Sunday, October 28, 2007

In visit to homeland, Bhutto vows to fight extremism

Ms Bhutto does not have faith in Pakistani authorities, but the daughter of east and the star of west is confident in Western authorities. Perhaps the western authorities should also investigate the corrouption during her rule. If found guily by the western authorites of corruption. President Bush can pardon her as he did to Libby.
More: Boston Globe

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Bomb victims’ rehabilitation DAWN 10/25/2007

Bomb victims’ rehabilitation

http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/25/letted.htm#2

WHEN there were ominous threats to PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto from the beginning of her journey to Pakistan on Oct 18, where was the PPP wisdom to collect hundreds of thousands of people on the road and jeopardise their lives? The only reason their leadership gives is that it was their democratic right to stage a rally. But under such dire circumstances? What happened was a colossal tragedy that traumatised the nation and tarnished its image internationally.

There is no foolproof security nor is it possible for any government in our predicament to control and protect mammoth crowds. If the purpose of all this show was to assert Ms Bhutto’s massive following, it was well-managed and funded also to satisfy her patrons abroad.

Now that so many party volunteers and public men have been killed and maimed, I do not see that the PPP has chalked out any plan to help the victims and their families financially. It is the responsibility of the PPP to take adequate care of them and spend adequately on their rehabilitation and relief as they have done on galvanizing an assemblage to welcome Ms Bhutto and prepare a luxurious float for her. Mere salutes to the victims and their families will not suffice.

MOHAMMAD ALEEM SHAIKH
Karachi

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

A comet in orbit

A comet in orbit

By Ardeshir Cowasjee

IT is inevitable. With the passage of time, our elderly friends, and even many younger, are taken away to rest on Cloud Nine and we suffer, missing particularly those upon whom wisdom and a sense of humour had been bestowed by the Creator.

One such friend was an ambassador of sunny Spain upon whose plains, said that astute professor, Henry Higgins, the rain mainly falls. He was an aristocrat to the core, accredited to the Court of Field Marshal Ayub Khan. His English was limited to three words. Everything that happened in Pakistan was either a ‘catastrophe’, ‘calamity’, or ‘disaster’.

Now, right now, in sunny Pakistan upon whose plains the falling rain is limited, everything done by our President General, Pervez Musharraf, since his commando action of March 9, falls within the ambit of my Spanish friend’s three definitions.

Though, to give the general due credit, he has not wavered from his resolve to fight fanaticism, terrorism and bigotry coupled with ignorance — all formidable foes.

Now, to add to his and to our woes and worries, the Daughter of the East, the Star of the West, has returned to the homeland to bring in democracy, as practised by her party and by her, and thanks to the general and the ‘deal’ foisted upon him by the US ably abetted by the UK, we are all likely to be held hostage to another spell of loot and plunder.

By the selfish acts of her party, approved by her, some 150 lives have been lost and hundreds have been wounded and maimed. This is apart from the mundane fiscal loss to the country of some five hundred million of the beloved awam’s money.

As things are developing, the Inter Service Intelligence organisation and the other ‘agencies’ and their combined spooks will come into play and more than disturb our lives and any hopes of a halfway free and fair election (if there is to be an election).

To counter further potential damage to the country and its image, it is very necessary that Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who has conducted himself admirably, hear and decide Human Rights Petition 19/1996 which was filed by Air Marshal Asghar Khan against the illegal distribution of the people’s money by the ISI to ‘fix’ elections, the respondent being the retired chief of army staff General Mirza Aslam Beg. This seriously needs to be resurrected and heard and decided, telling us and the ISI and others of their colour what it is that they cannot lawfully do.

The man directly involved in ordering the ISI to perform its illegal actions and the man who apparently organised the funds necessary to purchase our pliant politicians was Ghulam Ishaq Khan, then president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and his complacent assistants still with us — General Beg and retired Lt General Asad Durrani who has been man enough to confess to whatever wrong it was that he did.

Both gentlemen, with admirable frequency and consistency, participate in the talk shows aired by our numerous private television channels. A couple of weeks ago, on Dawn News’ Talk Back, a passage from the written statement submitted and filed in the Supreme Court by General Beg in the matter of HRP 19/1996 was read out to him by Anchor Tim:

‘It is submitted with great respect that more serious damage has been caused to the reputation and the goodwill of the armed forces by Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan in bringing this petition before the honourable Court and raising an issue before the apex Court which of course would receive great publicity and would cause greater damage by scandalisation in the media. It also reflects on the poor control of the armed forces Supreme Command...’

When asked to explain why Beg considered that the petition against the ISI’s devious actions and use of public money would damage the reputation of the armed forces, Beg declared that if indeed it was thus written it was a ‘mistake’. It was pointed out to him that his signature is on the written statement which is available in the records of the Supreme Court.

As for the ISI, its very history is against it. It was founded in 1948 by Major General R. Cawthorne, a British army officer, the deputy chief of staff of the Pakistan Army. Its intelligence-gathering role was expanded 10 years later by the army commander in chief and president of the Republic General Ayub Khan to safeguard the ‘national interest’ by monitoring opposition politicians, sustaining military rule and safeguarding Ayub’s own power base.

Its failings in the true and original justification for its existence were exposed in the 1965 war when its operations collapsed, its duties for too long having been devoted to domestic investigation work such as tapping telephones, harassing political opponents and trailing suspects.

It became further involved in politics under President General Yahya Khan, particularly in East Pakistan — and we all know how that meddling ended. It continued to be politically used and manipulated by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, to his detriment and ultimate downfall. It was the ISI that was responsible for the disastrous rigging of the 1977 elections — totally unnecessary — and the subsequent army takeover by General Ziaul Haq.

Now, here we are at the end of 2007, 30 years down the line, and the ISI remains a political force to be reckoned with. Musharraf, hand in hand with the Americans and the Europeans, and with Benazir Bhutto, is busy planning his election strategy, in which undoubtedly will largely figure the experienced ISI. Musharraf should be wary of the ISI and its cynical sycophancy, reflecting upon how it had led Bhutto to the scaffold and the drop.

The ISI’s role in Pakistan’s domestic political affairs has been murky in the extreme, severely marring its performance in the external sphere. It has successfully been used to install and then to bring down governments, presidents and prime ministers.

Air Marshal Asghar Khan’s petition is now highly pertinent and for the sake of any vestige of ‘free and fair’ elections it is vital that it be heard and decided. The last hearing was on Oct 11, 1999, the day before a reckless unthinking prime minister handed over his country to an army chief with whom he was at odds.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan has much on his plate, including the vital issue of the hundreds of missing persons, many surely made to ‘disappear’ by the magic of the ISI. But, truly in the national interest, and before the elections are held, he must find time to decide petition 19/1996 which has languished in his court for over a decade.

arfc@cyber.net.pk

A comet in orbit

A comet in orbit

By Ardeshir Cowasjee

IT is inevitable. With the passage of time, our elderly friends, and even many younger, are taken away to rest on Cloud Nine and we suffer, missing particularly those upon whom wisdom and a sense of humour had been bestowed by the Creator.

One such friend was an ambassador of sunny Spain upon whose plains, said that astute professor, Henry Higgins, the rain mainly falls. He was an aristocrat to the core, accredited to the Court of Field Marshal Ayub Khan. His English was limited to three words. Everything that happened in Pakistan was either a ‘catastrophe’, ‘calamity’, or ‘disaster’.

Now, right now, in sunny Pakistan upon whose plains the falling rain is limited, everything done by our President General, Pervez Musharraf, since his commando action of March 9, falls within the ambit of my Spanish friend’s three definitions.

Though, to give the general due credit, he has not wavered from his resolve to fight fanaticism, terrorism and bigotry coupled with ignorance — all formidable foes.

Now, to add to his and to our woes and worries, the Daughter of the East, the Star of the West, has returned to the homeland to bring in democracy, as practised by her party and by her, and thanks to the general and the ‘deal’ foisted upon him by the US ably abetted by the UK, we are all likely to be held hostage to another spell of loot and plunder.

By the selfish acts of her party, approved by her, some 150 lives have been lost and hundreds have been wounded and maimed. This is apart from the mundane fiscal loss to the country of some five hundred million of the beloved awam’s money.

As things are developing, the Inter Service Intelligence organisation and the other ‘agencies’ and their combined spooks will come into play and more than disturb our lives and any hopes of a halfway free and fair election (if there is to be an election).

To counter further potential damage to the country and its image, it is very necessary that Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who has conducted himself admirably, hear and decide Human Rights Petition 19/1996 which was filed by Air Marshal Asghar Khan against the illegal distribution of the people’s money by the ISI to ‘fix’ elections, the respondent being the retired chief of army staff General Mirza Aslam Beg. This seriously needs to be resurrected and heard and decided, telling us and the ISI and others of their colour what it is that they cannot lawfully do.

The man directly involved in ordering the ISI to perform its illegal actions and the man who apparently organised the funds necessary to purchase our pliant politicians was Ghulam Ishaq Khan, then president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and his complacent assistants still with us — General Beg and retired Lt General Asad Durrani who has been man enough to confess to whatever wrong it was that he did.

Both gentlemen, with admirable frequency and consistency, participate in the talk shows aired by our numerous private television channels. A couple of weeks ago, on Dawn News’ Talk Back, a passage from the written statement submitted and filed in the Supreme Court by General Beg in the matter of HRP 19/1996 was read out to him by Anchor Tim:

‘It is submitted with great respect that more serious damage has been caused to the reputation and the goodwill of the armed forces by Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan in bringing this petition before the honourable Court and raising an issue before the apex Court which of course would receive great publicity and would cause greater damage by scandalisation in the media. It also reflects on the poor control of the armed forces Supreme Command...’

When asked to explain why Beg considered that the petition against the ISI’s devious actions and use of public money would damage the reputation of the armed forces, Beg declared that if indeed it was thus written it was a ‘mistake’. It was pointed out to him that his signature is on the written statement which is available in the records of the Supreme Court.

As for the ISI, its very history is against it. It was founded in 1948 by Major General R. Cawthorne, a British army officer, the deputy chief of staff of the Pakistan Army. Its intelligence-gathering role was expanded 10 years later by the army commander in chief and president of the Republic General Ayub Khan to safeguard the ‘national interest’ by monitoring opposition politicians, sustaining military rule and safeguarding Ayub’s own power base.

Its failings in the true and original justification for its existence were exposed in the 1965 war when its operations collapsed, its duties for too long having been devoted to domestic investigation work such as tapping telephones, harassing political opponents and trailing suspects.

It became further involved in politics under President General Yahya Khan, particularly in East Pakistan — and we all know how that meddling ended. It continued to be politically used and manipulated by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, to his detriment and ultimate downfall. It was the ISI that was responsible for the disastrous rigging of the 1977 elections — totally unnecessary — and the subsequent army takeover by General Ziaul Haq.

Now, here we are at the end of 2007, 30 years down the line, and the ISI remains a political force to be reckoned with. Musharraf, hand in hand with the Americans and the Europeans, and with Benazir Bhutto, is busy planning his election strategy, in which undoubtedly will largely figure the experienced ISI. Musharraf should be wary of the ISI and its cynical sycophancy, reflecting upon how it had led Bhutto to the scaffold and the drop.

The ISI’s role in Pakistan’s domestic political affairs has been murky in the extreme, severely marring its performance in the external sphere. It has successfully been used to install and then to bring down governments, presidents and prime ministers.

Air Marshal Asghar Khan’s petition is now highly pertinent and for the sake of any vestige of ‘free and fair’ elections it is vital that it be heard and decided. The last hearing was on Oct 11, 1999, the day before a reckless unthinking prime minister handed over his country to an army chief with whom he was at odds.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan has much on his plate, including the vital issue of the hundreds of missing persons, many surely made to ‘disappear’ by the magic of the ISI. But, truly in the national interest, and before the elections are held, he must find time to decide petition 19/1996 which has languished in his court for over a decade.

arfc@cyber.net.pk

Monday, October 22, 2007

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Going mainstream

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/10/18/going_mainstream/

http:///www.hindu.com/2007/10/18/stories/2007101861831800.htm

Comment: Another example of how the Pakistani Secular politicians “brown nose” with the Indian Press. This time another Bhutto. We do not see any Indian politician making such coments.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/18/stories/2007101861831800.htm

Bhutto's husband now admits owning £4m estate

Its still relevant
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1287768,00.html

Saturday, October 20, 2007

BENZAIR SINGS DEMOCRACY BUT SUPPORT TERRORISM

IltaSanomat Helsink Finland - Pommi-isku surmasi taas useita ihmisiä Pakistanissa

Pommi-isku surmasi taas useita ihmisiä Pakistanissa
20.10.2007 16:37

News about 7 killed and and more than 20 wounded in Dera Bugti, Baluchistan.

http://iltasanomat.fi/uutiset/ulkomaat/uutinen.asp?id=1446840

VIEW: Ganjas no more! —Kamran Shafi

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_31-3-2005_pg3_4

Former Pakistani PM met Bin Laden discussed Jihad - says ex intelligence agent

PAKISTAN: FORMER PM NAWAZ SHARIF DID MEET BIN LADEN, SAYS EX-INTELLIGENCE AGENT

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.277838622&par=0

The Terrorist Prince: The Life and Death of Murtaza Bhutto By Raja Anwar

http://books.google.com/books?id=3vo17OBuOyQC&dq=murtaza+bhutto&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=MqD5nis7Ef&sig=g_weRksbRBAyAjPDJI4dZ2WdiUY#PPA33,M1

Helsinki Finland HS panel: Fear of religious fanaticism could lead to self-censorship

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/iHSi+panel+Fear+of+religious+fanaticism+could+lead+to+self-censorship/1135231078660

The Swiss Connection - Amnesty spells trouble for Swiss Bhutto case

English: http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=881&sid=8298245
German: http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=881&sid=8314468
French: http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=881&sid=8293382
Spanish: http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=881&sid=8305834

With Disgust

The Dawn
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/arc-cowas.htm

Benazir irresponsible, say citizens

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\20\story_20-10-2007_pg12_7