October 2006
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October 2006 |
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News Archives
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October 2006
MNA Naveed Qamar will be asked to explain his attendance at Pak Embassy function
It may be recalled that the ARD does not permit its members to meet with government functionaries at public functions. The PPP spokesperson said that it did not know prior to the media reports that Naveed Qamar had attended a public function hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK as reported in the media. However, in light of the news report Mr. Naveed Qamar would be asked by the Party to explain his action. The PPP spokesperson refuted the impression in a segment of the media that the presence of MNA Naveed Qamar at the regime's function was a political message saying that the Chairperson was unaware of Mr. Qamar's action until the press report. He dismissed speculation that it was part of "confidence building measures" with the present military regime. The spokesperson said that the PPP Chairperson could have struck a deal in 2000 for personal benefits that could have secured the release of her husband without his enduring eight years in prison or without her being hauled up before foreign courts and slandered in the national media. However, she had faced the challenges because she had held out for the democratisation of Pakistan.
Bails of PPP
workers cancelled
About fifty activists of the Party were nominated in the FIR for holding protest demonstration in front the Parliament building on April 22, 1998 against the anti-terrorism legislation, which gave sweeping powers to the executive. The demonstrators were forcibly dispersed when the police resorted to baton charge resulting in injury to many Party workers and activists. The protestors were demanding review of the law. Later the Supreme Court struck down various provisions of the anti terror legislation including the one relating to the setting up of military courts to try terror cases but the case against the activists has been continuing for the past over eight years. The accused have appeared before the court for more than 40 times during the past eight years only to be adjourned and a fresh date given each time. Those who were present in the court today and whose bail bonds were not cancelled included Raja Mansoor Ahmad, former city president Ibrar Rizvi, former Advisor Chaudhry Aslam Advocate, Raja Sheraz, Malik Majeed, Nadeem Tariq, Qamar Zaman, Khawaja Wasim, Shabbir Anjum, Haji Rashid and former Senator Farhatullah Babar. The judicial magistrate cancelled the bail bonds of the remaining over 40 activists for non-appearance before the court. Women activists were however exempt from appearance before the court.
Mohtarma Bhutto condoles death of Zia ul Haq Qasmi
Zia ul Haq Qasmi died in Karachi on the Eid day at the age of 71. In a condolence message the former Prime Minister said that Zia Qasmi’s death was a great loss to Urdu literature and the vacuum created by his death will take a long time to fill. She said that the Urdu literary magazine ‘Zarafat’ that he edited for the past over two decades earned a great name in Urdu literature not only for its contents but also for serving as nursery for many budding writers. Mohtarma Bhutto also prayed for eternal rest to the soul of late Zia ul haq Qasmi and for patience to the members of the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.
Mohtrama Bhutto condoles death of Ghulam Ishaq Khan
On behalf of the Pakistan Peoples Party and on my own behalf I condole the passing away of former President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, she said in a statement today.. Mr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan died in Peshawar early Friday morning. The former President served in different capacities during his long career. He also served under the country’s first directly elected Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Mohtarma Bhutto also prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and for fortitude to the members of the bereaved family to bear the loss with equanimity.
PPP unaware of removal of names from list to Interpol
“A section of the press has reported that the names of PPP Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari have been removed from the list of wanted people forwarded to the Interpol. “The PPP is unaware if the names have actually been removed the list. “However, the PPP has filed petitions separately with the Interpol and also before the Sindh High Court for the removal of the names of Mohtarma Bhutto and Senator Asif Ali Zardari from the said list of wanted people”.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s Eid Day Message
Let us on this occasion also bow our heads in gratitude to Allah for blessing us with the bounties of the holy month of Ramazan, she said. “But amidst Eid celebrations this year let us not forget the tens of thousands of our sisters and brethren who perished in earthquake in Frontier and Azad Kashmir last year and the other tens of thousands who have been rendered homeless. Let us also remember those who lost lives and suffered heavily in recent rains and floods. “It is sad to recall that the tens of thousands of victims people are forced to spend another winter without homes and without shelter. And it is a great pity that the plight of the victims has been compounded by what foreign donors have alleged as massive corruption in the rehabilitation and reconstruction work. “I call upon my people, who are very caring and loving people, to step forward and help them in their hour of trial even as this hour of trial has been stretched and their miseries prolonged by corruption in the earthquake rehabilitation work. “May Allah in His infinite mercy grant our supplications and guide us to imbibe the spirit of Ramazan throughout the year and to employ that spirit in rebuilding the lives of devastated people”. A festive occasion has relevance only when blessings are genuinely shared with many, she said. “On this day therefore let us redouble our efforts to alleviate the sufferings not only of the victims of the most terrible natural disaster in the history of Pakistan but also of those who are destitute and needy”
PPP unaware of removal of names from list to Interpol
Islamabad October 22, 2006: A spokesman
of the PPP has issued the following statement today.
PPP files reference against PM, Federal Ministers and other with NAB
The complaint has been filed with NAB through Shah Khawar Advocate. Federal Ministers Humayun Akhtar Khan, Jahangir Tareen, Awais Khan Laghari, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Aman-Ullah Jadoon, Babar Khan Ghauri, Zahid Hamid, Mushtaq Ali Cheema and Liaqat Ali Jatoi are the federal ministers nominated in the complaint. The complaint detailed the process through which the above mentioned tried to privatize the largest public concern for peanuts and reads, "That the matter was taken up by different parties before the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan for declaring the bidding of PSMC as illegal. The Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan, after hearing the parties at length, passed a short order, dated 23-06-2006, declaring the whole process of privatization of PSMC as illegal and void. On 8th of August 2006, the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a detailed judgment in the matter. The same may be treated and read as an integral part of this complaint. In the said judgment, serious infirmities, incongruities, irregularities and illegalities have been pointed out by the apex Court of the country, consequent upon which the respondents being member of board of PC and CCOP are held responsible for benefiting successful bidder Mr. Arif Habib, loss to the Government Exchequer amounting to billions of rupees and receiving millions of rupees as bribe, all respondents for violating and ignoring all constitutional and legal necessities for privatization. If the Honourale Supreme Court had not taken up the matter immediately and passed a judgment canceling the whole process of privatization of the Pakistan Steel Mills with offer letter, the Nation would had lost the golden sparrow as expressed by former Chairman Pakistan Steel Mill, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Abdul Qayyum.
Mohtarma Bhutto
reiterates resolve to return to Pakistan before next elections
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto called for the establishment of an interim government of national consensus to supervise the holding of fair, free and transparent elections open to all candidates and parties in Pakistan. She reiterated her resolve to return to Pakistan before the next election to help build Quaid e Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah's Pakistan for which Quaid e Awam had given his life, which is a federal, egalitarian Pakistan. When asked about when she will be returning to Pakistan, she said she will be returning anytime between now and the same time next year. She said that our people need democracy, gender equality and respect for minorities. When questioned whether the Taliban are a concern, she said that the PPP is deeply concerned over reports that the Taliban have regrouped and are reasserting themselves in parts of the country. Islamabad must restore the writ of government and work closely with Kabul and New Delhi to prevent militants from jeopardizing relations with its neighbors. Terrorism was not only a threat to the region but also a threat to the well- being of the Pakistani people, she said, as the attacks on masjids, churches, diplomatic missions and other places demonstrated, she said. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that it was necessary to have a level playing field for all political players. She noted that even leaders of banned terrorist groups like Hafiz Saeed were free to advocate their policies while the two former Prime Ministers were banned from reaching the people, through an exploitation of the judicial process. She said that all political parties including the ARD must have the same the same opportunities as the PML Q and its allies as well as the religious parties have in Pakistan. Right now, she said, the common citizen has no access to basic utilities such as clean drinking water, sanitation and unemployment. Even the most basic protections under the law are unavailable to citizens, who face a situation of near anarchy where people are killed in the street for small thefts like mobile phones but no one is apprehended for those crimes. People face stagnant rain water in their streets, toxic water in their pipes, and malarial fever with no respite. To a question on whether her party is involved in negotiations with the military regime, she said that my spokesman has already given a statement on the issue and that such speculation has existed for seven years, but the PPP is committed to the democratization of Pakistan. However, the PPP is a mainstream party, with a clear agenda in Parliament, she said, and on issues like the Women's Bill, which are rights we have championed for over 25 years, we will be working to empower women, and to these ends, our Party will try to work with government, she said. We don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, she said. When asked about working with the MMA she said we work with them in Parliament when we agree on certain issues and on others which they disagree they follow their own agenda, such as on the women's bill. On the need for a grand opposition alliance, she said that all the parties are working in their different alliances, mainly the ARD and MMA, and when there is a common issue they work together. Mohtarma Benazir Bhuto did not rule out the possibility of an opposition alliance in the future, and when asked about the possibility of resignations she said that parliamentarians had given their resignations to the ARD leadership which would exercise it should the circumstances demand it. When asked about a Plan B, in case the interim government was not formed, she counter- questioned whether the country itself had a plan B. She noted that the 2002 elections were fought without the main leaders of the two mainstream parties, which had created a dangerous crisis for the country. In the last five years, she said, our relations with Kabul had deteriorated, the Taliban had regrouped in parts of Waziristan according to media reports, which also claimed that Al Qaeda leaders were hiding in these parts. Our relations with New Delhi remained uneasy despite many attempts to improve them, she said. Internally nearly 60 % of the people lived on less than $ 2 a day whereas according to Transparency International, Pakistan was among the most corrupt nation in the world with a rating of 67. This was significantly higher than the level of corruption ratings that had prevailed for civilian governments, which proved that dictatorship bred mis-governance, she said. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto condemned the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti and said that his killing had lit the fire of alienation in Balochistan which threatened to spread to other parts of the country. In view of this alarming situation internally and externally, it was clear that the plan to exclude the major democratic leaders had failed and that the only solution lay in restoring democracy through the formation of an interim government of national consensus in which all political players and parties could contest.
Al-Qaeda scare
jolts Pakistan into action
Islamist elements are determined to push until one side breaks, while Musharraf, a key US ally in the "war on terror" and under intense pressure from Washington, has to take rapid steps to contain the rise of militancy in the region, which has Pakistan as its nucleus. The recent discovery of a planned al-Qaeda-backed coup against Musharraf's regime, which included men in uniform associated with sensitive strategic institutions, underlines Musharraf's difficulties. According to information obtained by Asia Times Online, the coup plot was hatched in the Waziristan tribal area headquarters of al-Qaeda. The conspiracy was uncovered after a mobile phone used to activate a rocket aimed at the president's residence was traced to an air force officer. More than 40 people, both inside and outside the military, were subsequently arrested. The most alarming issue for the Pakistani establishment was not only the involvement of air force officers, but the apparent deep penetration of al-Qaeda into highly sensitive areas. Those arrested in the conspiracy plot include air force engineers associated with the Air Weapon Complex (AWC) of Pakistan, a leading organization in the field of air-delivered weapons and systems. Its personnel are subjected to vigorous and intrusive background checks. The personnel arrested were employed in the high-profile research and development section of the AWC. The linkage of such security-cleared people with al-Qaeda, who, according to Asia Times Online's information, were to carry out the attacks on signals received from Waziristan, sheds light on the vulnerable security situation in Pakistan. At the same time, it shows the depth of feeling in segments of society who reject Pakistan's role in the "war on terror". Pakistani security officials have confirmed that the rocket plot to assassinate Musharraf was an al-Qaeda-linked conspiracy. At a press conference, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao announced that eight al-Qaeda militants had been arrested. Significantly, however, the establishment has not admitted publicly that any military officers were involved in the conspiracy, as they were in at least two previous attempts on Musharraf's life since he seized power in 1999. When quoted an Asia Times Online article saying that air force officers were involved ( Pakistan foils coup plot Oct 14), Sherpao dismissed it. But later, he did concede that those arrested included some air force officers, yet he rejected the idea of a coup. This attitude reflects the state of denial of Pakistan's leaders, who will not admit that renegade Islamist elements have infiltrated the armed forces, so much so that they have even entered institutions like the AWC's research and development section. Musharraf's main constituency is the Pakistani armed forces. Whether officer or soldier, the majority hail from Punjab province's rural areas or the Pashtun tribal belt, and belong to the traditionally martial races of the region. Because of their traditional background they are often over-zealous in their religious beliefs and practices. World events after September 11, 2001, especially the overthrow of the Taliban in Afghanistan, have further radicalized this already strong religious passions among soldiers and officers. Musharraf's abandonment of the Taliban and attempts to purge society of radical religious ideas have heaped fuel on this fire. Inevitably, then, as Musharraf pursued his plans to abandon all traces of sharia law and contain militancy in the country, he faced a serious backlash. He was therefore forced to adopt a policy of "two steps forward and one step back". Nevertheless, the pace of events in the past few months has taken Pakistan to a point where it has to play a decisive role, and of course Musharraf is in charge of this mission that requires quick and uncompromising steps. The main task - as reinforced by Washington - is to destroy the command and control centers in Pakistan of the Taliban-led Afghan resistance. Word has filtered out that Islamabad will launch a major action in the next few days in the northwest and southwest (Balochistan). Any northwest operation could involve the sensitive and semi-independent North and South Waziristan tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan. The Pakistani Taliban have a strong footprint here and recently negotiated an agreement with Islamabad which included the army pulling its troops out of the area. This accord could now be in jeopardy. "I do not know whether it was a coup attempt or not, but certainly we would support any coup for the cause of Islamic sharia," retired squadron leader Khalid Khawaja, a former Inter Services Intelligence official and once a close friend of Osama bin Laden, told Asia Times Online. "Nevertheless, if the coup is without any cause and is just a grab for power, we would oppose it," Khawaja said. At the core of the struggle in Pakistan is this contradiction between many in the strategic institutions, dominated by hardliners, and Musharraf, who is a genuine liberal-minded person by comparison and fully committed to the "war on terror". While these opposing forces have coexisted in the past, Afghanistan has proved a decisive trigger as the Taliban have gone from strength to strength, in large part because of their support bases in Pakistan. With just weeks before snow sends the Taliban's offensive into hibernation, Musharraf needs - and wants - to act very soon. His opponents are in no mood to back down.
PPP files reference against PM, Federal Ministers and other with NAB
The complaint has been filed with NAB through Shah Khawar Advocate. Federal Ministers Humayun Akhtar Khan, Jahangir Tareen, Awais Khan Laghari, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Aman-Ullah Jadoon, Babar Khan Ghauri, Zahid Hamid, Mushtaq Ali Cheema and Liaqat Ali Jatoi are the federal ministers nominated in the complaint. The complaint detailed the process through which the above mentioned tried to privatize the largest public concern for peanuts and reads, "That the matter was taken up by different parties before the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan for declaring the bidding of PSMC as illegal. The Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan, after hearing the parties at length, passed a short order, dated 23-06-2006, declaring the whole process of privatization of PSMC as illegal and void. On 8th of August 2006, the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a detailed judgment in the matter. The same may be treated and read as an integral part of this complaint. In the said judgment, serious infirmities, incongruities, irregularities and illegalities have been pointed out by the apex Court of the country, consequent upon which the respondents being member of board of PC and CCOP are held responsible for benefiting successful bidder Mr. Arif Habib, loss to the Government Exchequer amounting to billions of rupees and receiving millions of rupees as bribe, all respondents for violating and ignoring all constitutional and legal necessities for privatization. If the Honourale Supreme Court had not taken up the matter immediately and passed a judgment canceling the whole process of privatization of the Pakistan Steel Mills with offer letter, the Nation would had lost the golden sparrow as expressed by former Chairman Pakistan Steel Mill, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Abdul Qayyum.
PPP rejoinder to Hafiz Hussain Ahmad
He was commenting on MMA leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmad’s press statement in which he questioned Senator Asif Zardari’s release from jail and going abroad. Hussain Ahmad was also reported to have asked Mohtarma Bhutto to explain how Senator Asif Ali Zardari was released and went abroad. In a rejoinder to Ahmad the PPP leader said that Asif Zardari was freed jut like Nelson Mandela was freed when it became a huge scandal that an individual could be so badly maltreated through long years of incarceration without conviction, solitary confinement and persecution. He said that Hafiz Hussain should explain how and why he allowed the Musharraf regime the undemocratic 17th amendment, how he got Musharraf elected through unconstitutional device of confidence vote and bailed out the Musharraf regime on the Balochistan issue. Mr. Ahmad and his leadership has a lot to explain about running with the hare and hunting with the hound, Raja said. Raja Pervez Ashraf said that Asif Zardari endured with courage long years of incarceration and maltreatment without conviction and asked Hafiz Hussain to explain why he nor his leadership were never even arrested
PPP expresses concern over CERS
The Coordinator Election Monitoring Cell, Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator Sardar Latif Khan Khosa addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner wrote, "We are deeply concerned about the way CERS is being developed, date-entered, managed monitored, and implemented. Technically speaking, as we all know, no software are "guaranteed 100% hack proof', period. At any time during the development process, or even after completion or implementation, software developers, managers and those who have access to the software or server from any of the entry points can embed a malicious code through which it will be possible to change data later. Hacking can be done through any of the modes or multiple data entry points any time (24/7/365) when none of the political parties agents are present, to change the electoral data, add fictitious names or delete actual names. We believe and urge that if the RFP and the project are not rectified and revised at this stage, it will lead to flawed software development, mismanagement of CERS, incomplete data entry, erroneous rolls systems, and possible hacking of rolls and election results." "There should be representation of the political parties on the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the Technical Review Committee (TRC) of the ECP (sections 20.1 and 20.2) to ensure transparency of the project. ECP must define the certification level of the CMM firm in the RFP to at least a level four to work as implementation partners. There should be an independent audit of the CERS (by an independent software audit firm) after completion and after installation of CERS. All off-line data entry and merging centers should allow for party8 teams to be present at the time of data entry. The central data server should be allowed access only through a two-tier code system, one of which must be with the ECP and the other one with the representative of the political parties. The system must be locked after each segment of data entry", the PPP demanded. The letter further reads, "In addition to the above, ECP is preparing afresh data through door to door enumeration. NIC card is mandatory. Twenty million eligible voters still do not have NICs. Their names will not appear on the Electoral Rolls data base. There will also be more eligible voters (those who attain the age of 18 after the registration, those who relocate after the registration, leftovers, etc). How will they be able to vote? There appears to be a catch in the provision of allowing old NICs for identification purposes. On the face of it, it is a convenience given to those who have not got their computerized NICs prepared. But what happens if 2 votes are registered instead of 1 for persons having both the new and the old NICs. The addresses of the voters keep changing and do not have to be the same as the one given on their NICs.The 2 votes of a single voter can be with different addresses, appearing in the voters list hundreds of pages apart and also voting at 2 different polling stations or even in 2 different constituencies." The PP demands, "The NADRA NIC requirement condition MUST be done away with, and any two forms of photo ID should be allowed for registration so that the voter gets enrolled. ECP information of eligible voters (with two forms of Ids who don't have NICs) should be automatically sent to NADRA to issue a new NICs automatically without cost. It is a hard reality the Ruling. Party and its allies have practically taken charge of t he registration Process and selective entries are being recorded. Complaints from the Province of Sindh transmitted to your good self which reveal a pathetic state of affairs have gone unnoticed. Pre-Poll ragging to marginalize the popular political forces through such like electoral fraud would have no parallel in history. In Punjab the Nazims are practically charged with collecting Registration forms were entries are altered at will and the very forms excluded and added under a calculated scheme." Demanding to make the electoral list available on the internet for all political parties to verify, with time allowed for correction, addition/deletions, Senator Khosa wrote, "The opposition Parties have been under the line of fire and the recent admission of Gen. Pervaiz Musharrafthat he created and inducted the ruling party reflects the free hand given to District and Provincial Governments, and their employees for the fresh preparation of Electoral Rolls. The Province of Baluchistan being in turmoil after the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti instability is Waziristan, tension in rest of NWFP, Floods creating havoc in other parts of the Country, month of Ramzan and Eid Holiday intervening the preparation of New electoral lists would neither be possible nor practicable. In such circumstances it would not be feasible to replace the existing Electoral Rolls and rather additions and deletions be made to update the same so that one or the other party does not have its way in excluding voters known to favour the other side and enter only such voters at multiple places who atone to those at the helm, of affairs. Compete replacement of Electoral Rolls is done during census and not otherwise. However in case it is so required the same be carried out with consensus of political parties and directly under supervision of the Election Commission of Pakistan and adequate time be given to ensure that all eligible voters are registered and none deprived of his right of franchise."
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a condolence letter addressed to Mubarak Khaskheli wrote, "The loss of a young son who was making efforts to earn for his family at Islamabad far away from his native village is a great tragedy. Our sympathies are with you at this difficult time." Expressing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto further wrote, "It is unfortunate that Law and Order situation in the country has deteriorated to an extant where the lives of ordinary citizens are not safe. The incident in which Niaz was robbed of his phone and money was tragic which disappointed him and he took an extreme step to end his life in protest against the inability of law enforcement agencies to protect the lives of the citizens. It is a great sacrifice which will be long remembered." She also prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the deceased’s soul in eternal peace and grant of courage to the family members to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.
PPP condemns worsening law and order situation
PAKISTAN MAY
FACE POLITICAL INSTABILITY
Monday 16 October 2006: WASHINGTON:
Pakistani opposition parties may try to take advantage of the prevailing
feeling of unrest about the present government, which could create political
instability in the country, American news intelligence and analysis portal
has warned.
Mohtarma Bhutto
is PPP candidate for Prime Minister ship
PPP condemns political victimization.
PPP Condemns rumors of back channel deal as malicious
ISI ASKED
GHANWA TO CONTEST AGAINST PPP
The widow of the late Murtaza Bhutto claimed that the ISI had approached her ahead of 2002 general elections to suggest that she should contest either from the platform of the National Alliance, of which former president Farooq Leghari and Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi were the top leaders, or that of the Sindh Democratic Alliance. She was told that after winning the election she would become a minister and thus be in a better position to have her husband's murder case decided. She said that she had rejected the offer out of hand, saying instead of making such a deal she would like to have the system reformed so that everybody, including herself, got justice.
Mohtarma Bhutto expresses deep concern over increase in crime and unemployment
The former Prime Minister said this while commenting on reports that young people are committing suicide as well as threatening self-immolation as they are unable to feed their minor children in the holy month of Ramadan. She said that the PPP was committed to job generation. According to the ILO report, the largest job generation in Pakistan had taken place during the PPP government. She asked the young people to support the PPP in the forthcoming elections so that collectively the PPP and the youth could work for creating job opportunities in the country. She also asked the youth to convince their parents of the need to stop any attempts at rigging the elections. Because the elections of 2002 were rigged, therefore the unemployment situation in the country had worsened, she said. Mohtarma Bhutto said that the deplorable rise in crime, robbery and murder was a black stain on the record of the present administration. She noted that the media daily reported horrific crimes taking place in broad-daylight. She said that whenever democracy was derailed, bandits reared their head. She condoled the death of a Karachi businessman Arshjadullah and his son Amirullah were shot to death while trying to resist bandits in Landhi. Mohtarma Bhutto said that it was the basic right of the citizens to live in security in peace but unfortunately in the absence of a representative and an accountable government, crime had increased and innocent people were losing their lives. She assured the people of Pakistan that PPP is committed to providing peace and security to every citizen. The Chairperson also condemned the incident in which a senior politician Meraj Muhammad Khan and a dozen citizens were robbed by armed bandits. According to the media reports, Meraj Muhammad Khan, his three companions and driver were robbed of cash and other valuables when two gunmen intercepted them in K Area Korangi, while they were on way to attend a Soyem of their party worker in Korangi police jurisdiction. Recalling the days of the PPP, the former Prime Minister said that the PPP had courageously taken on the criminal elements from Khyber to Karachi and broken the back of mafias. Unfortunately, the PPP government was destabilized and the criminals and the mafias had once again regrouped to cause suffering to the citizens of Pakistan. She asked the people of Pakistan in all the four federating units to support the PPP so that their problems could be resolved. The Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party also expressed concern over the employees of the left bank outfall drainage tube well project in Mirpurkhas as well as elsewhere who had not been paid their salaries. She said that PPP was committed to ensuring that government employees received salaries on time so that they could plan their lives in accordance with the hard work they put in. She called upon the present regime to immediately pay the government employees to whom dues were owed. She said that the PPP managed the economy of the country despite the fact that earlier dictatorships had burdened the country with loans and those loans had not been rescheduled. She said PPP was committed to the progress of the country and the people, which is why it selflessly worked for the downtrodden and weak segments of society.
PPP condemns closure of FM radio station in Balakot as discriminatory
A private radio station called Mast FM 103 has been closed down by PEMRA after the radio aired programs that criticized the alleged misuse of funds and corruption in the relief and rehabilitation work in the earthquake affected area. The management of the private radio has claimed that their request for renewal of broadcast license after its expiry in August this year was not accepted by PEMRA without assigning any reason. While temporary broadcasting licenses of all the other seven FM radio stations operating in the earthquake stricken area were renewed that of the Mast FM 103 was not renewed and no reason for given for it. Mast FM 103 said that it runs five radio stations throughout Pakistan and had started broadcasting from Balakot after the devastating earthquake of October 2005 and had valid permission for it. In a statement today spokesman of the Party said that the closure of the private radio station was discriminatory and constituted an assault on the freedom of the media. The Party demands renewal of the license of the radio station as done in the case of other private radio stations operating in the area, he said. The spokesman said that issues of corruption and mismanagement in ERRA can be addressed through transparency and accountability and not by banning a private radio station.
Mohtarma Bhutto to take part in elections
"The Pakistan Peoples Party rejects the assertion that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto will not be allowed to take part in the next elections. "It is for the people of Pakistan, and not for any individual, to decide who shall represent and lead them in the elections".
PPP concerned
over reports of corruption in EOBI
Media reports have talked of massive financial irregularities in the EOBI that is headed by a retired Brigadier. In a statement today spokesman of the Party said that corruption had been institutionalized in the country while the NAB was acting as only a political arm of the government advance its political agenda and not to eradicate corruption. "Political opponents were hauled up in the name of accountability while those actually indulging in corruption were allowed to make hay while the sun shone for them in a set up that is rooted in corruption". The spokesman said that press reports based on audit reports of the EOBI revealed alarming levels of corruption that cannot be swept under the rug. According to reports a loss of over 2.2 billion rupees has been detected the accounts of EOBI. The report, prepared by the directorate of the commercial audit says that at least 20 cases involving losses of over Rs2. billion have been detected and the EOBI despite reminders did not respond. The irregularities include blockade of capital owing to ill-planned investment of over Rs1.4 billion in plots, an investment of over Rs 438 million in Sui Southern Gas Company Limited in violation of investment rules; irregular purchase of vehicles involving over Rs20 million and irregular payment of leave fare assistance amounting over Rs6.6 million. The report says that the EOBI had made an advance payment of over Rs1.4 billion on account of 400 plots purchased in Islamabad. The payment was recorded as a capital expenditure because allotment of these plots in EOBI was to be done later. The audit says that till the disposal of these plots no earning on this huge investment was expected and capital of over Rs1.4 billion had been blocked owing to ill-planning. The audit also found out that the EOBI had purchased 21 vehicles of over Rs20 million in contravention of government orders that clearly stated "no new vehicle will be acquired by any department for any purpose till further orders". The vehicles purchased included eight KIA Grand Sportage Jeeps of Rs12.3 million; two Toyota Corolla cars of Rs1.6 million; two Suzuki Cultus cars of Rs1.17 million, five Suzuki Potohar jeeps of Rs3 million, four Sukuzi Bolan vans of Rs1.5 million. The audit report says that the expenditure was not only against the rules but also wastage of public exchequer.
Mohtarma Bhutto
says that mis-governance responsible for increase in crime
She said that the PPP demands the early arrest of the culprits adding, ‘it was unacceptable that politically protected persons were getting away with crimes committed in day light’. The former Prime Minister said that this was the result of unrepresentative government. She assured the people that PPP was fighting to give them the right to elect a government and hold it accountable to the people. She saluted the PPP workers who had given untold sacrifices to make democracy possible so that the ills of crime, poverty, hunger and unemployment could be redressed and the country embark on the road to prosperity. Mohtarma Bhutto also condoled with Haji Khan Abbassi, awam dost N/Nazim UC 4 Larkana, whose son's body was found from a rice canal this week. The 35 year old Mumtaz Ali Abbassi was missing from 9 Oct and finally his dead body was found from a canal. She said that we could only imagine the pain of the parents and family of the young man who went missing and was found dead. The deceased was also tortured before being killed. The family has said that neither they nor their son had personal enmity with anyone. Mohtarma Bhutto said that the crime situation was so terrible that a three year old girl had been kidnapped and assaulted in the holy month of Ramadan. The three-year-old girl who was kidnapped last Friday from Allah Bux Tanwari village in Naushero Feroz was found dead. According to doctors at the Kandiaro taluka hospital, the girl, Tanzeela, had been criminally assaulted. The Pakistan Peoples Party had received the news of this dastardly crime with shock and grief. The former Prime Minister said that unless criminals were brought to justice through an impartial investigative and court system, innocent people would suffer. She said that there should be zero tolerance for crime, especially for crimes against women and children adding that the PPP was struggling for democracy so that a representative and accountable government could alleviate the problems of the people. Further the former Prime Minister said that people’s homes, lives and businesses were being ruined by power shortages. She recalled that the anti people forces always created power shortages because they wished to keep the people entangled in a web of personal problems. In contrast, every time PPP was elected it finished power shut downs because it wanted the people of the country to have peace of mind in their homes as well as power to fuel their businesses, farms and factories,. Mohtarma Bhutto said that the PPP had signed the lowest deals in the entire world for purchase of power. Unfortunately the anti people forces had politicized the agreements. Now for double the price power companies were unwilling to establish power stations. This showed the difference between the pro people Pakistan Peoples Party and the anti people forces. She said even today the PPP workers were giving untold sacrifices in the struggle to restore democracy in the country so that the problems of the people could be alleviated. Meantime angry shopkeepers blocked the main roads in saddar bazaar Karachi to protest the prolonged power failure in the commercial area of Pakistan's largest port city of Karachi. With Eidul Fitr approaching, market activities usually gain momentum and people go to the shops after Iftar and Tarahvee prayers. However, with the power shut downs, people cannot go to do their Eid shopping and the shopkeepers are also losing money due to lack of proper business. She said that the PPP has criticized the privatization of KESC to the wrong party namely one with little experience of running a utility. The PPP policy of privatization was pro people and ensured that people would get better service and the country would get the best price. Unfortunately after the dismissal of the PPP government, privatization had been done to the wrong parties and for the wrong prices. The result was that tens of thousands of workers had lost their jobs, the tax revenues to the government from the privatized units had fallen as compared to when it was under the public sector and the amount received for the unit was below its actual cost. As such enormous human and economic loss had been incurred due the overthrow of the pro people Pakistan Peoples Party. Mohtarma Bhutto said the PPP was the party of the people and it was because PPP was the only national, democratic alternative that certain people had conspired to keep it out of government to protect their vested interests. However, the spirit of the PPP workers was strong and they were determined to continue the struggle to restore democracy to safeguard the rights of the working classes, the middle classes, the youth, intellectuals, farmers, minorities, women and traders. Mohtarma called upon all Pakistanis to support the PPP and its allies in the forthcoming elections. She asked those in the administration and outside it not to be frightened by illegal orders but to think of their motherland and refuse to rig the elections so that the people’s problems could be restored and the country's honor could be protected for a brighter future in keeping with the vision of Quaid e Azam and Quaid e Awam. She called upon the youth of the country to come forward and help the PPP in regaining the lost rights of the people.
PPP expresses grave concern over North Korean nuclear test
“Pakistan Peoples Party has expressed grave concern over the announcement by North Korea of an underground nuclear test. “The nuclear detonation would threaten stability and peace in Asia and the Pacific, seriously undermine global anti-proliferation and disarmament efforts and the prospects for reconciliation between North Korea and South Korea. “The PPP is concerned that the move by North Korea will increase tensions internationally. “The PPP calls upon the international community to act urgently to bring North Korea back into the six-party talks that also include South Korea, Japan , China, Russia and the United States”.
Britain says
Pakistan is hiding Taliban chief
Among the evidence amassed is the address of the Taliban's leader in a Pakistani city. Lieutenant-General David Richards will fly to Islamabad tomorrow to try to persuade Pervez Musharraf to rein in his military intelligence service, which Richards believes is training Taliban fighters to attack British troops. He will request that key Taliban leaders living in Pakistan be arrested. The evidence compiled by American, Nato and Afghan intelligence includes satellite pictures and videos of training camps for Taliban soldiers and suicide bombers inside Pakistan. Captured Taliban fighters and failed suicide bombers have confirmed that they were trained by the Pakistani intelligence service, known as the ISI. The information includes an address in Quetta where Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader, is said to live. Musharraf had publicly acknowledged "a Taliban problem on the Pakistan side of the border", said Richards. "Undoubtedly something has got to happen," he added. "We've got to accept that the Pakistan government is not omnipotent and it isn't easy but it has to be done and we're working very hard on it. I'm very confident that the Pakistan government's intent is clear and they will be delivering on it." The initiative emerged as the commander of British forces in Afghanistan , Brigadier Ed Butler, called for more troop-carrying helicopters. He was responding to a promise by Tony Blair that the forces could have whatever extra resources they needed. But a defence source said it was difficult to see where new British transport helicopters could be found. Political leaders have been reluctant to put pressure on Musharraf for fear of destabilising a nuclear-armed country in which Islamic fundamentalists are strong. This week's intervention comes at a sensitive time for Blair after the ISI apparently helped avert the alleged planned bombing of transatlantic airliners flying from Heathrow. But the Taliban's re-emergence has coincided with mounting evidence of ISI involvement, prompting frustration in Afghanistan, where 30 British servicemen have been killed. "I feel real vitriol seeing our boys dying because of Pakistan ," said one British officer.
Mohtarma Bhutto calls for relief of quake victims as winter approaches
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The Baloch War
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