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DAWN WIRE SERVICE
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Week Ending : 17 August 2002 Issue : 08/33
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Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
The DAWN Wire Service (DWS) is a free weekly news-service from
Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the daily DAWN. DWS
offers news, analysis and features of particular interest to the
Pakistani Community on the Internet.
Extracts, not exceeding 50 lines, can be used provided that this
entire header is included at the beginning of each extract.
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mail DAWN Group of Newspapers
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Please send all Editorials and Letters to the Editor at
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(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2002
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CONTENTS
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NATIONAL NEWS
+ Senate election on Nov 12: Nominations from 19th: EC
+ Parliament can reject changes, EU told
+ Delhi's charges of cross-border terrorism rejected
+ Musharraf vows to hold fair polls: Kashmir elections rejected
+ SC refuses to pass any direction: LG polls in Islamabad
+ CEC asks ROs not to accept nominations of ministers
+ EC allows 71 parties for poll
+ EC turns down Ijaz's registration request
+ SC admits petition of PML-QA: Delimitation of constituencies
+ Defaulters cannot contest polls: EC
+ Nomination form for Benazir being obtained today
+ PPP complains to CEC against govt's smear campaign
+ Court notice to AG on Benazir's petition
+ PPP chief moves SHC to contest election
+ Benazir ready to work with Nawaz
+ Benazir and Shahbaz to face law, says minister
+ Hearing of Benazir's plea adjourned
+ LHC seeks order against Shahbaz
+ Plea against bar on Shahbaz's entry
+ Sharif family won't be allowed to return: ISPR
+ C'wealth informed of anti-PPP steps
+ Govt flayed for 'pre-poll rigging'
+ Imran opposes return of Benazir, Nawaz
+ Imran vows to ensure justice and self-respect
+ Grand National Alliance formed
+ PPPP, JI agree to cooperate
+ SHC to hear Omar's appeal in Karachi
+ Search for Al Qaeda men launched
+ Defence closes evidence today: Meerwala case
+ More defence witnesses depose: Meerwala gang-rape case
+ ATC summons six more witnesses: Meerwala gang-rape
+ Lashkar-i-Jhangvi blamed for attacks
+ Banned groups behind attack
+ Wattoo seeks release in pending reference
+ No disqualification on me: Wattoo
+ Courts order Wattoo's release
+ American school may be closed down
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BUSINESS & ECONOMY
+ Six million dollars debt rescheduled
+ Several groups vying to be king of country's financial sector
+ HBL sell-off attracts local, foreign investors
+ KSE index manages to finish with modest rise
+ Stock market back on rails
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EDITORIALS & FEATURES
+ We never learn from history-3 Ardeshir Cowasjee
+ Bewildered: the cavalry under siege Ayaz Amir
+ Pre-emption as a principle not in US interest Henry A. Kissinger
+ Vendettas, victims and victors Irfan Husain
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SPORTS
+ PCB's financial misdeeds exposed
+ PCB signs three-year contract with CBFS
+ Improved Pakistan outplay Sri Lanka
+ ICC, Pakistan reject Tangiers
+ Pakistan to lose domestic audience, money after Aussie pull out
+ Jansher returns to big time squash
+ Jansher may get wildcard
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NATIONAL NEWS
20020817
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Senate election on Nov 12: Nominations from 19th: EC
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By Rafaqat Ali
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The Election Commission announced the schedule
for elections to the National and provincial assemblies to be held
on Oct 10.
The Election Commission announced that the election to the Senate
would now be held on Nov 12, exactly one month after the deadline
fixed by the Supreme Court for holding of the NA, PAs and Senate
elections.
The senator from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) would
be elected through direct vote on Oct 10.
Candidates have been asked to file nomination papers from Aug 19 to
24. Returning Officers would scrutinize nomination papers from Aug
25 to 31.
Candidates or their rivals would be able to file appeals against
the decision of Retuning Officers, accepting or rejecting the
nomination papers, till Sept 4.
Last date for withdrawal of candidature has been fixed at Sept 12.
On the next day, Sept 13, the revised list of candidates will be
published.
Polling for election to the National and provincial assemblies and
Senate (only in the Fata) will be held on Oct 10. The same program
will apply to the seats reserved for women and minorities in the
National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, the
NWFP and Balochistan.
Official notification issued on Friday stated the position about
the Senate election. It said it was earlier announced that the
elections for the Senate would also be held on Oct 10.
A large number of people, political leaders and political parties
had desired that the election to the Senate be held according to
existing scheme of the Constitution, it added.
The original scheme for holding election to the Senate provided
that the senators from the provinces were to be elected by the
members of the provincial assemblies and from the federal capital
by the members of the National Assembly.
"The election to the Senate cannot, therefore, be held till such
time that the elections to the National Assembly and Provincial
Assemblies are complete, the members have taken oath, the Speaker
and Deputy Speakers have been elected and thereafter a reasonable
period is provided for filing and scrutiny of papers," the
notification said.
The general seats for National Assembly had been increased from 207
to 272 after delimitation of the constituencies in the light of
census results.
The government has also increased the representation of women in
the National and provincial assemblies.
The elections would be held on joint electorate basis, first time
after 1977 election. Besides, the government has withdrawn its
proposal for the withdrawal of the special seats for the minorities
and has restored these.
Candidates on the reserved seats for women and non-Muslims will be
elected through proportional representation system of political
parties lists of candidates on the basis of total number of general
seats won by each political party in a provincial assembly. The
independents would have no say in the election of women seats.
The law provides that every political party would have to give a
list of candidates for the seats reserved for women and minorities,
in order of priority.
A political party securing less than five per cent of the total
number of general seats in the National Assembly will not be
entitled to any reserved seat for women or non-Muslims.
The Punjab Assembly will consist of 372 seats, including 66
reserved seats for women and nine for minorities. Similarly, the
Sindh Assembly will have a total strength of 167 members, including
29 seats for women and eight for minorities. Balochistan Assembly
will consist of 65 members, including 11 women and three minority
members; and NWFP Assembly will consist of 124 members, including
22 women and three minority members.
The government has amended the Representation of People's Act,
empowering the Returning Officers to reject the nomination papers
of any candidate on the basis of information received from "any
source."
Election schedule at a glance
Filing of nomination papers Aug 19 to 24, 2002
Scrutiny of nomination papers Aug 25 to 31, 2002
Last date of filing of appeals Sept 4, 2002
Last date for deciding appeals Sept 11, 2002
Last date for withdrawal Sept 12, 2002
Publication of revised list Sept 13, 2002
Polling day Oct 10, 2002
Senate election Nov 12, 2002
The above program shall also apply to the seats reserved for women
and non-Muslims in the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies
of Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan.-APP
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20020817
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Parliament can reject changes, EU told
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: Chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau,
Lt Gen Tanveer Naqvi assured European Union electoral observation
mission that the constitutional reforms being introduced are not
reversible and subject to approval by future parliament.
"Constitutional amendments would stand unless there is a negative
resolution approved by the parliament," Naqvi told the EU observer.
"Parliament is sovereign and it can do whatever it likes and the
Constitution clearly lays down the procedure in this regard," Naqvi
said.
The European Union mission, who had been criticized for interfering
in Pakistan's internal affairs, met the NRB chairman here on
Friday.
According to an official announcement, chief of the mission
Cashnahan in his meeting with the NRB chief explained the role of
his mission and said the EU has a universally recognized criteria
for observing elections process in different countries and it would
not interfere in the internal politics of any country.
Gen Naqvi briefed the mission about the proposed National Security
Council and said it would be a consultative body and an executive
or quasi-executive body. The objective behind establishing it was
to bring stability to democratic system, he added.
He also explained the rationale behind introduction of the
condition of graduation for the candidates to the elected
institutions.
The NRB chairman also informed the mission about the role of
Election Commission. "Election Commission derives its role directly
from the Constitution and is an autonomous body, which conducts
elections strictly in accordance with the parameters of its defined
role laid in the Constitution," he said.
Replying to another question regarding link between EC and NRB in
the backdrop of local government elections, the NAB chairman said
election commission interacted with the NRB because it was a new
system requiring more understanding and clarity.
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20020816
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Delhi's charges of cross-border terrorism rejected
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Pakistan on Thursday rejected the allegations of
cross-border terrorism hurled by Indian prime minister in his
speech on the Independence Day of India. Such accusations were
routinely levelled by the Indian leaders to cover up the reign of
terror let loose by the Indian security forces in the Indian
Occupied Kashmir, a foreign office spokesman said.
In the face of India's own sordid record of fomenting terrorism
across South Asia during the past several decades, he described the
Indian prime minister's reference to 'double standard' as
hypocritical.
He also took exception to the Indian prime minister's assertion
that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India. This
statement, he said, was contrary to international legality as
reflected in the relevant UN Security Council Resolution on the
Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Such a statement reflected India's colonial mindset, its disregard
for morality, and its intention to persist with its illegal control
over the Indian-Occupied Kashmir through brute force. This Indian
attitude was the principal impediment in the way of a peaceful and
just settlement of the Kashmir dispute.
He reiterated Pakistan's rejection of the election being planned
for the Indian-Occupied Kashmir. Besides, the illegitimate nature
of this exercise, all such elections had been blatantly rigged in
the past and had been rejected by the Kashmiri people.
He questioned the credibility of an election conducted in the
presence of 700,000 strong Indian occupation force with license to
kill. He pointed out that despite enormous Indian pressure, the
APHC had refused to take part in the fraudulent elections.
However, he welcomed India's desire to live with Pakistan as a good
neighbour and Mr Vajpayee's observation about resolving the dispute
through talks.
He emphasized that Pakistan had already made repeated offers to
India for the resumption of a meaningful dialogue to resolve all
outstanding disputes, including Kashmir.
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20020816
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Musharraf vows to hold fair polls: Kashmir elections rejected
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: President Gen Pervez Musharraf gave a firm
assurance to the nation on Wednesday that the October elections
would be free, fair and transparent.
Addressing a select gathering on the 55th Independence Day, the
president said: "On this solemn occasion, let me give the whole
nation a personal guarantee... I will take all possible measures to
ensure a free, fair and a transparent election" with a view to
restoring democracy.
"Our government has taken a number of steps to encourage a change
and bring in new leadership," he said, adding that the voter's age
had been reduced to 18 years and minimum educational qualification
of BA had been introduced for the candidates. The step, he
believed, would stop looters, criminals, defaulters, and tax-
evaders from entering the assemblies.
The president urged people to understand the value of their vote
and told them to vote for those who could serve the nation with
honesty, sincerity and dedication.
The president urged Ulema, religious parties and other
organizations to come forward to protect Islam from distortion and
abuse.
Gen Musharraf emphasized that resolution of the Kashmir dispute was
imperative for a durable peace in South Asia and added that the
struggle for self-determination of Kashmiris was a sacred trust
which could never be compromised.
He reiterated Pakistan's support to the struggle of the people of
occupied Kashmir for their right to self-determination promised to
them by the international community.
Reiterating Pakistan's strong desire for a peaceful settlement of
the Kashmir and all other outstanding issues, Gen Musharraf made it
abundantly clear that Pakistan would never be subdued by coercion.
He, however, said that Pakistan believed in peace.
He warned that no one should dare think of any adventurism across
"our borders". He assured the nation that its armed forces were
standing guard on the country's borders. The armed forces, he said,
would not only defend every inch of the motherland but carry the
fight across the border.
The president said that the announcement by India to hold elections
in occupied Kashmir was yet another attempt to give a mask of
legitimacy to its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. He said
Pakistan's position on the issue was based on the Security Council
resolutions that elections cannot be a substitute for a free and
impartial plebiscite to be held under the auspices of the world
body.
He pointed out that the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, the sole
credible voice of Kashmiri people, had already rejected the holding
of such elections. He said if the past was any guide the elections
planned by India would once again take place without participation
of the Kashmiri people and they were only designed to obtain pre-
determined results.
The president said India claimed that peaceful elections in
occupied Kashmir would be a test of Pakistan's sincerity for a
dialogue with New Delhi. Terming it a self-serving argument, he
said Pakistan cannot accept any responsibility for the developments
taking place inside occupied Kashmir nor can India blame the
failure of elections on Pakistan.
Referring to the government's achievements during the last three
years, he said: "We have demonstrated to the world that good
governance, economic progress and elimination of corruption is
possible in Pakistan. The world accepted this now".
He pointed out that this was no mean achievement when compared with
the despair and despondency prevailing in 1999. At that time, he
said, the target was revival of fledgling economy, strengthening of
the federation, improving law and order, de- politicizing state
institutions, introduction of a system of accountability, and
rebuilding of national confidence. He observed that substantial
progress had been made on this agenda during the short period of
less than three years.
The president said the government had decided to rebuild the state
institutions and undertake fundamental and far-reaching reforms to
ensure sustainability and long-lasting growth. He said his
government's strategy was to get out of debt trap and reschedule
debt to get fiscal space. The resources thus spared were being used
on development projects, he added.
Gen Musharraf paid tribute to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah,
Allama Iqbal and other heroes of the freedom struggle who had
fought against all odds to create a new homeland for the Muslims of
South Asia.
Addressing the youth, the president said: "We have tried to create
conditions for you to take charge and steer the country ahead to
progress and prosperity." He advised them to build high character
and honour.
The colorful ceremony was attended by ministers, services chiefs,
diplomats, civil and military officials, prominent citizens and
thousands of students. The young boys and girls were carrying
miniature Pakistani flags which they warmly waved during the
proceedings of function.
A group of children presented patriotic songs, enthralling the
audience. After the ceremony, the president went to them and
appreciated their national spirit.
Earlier, the president unfurled the national flag. It was preceded
by the sounding of sirens across the country at 7.59am. After the
flag-hoisting, the participants of the ceremony and the entire
nation joined in singing the national anthem.
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20020816
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SC refuses to pass any direction: LG polls in Islamabad
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: The Supreme Court declined to pass any direction
to the government for holding local government elections in the
federal capital, saying that the fundamental rights including
political rights of citizens had been suspended by the proclamation
of emergency.
The court made these observations on a petition filed by the editor
of an English daily.
The three-judge bench, comprising Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqi,
Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq and Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal, did
not dispose of the writ petition and allowed the counsel to submit
news clippings on which he wanted to rely.
The court adjourned the case without issuing notice to any of the
respondents or fixing the date for next hearing.
The counsel for the petitioner stated that the government had
adopted discriminatory attitude towards the Islamabad Capital
Territory which was the only place in the country where local
government elections had not been held.
He contended that the local government elections were held in the
country at a time when the same proclamation of emergency was in
force. He said the dispute between NRB and interior ministry had
resulted in denial of fundamental rights to the citizens of
Islamabad.
The petitioner stated that the local councils were the first tier
of the democratic process as they performed municipal functions.
Besides, the local bodies formed the training ground for future
political leaders of national stature, he added.
The petitioner also recalled that interior minister Lt-Gen
Moeenunddin Haider had announced during the referendum campaign in
his capacity as the minister in charge of capital administration
that the local government elections would be held in Islamabad
before September 2002. However, no practical steps have been taken
so far for holding the elections, the petitioner regretted.
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20020814
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CEC asks ROs not to accept nominations of ministers
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr Justice
Irshad Hasan Khan, on Tuesday directed the Returning Officers not
to entertain the nomination papers of sitting federal and
provincial ministers and governors of the provinces, for contesting
the general election until they resigned from their offices.
The Chief Election Commissioner has been repeatedly asking the
sitting ministers desirous of contesting the forthcoming general
election, to resign from their offices before filing the nomination
papers.
The election schedule for the general election is expected within a
couple of days.
After a meeting of the Election Commission held here, the Chief
Election Commissioner directed the Returning Officers throughout
the country not to entertain the nomination papers of all those
sitting federal and provincial ministers and governors of the
provinces who were willing to contest election to national and
provincial assemblies or Senate, until they relinquished their
respective offices before filing the nomination papers, an
announcement of the Election Commission said.
The Chief Election Commissioner said that the principle of
neutrality and impartiality demanded that incumbent ministers
relinquished their offices before filing their nomination papers or
be asked to resign by the President well before the election day.
He said that an incumbent minister willing to contest election,
would enjoy inherent advantages, which would not be available to
the opposing candidate and it would be unfair.
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20020814
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EC allows 71 parties for poll
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By Rafaqat Ali
ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The Election Commission on Tuesday returned the
documents of 58 political parties for not being in conformity with
the Political Parties Order, 2002, but found the documents of 71
political parties correct and declared them eligible to contest
forthcoming elections.
The Election Commission, which met here on Tuesday, announced that
it had returned documents furnished by 58 political parties for not
being in conformity with the provisions of the Political Parties
Order 2002. The meeting was presided over by Chief Election
Commissioner Justice Irshad Hasan Khan.
The parties whose documents for registration as political parties
have been found in conformity with the PPO included Pakistan
People's Party Parliamentarians, Pakistan Muslim League (N),
Pakistan Muslim League (QA) Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jamaat-i-
Islami, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Awami National Party.
The parties which failed to fulfil the requirements of Political
Parties Order 2002, would not be entitled to election symbols in
the forthcoming elections.
The recently promulgated Political Parties Order 2002, required the
political parties to submit documents, including certificates of
intra-party polls, amended party constitutions in the light of
Political Parties Order 2002, and audited reports showing their
expenses, to the Election Commission.
The documents of these political parties would be published in the
Gazette of Pakistan for public information.
The EC announcement said that after the scrutiny of the paper
including constitutions, certificates of intra-party polls and
other information, the commission was of the opinion that the
documents of the following political parties were in order: Awami
National Party, Mohib-i-Watan Nowjawan Inqlabion Ki Anjum (MNAKA),
Pak Watan Party, Shan-i-Pakistan, Pakistan Awami Party, Jamaat-i-
Islami, Balochistan National Congress, Islami Siyasi Tehreek,
Islami Tehreek Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Labour Party of
Pakistan, Balochistan National Movement, Mohajir Ittehad Tehreek,
Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Pakistan Pashthoonkhwa Milli Awami Party,
Sindh National Front, Pakistan Ittehad Tehreek, Jamiat Ulema-i-
Islam Pakistan, Jamhoori Watan Party, Balochistan National Party,
Pakistan Muslim League(N), Sunni Tehreek, Pakistan People's Party
(Shaheed Bhutto), Pakistan Workers Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan
(Niazi), Pakistan Ghareeb Party, Balochistan National Democratic
Party, Tehreek-i-Hussainia Pakistan, Sindh Democratic Alliance,
Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Markarazi Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadith Pakistan,
National Awami Party Pakistan, Awami Qiadat Party, Pakistan Seraiki
Party, Azmat-i-Islam Movement, Pakistan Muslim League (J),
Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League, (Qasim Group),
Tameer-i-Pakistan Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F), Markazi Jamiat
Ulema Pakistan, Jamot Qaumi Movement, Balochistan National Party
(Awami), Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Noorani), Pakistan People's Party
(Sherpao), Kakar Jamhoori Party, Qaumi Jamhoori Party, Mohajir
Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Hamwatan Party, Pakistan People's Party
Parliamentarians, Jamiat-i-Mashaikh Pakistan, Qaumi Inqalab Party,
Pakistan Muslim League (QA), Punjab National Party, Hazara Qaumi
Mahaz, Pakistan Social Democratic Party, Pakistan Democratic Party,
National People's Party, Istaqlal Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan
(Nafaaz-i-Shariat), Tehreek-i-Jamhooriat Pakistan, Millat Party,
Nizam-i-Mustafa Party, Ittehad-i-Milli Hazara, Pakistan Shia
Political Party, Pakistan Muslim League(F), Pakistan Muslim League
(Jinnah), Grand Democratic Alliance, Pakistan Freedom Party, Pak-
Muslim Alliance and National Alliance.
The parties whose documents were not found in conformity with the
provisions of the PPO were, Tehreek-i-Istaqlal, Pakistan Maqsad
Hamayat Party, National Muslim League (Mohasiba Group), Pakistan
Awami Tehreek-i-Inqalab, Seraiki Sooba Movement Pakistan, Qandeel
Party of Pakistan, Pakistan Progressive Party, Progressive
Democratic Party, Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party, Tehreek-i-Musawat,
Swabi Qaumi Mahaz, Communist Mazdoor-Kisan Party Pakistan, Tehreek
Wafaq Pakistan, Markazi Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadith Pakistan, Jamaat Ahl-i-
Hadith Pakistan, Khaksaar Tehreek Pakistan, Pakistan Awami Quwwat
Party, Ahle Sunnat Jamaat Sadaat, Pakistan Muslim League (M),
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Ainee Group), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan
(Qadri), Pakistan Muslim Front, Pakistan Labour Kisan Party,
Pakistan Overseas Alliance, Pakistan Trade Union Party, Jamiat
Mashaikh Pakistan, Ittehad Alam-i-Islam Pakistan, Pakistan Peoples
League, Pakistan Brohi Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Inqalab, National
Peoples Party (Workers Group), National Workers Party, Mohajir
Kashmir Movement, Islamic Democratic Front, Azad Parliamani Group,
Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum Group), Afghan National Party,
Pakistan Muslim League (Nazriati Group), Pakistan Muslim League
(Qasim), Pakistan Jamhoori Aman Party, Awami Hamayat Tehreek
Pakistan, Pakistan Popular Republican Party, Pakhtoonkhwa Qaumi
Party, Ulema Mashaikh Supreme Council Pakistan, Muttahida Deeni
Mahaz, Punjab National Front, Pakistan Progressive Party, Sindh
Democratic Party, Punjab National Party of Pakistan, Jamiat Ahle
Hadith Pakistan, Qaumi Tahaffuz Party of Pakistan, Punjabi Qaumi
Tehreek, Seraiki Qaumi Tehreek Pakistan, Social Democratic Party
Pakistan, Mazdoor Kisan Party, Pakistan National League, Markazi
Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan and Pakistan Muslim League Ziaul Haq
Shaheed).
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20020814
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EC turns down Ijaz's registration request
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The Election Commission (EC) turned down on
Tuesday the request of Ijazul Haq for registration of another
faction of Pakistan Muslim League, saying that it was inconceivable
that elections of his party were held on Aug 3, when he was member
of the PML(QA) till Aug 4.
The application of the PML (Ziaul Haq Shaheed Group), filed by Mr
Haq, was returned by the EC on Tuesday.
In its order, the EC stated that the application of the PML (Ziaul
Haq Shaheed Group) was returned as contemplated under rule 10 of
the Political Parties Rules, 2002.
The EC stated that till Aug 4, Ijazul Haq was member of the
Pakistan Muslim League (QA). "It is, therefore, inconceivable that
his party could have come into existence and its election held on
August 3, 2002."
Mr Haq, had contested PML(QA) intra-party election on Aug 3 and was
defeated by Mian Azhar.
The application, which he submitted in the Election Commission,
stated that he had formed political party on Aug 3 and its intra-
party elections were held on the same day.
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20020813
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SC admits petition of PML-QA: Delimitation of constituencies
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By Rafaqat Ali
ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The Supreme Court admitted a petition
challenging the delimitation of five provincial assembly
constituencies of the Lahore district. The petition alleged that
the constituencies were altered to favour a government-backed
candidate of the PML(QA).
The bench - comprising Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Qazi
Mohammad Farooq and Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal - heard Advocate
Chaudhry Mushtaq before issuing notice to the election commission.
The apex court required the election commission to submit comments.
It, however, fixed no date for the next hearing.
The petitioner, Raja Munawar Ahmad, challenged the delimitation of
PP 151, 152, 161, 168 and 169 on the grounds that it had been
altered in such a way that Arshad Imran Sulehri, a likely candidate
of the PML(QA), would take benefit of it.
The petitioner stated that PP-151 comprised a population of more
than 300,000 against 247,857 prescribed by the election commission
as the average population for a provincial assembly constituency.
It was stated before the apex court that the principle of
compactness had been violated inasmuch as that not only the town
forming PP-151 had been bifurcated, but the small administrative
divisions had also been bifurcated. Meanwhile, Chief Election
Commissioner Justice Irshad Hasan Khan told a press conference on
Monday that to make the process of delimitation transparent,
objections to the preliminary delimitation of constituencies were
invited from entitled voters.
He said the election commission had received 945 representations
against preliminary delimitation of 849 constituencies, out of
which 307 pertain to the National Assembly and 638 to the
provincial assemblies.
The objections, he said, were heard and disposed of by the election
commission, members.
The CEC stated that 92 writ petitions were filed in the four high
courts challenging the delimitation of the constituencies out of
which 58 had been dismissed and 40 were pending adjudication.
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20020811
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Defaulters cannot contest polls: EC
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: A bank loan default amounting to Rs2 million and
of utility bills totalling Rs10,000 or more would rob a person of
the chance to run for the upcoming polls, the Election Commission
of Pakistan notified on Saturday.
A candidate aspiring to contest the elections will have to submit a
declaration with the nomination papers that no loan for an amount
of two million rupees or more, obtained from any bank, financial
institution, cooperative society or corporation body in his own
name or in the name of his spouse or any of his dependents or any
business concern mainly owned by them or the aforesaid, stands
unpaid for more than one year from the due date or has got such
loan written off.
A candidate in a separate declaration will have to state that he,
or his spouse or any of his dependents or a business concern mainly
owned by him or the aforesaid is not in default in payment of
government dues or utility charges, including telephone,
electricity, gas and water charges of an amount in excess of
Rs10,000 for over six months at the time of filing of nomination
papers.
According to some reports, the CEC has already obtained a list of
loan defaulters from the State Bank of Pakistan and utility bills
defaulters from the respective agencies.
The CEC said the Representation of the People (Amendment)
Ordinance, 2002, promulgated on July 31, 2002, laid down these
conditions for acceptance of nomination papers. Besides the
aforementioned declarations, the candidates will have to state
their party affiliations and submit a certificate from the
political party establishing their party candidature from the
constituency for which nomination papers are to be filed. Moreover,
a candidate will have to declare that he fulfils the qualification
specified in Article 62 and is not subject to any of the
disqualifications specified in Article 63, or any other law for the
time being in force, for being elected as member.
The candidates will have to submit statements of their assets and
liabilities and those of their spouses and dependents as on the
preceding 13th day of June.
Apart from these, the nomination papers should also be accompanied
by a statement of educational qualifications, occupation, national
identity card number and national tax number along with attested
copies of these documents.
The CEC said the nomination forms were being printed and would be
despatched to all returning officers shortly for onward supply to
the prospective candidates of national and provincial assemblies'
constituencies throughout Pakistan on payment of Rs10. These
nomination forms are also available on the web site of the Election
Commission - www.ecp.gov.pk.
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20020817
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Nomination form for Benazir being obtained today
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The Pakistan People's Party has said that former
deputy speaker of National Assembly Dr Ashraf Abbasi, former MNA
Nawab Shabbir Chandio, Shahid Bhutto and Anwar Bhutto will receive
the nomination form for the forthcoming elections on behalf of
Pakistan People's Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto from the
returning officer in Larkana on Saturday.
A PPP spokesman Nazir Dhoki said on Friday that as per the official
instructions nomination forms for the National and provincial
assemblies can be obtained by the candidates themselves or their
authorised nominees from returning officers.
The Election Commission of Pakistan had already announced the
availability of nomination forms with the returning officers, which
can be had for Rs10 each.
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20020817
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PPP complains to CEC against govt's smear campaign
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The Pakistan People's Party has lodged a
complaint with the election commission against alleged pre-poll
rigging and a smear campaign against its leader on the state-owned
electronic media.
Through a letter, PPP acting secretary-general Raza Rabbani told
the chief election commissioner (CEC) that the government was
resorting to systematic pre-poll rigging and an adverse propaganda
campaign on the electronic media despite his (CEC's) clear
directives that no such campaign would be launched against any
political party.
"The party has on a number of occasions pointed out to the election
commission the use of the civil administration and the offices of
the governors to further the political agenda of the regime in the
said elections," he said.
Although the commission had taken note of the same, the regime
continuously flouted those directives, he said.
Enlisting the incidents of the alleged propaganda campaign against
the PPP on the electronic media, Mr Rabbani wrote: "On August 11,
2002, a television show was telecast wherein a serving Maj. Gen
namely Rashid Qureshi, who is in the service of Pakistan, made
political comments, levelled false and fabricated charges,
distorted facts and circumstances and maligned the chairperson of
Pakistan People's Party with mala fide intent and purpose. The
false imputation made by Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi amounts to
influence the ongoing electoral process."
Mr Rabbani demanded of the CEC to take 0appropriate notice of the
"violations" of the elections commissioner's directives by the
regime.
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20020817
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Court notice to AG on Benazir's petition
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 16: A division bench of the Sindh High Court put on
Friday the attorney-general on notice for Aug 21, when a petition
of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto challenging the Musharraf
regime's measure to keep her out of political and electoral process
came up for pre-admission hearing.
The bench comprised Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Ali Aslam
Jafferi. Ms Bhutto has made the Federation, Chief Election
Commissioner, Returning Officer NA-207 and NAB Chairman respondents
in the petition.
Arguing the petition, which was filed by Ms Bhutto's counsel Farooq
H. Naek, Barrister Kamal Azfar contended that section 8D (2) (n) of
the CE's order 21 of 2002 was unconstitutional while at the same
time challenged the vires of section 31 of the NAB Ordinance.
It is the case of the petitioner that the military regime sees in
the petitioner a threat to its power and is continuing her
politically-motivated persecution. In this connection, the regime
passed an absentee law in the shape of Section 31-A by amending the
NAB Ordinance 1999 and malafidely and unlawfully applied it in the
aforesaid three courts against the petitioner which is being
challenged.
It is also her contention that the military regime repealed the
Political Parties Act and made Political Parties Order 2002
requiring parties seeking to contest the elections to hold intra-
party elections within a short period which the petitioner's party,
the PPP, did. The Political Parties Order 2002 also lays down that
a party leader disqualified from contesting election would be
refused permission to file application for election symbol with the
Election Commission.
As soon as the PPP elected the petitioner as party leader the
regime passed a Benazir-specific amendment to the Chief Executive
Order 7 of 2002 by way of the Chief Executive Order 21 of 2002
disqualifying a person from contesting election, if convicted of
non-appearance in court by the absentee law.
Kamal Azfar claimed that despite harassment and six references, the
government had not been able to secure conviction of Ms Bhutto.
Barrister Azfar, who represented the petitioner along with Farook
H. Naek, argued that the basic issue was the question of
representative democracy in Pakistan: whether the people were
sovereign to elect their representatives freely or the
establishment would impose its own malafide solutions.
Ms Bhutto's counsel maintained that there was no question of
absconcion and termed these amendments Bhutto-specific. He
submitted that the apex court in Asif Ali Zardari case had quashed
the conviction and there was no conviction against the petitioner.
Barrister Azfar argued that the Pakistan People's Party's self-
exiled chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, never absconded in terms of
section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance of 1999, as the petitioner had
left the country with the permission of the Lahore High Court.
Thus, no question of disqualification under clause 2 (n) of article
8D of the CE Order No7 of 2002, as amended, arose
Even otherwise article 8D 2 (n) only applied where a person had
been convicted of absconcion. Under section 31-A, the guilt was
determined by operation of law and not as a result of conviction.
Thus, the disqualification envisaged under article 8D 2 (n) did not
apply in the case of the petitioner, he submitted.
It is her case that even otherwise section 31-A of the Ordinance of
1999 only applies where a person absconds to avoid being served
with any process. The petitioner has not absconded to avoid being
served with any process.
The petitioner has maintained that the very concept of automatic
conviction without even a trial is completely subversive of the
cardinal principle of due process of law and is inconsistent with
the norms of civility and justice.
It is her contention that article 8D 2 (n) of CEO 7 of 2002, as
inserted by the CEO No 21 of 2002, is violative of articles 4 and 9
of the constitution as a person is disqualified from being elected
to parliament against the doctrine of due process of law and the
principle of natural justice.
She claims that passing sentence of imprisonment for any term is
basically a judicial function. Section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance of
1999 is violative of article 175 of the constitution as it
interferes with the judicial functions which the courts are
required to perform in accordance with, inter alia, the CrPC, while
dealing with cases of absconcion. The legislative fiat reflected by
section 31-A of the Ordinance of 1999 flouts the independence of
judiciary.
The petitioner maintains that section 31-A of the Ordinance of
1999, which automatically convicts a person is violative of
articles 4 and 9 of the constitution, which guarantee the right of
every citizen to be dealt with in accordance with law. Conviction
of a person without any trial whatsoever is a mockery of due
process of law.
Section 31-A of the Ordinance of 1999 which automatically finds a
person guilty for reason of absconcion regardless of the individual
circumstances of each case, is manifestly arbitrary and
discriminatory.
Article 8D 2 (n) of the CEO 21 of 2002, as amended, is inconsistent
with articles 63 (h) and (l) of the constitution, which already
provide for convictions resulting in disqualification of a person.
This provision also maintains distinction between "guilt" and
"conviction." Article 63 does not cater for disqualification based
on section 31-A of the Ordinance of 1999, the petitioner claimed.
Article 8 D 2 (n) of the CEO of 21 of 2002, as amended, is outside
the parameters of limited power to amend the constitution for the
welfare of the people which has been circumscribed in Zafar Ali
Shah's case.
She has therefore prayed for declaring section 31-A of the NAB
Ordinance of 1999 ultra vires of the provisions of the constitution
and that it be struck down. She has also prayed for declaring
article 8D 2 (n) of the CEO 7 of 2002, as inserted vide the CEO 21
of 2002, inter alia, ultra vires of the provisions of the
constitution, and that it should be struck down.
Her prayer is also to declare that the petitioner is qualified to
contest the forthcoming elections, and so the respondents should be
directed to accept her nomination papers.
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20020816
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PPP chief moves SHC to contest election
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 15: The chairperson of Pakistan People's Party,
Benazir Bhutto, challenged the Musharraf government's attempt to
keep her out of political and electoral process.
A constitutional petition questioning the legality of amendments to
section 31 A of the NAB Ordinance and Chief Executive's order 21 of
2002 was filed in the Sindh High Court on her behalf by Farook
Naek, advocate.
These amendments pertain to presence of defendants during trial and
making absentee defendants ineligible to contest the October
elections. Ms Bhutto's counsel termed these amendments "Bhutto-
specific" and against the constitutional guarantees.
The petition is fixed to come up before a division bench comprising
Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Ali Aslam Jafferi on Friday.
Ms Bhutto has made the Federation, Chief Election Commissioner and
Returning officer NA-207 respondent.
"She has been implicated in politically-motivated false cases by
the Musharraf government," Mr Naek said, adding that "Benazir
Bhutto has a right to contest the elections and that is why this
petition has been filed." In view of the government laws, the PPP
had to launch its Parliamentarians group to remain in contention.
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20020816
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Benazir ready to work with Nawaz
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Pakistan's two main opposition parties agreed on
Thursday to cooperate in October elections. A spokesman for
Pakistan People's Party said she had given the go-ahead to
cooperate with Nawaz Sharif's Muslim League (N), for long her arch
rival.
Farhatullah Babar told Reuters the idea was to make sure the two
parties, both of whose leaders are barred from contesting the Oct
10 polls, did not cancel out each other's votes. "That means where
PML candidates are strong, the PPP will withdraw its candidate and
vice-versa," Babar said. "It further cements political opposition
against the government and acts as an impetus for the restoration
of democracy."
PML spokesman Siddiq-ul-Farooq told Reuters the objective of both
parties was to defeat military ruler President Pervez Musharraf.
"Though we are traditionally rival parties, I don't rule out
election adjustment with the PPP on some seats," he said.
The law promulgated by the government effectively excludes both
Sharif and Bhutto from the running and both are also disqualified
under a law banning people convicted of crimes.
Benazir has been living in self-imposed exile in London, while
Nawaz and his family are in exile in Saudi Arabia.
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20020814
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Benazir and Shahbaz to face law, says minister
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
HYDERABAD, Aug 13: Federal Minister for Law Khalid Ranjha has
categorically stated that Ms Benazir Bhutto and Shahbaz Sharif
would be arrested as soon as they arrived in the country and the
government was not bound to give any special concession to
facilitate them to go to the relevant court of law directly from
the airport.
He said that it never happened that an accused was allowed by the
investigating officer or police to seek pre-arrest bail. He said
that the law would take its own course when they returned to the
country, and added that normally the accused do not seek pre-arrest
bails with the help of the police.
He said that it was, however, upto the court to give any relief to
the accused Benazir Bhutto and Sharif family. He said that a
convict was disqualified to contest the polls till his sentence was
set aside by the court.
Mr Ranjha disclosed that the prosecution of the Sharif family would
be started from where it was left when they signed a deal and opted
for Saudi Arabia. He said that Benazir Bhutto, the Sharif family,
and so many other people who had cases pending against them in the
court had left the country of their own free will and there was no
ban on their return.
He said that the government was going to introduce only those
amendments in the Constitution which were inevitable for the
continuity of the on-going process, adding that the rest of the
amendments that deal with the provincial autonomy, council of
common interest, and other issues would be left to the new
parliament.
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20020814
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Hearing of Benazir's plea adjourned
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The Supreme Court adjourned hearing an appeal
filed by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto challenging the
inclusion of her name in the accountability reference in which it
is alleged by the prosecution that she made illegal appointments in
PIA when she was prime minister of the country.
The three-judge bench, comprising Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui,
Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq and Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal,
adjourned the hearing of the case till the third week of September.
Farooq H. Naik, appearing on behalf of Ms Bhutto, requested for
adjournment on the ground that another counsel of the petitioner,
Hafeez Lakho, who had been representing her in the accountability
reference, was on general adjournment and was out of country.
Deputy Attorney General Sardar Aslam, however, did not raise any
objection on the contention of Ms Bhutto's lawyer.
Ms Bhutto had challenged the inclusion of her name in the Sindh
High Court. The SHC, however, dismissed her appeal against which
she filed leave to appeal in the Supreme Court.
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20020817
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LHC seeks order against Shahbaz
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Shujaat Ali Khan
LAHORE, Aug 16: The Lahore High Court asked a federal law officer
to produce the government order or notification, if any, barring
Mian Shahbaz Sharif's entry into Pakistan and adjourned further
proceedings in a writ petition seeking the Pakistan Muslim League
leader's unhindered return home to August 20.
Justice Tasadduq Husain Jilani, who would be availing his summer
vacation next week, referred the petition to the chief justice for
consideration by another judge.
The petitioner, a PML (Nawaz) worker, says that Shahbaz Sharif has
a constitutionally-guaranteed right to return home and lead his
party in the forthcoming electoral contest. His counsel, Advocate
AK Dogar, vehemently argued in favour of the petition and contended
that Shahbaz Sharif was exiled against his wish. "If there is a
deal as claimed by the government, what are its contents and why
should they not be made public?" he asked.
Deputy Attorney-General Khwaja Saeeduz Zafar, who was present in
another case, was asked by Justice Jilani whether the issue had
been agitated before the court previously and, if so, what was the
outcome.
The DAG said two petitions were filed for publication of the so-
called deal and for cancellation of the citizenship rights of the
Sharifs. Both were dismissed by the Lahore High Court. In any case,
he said, the petition was not maintainable in asmuch as the
petitioner had no locus standi in the presence of Mr Sharif and
members of his family, one of whom (Hamza Shahbaz) permanently
resides in Lahore. What if they disown the averments made in the
petition? the law officer asked. Let the aggrieved party come
forward, he said.
Mr Dogar said Hamza was too busy looking after the family business
and it was basically for the party workers to seek their leader's
return. The petition has the sanction of PML's Punjab chief
Zulfiqar Ali Khosa. Besides, public interest petitions could be
filed by any citizen as held by the Supreme Court.
Mr Saeeduz Zafar said the Supreme Court had wider powers than a
high court. Only petitions for writs of habeas corpus and quo
warranto can be moved by non-aggrieved persons.
The court asked the law officer to find out whether there was any
order barring Mr Sharif's entry and adjourned the hearing.
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20020816
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Plea against bar on Shahbaz's entry
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Aug 15: The Lahore High Court was requested on Thursday to
restrain the government from barring the entry of PML(N) President
Mian Shahbaz Sharif to Pakistan.
A writ petition filed by a PML(N) primary unit president, Gulzar
Malik, through Advocate A.K. Dogar said Shahbaz Sharif had a
constitutionally-guaranteed right to return to Pakistan because his
exile from the country was unconstitutional.
He also had a fundamental right to contest the polls, conduct his
party's election campaign and form a government of if it won.
The petition said Islam does not recognize forcible seizure of
power or the law of necessity nor does it empower the judiciary to
uphold or validate either. This aspect of the 1999 military
takeover was not decided by the Supreme Court in the Zafar Ali Shah
case.
Pending the disposal of his petition, the petitioner sought an
interim declaration in favour of the PML(N) leader's return and
participation in the electoral process.
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20020811
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Sharif family won't be allowed to return: ISPR
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: Inter-Services Public Relations director-general
and government spokesman Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi said that the
government will not allow any member of the Sharif family to
return.
Speaking in the Pakistan Television program "Encounter", he said
there was no doubt that the Sharif family could not return to the
country before the lapse 10 years.
He said the Sharif family went outside the country on its own
request and under an arrangement. The Saudi government, which was a
party to the deal, would also not allow them to leave its land, he
said. The decision to send the family to exile was taken in the
national interest, he claimed.
Gen Qureshi said Pakistan Muslim League and its chairman, Raja
Zafarul Haq, were not even aware when the Sharif family was leaving
the country.
The family held talks with the government for a deal for a long
time and Kulsoom Nawaz was holding meetings while carrying out
negotiations for an arrangement to get out of the country, he said.
He said that due to sensitive nature of the deal, the government
could not divulge its details. However, in the future, the
government might come up with aspects of the deal, he said.
The family had signed some papers to conclude the deal, he said.
He said people should remember that former prime minister Nawaz
Sharif had an aeroplane case against him and the punishment awarded
by the courts to him stood valid. He said there were also many
other cases of loot and plunder against the Sharif family.
He said former prime minister Benazir Bhutto would have to face
cases if she decided to return.
Replying to a question, he said Ms Bhutto had fled the country to
evade corruption cases before the government took over.
At least 12 cases of loot and plunder were pending against her and
her husband Asif Ali Zardari, he said. He said a court had
convicted Benazir Bhutto for absconding from the law.
He claimed that the people did not want Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz
Sharif to return to the country and feared that they would again
commit corruption.
He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf did not believe in personal
agenda.-APP
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20020812
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C'wealth informed of anti-PPP steps
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: Human Rights Cell of Pakistan People's Party in
a letter to the Secretary-General of Commonwealth Don McKinnon has
apprised him of the government's measures to prevent Benazir Bhutto
from contesting the elections.
The letter, written by Central Coordinator of the cell, Fauzia
Wahab, enlisted five ordinances promulgated by the military which
she said were aimed at sidelining Ms Bhutto.
"The PPP being a responsible political party fulfilled all the
cumbersome requirement under the new laws, the regime, however, has
come out with another trick to create hurdles and that is the re-
allocation of the election symbol. It had asked the political
parties to submit their application for election symbol," she said.
"We apprehend that the EC would again change our symbol and create
hurdles for our voters," she stated.
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20020811
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Govt flayed for 'pre-poll rigging'
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chairman Tahirul
Qadri has said that the upcoming general elections will most likely
be engineered in view of the fact that the government has already
started "pre-poll rigging" by not allowing political parties to
start election campaigns.
He was talking to reporters at the party's office here after his
meeting with the chief of European Union team of election
observers, John Cushnahan.
"It looks as if the present military government has become a party
and is using all the state resources to monopolise the results of
the upcoming general election," he said.
He pointed out that with less than two months to go, the government
was yet to lift the ban on political activities. Lifting the ban is
a must for impartial elections, he maintained. "Until people are
not aware of the true picture of the country's political scene,
they will not be able to elect true leaders to the elected
institutions," he remarked.
Election rigging is not just restricted to the polling day only, Mr
Qadri said and added: "It rather starts with the announcement of
general election when unwanted political parties are subjected to
certain calculated obstacles." Commenting on his meeting with Mr
Cushnahan, the PAT chief said that like other political parties,
the PAT had also shared its apprehensions with the EU
representative.
Asked if he was in favour of EU interference in the election
process, he said there was no harm if somebody wanted to observe
the election process.
In response to a question, Mr Tahir expressed his regrets over his
party's support to the referendum to allow President Gen Pervez
Musharraf another five-year term as president.
The PAT was of the view that reforms started by the military
government would bring about a positive change, hence it had
decided to support Gen Musharraf, he said. But to PAT's utter
disappointment, the present military government followed in the
footsteps of its predecessors in working on an agenda to prolong
its tenure rather than mitigate the sufferings of general public,
he added.
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20020814
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Imran opposes return of Benazir, Nawaz
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
KHAIRPUR, Aug 13: The Chairman, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, Imran
Khan, has said that the economic conditions of the country are
critical and asked what impression the PML and PPP are trying to
create by demanding the return of Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir
Bhutto.
He said that the two former rulers took loans and looted the
national exchequer worth millions of rupees, and added that how
they could be allowed to come back and lead the nation.
He said that to the best of his knowledge, the government was not
hammering out any deal for the return of Nawaz Sharif and Ms
Benazir and such news were creating the wrong impression in the
minds of the general public.
He supported the reforms saying that the educational and judicial
systems should be improved.
He observed that in a country where the judicial system was
powerful, there would be no political crisis.
He suggested a national council consisting of retired judges,
lawyers, journalists, intellectuals, and other responsible people
for the accountability of the whole system.
Mr Imran said that successive elected governments had been
providing an opportunity to the army to take over by creating a
crisis-like situation in the country where the army was left with
no other option.
Talking about the elections, he said he was sure that the elections
would be held as per schedule and there was no reason for its
delay.
Defending the reason for supporting the referendum of President
Pervez Musharraf, Mr Imran said that there had been a meeting of
political parties where all had agreed to support the referendum,
but later some of them backed out.
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20020812
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Imran vows to ensure justice and self-respect
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, Aug 11: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan kicked
off his election campaign by announcing three main points of his
party's election manifesto - provision of justice, promotion of
human values and ensuring self-respect.
Addressing a public rally at Nishtar Park he said that he was
launching his election campaign from Karachi as the city had always
remained a centre of politics and democracy and any movement which
began from the metropolis had soon taken the country into its grip.
But he lamented that from the last few years this role had been
denied to the city, which is a mini- Pakistan.
He recalled that in the past, the two main parties which remained
in power one after the other had failed to implement their election
manifestos because of lack of determination. But, Imran Khan said,
for the last 25 years the nation had remained aware of his role as
whatever he had promised he had honoured his commitments.
Imran Khan said he had derived the three points from Islam and
added that the country could not be put to progress unless we are
prepared to do justice with its ideology for turning Pakistan into
a welfare Islamic state.
He said that all our crises were a result of our failure to do
justice with our people. He said in our country only the weaker
section of society was being made a victim of all repression and
oppression while the powerful enjoyed immunity even after
plundering the nation's wealth.
In this connection, he referred to a report published in Dawn, in
which names along with cheque numbers of those who had benefited
from Rs500 crores of the Mehran Bank were published. He said these
people were again in the field to contest the elections. The case
of plundering the wealth has been pending in the court and was not
being proceeded because of the influence of those involved in
corruption, he maintained.
He pledged that his party would never involve in politics of power
and would not make alliance with any party whose leader had been
involved in corruption.
"Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf believes in fair and free elections and
will ensure the election to be conducted by a neutral umpire as I
was the person who first introduced neutral umpire in the cricket
world."
He said the government had been trying to reform the system of
education in religious institutions but was not paying heed to the
English medium institutions, which had been producing Westernized
youths devoid of Pakistani spirit.
He said no society could progress without giving due status and
respect to its teachers, judges and religious scholars.
Spelling out the third point of the manifesto, he said the
government had been acting on the dictates of the IMF and the World
Bank and if Allah gave him an opportunity to serve the people, he
would certainly repay their loans but would not take dictation from
them.
The others who spoke on the occasion including Mairaj Mohammad
Khan, Dr Arif Alavi, Zahid Bhurgari, Mir Haider Talpur, Tehmina
Khattak, Bismillah Khan, Ashraf Quraishi, Fauzia Khan, Tufail Abbas
and Amanullah Paracha.
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20020813
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Grand National Alliance formed
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and the National
Alliance formed a Grand National Alliance with an understanding to
contest the October elections on seat-to-seat adjustment basis and
to jointly work in the future parliament.
"The alliance has been formed to promote stability in the
democratic process," General Secretary PML(Q) Zafarullah Jamali
said at a press conference, which was jointly addressed by General
Secretary of National Alliance Muhammad Ali Durrani.
Though the leaders of the two pro-government political groups
agreed after overnight consultation on forming the alliance, the
issue as to who would head this new conglomerate remained
unresolved.
A brief statement made by the two general secretaries made no
mention of the office-bearers of this alliance, which would go
beyond elections.
The parliamentary party to be formed after the elections would
settle the issue of leadership by electing any one from amongst
themselves to lead the alliance.
A plain and straight "no" was the reply of Mir Zafarullah Jamali
when anxious reporters shouted question whether they had elected
any chairman or president of this alliance.
A brief meeting between the leaders of PML(Q) and the National
Alliance, which lasted for less than half an hour, was held at a
local five-star hotel, prior to the formal announcement of the
alliance.
Former president Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, President of National
Awami Party Ajmal Khattak, former prime minister and head of
National People's Party Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and Muhammad Ali
Durrani represented National Alliance, while Mian Muhammad Azhar,
Chaudhry Shujaat and Ghulam Sarwar Cheema represented PML(Q) at the
talks.
The idea of forming a grand alliance among the pro-government
parties had been under consideration since the formation of
National Alliance. However the agreement on Monday was reached
after behind-the-scenes deliberations that had been going on for
the last 24 hours.
The GNA would also contact other parties to make seat adjustments
with the alliance, Mr Durrani said. On a question whether GNA
component parties would contest elections under one symbol, Mr
Durrani said that NA and PML(Q) had already applied separately for
the election symbols and would contest election under their
respective symbols.
"The alliance has been formed keeping in the view the bitter
experiences of the past," Mir Zafarullah Jamali said. He brushed
aside reports that the alliance had been cobbled together by the
invisible forces which had also formed the Islamic Jamhori Ittehad
(IJI) in 1999.
"We have reached broader understanding. Actual adjustment would be
done later," a NA source said.
The source disclosed that a delegation of GNA would proceed to
Peshawar on Tuesday to hold negotiations with Aftab Ahmed Khan
Sherpao on extending seat-to-seat adjustment.
In the provinces of Sindh, the Sindh Democratic Alliance and Ghinwa
Bhutto have already been part of the alliance.
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20020813
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PPPP, JI agree to cooperate
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Makhdoom Amin Fahim, chairman of People's
Parliamentarians Group (PPG), held a meeting with Jamaat-i-Islami
chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed at the latter's office and the two reached
a consensus on creating an atmosphere of national reconciliation.
Both declared that they had agreed to protect the 1973 constitution
against amendments and to create an atmosphere of democratic
reconciliation on the basis of fundamental rights and objective
resolution.
They, however, denied that they had discussed seat adjustments in
the coming polls in their hour-long meeting.
Talking to newsmen, Makhdoom said our decision to create a new
entity was to ensure that we were not thrown out of the election
process. "We have submitted our registration papers, etc., with the
Election Commission today," he added. He said his group had applied
for the symbol of "arrow" and it was now up to the EC to decide.
Replying to a question about his party's future relations with the
army, Makhdom said: "We want the army to have an honorable exit,
resume its original work and let the politicians run the country's
business."
Qazi Hussain Ahmed said: "We both have agreed that we must work
together to protect the 1973 constitution against any amendments by
an individual and to create a truly democratic atmosphere conducive
to the conduct of free, fair and independent elections."
He reiterated his party's demand that the Election Commission be
reconstituted and an undisputed personality brought in in place of
Irshad Hasan Khan.
Makhdoom Fahim said nothing was final in politics and "we can take
joint steps in a number of areas in the future."
When a questioner made reference to mistakes committed by the party
in the past, the PPG leader said: "Let us bury our past and take a
new start, with a determination not to repeat the mistakes which
had resulted in military takeover."
To a question whether his party had pardoned the blood of its
workers shed during the PPP government, Qazi said: "It was a matter
to be decided by the court where it was pending."
The JI chief said that "we have agreed in our discussion that
taking out processions and staging sit-ins were democratic rights
of the people and there must not be any use of force against such
demonstrations in the future."
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20020814
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SHC to hear Omar's appeal in Karachi
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 13: The appeal of Ahmad Omar Saeed Shaikh against the
death sentence awarded to him in the Daniel Pearl kidnapping/murder
case by an anti-terrorism court was admitted on Tuesday for regular
hearing in Karachi by a division bench of the Sindh High Court.
The bench, comprising Justice Roshan Essani and Justice Mujeebullah
Siddiqui, announced this when the appeal of Omar, filed by Abdul
Waheed Katpar, came up for pre-admission hearing. Mr Katpar and
Mohsin Imam advocates were present for the convicted appellant,
whereas Sindh Advocate-General Raja Qureshi represented the State.
Similar orders were also passed on the appeals of the three
accomplices of Omar against life terms awarded to them by the ATC,
and on the State's appeal for enhancement in their sentences.
On July 15 the Special Judge in Hyderabad had awarded death penalty
to the British-born Omar, whereas his three accomplices - Fahad
Nasim, Syed Salman Saqib and Shaikh Mohammad Adil - were given life
terms. Their appeal was filed by Rai Bashir Advocate.
On Mr Katpar's plea for hearing in Karachi, the advocate- general
had contended that the Supreme Court had directed the matter to be
heard in Hyderabad. However, Mr Katpar sought refuge in clause 7 of
the notification of the SHC, dated February 19, according to which
appeals, revision applications and miscellaneous applications,
arising out of or involving a sentence of death, shall be heard at
the principal seat of the SHC.
Justice Essani, however, observed that another bench had already
decided that all appeals would be heard in Karachi. The court was
of the view that contents of the memo of appeal required
consideration and the parties should be put on notice.
Mr Katpar has claimed his client's total innocence in the memo of
appeal. He claimed that the impugned "judgment is against law and
facts" and, therefore, should be set aside.
Counsel for the three co-accused claimed that the trial court had
adopted "pick and choose" method and had considered only those
points "which were favourable to the prosecution."
The counsel has contended that neither the complainant, Marriane
Pearl (widow of Daniel Pearl) nor any other witness appeared before
the trial court to prove the contents of the FIR and signature of
the complainant on it.
The State was first to file appeal for enhancement of sentence of
the co-accused, who were convicted and sentenced under section 7 of
the anti-terrorism act 1997 to suffer imprisonment for life.
Being aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgment, Raja Qureshi
had claimed that "overwhelming incriminating evidence has actually
come on record" in respect of the three persons who have been
awarded a lesser punishment than what is prescribed by law being
normal punishment.
It is the contention of the State that the case set up by the
prosecution was and is based on the conspiracy hatched by the four
accused, in furtherance of which they committed separate acts with
the common intention as well as with a meeting of minds, falling
within the concept of criminal conspiracy. "Hence the accused would
not in any manner deserve a punishment lesser to what has been
awarded to the principal accused."
With consent of the parties, the matter was adjourned to a date-in-
office.
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20020814
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Search for Al Qaeda men launched
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By Musaddiq Ali
MANSEHRA, Aug 13: A search operation was launched in the tribal
belt of Kala Dhaka by the law enforcement agencies for Al Qaeda men
on the directives of the interior ministry.
The police in the district are on alert and the doctors and
paramedical staff at the hospitals have been asked to remain on
duty round the clock to meet any emergency.
Heavily armed contingents of the frontier constabulary have
encircled the tribal belt along the Indus River and reports
reaching here reveal that the tribesmen have blocked the Dour Maira
road, connecting the area with Mansehra district.
It is learnt that 22 Al Qaeda suspects arrested in Peshawar have
disclosed that they have their hideouts in Kala Dhaka where some of
their companions are getting training.
A police officer said a sensitive agency had found clues that some
suspects involved in attacks in different parts of the country had
taken shelter in the tribal belt.
When contacted, Mansehra District Nazim Mohammad Azam Khan Swati
said the NWFP governor had phoned him on Sunday night and asked him
to make vehicles and logistics arrangement for the paramilitary
troops carrying out the operation. He said the governor had
received a fax message from the interior ministry on Sunday in this
regard.
Asked if he was taken into confidence about the operation, Azam
Swati said the matter was sensitive so it had been kept secret and
the operation was being carried on the directives of the federal
government.
Replying to another question, he said he did not know whether the
officials of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation or
any other foreign agency were helping the troops in the operation.
The police on Aug 9 raided a house here in Ghazikot township,
arrested 10 people and took into possession a jeep (RIP-8144), but
they proved their identity as officers of a secret agency and were
released. The officers, according to a source in the police, were
on a mission for tracking the Al Qaeda men in Kala Dhaka. Senior
superintendent and deputy superintendent of Mansehra police were
not available for comments.
Sources said the FC troops had taken positions along the Indus and
were facing difficulty in making advance as the tribesmen had
blocked the Dour Maira Road. They said the situation was tense.
The Kala Dhaka area has a population of 300,000, mostly comprising
theBassi Khel, Mada Khel, Nusrat Khel, Akazia and Hassanzai tribes.
The area borders Mansehra, Buner, Swat, Mardan, Batagram and
Haripur districts. The sources said the entry points of the area
had been kept under strict surveillance by the law enforcement
agencies to check the movement of the suspects.
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20020817
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Defence closes evidence today: Meerwala case
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Nadeem Saeed
MULTAN, Aug 16: The defence in Meerwala gang-rape case has assured
Dera Ghazi Khan anti-terrorism court that it will complete series
of its witnesses today (Saturday).
When the ATC reassembled on Friday to take up the case being tried
in-camera on day-to-day basis, Jatoi police station in-charge
Inspector Abdul Lateef Chandia told the court that Fayyaz Husain of
Meerwala could not be traced out. He said the notables of the area
had told the police that he (Fayyaz) had been missing since the
registration of the case on June 30 last.
The court on Aug 10 summoned Fayyaz Husain to appear as a defence
witness on Aug 15 on the request of defence counsel Malik Muhammad
Saleem. He was supposed to record his statement as a witness to the
alleged nikah of Mukhtaran Mai with accused Abdul Khaliq.
Moreover, the defence had also pleaded that he was the accused
named by the complainants but the police had arrested and were
prosecuting one Fayyaz Husain of Rampur village. The arrested
Fayyaz had no relationship with the accused while the other Fayyaz
was the first cousin of main accused Abdul Khaliq.
Fayyaz did not appear in the court on Aug 15 and the police told
the court that he was missing. At this, the court had issued his
non-bailable warrants for Aug 16. The police had also informed the
court that Fayyaz was wanted in a case registered by Alipur police
station under section 337 PPC on Feb 16, 2002. The court had sought
the record of the case as well on Thursday.
The record of the case that was produced before the court on Friday
revealed Fayyaz was on bail in the Alipur case and trial of the
case would be initiated for the first time on Sept 16, 2002, by an
area court. While reissuing warrants of Fayyaz, the court directed
the police to contact the guarantors of Fayyaz in the Alipur case
to ensure his availability.
The other witness of the alleged nikah of Mukhtaran Mai, Ghulam
Husain was present in the court. However, the prosecution team,
headed by special public prosecutor Ramzan Khalid Joiya, informed
the court that they wanted to examine the statements of both the
witnesses of the alleged nikah once on a same day.
The defence assured the court that it would not use delaying
tactics and would complete its series of witnesses on Saturday even
if the police failed to serve the court notice on Fayyaz.
Sub-Inspector Shabbir Kithran of the Jatoi police station was
present in the court on Friday. It may be recalled the court had
issued his bailable warrants for not coming to the court on
Thursday. He was assigned the duty of serving court notice on
Fayyaz Husain.
The court also issued bailable warrants of Jatoi's local daily's
correspondent Mureed Abbas. He was summoned on Friday to testify
non-compliance of the court notice issued to Fayyaz Husain.
The court adjourned proceedings of the case for Saturday.
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20020816
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More defence witnesses depose: Meerwala gang-rape case
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
MULTAN, Aug 15: The Muzaffargarh district coordination officer has
instructed the Alipur branch of the National Bank not to make
payments through the joint account of Mukhtaran Mai, the Meerwala
gang-rape victim, and her father without his consent.
This was stated by bank manager Muhammad Younas while deposing
before the local anti-terrorism court on Thursday as defence
witness. He was called as witness by the court on the request of
defence council Malik Saleem in order to give details of the
account jointly managed by Mukhtaran Mai and her father, Ghulam
Farid.
The manager said an account was opened in the name of Ghulam Farid
on July 5, 2002, and a cheque for Rs500,000 issued by the
President's Secretariat was deposited by him on July 10. Another
cheque issued by a local public school was also deposited by the
account holder on July 15, he said. In the meanwhile, a joint
account in the name of Ghulam Farid and Mukhtaran Mai was also
opened in the same branch and Rs500,000 were transferred to this
account from the account of Farid. He said Rs30,000 and Rs15,000
had been withdrawn from the account of Farid on July 15 and Aug 12,
respectively.
He said the joint account was opened on the directions of the
Muzaffargarh DCO who had instructed the bank that no payment should
be made through the joint account without his consent as Mukhtaran
Mai had announced that she would open a school with this grant.
The defence called the bank official because the victim had deposed
before the court that she had not received even a single penny from
anybody and that she had donated the presidential grant of Rs0.5m
for the construction of a school in the area.
Dawn's correspondent Nadeem Saeed deposed his statement as defence
witness two. He said he visited Meerwala on July 11 last and the
victim's brother, Hazoor Bakhsh, told him that the police had
arrested one Fayyaz Husain of Rampur instead of the actual rapist,
Fayyaz Husain, of Meerwala. Molvi Abdul Razzaq also endorsed the
statement of Hazoor Bakhsh.
The version of Hazoor Bakhsh was quoted in the story "Police,
feudals trying to save the chief juror" published in this paper on
July 12.
On cross-examination by the prosecutors, the DW2 said neither he
knew Hazoor Bakhsh and Molvi Razzaq before July 11 nor they showed
their identity cards to him to prove their identities. He said
Abdul Shakoor, the younger brother of the gang-rape victim,
introduced Hazoor Bakhsh to him as his elder brother. He said he
had recognized Shakoor easily because of his pictures published in
newspapers. Defence counsel Malik Saleem objected to the
prosecution query about the version of the accused published in the
July 12 story regarding the Meerwala incident. At this, the court
advised the defence counsel to refrain from frequent interruptions.
Replying to another query, the DW2 said he could not get official
response to the Hazoor Bakhsh's claim regarding the arrest of
accused Fayyaz on the same day. However, on July 15 he succeeded to
contact Dera Ghazi Khan range DIG Asif Nawaz who expressed a
surprise over the complainants' accusation, saying the police
produced the accused before them while recording their
(complainants) statements under Section 164 CrPC and that they duly
recognized all of them, including Fayyaz.
He denied that his late father, Mustafa Saeed, had friendship with
defence counsel Malik Saleem and that the latter convinced him to
appear before the court as witness. He said he was only complying
with the court orders. He admitted that one of the defence counsel,
Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, was his friend and that he provided him the
unattested copies of the day-to-day proceedings of the in-camera
trial of the Meerwala case.
Jatoi police station muharrar head-constable Akbar Ali deposed
before the court as DW3. He said no case was registered against
Molvi Razzaq during the last Muharram on the basis of information
that he had links with the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan.
A sub-inspector of the Muzaffargarh city police station, Muhammad
Ashraf, while recording his statement as DW4 admitted that he
brought out Fayyaz Husain from jail on July 14 last for
interrogation in a case registered under sections 380 and 458 PPC.
The case was registered against unidentified accused on Feb 10,
2002. He denied that he was directed by the authorities to replace
the arrested Fayyaz with the actual accused. He admitted that no
accused had so far been challaned in the case. He said Fayyaz was
again sent to jail after two days of interrogation when his
involvement in the case could not be established.
Earlier, when judge Malik Zulfiqar Ali resumed the trial of the
case, the defence counsel informed the court that they wanted to
give-up Muzaffargarh district Nazim Sultan Hinjra to appear as DW.
The court granted them the permission.
It may be noted that Sultan Hinjra was summoned by the court on
Saturday last on the request of the defence to clarify his
interview published in a local Urdu daily on Aug 12 last in which
he was quoted to have said that women had never come up to the
panchayats to seek pardon.
It is learnt that the district Nazim reportedly denied outside the
court on Thursday that he had even given any such interview. At
this the defence thought it better to give-up him as DW. Earlier,
Hinjra had appeared as court witness (CW1) in the Meerwala case.
Jatoi SHO Abdul Latif Chandia informed the court that Fayyaz Husain
of Meerwala could not be traced to serve him the court notice to
appear as defence witness to testify that a 'nikah' was actually
solemnized between Abdul Khaliq and Mukhtaran Mai. Fayyaz of
Meerwala is a cousin of Khaliq, and the defence was pleading that
he had been replaced with Fayyaz being prosecuted wrongly. The
court issued non-bailable warrants for Fayyaz Husain for Aug 16.
The other 'witness' of the 'nikah' was present in the court but the
prosecution refused to cross-examine him separately. At this, the
court directed him to reappear on Friday.
The court also issued bailable warrants for sub-inspector Ghulam
Shabbir of the Jatoi police station for not turning up to the court
on Thursday. He was directed to serve notice on Fayyaz Husain. The
correspondent of a local daily was also summoned for Friday.
The judge adjourned the proceedings for Friday.
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20020811
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ATC summons six more witnesses: Meerwala gang-rape
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
MULTAN, Aug 10: Dera Ghazi Khan anti-terrorism court's judge Malik
Zulfiqar Ali summoned three more court witnesses and as many
defence witnesses in the under-trial Meerwala gang-rape case.
Those summoned as CWs are Muzaffargarh district Nazim Sultan
Mahmood Hinjra, Dawn correspondent Nadeem Saeed and Jatoi police
station's Sub-Inspector Ashraf. Sultan Hinjra had already appeared
before the Dera ATC as CW1 in the case.
Among the summoned DWs are Jatoi police station's Muharrar, accused
Abdul Khaliq Mastoi's maternal uncle Ghulam Husain and his paternal
cousin Fayyaz Husain. Both the CWs and the DWs have been called on
the request of the defence.
Sultan Hinjra (CW1) has been recalled in connection with his
interview published in a local Urdu daily on Aug 2 last in which he
claimed the women had never turned up to the Panchayats under the
local traditions to seek pardon.
This correspondent has been summoned to verify one of his
dispatches published in Dawn on July 12 last under the caption
'police, feudal trying to save chief juror'.
Quoting gang-rape victim's brother Hazoor Bakhsh, the report said
the police had arrested one Fayyaz Husain of Dunni (Rampur village)
instead of actual rapist Fayyaz Husain of Meerwala.
Sub-Inspector Ashraf has reportedly been called to explain why the
arrested Fayyaz was brought out of the jail on July 14 last on two-
day remand in police custody in a case registered on Feb 10 last
under section 458 and 380 against some unidentified people.
The Muharrar of the Jatoi police station would bring with him an
alleged report recorded against Maulvi Abdul Razzaq (PW) on March
26 last during Muharram for the latter's alleged link with the
banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan.
While DWs, Ghulam Husain and Fayyaz Husain, have been called
because the defence in the Meerwala case has claimed that they were
the witnesses to the Sharae Nikah of Mukhtaran bibi and accused
Abdul Khaliq.
All the CWs and DWs have been directed to appear before the court
on Aug 15 (Thursday).
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20020813
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Lashkar-i-Jhangvi blamed for attacks
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The government identified the outlawed militant
network Lashkar-i-Jhangvi as the group suspected of launching two
attacks on Christian targets last week in which 11 people died.
"We strongly suspect the attackers to be part of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi,
one of its main factions," interior ministry spokesman Iftikhar
Ahmed told AFP. "There are strong connections between those two
attacks."
Lashkar-i-Jhangvi has also been linked to the suicide car-bomb
attacks in Karachi outside the Sheraton hotel in May and the US
consulate in June, and the murder of abducted US journalist Daniel
Pearl this year.
Police have detained "six or seven" people for questioning over
Friday's grenade attack on the Christian Hospital chapel in Taxila,
25km from Islamabad, he said. "They've made different arrests, not
of the culprits, but rather their associates," the spokesman said.-
AFP
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20020812
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Banned groups behind attack
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: Pakistani investigators said that the three men
behind Friday's grenade attack on a hospital chapel were believed
to belong one of two banned Islamic militant groups.
One of the three died in the attack, in which grenades were lobbed
into a crowd of women filing out of a Presbyterian chapel, killing
three nurses and injuring dozens more.
"After identifying the accused who was killed in the attack, we
have information that the attackers were members either of the
banned Jaish-i-Mohammad or Harkat-ul-Mujahideen groups," Rawalpindi
District Mayor Tariq Kiani told Reuters. "Or they may be members of
splinter or breakaway groups of these banned outfits," he said. "We
believe we will track down the remaining two...we are pretty sure
we will arrest them."
On Monday, three men raided a Protestant missionary school for
foreign students in Murree killing six Pakistanis. The three later
blew themselves up after being challenged by police.
Investigators said an autopsy on the attacker who died on Friday
showed he was hit by a piece of shrapnel from a grenade.
Kiani identified the killed attacker as Kamran Butt, a resident of
Rawalpindi. "The police are questioning his friends and relatives
to find more details so as to reach the remaining two attackers."
An officer said Butt had fought alongside mujahideen in occupied
Kashmir.-Reuters
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20020816
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Wattoo seeks release in pending reference
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Aug 15: Former chief minister Manzoor Wattoo submitted an
application before an accountability court for his release in a
corruption reference pending for adjudication. The court issued
notice to the NAB on the application for Aug 17.
Wattoo in his application pleaded that he had been acquitted in two
NAB references by the Lahore High Court last week and he was still
in NAB detention at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology.
He stated he had been implicated as co-accused along with former
provincial food minister Tikka Muhammad Iqbal in a corruption
reference filed before the accountability court in March 2001.
He claimed he had not been formally arrested by police on the
charges levelled in the reference, and he was simply being summoned
by the court as a co-accused. He offered to furnish surety bonds
with the court as a token of guarantee for not absconding the court
proceedings following his release.
In the reference, Tikka along with the former chief minister has
been held accused of causing a Rs44.7 million loss to the national
exchequer.
According to the prosecution, Tikka in connivance with Wattoo
forced the Food Department to purchase 3,000 bales of jute bags
worth Rs29.2 million following the expiry of procurement season.
It has been alleged in the reference that the payment of Rs29.2
million resulted in a six-month delay in repayment of loans to
banks and the Food Department had to pay an interest of Rs22.2
million.
The investigations further revealed that the jute bags were
purchased at an excessive rate of Rs2.50 per bag for which an
additional payment of Rs22.50 million had to be made to the mills
owner bringing the quantum of total loss to Rs44.7 million.
Tikka has already been allowed by the LHC to leave for the US for
medical treatment.
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20020812
-------------------------------------------------------------------
No disqualification on me: Wattoo
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Aug 11: Former Punjab chief minister Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo
claimed that there was no disqualification imposed on him for
contesting next general elections.
Talking to Dawn, Mr Wattoo said he did not accept the 10-year
disqualification for contesting elections imposed on him by an
accountability court in June last in three Baitul Maal references.
"The court simply dismissed my application for exemption from
section 15 (1) of the NAB Ordinance imposing 10-year
disqualification from contesting elections and did not issue a
formal order while concluding the case," Mr Wattoo claimed.
According to the former Punjab chief minister, the cases had been
filed against him under the Ehtesab Act 1997 which did not
prescribe any disqualification for an accused striking a plea
bargain deal.
He alleged the three references were outcome of a grudge which Mian
Nawaz Sharif had against him. "I did not move an application for
plea bargain in these three references because I did not misuse
Baitul Maal funds," he claimed.
He said the other five accused had deposited Rs10.07 million with
the NAB and had moved an application for plea bargain.
Replying to a query, former Punjab chief minister acknowledged that
he should have moved an application for his pre-mature acquittal
before the accountability court instead of pleading for his
exemption from Section 15.
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20020811
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Courts order Wattoo's release
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Aug 10: Two accountability courts issued formal orders for
former Punjab chief minister Manzoor Wattoo's release from jail
provided he had not been arrested in any other case.
The orders were issued by two trial courts following Mr Wattoo's
acquittal by the Lahore High Court in two references.
In the reference decided by judge Mahmood Akhtar Siddiqui on Jan 6,
2001, Mr Wattoo had been awarded three years rigorous imprisonment
and fined Rs10 million for misusing his authority as chief
minister. He had been charged with paying without legal authority
Rs1,061,125 to a firm, Messers Design Tex.
In the reference decided by judge Rafique Goreja on Apr 4, 2000, he
was sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs4
million. In this reference he had been charged with having issued
110 plot allotment orders in housing schemes of the Lahore
Development Authority on the last date of his tenure as chief
minister. The prosecution alleged that 63 of these plots were
allotted without formal applications.
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20020814
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American school may be closed down
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The administration of American International
School has threatened to close down its institution, if the
government fails to provide adequate security cover in the wake of
recent terrorist attacks, an official source said.
The school administration held a session with the Interior Minister
Moinuddin Haider on Tuesday and apprised him of their security
concerns.
Shortly after the meeting, the chief commissioner and inspector
general of police Islamabad went to the school and assured the
administration that they should not worry as the police were taking
all possible measures for their security.
The source said the school staff who was expected to return on
August 15 have deferred their arrival for an indefinite period.
The school management held a meeting with the interior minister on
Tuesday and expressed their security concerns.
The source said in view of the security concern shown by the
American School administration 'Black Tiger' police squad had been
formed and deployed at the school. The well-equipped squad will be
stationed in the school building and also escort the school van
during pick and drop service, the source said.
When a senior police official of Islamabad Capital Territory police
was contacted, he confirmed the formation of Black Tiger squad and
said that it was formed after the terrorist threat.
In another move, the secretary interior has sought explanation from
the chief of Islamabad police (IGP) about allegations of
misbehaviour and indifference of the police officials towards
foreigners seeking security cover, the source said. The interior
secretary's move came after a diplomat complained that neither the
capital police IGP nor the SSP responded when he expressed his
security concerns and asked the police to take effective security
measures, a source in the interior ministry said.
When a senior police officer was contacted, he confirmed that
complaint had been lodged and the police had responded.
"Unfortunately, the reply was missed somewhere in the mail".
Diplomats in Islamabad have been advised to refrain fromgoing to
deserted places and offered to take police guards, if they so
desire for their protection, following the recent attacks in Murree
and Taxila.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
20020814
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Six million dollars debt rescheduled
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: Pakistan signed an agreement on consolidation of
debt with Finnvera Plc Finlandhere on Tuesday. Under the agreement,
Pakistan's debt amounting to $6.122m as of Nov 30, 2001, has been
rescheduled.
The amount is to be paid in 23 years including five-year grace
period at the interest rate of six month Libor for US dollars plus
0.55 per cent per annum.
This was the first agreement on rescheduling arrangement signed
with Finnvera Plc Finland under the Paris Club Agreed Minute of
December 13, 2001, said an official announcement.
It was expected that similar agreements with Belgium, Canada,
Netherlands and United States of America would be signed later this
month.
Following the Paris Club Agreed Minute of December 13, 2001,
negotiations were held between Islamabad and Finnvera Plc Finland
acting on behalf of the State Guarantee Fund on the consolidation
and rescheduling of debt owned by the former to the latter.
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20020814
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Several groups vying to be king of country's financial sector
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Dilawar Hussain
KARACHI, Aug 13: First Leasing Corporation Limited told the stock
exchange that three nominee directors of Pak Libya Holding Company
had been replaced by nominees of the Crescent group.
The decision of the Board taken at the meeting on Monday, went to
confirm the July 23 report by Dawn that the Cres Group had
purchased strategic equity interests held by Pak-Libya Holdings
Limited in two leasing companies - First Leasing Corporation and
Paramount Leasing Company for cash consideration of Rs175 million.
Probably unaware of the undercurrents, the local management of
First Leasing had expressed ignorance about the transaction to an
earlier query by the stock exchange. Paramount Leasing had said
that the matter was under discussion.
Dawn has learnt that similar changes on the Board of directors of
Paramount would be made at the meeting of its board scheduled for
August 27.
Both publicly traded companies - First Leasing Limited and
Paramount Leasing Limited - are in advanced talks for merger, which
would create "First Paramount". Cres Group, is understood to have
paid Rs5 per share to Pak-Libya for its 36 per cent stake in First
Leasing, while acquiring the 56 per cent majority holding in
Paramount Leasing at Rs10 per share. The group would probably be
able to induct four nominees on the seven-member board of directors
of Paramount, on August 27. When the proposed merger of Paramount
with First Leasing is completed, the Crescent group would go to
hold 52 per cent equity in the merged company - First Paramount
Leasing Company.
Paid-up capital of First Leasing is Rs272 million and that of
Paramount Rs250 million, which takes the combined capital of 'First
Paramount' to Rs522 million - largest among 32 companies listed on
the leasing sector. Interestingly, over 80 per cent equity in both
leasing companies was vested in financial institutions, which was
why acquisition of majority stake looked both an easier and a
timely strategic move.
At separately held extraordinary general meetings on August 6 at
Lahore, shareholders in two other listed entities - Altowfeek
Investment Bank and First Crescent Modaraba gave their approval to
the scheme of arrangement for amalgamation of the two companies
into the "First Standard Investment Bank Limited".
Cres group would hold 35 per cent shares and place three nominees
on the seven member board of the First Standard Investment Bank
Limited. The strategy of the Cres group appears to be to combine
the modaraba, investment bank and the two leasing companies, into a
kind of financial super market: "Altowfeek Bank" which would hold
three-quarters of a billion rupees in capital and more than Rs8
billion in assets. Things appear to be progressing according to
plans for the group. But in the race to be the biggest in the
financial sector, there are other equally fierce competitors: PICIC
and the Mansha group are the two more openly in the race.
Through mergers & acquisitions including aggressive biddings on
privatization of state-controlled banks, major groups and business
houses are vying to tower above the rest in the financial sector.
As regulators push for consolidation by prescribing huge equity
deadlines, more mergers and takeovers among investment banks,
modarabas and leasing and insurance companies would be inevitable.
If the Privatization Commission is able to keep up to its targeted
sale of UBL, HBL, NIT and ICP before the year is out, it won't be
too long before the dust settles and from among the various
contestants, the group that is to be the king of the country's
financial sector, emerges fully into view.
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20020811
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HBL sell-off attracts local, foreign investors
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Jawaid Bokhari
KARACHI, Aug 10: State-run Habib Bank is a "jewel" that has been
offered for sale as Dr Ishrat Husain, Governor of State Bank, puts
it and sources say it has attracted domestic strategic investors as
well as multilateral agencies, interested in acquiring stakes in
the bank.
A consortium of leading local businessmen - the Aga Khan
Foundation, Habib Bank A.G. Zurich and Bestway Holdings Group of
Abu Dhabi - are among those who have submitted EoIs (Expressions of
Interest) to the Privatization Commission. The last date for
submitting EoIs was July 31 and the process of pre-qualification of
prospective bidders is expected to be completed by August 15.
And outside the formal sale process, World Bank's affiliate
International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank and
Commonwealth Development Corporation are looking at the bank and
the proposed deal with an aim at acquiring stakes jointly with the
winner in the bid. the representatives of these institutions have
been sounding some of the prospective bidders.
Road shows have also been held for 2-3 possible buyers in the
Middle East and the UK, which were conducted by HBL president Zakir
Mahmood and an official of the Privatization Commission.
Whereas Pakistan is currently not a destination for large
investments from the West required for purchase of HBL, the
domestic investors have been activated by the restructuring and
privatization of the financial sector. Some of the locals have
joined hands with Arab investors.
The entry of Mian Mohammad Mansha, a top textile industrialist into
banking, his acquisition of MCB and bid for UBL has perhaps
inspired a group of Karachi businessmen that includes leading
textile barons Bashir Ali Mohammad and Tabba to bid for Habib Bank.
They are progressive businessmen, who have been modernizing their
plants depending more on their own equity rather than bank
borrowing to face global competition. And they have a track record
to impress the Privatization Commission. Whether they would be able
to raise the kind of money that is needed to buy at least 26 per
cent of the stakes, is the moot question. Their interest in HBL
also indicates that textile owners are exploring fresh avenues for
investment, not for new projects but acquisition of running
enterprises.
Currently, the State Bank is looking at the sources of funds, which
MCB would use to buy the UBL. If Mian Mansha gets UBL, he would
benefit from synergies created by the merger of UBL and MCB, and
the merged unit would also have global reach, which his bank
currently does not have. Pakistan needs large banks to have a
presence in the global market and compete with leading foreign
banks. The merger would lead to cutting of overhead costs, saving
on closure of competing branches and the merged unit would benefit
from UBL's foreign subsidiaries, branches and joint ventures.
Barring a major upset, Mian Mansha would emerge the winner.
Among those who have submitted EoIs for HBL to the Privatization
Commission is Geneva-based Habib Bank A.G. Zurich, which was
launched by the owners of the Habib Bank when HBL was nationalized
by Bhutto's government. As former owners, they would expect that
the HBL should be returned to them as it was being privatized. The
right of first refusal was not given to Adamjees in case of MCB
sell-off. It is unlikely that the government would concede on this
point. Although some experts believe that the former owners should
have the first right of refusal if they can match the highest bid.
But not all the bidders would be able to mobilize resources for
acquiring the kind of money that is required to buy 26-51 per cent
stakes in the HBL. The government may prefer a buyer acquiring 51
stakes to the offer made for a mere 26 per cent stakes. Herein
comes the advantage of the Aga Khan's resources and his
creditability with the international agencies like IFC and CDC.
Normally, IFC takes a maximum of 25 per cent stakes in any venture.
How the Bestway group of Abu Dhabi would fare is difficult to
forecast as was the unpredictable course they took in case of bid
for UBL. But they do indicate that investors from the Middle East
are continuing showing interest in acquiring stakes in the
financial sector. The latest example is the interest of Pak-Kuwait
to buy IDBP, which has a licence for commercial banking. Sources
say that the State Bank would like the IDBP to be run as a SME
bank. Initially, as market reports go, Pak-Kuwait may acquire the
bank on a two-year management contract.
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20020817
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KSE index manages to finish with modest rise
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 16: The KSE 100-share index managed to finish with a
modest rise of 2.28 points followed by active short-covering in PSO
and some others ahead of their board meetings.
It finally ended at 1,843.26 points as compared to overnight's
1,840.98 amid relatively better turnover figure, signaling that the
market is expected to maintain its upward drive during the next
week also.
Prominent gainers were led by Atlas Honda, Shell Pakistan ahead of
its board meeting on Aug 20, Dilon, PSO and Pak Reinsurance, up by
Rs2 to Rs36.65.
IGI Insurance, Al-Azhar Textiles, Shafiq Textiles, Gatron
Industries and some others followed them, rising by one rupee to
Rs1.50.
Losers were led by Millat Tractors, Treet Corporation, Gillette
Pakistan, Nestle MilkPak and Wyeth Pakistan, off Rs1.50 to Rs10
followed by Exide Pakistan and Glaxo-Wellcome, falling by Rs1.15 to
Rs1.35.
Trading volume showed a modest rise at 96m shares as compared to
87m shares but losers maintained a fair lead over the gainers at
111 to 94, with 56 shares holding on to the last levels.
The most active list was topped by PSO, sharply higher by Rs4.70 at
Rs151.25 on 30m shares followed by Hub-Power, up by 10 paisa at
Rs26.25 on 29m shares, PTCL, lower five paisa at Rs18.45 on 9m
shares, Sui Northern Gas, up 45 paisa at Rs15 on 7m shares and
National Bank, higher 25 paisa at Rs22.25 on 4m shares.
Other actives were led by Adamjee Insurance, up 35 paisa on 1.801m
shares, ICI Pakistan, steady five paisa on 1.800m shares, Fauji
Fertiliser, firm by five paisa on 1.417m shares, WorldCall, up 20
paisa on 1.351m shares and Dewan Salman, lower 10 paisa on 1.280m
shares.
CLEARED LIST: PSO again came in for strong speculative support amid
market talk of higher sales combined with upward revision in
fortnightly POL prices. It rose by Rs4.25 in line with its ready
board quote at Rs151.25 on 5.654m shares.
Among the most actives, Hub-Power was leading, up 15 paisa at
Rs26.35 on 7.441m shares, followed by PTCL, unchanged at Rs18.55 on
1.345m shares. Sui Northern was also actively traded, higher by 40
paisa on 0.578m shares.
DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Suzuki Motorcycles again came in for modest
support and rose five paisa at Rs3.80 on 9,000 shares followed by
Allied Motors, unchanged at Rs11.05 on 2,500 shares. Burma Oil was
marked down by 50 paisa at Rs8.50 on 1,000 shares, while others
were traded fractionally.
DIVIDEND: Pak-Apex Leasing Company, cash 7.5 per cent for the year
ended June 30, 2002.
BOARD MEETINGS: KASB Premier Fund, Central Insurance on Aug 20;
Atlas Honda, Singer Pakistan, Muslim Insurance on Aug 21; KSB Pumps
on Aug 23; and HinoPak Motors on Aug 26.
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20020812
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Stock market back on rails
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Muhammad Aslam
The KSE 100-share index attained the coveted level of well over
1,800 points at 1,815.76 as compared to previous 1,779.40,pushing
the market capitalization to a respectable figure of Rs423 billion.
The net rise in the index being 36.36 points or 2.5 percent over
the week.
After a month of low volumes including a record low of 17m shares
in a single-session, the turnover figure swelled to a respectable
total of 95m shares but still below the average daily to total of
100 million shares in normal trading sessions.
The buying support was so strong that it breached through the
circuit breaker, leading the way for other blue chips to follow its
lead and it was promptly picked up by some others including PSO.
According to market sources the MCB group led by Mian Muhammad
Mansha has, over the last two years, cornered about 40 percent of
its floating stock and is planning for a hostile take-over after
buying its floating stock.
In an identical hostile take-over bids, its 10.00-rupee share had
touched the peak level of Rs.105.00 and Rs.70.00 a couple of years
back as speculator joined to race for capital gains.
Opinions are however still divided over the future market outlook
but some stock analysts predict the lean period may be over and
consolidation forces are in to restore credibility to stock
trading. Next couple of sessions will show how the market behaves.
Plus signs dominated the list,major gainers being Shell Pakistan,
Century Papers, Clover Pakistan, Kohinoor Weaving, Adamjee
Insurance, PSO, Pak Reinsurance and Wyeth Pakistan Arif Habib
Securities, International Industries, Anwar Textiles, Dawood
Hercules after an interim dividend of 55 percent, Ghani Glass,
Abbott Lab, Kohinoor Weaving, PSO, Shell Pakistan and several
others. The largest rise was, however, noted in Wyeth Pakistan,
which rose by Rs10.00 to 20.00 in each session.
Losers were led by Spencer & Co, Al-Ghazi Tractors, Shafiq Textiles
and New Jubilee Insurance, Attock Refinery, IGI Insurance, Glaxo-
Wellcome Pakistan, Aventis Pharma, Shell Gas and Nestle MilkPak and
some others.
Trading volume rose to 238 million shares from the previous weekly
low level of 163m shares, bulk of which was contributed during the
last three sessions of the week including 95 million shares on
Friday.
Hub-Power, PTCL, PSO were leading among the volume leaders and
accounted for 70 per cent of the total followed by ICI Pakistan,
MCB, National Bank, Sui Northern, Adamjee Insurance, Engro
Chemical, FFC-Jordan Fertiliser, WorldCall, Pak PTA and several
others.
FUTURE CONTRACTS: After early weakness, speculative issues on the
forward counter also rose in sympathy with their counterparts in
the ready section. PSO was the top performer as gainers, while Hub-
Power topped the list of volume leaders followed by PTCL, ICI
Pakistan, notably after the announcement of interim profit, MCB and
Engro Chemical, finishing on-balance steady amid active two-way
trading.
Back to the top
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
20020811
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We never learn from history-3
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By Ardeshir Cowasjee
The contents of my two previous columns in this series are not
revelations; they are a narrative of facts on record in our Supreme
Court and as reported in our press, dating back to 1994, and for
these past eight years there has been no public refutation of any
accusation levelled against the politicians who accepted the
people's money or were involved in one way or another in the
shenanigans of the ISI.
Now, my friend Roedad Khan, perpetual bureaucrat steeped in the art
of bureaucracy, yet again ready to serve his country, has reacted
in a letter printed in this newspaper on July 26. Apparently, his
innocence has been injured. He denies having had any connection
with those in President Ghulam Ishaq's secretariat who were paid to
'fix' the 1991 elections. He has, however, said that though he does
not wish "to comment on the substance of the matter," he "will do
so at the appropriate time," which, hopefully, will be soon. His
secretariat colleague, General Rafaqat, is listed as having
accepted ISI funds to do the job. So it should seem unlikely that
the other secretariat members such as Roedad Khan, Ijlal Zaidi and
Chaudhry Shaukat would not be in the know. (Oddly enough, when last
month President General Pervez Musharraf met a band of
'intellectuals' with whom to discuss the coming elections, the
strategy to be adopted, and the constitutional amendments, these
four retired members of Ghulam Ishaq's special assignment cell were
amongst those summoned.)
One other to respond, whose letter was printed on August 8, was
Kunwar Khalid Yunus of the MQM, who has spent well over two years
in jail on various occasions during the last decade and who, when
he is out and about, is the press spokesman for his party. He
categorically states that the MQM has never received any illegal
amounts on behalf of its founder and leader, Altaf Hussain. Listed
amongst the recipients of ISI funds was "Yusuf Haroon, Rs 5 million
[he confirms having received this for Altaf Hussain of the MQM]"
which Khalid does not refute. Yusuf, now in Karachi, has
reconfirmed that he handed over the money to Altaf Hussain at Nine-
zero. Obviously Khalid was not privy to the transaction.
Last week, I was reminded by General Naseerullah Babar that I had
ommitted certain names from the list of those 'anti-PPP
politicians' who received payments from the ISI during the run-up
to the 1990 elections rigged in favour of the IJI and Nawaz Sharif.
These were: Jamaat-i-Islami Rs 5 million; Altaf Hussain Qureshi and
Mustafa Sadiq Rs 0.5 million; Arbab Ghulam Aftab Rs 0.3 million;
Pir Noor Mohammad Shah Rs 0.3 million; Arbab Faiz Mohammad Rs 0.3
million; Arbab Ghulam Habib Rs 0.2 million; Ismail Rahu Rs 0.2
million; Liaquat Baloch Rs 1.5 million; Jam Yusuf Rs 0.75 million;
Nadir Magsi Rs 1 million; Ghulam Ali Nizamani Rs 0.3 million; Ali
Akbar Nizamani Rs 0.3 million.
Yet more payments: During the Mehrangate investigations of 1993
which led up to the Supreme Court case, Younas Habib of HBL/MBL, as
per his statement filed in court (recorded in Karachi under section
161 Cr.P.C), disclosed that the following political and other pay-
offs were made between 1991 and 1994: "General Mirza Aslam Beg Rs
140 million; Jam Sadiq Ali (the then chief minister of Sindh) Rs 70
million; Altaf Hussain (MQM) Rs 20 million, Advocate Yousaf Memon (
for disbursement to Javed Hashmi, MNA, and others) Rs.50 million;
1992 - Jam Sadiq Ali Rs 150 million; 1993 - Liaquat Jatoi Rs .01
million; 1993 - chief minister of Sindh, through Imtiaz Sheikh Rs
12 million; Afaq of the MQM Rs 0.5 million; 1993 chief minister of
Sindh, through Imtiaz Sheikh, Rs. 01. million; 1993 - Ajmal Khan, a
former federal minister, Rs 1.4 million; 1993 - Nawaz Sharif,
former prime minister, Rs 3.5 million; 27/9/93 Nawaz Sharif, former
prime minister, Rs 2.5 million; 26/9/93 Jam Mashooq Rs 0.5 million;
26/9/93 Dost Mohammad Faizi Rs 1 million; Jam Haider Rs 2 million;
Jam Mashooq Rs 3 million; Adnan, son of Sartaj Aziz, Rs 1 million;
Nawaz Sharif and Ittefaq Group of Companies Rs 200 million
(photocopies of cheques and deposit slips, etc, already attached
with affidavit at page nos. 42 to 73); Sardar Farooq Leghari
12/12/93 (payment set/off) Rs 30 million - 6/1/94 Rs 2.0856 million
- 19/3/94 Rs 1.92 million."
In 1997, in the Supreme Court, during the hearing of Human Rights
Petitition 19/96 filed by Air Marshal Asghar Khan against the
illegal distribution of the people's money by the ISI for political
purposes, and also seeking the post-retirement court martial of
General Mirza Aslam Beg, accusing him of gross misconduct by
ignoring while he was chief of staff of the Pakistan Army such
illegal distributions, Aslam Beg made the following statement: "I
hereby take oath, and knowing fully well that I am saying this in
the presence of Allah Almighty and this Honourable Court, submit
that:
"ISI is Inter-Services Intelligence organization cretaed by the
government of Pakistan and had been directly answerable/responsible
to the three Services through JCSC till 1975. In 1975 the then
prime minister of Pakistan, through an executive order, created a
political cell within the organization of ISI and by virtue of this
change in the working of ISI it came directly under the control of
the chief executive, particularly on political matters and for all
the security matters concerning the armed forces ISI reported to
the Joint Chief of Staff Committee. This status continues till
today. ISI is virtually divided into two parts, one is [the]
political wing and [the] other concerns matters relating to counter
and strategic intelligence of the armed forces. During the days of
Zia martial law, the ISI was reporting in all matters to the
president, who, by virtue of his office as chief martial law
administrator and president of Pakistan, controlled its office.
"After the general elections of 1988, ISI was free completely from
the influence of the army and since then ISI is virtually under the
control of chief executive while remaining responsible to JCSC. In
1990 when the money was donated by Younas Habib, ISI was acting
under the directions of higher authorities. As chief of the army
staff at that time, when I was informed of this matter my only
concern was that the money received by the ISI was utilized
properly and an account was maintained and beyond that I had no
concern with the money.
"Although the director-general, ISI, is an officer in uniform but
the chief of army staff has no authority to take action against
him. The head of ISI was a person from army of which I was head at
the relevant time."
During the hearing of the Supreme Court case, General Babar filed
an affidavit recording that Rs.140 million was collected by the
political cell of the ISI from Younas Habib at the instance of
General Beg, the then COAS. When the then head of the ISI, Lt
General Asad Durrani, was approached, he provided certain details
in an affidavit, but approached the then prime minister, Benazir
Bhutto, asking her to 'shelve' the case. The affidavit was obtained
by Rahman Malik of the FIA who was sent to Germany, where Durrani
was then the Benazir-appointed ambassador, with stamped papers for
him to sign. In the affidavit, Durrani confirmed that he had
received instructions from COAS General Beg to provide 'logistic
support' for the disbursement of donations made by certain
'businessmen of Karachi' to the IJI election campaign of 1990, and
was told that the operation had the blessings of the government.
The former attorney-general of Pakistan, Iqbal 'Groovy' Haider,
representing General Babar in the Supreme Court, informed the court
that the money was distributed not to political parties but to
political individuals. It was common knowledge, he said, that the
ISI was involved in politics. Lt General Hameed Gul, a former ISI
chief, was on record as having boasted that it was he who created
the IJI, and another ISI chief, Lt General Javed Nasir, had taken
credit for creating the MQM Haqiqi.
Air Marshal Asghar Khan's pending petition involving illegal
payoffs and corruption during the run-up to one of our previous
elections should be heard now by the Supreme Court before the next
round of elections. It will then be up to our honourable election
commission to ensure that if any of the personalities involved in
the ISI payoff and Mehrangate scandals are filing to stand once
again for election to our assemblies they are disqualified from so
doing.
This human rights petition has apparently been consigned to the
Supreme Court morgue (for whatever reason). The air marshal has
consistently written to all our successive chief justices of
Pakistan asking that the case be heard, but nothing has happened.
The last chief justice to show any interest in hearing the case was
Sajjad Ali Shah who prematurely retired in December 1997 after
having lost his battle with prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Since
then, no chief justice has responded to the air marshal's repeated
requests. We must hope that the next request that is being made
this coming week will not be ignored by Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz
Ahmed, who, in 1994 was the federal law secretary and undoubtedly
remembers the SROs he issued in this matter.
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20020816
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Bewildered: the cavalry under siege
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By Ayaz Amir
The wagons have been drawn into a circle and the cavalry's
sharpshooters, anxious eyes peering through slit-holes, await with
beating heart the attack of the Red Indians. We can see the
dismounted cavalry behind the wagons. But where exactly are the Red
Indians? Hidden behind which high mountains?