May 2007
Babar ready
to appear in UK court
By Umar Cheema
ISLAMABAD: Former interior minister Maj-Gen
(retd) Naseerullah Babar says he would appear as a witness against Muttahida
Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain if summoned by a court to produce
evidence of Altaf’s alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
“I am ready to stand in the witness box against Altaf, if summoned by a UK
court,” he said. “I do not fear anybody. He (Altaf) is not new to me,” Babar
said in a telephonic interview with The News from Peshawar.
But he refused to disclose the evidence he has provided to Chairman Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan in this regard. “Forewarned is forearmed,”
he said, when pressed to disclose what he has handed over to Imran.
Babar, however, expressed his displeasure over Imran’s decision to go public
on receiving solid evidence from him (Babar).
Imran is planning to move a UK court against the British national, Altaf
Hussain, whom he has accused of masterminding the May 12 Karachi carnage.
Although, his party (PPP) has reacted in a controlled manner, Babar has
decided to stand with Imran against the MQM chief for allegedly
masterminding terrorist activities in Karachi. “I do not want to lose the
element of surprise by disclosing secrets,” Babar said about the evidence
that he had assembled probably during the operation in Karachi in the
mid-1990s.
He was annoyed with Imran for making an early warning to the MQM leadership
that he (Babar) provided credible evidence to be put up before a court of
law in the UK and subsequent prayer for the trial of Altaf. “He should not
have done this,” Babar said and added that he had conveyed his resentment to
him.
Babar believes surprising disclosures should come all of a sudden.
According to him, there is a handful of ‘militants’ in the ranks of the
Muhajirs, holding the rest of their community hostage and destroying peace
in Karachi. “It is the Muhajir community that rendered sacrifices for
Pakistan,” he said. “They had migrated to this country from different parts
of India. They did it at the cost of their property and the lives of their
near and dear ones. The Punjab and the NWFP stand nowhere in this regard but
the Muhajirs.”
Babar talked about the election he had contested from Karachi. Those areas
had a big presence of the Muhajir community, he said, adding, he had bagged
more than 35,000 votes.
The former interior minister blamed intelligence agencies for rigging the
polls and said he would have won the elections with the popular support had
there been no interference of the agency guys.
Mohtarma
Bhutto condoles with Shamim Niazi
Islamabad, 30 May 2007: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and
her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari have condoled with party worker Ms.
Shamim Niazi over her young son's death.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a condolence letter addressed to Ms. Shamim Niazi
wrote, "The loss of a young son is a great tragedy. There are no words to
express the deep grief that we feel for you. 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 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.
‘PPPP to protest
Jirga decision in parliament’
Giving minor girls as compensation in Karo-Kari dispute
JACOBABAD: Leaders of the Pakistan's
People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) said on Monday they would raise their
voice in parliament against a Jirga verdict demanding the handover of two
minor girls in compensation to settle a Karo-Kari dispute.
PPPP MNA Muhammad Anwar Bhutto, MNA Hizbullah Bughio and MPA Muhammad Ayaz
Soomro visited the Miandad Chandio village, 70kms from here, to meet the
aggrieved family. They said feudal lords are holding Jirgas in violation of
the Sindh High Court's rulings. Asghar and Niaz Mirjat, fathers of the minor
girls, told the visiting parliamentarians that their brother, Ibrahim Mirjat,
was implicated in a false case of Karo-Kari about a year ago.
They said feudal lords Raees Hassan Jat and Umar Jat in a Jirga meeting
decided that Farzana, 4, and Tasleem, 3, would be handed over to complainant
Deedar Mirjat in compensation, along with Rs 100,000, to settle the issue.
They also told the visiting parliamentarians that when they refused to
accept the Jirga verdict, more than a dozen people of their tribe were
booked at the Hamal police station in a wheat theft case.
They said they had to migrate to the Miandad Chandio village of the Dadu
district to escape
the wrath of the feudal lords and the police. "We are receiving threats and
being forced to accept the Jirga's decision," they said.The PPPP leaders
advised the family to file a petition with the circuit court of the Sindh
High Court in Larkana.
No one can stop
Mohtarma Bhutto from returning
Islamabad May 28, 2007: “Former Prime
Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto will return to Pakistan before the
elections and also participate in the polls”.
This has been stated by leader of the opposition in the Senate Mian Raza
Rabbani in a statement today while responding to the interview by Prime
Minister Shaukat Aziz claiming that she cannot participate in the elections
because several legal cases were pending against her.
Mian Raza Rabbani said that the whole world knew that cases against Mohtarma
Bhutto were politically motivated. She had not been convicted in a single
case despite ten years of witch hunting, media trial and squandering of
taxpayers’ money on tarnishing her image, he said. The Supreme Court had not
only overturned her conviction but also observed in an appeal in one of the
cases that the bias of the trial judge floated on the surface of the record
forcing the judges to quit most unceremoniously, he said.
He said despite the passage of a decade the cases against Mohtarma were in
the nature of allegations and accusations and there was no law that barred
anyone from contesting election merely on the basis of allegations against
him or her.
He said that Mohtarma Bhutto would not only return to the country but also
take part in elections and if the people of Pakistan voted her into power
she will be the Prime Minister for the third time as well.
He said that the Prime Minister’s remarks shows that he was merely acting as
the mouthpiece of the military dictatorship that had become desperate in an
election year and was scared of the popular leadership of the country.
Mian Raza Rabbani recalled that Shaukat Aziz had damaged the country’s
position in the world by the published reports of his disgraceful behaviour
with a foreign dignitary that have not been contradicted despite widely
reported in the national and international media.
He said that Shaukat Aziz had yet to convince the nation that he was not
involved in the scams of stock market crash, fixation of petroleum prices
and the privatisation of Pakistan Steel to name only a few of the mega
corruption scandals.
“A Prime Minister who lives in glass house would be well advised to refrain
from making unwarranted comments about Mohtarma”.
PPP
Chairperson calls upon regime to safeguard threatened Christians
Islamabad May 28, 2007: Taking note of the
threats being made to the minority Christian community through a letter
writing campaign, Pakistan Peoples Party has called upon the regime to
fulfil its responsibilities in protecting the citizens or to resign.
In a statement today the Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party said that
the primary aim of a government is to provide protection to the life,
liberty and pursuit of livelihood of the citizens. Any government who cannot
do this, must resign and make way for another that can give such protection.
Mohtarma Bhutto noted that the incident of the letter writing campaign to
threaten and intimidate members of the Christian community is the latest in
a series of incidents over the years where the regime has abdicated its
responsibility to protect the citizens. She said that the regime's
pre-occupation with political vendetta has led to the neglect of the basic
right of citizens to protection of themselves and their homes in the
country.
According to reports the Christians of Charsadda were being threatened to
convert to Islam or face dire consequences. The threat to the Christians is
similar to recent threats to private schools in Tank, members of the
entertainment industry in Islamabad and citizens of Karachi and to
Opposition party activists’ in the recent bye elections held in February.
The former Prime Minister assured the Christian Community and people in
general in the country that the PPP would provide protection to each and
every citizen. She said that the PPP had given the citizens security and a
boom economy. Mohtarma Bhutto called upon the people of the country to come
forward and support the PPP so that the slide into anarchy, chaos and
bloodshed could be avoided.
Meantime in a separate development the Christian Solidarity Front recalled
that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PUBH) welcomed and allowed a Christian
delegation from Nijran to worship in the mosque, which is one of the
greatest examples of interfaith harmony and religious tolerance.
He recalled that in Mardan and Charsadda, prior to the attack on video and
barbershops by pro Taliban elements, similar threatening letters had been
sent out. Mr.Bhatti apprehended that the 500 members strong Christian
community was now similarly threatened unless the regime took steps to
prevent the militant elements from carrying out such threats.
It may be recalled that before the Karachi bloodbath, the MQM had claimed
that Karachi was "their city", as though it was a piece of property that
belonged to them, and they would not let anyone else "take it" from them.
Other government functionaries had made similar comments.
PPP flays
MQM's slander campaign
Islamabad, May 26, 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party slammed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for diverting the public
attention over May 12 manslaughter by initiating a slander campaign against
the members of the PPP.
The MQM has been facing a barrage of criticism from national and
international press and civil society bodies for its active role in the May
12 bloodshed in Karachi. The Party that controls the City Government in
Karachi also holds the seat of the governor of the province. In order to
show its prowess in the financial hub of the country, the party made use of
its official powers and blocked all-important routes of the city to curb the
citizens' movement. It disarmed the police and the rangers rendering them
helpless to prevent any acts of violence that day. The Karachi carnage
claimed 48 lives, mostly common citizens and the political workers. Of late,
the MQM has been trying hard to shift the blame for the events of May 12 on
other political parties.
Terming the MQM's malice campaign against the PPP as 'a ridiculous face
saving bid', Secretary General, Raja Parvez Ashraf of the Pakistan Peoples
Party Parliamentarians said that the MQM's malice campaign against the PPP
is hardly surprising given its bleak history of deception and the staunch
criticism it has been subjected to for its
role in the May 12 carnage. "It is natural for the MQM to get desperate
since this is the first time its violent ways were noted by the millions of
viewers across the world who witnessed how the gun-totting goons of the
party went rampant, playing with the lives of the innocent citizens." Raja
Parvez commented that in today's age of television broadcast, it is almost
impossible to hide the truth. "The MQM would be making a fool of itself if
it tried to blame it on other parties, since the whole world witnessed its
actions live on TV that day."
Rejecting the MQM's allegations against the Central Information Secretary of
the PPP Sherry Rehman, Raja Parvez pointed out that a mere look at the
series of incoherent statements issued by the MQM against Rehman will expose
the baseless nature of their assertions. "The MQM first alleged that none of
the PPP top leadership had participated in the opposition's May 12 rally.
This was proved wrong, as all-important
leaders of the party were present in the rally that was attacked at the COD
Bridge by the MQM men. It then alleged that armed PPP men were sitting atop
Sherry Rehman's vehicle firing in the air. This was again false as there was
no PPP worker outside Rehman's car and the unidentified gunmen trying to
ride Rehman's car were shoved away by the PPP worker. This was recorded in
the video, which the MQM edited out. They are now saying that the two men on
top of Rehman's car went inside it after a while. This is another ridiculous
allegation, as no such thing happened."
Raja Parvez also noted the reason why the MQM took a good one-week to come
up with allegations against the PPP is because "it takes just as much time
to doctor a video," he said. "It is ambiguous that the MQM is coming up with
fresh video evidence against the PPP everyday. If there is any truth in its
allegations, why did it not show the videos the very next day after the
carnage?" Raja Parvez also pointed out that all the PPP audio-visual
evidence related to May 12 events is credible as it has been taken from
footage run by different television channels that day.
Raja Parvez also said that the PPP lost five of its workers in the said
rally while Rehman's driver was seriously injured after falling victim to
the MQM bullet directed at the PPP rally. "We are not a party like the MQM
that would kill its own workers to give out a false impression that they
were murdered by the opposition. Our workers, and over 40 others lost their
lives to the state-backed bullying spree of the MQM and no amount of
propaganda by the MQM can conceal this fact. Gone are the days when people
could have been misled by spin. The Karachi public - being the victim and
witness - will never forget the MQM's mockery of their civil rights on May
12."
Pakistan's political hurricane
Boston globe Editorial
PAKISTAN AND its president, Pervez
Musharraf, are passing through turbulence. The causes may be traced to
clashes between religious extremists and civil society; conflicts with
autonomous regions or with Afghanistan and India; and Musharraf's autocratic
style of governing. But if policy makers in the Bush administration have
learned anything from their past blunders, they will refrain from imposing
their own parochial policy ideas upon countries about which they are
egregiously ignorant.
The need for humility is particularly acute in Pakistan's case, and not only
because intelligence specialists believe Osama bin Laden and Taliban
fighters enjoy safe havens in the frontier provinces of Pakistan. Any
American impulse to lecture Pakistanis – or Musharraf in particular -- about
democratisation or counter terrorism must be tempered by a recognition that
Pakistan is a nuclear weapons state.
Pakistan is a tinderbox, and Washington must not make wishful assumptions
about it. Under previous civilian governments, and with obvious military
complicity, the nuclear engineer A.Q. Khan perpetrated the most dangerous
acts of proliferation. If the wrong forces come to power in Pakistan,
President Bush's misreadings of Iraq, Iran, Syria, North Korea, and last
summer's war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah may seem minor mistakes
by comparison.
Musharraf has provoked anger in several quarters: from lawyers appalled at
his suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry; from tribal
members in Baluchistan furious at the army's killing of a revered leader;
from some tribal leaders who resent a regional warlord who killed hundreds
of pro-Taliban Uzbek militants with backing from the Pakistani military; and
from moderate Muslims who worry that nothing has been done to punish
Islamist radicals who recently kidnapped an alleged brothel owner and
destroyed music and video stores in Islamabad.
Ideally, Musharraf would enlarge his base of support and choose between his
roles of army chief and head of state. He could acquire greater legitimacy
and reduce his reliance on extremists if he formed an electoral partnership
with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, with whom he has conducted
on-again, off-again talks. With her help, Musharraf could seek re election
by national and local legislators after fresh elections rather than choosing
the less democratic option of asking the current legislatures to renew his
presidential mandate.
But these are matters for Pakistanis to decide, without lectures from an
administration that has been no more competent at promoting democratic
change abroad than at coping with the aftermath of a hurricane.
Musharraf
not acceptable in uniform: Benazir
LAHORE: Former prime minister Benazir
Bhutto on Friday criticised the Muttahida Mujlis-e-Amal for supporting
President Gen Pervez Musharraf, saying the religious alliance provided
Musharraf a chance to remain in uniform.
In an interview with an Indian television channel, Benazir said the Pakistan
People’s Party (PPP) had always opposed Musharraf in uniform, adding that
her party could not accept a president in uniform.
She said she would hold talks with Musharraf provided he was serious for
this, the channel quoted her as saying. She said the army could be sent back
to barracks through dialogue.
The Pakistan People’s Party chairwoman said she couldn’t say that her party
would reach an agreement with Musharraf if dialogues were held. She,
however, again pledged to return to Pakistan. She admitted her party had
been in contact with the government for the “sake of democracy”. She said
dialogue with Musharraf would only be held if the latter relinquished
uniform.
PPP
demands police protection for Christian community
Islamabad, May 26, 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party deplored the threat issued to the Christian community in
Charsadda that has been asked by radical groups to convert to Islam or leave
the area.
The Christian community in Charsadda is living in a perpetual state of fear
as the grip of extremists over the region tightens. Early this month scores
of barber and video CD shops were burnt down in two bomb blasts in Charsadda.
The incident took place a month after the CD shop owners received a letter
threatening them to close down their "unIslamic" business. The local
administrator is said to have shrugged off the threat. In the first week of
May, a letter was found in a Christian dominated residential area
threatening the entire Christian community of Charsadda to convert to Islam
in 10 days or leave the area.
Denouncing the incident, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan
Peoples Party, Sherry Rehman termed it as "a natural outcome of the
Musharraf regime's incessant backing of the Talibanisation of the society."
Rehman noted that the extremists' offensive against the citizens has never
been as blatant in the history of the country as it is today. "The fact that
the state chooses to close its eyes to such grave violation of the citizen's
rights is a source of immense encouragement for extremists seeking to impose
their brand of Islam."
Rehman noted that the district Charsadda is turning into another Waziristan
where the Islamic radicals openly issue and execute threats right under the
nose of an impotent state. "This is the third instance of terror in a matter
of four weeks in the area," Rehman noted pointing to the suicide bomb blast
at the rally of the Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao that claimed 28 lives.
This was followed by two bomb blasts at the barber and CD shops in the
district.
Rehman also condemned the district administration for taking the matter
lightly. "There are over 60 Christian families in Charsadda, and each one of
them is at risk after the letter has surfaced. One should not overlook the
fact that the CD shop owners in the district received similar letters before
their shops were bombed off. There is no reason for the District
Administration to dismiss the fears of the Christian community, unless it is
taking cues from the bosses in Peshawar and in Islamabad as both have a
policy of encouraging such elements."
Rehman said that Pakistan tops the list of countries known for worst
violations of minorities' rights noting that early this year, a Catholic
Bishop, along with two Muslim scholars received similar threats in
Faisalabad by a Muslim extremist group for promoting inter-religious
dialogue. "Every new day brings a fresh reason for minorities of the country
to feel that the state is alienating and discriminating against them.
Minorities cannot be sidelined and overlooked if Pakistan has to make any
progress in the modern world."
Demanding police protection for the Christian community of Charsadda, Rehman
urged the NWFP government to nab those responsible for issuing such threats.
"The Centre and the NWFP government are duty bound by the constitution to
provide protection to the minorities and ensure them their fundamental
rights. The entire nation has been let down by the unrepresentative
governments in the Centre and the NWFP that prefer short-term appeasement
deals with the radicals over their obligation to protect long-term interests
of the citizens."
Rehman reiterated the PPP's commitment to the protection of the minorities'
rights and assured the Christian community that the Party will continue to
voice their concerns at the national and international platforms.
US should
not support decision to keep ex-PMs out: Post
WASHINGTON, May 25: The US administration
should not accept President Pervez Musharraf’s decision of not allowing
former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif back into the country
to contest the 2007 elections, says a leading US newspaper.
“The administration has been endlessly forgiving the strongman even as he
has failed again and again to meet his commitments,” commented the
Washington Post in a lead editorial titled “Pakistan’s Peril.”
“If Mr Musharraf is now allowed to isolate himself behind riot police and
militia forces while shunning secular democrats, he will set the stage for
just the sort of nightmare scenario in Pakistan that has motivated US
support for him since 2001,” the Post said.
The newspaper noted that after nearly eight years in power, Gen Musharraf’s
writ over the country appears to be weakening.
“Mass demonstrations broke out against him this month in Punjab, the
country’s political heartland; tens of thousands at a time are turning out
to cheer suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry who tried to
investigate human rights abuses and then rejected the General’s demand that
he resign,” the Post observed. “Extremist groups, including the Taliban, are
steadily strengthening, especially in areas near the Afghan border.”
The newspaper also pointed out that the support for the Musharraf government
in the US Congress, which has signed off on more than $10 billion in aid
since 2001, was steadily fading amid persistent reports that the Pakistani
army is failing to stop, and may even be supporting, Taliban operations
against US troops in Afghanistan.
The paper noted that Gen Musharraf’s response to the developing situation in
the country has been to unleash the party militias and the riot
police.Arguing that now was the time for Gen Musharraf’s “dogged supporters”
in the Bush administration to worry about these developments, the Post said:
“One reason the General is unpopular is his alliance with the United
States.”
The paper claimed that the situation had reached a point where if Gen
Musharraf was to go now, “the candidates to succeed him and control
Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal include Islamic fundamentalists and anti-Western
generals.”
Urging the Bush administration not to support the Pakistani government any
longer, the paper said: “Gen Musharraf appears inclined to use force to
bolster his regime -- demonstrators have been attacked by party militias or
police in several cities -- and that may seem preferable to the extremist
alternatives.”
The newspaper warned that the use of force will not help the Pakistani
president. “Force is not the General’s only option or the one most likely to
succeed,” the paper said, noting that Pakistan has a strong democratic
alternative, in the form of two large secular political parties that between
them governed the country for most of the 1990s.
PPP urges
diplomats to protest killings
ISLAMABAD, May 25: The People’s Party
Parliamentarians (PPP) has written a letter to diplomats based in Islamabad
asking them to lodge protest with the government over the killing of over 40
people in Karachi in acts of violence allegedly committed by the Muttahida
Qaumi Movement (MQM) on May 12.
“The PPP calls upon the world leaders, civil society and human rights bodies
to protest with the Musharraf regime over this act of violence by the
coalition partners of Gen Musharrraf,” says PPP foreign liaison committee
coordinator Munir Ahmed Khan in his letter sent to the ambassadors and high
commissioners of the United States, France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Italy,
the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia and the
Commonwealth secretary-general.
He writes: “The PPP, under the chairpersonship of Benazir Bhutto, would like
world leaders to take note of the strong arm tactics of Gen Musharraf and
MQM of silencing the opposition through the barrel of the gun.
“We categorically condemn in the strongest terms this widely reported
violent action by the MQM resulting in the loss of innocent lives. Denying
the right of free speech and expression through violence and bullets is not
only a violation of human rights but is creating anarchy and chaos.”
Mr Khan has included in the letter extracts from various reports of
international media indicating the role of the MQM behind the violence.
“We are concerned that the world media has issued fresh warnings about a
bleeding Pakistan by saying fractious, violent and unstable Pakistan is
stumbling towards the nightmare scenario of a failed state,” and reminded
the international community that “mobs on the street are a threat to rest of
the world.”
The media, he said, had held Gen Musharraf responsible for taking the
country to the brink of disaster during his 7 year rule.
Mr Khan quoted reports from Sunday Telegraph, The Economist, The Financial
Times, New York Times and the Independent, which, according to him, directly
held MQM chief Altaf Hussain and his party responsible for the killings.
PPP flays
MQM's slander campaign
Karachi, May 25, 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party slammed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for diverting the public
attention over May 12 manslaughter by initiating a slander campaign against
the members of the PPP.
The MQM has been facing a barrage of criticism from national and
international press and civil society bodies for its active role in the May
12 bloodshed in Karachi. The Party that controls the City Government in
Karachi also holds the seat of the governor of the province. In order to
show its prowess in the financial hub of the country, the party made use of
its official powers and blocked all-important routes of the city to curb the
citizens' movement. It disarmed the police and the rangers rendering them
helpless to prevent any acts of violence that day. The Karachi carnage
claimed 48 lives, mostly common citizens and the political workers. Of late,
the MQM has been trying hard to shift the blame for the events of May 12 on
other political parties.
Terming the MQM's malice campaign against the PPP as 'a ridiculous face
saving bid', Secretary General, Raja Parvez Ashraf of the Pakistan Peoples
Party Parliamentarians said that the MQM's malice campaign against the PPP
is hardly surprising given its bleak history of deception and the staunch
criticism it has been subjected to for its role in the May 12 carnage. "It
is natural for the MQM to get desperate since this is the first time its
violent ways were noted by the millions of viewers across the world who
witnessed how the gun-totting goons of the party went rampant, playing with
the lives of the innocent citizens." Raja Parvez commented that in today's
age of television broadcast, it is almost impossible to hide the truth. "The
MQM would be making a fool of itself if it tried to blame it on other
parties, since the whole world witnessed its actions live on TV that day."
Rejecting the MQM's allegations against the Central Information Secretary of
the PPP Sherry Rehman, Raja Parvez pointed out that a mere look at the
series of incoherent statements issued by the MQM against Rehman will expose
the baseless nature of their assertions. "The MQM first alleged that none of
the PPP top leadership had participated in the opposition's May 12 rally.
This was proved wrong, as all-important leaders of the party were present in
the rally that was attacked at the COD Bridge by the MQM men. It then
alleged that armed PPP men were sitting atop Sherry Rehman's vehicle firing
in the air. This was again false as there was no PPP worker outside Rehman's
car and the unidentified gunmen trying to ride Rehman's car were shoved away
by the PPP worker. This was recorded in the video, which the MQM edited out.
They are now saying that the two men on top of Rehman's car went inside it
after a while. This is another ridiculous allegation, as no such thing
happened."
Raja Parvez also noted the reason why the MQM took a good one-week to come
up with allegations against the PPP is because "it takes just as much time
to doctor a video," he said. "It is ambiguous that the MQM is coming up with
fresh video evidence against the PPP everyday. If there is any truth in its
allegations, why did it not show the videos the very next day after the
carnage?" Raja Parvez also pointed out that all the PPP audio-visual
evidence related to May 12 events is credible as it has been taken from
footage run by different television channels that day.
Raja Parvez also said that the PPP lost five of its workers in the said
rally while Rehman's driver was seriously injured after falling victim to
the MQM bullet directed at the PPP rally. "We are not a party like the MQM
that would kill its own workers to give out a false impression that they
were murdered by the opposition. Our workers, and over 40 others lost their
lives to the state-backed bullying spree of the MQM and no amount of
propaganda by the MQM can conceal this fact. Gone are the days when people
could have been misled by spin. The Karachi public - being the victim and
witness - will never forget the MQM's mockery of their civil rights on May
12."
Mohtarma
Bhutto calls for FM radios for all political parties
Criticises extremists' ability to woo public through FM radio while
moderates denied same facility
Islamabad, 24 May 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party has asked the MMA to review its deal with the maulvi who was
resisting polio vaccination until the recent deal concluded with him. The
same Maulvi, a son in law of Maulana Soofi Mohammad of TSNM, had previously
opposed women leaving their homes and opposed women's education.
|In a statement today Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto said health of children was vital to the well being of the Nation.
For healthy children the PPP had introduced the polio vaccination campaign
to eliminate polio and prevent children from Pakistan being crippled. She
noted that the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) had asked Muslims to seek knowledge
without discriminating between the genders.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that while the MMA had tried to convince the TSNM
leader to support polio vaccination temporarily, it was doubtful whether
this support was more than an eye wash to buy time and wait until public
attention turned elsewhere.
She said the PPP opposed the discrimination in award of permission for FM
radio stations. She said that extremists who violated the right of women to
seek knowledge or children to be given vaccination were being favoured by
being given FM radio stations with which they could broadcast their views
while moderate political parties were not given radio stations.
The PPP Chairperson called upon the regime to immediately give permission to
political parties to have FM radio stations as it had done to the extremist
elements to balance the reach to the public between moderates and
extremists.
She noted that extremists were being pandered too and could carry out
illegal acts like operating FM radios without permission, grabbing state
land and building on it, kidnapping police and other citizens while
political parties were being denied the right to law itself. She noted that
the regime had still not arrested nor allowed the filing of the
murder report against those who had tried to kill Parliamentarian Dr Azra
during the February bye elections.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that without a level playing field for all political
players, extremists would continue to make strides in society while
opportunity of hope and progress for people of Pakistan dwindled. She said
that armed forces should be neutral and it does not help the cause of
impartiality when armed forces members campaign for particular political
parties and particular political leaders.
She said participation of armed forces in politics affects their standing
amongst the people of the country while army rule adversely affects the
standing of the country in the international arena.
Mohtarma Bhutto was responding to comments by journalists on General
Musharaf's campaigning for the PML Q and its coalition supporters. However,
she said that despite the obstacles placed in its path, she was convinced
that the Pakistan Peoples Party and its allies would triumph with the
support of the people and build a society free from poverty, backwardness
and exploitation where the discriminated and the downtrodden could have hope
and opportunity. She said PPP would not let the people of Pakistan be
orphaned.
Mohtarma
Bhutto grieved over the death of nine members of Hindu family in Larkana
Islamabad May 23, 2007: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto has expressed shock and grief over the death of nine members of a
Hindu family because of suffocation in Larkana on Tuesday.
The tragic incident took place in Larkana's Khatan Bazaar locality on
Tuesday night when the house of the family was gutted by a fire caused by
electric short circuit. An official said that it appeared that the family
tried to escape the room but all died due to smoke and burn injuries. The
head of the family Deewan Moti Ram along with his wife and children all
died. Moti Ram was running a spare parts shops and all his children were
students.
In a statement today Mohtarma Bhutto said that she was shocked on learning
about the tragedy. She said that her thoughts were with Kakoo Mal the father
of the deceased Moti Ram and other members of the bereaved family.
Mohtarma Bhutto also directed the Party MNA Ramesh Lal to visit the bereaved
family and offer condolences on her behalf and on behalf of the Party.
Khuhro
says transparent polls only way out
LARKANA, May 22: Leader of opposition of
in Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, said on Tuesday that only transparent
elections could pull the country out of the present crisis.
Speaking to the District Bar Association of Larkana Mr Khuhro said Gen
Musharraf had isolated the country in the world and his overstay in power
would further deepen the crisis.
He praised the Chief Justice of Pakistan for saying ‘no’ to Gen Musharraf
and said “we should also not forget Rasheed Rizvi, Fakhruddain G. Ibrahim,
Dorab Patail and a number of other judges who dared refuse taking oath under
Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO)”.
He said that the CJP’s visits to Lahore, Peshawar and Sukkur went quite
smoothly but when he came to Karachi 42 people were gunned down in front of
the personnel of police and Rangers who stood by as mere spectators.
Mr Khuhro said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) should feel ashamed
over the mistreatment meted out to judges on May 12 in Karachi and praised
the heirs of victims of May 12 for refusing to accept compensation from the
governor of Sindh.
PPP
adheres to charter of democracy, says Badr
SAHIWAL, May 21: The Pakistan Peoples’
Party (PPP) will strictly adhere to the charter of democracy to force the
rulers to quit the government. This was stated by PPP secretary-general
Jahangir Badr while addressing the Peoples’ Lawyers Forum here on Monday.
He said he was confident that the struggle of lawyers would succeed, and the
PPP, after coming into power, would take action against those who torched
the rally of lawyers in Sahiwal.
Mr Badr praised the lawyers’ struggle for the cause of the independence of
judiciary.
He gave out that the PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto had sought a report on
the May 12 incident in Karachi and the torching of lawyers’ rally in Sahiwal.
He asked PLF’s Mehr Nazar Farid Fatiana advocate to submit a white paper on
police atrocities.
INJURED: Three motorcyclists looted Rs650,000 in cash after injuring
seriously the cashier and the driver of a medicine distributing company with
gunfire shots here on Monday.
Reports said the cashier and driver Victor were on their way to deposit the
cash with a bank branch on Jinnah Street when masked bandits started chasing
them from their office on Tariq bin Ziad Colony. On reaching close to the
van, motorcyclists opened fire on the cashier and the driver, snatched a bag
containing the cash and escaped from the scene. The injured were admitted to
hospital where their condition was stated to be serious.
Fateh Sher police are looking into the matter.
Meanwhile, five bandits looted the house of a farmer at Chak 82/12-L.
Reports said that bandits entered the house of Naveed Ahmed by scaling its
boundary wall, woke up the inmates and held them up at pistol point. Later,
the intruders locked the women in a room, collected 61 tolas of gold,
Rs134,000 in cash, a rifle and fled while resorting to aerial firing.
Shahkot police have registered a case.
Dispatch
From Karachi: Did Pakistan's president provoke an ethnic war last weekend?
By Nicholas Schmidle - May 17, 2007
Last Sunday, in the seaside metropolis of
Karachi, I ducked behind a khaki-colored armored personnel carrier that was
parked on an abandoned street littered with broken glass, stones, and spent
bullet casings. Around me, police and paramilitary Rangers fired tear gas at
oncoming rioters. The mob chucked stones that fell at our feet while gunfire
popped in the background. Sunday marked the second day of violence between
rival political groups in Karachi that left more than 40 people dead. After
an hour of dodging rocks, I retreated from the front line to speak with a
senior police officer, who had just arrived in a white Land Cruiser. He
shook his head in disgust as he rehashed the weekend, from the arrival of
Pakistan's chief justice in Karachi at noon on Saturday, to the 12 hours of
anarchy that pitched ethnic-based political parties against one another in
bloody street battles. Referring to President Pervez Musharraf's suspension
of the chief justice on March 9, the police chief suggested that what began
as a judicial dispute had quickly become a political one. "Now, it's an
ethnic problem," he said.
Pakistan is a mishmash of ethnicities, and they all converge in Karachi.
Prior to the creation of Pakistan, the city was inhabited primarily by
Baluchis, Sindhis, and Hindus. When Pakistan was formed in August 1947, most
of the Hindus migrated to India. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Muslims
from India, otherwise known as mohajirs, moved to Pakistan and settled in
Karachi. (Urdu, the language spoken by mohajirs, was declared the national
language.) In the following decades, Pashtuns from the North West Frontier
Province also relocated here. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, some
mohajirs began to feel that Karachi's identity as a "mohajir city" was being
diluted by the arrival of other ethnic groups. To counter this trend, Altaf
Hussein, who had been driving taxis in Chicago, moved back to Karachi and
formed a political party, the Mohajir Quami Movement. Shortly after Hussein
inaugurated the party in 1986, ethnic riots broke out across Karachi,
pitting mohajirs against Pashtuns. More than 90 people died in the unrest.
The MQM has always maintained street power in Karachi. (In a matter of
hours, Hussein can raise a crowd of 100,000 people, even though he has been
living in exile in London since 1992.) But since Musharraf seized power in
October 1999, the party has also inherited key posts in Karachi's city
government, the Sindh provincial government, and even the federal
government. And though Hussein and Musharraf have differed on a few issues,
he and his party have stuck with the president throughout the crisis
involving the chief justice. Some even argue that Musharraf, who is himself
a mohajir, supports the MQM—and vice versa—because of ethnic, rather than
political, allegiances.
In early March, Musharraf suspended the chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar
Mohammad Chaudhry, on flimsy charges of nepotism. The suspension turned the
chief justice into an overnight hero, galvanized a lawyers' movement against
Musharraf, and united various factions of the anti-Musharraf opposition.
Thousands of supporters now trail Chaudhry wherever he goes. The first week
of May, when he drove from Islamabad to Lahore to address the Lahore High
Court, admirers lined the roads, tossing rose petals on his car, beating
drums, and chanting, "Musharraf is a dog!" The trip, which usually takes
four hours, took almost 24. Chaudhry was expected to receive a similar
welcome in Karachi on May 12, when he was scheduled to address the Sindh
High Court Bar Association. But last week, the MQM announced that it planned
to hold a counter-rally to demonstrate people's support for Musharraf in
Karachi. The routes of the MQM march and the chief justice's procession were
to cross at several points. On May 10, a former prime minister urged the
government to postpone the MQM rally, citing the risk of a "civil-warlike
situation." Still, people assumed that there would at least be riot police
and Rangers present to limit the violence. No one imagined that the
law-enforcement agencies would simply disappear and turn the city over to
well-armed and embittered political enemies. But that's just what happened.
Because so long as the roads were blocked and people were dying in the
streets, Musharraf and the MQM knew that the only way the chief justice
could address the Sindh High Court was to go there on foot—through the
crossfire. "The government wanted all of this to happen," said Shahi Syed,
the Sindh president of the Awami National Party, a Pashtun organization.
I arrived in Karachi at 2 a.m. on Saturday. The MQM had blocked every
possible exit and entry point to the airport using shipping containers,
buses, and water tankers. There were no taxis. People were sleeping in the
terminal, and babies screamed. Food and water supplies at the airport were
already running low, 10 hours before the chief justice was expected to land.
It seemed entirely possible that these people would be marooned at the
airport for a day or two. Fearing that I would be stuck there, too, I
shouldered my luggage and headed in the direction of the main road. On the
way, a security guard warned me that there was gunfire and burning tires
just outside the airport. Karachi is not a city that you walk around on a
good day; the prospect of negotiating through an obstacle course of burning
tires and armed MQM activists made it seem all the more absurd, but the
longer I waited, the tighter the blockade would be. Fortunately, I met a
mustachioed man in his 40s along the road who happened to be a police
officer. He said he had a jeep, with an armed guard, waiting on the other
side of two layers of MQM-arranged cordons. After a few minutes, we reached
the jeep and began navigating through back alleys and roads still under
construction—any path that the MQM might not yet have blocked. There were no
vehicles on the streets other than the commandeered tankers and buses, most
of which flew the MQM's tricolor flag. The trip from the airport to the
hotel where I was staying typically takes about 15 minutes. I finally
checked in at 4:30 a.m.
As expected, the worst of Saturday's violence didn't break out until after
Chaudhry touched down in Karachi. With the MQM in command of every
intersection, roundabout, and flyover, any attempt by the opposition parties
to greet the chief justice was destined for confrontation. Syed, the Pashtun
politician, was trapped, along with a caravan of his party's supporters,
beneath a flyover on the main road leading to and from the airport. As
gunfire broke out between ANP and MQM activists around 1 p.m., a well-aimed
shot, taken from the overpass, smashed the windshield of a red Toyota Land
Cruiser Prado with ANP plates, immediately killing a man sitting in the back
seat. "They thought I was there," Syed told me two days later. He showed me
the bullet recovered from the back seat of the Prado, the same kind of
bullet used in the Heckler Koch G3 assault rifle. While Kalashnikovs are
common in Pakistani homes, the G3 is not. Shahi said the only people with
access to such weapons are the army and intelligence agencies.
Curiously, however, the army, the Rangers, and the police completely ignored
their commitment to maintaining law and order on Saturday. I spent most of
that afternoon driving to different parts of the city and saw only 10
Rangers: five guarding a Kentucky Fried Chicken and five guarding a girls'
Montessori school. In both instances, rival groups were clashing down the
street. It took police more than six hours to reach a private TV channel
that came under fire. The channel, AAJ TV, continued broadcasting while
technicians in the newsroom crouched under their desks to avoid being shot.
When I returned to my hotel at dusk, I watched a white Kia SUV roll slowly
down an otherwise-empty eight-lane road that cuts through the center of the
city. A man in the back seat pointed a rifle barrel out the window and
opened fire on a handful of innocent people walking a few hundred yards
away. On Sunday, I asked a police officer if he had received an official
order not to intervene in Saturday's street battles. His face bore a
shameful expression, and he replied, "No comment."
By late Saturday night, with the chief justice on a flight heading back to
Islamabad and with no chance of him speaking at the Sindh High Court (he
never left the airport lounge), the Rangers patrolled the streets, and the
containers and tankers were cleared from the intersections. But while a
forklift can clear a road within minutes, ethnic tensions are not so easily
soothed. In Quetta, a mostly Baluchi and Pashtun city near the Afghan
border, 415 miles from Karachi, unknown arsonists torched the MQM office.
And on Sunday, Pashtun-dominated areas of Karachi turned into battlegrounds
between mobs and the police. Syed claimed that Pashtuns suffered more
casualties than anyone else on Saturday. Now they wanted revenge. "If the
MQM accepts their mistakes and apologizes, then there is no problem for my
culture. We have big hearts," Syed said. "But if they don't accept their
mistakes, then we will take our revenge."
On Monday, May 14, the opposition parties called for a nationwide strike. It
marked the third straight day in which businesses remained closed;
shopkeepers didn't dare lift the metal shutters protecting their stores from
vandalism. The three days of strikes and violence amounted to roughly $400
million in lost national income, not to mention an incalculable loss of
confidence by foreign investors. On Tuesday morning, I returned once again
to the roundabout where rioters had clashed with the police all day on
Sunday. There, I spoke with a pudgy, middle-aged journalist named Rafiq. He
told me, "On May 12, the nexus between Musharraf and the MQM was fully
exposed. On the other side are the lawyers, journalists, students, traders,
Pashtuns, Baluchis, Punjabis, Sindhis, secular parties, religious parties,
and nationalist parties. The battle lines are drawn. Who knows where it will
end."
Doctor's
Disclosures Re MQM Role
May 12, 2007: The carnage on the streets
of Karachi yesterday has profoundly shocked this city. Yesterday was a
return to the days of mayhem of the 1990s, but one thing that has changed is
the new role for the alternative media. Blogging is a relatively unknown
phenomenon in Pakistan, but it does ever so often provide eye-witness
accounts by the average citizen.
SJ, a doctor in a state hospital in Karachi, recounts on Karachi Metblog his
experience yesterday:
I am a doctor. I work at a tertiary care, govt run, large and very well
known hospital in Karachi. I have been here at work for more than 32 hrs,
and am surfing/typing on my cell-phone. nothing struck down> my soul more
than what 9 fully armed workers of MQM alongwith 2 sector office bearers
did. They tried to drag out the wounded and dying body of a Sunni Tehrik
worker (we later learnt he was sunni tehrik) for presumably finishing him
off. When my junior residents said we could not allow that, they slapped
> my junior, dragged us both by our legs to the back of the gurney alley and
with shotguns, pistols and ak-47's in hand, ran in to our lobby presumably
attempting to search where the man in question was being treated. I ran out
to the rangers and police
ASI some distance from our front gate who when approached by myself said,
and I quote "When you know who these people are why do you still fight them|
we have orders from above to let them do whatever they want until 4pm. After
4pm we will look into the matter."
I recognized the sector office bearers of the MQM, because I have made the
mistake of voting for the MQM in the past. I called a friend in Bohrapir,
who is related to Farooq Sattar. 5 mins later the sector charges received a
call on their cell, and they left threatening me with I've seen your name.
No need to make any noise or else you know what will happen." The guy they
had come looking for had been shot one more time in the head. The OT dress
we had dressed him in 10 mins earlier was freshly bloody. I curse myself for
all times I have defended these people in discussions with friends.
Mohtarma
Bhutto returning to Pakistan this year, ‘no matter what’
Islamabad May 18, 2007: “Former Prime
Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto will return to Pakistan before the
elections, come what may”.
This has been stated by a spokesperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party in
response to the remarks of General Pervez Musharraf in a TV interview that
neither Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto nor Mian Nawaz Sharif will be allowed to
return to the country.
In a statement today he said that just as Musharraf was making this claim,
Mohtarma Bhutto was quoted in a foreign newspaper (Christian Science
Monitor) "no matter what, I am going back this year”.
He said that Musharraf’s remarks reflected the desperation of a dictatorship
that was dying as a result of general uprising spurred by the judicial
crisis.
The removal of the Chief Justice on charges of corruption has acted as a
catalyst for widespread unrest and heralded the beginning of the end of
dictatorship, he said, adding, “That is why General Musharraf is dreaming of
banning Mohtarma Bhutto from returning to the country”.
The
former premier has ruled out a political deal with President Musharraf
The
prospect of a political deal between Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf
and archrival Benazir Bhutto, one of Pakistan's most popular politicians and
the self-exiled leader of one of Pakistan's largest democratic parties, now
appears dead.
In an interview on Monday, Ms. Bhutto said that the killing of dozens of
citizens in Karachi by a pro-government mob on Saturday has shattered her
interest in cooperating with Mr. Musharraf. Such an arrangement, according
to rumors, would have lent legitimacy to Musharraf's declining regime while
sparing her prosecution from corruption charges. "With 42 people dead in
Karachi I just cannot envisage such a thing at this moment," she said. As
Bhutto recalled a phone conversation with a boy in Karachi who lost his
18-year-old brother in the shootings, tears appeared in her eyes.
A deal between Musharraf and Bhutto might have been a highly pragmatic
solution to ending Pakistan's growing political crisis, Pakistani analysts
and Western observers say, because Bhutto brings the patina of democracy,
popular support, and international legitimacy to Musharraf's strong arm in
dealing with the Taliban. But others worry that Bhutto's deal would
essentially bless Musharraf's military dictatorship, effectively splintering
opposition to the military regime. Calling off the deal would likely have a
dramatic impact on the political landscape, analysts say, encouraging the
opposition to bring an organized front to bear against Musharraf as
elections loom.
Bhutto heads the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), a moderate opposition party
that most analysts say has the largest support of any political group in
Pakistan. Elected prime minister twice in 1988 and 1993, she has lived in
self-exile since 1999, when Musharraf took power in a bloodless coup and
launched a series of corruption cases against her. The daughter of former
Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was overthrown and later executed,
Bhutto was the first woman to head a post-colonial Muslim state.
At her home in exile, Bhutto admitted that, from the end of last year until
the beginning of this year, she has been speaking with the Musharraf
government about possible political cooperation. She refused to elaborate,
but Pakistani newspapers have speculated for months that Musharraf, faced
with the worst crisis of his administration, was looking for a new coalition
partner to bail him out.
As part of the rumored arrangement, many have speculated that Musharraf was
prepared to drop the corruption charges against Bhutto, allowing her to
return to Pakistan as prime minister while he would remain the president,
possibly in uniform.
The closure of a wing in the country's National Accountability Bureau last
month, which specialized in corruption charges against Bhutto, seemed to
indicate that Musharraf had made that concession. But Bhutto, who vehemently
denies the allegations, said the charges still stand.
Although she would not go into details, Bhutto says the talks had already
been faltering because she distrusted Musharraf's side. She referred to an
assassination attempt earlier this year against her sister-in-law, PPP
Member of Parliament Azra Zardari. Police refused to file a criminal
complaint against a provincial minister and his bodyguards who were accused
of the shooting attempt.
"Now it has been just talk," Bhutto said. "My sister-in-law was fired upon,
and the police refused to file her case in February. When we are
discriminated against we begin to ask questions like 'how sincere are they?'
"
Weighing legitimacy against stability
Calling off the deal is likely to worry some Western officials in Islamabad,
who say that a Bhutto-Musharraf alliance topped their list of options for
bringing greater stability to Pakistan.
"We think that a deal with the PPP would strengthen [Musharraf's] political
base, which would strengthen his mandate to act against terrorism," says a
Western official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to
speak to the media.
But while such a deal may bring stability to Pakistani politics, many
critics say Bhutto's return would effectively legitimize Musharraf's
military dictatorship, delivering a grave blow to democracy.
"The deal was viewed as collusion. In one way, Musharraf's rule will be
strengthened, and he'll probably be allowed to have another term," argues
Sajjad Naseer, a political science professor at the Lahore School of
Economics, adding that many doubt Musharraf would grant any real power to
Bhutto even if she were prime minister.
Strengthening Musharraf would only undermine the democratic institutions
needed to effectively address terrorism, Mr. Naseer adds.
"If the democratic process is given a chance to operate, this itself will
dampen whatever extremism or terrorism exists. At least it will settle
domestic politics at the moment," he says, adding that, with the deal
seemingly called off, the prospect of the opposition parties uniting is
better for stability in the long run.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, with whom Bhutto had formed a political
alliance, is also considering a return from exile. Mr. Sharif recently told
The Times of London that Musharraf's power is "totally exhausted" and his
fall is "simply a matter of time."
"I have every intention of going back to my country," the Times reported
Sharif as saying.
Lost opportunities
But
as Musharraf weakens, the chance to start a government of moderate parties
is fading, Bhutto said.
"I think that if General Musharraf does that, he can bargain with the
political parties. All the moderate parties should be included," Bhutto
said. "But I can't talk about him having a chance right now because the
passions are running so high in Karachi that people will not hear of it."
Talat Hussain, director of news at the Pakistani television station Aaj in
Islamabad, says that Bhutto, sharing the same moderate views as Musharraf,
is a natural ally. But the weaker Musharraf becomes, he adds, the more
improbable a deal between Musharraf and Bhutto becomes.
"If she sees Musharraf truly weak and declining or falling, she will not go
on with this deal," says Mr. Hussain. "If she believes Musharraf is going to
stay strong she'll go through with this deal and come into Pakistan."
Bhutto says that she will return to Pakistan this year with or without a
political solution. "No matter what, I am going back this year. I have to go
back because I have been out for too long."
•David Montero contributed to this story from Islamabad, Pakistan.
Aitzaz
Ahsan to file two billion rupees damages suit against General Musharraf
Islamabad May 16, 2007: Aitzaz Ahsan, MNA
and lead counsel of the Chief Justice of Pakistan has announced that he will
file a damages suit for Rs. Two Billion (200 Crores) against General
Musharraf for falsely attributing the Karachi violence to him and the Chief
Justice.
Announcing his decision outside the Supreme Court after the hearing of the
Chief Justice’s petition against the President, Aitzaz Ahsan said that he
and the Chief Justice had traveled from Peshawar to Lahore through several
large and densely populated towns without any violence even though at least
ten million people came out to welcome the CJP along the entire route. Not a
blade of grass was broken, he said. Although all the political parties of
the opposition participated in the welcoming crowds, there was no violence
and no one resisted. These visits, along with the visits to Sukkhur and
Hyderabad, were on the invitation of the Bar Associations.
But when they arrived at the Karachi Airport on May 12 at the invitation of
the Sindh High Court Bar Association they learnt that four people had
already been shot dead in various parts of the city, Aitzaz said. Their
hosts were not at the airport because all roads to it had been blocked by
the Sindh Government by placing huge containers across them. An attempt was
made by the administration to kidnap the CJP. Then a hostile MQM rally
arrived at the airport and blocked their exit. They remained incommunicado
at the airport for 10 hours until Aitzaz Ahsan and other lawyers were
deported from Karachi.
Aitzaz said that the violence was a direct result of the MQM’s insistence to
take out a rally in opposition to the Chief Justice’s visit to Karachi on
that very day. Being an integral part of the Government, the MQM rally was
sponsored by the Sindh government. What right did they have to prevent any
Pakistani from visiting Karachi, what to say of the Chief Justice of
Pakistan? But the Government of Sindh even cordoned off the Sindh High Court
where the Chief Justice was to address the members of the Bar. Several
thousand lawyers were locked inside. Judges had to jump over the boundary
walls to enter the High Court premises.
The government’s insistence, through its integral ally the MQM, to take out
a counter-rally on the very same day led to the violence. Could the MQM-government
not have taken this rally out one day before or after? What right did they
have to stop people, any people, from going to receive the Chief Justice? he
asked. Now the MQM and the Government say that if the Chief Justice had not
come, or had traveled by helicopter, there would have been no violence. They
can only say so because they were themselves the authors of the violence.
In the evening on the same day that Karachi was burning, Aitzaz said,
General Musharraf celebrated with drums and dancing horses in Islamabad. Now
he has attributed the violence to Aitzaz and the Chief Justice. This amounts
to defamation and slander.
Karachi, he said, needed a healing hand not recriminations and false
allegations. The MQM government should admit its fault and mal-intent. It
should declare now that it will desist from any counter rally or resistance
when the Chief Justice is next invited to Karachi by the Bar Association.
Let those who want to come to receive him do so freely. Let those who donot
want to greet him exercise their free choice of not doing so. Let there be
no coercion or bitterness. Let there be peace. Let the confidence of
Karachi, the premier city of Pakistan, be restored.
Meanwhile since General Musharraf had directly implicated him, Aitzaz said,
he was constrained to sue Musharraf for damages in a court of law in the sum
of Rs. 200 Crores (two billion) for libel, recover the amount from
Mushrraf’s personal assets and estate and then donate the recovered amount
to the people of Karachi to help heal the wounds.
Regime
criticized for callousness towards victims of May 12 mayhem in Karachi
Islamabad May 16, 2007: Pakistan Peoples
Party has criticized the regime for its callousness towards the victims of
May 12 mayhem in Karachi perpetrated by a coalition partner of the regime of
General Pervez Musharraf.
In a statement today PPP leader Syed Khurshed Shah said that the people were
shocked to see that even after the passage of four days neither General
Musharaf nor Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had the sensitivity to visit the
families of the victims or the injured of May 12 mayhem in Karachi.
He said that on May 12 as the blood soaked dead bodies of youth lay
unattended on the roadside in Karachi General Musharraf, standing behind
bullet proof screen in Islamabad, raised his fists as contingents of rent a
crowd danced to the beat of drums. The photographs of the mayhem in Karachi
and celebrations in the federal capital on the same day will never be erased
from public consciousness, he said.
Syed Khursheed Shah said that it was all the more shocking that instead of
trying to heal the wounds of victims General Musharraf called a meeting of
coalition members of Parliament exhorting them not to abandon the MQM in
this crisis. The General also asked them to elect him as President from the
same assemblies and they should not worry about their election as he would
take care of it.
The PPP leader said that the regime appeared to see the killing of innocent
people as a " victory " but warned that it will turn out as its defeat.
Family
wants PPP leader freed
ISLAMABAD, May 16: Family members of
detained Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Rao Mohammad Tahir have
appealed for his release.
In a statement issued here, they said that Mr Tahir was a heart patient and
required regular medication.
Mr Tahir, PPP’s Sargodha district president, had been detained earlier this
month under 16-MPO to prevent him from participating in opposition protest
rallies during the judicial crisis.
They said he was arrested from Sargodha along with several other party
workers, all of whom have been released, however, Mr Tahir was shifted to
Mianwali Jail.
The government, they claimed, was forcing him to negotiate his release, but
he (Mr Tahir) was adamant on securing an unconditional release.
Destiny’s
Daughter
From The Times - April 28, 2007
Benazir Bhutto’s life has been a
rollercoaster of high political drama, acute personal loss, early triumph
followed by downfall and charges of corruption. Ginny Dougary meets her in
exile in Dubai, as she plans her return to power in Pakistan
The story of Benazir Bhutto is dramatic enough on paper but becomes almost
fantastic in person. Her pampered-princess start in life, raised at her
father’s knee in the ancestral estate on heady tales of the Bhutto family’s
political dynasty; her education at Harvard and Oxford, where she was
president of the Oxford Union; her heartbreaking return to Pakistan when she
was unable to save her beloved father – despite intense international
pressure – from being hanged in 1979 by General Zia’s military dictatorship,
whose coup had toppled Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s democratic government. Her
subsequent years of solitary confinement, as the new leader of the Pakistan
People’s Party (the mantle passed on to her by Bhutto Sr, who founded the
socialist party in 1967), in the squalid, inhumane conditions she had last
seen her father calmly endure; the isolation of house arrest with virtually
no visits or phone calls; her escape to Britain in 1984, campaigning in
exile against the injustices of the Zia regime, and triumphant return to
Pakistan two years later, where she was greeted by a staggering one million
supporters and elected prime minister at the age of 35, in 1988, the
youngest person and first woman to hold that position in any modern Muslim
nation.
Within two years, her government was controversially dismissed by the
military-backed president and an election called, in which the PPP (in a
democratic alliance) was defeated. In 1993, she was re-elected, only to be
dismissed once again three years later by another president on the grounds
of mismanagement and corruption. Since 1999, Bhutto has been in exile in
London and, latterly, Dubai, where she was reunited with her colourful
husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who was released from prison in Pakistan in
November 2004, having spent eight years awaiting trial on corruption and
murder charges.
Two years earlier, the present president, General Pervez Musharraf, who
continues to remain head of the military – seemingly impervious to
widespread public criticism of his dual role – introduced a new amendment to
Pakistan’s constitution, banning prime ministers from holding office for
more than two terms. This should disqualify Bhutto from ever resuming that
position and also her old rival, Nawaz Sharif. But in Pakistan, anything can
happen, and Bhutto is planning to return to her country – regardless of the
numerous corruption charges which she and her family still face (as well as
the couple’s separate, ongoing money-laundering case in Switzerland) – to
fight the allegedly free and democratic elections which have been promised
by the end of this year. As she says, her own life has mirrored the history
of Pakistan and that is why, at such a pivotal time in the West, it is both
fascinating and important to hear what Benazir Bhutto has to say.
The four hours spent in her home in Dubai are a rollercoaster of copious
laughter and floods of tears, noncommittal cautiousness and breathtaking
openness, plain-speaking to the point of impertinence and insinuating charm,
high-handed loftiness and affectionate intimacy. Bhutto is the most
extraordinary woman who says the most extraordinary things, veering wildly
between self-aggrandisement and a knowing, sometimes humorous, recognition
of how she can come across.
Although she declines to name names – saying that “it’s better not to give
the impression that you’re trying to fire political shots over somebody
else’s shoulder” – it is clear that there have been high-level discussions
behind the scenes in Washington, where Bhutto is frequently invited to give
speeches, and perhaps the UK. There continues to be widespread speculation
in the press about the possibility of a deal being struck between
Musharraf’s “people” and Bhutto’s party. Her response to these reports is
that although “there have been ‘back-channel’ contacts with Musharraf for
some time, they have not led to any understanding. And so all this talk of
an ‘understanding’ I find very confusing.” It is also confusing that while
Bhutto does not shirk from criticising Musharraf at every opportunity, she
also makes it clear in this interview that she would be prepared to work
alongside him as long as certain conditions were met.
In her riveting autobiography Daughter of the East, published in 1988 and
recently reissued with a new preface and conclusion, she tells us that her
father advised her never to lay all her cards on the table. Although there
may have been a time when she found it difficult to stick to his advice – “I
always lay my cards on the table” she maintained – I certainly find it
difficult to pin her down on her current political agenda. It requires an
exhausting degree of Paxmanesque persistence, repeatedly asking the same
question, to elicit this response on the possibility of a Musharraf-Bhutto
alliance: “You have asked me an important question and I want to give you my
answer, since my followers will read this and they haven’t heard me speak
like this before,” Bhutto finally allows. “Firstly, I plan to go back to
Pakistan by the end of this year whether Mr Musharraf would like it or
whether he would not like it. And I believe that the [corruption] cases must
all be dropped, which categorically has not happened. Not one single case
has been dropped and you will please note that between my mother, my
father-in-law and myself there are about 20 charges or more. And what I feel
and my party feels is that for more than a decade these charges have been
used to hobble the opposition? to undermine my leadership and the PPP, and
they should be dropped because none of them has been proven, and if they’re
not dropped then it creates an unbalance as we enter the elections of 2007.
And we feel outraged that government funds have been used on a politically
motivated investigation that has borne no fruit over ten years.
“But I also believe there are other important issues for the people of
Pakistan to consider, which is would Musharraf continue to keep his uniform?
And would there be a balance of power between the president and the prime
minister, because at the moment we have shadow-boxing, where the prime
minister is technically the head of the government but the substantive
decisions are taken by the presidency or the military.” The current state of
play, she goes on to say, is that General Musharraf’s ruling party has said
that “they can rig the election so there’s no need for free elections or a
future parliament headed by the PPP? Which is why it’s premature to talk
about working alongside General Musharraf at this stage, although in the
past we have worked jointly on certain issues such as the Women’s Bill.
“At the same time, I want you to know that we are also partners with Mr
Nawaz Sharif [in exile after he was deposed by Musharraf’s military coup] in
something called the charter for the restoration of democracy, so we are
talking about a new democratic process in which the people of Pakistan are
allowed to choose their leader and put together a coalition. And for that we
are calling for a robust international monitoring team to ensure that these
elections are fair and free because obviously if they’re not, the ruling
party will still be in the driver’s seat and the creeping Talebanisation of
Pakistan will continue.”
Bhutto does not rule out the possibility that she might become prime
minister again: “If the people vote for my party [she remains chairperson of
the PPP, which received the highest number of votes in the last
parliamentary election in 2002] and parliament elects me as prime minister,
it would be an honour for me to take up that role and General Musharraf
would be there as president, so I think that a good working relationship
between him and me would be a necessity for Pakistan.” What a pragmatist she
must be. “Yes, I would have the choice of either respecting the will of the
people and making it a success or being short-sighted and putting my
personal feelings about past events ahead of the national interest, and what
I want more than anything is for Pakistan to prosper as we make a transition
to democracy,” she says.
I put a number of questions to Senator Tariq Azim Khan, the Federal Minister
of State for Information and Broadcasting, to establish the Pakistan
Government’s position. He was affable and helpful on the telephone and sent
me his answers, as requested, in writing. Yes, he wrote, there are a number
of cases still pending in various courts in Pakistan against Ms Bhutto and
her husband, Mr Zadari – and these cases (almost all 10 to 11 years old)
have not been dropped. No, it is highly unlikely that she will be arrested
upon arrival in Pakistan. She will nevertheless have to apply for bail in
the cases where she has been convicted while abroad. And, lastly, for Ms
Bhutto to become the prime minister for the third time, the constitution
will have to be amended and this will require a two-thirds majority in
parliament.
Pakistan has been ruled by the military for so many years since it came into
being in 1947, that I wonder whether democracy will ever have a chance to
flourish. “Democracy can work in Pakistan if the West stops upholding
military dictatorships through their financial and political support,”
Bhutto says. “Our tragedy has been that the military has been able to
exploit the West’s strategic interest in Afghanistan for almost two
decades.” And you and your party would like that support? “Of course, we
need that economic assistance and diplomatic support and we didn’t have it.”
Do you think there is any likelihood of you ever getting it? “Pakistan is a
critical country,” she says.
Musharraf is undeniably under siege at the moment, which has grave
implications beyond his own country. There have been violent protests
against his dismissal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on the flimsiest of
grounds, provoking fears that the government is attempting to muzzle the
independence of the judiciary, and newspapers such as Dawn – set up by the
lawyer and founding father of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah – have been
alerting the international media community about unacceptable levels of
government control.
Meanwhile in the same capital, ostensibly the very stronghold of government
power, we witness the strange spectacle of stick-waving, burkha-clad
schoolgirls – like a fundamentalist version of St Trinian’s – kidnapping
suspected brothel-keeping madames (an elderly woman, her daughter,
daughter-in-law and six-month-old granddaughter), and then the police
officers themselves who came to release the captives. But the more one reads
about this incident, the more alarming it becomes. In Feburary, 3,000 of
these female students from the hardline Jamia Hafsa madrassa connected to
the Lal Masjid mosque, occupied the only children’s library in Islamabad,
where they remain, saying that any action to remove them will be met with
violence. The black-shrouded girls have also been seen in the company of
male students carrying Kalashnikov rifles. During their protests, the
students chant the names of Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar, the Taleban
leader.
The headquarters of Pakistan’s intelligence security agency – the ISI – are
close to the mosque and it has been reported that several of its members are
regulars there. Some believe that there are rogue elements within the agency
who have strong ties with al-Qaeda and the Taleban. Ever since Musharraf
chose to back America’s War on Terror, there have been calls in the mosque
for his death.
Even to those of us in the West who are not nuanced in the labyrinthine
historical intricacies of the politics of Pakistan, there is a growing
concern that what happens so many miles away has the potential to make a
devastating impact on our own lives. Dutiful English-born boys, often from
blameless Muslim families, continue to travel to Pakistan – some already
radicalised but not all – to one or other madrassas, emerging from those
religious schools with a hatred of their parents’ adopted country, and we
are all too aware of where that can lead.
It was my understanding that Musharraf’s inability to control the Taleban-controlled
Waziristan – on the Pakistan border of Afghanistan – was an inevitable
source of disquiet for his American backers and likely to make them at the
very least question his leadership qualities. Benazir Bhutto’s response to a
recent treaty which had been negotiated was: “My party would not have
allowed the Taleban to become such a huge force that they would need to sign
a peace treaty.” What the West wants to avoid at all costs is the
possibility of the fundamentalists seizing power. And according to Bhutto,
who is, of course, hardly an impartial observer, Musharraf, far from being
weak, is strategically catering to the extremists in order to convince the
US that unless they continue to back him their worst fears will be realised.
Does Bhutto know whether Musharraf is anxious about losing US backing? “The
indications are that he is confident that he has the support of the White
House and that because of the situation arising with Iran’s stand-off with
the West he feels that he will continue to be a key ally,” she says. “In
fact, as far as General Musharraf is concerned, I think he feels that he’s
got the West in his hands.” A provocative remark fully intended, one feels,
to pack a well-aimed punch.
Bhutto believes that the PPP is feared by the current powers that be because
“my party has a modern agenda, speaks for the ordinary Pakistanis and has
grass-roots support,” she says. “And they dislike me because I’m a woman and
because my father was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. And they have a hatred for the
Bhutto family, stemming from the fact that my father was able to defeat them
in the elections – and the only political party that has defeated this army
slate or generals’ slate in my father’s time and my time has been the PPP.”
When she was first elected in 1988, there wasn’t an awareness of what was
really happening in the madrassas – “But by the time I became prime minister
for the second time in 1993, Pakistan was on the brink of being declared a
terrorist state and my government worked very closely with the international
community to reform the madrassas and restore law and order.” None of this
was painless, she says, “there was bloodshed in the streets of Karachi
[which was flooded with Afghan refugees in the Eighties and Nineties, and
there were terrible scenes of political and sectarian violence] and I can’t
tell you how awful it was getting daily reports of 30 people killed and 20
people killed, but I ended the army operation there after one year, and in
the second year the raids went down and I remember how happy I was when I
got my first report of ‘zero deaths’. These militant terrorists hold whole
cities and towns and villages hostage, and it’s not easy confronting them.”
Bhutto represents everything the fundamentalists hate – a powerful,
highly-educated woman operating in a man’s world, seemingly unafraid to
voice her independent views and, indeed, seemingly unafraid of anything,
including the very real possibility that one day someone might succeed in
killing her because of who she is. Her father brought her up to believe in
their Islamic faith’s certainty that life and death are in God’s hands.
Perhaps it is also her sense of destiny – the daughter, rather than her
brothers, groomed from such an early age to be the political heir to her
father, despite her initial reluctance – which explains her equanimity in
the face of death. “My father always would say, ‘My daughter will go into
politics? My daughter will become prime minister’, but it’s not what I
wanted to do. I would say, ‘No, Papa, I will never go into politics.’ As
I’ve said before, this is not the life I chose; it chose me,” she says. “But
I accepted the responsibility and I’ve never wavered in my commitment.” Does
this unshakable certainty make it easier for her to accept whatever happens
to her? “Yes, in a way, because I don’t fear death. I remember my last
meeting with my father when he told me, ‘You know, tonight when I will be
killed, my mother and my father will be waiting for me.’ It makes me weepy,”
she says, as her eyes fill up, “but I don’t think it can happen unless God
wants it to happen because so many people have tried to kill me.
“Let me tell you, the World Trade Center was attacked twice, although most
people only remember the second one. But the first time, in 1993, it was
Ramzi Yousef and the second attack was by [his uncle] Khalid Sheikh
Mohammed, who has confessed and is in American custody, and both these men
tried to kill me and failed. So they succeeded with the World Trade towers
but they didn’t succeed with me.” This is quite a bravura statement, despite
its matter-of-fact delivery. But then she does have an occasional tendency
to express herself in hyperbolic terms, which makes her sound rather
grandiose. In the new preface of her autobiography, she compares herself –
in the context of her drawn-out reluctance to get married – to Elizabeth I,
“who had also endured imprisonment and remained single”.
When we discuss her initiative to privatise the public sector in Pakistan,
inspired by Margaret Thatcher’s policies (an unusual role model for a
socialist, particularly one whose father introduced nationalisation to his
country), she makes a point of saying: “Very few people realise that it was
my government [in 1988-90] that was the catalyst for the privatisation of
South Asia? And now when you look at socialism, it is redefined even in the
Scandinavian countries and in England. But I redefined socialism. I was
simply doing what other socialists were going to do – and ten years before
Tony Blair.”
At one point, I try unsuccessfully to draw Bhutto out on her social life at
Harvard and Oxford, where she cut such a glamorous figure in her racy yellow
sports car, and she explains why this whole area is so difficult for her to
discuss: “When I returned to Pakistan, I was held on a pedestal. I was
neither man nor woman. I was regarded as a saint.”
Bhutto may be to some a somewhat tarnished saint by now, her reputation
sullied by the corruption charges, of which the most damaging is the ongoing
court case in Switzerland, (“Oh, they’ve gone on endlessly,” she sighs),
regardless of the eventual outcome. But she is still a force to be reckoned
with, as witnessed by the febrile speculation over her comeback. She
maintains that had her government remained in power, most of the world’s
terrorist tragedies would not have occurred – since the trail so often leads
back to Pakistan.
“I really do think that there is at least some degree of causality that most
major terrorist attacks took place when the extremists did not have to deal
with a democratic Pakistani government, when they operated without check and
oversight,” she writes in the new conclusion to her book. “I believe that if
my government had not been destabilised in Pakistan in 1996, the Taleban
could not have allowed Osama bin Laden to set up base in Afghanistan, openly
recruit and train young men from all over the Muslim world and declare war
on America in 1998.”
Bhutto knows that in returning to her homeland, she may be arrested or
killed the moment she steps off the plane. This is why she is still careful
not to discuss her travel arrangements: “I feel very jittery even if my best
friend asks me when I’m leaving? I think the threat very much remains
because my politics can disturb not only the military dictatorship in
Pakistan, but it has a fall-out on al-Qaeda and a fall-out on the Taleban.”
Do all these thwarted attempts on her life make Bhutto feel weirdly
immortal? “No,” she says. “I know death comes. I’ve seen too much death,
young death. My young brothers I have buried and my security guard who was
like a brother to me was brutally gunned down, two years ago. I’ve been to
the homes of people who have been hanged and people who were shot in the
street so, no, I don’t feel that there’s anything like immortality.”
As we sit in Bhutto’s study talking about death and torture and mayhem,
servants come and go bearing cups of green tea fragrant with cardamom. She
is dressed up for the photographs in a dazzling emerald-green shalwar kameez,
with matching power-shouldered blazer, and her hair is free of the white
headscarf she dons in public. When I ask her whether she has expensive
jewellery on, she laughs prettily: “Yes, I do. I confess.” There are
sapphires and pearl rings, all presents from her husband, as well as a
socking great man’s watch – “I like big watches? All the better to see you
with, my dear” – the face packed with oversize diamonds. The cheapest ring,
a simple metal band, was a gift from a follower intended to ward off evil
omens.
Her mother, Nusrat, marooned in her lonely descent into Alzheimer’s, is
somewhere in the house; the only sign of her existence is an empty
wheelchair behind the sweeping staircase. Bhutto mentions her often, and it
is clear that this once stunning Iranian beauty has left as much of an
imprint on her daughter as the father. Over lunch – I am served curry while
our hostess abstemiously sticks to broth and tinned tuna – Bhutto
surprisingly tells me that she is envious of the way I have let myself go.
“My mother was always telling me that if I ever got fat, my husband would
leave me for a younger woman,” she says. A Pakistani friend of mine told me
that in her country, this direct way of speaking is considered quite normal
among upper-class society women and is not meant unkindly.
When she was a little girl, Bhutto’s father used to say: “Well, if Nehru’s
daughter can become prime minister of India, my daughter can become prime
minister of Pakistan.” He was always telling her about women leaders, and
that was where her radicalisation began: “Of course, I come from a region
that has produced women leaders, and so he would talk to me about Indira
Gandhi and Mrs Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka, Golda Meir and also Joan of Arc.”
These were remote figures for her as a girl and it was Margaret Thatcher’s
rise to power, which Bhutto was in England to witness, that really inspired
her.
At Harvard, she joined the protests against the Vietnam War and read all the
feminist bibles: “I was certainly emboldened by their writing because at
that time at college there was still a debate between those women who wanted
to get married and those of us who wanted to have careers.” When I ask her
whether she calls herself a feminist, she looks uncomfortable: “I consider
myself a defender of women’s rights, yes.” You don’t like the label? “Well,
feminist has connotations of people burning their – ah – underwear in the
streets.” So did you burn your bra? “No, I never did,” she smiles, “and that
[bra] is another inappropriate word not used by good Muslim women!” It is at
times like this that you catch a glimpse of what fun Bhutto can be, when she
goes “off-message” and is distracted from the pressing concerns of her
political future. She says that some of the best years of her life were at
university: “Because I was free and in a different culture and the shops had
all nice things and it was a different world, but that world ended when I
returned to Pakistan in 1977.”
Bhutto, like most people, is full of contradictions. For all her
intelligence and determination, she definitely has her fragile side. You
don’t expect such a fierce spirit to quote Dale Carnegie as a fount of
wisdom or to say that she reads self-help books “to try to cope with stress
and anxiety”. In her library, the different categories denoted by
hand-written paper stickers, four shelves are devoted to self-help, with
titles such as Women Who Love Too Much, Self Help for Your Nerves, Secrets
about Men that Every Woman Should Know and The Art of Being a Lady.
This last book could have been penned by her mother. While Benazir’s father
was preparing her to be a political leader, Nusrat was instructing her
daughter on how to dress for success. “She was very strict about exercising
and her weight, and was always telling us that we had to groom ourselves
properly and be neat, tidy and smart,” Bhutto says. She still remembers the
time when she was 13 and her mother, speaking to her relatives in Persian,
complained “‘Oh, Benazir has got so fat’ in such a disappointed way that I
at once redoubled my efforts to get thin.” But it was years later, when she
was already being half-starved in prison, that she became anorexic.
Now that Bhutto is 53, she finds herself tempted to relax about her
appearance, the grooming and the nails. It’s not in her nature to worry
about such things and she doesn’t like it, but it’s become a discipline –
and she’s always on one diet or another. She talks about food like an
addict, with her love for Ben & Jerry’s caramel fudge ice-cream, chocolate
cake and meringues: “I eat for comfort. If I want to reward myself, I eat.
If I’m unhappy, I eat. I love my food. It’s the one thing that doesn’t
complain to me or nag me or cause me any immediate unhappiness.” Sometimes
she fantasises about what it would be like to have a different life: “It
would be so nice to have the luxury just to laze. So nice not to have to
always get up and get dressed for some occasion. Always having to move from
here to there, where everything is scheduled and even having lunch with my
kids on their Easter break has to be slotted in. Maybe one day...”
It’s hard to know what part Bhutto’s husband would play in this fantasy
life. I asked Benazir whether they were separated, as he has been living in
New York since 2005, but she denies any rift, saying that he needs to be
there for medical reasons (hypertension, diabetes, a heart attack) and she
flies out to visit him at least once a month. In the past, Bhutto has
conceded – and it has been put to her so very often – that her husband has
been a political liability, with his nickname of Mr 10 Per Cent and his role
as his wife’s investment minister. But she also says that she is a human
being as well as a politician and so, unlike Tessa Jowell, whatever the
fall-out, she continues to stand by her man. Perhaps as a Muslim woman in
the political spotlight, it is useful to have a husband in tow – however
problematic he may be – but I catch a glimpse of genuine affection when she
describes his arrival at their home in Dubai, after his last eight-year
incarceration.
“You know, out of the 19 years that we have been married, he has spent 11½
in prison,” she says. “And although we were all excited and the children had
put out lights and balloons, I was obviously a little apprehensive about
getting to know him again. It had been such a long period of time and life
is all about shared experiences and I was wondering whether he was the same
person I knew.?” And?? I ask expectantly. “And I was very happy to see that
he came in with the same jaunty smile,” she says, and for a moment she looks
quite different, and almost youthful, with her flushed cheeks and bright
expression.
Bhutto’s mother was always trying to line her up with “good husband”
material, who would be dutiful and not cause her any problems. When she was
finally ready to submit herself to an arranged marriage – as distinct from a
forced marriage against the woman’s will – what appealed to her about
Zardari was that he seemed to be his own man, unafraid to stand up to her
but confident enough in himself, presumably unusual in a Muslim man, to take
a supporting role to his wife.
Was there ever a moment when she fell in love with her husband? “What is
falling in love and what is love? You know, I love my husband and he loves
me,” she says. “I liked his humour and his looks. I liked the sense he gave
me of protection and I Iiked the respect he gave me, OK?” Her husband cut
new ground, she says, because people weren’t used to a male spouse or having
to deal with spouses who had a life or personality or income of their own.
There were difficulties at first and lots of heated discussions. “He never
imagined that I was going to get elected as prime minister [particularly
since she was pregnant with their first child, who was born days before his
mother went on to win the elections] although he was about the only person
who didn’t,” she says. “He found it very difficult to cope with initially?
the adulation, the scrutiny, the phone surveillance and lack of privacy. Now
he’s got used to it.”
Although the received opinion is that it is Benazir whose standing has been
besmirched by her husband’s perceived wheeler-dealing, it is also true that
he has suffered because of her career. This may explain why she falls apart,
quite shockingly, when she recalls the time that her husband was tortured in
prison – his neck slit, his tongue cut – and almost killed. “It is so awful
when in your own country you cannot get justice,” she is gulping with grief.
“He nearly died and only narrowly survived and I didn’t know what to do to
save his life.”
I find myself asking her, rather clinically, why she still gets so
emotional. It seems odd, although not necessarily unappealing, that she
isn’t harder after everything she and her family have endured. “What upsets
me is that I almost lost my husband,” she says, blowing her nose loudly.
“And also I was brought up to believe that human beings are good, which is
why it shocks me to the core when I see human beings behaving badly.” This
is the self-help devotee speaking, rather than the tough political
pragmatist. The man she calls her new partner in democracy, Nawaz Sharif,
was prime minister when her husband was tortured and almost died, and was
also responsible for initiating the corruption charges that the couple have
been fighting ever since. And it was General Musharraf who Bhutto turned to
then, to intercede on her husband’s behalf.
Benazir is running late in her scheduled, slotted life. She goes to refresh
her make-up for our photograph session, leaving me to chat to a group of men
who have been waiting patiently to see her. They are all political exiles
and Bhutto supporters – a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer and a property
developer – and they are polite but nervous. I pass the time reading an
interview in Newsweek with Ali Saleem, the son of a retired army officer,
and a bisexual transvestite who has a weekly television chat show which is
cult viewing in Pakistan. When Benazir reappears, her face now caked in
chalky white foundation and a gash of lipstick, I point out the passage
where Saleem says that he has modelled himself on her. She asks the serious,
suited men whether they think this is a good thing, and it’s hard to know
whether she’s being playful or not. It is a suitably bizarre ending to an
unforgettable meeting. It was her father who chose to call his first-born
daughter Benazir, which means “without comparison”. I think he would feel
that she is living up to his name.
PPP calls
upon regime to stop harassing former DIG Saleemullah
Islamabad May 16, 2007: Pakistan Peoples
has expressed grave concern over the arrest in Islamabad of DIG Mirpurkhas
in Sindh Rana Saleemullah Khan and demanded protection to him and an end to
his harassment.
Former DIG police operations Mirpurkhas, Rana Saleemullah Khan who was
arrested on Monday in Islamabad has expressed apprehensions that like late
the former Additional Registrar of Supreme Court Hammad he too will be
assassinated because as investigation officer in the Munno Bheel case he had
become an important defence witness in the Chief Justice case now pending
before the Supreme Judicial Council. The former DIG also told journalists at
the time of production before local court that he was innocent but like
Hammad had been caught up in a war between he administration and the
judiciary.
In a statement today spokesperson of the Party said that the civil society,
members of the bar and human rights bodies must join hands and raise voice
for the protection of former DIG Saleemullah. The Party also urges the
Supreme Court to take suo moto notice of the threat to the life of yet
another important witness in the CJ’s case, he said.
The Party calls upon the regime to immediately stop harassing Saleemullah
and to give him protection.
The spokesperson said that the Party would also raise the issue with
international organizations and human rights bodies to save Saleemullah from
being harmed by a vindictive regime.
PPP
questions Khan's arrest
Or
PPP to fight any attempt to influence the CJ trial
Islamabad, May 16, 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party questioned the arrest of the ex-Mirpurkhas DIG Saleemullah
Khan who is said to be an important witness in the Chief Justice case in the
Supreme Court.
A great deal of ambiguity surrounds the arrest of Saleemullah Khan, the ex
DIG Mirpurkhas. He was earlier reportedly suspended by the Federal
Government after he attempted to register a case against the ex-IG Sindh
Police, Jahangeer Mirza. His arrest from Islamabad follows Sindh Police's
allegations that Saleemullah was wanted in the case relating to the
kidnapping of the Munnu Bheel family. According to Saleemullah's family, he
was suspended from the police after following the directives of the Chief
Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry who had initiated a suo moto action
regarding Munnu Bheel's ordeal. Khan had registered an FIR against the
powerful feudal lord allegedly involved in Munnu Bheel's family's abduction.
The said person reportedly had connections with the Sindh Chief Minister
Arbab Ghulam Rahim.
While denouncing Saleemullah's arrest, Sherry Rehman the Central Information
Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party observed that the ex-DIG's arrest that
followed Hammad Raza's murder in Islamabad, is an indication that the regime
is launching a crackdown on the judiciary. "Saleemullah was an important
witness in the Munnu Bheel case. His suspension and arrest smack of
controversy since the Sindh CM's involvement in Munnu Bheel and missing
people's case is no secret. It is worth mentioning that Saleemullah had just
recently appeared on a TV talk show and explained how he was directed by the
Sindh CM to ignore the directives of the Chief Justice in the Munnu Bheel
case."
According to Rehman, now that the Reference case is following an open trial
and is being pursued by a full bench, the Musharraf regime is doing all it
can to ensure that the CJ is left with no important witnesses to support his
case in the trial. "Now that the regime has no way of manipulating the court
proceedings, it is seeking to sabotage the case by eliminating and harassing
important witnesses who may play a role in turning the decision against the
government. Raza's murder and Khan's arrest stand as strong message to all
those testifying in the CJ case," Rehman observed.
Rehman also pointed out that Khan was arrested as if he were an absconder.
"What was the need to arrest him and rush him to Mirpurkhas and issue non-bailable
warrants against him when he has been freely moving around in Islamabad, and
had even appeared on a TV show, after his suspension. The sense of urgency
with which the regime is seeking Khan confirms that the intention behind his
arrest is to sabotage the CJ case."
Demanding an immediate release of the ex-DIG, Rehman said that if the Sindh
Government has any valid case against Khan, he doesn't have to be behind the
bars for it to be pursued. "His arrest is not only akin to declaring him
guilty before proven innocent, but it also hampers the proceedings of the CJ
case since Saleem is a potential defence witness of the CJ. There are strong
fears that like Raza, he will also be eliminated in an extra judicial
manner."
Rehman warned that the PPP has been monitoring the CJ trial very closely,
and would not tolerate any attempt to sabotage the case. "Raza's murder
caused irreversible damage to the case. We will not let the Musharraf regime
play with the judiciary any more. The PPP will fight any attempt to
influence the trial," said Rehman
PPP
condemns brutal murder of SC official as targeted killing
Welcomes suo moto notice by SC, Widow spills the beans
Islamabad May 15, 2007: Pakistan Peoples
Party has condemned the murder of Syaed Hammad Raza additional registrar
Supreme Court in the early hours of Monday calling it a targeted murder.
In a statement today spokesperson of the Party said that Party welcomes the
suo moto notice taken by the Supreme Court of the murder.
The widow of Hammad Raza has said that her husband was killed as a warning
to the Supreme Court Judges. She alleged that the regime was involved in
murder. She disclosed that some people wearing police uniform were in her
lawn and when she ran out crying for help, they refused to help.
The late Hammad’s father said that the killers held the teenage housemaid
Ashee at gun point forcing her to take them to the upstairs to Hammad Raza’s
bedroom where he was shot dead at point blank range.
Deputy Registrar Hammad’s widow is a British national. Officials from the
U.K High Commission rushed to the scene of the murder.
The spokesperson said that PPP Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto prayed
for eternal peace for the soul of slain Hammad Raza.
Mohtarma
Bhutto condemns suicide blast in Peshawar
Says regime's policies fanning extremism and terrorism
Islamabad May 15, 2007: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto has condemned the suicide bomb blast in Peshawar hotel that killed
nearly thirty people as a despicable crime against humanity.
"The regime has miserably failed in its responsibility to contain militants
and extremists", she said in a statement today.
She noted that terrorism had spread throughout the country. Armed private
militias to stalking markets in Bara (Khyber Agency), religious militants in
Swat, parts of Islamabad are under the Lal Masjid clerics, Karachi is held
hostage by terrorists in the ruling coalition, the tribal areas are under
local taliban, domination and suicide bombers kill innocents in Peshawar
creating insecurity.
By previously signing peace treaties with terrorists and extremists in the
tribal areas the regime had emboldened to spread to the settled areas of the
country as well; Mohtarma Bhutto said.
She said the PPP is alarmed over the spread of violence and terrorism
throughout the country. Mohtarma said without regime change could enflame
the whole country.
She said that the extremists and militants have regrouped and grown in
strength following the rigging of the general elections in 2002.
Mohtarma Bhutto prayed for all those who lost their lives in the bomb blast
and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families. She also prayed for the
early recovery of those injured.
The Party Chairperson also directed the provincial party leadership to visit
and extend all possible help to the families of the victims and to those
injured.
Mohtarma condemns
killing of teenagers by Rangers in Lyari
Calls for Inquiry Commission into bloodbath of May 12
Islamabad May 15, 2007: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto has condemned the use of disproportionate force against young and
innocent teenagers in Lyari who were killed by the Rangers Monday evening.
In a statement today Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party said that the
Rangers were sent to protect the citizens and children of Karachi, not to
kill them.
Eyewitnesses said that PPP workers including 22 year old Sanni son of Gulzar
Masih a Christian and18 year old Sohail Ahmad son of Saleh Muhammad and a
ten year old child Faizan were killed when Rangers in Lyari opened fire on
them at around 8.30 PM on Monday without any provocation. Twenty five year
old Amjad and 17 year youth Sajjad Ali were injured in the Rangers shoot
out.
“The Pakistan Peoples Party demands that the Rangers hold an inquiry into
the killing of three youth and a child in Lyari who were victims of
disproportionate force and lost their lives”.
She said the killings had devastated the families who could never recover
from the tragedy and it must be ensured that such killing does not take
place again.
Mohtarma Bhutto called upon the judiciary to take suo moto notice of the
killings of the three youth children. She said that the PPP wanted the blood
bath to stop.
The PPP was unhappy to see that first the people of Karachi lost their lives
at the hands of suspected MQM terrorists and now were losing their lives at
the hands of the Rangers.
Mohtarma Bhutto condoled with the families of the two boys as well as with
the families of all those who had been killed in the Karachi carnage.
She said that the Pakistan Peoples Party called for a Commission to inquire
into the bloody events of May 12, 2007.
The former Prime Minister said that the PPP would continue to give political
support to the lawyers’ movement under which all political parties had
rallied to protect the judiciary. She said that the movement for protection
of judiciary, which was part of a democratic system was enlarging into a
political one. She noted that elections cannot be held freely if gangsters,
thugs, terrorists take cities hostage.
She said that the terrorists who came with sticks to beat up the Opposition
in Islamabad and came with guns to kill them in Karachi would never permit
fair elections. Therefore under the banner of the lawyers movement the
political parties are all consolidating to continue their struggle for the
replacement of the present regime with the formation of a national
government of consensus to hold fair elections and transfer power to the
people, she said.
Mohtarma Bhutto noted that under the present regime the state authority had
collapsed the country was heading towards anarchy and chaos. The regime was
contributing towards civil war by disrupting the constitutional right of
freedom of movement and freedom of association with sticks and guns. She
said that the tribal areas had been parcelled out to the Taliban, whereas
Tank and Bannu had been given to the religious elements, parts of Islamabad
to the Imam of Lal Masjid, Gujrat to the Chaudhries, Attock to the Nazim
under whose Nazimi nearly twenty workers of the PPP had been slaughtered and
Karachi to the terrorists suspected of belonging to the MQM.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that democracy could only be restored when a national
government was able to offer protection to the innocent citizens in casting
the vote free from the shadows of the thugs and terrorists.
The former Prime Minister also praised the lawyers and members of the
political parties who faced huge risks in fighting for the rule of law and
democracy.
Pakistan
on brink of disaster as Karachi burns
By Isambard Wilkinson and Massoud Ansari in Karachi,
Sunday
Telegraph
Chaos gripped the streets of Karachi yesterday as gun battles left at least
31 people dead and hundreds more injured, threatening a complete breakdown
of law and order in Pakistan's largest and most volatile city.
With plumes of black smoke billowing over the city of 12 million people,
there were extraordinary scenes as gunmen on motorbikes pumped bullets into
crowds demonstrating against Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, while
police stood by and watched.
Gun battles left at least 31 people dead and hundreds more injured
In images more reminiscent of Baghdad, bloodstained corpses lay where they
had fallen in the streets and bodies piled up in hospital morgues. As the
sense of crisis deepened, a crisis meeting between Gen Musharraf and the
prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, resolved to send in paramilitary troops to
restore order, and to place the army on standby. The men agreed that a state
of emergency would be imposed if the first two options failed.
It was the bloodiest escalation of the two-month long saga which began when
the president attempted to sack the country's chief justice in March. The
ensuing challenge by lawyers and opposition parties to Gen Musharraf's
eight-year rule has left the president - a key Western ally in the "war on
terror" - desperately clinging to power.
Opponents believe he had hoped to create a compliant judiciary ahead of
elections which he has promised to hold later this year. But what started as
a political confrontation has now lit Karachi's tinderbox of ethnic rivalry.
Yesterday's violence erupted as Iftikhar Chaudhry, the suspended chief
justice, flew in to Karachi Jinah International Airport to address a rally.
Many of the 15,000 police and security forces deployed in the city stood
idly by as armed activists from Karachi's ruling party, Muttahida Qaumi
Movement (MQM), a coalition ally of Gen Musharraf, blocked Mr Chaudhry's
exit from the airport and took control of the city's central district.
The movement's leader, Altaf Hussain - who lives in self-imposed exile in
London - co-ordinated opposition to Mr Chaudhry's arrival and addressed
crowds gathered on the streets of Karachi in a mobile phone call relayed by
loudspeakers.
He called on supporters to be peaceful but to show whose city it was.
Instead, violence reigned.
Gunmen tore off on motorbikes after brazenly firing AK-47 rifles at
opposition supporters. One report described MQM gunmen exchanging gunfire
for an hour with activists from the exiled former premier Benazir Bhutto's
Pakistan People's Party.
Road blocks, including trucks with deflated tires, prevented most of Mr
Chaudhry's supporters from reaching the airport to greet him. But a few
dozen lawyers who reached there on foot chanted, "We are with you. Down with
Musharraf." Dozens of vehicles and petrol pumps were set alight by the angry
mobs.
Vehicles were set alight as clashes broke out between political activists
Inside
Mr Chaudhry's intended destination, Sind's high court, hundreds of lawyers,
some of them bloodied after being beaten up by MQM supporters, milled about
chanting slogans and receiving news on their mobile phones about the trouble
engulfing them. Outside, MQM activists with pistols tucked into their jeans,
blocked the entrance.
Lawyers railed against the government. "This is a shocking attempt by the
government to suppress the people," Iqbal Haider, a human rights lawyer and
former senator, told The Sunday Telegraph. "Musharraf is making all sorts of
mistakes to save himself from sinking."
As fans stirred the humid air, news poured in of unrest spreading to other
parts of the country. Convoys of buses, cars and rickshaws festooned with
flags of political parties careered through Karachi's main thoroughfares.
Tension has been simmering in Karachi for the past week, with rumours
swirling round that Mr Musharraf had allowed conflicting rallies to go ahead
to create the requisite level of disorder to justify the declaration of an
emergency. The prelude to violence was familiar to Karachi, where hundreds
of people were killed in ethnic violence in the 1990s.
Exacerbating the political furore in Karachi over the sacking of Mr Chaudhry
is a decades-old and simmering feud between the MQM, a movement supported by
the city's mohajir population who migrated from India at Partition in 1947,
and ethnic Pathans, who were originally from Pakistan's North West Frontier
province.
Opponents of the MQM claim that its actions yesterday were ordered in
micro-detail by the movement's autocratic leader, via telephone, from
Edgware in north London.
Lawyers surround suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
Altaf Hussain wields great influence from afar over Karachi, a city of 15
million. Amid the chaos and bloodshed, the MQM chief addressed tens of
thousands of his followers gathered along one of Karachi's main streets.
As his speech echoed over its audience, in other parts of the city gunmen
from both heavily armed factions took up positions on rooftops and sprayed
streets with automatic gunfire. Dozens of wounded were treated in hospitals.
Last night paramilitary troops were preparing to be deployed in the city as
the possibility of a curfew being imposed grew.
Mohtarma
Bhutto condoles with Zia Ispahani
Islamabad, 14 May 2007: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and
her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari has condoled the death of Begum Ghamar
Ispahani.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a condolence letter addressed to Ambassador Zia
Ispahani wrote, "It is with great sorrow that the Pakistan Peoples Party
learnt that Begum Ghamar Ispahani has passed away. May God bless her soul.
Begum Ispahani was renowned for her beauty, grace and social work. As the
wife of (late) M. H. Ispahani, a close associate of the Quaid-e-Azam, she
was privy to many important moments in our national life. Her home,
decorated with taste, was home to many important Pakistani and international
leaders. In fact she was an unofficial Ambassador for Pakistan helping our
relations and interests with different countries, groups and organizations."
She further wrote, "I recall my visit with her to the Kashana-e-Atfal, an
orphanage for girls, which she helped found. Her love for children, as well
as helping those in need were the hallmarks of her character. An age has
passed with Begum Ispahani. It is my prayer and hope that the torch of her
compassion and sense of duty to those less fortunate can be passed to
another generation. On a personal level, I feel deeply the passing away of
Begum Ispahani who was well known to our family. She treated me with
affection and kindness. I shall miss her and mourn with you and other
members of the family. Asif joins me in extending our heartfelt condolences.
Please convey these to other members of the family."
Benazir
urges judiciary to take action: Karachi killings
ISLAMABAD, May 13: Chairperson of the
Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto has urged the Supreme Court and the
Sindh High Court to take action over the killings in Karachi and the absence
of law-enforcement agencies from places where incidents of violence had
taken place.
A statement issued by the PPP’s secretariat quoted her as saying that the
regime’s involvement in state terrorism was obvious, adding that it had
failed to protect the citizens. She said that it was time that the higher
judiciary showed the same courage as the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice to
save the country from plunging into a civil war and destruction.
Ms Bhutto feared that the regime was creating local warlords to divide the
country between different armed groups and militias. She said it appeared
that tribal areas had been doled out to the pro-Taliban forces, Malakand and
nearby area of Bajaur was handed to the Tehrik-i-Nifaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM),
parts of Punjab to the Chaudhrys and Islamabad to the Imam of Lal Masjid.
She said that the country and people were crying for stability and security,
which the PPP had provided during its tenure.
Ms Bhutto said that it was a national disgrace that young men lay dead or
dying in the streets of Karachi, which were stained with blood, while
ambulances were attacked. She also condemned the attack on the offices of
private TV channel Aaj in Karachi and demanded the arrest of the alleged
Muttahida Qaumi Movement activists involved in the attack.
The PPP leader said that attacks on political parties, the press and
judiciary were aimed at destroying the democratic hopes and aspirations of
the people. She said that the anti-people forces would not succeed and their
actions had disgraced and exposed them.
She said that during the Karachi by-elections, the police did nothing as MQM
actvists brazenly rigged election results and beat up opposition supporters.
The failure of the federal government, the judiciary and the Election
Commission to intervene and take action against the shootings, the beatings
and the rigging had emboldened the MQM.
Benazir Bhutto also spoke with family members of several people killed in
Karachi violence on Saturday and also inquired about the health of the
injured people.
The press release said that she told them the nation saluted their courage
and sacrifice in the face of the worst kind of tyranny.
HRCP
calls for disarming MQM
LAHORE, May 13: The Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is deeply aggrieved at the loss of life and
bloodshed caused by the violence perpetuated in Karachi on Saturday.
In a statement here on Sunday, it said all reports indicated that it was the
result of a calculated adventure hatched by the Presidency and the MQM with
co-operation of the Sindh government. “The aim is to silence, depress, and
decimate the civil society of Pakistan. It was a militant act to deny people
their freedom of expression and association. The blocking of roads, arming
MQM militants who took positions at strategic roadblocks, and ignoring the
directions of the Sindh High Court were all carried out by the government.”
The HRCP said at each occasion of the Chief Justice’s visit to bar
association, the government had issued warnings of security risks. “At the
same time, government rallies are being regularly held at the cost of
taxpayers and the local residents. The vulgar show of celebrations held at
Islamabad soon after the massacre in Karachi appeared to be designed to
ridicule the loss of innocent lives. Only a callous, irresponsible and an
unrepresentative government could have celebrated in Islamabad while Karachi
burnt.
“The events in Karachi indicate that the government, in collusion with the
MQM wants to return Karachi to a state of ethnic hostilities and use the
politics of prejudice to achieve its ends. These heinous acts have exposed
the extent to which the MQM is willing to go in its support for an unpopular
military leader. It is now imperative that the MQM be disarmed so that the
citizens of Karachi can live in peace and security.
HRCP calls upon other political forces and civil society to defuse ethnic
polarization in order to prevent further such incidents. At the same time,
HRCP encourages the bar associations to continue with their peaceful
struggle for the supremacy of the rule of law. The lawyers’ movement has
given a ray of hope to the disempowered people of Pakistan as was obvious by
the solidarity shown to them. It is an opportunity to unite rather than
divide.”
Musharraf
warned of ethnicity factor: PPP to stand by opposition
By Ashraf Mumtaz
LAHORE, May 13: The Pakistan People’s
Party alleged on Sunday that President Musharraf regarded himself as
commander of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, but warned that consequences
would be disastrous for the country if people in the armed forces started
giving importance to the ethnicity factor.
At a news conference here, the PPP leaders said the MQM should not ignore
the likely reaction in Punjab after the killings in Karachi on Saturday.
Leaders of the Punjab PPP executive committee and the Lahore Coordination
Committee met at the residence of Khalid Ahmed Kharl and discussed the
situation after Saturday’s violence in Karachi, as a result of which more
than three dozen people lost their lives.
Provincial president Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, secretary-general Ghulam Abbas,
former provincial president Qasim Zia, Altaf Qureshi, Munir Ahmed Khan, Haji
Azizur Rehman Chan, Malik Mushtaq Awan, Aurangzeb Burki, Chaudhry Manzoor
Ahmed, Tahir Khaleeq and Iqbal Sialvi were among the participants.
“Gen Musharraf has activated an Urdu-speaking party, the MQM, and given a
clear message that he is their commander. But the consequences will be
dangerous if ethnicity factor penetrated the armed forces”, said Ghulam
Abbas.
The PPP and other opposition parties would protest at GPO Chowk on Monday
(today) at the killings in Karachi.
Criticizing the president for his claim that the turnout at the Islamabad
rally showed the following he had among the masses, the PPP leader said
Saturday was not the right time for Gen Musharraf to make such utterances as
dozens of people had been killed in Karachi.
According to the PPP leader, only a few thousand people had participated in
the rally for which hundreds of thousands of rupees had been spent.
Ghulam Abbas held the president, the governor and chief minister of Sindh
responsible for the killings and said his party would call upon the central
leadership of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy to have cases
registered against the accused.
Whatever had taken place in Karachi was pre-planned, the PPP leader said.
He said now the PPP would stand by all opposition parties in whatever line
of action they decided as a mark of protest.
Munir Ahmed Khan said the acting chief justice of Pakistan should initiate
contempt proceedings against the Sindh homes secretary and the police
inspector-general for the humiliation Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and
the Sindh High Court judges had to face in Karachi on Saturday.
He said the PPP would continue its struggle for the unity of the federation.
Khalid Kharl said police and Rangers remained unmoved when innocent people
were targeted on Saturday. He said the MQM was responsible for all deaths as
nothing moved in Karachi without their consent.
It’s an
attempt to divide country: PPP
LAHORE: The Punjab PPP executive committee
and the Lahore coordination committee on Sunday held President Gen Pervez
Musharraf, his government and the MQM responsible for the Karachi killings.
The joint meeting of both committees was held at the residence of Federal
Council Secretary-General Khalid Khan Kharal, which was chaired by Punjab
PPP President Shah Mehmood Qureshi and attended by Qasim Zia, Khalid Kharal,
Altaf Qureshi, Haji Azizur Rehman Chan, Ghulam Abbas, Ahmed Mukhtar, Iqbal
Sialvi and others.
The meeting appealed to the people of the Punjab to fully support today's
(Monday) strike call given by the MMA and demanded resignation by the
government for its failure to protect lives and property of people in
Karachi.
The meeting said the federal government, led by a dictator, had given a free
hand to the MQM to play havoc with the lives of innocent people and asked
the ARD leadership to register murder cases against General Musharraf, the
federal and Sindh governments, the Sindh governor and the chief minister.
They alleged that the governor and the chief minister were commanding the
operation in the city and they had given a free hand to MQM activists to
play havoc with the lives of innocent people, especially political workers
of opposition parties.
They said the sad part of the story was that on the one side, the MQM was
killing people on the roads while on the other, the dictator and his stooges
were dancing to music in Islamabad.
They said the acting CJP should issue a contempt notice to the Sindh IGP and
the chief secretary for manhandling the CJP at the airport. They termed the
killings a conspiracy against the county to divide it on linguistic grounds.
One of the participants also suggested the central ARD leadership hold a big
public meeting at any suitable place in the near future in order to show its
strength. He also suggested the CJP was due in Multan and party workers
should be mobilised there but other participants were of the view that if
necessary, the CJP should reach Lahore, from where he should proceed to
Multan by road, so that he could be accorded receptions in bigger cities on
the way. The participants agreed to the suggestion and decided that the
proposal would be put forward in the central leaders' meeting of the ARD.
The meeting also offered fateha for the departed souls and prayed for early
recovery of the injured.
Later, while briefing newsmen, Khalid Kharal said over 40 people had been
killed in Karachi, which was highly condemnable as the CJP had visited other
places in the country but not a single person was injured. He said the city
was given to MQM activists who were playing with the lives of innocent
people, adding that it was all due to the wrong policies of General
Musharraf.
He said the general was so much unconcerned about the incident that he,
along with his supporters, danced to the tunes of a Punjabi folk singer in
Islamabad and did not bother to take any measures for saving lives and
property of innocent people. He also condemned the attack on the media and
said the operation had been controlled by senior leaders of the MQM.
Secretary-General Ghulam Abbas said state-sponsored terrorists were killing
people in Karachi and the operation was supervised by the Sindh governor and
the chief minister as they had practically handed the city over to the MQM.
Mohtarma
Bhutto condemns attack on Aaj TV
Islamabad May 13, 2007: Former Prime
Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party said
that the Pakistan Peoples Party condemns the attack on the offices of
private TV Channel Aaj in Karachi today and demanded arrest of the alleged
MQM activists involved in the attack.
The offices of Aaj television were attacked by suspected supporters of the
MQM party, which has a long history of violence. The Aaj TV showed video
clips of loaded guns being given to individuals to attack the Opposition
rallies welcoming the Chief Justice to the port city of Karachi. The
suspected MQM miscreants also torched the cars parked in the parking lot of
Aaj Television burning to ashes several cars parked in the lot. Meanwhile,
on orders of the MQM dominated Sindh Government, Police and law enforcement
were ordered off the roads so that the defenceless people of Karachi should
be left at the mercy of the armed goons and private militia of the MQM.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that during the Karachi Bye elections, the
Police had failed to come to the aid of the citizens as members of the MQM
nakedly rigged the elections and beat up opposition supporters. The failure
of the Federal Government, the Judiciary and the Election Commission to
intervene and take suo moto notice of the shootings, the beatings and the
rigging had emboldened the MQM. Mohtarma Bhutto feared that the regime was
creating local war lords to divide up the country between different armed
groups and militias. In this connection she noted that the tribal areas had
been doled out to the pro Taliban forces, Malakand and nearby area of Bajaur
was handed to TSNM, parts of Punjab to the Chaudhries of Lal Masjid and
Islamabad to the Imam of Lal Masjid.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the country and the people were crying out for
stability and security which PPP had provided during its tenure. Mohtarma
said that it was a national disgrace that the young men lay dead or dying in
the streets of Karachi which were stained with blood while ambulances were
attacked.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that the attacks on political parties, the
press and the judiciary were aimed at destroying the democratic hopes and
aspirations of the people. She said that the anti people forces would not
succeed and their bloody actions had disgraced and exposed them.
Former Prime Minister called upon the Chief Justices of Sindh and the
Supreme Court to take suo moto notice of the widespread killings and the
disappearance of law enforcement. Mohtarma Bhutto aid that it was obvious
that the regime was involved in state terrorism and would not protect the
citizens. She said that it was time that the higher judiciary showed the
same courage as the suspended chief justice of the Supreme Court to save the
country from civil war and destruction.
Meanwhile Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto spoke to the families of several of the
bereaved and to the injured to commiserate with them and to tell them that
the nation saluted their courage and sacrifice in the face of the worst kind
of tyranny.
Mohtarma
Bhutto condemns killing of PPP workers and others in Karachi
Islamabad May 12, 2007: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto has strongly condemned the civil war conditions created by the ruling
party in Karachi. This resulted in the murder of 14 PPP workers and injuries
to scores of people.
"The sight of the sons of Pakistan bleeding to death in the street of
Karachi is a shocking insight into the cruelty of the present regime", the
Former Prime Minister said in a statement today. The PPP received reports
that its rallies were surrounded by trucks and buses to besiege them. Then
firing was started by MQM workers, police, law enforcement and men in plain
clothes and masks with intent to injure and kill.
At least fifteen people and wounded nearly sixty people according to reports
thus far.
Motharma Bhutto said the democratic and constitutional right of the lawyers
to welcome the Chief Justice who was to address the Karachi bar was
punctured by government sponsored shooting with dead bodies lying in the
roads and blood flowing on the streets.
She expressed the concern that coalition members of the regime were creating
civil war conditions to impose emergency to strengthen dictatorship and
prolong the unrepresentative anti people forces that emerged from the rugged
elections of 2002.
She condoled with the families of the deceased and said that her heart went
out to those who had lost their loved ones. The former Prime Minister
commiserated with the wounded and added that their sacrifices would not go
in vain.
Called upon the Supreme Court to take suo moto notice of the incident,
registration of criminal cases against the law enforcement and MQM members
involved, their arrest and prosecution.
Mohtarma Bhutto directed the Party leadership to visit the bereaved family
members of the Party workers who lost their lives and look after injured.
She also directed the Party’s lawyers’ wing to provide legal support to the
Party workers.
PPP's
rallies under attack
A procession of PPP led by Sayed Qaim Ali
Shah, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Senator Raza Rabbani, Dr. Fahmeeda Mirza, Ms
Sherry Rehman heading towards Airport has been attacked near Natha Goth,
straight firing by MQM terrorists, 11 injured.
The vehicle of Secretary information PPP, Sherry Rehman came under firing,
and her guard got injured, the firing on PPP's rallies in different parts of
Karachi and the rallies of PPP are being stopped to reach Karachi airport.
Dozens of vehicles have been torched as a result of violence erupted on the
occasion of visit of CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry to the metropolis on Saturday.
Mohtarma
dismayed at closing of UN Office
Calls upon regime to reassure the UN
Islamabad, 11 May 2007: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has
said that the PPP is dismayed at news reports indicating that the United
Nations Office in Islamabad has announced closure of its offices in Bagh,
Azad Kashmir.
According to the media, the UN decided to close its Bagh operations after
receiving, "attacks and threats".
In a statement today the former Prime Minister said that the inability of
the UN to function in Bagh would increase perceptions that the writ of
government in Pakistan has failed. She said that this is in stark contrast
to the tenure of the PPP when lawless elements were firmly dealt with.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the slide towards anarchy would play into the
hands of extremists who are already increasing their presence in the tribal
areas, the Frontier province and most recently in Islamabad.
She said that the PPP was concerned that the rise of extremism and the slide
towards anarchy would undermine the image of the country and lead to neglect
of the peoples issues. She said that the country needed stability to provide
employment, education and energy to the people.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that the PPP believed in Roti Kapra Makaan for Har
Insaan and without meeting the basic needs of our citizens we would be
playing into the hands of the extremists. Democracy and development went
together, she said adding that it is why for the benefit of the masses, PPP
was sacrificing for democracy. Most recently yet another brave PPP worker
Qamar Abbas had been gunned down in the Frontier by those forces who were
against the welfare of the masses, she said.
It may be recalled that the UN reportedly took the decision to close the
Bagh office after extremists who had warned the UN and other NGOs "against
employing females" torched the houses of two UN officials.
Mohtarma Bhutto said that Pakistan was a safe and secure place with a
booming economy until 1996 when the forces of dictatorship and extremism
combined to rob the people of their representative government. Since the
overthrow of the PPP government the country has gone from one crisis to
another she said.
She said that the crisis could be ended with the return of the PPP and its
allies to government for which she appealed to the people to come forward
and support PPP especially in the forthcoming elections. She said that PPP
worked for the masses welfare and progress.
The United Nations has closed down its operations and frozen all the funds
for the quake victims. The former Prime Minister said that the inability of
the present regime to crack down on lawless elements has led to increasing
hardship for ordinary Pakistanis. The fact is that today the innocent
victims of the quake are being denied rehabilitation and help due to the
excesses of the bigots and myopic forces that had opposed Quaid e Azam and
Quaid e Awam and now oppose his daughter's leadership of the PPP because
they do not want a modern Pakistan to deliver basic needs to the people of
Pakistan. However she was confident that the PPP with the support of the
masses would overcome all the challenges by the vested interests to lead
Pakistan's peoples into a future of employment, education, energy,
development, drinking water and bring happiness to those who know only
misery.
PPP, PML-N
accuse govt of spending Rs 1b on rally
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday accused the government
of spending Rs 1 billion from the national exchequer on today’s (Saturday)
pro-Musharraf rally, organized by the ruling PML.
They claimed that the government and the MQM were organizing a rally today
to create disturbance during the visit of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP)
to Karachi.
PML-N Central Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal and PPP Central Finance
Secretary Dr Babar Awan made these claims in separate press conferences.
They said a battle between pro-democracy and pro-dictatorship forces was
waged in the country. The government would be responsible for any mishap
today, they said.
They claimed that the Sindh government had arrested thousands of activists
of the opposition parties, vowing that their parties would give the CJP a
historic welcome in Karachi.
They demanded elections under a caretaker government and an independent
elections commission. They said the government has directed all government
employees, especially teachers and CDA staff, to attend the rally to make it
a big show. They also claimed that the government had distributed millions
of rupees among Punjab union councils to encourage more and more people to
take part in the rally.
PPP
concerned over looming power crisis
Says corruption and bad governance responsible for energy crisis
Islamabad, May 11, 2007: Pakistan Peoples
Party has expressed deep concern over the looming power crisis in the
country caused by ‘corruption, neglect and misgovernance in the power
sector’ and asked the regime to address it urgently.
In a statement today a spokesperson of the Party said that load shedding in
hot summer had not only made the lives of people miserable but also led to
closure of industries and adversely affected national productivity.
General Musharraf has been making promises of ending load shedding for the
past several years but the pathetic state of power sector mocks at the tall
claims of the regime, he said.
The PPP government during the three-year period between 1993-96 added seven
thousand megawatts to the national grid from the Independent Power Producers
(IPPs) and another 1000 MW from Ghazi Barotha hydel station. But the
addition to the national grid during eight years of Musharraf rule has been
dismal at less than two thousand MW, he said.
The regime has been discrediting the PPP for its power policy accusing it of
allowing a high tariff of 6.5 US cents pen unit. But NEPRA under Musharraf
regime has allowed the setting up of two 420-MW thermal plants at a tariff
of up to 14.5 cents per unit, he said.
Corruption and bad governance lay at the root of the problem, which was
evident from the way KESC was privatised in a non-transparent manner and the
utility was sold to a group who reportedly had not even seen a power plant,
let alone owning and operating it.
He asked the regime to address the issue of power shortage on an urgent
basis instead of wasting public funds on non-productive and white elephant
projects like building another GHQ in Islamabad.
PPP
rejects misleading advertisements giving partisan colour to lawyers'
movement
Islamabad May 10, 2007: Pakistan Peoples
Party has rejected misleading advertisements placed by an anonymous so
called Judiciary Protection Committee. The concerned advertisements have
tried to give partisan colour to the lawyers' movement in a bid to divide
the lawyers' movement on partisan lines.
In a statement today a spokesperson clarified that while the Pakistan
Peoples Party is in the forefront of supporting the movement for the
strengthening of the Judiciary and was showing solidarity with the Chief
Justice, the impression that it was a monopoly by the PPP is wrong
particularly as high ranking lawyers of PML Q had also protested the removal
of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
"It appears that by giving a partisan twist some forces wanted to divide the
lawyers movement on partisan lines".
The spokesperson noted that in addition to the pro ARD, MMA lawyers and
civil society, significant members of the PML Q were also participating in
the lawyers' movement.
He said that the number of resignations that had taken place by those who
had been appointed by the PML Q through the central and provincial
ministries of law. On this ground it could be argued that the PML Q was
actually supporting the lawyers movement to impose emergency. However, the
PPP was not making this unkind allegation as it preferred to believe that
the members appointed by the PML Q had resigned from offices under the
attorney general and advocate general to defend the rule of law rather than
to impose emergency.
The spokesperson said that the advertisement mentioned the names of Munir
Malik and Hamid Khan as being members of the PPP. He said they were not
members of the PPP although both of them are senior and respected lawyers
and are or have served as Presidents of the Supreme Court Bar Association
and the Lahore High Court Bar Association respectively.
He said that former Interior Minister Aitizaz Ahsan does belong to the PPP.
In keeping with the PPP's policy to defend democracy, the rule of law and
justice, he is part of the Chief Justice's defence counsel.
The spokesperson rejected the claims that the lawyers' movement was aimed at
bringing the PPP to power. It was aimed at reinstating the Chief Justice to
give security of tenure to the members of the higher judiciary so that they
may give judgements free of the fear of reprisal, he said adding, "it
appeared that some elements fearful of a strong judiciary were trying to
give a political colour to the movement".
Meanwhile Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson condemned the attempts to
pressurise Supreme Court Bar President Munir Malik by sealing his office and
firing at his house.
PPP
condemns firing at Malik's residence
Islamabad, May 10, 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party strongly condemned the firing at Munir A Malik's residence in
Karachi in the wee hours of Thursday morning following the sealing of his
office in the city a day earlier.
Munir A Malik, the President Supreme Court Bar Association, and also the
Defence Council of the Chief Justice of Pakistan in the case of the
President's reference against him, escaped death as unidentified gunmen
fired shots at his house in the early hours of May 10 morning. The police
found 15 bullets from the site. A day earlier, Malik's office in Karachi was
sealed by the Karachi Building Control Authority officials, on a baseless
pretext. It was later unsealed at the orders of the Sindh High Court.
"This is a cowardly act at its best", said Sherry Rehman, the Central
Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. "This is a clear evidence of
the state of panic that the regime finds itself in, following the mass
movement that the judicial crisis has triggered." Expressing shock at the
blatant use of harassment tactics against lawyers in general, and Mr Malik
in particular, Rehman said that the rulers have become so shameless that
they do not even feel the need to hide their resentment against the
judiciary.
Rehman observed that the regime's efforts to sabotage the Chief Justice's
rally in Karachi on May 12 is a clear indication that it is incapable of
sustaining the unprecedented show of public anger that followed the filing
of the March 9 reference. "It goes on to show that the regime has no faith
in its own move against the Chief Justice, despite its claims that it was
constitutional, and was in the public interest."
Rehman said that the blind firing at Malik's residence could have resulted
in loss of life, as he was present in the house along with his family. "It
was a message to Malik to withdraw his support for the Chief Justice and the
supremacy of the rule of law. Similarly, the bomb hoax at the Sindh High
Court, sealing of Malik's office, threatening phone calls to him, and the
MQM's call to hold a rally on the day of the Chief Justice's rally in
Karachi, all are clear indications that the regime is in a confrontational
mood following its embarrassing defeat at Chief Justice's Islamabad-Lahore
rally."
Pointing to the non-violent procession of the Chief Justice from Islamabad
to Lahore, early this week, Rehman warned that any untoward incident at the
Karachi rally would be the responsibility of the government. "The fact that
the Chief Justice's Islamabad-Lahore trip was smooth and devoid of any
unpleasant incident shows that the people's movement in support of the Chief
Justice is peaceful. At the same time, the harassment tactics against Malik
and the lawyers' community in the run up to the May 12 rally, and the
threats of terrorism in the city clearly shows that the establishment will
go out of its way to paint the Karachi rally in blood."
Expressing solidarity with the lawyers' community, Rehman said that the PPP
fully backs the lawyers' movement to fight the establishment's interference
in the affairs of the judiciary. "It is a fight between an autocratic state
and the institute of justice, and the PPP will lend all support to uphold
the cause of rule of law both in, and outside the parliament," Rehman said.
Mohtarma
Bhutto to lead new Muslim global organization
Islamabad, 9 May 2007: Former Pakistani
Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto together with Mrs Hoda Badran, Egypt, will lead a new forum called "
Muslim women for human rights and democracy" as Chair and Vice Chair
respectively.
The forum was established Tuesday May 8 in Oslo, Norway, in the Oslo Centre
for Peace and Human Rights by a group of the worlds most influential Muslim
women.
Says Iranian Nobel prizewinner Shirin Ebadi: "I welcome this initiative
starting a Forum for Muslim Women for Democracy". The vision of the Forum is
to empower Muslim women in all nations and to provide a new, global platform
around the world to support the values of peace and justice.
According to Mohtarma Bhutto the Forum resolves to enhance the culture of
tolerance within and amongst communities. The first goals are to raise
awareness amongst the more than 600 million Muslim women in the world about
their basic human rights and to challenge all discriminatory laws and
practices, which undermine the equal status of women. The group also decided
to challenge governments to adopt good governance and encourage them to
adopt affirmative actions and policies to promote women in decision-making
positions at all level.
Qamar
Abbas’ death great loss to PPP: Benazir
Former Prime Minister and PPP Chairperson
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has express profound grief and shock over the murder
of PPP leader Qamar Abbas and descried his death as a great loss to the
Party and the democratic forces.
The senior vice president of PPP NWFP Qamar Abbas was gunned down along with
his nephew in Peshawar on Sunday. Both succumbed to bullet wounds as the
assailants made good their escape.
In a condolence message, she said she was horrified and deeply saddened to
learn about the brutal murder of Qamar Abbas.
She said that Qamar Abbas was a devoted Bhuttoist, a committed democrat and
great fighter who despite suffering torture and indignities at the hands of
dictatorial forces kept the banner high and never compromised on principles.
The death of Qamar Abbas is a great loss to the party and to all the
democratic forces in the country, she said.
Benazir Bhutto said she remembered well how he had been arrested not once
but several times and tortured but he stood his ground through thick and
thin.
“Qamar Abbas was imprisoned during Zia dictatorship and to inflict torture
on him his nails were pulled out while under detention.
While himself passing through difficult and turbulent times Qamar Abbas was
a disciplined worker who always followed the party discipline,” she said.
The former Prime Minister also deplored the worsening law and order
situation in the country and demanded of the regime to fulfill its
responsibilities toward protecting the life and property of citizens.
She demanded a thorough probe in the murder of PPP leader, arrest of
assailants and punishing them in accordance wit law.
She also prayed for a chosen place in heaven for the soul of Qamar Abbas and
patience to the members of the bereaved family to bear the loss with
equanimity.
Who is
afraid of the deal?
By Mir Jamilur Rahman
The News May 5, 2007: The deal between
Benazir Bhutto and President Musharraf is still in a speculative stage.
Although, it has attracted a great deal of controversy but it remains a
mystery. Every party, every leader is adding to its mysteriousness by making
statements and warning PPP of dire consequences if it were to strike a deal
with President Musharraf. One day, it appears that the deal is on and the
next day, it seems off. There has been so much talk against the ethereal
deal that the word 'deal' has acquired a pejorative undertone. Opposition to
the deal has mostly come from the PML-N, MMA and the PML-Q, the ruling
party, betraying the emotions of fear. It sounds strange that for once, the
government party and the opposition have joined hands though unintentionally
for a cause: to discourage the PPP from falling prey to a deal with
President Musharraf.
The mystery has deepened with the revelation by a newspaper quoting
unidentified government sources that both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif
would be allowed to contest the next elections. The premise has been built
on the assumption that without their participation, the elections would have
scant credibility. To be sure, elections minus Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz
Sharif would neither be accepted here nor abroad as transparent and clean
elections. It is a plausible guess that if Benazir Bhutto was allowed to
lead the election campaign of her party, then a similar deal could not be
denied to Nawaz Sharif. That brings us to MQM chief Altaf Hussain, the third
high profile leader in self-exile. His return passage should also be
smoothened by dropping charges against him, which are all trumped up.
The MQM is the only party that is not afraid of the deal. On the contrary,
Dr Farooq Sattar, its parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, has
welcomed such a development. He said on Thursday: "Whether in power or not,
it is time for the moderate and ideological parties to chalk out a
collective strategy to put Pakistan on a sound political track." He added
that the MQM would welcome on board the newcomers as it is already part of
the system.
The MMA has closed the doors to reconciliation by declaring that President
General Pervez Musharraf is not acceptable to it whether in uniform or
without it. It really does not matter what is acceptable to MMA because it,
or any other party, does not have the veto to accept or reject a president.
To be certain, President Musharraf would not withdraw from the presidential
race because the MMA or the PML-N says so for he is also holding the office
of army chief. President Musharraf claims that it is his constitutional
right to wear the uniform until the end of this year. The saner way to
settle this issue -- whether President Musharraf could contest elections in
uniform -- is the court of law. The MMA should approach the court to
determine the uniform issue instead of threatening agitation.
The lawyers' ongoing protest has convinced the MMA that President Musharraf
is politically vulnerable for first time since he came to power nearly eight
years ago. President Musharraf during his rule has successfully reversed or
drastically amended many traditional and antiquated policies and laws
despite vociferous criticism from the MMA and other opposition parties. Some
recent events, which include countrywide lawyers' protests and Lal Masjid
and Hafsa stand-off, may have sent encouraging signals to the MMA and other
opposition parties that the time is ripe for launching agitation against
President Musharraf.
The MMA's thinking is flawed that it can force President Musharraf to quit
through its street power. If the agitation climbs to the level wherein the
government ceases to function, which is very unlikely, then it would be
anybody's game. The most likely scenario would be the replacement of a
uniformed president by a uniformed chief martial law administrator. The CMLA
would address the nation promising early and clean elections and the whole
game would restart from the beginning. A new anti-corruption drive would be
launched that would serve as an excuse to postpone the elections again and
again. The CMLA would announce solemnly that the house has to be cleaned
first before democracy could be restored.
The MMA, as the MQM has openly admitted, is also a part of the existing
system, introduced and nurtured by President Musharraf. It runs NWFP
exclusively and is a partner of the PML-Q in the Balochistan government.
Most importantly, the MMA's Secretary-General Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the
leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and by virtue of that
office is a member of the National Security Council and so is Mr Durrani,
chief minister of NWFP. The MMA, whether it admits or not, is now a member
of the ruling elite. In these circumstances, it would be sheer madness on
the part of the MMA to contemplate street agitation which could lead to
violence. Why not wait for elections and work towards ensuring that they are
held in time, transparently and cleanly? If that does not happen, then the
MMA would be justified to protest.
It is now certain that the new president will be elected by the present
assemblies later this year, just a month or two before they would be due for
dissolution after completing their five-year term. This was stated by no
less a person than President himself. He has also indicated clearly that he
would remain in uniform until his re-election, as he is permitted to do so
by the constitution. The opposition challenges these assertions claiming
that the present assemblies cannot elect a president at the fag end of their
lives and a person cannot offer himself for election if he is holding a
government post. Who will decide what the truth is? Not street protests, but
the court of law.
Benazir Bhutto is simply trying to reach an understanding with President
Musharraf so that elections are free and clean and the playing field is not
filled with landmines. She would avoid confrontation to secure democracy
permanently. She wants a safe passage to Pakistan, which, if promised, would
benefit Nawaz Sharif and Altaf Hussain too. President Musharraf is not
averse to political deals if they bring stability and promote democracy. He
would even be willing to adopt a conciliatory attitude towards Nawaz Sharif
if the latter would let bygones be bygones.
PPP
condemns political victimisation of Women Parliamentarians
Islamabad, May 07, 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party strongly protested the political victimization of the Party's
MPA Humaira Alwani, who has been booked in a false case without grant of a
bail as a result of her political activities.
Alwani is the member Provincial Assembly (MPA) at Sindh Assembly and is also
the District President Women's Wing for District Thatta. She was booked in a
fabricated case two years ago when she was accused of "sabotaging law and
order" only by participating in a peaceful labour procession. Alwani is
being harassed for two years over the case and has been declared "Proclaimed
Offender" without any justification. She has also been receiving offensive
phone threats for raising important issues pertaining to her district in the
Provincial Assembly.
"This is pure political victimization and adds to the string of attempts by
the regime to subdue vocal women from the opposition," said the PPP's
Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman. Rehman said that Alwani had
recently submitted a questionnaire and resolution related to the bifurcation
plan of the District Thatta, that is being strongly opposed by the local
population. Soon after, she started receiving threats to take back the
resolution. By declaring her a proclaimed offender in a fabricated case, she
has been sent a strong message by the regime that has the worst record of
political victimization in the history of the country.
Rehman noted that the current regime has a systematic way of putting hurdles
in the way of opposition parliamentarians, especially women. "You are doubly
victimised if you happen to be a woman parliamentarian belonging to the
opposition. Both inside the assembly and outside, things are deliberately
made difficult for you. The intention is to prevent the opposition members
from carrying out their legislative responsibilities, and in turn to promote
them as an incompetent lot"
The PPP observed that the Musharraf regime claims to be the biggest
proponent of women's rights and democracy. "What democracy is it trying to
claim the credit for? What is the use of 17% representation of women in the
legislative assemblies, when they are not allowed the freedom to carry out
their duties."
Drawing parallels between the Musharraf regime's and Zia-ul-Haq's strategy
of political victimization of the PPP leaders, Rehman said this regime's
record in this regard puts its predecessor to shame. "The Musharraf regime
carries out its oppressive tactics right in the public glare. The February
10 bye-elections and the MQM City Council Members thrashing of the PPP women
Council Members in Karachi last week are just two of the many recent cases.
The PPP workers have been harassed, attacked, threatened and killed during
the past seven years. Those that are a part of the assemblies face immense
hurdles in their line of duty. Furthermore, there has been scores of
countrywide arrests of the PPP workers in the run up to the Chief Justice's
case's hearing."
Rehman demanded an immediate withdrawal of the fabricated case against
Humaira Alwani and an end to her harassment. "The PPP has a history of
standing up against oppressive regimes. Such tactics will not succeed in
subduing us. Our commitment and responsibilities lie with the People of
Pakistan and we owe it to them to fulfill our responsibilities as
parliamentarians. Any attempt to stop us is a violation of our fundamental
human rights and the PPP stands ready to fight anyone who challenges that."
Mohtarma
Bhutto asks regime to respect press freedom
Islamabad May 6, 2007: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has
deplored the action against Private TV channels which were running
commentaries on Chief Justice Ifthikar Mohammad Chaudhry’s tour of the
Punjab.
In a statement today the former Prime Minister said that the people had come
out to show their love for democracy and justice. The people of the country
wanted to see the rule of law strengthened and the judiciary made
independent.
In this connection Mohtarma Bhutto noted that the PPP Government had
separated the Judiciary and the Executive to lay the foundations of an
independent judiciary. She said that the PPP was the single party that had
not sacked or removed a chief justice or judges in the country.
The former Prime Minister said that only with a truly representative
government could the peoples problems, like poverty, backwardness,
unemployment, education and energy be resolved. She called upon the people
to vote for PPP and its allies so that the country could move onto the path
of progress.
She called upon the regime to respect the freedom of the press. She said
actions against the press would undermine the image of the country, which no
patriotic person would want.
‘Benazir
will never compromise on principles’
NEW SAEEDABAD: Pakistan People's Party
Parliamentarians (PPPP) President Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said Benazir
Bhutto will never compromise on principles. Talking to journalists after
offering his condolences to the son of deceased Mir Dar Muhammad Talpur, he
lauded the charter of democracy as a respectable protocol, fully agreed upon
by Mian Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. He said that if free, fair and
transparent elections were ever held, the PPPP was to win the polls hands
down, and Benazir Bhutto would be elected prime minister for the third time.
He also vowed never to accept any uniformed president at the helm of affairs
like before and said Benazir was all set to fly back home at any given
moment. He warned the government to desist from any efforts to keep her out
of elections. Replying to a question, he said any backdoor channel
connections with the government cannot be taken as a deal. He also berated
the suspension of TV channels’ transmissions on Saturday.
Muslim
Women for Democracy
Islamabad, 5 May 2007: A group of
influential Muslim women in the world is meeting in Oslo Norway May 6-7,
2007. The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights is facilitating the
meeting.
The topic is the situation for women in the Muslim world. Ten participants
have been planning what they together can do to strengthen democracy in the
Muslim world. The group seeks to provide a platform for the Muslim women in
the world to provide them partnership, service, information, network and
give them a strong global voice
Among the Muslim women are Mrs Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan, Mrs Latifa Jbabdi,
Morocco, Secretary General of l`Union de l`action feminine and the woman
behind the new family law in Morocco, Mrs Leila Alikarami, Iran, co-partner
of the Nobel prize winner Dr Irin Edadi, Mrs Asma Jahangir, special
Rapporteur to the United Nations Council on Human Rights.
The meetings will be closed, but the group will hold a press conference to
tell more about this initiative at the end of the meeting.
The press conference will be held at The Oslo Center for Peace and Human
Rights, Gange Rolvsgate 5, Oslo at 10.30 AM Tuesday May 8th. The conference
language will be English.
PPP
condemns Gujranwala rape case
Islamabad, May 5, 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party strongly denounced the gruesome murder of a teenage girl who
was raped and set on fire in Gujranwala. The murder was allegedly aided by
the powerful Union Council Chairman of the area and the police's attitude
added to the miseries of the family.
Six goons are reported to have kidnapped the 16-year-old daughter of
Muhammad Younis, and gang raped her. They allegedly hid the body of the
victim in a pile of chaff with the help of their relatives, the Union
Council Chairman and the Numberdar of the area. Fearing a police raid, they
later burnt her alive. The victim's family's ordeal continued as the police
refused to lodge an FIR, and instead implicated her father and
brother-in-law in the case. The family was later expelled from the village
upon the orders of the influential people of the area.
"This is a gruesome and shocking incident and the perpetrators of the crime
deserve exemplary punishment," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information
Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party, while condemning the incident.
"Unfortunately, such crimes have become a regular part of Pakistani
society's day to day life, and seldom manage to get enough attention. In the
first quarter of the year, there have been 43 cases of rape reported in the
province of Sindh alone. It is worth pointing out that the figures for the
entire country are likely to run into hundreds especially if we take into
account the cases that go unreported. "
Rehman observed that the involvement of influential people in rape cases, as
was the case in Gujranwala , is a testimony to the fact that the rule of law
is not taken seriously. "How can it be, when the highest authority in the
country treats the institute of justice as nothing more than a rough piece
of paper that can be twisted and manoeuvred when it suits him." Pointing to
the zero performance of the regime to nip the evil of the parallel justice
system, Rehman emphasised that it is a proven fact that the parallel justice
system in the form of jirgas have always encouraged such crimes.
"The situation in Pakistan is very serious," Rehman opined. "The fact that
no amount of punishment deters people from committing this crime points to
the failure of the justice system in the country. Even the police sides with
the criminals and feels no responsibility towards the public. As reported in
the Gujranwala rape case, the police actually implicated the father of the
victim rather than carrying out its duty of lodging an FIR. This makes it
abundantly clear that the state institutes have failed in their
responsibility to protect the life and the interest of the common person.
And this is hardly surprising since those running the country continue to
violate the law with impunity."
Demanding immediate arrests of the culprits, and court proceedings for the
case, Rehman said that the Musharraf regime seriously needs to demonstrate
its commitment to the cause of making justice accessible to the average
citizen. "Instead of playing with the institute, the regime needs to
strengthen it to enable it to provide relief to the men and women of
Pakistan."
Battle
for Democracy Not Easy
Dubai - May 03, 2007
1. Islamabad May 3, 2007: Former Prime
Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto has said that the battle for democracy has not been an easy one but
"I have never wavered in my commitment to democracy".
2. "I believe that the restoration of democracy is critical to the future
direction of Pakistan and to the South Asian Region".
3. She was speaking at the signing ceremony of her autobiography in Dubai
Thursday afternoon. The autobiography she said had been refurbished to share
with a new generation her life as a Muslim woman in a largely Muslim
country.
4. The tragedies, the triumphs, the turbulence in Pakistani society mirror
my life as a woman, a political activist and as a Muslim, she said.
5. She said that as a woman she felt a special responsibility towards women
everywhere. As Prime Minister I opened up job and credit opportunities for
women in the country, she said adding, "My political struggle became a
treatise of Islam and the rights of women"
6. Long before terrorism or religious extremism became part of the
international discourse, she confronted those forces in Pakistan, she said.
7. The former Prime Minister said that the burgeoning movement for women's
rights empowered and emboldened her. "I had always been inspired by the
example of Bibi Khadija, the wife of the Holy Prophet of Islam, who was a
working woman and the first to give witness to the revelation of the Holy
Quran".
8. But above all, in England and America I saw the awesome power of the
people changing policies and changing history, she said.
9. Speaking of her personal ordeal she said that she lost her two brothers
who were both victims of political assassination and her husband spent
eleven and a half years of our married life behind prison walls.
10. "I was imprisoned for almost six years as was my Mother. We were hunted,
hounded and exposed to psychological warfare to break our spirit. Our faith
in God, the people of our country and the righteousness of our cause
sustained us through the bitter days and nights", she said.
11. Recalling her last meeting with her father in the Jail she said "When I
took my leave of him from the dark death cell in which the tyrants had
imprisoned him, I promised to keep alive his dream of a democratic
Pakistan".
12. "Since then I have never wavered in my commitment to democracy. I raised
my children as a single parent coping with the demands of a family, a
political career and litigation. As a Mother, I suffered the most when I had
to leave my children when they were small. I had shifted them to London and
then Dubai while I continued to live in Pakistan for a while".
13. The former Prime Minister said that she did not choose this life. It
chose her, she said. "It was never my goal to be a political leader". And if
this life was her destiny then she embraced it due to circumstances beyond
her control, she said.
14. Paying tributes to her father she said that Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto was a reformer who dedicated himself to the freedom and social
emancipation of the people of Pakistan. "He taught me to be proud of my
religion Islam, a religion that proclaimed the equality of men and women".
15. She said that when she returned to Pakistan after completing her
studies, an army coup took place. "We did not know during that long dark
night of the coup whether we would live or die".
16. Following is the text of her full speech:
17. "It is an honour for me to join with you this evening. I am thankful to
Magrudy's for arranging this event for the launch of my autobiography.
18. "I have often shopped at Magrudy's with my children. In those days I
never dreamt that I would be visiting for the launch of the republished
version of my memoirs. It is a special honour for me to be here this evening
to meet with you.
19. "Last winter I had the opportunity to republish my book. I took that
opportunity to share with a new generation my life as a Muslim woman in a
largely Muslim country.
20. "The tragedies, the triumphs, the turbulence in Pakistani society mirror
my life as a woman, a political activist and as a Muslim.
21. "As I say in my book, I did not choose this life. It chose me.
22. "It was never my goal to be a political leader.
23. "Some say it was my destiny, but if so, it was one I embraced due to
circumstances beyond my control.
24. "My father Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a reformer who
dedicated himself to the freedom and social emancipation of the people of
Pakistan.
25. "He taught me to be proud of my religion Islam, a religion that
proclaimed the equality of men and women.
26. "My father was determined that I would have the same rights as my
brothers. At the age of sixteen I left for Harvard University on the east
coast of America.
27. "The burgeoning movement for women's rights empowered and emboldened me.
I had always been inspired by the example of Bibi Khadija, the wife of the
Holy Prophet of Islam, who was a working woman and the first to give witness
to the revelation of the Holy Quran.
28. "But above all, in England and America I saw the awesome power of the
people changing policies and changing history.
29. "When I returned to Pakistan after completing my studies, an army coup
took place. We did not know during that long dark night of the coup whether
we would live or die.
30. "My Father was arrested, released, rearrested and finally hanged.
31. "When I took my leave of him from the dark death cell in which the
tyrants had imprisoned him, I promised to keep alive his dream of a
democratic Pakistan.
32. "Since then I have never wavered in my commitment to democracy.
33. "The battle for democracy has not been an easy one. I lost my two
brothers who were both victims of political assassination. My husband spent
eleven and a half years of our married life behind prison walls.
34. "I was imprisoned for almost six years as was my Mother. We were hunted,
hounded and exposed to psychological warfare to break our spirit. Our faith
in God, the people of our country and the righteousness of our cause
sustained us through the bitter days and nights.
35. "I raised my children as a single parent coping with the demands of a
family, a political career and litigation. As a Mother, I suffered the most
when I had to leave my children when they were small. I had shifted them to
London and then Dubai while I continued to live in Pakistan for a while.
36. "I had been told that I could never be elected Prime Minister of
Pakistan because I am a woman.
37. "The religious parties opposed a woman leading a Muslim country. However
some religious scholars supported me.
38. "My political struggle became a treatise of Islam and the rights of
women.
39 "As a woman, I feel a special responsibility towards women everywhere. As
Prime Minister I opened up job and credit opportunities for women in the
country. I opened up opportunities for young people by investing in
education and health.
40. "Long before terrorism or religious extremism became part of the
international discourse, I confronted those forces in my country.
41. "Since the undemocratic overthrow of my government in 1996, Pakistan has
witnessed many critical moments.
42. "Three years after my removal from office, a military coup took place in
1999.
43. "I believe the restoration of democracy is critical to the future
direction of Pakistan and to the South Asian Region.
44. Thank You"
Peoples
Party stands behind the journalist community: PPP
Islamabad, May 03, 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party expressed solidarity with the journalist community of the
country as the world media marked the World Press Freedom Day on May 3,
2007.
Pakistan does not have much to celebrate at the annual occasion as the
country recently featured as one of the top 10 worst countries for press
freedom. This was reported by an international media watchdog, the Committee
to Protect Journalists. The report pointed that eight journalists have been
killed in the last five years, while at least 15 have been abducted in that
time. In the South Asia, Pakistan ranks as the top country for its unsafe
media environment and killed journalists.
Extending her Party's support to the journalist community, Sherry Rehman,
the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party said that
her party stands for the freedom of the media and would back any move that
facilitates improvement in the working condition of the media. "Media has
been the most important catalyst for change in the country and the
commitment and the resilience that the Pakistani media community has
demonstrated in the face of state atrocities has been exemplary."
Regretting the fact that even in today's information age, Pakistani
journalists continue to face threats to their lives in the line of duty,
Rehman said that the state can not turn its back from its constitutional
obligation to protect the lives of its citizens, and develop an environment
that supports the free flow of information. "The Musharraf regime never gets
tired of making tall claims of its commitment to media freedom. Ironically,
this government's record of violating media freedom is matched only by Zia-ul-Haq's
draconian era. According to independent reports, over two dozen journalists
have been killed in Pakistan during the last seven years. 68 journalists
have been abducted, arrested or detained; 81 tortured or injured; more than
114 threatened or intimidated, while there have been 37 attacks on media
property," Rehman informed.
Lauding the journalists for working under the most trying of circumstances,
Rehman said that the journalists in Pakistan walk on a double-edged sword.
"On the one hand there is the state that shamelessly uses force to crush
dissent, as it so blatantly did by attacking Geo TV in the broad daylight a
few weeks back. On the other hand, there are forces – backed by the state,
in many instances – that do not tolerate independent reporting and have been
violating law, harassing and even killing journalists, as witnessed in FATA,
interior Sindh and Balochistan. With half the country becoming a no-go area,
the state has miserably failed in its responsibility to protect the lives of
its citizens. If anything, it has been violating the law itself."
Rehman slated the government for closing its eyes to atrocities against the
journalists. "To date, none of the inquiries conducted to investigate the
killing of journalists have reached any conclusion. In fact there is a clear
evidence of the state's involvement in many of the cases. The merciless
slaying of a tribal photojournalist, Hayatullah Khan Dawar, last year is a
case in point. It is common knowledge that he had been picked up by
intelligence agencies after he released pictures of an attack in North
Waziristan. Similarly, private elements are as active against the
journalists. Just recently, during the tribal infighting, foreign militants
killed three family members of a reporter in Waziristan."
Rehman noted that it is most unfortunate for Pakistani journalists that the
source of hostilities come from those who have the constitutional obligation
of safeguarding their interests. During 2006 alone, the Reporter Sans
Frontiers recorded 40 cases of harassment and threats received by the
journalists from the state authorities. The country experienced
unprecedented curbs on the media in the wake of the recent judicial crisis,
when the transmission of the two channels was suspended and the office of
one was attacked. The show-cause notice served to Aaj TV and the
government's reluctance to extend license to TV channels on ambiguous
grounds, and the installation of a senseless watchdog in the form of PEMRA
clearly speak of the Musharraf regime's insincerity in carrying out its
constitutional obligations towards the media."
Reiterating her party's serious commitment to the cause of free media,
Rehman stated that her party has been, and would always be, supporting any
legislation that paves the way for better working conditions for the
journalists, and an improved information environment. "The Peoples Party
enjoys the distinction of being the only party that has an ideal working
relationship with journalists and we consider the media as our natural
partners in our fight for the cause of democracy in the country."
People
want Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto back: IRI survey
Islamabad, May 2, 2007: The Pakistan
Peoples Party remains the favoured choice of the masses and is likely to
sweep polls if free and fair elections are held in the country. This was
testified by a survey studying and analysing voters' trend, as the country
braces for the next general elections to be held later this year. The survey
was conducted by the International Republican Institute that has been
conducting such polls in the past as well.
"The survey should serve as an eye-opener to those who advocate the idea of
tailored democracy for Pakistan. In contrast to the rulers, the masses are
very clear in their minds about the future set up for Pakistan . They want a
democratic government and a strong parliament to represent them, and work
for their welfare," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party. Rehman stressed that the ratings of the Musharraf
regime, even though it is bolstered by the benefits of incumbency, are at an
all time low thanks to the mess it has landed the country in. "It is also
clear that the survey would reflect an even bigger swing towards the return
of democratic institutions through a peaceful transition had it been
conducted after March 9, 2007. Even so, a 15% rise in the popularity of the
opposition stands in sharp contrast to a 10% drop in the popularity of the
government and clearly negates the Musharraf regime's claims that it enjoys
the support of the so-called silent majority. Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto still
remains the most popular leader in the country and 38.9% of the people are
likely to vote jointly for PML-N and PPP alliance outstripping the PML-Q/MQM
coalition by 24.5%," Rehman pointed out.
Rehman observed that the survey clearly indicates that an overwhelming
majority, 46% of the people, feel that army should have no role in the
affairs of civilian governments. 70% of the people strongly want the exiled
leadership, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif to be allowed back
to the country to contest the general elections. About 50% of people agree
that democracy will make their lives better.
Denouncing the Musharraf regime for making false claims about the support of
the majority of masses for another term for General Musharraf, Rehman
pointed out that over 44% of the people oppose Pervez Musharraf's
re-election by the current parliament while 53% oppose his decision not to
resign from the Army. An overwhelming majority at 56% rejects Musharraf's
decision to hold the position of the army chief and President at the same
time. "Going by popular trends, General Musharraf would be ushering in his
own end-game if his cohorts attempt to have him re-elected through the
current parliament," warned Rehman.
" Given the National Assembly's dismal performance under the strict control
of a partisan Speaker who is handed a clear agenda by the government, no-one
should be surprised that the institution got such low ratings as a credible
institution." The PPP Central Information Secretary said that people's
frustration with the current parliament are justified given that it has not
been allowed to function independently nor reflect peoples' aspirations
during the past five years. The National Assembly witnessed a drop of 7% in
its popularity, compared to September 2006, indicating a lack of confidence
of the electorate in the parliament.
The PPP emphasised that the state of the economy, unemployment, poverty,
education, water, electricity, health and roads remain the core issues for
voters on the basis of which they make their choices about which party they
want to bring into government. "An overwhelming majority at 42%, up by 6%
from September 2006, agree that the ruling coalition do not deserve
re-election. The mass rejection of the PML-Q clearly indicates that the
ruling regime has dismally failed in addressing people's concerns in matters
related to their daily lives. Inflation, especially food inflation, remains
in double digits while lack of employment opportunities stemming from
political instability has been pushing many people to situations where they
become easy targets for manipulation by extremist forces," opined Rehman.
"After seven years of being ruled by an authoritative regime that never
cared for people's choices and failed to solve their problems, the masses
are clearly pining for a democratic dispensation," said Rehman. "People see
democracy as the sole solution to their problems. According to the IRI
survey, 67% of people agree that democracy leads to provincial autonomy,
more aid and control over resources. An overwhelming 70% agree that
democracy can force the government to address their concerns related to the
economy, jobs and inflation."
The PPP Central Information Secretary said that after the results of the
comprehensive survey, there should be no doubt in the ruling regime's minds
about the choices of the masses. "Despite suffering a decade of political
mudslinging and a spate of attempts at breaking its back, the Peoples Party
remains the most popular party with the masses, enjoying a strong support
base in the rural areas, labourers and low-income households that comprises
the majority of Pakistan. The IRI survey makes it very clear that it is only
the absence of free and fair elections that can keep the PPP out of power."
PPP to keep
all options open for democracy: MNA
ISLAMABAD, April 1: The Pakistan People’s
Party (PPP) on Tuesday rejected the criticism of its contacts with the
government and said it would keep all options open for restoration of
democracy and holding of free, fair and transparent elections.
Speaking at a press conference, the Secretary General People’s Party
Parliamentarians Raja Pervez Ashraf said chaos would rule the country if
free and fair elections were not held in the country.
He said the components of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) were
unanimous on restoration of democracy in the country.
He said during contacts with the government, PPP too stresses the need for
restoration of democracy, holding of free and fair elections, supremacy of
the constitution and the rights of the public. He said the PPP was not
seeking any deal with the government. “We have nothing to conceal. We will
do what is beneficial for democracy and in the interests of the people of
the country,” he remarked.
He said the history was testimony to the fact that the PPP had never
compromised on principles.
He said the PPP still believed that military uniform and democracy could not
go together. He however did not reveal whether his party would accept
Musharraf as President if he sheds his military uniform and said “We will
cross the bridge when it comes”.
He however said the re-election of President Musharraf from the present
Assemblies would be unconstitutional and immoral and would be opposed by his
party. “How can an assembly having a tenure of five years elect a person for
ten years,” he questioned.
He welcomed the recent survey of International Republican Institute (IRI)
which rated Ms Benazir Bhutto as the most popular leader of the country
followed by General Pervez Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif.
The survey was completed just two days before the judicial crisis.
The randomly selected samples consisted of 3997 adult men and women from
nearly 256 villages and 144 urban locations from 65 districts in all the
four provinces of Pakistan.
Raja Pervez Ashraf said it was also a positive sign that 81 per cent people
of the country wanted to see democracy in the country and 70 per cent of
them were of the opinion that only democracy can force the government to do
something about the economy, jobs and inflation.
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.