May 2006
Torture of former Speaker Yousuf Raza Gillani condemned
Islamabad May 24, 2006:
Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party and leader of the Parliamentary
Party in the National Assembly Makhdoom Amin Fahim has condemned the
continued detention and torture of former Speaker National Assembly Syed
Yousuf Raza Gillani and demanded an end to the politics of vendetta.
Soon after the signing of the Charter of Democracy between the leaders of
two mainstream political parties in London the regime withdrew facilities
allowed to Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani and Makhdoom Javed Hashmi acting
President PML (N).
Computer facilities were allowed to Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani and Makhdoom
Javed Hashmi under orders of the Supreme Court but were withdrawn by jail
officials.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that Yousuf Raza Gillani was writing books in jail
and had stored the material in his computer that had now been taken away by
the authorities. He said this was done to destroy the material stored in the
computer and thereby torture Yousuf Raza Gillani.
The PPP leader said that the fact that the computer was seized in violation
of the court orders and only after the signing of the Charter of Democracy
showed that the regime was unnerved by the opposition parties coming
together for restoration of democracy and had resorted to vendetta politics.
He asked the rulers not to go too far in their vendetta as one day they had
to account for it.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim demanded the immediate restoration of computer facility
to Yousuf Raza Gillani and an end to politics of vendetta.
PPP files reference against
Chief Minister Sindh
Islamabad, May 24, 2006:
Pakistan Peoples Party has filed a reference in the National Accountability
Bureau against Chief Minister Sindh, Arbab Ghulam Rahim for allotting
expensive residential and commercial plots in Defence Housing Authority
Karachi Scheme at throw away prices to his favourites in the government and
provincial assembly.
The PPP reference filed through Ch. Muhammad Aslam Advocate says that twenty
five expensive plots valued at over one crore rupees each in the market have
been allotted to government officials and members provincial assemblies at a
prices between 4 to 5 lacs each. These government officials and MPAs include
Sikander Kerio, Principal Secretary to the Chief Ministe, Mohammad Ali Arain,
Special Secretary to Chief Minister, Ghulam Sarwer Sarki,additional
secretary to Chief Minister, Arbab Attaullah, DS Staff to the Chief Minister
Maqsood Ghumro, additional private secretary to the Chief Minister, Ali Raza,
Personal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Chief Minister, Aijaz Shaikh, APSO,
Khashkhali, a deputy secretary to the Chief Minister, Jahangir Mirza,
Inspector General Police Sindh, Fayaz Leghari, DIG Police, Mazher Shaikh,
DIG Operations Hyderabad Police, Abdullah Shaikh DPO Badin, SP Traffic,
Fazal Rehman, Chief Secretary Sindh, Shah Mansoor Alam, Secretary Services,
Nazar Hussain Maher, Secretary Implementation, Makhumddin Qadari, Secretary
Agriculture, Ayub Shaikh, member Sindh Services Tribunal, an Officer of the
Sindh Text Book Board and Afshan Imran, MPA.
The reference argues that if there is a quota in DHA Scheme for the Sindh
government then a balloting should have been held to allot plots to genuine,
honest and dedicated officers.
The reference prays, "Based on the above facts and grounds, the respondent
has shown wilful indulgence in corrupt practices under Section 9 of the
Ordinance. Such a person is subject to punishment under Section 10 of the
NAB Ordinance 1999."
Mohtarma Bhutto appears
before Swiss inquiry magistrate
Islamabad May 24, 2006: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto today appeared before the Swiss Inquiry Magistrate to assist in the
inquiry triggered by politically motivated allegations of abuse of office
against her, said spokesman Farhatullah Babar today.
A Swiss lawyer and Senator Farooq Naek were also present to assist her, he
said.
At today's hearing the son of the owner of Chatila Jewellers deposed before
the Magistrate. Corroborating the statement of his father made at the last
hearing before the Magistrate he said that he had never met or seen Mohtarma
Bhutto. Chatila said that he did not know Mohtarma nor had ever seen her at
his shop.
The spokesman said that the head of the SGS Mr Hans Fischer also appeared
before the Magistrate and corroborated the statement made earlier by the
Company's representative at the last hearing. He stated that the he had
never met Mohtarma Bhutto and that the contract was awarded in accordance
with the laid down procedure. He also said that no financial damage was
caused to the government of Pakistan by the award
of contract to his firm.
NAB prosecutors present in the Magistrate's office tried to ask questions
from Mohtarma Bhutto. The former Prime Minister however declined to answer
their questions saying that she would not talk with the torturers, human
rights violators, perjurers and representatives of a regime that
discriminated against women.
The spokesman recalled that that none of the allegations against Mohtarma
Bhutto in the award of pre-shipment inspection contract have been proven in
Pakistan. In fact charges of corruption against the SGS Company have since
been dropped and the company is no longer being investigated in Pakistan or
in Geneva, he said.
Mohtarma Bhutto last appeared before the investigative Magistrate on
November 24 last year.
Mohtarma Bhutto had informed the Investigation Magistrate that the Swiss
companies allegedly involved in money laundering were not hers. She had also
stated before the Magistrate that the pre-shipment inspection contract was
awarded to SGS in a transparent and open manner and there was no underhand
dealing involved in the award of contract.
The spokesman said that the military rulers in Pakistan have been pushing
this investigation only to put pressure on Mohtarma Bhutto to quit politics
spending huge sums from public exchequer on it.
Mohtarma Bhutto has however refused to be blackmailed in the last nine years
and refuses to be blackmailed even now.
Mohtarma Bhutto said she would contest the charges rather than give in to
the military rulers' demand to quit politics and not contest the next
elections, the spokesman said.
Mohtarma Bhutto condoles the deaths of mother of Nawaz Abbasi and Brigadier
Muhammad Amjad Rana
Islamabad, 23 May 2006:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto and her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari have condoled the
death of the mother of PPP worker from Khairpur Mirs, Nawaz Abbassi.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in her condolence message to Nawaz Abbasi 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 grant eternal peace to the departed
soul and courage and fortitude to the family members to bear his irreparable
loss with equanimity.
In a separate condolence message to Mrs. Azra Amjad, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
and her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari condoled over her husband,
Brigadier Muhammad Amjad Rana’s death. She wrote, "Brigadier Amjad Rana will
be long remembered by the leadership and workers for his services for the
cause of Pakistan Peoples Party." They also prayed for eternal peace for the
deceased soul and courage and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss with
equanimity.
Water theft a test case for NAB
Islamabad May 20, 2006: Mian Raza
Rabbani, Parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance, Senate and Deputy
Secretary General, Pakistan Peoples Party has issued the following statement
today.
"Having plundered the national wealth and made the economy captive in the
hands of cartels and cronies of the Government, it has not spared the water
sector. A loss of 20, 000 cusecs was found between Taunsa and Guddu
barrages. As a consequence the Provinces were not getting their share
according to their indent.
"A two member committee of IRSA investigating the matter has come to an
initial finding that the water was being stolen. The water was being lifted
through heavy pumping machines on both sides of the River Indus. It is
alleged that the Punjab irrigation authorities were reporting larger
releases at Taunsa and their counter parts at Guddu were reporting lower
arrivals. This was being done to the influential landlords of the ruling
Party in the area.
"This can be termed the "theft of the century." The findings of the
committee will be hushed up as in the case of the sugar barons and the
culprits will not be booked. This is another test for the NAB. National
wealth has been plundered and as a consequence inter provincial relations
between Punjab and Sindh have been further strained.
"The real face of plunder of this Government is now being exposed. Never in
history has water been stolen in such huge quantities and the pity is that
they will get away."
PPP condemns misuse of public funds in the name of cultural troupes
Demands inquiry and recovery of mis-spent funds
Islamabad May 20, 2006: Pakistan Peoples
Party condemns the misuse of public funds in sending the Punjab Governor,
his wife and two of his official staff members to New York as members of a
cultural troupe at state expense and demanded an inquiry and recovery of the
mis-spent public funds from the official concerned.
In reply to a written question asked in the Senate on Wednesday the Federal
Minister for Culture Ghazi Gulab Jamal informed the upper House that the
Punjab Governor, his wife and two of his staffers went to New York in August
2004 utilising funds specifically meant of the foreign visits of cultural
troupe. An expenditure of over 16 lacs was incurred on their visit.
Apart from Lt General (retired) Khalid Maqbool and his wife the other two
members of the Governor’s entourage travelling as members of cultural troupe
were his military secretary and his ADC, both military officers, according
to the reply given in the senate.
The only artists who travelled to New York then were Mustafa Qureshi and
Najam Sheraz, according to the reply given on the floor of the House.
"It is disgusting and a mockery of even the lowest ethical standards that a
provincial governor who is a retired senior military officer, his wife and
two of his aides both serving military officers should undertake foreign
junket as a ‘cultural group’ to promote Pakistani culture", said a spokesman
of the Party in a statement today.
The Ministry of Culture will have to re-write its charter and redefine what
is a ‘cultural group’, he said.
"The Auditor General of Pakistan must take note of this medieval form of
extravagance at public expense and order recovery of the mis-spent public
funds from the state functionaries who masqueraded as ‘cultural troupe’".
The spokesman said that this was also a clear case of misuse of public funds
and falls within the mischief of NAB ordinance.
However, there is little expectation that NAB will take note of it as the
Bureau is not tasked to eradicate corruption or prevent misuse of public
funds but is tasked to hound the political opponents and advance the
political agenda of the regime, he said.
It may be recalled that during the tenure of Mohtarma Bhutto as Prime
Minister Khalid Maqbool was recalled from Washington where he was serving as
defence attaché after reports surfaced that the US authorities had
intercepted counterfeit American currency.
Following this incident Lt General Maqbool joined the anti Bhutto conspiracy
when to the astonishment of every one he was made Chairman NAB despite his
controversial background and tasked to punish ‘corrupt’ politicians by
General Musharraf.
CHARTER OF DEMOCRACY, MUSHARRAF’S ACCEPTS FIRST DEFEAT
By Wajid Shamsul Hasan
May 14 (2006) will always be remembered
in the history of Pakistan with as much of significance as March 23, 1940.
On this day an irrevocable resolution by country’s two leading political
parties and their leaders—former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Muhammad
Nawaz Sharif—was made to strive, to seek and not to yield—in reasserting the
democratic ideals as well to launch a battle to free Quaid’s Pakistan from
the stranglehold of a parasitic Praetorian establishment. It gave the
clarion call to the nation: it is NOW or NEVER.
”The Charter of Democracy” as they have named it, seems to have resurrected
a nation branded internationally as a “failed state”. It has infused a new
vigour and a new hope in Pakistan’s otherwise bleak future under a military
ruler. Obviously it has been described by leading independent media
commentators as a new Magna Carta, a landmark, a historic agreement as
important as the Objective Resolution—“a document that makes a sincere and
right-earnest attempt at curing the cancer that has been gnawing the very
roots of Pakistan since its inception”. It seeks to re-establish the
inalienable, birth right of the people to be the sole arbiters of power.
Before ink of their signatures could dry up, the news of its signing--
hitherto a target of the regime’s media blitzkrieg as a non-starter—caused
tremors in almost Richter scale of 10 in General Musharraf steel bunkered
corridors of power while drowning his summer soldiers and sunshine patriots
in cahoots with him in a sea of dismay and desperation. The new Magna Carta
scored its first victory by panicking the General to announce, that to be
safe and secure from the inevitable aftermath of the Election 2007 that
would show him the door, he would seek re-election to the office of the
President from the present assemblies sixty days before their term expires.
This would be yet another act by him ultra virus of the Constitution that
debars him from seeking re-election a second time in his military uniform.
According to independent jurists the declaration of his ill-intent is not
only in violation of the letter and spirit of Constitution, it is also
outrageously immoral since it would deny the new elected Parliament (after
2007) its inalienable right to elect a President of its own choice. He would
resort to this outrageous act just to save himself from sure defeat
especially when he would be irrevocably required under the Constitution to
contest presidential elections denuded of his military uniform.
His desperation was writ large in his TV interview later clarified by the
ISPR—of course—without altering his intent but reasserting the fact that he
would not like to be an anorchous Samson without his hair i.e. military
uniform. Panic-rush to declare that whatever ill-fated course of 2007
general elections for him be, he would get himself elected by the present
assemblies though they would have no locus standi, would no doubt be a most
shameless acknowledgement of his moral defeat especially in the light of the
considered legal view of the constitutional experts who believe that he has
been trapped in a Catch-22 situation by his trying to be over smart.
In the first place, to make him eligible for a second term, he would be
required to shed his uniform. Secondly, just by removing his military
uniform he does not qualify to get straight into the presidential contest.
Like all government servants enjoying public office of profit, by virtue of
his sticking to the office of the Chief Of Staff, he stands debarred from
contesting the presidential election within two years of his giving up the
post of the Army Chief. The constitutional waiver that has allowed him to
continue as President wearing the Khaki to this day—though a shameless
exception-- was for one time and that period ends in November 2007.
In his predicament when it seems all over for him—no feasible exit route in
sight, all the democratic forces shall have to be very cautious. The
gigantic move for support from the masses that they have initiated through
the Charter of Democracy should not be wasted through complacency. Their
target is already lethally wounded and dreads the opening of the flood gates
of change. In his desperate bid—to stick to power—like all dictators—he
might resort to methods and means crooked and despicable—to avert holding of
2007 elections. His incoherent honcho man in Gujrat and others in the Kings
Party, have been making the right sound bites that are music for his ears,
that elections need to be postponed beyond 2008.
In this context, while the Charter for Democracy is, no doubt, a document
that is as important as the Constitution of 1973, the democratic forces in
the country shall not only have to ensure its implementation in letter and
spirit but they will have to get tougher to see elections are held within
the expiry of the 90 days of the tenure of the present Parliament. They need
to collect all their populist strength to face any eventuality and to
convert it into their favour—be it imposition of emergency, martial law or a
state engineered situation leading to wide scale civil disturbance.
In case Musharraf goes ahead with his agenda, the opposition in the
Parliament should resign en bloc at the time of his re-election by the
present assemblies. If the MMA mullas are not in cahoots with him, they
should be made to willingly join hands with ARD to teach him a lesson of
betraying his commitment to them to quit uniform by December 31, 2004 as a
quid pro quo to their support to him to his 17th amendment to the
Constitution.
Notwithstanding the fact that after having given him the generous concession
of half-a-decade long period of the benefit of the doubt, General’s Western
supporters are now gradually getting wary of him and calling his bluff. They
have reached the conclusion that though he has been making promises to them
in miles regarding combating terrorism, he is moving in centimetres. Last
visitor from Washington warned him, “Mate, you aren’t doing enough”.
Besides, as Lord Patten put it in his Wall Street Journal op-ed (May 10),
“Truth is, Afghanistan will never be stable unless Pakistan’s military
government is replaced with democracy”. Indeed, the emerging consensus among
Western supporters of Musharraf is, there cannot be democracy in Afghanistan
without democracy in Pakistan. Lord Patten’s warning is rather timely: “In
short, Pakistan is ruled by a military dictatorship in cahoots with violent
Islamist extremists. The military has no interest in democracy at home, so
why does the outside expect it to help build democracy next door?”
Not only that, the good news is that his Western supporters have started
seeing light at end of the dark tunnel of the regime’s propaganda of
corruption against its civilian opponents. The continuously orchestrated
charge-- that it were the alleged acts of financial and administrative
misdemeanour by the politicians that had been responsible for military coups
in the past as well as the one masterminded by General Musharraf in October
1999---are now being dismissed as peanuts as compared to the massive
institutionalised corruption by the military. According to Lord Patten, it
refuses “to condemn or even acknowledge the military’s large-scale,
institutionalised corruption. So much has been grabbed by the military that
it will take years to catalogue it. The military has acquired vast tracts of
state-owned land at nominal rates; its leaders dominate businesses and
industries, ranging from banking to cereal factories. Their control of the
economy has grown so great it will present an enormous challenge to any
future democratically elected government.”
How true. While appreciating the Charter for Democracy in totality as a
document that takes in account the vital national issues including
committing the future government to
investigate military’s land grabbing, there is much more than that that
would require professional probe. Loans of billions of rupees written off by
the junta will need to be accounted for since big fat cats from Gujrat
swallowed enormous amounts of the victims of the swindled co-operative
societies. Investigations will have to be made into the sale of the family
silver---Banks, Pakistan Steel Mill, HMC, PTC and other corporations. Not
only that, it shall have to be probed how the billions of the tax payers
money was pumped into these Banks , KESC,and other corporations to first
rehabilitate their financial health before putting them on loot sale.
Culprits behind the current sugar scandal who made over Rs 50 billion by
creating artificial shortage and black market will have to be brought to
book. The Tractor Gate scandal will require a Commission of Inquiry since
the scheme was quashed to benefit Musharraf cronies. Even the Sindh High
Court took note of it the other day saying that the "entire proceedings
suffer from lack of transparency, smack of subjective decisions,
arbitrariness and excess of jurisdiction as well as favouritism". The
gainful manipulators behind the crash of the Karachi Stock Exchange last
year where the President and Prime Minister’s “chosen few” made billions as
alleged by former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan and robbed small
investors shall have to be put in the dock.
“The Charter for Democracy” is perhaps the finest thing to happen
politically in Pakistan after the unanimous adoption of the 1973
Constitution. By now—less than a week after the signing of the Charter-- a
lot has been written on its various features. There is not only general
consensus on it but it has also ignited a hope in the otherwise dubious
future. Personally as a political analyst, I feel that it is one document
that can ensure democratic and liberal future of Pakistan committed to rule
of law, sovereignty of the Parliament and equal rights for the citizens of
the state, irrespective of their caste, creed or colour as promised to them
by the Quaid. However, most significant is the commitment to do away the
concurrent list and ensure maximum autonomy to the federating units that
would include availability and accessibility to the provincial resources.
Restructuring of the taxation system, civilian control over the armed
forces, independence of judiciary, creation of a non-partisan accountability
commission, a federal constitutional court, end to horse trading, a
bipartisan independent election commission with well-provided mechanism to
implement these promises and nothing that pertains personally to benefit the
two leaders nor limits itself to one-point agenda of ousting the
General—establishes beyond any iota of doubt that the Charter for Democracy
is the sure guarantee to a safe and prosperous future for Pakistan.
CHARTER OF DEMOCRACY
We the elected leaders of Pakistan have deliberated on the political crisis
in our beloved homeland, the threats to its survival, the erosion of the
federation’s unity, the military’s subordination of all state institutions,
the marginalization of civil society, the mockery of the Constitution and
representative institutions, growing poverty, unemployment and inequality,
brutalization of society, breakdown of rule of law and, the unprecedented
hardships facing our people under a military dictatorship, which has pushed
our beloved country to the brink of a total disaster;
Noting the most devastating and traumatic experiences that our nation
experienced under military dictatorships that played havoc with the nation’s
destiny and created conditions disallowing the progress of our people and
the flowering of democracy. Even after removal from office they undermined
the people’s mandate and the sovereign will of the people.
Drawing history’s lesson that the military dictatorship and the nation
cannot co-exist - as military involvement adversely the economy and the
democratic institutions as well as the defence capabilities, and the
integrity of the country - the nation needs a new direction different from a
militaristic and regimental approach of the Bonapartist regimes, as the
current one;
Taking serious exception to the vilification campaign against the
representatives of the people, in particular, and the civilians, in general,
the victimization of political leaders/workers and their media trials under
a Draconian law in the name of accountability, in order to divide and
eliminate the representative political parties, to Gerrymander a king's
party and concoct legitimacy to prolong the military rule;
Noting our responsibility to our people to set an alternative direction for
the country saving it from its present predicaments on an economically
sustainable, socially progressive, politically democratic and pluralist,
federally cooperative, ideologically tolerant, internationally respectable
and regionally peaceful basis in the larger interests of the peoples of
Pakistan to decide once for all that only the people and no one else has the
sovereign right to govern through their elected representatives, as
conceived by the democrat par excellence, Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam
Mohammed Ali Jinnah;
Reaffirming our commitment to undiluted democracy and universally recognized
fundamental rights, the rights of a vibrant opposition, internal party
democracy, ideological/political tolerance, bipartisan working of the
parliament through powerful committee system, a cooperative federation with
no discrimination against federating units, the decentralization and
devolution of power, maximum provincial autonomy, the empowerment of the
people at the grassroots level, the emancipation of our people from poverty,
ignorance, want and disease, the uplift of women and minorities, the
elimination of Kalashnikov culture, a free and independent media, an
independent judiciary, a neutral civil service, rule of law and merit, the
settlement of disputes with the neighbours through peaceful means, honouring
international contracts, laws/covenants and sovereign guarantees, so as to
achieve a responsible and civilized status in the comity of nations through
a foreign policy that suits our national interests;
Calling upon the people of Pakistan to join hands to save our motherland
from the clutches of military dictatorship and to defend their fundamental,
social, political and economic rights and for a democratic, federal, modern
and progressive Pakistan as dreamt by the Founder of the nation; have
adopted the following, “Charter of Democracy”;
A. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
1. The 1973 Constitution as on 12th October 1999 before the military coup
shall be restored with the provisions of joint electorates, minorities, and
women's reserved seats on closed party list in the Parliament, the lowering
of the voting age, and the increase in seats in parliament and the legal
Framework Order, 2000 and the Seventeenth Constitutional Amendment shall be
repealed accordingly.
2. The Appointment of the Governors, three Services Chiefs and the CJCSC
shall be made by the Chief Executive who is the Prime Minister, as per the
1973 Constitution.
3. (a) The recommendations for appointment of judges to superior judiciary
shall be formulated through a commission, which shall comprise of the
following:
i. The Chairman shall be a Chief Justice, who has never previously taken
oath under PCO.
ii. The members of the commission shall be the Chief Justices of the
provincial High Courts who have not taken oath under the PCO, failing which
the senior most judge of that High Court who has not taken oath shall be the
member
iii. Vice Chairmen of Pakistan and Vice Chairmen of Provincial Bar
Association with respect to the appointment of judges to their concerned
province
iv. President, Supreme Court Bar Association
v. Presidents of High Court Bar Associations of Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar,
and Quetta with respect to the appointment of judges to their concerned
province
vi. Federal Minister for Law & Justice
vii. Attorney General of Pakistan
(a-i) The Commission shall forward a panel of three names for each vacancy
to the Prime Minister, who shall forward one name for confirmation to Joint
Parliamentary Committee for confirmation of the nomination through a
transparent public hearing process.
(a-ii) The Joint Parliamentary Committee shall comprise of 50 percent
members from the treasury benches and the remaining 50 percent from
opposition parties based on their strength in the Parliament nominated by
respective Parliamentary leaders.
(b) No judge shall take oath under any Provisional Constitutional Order or
any other oath that is contradictory to the exact language of the original
oath prescribed in the Constitution of 1973.
(c) Administrative mechanism will be instituted for the prevention of
misconduct, implementation of code of ethics, and removal of judges on such
charges brought to its attention by any citizen through the proposed
commission for appointment of Judges.
(d) All special courts including Anti Terrorism and Accountability Courts
shall be abolished and such cases be tried in ordinary courts. Further to
create a set of rules and procedures whereby, the arbitrary powers of the
Chief Justices over the assignment of cases to various judges and the
transfer of judges to various benches such powers shall be exercised by the
Chief Justice and two senior most judges sitting together.
4. A Federal Constitutional Court will be set up to resolve constitutional
issues, giving equal representation to each of the federating units, whose
members may be judges or persons qualified to be judges of the Supreme
Court, constituted for a six year period. The Supreme and High Courts will
hear regular civil and criminal cases. The appointment of Judges shall be
made in the same manner as for Judges of Higher Judiciary.
5. The Concurrent List in the Constitution will be abolished. A new NFC
award will be announced.
6. The reserved seats for woman in the National and Provincial Assemblies
will be allocated to the parties on the basis of the number of votes polled
in the general elections by each party.
7. The strength of the Senate of Pakistan shall be increased to give
representation to minorities in the Senate.
8. FATA shall be included in NWFP province in consultation with them.
9. Northern Areas shall be developed by giving it a special status and
further empowering the Northern Areas Legislative Council to provide people
of Northern Areas access to justice and human rights.
10. The Local Bodies Election will be held on party basis through Provincial
Election Commissions in respective provinces and constitutional protection
will be given to the Local Bodies to make them autonomous and answerable to
their respective Assemblies as well as to the people through regular courts
of law.
B. CODE OF CONDUCT
11. National Security Council will be abolished. Defence Cabinet Committee
will be headed by PM and will have a permanent secretariat. The PM may
appoint a Federal Security Advisor to process intelligence reports for the
Prime Minister. The efficacy of the higher defence and security structure,
created two decades ago, will be reviewed. The Joint Services Command
structure will be strengthened and made more effective and headed in
rotation among the three services by law.
12. The ban on a “Prime Minister not being eligible for a third” term of
office will be abolished.
13. (a) Truth and Reconciliation Commission (T&RC)” be established to
acknowledge victims of torture, imprisonment, state-sponsored persecution,
targeted legislation, and politically motivated accountability. The
Commission will also examine and report its findings on military coups and
civil removals of governments from 1996.
(b) A Commission shall also examine and identify the causes of and fix
responsibility and make recommendations in the light thereof for incidences
such as Kargil .
(c) Accountability of NAB and other Ehtesab operators to identify and hold
accountable abuse of office by NAB operators through purgery and perversion
of justice and violation of human rights since its establishment.
(d) To replace politically motivated NAB with an independent Accountability
Commission, whose Chairman shall be nominated by the Prime Minister in
consultation with the Leader of Opposition and confirmed by a Joint
Parliamentary Committee with 50 percent members from treasury benches and
remaining 50 percent from opposition parties in same manner as appointment
of judges through transparent public hearing. The confirmed nominee shall
meet the standard of political impartiality, judicial propriety, moderate
views expressed through his judgments and would have not dealt
14. The Press and Electronic Media will be allowed its independence. Access
to Information will become law after parliamentary debate and public
scrutiny.
15. The Chairmen of Public Accounts Committee in the National and Provincial
Assemblies will be appointed by Leaders of Opposition in the concerned
assemblies.
16. An effective Nuclear Command and Control system under the Defence
Cabinet Committee will be put in place to avoid any possibility of leakage
or proliferation.
17. Peaceful relations with India and Afghanistan will be pursued without
prejudice to outstanding disputes.
18. Kashmir dispute should be settled in accordance with the UN Resolutions
and the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
19. Governance will be improved to help the common citizen, by giving access
to quality social services like education, health, job generation, curbing
price hike, combating illegal redundancies, and curbing lavish spending in
civil and military establishments as ostentious causes great resentment
amongst the teeming millions. We pledge to promote and practice simplicity,
at all levels.
20. Women, minorities, and the under privileged will be provided equal
opportunities in all walks of life.
21. We will respect the electoral mandate of representative governments that
accepts the due role of the opposition and declare neither shall undermine
each other through extra constitutional ways.
22. We shall not join a military regime or any military sponsored
government. No party shall solicit the support of military to come into
power or to dislodge a democratic government.
23. To prevent corruption and floor crossing all votes for the Senate and
indirect seats will be by open identifiable ballot. Those violating the
party discipline in the poll shall stand disqualified by a letter from the
Parliamentary Party Leader to the concerned Speaker or the Chairman Senate
with a copy to the Election Commission for notification purposes within
fourteen days of receipt of letter failing which it will be deemed to have
been notified on the expiry of that period.
24. All military and judicial officers will be required to file annual
assets and income declarations like Parliamentarians to make them
accountable to the public.
25. A National Democracy Commission shall be established to promote and
develop a democratic culture in the country and provide assistance to
political parties for capacity building on the basis of their seats in
Parliament in a transparent manner.
26. Terrorism and militancy are byproducts of military dictatorship,
negation of democracy, are strongly condemned, and will be vigorously
confronted.
C. FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS
27. There shall be an independent, autonomous, and impartial Election
Commission. The Prime Minister shall in consultation with Leader of
Opposition forward upto three names for each position of Chief Election
Commissioner, Members of Election Commission, and Secretary to Joint
Parliamentary Committee, constituted on the same pattern as for appointment
of judges in superior judiciary, through transparent public hearing process.
In case of no consensus, both Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition shall
forward separate lists to the Joint Parliamentary Committee for
consideration. Provincial Election Commissioner shall be appointed on the
same pattern by Committees of respective Provincial Assemblies.
28. All contesting political parties will be ensured a level playing field
in the elections by the release of all political prisoners and the
unconditional return of all political exiles. Elections shall be open to all
political parties and political personalities. The graduation requirement of
eligibility which has led to corruption and fake degrees will be repealed.
29. The Local bodies elections will be held within three months of the
holding of general elections.
30. The concerned Election Authority shall suspend and appoint neutral
Administrators for all Local Bodies from the date of formation of a
caretaker Government for holding of general elections till the elections are
held.
31. There shall be a neutral caretaker Government to hold free, fair, and
transparent elections. The members of the said Government and their
immediate relatives shall not contest elections.
D. CIVIL – MILITARY RELATIONS
32. The ISI, MI and other security agencies shall be accountable to the
elected government through P.M. Sectt, Ministry of Defence, and Cabinet
Division respectively. Their budgets will be approved by D.C.C after
recommendations are prepared by the respective ministry. The political wings
of all intelligence agencies will be disbanded. A Committee will be formed
to cut waste and bloat in the armed forces and security agencies in the
interest of the defence and security of the country. All senior postings in
these agencies shall be made with the approval of the government through
respective ministry.
33. All indemnities and savings introduced by military regimes in the
constitution shall be reviewed.
34. Defence budget shall be placed before the Parliament for debate and
approval.
35. Military land allotment and Cantonment jurisdictions will come under the
purview of Ministry of Defence. A Commission shall be set up to review,
scrutinize, and examine the legitimacy of all such land allotment rules,
regulations, and policies, along with all cases of state land allotment
including those of military urban and agricultural land allotments since
12th October, 1999 to hold those accountable who have indulged in
malpractices, profiteering, and favouritism.
36. Rules of Business of the federal and provincial governments shall be
reviewed to bring them in conformity with Parliamentary form of government.
(Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto) (Mr. Nawaz Sharif)
Chairperson
Quaid
Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Muslim League-N
Dated:14th May, 2006
London, UK
Trouble for
Dictator
EDITORIAL
The Navhind Times
General Pervez Musharraf may have used his absolute powers to drive the two
most prominent politicians, Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mr Nawaz Sharif, heads of
the two most important political parties in Pakistan, into exile, but the
ghost of democracy refuses to go out of the country. Both Ms Bhutto and Mr
Sharif, located in different countries, have been speaking for the end of
military rule and holding of elections to provincial assemblies and national
parliament. Ms Bhutto has been more vocal, and between the two, she enjoys
more western liberal support than Mr Sharif.
The advantage General Musharraf has been enjoying owing to his “utility” for
the US-led western powers to put down the radical Islamic forces,
particularly in Afghanistan, from where the attacks on the US originated
might not last much longer. He has already started feeling it. A few weeks
ago, he on his own declared that he was not a “puppet” in the hands of the
US and western powers. General Musharraf was under tremendous pressure from
the western powers for restoring the democratic institutions in the country
before the September 9/11 attacks took place. After that, the US put
democracy in Pakistan on the back burner.
General Musharraf took the advantage of situation, and tightened his
strangehold on the Pakistani polity by arguing that he needed to be strong
and tough to restrain the radical Islamic forces in his country. There have
been reports quoting western intelligence sources that Gen Musharraf also
indirectly fomented anti-US protests and riots in the country, in order to
make the American government continue supporting him and not asking him to
restore the democratic institutions. This is how he has continued. Much like
other dictators in history and still in power, he appears to be
invulnerable. Intelligence agencies, police, military forces, prisons,
concentration camps, and execution squads are controlled by him. The
country’s finances, natural resources, and production capacities are use at
his will.
However, history also teaches us that dictators, even though they might
appear to be invulnerable, are vulnerable. For a long time, the democratic
forces appear extremely weak, ineffective, and powerless. Yet, there are
signs that all this may soon be ending in Pakistan, that people of the
country are not happy with the military rule. The military ruler now fails
to get the cooperation of the people, organizations and groups, which is
essential for running the system. The opposition is no more restricted to
the fundamentalist and radical organizations, but also spreading to the
wider polity and intelligentsia and masses.
The media, even though directly and indirectly restrained, has started
airing the views of the people who are saying that their country is falling
behind in the race for development in the new times of breakdown of
barriers. They see the contrast with India and China, and point out that
their country stands nowhere compared with the two countries whose GDP
growth rates have attracted attention of the governments and investors of
developed countries as well as of international financial institutions and
private investors. The time has come that Gen Musharraf steps down
voluntarily, making the way for democratic parties, or he waits to be forced
out in a sudden wave of popular upsurge, that could also be violent. It
would be better for him, perhaps, to conduct free and fair elections, give
up his powers and positions, leaving them for the democratically elected
leaders, and go out of the country in exile, if he wants not be tried for
all the crimes he has committed against democracy, Pakistan, and Pakistani
people.
Musharraf hints at securing second term as President
B. Muralidhar Reddy
Says the existing Electoral College would re-elect him
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President, Pervez
Musharraf has claimed that the existing national and provincial assemblies
would re-elect him for a second term before the end of their term in
November 2007.
In an interview to a local television channel late on Wednesday Gen.
Musharraf has asserted that legally and technically the existing national
and provincial assemblies, which constitute the Electoral College to the
office of President, are entitled to re-elect him for the second term.
Earlier this week a former Law Minister and close aide Pakistan President,
S.M. Zafar had said that Gen. Musharraf could resign as President and seek
another term from the current Assemblies.
"There is no ambiguity in constitution in this context. But people debating
over the issue of President's election through existing assemblies are
unaware of the constitution," Gen. Musharraf said in his interview with AVT
Khyber.
Assertions of Gen. Musharraf days after the "charter of democracy" pact
between the two former Prime Ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif is a
clear sign that Pakistan is likely to witness interesting political
developments in the coming weeks and months.
Political analysts view the observations made by Gen. Musharraf that the
existing Electoral College for the office of President is entitled to
re-elect him was an indication of his concern over the coming together of
Mrs. Bhutto and Mr. Sharif.
Ms. Bhutto has said that she will return to Pakistan before November 2007.
Mohtarma Bhutto calls on Secretary General Commonwealth
Islamabad May 16, 2006: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto called on the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Don McKinnon in
the office of the Secretary General in London.
Mohtarma Bhutto was accompanied with Makhdoom Amin Fahim leader of the
Parliamentary Party in the National Assembly and former High Commissioner in
UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan.
During the meeting the two discussed situation in the region, terrorism, the
political situation in Pakistan and the need for free and fair elections in
the country.
PPP rebuts
Durrani's accusations of corruption
Islamabad May 15, 2006: Commenting on
the statement of Information Minister, "it will be good if Mohtarma Bhutto
and Nawaz Sharif sign an agreement of not plundering national wealth in
future", spokesperson of the PPP former Senator Farhatullah Babar has issued
the following statement today.
"The harangues of the Information Minister is a proof that the regime is
unnerved by the signing of the Charter of Democracy between the leaders of
the two mainstream political parties namely Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto of PPP
and Mian Nawaz Sharif of PML (N) to banish dictatorship and to bring the
security apparatus under civilian control.
"The 'Charter of Democracy' is the death knell for bonaprtism and
dictatorship. That is why the dictator's spokespersons have stepped up their
campaign of slander against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
"If the Information Minister or his masters really wanted to stop the
plundering of national wealth they would have stopped institutionalized
corruption within the security establishment instead of chasing and hounding
political opponents on trumped up charges.
"The junta is not bothered about the real sources of corruption because they
themselves are involved and benefit from corruption that has squeezed life
out the poor and dispossessed. That is why the Charter of Democracy
envisages defence budget to be placed before Parliament for debate and
approval.
"Before accusing Mohtarma Bhutto of corruption Mr Durrani would do well to
recall that the regime has already lost a number of concocted cases
including the SGS case, the Steel Mills case, the KESC case, the PIA case,
the Isle of Man case and has not been able to produce any evidence in the
Geneva investigations.
"Last month it suffered a humiliating setback in accusing Mohtarma Bhutto of
paying 2 million dollars in kickbacks to Saddam regime in Iraq in the oil
for food program, when documentary evidence showed that actually the
military regime had connived at three companies that imported oil from Iraq
under the oil for food program and paid to the Saddam regime over 4 million
dollars in surcharge.
"Frustrated with the refusal of Mohtarma Bhutto to give up her fight against
military dictatorship and to disguise its frustration the regime has
resorted to slander campaign.
"The Information Minister would also do well to look into the Tarnol farms
that are government property but is in illegal possession of a cabinet
minister. The opposition also demands probe into the reports that his
organization Pasban was set up in 1989 by the then ISI to destabilise
democracy in Pakistan and help religious radicals gain political power to
prevent Pakistan from becoming a modern democratic state where Constitution
and rule of law reigned supreme".
What Ails Afghanistan?
By CHRIS PATTEN
May 10, 2006 Wall Street Journal:
Four and a half years after the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan is
still highly unstable. And it seems to be getting worse rather than better.
Every few days now, the resurgent Taliban carry out another deadly attack on
school children, aid workers, or local or international security forces. It
is a grim return on the outside world's huge investment in Afghanistan. Yet
while the international community has done an enormous amount to help the
country recover from its failed-state condition, it has resisted tackling
the problem at its very root -- Islamabad. Truth is, Afghanistan will never
be stable unless Pakistan's military government is replaced with a
democracy.
Pakistan's primary export to Afghanistan today is instability. On the most
basic level, attacks in Afghanistan , including suicide bombings, are often
planned and prepared at Taliban training camps across the border. Islamabad
claims to be doing all it can to stop this infiltration. But President
Pervez Musharraf's protests ring hollow when he has done so little to
address the concerns raised by his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai, that
Taliban leaders are operating out of sanctuaries in Pakistan.
One needs only to look at the military's close relations with religious
radicals to understand how unreliable a partner it is in stabilizing
Afghanistan. Militant Islamist groups that Mr. Musharraf banned under the
international spotlight following 9/11 and the 7/7 London bombings still
operate freely. Jihadi organizations have been allowed to dominate relief
efforts in the aftermath of the October 2005 earthquake. The military has
repeatedly rigged elections, including the 2002 polls, to benefit the
religious parties over their moderate, democratic alternatives.
In short, Pakistan is ruled by a military dictatorship in cahoots with
violent Islamist extremists. The military has no interest in democracy at
home, so why does the outside world expect it to help build democracy next
door?
If we are really going to get to the core of Afghanistan 's instability,
therefore, we must tackle Pakistan. Above all, this means returning the
country to democratic rule. After seven years under the military, this is
not an easy task, but some institutions are still surviving -- just. The
judiciary, for example, has been badly degraded under Mr. Musharraf and his
army colleagues; but there is enough left to give hope for some kind of
gradual resuscitation.
Moderate political parties are also struggling to hang on; down but not yet
out, they could recover relatively quickly if given a democratic chance.
Pro-dictatorship voices regularly argue that those parties were highly
corrupt and that it was their corruption that justified the 1999 coup that
brought Gen. Musharraf to power. But they refuse to condemn or even
acknowledge the military's large-scale, institutionalized corruption.
So much has been grabbed by the military that it will take years just to
catalog it. The military has acquired vast tracts of state-owned land at
nominal rates; its leaders dominate businesses and industries, ranging from
banking to cereal factories. Their control of the economy has grown so great
it will present an enormous challenge to any future democratically elected
government.
That civilian government, when it comes, will also be moderate in character
and far more inclined to tackle, in earnest, the scourge of Islamic
radicalism. Even in the rigged 2002 election, the religious parties polled
only 11% of the vote. A fully free and fair race will squeeze out radical
forces that have thrived under military rule and which play havoc with
Pakistan's weak neighbor to the northwest. In addition, unlike the military,
which always thrives in a hostile environment, a civilian government will
have a stronger interest in peace with India. And who wouldn't sleep safer
knowing that Pakistan 's nuclear bomb was in democratic hands?
Democratic governance would also bring a much-needed opportunity to overhaul
the country's education system. As the state system has consistently failed
young people for decades, madrassas have taken up the slack, with the most
extreme religious schools helping to radicalize tens of thousands of
Pakistanis -- and Afghans -- filling heads with intolerant visions of Islam,
far from the mainstream of South Asian Muslim society. The country needs a
properly funded, state-run, secular education system.
Bringing all this about is an enormous task, but demilitarizing and
deradicalizing Pakistan is truly the key to bringing about stability in
Afghanistan and the wider region. Governments now working so hard to support
Afghanistan will only be spinning their wheels until they make Pakistan a
top priority and apply maximum pressure on Islamabad to ensure the 2007
elections are actually free and fair, by applying clearly defined benchmarks
and insisting on competent international observers. As long as the military
and the madrassas rule just across the border, Afghanistan will never find
peace.
Lord Patten, former EU commissioner for external relations, is chairman of
the International Crisis Group and chancellor of Oxford University.
PPP team in
India, meets Singh today
By Jawed Naqvi
NEW DELHI, May 8: A six-member
delegation of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, headed by
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, arrived here on Monday for informal talks with Indian
leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.
Former Indian foreign minister Jaswant Singh, who was himself feted by
Makhdoom Fahim and other leaders in Karachi recently, hosted a dinner for
the group on Monday. It was attended by Indian opposition leader Lal Kishan
Advani and a number of politicians from the ruling establishment.
The PPP delegates said their three-day visit was part of an excercise by the
party to visit all neighbouring countries, including one to China later this
month, ahead of the next year’s general elections.
“We want to assure our neighnours, India most of all, that we want to pursue
a policy of peace and harmony,” Senator Enver Baig, a delegate, told Dawn.
“When elections are held next year or even earlier, and if they are fair,
then we are bound to come to power with God’s grace.”
The PPP wants all countries in the region to focus on social welfare of
their people.
When they were asked if the PPP proposed to make any changes in the foreign
policy pursued by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, a delegate said: “We don’t
know what the government wants to do with our neighbours. It doesn’t brief
us about anything.”
“But as far as we are concerned, we are for peace and harmony. Disputes like
Kashmir will have to be resolved within this framework.”
Our staff reporter in Lahore adds: The six-member delegation of the PPP left
here on a two-day ‘goodwill mission’ to India on Monday, making it clear
that it would not discuss any internal matter of Pakistan with its hosts.
“We’ll try to understand India’s political system,” Mr Fahim said at a news
conference.
Raja Pervez Ashraf, Qasim Zia, Senator Enver Baig, Nisar Khuhro and MNA
Ramesh Lal are members of the delegation.
Mr Fahim said the delegation would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
Tuesday. BJP leader L.K. Advani will host a lunch for the delegation.
In the afternoon, the PPP leaders will meet the Indian external affairs
minister.
On Wednesday, the delegation will meet former foreign minister Jaswant
Singh.
Mr Fahim said an important purpose of the visit was to promote
people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
He said his party wanted normalisation of relations between the two
countries through talks.
He said former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had underlined the need for
more contacts between the people of the two countries and the delegation
would try to advance the mission.
He said President Musharraf was pursuing the same policy on India which had
been given by Ms Bhutto.
Commenting about the possibility of the ARD joining hands with the Muttahida
Majlis-i-Amal if the latter started its movement in September, Mr Fahim
said: “Let the Majlis first take some practical steps.”
PPP condemns
regime for failing to control prices
Says cartel mafia reaping windfall gains at expense of poor
Islamabad May 9, 2006: Senator Mian Raza
Rabbani, Deputy Secretary General, Pakistan Peoples Party has issued the
following press statement today.
"The cartel mafia continues to extract huge profits with the backing of the
Government while the millions of Pakistanis belonging to the middle to low
income groups, the thousands of retrenched workers and unemployed are paying
for the wind fall profits of these few.
"The result of the economic polices of this Government are no different from
those of Field Marshal Ayub, which saw in its so-called Decade of Reforms,
concentration of wealth in a few hands and the rise of 22 families. Today
also wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few big business houses,
bankers and civil and military bureaucrats.
"The Government failed to control the sugar cartel from raising the price of
sugar from Rs. 21 to Rs. 45 and then steadying it at Rs. 40. The Government
has failed to provide the people with any rationale as to how this happened
when the sugar mills were working to capacity and duty free sugar had been
imported from India. The NAB was asked to drop the inquiry into the matter
without any questions being asked. This is the state of transparency of this
Government that the market players are also Cabinet Ministers.
"The cement cartel has also maximized their profits as prices rose from Rs.
250 to Rs. 400 and the prices refuse to come down. "It is a matter of fact
the prices of the following kitchen items from 1999 to 2006 have registered
the following increase in percentage as shown against each; Basmati Rice
42.9%, flour 40 %, Ghee 20%, oil 20%, mutton 62.5% and beef 75%. The price
of the common mans meat dal has also sky rocketed
"This is in addition to the biggest down sizing under taken by this
Government in the history of the country. Yet the regime claims reduction in
unemployment. This is a government of the vested interests in which there is
no economic transparency, the Government must resign in the face of its
failure to reduce or control the prices".
PPP team calls on
Indian Prime Minister
Islamabad May 9, 2006: A
six-member delegation of the Pakistan Peoples Party led by Makhdoom Amin
Fahim today called on the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in the
Prime Minister's House in New Delhi.
Other members of the delegation included MNAs Raja Pervez Ashraf and Ramesh
Lal, Senator Enver Baig and MPAs Qasim Zia MPA and Nisar Khuro.
Talking to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh the PPP leader Makhdoom Amin
Fahim said that the PPP delegation had arrived on a goodwill visit and to
further advance the people to people contact between the peoples of the two
countries. He said that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and the PPP had long
advocated greater interaction between the two peoples as a catalyst for the
normalisation of relations between the two countries. He said that the
purpose of the goodwill visit was to further the relations between the
people of the two countries as has been articulated by the Party.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that the PPP believed in the power of the people
and that the coming together of the two peoples could open new possibilities
for peace and stability in the region.
The PPP leader also conveyed the best wishes of Mohtarma Bhutto to the
Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the people of India. He said
that the PPP stood for an honourable resolution of all outstanding disputes
and issues between the two countries in a peaceful manner.
Dr. Manmohan Singh asked Makhdoom Amin Fahim to convey his best wishes to
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The PPP delegation remained with Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh for sometime.
PPP Denounces latest
charade against Mohtarma Bhutto
Islamabad, May 10, 2006:
Spokesman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Senator (retired) Farhatullah Babar
has issued the following statement today:
"NAB's claim that it has started a fresh inquiry against Mohtarma Bhutto for
allegedly mis-declaring her assets before the Chief Election Commissioner is
yet another attempt to tarnish the public image of the former Prime Minister
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
"If Mohtarma Bhutto has mis-declared assets before the CEC as is alleged
then it is for the Chief Election Commissioner to give notice to her and
seek her comments. It is strange that the NAB should go in complaint to the
Sessions Judge and even stranger that the Sessions Judge should promptly
issue summons.
"This is nothing but a continuation of the most shameless abuse of judicial
process that the regime has been resorting to for achieving its political
agenda.
"After the NAB suffered last month a humiliating setback in accusing
Mohtarma Bhutto of paying 2 million dollars in kickbacks to Saddam regime in
Iraq in the oil for food program, it has now launched this new charade.
"It was humiliated last month when the PPP produced documentary evidence
proving that actually the military regime had connived at three companies
that imported oil from Iraq under the oil for food program and paid to the
Saddam regime over 4 million dollars in surcharge.
"As is well known NAB lost a number of concocted cases including the SGS
case, the Steel Mills case, the KESC case, the PIA case, the Isle of Man
case and has not been able to produce any evidence in the Geneva
investigations.
"Frustrated with the refusal of Mohtarma Bhutto to give up her fight against
military dictatorship and not take part in the next elections and to
disguise its frustration the regime has resorted to yet another slander
campaign.
"Let the junta know that it will not succeed in forcing Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto to give up her fight against dictatorship. No amount of lies,
slanders and character assassination or squandering millions of dollars of
taxpayers' money will achieve this political goal for the regime. Let there
be no doubt or mistake about it.
"NAB has once again proved that it is no more than a political tool in the
hands of dictatorship that is tasked to re-engineer the social and political
landscape of the country. It has suffered humiliating setbacks in its bid in
the past. It is fated to be humiliated yet again."
Regime unnerved by the
strengthening of ARD
Islamabad May 11, 2006: Responding to
the criticism of the leaders of two mainstream political parties in a press
conference today by Mr Muhammad Ali Durrani Federal Information Minister
spokesman of the PPP ex- Senator Farhatullah Babar has issued the following
statement today.
"Unnerved by the forging of new alliance by the two mainstream political
parties namely the PPP and the PML (N) under the umbrella of the ARD to
banish dictatorship and bonapartism the military junta has unleashed its
brigade of sycophants and turncoats to discredit the democratic political
parties and their leaders.
"The harangues of the Information Minister is a proof that the dictators
have seen the writing on the wall. It is a lesson of history that dictators
cling to straws as they inexorably move towards their dark future. The
Pakistani dictators have also started clinging to straws.
"The 'Charter of Democracy' is not between two individuals as the regime
likes to believe. It is a pact between the people of Pakistan represented by
their political parties that together secured three times more votes than
the King's Party.
"The charter of democracy will give voice to the muted turbulence of the
spirit of the downtrodden, dispossessed and exploited people of Pakistan.
The junta fears that when the muted spirit of the people is awakened the
bonaparts would no longer be able to exploit the poor people either behind
the facade of sustainable democracy or behind the
smokescreen of national security.
"If the Charter was just between two individuals the dictators and their
spokesmen would not have been so unnerved.
General Babar lashes at NAB
for not taking action against sugar mafia
Says General Musharraf is directly responsible
Islamabad May 12, 2006: Former Interior
Minister Major General (Retired) Naseerullah Babar has issued the following
statement today.
"It is obvious from the proceedings before the Public Accounts committee
(PAC) on Wednesday that the sugar mill owners have been behind an engineered
and planned sugar crisis in the country and openly flouted laws and cabinet
decisions.
"The sugar prices tripled in a matter of few months due to hoarding and
stockpiling by mill owners who mostly are cabinet ministers and members of
the King's Party. As such the regime is directly involved in the loot and
plunder.
"During the PPP government when some mill owners tried to manipulate the
sugar price by hoarding, the government raided the mills and recovered a
hidden stock of several hundred thousands tons from just one sugar mill and
brought it into the open market.
"The present regime however being unrepresentative and itself involved in
the scam is deliberately protecting the sugar cartels and big business at
the expense of the poor and dispossessed.
"The sugar mills involved in the scam are those that belong to the cabinet
ministers including the Chaudhries of Gujrat, Humayun Akhtar Khan, Jehangir
Tareen, Salim Altaf and other members of the King's Party including Anwer
Ali Cheema and Sardar Nasrullah Dareshak. Not only they hoarded sugar to
manipulate its price they also imported duty free sugar at Rs 20 per kilo
only to sell it in the market at 40 rupees a kilo.
"The motto of the rulers is 'make hay while the sun shins'.
"The NAB has been prompt in approaching the sessions judge Islamabad to
summon Mohtarma Bhutto for investigations into alleged mis-declaration of
assets by her before the Chief Election commissioner. Why is it looking the
other way even as the sugar mafia continues to loot and plunder under its
nose?
"NAB is directly under General Musharraf and its stubborn refusal to take
action must be the result of a command order by General Musharraf.
"General Musharraf will therefore be held directly responsible for not only
tolerating their corruption but also shielding the corrupt sugar mill owners
from accountability.
"NAB's failure to lay its hands on the sugar mafia despite clear proofs has
shown once again that the Bureau has been set up by General Musharraf as his
political tool for arm twisting of political opponents and not as an anti
corruption body".
Pakistan Taleban settles in
By Aamer Ahmed Khan
BBC News, North Waziristan: The BBC News
website gets behind the scenes in an area where the Pakistani Taleban are
digging in, despite the efforts of thousands of Pakistani troops.
Taleban fighters battling Pakistani security forces declared a unilateral
ceasefire last week to accommodate a religious gathering near Miranshah, the
largest town in North Waziristan.
The ceasefire began on 2 May to allow tens of thousands of devotees from all
over the region to attend the annual ritual organised by the Pakistan-based
Tablighi Jamaat.
The ceasefire ends on 11 May. What happens after that is anyone's guess.
But a day-long trip to Miranshah enabled us to get a glimpse of how the
protagonists, as well as ordinary locals, are using the 10-day respite to
prepare for the days beyond the current ceasefire.
Along the road from Bannu, the last town before North Waziristan, to
Miranshah, Pakistani security forces could be seen fortifying their bunkers.
Paramilitary troops that would ordinarily not step out of their bunkers for
fear of attacks from Taleban fighters were filling fresh sandbags to shore
up their defences.
Easy smiles
In Mirali, the first major town on the road inside North Waziristan, Taleban
fighters can be seen patrolling the main bazaar.
Thanks to the ceasefire, they can walk past military checkpoints without
triggering a confrontation.
The Taleban seem to be enjoying the ceasefire: the customary tension on
their faces replaced with easy smiles.
The venue of the religious gathering, a place called Tablighi Markaz
(preaching centre), is barely two kilometres past the main bazaar of
Miranshah.
The last time outsiders had come into the area was a couple of weeks ago
when the Pakistan army flew in a helicopter full of foreign journalists to
demonstrate what it said was its control over the area.
Area commander Maj Gen Akram Sahi had told the foreign journalists that he
was "hurt" to read in the media that the government had no writ over much of
North Waziristan. He said his men were "everywhere".
It was difficult to spot Gen Sahi's men anywhere in or around the
congregation near Miranshah but those who were "everywhere" were scores of
Taleban fighters armed to their teeth.
Barely 200 metres from the venue of the gathering was a large blue tent
where the main Taleban commanders were based.
Feared commander
I was allowed inside the tent where Taleban leader Haji Omar was sitting
with several area commanders.
He was just settling down after bidding farewell to Maulvi Sadiq Noor, one
of the most feared Taleban commanders in North Waziristan.
Taleban fighters guarding the tent seemed to be carrying more than their own
weight in arms and ammunition.
A young boy who barely looked 15 had eight ammunition magazines and four
grenades dangling from his camouflage vest.
Because of his relatively frail frame, the young man was probably carrying
half the ammunition compared with his comrades.
Most were carrying short range wireless sets with clip-on antennas.
"No, no interviews and no photographs," another fighter told me sternly.
"Not during the ceasefire."
Sitting in the tent and surrounded by Taleban fighters, I couldn't help
dreading a possible missile strike from a US predator.
But no such fears seemed to bother the Taleban.
They were apparently too confident of their ideological affinity with the
tens of thousands of devotees they were guarding.
The Tablighi Jamaat has historically discouraged any kind of political
symbols at its gatherings - but not now in North Waziristan.
Resentment
As the congregation concluded with a collective prayer for a Muslim
renaissance, hundreds of devotees could be seen buying posters of Afghan
commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
Mr Hekmatyar has recently declared his intent to team up with al-Qaeda to
fight the US forces in Afghanistan.
It was difficult to find a place anywhere in Miranshah where one would not
come across some measure of resentment against Pakistan security forces.
The main bazaar was bustling - the ceasefire means a temporary end to the
long hours of curfew imposed by the security forces.
But it was not just the debris left behind at various places in the bazaar
by government bombing that spoke of local resentment against the Musharraf
government.
Locals were open and vocal with their views.
"It is no fun living here any more," a shopkeeper said.
"This bazaar would open with sunrise and shut at sunset. Now, people trudge
in at around noon and leave after doing a few hours of business."
But aren't the Taleban equally to be blamed for the war-like situation, I
ask.
"No. They are mujahideen waging a jihad against the Americans. They have no
reason to disturb the peace in Waziristan if left to themselves," was the
reply.
There was not a single newspaper available anywhere in Miranshah.
Angry at being portrayed as "terrorists and miscreants", the Taleban had
recently set newspapers on fire in Mirali.
After that, no transporter was willing to bring newspapers into the tribal
territory.
Not only that, most local journalists have given up journalism after failing
to convince their publishers based in Peshawar or Bannu not to call the
Taleban terrorists or miscreants.
Such banning of newspapers would have led to a fierce debate anywhere in the
world.
It is barely mentioned in Miranshah, where people just seem happy that
they can roam around freely once more.
It doesn't seem to matter that this freedom is only assured until 11 May
when the ceasefire announced by the Taleban comes to an end.
Mohtarma Bhutto condoles the death of Zahoor Alam Rind
Islamabad, 15 May 2006: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and
her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari, have condoled the death of Zahoor Alam
Rind.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a condolence letter addressed to Amjad Alam, son
of Zahoor Alam Rind, wrote, "The loss of a parent is a great tragedy. Our
sympathies are with you at this difficult time. Mr Zahoor Alam Rind will be
long remembered by the leadership and workers for his services for the cause
of Pakistan Peoples Party. Please accept our heartfelt condolences and
convey the same to other members of the bereaved family."
She also prayed to Almighty Allah for grant of eternal peace to the deceased
soul and courage and fortitude to the family members to bear this
irreparable loss with equanimity.
PPP rebuts Durrani’s accusations of corruption
Islamabad May 15, 2006: Commenting on
the statement of Information Minister, "it will be good if Mohtarma Bhutto
and Nawaz Sharif sign an agreement of not plundering national wealth in
future", spokesperson of the PPP former Senator Farhatullah Babar has issued
the following statement today.
"The harangues of the Information Minister is a proof that the regime is
unnerved by the signing of the Charter of Democracy between the leaders of
the two mainstream political parties namely Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto of PPP
and Mian Nawaz Sharif of PML (N) to banish dictatorship and to bring the
security apparatus under civilian control.
"The ‘Charter of Democracy’ is the death knell for bonaprtism and
dictatorship. That is why the dictator’s spokespersons have stepped up their
campaign of slander against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
"If the Information Minister or his masters really wanted to stop the
plundering of national wealth they would have stopped institutionalised
corruption within the security establishment instead of chasing and hounding
political opponents on trumped up charges.
"The junta is not bothered about the real sources of corruption because they
themselves are involved and benefit from corruption that has squeezed life
out the poor and dispossessed. That is why the Charter of Democracy
envisages defence budget to be placed before Parliament for debate and
approval.
"Before accusing Mohtarma Bhutto of corruption Mr Durrani would do well to
recall that the regime has already lost a number of concocted cases
including the SGS case, the Steel Mills case, the KESC case, the PIA case,
the Isle of Man case and has not been able to produce any evidence in the
Geneva investigations.
"Last month it suffered a humiliating setback in accusing Mohtarma Bhutto of
paying 2 million dollars in kickbacks to Saddam regime in Iraq in the oil
for food program, when documentary evidence showed that actually the
military regime had connived at three companies that imported oil from Iraq
under the oil for food program and paid to the Saddam regime over 4 million
dollars in surcharge.
"Frustrated with the refusal of Mohtarma Bhutto to give up her fight against
military dictatorship and to disguise its frustration the regime has
resorted to slander campaign.
"The Information Minister would also do well to look into the Tarnol farms
that are government property but is in illegal possession of a cabinet
minister. The opposition also demands probe into the reports that his
organization Pasban was set up in 1989 by the then ISI to destabilise
democracy in Pakistan and help religious radicals gain political power to
prevent Pakistan from becoming a modern democratic state where Constitution
and rule of law reigned supreme".
Mohtarma Bhutto
condoles the death of Nizam Solangi’s mother
Islamabad, 13 May 2006:
Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Senator Asif Ali Zardari have condoled the
death of the mother of Nizam Din Solangi, Peoples Labour Buareau Khairpur.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a condolence message addressed to Nizam Din
Solangi, 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 for grant of eternal peace to the departed
soul and courage and fortitude to the family members to bear this
irreparable loss with equanimity.
General Babar lashes at NAB for not taking action against sugar mafia
Says General Musharraf is directly responsible
Islamabad May 12, 2006: Former Interior
Minister Major General (Retired) Naseerullah Babar has issued the following
statement today.
"It is obvious from the proceedings before the Public Accounts committee
(PAC) on Wednesday that the sugar mill owners have been behind an engineered
and planned sugar crisis in the country and openly flouted laws and cabinet
decisions.
"The sugar prices tripled in a matter of few months due to hoarding and
stockpiling by mill owners who mostly are cabinet ministers and members of
the King’s Party. As such the regime is directly involved in the loot and
plunder.
"During the PPP government when some mill owners tried to manipulate the
sugar price by hoarding, the government raided the mills and recovered a
hidden stock of several hundred thousands tons from just one sugar mill and
brought it into the open market.
"The present regime however being unrepresentative and itself involved in
the scam is deliberately protecting the sugar cartels and big business at
the expense of the poor and dispossessed.
"The sugar mills involved in the scam are those that belong to the cabinet
ministers including the Chaudhries of Gujrat, Humayun Akhtar Khan, Jehangir
Tareen, Salim Altaf and other members of the King’s Party including Anwer
Ali Cheema and Sardar Nasrullah Dareshak. Not only they hoarded sugar to
manipulate its price they also imported duty free sugar at Rs 20 per kilo
only to sell it in the market at 40 rupees a kilo.
"The motto of the rulers is ‘make hay while the sun shins’.
"The NAB has been prompt in approaching the sessions judge Islamabad to
summon Mohtarma Bhutto for investigations into alleged mis-declaration of
assets by her before the Chief Election commissioner. Why is it looking the
other way even as the sugar mafia continues to loot and plunder under its
nose?
"NAB is directly under General Musharraf and its stubborn refusal to take
action must be the result of a command order by General Musharraf.
"General Musharraf will therefore be held directly responsible for not only
tolerating their corruption but also shielding the corrupt sugar mill owners
from accountability.
"NAB’s failure to lay its hands on the sugar mafia despite clear proofs has
shown once again that the Bureau has been set up by General Musharraf as his
political tool for arm twisting of political opponents and not as an anti
corruption body".
Regime unnerved by the strengthening of ARD
Islamabad May 11, 2006: Responding to
the criticism of the leaders of two mainstream political parties in a press
conference today by Mr Muhammad Ali Durrani Federal Information Minister
spokesman of the PPP ex- Senator Farhatullah Babar has issued the following
statement today.
"Unnerved by the forging of new alliance by the two mainstream political
parties namely the PPP and the PML (N) under the umbrella of the ARD to
banish dictatorship and bonapartism the military junta has unleashed its
brigade of sycophants and turncoats to discredit the democratic political
parties and their leaders.
"The harangues of the Information Minister is a proof that the dictators
have seen the writing on the wall. It is a lesson of history that dictators
cling to straws as they inexorably move towards their dark future. The
Pakistani dictators have also started clinging to straws.
"The ‘Charter of Democracy’ is not between two individuals as the regime
likes to believe. It is a pact between the people of Pakistan represented by
their political parties that together secured three times more votes than
the King’s Party.
"The charter of democracy will give voice to the muted turbulence of the
spirit of the downtrodden, dispossessed and exploited people of Pakistan.
The junta fears that when the muted spirit of the people is awakened the
bonaparts would no longer be able to exploit the poor people either behind
the facade of sustainable democracy or behind the smokescreen of national
security.
"If the Charter was just between two individuals the dictators and their
spokesmen would not have been so unnerved.
Regime unnerved by the
strengthening of ARD
Islamabad May 11, 2006: Responding to
the criticism of the leaders of two mainstream political parties in a press
conference today by Mr Muhammad Ali Durrani Federal Information Minister
spokesman of the PPP ex- Senator Farhatullah Babar has issued the following
statement today.
"Unnerved by the forging of new alliance by the two mainstream political
parties namely the PPP and the PML (N) under the umbrella of the ARD to
banish dictatorship and bonapartism the military junta has unleashed its
brigade of sycophants and turncoats to discredit the democratic political
parties and their leaders.
"The harangues of the Information Minister is a proof that the dictators
have seen the writing on the wall. It is a lesson of history that dictators
cling to straws as they inexorably move towards their dark future. The
Pakistani dictators have also started clinging to straws.
"The ‘Charter of Democracy’ is not between two individuals as the regime
likes to believe. It is a pact between the people of Pakistan represented by
their political parties that together secured three times more votes than
the King’s Party.
"The charter of democracy will give voice to the muted turbulence of the
spirit of the downtrodden, dispossessed and exploited people of Pakistan.
The junta fears that when the muted spirit of the people is awakened the
bonaparts would no longer be able to exploit the poor people either behind
the facade of sustainable democracy or behind the smokescreen of national
security.
"If the Charter was just between two individuals the dictators and their
spokesmen would not have been so unnerved.
PPP condemns regime for
failing to control prices
Says cartel mafia reaping windfall gains at expense of poor
Islamabad May 9, 2006: Senator Mian Raza
Rabbani, Deputy Secretary General, Pakistan Peoples Party has issued the
following press statement today.
"The cartel mafia continues to extract huge profits with the backing of the
Government while the millions of Pakistanis belonging to the middle to low
income groups, the thousands of retrenched workers and unemployed are paying
for the wind fall profits of these few.
"The result of the economic polices of this Government are no different from
those of Field Marshal Ayub, which saw in its so-called Decade of Reforms,
concentration of wealth in a few hands and the rise of 22 families. Today
also wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few big business houses,
bankers and civil and military bureaucrats.
"The Government failed to control the sugar cartel from raising the price of
sugar from Rs. 21 to Rs. 45 and then steadying it at Rs. 40. The Government
has failed to provide the people with any rationale as to how this happened
when the sugar mills were working to capacity and duty free sugar had been
imported from India. The NAB was asked to drop the inquiry into the matter
without any questions being asked. This is the state of transparency of this
Government that the market players are also Cabinet Ministers.
"The cement cartel has also maximized their profits as prices rose from Rs.
250 to Rs. 400 and the prices refuse to come down.
"It is a matter of fact the prices of the following kitchen items from 1999
to 2006 have registered the following increase in percentage as shown
against each; Basmati Rice 42.9%, flour 40 %, Ghee 20%, oil 20%, mutton
62.5% and beef 75%. The price of the common mans meat dal has also sky
rocketed
"This is in addition to the biggest down sizing under taken by this
Government in the history of the country. Yet the regime claims reduction in
unemployment. This is a government of the vested interests in which there is
no economic transparency, the Government must resign in the face of its
failure to reduce or control the prices".
Mohtarma Bhutto condemns
demolishing of villages in Sikander Goth in Karachi
Action is inhuman and motivated by land mafia
Islamabad May 08, 2006: Former Prime
Minister and chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto has condemned the demolition of houses and dispossession of residents
of Sikander Goth in Karachi and demanded an immediate end to this inhuman
act.
One person was killed and over 20 injured when residents of Sikander Goth
were baton charged by police on Friday for protesting against the demolition
of their houses and dispossessing them of their houses in the name of
removing encroachments.
Residents of the Sikander Goth colony have maintained that they have been
living in their quarters since decades but now some influential people
belonging to the land mafia wanted to throw them out of their homes to
occupy their quarters and lands. Scores of the katcha quarters have been
demolished since the take over of the new town administration behind the
façade of widening the roads and removing encroachments.
MPAs Makhdoom Jamil uz Zaman and Sassi Palijo along with party workers
visited the Goth last week but were repulsed when the police threw stones at
them and resorted to baton charge and firing.
The residents have also complained that not only houses are being demolished
but the surrounding Goths were also being bifurcated so as to disperse
non-conformist voters’ strength in the area.
In a statement today the former Prime Minister denounced the move as
inhuman, callous and politically motivated and asked the rulers not to go
too far in their pursuit of power and pelf.
She said that it was most unfortunate that the regime had targeted the poor
and dispossessed people and raised nearly one hundred villages. She said
that most katchi abadis had been regularised in the past but the land mafia
wanted to eject original genuine residents from their houses. It was after
regularization that the people built their houses and it was illegal to
demolish their houses now, she said.
Mohtarma Bhutto also condemned the administration’s high handedness and use
of force against the PPP workers who went to the Goth to express solidarity
with the poor people. She said that during Zia’s dictatorship also attempts
had been made to demolish some village but the attempts were foiled by the
Party workers and warned that such attempts will be foiled again.
She demanded an immediate end to the cruel operation and let the people live
in their quarters in peace. She also urged the civil society and human
rights bodies to take note of this inhuman and cruel act of the rulers.
Mohtarma Bhutto condoles with Akram Durrani
Islamabad, May 4, 2006: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and
her spouse Senator Asif Ali Zardari have condoled with NWFP Chief Minister,
Akram Khan Durrani over his uncle’s unfortunate murder.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a condolence message addressed to Akram Khan
Durrani wrote, "Senator Asif Ali Zardari and I were shocked to hear the
tragic news of the unfortunate murder of your uncle Amir Mohammad Khan. The
loss of a family member is a great tragedy. Our sympathies are with you at
this difficult time. The Pakistan Peoples Party condemns the murder and
hopes that the culprits will not go unpunished. Please accept our heartfelt
condolences and convey the same to other members of the bereaved family."
She also prayed to Almighty Allah to grant eternal peace to the deceased’s
soul and courage and fortitude to the family members and friends to bear
this irreparable loss with equanimity.
PPP apprises CEC of conspiracy to rig next general elections
Islamabad, 4 May, 2006: Pakistan Peoples
Party has asked the Chief Election Commissioner to prevent a crisis which is
in the offing as General Musharraf plans to help Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM),
to rig the next general election and conspiracy to give 80 to 100 seats in
the parliament to MQM.
The Coordinator Election Monitoring Cell, Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator
Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa in a letter addressed to the Chief Election
Commissioner apprising him of the conspiracy wrote, "The Pakistan Peoples
Party has already informed you of the conspiracy to rig the forthcoming
general elections by induction of 150 army captains first into the Police
force and subsequently their posting to the districts to oversee the
rigging. We are still awaiting action from the Election Commission in this
regard. We have asked that the said induction be postponed to after the
elections and that a clear directive be made that no such officer, if
inducted, would be eligible for posting in a district during the forthcoming
general elections."
He further wrote, "Now we are giving you further information about the
pre-determination of the results. According to our information, military
dictator General Musharaf has made a strategic alliance with a Party known
as the MQM which is a coalition partner of the regime. In the rigging, the
Musharaf dictatorship plans to give 80-100 seats to MQM in
the Parliament during the forthcoming general elections. Prior to the
last General Elections, we had correctly announced of the plan to give the
two provinces of Frontier and Balochistan to the MMA. To prevent the rigging
of the General Elections, which amounts to subversion of the Constitution,
the PPP has provided your office with a Paper called Steps to Prevent
Rigging of General Elections. We are awaiting your office to undertake the
steps in that Paper to restore confidence in the electoral process. If the
electoral process is a farce, political Parties may re-consider whether to
participate plunging the country in a greater crisis."
"We look towards the Election Commission to prevent this crisis and to
uphold the Constitutional obligations on the office to ensure fair
elections", Senator Latif Khosa concluded.
Hyderabad by election
Election commission failed litmus test
Islamabad May 3, 2006:
Mian Raza Rabbani, Deputy Secretary General, Pakistan Peoples Party and
parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance, Senate of Pakistan has
issued the following press statement today:
"The Election Commission under the new Chief Election Commissioner has
failed the litmus test of holding free, fair and honest elections as
mandated by the Constitution. The by elections in NA – 219 Hyderabad has
exposed the hallow claims of the Commission as it stood as a silent
spectator to the use of the state apparatus to manipulate the results in the
favour of the ruling coalition thus violating the Constitutional mandate
given to it.
"The inaction and the inability of the Commission to restrain the members of
the ruling coalition and functionaries of the Government from acting in a
manner contrary to law and its lack of control on its own election staff,
which was a party to the election fraud has reaffirmed the Oppositions view
that in the present circumstances this Commission is not in a position to
ensure that the coming general elections will be free, fair and honest.
"The inability to respond to the complaints and concerns of the Opposition
candidate prior to and on polling day by the Commission has exposed it as a
carbon copy of the past Commissions which did not enjoy the confidence of
the major stake holders and was viewed as an extension of the Government by
the people of Pakistan.
"The manner in which this by election has been held should be an eye opener
to all those who are interested in seeing that the coming general elections
are free, fair and honest. This is only possible under a neutral caretaker
Government which is not appointed under the present dispensation".
The perspective of future politics
By JAHANGIR BADAR.
The recently held meeting in London between the two former prime ministers
of Pakistan - PPP Chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto and the PML leader Nawaz
Sharif was aimed at setting right the path of genuine democracy in the
country. Besides creating harmony on the national political horizons the
meeting has provided the basis for new dynamics in politics of Pakistan.
Before the London meeting, Shahbaz Sharif called on Ms Benazir Bhutto in
Dubai, reciprocated by a PPP delegation, which met Nawaz Sharif in London.
The PPP delegation discussed with Sharif the "Charter of Democracy" in the
light of future political requirements, good governance and to bring about a
democracy, which shall provide social and economic justice to the people of
Pakistan.
During the PPP delegation's meeting with Nawaz Sharif, the possibility of
yet another meeting between Ms Benazir and Mian Sharif was discussed and it
was suggested that the sooner they meet the better. Eventually, the PPP
Chairperson called on the PML (N) leader during a stopover in London on her
way to the United States to see her husband Asif Ali Zardari.
The Nawaz-Benazir meeting in London has been widely discussed from different
points of view. Opinion leaders were of the view that it would go a long way
towards bringing about a positive change in Pakistan's political atmosphere.
If I were to add my views, without doubt, this could prove to be a historic
meeting since it was much required now.
The London moot was aimed at paving the way for resolving the prevalent
political and economic crises and strengthening the democratic process.
There is no other force but democracy that can keep the federation of
Pakistan intact and unite the people of the four federating units by
promoting inter-provincial harmony.
The government's reaction to the meeting is amazing as most of its ministers
claimed that such meetings and alliances would have no effect on voters and
would bring no results. Such elements, which only believe in capturing power
by fairs means or foul, fail to understand the technicality of politics, as
the dynamics attached to it cannot be enslaved under anybody's designs and
commands.
The martyred Chairman of the PPP, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, while defining
politics had said: "Politics is an objective knowledge. It is like
mathematics. It is not a play of wishes. You cannot achieve in politics
through your desires but through struggle."
The London get-together was a preliminary dialogue between leaders of the
two polarised forces, which could also be interpreted as an interaction for
harmony between two major sections of the Pakistani society.
The two parties can finalise their dialogue by agreeing on peaceful
coexistence and to pool their resources and skills for the people of
Pakistan. Besides instantly minimising political polarisation in Pakistan,
it will bring political harmony and tolerance between the two major
political parties, thus paving the way for the consolidation of democracy
and smooth functioning of the democratic institutions.
Because of the London moot, the opportunists, who are always ready to serve
unrepresentative regimes, are destined to be diminished from national
politics. The meeting will definitely have its impact on the social and
political life in Pakistan.
First, the meeting shall bring a mental relief to the worried people of
Pakistan. The far reaching effects of the meeting will be the unity of
different sections of people under one programme as opposed to the present
state of disintegration going on for the last many years, jeopardising
national progress.
Having learnt from their past experience in politics, both Bhutto and Sharif
seem determined to jointly strive and put an end to the forces of evil and
corruption that are eating up the very edifice of the political culture in
Pakistan. The Sharif-Bhutto union is definitely a good omen for the people
of Pakistan but precarious for the establishment which wanted to see them
fighting with each other over petty issues.
The targets fixed and those still under study by leaders of the two
mainstream political parties are not presumptuous in nature. The two former
premiers have skilled teams of political associates who have been a part of
politics as well as government for the last several years and are free from
certain undesired viruses. They themselves are capable to understand the
needs of the country, the demands of the people and the international
parameters to organise the country in accordance with the needs of the 21st
Century.
The developed democracies of the world have already achieved this through a
gradual evolution of political process. The countries, which gained
independence from the clutches of the foreign rules, also got rid of
dictatorship and learnt to organise their living in a democratic atmosphere.
Most of these countries have shown socio-economic and political progress.
The progress in the societies of developed world is based on just one slogan
- "Live and Let Others Live." This is the only path to let the federation
and the people of Pakistan progress. There is nothing to worry about as far
as the progress towards democracy is concerned as several democracies had,
in the beginning, strong symptoms of certain pollutions, which were cleared
off, by determination and continuous working process. And the leaders of the
two key political parties of Pakistan have chosen the right path: to honour,
accept and help whom the people choose.
Govt has failed
to protect masses: PPP
OKARA CANTT May 2, 2006: PPP (Punjab),
president Qasim Zia alleged that the current military regime had bitterly
failed in restoring peace in the country and providing protection to the
people.
Talking to the newsmen on Tuesday, he accused the government for
deteriorating situation in the country. "East Pakistan like situation has
been created in Balochistan," he said, adding Punjabis were being targeted
in the restive province.
The PPP leader said Pakistan and Gen. Pervez Musharraf could not go side by
side and he now would have to go home.
To a question, he denied any deal with the government and termed the
speculations as baseless. He said 2006 was the year of elections. He said
very soon, the party leader Benazir Bhutto would be among the people in
Pakistan.
Qasim Zia said that PPP demand holding general elections under the auspices
of caretaker government otherwise it would not accept the polls.
Caretaker set up not
the same as interim government of national consensus
Islamabad May 1, 2006:
Spokesman of the Pakistan Peoples Party has issued the following statement
today.
"The PPP has noted the statement of the Chief Election Commissioner reported
in the media today that the next general elections will be held under a
caretaker set up and that those in the caretaker set up would not be allowed
to take part in the elections.
"The Party believes that while elections under a caretaker set up is better
than elections under the present politically partisan set up, it is not the
same as the interim government of national consensus that has been demanded
by the opposition as a pre-requisite for holding free and fair polls".
Joint Press Release
of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on talks in London
London May 1, 2006: Two
former Prime Ministers Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif met
here today at the Park Lane residence of PML(N) leader. The teams included
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Wajid Shamsul Hasan and Dr
Rehman Malik from PPP, and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif,
Iqbal Zaffar Jhagra and Syed Ghaus Ali Shah from PML (N).
The two exiled former Prime Ministers expressed deep concern on the
deteriorating political and worsening economic situation in the country and
called for free and fair elections through an interim government of national
consensus under an independent and autonomous election commission open to
all political parties and political leaders.
Both the leaders agreed to vigorously pursue the course of democracy and
reaffirmed their resolve to restore the 1973 Constitution. They also
rejected the National Accountability Bureau's attempts to pervert the course
of justice through politically motivated cases to re-engineer the political
system in the country. They demanded withdrawal of all politically motivated
cases.
They called for the release of political prisoners including former speaker
of the National Assembly Syed Yousaf Reza Gilani, acting PML(N) President
Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Zaeem Qadri, Junaid Bulland,
Bismillah Kakar, Pir Mukarram, Afaq Ahmed Khan, Amir Khan and other
political detainees. They expressed concern over the social deprivation of
the people and condemn increasing terrorism in the society.
They also decided to hold the next round of talks on the 14th May, 2006, in
order to chalk out future strategy for the forthcoming elections and
announce the charter of Democracy / Code of conduct for placing before the
ARD summit meeting scheduled for 2nd July, 2006.
PPP enrolment drive
from May 1
By Our Staff Reporter
LAHORE, May 1, 2006: The
PPP has announced a schedule for the membership drive across the country
which will be completed in three months.
On the completion of the drive, the process of elections at various tiers
would be started, party’s chief election commissioner Sajjad Bukhari said at
a news conference here on Tuesday.
Secretary-general Jehangir Badr, provincial president Qasim Zia, Lahore
president Azizur Rehman Chan and other party leaders like Beelum Hasnain,
Abdul Qadir Shaheen, Shakeela Rashid, Zakariya Butt and Mian Ayub were also
present.
Mr Bukhari said the membership campaign in Lahore would be inaugurated on
May 1, Karachi May 8, Peshawar May 15, Quetta May 22 and Islamabad May 29.
He said special ceremonies would be organised in this respect.
A new tier of councillor is being introduced for the first time. On every 25
members, there will be a councillor.
He explained the way the electoral process would be completed.
When asked if election for the office of the chairperson would also be held,
Mr Bukhari said it was a premature question. However, he reminded the
questioner that Ms Bhutto had been elected life chairperson of the party.
PPP urges CEC to stop
induction of army officer into police force
Islamabad, May 1, 2006:
Pakistan Peoples Party has urged the Chief Election Commissioner to stop the
conspiracy to rig the elections through induction of army officers in the
police force.
PPP Senator Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, Coordinator Election
Monitoring Cell PPP in a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner
apprised him of the plan of the regime enlisting 150 Captains / Majors into
the Police Department under the garb of Highway Patrolling Officers.
He further said, "under the covert operation undertaken as part of the
conspiracy to rig the elections, the military officers will be inducted into
the Highway Police as a first soft measure for public consumption.
Subsequently they will be designated as Sub Divisional Police Officers and
sent to the districts with guidelines to manipulate the election results."
He also wrote, "I draw your attention to the use of the Police force in
kidnapping candidates or their proposers and seconders during the local
bodies elections of 2005 as well as the filing of false criminal complaints
to cripple the campaign of the pro democracy candidates to the benefit of
those from the ruling party."
Senator Latif Khosa urged the Chief Election Commissioner to stop these
inductions of army officer into police force.
Mohtarma Expresses Solidarity
with Workers on May Day
Calls for repeal of anti-labour laws
Islamabad, May 1, 2006: Former Prime
minister and the Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
has expressed solidarity with the working class and said that the Party
would not abandon the labour, the peasants, the fisher folk, the government
servants and the wage earners in their struggle for emancipation and freeing
themselves from the shackles of exploitation.
In her message on May Day she said that nothing could deter the PPP from
standing shoulder to shoulder with the workers of the country and fight for
their rights.
The former Prime Minister said that the Pakistan Peoples Party was committed
to the welfare of the working class and will continue to work for the
welfare of the workers and labourers. The PPP has always derived its
strength from the working classes of Pakistan and it had always fought for
their rights and will continue to do so in the future as well, she said.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the military regime had introduced anti-labour
legislation such as the IRO 2002, which was also given protection in the
infamous 17th Constitutional amendment.
She said this anti labour legislation needed to be reviewed by the
Parliament so as to restore the rights of workers. She asked all the
political forces to join hands with the PPP in undertaking a parliamentary
review of the labour related legislation enacted by the military regime
usurping the basic rights of the workers.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that foreign investment in the country had
dried up and the local investors were reluctant to invest because of poor
law and order situation and growing uncertainty. "It is deplorable in such
conditions the regime had thrown out of jobs thousands of poor people in the
name of rightsizing and downsizing on the one hand and inducted serving and
retired military officers into civilian jobs at hefty perks and salaries, on
the other".
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also recalled the valiant and heroic struggle of the
Chicago workers who had laid their lives for the collective right of the
working class. She paid rich tribute to the Chicago martyrs for their
struggle against oppressive socio-economic system a century ago.
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.