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".

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: 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".

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.

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".

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.