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DAWN WIRE SERVICE
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Week Ending : 28 September 2002 Issue : 08/39
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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
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(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2002
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CONTENTS
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NATIONAL NEWS
+ Election 2002 is marked by notable departures
+ Musharraf needs no parliament nod: Ranjha
+ Polls definitely on Oct 10: Musharraf
+ EC tells candidates to abide by code
+ Agents allowed to check material before polls
+ Govt asked to provide security to observers
+ Parties mull strategy to check 'organized rigging'
+ Shahbaz, Kulsoom to move SC
+ SHC moved against rejection of Benazir's papers
+ PPP, PML-N to cooperate for supremacy of parliament
+ PML-QA denies rigging allegations
+ PML-Q for cohesion between govt, armed forces
+ PML-N leader urges people to reject 'king's party'
+ PPP vows to oust military rulers
+ PPP to emerge as single largest party: Rabbani
+ Beg says army pressing candidates into joining PML-QA
+ MMA vows to end US influence
+ Altaf pledges to provide basic needs to people
+ MQM seeks new constitution
+ Removal of Qadianis' names: writ filed in SC
+ Christians' killing: police inquiring survivor
+ Seven Christians shot dead in Karachi
+ Held Arab's link with 'Hamburg cell' seen
+ Five Al Qaeda suspects held
+ Musharraf sees no imminent danger of war
+ Govt rejects WB report on defence budget
+ US to help raise conventional arms capability
+ US to provide $47m for law enforcement
+ New Delhi allegations ridiculous: Islamabad
+ Seven killed as train derails near Sibi
+ 20 killed as bus falls into ravine
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BUSINESS & ECONOMY
+ Japan to give $200m for poverty eradication
+ Saudi Pak okays Rs351m financing
+ Rs795m bids for Bank Alfalah, ICP Funds
+ Stocks maintain upward trend on weekend session
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EDITORIALS & FEATURES
+ 'To the best of my knowledge and belief...' Ardeshir Cowasjee
+ Baghdad poker Eric Margolis
+ Our saviours & their shibboleths Ayaz Amir
+ A house divided Irfan Husain
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SPORTS
+ PCB gives another chance to ex-manager
+ Nasir blasts Wasim and Saeed for not facing Australia
+ Abbas topples Jansher to reach last four
+ Pakistan hopes to improve performance
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NATIONAL NEWS
20020924
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Election 2002 is marked by notable departures
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By Qudsia Akhlaque
ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: The elections that come on the heels of a
massive 'political cleansing' are marked by more departures than
any other in the country's history.
Former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif,
representing Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League
(Nawaz), have been forced into exile. The political career of the
two would-be main contenders for the prime ministerial slot has
been for the foreseeable future stymied through a Presidential
Order.
By virtue of the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance and the
Legal Framework Order prepared by the National Reconstruction
Bureau, certain political luminaries are either in detention or
stand disqualified. They include Shahbaz Sharif, Gauhar Ayub, Javed
Hashmi, Yusaf Raza Gillani, Asif Zardari and Nawaz Khokhar.
A lot of ousted political heavyweights have their scions contesting
the polls.
For the first time, the public representatives across the political
divide will have something in common - they will be graduates.
None of the new heads of the major political parties seen as likely
contenders for the prime ministerial slot - Amin Faheem and Mian
Azhar - have a track record in government at the federal level.
It will be the first instance since 1988 that there will be no
woman candidate for the top slot, unless Zubeida Jalal is
considered as one.
Another significant aspect of the elections is the bonding of seven
major religious parties under the banner of Muttahida Majlis-i-
Amal. Previously, they entered electoral alliance with the
mainstream political forces. However, this time the religious
parties have forged an alliance to bring Islamic revolution.
Unlike previous election campaigns, this one has been low-key,
short in duration and scope. It has lacked flavor, spontaneity and
enthusiasm, at least this far. No gimmicks or antics that would
engage or amuse the voters. No spirited and milling crowds at
public meetings - rather no big rallies for concerns of security
and the curbs on political activity.
Notably, there has been an absence of organized media campaign that
had been the hallmark of previous elections. Unlike the past, no
media consultants have been hired by leading political parties nor
political advertisements have appeared in the press. Hussain
Haqqani and Mushahid Hussain, who masterminded the media campaign
of the two former premiers, are also missing. Hence no fact sheets
circulated and no front-page ad campaign in newspapers that marked
the elections in the 1990s.
While constituency-level political dynamics may be evident, there
are no broad issues that dominate the limited electioneering. The
campaign has largely been devoid of issues such as unemployment,
price hike, access to social services, and law and order.
Local patronage, not public policy, seems to be the focus of the
elections.
The overriding issue is not the Kashmir dispute, the nuclear bomb,
corruption or terrorism. The call is for a truly representative
government, not one in uniform.
The khakis have done what no one could do previously. They have
created a sympathy vote for the cheerless and once bitterly
condemned politicians. They have brought the two major political
parties together, even if only to push the one-point agenda of
sending the army back to the barracks.
With the establishment making little effort to conceal its support
for the king's party, concerns of pre-poll rigging have become real
and deep. It is the first time in the country's election history
that Nazims are at play in power politics. They are being used to
ensure victory of the incumbent government's favourites, even
though there is a law prohibiting that.
The reduction of voting age limit to 18 years has increased the
number of voters by some 5.2 million to around 72 million.
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20020923
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Musharraf needs no parliament nod: Ranjha
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By Ashraf Mumtaz
LAHORE, Sept 22: Gen Pervez Musharraf needs no ratification by
parliament of his election as president by virtue of the April 30
referendum nor is he required to seek a fresh election to retain
himself as the head of state for the next five years, Law Minister
Dr Khalid Ranjha said.
Talking to Dawn, he said if new parliament was of the view that it
could not work with Gen Musharraf, it would be free to oust him
through impeachment, the procedure for which had been laid down in
the Constitution.
The minister said that the election of the president through the
referendum had been made part of the Legal Framework Order and
incorporated in the 1973 Constitution, which was now in abeyance.
The day the Constitution was revived, the LFO would be part of it,
which would mean that the referendum would enjoy the constitutional
cover.
In such a situation, he said, the election of Gen Musharraf as
president would be fait accompli for new parliament and the general
would be under no obligation to seek a fresh election.
Asked what would new parliament have to do to oust the president if
it was of the opinion that it could not co-exist with him, the
minister said impeachment was the only method available to
legislators.
Under the 1973 Constitution, the president may be impeached by a
two-thirds majority of the bicameral legislature.
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20020923
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Polls definitely on Oct 10: Musharraf
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said he was
willing to sign a certificate, if there was any, to confirm that
the Oct 10 elections would be held as planned.
"I have said this 200 times that the elections would be held on
schedule. I am now ready to sign a certificate, if there is one,"
he said after distributing prizes on the conclusion of the COAS
Championship at the Rawalpindi Golf Club.
"The election commission is following the time-table that has been
set for them and there would be no rigging, the polls would be fair
and transparent."
"Claims of pre-poll rigging by some parties are all baseless."
There is a lot of interest in Pakistan elections abroad and the
European Union mission can send in as many monitoring teams as they
like. "The elections would be completely fair."
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20020923
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EC tells candidates to abide by code
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ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: The Election Commission once again asked the
political parties and all the contesting candidates to abide by the
code of conduct already issued by the commission in this regard to
ensure smooth, peaceful and orderly election campaign for the
forthcoming general election.
Chief Election Commissioner Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan
(retired) referring to already issued 22-point code of conduct for
the political parties expressed hope that implementation on this
code of conduct would ensure decency, respect for opponents and
peaceful election campaign for the forthcoming elections.
The code of conduct already approved by the commission, was issued
on July 5 to seek public opinion and for effective and meaningful
consultations with the political parties and then it was finalized
keeping in view the proposals received from various political
parties.
STATMENTS OF ACCOUNTS: The Election Commission which gave
additional days to seven political parties to submit their
statements of accounts duly certified by chartered accountants will
decide the fate of these parties on Monday. An spokesman for the
Election Commission told APP that on the request of some of the
parties, the commission had given one more chance to these parties
to submit the statements of their accounts by Sept 23.
The seven political parties namely, Jamote Qaumi Movement, Kakar
Jamhoori Party Pakistan, Pakistan Awami Quwwat Party, Pakistan
Brohi Party, Pakistan Jamhoori Aman Party, Pakistan Progressive
Party and Tehreek Wafaq Pakistan are facing disqualification if
they do not submit duly certified statements of their accounts.
These parties have so far failed to submit their statements of
accounts and now the commission has decided to give them another
chance to submit their statements by Sept 23, failing which the
symbols allotted to them will automatically stand withdrawn without
any further notice or proceedings.
These parties then will be disqualified and cannot participate in
the forthcoming general election.
POSTAL BALLOT: The Election Commission explained that the polling
staff and police personnel who have been assigned duties at the
polling stations are advised to apply for postal ballot by Sept 30.
An spokesman for the Election Commission told APP that applications
for postal ballot should be made on prescribed form with the
returning officer of the constituency in which such persons are
enrolled as voters.
Application forms for postal ballot can be obtained from any
returning officer.
The voters to whom postal ballots are issued will not be entitled
to vote in person at the polling stations.
The application should be forwarded/endorsed by the
office/department of the voter concerned to guard against
unauthorized person applying for postal ballot.-APP
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20020927
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Agents allowed to check material before polls
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 26: The Election Commission (EC) has directed the
presiding officers (POs) to allow polling agents of the candidates
to check the ballot paper books with serial numbers, to ensure that
all the ballot papers meant for their polling stations were
available in polling bags, and that nothing was detached from them.
The EC in its meeting reviewed the measures it had been proposing
to ensure fair elections, and said that on the polling day, the
sealed polling bags should be opened in the presence of the polling
agents.
The commission asked the POs to ensure that each sealed polling bag
contained a detailed invoice of all election material and the
ballot paper books with serial number.
The EC said it also should be ensured that a certificate should be
obtained from the polling agents in whose presence the polling bags
were opened and the polling commenced.
The EC stated that the ballot papers provided at the polling
stations were not numbered, and only the counterfoils of the ballot
papers bore the running serial number.
The commission said the rationale behind this was that once a
ballot paper was issued to a voter, and he marked and inserted it
in the ballot box concerned, and no one could find as to who has
voted for whom.
The chief election commissioner said it should also be ensured that
all ballot boxes should also be shown empty to the polling agents
and should be sealed for balloting in their presence and a
certificate to this effect should also be obtained.
The commission, highlighting the other measures, stated that it
should be ensured that in the "statement of count" (Form-XIV), copy
whereof was enclosed, the presiding officers should write the
number of votes secured by each candidate both in words and figures
to eliminate the chances of any alteration.
About the results, the commission announced that on the basis of
statement of counts in respect of all polling stations in a
constituency, total votes polled and the votes polled by each
contesting candidates would be summed up by the returning officer
(RO) concerned for each NA and PA constituency.
The ROs would prepare preliminary results of election and the each
result would also be signed by the candidate concerned or his
election agent, who might be present at that time.
The commission clarified that such results for the constituency
would be announced by the concerned ROs locally at the spot, and a
copy of the preliminary results for the constituency would be
pasted at the prominent places outside the ROs offices.
The result would also be transmitted to the Election Commission of
Pakistan through telephone and fax, and they would be released to
the electronic and print media by the Election Commission, the EC
said.
About the consolidation of results by the ROs, the Election
Commission clarified that every result would be finally
consolidated on a date fixed by the officer concerned.
The consolidation would be carried out in the presence of the
candidate and/or the election agent of the candidate, the EC added.
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20020924
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Govt asked to provide security to observers
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: The Chief Election Commissioner "directed" the
federal and provincial governments to provide security to the
international observers in the forthcoming general elections to
"see for themselves the transparency of the election process."
The CEC Justice Irshad Hasan Khan has issued the directives after
the EU announced that it would reduce the strength of its observers
which it intended to send to Pakistan because of Pakistan's
"reluctance to meet security requirements."
Justice Irshad had been telling the international observers in the
past that they would be welcome to "observe" but not to "supervise"
the forthcoming general election.
An EC announcement, whose tone and tenor was different from the
previous announcement, said: "The international observers are most
welcome to observe the pre-poll arrangements, voting process and
counting of votes by the presiding officers at the close of the
polls."
The EC announcement said the observers could also witness the
preparation of preliminary results by the returning officers after
receiving statements of count from all polling stations of his
constituency.
The EC said that the presiding officers would announce the
preliminary result locally and shall provide a copy thereof to be
affixed outside his office for information of general public.
The CEC emphasized that the Election Commission is arranging
necessary briefing sessions for the observers in the EC secretariat
at Islamabad and in the offices of the provincial election
commissioners and necessary briefing material is being provided to
the observers.
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20020925
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Parties mull strategy to check 'organized rigging'
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By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD Sept 24: Three major political parties have begun mulling
a unified strategy to forestal what they fear "chances of organized
rigging" on selected seats on the election day.
People's Party Parliamentarians Chairman Makhdoom Fahim, Pakistan
Muslim League (N) Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq and Pakistan Tehrik-i-
Insaf Chairman Imran Khan are expected to meet in the federal
capital in the next couple of days to reach a consensus on giving a
substantive ultimatum to the establishment to stop meddling in the
electoral process or to go for an all-out agitation, informed
sources of the three parties confirmed to Dawn.
They were also in contact with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leaders
and had taken them into confidence in taking a united stand against
the expected rigging, the sources said.
According to PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar, all the major parties
in the run are extremely perturbed over the reports of a planned
rigging on the election day after all pre-poll rigging actions
taken.
"There are chances of misuse of election material when it is
delivered in the evening of October 10," he said, adding that
Makhdoom Amin Fahim was arriving here by evening and would start
meeting the leaders of other like-minded politicians to plan a
strategy.
Mr Fahim, who has already held meetings with the leaders of these
parties, told a news conference the other day that he was meeting
the politicians to achieve the objective of national
reconciliation.
"It is very tough to fight against the establishment's moves but we
are determined to expose every player of the power game before the
masses as well as the world opinion leaders," said a political
source.
PIT Information Secretary Akbar S. Babar indicated that the leaders
of the three parties might hold a joint press conference on Sunday.
He said Imran Khan was also expected to speak to the press to
expose the establishment's activities towards manipulation in shape
of pre-poll rigging and rigging on the day of elections.
Another suggestion is that these leaders during their meetings may
consider chances of the maximum cooperation by making seat
adjustments on the most crucial seats, where the top candidates of
their parties were contesting.
One of the suggestions is that the PPP withdraw its candidate from
the contest against Raja Zafarul Haq in Rawalpindi, as the PML-N
has already asked its candidate to withdraw from contest against
Makhdoom Amin Fahim.
Similarly, they are also likely to discuss the possibility of
withdrawing their candidates for the seats for which pro-government
heavy weights are contesting.
Their main target is said to be PML-QA President Mian Azhar, who is
contesting for two National Assembly seats.
The biggest hurdle in the way of getting all these leaders together
is that all of them are pretty busy in their own electoral campaign
in the four provinces. Makhdoom is contesting polls in Sindh, Imran
in Mianwali, Swat and Lahore and Raja Zafarul Haq is fighting the
battle of his lifetime in Rawalpindi.
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20020928
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Shahbaz, Kulsoom to move SC
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Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Sept 27: The Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed all the six
petitions of PML-N leaders Shahbaz Sharif and Kulsoom Nawaz for
inclusion of their names in the final lists of candidates,
upholding the election tribunal's decision disqualifying them from
elections.
The full bench of LHC comprising Justice Javed Butar, Justice Ejaz
Chaudhry and Justice Jamshed Ali observed that they had examined
the written orders of the election tribunal disqualifying the
petitioners. There was nothing on record to show that the detailed
judgment had been issued after the expiry of tribunal's life-span.
A detailed judgment would be issued later.
After pronouncement of the short order, the counsel for the
petitioners, Ashtar Ausaf Ali, said he would challenge the verdict
in the Supreme Court as soon as he got a copy of the detailed
judgment.
The petitioners had nominated the returning officers for NA-119,
NA-122, PP-141 and PP-142, all candidates from these four
constituencies of Lahore, the election tribunal and the Election
Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as respondents.
The petitioners submitted that orders of the returning officers
concerned clearing both Mr Shahbaz and Ms Kulsoom for elections,
were restored when the election tribunal failed to sign its
disqualification order within its life span. It was pleaded that
the nomination papers and the authority letters appended with those
papers had been signed by the petitioners. Lastly, Mr Shahbaz had
refuted the tribunal's declaration that he was a wilful defaulter.
When the full bench delivered the verbal order, Deputy Attorney
General (DAG) Khwaja Saeeduz Zafar had completed his arguments. He
submitted that it would be presumed that the tribunal's verdict had
been written and signed the day it was announced verbally. The
delay in signing the judgment was a procedural anomaly, which could
not hurt a judgment's validity, he added.
The state argued that under the Representation of People's Act
(ROPA) 1976, a candidate was supposed to say under oath that
whatever he had disclosed in nomination papers was true. However,
it was contended, an affidavit signed by one Dr Makhdoomi had been
appended with the papers of Mr Shahbaz, saying that the latter had
signed the nomination papers himself in front of the former who, in
fact, was sitting in Pakistan.
It was argued that this affidavit had been prepared in Pakistan
whereas Mr Shahbaz had not visited Pakistan since his departure to
Saudi Arabia. The state contended that the petitioner's wrong
statement of facts had put his credibility in doubt and defeated
the purpose of ROPA, which was aimed at bringing honest candidates
to the fore.
The DAG said the signatures of both the petitioners on nomination
papers differed markedly from those on affidavits. He acknowledged
that there could be a slight difference in signatures of a person
depending on his state of mind and sitting posture, which, however,
could not cause such a marked difference as there was in this case.
He contended that the finding of election tribunal that signatures
of the two petitioners appeared to have been forged was not open to
judicial review. It was argued that the affidavit produced by Hamza
Shahbaz before the tribunal saying that signatures on the
nomination papers were of his father did not have any legal value
since it had not been attested by any authority.
The DAG submitted that Mr Shahbaz would be considered a wilful
defaulter as long as the amount owed by him was not paid off. The
bench asked as to how could Mr Shahbaz be regarded as a wilful
defaulter when he and Nawaz Sharif had handed over the assets of
Ittefaq Brothers and Ittefaq Foundries Private Limited to the
company judge concerned. The DAG replied that the matter of loan
recovery was not yet over, as no final orders had been issued in
this regard. Mr Shahbaz would be considered a wilful defaulter till
the announcement of company judge's final orders.
The state in its concluding arguments submitted that the delivery
of ballot papers to the officials concerned had been started, and
these petitions could not be allowed at this stage. The bench was
requested to reject the petitions on grounds that the polls could
not postponed for allowing the petitions, as such a permission
would be against national interests.
To a bench query, Punjab Advocate-General Maqbool Ellahi Malik
submitted that mere arrangements for retirement of liabilities did
not relieve a respondent of default. Not a single penny had been
given to the plaintiff bank in this case so far, he added. He
further said the election tribunal's finding that Mr Shahbaz was a
wilful defaulter had obtained finality and could not be challenged.
In a short reply to state arguments, petitioners' counsel submitted
that under the law, an election tribunal was bound to deliver the
verdict in an open court and within its life-span. He said
variations in the signatures of Mr Shahbaz and Ms Kulsoom did not
amount to forgery.
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20020928
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SHC moved against rejection of Benazir's papers
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 27: Three constitutional petitions have been filed in
the Sindh High Court by the attorney of Ms Benazir Bhutto, against
the dismissal of her nomination papers for the two NA
constituencies of Larkana and one reserved seat for women, by the
returning officers and subsequently by the Election Tribunal.
Ms Bhutto's nomination papers were rejected on the ground that the
petitioner has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment under
Section 31-A of NAB ordinance 1999 by NAB Court Rawalpindi /
Islamabad in Reference No.23/2000, the disqualification prescribed
under clause (n) of Sub-Article 2 of Article 8-D of the Conduct of
General Election Order 2002 and clause(r) of Sub-section (1A) of
section 99 of the Representation of People Act 1976 is attracted.
Being aggrieved by the order she preferred an appeal bearing
Election Appeal which was dismissed.
Ms Bhutto's attorney Farooq H.Naek claims in the memo that having
no other efficacious and alternate remedy he filed the petition on
the grounds that the impugned orders are bad on facts and in law.
They are based upon surmises and conjectures and contrary to the
law applicable thereto and the judgments of the superior courts in
the matter.
It is his case that the respondents erred in holding that having
been convicted by the Accountability Court Rawalpindi the appellant
is disqualified to contest election.
He maintains that the respondent No.1 erred in holding that the
judgment/order of the Accountability Court cannot be looked into by
the Tribunal and that it has no domain to nullify the said judgment
and set aside the conviction awarded by the said court.
He also maintains that the respondent erred in holding that the
terms convict, conviction, criminal trial, nolo-contender and
sentence cannot be considered while deciding the appeal and that
there is no illegality or infirmity in the order passed by the
respondent.
Farooq Naek maintains that the petitioner never absconded in terms
of Section 31-A, of the NAB Ordinance, 1999, as she had left the
country with the permission of the Lahore High Court, dated 30-12-
1998. Thus, no question of disqualification under clause 2(n) of
Article 8D of C.E.O No.7 of 2002, amended by C.E.O 21 of 2002 and
under Article 63(1) (P) of Legal Frame Work Order arises.
Article 8D 2(n) and Article 63(1)(p) of Legal Frame Work order 2002
only applies where a person has been 'convicted' and sentenced for
absconcion. Under Section 31-A of NAB Ordinance 1999 the guilt is
determined by operation of law and not as a result of conviction.
Thus, the disqualification envisaged under Article 8D 2(n) and
Article 63 (1)(p) does not apply in the case of the petitioner.
Even otherwise the NAB Courts do not have the jurisdiction to
convict and sentence the petitioner and any order passed without
jurisdiction is a nullity in the eye of law and has to be
discarded.
Even otherwise Section 31-A of the Ordinance, 1999, only applies
where a person absconds in order to avoid being served with any
process, the attorney maintains.
It is the petitioner's contention that Section 31-A of the NAB
Ordinance, 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 Criminal
Procedure Code, while dealing with cases of absconcion. The
legislative fiat reflected by Section 31-A of the Ordinance, 1999,
flouts the independence of judiciary.
The petitioner has already filed a constitution petition bearing
No. D-1427/2002 challenging the vires of section 31-A of NAB
Ordinance 1999 as well as of Article 8D 2(n) of C.E.O 7 of 2002 as
amended and Article 63(1)(p) of the Legal Frame Work Order 2002,
and the same is pending adjudication before the full bench of the
SHC.
It is his contention that orders of Accountability Court Rawalpindi
have been assailed by Mr Muhammad Sardar Latif Khoso Advocate, who
was allowed to appear on behalf of the petitioner in all the
references before various courts vide order dated 30-12-1998 by the
Lahore High Court Lahore, and intra court appeal in this regard is
pending adjudication before the LHC, Rawalpindi Bench.
The petitioner has prayed for declaring that the orders passed by
the respondents are illegal, without jurisdiction and of no legal
effect and for setting aside the same and directing the respondents
to revise the list of validity nominated candidates for election to
the national assembly by incorporating her name.
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20020925
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PPP, PML-N to cooperate for supremacy of parliament
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 24: People's Party Parliamentarians chief Makhdoom
Amin Fahim said that the PPP and PML (N) would cooperate with each
other for the supremacy of parliament, though they have not yet
struck a deal on broad-based seat adjustments.
He said that efforts were on to narrow down the gaps. He also
declared that if the PPP leadership was pushed to the wall, the
option of boycott was also open, though he emphasized that the PPP
was a serious contender in the October elections to establish the
people's supremacy through parliament.
He spelt this out while talking to newsmen, party workers and
supporters at the residence and election office of NA-250 candidate
Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig.
He declared that despite all the attempts by the rulers to create
impediments for the PPP and its leader Benazir Bhutto, his party
would not abandon the struggle for the rights of the downtrodden
and supremacy of parliament.
He said that struggle and going behind bars was nothing new for the
PPP leadership and workers who were prepared to sacrifice
everything. The prolonged imprisonment of Asif Zardari and others
was proof of that resolve and determination, he added.
Amin Fahim, stressed that his party firmly believes in democratic
political dispensation and is not going to give a walkover to the
"Kings Party". However, the double standards of the regime were
adding to dissension and division in society, which is dangerous
for the federation and the country.
He said that the PPP had demanded free, fair and transparent
elections, but the rejection of Ms Bhutto's nomination papers was
not fair play.
He dispelled the impression that Ms Bhutto was afraid of coming
back to Pakistan, and said that she could return any time, but the
timing and mode was part of party strategy.
Fahim said that only time will tell how effective and independent
the next prime minister would be.
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20020926
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PML-QA denies rigging allegations
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
KOHAT, Sept 25: Brushing aside the allegations of pre-poll rigging,
Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gilani, senior vice president of Pakistan
Muslim League (QA), has said that the government and some political
parties have a common vision on a number of issues, therefore, the
president has a strong "desire" to see them in the future
parliament through fair and impartial elections.
Talking to a group of newsmen at his residence, Mr Gilani said that
the politicians have lost credibility among the masses because they
never wanted to strengthen the institution of parliament and
instead relied on non-political organizations just to let down the
opponents.
"Nobody had the courage to bring any motion against the army
meddling in politics although the constitution had all the
provisions to facilitate the functioning of the house. It was their
corruption which forced them to lean towards army for help and
undermine the power of the parliament, he added.
The prime ministers always went for a patch-up through the military
to settle political scores among themselves and invited them not to
only interfere but grab power", Mr Gilani observed.
He accused both Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto of violating the
rules of the game and making important decisions in their houses
without consulting the cabinet and party members into confidence.
"Both were power-hungry and running the country's affairs as King
or Queen," he remarked.
Both of them blamed the army, he said, for interference and
criticized the ISI political role when they were out of power or
sitting in opposition, but never had the courage to consult the
parliament, which was a supreme body to deal with such things.
Moreover, the army was united, whereas the politicians were divided
at all levels and played a very selfish role.
He said that he had a strong believe that President Musharraf would
transfer the power to the elected parliament as soon as the speaker
of the new assembly was elected.
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20020923
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PML-Q for cohesion between govt, armed forces
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam (PML-Q)
has pledged to continue the policies of Gen Pervez Musharraf, if
voted to power in the coming general election.
Speaking at a press conference, the central vice-president of the
PML-Q, Syed Kabir Ali Wasti, said that his party believed in
complete cohesion between the government and the armed forces in
post-election scenario.
Mutual confidence and harmony between the armed forces and
political institutions is necessary to bring the country out of the
crisis, the vice president added.
Mr Wasti said that after sweeping the elections his party would
initiate a process of dialogue with India for the solution of
Kashmir dispute by taking the leadership of the Pakistani armed
forces into confidence.
The leader made it clear that his party did not believe in efforts
made by Nawaz Sharif. "We will take each and every step towards
normalization of relations with India by consulting the armed
forces," he added.
Mr Wasti was confident that the parliament and provincial
legislatures to be elected next month would play a historic role in
safeguarding the national interests.
He said the PML-Q would resolve chronic problems including
unemployment and would work for strengthening of national economy.
The PML-Q leader advised the fellow politicians not to confuse the
election environment, which might result in a low turnout.
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20020923
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PML-N leader urges people to reject 'king's party'
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: The Pakistan Muslim League-N candidate from NA-
48, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, has urged the people to reject the "king's
party" in elections as it represented the usurpers of their rights
and those who have been instrumental in repeated suspension of the
democratic order.
Speaking at corner meetings in suburban area of the capital, the
former MNA said: "Islamabad is brain of the country, therefore the
electorate must keep it in their mind that a wrong decision on
their part could cause trouble to the whole of the country."
He strongly defended former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif with
regard to the allegations that he had plundered the national
wealth.
"He was the saviour of the nation, who was taking the country on a
path of prosperity and peace. His schemes of easy loans for
peasants and for public transport vehicles were the first acts of
their kind ever introduced by any government," he maintained.
In addition to this, "the bold act of making Pakistan a nuclear
power speak volumes of his being a sympathizer of the downtrodden
and an advocate of a strong Pakistan," Mr Shah said.
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20020928
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PPP vows to oust military rulers
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
QUETTA, Sept 27: The chairman of the People's Party Parliamentarian
(PPP), Mukhdoom Amin Fahim, has said his party will fulfil its
commitment to restore democracy in the country and will not
compromise the rights of the people.
Speaking at a public meeting in connection with the party's
election campaign at the Ayub Stadium, he announced that the PPP
would bring Benazir Bhutto back to the country and nobody could
stop her from becoming the country's prime minister for the third
time.
"There will be a direct fight on October 10 between killers of
(Zulfikar Ali) Bhutto and supporters of PPP," Mr Fahim said, adding
that the people would vote for the party to bring it once again in
power.
He said the PPP had rendered great sacrifices for ousting all the
military rulers from power and would continue its struggle for the
removal of the present rulers.
The PPP leader said the government had given unemployment and
price-hike to the people, who, he added, were facing great
hardships.
He claimed that his party would win the October polls, as the
people would give their decision in favour of the PPP that had
always served them with honesty. He appealed to the people to vote
for PPP candidates in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.
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20020924
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PPP to emerge as single largest party: Rabbani
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Sept 23: PPP acting secretary-general Raza Rabbani claims
that his party will emerge as the single largest group at the
centre and in the Punjab and NWFP, capable of forming governments
there, in case the regime holds free and fair elections.
At a news conference, he said this was his assessment of the
possible party position despite massive pre-poll rigging already
carried out in favour of what he called 'king's party'.
He alleged that the regime wanted to keep the major political
parties out of the electoral process to be able to bring in people
of its own choice in assemblies. But, he made it clear, the PPP
would frustrate such designs by taking an active part in the polls.
The PPP, Mr Rabbani said, was committed to contesting the elections
as enthusiastically as was the regime determined to using every
possible tactics to get results of its own choice.
Asked if the party was so serious about taking part in the
electoral process, why the PPP leaders frequently talked of the
boycott option, Mr Rabbani said options to deal with various
situations were always available.
Before the news conference, the PPP leader inaugurated an election
cell which would document pre-poll rigging methods used by the
regime and intimidation of the party workers and supporters. The
proof would be provided to the election commission as this was the
only relevant institution which should be approached in such
situations.
The cell, the like of which will also be working in the other
provincial and federal capitals, will also monitor the election
results. Election candidates facing hardships at the hands of the
regime have been directed to approach the cell of their respective
areas.
Mr Rabbani said the regime was targeting the PPP but the latter
would not be browbeaten.
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20020927
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Beg says army pressing candidates into joining PML-QA
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Amjad Mahmood
LAHORE, Sept 26: Awami Qiadat Party president and former chief of
army staff Gen Mirza Aslam Beg claims that army officers are
pressing AQP candidates into joining the PML-QA.
"Maj Mubashar of the Rangers approached AQP candidate Rana Ashraf
(PP-158) and directed him to join the PML-QA as, according to him,
it would settle all his affairs," Mr Beg told Dawn.
Party's information secretary Muhammad Mehdi and media adviser
Tariq Gill were also present.
Gen Beg said the Rangers had taken the step after he addressed an
election meeting of Mr Ashraf at Jallo Mor a day before.
Asked if the party would launch a formal complaint with the
Election Commission or the army authorities, he replied in the
negative. "It will be of no avail. The (army) officers will deny
the report and there is no other authority powerful enough to
redress the grievance despite the provision of evidence."
Moreover, he added, there was also the possibility that the
authorities might force the complainant (the candidate) to disown
the complaint.
The AQP had fielded 70 plus nominees for national and provincial
assemblies seats throughout the country but the number was reduced
to 35 as many candidates were made to withdraw their nominations
and some were issued wrong election symbols, he claimed.
He did not believe that the government would indulge in rigging on
the polling day. "The rigging has been done before the polling and
I have also pointed out this matter to the European Union
monitoring team."
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20020924
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MMA vows to end US influence
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Correspondent
QUETTA, Sept 23: Revival of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan,
ousting of the Karzai government and enforcement of the Islamic
laws and system in Pakistan are top priorities of the Muttahida
Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a central leader of the coalition has said.
"End of the US influence in the region is another important
priority of the religious parties united at the MMA platform",
Maulana Noor Mohammad, a central leader of the bloc and JUI-F said
while speaking at a press conference.
Mr Noor Mohammad, a former Balochistan minister, flayed the role of
the United State in the region including Afghanistan, and said the
religious parties of Pakistan would not abandoned their struggle
for the revival of Taliban government in the war-torn country.
He said: "We are contesting elections against the secular forces in
the country. People have tried the PPP and PML several times, but
they failed to resolve their (people) problems."
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20020928
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Altaf pledges to provide basic needs to people
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 27: The chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf
Husain, declared that if his party formed government, it would
bring prices of essential commodities to such an affordable level
that no one would be forced to commit suicide due to hunger,
unemployment and discrimination.
Speaking to a big election public meeting in Nishtar Park, Mr
Husain lashed out at the religious parties and the rival Haqiqi for
allegedly deceiving the people whose cause they claimed to
represent.
He also demanded of the regime to demolish the "no-go areas" if the
elections had to be transparent, free and fair.
Urging the international observers to take note of the situation
with regard to the "no-go areas," he said: "If the government will
not demolish the no-go areas, how can one say the elections will be
transparent, and free, when we are not able to propagate out
views."
At the outset, he castigated the killing of seven Christians in
Karachi and observed a one-minute silence to express solidarity
with the Christian community and the bereaved families.
He said those who were attacking religious minorities and those who
were abetting such attacks were not friends of Pakistan or of the
Muslims. He warned against a possible backlash in Western countries
where a sizable number of Muslims lived.
Mr Husain, whose speech was punctuated by a highly-charged slogan
chanting and flag-waving crowd, repudiated the perception that by
advocating the case of Sindhi-Mohajir unity he had bartered away
the rights of the Mohajirs.
He said those who were spreading this perception were Mir Jafers
and Mir Sadiqs, who had come on military trucks when the operation
of June 19, 1992 was unleashed against the Mohajirs. He said the
unity of Sindhis and Mohajirs was not directed against Punjabis, or
Pakhtoons, or Baluchis.
He also came down heavily on the MMA and alleged they had joined
hands due to political expediency, otherwise none of them saw eye
to eye, and they pitted Muslims against Muslims.
He categorically declared that when Sindh would be free from the
clutches of the oppressive federal rule, not a single Punjabi or
Pakhtoon, who had made Sindh his permanent abode, would be harrased
or thrown out.
He urged such Punjabis and Pakhtoons to stop looking towards Punjab
and the NWFP for solution of their problems. He said when Sindh
would get its rights, they too would reap the harvest.
Mr Husain also referred to the MQM manifesto which called for
drafting a new constitution and autonomy to the provinces in the
true spirit of the 1940 Lahore Resolution, administrative
restructuring, human welfare, development and security.
He declared that after coming into power the MQM would not only end
downsizing, but would also provide honourable job opportunities. He
also warned the feudals who were threatening MQM supporters in the
interior of Sindh.
He declared that the MQM government would provide electricity,
water, and gas to every nook and corner of Sindh and provide health
and education facilities.
He also declared that the MQM would punish those responsible for
karo-kari (honour killing) and the practice of marriage with Quran.
He warned those who convert schools into autaq.
"The MQM is a peace-loving political party which believes in non-
violence and oppose terrorism in all forms and manifestations," he
said.
Mr Husain also referred to measures that would be taken by his
party for the rights of women and measures for providing them with
jobs.
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20020927
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MQM seeks new constitution
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 26: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement unfolded its
election manifesto which calls for a new constitution and
provincial autonomy according to the 1940 Lahore Resolution.
The elections 2002 manifesto, titled "Moving Pakistan forward" was
presented by deputy convener Aftab Shaikh, who was flanked by other
deputy conveners Nasreen Jaleel, Shoaib Bokhari, and Dr Farooq
Sattarat a news conference.
In the preamble, the MQM says it is a peace-loving political party
and opposes terrorism.
The MQM wants an independent and non-aligned foreign policy and
wishes to promote close and friendly relations with all the
countries. It believes that all disputes should be settled through
negotiations.
It wants to strengthen the defence of the country. Such policies,
it stresses, should be formulated as can enable people from every
region of the country to be recruited into the armed forces.
The MQM claims that all the past constitutions, including the 1973
constitution, have failed to provide the fundamental rights,
security, democracy, freedom, social justice and equality to the
people of Pakistan.
The main reason for this was the non-inclusion of the true spirit
of the Resolution of 1940 which was the basis of the Pakistan
Movement.
The civil and military autocrats have made so many amendments to
the constitution of 1973 that it has lost its original form, spirit
and utility.
Keeping in view the failure of the constitution of 1973, the MQM
proposes the formulation of a new constitution by an assembly with
equal representation from all the constituent units.
The proposed constitution should not only envisage the
reincarnation of the spirit of the Resolution of 1940 but should
also be in conformity with the genius and aspiration of the people,
it claims.
The new constitution should have all the salient features of a true
federation - supremacy of parliament, autonomy of the provinces,
the federation having only three subjects, ie, defence, foreign
affairs and currency, a bicameral legislature with meaningful
powers to both houses, joint electorate, independence of judiciary,
free press, gender equality, equality of all citizens before law
and equal representation of all the constituent units in all
federal services.
The MQM will not defend those arbitrary laws that were designed by
any regime to discriminate against a person or community for
his/her or their personal faith, belief or creed.
It has come to the conclusion that provincial autonomy and
decentralization are sine qua non for the internal stability of
Pakistan. The MQM therefore stands committed to striving for
complete economic, financial, administrative and political autonomy
for the provinces.
It stands for: a) Make Senate an effective body for the protection
of the constituent units' rights; b) The provinces shall have full
autonomy in accordance with the Resolution of 1940;c) No taxes or
fees will be raised by the Federation on its own behalf; d) Funds
needed by the Federation for defence, foreign affairs and currency
will be paid by the provinces on the basis of their population; e)
The amount of Zakat will be distributed in the same district from
where it is collected.
It also stands for bringing all the federally-administered areas as
regular districts within the jurisdiction of the respective
provinces, except the federal capital, and strengthening of local
bodies institutions.
It also stands for bringing all the cantonment areas within the
political ambit of the local/district/city government.
It maintains that governor should remain in office on the pleasure
of provincial assembly.
The MQM believes that fair and impartial elections alone are not
sufficient for a parliamentary democratic order. Full and complete
power needs to be transferred to the elected representatives
immediately after the election results are announced. Some
convention (on rotation basis) will be established to have the
posts of President, Prime Minister, NA Speaker and Senate Chairman
filled, keeping in view adequate provincial representation.
Structural changes needed to control budget deficits, optimize the
tax base and reduce public debts will be effected.
It is of the view tat the first input to growth is thus human
resource. It proposes to allocate 5% of GNP annually for education,
make education compulsory up to 10th Class and impart free
education up to the primary level, subsidize girls' education in
rural areas, bring 100% literacy rate in urban areas, 75% male and
50% female in rural areas within five years and cent per cent
literacy within 10 years.
It propose to allocate 4% of GNP annually for the health sector and
introduction of a comprehensive social security system.
It is proposed to abolish all such laws that cause injustice to
women. It proposes to provide more opportunities to women to join
the teaching profession. More training schools for female nurses,
midwives and lady health visitors have got to be opened. Population
Welfare Centres need to have at least 75% female staff.
It has proposed new paradigms of economic growth. It has proposed
that local and provincial planning boards should be established and
the perspective and or National Plan, whether five-year or rolling,
to be formulated on the recommendations of these boards.
While emphasizing the need to maintain free economy, it maintains
that downsizing or rightsizing will be resorted to in phases in
such a way that the displaced are absorbed by the new/expanded
projects under the new economic policy. It is also correlated with
our social security system proposed.
It has also resolved to accelerate the development of Port Qasim,
Gawadar and Keti Bunder ports through the private sector, but
ownership of the land shall remain vested in government. It
maintains that Water Distribution Accord(s) shall not be tampered
with, except with the unanimous consent of the provinces. No new
irrigation projects that adversely affect the growers of lower
riparian areas, including Kalabagh dam, Thar Flood Water Canal
Project/ Greater Thal Canal Project, be undertaken without the
approval of all the provincial assemblies and by the Council of
Common Interest.
Wapda's power distribution system will be provincialized
immediately till it is privatized. The manifesto also outlines
various matters connected with the rural population also.
It stands for abolishing the government cooperative department and
instead encourage cooperative farming (including cattle and
poultry), credit and marketing through private cooperatives.
Solid waste management schemes to be launched in metropolitan
cities to begin with.
It is committed to implementing the Karachi Mass Transit Project
besides providing road network in rural areas, launching the
Northern Bypass Project, Karachi, tone up traffic management in
urban areas and encourage private enterprise in the road transport
sector.
In the context of providing security to the people from terrorism,
sectarian killings, etc, the party proposes that, according to the
principle of autonomy, maintenance of law and order shall be the
exclusive responsibility of the provincial governments. There shall
be no federal interference in any form.
All forces - federal and quasi-federal - for maintenance of law and
order shall work under home minister (treasury bench) through a
board comprising a member of provincial assembly (from the
opposition), home secretary and chief of the provincial police,
also duly shared and supported by the local government. The
principle of chain of command has got to be re-established.
It is of the view that police have utterly failed to provide
protection to the common man and is viewed as perpetrator of crime
and lawlessness. So all the police and administration have to be
local having domicile of the province where they serve. It also
proposes various restructuring of the police administration system
and dispensation of justice.
It has devoted considerable space to the need for abolishing
feudalism which is identified with social injustices, honour
killing, gang rape, etc.
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20020925
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Removal of Qadianis' names: writ filed in SC
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The Supreme Court has been approached to end
discrimination against Qadianis in the forthcoming general
elections, as by deleting their names from the voters lists, they
have been deprived of the right to contest elections.
Petitioner Shahid Orakzai, in his constitutional petition under
Article 184(3) of the Constitution filed, has stated that Article
7C of the Conduct of Elections Order, 2002, was discriminatory
against a specified minority because it deprived those who did not
sign an oath about the finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad
(PBUH).
He stated that Article 7C was extremely discriminatory against
Qadiani group and negated the very theme and purpose of joint
electorate.
It deprived Qadianis from participation in election both as voters
and as a candidate for a general seat.
He further contended that there was no rationale for including the
oath about the finality of the Prohpethood of Holy Prophet
Mohammad, in nomination form unless all the general seats were
formally allocated to Muslims.
"The provision that anyone refusing to take oath would get his name
deleted from the joint electoral rolls is all more ridiculous. How
an electoral roll be called a joint electoral if the name of a non-
Muslim is deleted just because of his belief."
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20020927
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Christians' killing: police inquiring survivor
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 26: The police have begun investigating the role of
the only survivor of the Rimpa Plaza massacre as he has been
continuously changing his statements since then. The agents of
federal Investigation Agency (FBI) have also joined the inquiry
beside the Pakistani investigators.
Sources in the police investigation wing said Robin Piran Ditta,
was the only eyewitness to the horrible incident. The police got
the sketches prepared of the possible attackers with the help of
Ditta. He told the police that there were three armed men who
committed the crime.
However, the investigators were suspecting that Ditta had been
concealing some information and he had tried to misguide the
police. He told the police that all of the killers were Urdu-
speaking. Contrary to his statements, the sketches prepared with
the help of Ditta appeared to be Sindhi and Punjabi-speaking. The
investigators said they believed Ditta had got prepared misleading
sketches.
They said the differences in the statements of Ditta had created
doubts. Ditta had told the police that he went out to buy tea and
when he came back, two armed men caught him and beat him. The armed
men then escaped. Later, he came to know about the incident.
After some time, the investigators said Ditta retracted from his
earlier statement and said he was tied with the chair beside his
other colleagues and as first, who was sitting beside him, was
shot, he fell unconscious. His chair on which he was sitting also
rolled down. He was untied by the police. Later, on a query that
who had opened the door when another worker Rahim Bux Azad knocked
the door, Ditta said he did that. The investigators questioned him
that how could he open the door when he was tied with the chair. To
this, he had no answer.
The sources said the leaders of Christian community in the country
had been continuously exerting tremendous pressure on the police to
release Robin Piran Ditta. They alleged that he had been subjected
to torture. "We have taken him (Ditta) to a doctor for a medical
checkup and he is all right," said a police officer.
An FIR was registered at Garden police station on the complaint of
Dr Zafar, administrator of Idara Amn-o-Insaf. He mentioned in the
FIR that some personal files were also missing from the office.
The sources said the Federal Investigation Agency (FBI) agents and
the officials of the US consulate also visited the place of
incident to inspect the crime scene. They minutely examined the
place where the killings took place. They also obtained finger
prints from different things including table, chairs, adhesive
tapes, etc. They took some evidence with them for further
examination.
Meanwhile, the police investigators including the city police chief
Asad Jehangir and DIG Investigation, Fayyaz Leghari, visited the
place of incident and demonstrated a fire to know whether the
killers had their pistols silencers.
The outer door of the office was locked and a bullet was fired. The
sound of the fire was heard outside the office and in the other
offices, which indicated that the killers had their TT pistols
silencers.
The investigators also collected some more evidence from the place
of killings. The also seized the literature available at the office
and some previous issues of the monthly Jafakash, which was being
published from the same premises.
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20020926
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Seven Christians shot dead in Karachi
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Arman Sabir
KARACHI, Sept 25: Seven Christians were shot dead and another was
seriously wounded in an NGO's office located at Rimpa Plaza. Six of
them died on the spot.
The other two wounded were taken to the Civil Hospital, where one
of them died.
Each of them was shot a single bullet into his head from point
blank range. They all belonged to Idara Amn-o-Insaf, a Christian
charity which has been operating for the past 30 years.
The dead were identified as: Iqbal Allah Rakha, 40 (driver);
Benjiman Sadiq, 26, (driver); Kamran Anjum, 25, (computer
operator); Jan Muneer, 30, (office assistant); Aslam Martin, 45,
(communication coordinator); Mushtaq Roshan, 51, (accountant); and
Edwin Foster, 20. Robin Sharif, the assistant communication
coordinator, was seriously wounded.
Robin Piran Ditta, the peon and watchman of the office remained
unhurt and suffered a heart problem after he was beaten up by the
killers. He told the police that he went to buy milk and did not
lock the door. When he came back, he was held up by two armed men,
who beat him up, went out of the office and closed the door.
He said he was shocked to see his colleagues dead and wounded. He
opened the door when another office worker, Rahim Bux Azad, knocked
at about 10:15am. He unlocked the electrical door, which could only
be opened from inside. Rahim Bux immediately informed the police at
15.
Sindh police chief, Syed Kamal Shah, told newsmen at the NGO's
office that it appeared to be an act of terrorism. "However, the
motive of the incident will be thoroughly investigated after which
the police will be able to arrive at any conclusion," he added. He
also did not rule out the act of a foreign hand.
According to him, two men armed with TT pistols made the entire
office staff hostage at gunpoint, tied them to chairs in a library
room, blind-folded them and shot a single bullet to everybody's
head. Five of them died on the spot. The sixth was found near the
bathroom door. Eight empty bullets were found from there.
"We are trying to collect all maximum available evidence from the
spot, which would help investigate the killings," the police chief
said, adding that the killers left Robin unhurt, who was a useful
witness.
The police chief said the Idara Amn-o-Insaf was patronized by the
Church of Pakistan. He said a monthly magazine Jafakash was also
being brought out from this office, which highlighted the issues
relating to human rights and labour rights besides social issues.
On May 22, Edwin Noon, 45, the chairman of Idara Amn-o-Insaf
(Organization for peace and justice), was found dead in his office
near Tibet Centre. Police found the body trussed-up and the
victim's mouth was sealed with adhesive tape. The police said the
victim had been injected some poisonous substance.
His wife, Sara Edwin Noon, was later made chairperson of the
organization. She said: "We didn't receive threats in the past. We
don't know who is behind the incident and what was their motive,"
she added.
The Bishop of Sindh and Balochistan, Sadiq Daniel, said: "It was a
shameful and dangerous act to target the Christians. The security
is needed to be increased for the security of the Christian
community."
Daniel did not support the suggestion that it could be an outcome
of a communal dispute within the Christian community.
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20020926
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Held Arab's link with 'Hamburg cell' seen
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By Ismail Khan
PESHAWAR, Sept 25: An Al Qaeda suspect arrested in Peshawar last
week may well be a member of the so-called Hamburg cell that
planned and executed the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the US last
year, a senior intelligence official said.
The official dealing with the case said Lutfi, who used four
different aliases and picked up from a suburban locality in
Peshawar, had left Hamburg (Germany) shortly before the terrorist
attacks in Washington and New York. "He may have a lot of
information," the official said.
A team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) accompanied
by Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) raided a house in Jehangirabad
last week and arrested Lutfi along with a Pakistani and Afghan
national.
Officials at the time had identified the 30-year-old Tunisian as
Saleem but investigators now say the suspect used different aliases
and speaks Arabic only. "We know that he received training at an Al
Qaeda facility in Afghanistan and his travel documents show that he
lived in Germany, France and Spain," the official familiar with the
interrogation of the suspect said. "He is not a well-known figure.
But we believe that he is important," he said.
Lutfi, according to investigators, arrived in Pakistan shortly
before the attacks on World Trade Centre and the Pentagon and
crossed over to Afghanistan. He, however, later sneaked back into
Pakistan through the tribal region in October last. "He had been
hiding in Peshawar since then."
He said Lutfi was being questioned by Pakistani investigators and
had not yet been turned over to the Americans.
The other members of the so-called Hamburg cell were: Ramzi bin Al
Shibh, arrested in Karachi recently, and Mohammad Atta, who was
killed in one of the hijacked planes that destroyed the US
landmarks.
AL QAEDA CELLS: The official acknowledged reports that the Al
Qaeda's network remained intact and that its militants were hiding
in the Pakistani tribal areas, including the North and South
Waziristan tribal regions, Bajaur and the districts of Peshawar and
Swat. "The trouble is that they don't stay at one place for more
than a week and keep on changing their hideouts."
The official said Pakistanis and Afghans sympathetic to Al Qaeda
continued to provide logistical support to the militants.
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20020924
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Five Al Qaeda suspects held
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By Shafiq Ahmad
PESHAWAR, Sept 23: A joint raiding team has arrested five Al Qaeda
suspects in Peshawar and Mianwali. Of them, an Al Qaeda member and
two others were arrested by a team of Crime Investigation
Department (CID) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from
Peshawar's Jehangirabad area, while the two others were held from
Mianwali.
Officials in Peshawar said the arrests had been made following a
tip-off from the FBI team. The three belonged to different
nationalities. "One is a Tunisian national, one belonged to
Nooristan province of Afghanistan and the third one is Pakistani,"
sources added.
The raiding team also seized a computer and some data.
Sources said during the initial investigation, all the three Al
Qaeda suspects were changing their names, but finally the name of
one suspect was confirmed as Saleem. The Pakistani national
belonged to the Bajaur tribal agency.
An AFP report said two men were identified as Saeedur Rehman and
Juma Din, an Afghan.
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20020928
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Musharraf sees no imminent danger of war
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 27: President Gen Pervez Musharraf advised India to
overcome its internal problems rather than putting blame on
Pakistan for everything.
Talking to reporters after a function, he rejected Indian
allegations that Pakistan was involved in a recent attack at a
Gujarat temple.
"What is going on in that Indian state is a fallout of the killing
of thousands of Muslims," he said, adding that India should set its
own house in order rather than indulging in mudslinging.
Responding to a question about the possibility of war, the
president said there was no imminent danger but the nation must
have confidence in its defence force.
He said Pakistan was fully prepared to thwart any misadventure and
that no one should harbour any ill-intentions against the country.
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20020927
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Govt rejects WB report on defence budget
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 26: The government has rejected the latest World
Bank report, which says that Pakistan is spending 29 per cent of
its budget on defence. "The total defence expenditure in the budget
for 2001-2002 was 18.6 per cent which has been reduced to 16.5 per
cent in the budget for 2002-2003," said the economic advisor to the
ministry of finance, Dr Ashfaq Hasan Khan.
"Therefore, it is absolutely wrong to say that the government is
spending 29 per cent of the budget on defence and it is very high
by international standards," he added.
Commenting on a Dawn's report published, Dr Khan said the
government had objected to the World Bank's report, which, he said
was a draft report and not a final report.
"We have raised the issue with the bank and told its officials that
language of the draft report was extremely harsh and needs to be
improved," he added.
The ministry official told Dawn that he had attended a video
conference recently in Washington and had expressed his serious
reservations about the draft report. He was hopeful that the WB
would rectify its report by incorporating facts which were being
given to it by the government.
Dr Khan said that Pakistan's defence budget had been static for the
last three years. "In fact, it has been capped," he said,
regretting that some officials of the World Bank did not bother to
look into facts before preparing their draft report.
"Pakistan's defence budget is not our problem but the real problem
is debt servicing for which we have made available Rs289.7 billion
during the current financial year," he said.
Responding to a question, he said the defence budget, which used to
be seven per cent of the GDP in 1980s, had declined to 3.6 per cent
of the GDP and as such there was a substantial reduction in it.
"But look at India which is spending 42 per cent of its budget on
defence despite the fact its fiscal deficit is hovering around 10
to 11 per cent of the GDP," the official said, adding that whatever
little defence expenditure had been increased last year by
Pakistan, it was due to threat perceptions in the region and
India's massive building of troops on borders.
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20020928
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US to help raise conventional arms capability
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By Ihtashamul Haque
RAWALPINDI, Sept 27: The United States has agreed to enhance
Pakistan's conventional defence capability by making substantial
military cooperation with it.
"We have an interest in working together with Pakistan's armed
forces to address Pakistan's security concerns and help enhance its
conventional defence capabilities," visiting US Undersecretary of
Defence, Douglas J. Feith said.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Pakistan's Defence
Secretary, Hamid Nawaz, Mr Feith said Pakistan and the United
States had developed a major understanding on vital issues
including bringing an improvement to the present alarming security
environment in the region.
He termed a 3-day meeting of the Pakistan-US Defence Consultative
Group (DCG) as very successful and said a number of areas had been
identified for enhanced military cooperation between the two
countries. He led a 40-member US delegation at the meeting.
The Defence Secretary, Hamid Nawaz, said during the extensive
talks, issues concerning acquisition of new military hardware
including F-16 aircraft, training and joint exercises were
discussed.
"Pakistan has also given a new defence list to purchase US arms and
we hope now that not only our previous transactions, which got
interrupted, will be cleared but new weapons would also be offered
to help improve Pakistan's conventional defence capabilities," he
added.
"We have communicated our defence list to the Americans," he said,
adding that the US government realized that conventional defence
capabilities of Pakistan were needed to be improved," he further
stated.
He told a newsman that the US side had sought to further enhance
cooperation to counter terrorism and check infiltration across the
border. "Both the countries have developed a very sound basis for
future military cooperation," the defence secretary said, adding
that substantial progress had been made to forge new and better
military cooperation between the two countries.
Mr Feith said Pakistan had made a very important contribution to
make operation "Enduring Freedom" a success. "We have put together
a good military relationship to work against terrorism and improve
security environment in the region," he added.
About Pakistan's defence needs, the US Under Secretary said during
the three-day talks this issue along with extending more financial
assistance, training and joint exercises came under active
discussion.
Asked how the United States could help Pakistan specially when
India was getting all possible military cooperation from Russia and
Israel and that how his country would like to balance it, he said:
"We have reviewed Pakistan's defence requirements and as I told you
that we have an interest in enhancing Pakistan's conventional
defence capabilities as sought by Islamabad," he replied.
Answering to a question, Mr Feith said from the US point of view
Pakistan was exerting itself to effectively deal with Al Qaeda and
Taliban. "But we know that border areas of Pakistan with
Afghanistan are very difficult terrains. Pakistan and the US made
some success but not as much as we like," he said. However, he
appreciated that Pakistan was doing a lot to track down Al Qaeda
members. He said necessary support would be provided to Pakistan
army and the police to monitor the activities of terrorists. "We
have discussed new ideas over the issue".
Mr Feith said his country had decided to give all necessary
equipment, financial assistance, training and sharing of more
intelligence with Pakistan to chase Al Qaeda and other terrorists.
"And in this behalf a list of priorities has been prepared," he
said without elaborating.
Mr Feith told a reporter that he was not aware of the statement of
the US ambassador to India in which he had said that infiltration
from Pakistan had increased into Kashmir. However, he said the US
was hopeful that Pakistan would ensure that there was no
infiltration across the Line of Control.
DEFENCE TIES: Replying to question whether military cooperation
between Pakistan and US as existed in the early 1980s would be
revived, Mr Feith said a decision had been taken to build a long-
term relationship which should be mutually beneficial.
About the release of military hardware to Pakistan, the US Under
Secretary said the US policy-decision making was a complex issue
due to which things could be delayed for some time.
"We hope to make sure that we are well informed about the views of
Pakistan on defence trade," he said.
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20020926
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US to provide $47m for law enforcement
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ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: The United States will provide a grant of $47
million for the development of the Federally-Administered Tribal
Areas (Fata) and for launching high-tech projects in the field of
law enforcement.
This was announced at a meeting of the Pak-US Joint Working Group
on Law Enforcement.
The Pakistani side was led by Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider,
while the visiting US side was led by the coordinator for counter-
terrorism of the States Department, ambassador Francis Taylor. The
meeting was also attended by US Ambassador in Islamabad Nancy
Powel.
The meeting discussed cooperation between the countries in the
field of counter-terrorism.
"During the meeting, the US side agreed to provide equipment and
training and also committed to provide an additional fund to the
tune of $47 million for the development of Fata and launching of
high-tech projects in the field of law enforcement," said a senior
official of the interior ministry, while talking to APP.
The two sides held a discussion to improve their cooperation and
took decisions to strengthen the capacity of Pakistan's law
enforcement agencies to combat the menace of terrorism.
They expressed satisfaction over the progress so far achieved in
the ongoing war against terrorism and re-affirmed their commitment
to enhance the existing level of cooperation.
It was also decided that the second meeting of the joint working
group on law enforcement would be held soon.
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20020926
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New Delhi allegations ridiculous: Islamabad
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: Pakistan said India's allegations that Pakistan
planned an attack on a Hindu temple in Gujarat state were
irresponsible and would only heighten tension in the region. "These
are highly irresponsible statements," Foreign Ministry spokesman
Aziz Ahmed Khan told Reuters.
He was referring to a statement earlier by Indian Deputy Prime
Minister Lal Krishna Advani, accusing Pakistan of planning Gujarat
attack. "These accusations are ridiculous," Khan said.
Two gunmen opened fire and hurled grenades at people in the vast
temple complex in Gujarat, killing 29 people and wounding more than
70.
One Indian commando was killed during a later assault and two
policemen died of their wounds, police said, bringing the total
death toll, including the two gunmen, to 33.
Advani cited a speech by President Pervez Musharraf to the UN
General Assembly this month in which he referred to Gujarat.
"This indicates they had planned this for sometime," Advani said.
Khan said India was in the habit of rushing to conclusions and
accusing Pakistan of anything happening in India even without
holding a preliminary inquiry.
"Such baseless accusations will only add to heightened tensions,"
Khan said. He urged India to pay attention to improving its law and
order situation rather than laying blame at the door of Pakistan.
"We have strongly condemned this reprehensible attack because it
was mounted on a place of worship," Khan added.
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20020927
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Seven killed as train derails near Sibi
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By Saleem Shahid & Shamim Shamsi
QUETTA, Sept 26: At least seven people were killed and 57 injured
when eight bogies of Quetta Express derailed as a railway bridge on
Sibi-Jacobabad section collapsed.
The Quetta-bound Quetta Express coming from Rawalpindi met with the
disaster, some 200km east of here at 10.05am, suspending the train
service with the rest of the country.
Fifty-seven injured, including women and children, were admitted to
the Government Hospital, Sibi. The medical officer of the hospital,
Dr Ghous Bakhsh Barozai, confirmed that 12 of injured were in
serious condition.
The exact point of the accident was the Railway bridge No 130-B.
The 200-ft-long bridge, located between Dambuli and Dinghra, was
built by the English over a century ago on a storm river allowing
the flow of hill torrents and floods during rains.
The Pakistan Railways authorities said sabotage activity could not
be ruled out, however, the probe had been ordered into the
accident.
The Chief Controller of Quetta Railway Division, Jalilur Rehman,
confirmed that 57 persons had been injured out which 47 had been
hospitalized at Sibi. "Those injured seriously are being shifted to
Quetta and other hospitals for specialized treatment," he added.
Others with minor injuries have been discharged.
Rescue and relief operation started as four relief trains have been
rushed to the spot from Sukkur and Quetta and for restoring the
railway track.
More than a dozen ambulance vehicles of the provincial health
department and Edhi Welfare Centre rushed to the spot. Residents of
the nearby villages and notables also helped the injured in
reaching them to hospitals. A number of government agencies,
personnel of Pakistan army also reached the spot and helped the
Railway officials in relief work. Some injured were taken out by
cutting the twisted metals.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred when the main
diesel engine and a passenger bogie passed the bridge which
collapsed and bogie fell down in the nullah followed by seven other
bogies.
"Six pillars of the Railway bridge collapsed causing the disaster,"
a senior official of the Sibi administration told Dawn over
telephone. Chaos and confusion gripped the scene of accident and
the passengers were screaming for help.
The Chief Controller of Pakistan Railways, Jalilur Rehman, said the
train service had been suspended, which could remain suspended for
at least two days as trains are operating on a single track. "It
will take reasonable time to clear the track. The Railways may
build a diversion from the collapsed bridge," Mr Jalil said.
Pointing out to the cause of the accident, he said the bridge
collapse was the apparent reason for the accident. However, he
said, Chairman of Pakistan Railways has ordered an inquiry.
In the meantime, the hospital sources have identified seven persons
who lost their lives. They are: Syed Gul son of Sardar Allah Gul of
Saranan; Abdul Malik son of Meharban Khan and Abdul Rehman son of
Meharban Khan of Naushki; Mohammad Zaffar son of Ahmed Khan of
Dhaddar; Iftikhar son of Nazir Ahmed of Sialkot; Haji Allah Ditta
and Abdul Qayyum.
The body of Iftikhar was taken away by his relatives to Sialkot who
were travelling with him in the same train. The bodies of others
were in Civil Hospital, Sibi.
List of 48 injured in train derailment:
Out of the total wounded, 10 were admitted to Railway Hospital Sibi
and their names are: Ms Wilson, wife of Abdul Hameed; Zafar Iqbal
Mohammad Hayat; Mohammad Rasoolpur Tarar; Mohammad Aslam, son of
Fateh Mohammad; Iftikhar Ahmed, son of Abdul Hameed; Mustafa, son
of Ghulam Rasool; Mohammad Umar Daraz, son of Mehar Ali; Mohammad
Shahzad, son of Mohammad Bahadur Khan; Mohammad Azhar, son of Shan
Mohammad and Shahid Ali, son of Mirza.
While the remaining 38 were admitted to Civil Hospital Sibi and
their names are: Inamul Haq; Mohammad Tufail; Qasim; Mohammad
Akhtar; Imran; Atta Mohammad; Zulfiqar; Ms Kishwar Saghir; Ms
Sakeena Bibi; Majid; Amar Farooq; Musa Naseer; Ms Shamaila;
Mohammad Shakeel; Mohammad Ahmed; Liaquat; Aslam; Abdul Qadir;
Mohammad Qasim; Master Rehmat Ali, son of Mehar Din; Mehmood Ahmed;
Arif Mehmood; Mohammad Idris; Mohammad Hanif; Abdul Khaliq, son of
Inayatullah; Zar Khan Sadar, son of Safdar Hussain; Inamullah, son
of Mohammad Yousuf; Surraya Bibi, wife of Amin Masih; Haji Ghulam
Qadir, son of Qadir Bakhsh; Ms Parveen Akhtar, wife of Mohammad
Amin; Ms Bilqis, wife of Mohammad Aslam; Ms Mumtaz Bibi, wife of
Fateh Mohammad; Choudhry Abdul Hameed; Ms Razia Bibi, wife of
Nazeer Ahmed; Ms Hameed, wife of Haji Mukhtiar; Ms Akhtar Fahmeeda,
wife of Qamar; Qamar Sharif, son of Mohammad Sharif and Shahzad .-
APP
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20020928
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20 killed as bus falls into ravine
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By Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, Sept 27: At least 20 people were killed and 25 others
injured when an overloaded passenger bus fell into a deep ravine
near Pir Galli village on the Khuiratta-Mirpur Highway, police and
witnesses said.
The Bhatti Transport Service vehicle (AJK-6140) was going to Mirpur
from Khuiratta village in district Kotli when it veered off the
road while negotiating a sharp curve at about 8:35am, police said.
A witness told Dawn by telephone that the bus was overloaded with
some people sitting on its roof. As the driver was negotiating the
steep curve, he lost control and resultantly the vehicle fell into
the 500-feet deep ravine, he said.
Police said 20 people, including two women and a police official,
died in the accident. They were identified as Mohammad Amin, son of
Shafi; Rashid, son of Abdul Majeed; Zaraat Bibi, wife of Nazar
Mohammad; Tahir, son of Azam (conductor); Sub Inspector Chaudhry
Zafar Hussain; Raja Masood, son of Raja Abdullah; Mohkam Deen;
Mohammad Abbas; Pervez and Javed, sons of Munshi Khan; Tasweer
Begum, wife of Moazzam Khan; Arshad Gul and Mehfooz Gul, sons of
Shamshad Gul; Younus, son of Mohammad Rafiq; Masood, son of Zaman,
Rizwan, son of Ilyas; Farhat, son of Barkat Hussain; Shahzad, son
of Zulfikar; Mohammad Sharif, son of Ghulam Mohammad; and Younus
Khan.
Of the 25 injured, 14 were admitted to the DHQ hospital Mirpur.
They were identified as Mohammad Iqbal (driver), Muzammil Hussain,
Zakia Bibi, Mohammad Fazil, Mohammad Shafi, Fayyaz Begum, Mohammad
Asif, Surayya Begum, Arif, Altaf Hussain, Taimur, Ansar Mehmood,
Mohammad Iqbal and Ghalib Hussain.
At least five other injured were taken to the Pakistan Institute of
Medical Sciences in Islamabad.
A doctor at the DHQ hospital Mirpur told this correspondent that
condition of some of the injured was serious.
Officials feared that the number of casualties could be more,
because many persons had removed the victims from the site of the
accident without informing the police.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
20020923
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Japan to give $200m for poverty eradication
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TOKYO, Sept 22: Japan will provide $200 million to Pakistan till
next year as second part of the $300 million pledged last year.
Director of Japanese foreign affairs ministry's southwest Asia
division, Takio Yamada, told APP that his country had already
provided $100 million to Pakistan.
Japan has also decided to provide soft loan of billions of Yens for
the completion of third phase of Kohat Tunnel. The loan would have
a 10-year grace period with nominal interest rate and it would be
paid in 30 to 35 years.
He said Japan had provided soft loan for the first and second phase
of the tunnel. The first phase had been completed and the second
was in progress, he said.
He said Japan wanted to assist the government for initiating
projects to eradicate poverty.
The government of Japan promised to give $300 million to Pakistan
in two years as part of financial assistance for poverty
eradication programme.
He said that after the visit of Pervez Musharraf, a parliamentary
delegation headed by a leader of the Liberal Democratic Party,
Mitsuo Horiuchi, visited Pakistan. The exchange of delegations
would continue, he said. -APP
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20020922
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Saudi Pak okays Rs351m financing
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ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricultural
Investment Company (Pvt) Limited approved a total financing of
Rs351 million to 11 companies in manufacturing, financial services,
communication and petroleum sectors.
The financing will facilitate expansion of existing production
facilities and create additional capacities.
Board of Directors of the company has given approval, in this
connection, in its 80th meeting held in Dubai, under the
chairmanship of Dr Abdullah T. Al-Thenayan, who is also Director
General of Arab Company for Livestock Development, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.
The board reviewed the operating performance of the company for the
first eight months ending August 31, 2002 of current financial year
and expressed its satisfaction on all the key areas of operation
including approval and disbursements of new financing and position
of collection of dues from long-term and short-term financing
portfolio.
Since inception the company has provided financing facilities of
Rs14,505 million, which includes direct equity investment of
Rs1,690 million, and term financing of Rs12,815 million. In
addition the underwriting of public issue of shares and guarantees
have also been provided for a total amount of Rs1,825 million.
The company, a joint venture of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Islamic
Republic of Pakistan, is committed to accelerate industrial
development in Pakistan by providing loans and investment
facilities to industrial projects sponsored by private sector.-APP
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20020922
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Rs795m bids for Bank Alfalah, ICP Funds
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Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Abu Dhabi Group of UAE offered the highest bid
of Rs27.56 per share against the floor price of Rs26.56 per share
for the remaining 30 per cent shares (22.5 million), making a total
of Rs620.1 million.
The group has already acquired 70 per cent shares of Bank Alfalah
(former Habib Credit & Exchange Bank) in 1997 through an open
bidding.
The offer came during bidding of 28 per cent equity stake in Bank
Alfalah. Sealed bids for ICP Mutual Fund-lot-A were opened by the
representatives of print and electronic media, and Abamco bid of
Rs175 million was declared the highest one.
The Privatization Commission recommended to the Cabinet Committee
on Privatization (CCoP) to approve the bids for the two
transactions.
The Privatization Commission met under chairmanship of Minister for
Privatization Altaf M. Saleem, who is also chairman of the
Commission.
The other party Javed Omer Vohra & Co attended the bidding but gave
no offer for Bank Alfalah. The Privatization Commission had
received four EoIs from interested parties for the divestment of a
minimum of 28 per cent equity stake in Bank Alfalah Limited through
a 'block sale' to the general public through an open bidding
process.
The buyer will also pay for two per cent shares allocated for the
employees. In case, employees do not buy these shares, the
Privatization Commission would reimburse the amount received on
that account to the highest bidder. For the ICP Mutual Funds, the
bid received were: (I) ABAMCO Limited, Rs175 million; (II)
Consortium of Arif Habib Securities Limited and Arif Habib
Investment Management Limited, Rs125.1 million; (III) Charless
Schmitt & Associates Limited (CSA), Hong Kong, Rs63 million; (IV)
Consortium of Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company (Pvt) Ltd and Al
Meezan Investment Management, Rs102.01 million; and (V) Pakistan
Industrial Credit & Investment Corporation Ltd (PICIC), Rs162.5
million. Sulaiman Ahmad Al Hoqani from UAE, though deposited the
earnest money, did not turn up for the bidding.
The three highest bidders - ABAMCO Limited, Arif Habib Investment
Management and PICIC - were asked to raise their bids in the second
phase of open bidding round but all the three declared that they
have given their final offer. Therefore, ABAMCO Limited was
declared the highest bidder.
For the sale and transfer of the management rights of lot 'A' of
ICP Mutual Funds, the Privatization Commission had recommended nine
parties for pre-qualification. The Privatization Commission had
received 16 EoIs from local and foreign Fund Managers. The
successful bidder will manage the Fund under the rules prescribed
by the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
Bidding was also held for the acquisition of 75 per cent
government-owned share of Lyallpur Chemical & Fertilizers Limited
(LC&FL) and 25 per cent shares of a private company which
authorized the Privatization Commission to sell them. The bidding
opened with Rs120 per share floor price for 100 per cent shares
with a minimum increase of one rupee per share but could not
proceed further as the participating two bidders did not make any
offer. Chanar Sugar Mills Ltd Lahore and Sitara Chemical Group of
Industries, Faisalabad, insisted to substantially reduce the floor
price. This was not acceptable to the Privatization Commission. As
such the bidding process was cancelled.
The Privatization Commission Board reviewed the implementation
status of various transactions, which included Pakistan State Oil,
OGDCL, HBL, POL, NITL and offering of additional shares of NBP. A
road show for NBP shares offer for sale has been planned at Karachi
Stock Exchange on September 24, 2002. The Board members and senior
officials of the respective ministries attended the meeting.
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20020928
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Stocks maintain upward trend on weekend session
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Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 27: Stocks on Friday maintained their uppish leaning
as investors continued to build up long positions on the counters
where dividend announcements are due and the lower levels, which
ensure handsome capital gains.
After touching the day's peak level at 2,025 at one stage, the KSE
100-share index managed to finish with an extended gain indicating
that it could resume its upturn when the trading starts on Monday.
The final close of both the sessions was at 2,019.04 as compared to
previous level of 2,013.85, up 5.19 points, reflecting the strength
of PTCL and PSO.
The higher closing reflects that the new system has worked well.
After holding a couple of mock trading sessions during the last
about a month the KSE on Friday held two - morning and afternoon
sessions - to test the accuracy of the new system, which it wants
to put in operation in due course.
It started trading in the new system on trial basis after the Juma
prayers for about two hours and till the close at 5 p.m. the
activity remained insipid. The brokers will take sometime to fathom
the technicalities of the most modern system and after that it will
replace the current one.
Locally developed, the new system, according to KSE sources was
most transparent. The software put into operation has the capacity
to take in daily turnover of over 700m shares as compared to the
existing one's 300 to 500m, and it will cater to the needs of
future expansion in the daily volumes.
Floor brokers said firm closing at the weekend session generally
paves the way for a sustained run-up during the next week and
indications are that blue chips could rise further on the strength
of fresh buying triggered by higher dividend news.
"Investors are not inclined to sit on the sidelines as an
attractive bait of sell-off of the leading state units has
reinforced their perception about a sustained bull-run in the
coming sessions," they added.
Bulk of the buying interest remained confined to Hub-Power, PTCL,
PSO, MCB, National Bank, and some of the leading cement shares,
including D.G. Khan and Lucky Cement, which have announced modest
dividend.
Wyeth Pakistan led the list of leading gainers, up Rs42 followed by
Ferozsons Lab, Treet Corporation, Shell Pakistan, Island Textiles
and General Tyre, which posted gains ranging from Rs3.70 to Rs7.50.
Bata Pakistan and Noon Pakistan also showed good gain. Bulk of the
support was inspired by higher dividend.
Losers were again led by Grays of Cambridge, off Rs15, followed by
Millat Tractors, HinoPak Motors, Siemens Pakistan, Clariant
Pakistan, and Ghani Glass, off Rs1.45 to Rs3.75.
Trading volume fell to 114m shares from the previous 153m shares
but gainers held a fair lead over the losers at 160 to 107, with 64
shares holding on to the last levels.
Hub-Power led the list of actives, easy 10 paisa at Rs24.05 on 21m
shares followed by PTCL, unchanged at Rs20.15 on 15m shares, PSO,
up 40 paisa at Rs196.25 on 11m shares, Adamjee Insurance, higher by
95 paisa at Rs44.25 on 9m shares and Engro Chemical, higher 55
paisa at Rs63.25 also on 9m shares, D.G. Khan Cement, lower five
paisa at Rs12.45 on 7m shares and ICI Pakistan, up 45 pasia at Rs41
also on 7m shares.
FORWARD COUNTER: Active trading was again witnessed in hub-Power,
which rose by three and six paisa for both the settlements on
combined turnover of 14m shares followed by PTCL, lower 6 pasia for
the ruling contract at Rs20.06 on 5.699m shares and higher by three
paisa for the distant at Rs20.30 on 3.657m shares.
PSO rose by 45 and 10 paisa for both the contracts at Rs196 and
Rs159 on 2.452m and 1.440m shares, respectively. Other actives were
modestly traded, mostly on the higher side.
DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Custodian Modaraba came in for active selling
and fell by 45 paisa at Rs4.05 on 17,000 shares followed by Allied
Motors, easy five paisa at Rs9.50 on 12,500 shares and Crescent
Board, unchanged at Rs2.80 on 3,500 shares.
DIVIDEND: Universal Leather cash 60 per cent; Noon Pakistan 50 per
cent; Pakistan Refinery cash 37.5 per cent, interim 25 per cent
already paid; Liberty Mills 17.5 per cent; Pakistan Synthetics 20
per cent; Habib Bank Modaraba 16 per cent; UDL Modaraba five per
cent; Lucky Cement 7.5 per cent; D.G. Khan Cement 10 per cent bonus
shares; Pioneer Cement cash 5 per cent; and Union Bank right shares
at the rate of 66.67 per cent.
Back to the top
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
20020922
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'To the best of my knowledge and belief...'
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By Ardeshir Cowasjee
It is extremely difficult to get to the bottom of many of the
alarming stories we read in our press. My column last week made
mention of a September 14 news item which related how a religious
school teacher, a Qari (a reciter of the Quran), of the small town
of Yazman, near Multan, had chopped off the tongue of a 13-year old
student who some days previously had observed his teacher
sodomizing a fellow student.
The boy's father, a Pesh Imam (a leader of prayers) had told
reporters that his son had witnessed the sexual assault, had been
threatened by the Qari not to tell anyone about it, had told his
father, and the Qari had then used a razor on his tongue. But no
arrest had been made, as the boy's family had not so far lodged any
complaint with the local police.
Another report in another newspaper on the same day had it that the
boy, Hafiz Abdul Qadoos, was aged 18, that he had reported the
matter to the police and that a case against Qari Bashir Ahmed, the
seminary in charge, who had deprived him of the power of speech,
had been registered under sections 336 and 506 of the Pakistan
Penal Code.
The case was registered on the complaint of the boy, who 'told' the
local SHO that he and the Qari had for long been at daggers drawn,
that on several occasions he had thrashed the Qari, and that on
September 2 the Qari in his turn had overpowered him and 'injured'
his tongue with a sharp weapon, and then threatened him with dire
consequences 'if he let the cat out of the bag'.
The boy's father, when contacted by the police told quite a
different story. He claimed that the injuries to the his son's
tongue were self-inflicted and that boy had not lost the power of
speech. The police maintained that the boy had given his statement
in writing as he could not speak. Some of the town's people had
told the police that the Qari had first sodomized the boy Qudoos
and then cut off his tongue.
Come September 18 and in a further report on the incident we learnt
that the Yazman police had discharged the case against the Qari as
two local doctors had declared that the injury was indeed self-
inflicted. A fresh case had been filed under section 182 of the
Penal Code against the boy Qudoos for having misled the police.
All quite normal happenings in our neck of the woods.
We will presumably never know the truth, nor will we learn of the
true state of the injuries to the boy, nor of his fate. If someone
concerned in this sordid matter can do a spot of clarification, the
people will at least learn what is or is not what.
On September 19, a news report from Naushahro Feroze, headlined
'Jirga hands over girl, land in murder dispute', gave us the
startling news that a former ambassador of Pakistan, Syed Manzoor
Ali Shah, had been a member of the three-man jirga. One Naban
Solangi had been murdered by three of his relatives. The judgment
of the Jirga was that two of the accused, a father and son, would
hand over one acre of land and Rs 10,000 to the sons of Solangi and
that the third accused would hand over his daughter. Both parties
readily agreed. Again, normal happenings.
A headline in a Lahore newspaper yesterday reads: 'Jirga system to
remain intact, says governor.' The NWFP governor has declared in
Bajaur Agency that the tribal areas will not be subject to judicial
reforms. Will our other three governors follow suit? This would be
quite in keeping with our times.
Another report in this newspaper on September 19, underneath the
blazing headline 'Policemen wanted in rape cases still at large',
related how, during the past two months there had been reports of
gang rapes involving policemen. In one case, a woman, the mother of
two, was found in Neelam Colony crying in agony as her face had
been burnt with acid. She was taken to Jinnah Hospital where it was
established that she had been raped.
Her story was that she had been abducted by three policemen of
Karachi, taken to Mian Chunnu in Punjab, and repeatedly raped over
the course of one week. She was brought back to Karachi, threatened
with the usual 'dire consequences' if she spoke out, and the dire
consequences in her case was a dose of acid-throwing.
A 'clarification' to this story issued by a 'spokesman' was
published in yesterday's Dawn. It only serves to further confuse
the issue - the object obviously being to adhere to the old saying,
'if you cannot convince them, confuse them.' Again, perfectly
normal.
The second case took place in Karachi's Kashmir Colony, involving
four policemen, who took a young girl to a Defence house, raped
her, and then dumped her near Golden Towers (also in Defence). A
case has been registered against the four policemen, who of course
absconded and remain at large.
On quite a different topic which I touched upon last Sunday, on the
difficulties now faced, post-9/11, by Pakistani students trying to
obtain admission to US colleges and the requisite US visas, 'Aliya
and Saqib' responded by e-mail:
"Hello, Your recent article with the mention of Pakistani/ Muslim
students not getting visas, brought back the memory of the Aga Khan
medical students and Duke University. I am sending you the web
documents regarding an incident in which a Duke professor told
students that he won't consider their applications because they may
be terrorists."
The story dates back to December 19, 2001:
"Medical school dean apologizes for faculty letter sent to foreign
students. Three Pakistani medical students, whose inquiries about
working in a research laboratory were initially rebuffed by a Duke
University professor, have been sent a letter of apology from Dr R.
Sanders Williams, dean of the Duke School of Medicine.
"Williams also has sent a message to the Duke University Medical
Centre community that reaffirms Duke's commitment to cultural
diversity.
"In his letter e-mailed to the three students at Aga Khan
University Medical College, Williams stated, 'I have learned of
your interest in spending time in one of our research laboratories
and of the intemperate and inappropriate response that you received
from Professor Michael Reedy in your quest for information.
Professor Reedy's initial response to you does not represent the
views of Duke University or of Duke University Medical School.
"...... 'I have spoken with Professor Reedy and, as he indicated to
you in his follow-up e-mail, he sincerely regrets his initial
response and appreciates very much your acceptance of his apology.
I am convinced his response is both sincere and appropriate. In
addition to his apology, I want to express my own on behalf of our
school.'
"The students concerned had e-mailed Reedy about possible summer
research opportunities in his laboratory, Reedy replied by e-mail:
'Your ethnicity and your age (student age = idealistic) are so
similar to those of the jihad-minded terrorists from the schools
that nurtured the Taliban and Al Qaeda that it is not worth our
trouble to try to determine if you are a well-disguised terrorist
or a real learning-motivated medical student. You may well be
innocent, but some of your neighbours are as potentially lethal as
anthrax or HIV, and must be protected against.
"As long as there are zealots whose idea of reasonable dialogue and
persuasive rhetoric is suicide bombing, we seem to have no
efficient choice but to react with suspicion, which must motivate
us to extreme avoidance or to kill-or-be-killed defensive activism
aimed at extermination.'
"Reedy later apologized: 'I see now that my negative reaction came
mainly from my anger and frustration with the extremism and
deceptiveness of the terrorists of Sept. 11, which seemed to
destroy my personal hopes for a reasoned an peaceful resolution of
international conflicts. ... Your messages touched me in that sore
spot, and I fired back at you in anger and frustration ......... I
deeply apologize for my violent words and bad manners.'
"Reedy also noted that the incident had 'made very clear to me that
the ease and speed of e-mail can embody hazards as significant as
its conveniences'." This last observation is very correct.
All involved in the occurrences related in this column have
undoubtedly acted in keeping with their respective characters and
with the knowledge each possesses. Should the people of Pakistan
educate themselves to remain in synchronization with the world
outside, or should we keep to our insular ignorant barbaric ways
and expect the world to accord us respect?
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20020926
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Baghdad poker
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By Eric Margolis
The latest hand of high-stakes Baghdad Bluff Poker is really
getting interesting. Here's an update:
President George W. Bush: Just as the Texas Crusader was about to
invade Iraq, ostensibly for refusing to admit weapons inspectors,
the slippery Iraqis agreed to inspection. How dare Saddam
cooperate! Fight fair, you Iraqi scoundrel! So now Bush says he
will block UN inspectors from going to Iraq.
How confusing. If the US is now blocking UN arms inspectors, can
Iraq go to the UN and get approval to invade the US and do a regime
change in Washington DC, maybe putting the Rev. Jesse Jackson in
the White House?
Bush just blasted Saddam for 'undermining and weakening the UN.' In
his very next sentence, he vowed to ignore the UN Security Council
and invade I-Raq, as he calls it, if the UN didn't give him a green
light to attack. Bush is determined to destroy a nation whose name
he can't even pronounce correctly.
No problem, however, with the supine US Congress. Special interests
that have bought Congress demand war on Iraq. More important, Bush
and Congress (Democrats and Republicans alike) fear the minute Iraq
war fever subsides, they will be crucified over the gargantuan
scandals engulfing Wall Street and Corporate America. The Clinton
and Bush administrations and Congress all took huge donations from
the super-crooks at Enron, Worldcom, Global Crossing and their Wall
Street co-conspirators, and were thus party to the most massive
swindle in American history.
November elections are only six weeks away. Bush and Congress must
keep voters terrified by the bogeyman of Baghdad or the folks in
Peoria will exact revenge on the politicians who enabled the mother
of all frauds.
Iraq: Saddam says...Bush is taking orders from Israel and wants to
rob us of our oil. Meanwhile, trusted aides are burying a few old
cans of chemicals and toxin deeper in the desert. Showing untypical
diplomatic agility, Saddam has temporarily split the great powers
and is busy offering oil deals to Russia, China, and France.
However, on a down note, Iraqi Life Ltd just cancelled his
insurance policy.
Britain: This week, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw accused the Iraqis
of being 'duplicitous.' That's a five-dollar word that means two-
faced. Talk about the kettle calling the pot black. The British
invented duplicity. In fact, double-dealing British imperialists
created many of the world's chronic problems. Thank the Brits for
Palestine and Israel; Belfast; India, Pakistan, and Kashmir; Iraq;
and the mess in Africa. London is determined to grab a share of
Iraq's oil once Saddam is overthrown. That's why Tony Blair, known
far and wide as 'Bush's poodle,' is barking so loudly.
Russia: Well, says clever President Putin to unclever George Bush,
maybe we'll give you a green light to invade Iraq, but the price
will be allowing us to invade Georgia and smash the Chechen
independence-fighters, plus about $12 billion in cash, and a chunk
of Iraq's oil for our Russian oil companies. By the way, hearty
thanks from my old pals at KGB for branding the Chechens
'terrorists.'
France: The French are too clever to stand in the path of the
charging American bull, so they are temporizing and hedging, trying
to slow down the rush to war while making sure that if the US
invades Iraq, French oil firms and arms producers will get a share
of the plunder of Iraq.
Germany: In a stunning act of independence, Germany's chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder, while seeking re-election, has strongly opposed
any US invasion of Iraq, a position supported by a majority of
Germans. Never before has subservient post-war Germany stood up to
Washington. Europeans are delighted; Washington is furious. Expect
more Hollywood films about World War II.
Israel: Being very low key. But has put its mighty US lobby into
high gear to press for a US war against Iraq...then against Iran,
then Syria, then Lebanon, then Libya. Once the Arab states are
shattered, Israel will dominate the Mideast. 'The Israel-Iraq Oil
Company'...now, that has a nice ring to it.
The Arab Rulers: Cowering in their palaces. Can't decide whether
they are more petrified of a run amok Bush administration or their
own angry people. Most Arab leaders will come down against Saddam,
since their personal protection and fortunes are assured by the US,
and they know they're next to be 'liberated' if they don't obey.-
Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2002.
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20020927
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Our saviours & their shibboleths
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By Ayaz Amir
The reformers who walked into the political arena three years ago,
vowing to turn the country's fortunes around, can plume themselves
on some notable successes. Politicizing their own institution, the
military, they are well on their way to depoliticizing the country.
The current election campaign makes this amply clear. A damp squib
so far, it has yet to set fire to anything.
I speak from the frontline. Not that there is no enthusiasm on the
part of the contesting candidates. They are pitching in whatever
they can. And let me remind armchair revolutionaries that
electioneering is pretty tough business which, to make a success
of, requires vigour, energy and cash in equal measure. It is just
that the terms of this election have been so restricted that it is
more BD election (the local elections under Ayub Khan) than
anything else.
No national-level leaders tramp across the country, the politics of
exile having taken care of this. The Sharifs sit in Jeddah,
anxiously scanning the national horizon from afar. Ms Bhutto mulls
over her misfortunes in Dubai. Their lieutenants at home lack the
fire of leadership. So the only fires being lit remain confined to
press statements. In the field local issues predominate. And apart
from party ticket, which still retains its importance, what counts
is the standing and worth of the individual candidate.
The reform managers of the government can congratulate themselves
on the downgrading of politics and its substitution by parochial
issues. Presidential supremacy has already been ensured by
constitutional slaughter. The two leaders who could have spoiled
the government's calculations are far from the scene of action. The
electoral arena thus lies stripped of serious issues.
No one is campaigning against the Musharraf government; the two
major parties concentrating on the task of winning the maximum
number of seats. They seem in no mood, or indeed in no position, to
rile the army's feathers. The Q League is working to the
government's advantage because the harsh criticism that its
leadership is inviting would have been directed in other
circumstances at the military government and its lack-lustre
performance.
The government thus has little to worry about. All it has to ensure
is smooth polling on election day, free from the shenanigans which
turned the April referendum into a farce and a comic hit with the
people. The government can afford a limp turnout. What it cannot
afford is the perception of a rigged election. That would be good
for the opposition parties. They'll have something to talk about.
It'll be disastrous for the government. Apart from anything else,
it will invite comparisons with the state elections in Indian-held
Kashmir.
But if the perception of fairness be the aim, something will have
to be done about the district nazimeen who are making a nuisance of
themselves by their partisan behaviour. With the purse strings of
district funds in their hands, they are in a position to lend
powerful support to their favourite candidates. The Election
Commission's hollow warnings have had not the slightest effect on
them. To this extent this has been a free election, with the
nazimeen free to indulge in what interference they choose.
In any event, the real power over the nazimeen is not the Election
Commission but the provincial governors. By not curbing the
nazimeen the governors are complicit in their behaviour. Nor should
this appear odd. The governors form the vanguard of General
Musharraf's election team and they want the pro-government
candidates (Q Leaguers take heart) to win.
The military hierarchy, however, (and let this be noted) is keeping
itself clean. Unlike the nazim elections last year and the
referendum earlier this year, the corps commanders or the ISI are
not directly meddling in this election campaign. For this they
deserve the nation's thanks.
Pre-poll rigging is another thing. We have seen a fair amount of
this, the government queering the pitch for its own team. About
macro-management from afar I cannot say, obviously not being in the
know. But of micro-interference of the referendum kind there are
few signs - the ISI, the real Election Commission of Pakistan,
keeping its whistles and guns clean. The blatant interference on
offer comes from the governors and their nazim stooges. May the
governors have sleepless nights and may their dreams not come true.
But to turn to other issues: what gives any election a keen edge is
not the language of manifestoes - who reads them, in any case - but
the question of power. An election is about power, its retention or
capture, or it is about nothing. But where the question of power is
already decided, zest disappears from the exercise. If a football
match is not about winning or losing, what is it then about?
Some such conundrum lies hidden in this election. General Musharraf
has been Caesar for the last three years. He is to be all-powerful
president for the next five. The people of Pakistan have had no
choice in the matter. They have simply been told what is in their
best interests. These have been defined as "five more years for
Musharraf" although Musharraf, the eternal optimist, says he needs
not five years but seven to fix the country. When the question of
power thus lies settled, what remains for this election to decide?
The country's permanent finance minister is the IMF. Its commander-
in-chief for the next five or seven or, God willing, ten years will
be Musharraf. So the fools taking part in this election, what are
they running for? No one has tried to answer this question.
Did the 1962 National Assembly elected under Field Marshal Ayub
Khan achieve anything? Did the 1965 assembly under the same cover
achieve anything? Did the political experiment hatched under the
tutelage of General Ziaul Haq give the country anything apart from
more unrest and turbulence? What good will the present experiment
achieve? Unless there is a national meeting of minds, unless the
military understands the basic truth that politics is best left to
the workings of democracy, Pakistan will know neither stability nor
internal peace. And its dreams of economic progress will remain
unfulfilled.
Large sections of the population tolerated, if not welcomed the
military intervention of October '99, thinking that it would be
just that, a short-lived intervention. If even General Musharraf's
most ardent fans had any inkling that the coup they were welcoming
would turn into a long drawn-out affair, they would have withheld
their clapping. What if this affair turns into a nightmare? From
where will the Pakistani nation then begin?
This has been our tragedy, one step forward, several back. Always
back to the beginning, always returning to first principles,
perpetually searching for the Holy Grail of stability. Most
pilgrimages come to an end, at journey's end lying the oasis of
fulfilment. Not so in our case. Our journey is all beginning and no
end - the curse of Sisyphus with a twist added to it.
Is this what a nation of 140 million souls deserves, a nation not
without talent or resources? Must it always remain a testing lab
for different kinds of political experiments? I am sure that the
majority of corps commanders know little of the Government of India
Act 1935. That gave more political liberty to a conquered people
than the present dispensation gives to a free people.
The British did not impose partition on India. They discussed
partition and other options with the representatives of the Indian
people - Congress, Muslim League and other parties. The
independence of India and the birth of Pakistan were the outcome of
a consensus between the British and the major Indian actors. It was
not something decreed by a conference of corps commanders.
Let us not forget another thing. British colonialism was based on
institutions, and strong institutions at that, and the rule of law.
It was not the ad hoc mess we have made of our polity.We have to
break out into the future. Only there lies our salvation. Instead,
we remain trapped in shibboleths. The greatest creator of
shibboleths is the national security state and the myths its weaves
to ensure its supremacy. Nothing in the present election provides
even a glimmer of hope that these shibboleths are about to be
tested, let alone broken.
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20020928
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A house divided
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By Irfan Husain
It is a measure of how badly democratic institutions in Pakistan
have been mauled that barely a fortnight before the general
elections, many people are sceptical that they will be held at all.
The rest of the electorate is convinced that the government will
rig the elections to manufacture a result that suits the military
rulers.
This kind of cynicism is grounded in recent history. Official
interference in virtually every election conducted after 1970 has
led many people to believe that their choice is not accurately
reflected in the final results. Also, we have seen a series of
elected governments toppled at the whim of the establishment which
has shown its contempt for the popular mandate time and again. On
top of this abysmal record has come a crop of constitutional
amendments relating to the elections, apart from making the next
assembly and government subservient to the president.
The presence of the Chief Election Commissioner, the man who
supervised Gen Musharraf's farcical referendum, does not inspire
much confidence in the fairness of the elections. And a final
contribution to the general sense of disillusionment and despair is
the ham-handed way in which this government has pressured many
candidates into changing allegiance.
The unedifying spectacle of government officials from governors to
chief secretaries twisting arms to secure a 'positive result' is a
sign of things to come. For instance, according to impeccable
sources, a popular PPP candidate in Khanewal was threatened with
dire consequences by officials in and out of uniform to withdraw
his nomination papers and re- submit them as an independent
candidate. The poor man was finally forced to go along.
The game-plan that is emerging is to ensure that the PML (Q), also
known as the King's Party, emerges in the National Assembly with
the biggest number of seats, so a coalition can be formed with
smaller parties and independents. It will be simple for President
Musharraf to dictate to this bunch of political orphans. He will
easily get them to accept the prime minister of his choice, apart
from obtaining their endorsement for a five- year extension for
himself as president and their acquiescence for his National
Security Council as well as the scores of ordinances and
constitutional amendments he has issued.
However, if our murky electoral history has showed ample evidence
of official interference, it has also proved that more often than
not, the establishment's attempts at fine-tuning the results do not
always work out. Thus, in 1988 the PPP won a plurality despite the
government's efforts. In the last elections held in 1997, Nawaz
Sharif won a massive majority that allowed him to amend the
Constitution to suit himself, much to the annoyance of the
establishme