November 2006
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November 2006 |
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News Archives
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November 2006
Recent visits of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Makhdoom Amin Faheem to USA Click on the image to see a larger picture
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Visited Dr. Hasan's residence in New York Click on the image to see a larger picture
Ruling party
set to lose several members
According to some well-informed PPP insiders, faction members in the ruling party are already in touch with PPP leadership and will soon join the party. They said that the disgruntled members of the ruling PML-Q are only waiting for the right time to make their move. They said the annoyed members of the ruling party were waiting for the announcement of the PPP chairperson's return. Even insiders quoting some senior PML-Q leaders claimed that several faction members would leave the ruling party for sure. One vocal faction member, while requesting anonymity, said that they have halted their activities from the platform due to political constraints but their grievances with the party leadership remain unresolved. He conceded that their joining the PPP would be the best opportunity to settle scores with their party leaders.
Benazir recovering from Knee surgery in New York
PPP chairperson and former prime minister is doing well and receiving calls and well wishes from party workers and well wishers around the world. A close source to Benazir Bhutto said large numbers of flowers and cards were sent to Ms Bhutto at her temporary residence in New York. While doctors has advised her complete rest she has postponed her regular acadamic and political activities temporarily.
PPP gives “Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Symbol of Democracy” award to workers
The “Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Symbol of Democracy” award distributing ceremony in connection with 39th foundation day of the party organised by the PPP Women Wing Islamabad city turned into a big political gathering at the Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Hall at the Media Foundation Building in G-8 Markaz Islamabad. The award was given in recognition of the services rendered by the workers who displayed immense commitment to democracy and struggled for the restoration of democracy under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The Chief Guests of the event were Naheed Khan MNA, the Political Secretary to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Jahangir Bader Secretary General PPP. In her keynote speech, Naheed Khan said that the workers under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto have kept the name and mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto alive and his name would be remembered forever. She said that Bhutto lives on in the hearts of every poor,downtrodden and disadvantaged individual of this country. "PPP will win the elections and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would become the prime minister the third time and no dictator would be able to stand in the way of the people", she added. Speaking at the occasion Jahangir Bader congratulated all the award winners and asked the workers to be ready for the elections. PPP Senator Dr. Safdar Abbasi said that PPP would come to power with the votes of the people. He congratulated the President PPP Women Wing Islamabad Ms. Nargis Faiz Malik for holding this award ceremony in recognition of the steadfastness of the workers in the struggle of democracy under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Secretary General PPPP Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the people have the resolve to make Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto prime minister the third time because people want Pakistan to be a tolerant, democratic and prosperous Pakistan. The award was bestowed upon nearly 200 workers including Mrs. Khursheed Hasan Mir, Naheed Khan MNA, Raja Pervez Ashraf MNA, Nayyar Bokhari MNA, Sardar Salim, Qazi Sultan, Rashid Mir, Farhatullah Babar, Nazir Dhoki, Capt (r) Wasif Syed, Ibn-e-Rizvi, Qasida Murtaza, Mrs. Surraya Zia, Sohail Roomi, Shabbir Babar, Ibrar Rizvi, Dr. Israr Shah and Ms. Asmat Jabeen.
Zia leaving for London today to meet Bhutto
Sources said that Zia would meet Bhutto on November 27 and discuss Pakistan’s current political situation and party affairs with her. They added that Benazir would brief Zia on the PPP’s strategy for the upcoming general elections because he has been appointed to the central executive committee of the party. Sources said that Benazir and Zia would also discuss the party’s organisational structure, resignations by PPP legislators and the post Women’s Protection Bill situation in Pakistan. They added that Zia would inform Bhutto about some important politicians who were willing to join the PPP. Zia confirmed that he was going to London, but refused to disclose details of his meeting agenda with the party chairperson.
‘Only PPP can create moderate society’
PPP Secretary General, Sindh, Nafees Siddiqi said this while addressing a press conference at his residence on Tuesday, adding that only Benazir Bhutto could create a liberal, moderate and enlightened society in the country. He said the military rulers were talking about moderate society only to prolong their power, while they happen to be the supporters of Taliban and extremist forces. He said that the PPP wanted to create such a society that should be accepted by the whole world as the party believes in tolerant and non-violent society in the country. The PPP leader said that enacting amendment in Hudood ordinance was also a part of the party manifesto as it always struggled for the women’s rights. He said the PPP would also support amendments in other laws relating to the rights of labours, farmers and peasants. Nafees Siddiqui claimed that liberal, tolerant and democratic parties would win the forthcoming election if these were held in a free and fair manner. He, however, warned that non-liberal forces might emerge victorious if Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were not allowed to participate in the 2007 election. The country would plunge into a very serious crisis if such moderate and liberal leaders were stopped from contesting the general election, he added. He said extremists and fundamentalists would not have emerged as a strong force if democratic and liberal forces were not stopped from participating in the 2002 election. The provincial PPP secretaries general said that the MMA should respect the mandate of the elected representatives and accept the Women’s Protection Bill, just like other parties accepted the 17th constitutional amendment, which was passed with the support of the religious alliance. Expressing concern Nafees Siddiqi said in case the MMA carried out the threat of resignations, it would not be possible for anyone to predict the consequences the country might have to face. He said any such crisis would pave the way for yet another dictator and advised the religious alliance to review its decision of quitting the assemblies. Nafees Siddiqi said that like internal crisis, external situation was also dangerous for the country as the present regime has come under pressure after the US election and the Democratic Party was very serious in enforcing its plan.
PPP confident of forming govt in Punjab PUNJAB PPP President Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the party was deprived of power for thirty years under a conspiracy. Addressing a seminar organized to pay tributes to the services of Ch Abdul Khaliq, held Wednesday at Lahore Press Club, he said after next elections, the PPP would form government in the province. He said he was trying to organize the party on sound footings according to the directions of Benazir Bhutto. But, he said, the masses were ready to vote the party to power adding that the party chief would return to the country after the announcement of election schedule. Qursehi said PPP was the only political party which never feared coercive tactics of any regime and continued its struggle for democracy and human rights. Secretary-General Ch Ghulam Abbas said his struggle was for the rights of the people and with the support of the party workers he would spread message of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto among the masses. Lahore President Haji Azizur Rehman Chan said Punjab was united under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto and by the grace of Almighty God the party would sweep the next general election. Secretary Information Zakria Butt, Shahida Jabeen and others also addressed the gathering.
Bhutto plans to end exile; return with Sharif
In the immediate future, “my party and the alliance with Mr Sharif are both looking to put an end” to this limitation of terms to become prime minister, she said in an interview with Newsweek magazine. “We feel that it should be left to the people of Pakistan. It’s not like America, where a president is elected and he completes (one or) two terms. “Our terms are interrupted, so they don’t really qualify in the American sense of two terms. I am planning to go back to Pakistan to help my party in the next general elections. If that limitation is lifted, I’ll run for prime minister,” she asserted. Noting that the reality is that “power flows from the gun,” Bhutto said “we need to reverse the culture of violence and replace it with a culture of law and tolerance” Asked to elaborate on her alliance with her former adversary, Nawaz Sharif, she said “I travelled to Saudi Arabia last year to meet with Mr Sharif. I told him that (people) inside and outside Pakistan are concerned that both of us spend so much time fighting each other (and) that if democracy was restored, we might have another round of senseless political battles.” “We needed to send a signal that we’ve learned our lessons and that next time it will be different. We came up with a “Charter of Democracy” (which is) aimed at creating a political system of checks and balances.” On a question about General Pervez Musharraf’s alliance with the United States since 9/11, she said: “I think General Musharraf took the right decision following the events of 9/11 to stand with the international community to fight terrorism. But I question how effective he has been in eliminating terrorism.”
Military rule behind militancy: Bhutto
In a message read out at an Eid reunion party organised here Fayaz Ali Shah, a member of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Sindh Council, she reiterated her decision to return to the country before the next polls. "I will be with my people in 2007 and together we will defeat in general elections all the anti-democratic forces," Bhutto pledged. She said that ensuring free, fair, transparent and impartial general elections was in the best national interest and every Pakistani should take part in the struggle to rescue the country from militarisation which had pushed the country into chaos. Food, clothes and shelter is the right of every individual, she said, adding "I urge the hardworking and patriotic people of Pakistan, particularly the youth, to come forward and contribute to the struggle for rescuing the people from the forces of bigotry and backwardness". Bhutto said that when people from every nook and corner of the country joined the struggle for the restoration of real democracy they would be able to climb the ladder to new glories and successes. "They would in fact be assuming a great responsibility for the cause of nation and democracy and I am proud of them," she said. She said that the workers were the party's backbone and the stories of their courage, dedication, determination and selfless sacrifices in the face of persecution and victimisation for the larger good of society had become legends in their own right. She said that the struggle for restoration of democracy and ending of military rule was going on and the 2007 elections will bring democracy and freedom to people."
Fahim wants
opposition’s joint stand on key issues
However, he said, he would not advise the MMA whether they should resign from their seats or not. "They are a separate alliance; (they are) free to take their own decisions," Mr Fahim said while talking to this correspondent on Tuesday. When it was pointed out that some PPP leaders were of the view that the MMA resignations could plunge the country into a crisis, Mr Fahim said this might be the personal opinion of some people. At the same time, he said, the ARD had not as yet taken a decision on quitting the assemblies. Asked about the ARD’s point of view on the timing of the next general elections, he said national interest should be kept in mind while deciding the schedule. There was a time, he pointed out, when the ARD demanded immediate elections. But now it was of the view that if the national interest called for early elections, they should be held without delay, and if national interest lay in delaying the process for a while, then the polls should be held at a later date. He said all opposition parties could take a better decision on the issue. But, he regretted, the opposition parties stood divided and these days they were busy casting aspersion on one another. The ARD chairman said the government would not give any importance to any demand made individually by any party or alliance and thus all parties should take collective decisions. He reiterated that the next elections should be held under the supervision of an interim government of national consensus and independent and autonomous election commissioners at the Centre and in provinces. Mr Fahim said a meeting of the PPP’s central executive committee would be called in December to review the situation and take necessary decisions. The ARD chairman said Gen Musharraf had said it time and again that he wanted the assemblies to complete their term. He said he was the one who would take a decision on the timing of the election. In his opinion the MMA’s resignations would also determine the course of future politics. Mr Fahim has left for London from where he will be going to USA after a few days. In US, Mr Fahim will meet Benazir Bhutto.
Mohtarma Bhutto condoles death of veteran leader Mahmood Ali
“Mahmood Ali was a true Pakistani who commitment to the country and the sacrifices he made for its unity and integrity was a source of great inspiration to the new generation”, the former Prime Minister said in her condolence message today. Mohtarma Bhutto said that in recognition of his great sacrifice for Pakistan late Mahmood Ali was made Advisor to the then President Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He was later made a cabinet Minister, a position that he held during all subsequent governments till his death.. Mahmood Ali lived a purposeful life who played a vital role in the making and preservation of Pakistan and whose name will always be remembered with affection and admiration in the history books, she said. “People like Mahmood Ali are born once in generations and his death is a great national loss”. Mohtarma Bhutto also prayed for eternal peace to the soul of Mahmood Ali and for patience to the members of the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.
PPP deplores anti democratic measures against Opposition
In a statement today Deputy Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf said that while most of the media has focussed on the passage of the women’s bill, which saw bipartisanship triumph in a national cause, behind the scenes the regime has stepped up persecution of the PPP. In this connection, the regime has scheduled hearings for a dormant case against Senator Asif Ali Zardari in Hyderabad, he said. Second, he said, every effort was made to rig the bye election of a seat in Shikarpur caused by the untimely death of a PPP MPA Agha Tariq. Despite the rigging, PPP won the seat by four thousand votes. However, now the regime is changing the results first through the returning officers office and now through a so-called recount where the ballots were in official custody. The Shikarpur bye election, as the ones previous to it, demonstrate that the present Election Commission has been unable to hold fair bye elections. Its helplessness and inability to uphold the law bodes ill for the next general elections, he said. Third, an election tribunal in Lahore has disqualified a PPP MPA Mamooka. The disqualification is a shock considering that not a single member of the ruling party has thus been disqualified although four years have passed since the election. Moreover, the election petition against Ch. Shujaar of the PML Q filed by Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehrik e Insaaf has not been taken up. The picking and choosing of petitions with the view to narrow the size of the democratic forces in the Parliament vitiates democratic norms and points to the attempt to impose a one party dictatorship leaving the streets as the only option of change. This is a scenario that can lead to chaos and confusion, he said. The PPP leader said that Pakistan's national interests call for change that is peaceful and democratic. However, the signs are that the regime is not interested in peaceful change and is taking several measures by exploiting its pressure on the election commission and the judiciary, which saw half its judges unceremoniously removed, to dictate results to the nation. Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the PPP deplored the stifling of state institutions by the regime to promote its undemocratic agenda.
Benazir plans
to return together with Nawaz
In the immediate future, “my party and the alliance with Mr Sharif are both looking to put an end” to this limitation of terms to become prime minister, she said in a interview with Newsweek magazine. “We feel that it should be left to the people of Pakistan. It’s not like America, where a president is elected and he completes (one or) two terms. Our terms are interrupted, so they don’t really qualify in the American sense of two terms. I am planning to go back to Pakistan to help my party in the next general elections. If that limitation is lifted, I’ll run for prime minister,” she asserted. Noting that the reality is that “power flows from the gun,” Ms Bhutto said “we need to reverse the culture of violence and replace it with a culture of law and tolerance” Asked to elaborate on her alliance with her former adversary, Nawaz Sharif, she said “I travelled to Saudi Arabia last year to meet with Mr Sharif. I told him that (people) inside and outside Pakistan are concerned that both of us spend so much time fighting each other (and) that if democracy was restored, we might have another round of senseless political battles.” “We needed to send a signal that we’ve learned our lessons and that next time it will be different. We came up with a “Charter of Democracy” (which is) aimed at creating a political system of checks and balances.” On a question about General Pervez Musharraf’s alliance with the United States since 9/11, she said: “I think General Musharraf took the rightdecision following the events of 9/11 to stand with the international community to fight terrorism. But I question how effective he has been in eliminating terrorism.” “There is a lack of implementation of his decisions in many parts of the country, and we have seen in [recent] years how the Taliban have reorganised themselves, and their goal is to take over Afghanistan once again.”
Mohtarma Bhutto felicitates PPP on Shikarpur win
Agah Taimoor Khan of the PPP won the Shikarpur seat in bye-election held on Thursday defeating the rival candidate of PML Maqbool Shaikh. The seat had fallen vacant after the death of Agha Tariq of the PPP. In a statement today the former Prime Minister said that the provincial chapter of the Party, all the workers of the PPP and Agha Taimoor Khan deserve to be felicitated for raising the Party banner aloft in the bye-election despite the fact that the dice had been heavily loaded against them. She said that numerous complaints had been received about the odds created by the regime in the way of the PPP but the workers overcame all the hurdles and thwarted the machinations of the regime. She said that the Party had filed several reports with the Election Commission regarding the use of state power to stop the Party workers and agents from going to the polling stations. The Party also reported that polling boxes were snatched by the agents of the King's Party's candidate. The Chairperson said that despite the efforts of the ruling party to rig the elections, the Party Parliamentarians manned the polling stations and ensured the victory of the Party. She also commended the Leader of Opposition Nisar Khuhro as well as Provincial President Syed Qaim Ali Shah in mobilising both the parliamentarians and the Party in motivating the workers and voters to come out and exercise their right of franchise. She noted that Sen Lateef Khosa and his election Monitoring team also played a critical part in monitoring the elections from the central secretariat. Mohtarma Bhutto expressed the hope that the Shikarpur win will infuse new spirit in the workers which will further manifest itself in the forthcoming general elections next year.
Mohtarma Bhutto
welcomes Women Protection Bill
In a statement today the former Prime Minister said that for a quarter of a century the PPP had been struggling to repeal laws discriminatory towards women. She said that the final repeal by the National Assembly demonstrated that this gigantic task could only be overcome when both the government and the opposition united on an issue of national importance despite their divergent viewpoints on other issues. She said that the ruling party and the opposition had stood by the women of Pakistan in taking the step to repeal laws discriminatory towards women. While noting that the law finally presented to the Assembly was not the one that had been finalised by the select committee, she said that nonetheless it was an improvement on existing laws. The Party Chairperson also commended the PPP Parliamentarians for voting for the bill with unity, faith and discipline. Mohtarma Bhutto said that the PPP Parliamentarians had proved that the PPP stood for principles and that it was a Party that strived for the modernisation of Pakistan free from backwardness which guaranteed to the women of Pakistan the equality promised by both religion and the Constitution. The former Prime Minister said that the PPP has been campaigning for the total repeal of all the five hudood laws that were promulgated in the name of Islam by the military dictatorship of the eighties which had exploited the name of Islam to rob the people of their rights. "These laws were promulgated only to pander to religious extremists with a view to creating a political constituency for the dictator". The PPP wants total repeal of the 1979 Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, she said adding, "the Protection of Women Rights Bill was the first mortal blow to demolish the structure of coercive and apartheid laws foisted on the country a quarter of a century ago". The PPP reiterates its commitment to undo all the unjust and discriminatory laws against women and minorities foisted on the people by dictatorship in the past, she said. The PPP is Party of democracy and committed to work for democracy, gender equality, minority rights, provincial rights and for the emancipation of the people from poverty, hunger, discrimination and prejudice.
PPP Senator questions award of Bhash study to black listed Company
In a statement today the PPP senator said that the World Bank last week black listed the German contracting company for a period of seven years because of its involvement in corruption. It was important that the nation was told as what the government planned to respond to it and what other contracts had already been given to this company, she said. She also asked WAPDA to inform the people about the financing arrangement for the Bhasha Dam project. She said that the official response that WAPDA is paying from it’s own resources may be true as long as the Bhasha project was at the designing stage. After the detailed design is ready can WAPDA finance the whole project with out any Financial Institution, she asked? Senator Zuberi said a court in South Africa convicted the black listed company. The official who took bribe to award contract in South Africa was imprisoned for 10 years while the Company was fined which it paid. It would raise very serious questions of propriety if WAPDA awarded contracts to black listed companies. She said that the German Company was General Consultants for WAPDA in joint ventures projects so the stakes are high. Further the qualification procedure where NesPak of Pakistan, Binnie of UK, Haraza from USA and others had participated, needs to be probed to ascertain whether fair level playing field was provided to all competitors, she said.
Hisba Bill condemned as offensive intrusion in private lives
He said that the Party condemns the bill in the strongest possible terms and urges the human rights bodies and civil society to foil attempts to rob them of their rights. The provision in the Bill of appointing scores of religious ombudsmen in the province at different levels and raise a brigade of Moral police to impose on the citizens a partisan world view in the name of ‘propagation of virtue and preventing the vice’ (Amr bil-maroof wa nahin anil munkar) is aimed at talibanisation of the society. The refrain of “amr bil maroof and nahin anil munkar” ominously brings to mind the Taliban’s era in Afghanistan, the summary shaving off of heads of Pakistani football players in Qandahar for wearing shorts and of pulling down the Bhudda statues, he said. He said that the bill was aimed at doling out judicial and other jobs of consultants and advisors to madrassah graduates and to fool the people as general elections approach. “Spending of hundreds of millions on these new offices amounts to foisting medieval non sense at public expense”, he said. “The implications of allowing the Pakistani Taliban to regulate the private lives of citizens in the name of enforcing ‘Islamic value system’ are ominous”. He said laws already existed for dealing with the transgressions listed and there was no need for making new laws. He said that if the regime in Islamabad failed to take note of this transgression it would only strengthen the perception of the military’s alliance with retrograde forces. The fact that under section 10 (C) of the Bill the armed forces have been exempted from the prying eyes of Moral police strengthens the suspicion of collusion between the two that began when the generals’ role in politics was endorsed by adopting the 17th Amendment, he said. He said that General Musharraf's regime had taken Pakistan backwards by persecuting moderate parties and allowing full freedoms to religious parties only to frighten the world that the choice in nuclear Pakistan is only between military dictatorship and religious fascism. “The establishment of the Hisba brigade is one more step towards unenlightenment, immoderation and tyranny which had flourished since the PPP government was overthrown in 1996”.
PPPP wins
Shikarpur by-poll
According to unofficial results announced by the local presiding officer, Agha Tariq Khan of the PPPP bagged 22,331 votes, while his rival Maqbool Shaikh of PML-QA secured 18,540 votes. According to the presiding officer, the turnout remained between 25 and 30 per cent. He said low balloting was seen in the morning, which increased with the passage of time. PPPP leaders, including Syed Khursheed Shah, Aftab Shaban Mirani, Shazia Mari and others expressed their satisfaction over the election process and said that people of Shikarpur have upheld their trust in the PPPP. PML-QA candidate Maqbool Shaikh conceded defeat, saying he was satisfied with the results, while his elder brother Imtiaz Shaikh accused the PPP of rigging. Following the announcement of unofficial results, hundreds of PPP activists rallied on the main roads of Shikarpur, while chanting slogans in favour of the party. Earlier, during the polling three people, including PPPP MPA Shazia Mari, were injured in a clash at a polling station and police arrested four people, including a dacoit, on charges of creating law and order situation. Out of 102 polling stations 88 were declared sensitive. Polling was suspended for about two hours at three polling stations in Sanjerani Mohalla when some unknown armed men tried to take away ballot boxes. Shazia Mari and other PPPP workers tried to stop them and panic followed among the voters due to aerial firing by unknown armed men. In the melee, Shazia Mari was also injured. Meanwhile the presiding officer informed the police and the Rangers, who reached the spot and arrested four people, including dacoit Dadu Shaikh. The polling stations were closed for about two hours and heavy contingents of the police were deployed on the disputed polling stations. The Rangers and the Army continued their patrolling outside the polling stations to maintain law and order. Shikarpur DPO Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh told The News that the those arrested from the Sanjerani Mohalla polling stations were under interrogation and one of them had been identified as Dadu Shaikh, a dacoit involved in the kidnapping case of the judges of Shikarpur and many other heinous crimes, including murders and kidnappings-for-ransom. Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, deputy opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah and other PPPP MPAs were the polling agents of party candidate Agha Taimoor Pathan. PPPP Sindh President Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Aftab Shaaban Mirani, Mir Mumtaz Hussain Jakhrani, Junaid Soomro and others continuously monitored the polling and rushed to the spots from where any kind of disturbance was reported. PML-QA candidate Maqbool Ahmed Shaikh accused the PPPP and police of kidnapping the polling agents of the Bhudal polling station and said that police were siding with the PPPP candidate. Mirani and Khursheed Shah said earlier that rigging tactics were used by the government to get the PML-QA candidate elected and polling at three polling stations was disrupted by the PML-QA workers and supporters just to create law and order situation when they saw their defeat was near.
PPP concerned over manipulations in voters’ lists in Thar
In a statement today a spokesman of the Party said that decrease in the number of voters in the fresh count in several constituencies had raised questions of credibility. The PPP leadership in Sindh has complained that in Thar alone the registered votes have decreased by 68,000 votes, he said. It is hard to avoid the suspicion that massive pre poll rigging has already started in the constituency of the Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, he said. He said that over two months ago the Party had laid bare how a coalition partner in the provincial government had hijacked the voters’ registration exercise in Karachi from official enumerators that had thrown into doubt the entire electoral exercise in Sindh. “The entire exercise of preparation of electoral rolls has been threatened that calls for urgent intervention by the Chief Election Commissioner” After the take over of the work from the officially appointed enumerators by the workers of the political party complaints of fake voters lists have increased, he said. He said that under the relevant laws governing the electoral rolls, the Election Commission was supposed to up date the voters list every year. He said that at present two voters’ lists were available; one was prepared in 2001 for LB elections and the other prepared for the 2002 for General Elections. He said that in the presence of the two lists available and the law requiring the EC to update the electoral lists every year, there was no justification for preparing fresh lists for computerization. Instead of preparing fresh list the present voters’ list should be updated and computerized. The Party urges the CEC to look into the massive complaints of pre-poll rigging and not allow the hijacking of voter’s registration exercise.
PPP leader
rebuts Prime Minister’s denial of involvement in money laundering
During visit to New York Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz denied allegations by the former Interior Minister of his involvement in money laundering cases, and said that all his assets had been rightfully and legally earned. Shaukat Aziz also made generalised allegations that leaders in the past constructed plazas and factories for themselves. “My attention had just been drawn to a statement by Shaukat Aziz in New York in which he denied involvement in money laundering” the former Interior Minister said in a statement from London today, adding also, “I wish to reiterate that Shaukat Aziz was investigated for money laundering by the PPP government”. He said that the FIA under him actually opened the case of money laundering but the matter was subsequently not pursued due perhaps to political influence. If the FIA record is investigated the truth will come out, he said. “The question Mr Shaukat Aziz should address and answer is; was he not investigated for money laundering and did he not use political influence to escape charges?” he asked. The former Interior Minister asked Shaukat Aziz to stop making generalized allegations against past leaders and answer the question whether his government was not found by the Supreme Court of Pakistan as guilty of wrong doing in the Steel Mills privatisation. About the Prime Minister’s foreign visits General Babar said that the Prime Minister was wasting national resources by going on foreign junkets in a desperate bid to shore up his non representative regime where he is a mere puppet of the military establishment which rigged the elections to bring him into power in which several young men lost their lives.
‘I Worry for
Pakistan’s Future’
NEWSWEEK: Why hasn’t Osama Bin Laden been found? Benazir Bhutto: I believe that elements of the [Pakistani] military security apparatus have a lot of sympathy for bin Laden. General Musharraf is relying on the [military] to find bin Laden, and it’s simply not going to happen. What we really need is a change, and I believe that change has to come by going to the civilian option. How would you rate General Musharraf’s performance as a partner to the United States in the Bush administration’s fight against terror? I think General Musharraf took the right decision following the events of 9/11 to stand with the international community to fight terrorism. But I question how effective he has been in eliminating terrorism. There is a lack of implementation of his decisions in many parts of the country, and we have seen in [recent] years how the Taliban have reorganized themselves, and their goal is to take over Afghanistan once again. The religious parties have gained strength within Pakistan and today control of two of our most important provinces that border Afghanistan. Militant groups that were [once] banned—who were attacking New Delhi, Bombay—are re-emerging and hold peace between India and Pakistan hostage. When I look at the rise of the religious parties, the reorganization of the Taliban and the persistence of the militant groups, I worry for Pakistan’s future. Is it true that you initially supported the Taliban when they first formed in Afghanistan? When the Taliban first emerged, the United States, Pakistan and many other countries saw them as a force for peace, but soon we became disillusioned. There’s a difference between Taliban with Al Qaeda and Taliban without Al Qaeda. When the first Taliban emerged, there was no Al Qaeda. They were there as Afghans trying to be a political force within Afghanistan. After the overthrow of my government in 1996, they allowed Al Qaeda to set up training camps. At that time, I was leader of the opposition in the Pakistani Parliament, and I called upon the government to issue an ultimatum to the Taliban that unless they evicted Al Qaeda, Pakistan would break relations with them. Unfortunately, my calls fell on deaf ears. Describe your new alliance with former political rival Nawaz Sharif. What are your intentions going forward? I traveled to Saudi Arabia last year to meet with Mr. Sharif. I told him that [people] inside and outside Pakistan are concerned that both of us spend so much time fighting each other [and] that if democracy was restored, we might have another round of senseless political battles. We needed to send a signal that we’ve learned our lessons and that next time it will be different. We came up with a “Charter of Democracy” [which is] aimed at creating a political system of checks and balances. In Pakistan, politics is a zero-sum game, but we believe that there should be a place within the system for divergent political views. A democratic society will also create tolerance among the young people in Pakistan who are confused by conflicting messages. On the one hand, they hear about the beauty of an accountable, transparent governance system that empowers ordinary people. But their reality is that power flows from the gun. We need to reverse the culture of violence and replace it with a culture of law and tolerance. Pakistan currently has term limits that would keep you from returning to office as prime minister. Would you consider running in some other capacity? In the immediate future, my party and the alliance with Mr. Sharif are both looking to put an end to the term limits. We feel that it should be left to the people of Pakistan. It’s not like America, where a president is elected and he completes [one or] two terms. Our terms are interrupted, so they don’t really qualify in the American sense of two terms. I am planning to go back to Pakistan to help my party in the next general elections. If that limitation is lifted, I’ll run for prime minister. Your administration was plagued by corruption charges. The allegations have been made to destroy my reputation. Despite the rules being stacked against me, none of the courts were able to convict me. I have always proclaimed my innocence, my husband has proclaimed his, and neither of us have been convicted, nor has any other member of my family. These corruption charges have been made to tarnish my image and deny Pakistan a democratic alternative. Since 1950, corruption charges have been made against every civilian prime minister—I believe it’s to divert attention from the institutionalized corruption of the military. What it your view on India-Pakistan relations? Irrespective of the differences on Kashmir, India and Pakistan have to move forward. One of the key ways that we can move forward is by copying Europe’s example. Europe was torn apart by war until it decided to build a common market. I’ve spoken to Indian leaders on this, and within Pakistan and India there’s an emerging consensus that while we have differences, these differences should not stop us from economic development and cooperation in terms of trade and travel. But obviously we need safe borders. While militants hold guns in their hands and disturb the peace, it’s very difficult to get safe and open borders. Attacking militancy is very important, not only vis-à-vis Afghanistan, but also vis-à-vis India. What do you think of the current state of women’s rights in Pakistan? There’s a very big debate on the role of women in the Muslim world. Some claim that women must be kept behind closed doors, but I argue that Islam came to emancipate women, not to repress them. The time has come when we within the Muslim world need to realize that each of us has a right to interpret religion as we wish, and we do not need clerics or the state to tell us how to worship. There are certain religious leaders who say it’s against Islam for a woman to rule. What is your perspective? When I was first elected prime minister of Pakistan, a leading Saudi cleric said that it was un-Islamic. At the same time, the religious leaders from Yemen, Cairo and Syria all came out in support of a woman leading an Islamic nation. [There is] tremendous debate and discussion between those who would take us to the past, and those who look to the future.
Sharif party
urges Bhutto to quit House
ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan
Muslim League-N of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is trying to convince
the Pakistan Peoples Party of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to quit
parliament.
The gov't is cheating the people: Benazir Bhutto
Former prime
minister and exiled Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto said
that she would return home as soon as the election schedule was announced.
Abida and
Fakhar to join Benazir's party
According to some well-placed PPP insiders, the couple is expected to make a formal announcement in this regard shortly. They have had several meetings with party chairperson Benazir Bhutto in London and modalities of joining the party had been finalised there. The PPP insiders said that their party leadership is keen to ensure the entry of Abida and Fakhar into the PPP fold to counter the party turncoat from Jhang - Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, who defected from the PPP after the 2002 general elections and joined the Cabinet as a federal minister. Abida Hussain started her political career from the PPP and was nominated a member of the Punjab Assembly by the late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto against a seat reserved for women. But she parted ways with the PPP in 1979 when she became chairperson of the District Council Jhang. Re-elected She was re-elected to the office in 1983 and 1985 elections and returned to National Assembly from two constituencies and later became a part of the Junejo-led Pakistan Muslim League. Abida Hussain is considered one of the four founder members of the ruling PML-Q and was a staunch supporter of President General Pervez Musharraf. Abida Hussain and Fakhar Imam had supported President Musharraf in the 2002 presidential referendum enabling him to hold the office of the president.
Hisba Bill condemned as offensive intrusion in private lives
He said that the Party condemns the bill in the strongest possible terms and urges the human rights bodies and civil society to foil attempts to rob them of their rights. The provision in the Bill of appointing scores of religious ombudsmen in the province at different levels and raise a brigade of Moral police to impose on the citizens a partisan world view in the name of ‘propagation of virtue and preventing the vice’ (Amr bil-maroof wa nahin anil munkar) is aimed at talibanisation of the society. The refrain of “amr bil maroof and nahin anil munkar” ominously brings to mind the Taliban’s era in Afghanistan, the summary shaving off of heads of Pakistani football players in Qandahar for wearing shorts and of pulling down the Bhudda statues, he said. He said that the bill was aimed at doling out judicial and other jobs of consultants and advisors to madrassah graduates and to fool the people as general elections approach. “Spending of hundreds of millions on these new offices amounts to foisting medieval non sense at public expense”, he said. “The implications of allowing the Pakistani Taliban to regulate the private lives of citizens in the name of enforcing ‘Islamic value system’ are ominous”. He said laws already existed for dealing with the transgressions listed and there was no need for making new laws. He said that if the regime in Islamabad failed to take note of this transgression it would only strengthen the perception of the military’s alliance with retrograde forces. The fact that under section 10 (C) of the Bill the armed forces have been exempted from the prying eyes of Moral police strengthens the suspicion of collusion between the two that began when the generals’ role in politics was endorsed by adopting the 17th Amendment, he said. He said that General Musharraf's regime had taken Pakistan backwards by persecuting moderate parties and allowing full freedoms to religious parties only to frighten the world that the choice in nuclear Pakistan is only between military dictatorship and religious fascism. “The establishment of the Hisba brigade is one more step towards unenlightenment, immoderation and tyranny which had flourished since the PPP government was overthrown in 1996”.
PPP Senator questions award of Bhash study to black listed Company
In a statement today the PPP senator said that the World Bank last week black listed the German contracting company for a period of seven years because of its involvement in corruption. It was important that the nation was told as what the government planned to respond to it and what other contracts had already been given to this company, she said. She also asked WAPDA to inform the people about the financing arrangement for the Bhasha Dam project. She said that the official response that WAPDA is paying from it’s own resources may be true as long as the Bhasha project was at the designing stage. After the detailed design is ready can WAPDA finance the whole project with out any Financial Institution, she asked? Senator Zuberi said a court in South Africa convicted the black listed company. The official who took bribe to award contract in South Africa was imprisoned for 10 years while the Company was fined which it paid. It would raise very serious questions of propriety if WAPDA awarded contracts to black listed companies. She said that the German Company was General Consultants for WAPDA in joint ventures projects so the stakes are high. Further the qualification procedure where NesPak of Pakistan, Binnie of UK, Haraza from USA and others had participated, needs to be probed to ascertain whether fair level playing field was provided to all competitors, she said.
PPP wants market crash report released
Speaking at a press conference at Bilawal House on Sunday, PPP leader and former chairman of the Privatisation Commission Naved Qamar and the party’s information secretary Sherry Rehman urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of what they described as an attempt by the government to hide the truth from the nation. Ms Rehman said that the forensic report had been commissioned by the government, adding that a meeting of the committee had been requisitioned to receive the report from the capital market regulator on Monday (Nov 13). She said the government had not only postponed the meeting indefinitely but also placed a ban on the report’s release. Mr Qamar recalled that former SECP chairman Tariq Hasan had pointed the accusing finger at Prime Minister Shukat Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Salman Shah and Minister of State for Finance Umar Ayub Khan.
Fahim denies deal with govt
“Government policies are harmful for the very existence of the country. We are trying to save the country and it is the duty of all political parties to protect the federation," said Mr Fahim while talking to newsmen at the residence of Sardar Ali, a former PPP MNA, here on Sunday. He said his party was aware of its responsibilities and would not like to be guided by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal “which is playing the role of a friendly opposition”. He said MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmed gave a call for agitation against the military regime, but did not invite his party to join. He said he knew that MMA secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rehman was not prepared for such a move. "Our party believes in people’s power. It will not strike any deal with military rulers," he said, adding that Benazir Bhutto would return to the country soon after the announcement of general elections.
Mohtarma Bhutto
condemns attack on PPP activist in Ghotki
Rafiq Daheri was going back home from bank when he was intercepted by some dacoits and snatched seven lac rupees from him at gun point and shot him when he resisted. Rafiq Daheri was severely injured and was rushed to a hospital in Rahim Yar Khan. Ina statement today the former Prime Minister while condemning the incident said the present regime had failed to attend to its basic function of protecting the life, honour and property of its citizens because it was wasting effort and national resources against political opponents. She said that on the one hand lawlessness reigned supreme in the country and on the other a reign of terror had been let loose generally by the ruling party which feared the forthcoming general elections where it was bound to be soundly defeated by the people of the four provinces of the country. In this connection she recalled how last month two PPP activists Jehangir Moghul and Junaid Bulund in Mirpur Khas were sentenced to ten years imprisonment and 30 thousand fine each in a politically motivated case. Both the youths were asked to leave the PPP, which they refused. They were later named in a firing case and sentenced. Mohtarma Bhutto said that the dictatorship had failed to eliminate either the dacoits or the terrorists because it lacked roots amongst the people and did not consider itself accountable to the peoples will. Mohtarma recalled that PPP government had made life secure for the citizens by tackling terrorists, militants and insurgents. She said that the PPP united people on a much higher moral pedestal consisting of a vision of a democratic Pakistan, free of the forces of extremism where poverty was eliminated by judicious use of the available resources instead of wasting them on white elephant projects. She said that the lawlessness will continue to spread as long as the country was administered by the present undemocratic ruling party which had allowed the Taliban to regroup, al qaeda to become active leading to attacks which resulted in civilian casualties and poverty, unemployment and corruption to which were once again giving birth to sectarianism, extremism and suicide bombers. She called upon the youth, farmers, labourers, traders, students, women and minorities to support the PPP and bring the PPP and its allies to government so that it could serve the masses and save them from the present crisis.
New PPP Punjab leadership vows to restore party’s fortunes
 LAHORE:
The newly appointed president of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in
Punjab, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has vowed to restore the party to the top in
the province in the next general elections.“The party will be reorganised from the district to union council level and the party’s popularity will reach the level it was at in 1977 before the next elections,” Mr Qureshi told a press conference here on Saturday. Newly appointed secretary general Punjab Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas, general secretary Jehangir Badar, Vice Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani, Senator Safdar Abbasi, former president Punjab Qasim Zia, Farzana Raja, Naheed Khan, Mushtaq Awan, Haji Azizur Rehman Chann, Samiullah Khan, Oranganzaib Burki and Abdul Qadir Shaheen were also present on the occasion. Mr Qureshi said his main task would be to mobilise the party in the province so that when PPP Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto returns to Pakistan, she gets a warm welcome at Lahore airport. “I will try my best to regain Punjab for the PPP in the next general elections and for this purpose ideological leaders and workers will be re-inducted in the party fold” he said. He said he would soon conduct a surprise visit to divisional headquarters and hold a meeting with the party’s legislators and divisional coordinators. “We have a team of leaders and active workers so we could bring a change in Punjab,” he said. He said that a delegation of PPP leaders would also meet with the chief election commissioner to convince him to hold free, fair and impartial elections. “If elections are fair, we will cooperate with the election authority, otherwise battles will be fought at every polling station,” he warned. Mr Qureshi said that President General Pervez Musharraf had vowed that the next elections would be fair. “If the government stands by its commitment the PPP will also cooperate with them to hold elections in a transparent manners, otherwise the party reserves its right to boycott the elections,” he said. staff report.
PPP men asked
to prepare for snap polls
Leaders of all tiers were directed to enhance their coordination with people at grass-roots level, and ensure that they backed the PPP in the election, which would be a tough battle between the supporters and adversaries of Gen Musharraf. Qasim Zia presided over the 150-minute meeting attended by all important office-bearers and leaders. A schedule for public meetings in various cities was also announced. The meeting is an annual feature which provides speakers with an opportunity to give their candid views on the working of the party, mistakes in decision-making and steps required to increase the vote bank of the party. Unlike the previous two years when various policies and leaders had come under fire in the presence of the media, this time there was a qualitative change in the tone and tenor of speeches. Most speakers said premature general election would mean early return of Ms Benazir Bhuttto from the self-exile, and thus the party should mobilise people to give her a rousing welcome at the shortest notice. A resolution adopted by the participants made it clear that Ms Bhutto would contest the next election and be the party’s candidate for the office of the prime minister. It said the servile attitude and flawed policies of the rulers had jeopardised the very unity of the country, and centrifugal forces were getting strengthened as the parliament had been deprived of its dignity. The resolution condemned the killings in Waziristan, Balochistan and Bajaur, and alleged that national sovereignty had been compromised. The situation, it said, could be reversed only by holding free and fair election under the supervision of an independent and impartial election commission. Another resolution expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, and called upon the chief minister to step down along with his cabinet members. Otherwise, the resolution warned, the workers would dethrone the rulers. Yet another resolution said Gen Musharraf and his hangers-on were responsible for the political chaos in Balochistan. Condemning the killing of Akbar Bugti and others, the resolution said people of Punjab would continue to fight for the rights of other provinces. Another resolution called for the reinstatement of all 2,800 employees sacked from the PTCL and 100 per cent increase in salaries because of the rise in prices. Various speakers said the government, despite all efforts, would not be able to stop the electorate from supporting the PPP. They made it clear that the PPP would not strike any deal with the rulers. They alleged the rulers spread such rumours to discredit the PPP, although such tactics only showed how fearful they were of the PPP’s growing popularity. Some said turncoats would not be allowed to return to the party fold, and that candidates for the next election would be selected in consultation with party workers. Serious notice was taken of the MQM’s derogatory remarks against the PPP leadership, and various leaders said the party would not tolerate such a language in future. Qasim Zia, Jehangir Badr, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan, Naheed Khan, Farzana Raja, Begum Beelum Hasnain, Sajjad Bukhari, Abdul Qadir Shaheen, Sajida Mir and Mian Ayub were among the speakers. Prominent among the participants were Ahmad Mukhtar, Ghulam Mustafa Khar, Malik Hakimeen Khan, Raja Riaz, Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, Altaf Qureshi, Naveed Chaudhry, Aurangzeb Burki, Azma Bukhari, Faiza Malik, Iqbal Sialvi and Amjad Ansari.
PPP slams PEMRA's Decision to Suspend Sindh TV Transmission
The PPP's Central Information Secretary, Sherry Rehman condemned the regime's undemocratic policies of harassment and suppression of media men. She said despite the Musharraf regime's repeated pronouncements on promoting democracy, human rights and press freedoms, its record over the last five years in curbing independent media had been nothing but harsh and repressive. This year witnessed not only cold-blooded murders of three journalists while many were subjected to kidnapping, torture under detention but also the electronic channels were deprived of their fundamental right of freedom of speech and _expression, she added. She said Punjab Govt some time ago stopped transmission of an electronic channel without any prior notice and now Sindh Govt by the agency of PEMRA suspended the transmission of Sindh-based Sindh TV channel. Ms Rehman said that whenever any journalist exposed the regime's soft underbelly through its corrupt and brutal policies, either the law, or mysterious agencies that kidnap and kill, is used to muzzle them. Sindh TV had done nothing more than told the true story of what was going on in Sindh and Balochistan. Ms Rehman said it was undoubtedly an attack on the freedom of press and must be strongly condemned by all. Rehman demanded that the military regime must immediately put a stop to its excesses against electronic and print media and take back its decision to stop the transmission of the Sindh TV channel. The PPPP will be taking it up in the National Assembly as well as other forums to pressure the regime to remove these unlawful curbs she said. Sherry Rehman Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party 49 Old Clifton , Karachi 021 5834663/4 21, St 37, F 7/1, Islamabad 051 9224129 Pakistan " Ai paikar e gul, koshish i paiham ki jeza dekh, Hai rakib e taqdeer i jehan teri reza dekh" Baang i Dara, Mohammed Iqbal
Regime 'victimising
political opponents'
Army necessary
for National defense: Amin Fahim
Islamabad November 10, 2006: Chairman
ARD and vive chairman PPPP, Makhdoom Amin Fahim considers Pakistan Army
imperative for the defense of the Country, but said that some "adventurous
power mongers" were giving it a bad name.
Minister promotes Musharraf-Bhutto rapprochement
“Such an understanding will strengthen the president and give Bhutto’s [Pakistan Peoples] Party a substantial role in the post-2007 election set-up,” the minister said in interview yesterday. “Both Musharraf and PPP have similarity of thoughts on various issues facing the country. Both are enlightened moderates, which is the only way forward for the country,” Niazi said. He believed that in case the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and PPP join hands after the forthcoming polls, it would be a strong government, having a salacity to bring about much needed constitutional amendments to put the country on the fast development track. “Such cooperation will be in the best of interest of the people of Pakistan. It will go a long way towards resolution of problems the country is facing,” he believed. Elected on a PPP ticket, Niazi joined a coalition under Musharraf in the post-2002 scenario — an action he has never regretted. He has come a long way in politics, and is famous for speaking his own mind without any hesitation. Niazi regrets that his warnings and alarm bells were ignored by Bhutto immediately after the 2002 polls when more than a dozen party members formed a group, the Patriots, to join hands with the ruling coalition, which badly wanted them to form a one-vote majority government in the centre. He was annoyed the way Bhutto’s second-in-command Amin Fahim was desperate to become prime minister of the country but could not deliver desired results to the party shrinking its strength in the parliament in the end. Niazi didn’t defect immediately after the elections and took his time till then prime minister Zafarullah Jamali convinced him to do so. Even then, he remained seated on the treasury benches for months without any ministry in hand. The minister said that the Patriots group would merge in the PML close to the general elections and has no intentions to rejoin Bhutto’s party. “Although I have been contacted by PPP leaders or intermediaries to explore whether I am interested in joining back, but for me that chapter is close now,” he added. Bhutto on Thursday called for the US to press for fair, democratic elections in Pakistan in 2007, saying the current regime has failed to contain terrorists bent on attacking the US. While Bhutto applauded US efforts to encourage democracy in Afghanistan, she said a commitment to a democratic Pakistan should be equally important. She predicted that if Pakistan holds a fair election, scheduled for next year, “the religious parties would not win.'
PPP men asked
to prepare for snap polls
Leaders of all tiers were directed to enha | |||||||||||||
Karachi: Former prime minister Benazir
Bhutto has alleged that the government remains keen on victimising political
opponents rather than protecting the lives, honour and property of the
common people.