October 2007
SPECIAL REPORT ON OCTOBER 18, 2007
(Click Here)
Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto Arrived in Karachi, Pakistan
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Cowardly Attack on the
Mohtarma's life and loss of innocent lives
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Video Curtsey New York Times
CEC and Federal
Council of PPP meeting on Wednesday
Islamabad October 30, 2007:
Spokesperson of the PPP has issued the following statement today.
A joint meeting of the Central Executive and Federal Council of the Pakistan
Peoples Party has been convened on Wednesday October 31.
The meeting, to be presided over by the Party Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto, will be held at Bilawal House in Karachi.
The meeting will discuss the current political situation in the country.
PPP gravely concerned
over non registration of FIR
Reiterates demand for international investigations in October 19 bombing
Islamabad October
28, 2007: Pakistan Peoples Party has expressed grave concern over
the regime's reluctance to register the FIR of Mohtarma Bhutto demanding
investigations in the October 19 bombing of her rally and proceeding against
the suspects.
"The unwillingness of the regime to investigate such a high profile case in
which 140 people were killed and hundreds injured was most puzzling and
raised many questions", said spokesperson of the Party in a statement today.
He asked the regime to answer the following questions:
1. Why the crime scene was not secured to protect crucial evidence from
being destroyed?
2. Why the inquiry was entrusted to a police officer under whose watch
Senator Asif Zardari was tortured and nearly killed?
3. Why there is deafening silence to explain the street lights going off on
Shara e Faisal that facilitated the attack?
4. Why the government/SHO lodged the FIR without even recording the
statement of any one of the persons on the truck that was the target of the
attack?
5. Why an orchestrated campaign was launched soon thereafter to make it
appear as suicide attack without credible evidence? Was it intended to
mislead investigations?
He said that last week the UN SC in a unanimous statement demanded thorough
investigations and called upon the international community to assist in it.
Why the regime is averse to hiring international technical and forensic
experts to assist in investigations?
The regime has spent millions from public exchequer on political witch
hunting and hounding Mohtarma Bhutto from city to city, court to court and
from country to country. Why cannot it hire international experts for a
fraction of the cost to investigate the murder of 140 people?
The regime did not hire international forensic experts for probing the stock
exchange until the crucial evidence had been deleted from the computers. Is
it waiting for the destruction of crucial evidence in October 19 bombing
before soliciting the help of foreign technical experts?
Mohtarma Bhutto
felicitates Aitzaz Ahsan
Islamabad October
28, 2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan
Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir has felicitated Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan on his
election as President of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
PPPP MNA Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan received 1,039 votes as against the rival
candidate who secured 172 votes in the election held Saturday.
In her message of felicitation Mohtarma Bhutto said that she was happy that
Aitzaz Ahsan had won to continue struggle for constitutionalism and rule of
law from the platform of the Bar in addition to the platform of the Party.
Mohtarma Bhutto also felicitated the Peoples Lawyers' Forum whose support
enabled Barrister Aitzaz to win by a huge margin.
Can Bhutto Survive?
By Robert D. Novak - October 29, 2007
Benazir Bhutto, back in Pakistan following
eight years in exile, had plans to tour the country seeking voter support.
But she is holed up in Karachi after the near-miss attempt on her life. The
government has declined to provide the former prime minister minimal
security against renewed assassination attempts. That points up the
difficulty of a shadowy new partnership between Bhutto and Gen. Pervez
Musharraf, who was reelected president by Pakistan's electoral college on
Oct. 6.
Arbab Rahim, chief minister of Sindh province, which includes Karachi, has
refused Bhutto special police protection, cars with tinted windows and
bomb-jamming equipment. For weeks before her return, Bhutto was denied
jammers against improvised explosive devices and additional armor on her
vehicles. But a telephone call from the Pakistani president to Rahim, one of
his lieutenants, surely could have given Bhutto the protection she desired.
So, who wants to kill Benazir Bhutto? Not Musharraf, who is astute enough to
know that his complicity in her death would be devastating for him
politically. Yet he has not been forthcoming in investigating the Oct. 18
bombing in Karachi or preventing its recurrence. That provides a dilemma for
President Bush. While his administration depicts the enigmatic Musharraf as
a faithful fighter of terrorism, it recognizes that Bhutto as prime minister
would be unequivocally against Islamic extremism.
Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, which do not want Bhutto to lead Pakistan's
government a third time, were behind the suicide bombing but do not appear
to have acted alone. In addition to the bombing, which took 140 lives,
snipers fired on her convoy, a fact that was not publicized. Not al-Qaeda's
style, that tactic points to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI),
or at least to rogue elements within it. Musharraf, though still military
commander, does not exercise complete control over the ISI, which is
considered a state within a state and gave birth to the Taliban in
Afghanistan.
It is difficult to identify attempted assassins because Interior Minister
Aftab Khan Sherpao said he would "categorically reject" help from
world-class FBI forensic investigators. Sherpao once was a leader of
Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), but he changed sides in return for
being absolved of Musharraf's criminal charges against him. More than 10
days after the bombing, it is too late for forensic evidence.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the leader of Musharraf's Pakistan Muslim League,
said last week that Bhutto and her husband arranged the attack to generate
public sympathy. That Bhutto was unhurt, he claimed, lends credence to that
theory (though she actually was spared because her vehicle was elevated to
permit crowds to see her).
The government has banned mass meetings, purportedly in the interest of
public safety. But prohibiting political rallies saves the Muslim League
from an embarrassing exhibition of its scant public support and perhaps
could enable a rigging of parliamentary elections to prevent a major PPP
victory. Bhutto will campaign anyway and is planning a trip to Islamabad.
Bhutto's security experts think she is safer in Islamabad than in Karachi
and say she can be protected there. Still, one adviser has warned her that
Karachi-style attacks will resume in Islamabad. When I interviewed Bhutto in
New York in August, I asked whether she thought she might be killed if she
returned to Pakistan. She answered by saying that she had to return. She
gives the impression that being in danger is her fate.
Musharraf must know that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos sealed his
political doom in 1983 when his associates conspired to murder political
rival Benigno Acquino upon his return from exile. Without complicity in the
assassination attempt, however, Musharraf has permitted subordinates to take
a hostile stance toward Bhutto the past two weeks. He actually needs Bhutto,
because of her popularity with the people, just as she needs him to
neutralize the army.
On Thursday, a week after she was nearly killed, Bhutto assailed the Islamic
schools in Pakistan that are breeding grounds for terrorism. "These
political madrassas preach hatred and churn out brainwashed robots that
become arsenals of weapons of violating the constitution of Pakistan," she
said. Musharraf has never dared to say anything like that. But the U.S.
government, as matchmaker between Bhutto and Musharraf, is cautious about
publicly taking sides in Pakistan's crisis.
PPP Dismisses Sindh
CM's Actions as Rooted in Fear of Genuine Democracy.
Islamabad, October
29, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party dismissed Arbab Ghulam
Rahim's vain efforts to discredit the Party and said that in his bid to get
even with the nation's biggest political Party, the Sindh CM is only
exposing his own fears of democratic forces.
The Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim is known for his desperation to
settle scores with his opponents. He used extensive state resources to
victimise his political rivals in 2005. He also attempted to get even with
the Chief Justice of Pakistan who had taken note of human rights violations
committed by him. His remarks against women in leadership positions exposes
his deep prejudice against half the country's population, whom as CM he
should be offering protection instead of state sponsored abuse.
Taken aback by the overwhelming public support for the Peoples Party – just
as the country is bracing for general elections – Rahim is desperately
running from pillar to post to discredit the Pakistan Peoples Party. He
recently ordered tearing down of the PPP hoardings on the main arteries of
the Karachi city even though the Party has paid for the billboards.
"By levelling baseless allegations against the PPP, tearing down our Party's
hoardings and posters and issuing senseless statements in the media, Arbab
Ghulam Rahim is just showing his own insecurities in the face of a genuine
democratic challenge," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party.
"His attitude and remarks about the Oct 18 investigation are not only
irresponsible, they are obstructive. Not only was forensic evidence quickly
removed from the spot of the blasts but the provincial government has done
nothing to organise a DNA test to identify the 16 victims whose bodies have
been severely damaged because of the blasts. Instead of providing Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto with better protection, and constructive movement on the
investigation, her posters are being defaced and ripped apart. In an
election year, this only adds to tensions and lack of confidence in the
provincial authorities," said Rehman.
Bhutto visits bomb
blast victims
Larkana, October
28 2007: Pakistan - Benazir Bhutto visited victims of the
devastating October 18 suicide blasts on Sunday, as the former Pakistan
premier kept up a tightly secured trip to her ancestral home.
Bhutto also vowed to step up the fight against militants blamed for the twin
attacks in Karachi on her homecoming parade, saying she feared extremism was
gathering force in areas of the military-ruled nation.
"I am very concerned about what is happening in my country. I always
believed that dictatorship fuels militancy and extremism," Bhutto, a
two-time premier, told reporters late Sunday.
"I feel sad that for the last five years we were not able to address this
problem and to stop this from spreading."
Security guards armed with machine guns surrounded Bhutto as she toured her
family district in southern rural Pakistan, her first trip outside of
Karachi since the bombings that targeted the two-time premier and killed 139
people.
Bhutto, the first female leader of an Islamic nation, made a jubilant return
Saturday to Larkana district, thousands of supporters cheering her arrival
in a bullet-proof jeep overland from Sukkur city where she flew in from
Karachi.
The mood was more sombre on Sunday as Bhutto called on a bereaved family who
lost their 22-year-old son in the blasts to offer prayers, before moving on
to the home of a party worker injured in the attacks.
Thousands from the party faithful, including from Larkana district, had made
long journeys to Karachi to take part in her homecoming parade.
"I have come to condole the martyrdom of a brave and innocent boy of 22
years who lost his life in the movement to save democracy," Bhutto wrote in
a condolence book on the verandah of the family's two-room mud house.
Hundreds of people climbed onto rooftops and gathered in lanes of an
impoverished neighbourhood in Larkana town to try to catch a glimpse of
Bhutto.
Others chanted "Jiye Bhutto (Long live Bhutto)" as guards and paramilitary
officers surrounded the houses and kept supporters at bay.
Bhutto has vowed to stay in Pakistan despite the bombings and lead her party
in general elections, which are seen as a key step in the nation's return to
democracy after eights years of military rule by President Pervez Musharraf.
The attacks on her homecoming procession in Karachi happened just hours
after Bhutto set foot on Pakistani soil for the first time since 1999 and
ruined her planned triumphant return to contest the polls set for January.
Bhutto was granted an amnesty by Musharraf on corruption charges earlier
this month, paving the way for her return and a possible power-sharing pact
with the general, who seized power in a 1999 coup.
The future of the pact is unclear in the wake of the blasts amid tensions
between Bhutto's and Musharraf's parties over who should be held
responsible.
Bhutto said Sunday there were no plans as yet to meet with Musharraf.
"I see the election of 2007 as a political turning point in the history of
Pakistan. It is essential that power is transferred from dictatorship in a
smooth manner," she added.
The United States and Britain have been quietly pushing the pact as the best
chance of fighting Islamic extremism and for political stability in the
nation of 160 million people.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, the worst in the
nation's history, with Bhutto alleging a link to rogue elements in the
establishment and a pro-Taliban militant denying his involvement.
Benazir asks
terrorists to lay down arms
By M.B. Kalhoro
LARKANA, Oct 28:
PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto has asked terrorists to lay down their arms,
and start respecting the Constitution.
Addressing a press conference at the residence of MPA Haji Munawar Ali
Abbasi and Senator Dr Safdar Abbasi in Waleed village on Sunday, she said
that time had come for abandoning the politics of arms.
She said that Pakistan was a land of peace and everyone should respect the
Constitution.
Ms Bhutto said her party was holding talks with the government for
restoration of democracy. “We must carve out a middle path by adhering to
(democratic) principles.”
Urging all political parties to play their role for strengthening the
positive political culture, she said that while the PPP was not in the All
Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), it wanted all political parties to unite
for a common cause. She said that it was important for political parties to
wage a joint struggle against dictatorship and learn lessons from the past
to strengthen democracy and address key problems of the people.
Criticising social fragmentation, she said targeting of one group by another
did not serve the interest of Pakistan which occupied a key position in the
Muslim world.
She said that US aid had not benefited the people in the absence of an
elected democratic government, adding that the people were still struggling
against poverty and unemployment.
She said that crisis were hallmarks of dictatorships in Pakistan.
Terming PPP a symbol of Pakistan’s federation, Ms Bhuto said her party
firmly believed in democracy because it was the only weapon strong enough to
save the country.
Referring to October 18 Karachi rally, she said that people had come to
welcome her not only from the four provinces but also from Kashmir and the
Northern Areas.
She said that the PPP had always adhered to principles. “We are here to
protect people’s rights and not for power or plots.”
Calling upon the government to free all political workers detained in
Balochistan, she said that area-wise the largest province of the country
should be made part of the mainstream.
Cautioning against the use of the country’s soil against neighbouring
countries, she said that such actions might lead to grave repercussions.
PPP struggling for
rights of poor: Benazir
By By Mukesh Ropeta
LARKANA
10/29/2007: Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto
has said her return has brought a change in Pakistan and the PPP is
spreading the message of development and welfare of people.
Talking to newsmen at the residence of Senator Dr Safdar Ali Abbasi in
Waleed village on Sunday, Benazir said she is waging a struggle not for her
or the PPP, but for the poor people of Pakistan.
Benazir said that a large number of people from all over the country had
arrived in Karachi on October 18 to give a rousing welcome to their sister
(Benazir). She called for waging joint struggle by all political parties for
restoration of democracy and curbing militancy in Pakistan.
The PPP chairperson said: “We should work hard for the restoration of true
democracy in the country,” adding “we should see towards future instead of
past.”
“We believe in the agenda of our founder leader (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto), which
was also the agenda of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam," she added.
“The objective of our politics is to serve people besides protecting the
interests of the country,” she added.
Curbing terrorism and militancy is essential for the progress of any country
besides promotion of democracy, she said, adding this is possible only
through the empowerment of people on the same pattern propagated by the
Quaid-i-Azam and the Quaid-i-Awam.
Earlier, Benazir visited the residence of Sardar Aamir Ali Bhutto in Larkana
city to condole the death of his mother and elder brother Sardar Wahid
Bukhsh Bhutto. Benazir stayed there for sometime and condoled with Sardar
Aamir and other members of his family.
She prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and
grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss.
Meanwhile, Benazir visited the residence of Shakoor Ahmed Shaikh in Larkana
city and condoled the demise of his father Dr Rohsan Ali Shaikh.
She offered Fateha and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in
eternal peace.
Separately, Benazir visited the residence of Karachi bomb blasts victim
Nizamuddin Samo and sympathised with Ashraf Samoo (uncle), mother and other
relatives of the deceased and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed
soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this
loss. Benazir paid rich tributes to Nizamuddin, who lost his live on October
18 Karachi blasts.
She said the sacrifices of the party workers will always be remembered.
Benazir also visited the residence of PPP Larkana chief Aftab Ahmed Bhutto
and offered condolence on the demise of his father Nek Muhammad Bhutto. She
offered Fateha for the departed soul.
Also, Benazir visited the house of Ghulam Mujtaba Isran, President PPP
Kamber-Shahdadkot, and expressed condolence over the death of his wife. She
prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.
PPP Sindh chief Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Khuhro, Aftab Shabaan Mirani,
Naheed Khan, Haji Munawwer Ali Abbasi and other party leaders were also
present on the occasion. A large number of people chanted "Jeay Bhutto” and
“Jeay Benazir” slogans and showered rose petals when she visited the Larkana
city.
PPP has delivered
message of development and people’s welfare: Benazir
LARKANA, Oct 28:
Chairperson PPP Benazir Bhutto has said that her return to the
country has brought a change in Pakistan while her party has conveyed a
message of country’s development and welfare of the people.She said this
while talking to mediapersons here at the residence of Senator Dr. Safdar
Ali Abbasi and MPA Haji Munawwar Ali Abbasi, at Waleed village, on Sunday
evening.
Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto said the struggle in the country was
not neither for Benazir nor PPP but it was for the people.
Benazir Bhutto said on October 18, on her return to the country, the people
came to Karachi from all over the country, including Northern Areas as well
as Azad Kashmir, to welcome their sister.
She said people flocked to the city on her return, who, she said were joined
by people from every corner of Pakistan, as a symbol of federation.
She called for joint struggle by all political parties in the country for
democracy and against militancy besides pointing out the people, who were
providing training for it.
PPP Chairperson was of the view that we need democracy to save the country
and for the betterment of the country as we should ponder on future instead
of the past.
We believe in the agenda of our founder leader which was also the agenda of
the Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah,” she maintained.
Benazir Bhutto said the objective of our politics is to serve the people and
work towards defense and protection of the country.
She said rooting out terrorism and militancy is essential for the progress
of any country and for promotion of democracy. This could be possible only
through the empowerment of people on the same pattern as propagated by the
Quaid-i-Azam and the Quaid-i-Awam.
‘PPP ready for more
sacrifice for democracy’
LAHORE:
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will not hesitate to render any sacrifice
for the cause of democracy and elimination of dictatorship and those killed
in Karachi blasts will be remembered in the country’s history as martyrs,
speakers said at a condolence conference held at the Lahore Press Club on
Sunday.
All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) organised the conference in memory
of people killed in the Karachi blasts.
‘PPP and minorities are one’: PPP central general secretary Jehangir Badr
said minorities were an integral part of the party that could not be
separated. He said members from minority communities had sacrificed their
lives to save PPP chairwoman Benazir Bhutto’s life. He said the PPP would
safeguard rights of minorities after coming in power.
He said the Karachi blasts were aimed at killing the entire leadership of
the party, so that no one could speak out about democracy.
‘Coming generations cannot be left at the mercy of terrorists’: Punjab
Opposition leader Qasim Zia said the PPP could not leave the coming
generations at the mercy of terrorists. He said PPP workers and leaders
never hesitated to render any sacrifice for democracy. He said Benazir had
returned to the country with a clear message to terrorists that they would
not be tolerated anymore in Pakistan. “Chaudhries have given rise to
terrorism, unemployment and lawlessness in the last five years,” he said.
“How could they face public with this performance,” he asked.
‘BB’s return meant to end of extremism’: Former foreign minister Sardar Asif
Ahmed Ali said the return of Benazir was to eliminate terrorism from the
country and that the blasts were aimed at sabotaging her mission. PPP
(Lahore) president Haji Azizur Rehman Chan said that after Benazir’s return
extremists had no place in society.
ARD leader Munir Ahmed Khan said the PPP was proud of working for the rights
of minorities and that it was the only party that could safeguard the rights
of minorities He said the blasts were aimed at stopping Benazir from leading
the people, but such incidents could not stop her from fulfilling the
mission of Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto.
He said that after November 15 the Chaudhris would be off the horizon. He
said that after the elections Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam would be
nowhere in the country. PPP central leader Malik Mushtaq Awan said Benazir
was not power-hungry, but she had returned for democracy and for the rights
of people. “The solidarity of the country is with Benazir Bhutto and
anything wrong to her will endanger the federation,” he added.
‘Blood of Karachi martyrs will not go waste’: Punjab PPP secretary
information Farzana Raja has said the blood of those martyred in Karachi
would not be wasted.
M Prakash, a Hindu APMA representative from Sindh, said the blasts were
aimed to damage the solidarity of the country. He said that an independent
caretaker government should be established to conduct elections.
APMA chairman Shahbaz Bhatti said the alliance’s workers would not hesitate
to render any sacrifice for the cause of democracy in the country. He said
APMA paid tributes to those died in the Karachi blasts. “Benazir will lead
the final war against anti-democratic forces,” he added. Pir Naubahar Shah,
MPAs Najmi Saleemi, Azma Bokhari, Faiza Malik, Solidarity Front leader
Naveed Malik and Munir Gillani addressed the gathering.
Bhutto requests car
convoy for security
KARACHI October
27, 2007: Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto said Thursday
she asked the government for permission to travel in a convoy of cars with
tinted windows in the wake of last week's devastating suicide blasts.
Bhutto has been surrounded by heavily armed guards since the attacks tore
through her homecoming parade in Karachi city killing 139 people and ruining
her triumphant return after eight years in self-imposed exile.
She has vowed to stay in Pakistan to campaign for upcoming general polls,
which are seen as a key step in the country's return to democracy after
eight years of military rule by President Pervez Musharraf.
Amid ongoing fears for her safety, Bhutto told CNN that she wanted the
government to provide some "basic security" in the runup to the January
polls.
"For example, I would like to travel in a convoy of cars with tinted windows
so the assassins can't identify where I'm sitting.
"The government still hasn't given me permission to do that," Bhutto, the
first female leader of an Islamic nation, told the network.
"I am not satisfied with the security provided to me. I should be made to
feel secure, I should not be made to feel insecure," she later told
reporters at a press conference.
The two-time premier has claimed in the wake of the carnage that the
security forces and government have been infiltrated by Islamic militants.
She repeated her calls Thursday for an independent investigation into the
blasts and for overseas expertise to track down those responsible.
"We take financial help and political help from abroad, why can't we take
help from technical experts for this investigation?" she told reporters.
The government has rejected the request, saying local investigators are
capable of arresting those behind the nation's worst attacks.
Bhutto's comments come as she recovers from the flu in Karachi and prepares
to visit her ancestral home of Larkana in a remote corner of southern
Pakistan to pay her respects to the family mausoleum.
"She will visit Larkana on October 27th," her Pakistan People's Party
central information secretary Sherry Rehman said.
Massive security preparations have been underway for her visit to the
mausoleum where the tomb of her father, the late prime minister Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto, is located.
Meanwhile, a new top police officer took over the probe Thursday into the
blasts after Bhutto accused the former chief of bias, leading him to step
down.
Bhutto claimed the former head was involved in the torture of her husband
while he was in police custody in 1999.
"Senior police officer Saud Mirza is the new head of the investigation team
probing the twin attacks," Sindh home secretary Ghulam Muhammad Mohtarram
told AFP, adding that he was the head of criminal investigations in Karachi.
Sixteen people were also being interviewed over the blasts although they are
not considered suspects, an officer said.
The October 18 blasts occurred in a crowd of hundreds of thousands of Bhutto
supporters just hours after she returned to Pakistan for the first time
since 1999.
She was cleared of graft charges by Musharraf earlier this month, paving the
way for her return and a possible power-sharing pact with the general.
But the future of the pact is uncertain after the blasts and amid tensions
between their parties over who should be held responsible for the carnage.
Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, is under pressure from the US, a
key ally, to reach the deal, which could shore up the popularity of his
government after months of political turmoil.
THREAT TO BENAZIR
By Asim Yasin
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson
Benazir Bhutto’s legal adviser Senator Farooq Naek has requested Chief
Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo moto notice of a letter sent
to him by unidentified al-Qaeda operatives threatening to assassinate the
former prime minister.
In a letter written to the chief justice, Naek said that Benazir Bhutto
returned to Pakistan on October 18, and a suicide bomber, aiming to
assassinate her, attacked the ‘Caravan of Democracy’ she was leading. As
many as 140 people were killed and about 500 were injured.
He wrote that on October 23, when he went to the Rawalpindi Accountability
Court to attend proceedings in cases concerning Benazir Bhutto, he came to
know that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy Prosecutor General
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta has not returned from the Supreme Court where he had
gone to obtain a copy of the interim order passed by the apex court in
petitions challenging the National Reconciliation Order 2007 (NRO).
“Upon this, I telephoned Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, who informed me that he has
not been able to obtain the certified copy of the order and returning
without it,” he said.
Naek said “Bhutta also informed me that there are two letters in my name
lying in the Bar Room and asked my permission if he can bring them to me to
which I replied in affirmative.” He stated that a letter contained photostat
copies that were of no consequence, however, the other letter contained a
handwritten two-page note. “A perusal thereof revealed that it was written
by the “Head of Suicide Bombers and a Friend of Osama bin Laden and
al-Qaeda.”
He said that the letter contained derogatory and threatening remarks against
Benazir Bhutto and great emphasis was laid on her assassination with the
help of a knife.
Senator Naek stated that the fact that letter sent to him also implies
threat to his life being the legal adviser of Benazir Bhutto.
He stated that extremism and violence are the biggest challenges facing
Pakistan and it is time the state takes this threat seriously. “The state of
Pakistan needs to come clean and comprehensive strategy needs to be evolved
to rein in thoughts and actions of extremists and terrorists,” he stated.
He said that the Constitution, in clear terms, guarantees that the dignity
of a person shall be inviolable and that no person shall be deprived of life
or liberty.
“It is the duty of state functionaries to provide security to all citizens
of Pakistan so Benazir Bhutto and myself are entitled to protection of law
as a constitutional right and which includes enjoyment of all such
facilities which are necessary to protect safety and dignity of a person,”
he said.
PPP rejects Shaikh
Rashid remarks justifying October 18 attack
Islamabad October
24, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party has rejected the Federal
Railways Minister's statement justifying the October 18 attack on the
innocent PPP workers.
Shaikh Rashid said in Karachi that the attack on PPP rally was because the
PPP was following 'an imperialistic agenda'. By this he meant that PPP was
against terrorists who benefited from dictatorship.
In a statement today PPP leader raja Pervez Ashraf said that Shaikh Rashid
had served in two military dictatorships which had given the nation the
klashinkov culture and suicide bombers and made miserable the life of
working classes, middle classes, old, young women and the minorities
miserable.
The PPP leader said that the Party's agenda was to serve the masses by
saving democracy. Fighting for peace and democracy was apro-Islam and pro-
democracy agenda, he said.
The PPP leader noted that the international community had supported both the
dictatorships of Zia and Musharraf yet Shaikh Rashid had never justified
suicide attacks on its cabinet members on the ground that these were
'imperialist backed policies'.
Now that the international community was supporting democracy in Afghanistan
and fair elections in Pakistan Sheikh Rashid was suddenly justifying suicide
attacks. He said that terrorism acts are criminal and cannot be justified.
The PPP supported moderates within the PML Q but asked General Musharraf to
be cautious of those in the cabinet who had defended suicide attacks and
were now trying to justify terrorist attacks of Oct 18. He said that such
elements who justified suicide attacks and act of terrorism were
facilitating an anti people, anti democracy and anti Islamic agenda to
exploit the people but they could not succeed because the people of Pakistan
would defeat them.
Raja Pervez Ashraf said that Shaikh Rashid's remarks were a perverted logic
as it amounted to saying that anyone opposing militancy will be faced with
such attacks in the future as well.
Benazir Bhutto formally demands international assistance
Addresses letter to Interior Secretary with copies to Gen Musharraf and UN
Security Council
Islamabad, October 26, 2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan
Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto today formally asked the government of
Pakistan through a letter asking it to request assistance from the US and
the Britain in carrying out investigations in the October 19 bombing of her
rally.
In the letter sent today to the Interior Secretary the former prime minister
said that the PPP "asks you to immediately assist the poorly equipped
Pakistan Police investigation with the sophisticated technology and
scientific techniques available to Scotland Yard and FBI to assist in the
investigation and bring the culprits to book."
It is important for the unity of integrity of Pakistan that the terrorists
be apprehended and brought to justice, she said.
She reminded that the UN Security Council on October 22 in a unanimous
resolution has spoken of the need to "bring perpetrators, organizers,
financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism to justice"
and urged all states to cooperate actively with the Pakistani authorities in
this regard.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that Home office (Sindh) has sent her letters
which made her feel more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
Instead of relaxing the ban on tinted windows and the ban on display of
public weapons they had asked her to travel in transparent windows and asked
her not to protect herself in public with privately armed guards. She
demanded the government to review these decisions.
Highlighting the threats to herself she said On October 23, 2007, the
terrorists and their hidden supporters sent another threat to her.
In it the terrorists threatened to slaughter both Mr. Naek and herself in
the same manner as goats are slaughtered, she wrote in her letter to the
Interior Secretary.
Reminding the government that the deaths of Liaquat Ali Khan, Gen Zia, Gen
Asif Nawaz and Mir Murtaza Bhutto had been never been properly resolved
because of poor investigations, Mohtarma Bhutto said that the terrorists had
been emboldened by Pakistani investigators who lacked scientific and
forensic means to crack the case and bring the terrorists to justice.
She said she was confident that the required expertise would be invited on
an emergency basis, given the enormity of the crime, the loss of lives
incurred and the direct threat to her life.
Copies of the letter were also endorsed to Gen Pervez Musharraf, UN Security
Council, Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Sindh High Court.
Following is the text of her letter:
To,
The Secretary Interior
Government of Pakistan
Islamabad
Subject: International Experts for Bhutto Targeted Terrorist Attack
The terrorist bomb attacks on October 19, 2007 at 12:06 hours that resulted
in the mass murder of 140 innocent citizens and injuries to over 500 people
was a direct assassination attempt on me (the former Prime Minister of
Pakistan).
This dastardly attack was facilitated by the darkened streets of Shahra-e-Faisal
where all the lights were shut off.
Before my arrival in Pakistan, I had informed General Musharraf of the
threat to my life.
The procession of over 3 million people was heading from the Airport to
Mazar-e-Quaid and our security could not see the attackers due to the
darkness.
An FIR was lodged at the Bahadurabad Police Station within 3 hours of the
incident. This should not have been lodged without taking information from
me or the PPP leadership who were on the truck targeted with me. An
application was submitted for registration of an authenticated FIR and is
pending decision with police officials for this terrible terrorist crime.
Home office (Sindh) has sent me letters which make me feel more vulnerable
to terrorist attacks. Instead of relaxing the ban on tinted windows and the
ban on display of public weapons they have asked me to travel in transparent
windows (where assassins can easily spot me) and asked me not to protect
myself in public with privately armed guards. Could the government review
these decisions that not only make me feel more vulnerable to attack but by
their nature make me as concerned as the darkened lights on Shahra-e-Faisal
helped attackers.
The terrorist attack was an attempt to derail the democratic process.
Several terrorist attacks, including the Islamabad Bomb attacks of July 17,
2007 attack during Chief Justices visit to Karachi on May 12, attack on
Sunni Tehrik leaders, on Aabpara market have remained unsolved.
The terrorists have been emboldened by the inability of Pakistani
investigators, who lack scientific and forensic means, to crack the case and
bring the terrorists to justice.
To ensure terrorists do not dictate the agenda by disrupting the forthcoming
election campaign the real culprits behind the terrorist attack must be
apprehended immediately.
Therefore on behalf of the Pakistan Peoples Party, I propose the Government
of Pakistan have the Pakistan led Police inquiry assisted by either the FBI
or Scotland Yard which have the latest scientific and technological means to
investigate terrorist crimes.
The United Nations Security Council on October 22, 2007, in a unanimous
resolution spoke of 'the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers
and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism to justice' and urged
all states to 'cooperate actively with the Pakistani authorities in this
regard'.
On October 23, 2007, the terrorists and their hidden supporters sent another
threat to me. A letter was delivered to the Supreme Court Bar and given to
National Accountability Bureau Deputy Prosecutor who gave it to my defence
council Farooq Naek. In it the terrorists threatened to slaughter both Mr.
Naek and myself in the same manner as goats are slaughtered.
These unislamic terrorists are waging war on the people of Pakistan
including the armed forces. They think they can move with impunity because
their organisers, sponsors and financers think they won't get caught.
It is important for the unity and integrity of Pakistan as well as for the
right of life, liberty, property and pursuit of happiness of our people that
the terrorist be apprehended and brought to justice.
It is in this spirit that Pakistan Peoples Party asks you to immediately
assist the poorly equipped Pakistan Police investigation with the
sophisticated technology and scientific techniques available to Scotland
Yard and FBI to assist in the investigation and bring the culprits to book.
We urge you to quickly request the assistance of investigators
from US and Britain.
We may remind you that the deaths of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan,
General Zia-ul-Haq, General Asif Nawaz and Mir Murtaza Bhutto MPA, have
never been properly resolved because of poor investigation.
Bearing the above facts in mind, it is imperative that international
expertise in scientific, forensic and technical fields, be sought, to assist
the Pakistan based inquiry into the bomb blasts.
I am confident that the required expertise will be invited on an emergency
basis, given the enormity of the crime, the loss of lives incurred, and the
direct threat to my life.
Sincerely,
(Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto)
C.C: General Pervez Musharraf
- United Nations Security Council
- Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Pakistan
- Chief Justice High Court of Sindh
PPP calls upon regime to hold inquiry to clear names of suspects
Islamabad October 25, 2007: The PPP has rejected tclaims made in a
section of the press that naming of Intelligence Bureau Chief Ijaz Shah by
the PPP would complicate the PPP relations with the presidency.
In a statement today a spokesperson of the Party said that the victim has
the right to nominate the suspects who would want to kill to eliminate.
He said that if the suspect is innocent the regime should hasten to clear
the atmosphere by holding an inquiry as asked for by the PPP where the
Pakistan led inquiry is assisted by the scientific and forensic evidence
available with Washington and London for tracing the organizers, financiers
and sponsors of terrorism and their perpetrators, he said.
The Pakistan investigation is so poor that they still cannot make up their
minds whether it is a suicide bomber, a car bomb or a grenade. Meantime
evidence is deteriorating.
Minister of Railways has insinuated that fighting terrorism is an
imperialist agenda. If this is so then the agenda of the Musharraf regime is
unclear: Is it for or against militancy, he asked?
The PPP believes that militancy thrives under dictatorship and believes in
democracy and the power of the people.
He said that the regime will soon have to stop running with the hare and
hunting with the hound. It will either have to stand with the PPP and the
people in restoring democracy and eliminating militancy which thrives on
unemployment or it will have to reject the PPP and face the consequences of
being unmasked as the regime fighting terrorism.
If members of the regime named by PPP are innocent, they should be the first
to welcome an independent inquiry. The very fact that they are shying from
an inquiry is raising eyebrows.
Meantime PPP welcomes United Nations Security Council resolution calling for
a full inquiry to being the perpetrators, sponsors, organizers and
financiers of the operation to justice.
PPP is determined to give the awam roti, kapra and makaan by making Pakistan
violence free and calls upon the militants to lay down their arms instead of
being exploited by narco barons and arms smugglers whose greed is hurting
the image of Islam as well as taking Pakistan towards aggression and
disintegration.
US Senator John Kerry telephones Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
ISLAMABAD October 25, 2007: US Senator John Kerry telephoned Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto today and condemned the attack on her rally and inquired
about her welfare.
John Kerry also condoled with the citizens who were killed in the bomb
blasts and prayed for early recovery of those injured.
The US Senator said that he was pleased that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had
survived the attack and was unhurt.
Benazir lashes out at ‘political madressahs
By Shamim-ur-Rahman
KARACHI, Oct 25: Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto on
Thursday lashed out on what she described as political madressahs which, she
said, had “become arsenal of weapons and retreat for militants”.
“We need to investigate everything in madressahs,” she said, adding that her
party had no problem with the real madressahs. “They are part of our
civilisation and part of our culture and religion.” But there were others,
wolves in sheep’s clothing, who would take the name of madressah and work
against Islam, she said.The PPP chief was talking to media personnel at her
Bilawal House residence. Answering a question about religious extremism and
the role of madressahs, she said there are two types of such institutions –
Deeni madressah and political madressah.The political madressahs, she said,
sprung up with lots of funding and they did ‘more than brainwashing’.
She called for reconstituting the organisations of the madressahs and
revisiting their curriculum to spread the real message of Islam and the
message of co-existence.
“These political madressahs preach hatred and churn out brainwashed robots
that become arsenal of weapons of violating the Constitution of Pakistan,”
she said, adding that if the PPP government was formed, she would expect
everybody follow the Constitution, to be disarmed and to be regulated and to
teach what is truly Islamic. And if anybody disagrees that will be shut
down.
Ms Bhutto also emphasised the need for documenting every madressah student
so that their activities were monitored.
She said there were organisations and people who were “set up as goats for
slaughter but the hidden hands are not exposed”.
“That is why I am saying don’t just look at the perpetrators, but look at
the forces behind them. Let us find the financers, and the organisers,” she
said.
Referring to terrorist threats to her life, Ms Bhutto said she was taking
precautionary measures of her own to ‘deceive’ the terrorists. The
government, she said, had advised her not to use car with tinted glasses and
her own armed guards.She said that she was unable to understand why instead
of relaxing the rules in this regard and enabling her to have maximum
security, to her satisfaction, the authorities were advising against the
precautionary measures she was taking to protect herself. “Why do they want
the terrorists to know about my movement?”
Ms Bhutto said a big hand freely worked from Karakoram to the Arabian Sea
and that must be unveiled. She said that tribal areas were no man’s land and
narco-business there remained unchecked. She said that weapons business also
patronised terrorists.
Answering a question, she disclosed that she had written a letter to the
interior secretary and asked him to beef up her security.
She said that President Pervez Musharraf and the Sindh High Court had
assured her of full security, but the Sindh government had not complied with
the orders.
The PPP chairperson said that President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat
Aziz had been attacked by extremists and suicide bombers and “it remains a
point that federal minister Ijaz-ul-Haq or PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat
were never attacked by suicide bombers”. She, however, made it clear that
she never meant that they or anyone else should be attacked by the
terrorists.
She was surprised by a statement of a federal minister who said that the
ground reality had changed after the suicide attacks on her rally. “What did
he mean? Do such statements help reconciliation? If they want democracy,
moderate Pakistan, they should condemn terrorists and not the PPP,” she
said.
Asked about the draft code of conduct as suggested by the government, Ms
Bhutto declared that no unilateral measures would be accepted and stressed
that all parties must be consulted and they must all agree to it.
Bhutto requests car convoy for security
Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto said Thursday she asked the
government for permission to travel in a convoy of cars with tinted windows
in the wake of last week's devastating suicide blasts.
Bhutto has been surrounded by heavily armed guards since the attacks tore
through her homecoming parade in Karachi city killing 139 people and ruining
her triumphant return after eight years in self-imposed exile.
She has vowed to stay in Pakistan to campaign for upcoming general polls,
which are seen as a key step in the country's return to democracy after
eight years of military rule by President Pervez Musharraf.
Amid ongoing fears for her safety, Bhutto told CNN that she wanted the
government to provide some "basic security" in the runup to the January
polls.
"For example, I would like to travel in a convoy of cars with tinted windows
so the assassins can't identify where I'm sitting.
"The government still hasn't given me permission to do that," Bhutto, the
first female leader of an Islamic nation, told the network.
"I am not satisfied with the security provided to me. I should be made to
feel secure, I should not be made to feel insecure," she later told
reporters at a press conference.
The two-time premier has claimed in the wake of the carnage that the
security forces and government have been infiltrated by Islamic militants.
She repeated her calls Thursday for an independent investigation into the
blasts and for overseas expertise to track down those responsible.
"We take financial help and political help from abroad, why can't we take
help from technical experts for this investigation?" she told reporters.
The government has rejected the request, saying local investigators are
capable of arresting those behind the nation's worst attacks.
Bhutto's comments come as she recovers from the flu in Karachi and prepares
to visit her ancestral home of Larkana in a remote corner of southern
Pakistan to pay her respects to the family mausoleum.
"She will visit Larkana on October 27th," her Pakistan People's Party
central information secretary Sherry Rehman said.
Massive security preparations have been underway for her visit to the
mausoleum where the tomb of her father, the late prime minister Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto, is located.
Meanwhile, a new top police officer took over the probe Thursday into the
blasts after Bhutto accused the former chief of bias, leading him to step
down.
Bhutto claimed the former head was involved in the torture of her husband
while he was in police custody in 1999.
"Senior police officer Saud Mirza is the new head of the investigation team
probing the twin attacks," Sindh home secretary Ghulam Muhammad Mohtarram
told AFP, adding that he was the head of criminal investigations in Karachi.
Sixteen people were also being interviewed over the blasts although they are
not considered suspects, an officer said.
The October 18 blasts occurred in a crowd of hundreds of thousands of Bhutto
supporters just hours after she returned to Pakistan for the first time
since 1999.
She was cleared of graft charges by Musharraf earlier this month, paving the
way for her return and a possible power-sharing pact with the general.
But the future of the pact is uncertain after the blasts and amid tensions
between their parties over who should be held responsible for the carnage.
Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, is under pressure from the US, a
key ally, to reach the deal, which could shore up the popularity of his
government after months of political turmoil.
THREAT TO BENAZIR
By Asim Yasin
October 26, 2007:
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s
legal adviser Senator Farooq Naek has requested Chief Justice Iftikhar
Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo moto notice of a letter sent to him by
unidentified al-Qaeda operatives threatening to assassinate the former prime
minister.
In a letter written to the chief justice, Naek said that Benazir Bhutto
returned to Pakistan on October 18, and a suicide bomber, aiming to
assassinate her, attacked the ‘Caravan of Democracy’ she was leading. As
many as 140 people were killed and about 500 were injured.
He wrote that on October 23, when he went to the Rawalpindi Accountability
Court to attend proceedings in cases concerning Benazir Bhutto, he came to
know that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy Prosecutor General
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta has not returned from the Supreme Court where he had
gone to obtain a copy of the interim order passed by the apex court in
petitions challenging the National Reconciliation Order 2007 (NRO).
“Upon this, I telephoned Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, who informed me that he has
not been able to obtain the certified copy of the order and returning
without it,” he said.
Naek said “Bhutta also informed me that there are two letters in my name
lying in the Bar Room and asked my permission if he can bring them to me to
which I replied in affirmative.” He stated that a letter contained photostat
copies that were of no consequence, however, the other letter contained a
handwritten two-page note. “A perusal thereof revealed that it was written
by the “Head of Suicide Bombers and a Friend of Osama bin Laden and
al-Qaeda.”
He said that the letter contained derogatory and threatening remarks against
Benazir Bhutto and great emphasis was laid on her assassination with the
help of a knife.
Senator Naek stated that the fact that letter sent to him also implies
threat to his life being the legal adviser of Benazir Bhutto.
He stated that extremism and violence are the biggest challenges facing
Pakistan and it is time the state takes this threat seriously. “The state of
Pakistan needs to come clean and comprehensive strategy needs to be evolved
to rein in thoughts and actions of extremists and terrorists,” he stated.
He said that the Constitution, in clear terms, guarantees that the dignity
of a person shall be inviolable and that no person shall be deprived of life
or liberty.
“It is the duty of state functionaries to provide security to all citizens
of Pakistan so Benazir Bhutto and myself are entitled to protection of law
as a constitutional right and which includes enjoyment of all such
facilities which are necessary to protect safety and dignity of a person,”
he said.
PPP asks CJ to take suo motu action on Bhutto attack
24 Oct 2007:
The Pakistan People's Party has asked the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court to take suo motu action to probe the suicide attack on former
premier Benazir Bhutto's rally here on October 19.
Farooq Naik, Bhutto's lawyer and a member of the Senate or Upper House, said
the party had written to the Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry on the issue.
The Supreme Court should take notice of the attempt on Benazir Bhutto's life
and the huge loss of lives and probe the matter, Naik told reporters at
Bilawal House, Bhutto's residence here.
Nearly 140 people were killed and hundreds more injured when two suicide
bombers targeted Bhutto's motorcade hours after her homecoming from eight
years in self-exile.
NDI Urges Improvements in Pakistan's Electoral Transparency and Security
STATEMENT OF THE NDI PRE-ELECTION DELEGATION TO PAKISTAN
Islamabad, October
21, 2007:
This statement is offered by an international delegation organized by the
National Democratic Institute (NDI) that visited Pakistan from October 16 to
October 21, 2007. The delegation reviewed the political environment and the
framework for the upcoming elections for the national and provincial
assemblies, expected in January 2008.
The delegation included Tom Daschle (United States), former Senate Majority
Leader; Peter Manikas (United States), NDI Senior Associate and Director of
Asia Programs; and Sue Wood (New Zealand), former President of the National
Party. Sheila Fruman, director of NDI’s Pakistan programs was the
delegation’s chief consultant. The delegation was also assisted by NDI staff
members: Niaz Ahmed, Andrew Hall, and Mailis Orban. The delegation followed
and built upon the work of a previous NDI mission that visited Pakistan from
May 13 to 17.
The delegation sought to reflect the interest and concern of the
international community in achieving democratic, civilian governance in
Pakistan. It visited the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) as well as
Islamabad and met with government and electoral officials, including the
Prime Minister and Chief Election Commissioner, a broad spectrum of
political party leaders and leaders from civic and human rights
associations, representatives of the news media, and international
organizations. The delegation offers its findings and observations in the
spirit of international cooperation and recognizes that it is the people of
Pakistan who will ultimately determine the meaningfulness of the upcoming
elections. The delegation stresses that it did not seek to reach any final
conclusions on the 2007/2008 electoral process.
The delegation would like to express its appreciation to everyone with whom
it met. Without their taking time and sharing their knowledge and insights,
the delegation would not have been able to accomplish its work.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS
As parliamentary and provincial elections approach, international attention
is focused on Pakistan as never before. The stakes are high for the people
of Pakistan, the region, and the world. If the elections enjoy the
confidence of Pakistanis, they could help return the nation to a democratic
path and end eight years of increasingly unpopular military rule. Elections
that meet international standards could also help stabilize a nuclear power
and an important strategic ally in the war on terror, which is threatened by
escalating civil strife and political violence. If the integrity of the
elections is seriously compromised and not seen as representative of the
will of the people, the nation could face increased civil conflict and the
military could become further entrenched in the nation’s political life.
Shortly after this delegation arrived, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto,
in exile since 1999, returned to Pakistan. After being greeted by hundreds
of thousands of supporters, her caravan was the target of a suicide bombing
that killed approximately 140 people and left hundreds injured. The
incident, which was described as the bloodiest political event in the
nation’s history, sadly reminded the delegation of the violent episode NDI’s
previous mission witnessed in May of this year. On the eve of that
delegation’s visit, demonstrators in Karachi, protesting the suspension of
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, were attacked, resulting in the
deaths of 47 persons.
These incidents, as well as the continuing political and
religiously-inspired violence that plagues the nation, are deeply troubling
and could increase as the election approaches. This delegation believes it
is urgent for the government, election commission and political parties to
take immediate steps toward providing a safer electoral environment.
On October 6, General Pervez Musharraf was reelected president by an
electoral college. His decisions to seek reelection by the assemblies that
previously elected him, and to do so while remaining army chief, were widely
unpopular and the Supreme Court is currently hearing challenges to the
constitutionality of his reelection. President Musharraf has pledged to
resign his army post before his new term begins on November 15. The return
to a civilian-led government would be a first step toward building public
confidence in the electoral process.
The delegation views Benazir Bhutto’s return to Pakistan as a positive step
toward holding more credible elections. Nawaz Sharif, also a former prime
minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), remains
in exile. Many Pakistanis will not view the upcoming polls as credible
without the presence of both party leaders in Pakistan contesting the
elections.
NDI’s previous delegation made several recommendations regarding election
administration, including the need for the election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
to fill two provincial election commissioner vacancies through a
consultative process; improve the process for hearing election complaints;
and correct the electoral rolls. These problems remain. Regrettably, little
has happened over the past five months. Further delays could have very
negative consequences for the elections’ success. The delegation was told by
the ECP, however, that action would be taken on the delegation’s
recommendations.
Other problems identified in the previous delegation’s report continue
unaddressed. These include the need to open up the Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA) to normal political activity; adopt measures to protect
the right of women to vote, especially in FATA, the Northwest Frontier
Province (NWFP) and Balochistan; and to issue and publicize government
orders preventing the security forces, including Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI), from interfering in the political process.
Elections alone will not solve the problem of intolerance, exemplified by
the growing political violence; neither will they remedy the continuing
problems of poverty, religious extremism, and ethnic and sectarian strife.
The marginalization of the nation’s large, secular political parties has
prevented the establishment of a government able to a build a national
consensus around addressing these issues, which are destabilizing the
nation.
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
The escalating violence and intimidation in Pakistan is creating an
atmosphere of fear and threatens to curtail the ability of parties and
candidates to freely engage in political activity. Since the President’s
attempt to remove the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court last March, the
security situation in Pakistan has sharply deteriorated. As a result, the
government’s ability to maintain public order for the upcoming election is
being questioned by many. As previously mentioned, demonstrations in Karachi
last May and the attack on Benazir Bhutto this week resulted in dozens of
deaths and hundreds of injuries. In July, the government stormed the Red
Mosque in Islamabad, whose members had been terrorizing local shops they
found offensive to Islam, and who had also illegally occupied land in the
federal capital and taken Chinese nationals hostage. At least 70 persons
were reported killed in the government’s assault on the mosque. In late
August, close to 300 Pakistani soldiers were taken hostage by pro-Taliban
militants in FATA; some have been killed and the rest remain captives.
In addition, the violence that has persisted in FATA is now seeping into
areas of the NWFP. Extremists in the southern districts of the NWFP have
been attacking video shops and barber shops that shave beards in an effort
to enforce their religious beliefs on residents of the province. Political
violence has also increased in the Province’s southern districts, which is
discussed further in this statement. The abduction and disappearance of
political activists in Balochistan, where an insurgency is calling for
greater autonomy and control over a larger share of the area’s resources,
has been well-documented by Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan, a well-respected non-governmental group.
As NDI’s delegation in May noted, the government has frequently invoked
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which permits local
governments to ban political activity. The law has been used selectively
against opposition parties. In addition, the government arrested many party
activists in recent months. Thousands of Nawaz Sharif’s supporters, for
example, were arrested and some were beaten on the eve of his attempted
return to Pakistan in September. The breakdown of public order, due to the
actions of the government and extremists, threatens to disrupt and impact
the legitimacy of the upcoming elections.
The election preparations of two large secular parties, the Pakistan Peoples
Party (PPP) and PML-N, have been hindered because their leaders have been in
exile for many years. Several of the nation’s political parties have failed
to develop as modern political organizations, in part because their
activities have been subject to intervention by the military and security
forces. Pakistan’s parties, however, have also been the target of widespread
criticism for corrupt practices, highly centralized and often undemocratic
procedures, and for failing to fulfill their campaign promises while in
office. This perception of the parties is one reason why the 1999 coup was
initially welcomed by large segments of the population. While parties have
taken some initial reform steps, deeper changes are needed. The parties
remain, however, the only organizations capable of mobilizing the population
to support the policies needed to deal with the nation’s pressing problems.
RULE OF LAW
The importance of preserving the independence of the judiciary has never
been more critical in Pakistan and cannot be overstated. While the nation’s
lower courts are often viewed as subject to political interference, the
higher courts – especially the Supreme Court – have been held in much higher
esteem. The public reaction to the President’s attempt to remove the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court reflects the importance of the principle of
judicial independence to the people of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s courts perform an important role in elections. Election
Commissioners are drawn from the High Courts and Returning Officers are also
recruited from the judicial system. Election Tribunals, which handle
election complaints, are also staffed by judges. Furthermore, election
disputes are reviewed by the High Courts and Supreme Court.
At least two critical election-related issues are now before the Supreme
Court: the eligibility of President Musharraf to seek reelection and the
constitutionality of the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which in effect
removes the corruption charges against Benazir Bhutto. Decisions on these
cases are expected in the coming weeks.
MEDIA
While newspapers frequently contain articles critical of the government and
independent television channels have proliferated in recent years,
disturbing trends are also developing. Numerous instances have been reported
in which the government has failed to effectively enforce the rights of
journalists or has actively sought to limit their activities. The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has reported that several
journalists have been killed in recent years and Pakistani authorities have
failed to solve a single case. IFJ has also reported that the families of
journalists reporting on militants in the tribal areas have been targeted
for retaliation. NDI’s previous delegation noted that law enforcement
officials failed to intervene when the offices of Aaj TV were attacked in
Karachi during the May 12 riots.
According to Reporters Without Borders, in 2006 at least 10 journalists were
kidnapped by security forces, some for a few days, but others for up to
three months. The delegation is concerned about numerous reports of
government attempts to intimidate the electronic and print media. In
addition, a recent report of the International Committee to Protect
Journalists states that Pakistani police filed complaints against
approximately 200 journalists charging that they defied a government ban on
political rallies.
ELECTORAL PROCESS
Election Commission of Pakistan
The ECP consists of five members appointed by the president and is
responsible for administering elections in Pakistan. There are widespread
concerns among opposition political parties and civic groups that the ECP
lacks transparency and independence. Broad public confidence in the ECP is
integral to public acceptance of the results of the upcoming election. In
the long term, ensuring the independence of the ECP may require
constitutional changes in the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner
and the Election Commission members.
NDI’s previous delegation identified four major problems that needed to be
addressed by the Election Commission: the failure to hold formal and regular
meetings with the political parties to discuss ECP policies and procedures;
the inaccuracy of the voters list; insufficient transparency during the vote
count; and the long-standing vacancies on the Commission. The delegation was
disappointed that these problems remain unresolved, although assurances were
received from the ECP that some of them would be corrected.
Open dialogue between the ECP and political parties on election preparations
could go a long way toward alleviating concerns about the election process.
Although members of the ECP have occasionally met with representatives of
the political parties, they have not engaged the parties in formal and
regular meetings to share information and address concerns. The lack of a
meaningful dialogue has resulted in a loss of confidence in the work of the
ECP.
Throughout the mission, major concerns were raised about the quality of the
voters list currently being prepared by the ECP, as they were during the
Institute’s mission in May. An accurate and complete voters list is a
fundamental necessity for any credible election. Without a credible voters
list, the election results could be suspect. The current electoral rolls,
compiled through a process of door-to-door enumeration, resulted in a draft
list with approximately 20 million fewer entries than the list used during
the 2002 general elections, despite a lowering of the voting age. The
omission of millions of eligible voters prompted the Supreme Court to order
the ECP to add tens of millions of names from the previous list. While the
current electoral rolls now contain many more names, elections experts have
advised the delegation that they are no more accurate, with approximately 10
million entries that cannot be verified. Moreover, women are considerably
underrepresented on the voters list.
NDI’s pre-election mission in May recommended that the ECP make available
electronic copies of the full voters list to political parties and provide
the public with sufficient information on the voter registration process.
This delegation believes the opportunity for addressing the flaws in the
voters list is rapidly closing. It was a major oversight not to utilize the
existing database of Pakistani citizens compiled and maintained by the
National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). NADRA has issued tens
of millions of computerized national identity cards, but its database was
not utilized in the preparation of the current voters list. Instead,
millions of dollars in aid from international donors was spent in the
construction of a voters list of questionable accuracy.
In light of concerns expressed by political parties and civic groups, the
delegation is apprehensive about the administration of the vote counting
procedures on election day. In past elections in Pakistan, election
observers have been unable to track the tabulation of votes all the way from
the polling station up to the election commission. The delegation welcomes
the provisions in the recently promulgated National Reconciliation Ordinance
(NRO) to address these issues, but it falls short of requiring the necessary
transparency for a credible tabulation process.
The delegation received credible reports concerning attempts by ISI and
other security forces to manipulate the electoral process. These attempts
include efforts to influence local officials who are responsible for
election administration at polling stations and to convince certain
individuals not to seek their party’s nomination or to switch party
allegiances. NDI’s previous delegation recommended that the government
should issue and publicize orders to security forces, including intelligence
services, stating that they must be politically neutral and not interfere in
the political process in any way. The delegation continues to believe this
recommendation is essential to enhancing confidence in the elections. In
addition, ISI operates in a legal vacuum; it is not subject to laws adopted
in a transparent matter by a democratically elected legislature. A legal
framework for the activities of all intelligence agencies is currently
lacking that would provide for the political neutrality of these
organizations. That framework could then provide the basis for parliamentary
oversight to ensure that intelligence agencies do not interfere in the
political process.
Pakistan’s constitution provides that each of the nation’s four provinces
will be represented on the ECP. Nevertheless, the seats for commissioners
from Sindh and NWFP remain vacant. In May, the Institute’s delegation
recommended that the President fill the two vacancies at the ECP in
consultation with the political parties and civil society. The ECP has
informed the delegation that the President intends to fill the vacancies;
however, there is no indication that this will be done in a transparent and
broadly consultative manner.
Coordination of Electoral Activities
Coordination meetings involving many organizations supporting electoral
activities are taking place. As the election approaches, these meetings will
be of increasing importance in ensuring that electoral preparations are
proceeding in a timely manner and that the activities of the various
organizations involved in the elections are appropriately harmonized. Often
these efforts at coordination are ineffective because specific timetables
and benchmarks are lacking. More effective coordination can help to ensure
that resources are used more effectively and efficiently.
Caretaker Cabinet
Pakistan’s constitution provides that the President may appoint a caretaker
cabinet upon the dissolution of parliament to administer elections in a
neutral manner. The delegation was informed that the President plans on
doing so. If the caretaker cabinet is appointed without reaching a consensus
among the political parties, there is little public confidence that it will
perform its responsibilities in an unbiased manner.
Security
Either by design or a lack of state capacity, the government’s writ does not
extend throughout much of the nation’s territory. In addition to frequent
incidents of political violence in various areas of the country, such as
those in Karachi on May 12 and October 18, the delegation is deeply
concerned about the persistent instability and lack of security in the FATA
and southern districts of the NWFP. The delegation received reliable reports
that threats have been made by religious extremists against the leaders of
regional secular parties and moderate religious parties in NWFP. Voters and
candidates in these regions must feel confident that they can safely
exercise their rights, without fear of retribution or intimidation.
Currently, political parties are concerned about the possible postponement
of the election in numerous areas. In addition, there are concerns that, as
in past elections, there will be “no go” areas, which were considered unsafe
for some parties to campaign freely.
The ECP has indicated a code of conduct will be instituted for political
parties, with the aim of establishing clear guidelines for party activities
and candidates during the campaign period and on election day. If
effectively implemented, adherence to the code of conduct will be a welcome
development as it could reduce the incidence of political violence around
the elections. With concerted effort, election stakeholders could eliminate
violence and instability from the electoral period and create an environment
in which credible elections can be held.
Protecting the Rights of Women
The constitution of Pakistan guarantees the right to vote for all citizens,
including women. The delegation was troubled to learn about a recent
by-election in the Baujar Agency of FATA where the contesting parties – both
secular and religious – mutually agreed that women would be prohibited from
casting votes. This coordinated mass disenfranchisement undermines the
fundamental principle of democratic elections. The ECP has the authority to
nullify such elections, but has not done so.
Concerns about the right of women to participate on election day have also
been raised in other parts of the country, such as Balochistan and NWFP. The
delegation received reliable reports that women in many areas have not had
the opportunity to cast votes without fear or intimidation. In many
instances, polling stations for women have not been adequately staffed and
operated in full accordance with the law in past elections.
DOMESTIC ELECTION MONITORING AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVING
The delegation learned that the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), a
network of 26 civil society organizations, will be deploying 24,000
non-partisan election monitors in all 272 constituencies. With the use of
mobile units, the FAFEN team will visit approximately 30,000 polling
stations on election day. FAFEN also plans to monitor and report on
violations of the code of conduct, and it promotes political electoral
reforms.
International observers will also be present during the upcoming elections.
The delegation strongly supports these efforts and encourages the
international observers to
coordinate their efforts with domestic election monitors. Moreover, given
its size and the importance of these elections, Pakistan would benefit from
the participation of a large number of international observation missions.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The delegation offers the following recommendations in the spirit of
international cooperation and with the hope that they will be helpful in
promoting inclusive, transparent and credible elections:
Election Integrity
The Election Commission should:
- develop a formal process of regular and timely consultations with the
political parties and civil society sharing views on routine election
procedures and policies; regular meetings should also be held with the
political parties at the national and provincial levels to discuss security
issues and identify areas expected to be especially troublesome as the
elections approach;
- gain access to NADRA’s database of identity card holders in order to
strengthen the accuracy of the voters list;
- publish the final voters list in an electronic format, thereby avoiding
the time-consuming printing of the voters list that narrows the window
during which improvements can be made prior to the calling of elections;
- establish procedures in a timely manner whereby domestic and international
observers will be guaranteed access to all stages of the vote counting
process;
- instruct that election results announced at the
