March-2005

Home Join PPP Feedback Site Map 
 


Organization USA
Asif Zardari
Free  E-Books
Latest News
Articles
Speeches
Press Release
Chronology
Local Activities
Achievements
Party Structure
Party Manifestos
History
Corruption Stories
Constitution
PPP VS Govt.
Photo Gallery
PPP Youth
Links

 

News Archives

Latest News

January 2008

December 2007

November 2007

October 2007

September 2007

August 2007

July 2007

June 2007

May 2007

April 2007

March 2007

February 2007

January 2007

December 2006

November 2006

October 2006

September 2006

August 2006

July 2006

June 2006

May 2006

April 2006

March 2006

February 2006

January 2006

December 2005

November 2005

October 2005

September 2005

August 2005

July 2005

June 2005

May 2005

April 2005

February 2005

January 2005

December 2004

 

The Rediff Interview/Benazir Bhutto
 

 

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 issue and demanded the holding of a joint session of the Parliament to discuss the new threats to Pakistan and Iran posed by the public confession by Information Minister about the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

He said this in a statement today commenting on the statement of Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad on Thursday in which he had said that Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan provided centrifuges to Iran.

Mian Raza Rabbani said that until now the government had denied that centrifuges from Pakistan had found way to Iran whether through Dr A. Q. Khan acting on his own or otherwise. The government had also rejected official comments aired occasionally in foreign capitals and persistent media reports which alleged that Pakistan had at some point of time in the past helped Iran in its nuclear programme.

Shaikh Rashid’s public admission has gravely undermined the credibility of the government with regard to Pakistan’s official role in the sordid game of nuclear proliferation, he said. "As a consequence of serious erosion of our credibility in the international community the security of the country has been gravely undermined".

Mian Raza Rabbani said that either Rashid Shaikh spoke off his hat in which case he must be sacked for unpardonable irresponsibility or he merely stated the government’s changed stance on the issue of nuclear proliferation in which case the nation needed to be taken into confidence. He said that the latest confession had not only posed new dangers to Pakistan but also exposed Iran’s nuclear programme, whose negotiations with European countries over nuclear controversy had reached a delicate stage, to new and heightened dangers.

The opposition leader in the Senate demanded the immediate convening of a joint session of Parliament and added "if for some reason a joint session can not be called, the Senate session should be called immediately as the National Assembly is already in session".

World urged to help restore democracy in Pakistan

Demands elections open to all parties, leaders under independent EC

 

Islamabad March 10, 2005: Former Prime Minister and chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has called upon the international community to lead efforts in search of Pakistan's transition to democratic rule.

"Fresh party based elections, open to all parties and personalities, with international monitors, an independent Election Commission, electoral modalities that are transparent and a count that is immediate, open and accurately reflects the sentiments of the people could settle issues of legitimacy and governance which now complicate Pakistan's challenges".

She was addressing gatherings representing a cross section of people including intellectuals, writers, Party workers, media persons, businesspersons and members of Pakistani community in Washington and Florida today.

Such an election could put Pakistan back into the community of democratic nations with sustainable political institutions, she said.

She said that Pakistan's stability is critical to the world community and added that the controversial October 2002 elections have failed to combat poverty, reform the judiciary or empower Parliament.

"A dangerous political vacuum yawns across society. While parties that defend Al Qaeda and the Taliban are permitted full political freedom, democratic leaders are imprisoned, exiled or hamstrung from reaching the public with their message of modernity and progress".

She reminded the international community that when elections in Ukraine were rigged, the world supported fresh elections. The European community and human rights observers called Islamabad's 2002 elections as ‘flawed’. Human Rights Watch declared that the "decks were stacked against the democratic" forces. When elections can be re-held in Ukraine, they can be re-held in Pakistan, she said.

"And they must be held as urgently and fairly as possible to restore the usurped rights of the people back to them".

The former Prime Minister said it was worrying that Islamabad turn a blind eye to crimes against women.

"This year An Army Captain took part in the gang rape of a lady doctor. It took weeks of public protest before he was finally questioned. And even then, the regime sided with the rapist, claiming he was innocent, rather than with the victim. It is this inability to distinguish between the exploiter and the exploited that best highlights the difference between a dictatorship and a democracy".

About fighting terrorism the former Prime Minister said that to undermine terrorism, it is necessary to empower citizens and build a society on the edifice of the majesty of law. We must fight a war on terrorism and also fight against the political manipulation of religion, she said.

By using the name of religion, the terrorist activities have hurt Muslims across the board. Many Muslims today face suspicion or profiling by virtue of being Muslims.

She said that the war on terror must be fought with collective action to stop those that would create a clash of cultures and religions.

Short-term strategies often create far more intractable long-term problems, she said.

"A military dictatorship in Islamabad exploits the war against terror to keep itself in power at the cost of the constitutional rights of its people".

She said that ever since destabilisation of democracy in Pakistan in 1996 many refused to vote believing that irrespective of how they vote, the result will be doctored.

"This is dangerous for Pakistan's democratic future. It is also a danger for the world community when people lose hope in influencing policies through peaceful, electoral means".

Recently the world learned that scientists in charge of Islamabad's nuclear weapons program were clandestinely selling nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran and Libya. Dr. A.Q.Khan, the chief scientist came on television to confess his guilt. That very evening he was pardoned and allowed to keep the assets obtained through the illicit nuclear sales.

In contrast, politically motivated corruption allegations are used to malign the true leaders of the people and to hamper Pakistan's tryst with its democratic future. Such double standards must not be allowed, she said.

"Proliferation, Terrorism, Tyranny is a perilous mix". Modernity, diversity and democracy are the fanatics' worst fears. They confuse the message to prevent Muslim people from learning that diversity ensures that cultural and religious identity remains intact, she said.

Islam is committed to tolerance, equality and human dignity. Tragically, despite this clear Islamic commitment to democracy, most Muslims are living in dictatorships and are hostages in authoritarian regimes around the world, she said.

It is democracy that brings accountability, she said and added that a comparison of the people’s progress under the democratic government of the PPP and those that came after it clearly shows that ordinary people benefit under a true democracy.

Muslim countries are in search of leaders that can revitalise them with freedom.

Muslim countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines had long histories of authoritarian rule. These are the countries that now face terrorist activity.

She said that the rise of lawlessness and terrorism witnessed in countries with long periods of authoritarianism demonstrates a link between terrorism and the system of government. Military dictators gave birth to the culture of obtaining power through violence, she said.

Two assassination attempts on General Musharaf demonstrate the thin thread on which the alliance with Islamabad is built, she said. In the war against terrorism, the greatest protection of freedom from terrorists comes from replacing dictatorships with governments responsible to the people.

Pakistan’s political, financial and social sectors dominated by military under dictatorship

Mohtarma Bhutto addresses writers, intellectuals in US
 

Islamabad March 8, 2005: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has said that the nation’s political, financial and social sectors were dominated by the military under the country’s military dictatorship.

General Musharaf had vested the Presidency with enormous powers amounting to creating a civilian dictator and the argument that an all-powerful President would help facilitate the withdrawal of the army to the barracks and prevent the recurrence of Martial Law in the country proved wrong.

She said this while addressing a galaxy of intellectuals, writers, academicians and workers in Florida Tuesday. The former Prime Minister is on a lecture circuit and meet the Pakistanis visit to the US.

The former Prime Minister said that Musharraf by keeping both posts had broken his promise and demonstrated the inability of the present regime to withdraw the army from Pakistan's political landscape following the October 2002 elections.

As the elections were controversial the regime failed to build a sustainable political and civilian base that could facilitate the withdrawal of the armed forces back to the barracks.

Democracy is indeed the ultimate enemy of terrorism, just as hope is the ultimate enemy of despair which could reverse centuries of tyranny, she said. Terrorists and dictators are on the wrong side of history, as the millions who voted in Iraq and Palestine proved.

She said that the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza could be the first step towards peace and justice in the Middle East.

"If Israel and Palestine can live in peace and security side by side, I pray for resolution of the equally difficult quagmire of self-determination for Jammu and Kashmir that has brought India and Pakistan to war three times, and threatens a nuclear Armageddon on the subcontinent of Asia".

She said that Pakistan was an example where the forces of tyranny, terrorism, proliferation and a militant interpretation of Islam created a difficult challenge. The religious parties claim public friendship with Bin Laden and Mullah Omar and filled the vacuum caused by the military regime's determination to crush democracy.

The international community decided to throw its weight behind Pakistan's military dictator following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers. There are worries though that the inability of the international community to facilitate Pakistan's transition to civilian and democratic rule could undermine its objectives in the long run, she warned.

She said that a military President in Pakistan, Washington’s key ally, sends the wrong message to one billion Muslims regarding the reasons for the war against terror. The democratisation of Pakistan is important to the war against terrorism, to the interpretation of Islam as a message of freedom and enlightenment as well as to the empowerment of the people of Pakistan, she said.

The democratic world was moved by the words of President George Bush in his second Inaugural address.

People living under tyranny and dictatorship all over the world, but especially in Asia, listened carefully when Mr. Bush said that the United States "will encourage reform in other governments by making clear that success in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own people".

Now it is time to act on these words and to convert rhetoric into reality, she said.

The elections in Palestine and Iraq are two stirring examples. The principles of the Bush doctrine must be applied across the board against tyranny, not just when it is politically convenient, she said.

Today the Muslim world was in flux. Even as political freedoms were denied, economic and social successes remained a distant dream. While the elites thrived, the large masses of people lived in poverty and backwardness eking out a miserable life, she said.

The mainstream political parties were banned and stopped from freely functioning. A Cold War generation, grew up hearing about denial of nationhood to Palestine, lack of self-determination to Kashmir, the denial of autonomy to the Chechens.

They imbibed the lesson that a return to the simple, austere life of the past could once again rekindle the courage and passion that saw Islam sweep across continents and spread its message far and wide.

The theocratic state, disciplined under a single religious figure, was presented as the path to victory and translated into victory against the existing national dictatorship.

This embittered generation must be rescued with an alternative political model to that of the theocratic state. The fight for freedom is a fight for values that can build a pluralistic world free of discrimination on the basis of race, religion or gender, she said.

Benazir Punctures the Reconciliation Bubble With Straight Talk

Special SAT Report

WASHINGTON, March 7: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto took the wind out of the over-blown mantra of national reconciliation by the Musharraf regime when on Saturday she told a crowded news conference there was just sporadic “limited engagement” between the two sides and not even the basic positions were known yet.

Winding up her five-day trip to the US capital, Benazir also laid down all her cards about proceeding with this limited engagement saying Government will have to come up with proposals about free and fair elections, return of all the exiles, withdrawal of politically motivated cases and most importantly, display a conduct which could create trust and confidence.

Bhutto left the door of talks open with the Musharraf regime, saying she always wanted a dialogue, but she emphasized that reconciliation and victimization could not go together.

Explaining the demands at several meetings with think tank leaders and party workers, Bhutto said free and fair elections meant that no pre-engineering would be resorted to, no pre-screening of candidates would be done, no-pre poll rigging would be allowed, no tempering with vote count will be permitted and a level playing field would be given to all the parties.

She also clearly stated that the continuation of the dialogue will depend on what kind of space was provided to her party and husband Asif Ali Zardari, who is scheduled to return to Pakistan next month.

In this context she was very clear that the upcoming local bodies elections would provide the “Litmus Test” to establish whether the Musharraf regime was sincere in what the sporadic messages to her have assured in general terms. If the Local Bodies elections are rigged, as they were last time, when ISI picked up all the Nazims and Mayors, there would be no point in believing that Musharraf was sincere in reconciliation or wanted the mainstream liberal political parties to play their due role.

South Asia Tribune has learnt that Asif Zardari, despite his health problems, was very keen on going back although Benazir Bhutto and even Nawaz Sharif had advised him to get proper medical care before proceeding back home, even if it took a few more months.

It was also learnt that there has been no contact between Benazir or Asif Zardari with any government messenger for many months now, specially after release of Mr Zardari.

All the statements and claims of Government spokesmen and leaders about reconciliation and deals or agreements with PPP were disinformation and deception plans, Benazir clarified to her party cadres.

At her news conference she said democracy must be restored, human rights must be respected, political prisoners must be released, exiles must be allowed to return home and cases filed against them must be withdrawn. She said she had been fighting the cases lodged against her, as had her husband, for the last eight years. Nothing had been proved.

Asked about the cases against her husband and her in Switzerland, she said it was an investigation, nor a trial. Once the investigation was over, it would go to one court, then another and then another, right up to the European Court. Either of the two parties could take the case to the highest level.

When asked what was the "level" of the "engagement" between her and the government, she did not go into details but stressed that the government has to come back. “We have said what we had to say." When pressed, she declared, "I am not going to negotiate through a press conference till something positive happens on the ground."

Asked if she would accept a President in uniform, she answered, "As of now, our stand is no President in uniform." This comment left the window open for some understanding at any advanced stage of negotiations but according to her at the moment there was not even an agenda or basic positions known to PPP while she had publicly and privately conveyed all her positions.

Answering a question about Dr AQ Khan, Bhutto said it was her father who had brought him to Pakistan and Dr Khan had played an important role in making Pakistan a nuclear country. The entire nation has showered him with respect but it was regrettable that Dr Khan had confessed on television that he had made undue use of his position. There were those who believed that Dr Khan had been made a scapegoat and that he was ordered to say on television what he said.

“There were two opinions as to this being an individual act or an act undertaken on behalf of others. It was, therefore, essential that there should be a transparent investigation so that the truth could be established. It was a national issue and the people of Pakistan were not sure of the fact. They felt confused and it was their right to have that confusion removed.”

Asked about her interview to Voice of America in which she said that when she became prime minister in 1988, Pakistan already had the capability of making a bomb, she replied that it was true. In answer to a follow-up question, she said the ISI had nothing to do with the nuclear program during her time, nor had she received a briefing from the agency.

She had summoned a meeting of nuclear scientists who had informed her of the true state of the program. She was also asked about the North Korean missile deal to which she replied that she had negotiated it "one-to-one" with Kim Il-Sung and paid for what Pakistan received in cash. She said there had been no "swap". There had been no transfer of nuclear technology or equipment during her tenure as prime minister. She did not rule out the theory that because the program ran out of money after the 1998 nuclear test, there might have been a swap.

On Balochistan she said when people felt powerless and unrepresented insurgencies erupted, citing the example of East Pakistan in 1971. She said when people were disempowered and made helpless, they no longer felt that they had a stake in the system. The people in Balochistan were in a state of "despair," In such situations, militancy was just a step away.

The working classes in Pakistan today, she asserted, have no faith in the system. The writ of the state has collapsed. She said a wave of freedom was sweeping the world. There had been elections in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and local elections in Saudi Arabia. Hosni Mubarak had said that the next election in Egypt for the presidency will be multiparty. But in Pakistan there was dictatorial rule. She said it was her hope and dream that the people of Pakistan will see the dawn of true democracy soon.

Bhutto was asked whether she would invoke Article 6 of the Constitution to try the man who overthrew the constitutional government, to which her reply was that it would be for the parliament of the day to take a decision.

Answering a question about the disregard by the Musharraf government of UN Security Council's Kashmir resolutions, she stressed that those resolutions must not be abandoned, while declaring that it was the people of Kashmir who must decided their future themselves.

She said she favored the present peace process between India and Pakistan and was happy that she had been vindicated. However, when she had tried to do that, she had been called a "security risk."

In answer to a question about US-Pakistan relations, she said US assistance must be linked to the restoration of democracy. He cautioned Washington not to "place all its eggs in one basket." She said there had been two attacks on Gen. Musharraf and though one hoped not, there could be another. The US should not put its trust in a single individual but a system.

A Candid Analysis of PPP-Musharraf Political Reconciliation

By Wajid Shamsul Hasan

LONDON, March 5: I would have regretted it for a long time if I had missed General Pervez Musharraf's Lord Haw Haw performing at his best. It was an amusing encounter between Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Dr Shahid Masood of ARY TV channel last Wednesday. The topic of discussion between the two was the much trumpeted process of so called political reconciliation.

By his candid approach Dr Shahid Masood had his guest look sheepish and made him to blush often. The Lal Haveli's Sheikh tried his utmost to wriggle out by answering straight questions with his foot in his mouth. However, I must admit, when the interview ended I could not make out whether he was elucidating in praise on the overall performance of General Musharraf or putting before the nation an irrefutable indictment of the General's failed government.

First thing first, since the program was on political reconciliation, I would like to thank Sheikh Sahib for having publicly acknowledged that former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is the only national leader and her party PPP is a political force to reckon with and that any reconciliation between Ms Bhutto and General Musharraf would be "a major political development in our part of the world."

Since he has been talking about reconciliation with PPP since late last year, Dr Shahid Masood asked him repeatedly the extent of progress between the two political rivals. He sounded like an empty vessel making a loud noise. In other words, he confirmed the popular perception that the other name for Musharraf's reconciliation was nothing but deception.

In the same breath while acknowledging indirectly the political invincibility of Bhutto and the massive popularity of PPP, Sheikh Rashid parroted the words of his master that Benazir Sahiba would not be allowed to return to Pakistan to enable her to contest the general elections in 2007. He did not have enough courage to confess that his booted boss and his Praetorian establishment feared Habib Jalib's "Nehati Larki" (unarmed girl) as the only political force that could pose a fatal challenge to their monopoly of power and counter their bullet power with the power of the ballot.

He tried to cover government's mala fide determination to keep her out by taking refuge under the skirt of the concocted Swiss case and the fabricated legal proceedings against her in Pakistan. And surely he was at his sheepish best when he claimed that Ms Bhutto, with whom the government was trying for "reconciliation" with a beggars bowl, had no role in politics.

While rigmaroling his reiteration and not giving any details of the contacts between the government and the PPP, his emphasis that such reconciliation would be in Pakistan's best national interest and shall stand out as an event of far-reaching consequences in sub-continent's politics is definitely not an under-statement. The "deal" will come about when the negotiations will get its "line and length together", he claimed.

Many who know describe Sheikh Rashid's oft repeated assertions of a "deal" as nothing but figment of his imagination running wild especially when according to him Ms Bhutto would not be allowed to even participate in the 2007 elections. Much as Musharraf would not like to see Mian Nawaz Sharif back in Pakistan "since he had chosen himself to go abroad" as Sheikh Rashid put it, his statement: "But I can't say anything about Shahbaz Sharif or his contacts with President Pervez Musharraf," is perhaps aimed at creating suspicions between the two brothers.

Analysts see something more sinister in it and much of the divisive politics that military rulers have consistently pursued to keep the fraternity of the political leaders and the people divided. Not that Senator Asif Ali Zardari has not blossomed into a bold and courageous leader due to his long sufferings and incarceration, Sheikh Rashid's acknowledgement that he has matured and has become very balanced in his approach in politics and that "if he chooses the right path, it will be appreciated" need to be read between the lines as well. Every move seems to be part of the psy-wars that the military and their agents have been playing in Pakistan to cast doubts about political leaders and to divide the people.

That being that, I now refer to his other "pearls of wisdom". My readers should forgive me if I have made any error in understanding and deciphering his various other comments including his absent mindedness in recalling the name of his party leader. He mentioned Choudhry Shujaat Husain as Shujaat Elahi despite Dr Masood correcting him. He sounded rather lukewarm about the Choudhries and even Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. He proudly claimed that he stood by former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali but "then he could not stand up himself" what could he do.

I could not make out, whether deliberately or inadvertently, he definitely made mince meat of Musharraf's slogan of enlightened moderation raised to carry his American bosses and Western patrons for a joy ride. Sheikh Rashid was categorical in putting it straight that Musharraf was not secular. He would not separate politics from Islam and that he believed in Islamic ideology, whatever it means. He also claimed that the King's party, PML-Q, was out and out Islamic and opposed to secularism.

I share the view of those who are of the opinion that Musharraf does not mean what he says. He may have liberal habits in his personal life but otherwise he is much of Wahabi that his mentor General Zia was. This has come out again recently when his King's party acted against the mantra coming from Washington about his much publicized"enlightened moderation".

Despite lot of foul mouthing in public about each other and although sleeping in different beds, Musharraf's PML-Q and MMA share the same dreams. The ruling party in parliament showed what actually Musharraf had meant by "enlightened moderation" " when both PML-Q and MMA joined in opposition to defeat a bill seeking to tighten the law against honor-killings or the infamous practice of karo-kari. The ruling party and MMA opposed MNA Kashmala Tariq's private bill supported by the PPP and other liberals in the National Assembly. Both PML-Q and MMA described the bill as a move against Islamic teachings and the Hudood Ordinance enforced by late Zia-ul-Haq in 1979.

Sheikh Rashid's dilation on the issue of corruption was music to some ears. Although he tried to avoid it but could not succeed in sidelining the major fight on corruption within the Musharraf junta. He could not say much in defence of the allegations of high corruption by the sacked Sindh Minister Imtiaz Sheikh nor could he avoid Imtiaz's 22 counter-charges of corruption, murders and accusations of running of the private jails against CM Arbab Rahim.

No doubt trading of charges between the General's Chief Minister and provincial minister in Sindh are being described as the tip of the iceberg, Sheikh Rashid must be given credit for a clear indictment of the government and the acknowledgement of the fact that the country has been rendered into the grips of land mafia, builders mafia, textile mafia, sugar-producers mafia etc., etc.

He could not, however, say that the military itself is the biggest and most powerful land grabbers' mafia. He could neither throw light as to how hurriedly the generals are busy usurping land whether it belongs to the government all over the country by setting up Defence Housing societies nor by evicting at gun-point the poor dairy farmers of Renala Kurd. He cleverly avoided talking about the hush-hush manner in which the law, an ordinance, for setting up the Islamabad Defence Authority was introduced in violation of the normal legislative practice, just a few hours before the National Assembly began its session. It seems that such a step in emergency was essential for the sake of "national interest and security of the country".

As if the Sheikh's confession that the country was in the grip of various mafias was not enough to cause ripples in Islamabad's insulated corridors of power, the British High Commissioner put Pakistan's scene in its correct perspective when he called a spade a spade the other day. While announcing a 210 million pounds worth of program to help achieve the goal of poverty reduction in Pakistan, the diplomat Mark Lyall Grant was critical of the military's involvement in business ventures, saying it was one of the biggest obstacles to development and poverty reduction in Pakistan.

He said that in the past 28 years, the military had increased its corporate interests manifold, which was not good if Pakistan wished to meet the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating poverty, providing primary education to children, reducing infant mortality, improving reproductive health, combating AIDS and other serious diseases, protecting environment and building a global partnership. To emphasize his point, the High Commissioner said: "We are committed to boosting democracy at all levels in Pakistan. In the UK, we have moved the government away from business, which is why we are opposed to Pakistan's military being involved in it."

This exposure of the military playing the major role in corporate sector has been rather unpalatable for Pakistan's business-oriented Generals. They could not take it lying down especially when they have put themselves to great personal risk by playing a frontline role in the Anglo-American war on Jihadi terrorism. High Commissioner Mark Lyall was summoned by the Pakistan Foreign Office and was handed over a demarche for his reported criticism of the military's growing business interests. Obviously, like all good diplomats the High Commissioner too claimed that he had been 'quoted out of context'.

Anyway people of Pakistan owe a "big thank you" to the British High Commissioner for having put the record straight, though whatever he was widely reported to have said is not news in Pakistan. The military's growing corporate interests are known the world over. It is also an undeniable fact that these are responsible for not only hampering poverty reduction efforts and effectiveness of bureaucracy and judiciary in the country but also are the biggest impediments in the development of democracy and rule of law. Having become a huge corporate sector, it has acquired a parasitic growth and vested interest that it would not like to part company with even if it meant end of the country.

Sheikh Rashid also shattered yet another myth, of economic progress under Musharraf. While sticking to his traditional crony style, the Sheikh lauded the "revolutionary progress" under his boss but punctured this claim prim and proper by adding that he agreed with Dr Shahid Masood that the "fruits of this progress have not filtered down to the masses" and they are groaning under back breaking prices.

He, however, avoided mentioning about the record number of suicides committed during the Musharraf regime for want of employment. He also did not mention the economic facts that denude Musharraf government of all its tall claims of progress and prosperity. I am sure he knows but does not say that the country is suffering unprecedented unemployment around 23 per cent, that average household income is Rs5000 and that people are suffering from record price hike: (petrol is now Rs45 per liter, milk Rs25 per liter and a single roti Rs5), rate of inflation is going (around 13 per cent at the time of writing this article), that the prices of petroleum products are raised upwards every 15 days, that only 22 per cent of Pakistani households own their house, that literacy rate is about 22 per cent to 26 per cent and to top it all, Pakistan is behind Nepal and Bangladesh in Human Development Index.

He cannot deny that poverty in Pakistan is increasing with every passing day, the mega projects, dams, waterways, motorways, housing for poor etc etc exist only in the media, advertisements, supplements. No doubt stock market is moving up, but it is all speculation. Funds thus raised are not going into industrial or business development. And the artificially propped up stock market can crash without any notice or on a rumor of one single high profile assassination. That is the way houses built with cards collapse.

Musharraf's Blue Eyed Religious Affairs Minister Turns Out to be Dr. Fake

By M A Siddiqui

KARACHI, March 9: He is the most high profile Parliamentarian of Altaf Hussain’s Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and is also projecting himself as Altaf Bhai’s successor, should something happen to the MQM leader in London.

He is the blue-eyed boy of General Pervez Musharraf as the General telephones him after hearing his dramatic preachings on the TV. He is the most versatile preacher of Islamic values and morals on home TV screens round the clock. He is a prolific speaker and a successful fund-raiser for charities. He is a junior Minister for Religious Affairs in the huge cabinet of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

But in addition to all these qualifications, young, dapper and the stylish member of the National Assembly from Karachi, "Dr." Aamir Liaquat Hussain, is a fake and a fraud.

In a stunning investigation by Karachi Urdu Daily “Ummat” it has been documented and proved that Dr Aamir purchased fake University degrees to contest the 2002 general election, forced the Karachi University officials to authenticate these degrees in a single day and prevented any investigations by the newspaper to dig deep into the unavailable records at the University.

The newspaper, however, persisted with the three-month long probe and was able to obtain the copies of the “University” degrees Dr Aamir used to make himself eligible to contest the election for a National Assembly seat on the MQM ticket from Karachi. He won because of the party ticket and when MQM joined the Musharraf coalition, he was made a junior Minister of Religious Affairs in the cabinet.

But his fame came from his TV show on GEO TV "Aalim Online" a religious program in which viewers phone in their questions on Islamic issues and he invites two prominent Islamic scholars every week to answer these personal and social questions. He also hosts other religious programs and General Musharraf and his wife Sehba are so fond of his style of preaching and reciting “Hamds and Naats”, specially during the month of Ramazan, that two years ago Sehba Musharraf called him instantly and told him General Musharraf was crying as he listened to his voice on TV.

Dr Aamir did not have a graduate degree in 2002 and according to the investigation he approached a web site in Spain, The Trinity College & University, which boasts about providing Bachelors, Masters or even Doctorate degrees, without attending any class or college. “Everything by Email” the web site of the College says right on top with the big slogan: “Get your degree today.” Click to View Web site

Dr Aamir bought his “Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies” degree (Serial No: P-2002227 Dated March 17, 1995), got his “Master of Arts in Islamic Studies” degree (No: P-2002341 Dated March 15, 2002) and his “Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Studies” degree (No: P-2002528 Dated April 5, 2002). In what may be a world record worthy of the Guinness Book of Records. He got his Doctorate in just three weeks after his Master's degree, if the documents are to be believed.

Daily Ummat contacted the Karachi University authorities to find out how these web site Email degrees were authenticated in a single day, in writing, by the then Registrar of Karachi University, Prof. NM Aqil Burney. The Registrar received the application from Dr Aamir on August 24, 2002, days before filing of his nomination papers for the NA election and authenticated his degrees though this letter No PA/2002 Dated August 24, 2002. Click to View the Registrar’s letter of authentication

Prof. Aqil, however, did leave some elbow room by stating in his letter that the authentication was “provisional” and the final decision would be conveyed to the applicant in due course of time. That decision was neither needed nor taken nor conveyed to anyone as Dr Aamir had used the provisional certificate to get himself elected to the Parliament and the matter was forgotten.

When the newspaper contacted Prof Aqil later to ask how he could issue the authentication without referring the documents to the Karachi University’s Equivalence Committee, he admitted that Dr Aamir had come to him with degrees from some Spanish University and since these were not degrees issues by his University, he authenticated them on the spot. His answer was unconvincing to say the least. Prof Aqil kept no record of these degrees and when the newspaper contacted the current Registrar to verify whether any such record was kept, no one could trace the file, as none existed.

When the newspaper contacted the Higher Education Commission in Islamabad, the official authority on the matter, to verify whether the Trinity College & University of Spain, which issued the degrees to Dr Aamir, was a recognized institution by Pakistan, Director General Mohammed Javed Khan informed the newspaper vide a letter Dated February 23, 2005 that the Trinity College was not recognized. The letter confirmed the forgery of Dr Aamir and abetment in the forgery by Prof Aqil to facilitate his candidacy in the election. Click to view DG’s letter

Daily Ummat also obtained copies of the degrees Dr Aamir presented to the Election Commission and during the investigation found that the Trinity College had placed exactly similar samples on its web site, offered the same day for a price. (see images above)

The investigation leaves Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and General Pervez Musharraf in an embarrassing political dilemma. Musharraf has been promoting Dr Aamir as the heir apparent of Altaf Hussain himself and the way his curve was rising was creating serious apprehensions within the MQM circles as well.

For Musharraf it would be a triple disaster in just a few weeks as Dr Aamir would be the third cabinet minister who has been caught literally with his pants down in the middle of the road.

His supporter, PPP rebel and currently a minister, Faisal Saleh Hayat, has already been asked by the Prime Minister to resign as his bail application was cancelled by the Supreme Court and National Accountability Bureau has to arrest him for unpaid loans. Many other candidates in the 2002 elections were disqualified because they were defaulters of loans but not Faisal.

Interestingly just before the Supreme Court decision to cancel his bail, Faisal Saleh Hayat slipped out of the country and is now residing in London, considering his options whether to return to Pakistan and land in a jail or stay away.

Another serious embarrassment for Musharraf has been the Health Minister in the Punjab Cabinet, Dr Tahir Javed who absconded from Nebraska after causing the worst Hepatitis C outbreak in US history and who had forced his insurance company and the State of Nebraska to pay millions of dollars to his victims who sued him.

Now the show boy of Musharraf, Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain is in the dock. Scores of seasoned politicians, including former minister Syeda Abida Hussain of Jhang, were either disqualified or did not contest the 2002 polls because they did not have graduate degrees. Now we find that some of those who did, committed a fraud with the law and the people.

The biggest embarrassment would, however, be for his GEO TV channel because he hosts a program which is supposed to teach moral values to its viewers. The host has now proved to be an immoral person himself.

Army Eyes its Biggest Real Estate Catch in Hotbed Islamabad

By M T Butt

ISLAMABAD, March 11: The Pakistan Army is all set to grab the most lucrative and the best urban real estate in the country, worth billions of rupees, in the Capital City of Islamabad where not just the Army Headquarters will be shifted but Generals will build their mansions and a huge golf course would sit in the middle of Army messes.

According to one senior politician, Islamabad would be turned into an Army Cantonment once this land is occupied by the Generals, also making the city as a prime military target for the enemy.

The Army is acquiring these lands in the name of shifting the General Head Quarters from Rawalpindi to Islamabad, just about 20 miles away, but the real purpose is to provide residential lands to Generals and Brigadiers in the Capital City at dirt cheap official rates.

Already the plan has come under severe attack by politicians who think the shifting of the GHQ from Rawalpindi was an excuse for the Generals to grab real estate which they could otherwise never dream of in their life and careers.

But General Musharraf has turned a deaf ear to all criticism about the corporatization of the army and its indulgence in businesses ranging from making fertilizer to dairy farming and poultry to banks and airlines.

According to analysts under General Musharraf the Pakistan Army has gone on a mad rampage to grab and conquer its own territory for its own top brass which had brought the entire institution of the Army under severe criticism and undermined its reputation and prestige among the people. The Generals are now seen not as defenders of the country but as greedy businessmen out to loot and plunder in the name of national security.

The loudest political voice so far has come from the brave leader of Nawaz Sharif’s PML who said in Islamabad the Army command structure should not be placed in heart of the capital, which will make the capital a prime military target and put the civilian population at a great risk.

Ahsan Iqbal, Chief Coordinator PML-N and former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission (pix top left) appealed to the military leadership to review its decision of constructing a new Army City in Islamabad including the GHQ on prime real estate.

He said: "It is very surprising that army leadership is acquiring additional prime real estate measuring thousands of acres in addition to 8,000 kanals it acquired in 1991 for the purposes of establishing GHQ.”

“The GHQ should be built within the original land earmarked for the project and the additional land being given to GHQ should be auctioned to the public with its proceeds going for education and other social sectors,” Iqbal said.

Ahsan Iqbal was one of the politicians who was arrested after the Musharraf coup in 1999. He then told the New York Times: ''They handcuffed me, put a black hood over my head, threw me in a car and put a blanket over me. They took me to one of their safe houses.''

The Daily Times quoted him saying: “It is very surprising that the army leadership is acquiring additional prime real estate measuring 23,700 kanals of land whose market value is over Rs 25 billion. The army had already acquired 23,300 kanals of land in 1991 for the purpose of establishing the GHQ at a very nominal cost. The project includes messes, a golf course and residences.

Mr Iqbal dismissed the alleged propaganda that Pakistan Army lacked resources to match the imbalance created by the recent increase in the Indian defence budget.

He said that billions of rupees were being spent on the construction of offices, messes and residences. “The Indian military is seeking to modernize its arsenal with 300 Russian T-90 battle tanks, licensed production of 150 Su-30 front-line combat aircraft, upgradation of 125 MiG 21s, British Hawk advanced jet trainers, Mid-life upgrades for MiG 27 and MiG 29 fighters, Soviet Navy aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, and 40 sea-based Mig 29 K fighters.”

Mr Iqbal stated that an army command structure should not be placed in the heart of Islamabad because it would make the federal capital a prime military target and put the civilian population at great risk.

He added that the GHQ should remain in its present location for sometime and if there is a compelling case for constructing a new GHQ on the pattern of Malaysian Putrajaya, the modern capital, then it should be constructed either on the Islamabad-Lahore motorway or some other suitable location away from the capital.

“By establishing an army complex in the heart of the capital, Islamabad will lose its civil character and become a cantonment.”

All of Musharraf's Opponents Must Unite to Beat His Dictatorship

By Tarique Niazi

WISCONSIN,  Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are the largest stakeholders in Pakistan’s return to democracy. They clearly understand that the longer democracy is denied to Pakistan, the deeper it will sink into self-destructive chaos.

Religious militancy, nationalist violence, and urban unrest are already threatening its federal integrity and democratic destiny, which are the direct outcome of continued denial of democracy and perpetuation of dictatorship. If Pakistan is to have peace, it has to rid itself of dictatorship and return to democracy.

The PML and PPP can help bring the country into the democratic sunshine, if they jointly resolve to restore the sovereignty of the will of the people and bring to justice its denier – Gen. Musharraf (Left, Pix taken from his web site). Short of it, neither will there be peace nor democracy. Nor can Gen. Musharraf be a partner in making peace or building democracy. His very survival hinges on the denial of both. The leaders of democracy will do Pakistan, democracy and themselves incalculable harm by rushing to cut a deal with him and wash his armored dictatorship in electoral waters.

They should not be duped by his promise of “elections” either. As long as he sits behind his front-men, all elections will be stolen. Even the sweetener of a reformed or reconstituted Election Commission will be no more than an illusion. To know this, democrats should watch his actions, not words. His lust for power already has driven him so far as to enlist the military into stuffing the ballot-box.

Its dry run was conducted in Tharparkar (Sindh), where thousands of troops were ordered into getting his nominee for Prime Minister (a Punjabi) elected. It defies the imagination that in a province where no Punjabi, if dared to go, can return in one piece, Gen. Musharraf’s nominee scores 95% of the votes cast, without even having been there except for once.

This is exactly why Mr Mumtaz Bhutto of the Sindh National Front (SNF) demands that the United Nations (UN) conduct the next elections in Pakistan. When the PML and PPP, having foreknown the results of such elections, participate in them, they only legitimize the theft by Gen. Musharraf, as they did by taking part in Election-2002. So it is immaterial if elections are held in 2005 or 2007. As long as Gen. Musharraf is not removed from his bunker in Rawalpindi and brought to justice, elections will remain a farce.

If he is let off his crimes against the Constitution, democracy, and the Federation, Pakistan will never recover from the shadows of military dictatorship. His departure will pave the way for another adventurer. Only his just and fair trial will send the powerful message to future Bonepartes that there is a price to pay for crimes against the Constitution.

Democrats have a grand chance to set that price for future aspirants to dictatorship by bringing their sitting mentor to justice. As the leader of the leaders of democracy, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan famously said of him: “Gen. Musharraf will be the last dictator Pakistan ever had, and he will be the first one Pakistan ever tried.” Unless the late Khan’s words are translated into justice, the future of democracy will remain its past.

In order for democracy to have a future in Pakistan, democrats should seek allies among those who have stakes in its revival. Partnership with such stakeholders is equally important to combat religious militancy, nationalist violence and urban unrest in the country. The major forces that can help in this fight are: The six-party religious alliance of Muttahida Majlis-e-Aml (MMA); the four-party alliance of Baloch Tawar; the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) of urban Sindh; and the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM) that speaks to Baloch, Pakhtun, Seraiki, and Sindhi nationalism.

These forces, however disparate, stand united around the “highest” common denominator of democracy that brings them from across the political spectrum to make them into a potent political force. The PML and PPP should invoke this common denominator to put energy behind their charge for the revival of democracy and an end to military dictatorship.

There, however, is knowing ignorance about the Islamists in the MMA. Their government in Pakhtoonkhwa and their coalition government in Balochistan are held up as one-off chance that cannot be repeated. This reading is as ignorant of the past as it is of the present. Exactly 32 years before Election-2002, the dominant party of the alliance – Jamiat-ul-Ulema-i-Islam – was returned to power in 1970, which happily banded together with Baloch and Pakhtun secular-nationalists of National Awami Party (NAP) and formed coalition governments both in Balochistan and Pakhtoonkhwa. As for the MMA’s “misogynist medievalism,” it was its provincial assemblies of Balochistan and Pakhtoonkhwa that unanimously resolved for the return from exile of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, while the “enlightened” Musharraf and his “liberal” peons are making their living by bad-mouthing her.

Those who think the next wave of elections will blow the Islamists away are just expressing their pretend claustrophobia. Given the sate of the neighboring Islamic Republics of Afghanistan and Iran, Islamists are going to stay here for a good while. The challenge for the PML and the PPP is not to scare them away into the fold of dictatorship, but to keep them on their side in the struggle for democracy and the combat against religious militancy that has turned Pakistan into a giant landmine. What binds them – PML, PPP, and MMA – together is their faith in a federal democratic Pakistan that should form the basis of their solidarity.

Similarly, nationalist violence in Balochistan and South Waziristan has raged out of control. Gen. Musharraf’s knee-jerk reaction to it in massive use of force -- deployment of infantry, armor, artillery, gun ship helicopters, and fighter aircraft (including reported use of F-16s) – yielded nothing but 250 coffins of enlisted men and officers. What else is left with him to beat Baloch and Pakhtun tribesmen into submission? Threats of nuclear treatment?

Nationalist violence, which is Gen. Musharraf’s most destructive of all legacies, is indeed life-threatening to the country. Democrats cannot govern while Balochistan bleeds and the tribal belt burns with violence. They have to reach out to the leaders of the Baloch Tawar and those of the PONM to forge newer bonds around democracy, and a federation that values integrity of the country over its plunder.

No less important is urban unrest that has sucked life out of Karachi (Sindh) that houses half of the nation’s urban population. Again, Gen. Musharraf has turned this city into a living hell, where he himself cannot set foot without first having it shut down. Law enforcement forces have been reduced to the lapdogs of their political masters. Having had more than 420 officers slaughtered in revenge for enforcing law in the past, they have no stomach left for any more law enforcement. Each Karachiite's life is now literally in the “most merciful hands of the God Almighty,” a belief that is reviving religious fervor in the city that was never seen before.

Besides, Karachi is restive about the likely loss of its luster to the under-construction Gwadar port project in Balochistan, which will steal Karachi’s shine as the nation’s commercial and naval capital. It bears no repeating that urban unrest in Karachi has been a killer for past PML and PPP governments in the 1990s. In future, too, they cannot lead the government without a peaceful Karachi. It is time that both parties began a sincere dialogue with the Muttehidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) to heal the wounds of the past, and bring it into the fold of democracy.

All these groups – the MMA, the Baloch Tawar, the PONM, and the MQM – have stakes in the revival of democracy. All of them are equally repelled by the continuation of military dictatorship. They need leadership to make its revival reality, and only the PML and PPP can provide that leadership. In the same vein, the PML and PPP need these groups to fight the most entrenched of all military dictatorships in Pakistan’s life. And the fight means bringing the sitting dictator to justice and initiating sweeping democratic reforms, without which there will be no democracy.

The PML and PPP can offer the needed leadership if they first come to terms with each other. They need to recognize that no fair and free elections can deliver two-thirds majorities. Pakistan’s electorate is almost evenly split. They halve between them a little over 80% of the votes. The remainder go to the parties of regional and religious appeal.

So a fair election will yield a majority of no more than 15 to 20 seats to one of the two parties. In such a situation, no party in government can think of running the country without the active support of the other. Besides accepting this natural distribution of the electorate, democrats of all stripes need to remember that there is only one PML that is out in the trenches fighting for democracy. This PML’s low numbers in the rigged Parliament today should not be the measure of its effectiveness tomorrow. The PPP has a chance to treat it as its equal to help serve the end of dictatorship today and advance the cause of democracy tomorrow.

War on Terror Being Used For Domestic Politics In Pak: Benazir

Pakistan’s former prime minister in exile and chairperson of Pakistan Peoples’ Party Benazir Bhutto has alleged that the current regime in the country under the President Pervez Musharraf is politically exploiting the war against terror to continue and strengthen its hold on the power.


Bhutto made these remarks during his ongoing visit to the
Washington. Addressing a gathering here, Bhutto alleged that political parties in Pakistan supportive of the Taliban and Al Qaeda were being given "full liberty" to function, reports Online news agency. Popular leaders had been exiled forcibly and were not being allowed to forge contact with people. Bhutto appealed to the international community to help in restoring democracy in Pakistan. "In order to achieve this objective (democracy), elections should be held in a transparent manner and all the political parties and political personalities be allowed to participate in this election," she said. "The international community should help in restoration of democracy in Pakistan." Fresh elections were imperative for poverty alleviation, judicial reforms and for empowerment of parliament. Referring to the rape in January of a woman doctor in Balochistan province, Bhutto charged the Pakistani government with not taking any action in crimes against women. "Dictatorship covers up crimes and democracy supports the oppressed," she remarked. "Terrorism can be encountered only through empowerment of people. We should wage a struggle against those who exploit religion for political gains besides fighting a war against terrorism," she observed.

US support to Musharraf wrong message to Muslims: Benazir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto said on Tuesday that US support to President Pervez Musharraf had sent the wrong message to Muslims regarding the reasons for the war against terrorism.

Addressing intellectuals, writers, academicians and workers in Florida, Ms Bhutto said that General Musharaf had vested the presidency with enormous powers, amounting to creating a civilian dictator and the argument that an all-powerful president would help facilitate the Army’s withdrawal to barracks and prevent recurrence of Martial Law in Pakistan proved wrong.

Ms Bhutto said that by keeping both posts President Musharraf had backed out of his promise and it showed that the government could not help withdraw the Army from Pakistan’s political landscape following the October 2002 elections.

“Democracy is the ultimate enemy of terrorism, just as hope is the ultimate enemy of despair which could reverse centuries of tyranny. Terrorists and dictators are on the wrong side of history, as the millions who voted in Iraq and Palestine proved,” Ms Bhutto said.

About Kashmir, the PPP leader said, “If Israel and Palestine can live in peace, I pray for the resolution of the Kashmir issue that threatens a nuclear Armageddon in South Asia “. She said the Muslim world was in a flux today. “Even as political freedoms are denied, socio-economic development is elusive”.

“The theocratic state, disciplined under a single religious figure, was presented as the path to victory and translated into victory against the existing national dictatorship and this embittered generation must be rescued with an alternative political model to that of the theocratic state,” she said.

Qasim Zia rules out deal with government, confirms talks

By Qamar Jabbar

LAHORE: Qasim Zia, the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Punjab president and opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly (PA), on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of any deal with the government “under the present circumstances”.

However, talking to Daily Times in his PA chamber, Zia confirmed that talks were going on with President General Pervez Musharraf “for the restoration of democracy, the 1973 Constitution and rule of law in Pakistan”.

He said that political parties were open to a meaningful dialogue, but the PPPP would not compromise on principles and undermine the supremacy of parliament, democracy and the 1973 Constitution.

About the party’s preparations to welcome Asif Ali Zardari on his return on April 16, Zia said that a meeting of the provincial executive council has been convened in Faisalabad on March 11 to review the preparations.

The PPPP Punjab president said that party workers would accord “historic welcome” to Zardari as they did to PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto in 1986.

“Preparations have started to accord a warm welcome to Zardari and the whole city will be decorated with banners and portraits and workers will set up stalls at several places to distribute Zardari’s pictures and stickers,” he said.

He warned the government not to stop party leaders and workers from welcoming Zardari otherwise they would hold a large rally at Allama Iqbal International Airport.

About the return of PPP-Sherpao and PPP-Patriots leaders to the Pakistan People’s Party, Zia said that the party would not accept “turncoats” because their induction would harm the party’s interests. He said that Benazir Bhutto had already announced that turncoats have no room in the party and party workers had the same view.

The PA opposition leader said that Pakistan Muslim League consisted of politicians with vested interests who wanted to save themselves from the National Accountability Bureau, which is why the party would soon collapse.

PPPP has no objection to Zardari as leader

Daily Times March 12, 2005 - Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: A senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) on Thursday said the party’s leadership had no objections if Benazir Bhutto, the party chairperson, chose her spouse, Asif Ali Zardari, to lead the party in her absence in Pakistan.

“We have neither been consulted nor informed about any such decision. But one thing is clear that the decision of our chairperson will be honoured,” said Raja Pervez Ashraf, PPPP secretary general.

It had been reported in the media that Ms Bhutto had appointed her husband to lead the party in her absence in Pakistan. Mr Zardari is due in Pakistan on April 16 from Dubai where he has gone to spend time with his family after his release from jail after eight years.

Mr Zardari has already met Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) quaid, along with Ms Bhutto and discussed the political situation in the country and the future strategy of the two main parties of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy.

“Asif is our party colleague and being Benazir’s husband he enjoys respect among party workers. He has also proved his credentials during his eight years in jail,” Mr Ashraf said.

About Makhdoom Amin Fahim’s role in the party, he said that Mr Fahim was a senior colleague and would continue to lead the party as senior leader. “Leadership lies with Benazir and all others, including Zardari, are workers of the party and they say this themselves,” he added.

Mohtarma Bhutto’s Message on International Women Day

Islamabad March 7, 2005: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has issued the following message on the international women day falling on Tuesday March 8, 2005:

"On the occasion of the International Women Day being observed today I wish to congratulate the women of the world in general and of Pakistan in particular.

"The celebrations today mark a realization that women everywhere are waking up. In my own country Pakistan, a Muslim country, my election twice as prime minister is a demonstration of this assertiveness and awakening.

"Unfortunately, women the world over have been subjected to varying degrees of discrimination, exploitation and violence due largely to their general backwardness in almost all societies and the denial of opportunities to them.

"Let me state categorically that our backwardness has nothing to do either with the religion or cultural values. It is simply the result of prejudice

"I am happy to recall occasion that as Prime Minister my government was able to set a trend in gender equality and protection of women from violence, which is now irreversible. We identified laws discriminatory to women adopted by male prejudice and began to review them at various levels through a special law commission appointed for the purpose and also launched a comprehensive social action programme largely for the benefit of women in the rural areas.

"Here are some of the bold policy initiatives our government took.

1. After twenty years CEDAW (UN’s Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) was signed in August 1995, ratified in March 1996 and accepted by the Legal Affairs Office of the United Nations, in April 1996.

2. A Commission of Inquiry for Women, headed by a Supreme Court judge was constituted to recommend the removal of disparities and discrimination in the existing laws against women the report of which has since been made public.

3. 5 to 10 % quota in the public and private sectors was reserved for women and family courts were set up.

4. Two bills were placed on the floor of the House for the restoration of women seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies but the outcome was not positive because the Party lacked two-thirds majority.

5. Lifted the ban on Pakistani women taking part in International Sporting events and established a separate Women Sports Board.

6. The First Women Bank was set up for women to extend credit facilities and loans exclusively to women.

7. Women Police Stations were set up and more women were brought in the law enforcing agencies.

8. A Human Rights Division was set up to focus on the violation of Human Rights primarily of women and to redress their grievances.

9. Now in the opposition the Party has moved a resolution calling for the review and repeal of Hudood Ordinances 1979, which are discriminatory against women.

"These initiatives must be strengthened in the interests of all Pakistani women. On this day therefore I appeal to all the political parties to join hands beyond partisan politics to extricate women from the agony and shame of discriminatory laws such as the Hudood Ordinance.

"By mobilising the collective power of women, we can make our world more tolerant, harmonious and secure. We share a common destiny. Let us work for it together".

Pakistan’s political, financial and social sectors dominated by military under dictatorship
Mohtarma Bhutto addresses writers, intellectuals in US

Islamabad March 8, 2005: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has said that the nation’s political, financial and social sectors were dominated by the military under the country’s military dictatorship.

General Musharaf had vested the Presidency with enormous powers amounting to creating a civilian dictator and the argument that an all-powerful President would help facilitate the withdrawal of the army to the barracks and prevent the recurrence of Martial Law in the country proved wrong.

She said this while addressing a galaxy of intellectuals, writers, academicians and workers in Florida Tuesday. The former Prime Minister is on a lecture circuit and meet the Pakistanis visit to the US.

The former Prime Minister said that Musharraf by keeping both posts had broken his promise and demonstrated the inability of the present regime to withdraw the army from Pakistan's political landscape following the October 2002 elections.

As the elections were controversial the regime failed to build a sustainable political and civilian base that could facilitate the withdrawal of the armed forces back to the barracks.

Democracy is indeed the ultimate enemy of terrorism, just as hope is the ultimate enemy of despair which could reverse centuries of tyranny, she said. Terrorists and dictators are on the wrong side of history, as the millions who voted in Iraq and Palestine proved.

She said that the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza could be the first step towards peace and justice in the Middle East.

"If Israel and Palestine can live in peace and security side by side, I pray for resolution of the equally difficult quagmire of self-determination for Jammu and Kashmir that has brought India and Pakistan to war three times, and threatens a nuclear Armageddon on the subcontinent of Asia".

She said that Pakistan was an example where the forces of tyranny, terrorism, proliferation and a militant interpretation of Islam created a difficult challenge. The religious parties claim public friendship with Bin Laden and Mullah Omar and filled the vacuum caused by the military regime's determination to crush democracy.

The international community decided to throw its weight behind Pakistan's military dictator following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers. There are worries though that the inability of the international community to facilitate Pakistan's transition to civilian and democratic rule could undermine its objectives in the long run, she warned.

She said that a military President in Pakistan, Washington’s key ally, sends the wrong message to one billion Muslims regarding the reasons for the war against terror. The democratisation of Pakistan is important to the war against terrorism, to the interpretation of Islam as a message of freedom and enlightenment as well as to the empowerment of the people of Pakistan, she said.

The democratic world was moved by the words of President George Bush in his second Inaugural address.

People living under tyranny and dictatorship all over the world, but especially in Asia, listened carefully when Mr. Bush said that the United States "will encourage reform in other governments by making clear that success in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own people".

Now it is time to act on these words and to convert rhetoric into reality, she said.

The elections in Palestine and Iraq are two stirring examples. The principles of the Bush doctrine must be applied across the board against tyranny, not just when it is politically convenient, she said.

Today the Muslim world was in flux. Even as political freedoms were denied, economic and social successes remained a distant dream. While the elites thrived, the large masses of people lived in poverty and backwardness eking out a miserable life, she said.

The mainstream political parties were banned and stopped from freely functioning. A Cold War generation, grew up hearing about denial of nationhood to Palestine, lack of self-determination to Kashmir, the denial of autonomy to the Chechens.

They imbibed the lesson that a return to the simple, austere life of the past could once again rekindle the courage and passion that saw Islam sweep across continents and spread its message far and wide.

The theocratic state, disciplined under a single religious figure, was presented as the path to victory and translated into victory against the existing national dictatorship.

This embittered generation must be rescued with an alternative political model to that of the theocratic state. The fight for freedom is a fight for values that can build a pluralistic world free of discrimination on the basis of race, religion or gender, she said.

World urged to help restore democracy in Pakistan
Demands elections open to all parties, leaders under independent EC

Islamabad March 10, 2005: Former Prime Minister and chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has called upon the international community to lead efforts in search of Pakistan's transition to democratic rule.

"Fresh party based elections, open to all parties and personalities, with international monitors, an independent Election Commission, electoral modalities that are transparent and a count that is immediate, open and accurately reflects the sentiments of the people could settle issues of legitimacy and governance which now complicate Pakistan's challenges".

She was addressing gatherings representing a cross section of people including intellectuals, writers, Party workers, media persons, businesspersons and members of Pakistani community in Washington and Florida today.

Such an election could put Pakistan back into the community of democratic nations with sustainable political institutions, she said.

She said that Pakistan's stability is critical to the world community and added that the controversial October 2002 elections have failed to combat poverty, reform the judiciary or empower Parliament.

"A dangerous political vacuum yawns across society. While parties that defend Al Qaeda and the Taliban are permitted full political freedom, democratic leaders are imprisoned, exiled or hamstrung from reaching the public with their message of modernity and progress".

She reminded the international community that when elections in Ukraine were rigged, the world supported fresh elections. The European community and human rights observers called Islamabad's 2002 elections as ‘flawed’. Human Rights Watch declared that the "decks were stacked against the democratic" forces. When elections can be re-held in Ukraine, they can be re-held in Pakistan, she said.

"And they must be held as urgently and fairly as possible to restore the usurped rights of the people back to them".

The former Prime Minister said it was worrying that Islamabad turn a blind eye to crimes against women.

"This year An Army Captain took part in the gang rape of a lady doctor. It took weeks of public protest before he was finally questioned. And even then, the regime sided with the rapist, claiming he was innocent, rather than with the victim. It is this inability to distinguish between the exploiter and the exploited that best highlights the difference between a dictatorship and a democracy".

About fighting terrorism the former Prime Minister said that to undermine terrorism, it is necessary to empower citizens and build a society on the edifice of the majesty of law. We must fight a war on terrorism and also fight against the political manipulation of religion, she said.

By using the name of religion, the terrorist activities have hurt Muslims across the board. Many Muslims today face suspicion or profiling by virtue of being Muslims.

She said that the war on terror must be fought with collective action to stop those that would create a clash of cultures and religions.

Short-term strategies often create far more intractable long-term problems, she said.

"A military dictatorship in Islamabad exploits the war against terror to keep itself in power at the cost of the constitutional rights of its people".

She said that ever since destabilisation of democracy in Pakistan in 1996 many refused to vote believing that irrespective of how they vote, the result will be doctored.

"This is dangerous for Pakistan's democratic future. It is also a danger for the world community when people lose hope in influencing policies through peaceful, electoral means".

Recently the world learned that scientists in charge of Islamabad's nuclear weapons program were clandestinely selling nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran and Libya. Dr. A.Q.Khan, the chief scientist came on television to confess his guilt. That very evening he was pardoned and allowed to keep the assets obtained through the illicit nuclear sales.

In contrast, politically motivated corruption allegations are used to malign the true leaders of the people and to hamper Pakistan's tryst with its democratic future. Such double standards must not be allowed, she said.

"Proliferation, Terrorism, Tyranny is a perilous mix". Modernity, diversity and democracy are the fanatics' worst fears. They confuse the message to prevent Muslim people from learning that diversity ensures that cultural and religious identity remains intact, she said.

Islam is committed to tolerance, equality and human dignity. Tragically, despite this clear Islamic commitment to democracy, most Muslims are living in dictatorships and are hostages in authoritarian regimes around the world, she said.

It is democracy that brings accountability, she said and added that a comparison of the people’s progress under the democratic government of the PPP and those that came after it clearly shows that ordinary people benefit under a true democracy.

Muslim countries are in search of leaders that can revitalise them with freedom.

Muslim countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines had long histories of authoritarian rule. These are the countries that now face terrorist activity.

She said that the rise of lawlessness and terrorism witnessed in countries with long periods of authoritarianism demonstrates a link between terrorism and the system of government. Military dictators gave birth to the culture of obtaining power through violence, she said.

Two assassination attempts on General Musharaf demonstrate the thin thread on which the alliance with Islamabad is built, she said. In the war against terrorism, the greatest protection of freedom from terrorists comes from replacing dictatorships with governments responsible to the people.

Senator Asif Ali Zardari plans to land at Lahore airport on 16 April
 

Islamabad, 01 March 2005: Senator Asif Ali Zardari would return to the country on 16 April and would land at Lahore airport. This decision was taken in an important meeting held today at PPP Central Secretariat Islamabad, presided over by the Vice Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Makhdoom Amin Faheem.

The decision was announced after the approval of the Party Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

Makhdoom Amin Faheem has issued directives to the party to organise a warm welcome of Asif Ali Zardari. In this regard a meeting of the General Council of Punjab Peoples Party is scheduled on 05 March in Lahore. Members of National and Punjab Provincial assembly, Senators, District and City presidents, General Secretaries and Information Secretaries would attend the meeting in which programme to welcome Senator Asif Ali Zardari would be finalised.

PPP denounces registration of case against Party MPA
Demands withdrawal co case, vows to continue raising voice in support of workers

Islamabad March 1, 2005: Pakistan Peoples Party has condemned the registration of case and filing of an FIR against Sindh Assembly’s member Ms. Humera Alwani for participation in a sit in demonstration in support of workers.

On Friday, the Dhabeji police booked PPP MPA Humera Alwani for taking part in a meeting organised by workers to protest the regime’s anti labour polices. The MPA complained that later the police also raided her houses in her village in Thattha and in Karachi.

On Monday the MPA sought to agitate the matter in the Sindh Assembly but the speaker of refused her permission to speak on a point of order and even warned her that she will be a loser if she persisted on her point of order. Humera Alwani then pleaded to speak on a point of personal explanation but that too was disallowed by the Speaker.

In a statement today spokesman of the Party said that it is the duty of the Party legislators to raise their voice in support of the poor, the labour and the working classes. He said that Humera Alwani acted within the bounds of law to raise voice in support of the working classes and to denounce the anti labour policies of the regime.

The registration of a case against her is tantamount to intimidating her and the PPP legislators from raising their voice, he said.

The spokesman said that such strong arm tactics can not and will not deter the Party workers and leaders from raising their voice in support of the workers and labours.

The spokesman demanded withdrawal of the case against Humaa Alwani and disciplinary action against those who have framed her in a false and bogus case just because she spoke for the rights of the workers and downtrodden.

US diplomats called on to Raja Pervez Ashraf

Islamabad, 02 March 2005: Research analysts from the US States Department, Ms. Amy Trimble and Ms. Ellen Hoffman and political officer of the US embassy in Islamabad, Mr. Bryan Hunt called on to the Secretary General Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Raja Pervez Ashraf MNA at his residence in Islamabad this morning.

In the meeting, which lasted about two hour, matters of mutual interests including current political situation in Pakistan, election process including local body elections, role of election commission and the need for free, fair and transparent elections were discussed.

Zardari will return on April 16:

[World News]: Dubai, Mar. 1 : Pakistan Peoples Party's leader Asif Ali Zardari will return home by April 16.

According to The News, the decision was taken in a high level party meeting with Makhdoom Amin Fahim in chair. Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has also given her approval to the decision.

Zardari's plane would land in Lahore and he would be accorded a historical welcome.

A meeting of Peoples Party Punjab general council will be held on March 05 to discuss the matter. The party's central executive committee, federal council members from Punjab, MNAs, MPAs, senators, all district presidents and other officials will also attend the meeting. (ANI)

'Benazir will return in September'

By Mubasher Bukhari


LAHORE: Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) chairperson, will return to Pakistan in September, 2005, and her husband Asif Ali Zardari will return by the end of March, PPP sources told Daily Times on Monday.

They added that Zardari’s plane would either land in Peshawar or Lahore and Bhutto had directed the party’s leaders to accord him a historical welcome,

Sources said that Bhutto had ordered 12 PPP leaders to hold a two-day meeting to decide a date and destination for Zardari’s return. In this regard, PPP leaders Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Khalid Ahmad Khan Kharal, Jehangir Badr, Haji Azizur Rehman Chan, Khalid Ghurki, Nahid Khan, Senator Farhatullah Babar, Rahimdad Khan, Najamul Hasan and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf attended a meeting held in Islamabad and exchanged views with Bhutto via telephone. The 12-member PPP team will meet today (Tuesday) in Islamabad to finalise the date and destination of Zardari’s return. “Zardari wanted to return by March 15 but Bhutto did not agree with him,” said sources. They said that Bhutto sending Zardari back indicated that the PPP and the government had struck a deal.

Bhutto and Zardari will visit the US in the beginning of March and then visit London to attend the wedding ceremony of Wajid Shamsul Hasan’s son. Later, they will travel to Dubai from where Zardari will return home. Senator Farhatullah Babar, Bhutto’s spokesman, confirmed that Zardari would return by the end of March while Bhutto would also return during 2005. However, he did not confirm the date of Zardari’s return.

 


Words of Shaheed

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
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.

Speech at the Security Council, New York

December 12, 1971

 



HOME

webmaster@pppusa.org

Copyright © 2004-07 PPP USA. All rights reserved