rights of lower
riparians.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto condoles with Rafiq Jamali and Azadar Shah
Islamabad, 16 March 2005:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto and her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari have condoled the
death of Sardar Mohammad Bukhsh Jamali father of Rafiq Jamali and Syed
Intizar Hussain Kazmi, elder brother of Azadar Shah.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a condolence letter addressed to Rafiq Jamali
wrote, "Your illustrious father will be long remembered for his services for
the cause of Pakistan Peoples Party by the leadership and workers of Party.
Sardar Sahib’s passing away is a great loss for the Party and for the
country. Please accept our heartfelt condolences and convey the same to
other members of the bereaved family."
She also prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the soul of Sardar Mohammad Bakhsh
Jamali in eternal peace and courage to the family and friends to bear this
irreparable loss with equanimity.
In her condolence letter to Azadar Shah over his brother’s death, she wrote,
"The loss of a brother is a great tragedy. Our sympathies are with you at
this difficult time. Please accept our heartfelt condolences and convey the
same to other members of the bereaved family."
She also prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the deceased soul in eternal peace
and fortitude to the family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.

GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN DEFEAT REASON FOR FRESH ELECTIONS
Pakistan Peoples Party called for the PML Q to resign after a suffered a
parliamentary defeat in Parliament
Islamabad, 17 March 2005:
The Pakistan Peoples Party has said that the defeat of the ruling party on
the floor of the House on Wednesday, had proved that the government had lost
its majority and it should now old fresh elections in a free and fair
manners conducted by and autonomous Election Commission.
This has been stated by Raja Pervez Asharf MNA and Deputy Parliamentary
Leader in the National Assembly in a statement today.
"The PPP said that the defeat proved that the PML Q had lost its majority in
the House.
"The PPP noted that three Prime Ministers had come in less than two years
which was proof of the instability of a system where the true
representatives of the people had been denied the right to form the
government.
"The PPP noted that the present regime was unable to keep quorum despite
having an army of ministers who were drawing huge salaries when people were
unemployed and starving.
"The PPP recalled that when General Musharaf seized power in October 1999,
he promised to restore true democracy. However, the October 2002 elections
were rigged. Consequently the issues relating to the basic needs of the
people were neglected adding to the misery of the have nots.
"Moreover, the policy to exclude former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and
Mr. Nawaz Sharif from politics had made a mockery of the democratic
principle whereby the people, and not the military, choose the leaders they
have faith in. The result was a weak Parliament and a regime that came into
being after parliamentarians were bussed into the headquarters of the
security services. Without the help of the security services, the quorum is
broken and bills are defeated. This is not democracy but dictatorship,
misgovernance and a crisis in the making, the PPP said.
"The PPP said that the present regime with its wasteful army of ministers
had failed to keep the Federation strong. The smaller provinces are
alienated. The Baloch youth have established the Balauchistan Liberation
Army. There is a danger that such militancy can spread to the Sindhi
speaking and Pashtoon areas unless true democracy is restored.
"The PPP said that a regime that has lost its majority in the House and is
defeated on bills cannot ensure the human rights of women such as Dr. Shazia
and Mukhtar Mai, that have generated negative publicity for the country.
"The PPP said that the army of ministers may like to continue enjoying the
perks of office on the backs of the starving masses of Pakistan through the
use of brute force. However, there is nothing for the Nation to gain from
continuing with a flawed, non functional and dangerously unstable system
until 2007 as desired by the PML Q leaders.
"Recalling the two assassination attempts on General Musharaf, the PPP said
that if the assassination attempts had succeeded, the country would have
plunged into a constitutional crisis. Either a new General would seize
power, creating fresh problems. Or a puppet would be "elected" without a
political or military base leading to uncertainty and possible chaos.
"The PPP said that the PML Q's defeat in Parliament was a wake up call to
reverse the political tide through holding of immediate elections in 2005.
The PPP said that only an election open to all political parties and
personalities, conducted under an Election Commission consisting of the
Pakistan Human Rights Commission, with transparent election laws, an
accurate and immediate vote count and announcement of result can resolve the
grave crisis threatening internal peace and the cohesion of the Federation.
"The PPP reaffirmed to the people of Pakistan that it understood their
suffering and would stand by them. It said that PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari
was returning to Pakistan, despite an eight year imprisonment and ordeal to
continue the struggle for the rights of the people, the strength of the
Federation, the autonomy of the provinces and the enhancement of the rights
of deprived and disadvantaged groups."

MOHTARMA BHUTTO CONCERNED OVER BALUCHISTAN SITUATION
Islamabad, 17 March 2005:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto has expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in the
province of Baluchistan.
In a statement today, Former Prime Minister said that the rigged elections
of 2002 had established a political system which disempowered large sections
of the population resulting in renewed dangers to the Federation.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that members of the armed forces were suffering
casualties and injuries in Baluchistan due to the inability of the present
regime to democratise and fairly distribute the resources of the state.
The Chairperson made these comments when discussing reports that several
persons were injured in a shootout between armed men and Frontier Corps
personnel at Sangsela near Dera Bugti this week.
According to press reports, Col. Furqan, Commander FC Dera Bugti was
reported to have said, "A convoy of Frontier Corps was fired at by armed
Bugti tribesmen when it was heading to Sui from Dera Bugti.
She said that foreign powers praise for Islamabad in assisting external
security should not be a pretext for us as a Nation to ignore internal
security. Early restoration of democracy through transparent elections open
to all parties and personalities with an accurate vote count and
announcement was necessary to bring the smaller provinces into the political
mainstream to strengthen the Federation and solve the problems of the masses
toiling under unemployment and poverty, she said.

DEFENSE & SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERABLE TO PARLIAMENT
Iran Nuclear leak by Information minister is another example of system
failure in our country
Islamabad, 13 March 2005:
All critical appointments, especially in the defense & security
organizations, should be confirmed subject to the approval of the Parliament
or its committee; and thus made answerable to the parliament. This was said
in a statement by Senator Rukhsana Zuberi today.
Without going into the merits & demerits of the recent irresponsible
statement by the Information Minister; one thing is abundantly clear that
the command and control system, governance issues and accountability of all
public sector organizations in general and defense & security organizations
in particular needs to be re- evaluated and revamped.
This presents not only a grave threat to the National interests but also
causes damage due to the absence of defined procedures and processes, rights
and responsibilities, inexistent and integrated flow of information and
compliance mechanism.
It will therefore be imperative that the functioning of all security sector
organizations should be brought under oversight by the Senate. And all
critical appointments be subject to the confirmation by the Senate.

Senate Opposition Leader demands joint session for discussing nuclear
proliferation
Says Information Minister’s admission exposed Pakistan and Iran to new
threats
Islamabad March 11, 2005:
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has demanded of the
government to come out clean on the nuclear proliferation issu |