Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Press Release

Islamabad, October 6 , 2008
"No Consent Given to the US for Raids in Pakistan by the President".

"Kashmiris Right of Self Determination Always Supported" – Sherry Rehman

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Sherry Rehman has said that the President of Pakistan has not given any form of consent for U.S. or allied forces to carry out strikes inside Pakistan, and that the government is firmly committed to extending moral and diplomatic support to the just cause of Kashmiris for their right of self-determination.

"The President has been saying consistently is that if the coalition forces see any evidence of cross-border activity then that actionable intelligence should be shared with Pakistan immediately so we can take action on the ground. At all forums the President has clearly asked all allies and forces to respect Pakistan's territorial integrity. At no point will the President or this government compromise on Pakistan's sovereignty."

Ms. Rehman said that President Zardari's visit to the U.S. was a major success as the President effectively communicated to the global community Pakistan's position on the war on terror as well as respect for its own territorial integrity. She said that President Zardari took the international community onboard on issues pertaining to the scourge of militancy and extremism in Pakistani and on the significance of supporting Pakistan's efforts to fight terrorism.

It should be noted that when the strategic forum of Friends of Pakistan was floated, the US Secretary of State, Ms Rice was emphatic is asserting that they were supporting the Friends of Democratic Pakistan, making it clear that all the countries represented there were invested in Pakistan's new democratic government, and had full confidence in the country's new leadership.

Ms. Rehman said that the President strongly conveyed to the international community the need for a joint counter-terrorism strategy, and for Pakistan's allies to respond to its military and strategic requirements for fighting terrorism. "Unilateral actions by the U.S. often serve as a setback to our joint efforts against terrorism," she said. "Rather, as the President has said, they create a negative impact on Pakistan's position on terrorism and turn the tide in favour of militancy."

Commenting further on statements in the WSJ article attributed to President Asif Ali Zardari on the issue of Kashmir, Ms.Rehman said the President has made it very clear that the just cause of Kashmir and its struggle for self-determination has been a consistent central position of the PPP for the last forty years.

"There has been no change in this policy," said Ms. Rehman. "The President has never called the legitimate struggle of Kashmiris an expression of terrorism, nor has he downplayed the sufferings of the Kashmiris. All his statements on India should be viewed in context of Pakistan's current bilateral relations with that country."

The Federal Minister pointed to the ongoing Pakistan-India composite peace dialogue and several confidence-building measures as an example of the warming bilateral relations between the two countries. "However," she said, "our efforts for peace with India will not be traded off with our principled stand on Kashmir."

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
Press Release

Islamabad, September 29, 2008: Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ms. Sherry Rehman has said that a high-level meeting was held here today at the Prime Minister's Secretariat under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani to review the law and order situation in the county in general, and the security situation of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in particular.

While chairing the meeting the Prime Minister said that countering terrorism was the government's top priority and the government will evolve a dynamic national counter-terrorism strategy to eliminate and root out this menace threatening the very core of our country.

Talking to the media after attending the meeting, the Minister said that the government will evolve a counter-terrorism strategy in accordance with its three-pronged policy of using development, dialogue and deterrence (use of force as last resort) to fight extremism.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman; PM's Advisor on Interior, Rehman Malik; Minister for Labour & Manpower, Khurshid Shah; Minister for State and Frontier Regions, Najmuddin Khan; Chief Minister NWFP, Amir Haider Khan Hoti; Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah; Chief Advisor to CM Punjab, Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa; DG ISI; DG IB; DG MI; Secretaries Interior, Information and representatives of other law enforcement agencies.

The Minister said that the Prime Minister will consult and take into confidence all four provinces, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and all partners at each step of evolving a national counter-terrorism strategy for Pakistan.

The meeting reviewed the security situation after the Marriott bomb attack and appreciated the crisis-management efforts of the committee constituted by the Prime Minister in the wake of the deadly attack.

Elaborating on the meeting's outcomes, the Minister informed that the PM had decided to constitute two committees at the Federal Ministers' and Federal Secretaries' levels, which will be tasked with the formulation of a national counter-terrorism strategy.

Accordingly, the Ministerial-level committee will be led by Minister I&B, Sherry Rehman and will include Advisor on Interior, Rehman Malik; Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi; Law Minister Farooq Naek; Finance Minister, Naveed Qamar; Minister for State and Frontier Regions, Najmuddin Khan; and Health Minister-designate.

The Secretary-level committee will be led by Secretary Interior, Syed Kamal Shah and will include Secretary Finance, Waqar Masood; Secretary Religious Affairs, Najibullah Malik; Secretary Law, Justice Agha Rafiq Khan; and Strategic Communications Specialist, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Ammara Durrani.

The Minister said that the two committees will submit their respective reports and recommendations to the government within two weeks.

Press release
Islamabad,Aug 30,2008
Information Minister Denounces Slander Campaign

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman has said that Presidential elections are a political contest and all candidates would be better served if they run their campaign on political grounds rather than indulge in mudslinging.

"It is unfortunate for the institute of politics and parliament that we have certain political actors in our country who are still committed to the old ideology of character assassination and blame game as a part of their political campaign," said Ms Rehman responding to a media query about PML-Q Presidential candidate's Mr Mushahid Hussain's derogatory remarks about the PPP Co Chairperson.

The Federal Information Minister said that Pakistan Peoples Party is strongly committed to the policy of reconciliation that does not advocate slandering of opponents. "The culture of political victimisation and defamation has only caused harm to Pakistan and has shaken people's trust on political system. Being the biggest federal political force of the people of Pakistan, the PPP is clear that it would not support such a culture. Therefore, the election campaign of the PPP leader Mr Asif Ali Zardari would never point fingers at other candidates contesting elections, nor would we resort to any ugly exchange of allegations."

Ms Rehman said that Mr Zardari was the unanimous choice of the Party for the Presidential post. "Every political party has the right to put forward and support their candidates for the elections. And every campaign should be carried out on political grounds. We won the right to field our candidate through the mandate of the people on February 18. Mr Zardari represents the unity of the federation. He has created consensus government in all four provinces and he seeks political reconciliation which is Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's legacy."

Ms Rehman urged for an informed and mature debate on the issue of presidential elections. "People of Pakistan want to know what the presidential candidates would do to strengthen the federation in Pakistan, address economic challenges confronting the country, and deal with the terrorism threat. It is in the interest of the country that the debate on the Presidential elections be focused on the ability of the candidates to respond to current challenges of the country. Defamation and smear campaign would never serve the country's interest."

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Press release
Islamabad, Aug 31, 2008
'Govt to Consider Housing Schemes for Media' – Sherry Rehman

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman said that the government is considering a proposal to initiate a housing scheme for journalists in Rawalpindi-Islamabad.

"The government is sensitive to the needs of the journalist community. We are working on schemes to facilitate housing for journalists in the Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. Such schemes could also be extended to other cities," said the Federal Information Minister while talking to a group of journalists that called on the Minister in Islamabad.

Ms Rehman said that fierce competition in the media industry has resulted in imbalances and irregularities in salary structures and working conditions. "Financial and economic security is linked to independent journalism. There is a great divide between packages offered to journalists at different levels in a single organization and the resultant financial constraint leads to stress. These factors tend to compromise the quality of journalistic output."

Ms Rehman said that the government, on its part, is duty-bound to protect the interests of the journalist community. "Media is an important pillar of democracy. The government is committed to consider all legitimate demands of the media. We are also open to assisting media for improving their working conditions. We believe a stronger democracy is tied to a stronger media and we are willing to facilitate the media in all areas to strengthen the institution."

Ministry of Information and Broadcastin
Press release
Islamabad, Sept 1 ,2008
NWFP parliamentarians extend full support to Zardari

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and PPP's presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari on Monday vowed to strengthen democracy, national institutions and bring a positive change in the lives of masses.

They expressed these views at a luncheon meeting with a large group of parliamentarians from NWFP here at the PM House.

The parliamentarians extended their full support to PPP's presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari.

The Senators, MNAs and MPAs from NWFP assured their full support to Asif Ali Zardari for the strengthening of democracy, bringing political harmony and further strengthening the federation.

Governor NWFP Awais Ghani, Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, ANP leader Asfandyar Wali and leader of opposition Akram Khan Durrani were also present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Gilani expressed his gratitude to the parliamentarians for their solidarity and support and said this shows positive thinking and liberal democratic approach. The democratic forces in the province, he added, have never compromised on principles.

The Prime Minister assured them that all the promises made with the parliamentarians from NWFP will be fulfilled.

He also assured them implementation of all the projects under PSDP in the province and development schemes pertaining to the womenfolk and minorities.

Regarding the provincial autonomy, the Prime Minister said the PPP believes in the 1973 constitution and will do all to protect the rights of federating units.

He recalled that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for rights of the down trodden and said the present PPP government will take forward her mission.

"We will bring amendments in the constitution which are in the greater national interest," he added.

Prime Minister Gilani reiterated the government's resolve to fight the menace of terrorism and said that tourism will be revived in areas of the province which was affected by recent spate of terrorism and extremism.

Asif Ali Zardari said the PPP and ANP have the opportunity to change the name of the province from NWFP to Pakhtoonkhwa, which has been a long standing demand and wish of its people.

"This is the beauty of democracy and united power of people that even governor has pronounced the Province as Pakhtoonkhwa while sitting in the PM House," Zardari said.

The decision on Kalabagh dam project, he added, has been taken according to the wishes of the general public.

Terrorism and extremism, he said, was a big challenge to the country and added the government has the will and power to eliminate this menace.

"If someone from outside tells us how to solve this problem, we can tell them that we will resolve this issue on our own," Zardari said.

He said Pakistan's case at the world fora was earlier being pleaded "without any lawyer" and there was no person who had the political insight in this regard.

"I can now assure you that the world was now ready to listen to what Pakistan has to say and are ready to work with us....and this is the victory of democracy."

Zardari said the resignation by President Musharraf, after resolutions by the four provincial

a assemblies, shows the strength of democracy and democratic institutions.

Zardari said the nation and its people have a great responsibility, along with the elected representatives, to ensure that democracy takes root in the country.

The people and party workers, he added, have rendered great sacrifices for the sake of democracy which must be allowed to prosper. He said Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma were the two great leaders of Pakistan who did not even care for their lives to save democracy and democratic institutions.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Press Release
Islamabad,Sept 01 ,2008
'Consensus candidate can best respond to current challenges' – Sherry Rehman

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman said that only a president backed by national consensus could serve the cause of the federation as well as a strong parliamentary institution.

"Senator Asif Ali Zardari is the consensus candidate for the post of President. He has a strong backing from all political forces of the country. Only a leadership capable of forging national unity can steer the country out of crisis brought upon us by a decade of non-democratic rule," said Sherry Rehman talking to the media after the meeting of Mr Zardari with NWFP MNAs and MPAs who pledges strong support for his candidature.

Ms Rehman said that earlier the presidency had served as a centre of conspiracies against political forces and democratic systems. "The nation repeatedly suffered at the hands of vested interests that were given a platform by the Presidency to challenge the stability of political system and topple democratic governments. We need a president whose interest lie in the stability of the political system, parliamentary sovereignty and a strong democracy."

The Federal Information Minister said that given the challenges faced by the country, Pakistan cannot afford any confrontation between institutes or between centre and the provinces. "A national unity government with a political system that advocates balance of powers is the only solution to ensure a stable Pakistan."

Hailing the support of the MQM and the ANP for the candidature of Mr Zardari, Ms Rehman said that the decision of major political forces to set their differences aside and back a candidate that is the symbol of the federation reflects the commitment of the political forces to the cause of a strong Pakistan. "What is more important is that this support is meant for a candidate who advocates a strong political system. This is an indication of a realisation among all political forces that the office of the president should support a parliamentary system that stands for people's representation."

Ms Rehman said that the governance and political process must go side by side. "This is the essence of democracy. We have been mandated by the people to run the government and solve their problems, and it is our responsibility to fulfil our obligations towards our constituents. The nation is eagerly awaiting Sept 6. After the Presidential Election, all political forces must channel their energies towards taking the system forward and resolving important challenges faced by the country."

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Press release
Islamabad,Sept03 ,2008
'Honour Killing Legislation Need to be Revisited' – Sherry Rehman

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman said that the government is dedicated to resolving the case of alleged honour killing of five women in the Balochistan Province and the transparency and the quality of investigation will not be compromised.

The Information Minister stated that the PPP Co Chairperson, Senator Asif Ali Zardri too has urged the government to take action on the case. "The PPP Co-Chairperson discussed this issue in a meeting with the Prime Minister stressing that the culprits be brought to book even if they come from an influential background. Senator Asif Ali Zardari said that there can be no justification for honour killings and the government has an obligation to stop such practices by way of punitive legislative and institutional measures," Ms Rehman quoted the PPP Co Chairperson.

Ms Rehman informed that arrests have already been made and procedures put in place for getting to the root of the matter.

Ms Rehman said that the fact that the issue has sparked media interest and has drawn wide condemnation from the civil society as well as the legislators points to the fact that Pakistan, as a nation, does not support such heinous practices. "There is a false perception that curbing such practices is impossible as there is a social acceptance for such inhuman acts. The unanimous resolution passed by the Senate condemning the incident is also an encouraging sign since in the past, such acts always received a divided response from the both the houses. We can now look forward to moving towards an order where inhuman customs and traditions find no justification for existence."

Ms Rehman said that the political will is most important element in the battle against negative customs that harm the life and well being of our women. "Our government is seriously committed to its agenda to curb anti-women practices because it is one of the key demands of our electorate. The government treats it as a human rights issue and we have a strong policy against violation of human rights."

Ms Rehman said that the legislation on honour killings needs to be revisited because the compoundability clause allows perpetrators to get off on light or no sentence. "The current legislation on honour killings was bulldozed through the Parliament by the last regime that rejected all proposals to introduce clauses that could help in rooting out this crime. As it stands now, the perpetrators are able to obtain forgiveness or easier punishment through the nominal payment of blood money to the heirs or walis of the victims, via the qisas and diyat laws introduced n 1985. This is certainly unjust to the victims while also puts at risks the lives of other women who could be subjected to such crimes. In the past, the Pakistan Peoples Party had moved consensus-backed legislation on Honour Killing in the parliament on several occasions. A legislation that denies indemnity to the perpetrators of such crimes is the most effective tool to fight this practice."

Ms Rehman added that besides legislation, the government is also focusing in strengthening institutional structures to ensure enforcement of the laws related to human rights. "We are working to facilitate institutional structures to ensure that all our policy actions are backed by institutional capabilities to respond to such crimes. The recent elections were a vote for democracy as well as for a progressive society with strong structures to tackle discriminatory practices."

Press release
Islamabad, Sept03, 2008
'Shunning of Violence by Baloch Militants is a Vindication of Govt's Reconciliation Policy' – Sherry Rehman

Islamabad, Sep 4, 2008: The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman has said that the announcement by the Balochistan Province's militant organisations to suspend their activities for indefinite period will help restore peace in the region.

"Our government has repeatedly stressed that violence is not the answer to the problems of Balochistan, which are essentially political in nature. The past government's confrontational policies vis-à-vis the Province brought this conflict to a no-return point, causing maximum damage to the nation," said Ms Sherry Rehman talking to the media about the Government's efforts for the Province.

Ms Rehman said that the Balochistan is the most important province for the present government. "The Province has long been kept low on the priority list of the earlier regimes because of its small population. This approach in itself is fraught with risks because it seeks to alienate a certain section of the population on the basis of its strength. AS we have all seen, it has only widened the Centre-Balochistan divide."

The Federal Information Minister said that healing the wounds of the bleeding province has been the top priority of the government as well as the Pakistan Peoples Party. "Starting from tendering an apology to the province on behalf of Pakistan by the Party's Co Chairperson Mr Asif Ali Zardari, our government took forward the agenda of reconciliation to start a process of dialogue with the political leadership of the region. Cases against Sardar Akhter Mengal and Shahzain Bugti were withdrawn and they were released weeks after we took the office. The Prime Minister himself has demonstrated his personal commitment to redress the grievances of the Province. The PM recently issued a grant of Rs 6bn to the Province while also announcing a host of development measures, including electricity and gas supply projects for the Province. The number of Lady Health Workers in Balochistan has also been doubled. The National Finance Commission has been constituted and we are committed to ensuring that the Province gets its due share in the NFC Award."

Ms Rehman said that the measures announced by the government last week, including removing of FC check posts, directing law enforcement agencies to work under the Chief Minister, releasing political prisoners and withdrawing non-criminal cases against them, are response to the long standing demands of the Province. "The government has an obligation to address all legitimate demands of the Province."

Ms Rehman said that the announcement by the militant organisations to suspend their activities vindicates the government's stand that violence in Balochistan was a response to the injustices meted out to the Province by the last regime and the denial of the Province's right to have a say in the development of the region. "This is the key difference between a political government and a non representative regime. A political government will always strive for space for negotiations and all political forces will be receptive to its efforts because of its legitimate position. Our government's reconciliation message has received a very positive response from the Balochistan population as well as the political leadership of the Province. The government firmly believes that the country's stability lies in reconciliation and we want to work with all political forces to address the grievances of their constituencies and move together on a progressive path".

Press release
Islamabad, September 4, 2008
'Senator Zardari's Lead in Opinion Polls Reflects Public Support' – Sherry Rehman

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman has said that Senator Asif Ali Zardari's lead position in recent opinion polls conducted by media organisations indicate public support for his candidature for the post of the President.

"The public support is for the political ideals that a candidate stands for. The recent opinion polls reflect public endorsement for Mr Zardari's strong stand on strengthening the federation, parliamentary sovereignty, the policy of reconciliation, and his position on terrorism," said Ms Rehman talking to the media two days before the Presidential election.

Ms Rehman said that in another opinion poll carried out by the News Network International, the domestic public demonstrated a strong understanding for Mr Zardari's policies and positions on various issues and endorsed the Party's efforts to save the federation and change the system through political process. "The public participated in the February 18 elections despite security fears to vote for democratic forces that could steer the nation out of crisis through a non confrontational process. It is now the responsibility of all political forces to respect this trust and carry out the mandate of the public by taking a united stand against challenges faced by the country."

The Federal Information Minister said that it is the prudent policies of the democratic forces that have directed the country to a path where all political problems are being resolved through peaceful means. "It is the power of dialogue and political process that has led to peace in the Balochistan Province; it paved the way for General Musharraf's exit without bloodshed, while it has developed national consensus on the issue of terrorism, which is the most important priority of the nation and the government."

Ms Rehman said that the consensus of all political forces on Mr Zardari's candidature for the Presidency comes from his image as a symbol of federation. "Mr Zardari is a political figure who has stakes in the stability of the system. The decade of manipulation of the Presidency has tilted the balance of power away from parliamentary forces. The system could only be corrected by individuals and institutions that have respect for the will of the people."

The Federal Information Minister said that the PPP's strength as a political force depends on the power of a parliamentary system that allows for representation of its constituency, i.e. the people of Pakistan.

Press Release
Islamabad, Sept11, 2008
'Government Committed to a Representative Political Order' – Information Minister

The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman has said that the smooth process of the recent presidential elections and the overwhelming political support pledged to President Zardari for his political ideals, marks an important step towards the country's successful transition to democracy.

Ms Rehman expressed these views while talking to the Australian High Commissioner Ms Zorica McCarthy and Ambassador of Argentine Mr. Rodolfo Martin Saravia who called on her at the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting today.

The Federal Information Minister said that the government has a responsibility to follow the public mandate for the development of the country and the political leadership has demonstrated support for government's move to resolve current challenges faced by the nation. "There is consensus between all political forces on all important national issues and we are committed to ensuring that our policies and actions reflect public interest and public will. The combination of consensus government and a democratically-elected President will create unity and space for necessary structures for the implementation of a broad national agenda for development of the country."

Ms Rehman said that Pakistan has an important position in the global war on terror. "There is a need for all stakeholders in this war to show consideration for the country's fundamental realities and challenges as Pakistan has made the most important contribution towards achieving the objectives of this war."

Describing political and economic stability as the priority area of the government, Ms Rehman said that all government measures towards this end are guided by its resolve to strengthen and empower institutions and improve their capacity for service delivery. "On economic front, we are fixing imbalances in agricultural production, exports, trade balance and budget deficit. On the political side, the government's message for reconciliation has opened doors for communication and dialogue between all political fractions. We are committed to follow a representative system so that all political entities are allowed space to contribute in shaping the future direction of the country's policies, and progress."

Press Release
Islamabad, September 16, 2008
Federal Minister Calls a Meeting to Devise Action Agenda for Crimes Against Women

To frame an effective response to the recent crimes against women, the Federal Minister for Women Development has called a meeting of concerned ministers, government officials, public representatives and civil society members.

The meeting, to be held in Islamabad on September 17, will be chaired by the Federal Minister for Women Development. Participants include: the Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Farooq Naek, Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar, Senator Sadia Abbasi, MNA Zubaida Jalal, MNA Bushra Gohar, Secretary Federal Ministry for Women Development, Secretary Ministry for Social Welfare and Special Education, Secretary Federal Ministry for Interior, Secretary Ministry for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Home Secretary Government of Balochistan, Inspector General Province of Balochistan, DG Sibbi and DG National Police Bureau, and prominent members of the civil society.

"The Islamabad meeting will devise an Action Agenda for recent crimes against women," said Ms Sherry Rehman briefing the media about the Thursday meeting. "In the last two weeks alone, there have been several reports of women being subjected to abusive practices including rape cases and honour killing crimes in Balochistan and Sindh and acid burns cases in the Punjab. This is clearly a countrywide phenomenon and our government has a very clear position on acts of human rights abuse. A parliamentary democracy has absolutely no space for a culture that violates the fundamental rights of people."

Ms Rehman said that the President and the Prime Minister have repeatedly stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to respond to crimes targeting our women. "The Islamabad meeting is a step in the same direction," said Ms Rehman.

"There is a need for demonstration of total commitment on the part of all stakeholders, including the common citizens, against the discriminatory culture and practices against our women. It has to be treated as violation of human rights and any justification or reasoning for such acts is completely unacceptable," said Ms Rehman reiterating the government's pledge to pursue strong legislation and law enforcement to ensure an end to the tradition that denies basic rights to the women of the country.

Ms Rehman said that the government has the political will to pursue the agenda of women development and root out crimes against women. "However, apart from policy formulation and implementation efforts, there is certainly need for strong social pressure on elements endorsing such practices. This is only possible through aggressive lobbying by public representatives, the civil society and the media, to develop consensus against discriminatory acts against women."

The Federal Women Development Minister informed that the government will set up a mechanism to follow up on the outcomes of the September 17 meeting. "We will emphasise on establishing structures and linkages to strengthen the institutional response to crimes against women. Surely, negative traditions and culture cannot be curbed in a matter of months. It is a long journey and it is only possible if the government's sustained efforts against such acts are supported by all stakeholders."

Press Release
New York,Sept 24,2008
Federal Information Minister to attend high level events in New York

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman who is in New York as a part of the President's delegation to attend the UN General Assembly session, would be participating in a number of high level meetings representing Pakistan in the capacity of the Information Minister as well as the Women Development Minister.

Ms Rehman would be taking part in the High Level event on the Millennium Development Goals, convened by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN General Assembly on September 25. She has also been invited by the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to attend the Women Leaders Working Group Breakfast meeting on the same day.

"Both the meetings are important as they allow us the opportunity to exchange ideas and review our status vis-à-vis development goals set as a part of MDGs, as well as for women development," said Ms Rehman talking to the media about the two events.

Ms Rehman said that the High Level Event on MDGs is very important as there is a growing concern among world leaders about the uneven performance of regions across the globe in implementing the Millenium Development Goals. "The UN has set year 2015 for the completion of MDG targets. The world realises that the next seven years are extremely crucial and there is need for fast tracking on a number of areas to ensure that we are able to meet the targets set by the MDG. For this purpose, all countries need to review their progress regularly, and a greater level of cooperation and coordination is required to ensure that our commitment to the targets is translated into practical actions. This review is also important in the backdrop of the shocks in the global markets, food shortage and oil crisis. There is a serious concern that the recent developments have substantially eroded the gains made in the direction of the MDGs in the past few years. We expect extensive discussion on the topic in the UN High Level event."

Replying to a media query about The Women Leaders' Working Group Meeting hosted US Secretary State Condoleeza Rice, Ms Rehman informed that the theme of the session is: 'Women Leaders: Making a Difference'. "The Working Group meets regularly to take action on current challenges to women's empowerment. It is a round table session and has participation from women Heads of State, Foreign Ministers and high-ranking female officials from across the globe. The forum was created by the US Secretary of State in 2006, and has made useful contribution to understanding and resolving the challenges to women empowerment."

Ms Rehman would also be accompanying President Asif Ali Zardari in call group meetings taking place all through the week in New York. The President would be addressing the UN General Assembly session on September 25. The President's scheduled interactions with the heads of state on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session include meeting with the US President George W Bush, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other leaders. The Pakistani delegation leaves for Islamabad on September 27.

PPP Condemns Use of Anti-Terrorism Laws Against its Activists

Islamabad, November 14, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party decried the continuous use of force against its members who are being subjected to unlawful acts at the hands of the state, as the regime's harassment spree against the Party workers continues.

The nationwide crackdown on the PPP activists is in full swing as the country enters the 11th day of martial law rule. Scores of PPP workers are being arrested from across the country, while police has been seen using brute force against peaceful demonstrations led by the Party. The police arrested the PPP leader Shah Mahmoud Qureshi in Faisalabad, while Raja Riaz's and Nisar Khurho's rallies in the Punjab and Larkana respectively were baton-charged and tear-gassed. The police have shown no respect for women as they have been publicly dragged and shoved into police mobiles, in droves, during the protests in Jacobabad, Matyari, Tando Mohammad Khan, Qambar Ali Khan, Thatta, Badin, Ranipur, and other parts of Sindh and Punjab. Scores have been arrested in the Party's stronghold Larkana. These include: MNA Khalid Iqbal Memon, MPA Mujaddid Israan, Khan Bahadur Agha, Tehsil President Sohail Sial. Authorities have also detained Moazzam Abbasi, Senator Safdar Abbasi's nephew.

Taking its draconian actions a step further, the regime is seeking to charge the arrested PPP women workers under anti-terrorism laws. Pakistan's anti-terrorism laws have long been subject to intense criticism from the international communities. Amnesty International too has raised its concerns over the laws that seek the police and the courts to investigate and decide the case within two weeks' time. The 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act also prevents people convicted and sentenced, from using their right to appeal. It is worth noting that the convicts maybe sentenced to death within a matter of days.

Expressing concern over the condition of her detained fellow activists, Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary said that the regime is acting like a shabby junta in its vicious mass clampdown on the PPP's workers and leaders.

Rehman said that the authorities are zealously pursuing thousands of the PPP activists showing no consideration for their age, or health status. "They are detaining everybody, from a 14 year-old child to a 72-year-old person. Those who have been released from the prisons have horror stories to tell about the state of the cells and the police's use of torture against them. This is certainly not a normal country anymore. It has turned into a police state where the law of the jungle rules."

Rehman said that civil society should take a strong note of the registration of cases against the PPP activists under anti-terrorism laws. "This action is certainly based on malice as Pakistan's anti-terrorism laws have long been decried by human rights activists and the international community for their failure to provide justice. Instead, these laws seek to do grave injustice to the accused for their speedy proceedings and the draconian conditions they impose. We fear for the lives of our fellow workers as the regime may either eliminate them through "encounters" or try them under anti-terrorism acts and have them interred under trumped-up charges," said Rehman noting that these acts also carry penalties like the death sentence.

"Going by the May 12, and November 3 experiences, one can safely say that this regime is capable of stooping to any length to satisfy its lust for power. If they can hand over an entire city to a group of trigger-happy goons who mercilessly slaughtered the citizens as General Musharraf and his cohorts celebrated in Islamabad, they are very much capable of trying our arrested Party activists under the draconian Act, and send them to the oblivion of our darkest prisons.

Demanding an immediate release of her Party activists and the withdrawal of anti-terrorism charges against the PPP activists, Rehman said that the state should not think that the PPP will give in to any kind of pressure. "Our commitment to the cause of democracy is as strong today as it was at the time when the Party first came to power. The regime should learn a lesson from its predecessor, General Zia-ul-Haq, who too went beyond his means to crush the PPP. And we all know how he is remembered by history for all that he did to the Party and the people of Pakistan."

Rehman said that Pakistan was born a free country and there is no way its people will accept to be ruled by a power-hungry, autocratic minority. "The regime should not underestimate people's willingness to fight the dictatorship. Apparently, even school children are taking to the streets to protest against the Nov 3 orders.
It is high time now for Musharraf should step down so that Pakistan can be spared this blood on the streets. The regime will be forced to do that in any case as the unrest on the streets is growing, and has already taken an ugly turn."

Mass Arrests Not to Deter The PPP, Says Sherry Rehman

Islamabad, November 13, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party condemned the house arrest of its Chairperson, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in Khosa House in Lahore.

Fearing active public participation in the Long March, the regime detained Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, keeping her under house arrest at the Lahore residence of Senator Latif Khosa. Detaining Mohtarma Bhutto behind triple locks, barbed wire, trucks full of wet sand and Armoured Personal Carriers, the 4000 police contingent outside remained deployed the whole day to keep media and others out in an attempt to black out the party chair's mass appeal.

The police outside Khosa house has also illegally detained a number of PPP leaders with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. These include Makhdoom Amin Fahim, MNA Sherry Rehman, Senator Safdar Abbasi, MNA Naheed Khan, Rehman Malik and Latif Khosa. Despite these constraints the party renewed its commitment to restoring democracy in the face of a massive crackdown launched by the regime as the Party began its Long March against the November 3 martial law.

The number of PPP workers being arrested from around the country has been going up by the minute as the regime tries every trick in the book to prevent the Party workers from participating in the Long March. Despite the regime's high-handedness, the Long March has already begun; now being led by PPP's Punjab Province Chief Shah Mehmood Qureshi. PPP workers clashed with baton-charging police at Shahdara, Shalimar Bagh, Ichra, Garhi Shahu, Ferozepur Road, Walled City, High Court and Kahna. 200 buses carrying party workers were also detained near Okara.

Fearing large-scale mobilisation, the police have taken into custody a number of prominent PPP leaders including Yousaf Raza Gillani, the Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Qasim Zia, and MNAs have also been detained. These include parliamentarians Belum Hasnain, Liaqat Dogar, Yasmin Rehman, Mehreen Rehman, Tasneem Qureshi. MPAs Uzma Bokhari, Farzana Raja, Faiza Malik, Nadia Aziz, Mirza Afzaal, Samina Navid and Saghira Islam were also rounded up and summarily thrown into police lock-ups all over Lahore.

In Sindh, the Police continue to round up PPP workers and have taken into custody MPA Sassui Palejo, along with 50 protestors in Thatta. MPA Farheen Mughal and MPA Zahid Ali Bhurgari have been arrested from Sindh while the Thatta residence of the PPP leader Humaira Alwani was raided by the Police that also tortured and arrested her 72-year-old uncle, and the servants working in the house.

Condemning the arrests of the PPP leaders and workers, Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party said that his is the highest form of dictatorship at work. "These mass arrests are evidence of the fact that the regime is dead scared of the street power of the PPP, and will leave no stone unturned to crush the resistance that the Party has put against the draconian act of November 3. They numbers of police posted all over the province of Punjab is a clear index of the success of the party's mobilisation, as the higher the police pickets the more clampdowns the regime has made. We judge the success of a rally by the numbers of police placed against us, and it seems that instead of chasing down militants, the security forces are busy arresting and standing in front of the PPP's leaders."

Rehman noted that the countrywide crackdown against the PPP workers reflects that the action is not just meant to kill the Long March. "The PPP is the only Party that has put up a fierce resistance against the imposition of the martial law. The countrywide arrests reflect that the regime is making an attempt to curtail the people's resistance on the national level. However, if we were to give in to hollow threats, the Party would not have made an effort to put its worker's lives at stake for the restoration of democracy."

Rehman said that the mass arrests will do nothing to stop the PPP's Long March to Islamabad that has already reached its first stop in Kasur. " Neither the March will be called off, nor the demands for the restoration of democracy be taken back.

PPP's rally starts without MBB

November 13, 2007: Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party on Tuesday started its "long march" against the emergency rule with a convoy of over 100 vehicles moving towards capital Islamabad without the former premier who was placed under house arrest in Lahore on Tuesday.

Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, the president of the Punjab unit of the PPP, led the march with 110 vehicles and thousands of followers, Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman said.

Qureshi had met Bhutto earlier this morning. Sherry Rehman, who was with MBB in the home of PPP Senator Latif Khosa that has been surrounded by hundreds of policemen, said: "They are walking towards Kasur and have reached Mustafabad while tyres burn all over Lahore in protest at the detention of Mohtarma Bhutto and the mass arrests of PPP workers across Punjab.

"Women parliamentarians are being picked up and inhumanly treated while the massive police presence outside Khosa's house is growing to unprecedented numbers," she alleged.
Qureshi said the PPP had decided last night that other leaders would lead the march if MBB was detained. "If I am arrested, some other leader should take up the baton of democracy and take it forward," he told Dawn News Channel.

MBB was placed under house arrest for seven days after midnight to prevent her from taking part in the rally.

Update from Subjail Lahore

November 13, 2007: President Punjab Shah Mahmoud Qureshi has started marching with 110 vehicles and thousands of followers.

They are walking towards Kasur, reached Mustafabad, while tyres burn all over Lahore in protest at the detention of MBB and mass arrests of PPP workers all over Punjab. Women parliamentarians are being picked up and inhumanly treated, while the massive police presence outside Khosa House is growing to unprecedented numbers.

At another juncture, Yusuf Reza Gilani and Qasim Zia have been surrounded by police on the Lahore-Kasur road with their rally.

More as we get it.

Sherry Rehman
Lahore

MBB Barricaded

November 13, 2007: Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is being held inside Senator Khosa's house in Lahore. The Home Secretary Punjab has slapped a 7 day detention order on the gate for her and declared the house a sub jail.

Several padlocks have been put on the gate with police mobiles stationed in front. Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Senator Safdar Abbasi, Sherry Rehman, Naheed Khan and Rehman Malik along with Latif Khosa, are being illegally detained. There is 4000 police behind and around the house. Ten massive trucks full of wet sand and two armoured personal carriers are poised in front of miles of barbed wire and barricades.

All party workers attempting to get past the barricades along main roads in Lahore are being arrested on the spot.
MBB remains firm in her resolve to lead the Long March as well as the nation out of this crisis.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary PPP

PPP Condemns Continued Mass Arrests

Islamabad, November 12, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party demanded immediate release of its thousands of workers across the country, as the regime steps up efforts to nab the PPP activists in the run up to the Party's November 13 Long March from Lahore.

On top of the 6,500 activists of the Party earlier arrested following the November 3 martial law, the regime, on Sunday, rounded up another 2000 workers and leaders from across the province of Sindh to harass them into giving up the strong protests made by the Party to demand an end to the martial law. The arrests spree also targeted the senior leaders of the Party, including Qaim Ali Shah, Raza Rabbani, Yousuf Talpur, Rashid Rabbani, Waqar Mehdi, Rafique Engineer, Najmi Alam, Saeed Ghani, Abdul Rahim Baloch, Mirza Ijkhtiyar Baig, Mir Abbas Dar, Qadir Patel, Salman Murad, Zulfiqar Qaim Khani, Sher Muhammad Baloch, Afaq Shahid, Mirza Maqbool Baig, Sajid Jokhio, Pir Mazharul Haq and others. Female activists were also held including Yasmeen Butt, Perveen Qaim Khani, Muneera Shakir, Nargis N D Khan, Shamim Bhutto, Rukhsana Shah, Surrayya Jatoi, Khalida Sammoo, Noor Jahan Baloch, Farzana Baloch, Nasreen Chandio and others. In the Punjab too, the police is zealously hounding the PPP workers, having made over 700 arrests so far in an attempt to pre-empt the Party's November 13 Long March to Islamabad.

Early on Sunday, the interior Sindh observed complete strike against the martial law as, the Party activists in Sukkur, Khairpur, Dadu, Larkana and Badin took out processions. In another incident, the police opened fire on the PPP's workers in Jamshoro injuring five PPP activists, including the Bhan Town Taluka President Sehwan Nasir Lund.

Condemning the continued mass arrests of her Party activists and the brute use of force against those participating in peaceful rallies, Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party said that the regime's onslaught against the political parties and civil society groups reflect its fear of growing public unrest over the imposition of martial law. "So panicked is the regime that it cannot take lightly a single public protests against the November 3 draconian orders. It is amazing that the entire country's security forces have been deployed to clampdown the protestors rising up across the country."

The Police's brute use of force in Jamshoro, is reportedly, the first incident of firing at the protesting activists post the imposition of the martial law. "It speaks volumes of the regime's capability to stoop to any level to hound the dissidents. This is a serious incident and needs to be taken a strong note of. It means that the regime will not hesitate from taking lives when it feels the need to silent its critics. The draconian amendment in the Army Act 1952 gives the regime another license to nab the political and civil activists and try them for treason even when they are exercising their constitutional right to express their displeasure over a certain action by the regime."

Rehman said that the post-March 9, and Nov 3 events should be an eye opener for those who advocated military rule over the years, arguing it was democratic and allowed a number of "freedoms" to the nation. "People should understand the implications of being ruled by a military ruler. Democracies pay for their mistakes by being peacefully voted out of power. What we have seen after November 3, is that this regime does not care about the fundamental rights of the tax-paying citizens of the country, nor do they worry over the growing anxiety in international political circles over the bad name they are giving Pakistan. In fact, they have lost the ability to see beyond the short-term goal of hanging on to power for as long as they can.

Demanding immediate release of Party workers in all the provinces, as well as freedom for activists of other political parties and civil society, lawyers, and the judges, Rehman said that each act of violation of human rights will result in greater public unrest and fuel violent confrontation. "The public has done nothing to deserve this draconian rule, and the regime must not waste anymore time in holding on to power. The Peoples Party will fiercely resist any move to curtail anymore constitutional rights, and such arrests and firing incidents will do nothing to deter us. Being the biggest political party of the nation, the Peoples Party will take this cause to all corners of the country and the world. This martial law is simply unacceptable."

PPP Condemns Brutality on Party Leaders and Activists

Islamabad, November 11, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party condemned the mass arrests and subsequent inhuman treatment of its leaders and workers, especially women, as the Party intensifies efforts for the restoration of democracy in the country.

Several thousand members of the Party have been detained across the country, including the NWFP President Rahimdad Khan and Azad Kashmir President Chaudhry Majeed. The Police has raided the homes of Punjab President, Shah Mahmoud Qureshi and Sindh President Qaim Ali Shahging while thousands of workers have been picked up across the country.

"Access must be given to senior lawyers and PPP parliamentarian Aitzaz Ahasan, who is being kept in solitary confinement at Adiala Jail, demanded Rehman. " His home in Lahore as well as in Islamabad has been raided in an effort to harrass and intimidate his wife, Bushra Aitzaz, who herself is a human rights activist. "

State sponsored violence against women leaders is also on the rise. Among 13 other parliamentarians, PPP MNA Fauzia Habib was hauled up in Rawalpindi on Friday. The group was subjected to extreme inhuman treatment during the detention by Punjab Police.

Recounting her ordeal, Habib said that, "at around midnight we were shifted to a women's police station the condition of which could best be described as atrocious We were locked in a an utterly unhygienic cell that had been used as a toilet by the earlier inmates. Not only was medical relief refused for the diabetic and unwell, we were made to spend torturous nights on ice-cold floors." Habib said that "Despite the magistrate's orders and resistance put up the PPP workers, the police grabbed five of our women leaders and workers including Sajida Mir, taking them to an unknown destination."

Condemning the detention and the inhuman treatment of the party's senior leaders and workers, Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party said that a week after the imposition of the martial law, the regime's human rights violation spree has brought shame and disgrace to the nation. "The regime's zero regard for the fundamental rights of the citizens, political activists, lawyers and leaders brings could only be matched by war time violence that the regimes are known to resort to, against the captured enemy forces. Through indiscriminate detentions, the regime wants to send a message to the independent civilian forces that any anti-regime movement on their part will meet tougher action."

Demanding an immediate release of the detained workers and lawyers of the PPP in Punjab, NWFP,and Sindh, Rehman said that there is no way the mass arrests will deter the PPP activists from their demand for the restoration of democracy in the country.

PPP Demands Release of Political Activists

Islamabad Nov 5, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party denounced the mass arrests of political activists, leaders, lawyers, human rights activists and the members of the civil society, following the imposition of martial law by the regime.

Over 1500 activists from across the country have been rounded up so far while the harassment spree against the forces resisting the martial law is in full swing. Prominent figures that have been detained include the PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan, HR Activists I.A Rehman, Asma Jehangir and Iqbal Haider, and PML-N leader Javed Hashmi. Authorities have also nabbed scores of PPP leaders, including Senior VP Sargodha, Malik Hamid Nawaz, along with a few office bearers. The ailing father of the District Information Secretary PPP Gujrat, has also been arrested without any justification. The Sindh Police raided the farms of the PPP MPA Sassui Palijo late Saturday night. A virtual state of curfew has been imposed in Islamabad where judges that that refused to take oath under the PCO have been confined to their houses. Early on Monday, the police arrested over 150 lawyers from Karachi and Rawalpindi while scores others were brutally baton-charged and taken into custody in other parts of the country.

Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party said that "The mass detention campaign marks the height of state brutality. The entire country is at a standstill thanks to the self-imposed rulers, who have ridiculously imposed a martial law on their own regime. ."

Rehman said that while there is no doubt about the fact that Saturday's draconian martial law was slapped on the nation to satisfy one man's desire to avoid an adverse reaction from the Supreme court against his eligibility in office, there is absolutely no justification for the mass arrests. "This stands in stark contradiction to General Musharraf's justification for the unconstitutional order. He insisted on Saturday that he has taken the step to save the nation from slipping into the hands of the terrorists. Why then, are the authorities arresting political workers and lawyers, and freeing terrorists at the same time.

Rehman noted that the arrest of political workers of the PPP and other political parties reflect fear on the part of the regime of a harsh public reaction against the actions taken on black Saturday. "It is clear that the there are absolutely no takers of the Martial Law that seeks to curb the fundamental human rights of the citizens. This is not Zia's times when the authorities royally got away with the violation of the basic human rights. General Musharraf has attacked a nation that is sick and tired of an eight-year-long rule that has given nothing but poverty, lawlessness and terrorism, while depriving millions of the Pakistanis of the opportunity to live a better life. The nation will not take this attack on its fundamental rights lying down. "

Demanding an immediate release of political workers, and the restoration of the constitution, Rehman said that the PPP is strongly committed to the ideals of democracy and will take every step necessary to ensure that the country returns to the path of people's rule. "We will not allow a bunch of power hungry rulers to crush the democratic aspiration of the nation. The country's overwhelming support for the cause of democracy was evident from the October 18 rally in Karachi to welcome the PPP leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The Peoples Party will lead the nation in its struggle to restore a democratic order and, like the past, we are ready to pay any price for that."

PPP Condemns Latest Threat to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto

Islamabad, November 3, 2007: When asked about the latest threat to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by militant Faqir Mohammed who said that her life could be in danger if she does not change her policy towards terrorism, the Pakistan Peoples Party denounced the latest threat issued to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's life by the wanted militant Faqir Mohammad in Swat. "This is the second open threat issued to Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto, and in the wake of October 19 terrorist attacks, the regime needs to provide better protection to the leader of the country's largest political party, as it should to all political leaders and citizens" said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary, Pakistan Peoples Party.

"As the country is under intensive threat from extremist forces, with three to four lives on average being lost to terrorism every day, the political, civil and military forces are increasingly feeling the heat of the state's inability to effectively deal with the terrorist threat, and provide safety and security to the citizens," Rehman observed.

"The regime would ignore the latest threat at its own peril. We have all seen what happened on October 19, when the security of the PPP convoy was compromised and hundreds of people killed and maimed. She is an exceptionally brave woman who continues to face danger with courage, but like every citizen of Pakistan, she has a right to be protected, while the regime needs to intensify its efforts to nab the October 19 culprits. Instead of refusing a Pakistan-led independent inquiry with the help of Scotland Yard or FBI into October 19th, the regime should take all threats seriously and show some action on the ground."

PPP condemns Pindi Blast

Islamabad, Oct 30, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party condemned the suicide bombing near Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi that killed seven people.

This is the third incident of a suicide explosion in Rawalpindi in the past two months. The country is in the grip of increasing violence by extremists, and religious fundamentalists that have declared an open battle against the democratic forces as well as the military. Pakistan's security forces, including the military and the police, have been increasingly finding themselves under attack by the militants as they are specifically targeted for their efforts to regain Pakistan's lost territory in FATA and other areas of the NWFP from the clutches of the militants.

"This is a deplorable act. The fact that it comes on the heels of a heinous incident of terrorism in Karachi at the welcome rally of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on October 19, is evidence that these terrorists pose as serious a challenge to the civilians as they pose to the military. No part of the country is safe from their terror," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party.

Rehman said that this attack was a grim reminder that though the country has been fighting a war against terrorism for the past five years, the enemy has only grown stronger over the time. "Around 400 lives have been lost to a range of terrorist activities since July this year. The Pindi blast was reportedly the 37 th suicide blast in the country. The suicide attack on the PPP convoy was the deadliest in terms of death toll killing 140 and leaving over 500 injured. All this means that with each passing day, the danger of being targeted by the terrorists is only getting stronger."

Rehman said that despite spending billions of dollars and being involved in an intensive tussle with the militants on the North Western border of the country, the government's failure to nab terrorists is an indication that the government's anti-terrorism policies lack legitimacy. "It is no wonder then that every fight taken up against militants either results in heavy casualties on the military's side or gives way to more attacks by the militants against the civilians as well as the armed forces. This is a no win situation for the whole nation."

Rehman said that only a democratic set up can ensure that this long-drawn battle reaches a logical conclusion. "The common man is sick and tired of fighting the menace of terrorism, without any results, for the past five years. A democratic government is better equipped to take up such a battle and fight it to the finish because its policies will be backed by the masses. There is no reason why the nation should continue to stay at the mercy of the militants when they have had no say in the policies that have given rise to them."

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.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP condemns Swat Violence

Islamabad, 26 October, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party condemned the heinous act of terrorism in Swat that killed 20 soldiers and left over 35 injured.

"The Swat valley is under an intense grip of violence for the past many months in the face of the weakening writ of the state and the growing influence of Maulana Fazlullah, representing a banned sectarian outfit out to impose his brand of 'Sharia' in the region. Through his notorious FM channel, Fazlullah has spread fear and disinformation in the region, stopping people from sending their children to schools and bringing an essential polio vaccination campaign to a halt by declaring it un Islamic, depriving thousands of children an immunity from the disease. This is neither the Islamic way nor the path adopted by anyone who respects fundamental human rights to life, health and an education, said Rehman. " Islam values education, tolerance and respect for each other, and these
violent attempts to coerce people in the name of religion must stop. Efforts to nab him have failed because of the provincial government's reluctance to control the talibanisation of the area, added Rehman." It was only early this week that the caretaker government in NWFP facilitated deployment of 2500 troops in Swat. Thursday's attack came a day after the military moved in to control the area.

"This is the most deplorable incident and confirms our worst fears about the growing influence of violent talibanisation in the country," said Sherry Rehman. "According to news reports, with this incident, the death toll, as a result of violence in the region during the last ten months, has reached a figure of over 60 while over 140 have been injured, including many from the security forces."
Rehman observed that the troops were attacked just a day after they had moved in. "This means that the enemy is well-armed and equipped to cause greater devastation in time. This was a strong message for the state to back off."

Rehman said that there was no question of extremists gaining strength in the region had the issue been tackled earlier and not swept under the carpet, as is always the case. " The nation has paid a heavy price for the carrot-and-stick approach towards the terrorists. Extremism cannot be nurtured and eliminated at the same time. We have wasted countless lives and several years to a policy that has shaken the ideological foundation of the country."

Rehman said that action to bring peace to the region was long overdue and it is important that this beautiful area is allowed it to revert to security, stability and economic prosperity. "It's the government's responsibility to provide security to the people. No government in the world allows its citizens to become hostage to the whims of extremists."

She pledged her Party's resolve to fight the menace of terrorism. " Pakistan cannot move an inch towards development if it continues to stay at the mercy of terrorists. No nation can prosper under the shadow of fear. On October 18, Pakistanis voted with their feet for the vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto because they are looking for security and peace above all else"The PPP under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, remains committed to the cause of eliminating extremism and militancy through its huge democratic mandate.

 

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

Islamabad, October 26, 2007: Raja Pervez Ashraf, the Secretary General of the Pakistan Peoples Party Pakistan Peoples Party took exception to Javed Hashmi's remarks about the Party and said that PML-N's efforts to cast the PPP in the negative light will not serve the cause of democracy.

Javed Hashmi, the Acting Vice President of the PML-N, met Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in Karachi to offer his Party's condolences over the deaths of the PPP workers in October 19 blasts in Karachi. Hashmi described the blasts as an attack on democracy. The same day, PML-N VP, while addressing the Karachi Bar Association accused the PPP of compromising over the Charter of Democracy and criticised the reconciliation negotiations between the government and political forces.

"Javed Hashmi's unfortunate statement reflects his Party's lack of willingness to contribute in the smooth transition to democracy. This spells bad news for democracy," said Raja Pervez Ashraf. He added that Hashmi is in no position to accuse the PPP for cutting a deal with the Army, "as the PML-N leadership had done that seven years back when the Sharif family secured themselves a safe exit from the country to escape the ordeals of a prison sentence."

Ashraf said that "the PPP is committed to democratic and civilian rule for Pakistan , and our Chairperson has withstood persecution in the last 11 years for these principles. It is she who faced Interpol and Red Notices, and never once deviated from the path charted out in the COD. Our members, including Asif Zardari, stayed in prison for several years without being formally charged. The PPP, however, never compromised on its ideals. We didn't do that in the worst of times; we have no reason to do so now as the country is all set to embrace the transition to democracy."

"It goes to the PPP's credit that, through the National Reconciliation Ordinance, it successfully secured a separation of the post of the Army Chief and the President, an end to unjust political victimisation through the courts, parliamentary ethics committees, an end to horse-trading, and a fairer vote count through independent returning officers," said Ashraf. He added that being the biggest political party of the country with grassroots support all across the four provinces, the PPP considers it its responsibility to work for a smooth transition to democracy rather than provoke confrontation that would have resulted in a bloodbath.

Ashraf said that the PML-N leadership should not sow seeds of misunderstanding in people's minds by implying that the PPP deviated from the CoD. "On the contrary, the PPP, through its sacrifices, has managed to push through key points in the Charter. The NRO too is an effort in the same direction, as it is a major step towards restoring democracy."

Ashraf stressed that the PPP would welcome any member of the ARD in order to make way for a smooth transition to a democratic order through a free and fair election and a level playing field. "Rather than misleading the public and spreading divisiveness when the country is under siege from within, the PML-N should work alongside progressive forces like the PPP to bring a democratic order in the country and rid the nation of the menace of terrorism and instability."

PPP demands Inquiry into Loan Write-off Scandal
Says Scheme used for Poll Rigging in 2002

Islamabad, October 25, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party took strong exception to news reports regarding a recent loan write off that was without precedent in terms of sheer size in the history of the country.

An astounding amount of Rs 54 billion was written off under a dubious scheme introduced in 2002. The scheme benefited 50,000 individuals including politicians, civil and military leaders and a few top business houses of the country. Two sitting Chief Ministers and their families also benefited from this audacious patronage plan.

Expressing her Party's shock and anger at this blatant misuse of public money, Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party said that this was a cruel joke with the country of 160 million where 74% of the population lives below two dollars a day.

Rehman deplored the fact that the scheme, which she described as deeply flawed, was shamelessly exploited by some of the most senior public figures in this government. "This incentive was meant to benefit a select few from the start. Therefore the minimum limit of loans for write-offs was set at Rs0.5 million, cruelly pushing small-scale growers and business concerns out of the ambit of the scheme," she noted.

"It is shocking that the economic managers of the regime, who now sound like broken records when they brag about their so called clean track record, presided over one of the biggest loan write offs in the history of the country."

Rehman criticised the role of the Ministry of Finance in facilitating the move that deprived the national exchequer of the amount equivalent to over ten times the health budget and twice the education budget of the country.

"While the scheme was ostensibly meant to address non-performing loans only, it conveniently embraced billions of rupees as write offs under the garb of NPLs. It is no secret that the NPL accounts were allowed to accumulate and later closed using this dubious scheme," Rehman observed.

She also asked why none of the loan write offs was questioned by NAB that wastes no time in implicating opposition politicians in false cases.

Rehman noted that the timing of the introduction of this scheme indicates that this scheme was an indirect part of the poll rigging exercise that marked the general elections 2002. "It is no co-incidence that the same elements that now form an integral part of the government, stood to benefit from the scheme."

Rehman demanded an immediate inquiry into the scam and also called for the names of the culprits to be made public. "There is no way such a massive loan write off can be forgiven. The biggest names in the current government machinery who benefited from it have already made millions during their tenure in the office. They filled their coffers at the expense of the nation that found itself trapped in the vicious circle of unprecedented increase in poverty, rising cost of living and decreasing access to health and educational facilities."

Sherry Rehman Says Shaikh Rashid is no-one to decide who will be PM

Islamabad October 24: Reacting to Railway Minister, Sheikh Rashid's statement that Mohtarma Bhutto can never be PM again, Central Information Secretary of the PPP, Sherry Rehman, told a private tv channel that the Minister should worry about keeping his own constituency instead of attempting to subvert the right of the people to elect their own leader.

" When a cabinet minister begins to eliminate the name of the Chairperson of the largest political party as a prospective candidate for the PM's slot, or any slot, he is not just exposing his own panic at the massive reception she got from the electorate, but also striking at the heart of the democratic process.

" In a free and fair election, only the voters get to choose who exercises sovereignty in their name, not a ruling class that sees power as their own monopoly. By saying the Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto cannot be PM, Rashid is openly advocating a selection, not an election. He is also vitiating the spirit of national reconciliation that his own government is advocating, thus revealing the internal disarray in the government's ranks, said Rehman. "

" Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has demonstrated that her political strength is rooted in Pakistan's people, and it is her right just like any citizen to be accorded a level playing field. If Pakistan is to be led out of this inferno of chaos and instability, only a leader of her stature and mandate can do it. It is not in the interests of the country or its disempowered people for cabinet ministers to continue to resort to the bancrupt politics of intolerance or to advocate manipulated elections and a powerless parliament.

The PPP also condemns all attempts to blame the victims for the October 18th blast. If Mr Rashid thinks that the PPP invited such blasts, or that people on the streets came for anyone else other than Mohtarma, he is truly delusional and is validating acts of terror.

"At such a delicate crossroads in its turbulent history, and growing challenges to the survival of the state, Pakistan can ill afford such immaturity from its public representatives, said Rehman. " It is high time people in responsible offices took responsible positions"

PPP demands Inquiry into Loan Write-off Scandal
Says Scheme used for Poll Rigging in 2002

Islamabad, October 23, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party took strong exception to news reports regarding a recent loan write off that was without precedent in terms of sheer size in the history of the country.

An astounding amount of Rs 54 billion was written off under a dubious scheme introduced in 2002. The scheme benefited 50,000 individuals including politicians, civil and military leaders and a few top business houses of the country. Two sitting Chief Ministers and their families also benefited from this audacious patronage plan.

Expressing her Party's shock and anger at this blatant misuse of public money, Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party said that this was a cruel joke with the country of 160 million where 74% of the population lives below two dollars a day.

Rehman deplored the fact that the scheme, which she described as deeply flawed, was shamelessly exploited by some of the most senior public figures in this government. "This incentive was meant to benefit a select few from the start. Therefore the minimum limit of loans for write-offs was set at Rs0.5 million, cruelly pushing small-scale growers and business concerns out of the ambit of the scheme," she noted.

"It is shocking that the economic managers of the regime, who now sound like broken records when they brag about their so called clean track record, presided over one of the biggest loan write offs in the history of the country."

Rehman criticised the role of the Ministry of Finance in facilitating the move that deprived the national exchequer of the amount equivalent to over ten times the health budget and twice the education budget of the country.

"While the scheme was ostensibly meant to address non-performing loans only, it conveniently embraced billions of rupees as write offs under the garb of NPLs. It is no secret that the NPL accounts were allowed to accumulate and later closed using this dubious scheme," Rehman observed.

She also asked why none of the loan write offs was questioned by NAB that wastes no time in implicating opposition politicians in false cases.

Rehman noted that the timing of the introduction of this scheme indicates that this scheme was an indirect part of the poll rigging exercise that marked the general elections 2002. "It is no co-incidence that the same elements that now form an integral part of the government, stood to benefit from the scheme."

Rehman demanded an immediate inquiry into the scam and also called for the names of the culprits to be made public. "There is no way such a massive loan write off can be forgiven. The biggest names in the current government machinery who benefited from it have already made millions during their tenure in the office. They filled their coffers at the expense of the nation that found itself trapped in the vicious circle of unprecedented increase in poverty, rising cost of living and decreasing access to health and educational facilities."

PPP Terms Mushahid Hussain's Criticism of MBB Ridiculous

Islamabad, September 5, 2007: The PPP has declared Mushahid Hussain's criticism of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's as entirely ridiculous.

Central information Secretary of the PPP, Sherry Rehman said it was understandable that many members of the Q League felt threatened by MBB's talks with Musharraf's envoys, but to criticise the PPP Chairperson for talking to the miitary regime via their representatives is actually quite bizarre.

"Hussain should look at his own partners and backers, whose cause he has had no qualm championing in the past, under any conditions, but he finds it problematic if the PPP leader only engages in talks with them in order to take the country back to the democratic system that no one else has been able to do," said Rehman.

"All those who see PPP as a challenge to their anti-democratic record will now feel this way, as the party has never broken its promise to the people, and bases its power in the ballot, not the bullet. The power of a legitimate government is always greater than a government imposed on the people, and we will see many such expressions of outrage today, but to do it so openly is a manifestation of the deep insecurity rattling through the Q League. It would have been better if the Senator had engaged the people of Pakistan in a more constructive dialogue of pre-election promises, but here instead we have all been entertained from sources.

PPP Condemns Bomb Blasts
Sees Free and Fair Elections as the only Answer to the Growing Crisis

Islamabad, Sept 04, 07: The Pakistan Peoples Party condemned the suicide bomb in Islamabad that killed 25 people, mainly from the Pakistan Military.

Tuesday's suicide bombing is a part of the series of suicide attacks unleashed against the military after the Lal Masjid episode in July this year. Such incidents have largely been described as the regime's failure to nab the militants in Pakistan's troubled tribal areas. The militants have been holding the region hostage for a few years now and the regime has completely failed to tackle the threat that has now spread to the entire country.

"This attack is another proof of the regime's failure to protect the lives of the citizens," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary of the PPP while holding the government responsible for bringing the country to the brink of a collapse. "Nobody is safe from the clutches of these forces. A well-secured military garrison is as much under threat as an unguarded market. This regime has completely failed in its constitutional duty to safeguard the lives and the interests of the people."

Rehman condoled with the family of the victims and wished their families the courage and fortitude to survive the loss.

Rehman said that Tuesday's blasts once again raised doubts about the credibility of the system in place today. "Is this how a stable country is run, where citizens get butchered everyday? One day they get crushed under a collapsed bridge that had major technical flaws in its structure and the next day they get killed while going to work. Each day brings another proof of this system's failure."

Rehman also said that Tuesday's attack should not be considered an excuse to postpone general elections. "The regime should not even think about this idea. Things would only get worse if the elections, and that too free and fair elections, are not held on time. The only way to pull the country out of this growing mess is to restore sovereignty to the people, and this will happen once a genuine civilian elected government is in place"

The PPP is engaged in a dialogue to restore a system where the average voter has a voice, through a functional elected government, where stakeholders can reach a consensus and pull Pakistan out of this crisis.All those who question the party's intentions are forces that have made compromises with the military regime for personal gains, as opposed to the PPP leadership, which has paid in blood and tears for its choice to stay on the right side of history through its democratic struggle.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Dialogue for Free, Fair and Transparent Elections

Islamabad: 04-09-2007: The dialague for the restoration of democracy between the PPP and the Government have hinged on the holding of free,fair and transparent elections, and the restoration of a balance of power between the President and the Parliament.

All those who are saying that MBB is waiting to finalise details on her personal indemnity should remember that if personal issues had been the driving force for the PPP's leadership, then they could have taken power in 2002, and would have agreed to fly out on a royal jet to more comfortable climates. Instead, Mohtarma Bhutto faced the rigours of red notices and Swiss Courts, while her husband, Senator Zardari, suffered nine years in jail without a single conviction.

Central Information Secretary, Sherry Rehman has said that the party as a whole has paid a heavy price for its commitment to democracy and will never dilute its core message of democracy and progressive politics. Even in the struggle for restoration of the Chief Justice, it was the PPP's workers and lawyers that stood in the forefront whether on the killing fields of Karachi, the baton charges in Lahore, or the bomb blasts in Islamabad.

Pakistan is truly at a turning point. Without democratic institutions in which a balance of power exists between the parliament and the president, the current political instability will cause further damage to the solvency and unity of Pakistan, said Rehman.

Almost a decade of military dictatorship has devastated the basic infrastructure of democracy. Political parties have been assaulted, political leaders arrested, and the judicial system manipulated to force party leaders into exile.NGOs have been under constant attack, especially those that deal with human rights, democratic values and women's rights. The press has been intimidated while student and labour unions have not been allowed to function.This can no longer go on.

The PPP is trying to work for a transition to democracy which will avoid the spilling of more blood on the streets, but if a struggle is required once again, it will be the PPP in the forefront which will challenge a non-democratic dispensation, said Rehman.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP condemns Karachi Bridge Collapse

September 1, 2007: Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party condemned, in strongest terms, the collapse of the Northern Bypass Bridge that killed six citizens and injured several others.

"The death of innocent citizens is most unfortunate," said Sherry Rehman speaking from London where she is currently present to attend the CEC meeting of her Party. "The Rs 3 billion bridge was inaugurated with much fanfare early last month. The fact that it did not even sustain for three weeks says much about the quality of development work being carried out by the City Government of Karachi. There have been numerous questions raised about the feasibility and, the processes of the massive development work undertaken by the City District Government of Karachi during the past two years. None of these projects have satisfactory answers to the objections raised by engineering experts and members of the civil society bodies dealing with urban issues. These projects have already caused immense inconvenience to the citizens for their ill-planning. However, such non-consultative projects cannot be allowed to go on when they harm the lives of the citizens."

Rehman called for an immediate inquiry into the collapse. "The regime should pay compensation to the families of the victims. It is also about time that the development work being carried out by the current regime in the city be open for public debate. All those projects that fail to satisfy standards of safety and quality should be put to a halt on an urgent basis. Vested interests cannot be allowed to pocket commissions and kickbacks at the cost of the precious lives."

The PPP will never damage democracy

Islamabad, August 31, 2007: The talks between the biggest political party of the country and the current regime over a smooth transition to democracy have been viewed by many as a defining process for the future destiny of the country. .

"The agenda of the talks between the PPP and the regime is the country's return to democracy. "Of late, there have been questions in the media about the position of the PPP. Let it be clear once and for all, that the sole purpose of our negotiations with the government is focused principally on a transition to democracy through free and fair elections and balance of power between all the organs of the state."

"The PPP is very clear that power comes from the people who should be allowed to exercise their right to balloting without any fear. We want the regime to ensure that people are able to exercise this right. It is for the voting public to decide who they want to vote in and out of power. The PPP will never damage the cause of democracy by running to the regime to get its share in power. We are confident that our idea of democratic and progressive Pakistan enjoys full support from the masses, and they will back our return if they are allowed to exercise their right to choose."
Rehman said that the term 'dialogue' with 'deal' must not be confused. "The PPP has been engaged in a dialogue with the government and all political forces, which cannot be called a 'deal'. Our stance today is focused on the holding of free and fair elections under a neutral caretaker setup under a government of national consensus, , with a level-playing field allowed to all the participants. We further seek the restoration of power to the parliament, and a balance among the vital institutions of state along with a system of checks and balances.

Rehman derided the prospect of martial law, an option being aired in the media.. "Martial law, at this stage will be disastrous for the country. Today, an average Pakistani is far more aware of his fundamental rights and prepared to fight for them than to forgo them to allow a group of vested interests to bring instability to Pakistan. It is an unthinkable idea and will cause immense damage to the country, if pursued."
Rehman added that the sidelining of mainstream political forces resulted in the loss of a decade for the country. " As Pakistan stands at the crossroads, the PPP sees peaceful negotiations and not confrontation as a way forward to enable smooth transition to democracy. After suffering lawlessness, suicide bombings, economic collapse, poverty and unemployment for eight years, the nation does not deserve to be pushed into a corner and waste more time in political confrontation. A swift and smooth return to democracy is the only solution to the current political crisis and the regime needs to show action on the front fast."

Rehman also informed the media that the press briefing for the Party's Central Executive Committee meeting will be held in London on the Saturday, September 1, 2007.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Meets to Discuss Political Developments in London
Says Dialogue to Restore Democracy and Free Election,
No Compromise on Principles: Sherry Rehman

The Central Executive Committee and the Federal Council of the PPP are meeting in London on the 31 st August under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to discuss the future political situation, the return of Mohtarma to Pakistan, and the general elections.

In response to a series of queries from the press, the Information Secretary of the party, Sherry Rehman said that the PPP has been engaged in a dialogue, through a series of direct and indirect contacts with all political groups including the regime, for a peaceful transition to democracy. The party is very clear that such a transition is possible only through a fair and free election, under a caretaker government of national consensus in which all the participants are given a level playing field.

Under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the PPP believes that the way forward is to claim its right through a peaceful and open transfer of power from a military to a civilian government, without trading on democratic fundamentals. In fact, the key to such a way forward would be the restoration of power to the parliament, and a balance among the vital institutions of state, with checks and balances brought slowly back into a system where the Executive had become all-powerful.

The party is clear that legitimacy can only accrue from the power of public consent, which in turn can only be ascertained through an electoral exercise. So any step that compromises the possibility of a general election, at this point in Pakistan's history, would be both dangerous as well as irresponsible. The military regime is no longer at a place where it can guarantee peace, stability and governance to the people of Pakistan alone, and for the first time, the whole world can see that this is true. This is the time to push for a peaceful transfer of power, not to dismember the country further through more blood on the streets. This is the time to push from the courts, through civil society, and the media as this is the time for the people to have their sovereignty back, said Rehman.

Sherry Rehman said that " let no one misunderstand, if sacrifices are needed in a final battle for the survival of moderate Pakistan, it will be the PPP workers and leaders who will be the first to willingly give their blood, sweat and tears again. Let no one forget that the PPP has stood in the frontline of every struggle for democracy, since Ziaul Haq's days to today in the lawyers' movement. It has been the PPP's lawyers who have taken the blow from the batons of the police, the PPP's workers that have died in jail, and the PPP's workers that took bullets for the CJ's reception on May 12 in Karachi. Most recently, scores of the PPP's workers lost their lives and their limbs in the bomb blast in Islamabad at the party camp set up to welcome the CJ."

Rehman also said " the party is very clear that it will not negotiate with anyone to oust another elected government, as committed in the Charter of Democracy, and any negotiations it is engaged in are only to obtain conditions for a return to civilian parliamentary democracy. The PPP leadership is not seeking any arrangement whereby it would vote for a military dictator, as was the case in the 17th Amendment."

She added that "the restoration of the Chief Justice has given hope to all democratic forces in the country, and in order to seek a balance of power that empowers the parliament, civilian institutions, judiciary and the press, PPP will engage with negotiations with all these institutions without compromising on any of its principles. That is why it is the PPP and Mohtarma Bhutto's popularity that have been rated as the highest right now in all independent polls. That is why in a free and fair poll, it would be progressive forces like the PPP that would emerge as the first choice of the people of Pakistan."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Slams Inaction on Organ Transplant Bill
Says regime's stakes in the business is costing human lives

Islamabad , August 24, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party criticised the regime for dillydallying with the Organ Transplant legislation that the country has waited for a long time. By sitting on the bill the government is blatantly championing the Organs Trade mafia, ignoring the fact that the delay in legislation is costing a precious life "every minute". The Bill that was approved by the cabinet after the deletion of controversial clauses early this month, lay in limbo again as it was sent to the parliament the day the session was to be prorogued.

The PPP has been lobbying for many years to introduce the legislation to clampdown on the heinous practice of organ trade. The Party moved the Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs Bill in 2005 but found the bill rejected by the Speaker's chamber, with a notation that similar legislation had already been moved.. The PPP bill was drafted in consultation with stakeholders from the medical community, SIUT and others, but repeated attempts to draw the government's attention to the issue yielded no response. Last month, the Supreme Court took strong note of the regime's hide and seek with this vital piece of legislation and ordered the promulgation of the ordinance. Despite that, the regime successfully evaded the passage of the bill in the Parliament by introducing it to the assembly on the last day of the session.

"The illegal practice of organ transplant has been a major issue of public concern and the regime's deliberate soft-pedalling of this unethical practice is outrageous," said Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party. "It is indeed deplorable that the regime has been sitting on such a crucial bill and has blocked all debates on it, while the common man pays for this criminal neglect with his life."

Rehman said that the Organ Transplantation Bill proposed by her in 2005 was a stakeholder-driven document. "The PPP conducted extensive research and consulted major activists in the field while preparing the bill. It was a carefully planned piece of legislation that addressed various aspects of the transplant exercise. It provided for caveats on donations, including the criminalization of sale or unauthorized removal of transplantable organs. It proposed setting up of Evaluation Committees of recognized medical practitioners to ensure that transplantations are not unethically performed. The bill also included the ability to donate when deceased, providing for organ donation in the will. This would have sufficiently addressed the practise of organ donation by living people that form the bulk of donors today. It also called for strict penalty for illegal means for transplantation. "

"It is astonishing to see the powers of the lobby that has the regime shamelessly violating human rights by blocking all attempts to debate the proposed legislations in this regard in the parliament. All five attempts to place the legislation in the Parliament have been crushed by the regime that clearly has stakes in the $ 1 billion a year industry."

Rehman observed that the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Ordinance prepared by the regime was riddled with controversy. "It had been turned down by the stakeholders and experts, including those from the World Health Organisation, as the proposed law sought to serve as a legal cover to the unethical transplant practices in the country. Had it not been for the pressure from civil society, the regime would have passed the controversial legislation with ease. If General Musharraf can promulgate and cancel ordinances such as the June 4 ordinance curbing the powers of the media at the drop of the hat, what stopped the regime from promulgating this ordinance that has precious human lives at stake?"

Calling for immediate legislation on the issue, Rehman said that the issue is important enough to call another session of the Parliament. "The Parliament doesn't have a clean record of passing legislation that has served public interest. The least it can do during its last days is to pass the appropriate legislation before the organ trade mafia becomes any more powerful."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Still the Most Populous Party

Islamabad August 18, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party rejected the findings of recently conducted media surveys related to political parties and their popularity ratings, describing them as random and innacurate.

In the run up to the country's Independence Day, a number of media outlets routinely conduct random surveys by their readers. It is widely agreed that these surveys cannot be described as representative of anything but the particular readers of a particular media outlet of a particular day.

Based on one such random survey that appeared last week, some media reports erroneously reported the findings, failing to distinguish that the PPP votes had been divided between the father and the daughter. When put together, the PPP polled the largest amount of votes even in such non-scientific surveys.

Central Information Secretary of the PPP, Sherry Rehman said that this shows that the PPP has retained its vote bank, as it did in 2002, and as it has in several recent subsequent scientific surveys and polls conducted by various organisations. Rehman said this shows that the PPP still represents the largest number of voters in Pakistan, and continues to be the frontline democratic force in the country.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP flays intimidation campaign

Islamabad, August 16, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party condemned the harassment campaign initiated by the ruling regime against the PPP workers as the reports of the Party workers being forced to join the treasury benches surfaced early this week.

The biggest political party of the country and a likely winner in the forthcoming general elections, the PPP has long been a target of political victimisation by successive regimes. In the run up to 2007-08 elections, the PPP members are at the receiving end of the harassment tactics employed by the ruling coalition that stands at its lowest ebb in terms of popularity today. Last week, Hizbullah Bhugio, noted MNA of the PPP was visited by a group of policemen in plain clothes at his village residence in Sindh. The policemen picked his driver and guards and demanded him to end his hunger strike outside the NA and join the government. Upon his refusal the policemen started threatening Bhughio. They later fled as a number of people, drawn by the confrontation, gathered outside Bhugio's house.

"This is a desperate act of a crumbling regime that has been trying every trick in the book to hold on to power for as long as it can," said Sherry Rehman Central Information Secretary, Pakistan Peoples Party as she denounced the shameless act against her fellow parliamentarian. "Throughout its five years in power, the regime has turned in many a unique example of how low it can stoop to crush the opposition. However, it is most unfortunate that the regime is still intimidating the PPP workers even when its days in power are numbered."

Rehman recalled that the Party faced similar challenges during the elections 2002 when the establishment went on a frenzied drive to harass and buy off the PPP members since the Party won the highest number of votes in the polls. "The committed PPP workers did not submit to the harassment and bullying tactics of the panicking establishment. They refused to join the house of cards that General Musharraf was trying to put together. When they did not give in to either the lure of money or the brute use of force back then, how can the regime expect them to join it now when the regime is on its way out already?"

Rehman said that her Party supports Bhughio's decision to pursue the matter in the Supreme Court. The MNA has already expressed his intentions to file a petition in the Superior Court, through his Advocate Mujeeb Pirzada against the regime's intimidation.

Reports of differences in PPP not true

Islamabad August 11, 2007: A section of the press has been reporting about the reported differences among some Party leaders over the issue of Party's negotiation with the regime over the restoration of democracy.

The press reports are not correct and seem to be spread by the anti Party elements who wish to cause confusion and dissention through  disinformation.

The Party encourages, indeed welcomes, a candid debate in its internal meetings in which everyone is free to give opinion and advise on the pros and cons of any issue under consideration. There will be those members of the Party who support a certain policy issue under consideration and also those who do not support it.

After careful debate and discussion all members of the Party follow the collective decision of the Party and its Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

The reports of public differences of some leaders in the Party are not correct.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto does not Need Anyone's Permission to Return

Islamabad, August 9: The Pakistan Peoples Party has responded harshly to General Musharraf's statement that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto will not be allowed to return until after the elections.

The PPP said that the Chairperson of the largest political party in the country has left the country with the permission of the courts, not an agreement with the Executive, and does not need a green light from anyone to come back to Pakistan, said Central Information Secretary of the party, Sherry Rehman.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto will return to Pakistan before the elections, as announced by her in London. The exact date and time of her return is a big event for the party and will be announced after due deliberation over all aspects of her homecoming.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

People want MBB and the PPP back – IRI Poll

Islamabad, August 03, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party remains the favoured choice of the masses and is likely to sweep polls if free and fair elections are held in the country. This was testified by the IRI poll, conducted between June 13 and July 3, 2007.

The IRI poll reflects a comprehensive analysis of attitudes regarding the Pakistani political landscape, as the country braces for the next general elections to be held this year. The survey was conducted by the prestigious International Republican Institute that is known for its credibility and a rich work profile in the area of promoting democracy in developing countries.

"The survey should serve as an eye-opener to those who advocate the idea of a non-representative government for Pakistan. The majority of Pakistanis are very clear in their minds about the future set up for their country. They want a democratic government and a strong parliament to represent them, and work for their welfare," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. Rehman observed that the survey clearly indicates that an overwhelming majority of the nation feels that Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto is the most popular leader of the country.

Rehman emphasised that economy, unemployment, poverty, education, water, electricity, health and roads remain the core issues for the people of Pakistan on the basis of which they make their choices about what party to vote. "An overwhelming majority of 58% in Sindh,33% in Balochistan, 23% in Punjab and 25% in NWFP agree that the ruling coalition do not deserve re-election and want to see PPP lead the nation.The masses' rejection of the PML-Q clearly indicates that the ruling regime has failed dismally in addressing people's concerns in matters related to their daily lives. Inflation, especially food inflation, remains in double digits while lack of employment opportunities stemming from political instability has been pushing the youth to the wall leading them to be manipulated by extremist forces," opined Rehman.

The PPP Central Information Secretary said that after the results of the comprehensive survey, there should be no doubt in anyone's minds about the choices people want to make in Pakistan. "Despite suffering a decade of political mudslinging and a spate of attempts at breaking its back, the Peoples Party remains the most popular party with the masses, enjoying a strong support base in the rural areas, labourers and low-income households that comprises the majority of Pakistan. The IRI survey makes it very clear that it is only the absence of free and fair elections that can keep the PPP out of power."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP questions regime's flood relief efforts
Asks why millions suffer every year despite adequate fiscal space

Islamabad, July 31, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party criticised the regime for failing to provide any relief to the population of the flood-hit areas of Balochistan and Sindh, one month after the cyclones brought widespread destruction to the two regions.

According to estimates, the floods have caused a damage of Rs 14 billion in both the provinces, with Balochistan alone suffering a loss of Rs 13 billion, mainly in terms of crops and livestock. The floods washed away several villages leaving millions of helpless people stranded in water waiting for relief from the government. Life in the flood-hit areas of Balochistan and Sindh has been on a standstill for one month now with rulers making only tall claims and demonstrating zero action.

Commenting on the post-floods devastation in the two provinces, Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party said that the continued misery of the people of Balochistan and Sindh lays bare all claims of the so-called development work undertaken in these regions during the tenure of the current regime. "The floods affected over 2.5 million people leaving 300 dead, 400,000 homeless and 377,000 displaced. This is a grave situation for a province like Balochistan that has already been undergoing political turmoil with aid agencies warning against humanitarian crisis in the province." Rehman added that the situation in Sindh is no better as the interior areas of the province have become victims of internal political tussle of an unpopular Chief Minister with his political rivals while the ruling coalition continues to ignore the plight of the flood victims.

Rehman expressed her Party's grave concern over an observation by the UNICEF Chief who warned that over one million children are at risk of infectious diseases in the flood-hit areas. "Three quarters of the 2.5 million people affected by floods are women and children. There is no way the country can afford a crisis of this magnitude in the provinces that are already a victims of political alienation."

Rehman pointed out that despite being in power for eight years the regime did nothing to take preventive measures in the disaster-prone areas of Sindh and Balochistan. "The flood-affected areas in Sindh have a history of floods since 18 Century. While there is no control over natural disasters, the least any government can do is to take preventive measures to avoid the wide scale destruction that result from such situations." Rehman seconded the observations of the experts that the criminal negligence of the disaster managers in the regularity of the floods is responsible for the devastation in Sindh and Balochistan.

Hailing the humanitarian and donor agencies for their active role in the relief efforts Rehman said that it is time now that the annual show of post-rain ordeal is brought to a stop. "The regime has to show its commitment to the well being of the people. It is about time the public representatives get a detailed account of the so-called development work done in the flood-affected areas during the past eight years, and why it has failed to lessen the misery of the millions. 60 years after its birth, the country cannot continue with the ever widening gap between a prosperous military-bureaucratic alliance and a continuously suffering civilian population that repeatedly finds itself back to the state of helplessness every time natural disasters hit the country."

PPP denounces Friday blast

Islamabad, July 28, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party strongly denounced the latest incident of terrorism that claimed 15 lives and left 53 injured in Islamabad.

The Friday blast that followed the scuffle between the Jamia Hafsa students and the police after the students disrupted the Friday prayers, and forcibly stopped the proceedings demanding the return of Moulana Abdul Aziz. The blast took place in the Aabpara market and claimed the lives of several civilians and policemen. This is the second incident of terror in Islamabad in less than two weeks. The earlier suicide blast on Chief Justice's rally on July 17 targeted the members of the Pakistan Peoples Party. The PPP is known for its anti-extremism stand and lost eight of its party members in the attack.

Condemning the latest incident of terror, Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary of the PPP expressed concern over the rise in suicide attacks across the country. "In the month of July alone, more than 225 innocent lives became victim of terror attacks across the length and breadth of the country. Every passing day adds to the casualty figures. The country has never witnessed such a heightened level of instability and this is all thanks to the regime's carrot and stick policy towards the extremists and militants who now go about their business casually right under the nose of the regime."
" Pakistan is a nation under attack for over five years now. The citizens are battling on military, social and economical fronts. Suicide bombers have successfully developed a strong network across the country freely targeting citizens whether it is a volatile city like Karachi or a high security zone like Islamabad. Similarly, years of efforts by successive military regimes has divided the country into ethnic and sectarian lines, while economically people find themselves struggling with high food inflation and lack of access to basic necessities like health, housing and transportation services.."
" The regime demonstrated its lack of foresight when it restored the operations of the Masjid less than two week after an action against it. In order the please the mullah alliance, it rushed into starting the regular proceedings in the mosque without devising any strategy to deal with the reaction of the students. The result is there for all to see. Friday's attack was clearly aimed at the police force that was on duty to stop any untoward incident in the vicinity of the mosque.

Rehman also called for the implementation of the madrassah reforms and coordinated efforts to deal with the threat of fundamentalism. " The regime has had no consistent policy to deal with the menace of extremism that is threatening the lives of the ordinary citizens. The citizens have been battling the hardliners for five years and find themselves defeated as extremists enjoy strong covert backing from the government. It is time for the regime to make way for a government that shares the vision of the people of Pakistan of a harmonious society devoid of the ills of fundamentalism"

Sherry Rehman's Statement in Urdu

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Party Differences

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PPP slams NAB for gymnasium demand.

Islamabad, July 23, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party expressed shock over what it described as the "shamelessness" of the National Accountability Bureau that has recently sought funds from the federal government to build a luxurious complex in Lahore.

The controversial Accountability body has been vilified both by political parties and the civil society for practicing a system of selective accountability. Despite receiving a massive budgetary allocation from the national exchequer every year (it received Rs 879.241 million for the fiscal year 2007-08), the NAB has been widely used as an instrument to hound the political opponents of the current regime. Instead, NAB needs accountability in its own ranks since it has been spending billions of rupees on foreign trips, extravagant pay scales and luxurious facilities, and has never appeared before the public representatives for questioning. NAB has recently demanded a sum of Rs 949 million from the federal government to expand the under-construction Punjab Accountability Bureau Complex in Lahore that also includes a gymnasium facility.

"One is amazed at the audacity of the so called Accountability Bureau that is demanding more than its annual budgetary allocation for a life of luxury," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party. "Could NAB explain how a gymnasium would improve its efficiency in any way?"

Elaborating the details of the Punjab Accountability Bureau Complex, Rehman observed that the plan spanning 2, 38,720 square feet in Lahore started out in 2003 with an estimated cost of Rs 319.460 million. "The revised cost estimate now stands at Rs 949.521, almost thrice the original estimate." Rehman questioned the demand for facilities such as gymnasium with showers and changing room, bachelors' accommodation, security staff accommodation, tea bars for officers, dining facility for officers/staff and auditorium with control panel.
"These demands again prove that NAB itself is the biggest burden on the national exchequer. It is shocking to note that the authority has the nerve to demand funds for a multi-million rupees complex when it rates zero both in the areas of performance and credibility."

Rehman pointed that during the past five years, she and her Party members have repeatedly raised questions and concerns about NAB's performance in the parliament to a deaf audience. "It has been proven beyond doubt that NAB is a body of selective accountability. It only pursues cases against the political opponents of a given regime and drops them as soon as those "accused" join the regime. Half of the ministers inducted in the current set up have NAB cases against them. As an authority funded by tax-payers, it neither enjoys public trust nor credibility. If anything, it has become a symbol of ridicule in the public. It shamelessly enjoys official patronage that has repeatedly allowed it to evade accountability."

Rehman asked " why should the public pay for the gymnasium and dining facilities for NAB when it has done nothing to benefit the public. As it stands, the NAB is doing nothing but hound the regime's political opponents at public expense, and it should be dismantled immediately. "

PPP supports the COD and the ARD
London, 23 July 2007

The PPP has taken a clear initiative in signing the COD, as well as formulating the ARD when its component parties needed support, including the PML N.

Central Information Secretary of the PPP, Sherry Rehman has said that Instead of planting discord in the ARD, democracy would be better served if the N League stuck to the COD's aims of ridding politics of military interference.

The PPP has never cut any underhand deal with the military, nor has its leadership ever availed of an opportunity to flee jail. Its dialogue with the regime has been focused on steps for the restoration of democracy through constitutional means via a free and fair elections, added Rehman.

It was the N League which has created a new alliance without consulting or obtaining consent from its partner in the ARD, not the other way round. It is in fact, the PPP which continues to uphold the terms of the COD and preserve the ARD.

Rehman said that the ARD chairman will call a meeting of the alliance under no terms from anyone, as most component parties still seek to adhere to the terms of the COD and no new charter crafted with a new alliance.

The PPP has made its position about allying with parties that are ambiguous about extremism very clear. The party sees religious militancy, suicide bombings and terrorism as a clear and present danger to the very survival of the federation, and will not lend its support to the politics of violence.

'PPP stands by the nation in critical times' - PPP

Islamabad, July 19, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party vowed to resist any attempt that threatens the stability of the country. In a statement condemning the terrorist attacks in Swat, Islamabad, Hub and Hangu during the past four days, the PPP pledged that it stands by the nation as the country faces the onslaught of extremist forces out to crush the morale of the nation.

More than 200 lives have been lost in a series of terrorist attacks carried out across the country in the month of July. The victims include civilians, political activists, army personnel and security forces. The Pakistan Peoples Party braved a suicide attack on its members at the reception for the Chief Justice of Pakistan in Islamabad on July 17, 2007. The attack directed at the party activists tragically killed several party members while many of the 34 injured lie in a critical condition.

Condemning the recent spate of terrorist attacks, Sherry Rehman the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, commented that these attacks are the outcome of years-long turmoil simmering under the dictatorial leadership in Islamabad that actively backed the extremist forces to stretch its own term in power. "Today these elements have assumed a monstrous face and have unleashed indiscriminate attacks on the entire nation. Even their supporters stand under attack today." Rehman said that the July bloodshed earns Pakistan the dubious distinction of being an example of how official support for extremism can bring the entire state down on its knees.

Rehman observed that the July 17 attack on the PPP camp was not surprising, "since the Party is known for its support for a democratic and progressive dispensation that reflects the choice of the majority of the people in Pakistan." She added that the July mayhem should be an eye-opener for the military leadership that has been harping on the "unity of command" formula to tackle the challenge of extremism. "For eight long years, the country has been functioning under the so-called unity of command system that also cobbled together a friendly political alliance for legitimacy. The result was that the nation became the worst victim of terrorism in the world."

Expressing her grief over the loss of over 200 lives that included valued members of the PPP during the July terrorist attacks, Rehman said that now is the time to decide if the blood loss should be allowed to go wasted or should this be used as an opportunity to pave the way for moderate forces to work in tandem with the nation to rid the country of the current mess. "The nation never voted for a military ruler to come to power and take all the decisions that has brought the country to the brink of a collapse. Today, the nation is paying the price for the rigged elections of the year 2002 that brutally sidelined the PPP that earned the public mandate to usher in a moderate era. Had the PPP been allowed to represent the nation at that time, the country would not have been going through yet another period of "critical times". Today the very unity of the country is under threat by forces of extremism and dictatorship"

Rehman pointed that the only way to bring some stability in the country rattled by violence and terrorist threat is to pave the way for free and fair elections. "We are confident that only transparent polls can facilitate a moderate dispensation that represents peoples' political and economic aspirations. Nobody has the right to play with the fate of 160 million lives and there has to be an end to the authoritarian and non-representative form of government that has been crushing the public will for decades now."

PPP grieves Sheikh Rafiq's loss

Islamabad, July 17, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party lost a mentor and a father figure in Sheikh Rafiq who passed away in Lahore late last week at the age of 85. The Party leaders have described Sheikh Rafiq's death as having left a vacuum that would be hard to fill.

Sheikh Rafiq, a prominent figure in the country's political set up, represented the democratic and liberal values of the PPP. He started his political career with the Party in 1969 and was elected as the Speaker Punjab Assembly in 1973 elections. He was also a senator during Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's first tenure in 1988. A man of principle and strong character, Sheikh Rafiq was looked up to for his extraordinary qualities not only by the party members, but by the entire political community of Pakistan.

Condoling Sheikh Rafiq's death, Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, said that his demise has deprived the party, as well as the country, of a visionary leader whose courage and valour was a source of inspiration for anybody associated with politics in the country. "The PPP lost a gem with the death of Sheikh Sb. He has been with the party since four decades of its existence and words cannot describe the benefits his mere presence and experience brought to the party."

Rehman commented that Rafiq was known for his exemplary resilience in the face of hardships. "Sheikh Rafiq Ahmed was one of the few politicians in the history of Pakistan who sacrificed everything for their principles. Sheikh Rafiq lost one of his sons in a tragic incident, and his second son was victimised by General Zia, when excessive torture by Zia's men left him retarded. Sheikh Rafiq himself was subjected to torture as Zia regime stooped to new depths to pressurise him to give up his support for the PPP. Fortunately for the PPP, these tactics did nothing to deter Sheikh Rafiq who stood by the party." Rehman recalled that successive regimes extended numerous lucrative offers to him to leave the PPP, but Rafiq turned them down. "It is hard to find men of such character today when it has become a common practice for politicians to change loyalties at the drop of a hat."

Rehman said that Sheikh Rafiq's sacrifices are a source of inspiration for the party workers whose period of struggle in the face of authoritarianism still continues. "The PPP workers have been subjected to numerous hardships during the past eight years as a part of a policy to break the back of the most popular party of the country. We owe it to the leaders like Sheikh Rafiq and the general public that has stood by the party during its low phase."

Rehman said that Sheikh Rafiq's loss is also a reminder that the Party's struggle for a democratic, progressive and just system in Pakistan is not over yet. "The country is inundated with huge challenges that are the result of wrong policies of an unrepresentative regime. The PPP would continue to be guided by the ideals of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Sheikh Rafiq to pave the way for a representative and consultative system of governance in the country that reflects the democratic aspirations of the people of Pakistan."

PPP Condemns Sealing of Islamabad Press Club

Demands Plan to Facilitate Media Coverage of the Lal Masjid Standoff

Islamabad , July 9, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party took strong exception to the news of the sealing of the Islamabad Press Club and the Holiday Inn Hotel by the police on Sunday, July 8, 2007.

The Lal Masjid crisis, like the judicial crisis, has spelt bad news for journalists as they are being forced by the authorities to "show restraint" in their coverage of the standoff. One journalist was killed and others wounded the very first day of the operation as the media sought to cover the conflict. Early on Sunday, the police kicked out journalists from the Islamabad Press Club and the Holiday Inn Hotel, where scores of journalists were residing, and prohibited their entry to the premises. The orders to seal both the premises are said to have been issued by the Islamabad district authorities, after it was revealed that Lal Masjid Deputy Administrator Abdul Rasheed Ghazi was to hold a telephonic press conference at the club.

Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, strongly condemned the latest attack on the media. "Press Club serves as a lounge for journalists, many of whom take it as their second home. Many journalists were residing in the five-star hotel next to the Press Club to cover the Lal Masjid crisis. Sealing both the premises is tantamount to rendering the newsmen homeless."

Criticising the police for thrashing an Aaj TV reporter, Rehman said that this is yet another disgraceful episode of the state's highhandedness against the media. "The police have never shown any respect for ordinary citizens who pay for their salaries. It has now directed its fury towards the media and every action it executes against the newsmen enjoys the blessings of the authorities."

Rehman added that it is the mark of an authoritarian regime that it sees violence as the only means to confront problems. "Why does the regime have to use force when it could have verbally requested the journalists to avoid participating in the press conference?"

Rehman also lamented the fact that the country, which is in the grip of multiple crisis, is fast turning into a danger zone for the media-men. " Pakistan is already the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists. It would be no surprise if it is categorised as the most dangerous region in the world thanks to the current regime's tendency to silence independent voices through force."

Rehman added that it is illogical on the part of the regime to expect the journalists to refrain from covering the Lal Masjid crisis. "Rather than using force to drive the journalists away, the regime would do well to come up with a comprehensive plan to facilitate coverage of the issue while ensuring that no harm is caused to the journalists. When the media can cover Afghanistan and Iraq war, there is no way they will stay away from the current crisis out of fear. It is the duty of the regime to facilitate the media coverage rather than to impede it."

Rehman also called for an end to abrupt suspension in the transmission of television networks in the middle of important talk shows and current affairs programme. "This is a highly disturbing trend. Since March 9 there have been numerous instances when the government, its allies and even the cable operators have disrupted the transmission only to resume it after forcing the media to oblige to their demand. This amounts to blatant violation of the public's right to access to information and is not acceptable at all. The absence of an independent forum for the registration of public's complaints adds to their woes since PEMRA, as an authority, as no credibility and independence. The recent crisis has seen repeated suspension in the transmission of broadcast media and there has to be an end to it."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP demands end to disenfranchising campaign

Islamabad, July 05, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party demanded that the government correct the anomalies in the voters list that stand to disenfranchise more than 20 million voters.

The controversial voters list that was released last month has caused havoc all over the country, with stakeholders, candidates and parties expressing their alarm over the process and presentation of the electoral list. According to independent analysis, 30 million names are missing from the new list that stands at 52 million compared to the one drawn in 2002, that carried 72 million voters. Experts argue that the new list should contain 82million names owing to the population growth rate of 2.7% per annum and the entry of a fresh batch of teenagers into the 18 years age bracket.

The PPP said that the Election Commission of Pakistan has also refused to comply to their requests to provide them with electronic copies of the list so that the party could conduct an independent check on the list. The ECP's refusal has left the political parties with no choice but to conduct manual checks on the new list, which in a difficult to traverse country like Pakistan, is an impossible feat.

Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party demanded that the regime roll back its drive to disenfranchise voters as the country prepares for polls. "The Election Commission should direct the government and NADRA to issue free computerised ID cards.But even if the ECP issues free ID cards, there is no way it can fill the daunting gap of 30million missing voters. It took no less than five years for NADRA to issue 50mn CNICs. There is no way political parties can issue 30mn CNICs in a matter of a few weeks. " Why should people be deprived of their democratic right to vote when the government has completely failed to ensure 100% distribution of the CNICs, despite being on the mission for five years?"

Rehman also pointed that the ECP enrolled all eligible voters which were computerized by Expert Systems that were also the consultants to NADRA. Expert Systems took the NADRA record and deleted all eligible voters who did not have the ID cards. "Rather than seeking ways to enhance the voters' base, the ECP actively worked out ways to eliminate voters." Rehman demanded that all the voters eliminated by the Expert System for not possessing CNICs be restored in the electoral list and allowed to vote with govt ID cards like drivers licence, arms licence, passport etc in addition to new ID Cards. Rehman also demanded that t he data entry gateways of the ECP computers being looked after by the Expert Systems in Lahore must be given access to all political parties and international monitoring teams, "because without such access there is no guarantee that rigging will not take place."

She also called for the ECP to make the electronic copy of the voters list available to the political parties. "Our manual checks have revealed a great number of anomalies in the voters list across the length and breadth of the country. The provision of an electronic copy, which is our right too, will help us carry out the task more professionally and will also ensure that maximum number of eligible voters are able to exercise their right to vote. The ECP has to decide, once and for all, if its goal is to conduct free and fair elections, or does it draw its salary from the national exchequer to pave the way for an unrepresentative group of power-grabbers to rule the country."

PPP Questions Regime's Relief claims
Slams Mismanagement in Balochistan

Islamabad, June 29, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party lambasted the regime over the massive failure of the state machinery in the cyclone-hit province of Balochistan where 24 people are reportedly dead and several missing after a week-long spell of rains in the region.

The recent rains have laid bare the regime's claims of development work across the country in general and in the downtrodden province of Balochistan in particular. Over 1.1million people have been affected by the cyclone and the subsequent floods in Balochistan that have also displaced 400,000 people. A quarter of a million are in serious distress as they stand deprived of shelter and basic supplies. According to reports, several villages in Bolan, Chaghai, Kharan, Sibi and other districts are submerged in rain and flood waters. Turbat is the worst hit area with local population feared to be facing an outbreak of contagious and water-borne diseases, as well as starvation in the coming days. Likewise, rains have resulted in widespread destructions in Sindh where hundreds are reportedly stranded in the far-flung areas and could not be reached due to scarcity of resources. The last week's rains claimed over 200 lives in Karachi alone.

Commenting on the aftermath of the week-long rains across the country, the Central Information Secretary, Pakistan Peoples Party Sherry Rehman said that the countrywide breakdown of infrastructure and destruction following the rains is an annual show, with each year proving to be worse than the last. "The regime has constantly been claiming that it has been investing in development work across the country, especially in the province of Balochistan. The recent rains amply expose all such claims."

Rehman also castigated the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for turning down the offer by the UN aid agencies to assist in the relief operation in Balochistan. "This is not the first time the current regime has attempted to keep the aid agencies out. Balochistan has been witnessing a humanitarian crisis even before the rains, owing to the military operation in the region, and aid agencies are seldom allowed in. Keeping the aid agencies out is the regime's strategy to keep the real situation in the province under wraps. There is a widespread consensus that the post cyclone situation is beyond the control of the provincial administration. Rather than securing its political future, the regime should address the humanitarian crisis that is adding to the miseries of an already alienated population. It is not the Pakistan Army but Pakistan itself that stands to suffer if Baloch resentment becomes anymore intense and violent."

Rehman added that the general picture across the country is no better. "Despite weather forecasts, the citizens become victims of rain-related disasters every year as the country experiences massive breakdown in infrastructure whether it's the urban areas like Karachi or areas like Thatta and parts of Balochistan. This is the gift of an unrepresentative government sitting at the helm of the affairs for eight years, carrying out non-consultative development work. What have the citizens done to suffer deaths from electrocution, fallen billboards, floods and resultant epidemics? And why do they have to become victims of rain related devastation year after year, when the regime has got enough fiscal space to develop the proper infrastructure of the country."

Demanding transparency in the relief efforts in Balochistan, Rehman emphasized that there has to be an end to the annual disaster of rain-related devastation. "The state machinery's failure post monsoon every year has triggered no policy shift on the part of the military regime that refuses to make due allocations to development expenditure and proper disaster management. A democratic and accountable dispensation at the federal and the provincial level would have long been expected to resign for failing people for eight long years. There is no justification for this regime to be in power when it has done absolutely nothing to improve the lives of the rural and urban population. The recent rains should be an evidence of the misery the citizens continue to suffer at the hands of an unaccountable regime."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Flays PEMRA's Notice to Royal TV

Islamabad, June 28, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party flayed the regime for a fresh round of curbs on the media as the transmission of Royal TV was blocked after it was served a notice by the PEMRA.

The regime's blatant assault on the media since the March 9 judicial crisis has resulted in more than one shutdowns. Among a litany of shameless acts of violence and intimidation against the media, which include its attacks on the offices of Geo TV in Islamabad and Aaj TV in Karachi., the regime continues to pressure media houses to toe the line by blacking out transmissions and threatening working journalists. Early this month, the regime passed a set of draconian ordinances against the media but its forced withdrawal after massive protests by political parties, the public and the media is also clearly a sham.

Condemning the latest clampdown on Royal TV, Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary PPP described it as "another instance of a panicky regime working overtime to control self-inflicted damage." The ban is said to be the result of Royal TV's coverage of the Chief Justice's visit to Multan last week. "No matter how loud its proclamations for media freedom are, the regime's brutal treatment of the press, let alone any commitment to the cause of freedom of information and access to it is becoming clearer by the day. No earlier government has crossed as many boundaries to curb people's right to access to information as this one has."

Rehman emphasised that her party has a very clear position on media freedom and has a zero tolerance policy towards any unlawful attempt to silence the media. "The Peoples Party has been committed to a free press and responsible flow of information. There is no doubt that Pakistan's media has played a very positive role in the recent crisis but the regime has got to stop piling the blame on the media for its own blunders and violations of the law. Instead of putting its own house in order at the public outcry, the regime is clamping down on hard-earned media freedoms, which is adding to public fury boiling up against the regime.

The Party strongly opposes the latest demand of the PEMRA for the media to avoid live coverage of the CJ's tours across the country. We understand that Royal TV has been victimized on the same grounds. The public has every right to know the developments around the country and any attempt to prevent the media from doing so is tantamount to the violation of public's right to access to information."

Rehman assured Royal TV and the media community of her party's support to the cause of media freedom. "The Peoples Party has made use of all national and international forums to raise concerns about the regime's constant media-bashing exercise and we will continue to do so till the media is allowed to work in a free and non-violent environment."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Questions NA Fire

Islamabad, June 27, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party expressed deep concerns at the mysterious fire at the Service Branch of the Public Accounts Committee at the National Assembly building on Tuesday night. The fire destroyed important records present at the PAC office.
This is the second incident of fire at the National Assembly. The same section of the NA building caught fire in 1994, burning important records of the National Assembly. The findings of the inquiry commission constituted to investigate the fire have yet to be made public. On Tuesday night, another round of fire broke out at around 8 O' Clock at the fourth floor of the NA building burning to ashes many important records stored at the service branch of the PAC. The fire was put out one and a half hour after it broke out.

"It is rather curious that the only victim of any fire at the government building has to be the government records," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary, Pakistan Peoples Party. "A fire at the PAC office during the non working hours at a time when the country is bracing for elections raises many questions." Rehman observed that the authorities have been trying to cover the matter forwarding the usual excuse of "short circuit". It is said that an air conditioner inside a room caught fire, which spread to the adjacent rooms. "How can an air conditioner be left on when the office staff was supposed to have left three hours earlier?"

Rehman said that the PAC records hold immense national importance as they are used as reference points in the National Assembly debates. The fire damaged 10 years old important records of the PAC, while the current regime has been running the country for eight years. "This looks like a sure-shot way of ensuring that there is no record available to be used as the basis to judge the performance of the public bodies and hence the regime, as the political parties prepare for next polls."

Rehman also denounced the authorities for insisting on internal inquiry when the matter needs urgent and external inquiry by a team that can be monitored by the parliament. "There is no question of keeping the public representatives out of the process of the inquiry. Going by its past record, the regime cannot be trusted to hold a transparent inquiry unless the inquiry commission includes public representatives or their nominees. It is also about time the regime makes the findings of the earlier inquiry public," said Rehman.

Rehman said that in the election year, the regime should be extra cautious, as any move to divert public attention from important matter will backfire. "Today's public is better informed and is wise enough to detect any wrongdoing of the regime. People haven't forgotten the 1994 fire incident and they are not likely to put this one behind as well, especially since they have been the worst victims of the dismal performance of the current regime. Therefore the public and the political parties' demands for transparent inquiry should be fulfilled at all costs"

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP assures support to the media

Islamabad, June 22, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party assured the media of the Party's continued support for the community as the state victimises two more journalists as a part of its harassment campaign against the media.

Early this week, Noor Ahmed Solangi, a correspondent of the daily Khabroon was shot dead in Kingree after receiving a spate of threats from the tribal leaders of the Junejo tribe - members of whom belong to the ruling political party, the Muslim League Q. The same day, Abdul Lateef Gola, a correspondent of Daily Jang in Jafferabad, Balochistan was picked by the security agencies and remains missing to date.

Expressing her grave concern over the prosecution of journalists, Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party said that state's resentment against journalists is assuming a dangerous dimension and it cannot be allowed to continue. "The year 2007 stands out for being the darkest year in the history of media in the country. The state shamelessly deployed all illegal means to harass journalists and subdue the media as it sought to cover the peoples movement in favour of democracy post March 9."

Demanding an immediate inquiry into the latest incidents of violence against journalists, Rehman reiterated her party's support for the journalist community. "Freedom of the media is intrinsic in the PPP policy and the party will continue to support journalists in their endeavour to provide information to the public, that is important to enable them to make democratic choices."

PPP Demands a Consolidated Provisional Voters List.
Declares provisional voters list dubious and inaccurate.

Islamabad, June 16, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party has questioned the accuracy and credibility of the provisional voters list issued in piecemeal form by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The provisional voters list issued by the ECP early this week misses at least 20million voters. In the list for the city of Lahore alone, the number of voters has gone down by 1.1million. Another 200,000 voters have failed to find their names in the list in district Nawabshah. An EC official himself admitted that 5mn voters in Sindh failed to make it to the voters list as they did not possess the CNIC.

Commenting on the ECP's exercise of opening up display centres to put out disaggregated provisional lists only for each district, the Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party criticised the non-transparent and non-consultative nature of the whole process. "The entire voters registration process is replete with irregularities and there are double entries as well as huge numbers of missing voters at every level. The ECP has been highly ambiguous all through the process and most shockingly, has kept the biggest stakeholders, the mainstream political parties, outside the ambit of the exercise. There is little point in making pilot projects out of two Display Centres to show to international monitors when the consolidated provisional list even at this stage remains mysteriously unavailable."

Rehman pointed out that the ECP also refused to allow access to the monitoring bodies and the members of the opposition to database centres conducting the data entry of the new voters despite repeated requests. "In the latest development, the ECP has declined to provide the opposition members the electronic copy of the total provisional list, on the vague pretext that the constitution doesn't oblige the ECP to do so. With just 21 days given by the ECP to review the draft, it is next to impossible for the political parties or civil society organisations to travel to remote areas of Pakistan and conduct research into the discrepancies of the draft in each district."

Rehman also questioned the ECP's refusal to hand out a consolidated list at the provisional stage. "Firstly the ECP has a duty to provide the list free of cost to anybody as the voters registration exercise was funded by the taxpayers and the donor bodies, and not from General Musharraf's personal account. Secondly, we, in the opposition, want the electronic copy of the preliminary version in one place for the whole of Pakistan, and not the 'final' version since as peoples' representatives and stakeholders in the system, it is our right to check the accuracy of the provisional list. If the ECP has indeed done its job with honesty, why is it turning down our requests for the electronic copy of the consolidated lists?"

Rehman said that that the PPP has been repeatedly asking for a consolidated provisional list so it can check for double entries from the 2002 list, as well as for thousands of missing voters, but not only did the ECP ignore the PPP's 36 point paper on electoral reform needed, they also disregarded any suggestions or concerns raised by the PPP at different platforms regarding the flaws in the registration process. "As a result, you get a faulty voters' list that misses swathes of population. The ECP officials themselves had admitted that there are over 78 million voters and the number was set to rise to 80mn by the election year. Why then, does the new list carry only around 50mn voters."

Rehman said that the ECP's earlier announcement and the subsequent withdrawal of the compulsion of the CNIC for the voters' registration has created a lot of confusion. "Despite the withdrawal of the condition, a significant portion of the population has been left out of the enlistment process for reasons best known to the ECP. According to an IRC survey 40 to 50 percent of the voters, including a large majority of women, did not possess the CNIC and were not enrolled in the list. If indeed the ECP had lifted the CNIC condition why was such a whopping majority left out of the registration process," Rehman asked.

"We have repeatedly demanded that rather than the CNIC or NIC, any other government document such as passport, rural credit pass or driver's license should be accepted for registration and voting." Rehman said that voters' registration is the first step to elections and the regime's non-commitment to the cause of holding free and fair elections is evident from irregularities evident in the voters' registration process.

Rehman also observed that another reason for the decrease in the registered voters is that the registration staff failed to carry out the job assigned to it. "There have been complaints from all across the country that the personnel deputed did not go door-to-door to register voters. Instead, for many areas, they relied on the information provided by the individual in the area that they were staying with. Similarly, despite repeated requests by the opposition members, the ECP never provided mobile vans for the rural areas to enable them to participate in the registration process."

Rehman said that the highly dubious manner in which the entire registration procedure was carried out coupled with the ECP's refusal to allay the oppositions concerns renders the entire exercise futile. "Many of the display centres were closed on the first day. Many did not allow stakeholders to check the lists, and all centres have yielded huge discrepancies so far. We cannot have confidence in this process unless our concerns are duly noted and acted upon at this stage. Three months later it will be too late."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

PPP worker dies in lockup

Islamabad, June 15, 2007: The ongoing crackdown against the opposition political parties has claimed the life of a noted activist of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Sarmad Mansoor, who died of a cardiac arrest in the lockup in Kot Lakhpat.

Fifty-four year old Sarmad Mansoor, was the Finance Secretary of the Party's Gujrat district chapter. Mansoor was a heart patient and was extremely unwell when he was arrested from his native city Gujrat during the ongoing crackdown, launched by the Musharraf regime, against the political parties. He was detained under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. Repeated requests by his family seeking his release on medical grounds were rejected by the jail authorities and the Punjab Government. Mansoor's condition deteriorated on the seventh day of his detention and he died of a cardiac arrest while in jail.

The Pakistan Peoples Party flayed the ruling regime over the loss of the party's activist declaring Mansoor's death a 'murder'. The Party demanded that all the concerned officials who refused to release Mansoor on health grounds be booked for his death. "Mansoor was detained despite his poor health condition. Countless opposition political activists are being unjustifiably arrested and detained under the MPO. This is a campaign to harass political parties and force them to give up their struggle for democracy in the country, and withdraw their support for the lawyers' movement," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. Rehman added that despite the tragic loss her party would continue its struggle for a democratic order in the country.

"PPP demands release of its activists"
BUDGET 2007: What is Should Have Been

Sherry Rehman, MNA and Central Information Secretary PPP

Questioning the 'relief' claims of the budget Rehman took strong exception to the Federal Budget 2007-08 that is based on high borrowing, false figures, consumer-based growth and anti-poor priorities.

Budget 2007 -8 sets the Stage for Massive Social Unrest and Instability

· The empty NA halls and quorum demonstrates the ruling party's own faith in this budget.

· The regime needs to have based its budget on accurate statistics and figures and realistic targets. As it stands, the regime is openly deceiving the public with false figures and unmet targets:

· This budget, like the last five presented by the regime will once again base its unmet growth targets on a small elite of Pakistani society. There is clearly no understanding of the social unrest that this kind of economic model will cause in Pakistan. It is still a supply-side model where growth is based on a trickling down of benefits, but for this to be effective in a developing country you need 10-11 % growth at a bare minimum. Macroeconomic fundamentals remain weak as Pakistan's growth is driven largely by household consumption [ 7.8 % of GDP].

· After five years of hearing the opposition critique its model and its priorities, there is no change in its planning. We fear that this anti-poor, half true juggling of figures is going to sidestep real issues that need urgent redressal.

· High growth in consumer sectors is disguising a dangerous growth in poverty: the 74 % who now live under two dollars a day, as per World Bank statistics, have been largely ignored except in piecemeal pockets of " relief" which act like sops for a tiny fraction but address negligable portions of the vast numbers of the vulnerable and the socially excluded.

WHAT THE BUDGET SHOULD HAVE BEEN:

To prevent Pakistan from sliding into a more volatile situation, economic suicides and other stresses of an unemployed, undereducated population, where regional and income inequalities spark further political unrest, the regime should have focused on the following:

· PSDP : Public money should have been better utilized and gone into higher social spending: public money goes into non-development expenditure rather than the development head. "The much trumpeted PSDP budget of Rs 520 is a mere eyewash. Not only does the real PSDP stand at Rs 427bn, when foreign loans are deducted, but 86 percent of the funds will be consumed by the ongoing projects. This leaves only 14 percent for high priority and new projects. Also because of poor governance a 100 projects under this head stand cancelled by donors such as Asian Development Bank. In this backdrop, it is worth asking what did the regime do with Rs 435bn that was allocated for PSDP last year? Education ( 2.2 % of GDP) and Health ( 0.2 % of GDP) continue to be neglected by the regime and get an embarrassingly low allocation of Rs 24bn and Rs 5bn respectively. Spending should go up to 4.5 % and 4 % GDP respectively.

· The Defence Budget of Rs 275 billion should have been consolidated and transparent for parliamentary audit : to reflect military pensions worth Rs 37.7 billion plus other expenditures, which will take the final figure much above Rs 312 billion, and higher transparency introduced to improve better governance and public accountability. Defense spending makes up more than half of the amount allocated for development expenditure, and gets a boost of 10% this year. It should be discussed in parliament, as in India and other democracies. There is also no accounting for what happened to Rs 60 billion from the US Pentagon.

· The windfalls from September 11, namely $ 35 billion, should have been used more prudently, preferably to fuel infrastructure. Instead the fiscal space gained from high remittances and foreign aid inflows has gone into profligate spending. Right now the country's foreign reserves of $13 billion don't amount to receipts for 18 weeks of an import bill, which given our balance of payments situation, has taken us back to the same forex situation in 2002, where lower forex reserves paid for the same few weeks of imports. Current account expenditures account for 66 % of the entire budget of Rs 1.8 trillion, so growth is more illusory than it seems.

· Deficit financing should have been used less and less as an instrument of policy . It fuels inflation and crowds out private investment, while jacking up interest rates, thus increasing the cost of production. It leads to excess money supply in the market and adds to the burden of the unfortunate public. Almost half of the budget deficit is funded through bank borrowing, which the State Bank repeatedly warns against. The current account deficit is expected to be around 5 % of GDP at $ 7.1 billion according to the GOP's figures.

· Privatisation should have been more transparent and prudent; used to retire public debt not current account spending. Right now the Musharraf regime has plunged the nation into chaos though its insider trading and high corruption on several privatization projects, such as the Pakistan Steel Mills, which has been stayed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan for its gross irregularities, and the PTCL sale, which cost the GOP a loss of Rs 23. 6 billion due to its irregularities. The PPP has a record of introducing privatization of public sector projects with high transparency, low layoffs, and high public consensus.

· The dangerously high trade deficit which poses grave threats to the stability of the economy should have been lowered. Right now the Musharraf regime has gifted the nation a record trade gap of $ 12 billion mark, up from 1 billion in 2003. This year, the trade deficit reached an astounding $12bn mark in July-May 2006-07, The economic managers of the regime expect increased foreign direct investment and growth in workers' remittances to bridge the gap. Given the law and order situation, and unconstitutional manner in which the regime is handling the state of affairs, it is obvious that such supply-driven factors cannot be trusted to help us deal with economic problems. A proactive diversification and higher value addition of Pakistan's export base from the four items relied upon by this regime, namely textiles, rice, leather and sports goods shold have been encouraged, including food processing and other items to maximize export receipts. Industrial and large scale manufacturing sector performed well below target and should have been encouraged by providing higher rebates on import of industrial machinery. The import of luxury items should have been reduced by taxing high-end consumer durables, since this head now adds up the import bill by $ 2.04 billion out of a huge import bill of $27 billion. This way consumption may not outstrip domestic production by such large margins.

· Real and Immediate Relief should have been given to the 74 % of Pakistanis Living under the Poverty Line, as certified by the World Bank:. Out of the Rs 113.9 billion allocated to subsidies, only Rs 2.45 billion is going towards maintaining price stability of essential items, and that too at the retail level. The subsidies on food provide relief at Rs 2 per head, while Rs 98 billion is going to the inefficiencies of WAPDA, KESC and others. Food prices may have stabilized and market shortages reduced if the subsidies had been given at the production level. The Minimum Wage should have been raised well over Rs 4600 to reflect the high cost of living today and Food Inflation should have been controlled instead of empty promises like the appointment of price magistrates in the last budget. Right now food inflation oscillates between 10 and 15%.

· The poor should not have been taxed to make the top one percent in the country richer : Right now 60 % of the Regime's total tax revenue for 2007-8 is based on indirect taxes which burden the poor. The regime has imposed no new direct taxes on capital gains, real estate transactions and the stock market. This shows the top one percent of the country getting a tax exemption of 4 % while the poor have been taxed through high indirect taxes, an extra 10%. Higher taxes on the top one % of the country should have been imposed by taxing capital gains and stock market transactions. Taxes should have been levied to correct fiscal distortions. Fiscal policy should have focused on easing the tax burden of the large swathes of people falling into lower income slabs , both from the urban and rural economy. Instead of reducing indirect taxes which hurt the poor more, the government set a revenue target of over 1 trillion while levying no new taxes. Compared to Rs 840bn target for 2006-07 the current target for revenue collection is highly ambiguous and relies on indirect taxes to generate the bulk of revenue. Obviously, this means further inflation as indirect taxes are mostly levied on the daily essentials.

· Private investment and job creation should have been attracted by serious project allocations to infrastructure and peace: Right now the regime is unable to attract private investment because it cannot provide a stable investment environment. On May 12 alone, the CBR admitted to losing over Rs 3 billion worth of sales tax. The PPP attracted four times more direct private sector investment in three years than all of Pakistan's previous history. This created jobs and wealth for the people of Pakistan. It bases its governments on the solid bedrock of public consent and is therefore able to provide peace and stability for investors.

· Investments in Energy should have brought power surpluses to Pakistan instead of the crippling deficits faced today by industrial, agricultural and private consumers : Pakistan needs an additional 8000 MWs at least by 2010 to meet energy requirements. The present government has not added a single MW beyond the PPP government commissioned Ghazi Barotha (1450MW) hydroelectric power project, which went online in 2004. More investments in coal, thermal, solar and wind energy will add surpluses for the economy to resume its growth. The MOU signed under MBB's PPP govt for the Thar based coal project of Keti Bandar should be immediately revived as it alone can yield 5000 MW of power and 200,000 jobs. Abundance of cheap and reliable electric power in Pakistan will facilitate large scale investment in industry including, foreign direct investment, creation of jobs, knowledge economy, elimination of unemployment and poverty, greater manufacturing and exports, trade surplus, stronger rupee, lower inflation, reduction of deficit and a strong economy. It will lay the basis of a prosperous Pakistan.

· The Agricultural Sector should have been encouraged as the largest employer in the country. Banks and financial institutions should be required to reserve a minimum percentage of Credit for farmers to buy inputs such as seeds and fertilizers in time. Legislation should be introduced to create a Secondary market for Agricultural Land to provide security for loans. Focus on farm to market roads, higher investments in water management and the institution of food processing units per district would boost employment and higher value addition to this sector. Despite high desertification and low-glacier melt ,no allocations are made for water conservation in this budget. The high destitution in the rural sector should be addressed by initiating a Rural Employment Programme, as successfully adopted in India. Commercial microcredit financing by the private and public sector should be encouraged proactively for rural entrepreneurs, as microfinance only accounts for 5 % of the total lending to small borrowers in all sectors today.

· Non-Development Expenditures should have been slashed: The President House expenditures have gone up by 25 million rupees to over Rs 316 million. The National Accountability Bureau, which was set up to hound political rivals of the regime, spends more than many other departments with nothing to show for. Its expenditures too have gone up by a hundred million rupees in this budget to spend an astronomical sum of Rs 2.4 million a day at Rs 897 million. In contrast, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights is set to spend only Rs 179 million.

· Regional Inequalities and Tensions should have been Brought Down : Sales Tax should have been devolved to the Provinces and the NFC Award announced before the budget. I] Right now even the NFC award has disappeared from the regime's highly centralized planning, which has created dangerous strains in the federation, especially among the smaller provinces. The government's failure to announce an overdue seventh NFC Award before budget 2007-8 is a breach of the constitution's article 160. The NFC award is not only pending since 2002, but the delay in the fair distribution of national resources has put severe strains on the economy and political stability of all the federating units. Pakistan is the only exception in the region where government is run on interim laws, constitution and awards. The budget 2007-08 is based on an interim NFC award. Under the award, the provincial share in net proceeds of the divisible pool would be 42.5 percent and central government will retain major chunk of resources of 57.5 percent. Straight transfers to the provinces for the year 2007-08 are showing a decline of 11 per cent or Rs7.5 billion. The distribution criteria for the NFC Award should take into account contribution to revenues, geographic size, and levels of development as well as population. ii] The Natural Gas and Royalty formula used under the 1973 Constitution should also be applied. iii] Sales Tax should be devolved to the provinces and Octroi should revert to local governments.

"Regime panicking… arresting workers' – PPP

Islamabad, June 13, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party protested the massive crackdown launched against the workers and office bearers of the party as scores of political activists are being picked across Punjab and Sindh.

After March 9, the regime has been regularly rounding up political activists, as the seven years of misrule coupled with the ongoing judicial crisis has triggered massive public demands for the removal of the current unconstitutional set up. The police have been blindly raiding the houses of the party workers, breaching their privacy and picking them up indiscriminately. Even the elderly have not been spared and the workers arrested in one district are being taken to jails in other districts.

"This is a blatant violation of civil and human rights that all political workers as the citizens of Pakistan are entitled to enjoy," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. Rehman said that not only are PPP activists being arrested without valid grounds, the entire procedure of their arrest and subsequent detention exposes the nefarious agenda of the regime to silence the opposition in the wake of the judicial crisis.

Rehman cited the case of the Senior Vice President PPP District Sargodha Malik Hamid Nawaz Awan who was arrested in the middle of the night when the police forced its way into his house and picked him after harassing his family. "He has been detained in Mianwali jail amid the soaring temperature in the city, making life exceptionally difficult for detainees. His family has been told that they cannot meet him without the permission of the Home Secretary. The resilient family has refused to bow down to the police pressure. Others arrested include Junaid Bulund of the PPP Sindh, Sheeraz Kiani and Rashid Mir of Rawalpindi. Scores have been arrested from all across the country. Such blatant violations of human rights happen only in places where the law of the jungle prevails."

Rehman questioned the purpose of detaining political workers under section 3 and 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance that provides for three months behind the bars. Rehman said that it is obvious the regime has launched the crackdown to preempt likely demonstrations in favour of an independent judiciary that the PPP aims to continue supporting. "The regime also panicked last week as the Pakistan Peoples Party pledged its support to the media after the unconstitutional PEMRA ordinance was promulgated by General Musharraf on June 4. Fearing a strong backlash if it had arrested media persons, the regime resorted to arresting PPP activists to discourage them from supporting the media as well as the lawyer's movement."

Rehman demanded immediate release of all political activists, while warning the regime that such arrests will not deter the PPP from raising its voice to demand an independent judiciary, free media, and fair elections.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

'Budget, A Cruel Joke With the Public' – PPP

Islamabad, June 9, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party described the budget 2007-08 presented in the National Assembly as "a cruel joke with the public".

Assuming that the establishment holds free and fair elections in the country this year, this is expected to be the last budget of the current regime that has been managing the country's economy for the past seven years. All the budgets during the regime's time in power have been declared by analysts of national and international repute as pro-rich. The regime has never allowed a proper debate over the successive budgets, which have been rushed through the parliament without taking the opposition's objections into account. Economic experts have repeatedly pointed out that the bubble of the so-called growth and development blown by the regime can burst anytime in the face of its impending time limit and a range of domestic and international factors.

Commenting on the budget, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party slammed the government for using the budget for its election campaigning purpose demanding the regime to be "fair with facts and figures." According to Rehman, the budget 2007-08 is full of unrealistic promises and attempts to hide facts with flowery language.

"It is rather amusing that all the budgets the regime has presented so far promise 'relief' to the public, which is mainly based on the price reduction of a few food items. At the same time, it is busy nurturing cartels in all the sectors of the economy allowing them the luxury to control the prices their way. The common man continues to pay the highest utility rates in Asia for a pathetic utility service while also relying on the private sector for education and health services. An inflation rate of 7.6 percent and the food inflation rate of 10.6 percent amply demonstrate how much of a relief the budget has been for the public."

Rehman observed that it has been a common practice with the regime to announce unrealistic targets at the start of the financial year, only to fall short of it months later. "In its own words, the regime missed all the targets it had set for the last financial year. This included trade, current account deficit, inflation, industrial production and large-scale manufacturing. What's the purpose of announcing ambitious target when the regime is totally incapable of meeting them? It doesn't even help the regime's public profile as the people know the wide gap between the promises and the reality," Rehman stated.

Rehman strongly criticised the budgetary allocation exercise that is full of irregularities and is rampant with corruption. "On the one hand, the regime claims to allocate a certain amount to the PSDP funds and on the other hand it works round the year to juggle the PSDP funds and to channel it to non-productive avenues." Rehman cited the example of Rs 10bn PSDP funds given away to the DISCOs in the FY 06-07. She also recalled that at least 100 PSDP projects were delayed or sidelined as the Finance Ministry delayed the release of funds amounting to Rs 62bn in the fourth quarter of the financial year. "Similarly the regime announced granting Rs 16bn to the HEC but released only Rs 4.5bn,"

Pointing to the allocation for Defence expenditure, Rehman said that the figures keep going up every year reflecting the political hold of the military on the civilian structures . " No demands for cuts or freezes have ever been entertained. This year the defence budget will once again go up by 10 percent, at Rs 275 billion from Rs224bn last year. It is worth noting that due to lack of transparency, the actual defence expenditure is far higher than what is stated in the budget. Last year it amounted to around Rs300 billion. This year it is expected to cross the Rs 300bn mark, while military pensions and a host of other military expenditures will be hidden all across the civilian expenditures account."

Lamenting the peanuts allocated to the two most crucial sectors, health and education, Rehman said that Pakistan's health and education spending is the lowest in the region, despite an unprecedented fiscal space created after 9/11. The Rs. 24 bn allocated to education is a slap on the face of the future generations that face tough times ahead thanks to the regime's wrong policies in the education sector. Health at Rs 5240mn is embarrassingly low, especially when compared with defence expenditures at Rs275bn. Is the interest of the armed forces more important than the health of the ordinary citizens?"

Rehman observed that the economic performance of the regime stands exposed by the World Bank report that points that 74% of the population lives below $2 a day. Despite strong criticism of the international monitoring bodies, the regime continues to measure poverty on headcount basis claiming that 24% of the population is left below the poverty line. "Experts have repeatedly pointed out, the actual poverty figures run much higher when calculated on the internationally recognised Purchasing Power Parity terms, according to which the country's yearly per capita income growth rate is stagnant at only 4.62 per cent during 1999-2005."

Rehman said that people are getting tired of the fudging figures exercise that is being slapped upon them by the regime year after year. She demanded that the budget should not be passed by the NA without addressing the reservations of the opposition. She also added that the heads of all expenditures should be debated and it should be made obligatory on the respective representatives of different departments to appear before the parliament to justify the budgetary allocations made to them.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

SILENCING THE MEDIA: Black Laws Prop a Shaky Regime

PPP Condemns all Such Curbs and vows to fight for the Freedom of Expression and Information.
Calls June 4 the Darkest Day in the History of the Press
Press Conference Karachi Press Club June 5/ 07

The Pakistan Peoples Party also called a meeting in Karachi on June 7, 2007 to decide the future course of action in the face of the regime's onslaught against the media. The Party's Central and Federal Executive committees participated in the meeting that was chaired by the Senior Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim. The Party members expressed solidarity with the media and vowed to take the struggle for free media at every forum. The meeting recalled that during the PPP governments of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the press was never subjected to harassment, threats and individual or institutional curbs. In fact, it was noted that the first step the PPP government took in 1988 was to remove all press censorship laws and reinstate all journalists terminated from service during the martial law regime of General Ziaul Haq. Freedom of expression was encouraged and the No Objection Certificates needed by journalists to travel abroad were abolished. During the second tenure of the PPP government the Sixth Wage Board was announced for newspaper workers, and actually implemented in the Associated Press of Pakistan service. It was also observed that it was the PPP government under Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that opened up the air waves by allowing satellite communications and transmissions to be broadcast outside the official PTV medium, which laid the foundations for the internet, mobile and satellite revolution in Pakistan, freeing up the air waves to private enterprise and free expression like never before

Central Information Secretary PPP

PEMRA FACTSHEET

The new ordinance called the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, carries draconian amendments introduced by General Pervez Musharraf to the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance, 2002. It puts new and unprecedented draconian restrictions on electronic media and comes into force throughout the country at once.


These laws hark back to the darkest days of another military dictatorship under General Ziul Haq, when the press was put in chains to silence democratic dissent.

The Black Laws were imposed by bypassing the Parliament . The ordinance was promulgated just when the Senate was in session and two days before the National Assembly is to start its budget session. The regime has sidelined people's representatives one more time, showing its true authoritarian face. General Musharraf has now bestowed all powers to the pet Authority, the PEMRA. The section 39(A), which is a new provision, authorizes the PEMRA to make rules and regulations simply by issuing notifications

General Musharraf's recent move undoes major provisions of a law passed by the Parliament in February 2007 . That bill came after a two-year long debate and consultations with the stakeholders.

The PEMRA (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 carries 10 amendments made in the Act passed in February. The amended sub-section (5) of Section 29 provides the Authority or the chairman to "seize a broadcast or distribution service equipment or seal the premises which is operating illegally or (in) contravention of orders passed under Section 30."

The ordinance empowers the PEMRA to confiscate the equipment of broadcasters and seal the premises without consulting a council of complaints.

In the PEMRA bill passed in February this year, complaints against broadcasters were referred to a Council of Complaints and it was obligatory for the PEMRA to seek the Council's opinion before the revocation of a license. Thanks to the new amendments, the Council's role has been abolished, and PEMRA has been empowered to cancel the license on its own. Sub-section (4) in Section 30 of the law says: " License of a broadcast media may be suspended on any or the grounds specified in sub-section (1), by a duly constituted committee comprising members of the Authority ."

The amendment also seeks to increase the fine for violators to Rs10 million from the existing Rs1 million, raising the cost of deviating from the government line to new heights.

According to the rule, the ordinance shall remain in force for three months, after which the President can extend it.

The ordinance covers mobile telephones and the internet too. In actual fact, this move only demonstrates the desperation of this regime as it tries to control the internet and cell phones.

After March 9, when its own writ and legitimacy nosedived, the regime first tried to control the broadcast media through the denial of uplink facilities to transmit to their headquarters for onward broadcast. In a valiant effort to survive the broadcast media countered that through relaying the transmission through mobile phones or the use of internet. This is why the regime went on to slap restrictions on the mobile phones and the internet.

In order to bring the owners of private TV channels under the PEMRA laws, they have also been bracketed along with operators in the new ordinance.

The June 4 Ordinance aims at enforcing the 'code of conduct' that was imposed some years ago on the media without taking into confidence the members of the media and the opposition leaders.
The regime has tried to pressure Pakistani private channels by leaning on key commercial advertisers to pull their sponsorships.

The PEMRA has blatantly ignored all violations made by the cable operators over the years. In collusion with cable operators PEMRA has managed to black out transmission almost every day since March 9. The blockages are widespread on any day when the opposition is protesting or the CJ is out to address a bar association.

The Run-up to The Final Gagging of the Press

The ordinance just makes official the draconian measures the regime has been resorting to since the day it ignited the judicial crisis on March 9, 2007. Taken aback by the massive public outcry at the unconstitutional suspension of the Chief Justice Pakistan and the media coverage the issue received, the regime in panic, has been taking successive and suicidal measures to clampdown on the media.
First, it briefly suspended the transmission of Aaj TV and Geo TV in March, which was an unsubtle threat to those and other channels if they continued with their live coverage of the CJ's activities or of popular protest.

Instead of seeking to end the grave political crisis across Pakistan, the regime then carried out an attack on Geo TV in full public view and in the close proximity of the Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani.
The latest clampdown on the media follows fast in the aftermath of the May 27 seminar of the Supreme Court Bar Association in Islamabad that was covered live. The lawyers that spoke at the rally were merely exercising their constitutional right to express their views. The regime found that intolerable and apart from seeking court action against the participants of the seminar also slapped a ban on media channels to cover the rally live.

On the eve of the Chief Justice's visit to Abbottabad on June 2, 2007, the country's TV channels received a letter from the PEMRA that urged them not to air programmes that "encourage" violence, or promote an "anti-state attitude". They were ordered not to air programmes that contain "aspersions against the judiciary and the integrity of the armed forces of Pakistan". Apart from the written letter, the broadcasters were also warned verbally to "Stop live coverage of Chaudhry rallies."

As if that wasn't enough the regime went ahead and blocked the transmission of two TV channels, namely Geo and ARY in the first week of June. So far there has been no official reason issued for such a violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens.

Naked untruth followed brutal clampdowns. The PEMRA still expects people to believe that the media blackout has been carried out by cable operators on their own. Yet no one buys the canard that the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) have not been pressured to take GEO and Aaj TV off their networks. Many have confessed to it in private.

In the last week of May 2007, General Musharraf bluntly criticized the media for supposedly showing their lack of respect for the armed forces. What he refused to acknowledge is that the criticism was mostly directed at him and his misrule, not at the army as a professional institution. In the same vein, while addressing army officers in Jhelum garrison, he used harsh words against the lawyers and the media for "humiliating" and maligning the armed forces.

PM Shaukat Aziz then went on to say that criticizing the Pakistan army would not be tolerated since the army was the "real asset of the nation". The liberal PM also stated that comments against the army were "tantamount to conspiracy against Pakistan". And before one could recover from the diatribe, a ban was slapped on Aaj, ARY and GEO TV by mysterious forces who are yet to be named and seen.

In stark contrast to its claims of media freedom, the Musharraf regime has shown a rather dismal record of protecting the media and its interests during its seven years in power. According to a South Asia Free Media Association report, Pakistan tops the list for abductions and killings of journalists during the past year. The tribal areas have been turned into no-go areas for journalists and the situation in Balochistan and interior Sindh remains quite dangerous for journalists.

According to independent reports, over two dozen journalists have been killed in Pakistan during the last seven years. 68 journalists have been abducted, arrested or detained; 81 tortured or injured; more than 114 threatened or intimidated, while there have been 37 attacks on media property.

The PPP strongly condemns all such actions as the last desperate acts of a dying regime, and vows to struggle in solidarity with the media and the press community in their struggle for fundamental rights and press freedoms.

RESOLUTION FOR THE CEC/FC MEETING
PPP CONDEMNS BLACK PRESS LAWS

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary PPP

The Central Executive Committee and Federal Council of the Pakistan Peoples Party met on June 7, 2007 at Bilawal House, Karachi.

The meeting was chaired by Makhdoom Amin Fahim on the directives of the Chairperson of the PPP, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

The agenda of the meeting was to discuss amendment in the PEMRA laws passed on June 04, 2007 and the attacks on the electronics media with a view to censor the press and deny information to the public.

The second agenda item was steps to be taken by PPP to defend the freedom of press and show solidarity with the media.

The meeting noted that PEMRA formed as a regulatory body for the electronic media. However its purpose was distorted by the PEMRA amendments into an instrument to threaten, intimidate and shut down broadcasts of private electronic media channels as part of an attempt to censor news channels by the military regime.

The PPP slammed the curbs as a violation of the democratic right to a free press which negated constitutional freedoms guaranteed under Article 19 of the 1973 Constitution.

The meeting unanimously observed that the curbs were an effort to hide the growing public unrest against the present unpopular regime. By muzzling the press and television networks broadcasting live telecasts of chief justice's procession the murder attacks by the regime on the public in Karachi on May 12, the killing of Registrar Hammad and other such incidents of the regime's excesses and the reaction to them.

The meeting recalled that television channels were ordered to stop live broadcasts relating to the suspended Chief Justice, and when they refused PEMRA was given powers to cancel licenses, seize broadcast equipment, seal premises and impose fines up to Rs ten million on private networks in revenge. The meeting rejected the amendments allowing the regime to take draconian action against the broadcasters without investigation or findings that indicated culpability. The Party noted that earlier, to eliminate the popular party of the people, the PPP, NAB had been created with similar draconian powers in 1997.

The PPP said that first the establishment attached political parties, then the judiciary and now the press. The PPP said that the political parties, the judiciary and the press are all essential elements of a democratic pluralistic society. Their common interest was to stand together for it was well known, "United they stand, divided they fall".

The PPP deplored the military regime's press record noting that the Committee to Protect Journalists in the USA had reported that over two dozen journalists have been killed in Pakistan during the last seven years. 68 journalists have been abducted, arrested or detained; 81 tortured or injured; more than 114 threatened or intimidated, while there have been 37 attacks on media property.

The PPP vowed to stand in solidarity with the media and the press recalling that PPP had introduced press freedom in the country in 1988 as well as introduced private electronic media.

The meeting recalled that the PPP government in 1988 removed all press censorship laws and reinstated journalists terminated from government service during an earlier martial law regime. The No Objection Certificates needed by journalists to travel abroad were abolished, import of news print was freely permitted and government permission to start publication was done away with. During the second tenure of the PPP government the Sixth Wage Board was announced for newspaper workers, and implemented in the Associated Press of Pakistan service. The PPP government under Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto opened up the air waves by allowing satellite communications and transmissions to be broadcast outside the official PTV medium, introduced digital communication and laid the foundations for the internet, mobile and satellite revolution in Pakistan, freeing up the air waves to private enterprise and free expression like never before .

The PPP meeting condemned the arbitrary arrests of its workers as well as workers from all other opposition parties all over Pakistan, particularly in the Punjab, where thousands of office-bearers and activists have been rounded up in midnight raids without reason or provocation. The CEC called upon the Peoples lawyers Forum to immediately give free legal assistance to those in prison. It called upon the district presidents to ensure their organizations called upon in jail. It called upon the Women wing to visit the families to give them moral support and it called upon all provincial presidents of the mother organization as well as the Women's Wing to ensure that those recommendation of the CEC, having been approved by the Chairperson be implemented.

The meeting demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners, the withdrawal of politically motivated cases against the Chief Justice, Chairperson PPP, other opposition members and press, safe return of exiled prime ministers, removal of all curbs on the media, and the immediate announcement of an election date under a government of national consensus to supervise elections in which all political candidates are allowed to contest.

The meeting resolved to immediately convene for a rally against the PEMRA offices right after the CEC/FC meeting. The meeting also resolved to challenge the black laws in all four provincial High Courts and directed the Peoples Lawyers Forum to proceed with the petitions forthwith. The party also committed itself to all measures needed to express solidarity with the media community and directed all its central and provincial leadership to meet expeditiously with all the journalists unions and media bodies .

The meeting also condemned the new disinformation campaign launched by the regime about the PEMRA Laws being under a " stay" as a deliberate distortion of the truth. The meeting noted that the amendments have not been withdrawn and hang like a Damocles Sword over the press in order to coerce, harass and intimidate journalists to toe the government line, as originally intended by the amendments introduced on June 4 2007.

The meeting concluded by re-asserting the PPP's commitment to peace, democracy economic emancipation of the people of Pakistan under the leadership of Duktar-e–Pakistan Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

PPP Announces Protests Against PEMRA
Calls CEC/ Federal Council Meeting on June 7 2007

Islamabad, 6th June 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party has called an emergency meeting of its Central Executive Committee and Federal Council to discuss the Pemra amendments that have been imposed by the regime to muzzle the press.

The meeting has been called at Bilawal House at 3pm in Karachi on June 7 2007, and will be chaired by Makhdoom Amin Faheem.

Central Information Secretary of the party, Sherry Rehman said that the meeting has been called to take strong note of the Pemra amendments and their ramifications on fundamental freedoms and the future of democracy in Pakistan. The PPP has strongly condemned the laws as anti-democratic and unconstitutional, and its CEC will convene after the meeting to lead a protest rally from Bilawal House to the PEMRA offices. The rally will then join the press rally called to commemorate June 7 as a black day.

In solidarity with the journalist community, the PPP has also called for nation-wide protests against these draconian laws and will also mobilize the party for further action if the regime continues to strangulate the voice of the people through its authoritarian actions, added Rehman.

The PPP meeting on the 7th June will also finalise the decision to take up the Pemra amendments to court said Rehman. The PPP stands by its commitment to press freedoms and will remain on the frontlines of this struggle as well.

An attack on the press is an attack on the very survival of democratic forces, said Rehman, and we will leave no stone unturned until the media is allowed to write, broadcast and inform without this kind of dictator's axe hanging over their heads. These laws only reflect the desperate acts of an isolated regime, and they will only add to the political crisis created in the country by a man who refuses to shed his uniform, she said. "Nobody in Pakistan is willing to accept curbs on their fundamental rights any longer, and these laws, like all other non-democratic practices and regimes, must go. The people are waiting for a stable, democratic government brought in through free and fair election under an autonomous election commission and neutral government of national consensus, and without a gagged and silent media, none of this possible, said Rehman.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

PPP to attend SAFMA forum on South Asian Unity

Islamabad, May 30, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party will be participating in the upcoming SAFMA Parliamentary Forum to be held in Simla, India from June 2 to 3, 2007.

The PPP, being a strong supporter of both the freedom of the media as well as peace in South Asia , has been actively participating in all forums convened by SAFMA. This year, the South Asian Parliamentary Forum-II, titled 'South Asian Parliament: Towards South Asian Unity', will see a sizeable participation by the PPP. Twenty-three delegates would be travelling from Pakistan out of which four belong to the PPP. They include Senator Enver Baig, Senator Javed Leghari, and MNA Choudhary Manzoor Ahmed. The Central Information Secretary of the Party, Sherry Rehman, would lead the PPP delegates.

Talking to the media before leaving for India, Rehman said that it was under the first government of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that the foundations for a composite dialogue process were laid. "Progressive CBMs between India and Pakistan, the redeployment of troops from Siachin, and the seeds for SAFTA were sown at the sidelines of the Islamabad SAARC summit in 1989 between Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and PM of India, Rajiv Gandhi," she emphasised.

Explaining her party's position on bilateral relations and the Kashmir issue Rehman said that at every step, PPP has always called for a just resolution of conflicts through peaceful means, and Mohtarma Bhutto has always supported the blurring of hard lines and the softening of borders in order to provide relief to the Kashmiri people.

"Even today, the PPP continues to call for a process that seeks to ease travel restrictions between India and Pakistan, and gives strong support to regional integration and economic cooperation, and to strengthen organizations such as SAARC and SAFTA. Mohtarma Bhutto has always believed in the primacy of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all the people of the South Asian region, including the inalienable right of self determination of the Kashmiri people," added Rehman.

The PPP delegation is leaving for Simla on May 31st. The forum will host discussions on a wide range of issues related to Economic Cooperation, Human Security, Conflict Resolution and communication between South Asian parliaments. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, will inaugurate the two-day conference, while India's External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee will deliver a keynote address. Leading members of parliament apart from journalists from the region will take part in the deliberations.

PPP demands police protection for Christian community

Islamabad, May 26, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party deplored the threat issued to the Christian community in Charsadda that has been asked by radical groups to convert to Islam or leave the area.

The Christian community in Charsadda is living in a perpetual state of fear as the grip of extremists over the region tightens. Early this month scores of barber and video CD shops were burnt down in two bomb blasts in Charsadda. The incident took place a month after the CD shop owners received a letter threatening them to close down their "unIslamic" business. The local administrator is said to have shrugged off the threat. In the first week of May, a letter was found in a Christian dominated residential area threatening the entire Christian community of Charsadda to convert to Islam in 10 days or leave the area.

Denouncing the incident, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Sherry Rehman termed it as "a natural outcome of the Musharraf regime's incessant backing of the Talibanisation of the society." Rehman noted that the extremists' offensive against the citizens has never been as blatant in the history of the country as it is today. "The fact that the state chooses to close its eyes to such grave violation of the citizen's rights is a source of immense encouragement for extremists seeking to impose their brand of Islam."

Rehman noted that the district Charsadda is turning into another Waziristan where the Islamic radicals openly issue and execute threats right under the nose of an impotent state. "This is the third instance of terror in a matter of four weeks in the area," Rehman noted pointing to the suicide bomb blast at the rally of the Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao that claimed 28 lives. This was followed by two bomb blasts at the barber and CD shops in the district.

Rehman also condemned the district administration for taking the matter lightly. "There are over 60 Christian families in Charsadda, and each one of them is at risk after the letter has surfaced. One should not overlook the fact that the CD shop owners in the district received similar letters before their shops were bombed off. There is no reason for the District Administration to dismiss the fears of the Christian community, unless it is taking cues from the bosses in Peshawar and in Islamabad as both have a policy of encouraging such elements."

Rehman said that Pakistan tops the list of countries known for worst violations of minorities' rights noting that early this year, a Catholic Bishop, along with two Muslim scholars received similar threats in Faisalabad by a Muslim extremist group for promoting inter-religious dialogue. "Every new day brings a fresh reason for minorities of the country to feel that the state is alienating and discriminating against them. Minorities cannot be sidelined and overlooked if Pakistan has to make any progress in the modern world."

Demanding police protection for the Christian community of Charsadda, Rehman urged the NWFP government to nab those responsible for issuing such threats. "The Centre and the NWFP government are duty bound by the constitution to provide protection to the minorities and ensure them their fundamental rights. The entire nation has been let down by the unrepresentative governments in the Centre and the NWFP that prefer short-term appeasement deals with the radicals over their obligation to protect long-term interests of the citizens."

Rehman reiterated the PPP's commitment to the protection of the minorities' rights and assured the Christian community that the Party will continue to voice their concerns at the national and international platforms.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

PPP flays MQM's slander campaign

Karachi, May 25, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party slammed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for diverting the public attention over May 12 manslaughter by initiating a slander campaign against the members of the PPP.

The MQM has been facing a barrage of criticism from national and international press and civil society bodies for its active role in the May 12 bloodshed in Karachi. The Party that controls the City Government in Karachi also holds the seat of the governor of the province. In order to show its prowess in the financial hub of the country, the party made use of its official powers and blocked all-important routes of the city to curb the citizens' movement. It disarmed the police and the rangers rendering them helpless to prevent any acts of violence that day. The Karachi carnage claimed 48 lives, mostly common citizens and the political workers. Of late, the MQM has been trying hard to shift the blame for the events of May 12 on other political parties.

Terming the MQM's malice campaign against the PPP as 'a ridiculous face saving bid', Secretary General, Raja Parvez Ashraf of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians said that the MQM's malice campaign against the PPP is hardly surprising given its bleak history of deception and the staunch criticism it has been subjected to for its role in the May 12 carnage. "It is natural for the MQM to get desperate since this is the first time its violent ways were noted by the millions of viewers across the world who witnessed how the gun-totting goons of the party went rampant, playing with the lives of the innocent citizens." Raja Parvez commented that in today's age of television broadcast, it is almost impossible to hide the truth. "The MQM would be making a fool of itself if it tried to blame it on other parties, since the whole world witnessed its actions live on TV that day."

Rejecting the MQM's allegations against the Central Information Secretary of the PPP Sherry Rehman, Raja Parvez pointed out that a mere look at the series of incoherent statements issued by the MQM against Rehman will expose the baseless nature of their assertions. "The MQM first alleged that none of the PPP top leadership had participated in the opposition's May 12 rally. This was proved wrong, as all-important leaders of the party were present in the rally that was attacked at the COD Bridge by the MQM men. It then alleged that armed PPP men were sitting atop Sherry Rehman's vehicle firing in the air. This was again false as there was no PPP worker outside Rehman's car and the unidentified gunmen trying to ride Rehman's car were shoved away by the PPP worker. This was recorded in the video, which the MQM edited out. They are now saying that the two men on top of Rehman's car went inside it after a while. This is another ridiculous allegation, as no such thing happened."

Raja Parvez also noted the reason why the MQM took a good one-week to come up with allegations against the PPP is because "it takes just as much time to doctor a video," he said. "It is ambiguous that the MQM is coming up with fresh video evidence against the PPP everyday. If there is any truth in its allegations, why did it not show the videos the very next day after the carnage?" Raja Parvez also pointed out that all the PPP audio-visual evidence related to May 12 events is credible as it has been taken from footage run by different television channels that day.

Raja Parvez also said that the PPP lost five of its workers in the said rally while Rehman's driver was seriously injured after falling victim to the MQM bullet directed at the PPP rally. "We are not a party like the MQM that would kill its own workers to give out a false impression that they were murdered by the opposition. Our workers, and over 40 others lost their lives to the state-backed bullying spree of the MQM and no amount of propaganda by the MQM can conceal this fact. Gone are the days when people could have been misled by spin. The Karachi public - being the victim and witness - will never forget the MQM's mockery of their civil rights on May 12."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

PPP Slams attack on newsman

Islamabad , May 19, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party slammed the ongoing harassment of the members of the media at the hands of the state, noting that this shocking level of violence against the press has escalated after March 9, which became a turning point for a regime both isolated and trigger-happy. Shakeel Turabi is its latest victim.

The record of this regime with the press has never been anywhere as tolerant as it processes. In fact, according to independent reports, over two dozen journalists have been killed in Pakistan during the last seven years. 68 journalists have been abducted, arrested or detained; 81 tortured or injured; more than 114 threatened or intimidated, while there have been over 38 attacks on media property. Post the March 9/ 2007 judicial crisis, the state has embarked on a confrontational spree with the media, with no hesitation in ordering attacks on newsmen and media property. Just two days ago, in an appalling exhibition of state muscle, the Chief Editor of South Asian News Agency, Shakeel Turabi was severely beaten in broad day light in Islamabad by two men allegedly belonging to a security agency. After hurling abuses at Turabi, they threatened him with his life if he did not stop his "negative" coverage of the government, beating him up for many minutes before fleeing from the scene in their Land Cruiser. Turabi dragged himself to the hospital, where he is still under treatment. According to the doctors, Turabi has suffered severe internal injuries.

Condemning the latest assault on the media, the Pakistan Peoples Party noted that the frequency of attacks on media personnel has drastically gone up in the wake of the judicial crisis. "This is the second incident of harassment of media-men in a matter of a week. The gruesome attack on the Aaj TV office and the assault on reporters and photographers at the Karachi Airport on May 12 all are clear indications that the regime has lost all sense of rational direction." Expressing shock at the regime's open offensive against the media, Central Information Secretary of the PPP, Sherry Rehman said that people who are supposed to protect citizens and the media, are now commonly associated with assaults on the press.

"With the active backing of the state, violence has become a norm in the society. There has not been a single day since May 12, when one has not heard stories of state atrocities against common citizens, lawyers, media and the opposition members." Rehman said that the attack on Turabi who is the Chief Editor of a news agency shows that those perpetrating this act have no fear of being nabbed. "Post March 9, the media is the only body that has been questioning the high-handedness of the regime, since the regime now routinely blacks out the voices of legislators and civil society. This level of impunity to attacks on citizens and independent media is only tolerated by a paranoid authoritarian regime, shooting itself in the foot as it nears its last days."

Rehman noted that the attack on Turabi comes in the wake of General Musharraf's pledge to his supporters that he will "tackle the media" after the PML-Q members expressed dissatisfaction over the media's coverage of the post March 9 events. "After giving an open threat to the media, General Musharraf is now putting his words into action."

Extending the PPP's support to the media, Rehman demanded a judicial inquiry into this and other acts of violence against the media. "There is no point seeking help from the police after their demonstration of inaction on May 12. Unless there is a proper inquiry against such atrocities, through the judiciary, and a system of punishment is implemented against those who pose a threat to the security of the media, the state will continue the use of force to silence the media."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP questions Khan's arrest
Or
PPP to fight any attempt to influence the CJ trial

Islamabad, May 16, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party questioned the arrest of the ex-Mirpurkhas DIG Saleemullah Khan who is said to be an important witness in the Chief Justice case in the Supreme Court.

A great deal of ambiguity surrounds the arrest of Saleemullah Khan, the ex DIG Mirpurkhas. He was earlier reportedly suspended by the Federal Government after he attempted to register a case against the ex-IG Sindh Police, Jahangeer Mirza. His arrest from Islamabad follows Sindh Police's allegations that Saleemullah was wanted in the case relating to the kidnapping of the Munnu Bheel family. According to Saleemullah's family, he was suspended from the police after following the directives of the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry who had initiated a suo moto action regarding Munnu Bheel's ordeal. Khan had registered an FIR against the powerful feudal lord allegedly involved in Munnu Bheel's family's abduction. The said person reportedly had connections with the Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim.

While denouncing Saleemullah's arrest, Sherry Rehman the Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party observed that the ex-DIG's arrest that followed Hammad Raza's murder in Islamabad, is an indication that the regime is launching a crackdown on the judiciary. "Saleemullah was an important witness in the Munnu Bheel case. His suspension and arrest smack of controversy since the Sindh CM's involvement in Munnu Bheel and missing people's case is no secret. It is worth mentioning that Saleemullah had just recently appeared on a TV talk show and explained how he was directed by the Sindh CM to ignore the directives of the Chief Justice in the Munnu Bheel case."

According to Rehman, now that the Reference case is following an open trial and is being pursued by a full bench, the Musharraf regime is doing all it can to ensure that the CJ is left with no important witnesses to support his case in the trial. "Now that the regime has no way of manipulating the court proceedings, it is seeking to sabotage the case by eliminating and harassing important witnesses who may play a role in turning the decision against the government. Raza's murder and Khan's arrest stand as strong message to all those testifying in the CJ case," Rehman observed.

Rehman also pointed out that Khan was arrested as if he were an absconder. "What was the need to arrest him and rush him to Mirpurkhas and issue non-bailable warrants against him when he has been freely moving around in Islamabad, and had even appeared on a TV show, after his suspension. The sense of urgency with which the regime is seeking Khan confirms that the intention behind his arrest is to sabotage the CJ case."

Demanding an immediate release of the ex-DIG, Rehman said that if the Sindh Government has any valid case against Khan, he doesn't have to be behind the bars for it to be pursued. "His arrest is not only akin to declaring him guilty before proven innocent, but it also hampers the proceedings of the CJ case since Saleem is a potential defence witness of the CJ. There are strong fears that like Raza, he will also be eliminated in an extra judicial manner."

Rehman warned that the PPP has been monitoring the CJ trial very closely, and would not tolerate any attempt to sabotage the case. "Raza's murder caused irreversible damage to the case. We will not let the Musharraf regime play with the judiciary any more. The PPP will fight any attempt to influence the trial," said Rehman

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

'Peshawar blast, a demonstration of the government's failure' - PPP

Islamabad May 15, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party strongly condemned the Peshawar bomb blast that resulted in 24 deaths and over 30 injuries.

A blast exploded at a hotel on Peshawar's busy Naz Cinema Road at the lunchtime on Tuesday afternoon. It is feared that the death toll is likely to exceed since several of the 30 injured are in a critical condition. This is the seventh blast in the city in a matter of less than two months. The hotel blast in Peshawar boasts of the highest death toll.

"The Peshawar blast brings the loss of life the country has suffered during the past three days to 73," informed Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. Describing the blast as "another demonstration of the regime's failure to run the country", Rehman said that the regime has given half the country in the hands of extremists and militant forces, and is perpetrating acts of terrorism itself, in the other half.

"The state of affairs has never been this bad in the NWFP, where bomb blasts and violent attacks have become a way of life, leaving common citizens with no option but to lead a life of fear," said Rehman. She also pointed out that any conscientious government would have long resigned in the face of its miserable failure to protect the lives of the citizens. "On the contrary the Musharraf regime is seeking to subdue the judiciary, the opposition and the common man through the use of arms to strengthen its hold on power."

Rehman said that the nation couldn't continue to bear the loss of life and property at such a massive scale. "There has to be an end to it before the common man takes to the street to confront the regime. There are serious threats to the stability of the country and the regime should pack up before the country dismembers."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

"Pakistan now Ruled by Butchers"

Islamabad, May 15, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party condemned the brutal murder of the Additional Registrar Supreme Court Syed Hamad Raza, terming it as an "armed assault on the judiciary".

Syed Hamad Raza was a civil servant appointed to the apex court by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on deputation. He was serving as a personal staff officer of Justice Iftikhar, who is currently facing a Presidential Reference in the SC. Raza was gunned down in the early hours of May 14 morning at his residence in Islamabad. Though the state machinery has been projecting the incident as a dacoity attempt, Raza's family members allege that this was target killing, as the gunmen did not touch any valuables present in the house. According to the family, armed men broke into the house looking for Raza and shot him as soon as they found him in his room.

"Raza's murder is a strong message to the judiciary," said Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party. "Raza was apparently an officer of known integrity and was an important witness in the Reference case against the CJ. He had been summoned by the agencies several times after the March 9 judicial crisis. The agencies used every trick in the book to get him to give evidence in support of the reference. Raza, however, stuck to his guns and refused to side with any party in the case. Hence the 'punishment'."

Rehman observed that Raza's murder that came on the heels of the firing at CJ's lawyer, Munir A Malik's residence and a massive carnage in Karachi, is a strong message by the state to every single individual in the country that this regime will not tolerate any dissent. "Pakistan is being ruled by a bunch of butchers. The gory incidents of May 12 are an ample demonstration of the fact. Innocent people were mercilessly being slaughtered in Karachi as the ruling regime celebrated its "victory" amid the beats of dhol in Islamabad. Once its trigger-happy ally was over with its killing spree in Karachi, the Musharraf regime sought to intimidate the judiciary trough the brutal killing of Raza," she added.

Rehman noted that the country is going through its lowest phase and stands at the brink of a collapse. "After the unabashed ambush of peaceful protestors all over Karachi, and shameful attacks on the media, particularly Aaj TV on Black Saturday, you are neither safe in the confines of your house, office, nor outside it. It is very clear that the perpetrators of Raza's murder were backed by strong elements in the state for them to carry out such a heinous crime in Islamabad that is the centre of the regime's power. How many such murders does one hear about in the country's safest city? According to the witnesses, Raza's murderers fled in front of the police that was patrolling the street that morning. What does that indicate?"

Expressing fear for the lives of all those standing up to the brutal regime, Rehman said that not only has the state miserably failed in its duty to protect the lives of the citizens, it is actually acting as perpetrators of crimes against the nation. "There is no respite for a nation when its rulers pick arms to confront it. In its bid to hang on to power, the regime has crossed all limits of sanity.Unfortunately, this sense of anarchy is not just prevalent in Karachi, but also other parts of the country, which have literally been handed over to all kind of extremists. The government protects criminals of all ilk, as it has parcelled out the tribal areas to the Taliban, Tank and Bannu to other religious extremists, Malakand to the TNSM and now Karachi to the terrorists of the MQM."

Demanding the suspension of the ruling regime by the Supreme Court, Rehman said that it is too late to expect that the regime to provide any comfort, protection or justice to the common man, as it has now turned into an enemy of the country.

Rehman hoped that the Supreme Court's suo moto notice against Raza's murder would expedite the process of justice in this case. She also urged the Supreme Court to take a similar notice of the Karachi massacre that was carried out at the behest of the state.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP condemns firing at Malik's residence

Islamabad, May 10, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party strongly condemned the firing at Munir A Malik's residence in Karachi in the wee hours of Thursday morning following the sealing of his office in the city a day earlier.

Munir A Malik, the President Supreme Court Bar Association, and also the Defence Council of the Chief Justice of Pakistan in the case of the President's reference against him, escaped death as unidentified gunmen fired shots at his house in the early hours of May 10 morning. The police found 15 bullets from the site. A day earlier, Malik's office in Karachi was sealed by the Karachi Building Control Authority officials, on a baseless pretext. It was later unsealed at the orders of the Sindh High Court.

"This is a cowardly act at its best", said Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. "This is a clear evidence of the state of panic that the regime finds itself in, following the mass movement that the judicial crisis has triggered." Expressing shock at the blatant use of harassment tactics against lawyers in general, and Mr Malik in particular, Rehman said that the rulers have become so shameless that they do not even feel the need to hide their resentment against the judiciary.

Rehman observed that the regime's efforts to sabotage the Chief Justice's rally in Karachi on May 12 is a clear indication that it is incapable of sustaining the unprecedented show of public anger that followed the filing of the March 9 reference. "It goes on to show that the regime has no faith in its own move against the Chief Justice, despite its claims that it was constitutional, and was in the public interest."

Rehman said that the blind firing at Malik's residence could have resulted in loss of life, as he was present in the house along with his family. "It was a message to Malik to withdraw his support for the Chief Justice and the supremacy of the rule of law. Similarly, the bomb hoax at the Sindh High Court, sealing of Malik's office, threatening phone calls to him, and the MQM's call to hold a rally on the day of the Chief Justice's rally in Karachi, all are clear indications that the regime is in a confrontational mood following its embarrassing defeat at Chief Justice's Islamabad-Lahore rally."

Pointing to the non-violent procession of the Chief Justice from Islamabad to Lahore, early this week, Rehman warned that any untoward incident at the Karachi rally would be the responsibility of the government. "The fact that the Chief Justice's Islamabad-Lahore trip was smooth and devoid of any unpleasant incident shows that the people's movement in support of the Chief Justice is peaceful. At the same time, the harassment tactics against Malik and the lawyers' community in the run up to the May 12 rally, and the threats of terrorism in the city clearly shows that the establishment will go out of its way to paint the Karachi rally in blood."

Expressing solidarity with the lawyers' community, Rehman said that the PPP fully backs the lawyers' movement to fight the establishment's interference in the affairs of the judiciary. "It is a fight between an autocratic state and the institute of justice, and the PPP will lend all support to uphold the cause of rule of law both in, and outside the parliament," Rehman said.

PPP condemns political victimisation of Women Parliamentarians

Islamabad, May 07, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party strongly protested the political victimisation of the Party's MPA Humaira Alwani, who has been booked in a false case without grant of a bail as a result of her political activities.

Alwani is the member Provincial Assembly (MPA) at Sindh Assembly and is also the District President Women's Wing for District Thatta. She was booked in a fabricated case two years ago when she was accused of "sabotaging law and order" only by participating in a peaceful labour procession. Alwani is being harassed for two years over the case and has been declared "Proclaimed Offender" without any justification. She has also been receiving offensive phone threats for raising important issues pertaining to her district in the Provincial Assembly.

"This is pure political victimisation and adds to the string of attempts by the regime to subdue vocal women from the opposition," said the PPP's Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman. Rehman said that Alwani had recently submitted a questionnaire and resolution related to the bifurcation plan of the District Thatta, that is being strongly opposed by the local population. Soon after, she started receiving threats to take back the resolution. By declaring her a proclaimed offender in a fabricated case, she has been sent a strong message by the regime that has the worst record of political victimisation in the history of the country.

Rehman noted that the current regime has a systematic way of putting hurdles in the way of opposition parliamentarians, especially women. "You are doubly victimised if you happen to be a woman parliamentarian belonging to the opposition. Both inside the assembly and outside, things are deliberately made difficult for you. The intention is to prevent the opposition members from carrying out their legislative responsibilities, and in turn to promote them as an incompetent lot"

The PPP observed that the Musharraf regime claims to be the biggest proponent of women's rights and democracy. "What democracy is it trying to claim the credit for? What is the use of 17% representation of women in the legislative assemblies, when they are not allowed the freedom to carry out their duties."

Drawing parallels between the Musharraf regime's and Zia-ul-Haq's strategy of political victimisation of the PPP leaders, Rehman said this regime's record in this regard puts its predecessor to shame. "The Musharraf regime carries out its oppressive tactics right in the public glare. The February 10 bye-elections and the MQM City Council Members thrashing of the PPP women Council Members in Karachi last week are just two of the many recent cases. The PPP workers have been harassed, attacked, threatened and killed during the past seven years. Those that are a part of the assemblies face immense hurdles in their line of duty. Furthermore, there has been scores of countrywide arrests of the PPP workers in the run up to the Chief Justice's case's hearing."

Rehman demanded an immediate withdrawal of the fabricated case against Humaira Alwani and an end to her harassment. "The PPP has a history of standing up against oppressive regimes. Such tactics will not succeed in subduing us. Our commitment and responsibilities lie with the People of Pakistan and we owe it to them to fulfil our responsibilities as parliamentarians. Any attempt to stop us is a violation of our fundamental human rights and the PPP stands ready to fight anyone who challenges that."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP condemns Gujranwala rape case

Islamabad, May 5, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party strongly denounced the gruesome murder of a teenage girl who was raped and set on fire in Gujranwala. The murder was allegedly aided by the powerful Union Council Chairman of the area and the police's attitude added to the miseries of the family.

Six goons are reported to have kidnapped the 16-year-old daughter of Muhammad Younis, and gang raped her. They allegedly hid the body of the victim in a pile of chaff with the help of their relatives, the Union Council Chairman and the Numberdar of the area. Fearing a police raid, they later burnt her alive. The victim's family's ordeal continued as the police refused to lodge an FIR, and instead implicated her father and brother-in-law in the case. The family was later expelled from the village upon the orders of the influential people of the area.

"This is a gruesome and shocking incident and the perpetrators of the crime deserve exemplary punishment," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party, while condemning the incident. "Unfortunately, such crimes have become a regular part of Pakistani society's day to day life, and seldom manage to get enough attention. In the first quarter of the year, there have been 43 cases of rape reported in the province of Sindh alone. It is worth pointing out that the figures for the entire country are likely to run into hundreds especially if we take into account the cases that go unreported. "

Rehman observed that the involvement of influential people in rape cases, as was the case in Gujranwala , is a testimony to the fact that the rule of law is not taken seriously. "How can it be, when the highest authority in the country treats the institute of justice as nothing more than a rough piece of paper that can be twisted and manoeuvred when it suits him." Pointing to the zero performance of the regime to nip the evil of the parallel justice system, Rehman emphasised that it is a proven fact that the parallel justice system in the form of jirgas have always encouraged such crimes.

"The situation in Pakistan is very serious," Rehman opined. "The fact that no amount of punishment deters people from committing this crime points to the failure of the justice system in the country. Even the police sides with the criminals and feels no responsibility towards the public. As reported in the Gujranwala rape case, the police actually implicated the father of the victim rather than carrying out its duty of lodging an FIR. This makes it abundantly clear that the state institutes have failed in their responsibility to protect the life and the interest of the common person. And this is hardly surprising since those running the country continue to violate the law with impunity."

Demanding immediate arrests of the culprits, and court proceedings for the case, Rehman said that the Musharraf regime seriously needs to demonstrate its commitment to the cause of making justice accessible to the average citizen. "Instead of playing with the institute, the regime needs to strengthen it to enable it to provide relief to the men and women of Pakistan."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

'Peoples Party stands behind the journalist community' - PPP

Islamabad, May 03, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party expressed solidarity with the journalist community of the country as the world media marked the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2007.

Pakistan does not have much to celebrate at the annual occasion as the country recently featured as one of the top 10 worst countries for press freedom. This was reported by an international media watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists. The report pointed that eight journalists have been killed in the last five years, while at least 15 have been abducted in that time. In the South Asia, Pakistan ranks as the top country for its unsafe media environment and killed journalists.

Extending her Party's support to the journalist community, Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party said that her party stands for the freedom of the media and would back any move that facilitates improvement in the working condition of the media. "Media has been the most important catalyst for change in the country and the commitment and the resilience that the Pakistani media community has demonstrated in the face of state atrocities has been exemplary."

Regretting the fact that even in today's information age, Pakistani journalists continue to face threats to their lives in the line of duty, Rehman said that the state can not turn its back from its constitutional obligation to protect the lives of its citizens, and develop an environment that supports the free flow of information. "The Musharraf regime never gets tired of making tall claims of its commitment to media freedom. Ironically, this government's record of violating media freedom is matched only by Zia-ul-Haq's draconian era. According to independent reports, over two dozen journalists have been killed in Pakistan during the last seven years. 68 journalists have been abducted, arrested or detained; 81 tortured or injured; more than 114 threatened or intimidated, while there have been 37 attacks on media property," Rehman informed.

Lauding the journalists for working under the most trying of circumstances, Rehman said that the journalists in Pakistan walk on a double-edged sword. "On the one hand there is the state that shamelessly uses force to crush dissent, as it so blatantly did by attacking Geo TV in the broad daylight a few weeks back. On the other hand, there are forces – backed by the state, in many instances – that do not tolerate independent reporting and have been violating law, harassing and even killing journalists, as witnessed in FATA, interior Sindh and Balochistan. With half the country becoming a no-go area, the state has miserably failed in its responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens. If anything, it has been violating the law itself."

Rehman slated the government for closing its eyes to atrocities against the journalists. "To date, none of the inquiries conducted to investigate the killing of journalists have reached any conclusion. In fact there is a clear evidence of the state's involvement in many of the cases. The merciless slaying of a tribal photojournalist, Hayatullah Khan Dawar, last year is a case in point. It is common knowledge that he had been picked up by intelligence agencies after he released pictures of an attack in North Waziristan. Similarly, private elements are as active against the journalists. Just recently, during the tribal infighting, foreign militants killed three family members of a reporter in Waziristan."

Rehman noted that it is most unfortunate for Pakistani journalists that the source of hostilities come from those who have the constitutional obligation of safeguarding their interests. During 2006 alone, the Reporter Sans Frontiers recorded 40 cases of harassment and threats received by the journalists from the state authorities. The country experienced unprecedented curbs on the media in the wake of the recent judicial crisis, when the transmission of the two channels was suspended and the office of one was attacked. The show-cause notice served to Aaj TV and the government's reluctance to extend license to TV channels on ambiguous grounds, and the installation of a senseless watchdog in the form of PEMRA clearly speak of the Musharraf regime's insincerity in carrying out its constitutional obligations towards the media."

Reiterating her party's serious commitment to the cause of free media, Rehman stated that her party has been, and would always be, supporting any legislation that paves the way for better working conditions for the journalists, and an improved information environment. "The Peoples Party enjoys the distinction of being the only party that has an ideal working relationship with journalists and we consider the media as our natural partners in our fight for the cause of democracy in the country."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

'People want Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto back' – IRI survey

Islamabad, May 2, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party remains the favoured choice of the masses and is likely to sweep polls if free and fair elections are held in the country. This was testified by a survey studying and analysing voters' trend, as the country braces for the next general elections to be held later this year. The survey was conducted by the International Republican Institute that has been conducting such polls in the past as well.

"The survey should serve as an eye-opener to those who advocate the idea of tailored democracy for Pakistan. In contrast to the rulers, the masses are very clear in their minds about the future set up for Pakistan . They want a democratic government and a strong parliament to represent them, and work for their welfare," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. Rehman stressed that the ratings of the Musharraf regime, even though it is bolstered by the benefits of incumbency, are at an all time low thanks to the mess it has landed the country in. "It is also clear that the survey would reflect an even bigger swing towards the return of democratic institutions through a peaceful transition had it been conducted after March 9, 2007. Even so, a 15% rise in the popularity of the opposition stands in sharp contrast to a 10% drop in the popularity of the government and clearly negates the Musharraf regime's claims that it enjoys the support of the so-called silent majority. Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto still remains the most popular leader in the country and 38.9% of the people are likely to vote jointly for PML-N and PPP alliance outstripping the PML-Q/MQM coalition by 24.5%," Rehman pointed out.

Rehman observed that the survey clearly indicates that an overwhelming majority, 46% of the people, feel that army should have no role in the affairs of civilian governments. 70% of the people strongly want the exiled leadership, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif to be allowed back to the country to contest the general elections. About 50% of people agree that democracy will make their lives better.

Denouncing the Musharraf regime for making false claims about the support of the majority of masses for another term for General Musharraf, Rehman pointed out that over 44% of the people oppose Pervez Musharraf's re-election by the current parliament while 53% oppose his decision not to resign from the Army. An overwhelming majority at 56% rejects Musharraf's decision to hold the position of the army chief and President at the same time. "Going by popular trends, General Musharraf would be ushering in his own end-game if his cohorts attempt to have him re-elected through the current parliament," warned Rehman.

" Given the National Assembly's dismal performance under the strict control of a partisan Speaker who is handed a clear agenda by the government, no-one should be surprised that the institution got such low ratings as a credible institution." The PPP Central Information Secretary said that people's frustration with the current parliament are justified given that it has not been allowed to function independently nor reflect peoples' aspirations during the past five years. The National Assembly witnessed a drop of 7% in its popularity, compared to September 2006, indicating a lack of confidence of the electorate in the parliament.

The PPP emphasised that the state of the economy, unemployment, poverty, education, water, electricity, health and roads remain the core issues for voters on the basis of which they make their choices about which party they want to bring into government. "An overwhelming majority at 42%, up by 6% from September 2006, agree that the ruling coalition do not deserve re-election. The mass rejection of the PML-Q clearly indicates that the ruling regime has dismally failed in addressing people's concerns in matters related to their daily lives. Inflation, especially food inflation, remains in double digits while lack of employment opportunities stemming from political instability has been pushing many people to situations where they become easy targets for manipulation by extremist forces," opined Rehman.

"After seven years of being ruled by an authoritative regime that never cared for people's choices and failed to solve their problems, the masses are clearly pining for a democratic dispensation," said Rehman. "People see democracy as the sole solution to their problems. According to the IRI survey, 67% of people agree that democracy leads to provincial autonomy, more aid and control over resources. An overwhelming 70% agree that democracy can force the government to address their concerns related to the economy, jobs and inflation."

The PPP Central Information Secretary said that after the results of the comprehensive survey, there should be no doubt in the ruling regime's minds about the choices of the masses. "Despite suffering a decade of political mudslinging and a spate of attempts at breaking its back, the Peoples Party remains the most popular party with the masses, enjoying a strong support base in the rural areas, labourers and low-income households that comprises the majority of Pakistan. The IRI survey makes it very clear that it is only the absence of free and fair elections that can keep the PPP out of power."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

'City Council incident, disgraceful' - PPP

Islamabad, April 28, 07: The Pakistan Peoples Party slated the members of the treasury benches of Karachi's City Council for indulging in the worst undemocratic act in the history of the country.

On April 26, 2007, the members of the City Government Karachi clashed with the opposition members at the City Council session and beat them up indiscriminately. Several PPP members and those of other opposition parties were injured. Women opposition members were not spared either and the national press splashed embarrassing images of MQM member Salman Baloch attacking a woman opposition member with a belt. The scuffle followed when the City Council convener Nasreen Jalil refused to introduce the new Awam Dost Nazim Haji Yaqoob from UC-6 Baldia Town on the pretext that no notification has been issued in this regard. Instead of heeding the opposition's request to produce the notification later, the treasury members sought to forcefully expel Yaqoob from the Council. Upon resistance, the opposition members found themselves at the receiving end of verbal abuses and thrashing from the members of the treasury benches led by the Haq Parast group.

"This is the most disgraceful incident in the history of the country," said the Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party, Sherry Rehman. "However, coming from a party that has a bleak history of violence behind it, and that has even come to power at the show of the gun, this incident was hardly surprising."

Rehman informed that several of the PPP and the other party's members sustained serious internal and external injuries as a result of Thursday's scuffle. "The images of Haq Parast' Nazim Salman Baloch directing a belt towards a woman opposition member put the entire nation to shame. This is a party that just took out a rally in the city projecting itself as the biggest supporter of the women's cause. It is an utter disgrace to see the level the Haq Parast members can stoop to to settle scores with the Awam Dost leaders."

Rehman also pointed that when the opposition members sought to lodge an FIR after the incident, the police refused to do so. "Two days have passed since the incident, and an FIR has yet to be lodged. This is despite the fact that the police is witness to the injuries sustained by the opposition members. Haji Yaqoob suffered a fractured leg, while Yousaf Naz's rib-cage was broken. Prominent opposition member Saeed Ghani received punches and Mehboob-ur-Rehman was severely beaten too. Apparently, the Haq Parat members were so outraged that they even beat the members who did not belong to the Awam Dost group," Rehman observed.

Rehman added that it is an established fact that the Haq Parast members came to power as a result of massive rigging and gun show. "Now that they are in power, they want to eliminate the opposition like their partners in Islamabad. Thanks to the state's backing to violence as is evident from Jamia Hafsa case and the February 10 bye-elections, there seems to be no end to this negative trend."

Demanding that an FIR be lodged on an urgent basis and an enquiry be launched, Rehman declared the incident as another test for the Musharraf regime and the City District Government of Karachi as both of them claim the credit for tolerating opposition. "We do not even need to produce a proof. It is all over the national press. Now it is up to the government to come forward and prove that there is some truth in its claims of according opposition members their due respect and space in the affairs of the legislation."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

Below is the complete text of the letter read out in extracts by Sherry Rehman, submitted to NA speaker, rejecting the emoluments of the session so for:

To
The Speaker,
National Assembly of Pakistan
Islamabad
26 April 2007

Dear Sir,

It is with a heavy heart that I formally write to you about a matter that concerns every parliamentarian in Pakistan. Indeed, it is in fact a matter that has troubled not just the hearts and minds of those of us who have the privilege of being Members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, but also conscientious citizens of our troubled republic.

For over four years, Mr Speaker, as a woman and an opposition member, I have endured not just the gender bias reinforced in this Assembly by acts of commission and omission on your part as custodian of the House, but also the consequences of being treated as a Member whose speech must be limited at best, and completely curtailed at worst. To be fair to your office and self, there have been rare occasions when I have been allowed to speak on matters of public importance and those I hereby acknowledge, but these have been outside the norm and granted to me often not as a right but as a hard-fought exception.

All parliamentarians recognize the right of the Speaker to exercise discretion in allowing speeches, but in no parliament are issues of grave public importance allowed to be put off for days and weeks on end, on the arbitrary whim of the government of the day. No Member who speaks of the rights of the judiciary can be deemed guilty of contempt of court, so let that fig-leaf not be made an instrumental of authoritarian oppression.

We all recognize that the country is facing one of the worst institutional crises in its recent history. Since March 9, a grave situation has arisen after the unconstitutional and unseemly removal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. No one can deny that more than a dozen judges have resigned in protest at this action, and that the entire legal community, civil society and political class of the country have risen up in unison against the unilateral display of executive power that challenged the independence and autonomy of the judiciary at the highest level.

Yet despite a Resolution moved by the Law Minister, which has been signed by almost all members of the opposition available in the National Assembly, and through several Motions that sought to adjourn the business of the House as per Rule 108, the National Assembly has not been allowed to speak about this matter of urgent and national public importance for an entire working week since the Assembly commenced business in its session on April 23 rd 2007.

Mr Speaker, you will appreciate that the public has high expectations from its elected representatives, and we indeed have a collective and individual duty to live up to those expectations. You will also appreciate that in allowing ourselves to be complicit in the regime's manipulations to silence the opposition, particularly certain Members such as the undersigned, I for one become guilty of a serious lapse in my obligations to the public that shoulders the burden of my emoluments as a public representative.

In the light of the fact that I have not been allowed to speak, like many of my colleagues in the national Assembly, on any subject of national importance, particularly the matter of the judicial crisis, including the blockages on the media, and its effects on the supremacy of the law, the relevance of the constitution and the very survival of critical democratic procedures, I regret to say that in all good conscience I cannot accept my salary as an MNA after this week of enforced non-performance of my individual and collective public duties.

Sir, you will note that at the worst of times, this parliament has at least been allowed to register its protest at the subversion of law and other matters against public interest, even if it has been stripped of all powers associated with a parliamentary system. This time, however, all limits to silence the opposition have been exceeded in most egregious fashion.

It is my firm belief that we were elected here to represent the interests of the sovereign will of the people of Pakistan, and I wish to bring on public record and to your office that I do not feel entitled to draw my salary at public expense after having my lips sealed at this most critical juncture in the events that shape our country's future. History will judge us very harshly if as individuals we do not even use this House to register a timely protest.

It is a sobering day when a delegation of the International Court of Jurists can say in our federal capital that " the current judicial crisis could worsen and cause irreversible damage to the constitutional order in Pakistan" , but we as public representatives face a situation where no condemnation or observation can pass as institutional record over a long and serious debate in the highest legislative body in the land.

Mr Speaker, I take this opportunity to remind you that as impartial custodian of this House, it is incumbent upon you to resume the sitting of the National Assembly of Pakistan by opening with the debate that is the urgent and burning need of the day. I urge you once again to uphold the Rules enshrined in the Constitution that explicitly state " there shall be freedom of speech in the Parliament, and no member shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given him in the Parliament." [Clause 66]


Sincerely Yours,

Sherry Rehman
Member National Assembly

PPP condoles the death of Ahmed Hassan Alvi

Islamabad, April 24, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party has expressed grief over the death of renowned journalist, Ahmed Hassan Alvi.

Terming it as a great loss to journalism, and to the country, the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Sherry Rehman recalled late Alvi as a brave journalist whose work reflected the virtues of objectivity and impartiality. "There was much to be learnt from the veteran journalist, and his demise has deprived the national journalism of an institute that brought the element of respect to the field."

On the behalf of her party, Rehman extended heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Alvi. "We all share the grief of the bereaved family and hope that late Alvi's commitment to quality journalism will be carried forward by his colleagues."

'Show-cause notice to Aaj TV based on malice' - PPP

Islamabad, April 23, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party took strong exception to the issuance of a show-cause notice to Aaj TV, by PEMRA.

The Pakistan Peoples Party noted that the vague reason cited in the regime's show-cause against Aaj TV on in its independent programming over the current judicial crisis is a clear message to the media that the regime is no longer willing to tolerate any independent views on public television. PEMRA has also accused Aaj TV of failing to produce a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the External Publicity Wing of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting which was required for the processing of short-term uplinking licence.

"This adds to the long list of attacks on media freedom that this regime has been carrying out in the wake of judicial crisis to cover up the crisis it has created," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. Rehman said that the March 16 attack on Geo TV, caught live on camera, and the regime's long pending conflict with other leading newspaper groups is a testimony to the fact that it will go to any length to suppress dissent.

Expressing shock at the Musharraf regime's handling of the judicial crisis – that is the product of its own making – Rehman said that it is a reminder of Zia era's draconian practices. "Back then the press would be forced to leave out news items that were deemed anti-government. Today, PEMRA has been assigned the same task, to harass media to suppress information detrimental to the regime's interest."

The PPP noted that that anybody who has been observing the recent events would be cognisant of the amount of resources and energy being channelled into suppressing all opposition to the judicial crisis. "Massive crackdown on political parties' activists and lawyers, planting agency personnel to create bad blood between the protestors and harassing media organisations clearly indicates that the government is finding it extremely difficult to control the public outburst against its unconstitutional act."

Questioning PEMRA's authority to carry out unconstitutional decisions, Rehman stressed that the organisation's conduct over the years has proved that it is nothing more than a stick that the Musharraf regime wields every now and then to bully print and broadcast media organisations forcing them to tow the government line. "The only thing PEMRA has successfully done over the years is to creat confusion. It evokes different set of laws at different points in time to suit the mood of the regime. It has yet to chart out a set of policies that should pave the way for a healthy information culture. The show-cause notice to Aaj TV is a clear proof that PEMRA has been formed to safeguard the regime's interest and not to regulate the functioning of the electronic media organisations."

Terming the decision to issue a show-cause notice to Aaj TV as "senseless", Rehman said that the Musharraf regime needs to stop tempering with all institutions in the country. "We have every reason to believe that the notice issued to Aaj TV is based on malafide intentions and is merely a tool to threaten the channel to tone down its coverage of the judicial crisis. There is also a message for other channels to exercise restraint in their coverage of such issues."

Calling for the immediate withdrawal of the notice, Rehman reiterated the PPP's commitment to fight for the nation's right to have access to free flow of information and media organisation's right to work in a healthy environment. She also added that Peoples Party has always been a strong supporter of media freedoms and will continue to raise its voice against the Musharraf regime's unlawful acts against the media and the citizens.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

To
The Speaker
National Assembly, Islamabad
April 23, 2007

ADJOURNMENT MOTION

We, the undersigned, file the following adjournment motion under Rule 92 of the Rules of Business of the National Assembly of Pakistan:

The recent judicial crisis has seen some of the worst cases of human rights abuses in the history of the country. The entire country, and particularly the province of Punjab, has been turned into a police state for political parties' workers seeking to protest against the unlawful suspension of the respected Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The security agencies have launched a massive crackdown against political parties' workers across the country to prevent people from exercising their democratic right to protest against the March 9 events. According to newspaper reports, more than 300 leaders and activists belonging to various political parties have been detained since March 9, with 70 of them arrested on the eve of April 18, 2007 hearing of the reference against the CJ. The arrested PPP and ARD activists have been shifted to jails in far-off places in Punjab to keep them away from their families. Many workers have been taken to unknown places and their families and parties have no knowledge of their whereabouts.

These activists are being harassed and maltreated while in detention. They are promised freedom only on the assurance that they would not participate in the protests against the suspension of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

There is no pretext for arresting these workers as none of them have been found to be involved in any act of violence during the protests. They have been peacefully demonstrating against General Musharraf's unlawful act against the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The world is witness to the brute use of force that the police resort to every time these protests are in progress.

The case of Mr Nisar Bhatti, a respected activist of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Lahore, is just one out of several examples of the police brutality against political parties' workers. Mr Bhatti has been detained along with nine members of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), in Dera Ghazi Khan Jail. They are being subjected to inhuman treatment and torture at the hands of the police. Mr Bhatti and his fellow detainees have no access to clean water and air. When the PPP workers went to see him, the police not only denied them a meeting with Mr Bhatti, but also snatched food items that the PPP workers had brought for Mr Bhatti.

What reason does the government have for nabbing hundreds of political activists when they have done nothing to warrant an arrest? The unlawful act has been a cause of immense agony for the family members and colleagues of the detained workers. Why is the government cracking down on the protestors when the constitution provides for the right of the citizens to hold peaceful protests?

This constitutes a grave violation of the public's democratic right to register its protest against unlawful actions of the government. It is entirely of recent occurrence, and requires immediate discussion on the floor of the House by suspending all other business.

Please find press clipping from The Nation, April 18, 2007 for ready reference. Also attached is a list of the PPP workers unlawfully detained by the police.

Signed: Sherry Rehman NA 309
MNA, PPPP.

Arrests of PPP activists, a cowardly act .

Islamabad, April 23, 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party strongly denounced the massive crackdown launched by security agencies against political activists following the March 9 judicial crisis.

The unconstitutional suspension of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has given way to widespread protests across the country. Caught on a wrong foot, the Musharraf regime has been trying hard to suppress the mass protests led by political parties and lawyers. Several raids have been carried out during the course of the past five weeks resulting in the arrests of political parties' leaders and activists, mainly those belonging to the PPP and the ARD. The arrested activists have been shifted to jails in far-off places in Punjab. Some of the workers have been detained at unknown places and their whereabouts are still not known.

"This is the classic case of state vandalism," said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. "Apparently, the regime has become so insecure with the massive protests against General Musharraf's unlawful act that it is resorting to another series of unlawful measures to suppress the opposition."

Expressing shock at the detention of political activist, Rehman said that there is absolutely no excuse for these arrests. "The political parties have been holding demonstrations very peacefully and there has been no instance of violence by the PPP activists at any of the protests. Yet the regime is hell bent on turning the country into a police state to suppress dissent. The police are actually arresting political activists from their homes to stop them from exercising their democratic right to participate in the protests."

Rehman informed that more than 300 leaders and activists belonging to various political parties have been detained during the raids being carried out over the past several weeks.

"Seventy activists were arrested on the eve of April 18, 2007 hearing of the reference alone. These activists are being harassed and maltreated while in detention. The arrested leaders are promised freedom only on the assurance that they would not participate in the protests against the suspension of the Chief Justice of Pakistan."

Rehman cited the case of Mr Nisar Bhatti, a respected activist of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Lahore, who has been detained in Dera Ghazi Khan Jail along with nine PML-N workers. According to the reports, Mr Bhatti and his fellow party activists are being subjected to inhuman treatment and torture at the hands of the police. "They have no access to clean water and air while the temperature soars to 40 degree Celsius. When the PPP workers went to see Mr Bhatti, the police not only denied them a meeting him, but also snatched items of daily use that the PPP workers had brought for Mr Bhatti," revealed Rehman

Describing the arrests as "another unconstitutional act by the Musharraf regime," Rehman said that such tactics will do nothing to dampen the spirits of the PPP workers. "The massive protest in the wake of the judicial crisis is a clear proof that people are sick and tired of a non-representative government that will stoop to any level to prolong its hold on power. It is therefore no surprise that the security agencies are detaining the PPP and other political parties' workers even though none of them have been charged for indulging in any unlawful activity. All they are doing is exercising their democratic right to protest against an unlawful act by the sitting government."

Submitting an adjournment motion on the issue, Rehman sought immediate release of the PPP and ARD activists "who are being victimised for standing up against official brutality." Rehman also released a list of the names of the PPP leaders who have been detained by the security agencies during the run up to the protests.

PPP Gives Call to Centre and Provinces to Support Bar Councils on 21st March:

Condemns Battering of Lawyers, Media and Public Representatives by a Despotic Regime.

The Pakistan Peoples Party has called on all its MNAs and Senators to be in Islamabad to protest the assault on judicial independence and to support all the bar councils in their struggle on 21 March 2007. Directions have also gone out to all the Provincial Executive Committees to ensure that all the provincial bar councils are also supported by the PPP's MPAs and activists on the same day in all four provincial capitals.

The party has strongly condemned the vicious and unprovoked attacks on the lawyer's community by pelting rubber bullets, baton charges and teargas in Lahore even when the lawyers were gathered peacefully to protest what is their legitimate right. The arrests of party leaders and MNAs from Lahore on the 17 March was equally condemnable and showed that the regime is losing even the facade of democracy that it pretended to maintain.

Manhandling the CJ and his family in front of the Supreme Court where he had appeared after a humiliating period of house arrest, for his hearing, was an attempt to not only strip him of his dignity but the tremendous respect his office carried with it, said Central Information Secretary of the PPP. No wonder judges all over the country are beginning to hand in their resignations, she said, as they are no longer assured of the authority and respect of their office by this despotic regime.

Sherry Rehman also said that the PPP was the first government to open up the airwaves through the satellite and communication revolution it had worked hard to unleash, and was very sorry to see media independence compromised through blackouts and blackmail of private channels throughout this crisis. It was indeed a black day for the people of Pakistan that private channels and newspaper offices got their offices battered through brutal police action action that was reminiscent of the worst dictatorships of the cold war era.

This was the worst possible demonstration of state terrorism against the people, their judiciary, their representatives and the media in a long time in Pakistan, she said.

"In any other country, we would have seen heads roll instead of ministers and all-powerful Generals claiming that this is all a conspiracy against them and that they had no control on what the police did right in front of the Supreme Court, turning Constitution Avenue into a battle ground. If the regime has even lost control of its police and law enforcing authorities, she said, what is it doing in Islamabad pretending to run Pakistan?" " When governments lose their grip on even their own agents, then they should step down immediately instead of running the country drift into further chaos and instability, demanded Rehman.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Summons a Second CEC/ FC meeting on 16th March

Islamabad, 14 March 2007: On the instructions of the party Chairperson, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan Peoples Party has called a second meeting of its Central Executive Committee and Federal Council at 11 am on March 16 at its Central Secretariat in Islamabad to express complete solidarity with the Bar associations and councils in their current crisis. All MNAs are expected to the join the meeting at 1 pm.
In the absence of the party Chairperson, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, will preside over the meeting.

Sherry Rehman,
Central Information Secretary

Message from Exile: Waiting for Justice

Dr Shazia Khalid's audio address at the Pakistan Peoples Party seminar on International Women's Day

Dear All,

I am grateful to you all for giving me an opportunity on this very important occasion, the International Woman's Day, to talk about myself, and all my sisters in Pakistan. I want to express my gratitude to Mohtarma Bibi Sahiba, as I know being a woman she fully understands the problems faced by women in Pakistan. I wish her success in her mission. Aamin!

I regret that due to various reasons, I could not personally come to Pakistan. However, I have full confidence in Allah that not only one day I will get full justice for the tragic incident that happened to me, but Insha'Allah I will be back in my own country, among my people with respect and honour.

At this time, I don't want to talk about the excesses and injustices that I faced at every step since everybody knows what happened to me, and how I was treated. I regret that some people termed my being out of my country as self protection and also said that it was my personal wish. You tell me, if God forbid, a tragic incident like this happens to a woman, would justice not be the greatest protection she would want for herself? I think for that woman to get justice is as essential as the fulfilment of the last wish of a dying man. Because, in cases of assault, the women, mothers and daughters are affected. Not only their lives are destroyed but a whole next generation is adversely affected.

What kind of justice is this that everything of this person, who has been assaulted, should be destroyed and she be forced to leave the country to avert any political crisis? And in the end, she is told to place her case in God's hands for justice. If that is how it is meant to work, then the country's courts should be locked away.

May Allah protect the honour of all mothers, sisters and daughters. However, the fact remains that thousands of women are assaulted everyday; they are burnt alive, acid is thrown on them; they are killed in public, they are raped and their honour is destroyed. Why is it that all of them are not placed in planes and sent abroad to other countries? Is this any way to do justice?

I always pray to God that our country gets a system wherein rich and poor, men and women get the same justice so that Pakistan becomes an example of a just state in the world.

When justice is not done in high profile national and international level cases, what becomes the fate of the regular cases becomes? What about those cases which have not been reported? When one out of those thousands stands up and make a strong call for justice then some people think this maligns the reputation of the country. Is making a hue and cry for justice giving a bad name or maligning the country? The country does not get a bad name from people crying for justice. It gets a bad name from non-availability of justice from those people who believe that rule of law and law courts are merely a joke. When on top of it, Pakistan's mothers and daughters are maligned internationally it is said that "Rape cases are money making concerns?" This way, not only the women and country gets a bad reputation, it also encourages the aggressors. As a result, these kinds of cases go up everyday. When you do not realize the real value of the women's honour and respect, then where is justice and protection?

Today I salute my country even after being exiled from it. In my heart, I have immense love and respect for my country and my land, as any patriotic citizen should have. My life's greatest desire is that I should be given justice and the real culprits should be brought to book so that I can return to my native land and be able to live in my country and society with honour.

It is not just my desire but it is the wish of every Pakistani that things should change in Pakistan, so that we should be able to hold our heads high and be able to proudly say, not only in our own country but abroad too, that we have justice and rule of law in our country, and justice is the same for everyone, and that a woman is not maligned instead of getting justice, and she certainly regains her lost honour and place (by getting justice in time).

In the end, I request the Pakistan People Party and Bibi Sahiba that if Allah gives you people the opportunity to govern Pakistan, the priority task you should take up, should be the establishment of rule of law and justice in the country to solve the problems of the women of Pakistan.

Mukhtaran Mai's audiovisual address at the Pakistan Peoples Party seminar to commemorate the International Women's Day

Bismillah-e-Rehman-er-Rahim

My brothers and sisters,

Assalam-au-Alaikum!

My message on the International Women's Day is: raise your voice for justice and stand up against abuse. For me, the International Women's Day holds immense significance and value. This day boosts my courage. (In our society) a woman has to struggle very hard for justice. Women are not given equal rights. I believe it is a very tough journey. However, I am hopeful and I stand by my sisters. And I pledge to continue this struggle till my last breath.

I think, with the recent amendments in the Hudood Bill, there is a hope for a change for the better (for the women of Pakistan). Earlier, the abuse against women used to go unreported. Today, such cases cannot be hidden from the public glare. Victimized women now come forward to seek justice. I look at it as everybody's and the PPP's success, as the party has worked very hard at getting this bill passed at the parliament. I hope, if properly used, the bill will bring about great changes, Insha'Allah.

In our society, the excesses against a woman start from her physical abuse and carry on from her house to the police station, to the law courts and everywhere she goes. Even at home, women are subjected to several injustices. They are deprived of their inheritance rights and are subjected to violence at the hands of their husbands and brothers. So, a woman's suffering starts from her home and haunts her to the police station and the law courts.

I feel that anybody who reads my memoirs, (In the Name of Honour: A memoir), is compelled to think, at least once, of any injustice he may have done to a woman. The list of abuses against women is so long that it cannot be covered in this short conversation. The book is based on reality. There are no fabrications. And that is the best thing about it.

I think we should all support oppressed and victimized women. Not because they should be supported. But because what happened to them today, could happen to our sisters and daughters tomorrow. We should support them in their struggle for justice so that tomorrow our daughters and sisters should also get justice.

I am grateful to the Pakistan Peoples Party for giving me the opportunity to convey my message to the public. I would conclude with this verse:

The oppressed is the biggest hypocrite because he chooses to suffer, but refuses to stand up.

My message is: Crush oppression through education! Thank you very much.

Message from Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto

For the seminar on International Women's Day

March 7, 2007: I am pleased to learn that the PPP has organised a conference in Islamabad to commemorate the International Women's Day on March 8, 2007.

On this auspicious occasion, I wish to congratulate the women of the world in general and of Pakistan in particular. I also wish to compliment Ms Sherry Rehman MNA and all those dedicated workers whose efforts have made possible the holding of this conference.

The Pakistan Peoples Party considers promotion of women's rights as a religious, moral and political obligation. For us, Islam came as a message of emancipation to stop violence against the girl child who was being buried alive in pagan days. Islam gave property rights to women when women were treated as property in the Western world. It is indeed a tragedy that a pristine religion which gave dignity and respect to women has had its image tarnished by fanatic forces that attempt to degrade women in the name of honour crimes and through discrimination.

Islam gave equality to men and women. The constitution of Pakistan, framed in 1973 by Quaid e Awam, gave equality to men and women. It is only when we give freedom and respect to every individual, irrespective of race, religion or gender that we can achieve the noblest ideals of humanity and call ourselves a civilised nation.

It was in that spirit that the Pakistan Peoples Party in my Government signed the Convention to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women. We appointed women judges to our higher judiciary and opened women Police stations to hear crimes against women. We instituted family courts with women judges to hear custody cases and matters relating to the family. We recruited women as Lady Health Workers and as Teachers knowing that job opportunity gives women economic independence and economic independence is the key to making independent choices. We opened a Women's Bank to give credit only to women so that women could open businesses of their own. We lifted the ban on women taking part in sports and held the first Muslim Women's Parliamentarian Conference so that women leaders could discuss the challenges women face in the Muslim community.

Unfortunately many of the advances women made have been reversed since the PPP government was undemocratically dismissed in 1996. The death of democracy in 1996 culminated ultimately in military rule once again. Despite our differences with the military regime, the PPP worked on a Joint bill with the Treasury benches to safeguard the rights of women. The PPP will always stand by the women of Pakistan.

Today the countries in the West have developed to give equality, opportunity, tolerance and peace to their societies and people. They are advancing due to these guiding principles. In the meantime, the Muslim world is facing a crisis where suicide bombers try to hold the future progress and prosperity of the nation hostage and where there is exploitation at every level between men and women, between Muslim and non Muslim, between one sect and another. This is wrong and we must all unite to rectify the wrong so as to build a glorious society of freedom, equality, justice, peace and opportunity for our young people.

On this women's day let us resolve, each one of us in this hall, across our nation and across our global village, to work together to protect the rights of women who are our daughters, mothers and sisters. Those who cannot respect their mothers, daughters and sisters cannot respect themselves.

The PPP condemns when those who committed crimes against women, like the attack on Dr Shazia, roam are free or when a ten year old girl is not safe from being sold as a debt that her father owes. Such acts are repugnant to the PPP. We solemnly promise the great people of our great Nation, that when elected to government, we will ensure justice to those denied justice. We will punish the criminals and safeguard the honour of our women, the honour of the weak and the oppressed.

Let me on this day pay tribute to a great lady born in a humble home in a small Saraiki village. I know I speak for all of you when on behalf of the Pakistan Peoples Party, I pay tribute to Mukhtaran Mai who held up her head and humiliated her tormentors, who indeed were the tormentors of the conscience of the Nation. Mukhtaran Mai's courage and fortitude is one that will live on and inspire generations to come to heroically stand up against oppression.

It is the humble and the weak who are the real strength of Pakistan. They supported Quaid e Azam and created the state of Pakistan. It was the weak, the dispossessed who supported Quaid e Awam and saved Pakistan after the fall of Dacca in 1971. It was the downtrodden and the exploited who supported the PPP to restore democracy in 1988.

God willing, it will once again be the voice of the masses which will triumph in the general elections of 2007 to bring back democracy and real representative government to our country so we can begin the gigantic task of building hope by investing in employment, energy and education.

Ladies and Gentleman, thank you for being with the Pakistan Peoples Party today in observing Women's Day and by so doing proving we have the common will to work towards the great goal of gender equality and gender rights.

Women and Political Participation:
A View from Inside the Trenches
Sherry Rehman  Islamabad, March 7, 2007

 

• When women legislators made their way into the assemblies in 2002, there was much applause as this was the first time women legislators had such a wide representation in both the houses (73 in NA and 17 in the Senate, 43,000 women councillors). This meant 33 % in the Local Bodies and 17 % in parliament. Such a "large" majority of women in the assembly not only projected the " enlightened" image of the current regime, it also led to increased expectation from women to "revolutionise" the system and introduce and lobby for pro-women legislation that should provide relief to the 50% of the population.

• Five years on, the good news is that women are speaking out, no thanks to an official culture that seeks to present one face to the international community and another face for its victims, like Mukhtara Mai and Dr Shazia Khalid. The bad news is all over the place: The fact that these women encountered the personal wrath of General Musharraf is itself an index of the arbitrary state of affairs in Pakistan.
• Five years on, and very little legislation has actually been done to empower women. A toothless Honour Killings bill and an incomplete set of amendments in the Hudood Ordinance is all that the regime has had to offer in five years . Only 21.3% women represent half the population. All this is testimony to the fact that unless the intent of increased representation of women is based on a positive projection of a self-imposed regime, it is futile to expect real change.

• Despite being the most vocal supporter of Hudood amendments, the PPP is whether to describe last year's amendments as a success story or a disappointing fare for a legislative assembly that has the highest number of women parliamentarians in the history of the country. It took five years of consultations, manoeuvring, and rigorous lobbying for the PPP to succeed in convincing the government to accept the WPB. We have all witnessed the move back and forth of a non-committal government that could not decide whether it wants to tread the path of enlightened moderation or keep the short-term interests of its political supporters. This was just one change that took so long. We shudder to think how long it would take before anti-women laws are completely rooted out of the legislation.

• The dismal fate of Karo-Kari bill too is an example of how political interest dominate any move to bring about a positive change in the fate of women in Pakistan. The amendments were passed and are cited as a feather in the cap of the "gender sensitive" government. The fact is that the highest number of women legislators failed yet again to provide real relief to the thousands of women who fall prey to honour killing every year. Change? Not imminent in these circumstances.

• Having given vent to my anger over the failure of the women-ridden parliament to bring positive change in the lives of women in Pakistan, I do acknowledge that women legislators are confronted with several hurdles every step of their way as they go about doing their job.

• One lesson we have learnt over the past five years is that gender has failed to cross the boundaries set by political agendas. The passage of Hudood ordinance amendments and a toothless Karo-Kari bill is a testimony to that. We have been in the assembly for five years and yet we could not pass amendments related to sexual harassment at work, domestic violence, gender discrimination and countless other issues that hinder the progress and upward movement of the women of the country. This is not a cause for celebration.

• Women for all their strength in numbers have shown that they cannot necessarily lobby for women's concerns. The norms of politics dictate that they may actually represent political party manifestos that offer little in the way of gender equality. It is therefore as important that women's rights, as human rights be manifested in the agendas of political parties itself, as is the case with the PPP. The Party's unflinching commitment to gender justice is evident from the fact that when the time came, we supported the ruling regime to move the Hudood Ordinance amendments. This may have been an unwise move in the political sense, for us, it was more a matter of our commitment to the cause of women empowerment, than anything else.

• Women face immense hurdles as they try to go about their work. They are educated, in many cases they are backed by powerful and influential families, have come from the best universities of the world and have an array of standing offers far more exciting and financially rewarding awaiting them, should they decide to quit the assembly. Yet they face the most onerous hurdles whether they are in the legislatures or are trying to participate in the political process as voters. Just recently it was reported that women MPAs in the NWFP who had been given Rs 5mn each for development work in 2002 and Rs 10 mn in 2005-06 were reported to be unable to use these funds for the upliftment of women in their constituencies as they were prohibited to channel the allotted resources for this purpose. Hence the funds went to road-paving and canal-desilting.

• For women in legislation, the job becomes twice as tough. When politician is a woman the cultural barriers, norms, traditions and customs raise to maximum height. The male-dominated society scrutinises them for everything from their looks and presentation to their achievements. For women, to be heard in the assembly is as much of a struggle as to be considered, is. If the government doesn't want legislation on any issue, it would deliberately not bring the item on the agenda, or reject it on technical grounds.

• The "Masculine model" of political life and of elected governmental bodies dictate that the political life is organized according to male norms and values and even by male lifestyles. Sharp differences between men and women also appear with respect to agenda setting and priorities of decision-making. Women are considered to give priority to societal concerns, while men would prefer areas that suit their interest backgrounds.

• It is a widely held view that while women remain in the legislature on reserved seats, in official culture they encounter stiff resistance to expectations of equality. There is evidence that the new intake of women in local bodies and in parliament face considerable hurdles, including being trivialised even where they try to be articulate. Furthermore women on reserved seats lack constituency in the eyes of male members that dominate the political sphere on organisational and administrative level. Women are disempowered within parties as their male members often insist on the funds from women's allocations being put into a common pool.

• Unless there is a commitment on the party level there is no way increased representation of women in the legislature can make any difference. The PPP is perhaps the only party that has women's rights institutionalised as human rights in the manifesto of the party. Despite being accused of being a party comprising feudals, we have been the only party that has shown commitment to gender justice at every level. This explains why we are at the forefront when it comes to addressing concerns related to women in the country. The fact that a woman leads us, adds to our strength because it brings gender justice to our manifesto as well as our public commitments. We firmly believe that women are equal to men. Period. They are neither superior nor inferior to men.

• Of late, a spate of violence has been unleashed against women. It cannot be emphasised enough that one can fight any harassment, discrimination and any other battle for that matter. However, no amount of safety net or confidence can fight a threat to life – something that women legislators today face. This year alone, we have witnessed three prominent women targeted. One of our colleagues, unfortunately, lost her life at the hands of a fanatic who abhorred her for being unislamic. I was targeted in the public glare and am now required to undergo life-long treatment. MNA Azra Pachehu narrowly escaped an attack on her life few weeks ago. Since 2001, four women councillors have been killed in Frontier province alone. Their fault? They were women. Whether the attack on our lives is perpetrated by powerful elements, backed by the state or they are carried out by bigots of the likes of Maulvi Sarwar, the fact remains that politics is becoming a dangerous option for women.

• Women have been confronted with obstacles from the religious right in more ways than one: Women are seen as the 'Other' and little space is given for articulating an agenda in public places by the religious right, which now openly stresses the need for women to step back into their boundaries of traditional roles as defined by male-dominated societies. Political participation of women will always remain an unrealised dream unless security concerns are addressed and the rule of fair play is implemented. Women voters are similarly constrained by security concerns as they attempt to participate in electoral process. We have witnessed several instances during elections when women have been barred from exercising their right to ballot either through harassment or through agreements between feudal chiefs and orthodox elements.

• Registration has been pointed out as a major major issue blocking women's participation in politics. The Election Commission in Khyber Agency recently pointed out how women are reluctant to register their names in the new voters list being drawn up. The biggest difficulty starts with registration in electoral rolls. In order to be registered they need National Identity Card (NIC), which in itself is cumbersome process especially in rural areas. The other issues include getting to the polling station on the polling day, restrictions on rural women on casting vote in polling stations controlled by men. Of course, all this is conveniently taking care of by barring women from taking part in voting process at all. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), for its gender blind policies and conduct rules & procedures, is far behind to cater to such problems and address the related and electoral complaints.

Pakistan Peoples Party's Reforms for Women under Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto

The Pakistan Peoples Party, during its tenures, initiated a variety of pro-women policies and reforms. Many of these reforms have gone a long way in bringing about improvement in the lives of women in Pakistan.

In her first term as Prime Minister, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's government was the first to move a bill to eliminate the laws that promote Honour Killings of women in the Senate of Pakistan by the Law Minister himself, but because the Pakistan Peoples Party was always subject to the pressures of a coalition, these bills were promptly rejected by the parliament.

In her second term as Prime Minister, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's government passed the Abolishment of Punishment for Whipping Act, 1996, which reversed the mandatory whipping punishments for Zina and Zina bil Jabr in the Hudood Ordinances.

Mohtarma Bhutto's government instituted the new National Commission on the Status of Women under Nasir Aslam Zahid, which paved the way for the repeal debate on the Hudood Ordinances.

In her second term, a Human Rights Ministry was formed to watch and investigate into human rights abuses, particularly those against women. Relief was provided for victims of abuses through the newly created measures like legal aid centres and burn units in hospitals. A National Committee on Women was set up to articulate women's concerns with special emphasis on political representation and violence against women.

Her government also released thousands of women from jail put there under the Hudood Ordinance, in a move similar to the one adopted in July 2006. Unlike 2006, however, the Human Rights Ministry established by the PPP was careful to ensure that resource-strapped women were not left in jails due to bail payments they could not afford. Not only were crisis centres set up in each city but women's police stations and job quotas for women in public service promptly established.

The PPP Government had moved an amendment for the restoration of women seats in National and Provincial Assemblies when it was dismissed in 1996.

The Government set-up "Crisis Centres for women in Distress". These were pilot projects which aimed at providing medical and legal aid to the women victims of violence. The 24 hour centres were run by NGOs. The Management Committee comprised NGOs and Government Servants. Teams of volunteer doctors, lawyers and social workers were associated with the Centres to help women in distress. The PPP Government expanded the program to other urban and rural areas.

Women judges were appointed all over the High and District courts.

The recent amendments in Hudood Laws would not have been possible without the PPP's unflinching commitment to the cause of gender equality. For four years, the PPP has been dedicatedly working on Women Protection Bill, and has battled grave resistance put up by the religious orthodoxy as well as the cohorts of a non-committed government which is more interested in using women's rights as a publicity ploy than anything else.

The PPP has been as seriously working to amend the half-baked Karo-Kari Bill that the Musharraf regime passed to project its liberal image. The bill has failed miserably in stopping this heinous crime as it ignores the key compoundability clause, allowing crimes against women to be privatized.

The PPP feels that in the presence of a parliament, laws cannot be made or unmade by presidential fiat and ordinance. Had parliament discussed these laws through its relevant committees, these issues might have at least been aired, if not adopted. It is no cause for wonder that even the regime's rubber-stamp parliament continues to oppose other pro-women legislation introduced by the PPP over the last four years, such as the Domestic Violence Bill, the Empowerment of Women Bill, the Women's Affirmative Action Bill, the Anti-Honour Killings Bill and the Hudood Repeal Bill.

It is important to point out that even piecemeal legal reforms can never
really take root in a climate of fear, where the rule of law is every day institutionally subverted by a military dictator. Under democratic dispensations, no matter how dysfunctional they were, no journalists were killed for telling the truth, and no women rape victims were shockingly cast as "opportunists" by the head of state for seeking public sympathy in order to emigrate, as was done by Gen. Musharraf in the case of Dr Shazia Khalid. Under a democratic dispensation of the PPP, no churches could be burned down and no religious minorities persecuted with the kind of impunity we see today.

A Women's Sports Board was established to promote women's participation in sports and prepare Pakistani Women athletes for international competitions. The First Islamic Women's Games were held in Pakistan. Unfortunately, this regime's double standards with women have been exposed in the most scandalous ways on more than one occasion. Instead of supporting the lifting of a ban on women participating in sporting events by the PPP government, a UN Human Rights rapporteur from Pakistan was publicly humiliated for championing a mixed marathon on the streets of Lahore by a police official who ripped her clothes off in front of television crews to deliver a powerful message: women who challenge established orthodoxy supported by the regime will be accorded this punishment. This chilling message lingers in public memory, because to this date the state has continued its sanction of the police brutality by carefully ignoring appeals for reprisals of the offending policeman.

WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT
The largest credit programme was established for loans to women.

Women were encouraged to develop new skills at computer centres set up at all the provincial capitals. Unfortunately, since they harvest little international publicity, all of the above reforms have been quietly shelved by this regime.

In fact, the three most successful programmes that Pakistan continues to boast of today to its international donors as model interventions have all been established by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's government.

The Women's Bank set up to empower women by lending and banking
only to them on soft terms flourishes today.

The same is the case for the Women Health Worker's Programme, which established a vast network of 133,000 health practitioners to service rural and urban households in Pakistan, exclusively to cater to women's health needs as well as to address reproductive health issues. These women health workers today constitute all that is left of Pakistan's public health sector backbone.

The same is the case with the Polio Eradication Programmes that took vaccines to every home as part of a national health drive for a hundred per cent success rate.

During the three years (1993-96) of the PPP Government, various programmes were initiated to facilitate women in all spheres of life. These included: Vocational training programme in the field of secretariat work, computers, communications; various small projects for women like community welfare centres, dispensaries, eye units, gyne wards, day care centres, industrial home and women cooperative and Darul Falah. Women's employment avenues were enhanced and literacy rate increased as documented. During the PPP's tenure, the NGO's were encouraged to participate in the welfare programmes of women.

Special efforts were made to improve women's education skills and employability. These included (i) expanding education and training facilities for women; (ii) opening up avenues for their employment in all walks of life; (iii) reservation of special quota in public sector jobs (iv) creation of congenial atmosphere in offices and factories, and (v) removal of gender bias in employment. Facilities and incentives were extended for self-employment and development of cottage industries.

The focus was on improving education of women, expanding their health facilities and providing openings for their income generation; removal of discrimination in education and employment and better information on women's issues, on their rights and responsibilities; and increasing participation of women in employment.

Women's development departments in the provinces were set up. - Up-gradation of women's studies centres at five major universities to full-fledged departments was introduced. 38,000 women benefited through the specialized training facilities provided at the provincial and federal levels. Women's participation in the fields of agriculture, livestock development poultry/fisheries was facilitated. Access to credit facilities was increased.

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF MOHTARMA BHUTTO'S GOVERNMENT IN ADVANCING WOMEN'S RIGHTS
In 1993, Mohtarma Bhutto's Government subscribed to the Vienna Declaration which recognized women's rights as human rights.

In 1994, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto led Pakistan's delegation which actively participated in the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), in Cairo and acceded to its Programme of Action reaffirming the principles of gender equality and equity, the empowerment of women, guaranteeing women's right to development and her reproductive rights and eradication of poverty.

She also led the delegation to the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in September 1995 and presented a report of strong commitments to women's rights and development. The Platform for Action and the declaration, as adopted in the conference, focused on the critical areas of concern for women and outlined an action-oriented strategy for the solution of their problems. Affirming its commitment to women's uplift, the government under Premier Bhutto in collaboration with donors, initiated a process of setting up Beijing follow-up mechanisms throughout the country. To facilitate post Beijing activities a Beijing Follow-up Unit was set up in the Ministry of Women Development, and one each in the Women Development Departments of the four provinces.

In February 1996, Pakistan ratified the United Nations' Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This was a major achievement of the People's Party Government on international covenants pertaining to the rights of women.

The Muslim Women's Parliamentary Union was formed. This was a path breaking initiative and brought together women parliamentarian from 21 Muslim Countries. The first meeting was held in Islamabad and the second in Malaysia.

INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING FOR POLICY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
Thirteen focal points were designated in various ministries and divisions for a systematic Gender Sensitization Training Programme for officers of various ministries in the Federal Government and also provincial departments to improve upon the existing process of identification, planning, implementation and performance evaluation of women's programmes and projects. The objective was to strengthen the role of the ministries and simultaneously bring about substantial improvement in women's share in public sector employment and training.

PUBLIC SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
MBB's government launched training programmes for girls to provide skills for marketable jobs at Institute of Public Health Lahore, at D.H.O Hospital Sargodha, at Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, Sheikh Zaid Post-Graduate Medical Institute Lahore, at B.V. Hospital Bahawalpur, at DHQ Hospital Jehlum, at National Hospital Karachi, at Hayat Shaheed Teaching Hospital Peshawar, and at Abbottabad.

To provide support to mothers at work, day care centres were established at Government College for Women, T. T. Singh, at Women Development Social Welfare and Special Education Centre and at F.G. Girls Colleges in Cantt/Garrisons.

The PPP government established various institutes to provide support to women in their domestic and professional lives. These include:

Computer Training Centre in Jhang, Islamabad.
Various hostels for working women in Gujranwala, Hyderabad and Sukkur, Quetta.
Women Training Institute at Sahiwal.
A 50-room Women's Hostel in Lahore.
Mobile Hospital for T.B and Gynae Women Patients, at Raheem Yar Khan.
Centres for Rearing and Development of Silk Worm Reeling, and Weaving of Silk Thread for Rural Women in Sindh.
Organisations for training of womenfolk in fruit and vegetable production and preservation in NWFP.
Maternity Home with equipment at Mensehra.
Six community centers at Islamabad.
Women Income Generating Scheme in ICT.
Additional Women Mobile Civil Protection Training Teams at Islamabad.
MSc Women's Studies, at Allama Iqbal University, Islamabad.
Centre of Excellence for Women Studies Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.

Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party Sherry Rehman MNA has said party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir needs no NOC or any green signal adding that she would return home as per her programme when election schedule is announced and that no power on earth could stop her from leading the people of Pakistan.

Commenting on the press conference by Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, the PPP leader said that the announcement about return of Mohtarma Bhutto has sent shock waves down the spiner of the regime.

Sherry Rehman said that General Musharraf's function at Larkana seemed to be a Sarkari Darbar instead of a public meeting where Reserve Force people and government employees were made to sit on chairs to fill the tent. If it was a public meeting, why were people required to show their government service card? General Musharraf is not only violating the Election Commission Code of Ethics by campaigning for a political party but also the Constitution of Pakistan.

The PPP leader said that Arbab Rahim should not be so bothered about the APC and unity among opposition parties because all the opposition parties are united on the agenda of restoration of democracy and holding of free, fair and transparent elections. She said Arbab Rahim and his colleagues should now start worrying about contesting elections instead of making undue comments on a leader of international stature such as Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, because she is way above his league.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

'PIA needs to bring its house in order' - PPP

The Pakistan Peoples Party expressed its concern over the growing series of governance scandals, both fiscal as well as regulatory, hounding the national flag carrier since the second half of last year.

The PIA has been in the news for quite some time for its messy financial affairs. A recent audit of the airline cast serious doubts over the corporation's ability to continue as a growing concern as its monthly losses were reported to go beyond Rs1 billion, while its liabilities exceeded its assets by Rs 20 billion. Although the management shoddily denied this recorded fact, last year, the airline faced a ban on some of its key aircraft on EU routes for failing to maintain approved standards of airline refurbishment. Now again, according to reports from Brussels, PIA is in for further trouble as the European Union is all set to bar all its aircraft, except for Boeing 777s, from flying to 27 European countries after March 8 owing to maintenance concerns.

"The news confirms our doubts about the maintenance and safety issues haunting PIA for a long period now," said Sherry Rehman, the Central Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. "The organization's careless attitude towards maintenance is appalling. What right does a national flag carrier have to put peoples' lives at risk, or to spend without a check when losses are mounting? Who authorizes Pakistan's national colours to be dropped on aircraft tail fins that are painted at astronomical charges? Why are trained loyal pilots, crew and ground staff allowed to be treated like un-unionised sweatshop employees? And why should a ban be slapped, or even threatened, twice in a matter of six months by the EU? All this is the cause of extreme embarrassment both for the PIA and the nation that finances it," Rehman stated.

She added that the news of the ban on the heels of an EU Special Operation team's visit early this month led to the conclusion that both CAA and PIA have indeed been failing miserably in maintaining safety standards. "Other than the CAA's failings, and lack of action after the Fokker crash over the past couple of years, PIA too is assuming a pretty notorious reputation in flight delays and cancellations. Passengers, whether traveling on domestic routes or the international ones, are subjected to extreme agony because of the growing inefficiency of the management. PIA's airfares have always matched the most competitive airlines of the world. Yet neither passengers, nor loyal employees, or the tax-paying nation are passed on the benefits of falling oil prices, or hedges against rises, which many other airlines practiced."

Rehman also pointed to a latest report by the Ministry of Defence that suggests change in top management of the PIA, "as both the chairman PIAC and the Director General Civil Aviation Authority are not competent enough to hold the position." Rehman revealed that the MoD report clearly points out that it was the lack of supervision, control, guidance and professionalism exhibited by the top management of PIAC that was behind the tragic Fokker crash in Multan.

Rehman observed that the latest ban would translate into a massive financial loss for the national flag carrier which is already on its way to insolvency. "The proposed EU ban means that out of PIA's 40-plane fleet, only seven will be allowed to fly to Europe. This shall not only add to the misery of regular passengers of PIA, but shall also cost the airline in terms of business lost because of the non operation of 33 flights on the route."

Demanding that the discrepancies in the affairs of the PIA be given serious attention, Rehman urged the National Assembly's Defence and Public Accounts Committees to take up this matter for debate. "We cannot allow the situation to go from bad to worse. It's time PIA brings its house in order." Rehman also warned the government that it should not turn the recent scandals in PIA into an opportunity to cannibalise the corporation. "Such a move will be resisted at all costs," she said.


Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

Sherry Rehman
PAKISTAN PEOPLES PARTY
Election Paper
Steps To Ensure Fair Elections 2007
Updated December 2006

1.INTRODUCTION
The military regime of General Pervaiz Musharraf cannot be expected to hold fair election given its track record during the Presidential Referendum, General Election of 2002 and Local Elections of 2005. Here are some steps which can ensure fair elections in 2007.

2.ROLE OF INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES
Agencies has a major role in manipulating the election. The political wing of the ISI should be disbanded. MI, ISI, IB should be barred from meddling in elections and putting together political parties, making it a criminal offence by a civil court for any military official or intelligence official found so involved. All election monitoring centers should be disbanded. If they are not disbanded, the Election Commission should be empowered to visit all monitoring centres set up by military and intelligence agencies. These centres should be open to civil scrutiny through observers as well as have representatives of political parties.

3. CANDIDATES QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
a. In the 2002 election candidates were required to be college graduates and certain madrassah certificates, (high school degrees) were declared to be equivalent of University degrees. This is a highly controversial and selective screening mechanism for the democratic process in a country where literacy rates are low. It amounts to disenfranchising a large number of people from this right to contest general elections.

b. The second most controversial rule devised for the 2002 election was barring candidates having held Prime Minister's office twice, ignoring the fact that no candidate since 1988 has been allowed to complete any full term as PM.

The only qualification for a candidate should be that he/she be a Pakistani and 25 years of age. [The Representation of People Act, 1976, must be amended accordingly]

c. The elections should be open to all parties and personalities including Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif. Attempt to stop them from participating amounts to subverting the will of the people. Abuse of the judicial process to harass and hamper the leadership of moderate parties is to support the religious parties and the ruling PML-Q.

4. ELECTION OBSERVERS
Given the contentious nature of elections in Pakistan, a non-partisan monitoring body is needed to be put together from civil society to appoint observers in every polling station or as many as possible. Election Commission should permit the observers from sitting in polling booths.


a. Postal Ballots (Government Employees, Overseas Pakistanis, polling staff in the elections and the prisoners etc).

b. The monitoring by foreign observers as well as Party representatives of command and control centres and hub points of computerized vote count by the Election Commission / NADRA is important to prevent tampering by state officials with electorallists and results.

c. Political parties should be allowed to monitor the election process through observers / Party representatives who should be allowed to sit in the control and command centers as well as any set up by the military or civil administration for monitoring of elections or law and order related to elections and where the election computer hub stations are. Sufficient number of observers should be drawn through Asia Foundation and NGOs to observe polling stations. ASIA FOUNDATION which receives funds for monitoring of elections should cater for funding of domestic observers.

5. TRANSPARENT BALLOT BOXES
Transparent Election Boxes are necessary to ensure they have not been pre-filled (although the danger of switching them during breaks for food or wash-room in the polling stations must also be examined).

6. PROTECTION OF BALLOTS
Ballots are handed by the Election Commission to the Returning Officers (RO). The RO in turn gives them to the Presiding Officers under Police protection. Some ballots are siphoned in this process. Number of ballots to each presiding officer must be numbered, the polling list must mention the numbers of the serial. At the end of polling Presiding Officer must account to polling agents number of un-used and used serial numbers and give certificate to the same effect.

Prior to the vote, ballots are kept overnight with the ballot boxes at the residence of the Presiding Officers who take them to the polling station the following day. This presents another opportunity to siphon blank ballots. Usually the intelligence agencies or administration take the ballots to distribute to favoured candidates.

Secondly during the night under orders of the intelligence agencies or of the administration or political government, boxes are pre-filled by Presiding officer's who then switch them during the day with the boxes that were actually filled.

7. CONSTITUTION OF ELECTION COMMISSION
a. There are eight key people in the Election Commission who conduct elections. These include the five members of the Election Commission namely Chief Election Commissioner and four Provincial Election Commissioners, the Secretary, Additional Secretary and Joint Secretaries. They should be independent, neutral people preferably from Human Rights Commission of Pakistan or any other well respected NGO.

b. As the Election Commission enforces its writ through the provincial administration, the Chief Secretary and Inspector General Police in each province must be appointed by and answerable to the Election Commission in the three months of the election schedule and conclusion of polls.

c. Presiding Officers should not be appointed in their home districts.

d. Identity theft be avoided by putting photograph of each Presiding Officer on webpage of Election Commission.


8. INTERIM GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT ROLLS
National Government of progressive Parties to conduct elections on the pattern of Bangladesh is necessary to prevent influencing of elections and their results through political influence, use of Public media and public funds.

9. HIGH COURT CHIEF JUSTICES
Neutral Chief Justices of High Courts and neutral Registrars of High Courts are to be appointed for the election period. Election matters go first to the Election Commission and then to the High Courts where the Chief Justices and Registrars play a crucial roles. There is little use of an Independent Election Commission decision if it is to be stayed or over-turned at the High Court level where some members of the judiciary have been perceived to be partisan.

10. NEUTRAL ELECTION TRIBUNALS
The judges chosen to serve on Election Tribunals must have a reputation for impartiality and must not have sat on high profile political cases.

11. NEUTRAL ADMINISTRATION
a. A neutral provincial administration is necessary to prevent politically motivated officers from influencing elections. In particular, the provincial secretaries including Home Secretary, should not be former military or intelligence officials.

b. All District Nazims should be suspended for three months after the announcement of the election schedule to prevent them from using the administration to influence the election results.


12. INTELLIGENCE BUREAU
Head of IB should be a neutral and respected Police Officer and not a retired Military officer. The senior officials of IB, as well as provincial officials, must not be retired military officials. The political wing of ISI, MI, IB as well as other military intelligence should be stopped from holding meetings with political leaders and otherwise interfering in the electoral process.

13. ELECTORAL LIST
The 2002 list should be used with new voters registered. The electoral list was not used in the Local Elections of 2005. Instead the NADRA list consisting of those to whom National Identity Cards have been issued was used which is extremely faulty as it does not contain the name of those large number of voters to whom identity card has not been issued. Approximately 30 percent of voters are currently disenfranchised from the NADRA lists.

14. POLLING STATION / PRECINCT ELECTORAL LIST
Accurate electoral rolls are critical to a free and fair election. For several general elections, the EC has not been able to revise and update electoral rolls, which disenfranchises whole swathes of voters for the exercise. It has also been a convenient method of eliminating opposition votes by simply removing voter's names. Two sets of lists are prepared. Candidates are given one voters list i.e., Precinct and Polling station-wise list, in order to dupe them into believing that all names are included on the voter list. Second lists are given to Presiding Officers which are entirely different and have 25% to 30% names missing and people are sent away on polling day, as they run here and there, looking for their names on corresponding lists. Ultimately they are unable to exercise their right to vote, as the candidates' list has them registered at a particular polling station, but their names are missing from the Presiding officer's list at the same polling station.

These missing votes are then added on to the establishment's favourite candidate through ghost polling stations, hacking into the Election Commissions computer and other means.

The last date for revision of electoral rolls should be fixed at one month before the elections. Section 20 of the Electoral Rolls Act, 1974, be amended to provide that the ECP shall notify the publication and availability of the final/ revised Electoral Roll of the said constituency not later than the date of notification of the contesting candidates. There should be a penalty for not doing so.

The computerization of electoral rolls should be conducted at the District level by the DROs and be made freely available.

The Election Commission should also make public the mode, procedure and law under which the Electoral Rolls are compiled. Electoral lists should be placed on an easily accessible website. Also, the electoral list of 2002 should be used with the addition of new voters since the NADRA registered list that were used in the Local Bodies elections were faulty and inaccurate.

Voter registration forms must be freely available on the Election Commission list to facilitate voter registration.

Updated voters list must be maintained on the Election List computer so that voters can check electronically to see whether they are registered and at what number.

15. ROLE OF JUDICIARY
The District and Session Judges/Additional District and Session Judges/Civil Judges should be put under the control of the Election Commission of Pakistan for election purposes and they should be empowered to entertain complaints and take immediate action against any one found violating the electoral process. Any official or person found involved may be proceeded against and the Election Commission should be authorized to take appropriate action after hearing the concerned parties.

16. GRADE OF PRESIDING OFFICER
Federal Government employees belonging to Grade 17 and above should be appointed as Presiding Officers in the polling stations. They are under federal law. The under Grade 17 officials serve the provincial governments and, remaining under their influence, can be easily coerced at the provincial level. It is important to ensure that all presiding officers are Grade 17 or above.

17. DELIMITATION OF CONSTITUENCIES
Constituencies should be compact and of a uniform voter-strength. Anomalies detected in the past elections, particularly those related to gerrymandering, must be duly rectified.

The practice of carving up districts in order to break established constituencies of political rivals must be stopped forthwith, and a Boundary Commission on the UK model be established to restore constituencies to non-ethnic and non-parochial criteria and on comparative population sizes.

a. NEW DISTRICTS: The government has created new districts in Sindh in order to suit its own coalition partners in the elections. This will adversely affect at least 3 National Assembly and 5 Provincial Assembly seats in lower Hyderabad/Badin region alone and many more in other parts of Sindh. This is malafide and a pre-emption of the right of Election Commission to delineate constituencies, therefore delimitation of constituencies should not take place till the new census is held as required under the constitution.

18. PRE-POLL RIGGING
In the 2002 general election, state resources were deployed on an unprecedented scale to ensure the success of the military proxies. Governor House cars, offices and other effects of the government were openly applied to the campaign effort of one party. Government announced concessions and other development plans very close to the general election and by-election campaign, distorting completely the level playing-field expected from a free, fair election.

A strict ban on the use of state resources for election campaigning must be imposed; the CEC must take suo moto notice of abuses by Government Ministers or Parliamentarians who are violators who should be punished immediately. Elections where such obvious rigging has taken place be declared null and void and a re-poll ordered in all such constituencies.

19. PUNISHMENTS FOR ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES
Although provisions in the law exist for punishment of corruption and malpractice by election officials, these remain unimplemented, with the result that impunity has become the norm for all such offenders.

The provisions for severe punishments for Returning Officers [Section 91 of the Peoples Representation Act 1976] who display partiality must be enforced. The provision should be extended to the District Returning Officer and a method prescribed for giving speedy effect to the same. The existing Section 91 be enhanced to include Presiding Officers, Asst Presiding Officers, District Returning Officers, Returning Officers, Asstt: Returning Officers. Disposal of appeals should not take more than three months, after which punitive action against the complainant if found guilty, will automatically take place.

20. MULTIPLE IDENTIFICATION
The requirement of the National Identity Cards as the single source of identification has led to abuse of the process. Identity cards forged by impostors leave little option for the real voter to challenge the forgery. NICs can also be seized by powerful mafias and rivals, particularly when the income and power inequalities are accented in feudal and other constituencies.

Multiple Identification is necessary to prove identification of the voters. A photo identity should be allowed for identification of the voter as opposed to only the NIC.

Most voters in rural areas do not have National Identity Cards. Voters should be allowed to identity themselves through passport, driving license, arms license etc which are all issued by the Government and not only by the National Identity Card. Bogus cards are now provided to favoured candidates because voters either do not have an NIC or their NIC has been bought (buying an National Identity Card is like buying a vote) leading to corruption.

21. VOTER ENROLLMENT IN ELECTORAL LIST
The decision by the election commission to enroll only such members in the electoral list as have new computerized identity cards must be repealed. According to the NADRA, the registration body, more than twenty million voters do not have the new cards. The right to vote is a fundamental right and it is unconstitutional to disenfranchise those that have not yet acquired the new computerized cards. it may be recalled that during the tenure of Quaid-e-Awam, when identity cards were first introduced, those cards were given free of cost and mobile units were sent to villages and towns in far flung areas to register every citizen. Now the process is cumbersome and expensive making it difficult for citizens to obtain the computerized identity cards, in particular the voters in the rural areas are being deliberately disenfranchised.

22. INDUCTION OF ARMY CAPTAINS
A report was received by the PPP that 150 army captains have been taken into the police service of Pakistan with a plan to rig the elections through identity theft. These persons will be deputed in place of deputy returning officers and given charge to rig the elections at the grass roots level by pretending to have the identity of DROs. The PPP calls for steps to stop rigging through identity theft.

23. PLACING OF POLLING STATION
Polling stations are often moved or even simply removed by the authorities in order to deprive entire zones of the right of franchise, particularly in areas where the opposition vote bank is established and strong. Ghost polling stations are forbidden under law, and yet they appear at the last moment, with no one knowing whether they are real or virtual. It also happens that military forces or Rangers are present inside polling station in blatant disregard for the neutrality factor. The Placing of Polling Stations should be in the most populous area in a Government building as provided by law. Law already provides for it but it is systematically violated. Election Commission should be made responsible for violations and officials who violate it must be penalized through provision in law and mechanism for its implementation.

It should be possible to post applications for fresh voter registrations and deletion of wrong names on the EC website. The entire operation should be made transparent. The name of the polling station on which a voter has to vote should be given against his name on the website. No changes in polling stations can be made at least 45 days prior to elections. Any changes should be properly notified so that general public is fully aware of the change. Votes should be counted on polling stations and the counts should be put on notice boards outside the polling stations. Progressive results based on the counts received from polling stations should be announced on the media like the procedure employed in the 1970 elections.

24. COUNT
First count is at the polling station. The second count and result announcement should be at the District Returning Officer's office. Presently the establishment has a centralized count. In the gap between RO and Center the results are manipulated.

Vote count is presently done by the Presiding officer/polling station from where it is sent to District Returning Officer (DRO). The DRO compiles the polling station certified results in the presence of military intelligence and civil administration officers. They influence the compilation. The candidates are not allowed in during this process where the results are manipulated. The results are then taken to control and command centers manned by the military at Corp headquarters in the name of law and order to computerize data. This allows for further changing the results in multiple ways including hacking into Central Election Commission computer and changing results, double stamping and spoiling votes or simply declaring a loser as winner.

The winner then has to go to Tribunals Courts for relief. These rarely allow for recounts. To stop this, the system should revert to that from time of Independence of Pakistan in 1947 to 1988 General Elections (After that every election was rigged to a lesser or greater degree). Under this system, the first count is in the polling stations and the lists are immediately compiled before the DRO in the presence of candidates or their agents.

DRO must announce result on compiled list or recount of ballots in presence of candidates or their agents and international observers but no-one from the civil, military officialdom should be neither present nor anyone other than as above.

25. CERTIFIED VOTE COUNT AND PENALTY
Presiding Officer must be bound to provide certified vote count to each polling agent and if any polling agent has a certificate which is not duly filled out, concerned Presiding Officer should be suspended from government service for at least one year as punishment for failing to do his duty.

Second and final count immediately thereafter with candidates or their representative present and no one else whether DC, SP, ISI, MI etc to prevent pressure on District Returning Officer. Result should be certified and announced immediately by Returning Officer who can then transmit a copy of the certified result to the Election Commission.

26. GHOST POLLING STATIONS
These are polling stations which are announced at the last minute before the election. It is illegal to announce new polling stations or change polling stations but this happens with impunity. It is said that the hackers create "Khajji Ka Dera" (Date Farm) Polling Stations, as most parts of Pakistan have date trees. These are created in the Election Commission computers in most constituencies to add votes for favoured candidates.

The official changing or announcing a new polling station in the final days before the election (when it is illegal) must be immediately punished through suspension from Government service for one year. Those refusing to rectify the matter when appealed to under the law must be similarly punished.

The tragedy in Pakistan is that many good laws exist. The problem is that those who are to implement the law, whether in the Judiciary, Police or Administration, rarely do so with few exceptions.

27. CHANGE OF POLLING STATIONS
It may be noted that Election laws do not permit change of polling stations after announcement and review period of election schedule. However since 1990 elections, this has been another favourite method to deny victory to candidates dis-favoured by the establishment.

Election Commission computer must have date wise changes madeby the ECP in placing polling stations and nomination of Presiding Officers and polling staff on its webpage.


28. PARALLEL VOTE COUNT
Parallel vote count by international observers, NDI and or NGOs is necessary to ensure that the mandate of the masses is not subverted. During the Aquino candidacy in the Philippines, NAMFREL was established to act as a parallel vote count.

29. STAMPING OF BALLOTS BY POLICE
Special tribunals should be constituted in each constituency to hear complaints against Police, military or intelligence officials involved in taking over polling stations and stamping ballots to punish them immediately through suspension as well as blacklisting the ACR of the official if found guilty.

30. TRANSPORT FOR PRESIDING OFFICER AND POLLING AGENTS
Transport should be provided to take the Presiding Officers as well as the polling agents of the winner and runner up from the polling station together to the office of Returning Officer where the results will be given to the RO. This will stop Presiding officers going to intelligence / administration safe houses to change the electoral results.

31. KIDNAPPING
During the local elections of 2005, widespread kidnapping and interfering with the free movements of candidates, their proposers and their seconders took place. This was to prevent them from filing their nomination papers with a view to get officially sponsored candidates elected "unopposed". Twenty eight percent of Interior Sindh candidates were declared elected "unopposed" in the local elections held in 2005. Election Commission was unable to provide appropriate relief.

32.WRONGFUL CONFINEMENT
Polling agents, transporters, vote getters are arrested on frivolous charges. Some district level relief method is necessary to be established to examine cases of such a nature with a view to provide relief. The present method is to go to the judicial courts. However, obtaining a lawyer, preparing a brief, waiting for a date of hearing, for proceeding to conclude and judgment to arrive, even when relief is provided, causes much damage by interfering in the right to a free and open campaign. When multiple persons are arrested the campaign is badly affected. The General Elections in 2002 and Local Elections of 2005 demonstrated that courts are influenced by Chief Justices who, if partisan, can delay matters endlessly thereby denying relief. This is why neutral Chief Justices are needed.

To prevent Police carrying out illegal political orders a neutral interim government is necessary.

33. RECOUNTS
According to reports, there were serious allegation of corruption involved in ordering or not ordering recounts in disputed elections. Rumours circulated that the officials of the Election Commission as well as the Returning Officer's etc. were taking Rs. Two hundred and fifty thousand to order a recount in the local election for councilors. One presumes that the price in a general election would (by that calculation) be Rs. Ten million for a recount.

There should be a clear criteria for recounts without allowing for the discretion of the Secretary Election Commission or anyone else.

This is one more reason that the count should be conducted at the district level by the Returning Officer therefore reducing chances of disputing it.

34. APPELLATE FORUMS AND TRIBUNALS
Although the constitution provides for election tribunals to decide petitions pertaining to election complaints with in six months, the record clearly demonstrates that these tribunals delay decisions indefinitely. Their efficacy becomes negligible and their intent questionable. Election cases originating from the opposition remain undecided for several years, which make judicial inaction a clear component of electoral reform. Imposing a penalty on those not deciding election cases within 6 months as mandated by law is one way to ensure implementation.

35. CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS
Election Campaign: All parties should be given an equal campaign time and not be subject to arbitrary prohibitions on campaigning in specific areas which may be open to certain other parties. All contesting parties should be allotted equal time with the government in the state-controlled news bulletins as well as a restriction placed on official or commercially sponsored campaign commercials and advertising on television.

Election Staff: The number of trained election staff is often an impediment to the process of conducting and micro-managing an electoral exercise.

While the list of polling staff should continue to be drawn as per existing practice, [in accordance with the provision of sub-section 1-5 of Section 9 of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1976] the number of trained polling staff needs to be increased in order to deal with a larger number of polling stations and voters.

Instruction Manual for the DROs, ROs, AROs: The manual for Returning Officers at every level is outdated. The manual should be revised to include all decisions taken for the particular election by incorporating all new decisions and amendments in the law.

Delay in Announcement of Results: With each successive election after the 1970 poll, the Election Commission has been delaying the announcement of results. In the 2002 exercise, the commission announced the first results from the remotest areas of the country well after the close of polling, going suspiciously into the next day with 'revised' results coming out of the central headquarters.

First, the Presiding officer and polling agent of winning / losing candidate should be transported to RO office together, in order to ensure that the Presiding officer does not go to a safe house to change results. To avoid ghost votes appearing from nowhere in a centralized process, the results should be immediately announced by the District Returning Officer or Returning Officer as was the practice in every election before 1988. These progressive results should continue being announced on television to avoid a centrally rigged or contested count. The process of centralization should be reversed.

Election results must be posted in real time on the EC website as well as announced on public media as they are received by Returning Officers.

36. REPRESENTATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Political parties representatives should be part of the entire elections process including development of voters lists, computerization, production of ballots, distribution of ballots and all pre-elections, on election day and after election day including vote count and transportation of the ballots.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party

Bhutto's Economic Policies
SHERRY REHMAN

On January 5, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is remembered as an iconic leader who shaped an entire generation of public discourse in the image of a modern, nationalist and self-confident Pakistan. His politics revolutionized the public arena in the country and brought public issues out of the palace and into the domain of the larger electorate. But while his political initiatives are widely lauded, his economic policies are often contested by neo-liberal economists who ignore the benefits that accrued to the economy as a whole. This neo-liberal voice has predominated because they speak on behalf of the privileged and economically empowered. It has been relatively easy to muffle the voice of the great mass of people whose lives were transformed by the economic policies of a labor-friendly government.

The neo-liberal project which arose in the 1980s saw little benefit in ZAB's policies, and echoing the voice of old capital, spent a lot of time trashing everything as inimical to growth and macroeconomic stability. They conveniently forget that the country was reeling from the aftermath of an ignominious surrender at Dhaka. East Pakistan accounted for 40% of exports of the West Pakistan, and its separation marked serious economic consequences for the country. The PPP government was thus faced with the twin challenges of stabilizing the economy and implementing its election manifesto with its aim of egalitarian state-driven development

Detractors of Bhutto tend to gloss over the 1973 oil price hike, devastating floods of 1976-77 and a global economic recession that hampered economic growth during this era. Equally importantly, they forget that PPP invested in long-gestation infrastructure projects whose benefits have accrued to many governments, primary among them being the regime of Ziaul Haq.

When the PPP government came to power, it was faced with the fallout of General Ayub Khan's supply side policies that benefitted a small group of industrialists at the expense of the rest of the country, creating huge income and regional disparities and stagnant real wages that kept the poor immobile, vulnerable to disease, and hungry.

In the banking sector, seven monopoly houses controlled 59.7 percent of deposits and 51 percent of all loans and advances. Mahbubul Haq's exposure of 22 families, which controlled 66 percent of national wealth, was only one of the indices of the skewed investment strategies of the '50s and '60s, which added to economic disparities between the two wings of the country.

The neglect of capital goods sector also led the country to depend on imported capital goods for developing its consumer goods industry. As a result Pakistan had to pay for an over-valued exchange rate and high import bill. The private sector had little incentive to invest in the capital goods sector because of the long-gestation nature of the projects. West Pakistan was considered the prime beneficiary of growth and development. The commercial elites clearly had little incentive to operate under competitive conditions. The terms of trade were heavily biased in favour of industry, which led to an acute polarities sharpened by a palpable sense of injustice and alienation amonglarge and diverse segments of the population. The PPP's policies stressed the importance of strong redistributive mechanisms to create the condition for a just economic and social order. Socialism was seen to be the ideal vehicle to bring about these changes. Given the private sector reluctance to invest in important (infrastructure) projects, the state had to play a major role in balanced industrial development. The ability to be self-sufficient in industrial output and less dependent on foreign aid was important as it would allow the country to be master of its own destiny in the international political area.

The PPP government attempted to correct the distortions in the economy caused by the controversial exchange rate regime introduced by Ayub Khan. The rupee was devalued by 131 percent, resulting in increase in exports by 153 percent in 72-73, and a surplus in the trade balance. The country's products found new markets. The import policy was liberalized, removing the existing bias against new entrants to the industry. The devaluation helped improve an anti-agriculture bias inherent to the multiple exchange rate system.

Now comes the part made most controversial by the PPP detractors. The party pledged to redistribute economic growth. Without nationalization of key industries, it felt it would not be able to deliver on its promise. From 1972-76, it embarked on a nationalization plan in three steps. It initially nationalized 31 industrial units followed by nationalizing export of cotton and cooking oil industry. It later took over cotton ginning, rice husking and flourmills.

The PPP government's nationalization initiative was riddled with challenges: management of inefficient enterprises, obligation to offer workers a fair wage, etc. Despite these challenges, a World Bank study noticed a substantial improvement in the profits of these industries during 1973-76. Industry had neither died, nor was production low in any industries taken over into the public sector. Nationalisation cannot be blamed for the decline in private investment in large scale manufacturing, because this was already on a decline owing to as low-down in momentum of industrialization by the end of 1960s.

The PPP government also embarked upon a large increase in public sector investment, which overtook private investment. Under the Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto government, development spending as a percentage of GDP reached its peak, growing annually by 21 percent between 73-77. It undertook three distinct types of investment. It invested in extending the capacity of state enterprises, notably fertilizers, cement and heavy engineering – projects with long-gestation outcomes. Provincial governments were asked to invest in sugar and textile mills. The third was investment in the Pakistan Steel Mills. Various studies found the public sector industries performing much better both in absolute and relative terms despite the fact that they never operated on profit-maximization principle. The PPP government set up basic industries to rectify the balance in the industrial sector and laid the foundation for a capital goods industry. In sharp contrast to today's policies, the PPP government provided explicit subsidies to cushion the impact of high oil prices in and after 1973. This provided substantial relief to the poor.

Devaluation also benefited small scale industries as demand for surgical goods, carpets, sports goods, machinery and textiles rose. The flow of remittances from overseas Pakistanis created new consumers for the small scale manufacturing sector. The expansion of this sector also added to the employment rate which rose to 13.7 percent.

The dominance of the same business houses in banking and insurance heavily influenced the disbursement of credit, with no provision for small borrowers or rural sector. The nationalization of banks in 1974 resulted in their opening branches in small townships, thus bringing more of the rural economy into the formal sector. It was made mandatory for commercial banks to provide credits to farmers. Not only was the agricultural sector transformed, it actually witnessed an end to the transfer of resources from rural to urban areas. The land reforms of 1972 aimed to balance the distribution of land that the 1959 land reforms failed to do. No compensation was provided to landlords whose land was resumed and the burden of repayment was not placed on beneficiaries. The Land Reforms of 1972 also improved tenancy laws. Tenants were only to be ejected for failure to pay rent and in case of sale of land they were to be given the right of pre-emption

Economists widely agree upon the fact that inflation during Bhutto's regime was imported. The government was forced to finance its development projects through deficit financing. According to a study, if the year of 74-75 is dropped, the average rate of inflation falls to less than 10 percent. At the same time, real wages of factory workers rose from Rs.1,709 in 1971 to Rs.2,501 in 1973 reflecting the benefits of strong growth in early years. In fact, a report studying unemployment rate over 30 years, 1973-2003, found unemployment to be the lowest in 73-77 at 3.4 percent and highest in 2000-03 at 8.1 percent.

The first Bhutto government initiated a number of labour friendly policies including protecting the rights of workers, increase in the share of profits for them, health, and housing benefits, introduction of labour courts, etc. As a result, an estimated 22 percent increase took place in the earnings of workers.

Nationalisation of education had a positive impact as there was a substantial rise in the number of primary female teachers, reflecting concern for improving female education. The period of 1973-77 and 1989-99 have been regarded as "far above average" in educational input and output indicators spanning 30 years, 1973-2003.

An attempt was made to extend medical facilities to rural areas and encourage the production of generic drugs to lower prices. The expenditure on heath doubled. The 1970s witnessed a drop in income poverty of 16% between 1969 and 1979after having risen in the 1960s. Development expenditure rose to 11 percent of GDP in 1976-77. The migration of Pakistani workers to Gulf areas started during Bhutto's time, facilitated by an easy migration process and his close ties with these states. Against the backdrop of severe economic disruptions in 1971, the new government was able to quickly stabilize the country's precarious external balance position and abolished a distorted trade and exchange rate regime. New economic infrastructure was created and industrial plants were set up in strategic areas, which boosted large-scale manufacturing in the 1980s when many of these projects came on- stream and led to the creation of new industries as in the case of the steel mill.

Shaheed Z.A.Bhutto tried to fulfill the promises it had made in its party manifesto on the basis of which it had been elected. It was the first time that the principle of egalitarianism was built into state policies offering a share in the fruits of growth to those who were denied opportunities earlier. It was the first times those fruits were tasted by the poor, the unempowered and the vulnerable.

"Ai paikar e gul, koshish i paiham ki jeza dekh, / Hai rakib e taqdeer i jehan teri reza dekh"

The writer is PPP's Central Information Secretary.

"Central Information Secretary"

Pakistan Peoples Party

Sherry Rehman Beaten, Hospitalized

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman was reportedly attacked and rendered unconscious during a PPP rally at Pakistan Chowk on Wednesday. “She suffered from a concussion of the spine due to several hits on the back of her neck,” Rehman’s mother Sabiha Hasan told Daily Times at Clifton’s Ziauddin Hospital. The unidentified attacker, who escaped from the scene, was a tall, dark woman who climbed onto a truck Rehman was in, Hasan said. “This person managed to climb inside the truck and even managed to get close to my daughter. She then attacked her with a blunt object, hitting her twice on the back of the neck. Sherry fainted, and the attacker managed to escape,” she said. She said that her daughter had undergone a CT Scan and x-rays. “They have given her steroids and she is sleeping at the moment,” she said. The party has yet to register an FIR. staff report

Election Rigging Report
PPPP
Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretariat 10 Feb 2006

Click on the image to see a larger view

Complete polling lists were not given to PPPP candidate, Nafees Siddqiqui,until voting day by the CEC, despite several communications, letters and entreaties. In contrast the MQM candidate and party was in possession of the whole list.

Despite several notes and communications to the CEC, the MQM candidate canvassed openly with state funds and city government machinery. KWSB, KDA, Community Board, and KMC vehicles were deployed by the MQM all over Karachi to take down PPPP flags, campaign banners and posters from Pakistan Chowk, Saddar and Defence areas.

General Musharraf and PM Shaukat Aziz flew down to Karachi to campaign for the MQM candidate; inaugurating projects in Karachi where none of the project MOUs have even been signed. The CEC took no notice of this open campaigning by key government officials. CM Sindh Arbab Ghulam Rahim did exactly the same for the PML Q candidate in PS 71.

On polling day, multiple ballots were stamped in the presence of fake/substituted Presiding Officers who in 55 polling stations in Karachi, turned out to be MQM party activists. Whenever they were asked for identity papers, as in the case of Aisha Bhawany School PS, or Saifiya School Polling Station, the exchange turned violent and resulted in the PPPP polling agents being either injured or expelled from the station premises. This indicates that the Election Commission allowed the MQM to substitute their activists for Presiding officers.

The PPP had feared that the NA-250 bye-elections would take place under the shadow of guns and violence. And that is exactly what happened at a number of polling stations. In his letter to the CEC sent on February 6, 2007, Mr Nafees Siddiqui had requested the CEC to take measures to ensure that arms guards or weapons of any kind or police mobiles should not be allowed in the polling stations. However, on the day of elections, there were over fifty reports of violence at various polling stations. At PS 61, armed guards held the entire polling staff hostage, pushing the PPP workers to a corner. They were found stamping the ballot papers themselves. If the elections were indeed held peacefully, as claimed by the Provincial and the City governments, then how did media reports point to instances of violence and tension at a number of polling stations across the constituency.

Violence has previously marred many polls conducted under the aegis of General Musahrraf's administration, but the February 10 exercise was an eye-opener to all who have witnessed polling in Sindh before. The MQM was given full support of government machinery, police and Rangers, to use whatever means they wanted to in order to intimidate and threaten PPPP unarmed polling agents, camp workers and voters. In almost all areas in Karachi, by 1 pm the MQM's armed gangs had taken over the polling booths, making it impossible for PPPP polling agents to witness, let alone verify the ballot count at close of polling. How else has a party that polled 19,000 votes in NA 250 been able to suddenly push its votes upto 47,000 on Feb 10?

The PPP had also advised the EC to ensure that no minister, advisor or special assistant or members of the ruling alliance be allowed in the polling stations unless he is a voter or polling agent, in which case he should show his NIC upon request. However, the CDGK nazims backed by the MQM were found visiting the polling stations to ensure that matters are running "smoothly".

In a pattern even worse than the practice adopted during the Local Bodies Polls, on polling day, the Election Commission remained remote from all complaints and appeals for help from Karachi and Kotri. In all circumstances the CEC was notified by fax and telephone in detail about the nature of the violence and manipulation taking place. After assuring senior party officials of their impartiality in the morning, they stopped answering complaints after 11 am, switched off theirtelephones and fax numbers.After receiving a deluge of over 60 faxes registering complaints and seeking immediate intervention, the CEC sentSherry Rehman a fax at 4:30 pm that the PPPP complaints have been forwarded to the " appropriate address." In a bizarre twist of veracity, the CEC disclosed that it was not the final appeal for contestants, but was a post office to other places it answered to.

While Senator Asif Zardari's sister, and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's sister-in-law, MNA Azra Fazlwas openly attached by a spray of machine-gun fire on her vehicle in Kotri, while women polling agents and men polling agents were beaten, while PPPP's NA250's candidate was beaten and his son anddriver kidnapped and assaulted, the police remained similarly impervious and scandalously preoccupied with" more important matters".When returning desperate calls by Bilawal House to at least save the lives of PPPP workers all over Sindh, a shocking response was obtained by the IG Police Sindh, who said to Central Information Secretary, Sherry Rehman, that he had more important matters to attend to until 4:30pm. The police turned a blind eye while the candidate himself was assaulted and his son held hostage,but the rescue was effected by a non-local tv channel, CNBC, as all local channels cannot afford to take on the MQM.

The PPP had also requested the EC, prior to the elections, that the polling material be provided to the Presiding Officer and must be kept in the custody of the Rangers. However, despite the presence of Rangers at the polling stations, the Presiding Officers were harassed by armed militants and were asked to leave the stamping of ballot papers with them. A few presiding officers also assumed a highly partisan role. At PS-61, for example, the woman Presiding Officer, namely Asma, was found stamping the ballot paper herself.

The PPPP did not boycott the election but could not accept the results of a poll where almost all our polling agents were thrown out of the polling stations by the MQM's armed gangs by noon. Since the PPPP agents refused to leave while their voters still flocked to the station, in the presence of the Presiding Officers and the police, they were threatened at gunpoint to leave by 3 pm or they would pay with their lives.

1. Polling stations number 50 and 51, St Michael School, Block 7, Opp. Boat Basin, Clifton Karachi. No ink was used by many MQM voters, and they went back and forth in front of the police to cast multiple votes with the same identity cards.

2. Polling Stations 25 KMC Primary School, Daud Pota Road , Saddar, Karachi: The Presiding Officers, Mr. Zafar Siddiqui and Mr. Iftikhar Qazi threatened by a group of young boys belonging to the MQM to let them cast multiple votes. The armed MQM men surrounded the polling station and blatantly threatened the officers.
3. Polling Station 44, Behind Citizen Primary School , PIDC, Karachi. In blatant violation of all election rules, the MQM's men took control of the polling booth. Their men cast multiple votes as the armed gang of MQM forcibly occupied the polling station. Women polling agents were forced out of the polling station.

4. Polling Station 1, Saifia Girls School, New Challi, Narain Mandar, Paper Market Haroon Colony, Karachi. The MQM's armed gangs took over the polling station and forcibly evicted PPPP polling agents from the polling booth. The Presiding Officers and the polling agents were forced to leave the premises and only the MQM voters were being allowed into the booths.

5. PS 44 and 45, Behind Citizen Primary School, PIDC, Karachi. Presiding Officers at PS 44 and 45 played partisan role and did not allow the voters belonging to parties other than the MQM to cast their votes. Over 150 henchmen of the MQM took over the polling station and supervised the voting process. They barred voters from entering the polling station. Only MQM voters were allowed in the polling station.

6. Polling Station 75, Bazrata Lines, Karachi. Gangs of armed MQM men forcibly entered, and took over the polling station. They forced the voters to cast their vote in favour of the MQM candidate. The Presiding Officer, who himself was under threat was completely helpless.

7. Polling Station 75, Bazrata Lines, Karachi. Gangs of armed MQM men forcibly entered, and took over the polling station. They forced the voters to cast their vote in favour of the MQM candidate. The Presiding Officer, who himself under threat was completely helpless.

8. PS 29, St Viani School, Church Rd, Saddar Karachi: The Presiding Officer at the said polling station did not allow voters to enter the polling station. Only the voters belonging to the MQM were allowed in. When the Presiding Officer was confronted, he openly issued threatening statements. His identity papers were not available and he clearly belonged to the MQM.

9. Polling Station PS-121, Govt Girls Secondary School , P&T Colony, Karachi. In flagrant violation of all electoral rules, the process of secret voting was not followed. There were no tents around the polling booth leaving no option for secret balloting. This was to make sure that votes were casting only in favour of one party. MQM thugs patrolled the booth openly.

10. Polling Station 10, 11 and 12. The voters wishing to vote for the PPP voters were not allowed to vote with their old Identity Cards, even though the law allows them to do so. At the same time, the voters belonging to the MQM were allowed to vote with their duplicate ID cards.

11. Polling Station 54 Ali Public Elementary School, St No 7, Bath Island, Karachi. The Presiding Officer at the said polling station was openly playing a partisan role. He was allowing voters to cast their vote at the production of the photocopies of their id cards, which is strictly prohibited by law. The Presiding Officer also refused to register the protests of the polling agents of other parties.

12. Polling Station 29, St Viani, GBPS, Church Rd, Saddar, Karachi. In flagrant violation of all election rules, the Presiding Officer openly allowed the voting process to be carried out without the production of the ID cards. Voters were allowed to cast their vote without producing ID cards, making the entire process partial.

13. Polling Stations 54, Ali Public Elementary School, St No 7, Bath Island, Karachi. The armed henchmen of the MQM forcibly entered the premises and harassed the voters. The MQM supporters were openly casting multiple votes and used duplicate and photocopied id cards for the purpose.

14. Polling Station 77, 78, 79 and 80 at the Ayesha Bhawani School. The Zonal Incharge of the PPP Mr Shahid Iqbal was harassed by the armed men of the MQM. Mr Iqbal has also been badly beaten and was threatened by the MQM men. The situation was very tense in the area and all women agents were forced out.

15. Polling Station 41 and 42, Bismillah Hijrat Colony, GBPS, Karachi. The police and the rangers have taken over the polling station and the Presiding Officer has been thrown out of the polling station. The MQM men are now openly stamping the ballot papers. PPP voters were openly harassed by the police and the rangers themselves.

16. Polling Stations 117, 118, 119, 120 and 121, GGSS P&T Colony. Armed men took over the polling stations and openly harassed the voters forcing them to cast their votes in favour of the MQM candidate only. The movements of the Presiding Officers and the polling agents were restricted and the MQM men supervised the voting process.

17. Polling Station PS-1, Saifia Girls Sec School, New Chali Narain Mandir, Paper Market, Karachi. The PPP candidate Mr Nafees Siddiqui was attacked and thrashed by the MQM men. He was also shot at but managed to evade the bullet. Armed men belonging to the MQM forcibly took over the polling station and evicted the station. They also opened fire indiscriminately harassing the voters and the polling agents. Women agents were beaten.

18. Polling Station PS-121, P&T Colony, Karachi. Mr Zulfiqar Ali, the polling agent of the PPP was beaten up by the armed guards of the MQM. They also harassed the voters and stamped their own ballot papers in hordes.

19. Polling Station 6, Govt Commerce and Economics College , Dr Zia-ud-Din Ahmed Rd, Karachi. The ladies polling station in the area was taken over by men who forcibly evicted the polling station. The ladies at the polling station were harassed and threatened by the armed guards of the MQM to let them supervise a one-sided polling process.

20. Polling Station 6, Govt Commerce and Economics College , Dr Zia-ud-Din Ahmed Rd, Karachi. The women polling station in the area was taken over by men who have forcibly evicted the polling station. The women at the polling station were harassed and threatened by the armed guards of the MQM to let them supervise a one-sided polling process.

21. Polling Station 68, British English High School, Block 2, Kehkashanm Khayaban-e-Saadi, Clifton Block 4, Karachi. Armed men have forcibly taken over the said polling station. They evicted the polling station and are stamping their own ballot papers in hordes.

22. Polling Station 69, 70 and 71, Habib Girls School, Iqbal Market, Karachi. Armed men forcibly took over the said polling station. They evicted the polling station and stamped their own ballot papers in hordes. The PPP polling agents were harassed and threatened at gun point to leave.

23. Polling Station 10, KMC Primary School No 19/30, Railway Colony, Baboo Line, Ghosia Masjid, Karachi. Armed men forcibly took over the said polling station. They evicted the polling station and stamped their own ballot papers in hordes. The PPPP polling agents harassed and threatened at gun point to leave.

24. Polling Station 30 JMA Sec School, Shahra-e-Liaquat, Karachi. The voting process at the said polling station has been stopped as police and the rangers have colluded to rig the elections. The voters, the presiding officers and the polling agents present at the polling station were harassed and the women agent was forcibly evicted by the guards of the state machinery.

25. Pakistan Chowk: women present in the PPPP camp are being threatened. The camp was surrounded by the armed men who blocked the movement of all the women agents.
26. Polling Station 10, KMC, Primary School, No 19/30 Railway Colony, Baboo Line, Ghosia Masjid, Karachi. Armed men riding two cars, Suzuki Alto bearing the number plate R-4925, and AHK-543, opened fire indiscriminately at the polling station. They harassed the polling agents, the presiding officers and the voters, forcing them to leave the polling station.

27. PS – 24, BVS Parsi School, Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar, Karachi. Armed men have surrounded the ladies camp at the said polling station. They harassed the women in the camp, restricting their movement. Repeated requests by the in charge of the PPPP camp, Rukhsana Faisal received no response from the administration that just stood around, looking on as the violence continued without any check.

28. Mr Abdul Haq Barohi, Mr Ghaffar Mundir, Mr Shah Jehan Niazi, and Mr Samad Baloch, all belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party have been kidnapped by armed men and taken to an unknown destination from Burns Road, Karachi. At close of polling the IG Police Sindh said he was unaware of any complaints.

29. PS-47 St Anthony School, Frere Town, Chaudhry Khalique Rd, Karachi. The polling agents and the voters belonging to the PPPP have been beaten up by armed men of the MQM. The PPPP voters were threatened and forced to evacuate the premises as the polling station was taken over by the MQM men. These men are now illegally stamping the ballot papers.

30. PS-48 Beacon House School, Railway Police Line, Old Race Course, Karachi. The polling agents and the voters belonging to the PPPP were beaten up by armed men of the MQM. The PPPP voters were threatened and forced to evacuate the premises as the polling station was taken over by the MQM men. They openly stamped the ballot papers with the kite symbol.

31. PS-52 Clifton Grammar Junior Secondary School, B1-5, Karachi. The polling agents and the voters belonging to the PPPP were beaten up by the armed men belonging to the MQM. The PPPP voters were threatened and forced to evacuate the premises as the polling station was taken over by the MQM men.

32. PS-52 Clifton Grammar Junior Secondary School, B1-5, Karachi. The polling agents and the voters belonging to the PPPP were beaten up by the armed men from the MQM. The PPPP voters were threatened and forced to evacuate the premises as the polling station was taken over by the MQM men.

33. PS-35, GBLSS President House, Gate 4, Staff Colony, Governor House, Karachi. As elsewhere, PPPP polling agents and the voters were forcibly evicted from the polling stations by the armed militants of the MQM who stamped their own ballot papers in hordes. The PPPP voters were not allowed in and were threatened with their life if they came.

34. PS-49 Junior Model School, Askari Apprtment, Khaliq-us-Zaman Road , Karachi. The polling agents and PPPP voters were beaten up by armed men of the MQM. The PPPP voters were threatened and forced to evacuate the premises as the polling station was taken over by the MQM men. These men were forcibly stamped the ballot papers.

35. PS-13, KMC Primary School, 27/28 NTR Colony, Karachi . Armed guards of the MQM have taken over the polling station at the gunpoint. They are not allowing any voters in. When the PPP polling agents tried to make way for their voters in the polling station, they were blatantly stopped by the armed men, who forced them out saying that their votes have already been cast in.

36. PS 29, St Viani School, Church Rd, Saddar Karachi. The Presiding Officer at the said polling station did not allow voters to enter the polling station. Only the voters belonging to the MQM were allowed in. When the Presiding Officer was confronted, he openly issued threatening statements. The polling station was entirely in the hands of the MQM's militants, who openly stamped ballot papers without any check or hinderance.

37. PS-38, PS-39 and PS-40, Jamshed Ahmed Khan Lower Secondary School , Karachi. The PPP polling agents and the voters were forcibly evicted from the polling stations by the armed militants of the MQM who stamped their own ballot papers in hordes. The PPP voters were not allowed in and were told not to come back to the station.

38. PS-38, PS-39 and PS-40, Jamshed Ahmed Khan Lower Secondary School , Karachi. The PPP polling agents and the voters were forcibly evicted from the polling stations by the armed militants of the MQM who stamped their own ballot papers in hordes. The PPP voters were not allowed in and were told not to come back to the station.

39. PS-43 and PS-44, Citizen Secondary School, Behind PIDC House, Karachi. The PPP polling agents and the voters were forcibly evicted from the polling stations by the armed militants of the MQM who are stamping their own ballot papers in hordes. The PPP voters were not allowed in and were told not to come back to the station.

40. PS-119: The PPP polling agents and the voters were forcibly evicted from the polling stations by the armed militants of the MQM who stamped their own ballot papers by the hundreds. The PPP voters were not allowed in and stamped ballots were bussed in by MQM polling agents in front of the Presiding Officer.

41. Polling Station 52 Clifton Grammar Junior School, Karachi. Armed men riding vehicle bearing the number plate GL-7688 roamed around the premises forcing electoral rigging. They harassed the voters and took over the premises forced the PPP voters to leave the premises.

42. Four PPPP workers, namely Raees Awan, Nasir Awan, Imtiaz Khattak and Waqar Ali Shah were severely injured at the hands of armed men who beat them up at Ayesha Bhawani School during the voting process. Mr Raees Awan suffered a bullet injury in the presence of SHO Saddar Thana and the Rangers, who did nothing to stop the unfortunate incident. Nasir Awan, Imtiaz Khattak and Waqar Ali were later taken into custody when they attempted to draw the police's attention to the matter. The Police refused to lodge the FIR despite repeated requests by the PPP leaders, Nisar Khuhro, Sherry Rehman and Ashraf Samo. The three workers were still in police detention at close of polling.

43. Polling Station 60, the Hampton Secondary School, Kehkashan Block II, Clifton, Karachi. Massive rigging reported at the said polling station as bogus voting was in full swing. The women's polling station was taken over by armed men who harassed the voters and forced them to leave the premises. It was extremely difficult for the PPP voters to cast their vote as they find themselves in a life-threatening situation.

44. Polling Station 73, St Josephs College, Saddar, Karachi . Armed men belonging to the MQM took over the polling station forcibly evicted the PPP polling agents from the premises and prevented voters from casting their ballots. They openly stamped the ballot paper since then kept the PPP voters out.

45. Polling Station 27 and 28, Kutchi Memon Sec Private School, Shahra-e-Iraq, Karachi: Massive rigging took place at the said polling station as the PPP polling agents harassed and asked to leave the premises. The voters at the station felt extremely unsafe and were unable to vote in the presence of the armed guards of the MQM.

46. Polling Stations 18 and 19, GBPS Fazlur Rehman, Urdu Bazaar, Karachi: Armed men belonging to the MQM took over the polling station forcibly evicted the PPP polling agents from the premises and prevented voters from casting their ballots. They openly stamped the ballot paper and made sure that the PPP voters were not allowed to enter the polling booths.

47. Similar instances of violence were reported from PS 115, Najam Delhi Sec School, Kehkashan Block 8, and PS 112, DHA Boys College Phase VII.

'Village rape and Karo-Kari case Need Strong Government Action, not Mere Enquiries' - PPP

ISLAMABAD, Feb, 2 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party expressed its shock and horror over the incidence of rape in Ubaro village and the honour killing of a couple by angry relatives in Punjab.

On Wednesday, the first of February, the Pakistani nation woke up to the gruesome news of a teenage girl raped and forced to walk naked through her village near Ubaro, Ghotki because one of her cousins was accused by her rapists of having eloped with a young woman from their family. The act of rape and the 'punishment', both had the backing of the influential Waderas of the said village who are now pressurizing the girl's father to take back the complaint he filed against them. In another incident, a couple, accused of Karo Kari, was tied to a tree and stoned to death on alleged charge of adultery by angry relatives in a Punjab village.

"This is completely unacceptable," said the Central Information Secretary of the Party, Sherry Rehman. "We have been pointing out from day one that the honour killing bill is seriously flawed and fails to address pertinent issues giving license to the relatives to punish anybody for offences that are considered to have dishonoured the family." Rehman stressed that it is these flaws in the legislation that allows people a free hand to punish innocent women and men under the pretext of honour.

"What happened in Punjab and in Ghotki, speaks volumes about how far we have come after the Mukhtaran Mai incidence. The government has completely failed to protect the lives and the dignity of the women of the country despite passing the much touted Bill pertaining to the protection of women," said Rehman.

Commenting on the probe ordered by the Sindh government into the incident, Rehman said such probes don't make any difference. "Mukhtaran Mai's case followed the same procedure, and her rapists even got arrested and were tried in the court. Did it stop the Ubaro village girl and countless others like her from getting raped and going through the mental torment of being paraded naked? The truth is that the government uses such probes to project itself as sensitive to women's needs. If it really is sincere in addressing the issue, what stops it from doing away with the draconian laws that encourage such crimes?"

Rehman said that the PPP has been repeatedly pointing out the flaws in the honour killing bill, which allow impunity to the accused in all such cases. "Both the Karo-Kari and the Ghotki rape incidence vindicate our stance. Unless these jirga decisions are openly penalized , and the power of the victim's relatives to exonerate the murder is taken back, the common man would continue to take law in his hands and punish women for what he considers offences that have dishonoured the family."

Rehman also expressed her shock at the findings of an NGO that revealed that 31 people including 17 women have been murdered on the pretext of Karo Kari in the month of January 2007, alone. "This is ghastly, to say the least. Why is the price of a Pakistani woman's life so cheap? According to one report, a man killed his wife on the first night of their marriage along with a thirteen year-old-boy because he suspected them of having an illicit relationship. All this thrives right under the nose of the state that finds itself completely helpless in the face of a parallel justice system ."

Observing that the Ghotki incidence had the backing of the powerful Wadera of the village, Rehman pointed out that this parallel justice system where crimes against women are not seen as crimes against the state, was largely the reason why such crimes continue thrive. " Despite a ban on jirgas, at least 15 of them have been held deciding women-related cases in Sindh in January alone. According to the reports, four women including minor girls were given as compensation to settle disputes, while three women were sold during the last month," revealed Rehman.

Rehman stressed that this shocking incident reminds the government and the members of the parliament of their duty to correct the flaws in the existing legislation pertaining to the protection of women. "The village rape and the Karo-Kari murder should be enough to wake up the government. Now is the time to do away with the loopholes in the system that make innocent people suffer at the hands of their relatives and, continue to mock the judicial system of the country.The PPP bill on honour crimes offers such a way out. The parliament should examine it seriously instead of dismissing it as an opposition initiative. It is high time women's issues stopped facing so much political controversy and grandstanding" said Rehman

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Rejects the Proposed Re-Election of General Musharraf from Present Assemblies

Islamabad. January 20 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party has categorically rejected the puppet cabinet's attempt to propose a re-election of its military patron, General Parvez Musharraf as president for the second time from an assembly that is about to finish its constitutional term.

Central Information Secretary of the PPP, Sherry Rehman said that her party, along with its partners in the ARD, would never countenance this illegal and unconstitutional re-election as anything but a dictator's flagrant violation of democratic norms, laws and traditions. Even though we do not recognize General Musharraf as President, as he got himself selected through an illegal process, even in legal terms if the President's term as seen as expiring in five years, it would not expire until 31 st December 2008 because General Musharraf took his vote of confidence from his political surrogates in the assemblies in December 2003.

All democratic forces in the country are both dismayed and appalled at the lengths this regime is willing to go to in order to perpetuate one-man rule in a country crying out for a return to democracy through free and fair elections supervised by a government of national consensus. Instead of bringing neutrality to the vital exercise of an election, which lies at the heart of all democratic systems, if indeed the regime goes for this ill-advised and disastrous move, it will only add more chaos and instability to a nation which stands at the edge of a dangerous political abyss, said Rehman.

Pakistan today is at a vital crossroads. The dangers inherent in further political polarization of a country riven by critical faultlines, both on its borders and within its tribal areas and Balochistan, are incalculable. Instead of allowing democratic governments to heal the polity, and to provide key inputs such as employment, education and health services through better governance, the military regime and its henchmen are threatening to take Pakistan into another, more dangerous phase of uncontrollable instability, added Rehman.

Since all such actions will have a long-term impact on the credibility of all democratic processes and forums in Pakistan, the Election Commission of Pakistan should not only take notice of such irresponsible statements floated by Cabinet Ministers, said Rehman, it should seek a clarification from all those responsible of spreading controversy on such potentially explosive issues. In a parliamentary system, no outgoing assembly can act as an electoral office for a President seeking self-perpetuation, and neither is an election conducted without competing candidates.

The people of Pakistan still expect all those holding public office to be accountable to the people who pay for official expenses, and will not tolerate a further subversion of democracy in their name and at their expense, she added.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

'Musharraf regime a threat to press freedom' – PPP

Islamabad, January 15 2007: The Pakistan Peoples Party has reacted strongly to the report compiled by media development NGOs that single out Pakistan as the most dangerous zone for journalists in the region.

According to a South Asia Free Media Association report, Pakistan tops the list for abductions and killings of journalists during the past year. The tribal areas have been turned into no-go areas for journalists and the situation in Balochistan and interior Sindh remains quite dangerous for journalists.

Central Information Secretary PPP, Sherry Rehman registered her party's strong protest over the threat that journalists of the country face in the line of duty from the "secret elements" backed by the government. Describing the SAFMA report as a tight slap on the face of the government that doesn't get tired of claiming the credit for giving press freedom to the country, Rehman pointed out that brutal treatment meted out to "unfriendly journalists" is a violation of basic human rights and a damning indictment of the military regime's bare-faced lies about media protections and fundamental rights. "Pakistan lost four journalists last year, and their murder still remains a mystery. The regime's policy of eliminating dissenting voices or staying quite when atrocities are committed against journalists speaks volumes of both its shocking record of abuse of power as well as its contempt for freedom of speech or media independence."

Pointing to another report by an NGO that stated that 19 journalists were killed in Pakistan during the last seven years, Rehman said that the figures speak for themselves. "The report says that the last seven years saw 68 journalists abducted, arrested or detained; 81 tortured or injured; 114 threatened or intimidated, while there have been 36 attacks on media property."

Rehman said that the regime has also played no role in providing protection to journalist endangered in the line of duty. "Surely private elements have also been involved in such gruesome acts, but one sees government playing no role in solving the murder of journalists. Furthermore, there have been very clear indications of state involvement in the murder of journalists, especially those who lost their lives while performing their duty in the traditionally no-go areas. Even the foreign press is not free from the clutches of the intelligence agencies, " Rehman said pointing to the harassment of Ms Carlotta Gall of the New York Times who was roughed up by intelligence agents in Quetta recently despite the fact that she had a valid visa to visit the province.

Rehman observed that in tribal areas the controversial Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) is frequently invoked against media but when media persons are killed, it is never invoked against suspect assassins. "The same regulation is rigorously pursued when a government employee is killed in tribal areas. Tribes of that certain area are given a collective punishment in such cases. However, it's just journalists whose life is cheap enough to be allowed to be wasted."

"On the one hand, the government and secret agencies pose a direct threat to the lives of those journalists who report against it, on the other hand, the Musharraf regime, through the black law called PEMRA seeks to curtail the freedom of the press by way of manipulative and anti-democractic laws," Rehman said, adding that over the years PEMRA has proved that it's an institution formed to curb, rather than to allow, the healthy growth of media in the country.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Condemns the PAPRA Bill

Islamabad18 Dec 2006: The Pakistan Peoples Party has raised strong objections to the draconian draft bill put forward by the regime aimed at further curbing the freedom of press in Pakistan. The party has not only denounced the regime's recent move to set up the "Press and Publication Regulatory Authority (PAPRA) to control the media , it has termed the whole enterprise a brazen and shocking act aimed at suppressing the freedom of speech that is an essential component of an independant media and vibrant civil society.

PPP Central Information Secretary, Sherry Rehman, has condemned the regime's ulterior motives to streamline and regulate the media industry without any input or consultation from stakeholders. The PPP expressed concern that the bill has already given rise to very valid fears among press circles who also see the draft bill as yet another instrument to control and influence the print media. She said despite the Musharraf regime's repeated pronouncements on promoting democracy, human rights and press freedoms, its record over the last five years in curbing the independent media has been nothing but harsh and repressive. There is already a controversy raging over the PEMRA Act, just as there is disquiet among the media at the high and unprecedented death toll of journalists over the last four years, she added.

Mr Rehman said that it is clear that the PAPRA bill is designed to control the print media through a government-dominated authority which would pave way to curb press freedom. There is absolutely no need to introduce a bill or a regulatory authority to determine the correct circulation figure of newspapers, when the Ministry of Information already runs a certifiying body called the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC).If the government suspects that an audit has been manipulated, it can easily appoint an auditor of its choice, preferably a renowned firm of chartered accounts, to initiate another audit to establish the correct figures.

The motives to set up an additional regulatory law which is repressive in nature and which prescribes draconian punishments for offenders makes the whole exercise suspect, she said. It is clearly aimed at manipulating the press through levers on advertisement revenues which in turn will depend on the recommendations made by this body.

Rehman said that the approaching elections are making some members of the government jittery, and press freedoms and fundamental rights seem to be the biggest casualty of this panic.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

PPP Slams Regime's Illegal Arrests

Islamabad 10 December 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party has expressed its profound concern over the continued number of disappearances through illegal arrests and midnight abductions at the hands of a shockingly brutal state that remains answerable to no-one in Pakistan. It is shameful that even on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, no answers are given to constant demands by opposition and human rights groups representing the protesting families of those that have become victims of a military rule where justice is available only to the priviliged.

Condemning the recent mass arrest of Baloch leaders, among the thousands of disappeared persons who remain ' lost' citizens, PPP Central Information Secretary, Sherry Rehman has demanded an immediate inquiry into the lists of people released by several organisations including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

It is a sad indictment of our times that in this day and age, Pakistan has regressed into a state where over 242 abductees remain unaccounted for, with no record of trial, justice, imprisonment or even death to console the families of these silent victims of state terror.Under the law, anyone arrested and accused of a crime must be produced before a court of law and a judicial magistrate 24 hours after arrest, but under this regime it seems that the rights of citizens no longer matter.

The regime's open contempt for the law, as well as its silence in the face of accusations and evidence that it has abducted its own citizens without due process is a grim reminder of the dictatorship's systematic oppression of political dissentors, said Rehman.

For the state to hold such large numbers of people in illegal custody without admitting to its complicity in such crimes leads us to believe that Pakistan too is running gulags where such victims are held away from public sight.Mounting evidence of mostly Baloch prisoners who have been released tell a grisly tale of torture and interrogation at the hands of intelliegence agencies, which is itself a shocking reminder to all of us that justice and law are still mere buzzwords to a regime that is willing to go to any lengths to perpetuate its own brand of dictatorship. By illegally arresting political activists, the regime is playing a dangerous game that threatens the stability of the federation, warned Rehman, which may lead us into a situation from where there is no return.The PPP demands the release of all such abductees, and an end to all such activities without recourse to the law.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

The PPP Rejects All Reports of Internal Change in the Party as Baseless

December 04, 2006 Islamabad: The Pakistan Peoples Party has rejected all recent news items about possible changes in senior party positions as entirely baseless .
The Party has categorically dismissed all such reports as grounded in speculation, and has reiterated the party leadership's complete confidence in the Secretary General, Jehangir Badr, President of the NWFP, Rahimdad Khan, as well as the President Women's Wing Punjab, Begum Belum Hasnain, whose offices have come under such speculation in certain sections of the press.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has announced no such changes, and neither have any leaders been summoned to London to deliberate on any such re-shuffle, said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary of the PPP.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary

The PPP Rejects All Reports of Internal Change in the Party as Baseless

November 27, 2006 Islamabad: The Pakistan Peoples Party has rejected all recent news items about possible changes in senior party positions as entirely baseless.
The Party has categorically dismissed all such reports as grounded in speculation, and has reiterated the party leadership's complete confidence in the Secretary General, Jehangir Badr, President of the NWFP, Rahimdad Khan, as well as the President Women's Wing Punjab, Begum Belum Hasnain, whose offices have come under such speculation in certain sections of the press.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has announced no such changes, and neither have any leaders been summoned to London to deliberate on any such re-shuffle, said Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary of the PPP. -

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party
49 Old Clifton, Karachi
021 5834663/4
21, St 37, F 7/1, Islamabad
051 9224129
Pakistan

The PPP Rejects All Rumours of Internal Change as Baseless

November 27, 2006 Islamabad: The Pakistan Peoples Party has rejected all recent news items about possible changes in senior party positions as entirely baseless.

The Central Secretary Information, Sherry Rehman has categorically dismissed all such speculation as grounded entirely in rumour, and has reiterated the party leadership's confidence in the Secretary General of the party, Jehangir Badr, whose office has come under such speculation in certain sections of the press.

" Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is not contemplating any changes to the Secretary General's office at all, and neither have any contenders for the office been summoned to London at all," said Rehman.


Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party
49 Old Clifton, Karachi
021 5834663/4
21, St 37, F 7/1, Islamabad
051 9224129
Pakistan

PPP Slams Civil Aviation on Criminal Negligence

Islamabad, November 8, 2006: The Pakistan Peoples Party has raised strong objections to the manner in which the Civil Aviation Authority continues to neglect the crucial maintenance of its aircraft, landing gear as well as radar equipment all over airports in Pakistan, resulting first in two bloody plane  crashes and now in the banning of PIA aircraft by the European Union.

The PPP has regretted that no action has been taken in the CAA, despite warnings by the PPP in the National Assembly on this critical matter of flight safety as early as November 14, 2005, after which the  tragic Fokker crash took place, while the officials responsible remain above accountability and due process simply because they are protected by friends in high places of power.

This is a matter of urgent public importance as every day human lives are at risk at all the airports of Pakistan, said the PPP Central  Information Secretary, but no serious accident investigation has taken place nor have the three officers responsible for radar maintenance
been dismissed or charge-sheeted. It is common knowledge that the Director Flight Standards is both unqualified for this sensitive job,  and is protected in a cabal of three officers who have been allowed to hold the entire airspace of Pakistan hostage as dangerously unsafe due to their violation of maintenance rules and landing equipment check lapses, said Sherry Rehman.

Had disciplinary action been taken to remove these officers, and to restore landing radar equipment to its required levels after criminal lapses of four years, the Fokker crash may not have occurred, said  Rehman, adding that the PPP had raised this public safety issue in the National Assembly well before the crash in order to avert such a disaster. In what appears to be grim joke on the 42 victims and their families, the DFS, Captain Shafqat, has, instead of being reprimanded for leaving landing equipment unchecked, promoted after the crash from BPS grade 19 to BPS grade 20, she added.Rehman demanded that a high level inquiry be held immediately into thematter, and the current sham of an investigation held under AirCommodore Junaid Ameen be suspended, as he and Deputy Director AVM Safdar Khan are all batch mates with Shafqat Mahmoud, and bent ongiving the DFS a clean chit.

Rehman said that an inquiry also needs to be held in all those officails busy in corrupt practices in the purchase of thousands of acres land in Gwador at inflated prices on behalf of the CAA. It is a tragic indictment on the state of accountability and disastrous governance in the country, if no citizen traveling on Pakistani flights or even in our airspace is any longer safe, because all the equipment for landing safety and radar is not just outdated but deprived of standard maintenance checks, she said. The PPP also noted that Pakistan is set to lose 250 million dollars a year for the income it earned from overflights, but no one is bothered about what is happening behind closed doors in the CAA.

Sherry Rehman demanded a parliamentary enquiry be immediately held without delay, as this is precisely what the job of legislators is if they are to protect the citizens who have elected them to hold public office. We want all the names and offices of people who are responsible for protecting criminal offenders to be disclosed to the public, she said, wondering why the NAB is quite on the whole issue. Clearly, people's lives and the prestige of Pakistan are not important to NAB, she said, as it only throws millions of taxpayer rupees onwitch-hunting elected public rivals of the military regime.

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party
49 Old Clifton, Karachi
021 5834663/4
21, St 37, F 7/1, Islamabad
051 9224129
Pakistan

Govt not doing enough to control Dengue outbreak' - PPP

Islamabad, November 03: Pakistan People's Party expressed its concern over rising incidence of Dengue fever that has taken the entire country in its grip.

Slamming the government for sleeping over the issue, PPP's Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman pointed out that the outbreak is a result of ineffective measures taken by the government. "The government continued to neglect the threat till it reached an alarming level. First it was restricted to Karachi alone, but now it has reached other parts of the country too," Rehman said revealing that there are 813 confirmed cases of Dengue fever across the country, out of which more than 700 belong to Sindh. "There are 57 cases in Punjab while 105 are in different hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi," she informed

"This would be a cause of concern for any government. However, a regime that allocates a meager Rs11.01 billion to health sector in a 1.5trillion outlay of the budget is not expected to take note of threat to the health of its people. Apparently, health and well being of the citizens is the last priority of the government. Like always, this time too the government was caught completely unawares of the disease that has taken 31 lives so far, while the number of suspected cases stand at a shocking 2,529." says Rehman.

Rehman observed that the efforts taken by the government to control the epidemic are not likely to yield any results as they are stopgap measures, and suffer from lack of proper planning. "A fumigation drive here and an awareness drive there can hardly be effective since the outbreak is far bigger than the measures taken to control it. Dengue virus thrives in uncovered water and with our cities becoming gutters, no amount of fumigation can address the problem," Rehman also observed that while the government is claiming to initiate a fumigation drive in major cities like Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, there are no spray machines available for smaller cities. "Authorities have demonstrated total disregard for precious lives, first by waking up too late to the outbreak, and now by ignoring the population living in other parts of the country, and depriving them of preventive measures to counter the threat."

"Recent rains in Karachi exposed the inefficiency of the government, which allowed the rainwater to stay stagnant for many days. Furthermore, not only the city, but the entire country is full of unmanaged rubbish, which is another breeding ground for the mosquito. It is no surprise therefore that the disease hit Karachi the hardest after rains. It is now spreading to other cities as well and the government is not doing enough to control it. Running a fumigation drive while not doing anything to clear the garbage and remove the stagnant water will not counter the problem."

Rehman also described the information campaign initiated by the government as "patchy" and "hardly adequate to meet the challenges in the post dengue scenario". "The government needs to set up information cells in different localities to raise awareness about the disease. Not everybody watches television or reads newspaper in this country. The outbreak has given way to panic among people and their fears need to be allayed. People's access to accurate and comprehensive information should be made easy on an urgent basis, since the disease is self-limiting and its prevention depends a lot on citizens too"

Rehman demanded that government reduces the price of drugs for the disease. "People affected by the disease have to spend several days in the hospitals and buy expensive medicines. Surely, it is the underprivileged section of the society that is more likely to be hit by the disease. Government is making matters worse for them by not subsidizing the prices of the treatment and drugs to cure the disease."

Sherry Rehman
Central Information Secretary
Pakistan Peoples Party
49 Old Clifton, Karachi
021 5834663/4
21, St 37, F 7/1, Islamabad
051 9224129
Pakistan