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."