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Emergency |
The imposition of emergency announced by President General Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as Army Chief has put to rest the rumors circling around the country for the past few weeks.
President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as Army Chief under article 232 of the constitution announced the imposition of emergency. All civil rights from article 232 till 237 have been suspended.
Prime Minister and Cabinet members would continue to perform their duties while Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies would remain intact.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has been removed from his post as army troops take control of the Supreme Court.
All communication contacts have been cut off mobile and Internet services have been suspended and private TV channels transmission closed down.
The army has taken control of the federal capital and a large number of troops and rangers have been deployed at public places, embassies and other key government installations. More than 1000 troops of frontier constabulary have been summoned to maintain security.
1)Is this act justified at such a crucial time?
2)Will emergency help curbing Extremism and fundamentalism?
3)Is this the end of a free Judiciary?
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Have Your Say
Abusing Attitude...
What we have done to stop this in Pakistan. Women and children are getting abused by the people around and sometimes by own parents, guardians.
When a husband is manuplating and abusing his wife because he believes that there is no one to ask.
Government has taken a very progressive steps but are they got implemented?
Can anyone tell that what can be done to prevent this kind of sufferings to the woman in pakistan.
WAQAR JAHANDAD, United States of America
Pakistan...
Pakistani people should remember the history, that is almost ignored and forgotten.
WAQAR JAHANDAD, United States of America
army intervention - never again
Never Again
On going debate on the article “Never Again” written by Brigadier (Retired) Javed Hussain in “Dawn” on 15 April 2008 followed by a letter to editor written by Major (R) Shamshad Ali Khan published in “Dawn” on April 27, 2008 , Brig ® Javed Hussain once again on tried to defend his point of view in response to the letter written by Prof Khalid . Some how seem to be adoption of sentimental approach by the authors while commenting upon the role of army ( particularly of four Army Chiefs ) since 60 years and asking army to seek apology from the nation . History reveals that army never interfered in the political scenario of the country at her own. Political leaders always invited them to intervene except twice first, handing over the government to next General by Field Marshal Ayub as result of anti government drive of Z.A. Bhutto and other example was toppling over of Nawaz Sharif regime by President Musharraf after his forceful removal from appointment of Chief of Army Staff). Initial 17 to 18 years of Pakistan History are the complete reflection of political instability; anarchy, joining American Block and tilting foreign policy against the will of nation. In early fifty’s Indian Prime Minster Nehru said that changing of his trousers in numbers is much lesser than changing of Pakistani Prime Ministers.
Keeping political differences and controversial points at a side there are some established facts that industrial revolution, strengthening of ideology, construction of dams, development of infrastructures, building of Armed Forces , introducing independent media , handling natural disasters , conducting fair elections and establishing present democratic set up happened to be possible in military regimes. Yes, at the same time I would also like to admit here that Zia’s rule was the one which put the country in that trouble, coming out from which will take another 20 years or so. The nation rejected these elements and made the moderate elements to win just after the incidental death of General Zia in an air crash near Bhawalpur on 17 August 1988. Similar results have also been noticed as result of fair and peaceful election of February 18, 2008. Due credit should be given to those elements who ensured its conduct certain and put the country on right path.
We should not take war as small packet of operations, it’s the wholesome effort displayed by complete nation. Overall remarkable results were achieved by newly born Pakistani Armed Forces over Indian Forces who were greater in numbers and resources. General Musa Khan is the author of his autobiography, Jawan to General and "My Version" spelled out in his books:
“It is pretty much clear to the world that Indians are big losers. Always like losers they invaded Pakistan's Lahore at night without warning which shows there coward ness. Well a small army pushed back a huge Indian army, not only that Indians got heavy damage. Even if India would have brought 10 divisions, I am sure only a single brigade of Pakistan could hold it back. “.
The debacle of India – Pakistan War 1971 was resulted purely due to failure of political process.
Concluding my discussion on the topic, I must say that Pakistan Army is an institution on which nation rightly proud because it always led the nation in crises. Present Army Chief Actions of disengaging army from the politics are being well received by the nation. Pakistan easily defended its land against coward invaders. Indians who knew the reality of 1965 War and Kargil Sector cry of their defeat when they are alone. I request Dawn management to republish my article on the subject to republish my article on the subject which has been published in The Frontier Post on May 4 , 2008 . Brig ( R ) Javed should also ready my article instead restricting himself on a point of no discussion. The title of my article is Army Intervention – Never Again”.
zaheerul hassan, Pakistan
could be a great movie if wasn't shown in reality
All politicians write, produce and direct such movies, few are block buster and few rejected. The poor, blind people following politicians and media instructed by politicians. People in media are promoting among nations and hatered among countries and no one can stop them.
Most of the politicians are like dogs around the world chasing the same greed. They also have done so many things, they won't be able to cure later.
WAQAR, United States of America
Zain, Pakistan, wrote
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"I feel sympathy for all my fellow Pakistanis who feel that mush. is the most ideal person to run our country affairs. Perception of this individual is ignorance to reality."
"If Pakistan has to run by a corrupt ruler like Sharif than so be it, at least he bows against one who created him and not against the one whom he fears in this world."
My God, what are you saying - you feels a person can be corrupt as long as he bows his head to the Creator Allah SWT. I ask you whoes perception is far from reality.
A person who is corrupt like Nawaz may physically be bowing his head but his heart is arrogantly refusing to bow in front of the Creator. Please read the Holy Quran and you will understand this concept.
A person who bows his head in front of the Creator in ernest can not put his own interest in front of the interest of the people he leads.
Yaqub Ehsan, Pakistan
Ghosht kay pary main billi
There is no justufication of emergency in Pakistan. Musharaf just made some plan to crush those people who are against him and against his bad plan. He wants to save himself from those people who are against him. He has sacrificed so many innocent people to save himself he has damaged the identity of army. This strongest department of the country is badly damaged by the Musaharaf bad policies. In the history he keep in mind of the people a bad and selfish ruler of this country. He will demage the Idintity of the country. He has been defeated on the plate form of the people but by force is using the Paki army in his favour. A time will come army will not help him and his coundition would be bad and he has no way to walk away . This is his fate Allah will ask him in the grave.
Hammad Ahmed Shah, Spain
Power Corrupts IV
I feel sympathy for all my fellow Pakistanis who feel that mush. is the most ideal person to run our country affairs. Perception of this individual is ignorance to reality. What went wrong in Kargil which was apparently the only core issue that triggered the fall of Sharif empire. Was it his billions or industrial empire or millions more out of freezing foreign currency accounts and made the wealthiest among us to shed a few penny's, absolute nonsense. Would we not be getting the same bread and loaf had Sharif still ruled the country. Open your eyes people, last 8 years of dictatorship just added to our miseries nothing else. The spoiled child of our family whom everyone fears must be disciplined, before he spoils his siblings and made them follow his footsteps. Mush. self-proclaimed authority is abuse of our rights as Pakistani citizens. Ohh yes, we are corrupt, dirty, illiterate and aggressive, but so was every nation who claim now be the most civilized nations of the world. One man can shove up emergency to whole nation and silence its media from uttering the real truth. The ruler of any country should be the one who can mingle with the crowd with a fearless approach, talks to them and understand there needs rather to barricade the whole nation for his survival. Freedom of speech is the root to success for every nation as it uncovers the veils of insanity. We are fighting a lost war against souls whom no one bothers to listen and understand. This struggle is not about "Saab Say Phelay Pakistan" its about a child who grew up learning "Might is always Right". If Pakistan has to run by a corrupt ruler like Sharif than so be it, at least he bows against one who created him and not against the one whom he fears in this world.
Zain, Pakistan
Pakistan quiz
What is common between SWAT and Pakistan (other than that they are both ruled by autocratic regimes)?
Mohammad Ilyas, Pakistan
"So all of you who are clamoring to get rid Musharraf, what is your plan after him, what is it that you hope to achieve? Where do you want to take us from here? The only answer I am sure of here is that the Taliban sympathizers know what they want and where they want to go. The rest just want a change of scenery never realizing that they may see this new scenery as they are falling down the waterfall!
Yaqub Ehsan, Pakistan "
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Jinnah answered those questions 60 years ago. And I'm sure someone will ask them again 60 years from now. After all this is Pakistan, a land of pure. Cheers!
Saif, Pakistan
Musharraf is the only sane guy in this nation of 160 million insane persons. Long live Musharraf!!!
jalaudeen rumi, Pakistan
Why not a Pakistani TADA law
Pakistan and TADA? With martial law in place, who needs TADA?
Yakub Husain, Pakistan
Pakistani's are idealist even if it destroys them
The opinions expressed here really are a microcosm of what is going on in the country. The fundamental problem in Pakistan is that when it comes to our own day to day lives we have no qualms in using whatever means we need to use to achieve what we want or need. Yet when it comes to our leaders we want them to be saints who use absolutely the most pure of behaviors to rule and guide us. Nothing in our personal lives is ideal behavior, it is far from it. But the leaders have to be ideal.
OK , so lets say the leader has to be ideal., but which ideal? The Taliban sympathizers here want him to be Mullah Omar or Osama bin Laden. The so called intellectuals want him to be a perfect democrat, a very liberal democrat. The businessmen want him to be perfect for business, and on and on.
In a country where no one is perfect we want the leader to be perfect. Well the leader is nothing but a reflection of who we are. Go look in the mirror, does the person in the mirror resemble Bhutto, Musharraf, Sharif, Altaf, Fazalur Rehman, a Qazi Ahmed more? Or does the person in the mirror resemble the Prophet Mohammad or Bibi Khadeeja more?
In a country where we can pay bribes, drive on the wrong side of the street, push and shove each other as we walk on the street, spit or throw our litter anywhere and everywhere, can tell a lie without hesitation, in short where we are willing to break small and large rules of law and decency, we want the leader to be perfect. He or she is to walk a straight line where there are no straight lines to be walked.
All of us will instantly justify ourselves by saying that we can only get what we need by some crooked path, but this seems to be a privilege that should only be reserved to us, no one else, especially the leader.
So what is it that we do when our leaders turn out to be less than ideal? Without thinking what is good for us, what is good for our country, who is the best amongst the choices available to us, we throw out whoever is in power. It never enters our minds that we are about to replace him or her with someone worse, proven worse. It never occurs to us that we are about to destabilize the very ground that we walk on, and for what?
Can anyone tell me that we were better off or will be better off under Bhutto, Sharif, Altaf, Fazalur Rehman, etc. Can you not remember Pakistan 8 years ago, 15, 20, 30, or 50 years ago? Go back and read what the same writers were writing in the press right after the last coup. Do you not remember how much money was in our national treasury when the day Musharaf took over? How was the supreme court treated before him? How were the relations with India? What was our GDP growth rate before him? What construction projects were going on before him? How late could you stay out safely before him? How often did you hear Kalishnakov go off in major cities before him? How much money foreign investors were putting into Pakistan before him? How much freedom the media had before him? How many people were diasappearing at the hands of the government agencies or criminal before him?
Are we stupid enough to accuse Musharaff of taking these extreme steps in his and only his interest yet be naïve enough to think that Bhutto and Sharif are here to only save our country with the purest of intentions, and they have absolutely no self interest? That these people are “ideal” leaders? Who, I ask who, is looking out for the interest of Pakistan, Fazalur Rehman, Altaf Husain, chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry? How about you?
So all of you who are clamoring to get rid Musharraf, what is your plan after him, what is it that you hope to achieve? Where do you want to take us from here? The only answer I am sure of here is that the Taliban sympathizers know what they want and where they want to go. The rest just want a change of scenery never realizing that they may see this new scenery as they are falling down the waterfall!
Yaqub Ehsan, Pakistan
Ungrateful People
Hey Pakistani People, you are going against a President who ruled your country nicely for last 8 years. President Pervez Musharraf brought economic development in Pakistan. He is trying to make Pakistan an industrialist country instead of only depending on Textile exports. Remember how badly Nawaz Sharif ruled in the late 1990s. Remember how Benazir Bhutto & her husband looted your country. Remember how Nawaz Sharif family looted Pakistan. On the contrary, Pervez Musharraf did not steal a single Rupee. He brought Shaukat Aziz from America to lead Pakistan into economic progress. Pervez Musharraf even gave a lot of money for education development. Under his support, Pakistan is able to export software in overseas market successfully. In his term, there was a lot of progress in terms of Infrastructures all over the Pakistan. Nice highways, bridges, dams & so many other things were built. He is a visionary leader. Pakistan’s unruly media, corrupt politician & over ambitious judges and badmash lawyers are bringing down this great leader who wanted to transform Pakistan to an economically & militarily strong country in the South Asia. Remember what shameless Imran Khan said after Musharraf’s plane was hijacked back in 1999 by Nawaz Sharif. He said Nawaz should be hanged because Imran Khan’s relative was in that plane who might have died if the plane was not landed swiftly. Now he is with Nawaz Sharif to get rid of Musharraf, as Imran Khan was not chosen by Musharraf to run the country. Do you guys remember what Benazir Bhutto said after Musharraf led the coup in 1999? I remember, she said Musharraf was patriot and that is why he led the coup to save Pakistan. Now that shameless lady is trying to get rid off Musharraf to sell her country and to loot the common Pakistanis again. Remember about Jamate Islami during Nawaz Sharif’s last tenure, they wanted to get rid off this Nawaz who was looting the country at that time. Now this stupid Jamate Islami is sitting with Nawaz to destroy Pakistan. Oh, you pity Pakistanis you hate Musharraf because he is a Muhajir. Allah will give you guys proper punishment for that. Hey you Pakistani media people learn from Bangladesh. In our country when media try to create agitation they get severly punished for that. Because we cannot sacrifice law and order in the name of press freedom. There is a limit of press freedom which is practiced by Bangladeshi media. Indian media never try to make this kind of chaos & anarchy in their country like the Pakistani media try. Some months ago, one private TV station in Bangladesh was banned because it was trying to make agitation in the country. Pakistan should act like that. Bangladeshi newspapers are careful, they do not publish news in a way that there will be fighting, burning in the country. On the other hand, Pakistani newspaper publish news in a way that people start to think there is a big chaos even though nothing too bad happened in reality. They just want to agitate people. If you Ungrateful Pakistanis remove Musharraf from power, I hope Allah punish you guys very badly. And I am sure as Musharraf steps down, Benazir & Nawaz will fight each other to rule the country again and as a result there will be complete chaos in Pakistan and at that time USA & India will enter Pakistan to destroy the nuclear arms of Pakistan. That is why now International media is giving too much bad coverage about Pakistan so Pakistan’s nuclear destruction by USA & India can be justified. As a result, you Pakistanis will burn eternally with nuclear destruction which you guys deserve.
Hasan, Bangladesh
You deserve it
In political science they say'people get the sort of government they deserve and not what they desire'.Pakistanis are too unruly to be ruled by decent type of government. Anyhow, now that the emergency is likely to be withdrawn the question of further debate in the matter does not arise.
Al-Haque, India
America Under Zionist Terrorist leaders..
A neoconservative cabal with an alien agenda captured the Bush administration and committed American blood, energy, and money to aggression against Muslim countries in the Middle East, while permitting America's domestic borders to be overrun by immigrants and exporting the jobs that had made the US an opportunity society. War and offshoring have taken a savage economic toll while open borders and diversity have created social and political division.America's demise in terms of the erosion of freedoms. She writes that the ten classic steps that are used to close open societies are currently being taken in the US. Martial law is only a declaration away.
The Bush administration responded to September 11 by initiating military aggression in the Middle East and by using fear and the "war on terror" to implement police state measures at home with legislation, presidential directives, and executive orders
Overnight the US became a tyranny in which people could be arrested and incarcerated on the basis of unsubstantiated accusation. Both US citizens and non-citizens were denied habeas corpus, due process, and access to attorneys and courts. Congress gave Bush legislation establishing military tribunals, the procedures of which permit people to be condemned to death on the basis of secret evidence, hearsay, and confessions extracted by torture. Nothing of the like has ever been seen before in the US.
The cancer might have metastasized if the Guantanamo detainees had actually been the dangerous terrorists and enemy combatants that the Bush regime declared them to be. Had the administration actually possessed evidence against the detainees, the Bush regime might have succeeded in dispensing with the Constitution. Conviction of the detainees could have led to what Wolf calls a "fascist expansion." Following the exercise of its new powers, the regime could have broadened the definition of terrorist to include the regime's critics, thus pulling citizens in general into tribunals devoid of civil liberty protections.
It could still turn out this way in the event of another 9/11 attack, whether real or orchestrated. But momentarily the drive toward tyranny has been blunted, because the vast majority of detainees turned out to be hapless individuals sold into American captivity by warlords responding to the bounty the US paid for "terrorists." Any unprotected individual was vulnerable to being captured by Afghan and Pakistani warlords and sold as a "terrorist." The Americans needed to show results, and the Bush regime needed "terrorists" in order to feed the fear its propaganda had generated.
In Stalinist Russia or Nazi Germany, the absence of evidence would not have mattered as the judicial system produced the results demanded by the tyrants. However, the US military had not been sufficiently corrupted for the Bush regime's Guantanamo agenda to succeed. Honorable officers, such as Lt. Col. Stephen Abraham, were able to discern that the US government had no information on the detainees and used interrogations in order to rubber stamp the a priori determination that a detainee was a terrorist or enemy combatant. Military officers made these revelations known to real courts before the tribunal process could establish itself..
The Bush administration has been a catastrophe. Its failures are unprecedented. Energy prices are at all time highs. The US is deeply in debt and dependent on foreign creditors. The dollar has lost 60 per cent of its value against other tradable currencies, and its reserve currency status, the basis of American power, is in doubt. The US has lost millions of middle class jobs which have been replaced with low paid domestic service jobs. Except for the very rich, Americans have experienced no gains in real income in the 21st century. As the ladders of upward mobility are dismantled and the middle class struggles and fails, America is left with a few rich and many poor. America's reputation and credibility are damaged perhaps beyond repair. Congress and the press have enabled the executive branch's disregard of the Constitution and civil liberty. The US is mired in two lost wars which are pushing Lebanon and nuclear-armed Pakistan into deepening political crises.
"Our day of reckoning is at hand."
shams tabrazi, Pakistan
its the bad luck of Pakistani nation that they are going to loose of a person like Musharraf. He is such a superb person with great wisdom and understanding.
But as always, We will kick him out and will bring back the same monsters eating us generation to generation.
Mohammad Yousaf, Pakistan
Swat Crisis
Pakistan needs to focus on the swat crisis at the moment!!! IT'S GETTING OUT OF HAND!
My family live in that area and it is really hard not knowing what is going on. What we do know though, is that many gunships are bombing homes of innocent people. They have even bombed my family's house because of these warizitsan people residing all over the area!!
Pakistan need to act now. Pakistan have the money from America to fund their military, so why is it taking so long to secure the swat area??!!
Also, that taliban fazullah is in hiding, so why the hell are innocent people fighting his battle? I don't understand their matrydom...
Iram Khan, United Kingdom
musharraf is a Terrorist
musharraf is a thief, terrorist, fraud,criminal. he just think of himself.
he never think about the people of PAKISTAN. plz plz plz musharraf u can go from our country.
musharraf plz stop everything.you are making fun of ISLAM
Your Well Wisher, Pakistan
musaraf plz stop now
plz u can go now....bcoz of u our pakistan is in trouble
Shaggz, Pakistan
EMERGENCY RULE LASTS !
Well it seems that emergency is meant for pro musharraf but these are the steps you can say must take by a ruler to counter the safety of basic unit of countyr that is federation. when you say that it should be not taken then or taken late then you said that by historain that rulers are careless! well everything is fine but it sole responsibility of current ruler. i am not full fan of the goverment but a citizen i am said things are necessary but whatever means you can extract.
ADEEL, Pakistan
musharaf stands
he is good ruler,and he have not been making progress for the development of educational institutions,journey parks in lahore,and protection of the peoples
imran, Pakistan
Power Corrupts-III
So now Uncle Sam wants his $10 Billion/year aid to have some accountability!! Great news, but he should bring his own software to do all accounts as ours has a big virus issue and numbers won’t reconcile in the end as the big SLUSH fund account is locked. It was strange for our General to say “The nukes are safe if I am around” well, General, Why don’t you pack all of your nukes in your briefcase and move to Uncle Sam’s home, Pakistanis need peace & prosperity, if that all comes for a price of One General, few nukes and few corrupt politicians!! So be it!! Freedom is won with brains and balls and we have enough of them!!
Zain, Pakistan
Power Corrupts-II
Uncle Sam suddenly worried about where his $10Billion aid is going apart from benefiting few individuals’ bank accounts and future fixed assets. Scary!! Our poor soldiers are not getting proper equipment to fight the war against terror. Our soldiers who are out there to sacrifice their lives for the sake of one good human are not eligible to get bomb jammers when their trucks are blasted by road side bombs. Ohh I know why!! It’s because we bought the equipment only to save our Generals. As for our poor soldiers, well we have so many….Who cares!!
Zain, Pakistan
Imran Khan
I Imran Khan is Ok, I am so worried about him.
Allah will never for give any one who harms him.
Alisia Drew, Australia
THE PRINCESS OF FRAUD.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the crooked Princess Ferragamo--Benazir Bhutto—has returned to Pakistan. Bhutto’s been traipsing all over Washington trying to garner support from think-tank heavies and establishment powerbrokers to help her stage a political come-back in Islamabad. She even hired a high-powered public relations firm to polish her image so the media wouldn’t focus too much attention on her past transgressions. Allegations of money laundering and corruption have haunted Bhutto ever since she was driven from office in 1996. Last month, General Musharraf cut a deal with Bhutto which freed her from the prospect of criminal prosecution and allowed her to return home. The arrangement ignored the judicial system entirely. The $1.5 billion that she and her husband allegedly “received in a variety of criminal enterprises” has simply disappeared down the memory hole.But, then, anyone can make a mistake and Bhutto has since offered her sincere regrets and promised to rid Pakistan of the ‘scourge of terrorism’. This must be music to the ears of her new patrons in Washington.
It’s astonishing how quickly one can "see the light" when their career depends on changing their point-of-view.
US historian, Arthur Herman, in a letter published in the Wall Street Journal, described Bhutto as “One of the most incompetent leaders in the history of South Asia;” adding that she and other Pakistani elites hated Musarraf because he is “muhajir”, born of Indian Muslims. Herman claims, “Although it was muhajirs who agitated for the creation of Pakistan in the first place, many native Pakistanis view them with contempt and treat them as third-class citizens.”
Herman makes an interesting point. Perhaps, Bhutto saw the footage of Hurricane Katrina--where the mostly poor, black Americans were herded cattle-like into the Superdome at gunpoint---and realized she could find common-ground with the Washington political class. After all, she matriculated at Harvard and Oxford, so we can expect that her views are not that different from other "bluebloods" who regularly defend discrimination, waterboarding, endless war and other shocking abuses on the op-ed pages of Americans leading newspapers. In any event, she was certainly persuasive when she addressed members of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) on Aug 15, 2007. She seemed to fit right in with the gathering of corporate chieftains, media bigwigs and other assorted political elites. There was plenty of back-slapping and jocularity as CFR President Richard Haass introduced his distinguished guest, Bhutto, to the assembled throng:
“It's hard to imagine someone better placed to speak about the current situation in Pakistan than Benazir Bhutto. She was born into one of Pakistan's leading political families. She was educated at both Harvard and Oxford. And -- full confession -- let me say that she and I met some -- at the risk of being less than gallant -- 30 years ago or so at Oxford. We would have met even earlier than that, at Harvard, except she got accepted and I did not. (Laughter.) And of such things history is made. (Laughter.) I'm almost over it, by the way. (Laughter.)” Ha, ha, ha. Allow me to extract this silver spoon from my mouth long enough to assure you that Madame Bhutto has an acceptable pedigree to oversee our colony in Pakistan and will execute our military plans to expand the war into the tribal areas of Waziristan spreading suffering and death to another corner of the world which hasn’t yet been thoroughly obliterated by our ambition for global domination. Ha, ha ha.
Bhutto was asked directly about the so-called Miranshah agreement which Musharraf worked out so that he could withdrawal Pakistani troops from North Waziristan where his army was sustaining heavy losses. Musharraf had only won minor concessions from the tribal leaders who were supposed to limit their support for the Taliban. The treaty was a complete hoax designed to extricate Musharraf from an "unwinnable" war that was universally unpopular with Pakistanis. Unfortunately, the treaty turned out to be Musharraf’s death sentence. When it became clear to Bush and his neocon colleagues that Musharraf would not carry out their war agenda; they began to sharpen their daggers and plan for his removal. That is why Bhutto was exhumed from her Dubai mausoleum long enough to play a part in this latest Bush comic operetta. This has nothing to do with “democracy promotion”. It’s just another grim chapter in the “color-coded revolution” digest. The whole performance is being staged courtesy of the US intelligence agencies and the compliant establishment media. Bush doesn’t care about democracy any more than Bhutto. What he’s looking for is someone who’ll take on the Taliban in Waziristan. That's it. And that's why Musarraf's day's are numbered.
PART ONE.
jalaudeen rumi, Pakistan
freedumb in pakistan??
WHEN the nation is about to be declared a failed state,” asks embattled Pervez Musharraf, “tell me whether…so-called democracy is important or efforts to save the country?” After saving the country for the last eight years he obviously wants to do it all over again.
If memory serves, the primary excuse for his first coup in Oct 1999 was the same chestnut: that Pakistan was about to be declared a failed state. As self-indictments go this is quite a devastating one. But in his present saviour-mode Musharraf can’t be expected to have much time for such fine distinctions.
“Have you thought of (resigning)?” asks Sky News. The answer: “But should it be given up now and we will have better Pakistan, a stabler Pakistan and we could have very good elections, without me? Very good, maybe I take that decision, OK?” (No kidding, the very words.)
As the BBC Urdu Service’s Mohammad Hanif observes (in his hilarious “The case of Musharraf and the drunk uncle”), “Musharraf deserves our sympathy. Not because he has been forced to carry out a coup against his own regime, not because his troops are being kidnapped en masse by Pakistani Taliban and then awarded Rs500 for good behaviour, not because he himself has become a prisoner in his Army House and can’t even nip out for coffee and paan as he used to, but because he has utterly lost his grip over grammar.”
Musharraf may have done the nation a final service by lifting the last veil of illusion from Benazir Bhutto who now says, after a somewhat longish journey into the kingdom of make-believe, she will have no truck with him and their ways have parted. Better late than never. There is no shortage of Pakistanis fervently hoping she sticks to this position, considering her to be the key to opposition unity at this juncture.
The luckiest thing to have ever happened to Musharraf was not American aid post-Sep 11 but the dithering, weak-kneed opposition he has enjoyed, his dictatorship made easy first by Nawaz Sharif’s un-seasonal pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Dec 2000, then by the support of the religious parties at the time of the 17th Amendment (sanctifying his rule) in 2003 and, last of all, the purported deal with Benazir Bhutto under American sponsorship. Hopefully this is now over. Anyone could have told Musharraf it was not in his interest to burn his bridges with Bhutto. But when paranoia takes over, as it has nowadays in the corridors of power, subtlety is an early casualty. Credit must also be given to Bhutto for finally being able to read which way the wind is blowing. Siding with Musharraf now would be worse than political suicide.
Even our American godfathers are getting frustrated with him because he is getting nothing right. Indeed, after Mar 9 almost everything he has done has turned into a blunder, the action of Nov 3 of course qualifying for a higher title: catastrophe.
Against the Taliban Musharraf has won no victories. In fact under his watch it is the Taliban who have conquered territory and inflicted heavy losses on the army. His victories have been against the last outposts of liberal thought in Pakistan: the superior judiciary, the legal community, the media, political activists and students (from upscale schools and colleges). But he professes to uphold the banner of progress and enlightenment. There is a mangling of language we are witnessing in Pakistan today with words being used in a manner Goebbels would have approved of.
But wailing alone availeth nothing. Dictators don’t give up power easily. They go not when their time is up, they being notoriously insensible to the march of time, but when the issue is forced. When anger boils over and becomes an unstoppable political movement.
Musharraf will do all he can to remain in power. Of this we can be sure. What will the forces claiming to speak on the people’s behalf do? That is the important question.This brings me to Imran Khan’s manhandling at the Punjab University, Lahore, by activists of the Islami Jamiat-i-Tulaba, the student wing of the Jamaat-i-Islami. Not only was he prevented from holding a demonstration and courting arrest, as he had intended, but he was seized and confined in one of the departments before being handed over to the police. Words fail me to describe this shameful incident.
But Imran has not been diminished by it. He continues to stand tall. He is a brave man who has showed great courage during the post-martial law period. It is the Jamiat and its parent body, the Jamaat, which look small. Manhandling one of the few national heroes we have and then handing him over to the police: can anything be more despicable?laannath onMQM.
PS...Dear Ghulam Farid, If you don't have enough wisdom than don't pull up stupid conspiracy theories..YOU ARE A MORON..what is your name? ask me a question and i will educate your lame brain..
gulam fareed , Pakistan
Response to Benaam and Gumnaam
Weak or Zero faith Musharraff took on America and Bush as his deity other than Allah SWT and like in any other cases , is subsequently paying the inevitable humilating consequential consequences designated for those who abandon Allah SWT.
Musharraff always had Bush and America not Allah SWT or Muslim Ummah's interest in his mind while planning his actions and even his speeches and hence his current status of "Dhobi Ka Kuttha" - Na ghar ka , Na ghat ka and his miserable plight will get worse and worse in the coming days and only for this day , with all his amazing wisdom , Allah SWT continously protected him from all the well planned assasination attempts so as to teach him a lesson no human vision can foresee, Subhan'Allah . They plan and Allah Plans and the best of plans and the timing of those deadly plans are the plans planned by Allah SWT. Allah O Akbar.
O Allah, We 100% submit and surrender ourself to thee, to your Akbarpan , to your flawless judgement and to the sense your perfect timing . O Allah , We 100% submit and surrender ourself to the power and might of your astonishing Wisdom. O Allah, We pray and pray and pray to guide us all on to the path of those on whom you rained your blessings and O Allah, We pray and pray to Keep us away from the path of those on whom rained your anger and humilations. A'amin Ya Rab A'amin.
Ahsan Malik, Pakistan
Dear Ghulam Farid, If you don't have enough wisdom than don't pull up stupid conspiracy theories.
US is not attacking Iran for the simple reason that Iran will mine the whole gulf, which will disrupt the whole world's economy, incl. US.
I hope now you are able to see now the most obvious reason.
, Pakistan
Ahsan Malik's Allah
Said Ahsan Malik :"Musharaf has been abandoned by Allah
Musharaf has been abandoned by Benazir".Benazir is just one candidate (under house arrest).
Pervez Musharaf worship deity
who is deity ?
, Pakistan
Decomposing Musharraff
Miserable plight and humilating end belong to those who take on deitis other than Allah SWT , both in this world and in the inevitable hereafter.
When you abandon Allah, Allah abandons you and when Allah abandons you , you are no better than the proverbial Doggy " Na Ghar Ka , Na Ghatka . Poor and Miskin Musharraff is now not acceptable even with or without uniform to Benazir. Where does he go from here ??
They plot and Allah plots and the best of the plots are the plots plotted by Allah SWT. Allah O Akbar !!!
Ahsan Malik, Pakistan
Yes
Yes, Gen. Musharraf's imposition of Emergency is fully justified. If eachpillar of State would like to turn itself into a separate state within the state,this was the only option to save Pakistan.
Yes Emergency will be able to curb fundamentalism and extremism,as is proved by experiences in some oter countries.
Free Judisiary does not mean, two Presidents in one country, as Ifikhar wanted to do.
Mohammed Ibrahim, Canada
PAKISTAN..LAND OF THE PURE..
More than any other community in the world, Muslims believe in religion based unity and brotherhood. This belief is based on the assumption that “brothers should come to the aid of brothers in the time of (brother’s) need.” Based on this version terms like “The Muslim World” and its interests and the “Assault on the Muslim world and Pakistan by the non Muslim World and media"These comments by Mr Rao reflect his true feelings toward muslims period.the mass murderers of japanese were white christians who droped nukes on nagasaki and hiroshima.hindus who kill kashmiris in occupied kasmir are are decent humans??your fascination with pakistani politics is amazing.. THIS WRITER IS NOT A HINDU OR A SIKH OR A CHRISTIAN..OR A JEWISH FANATIC OR A CHRISTIAN FANATIC OF ABU GHARIB...THANK GOD..
gulam fareed, Pakistan
the brew of fraud.
Plans by President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to attack Iran have been at least temporarily derailed by the mounting crisis in Pakistan. Not only is this important South Asia nation a key US ally in its conflict with anti-western Muslim groups (aka "the war of terror"), the US also planned to use three Pakistani air bases it now controls to launch air attacks against Iran.
I’ve been in regular contact with former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. She calls the situation "grim." On Friday, she was temporarily put under house arrest, preventing her from leading a mass demonstration in Islamabad. On Tuesday, she plans to lead a mass protest march from Lahore, to which she flew over the weekend, to Islamabad, mobilizing her party faithful and challenging the Musharraf regime.
Another important Pakistani party, Jamiat Islami, is also threatening mass demonstrations. Bhutto and other opposition leaders are calling on Musharraf to resign as military chief and run in fair, internationally supervised elections.
Musharraf’s imposition of martial law, arrest of Supreme Court justices who were going to rule illegal his continued role as commander-in-chief and president, arrest of other opposition figures and muzzling the formerly feisty media have proven most embarrassing to the Bush Administration which claims to be an apostle of democracy. Bush, who claims to have invaded Afghanistan and Iraq in order to bring them the light of democracy, must continue supporting Pakistan’s military dictator or see his war in Afghanistan collapse.
So, under heavy pressure from Washington, Musharraf agreed to hold elections on 15 January and release some jailed opponents. Washington hailed Musharraf. In reality, however, it was another cynical ploy. Every election Musharraf has held since seizing power in 1999 has been rigged. Does anyone really believe there will be fair elections in Pakistan under martial law or with the media gagged?
Musharraf, who commands less than 8% popular support, and is widely hated as an American stooge, knows he would lose any honest election. What he plans are the same kind of farcical "democratic elections" held by the US-backed military dictatorships of Egypt and Algeria.
Many senior officers fear their continued support of Musharraf is turning the public against the armed forces and injuring its good name.
Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani, the newly named vice chief of staff, could be Pakistan’s next strongman. If Musharraf is overthrown, killed or driven from office, Washington has chosen Gen. Kiyani as its Plan B, either with or without Benazir Bhutto. Kiyani has close links to the US and received part of his military training there.
The Swat Valley, which is well inside Pakistan, fell to Islamists two weeks ago.
This could mark the beginning of a rebellion in the ranks. The loyalty of the army’s senior officers has been rented by billions of dollars of secret aid the CIA has funneled through Musharraf. Those who could not be bought were ousted, including Pakistan’s most capable military men.
Official post-9/11 US aid to Pakistan is $10.6 billion, but "black" payments are many times higher. Some reports put them at $1 billion monthly. These mammoth payoffs have not trickled down to the mid and lower ranks. They have vanished into the pockets of the military brass and senior officials. Pakistan’s armed forces are still woefully deficient in modern arms.
Gen. Hamid Gul, former director general of Pakistan’s intelligence service, ISI, has also been arrested. He kept accusing Musharraf of selling out Pakistan’s national interests in return for cash and US support for his dictatorship – and of dishonoring the military. Gen. Gul still has many friends in the army and ISI. He shouted what many officers whisper.
In lauding Musharraf, President Bush made no mention of the dictator’s disgraceful firing of Supreme Court justices who were about to declare Mush’s ongoing rule violated the constitution. Nor has Bush or the US Congress issued any demands that the exiled former PM Nawaz Sharif, leader of Pakistan’s other major political party, the Muslim League, be allowed to return to contest elections.
So much for supporting democracy. In the name of fighting extremism, Musharraf has jailed or intimidated nearly all of Pakistan’s political moderates.
In Washington’s wrongheaded view, it’s either Mush or the mullahs. Or if Musharraf falters, then it’s Bhutto or Gen. Kiyani.
Many of her friends and supporters are appalled she would make a shady, backroom deal with the military dictator. Gen. Kiyani remains an unknown.
Anyone who still wonders why so many people in the Muslim World hate the west needs look no further than Pakistan, where, in the name of "democracy" and "counter-terrorism" Washington and London are stirring a witches' brew of dictatorship, intrigue and violence.
gulam fareed , Pakistan
Why not a Pakistani TADA law
I think Pakistan should pass a law in assemblies which allows police to arrest any citizen under the suspicion of treason; this will help to bring peace. There are already, such few laws in place in neighboring India since 1997, but of course such laws should not be misused to target people from minority religious groups as it happens in India.
Salim, India
Power Corrupts
You know as a Army man Mush may not be financially corrupt but morally he has proven his ailing ambitions to the people of Pakistan. Why Pakistanis don't wanna react to anything, well, they already have learnt to survive the worst as for them all five senses are dead. Thanks to the great general and his alikes in Politics or in Military who earned the reputation for Pakistan as the most undesirable and dangerous place on Earth. I feel sympathy for all these individuals who think they are immortal and there wealth and power will rest in peace with them.
Zain, Pakistan
Causing "Emergency"
Emergency Everywhere is Co-related Musharaf Bhutto Nawaz (inclusive).
Half a Trillion dollar in Mortgage collapsed .The investments to acquire
Iran oil Afghanistan Iraq (permanently) will never happen. Iraq Invasion
using Pension fund and other investment losts hundred of billion dollars.When Democracy has Hire hired Economist in India or Banker in Pakistan or if they
Are Building luxury Condominiums and business plaza or Mfg
Cars and 650 or 900 seats 8 storey high Jumbo jet airlines in operation
they are in trouble trying to make money using free Iraq oil Iran oil OPEC oil
Killing live people and creating Emergencies. Asma Jehangir Benazir
Bhutto Musharaf Nawaz G Brown GWBush Sarcozy Merkel want ideal result
Which will never be available. Common Wealth declared “10 days to lift emergency
or we come and Rule Pakistan using Pakistanis ransacking creating death
destruction and self annihilation and Emergencies.”Nawaz had fired
Musharaf while PMusharaf had deposed NSharif .Choudhury Iftikhar
CJustice was fired rehired and then Deposed who claimed No body born yet to take away my permanent employment of Chief Justice overriding Rule of Govt
of Pakistan Basic Constitution(including that of Pervez Musharaf).Asma Jehangir talks anti State Act while breaking basics of Violation to be arrested.Govt Act is act with or without precise Clause.All Bankers and mortgage stealing Inestment stealing is not quite same with declaration that Ambani Mittel Hinduja Bachans Birla making daily stock
gains in London Tokyo Paris and Newyork.If you think Bush Brown Harper have valid democracy valid judges valid equality Patriotic Act following themselves Terrorism Act following themselves You are wrong . Imagine if they are themselves doing what real Mass killer Serial Killers or Psychopath killers do by indirectly doing themselves.Do you think they are obeying the law of Mortgage law Business Law or Banking Law world Trade Tariff Law then you are wrong. The lay out of their Common wealth layout of Real British Common Wealth UN Rule or European Union Accounts disbursement rule is not what you think should be. They are all honestly dishonest unwillingly terrorist breaking security of others and their own. Emergency is Outcome which cannot be resolved by dictates.Emergency Monster of
oil Spill of SEA or their Jet
airlines or Biblical Monster anti christ inclusive.
zmb, India
PAKISTAN IN ITS HOUR OF NEED
The declaration/imposition of emergency as other events in the history of the nation of Pakistan has produced some predictable and many unpredictable responses from Pakistanis in these columns.
Some are extremely analytical, while other have responded in anger, frustration, philosophical handwringing, bemoan the state of affairs and also blame external forces for the nation’s predicament.
Some have used beautiful and meaningful arguments and quality expressions while others have resorted to outbursts bordering on vulgarity and despair.
The truth is that Pakistan’s problems are of purely Pakistani origin. No one can say that none from the outside has the authority to comment on Pakistan’s internal affairs while craving for world attention at the same time.
Some have felt that all comments undermine the great religion of Islam.
While not being able to vouch for others, this writer is neither interested in propping up one religion over the other. There is no dearth of high minded sayings in any religion but those who practice them (the religions) rarely measure up to the expectations.
It is only very naïve people who believe that Pakistan’s problems are fleeting. New rulers will repeat the sins of their past masters and the country will sink into the same pattern of instability as before.
Imposed changes are temporary. Real changes come from the root.
P.S: This writer is not a Hindu or any other religious covert or overt fanatic. He views all religions with equal amusement for the antics of the respective followers.
A. V. RAO, United States of America
Bhutto gave Musharraf a rope, and he hung himself with it. The radicals will assassinate Bhutto, and then what?
Christa Cohen, United States of America
Oh! The Hipocracy of it All
- So let me get this right, we should throw Musharraf out because he is too cozy with the west, and then bring in someone who the west has forced Musharraf to cut a deal with. The one who is promising Bush that she will hand over Abdul Qadeer Khan to him and allow the US military to come into Pakistan to chase whoever they want to. Somehow I am having trouble understanding that one.
- Or maybe I misunderstood, we should throw him out because of corruption and then bring in someone who twice has proven her own corruption, the lady who has corruption cases pending throughout the world. Oh! I remember you told me these charges are politically motivated. Hmm, remind me again what political motives either Switzerland or Spain have against the former prime minister of Pakistan. Oh! I see, you don’t want her, you wanted the guy whose treasury was empty when he was kicked out, yeah, and the army guy was really confused about how he was going to pay the government workers their next paycheck.
- Oh! I think I got it, we should throw him out because he can not maintain law and order. So explain to me one more time why was it that I was scared to go out after dark in Karachi before this army guy came in and Karachi streets used to be deserted after 10 PM, and you could routinely here machine gun fire in Karachi.
- Oops! I remember, we should throw him out because he is against the judiciary, wasn't there something about the democracy champion, you know the guy who says if you want democracy pick me, and if you want dictatorship keep the dude in the army fatigues, wasn't there a story about him. You know the one about when he was prime minister he had sent his goons to chase the chief justice of Pakistan inside the supreme court building, what was his name, something like Sajjad Ali Shah. You remember this story it keeps going around in newspapers and TV talk shows. Was it the democracy champion guy or the democracy champion girl who sent those goons, I can’t remember.
- I almost forgot, we are suppose to kick the army guy out because he doesn’t know how to run the economy, our GDP growth was the second highest on the planet last year. And for some strange reason all them rich foreigners are pouring billions of dollars into Pakistan ever since he has been around.
- And he doesn’t know how to deal with India, even though somehow he was able to stop those Indians from overrunning our country, wasn’t that just three years ago? And now he’s got the peace process going and trains and plains are running back and forth. How dumb is that?
- Boy I sure believe you guys when you tell me this democracy champion girl is sure going to take care of those Taliban. She is really good at those kinds of things, we know that, even though she has no erience with that sort of stuff. She sure looks tough, she can stare that Osma guy down anytime.
- And you know what, this army guy is raising all this trouble on account of he just wants to stay in power. But we all know that the democracy champion guy and the democracy champion girl are doing everything out of the great goodness of their teeny tiny hearts, I have never seen any two people with purer intentions.
But I got to thank all you intellectuals, if you hadn’t figured all this out for me have done something really stupid and would have left this army guy alone. Thank you, thank you for your pure genius.
Yaqub Ehsan, Pakistan
PRESS RELEASE
Mr. Hamid Khan and Mirza Aziz Akbar Beg the Vice Chairperson of the Pakistan Bar Council have warned that the government is vigorously following a policy of deceit. The Musharaf regime has no intentions to restore democracy or respect the rule of law. On the contrary, on behest of the government petitions are being engineered to get the PCO and the emergency validated by the PCO Supreme Court. The leaders of the bar have credible information that Mr Iqbal Tikka, who has been notoriously hosting General Musharaf at his resident, has filed one such decoy petition. The Bar Associations have no doubt that it is being filed to wangle a stamp of legitimacy to the illegal acts of this government. Any rubber stamp judgment of the PCO judges will not be accepted by the legal fraternity and they will continue to oppose this judicial farce. The leaders of the bar have called upon the lawyers to remain watchful of such nefarious acts of the government.
Hamid Khan, Pakistan
ALERT
The promulgation of the amendments to the Army Act, are alarming. These amendments give wide powers to military courts. Civilians can be tried for a number of offences including for expressing views that citizens of Pakistan comprise of more than one nationality by military courts. Antiquated laws that had lost their teeth through judicial reviews are now being resurrected and made punishable to be tried by the military. Trials will not be open to public hearings; lawyers will only be allowed to represent the accused in the capacity of a friend. Investigation will be carried out by military personal and ordinary rules of evidence will not apply.
In the past offences under the Prevention of Anti-National Activities Act were tried by a specially constituted tribunal headed by a Judge of the High Court. The presiding judge was appointed with the consultation of the Chief Justice of that court. The Anti-National Activities Act as well as several other offences now to be tried by military courts has remained controversial. Lawyers and leaders of civil society vehemently denounced them for being oppressive. The government had powers to detain any person under the Security of Pakistan Act, 1952 but a Review Board consisting of judges of the Supreme and High Courts examined the grounds of such detentions. The amendments made under the Army Act are blatantly violating all norms of human rights and the Constitution of Pakistan. In order, to settle scores with lawyers, human rights activists and defiant journalists the law is given effect from January 2003. This also allows the government to legitimize the illegal acts of disappearances carried out by the intelligence agencies with impunity. It may be recalled that the Supreme Court of Pakistan was hearing a number of petitions concerning several individuals who had been picked up by state agents, tortured and kept in clandestine detention centres. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan had also filed a fundamental rights petition on behalf of 198 persons. On the intervention of the Supreme Court 99 were released. General Musharaf in a public statement defended the government. He assured the people that none of those who had gone missing were picked up by the government but had voluntarily gone for jihad. This was yet another cruel distortion by the General. Perhaps, a handful of those who disappeared may have gone jihading but not one person on the Commission’s list was even accused of AlQuida style terrorism. A large majority were young secular minded Baloch nationalists. The statements of a number of them, who reappeared, including a few journalists, only exposed the horror of the excesses of the security forces.
The Attorney General justified these amendments on the grounds that these were essential for combating terrorism and that similar laws also exist in the United Kingdom and the USA . First, two wrongs will never make right. Secondly, the UK and the USA have an independent judiciary that has also struck down provisions of the Patriot Act. The military courts in the UK or the USA do not try their own citizens. Moreover, journalists, lawyers and activists in the UK or the US have not been charged for terrorism or treason. In Pakistan , police has filed reports accusing several lawyers and activists of terrorism. There are at least three FIRs against me under the Terrorist Act. Judges of superior courts are not under house arrest in either the UK or the US .
Granting military courts jurisdiction to try offences from murder to libel is an expression of the government’s own lack of confidence in its selected PCO judges. The onslaught on the courts was not because they were obstructing trial of terrorists but because they dared to give relief in some cases. A dictator seeks absolute obedience and fears his own shadow too. As such no amount of appeasement or repression will out their minds at rest. There is little doubt that the Musharaf regime is no mood to change course. They want absolute power. They will tolerate no dissent and will continue to use the terrorist card to keep the international community at bay. How long will the bluff and a state of self-denial work?
Asma Jahangir is in detention in her house
Asma Jahangir, Pakistan
Musharraf will blunder, if now searches mainly civilian constituency
This refers to press conference of Musharraf on November, 11 which was widely telecast live in India also. Though Musharraf sounded quite convincing as for defending his various actions regarding imposition of emergency, disciplining judiciary, fighting terrorism & fundamentalism etc but he is evidently preparing himself to commit blunders as for his political / constitutional moves are concerned. Musharraf ought to keep the following in mind while deciding his future course of such actions:-
(1)- Musharraf will dig his own grave if he FORMALLY gives up his main martial constituency and try to depend mainly on civilian constituency in order to become a so called Civilian President.
(2)- Even USA & its democratic allies have come out against merely (i)- Musharraf's continuation as army chief and donning of uniform (ii)- martial law (emergency).
(3)- For becoming a martial president Musharraf need not be army chief donning the uniform or be any other officer of the armed forces. Because mankind has known and still knows many heads of the states (monarchs, military rulers etc.) without having served formally for a single day in armed forces of their countries. Martial President (even in civilian attire) only requires the main & explicit support (whether institutionalised or not) of the armed forces of his country.
(4)- Therefore Musharraf can give up the post of Army Chief and uniform but may remain martial President supported mainly by the armed forces of Pakistan.
(5)- As for lifting the emergency is concerned Musharraf is absolutely right when he says that given present circumstances of Pakistan, emergency is good not only for the restoration of normalcy (law & order) but also for the promotion of democracy in Pakistan. The only thing Musharraf ought to do is the following in order to reasonably address the concerns of USA & its allies in particular and of international community in general regarding free & fair functioning and conduct of democracy & coming January general elections in Pakistan:-
(i)- Musharraf ought to allow all the registered political parties (of Benazir, Nawaz, Imran etc ) not only to take part in free and fair elections but also to campaign and take part in political activities freely and fairly with following conditions.
(ii)- All political parties will take prior permission from local administration before organising political & election meetings, rallies, demonstrations etc..
(iii)- In case any political party organises such programs without getting such prior administrative permission then its office bearers should be punished as per law and even that political party's registration should be cancelled if it persists in such effrontery.
Hem Raj Jain, India
The Theme
If Mr.Musharraf is sincere to have Pakistan as a stronger country, he can introduce a revolutionary form of government in accordance with Islamic virtues, as the theory of western democracy has been always a failure. But if he is decisive to have a war on Islamic theology, he like Bush will lose the ground in humiliation. This in reaction will provide more authority and popularity to religious extrimists.
Ahmad Farquleed, Pakistan
Hail Gen. Pervez Musharraf
I would like to thank God Almighty for having granted the strength of purpose to Gen. Pervez Musharraf, to have saved Pakistan once again. Lest people have forgotton what Bibi and Nawaz did to Pakistan I qoute below a very appropriate e-mail:
"My name is Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto. I left your
country eight nine years ago. The U.S. has again
sent me back to rule over you. In my last regime I
could not do more, just only some billion US dollars
is into my foreign account, and have fixed that for my
poor children. At that time National Wealth was not
enough as now-a-days, 16 billon US dollars. I can't
wait any more. I have promised Mr. Bush to catch
the Osama, and finish the all Muslims, roll back the
Pakistan's Nuclear program. O my Innocent, Poor,
and Fool country man, Please vote for me, and allow
me to make another Diamonds Necklace, because I
love it. And I order you to elect Nawaz after me
because he is also a poor man with the just some
billion US Dollars in the same country, where I keep.
Thank You " Yours Sister, Benazir."
Mohammed Ibrahim, Canada
Pakistan Army
From now on instead of Saluting and sending Salaams to Army & other uniformed security officials we should greet them by saying I hope 50 million such greetins will have some effect on some of them.and 3 days a week the whole country should stay home like on strike(thursday friday & saturday)this is the most passive form of protesting.
good luck to all my countrymen that that we will get rid of this selfish dictator and the army for good.Pakistan Zindabad .
S.Butt, Canada
OIC=FRAUD..
You ask where is oic??oic is a toothless fraud created to fool the muslim masses.so relax pakistan will come out of this mess soon.every pimp agent ruler will be kicked out OF islamic land.including the mass murdering invaders of iraq and afghanistan, you as a known hindu know islamic history.they have disgraced thier deen and culture by mimicking western culture.pakistan dose not need help of any outsider or oic.pakistan zinnaabbaad..sallam
gulam fareed, Pakistan
Agent Rulers..
Musharraf's Act of Desperation Shows that Time is Running Out for the "Democratic" Dictator and his Western Allies
The imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan last Saturday comes as no surprise to onlookers who have witnessed Musharraf's grip on power ebb away over the past few months.
Clearly suspecting that his recent re-election by the National Assembly last month while holding both the offices of President and Chief of Army Staff may have been ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, Musharraf imposed de facto martial law in a desperate bid to retain
power.
In a televised address to the nation, Musharraf cited the nationwide rise in terrorism and the interference of the judiciary in the running of government as the reasons for his drastic action. He stated that his decision was taken to protect Pakistan's sovereignty and that his overall aim was still to establish democracy at a future point in time. His actions since his speech have been to arrest all political opponents, shut down all independent media outlets and subject thousands of lawyers to brutal beatings at the hands of the police for demonstrating against his suspension of the constitution.
Musharraf also stated that he imposed emergency rule in order to prevent Pakistan from "committing suicide." Yet the truth is that after 8 years of supreme power, Musharraf has, by his own discription, brought Pakistan to its knees. By siding with the US in its War on Terror, Musharraf has polarised Pakistani society and weakened her strategically within the region. His unpopular policies of secularising the country, undermining the resistance in Kashmir, and setting the army upon the citizens of Waziristan and the Northern regions have caused divisions at every level of Pakistani society including within the army. Indeed, his inability to allow political expression by opposition groups or criticism of his policies by the judiciary has left him deeply unpopular and weakened. Ironically, Musharraf's suspension of the constitution, replacement the nation's chief judge and blacking out the independent media that refused to support him will only generate an environment that will foster greater support for militancy.
The imposition of a state of emergency is a last ditch attempt by Musharraf to cling on to power. Even after the desperate intervention of his close allies of the US and UK governments to save his regime by securing a marriage of convenience with the disgraced former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Musharraf's position has proven to be untenable. Clearly the deep concern expressed by the US and UK governments at the imposition of emergency rule is not that democracy has been further set back in Pakistan but rather that Musharraf's decision is likely to constitute the point of no return for his ailing premiership. Indeed, the mute responses from the US and UK governments indicate that they realise their loyal partner in their war on Islam was left with few options other than to stage another coup d'etat.
The Muslims of Pakistan can no longer allow the current cycle of failure to continue and must now take the opportunity to bring about not only a change of leadership but a change of system. The Khilafat system is the only hope remaining for Pakistan to bring about a national reconciliation in which the desire for Islam, representative governance and the respect for the rule of law are combined within a political system that unifies the people upon the basis upon which Pakistan was created-Islam. Furthermore, only the Khilafat system can rid Pakistan of the plaque of western interference which has played a key part in the failed politics of the past 60 years and bring about a true era of independence.
shams tabrazi, Pakistan
THIS is unsustainable and cannot last. You can’t mock the heavens and think there will be nothing to pay for it.
These are the acts of desperate men who know that their moment in the sun is up, from whose fingers power is slipping but who want to stave off the inevitable.
Irony is that by their desperate actions they may have brought the inevitable nearer. Sometimes a crisis has to intensify and contradictions have to sharpen before a solution opens up. Our man on horseback by one desperate lunge has brought everything into the open, so brilliant the masterstroke of Nov 3 that he and his increasingly glum supporters are on one side and the entire nation on the other. Folly can’t get any better than this.
The Constitution has been packed up and judges whose integrity rankled with Army House have been sent home (or rather confined to quarters) because their lordships were lenient with terrorists. Or so we are told. As the entire world knows by now, the two judges who released Lal Masjid students (or ‘terrorists’) on bail, Abbasi and Khokar, continue to be judges in the revamped Supreme Court. Abbasi was most zealous in taking up the cases of the Lal Masjid brigade. Wonder why.
Something more odd happened just a day after the trashing of the Constitution: the hush-hush release of over 20 men on Nov 4 accused of planning suicide bombings, and their handing over to the militant commander, Baitullah Mehsud, in return for the release of over 200 captured army personnel. Included in this number was Sohail Zeb, Mehsud’s cousin, caught allegedly with a suicide jacket on. How would this help the fight against terrorism?
No one is fooled by this spin. The knives out on Nov 3 were meant for the Supreme Court because an adverse verdict was expected regarding our man on horseback’s presidential ambitions. But what have the knives actually done? The judiciary may have been purged but the ousted judges have been taken into the hearts of the Pakistani nation.
All of them — Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Bhagwandas, Ramday, Javed Iqbal (his stock sky-high), all those in the Supreme Court and the various high courts who have refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order — are today the undisputed heroes of the Pakistani nation.
Time was when Pakistan had few people to be proud of. Now so many, a whole string of men of integrity and principle who we can look up to, that counting has become difficult. Never was it truer that to the darkest clouds there can be a silver lining. This may be a bleak moment in our history — indeed, perhaps the bleakest — but it has brought out some of the best in the Pakistani nation.
This is not the first PCO in Pakistan’s history but the first to be so openly and widely resisted, the first to draw such widespread condemnation and ridicule. In times past judges used to be so many circus performers eagerly leaping through the loop of a PCO. This time the great majority of them have treated it with the contempt such an unholy instrument deserves.
The call sounded earlier this year that this was a ‘defining moment’ in our collective lives may therefore not be all that forlorn or irrelevant. The nation faces a test and a challenge, an opportunity that could yet define our future.
So the last thing we should be guilty of is to lose heart or give way to despair, or say that Pakistan is a doomed enterprise from which nothing good can come. These are the counsels of defeat. This is the only homeland we have and seeing it fail or collapse is not a luxury we can afford.
When Afghanistan was ravaged by strife and civil war, millions of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan. If, God forbid, because of the folly and greed of ambitious and shortsighted souls clinging to power something happens to Pakistan, where will we go? We can’t trek beyond the Himalayas and we can’t set up tented villages across the Indian border. We have no choice but to see that the experiment called Pakistan — even if ridden for most of its history by incompetent, second-rate horsemen — succeeds.
Therefore, as my Lord the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, said in his telephonic address to the lawyers of the Islamabad bar (while he was under detention), the tocsin of defiance must sound, the masses must make their voices heard, the Constitution must be restored and horses running wild across the Pakistani landscape must be returned to their stables. (He didn’t actually say the last but you get my meaning.)
The people of Pakistan are agitated, no doubt about this.
, Pakistan
The Enemy with IN
salam every one,i want to draw ur attention to the destablazing role which our media has played in the last few months,although they r making lots of money these days for creating news,but they have demoralized our nation.look at CNN,BBC,Indian channels,although they are little independent when it comes to certain social issues but they work srtictly in the frame work of the national security perimeters.when 3000 of muslims were massacred in gujrat did their channels showed even one dead body,when America attacked Iraq CNN and BBC joined tha campaign of lies,when ahmedi najad casted his doubts about the holocast how the western media went against him.although the pakistani media paypackaged have doubled rather tripled in recent days but they rnt partriotic anymore.every individual or organization which has financial interests is driven by a capital lust.they r showing dead bodies ,taking sides unnessary,resorting to yellow journalism,presentind the doom day svcenarios ,no body talks aboput the progress we have made,see Gwadar port,see coatal highways,see the developed motorways,see the gret work higher education commision is doing ,see the progress in defence field,see the RAAd missles,see the F17 thunders,see the al khalid tanks,see the auguta submarines,see the fragirates being developed in pakistan.donot demoralize ur nation for heaven sake dont play in the hand of our enemies who want to destabalize pakistan
zaheer lali, Pakistan
The so called intellectuals
These few drawing room strategists have painted a very wrong picture of pakistan.i think they know nothing about the ground situation.America and west is secrectly working in hand with some political forces to create the turmoil in pakistan,divide its military,and then in the garb that its nuclear assests will fall in wrong hands are trying to take out our nuclear assests.comon peole wake up,see ur enemies they r also amogst us,and this ediot saif i am sure havent had an honour to give a little to his country but his sick thoughts.these intelligensia feel proud talking against their country.look what the army has done for us ,they have built pakistan when nawaz sharif left us into a mess,we were about to b declared bankrupt,it was musharraf who with his able leadership took pakistan forward.pakistan media is not reporting crises but creating crises,the people like dr shahid masud,hamid mir,talat hussain need to show their financial details how much they r getting for destabalizing pakistan.pakistani nation is proud of its army and its country ,these enemies of pakistan should try their hearts out but INshaALLah we will prevail.
zaheer, Pakistan
Join hands in struggle -2
Keep in mind that existing Fauji junta will never give up financial benefits, lavish life style, and luxurious pomp and show. To maintain their present comfort abilities they need some agenda to divide public on non-issues and to keep continuous flow of dollars from Washington, they need some grounds to fool American and Pakistani peoples simultaneously.
Fascist Mush needs a kick to remove his uniform and agree for fair and free elections only if nation is united and sincere for the restoration of rule of law and establishment of democratic institutions.
Remember neo-cons and neo-imperialists want to implant a permanent sycophant on Pakistan for long term goals.
Think about missing persons, state terrorism, abductions, secret prisons, massacres, bomb blasts, target killings and rude, ruthless Pakistan Army’s hungry and greedy generals.
If you want to get rid of war lords, like terrorists of MQM, Criminal mind Gugrat mafia,
descendents of dictators and establishment, Military intelligence (MI), ISI and Intelligence Bureau (IB), lifafa journalists, foreign funded PhD’s, and serving or retired F.A. pass Fauji officers, then come forward, Mush require last push.
Remember it will be success of fascist gang, if media will be divided like they successfully divided political parties and judiciary.
Forget United States and western countries, if they want to be fooled by a cunning dictator, it is their mistake, we have served our duty to let them inform that if they will finance fascist dictator and over load him with lethal weapon, those will be used against citizens and money will be distributed among generals, as such they will loose support of Pakistani public for ever.
Earthman
International Professor
Earthman, Pakistan
Join hands in struggle
It is important to note that before Pakistan may fall in the final ditch of long term civil war, join hands to push out barbaric tyrant for ever.
Please support:
• Lawyer’s movement of restoration of justice
• Human Right’s movement of civil liberties
• Media’s movement of restoration of free speech
• Political movement of restoration of democracy
Don’t let die sacrifices of Chief Justice, Justices of Supreme Courts, High Courts, Lower Courts, Bar Associations and Lawyers.
Don’t let die movement of restoration of human rights and civil liberties.
Overseas Pakistani’s may help Pakistani media channels, please get local connections to support them financially.
Politicians must get rid of ego problem, please set aside differences of ideologies for the time being to give final push to wolves appointed by neo-imperialists.
Next war against peoples will be under cover of sectarian and ethnicity:
Generals have a plan to convert Pakistan in next Iraq for their vested interests:
1. There will be sectarian killings
2. Target killings of politicians
3. Bomb blats in public meetings
4. Fake threatening letters, warnings and messages to Journalists, politicians and clergy will be sent.
5. New videos of Osama will be circulated (Made in Ojhri Camp)
All religious, political parties, activists belonging to different ideologies must understand that next appointments on major sensitive posts will be given to notorious extremists and criminals, be patient and watch every move carefully.Don’t start blaming each other, safety first and keep eye on known enemy. That is what fascist government likes to implement to make Pakistan another Iraq or Algiers; division among society is back bone of fascism.
All scholars, intellectuals and writers must be aware of agents who will restart campaign to divide public on the name of modernity and conservatives.
Pakistanis living abroad could approach respective governments to pressurize fascist dictator.
Media owners must revise their policies and stop playing in the hands of government agencies and pressure groups for the sake of financial benefits. Point out lifafa journalists and columnists belonging to different gangs, bye cot such black sheep who want to divide society.
Political leaders must take lead in supporting families of political workers, lawyers and activists of civil society in who have been sent to prison.
Every body is ready to take lead in support to Benazir’s call for re-establishment of constitution, rule of law and restoration of genuine Chief Justice and other honest justices:
PPP leaders must adopt open policy, stop negotiations, and kick NRO.
Think why PPP’s present policies are suspicious. Try to rectify them for the sake of confidence building, communicate with peoples, and don’t believe in secret dialogue with Govt. Take in to confidence PPP devoted workers.
History has given a great chance to PPP, which can lead country towards democracy.
If Benazir want to catch moments of history, she must act as true politicians and join hands with all parties immediately before time may leave every politician in sorrow, every body must understand that each Pakistani has the same human rights, nobody is criminal till convicted by courts (except PCO brand fraud courts)
(See Paer 2)
Earthman, Pakistan
Stop the blame game!
lets stop blaming America for all of our problems...and take responsibilty for our very own misdoings...lets wake up from our slumber sleep!
Shan, United Arab Emirates
Dollar's Fall Collapses the American Empire.
The American empire is being unwound on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. The year is two months from being over, but already in 2007, despite the touted "surge," deaths of US soldiers are the highest of any year of the war.
The Taliban are the ones who are surging. They have taken control of a third district in Western Afghanistan. Turkey and the Kurds are on the verge of turning northern Iraq into a new war zone, another demonstration of American impotence.
Bush's wars have endangered America's puppet regimes. Bush's Pakistani puppet, Musharraf, is fighting for his life. By resorting to "emergency rule" and oppressive measures, Musharraf has intensified his opposition. When Musharraf falls, thanks to Bush, the Islamists will have nukes.
American generals used to say that the wars Bush started in the Middle East would take 10 years to win. On Oct. 31 General John Abizaid, former commander of US forces in the Middle East, put paid to that optimistic forecast. Speaking at Carnegie Mellon University, Gen. Abizaid said it would be 50 years before US troops can leave the Middle East.
There is no possibility of the US remaining in the Middle East for a half century. The dollar and US power are already on their last legs, unbeknownst to Democratic leaders Pelosi and Reid who are preparing yet another blank check for Bush's latest request for $200 billion in supplementary war funding.
There isn't any money with which to fund Bush's lost war. It will have to be borrowed from China.
The Romans brought on their own demise, but it took them centuries. Bush has finished America in a mere 7 years.
Even as Gisele throws off the dollar's hegemony, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Columbia are declaring independence of the IMF and World Bank, instruments of US financial hegemony, by creating their own development bank, thus bringing to an end US suzerainty over South America.
An empire that has lost its backyard is finished.
gulam fareed , Pakistan
WHERE IS OIC?
More than any other community in the world, Muslims believe in religion based unity and brotherhood. This belief is based on the assumption that “brothers should come to the aid of brothers in the time of (brother’s) need.” Based on this version terms like “The Muslim World” and its interests and the “Assault on the Muslim world and Pakistan by the non Muslim World and media" are highlighted. Pakistanis seem to have a peculiar role in this concept. They want the rich Muslims (read oil rich Arabs) to offer generous financial support and the not so rich Muslims (who out number the rich Muslims) to offer emotional and moral support in Pakistan’s many sided problems especially the one with India. And Pakistanis feel they are superior to everyone else in the world, including everyone in the Muslim World and out of it.
In this context is it not relevant to inquire - What is the OIC’s position on Pakistan’s current crisis? What opinions have been offered by the rulers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iran etc.? Why is the OIC silent?
A. V. Rao, United States of America
emergency
Emergency has nothing to do with instability or integrity of Pakistan but everything to do with Musharraf to hold on to both posts of presidency & COAS. He will go any length to stay in power. Only way he can be ousted if military goes against him, agitations and political uprisings are totally useless!
a s ahmed, Pakistan
Emergency
Free judiciary, very good but how terrorists can be freed?
Mr.Chudhary was installed back but sabotaging the government through lawyers demostrations.
BB had a mutual agreement with the goverment but telling the mass to revolt,break public property.
Lawyers were to respect sc's decision after mr.CH was back in the sc but they were still on the streets.Pakistan is very different,stronger and prosperous country than eight years ago.It seems to me like no one is ready to accept these facts. We have to judge the health of Pakistan's economy with economic indicators those are much better than eight years ago.There is someone there who can ponder about these realities? All these politicians and lawyers have their own agenda. My dear fellow countrymen beware of them
arshad, Belgium
all of them are thieves
ALLAH hi pooche ga
m owais sharif, Pakistan
Pervez out of order
Desperate to hold onto power, Pervez Musharraf has discarded Pakistan’s constitutional framework and declared a state of emergency. His goal? To stifle the independent judiciary and free media.
Artfully, though shamelessly, he has tried to sell this action as an effort to bring about stability and help fight the war on terror more effectively. Nothing could be further from the truth. If Pakistan’s history is any indicator, his decision to impose martial law may prove to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Musharraf appeared on the national scene on Oct. 12, 1999, when he ousted an elected government and announced an ambitious nation-building project. Many Pakistanis, disillusioned with Pakistan’s political class, remained mute, thinking that he might deliver.
The 9/11 attacks on America brought Musharraf into the international limelight as he agreed to ditch the Taliban and support the United States-led war on terror.
Although the U.S. viewed Musharraf as an agent of change, he has never achieved domestic legitimacy, and his policies were seen as rife with contradictions. For example, he made alliances with Islamist political forces (who in 2004 voted for constitutional changes legitimizing his position and actions). At the same time, he sidelined moderate political leaders.
Last March, Musharraf took his boldest step, removing the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry. To the surprise of many, hundreds of thousands of ordinary people demanded the rule of law and the supremacy of the constitution, emboldening the judiciary and changing the country’s political dynamic. In a ruling that Musharraf had little choice but to accept, the Supreme Court itself reinstated the chief justice in July.
Subsequently, the energized judiciary continued ruling against government decisions. Government officials were held accountable for actions that were usually beyond the reach of the law, ranging from brutal beatings of journalists, to illegal confinement for national security.
Musharraf and his allies tried to adjust to this new reality, but their patience ran out when the Supreme Court took up petitions against Musharraf’s decision to run for president. According to the constitution (promulgated in 1973 by an elected parliament), a serving military official cannot run for an elected office. While Musharraf announced that he would leave his military position if he was elected president, his track record of reneging on his promises haunted the judiciary.
Legally cornered, Musharraf has now decided to abandon constitutionality, removing the leading judges of the Supreme Court and provincial high courts and putting curbs on the media. Lawyers, human rights activists and political leaders have since been arrested.
There is widespread public resentment in response to these moves. Rather than taking responsibility for the deteriorating security situation (as evidenced by suicide bomb attacks) and the increasing Talibanization of the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, Musharraf has blamed the judiciary and media.
Musharraf’s popular support is at its lowest ebb. Pakistan’s armed forces - repeated targets of suicide bombers - have become demoralized. It is difficult to imagine them standing with Musharraf should civil conflict erupt. Nor can a weak, embattled, Musharraf be expected to fight Islamic militancy effectively or bring political stability to Pakistan.
Opposition political parties are drawing closer together, and human rights bodies, media associations and lawyers’ organizations are expected to defy the emergency orders. Terrorists may also benefit by attacking a preoccupied army and political forces aligned with Musharraf. In the event of sustained protests and potential violence, top military commanders may decide to send Musharraf home - a decision that would not be unprecedenteed in Pakistan’s chronically turbulent history
Hassan Abbas, United States of America
Final litmus test
Final litmus test on policies of Benazir
It is almost six years that leaders of PPP and particularly Benazir under the table not only negotiating with dictatorship but also taking certain compensations from government. It is not a good time to count such personal advantages or number of occasions which Benazir and PPP leaders have swept. But after each occasion almost all beneficiaries denied any personal gains, and claimed to be receiving certain advantages on merits.
Advantage of doubt to all PPP beneficiaries was given in positive sense, but peoples by heart had a feeling that there is no difference between dacoits of Kacah area of Sindh and PPP leaders. Both use grease to slip from the hands and paint black color on face to hide identity.
All PPP leaders are continuously claiming restoration of 1973 constitution and democracy in the country. Now time has come to prove such claim.
Litmus Test:
1. Gen Musharraf has called 44th session of National Assembly today (Wednesday) in the Parliament House under Article 54(1) of the constitution.
2. Same Gen Musharraf has suspended constitution at the time of imposing emergency (Martial Law) a few days back.
3. National Assemblies were elected under the constitution of 1973.
4. Same National Assembly will now governed by Provincial Constitutional Order (PCO).
5. Speaker National Assembly Ch: Amir Husain and all the members took oath under the constitution of 1973.
6. All lawmakers have no obligation of PCO, as they are bound to obey only 1973 constitution, and PPP member parliaments have no exclusion and those were elected under same constitution(of 1973).
7. All lawmakers took oath and receiving salaries and benefits under the 1973 constitution.
8. Speaker of the National Assembly is committing crime by convening the National Assembly under PCO; constitution is suspended and there is no meaning of using one clause for personal reasons, it is a joke with constitution. Second crime is to endorse the imposition of the emergency.
PPP should now be ready for laboratory test:
Benazir has reached Islamabad; she is continuously refusing any deal, impact of NRO which cost nation $1.5 billion and later suspended by Supreme Courts, her departure to Dubai right before a few hours of Martial Law, landing right after Martial Law and at the same time free hand at Islamabad Air Port, cheering crowd, and video footings are viewed as suspicious activities, which could only be enjoyed by love ones in present circumstances when thousand are in prison.
Benazir says that 1973 constitution was introduced by her Papa. Now it is judgment day for ordinary peoples that whether Benazir will allow PPP parliamentarians to join 44th session of National Assembly after suspension of Papa’s 1973 constitution.
If PPP parliamentarians will join National Assembly convened in the absence of 1973 constitution, endorsed with PCO, polluted with emergency and approved by hypocrite sycophants and political orphans like Ch: Shujaat Husain, Ijaz ul Haq, Omar Ayub, Sh; Rashid, and other fundamentalists, then we have no choice to accept all stories of deal since 2000 and onward (2000’s deal was confirmed by Indian press during her and Zardari’s visit to Ajmer, India).
It will confirm rift with Aitzaz Ahsan who has sent to prison for his role in restoration of justice. It will also confirm hypocrisy of Latif Khosa, Babar Awan, Raja Pervez, Jahangir Badar, Raza Rabbani and other leaders who take name of struggle for constitution and democracy with the frequency of ten words per minute.
This is final litmus check; if PPP failed this test then people have no choice to believe that Benazir is in concert for $1.5 billion only.
Earthman
International Professor
International Professor, Pakistan
Pakistan first-letter two
PAKISTAN'S GEO STRATEGY AND ITS LOCATION ON THE CROSS ROADS OF ENERGY ROUTES AND PLANNED LINK UPS, PAKS AND THEIR MILITARY IS NEEDED LIKE FISH NEEDING WATER FOR SURVIVAL.
THOSE FEW PEOPLE,OUTSIDE AND INSIDE,MAY HAVE THOUGHTS OF THE FINANCIAL AND MILITARY CUT OFF TO PAKISTAN AS SELF APPEASING.THE FACTS DICTATE OTHERWISE.
PAK MILITARY IS STRONG AND HAS NUKES AND THE SECRETS LIE WITHIN MILITARY FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE NATION FROM ANY FOREIGN ILL-ATTACK.
FIRST PAKISTAN HAS MUCH MITIGATED ITS ANIMOSITY WITH INDIA, AND DECLARING OF EMERGENCY DOES NOT POSE FOREIGN THREAT.THE THREAT WILL BE THERE IF PAKS LOOSE THEIR NUKES.
AND PAK EMERGENCY DECLARED BY MUSHARRAF HAS ITS VERY SOFT TOUCH THAT IS LIMITED TO ONLY SOFT PRISONS AND MINOR AND MITIGATED LATHI CHARGE IN VERY WORSE CASES.YOU CAN MAKE FEW LOOSE THEIR JOBS WITH HEALTHY RETIREMENT COMPENSATION.AND THAT WON'T MAKE THE POWER DENIED AND THOROUGHLY POLITICIZED FEW GOING ON THE STREET TO DRAW BLOOD.THERE IS NO BLOOD SPILLED BY MUSHARRAF OF THOSE WHO DID NOT WALK WITH GUNS.IN THE SAME FASHION,THOSE DISENCHANTED FEW WON'T BE DANGEROUS AS THEY HAVE ONLY AGITATED VERBAL SHOUTS AND NO SHOOTS.THE WHOLE THING WILL SUBSIDE WITH TIME AS NO BODY IN THIS CASE HAS USED GUNS AND KNIVES.
WE ARE LUCKY AND HAPPY TO SAY THAT MUSHARRAF IS A MOUSE BY SADDAM STANDARD. SADDAM WAS NOTORIOUS FOR SHOOTING, WITH EVEN HIS OWN HANDS, THOSE WHO DID NOT AGREE WITH HIM.HE HAD ORDERS TO JAIL AND EVEN SHOOT THE COMMON PEOPLE WHO FAILED TO SAY,"SADDAM IS GREAT" ON THE VERY LOOKS AT THOUSANDS OF HIS PICTURES AND POSTERS DECORATED IN CITIES FOR ACID TEST OF PUNISHING THOSE WHO DID NOT PRAISE HIM WHILE LOOKING AT HIS POSTERS.THE SAME, THOUGH OF LESS INTENSITY, HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT OTHERS.SO PAKS CAN LIVE WITH MOUSE MUSHARRAF THAN HAVING A SNAKE LIKESADDAM IN THE HOUSE.IT IS ALLTOGETHER A DIFFERENT SHOW IF SOME ONE TAKES ON EVEN MILITARY WITH DEADLIEST GUNS.EVEN THERE MR KIANI, THE MILITARY BOSS,IS TALKING OF MAXIMUM RESTRAINTS.
LET US NOT FORGET THAT FOREIGN,INDIAN AND OTHERS,GUNS AND OTHER SUPPLIES HAVE ENTERED IN PAK TERRITORY IN LARGE QUANTITIES TO PUT GASOLINE ON SOME UNFORTUNATE FIRE OF OURS.
THINGS ARE IMPROVING EVEN THERE AS OUR OWN SOLDIERS IN MANY CASES HAVE OPTED TO SURRENDER TO OUR OWN PEOPLE HOSPITALITY THAN PUTTING ITCHY FINGER ON THE TRIGGER.SOME FEW AND ODD REPORTS WILL BE INSHALLAH SOON PAST WITH OUR TRIBALS AND SWAT EMBRACING MUTUALLY WITH OUR BUTTRESSING ARMY.
PAKS HAVE THE GRANDEST GEO POLITICAL LOCATION AND IT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED BY ALL. AMERICA HAS ALREADY TALKED OF NOT COMMITTING THAT FOLLY DESPITE THE EMERGENCY. THE WEST HAS VERY PRECARIOUS ENERGY SECURITY PROBLEM THAT WILL HAVE A MAKE OR BREAK IN IRAQ-KUWAIT CASE. AMERICA HAS TO LIVE WITH STRESSED BALANCING ACTS BETWEEN THE BIGGEST MIDDLE EAST POWER OF TURKEY AND BETWEEN ITS MAIN SURVIVAL SUPPORT OF KURDS.THIS IS GOING TO BE WRENCHING BRAINS OF AMERICA ALL THE TIME.I HAVE HEARD FALLUJA SUNIS IN CANADA SAY THAT THEY WILL EAT KUWAIT AFTER AMERICA IS GONE BECAUSE KUWAIT WAS THE LAUCHING PAD OF IRAQ'S INVASION IN BOTH THE GULF WARS.THE SHIAS OF IRAQ THINK MORE ABOUT IRAN THAN AMERICA.THE ONLY TOUGH FIGHTERS OF IRAQ OTHER THAN SADDAM'S SUNIS OF FALUJA ARE THE KURDS,WHO ARE GIVEN MORE POWERS THAN ANY BODY ELSE IN IRAQ EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ONLY 20 PERCENT OF POPULATION LIKE FALLUJA- SADDAM SUNIS.EVEN THE PRESIDENT JALAL TALABANI IS A KURD.EVEN THE GRAND HERO OF ISLAM,NAMED SALLDIN AYUBI,HIMSELF BEING A KURDISH,DID NOT GIVE HOMELAND TO KURDS FOR THE FEAR THAT IT WOULD DESTABILIZE ALL MIDDLE EAST. NOW AMERICA HAS GIVEN MAXED AUTONOMY TO KURDS WHICH MAKES THEM AT EASE AND FREE TO TRY FOR GREATER HOMELAND BY KILLING AND ATTACKING TURKISH TROOPS AND WITH INCURSIONS MORE FREELY TO BREAK APART AND FINISH OFF TURKEY.
NOW,TURKEY,IRAN AND SYRIA ARE GETTING CLOSER,EVEN TALKING OF GETTING ALIGNED AGAINST AMERICA'S ONLY AND ONLY REAL SUPPORT OF 20 PERCENT IRAQI POPULATION OF KURDISH ORIGIN.
THESE KURDISH PEOPLE,LIKE FALUJA SUNIS AND THE AFGHAN-PAK PASHTOONS AND HAZARAS LOVE FIGHTING MORE THAN ANY THING ELSE.THEY ARE KNOWN IN HISTORY FOR THAT EVEN BEFORE THE TIME OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
WITH AMERICA FACED WITH VERY TOUGH NUT,RATHER IMPOSSIBLE TO CRACK,FACING THE ENERGY SECURITY OF THE WEST.17 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL OUT OF AMERICA'S TOTAL USE OF 21 MUILLLION BARRELS PER DAY REFINING CAPACITY IS IMPORTED AND AT 90 DOLLARS PER BARREL COSTS MORE THAN HALF TRILLION DOLLARS OF ITS TRILLION DOLLARS ANNUAL TRADE DEFICIT.DOLLAR IS DOWN MRE BECAUSE OF ENERGY IMPORTS OF AMERICA RATHER THAN WAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN PUT TOGETHER.
AMERICA WILL NEED PAKS IN WHAT EVER ATTACHMENT-LOOSE OR BINDING,AND IT WILL COST MONEY OUT FROM AMERICA TO PAKISTAN.AND CHINA AND OTHERS ARE READY TO SNAP THE OPPORTUNITY.
SO,PAK DOWN DREAMERS DO NOT HAVE MUCH LUCK OF PAKS FINANCIAL SUFFERINGS BECAUSE OF THIS VERY SOFT ACTED AND EVEN SOFTER MAINTAINED EMERGENCY.
EVEN THE LAWYERS AND JUDGES NOT HAPPY,WILL THINK WISE.
Anwar Mahmood, Canada
Can some one tell me, if the presidency is illegal then how come this judiciary becomes legal which has also been installed by the same illegal president.
I have never seen SCJ taking an active role in the politics of the country, how does this SCJ and from where he gets this notion that he has the power to do that and entice public as well as officers of the court to create problems in the country. His very act makes him a rebel and a criminal.
Richard Rai, United States of America
However messy democracy is, the notion that a small band of people know better than everyone or are more patriotic than everyone else is pretty scary and demonstrate not what is wrong with democracy but with this band of utterly corrupt and dishonest politician wannabes.
The folks in Pakistan should not let this action stand.
Haza, United States of America
Setup
I am pleased the effort of this government to maintain the process of growth in this country. India Rupee value is stronger against the dollar and right this minutes Pakistan is also climbing the same route with India. I am pretty sure if these politicians still think that they can compete against the rest of the world they must show some respect to the effort of this government. Its all fall to the money situation or make this country poor and the people even worst. Pakistan will soon become the strongest of all, the moneymaking country of the world and I think it was the effort of some external and much internal influence to stop the process of growth. I convey to my fellow Pakistanis to stand up and support Musharaff to continue his ideas. India on the verge of economic giant and Pakistan will soon loose the ground and will fail to catch up the competitions all around the world. Pretty soon the nuclear status where we need to keep maintenance will fall apart and people must realized that at that time we must forget the dream of Kashmir forever. I only hope to see the these politicians realized and the chief justice who is using his own influence not to interact with the present government of Pakistan. The past records of Pakistan economy show growth indicator to their highest and it really worries some part of the countries specially India. If Pakistan wants to live than people of Pakistan must support this government regardless of chief justice and the corrupted politicians. For Islamic fundamentalist we have no room for those people they must learn to live like the Muslims living all over the world in harmony and peace. People must reject the teaching of Madrassas and don’t make issues of Islam. Families send their kids for higher educations in schools where they must learn the modern education to build their future and strong economies. Part of being a Muslim they must be regular in their prayers and religious activities on their own by going to mosque, they don’t need these guidance of Mowlanas but from Allah who will show them the path of righteousness. Let us be strong and see ourselves moving forward by thinking the most educated way of lives given to us. We have a gold mine in Baluchistan province of Pakistan and we need to explore it, may be this time we can make this part of Pakistan better than the Dubai. I hope they have nothing to do with this unrest situation in Pakistan. At this period of time you have to be really careful and maintain your distance with some of your friends country who may have different idea than yours. Pakistan is now smart and will not let this setup of self destruction to be happened anytime.
Aslam Sheikh, Pakistan
Emergency -Quran Sunnah Democracy Leader is need of the HOUR
Quran Sunnah Iman Democracy Security and preventing NUkE falling in the hands of Taliban Lawyers and Black veil - ImamiCostume Party is the need of the hour.Military
Coup de Tat against President will not do any good. Election to be held in this mess will
Bring into power one who will be unsuitable. In democracy you cannot train a leader quickly.BB and Imran Khan do not seem ideal.Nawaz Sharif can be recalled for the following reason.
1. Nuke was His Blasting safely.Nawaz Would be ideal to Retain it safely.Pervez Musharraf was hired and fired by Nawaz Sharif.
2. Nawaz is experienced Politician Industrialist and has Iman who is well versed in
Quran and Sunnah.
3. Nawaz was not treated well for his recent return.He took least welcome by Military bravely and went back to his steel mill or business without fuss.
In this need of the hour Nawaz Can formulate well balaced business deals for adverse group adequately as a shrewd Businessman.I recommend for his immediate recall and let him participate in forthcoming Election Competition with other eligible
Contestants( including ununiformed Pervez Musharraf).Nawaz is known to consult
Dr Israr Ahmed and is Quran Sunnah inclined if Military willing to compromise for Past conflict with him.
Z Billo, United Kingdom
International community must go after action of Holland
Stop financial aid
This is the only way out to bow head of fascist dictator by immediately abandoning all financial aid to Government of Pakistan with the condition to lift emergency and restore Supreme Courts to work independently. All fraud justices who have criminal cases against them must be removed. Abide the Supreme Courts ruling against imposition of emergency. Peoples will not accept fraudulent Presidential election and tussle between peoples and Army will increase, and general elections must be held with in two months.
Only way to deal with such dictator is to stop financial aid. Reason for pomp and show of generals and lavish life style is largely based on flow of free and easy money receiving on the name of “war on terror”,
Pakistani generals could be distinguished among army generals of other countries, according to provision of facilities, huge emoluments, vehicles and properties which made them billionaire before retirement, is all dependent on continuous flow of easy money on the name of “War on Terror”. Regular government servants working on same pay scales are hand to mouth.
It is a white lie and magnified by Pakistani generals those citizens of frontier, Baluchistan, northern part of the country and clergy is against west. All such peoples were in front line against Soviet Union in the fold of west. It is hoped that if those are assured of safety of their children and properties, and label of extremist, fundamentalist and Islamist imposed by government for vested interests is removed, and horrors of attack is removed from the minds then unfathomed situation could be controlled peacefully. In this exercise sincerity of US is question mark.
As much victimized population will increase it will raise numbers to join opposition. Brutalities have crossed limits to save illegal rule and by imposing extra constitutional measures, and now security forces are surrendering their arms, desertion rate has increased to triple. Security personal prefer to leave job and join their country fellows in resistance along with their arms. Crackdown on civilians is not wise decision.
To hide state terrorism and human rights violations restrictions on media, judiciary and civil liberties have been imposed. Few groups behind Musharraf are also alive on western funding. Beneficiaries have common goal to harass western peoples, propagate and create a gigantic enemy of the west for their vested interests. Under the protection of emergency and in the absence of any independent reporting, plan of invasion on citizens without any legal footings will create anarchy, which will also disturb western democratic government of Afghanistan.
A few so called moderate are also hurdle in imposition of Musharraf agenda, and after imposition of emergency (Martial-Law) majority is under arrest including chairwoman of Human Rights Council of Pakistan, because she was pleading “case of missing person”, a most notorious case where culprits were going to be exposed by Supreme Courts with in next week, involved in abduction of citizens, torture and keeping in secret prisons. Lawyers of Bar Associations, retired judges are under arrest because representing their clients against government regarding corruption, fraud, plunder, murder and state terrorism type charges, many cases were going to be matured with in next few weeks, in all such cases government servants for forced to comply illegal orders of Musharraf and puppet Prime Minister.
Shameless attitude of American administration:
Bush administration has issued statement almost in favor of Musharraf, which will encourage bunch of criminals, instead of asking any obligatory role based on morale and ethical values of democracy Bush has praised his buddy for his deceitful support of War on terror. United Kingdom is also failed to take any proper action.
All western countries are requested to follow tradition of Holland and immediately stop all type of military and economical aid till Musharraf may not take back emergency orders.
News about wise decision of Holland is as under:
Netherlands holds back aid to Pakistan
THE HAGUE (AFP) - The Netherlands has suspended aid to Pakistan after President Pervez General Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule, Dutch Development Aid Minister Bert Koenders said Monday.
“This is a dramatic coup d’etat that we strongly disapprove of and that undermines Pakistan’s democracy, development and population,” Koenders told the ANP news agency.
The Netherlands had budgeted some 15 million euros ($21.7m) in aid to Pakistan for 2007 and some 12 million euros has already been spent. The remainder is now suspended, Koenders’ spokesman Franceso Mascini said.
For next year the Netherlands had planned to give some 40 million euros in aid to Pakistan mostly for education. That is now under review.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/6/index13.php
Earthman
International Professor
Earthman, Pakistan
Bush want to make another Iraq
United States is responsible for imposing criminal government on Pakistan. The only way out is to stop funding to such Army terror gang immediately and all military aid. There was no need of emergency in the country; Chief Justice was last barrier against extremism as peoples had hopes that there is one place where those have access. Fabians, fabler statement is non-sense, baseless storey of Lal Masjid did not left any impact neither charges against Chief Justice have any credibility. If army is surrendering and desertion rate has tripled then it is fault of army management. Generals are busy in political activities and making money. Moreover law and order is not duty of army, neither constitution permits army chief to throw constitution in dust bin.
Mush and other criminal gang were afraid of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Ch; and other honorable justices. Their names will always shine like sun and oppressed peoples will remember Justices who for the sake of rule of law sacrificed.
Mush is bare naked in front of international community, liar and thug. Dogar is a criminal who earned hate of oppressed peoples and history will not forgive such criminal justices who destroyed hopes and closed last door of justice.
Mush want civil war in the country, he is agent of CIA and MOSSAD. Neither is he a Pakistani nor Muslim. Justice Bhagwan Das is true Pakistani and better then so called Muslims. Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry is the last Chief, no body can replace him, this is the time political parties must overthrow coward generals and push them in sea.
Now extremism will increase, extremists will fight with each other, restrictions on media is based on hiding facts by inviting NATO to enter in Pakistan. Kick mush with all sycophant generals.
Ghazala, Pakistan
SC real target of emergency & PCO
The dictator has extended his unconstitutional & illeagal rule by the emergency and the new PCO and by doing this he has eliminated the only thing that was an obstacle & threat in his way which was the CJ of the Supreme Court & few of its judges who were upholding the constitution of the country.
HE HAS DONE THIS ONLY TO SAVE HIS OWN, FIRST & SECOND SKIN AND NOTHING ELSE ESPECIALLY NOT PAKISTAN.
J. AKRAM, United Kingdom
Pakistan's Musharraf Speaks for Zionist CIA.
Pakistan's Musharraf Speaks for Zionist CIA
And to the American People in English Language
After America's CIA OK to Destroy Democracy
So He Can Continue as Pro-US Dictator in Pakistan .
jalaudeen rumi, Pakistan
Emergency is the only way out for Pervez Musharraf.
The US and Britain reacted very strongly on Pervez Musharraf decision to declare emergency rule in Pakistan. The US and the British government wants the democracy in Pakistan and keep fighting their stupid war on terror which is not possible because this is the main cause of rising Islamic extremism in Pakistan. The real democratic government in Middle East or any other other country of the world will not allow US to use their countries as battlefield for “war on terror” or for “war on drugs”. The Turkey is the most liberal Muslim democratic country in the world with 9% positive opinion of US. There is constant growing anger in Pakistan after Afghanistan invasion and occupation and the majority of Pashtoon see Pervez Musharraf as White House puppet, bombing and killing innocent civilians for US aid. The people and the Islamic parties also believe US war is against Islam and Muslims. The Osama Bin Laden and Mullah Omar are more popular than Bush Musharraf and Benazir in North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan because Bush reaction to 9/11 attack was stupid and arrogant. The Bush regime and his closest ally Britain are trying to hide their mistakes and blunders by blaming Pervez Musharraf not doing enough on their “war on terror”.
Pervez Musharraf imposing emergency rule in Pakistan was the only way for holding on to his power with growing opposition against Islamic Militants, opposition parties, Supreme Court threats not to validate his presidential election results. Pervez Musharraf needed the time which he get it with imposing emergency. Condoleezza Rice is threatening to cut Pakistan military aid putting pressure on him for democratic elections sharing power with Benazir Bhutto. The most of the people did not pay attention, how Bush regime know that Benazir Bhutto will win the majority of seats to form federal government? There is only one way of knowing that Benazir Bhutto will win the election, is by rigging the elections and engineered the results of their liking.
Benazir Bhutto also send an email to one journalists who make that public when talking to Wolf Blitzer on Sunday Late eddition, in that email she said that ISI is planning to bring down Hamid Karzai government replacing him with Pakistani puppet President. This allegation is not based upon any intelligence because she have no way of knowing what ISI is planning, this is more like a false accusation to gain more US support just like Ahmed Chalabi. The Pakistanis must not forget that she is the daughter of power hungry father who did not hesitate to break the country to become Prime Minister and she can do the same to become Prime Minister. This time NWFP and Baluchistan will breakup from Pakistan if the Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto keep pushing Bush stupid “war on terror”.
The US and its European allies can’t win “war on terror” with guns tanks and bombs with Pakistan help. The Taliban has defeated the Pakistan military and security forces since the beginning of this war by killing hundreds and capturing hundreds of soldiers. Taliban moral looks like is very high comparing to Pakistan military. The solution to this conflict is through negotiations, listening to the grievances of people of NWFP. Tbe people who are making this a emergency a big issue of human rights and democracy knows very well they themselves violated all the human rights when they had the power.
PS: Don't edit anything, publish it as it is without your censorship.
QB, Pakistan
For anyone marinated in the history of Pakistan yesterday's decision by the military to impose a State of Emergency will hardly comes as a surprise. Martial Law in this country has become an antibiotic: in order to obtain the same results one has to keep doubling the doses. What has taken place is a coup within a coup.
General Pervaiz Musharraf ruled the country with a civilian façade, but his power base was limited to the Army. And it was the Army Chief of Staff who declared the emergency, suspended the 1973 Constitution, took all non-government TV channels off the air, jammed the mobile phone networks, surrounded the Supreme Court with paramilitary units, dismissed the Chief Justice, arrested the President of the Bar association and the civil rights activists of the Human Right Commission of Pakistan, thus inaugurating yet another shabby period in the country history.
Why? They feared that a Supreme Court judgement due next week might make it impossible for Musharraf to contest the elections. The decision to suspend the Constitution was taken a few weeks ago. Benazir Bhutto, was informed and left the country. She is reportedly on her way back. Till now she has offered no comment on the new martial law, despite the fact that a senior leader of her party, Aitzaz Ahsan has been arrested for denouncing the coup. Intoxicated by the incense of power she might now discover that it
Remains as elusive as ever. If she supports the latest turn it will be an act of political suicide. If she decides to dump the General(she has accused him of breaking his promises and it will be difficult for her to remain allied to a dictator) she will be betraying the confidence of the US State Department, which pushed her in this direction. At a recent off-the-record gathering at Ditchley Park(a British Foreign Office think-tank), the would-be Secretary of State, James Rubin, became short-tempered when Pakistani participants challenged his view that Bhutto was a decisive player in the 'war on terror' on the Western borders of the country.
The two institutions targeted by the Emergency are the judiciary and the lively network of independent TV stations, many of whose correspondents supply information that can never be gleaned from politicians. Geo TV the largest of these continued to broadcast outside the country. Hamid Mir, one of its sharpest journalists, reported yesterday afternoon that according to his sources the US Embassy had green lighted the coup because they regarded the Chief Justice as a nuisance and 'a Taliban sympathiser'.
For a whole year now, the regime was confronted with a severe crisis of legitimacy that came to a head earlier this year when General Musharraf's decision to suspend the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Hussein Chaudhry, provoked a six-month long mass movement that forced a government retreat. Some of Chaudhry's judgements had challenged the government on key issues such as 'disappeared prisoners', harassment of women and rushed privatisations. It was feared that he might declare a uniformed President illegal.
The struggle to demand a separation of powers between the state and the judiciary, which has always been weak, was of critical importance. Pakistan's judges have usually been acquiescent in the past. Those who resisted previous military leaders were cajoled, blackmailed, bullied and persuaded to retire. Pakistani judges spring from the same milieu as the rest of the ruling elite, which is why the decision of this chief justice to fight back was surprising, but extremely important and won him enormous respect, a commodity in short supply.
Global media coverage of Pakistan suggests a country consisting of Generals, corrupt politicians and bearded lunatics. The struggle to reinstate the Chief Justice presented a different snapshot of the country. This movement for constitutional freedoms revived hope at a time when most people are alienated from the system and cynical about their rulers, whose ill-gotten wealth and withered faces consumed by vanity inspire nil confidence.
That this is the case can be seen in the heroic decision taken by the Supreme Court in a special session yesterday declaring the new dispensation 'illegal and unconstitutional'. The hurriedly sworn in new Chief Justice will be seen for what he is: a stooge of the men in uniform. If the constitution remains in suspension for more than three months then Musharraf himself might be pushed aside by the Army and a new strongman put in place. Or it could be that the aim of the operation was limited to a cleansing of the Supreme Court and controlling the media. That is what Musharraf indicated in his broadcast to the nation. In which case a totally rigged election becomes a certainty next January. Whatever the case Pakistan's long journey to the end of the night continues.
shams tabrazi, Pakistan
Western ally Musharraf Declares Martial Law
Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Nov. 3. The move is being described as emergency rule, but in reality martial law is essentially in full effect. The constitution has been suspended and troops have been deployed in all major cities. All independent news channels have gone off the air, but news is trickling in through satellite stations and sources on the ground. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee is in New Delhi meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to brief him on the situation.
Since its inception in 1947, Pakistan has been plagued by corrupt civilian governments and military dictatorships that serve the interests of western governments ahead of the Muslims of Pakistan. The colonial powers of the US and the UK are desperate to save their last hope in the region, the failing dictatorship of General Musharaf, by organising an alliance with the most corrupt politician in Pakistan's history, Benazir Bhutto.
Later this evening, Musharraf will announce that the emergency has been called out of necessity to contain the rising support for the Islamic rule throughout the country. However, the move was made for political reasons. Musharraf, who finagled his way into getting re-elected as president Oct. 6, faces a hostile Supreme Court, of which the majority is in favor of nullifying his presidency, despite the government's persistent threats and bribes. According to sources in Pakistan, Musharraf caught wind of the Supreme Court's plans to dislodge him from power, leaving him with no choice but to resort to his last option: declaring martial law and holding onto power through force.
Musharraf's problems are far from over. Declaring a state of emergency raises the risk that street protests led by galvanized opposition parties will break out. Former corrupt Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who leads the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has struck a power-sharing deal with Musharraf to secure her seat within the government when National Assembly elections take place in early January. Sources claim Bhutto was aware of Musharraf's emergency plans. It is no coincidence, then, that Bhutto left for Dubai to visit her family Nov. 2. In order to uphold her end of the bargain, Bhutto cannot be seen leading massive street protests that threaten to remove Musharraf from power. Though she risks becoming discredited even further, she has opted to stay out of the picture during this episode.
This "patchwork" politics will only push Pakistan into deeper crisis and failure. Pakistan is in need of a new type of leadership that will bring stability, that looks after the needs of the people through the Quran and Sunnah and which implements a system that is truly representative and which respects the independence of the judiciary-the Khilafat State.
If street protests get out of hand and troops are likely to fire on civilians, the stakes will be raised high enough for Pakistan's army commanders to pressure Musharraf into stepping aside and giving up his re-election scheme. Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, Pakistan's vice chief of army staff, has been increasingly calling the shots in Pakistan and would take the lead should Musharraf be forced to step down.
The people of Pakistan have a powerful voice in the form of those who are working sincerely and peacefully for the implementation of Islam via Khilafah. It is essential that people of Pakistan sends a clear message to the dictator Musharraf and his new found ally Bhutto that it will no longer accept the destructive status quo and that a change of system must occur.
Tauseef Zahid, Pakistan
Once again....?!
Once again….?!
Unfortunately this emergency is only meant to oust the honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Chaudhry and the motivation tabled by the President is void of any solid reason or rationality.
The morale of common man is more important than that of the corrupt, inefficient and manipulating bureaucrats or politicians. No one likes to go to the courts in the presence of socio-economic and political justice. The people have their genuine grievances and for this they turn to the courts to seek justice which is their basic human right.
The government instead of giving blame to the CJ, for safeguarding the basic human rights, should have made the necessary legislation to cope with the surge of militancy and other subversive activities. Everyone is equal before law is the basis of any functioning judicial & legal system.
The government’s poor surveillance and handling of the Red Mosque crises in the capital Islamabad was not the product of the CJ as he cannot, in the after hand, discriminate people by ignoring the existing law. Nip the crises in the bud or don’t blame the people whose profession is to do and dispense justice, without any fear or favor, in line with the national constitution.
If the acts of the CJP were so “questionable” then he wouldn’t have been applauded by the Pakistani nation or the outside World, especially when he is being invited to the USA and UK.
The wrong in-puts (wrong policies) always give the wrong out-puts while the right in-puts (right policies) always entail the right out-puts. Undoubtedly the government has good economic policies and that brings the good dividend as well. However, the government has extremely poor administrative policies and that gives the law & order headache throughout Pakistan.
Instead of sacking the interior minister the Presidential sword has been used twice against the CJP, a man who is extremely honest, just, bold and pushing and Pakistan urgently needs state functionaries like him…!
Moreover the President seems ill-informed about the judiciary’s role as it is not that easy or simple. In fact it is so complex that it has to look after and preserve the constitutional spirit in the process of law-making and at the same times it is also, constitutionally constrained, to see and ensure its implementation on all levels and in all walks of life.
So in this way it is normal, natural and necessary for the judges and the courts to legally intervene in any state department or affair to uphold the constitution which is, by all means, meant to guarantee the basic human rights and safeguard the national interests.
However, such drastic & dictatorial decisions by the President are highly controversial & contradictory and even counter his own claims of “Pakistan first.”
Ahmed bin Babar
multiways@hotmail.comnd
Ahmed bin Babar, Pakistan
constitutional order (PCO) could
In the presence of parliament and provincial assemblies, how a provisional be enforced and how constitution is intact in the presence of PCO? True to speculation, President Pervez Musharraf has imposed a state of emergency and promulgated a new Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) that, according to him, aims to preserve Pakistan’s integrity and counter the terrorist threat facing the nation. The president should have acted more carefully. While the threat to the country is very real, I don’t believe that imposition of emergency will solve the problem. There is a complete media blackout in the country, which has added to the confusion of the masses. The president should allow for free and responsible coverage by the media so that the country moves towards stability.
Asim Mehmood, Pakistan
State of Emergency : A step unnecessary
State of Emergency: A step unnecessary
By Wasi Siddiqui
(Member of the Canadian Authors Association)
The recent imposition of “State of Emergency” in Pakistan by Pakistan President Musharraf surprised many critics and brought world wide condemnation as a step taken to pro-long his grip on power and delaying of elections , which supposed to be held early next year.
This imposition of “State of Emergency “came at the time when Supreme Court was due to give a decision whether it is legal for Musharraf to run for President , while holding the Chief of Army Post as well. It is widely believed that if Supreme Court could have managed to give the decision regarding the legitimacy of Musharraf candidacy, it could have created many serious challenges for the Musharraf survival, and it could have cost him his Army post for which he is not willing to give up at any cost.
In his speech to the nation, he cites many reasons for imposing state of emergency, starting from Red Mosque incident, the abduction and killing of Chinese workers, and Taliban’s attacks on Army personnel, and Air force men, and then he added that continuous interference of courts in Government affairs played a key role for such a decision.
As far as these conditions concerned President Musharraf should know that it is not something new happenings in the country , the suicide bombings and Taliban’s attacks are daily occurrences since 2001 , why not he considered to declared state of emergency at that time and why did he waited for 7 years to take such a decision.?
Ever since, President Musharraf decided to contest the presidential elections, he knew that he will win easily as other two candidates won’t find enough votes to defeat him. Although, he won with 57% of the vote, but Supreme Court said that final decision of his election result will be decided by the judges, it was just like a gamble, a gamble, which President Musharraf doesn’t want to play.
If a “No” decision could have come from the Supreme Court, this could have ended his President’s hope for being the President of Pakistan or even if he chooses to stay as Chief of the Army staff, he then he has to work under who ever will be the new President, so he was heading towards end of the road, the declaration of state of emergency was the only way to get out of all sorts of legal problems.
It clearly shows that President Musharraf declaration of “State of Emergency” was more personally than Pakistan’s internal situation, nevertheless, this action will put Pakistan is more problems, the problems which have now become the destiny of the country Pakistan.
wasi siddiqui, Canada
I think Musharraf has Pak's best interests in mind. It seems very complicated, especially for us American's watching from afar. I think we should give him some time to do what he has to do before accusing him of putting off elections. I also hope this whole thing doesn't backfire and work to the benefit of the extremists.
Mike, Pakistan
Terrorists attack on civil rights
All causes explained in state address by Mush are baseless, self fabricated and bundle of lie. Such as whole story against Jamia Hafsa to involve Chief Justice are baseless, Justice Nawaz Abbasi and Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar issued the verdict, both are in Mush camp now. Other students who were arrested were sent to different civil courts. If 61 students released were on the list of terrorists and as alleged by Mush carried out suicide attacks, so it was easy to trace, count missing or many other ways. It looks Mush has lost wisdom completely.
Mush said he is imposing emergency by keeping Pakistan above his personality, in the same address he has been crying for his impatience to be declared as elected president, while he knew that election was a fraud.
In fact when ever wolf wears sheep’s skin, his mentality remains same. Wolf can not become sheep.
However Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry, Justice Bhagwan Das, Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Ramday and all other justices who have kicked offers from dictatorship are liable to be saluted, their names will remain in the history of mankind and hearts of poor peoples. We assure all justices for their bravery we will remember you day and night, will try your return, and will tell our children and grand children, we will write your name with golden ink. First priority is to see back on your chairs. Now we have written your names after Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan on our heart. Mush type peoples who are living under the shadows of guns can not expect what is respect and what is honor, and what is bravery.
It is believed that Supreme Courts decisions were near to disclose many culprits in missing persons case, Nawaz Shariff abduction case, and most important bombing on PPP rally where 140 peoples were killed for which Suo-moto action was taken, many other cases were nearly reaching to conclusion.
Emergency is a drama which is imposed on orders of US to get rid of honest judges only, shut the mouth of journalists and hide massacres and brutalities of Pakistan Army.
Ghulam Rasool Chaudhry, Pakistan
Alternative to Emergency or Quick Democracy of Specific Kind
Said or implied Pervez Musharaf who has been forced to declare
Emergency .The Enemy of emergency with Pakistan IMF loan
And hotel Motel health and insurance business developers want end of emergency right away with their minor knowledge of Democracy. Their candidates want their style of Democracy in silver platter. Black suited lawyers or black veil women and Mullahs all want a piece of power on this silver platter .They and their western democracy seem supporting BB .Or is it her death they are developing. Bush allied IMF and BB returned to Pakistan in pursuit to force Emergency which they did. BB Convoy bomb blast had killed 141 dead 547 injured amid series of Blasts across the country. This got compounded by Political Party leaders and President of Bar Council who had started Day dreaming to become president of Pakistan for “pie in the sky”
.i.e. Aitzaz Ahsan and ex chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhry.Their Motto was kill the goose which lay golden egg .Instead they wanted Gold Power Right Away on behalf of Political Parties of their choice.They were forcing Ruling Ministers declare emergency or get killed via Anarchy. Even BB advisor so called Rehman Christi said “go to street as hooligan and force regime change”. In fact stupid Pakistan Professors in the west or journalists said the same thing:” Send Canada or USA or UK to Pakistan and force them for regime change and to Run Pakistan”.Said BB:” Invite west to investigate turmoil and bomb blasts in Pakistan”. How pathetic! This needed emergency rule as well as hiring of a new Chief justice As replacement as well .This also resulted in suspension of 1973 constitution.BB is role model With her $1.5 Billion up for grab. However Pakistan does not look like a country making Muslim Decision. State.Hospitals across Pakistan has been giving Organ Transplants while unemployed public selling organs .what is this? All they promote is violence death destruction anarchy in Pakistan AJK or in IHK .They want war with PKK Turkey .Then Bush allied soldiers with Armenia Holocaust resolution want quick fix for Pakistan Emergency Rule in pursuit to proceed for Iran Invasion. Far sighted President Mascara and PM Shauna Asia has power and
Pie .They can make promises for an election of democracy in next year which allied EU Bush India and their BB Iran Khan Nanas Shari like to hear as they seek power - office of democracy and IMF cheque book sharing you know who with? Without being Pakistani Peace and security without Democracy of the west seem better than BB style deadly blasts anarchy looting and killing or bombing by Bush and allied soldiers who would love to flatten Pakistan and Muslim civilization.These Black coat or black veil
Clerics if arrested should be given military Training and given rifle and Put on “Defence
Job” after taking away Zakat boxes for an easy way out. Via street Protest in pursuit for regime Change they seek.
Z Billo, United Kingdom
Martil Law not Emergency
I do not understand why we call it emergency. Emergency would have come through the order of the president and not a military dictator. A military which cannot fight and win against another military but only against its own defenceless people. Military has brought destruction to Pakistan and if the nation has to survive, this institution has to be clipped. Otherwise goodbye for Pakistan
Jehan Zeb, Pakistan
Islamic democracy - crying need of the hour
unless any individual is not fully Koran-loaded and Hadith-loaded, he cannot be handed-over the invaluable power to cast his vote to chose the leader to lead him. He will fail. He will chose dacoits, manipulators, murderors, illiteretes, liars and thiefs as in neighbouring India, Strip-teasers as in Italy, corrupt, looters and woman-leaders like Benazirs as in Pakistan and gays and lesbians elsewhere to be their leaders. An impossible eventuality in Islamic democracy where the vote is guided by the preachings of the The Holy Koran and the Great Muhammed"s Sunnah. The Great Muhammad preached "Cursed are nations with woman as their leaders". Benazir will end-up with a thumping majority, if not driven out, to be Pakistans leader in clear violation of the preachings of our Dearest and Greatest Prophet.
Devoid of Koranic and Hadith guidance, no individual does posses the sense to ever differentiate between what is good and what is bad - between what is permissible and what is prohibited. The only source of enlightment that could enable one to cast his vote correctly and appropriately is the full and complete knowledge of Koran-e-shareef and the Great Muhammad's sunnah.
Without imbibing the teachings of the Koran and the Hadith, It is highly dangerous to empower any individual to cast his vote. He will elect eloqouent speakers not sincere leaders. It will be a joke.
Obsceinity and legalisation of same-sex marriages are the direct by-products of western democratic traditions. An impossiblity in Islamic democracy even if the entire universe including sea and land animals vote in favor of it.
President Bush quest to introduce democracy in Pakistan can succeed if he print, publish and translate tons and tons of Holy Koran and tons and tons of Hadith-shareef in urdu, english, sindhi, pushtu and ship them to Pakistan to be made compulsory in schools, colleges , universities, in homes and in every nook and corner. BY ALLAH, ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY, PEACE AND PROSPERITY WILL DAWN UPON PAKISTAN BY ITSELF EFFORTLESSLY. PRESIDENT BUSH WILL BE A CLEAR WINNER.
Faiz Khan, Pakistan
Pakistan need an emergency. Why? Most of the people in the country are crupt. The country needs someone to help it get back on its own legs. At last someone is doing something good for the country. Every other person that has held the president post is only after its safe. To empty it out! If one person is standing up to gain the country its rights there is nothing wrong. For years all roads had someone whether it be the police (whom is 95% crupt) or some other person to rob you or letting you free by bribes.
Well done Musharaff! I pray to Allah he gives you good health and a very long life!
Ali, Kenya
Terrorists attack - 3
7. Musharraf is talking about 61 students of Jamia Hafsa released from courts and blaming them as terrorist is based on facts that it was massacre and thousand students mostly women and children are still missing, Supreme Courts ordered to stop government servants not to omit evidences from the site where massacre was taken place, as such United Nations has asked a report in this regard last week, to safe guard criminals, who were involved in massacre name of Lal Masjid is taken to harass western world.
8. Supreme Courts exposed Musharraf and Shakuit Aziz puppet Prime Minister in holding billion of rupees properties illegally near Islamabad.
9. A selected group of journalists, already earmarked for being troublemakers, would be detained.
10. Seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry here on Saturday evening barred the president and the prime minister from taking any action contrary to the independence of the judiciary. Signed by Justice Rana Bhagwandas, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.
11. Police rounded up dozens of lawyers including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan and Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairwoman Asma Jehangir, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) activists and office-bearers were arrested in Lahore and Islamabad. Dozen Pashtoon and Baloch nationalists, including chief of Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM) MNA Mehmood Khan Achakzai and National Partyís Khalid Lango, Balochistan High Court Bar Association President Shakil Ahmed along with a dozen other activists of the association.
12. Vice chairman of the Sindh Bar Council Ms. Noor Naz Agha, Dr. Qadir Magsi of APDM (Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party), Justice ® Tariq Mahmood etc.
http://nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/4/index8.php
Hypocritical role of United States:
Shame on United States, for declaring that “The emergency declaration “does not impact our military support of Pakistan'' stated by Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell, sorry for declaring US as democrat nation, which is breeding fascists.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=31619
What Musharraf and fauji janta want?
• Fooling western world for economic benefits
• Collecting huge bunch of sophisticated and lethal weapons
• Want to impose self fabricated new religion, to become new Khomeini. A new version mixture of mysticism and sexuality is forced on gunpoint. To create a new force of extremists and fundamentalists, more then 25000 terrorists of MQM have been pardoned, an ethnic group which is back bone of fascist rule. A retired Gen Qidwai has been given charge of nuclear arsenal which is leader of MQM.
• Wants to become life long ruler or Queen of country like Hosni Mubarik or Suharto
• Not only Generals around him are corrupt but a few civilians are also criminals, including Abdul Hamid Dogar, who is nominated as Chief justice, Governor Sindh is a registered terrorist, Chief Minister Punjab is a registered murderer, Chief Minister sindh is also criminal, Chief Minster Frontier along with parliament have resigned, Majority of Federal Ministers are fraud, criminals or involved in corruption, case against each Minister is in courts.
• Fauji Janta is working on same lines of Natzi racial lines and nationalism which later shattered the peace of entire world, top 20 generals are criminal mind psychos who want to convert Pakistan as next Iraq.
Requested actions:
In the light of above illegal action of Gen Musharraf, it is confusing to believe in democracy, if the West wants to convert the whole planet rulers to act as Hamid Karazai, Nuri Al Malki or Hosnie Mubarik and label them democratic rulers, then no body will keep faith in democracy, and it will be considered as Martial Law imposed by NATO.
Musharraf government must:
1. Be suspended from UNO up till he did not take back illegal decisions.
2. Each type of economic and arms aid must be stopped
3. Common wealth membership must be suspended
4. Travel ban must be imposed on all criminal minded generals
Boycott will force Pakistan Army to restore human rights and civil liberties, economic blockade will lead them to surrender their weapons, international community must get rid of such war lords equipped with sophisticated weapons.
Earthman
International professor
http://www.dictatorshipwatch.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2279&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
(Pl see part 4)
Earthman, Pakistan
State of Emergency: a step unnecessary
State of Emergency: A step unnecessary
By Wasi Siddiqui
(Member of the Canadian Authors Association)
The recent imposition of “State of Emergency” in Pakistan by Pakistan President Musharraf surprised many critics and brought world wide condemnation as a step taken to pro-long his grip on power and delaying of elections , which supposed to be held early next year.
This imposition of “State of Emergency “came at the time when Supreme Court was due to give a decision whether it is legal for Musharraf to run for President , while holding the Chief of Army Post as well. It is widely believed that if Supreme Court could have managed to give the decision regarding the legitimacy of Musharraf candidacy, it could have created many serious challenges for the Musharraf survival, and it could have cost him his Army post for which he is not willing to give up at any cost.
In his speech to the nation, he cites many reasons for imposing state of emergency, starting from Red Mosque incident, the abduction and killing of Chinese workers, and Taliban’s attacks on Army personnel, and Air force men, and then he added that continuous interference of courts in Government affairs played a key role for such a decision.
As far as these conditions concerned President Musharraf should know that it is not something new happenings in the country , the suicide bombings and Taliban’s attacks are daily occurrences since 2001 , why not he considered to declared state of emergency at that time and why did he waited for 7 years to take such a decision.?
Ever since, President Musharraf decided to contest the presidential elections, he knew that he will win easily as other two candidates won’t find enough votes to defeat him. Although, he won with 57% of the vote, but Supreme Court said that final decision of his election result will be decided by the judges, it was just like a gamble, a gamble, which President Musharraf doesn’t want to play.
If a “No” decision could have come from the Supreme Court, this could have ended his President’s hope for being the President of Pakistan or even if he chooses to stay as Chief of the Army staff, he then he has to work under who ever will be the new President, so he was heading towards end of the road, the declaration of state of emergency was the only way to get out of all sorts of legal problems.
It clearly shows that President Musharraf declaration of “State of Emergency” was more personally than Pakistan’s internal situation, nevertheless, this action will put Pakistan is more problems, the problems which have now become the destiny of the country Pakistan.
wasi siddiqui, Canada
Terrorists attack - 2
Media under siege, Freedom of speech suspended:
Thousand of lawyers, political workers and human rights activists have been arrested after declaration of the neo-Martial Law. Gunship helicopters and missiles are killing women and children and destroying properties of civilians. Musharraf is waging sectarian and ethnic war against citizens.
It is genocide.
Following ordnance has been issued to stop media for any kind of independent reporting particularly reporting any human rights violations. It is believed that political opponents will be victimized and declared as terrorists.
1. In the ordinance dealing with press a new Section 5-A has been inserted which prohibits publication of certain material; photographs of suicide bombers, terrorists, bodies of victims, statements of militants and extremist and any other thing which promotes or abets terrorist activities or terrorism.
2. The section also prohibits projection of anything that is based on sectarianism or racialism, that defames, and brings into ridicule or disrepute the head of state, or members of the armed forces or executive, judicial or legislative organs of the state.
3. It also prohibits any material that is likely to jeopardize or be prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or the sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan, besides any material, that is likely to incite violence or hatred or create inter-faith disorder.
4. Under the ordinance, in a situation of emergency, the district coordination officer, or the deputy commissioner may suspend the declaration for a period not exceeding 30 days.
The ordinance dealing with the electronic media similarly prohibits broadcast video footage of suicide bombers, terrorists, victims, and statements of militants or anything that abets terrorism.
5. It also directs the channels to ensure that no anchor, moderator or host propagates any opinion that is prejudicial to the ideology or integrity of Pakistan. A new insertion also prohibits foreign broadcasts.
6. The authority or the chairman under a new sub-section may seize broadcast or distribution equipment and seal the premises and in an emergency may direct closure for a period as it may determine.
7. It also prohibits live coverage of incidents of violence and directs installation of time-delay equipment to prevent any such violation. The violators shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term that may extend to three years or with a fine which may extend to Rs 10 million, or with both.
8. The distributors who violate may face imprisonment of up to one year or fine which may extend to Rs 5 million, or both. (Associated Press)
http://www.thepost.com.pk/Fb_ShortNewsT.aspx?fbshortid=2424&fcatid=14&fstatus=Current&bcatid=14&bstatus=Current
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=10984
Major contents of “modernized martial law”:
1. 1973 Constitution held in abeyance
2. Superior judiciary’s powers clipped, Supreme Court, the Federal Shariat Court and the High Courts, any tribunal or other authority to call in question the order of PCO
3. No judgment, decree, writ, order or process whatsoever shall be made or issued by any court or tribunal against the President.
4. Fundamental rights as enshrined in Article 9 (security of person), 10 (safeguard as to arrest and detention), 15 (freedom of movement, etc.), 16 (freedom of assembly), 17 (freedom of association), 19 (freedom of speech, etc.) and 25 (equality of citizens) shall remain suspended.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=10974
Crackdown on judiciary
1. Aimed at countering the anticipated judgment of the 11-member Supreme Court bench was to announce its verdict on the nomination of Gen Musharraf as candidate for re-election of President
2. Majority of the superior court judges in the country rejected the PCO of General Musharraf and refused to take oath
3. Countering Supreme Courts Suo-moto action against bomb blast in Benazir’s ralley where 140 persons were killed, it was widely speculated that Musharraf government is involved in planting bomb.
4. Countering Supreme Courts anticipated judgment in notorious “missing person’s case”, where actual culprits of Army generals were going to be exposed.
5. Countering Supreme Courts anticipated decision in abduction of former Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff, where actual culprit Shakuit Aziz was almost exposed for taking illegal action.
6. Countering thousand of application which Supreme Courts were receiving against corruption and brutalities of Army and Civil government servants.
(Please see Part 3)
Earthman, Pakistan
Terrorists attack - 1
United Nations, European Union and USA must clarify?
General Musharraf has declared at the time of imposing “Modernized Martial Law” that West should not:
1. Demand their level of democracy (means Western standard)
2. Demand the same level of civil liberties and human rights (means giving him free hand in state terrorism)
In this context some clarification is required from the so-called champions of democracy and the United Nations to clarify if the advantages of democracy preached by the West and the laws of civil liberties and human rights agreed by nations around the globe are not based on universal values?
And could Musharraf declare null and void all such principals and universal declarations unilaterally?
Is it not a crime against humanity and civil liberties? Is it not revival of fascist Nazi doctrine?
What is “level” of democracy?
Musharraf is gauging democracy with fascist’s point of view
Western countries have since long been supporting dictators, authoritarian governments and their poodles for their vested interests, particularly in Middle East and Pakistan. They have implanted Hosni Mubarik type leeches, who have invented a new form of democracy. Another form of democracy has been introduced in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Pakistan they are supporting a fascist dictator.
Being a student of political science, it looks that “Democracy” is nothing except a bundle of different directorial orders approved by US administration and accepted by their faithful rulers through out the world.
Is it not the same communist system where organization is in the hands of communist party leaders, powers centralized in few hands? Has that not been replaced by (a few head of states) who obsequious US administration which are awarded credentials of democracy to serve interests of the US administration through out the world.
Gen Musharraf and his Army is conducting serious crimes against un-armed civilians. Army is using Jets and gunship helicopters to kill or destroy properties of citizens. It is using chemicals and lethal weapons. A large number of citizens are in the custody of ISI. Hundred have been killed by targeting them due to political reasons by state agencies. Today regular judges have been removed and a certified corrupt judge has been appointed to act as Chief Justice.
It is expected that champions of democracy will adopt strict measures against Gen Musharraf including all type of economical and military aid. Pakistan must be expelled from the UN till the restoration of Judiciary and decision of the Supreme Courts against his fraudulent presidential elections.
If European Union, US, Commonwealth and UNO fail to take any strict measure then they must stop talking about democracy any more. Do not teach lessons to world that communism was bad and dictators could be democratic dictators in army uniform.
Matter of civil liberties and human rights?
Musharraf is so naïve that he did not know the meaning of liberty. He thinks that there is no difference between human liberty and statue of liberty.
1. Gen Musharraf said in his same address about Western civil liberties and human rights (Are there two types of civil liberties and human rights? Or the UN agrees with his explanation or the UN also believes there are two types of peoples in the world with two separate sets of basic human rights?)
2. Has Pakistan signed the General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of December 10, 1948 regarding Universal Declaration of Human Rights or not? Is it responsible for its obligations or not?
3. Pakistan has voted in favor of the Human Rights Council on March 15, 2006 under United Nations General Assembly (opposed only by US, Marshall Island, Palu and Israel). From his statement, it seems he does not believe in equal human rights. Should Pakistan's members not be suspended that is to be given in 2008.
4. Pakistan Army did not believe on civil liberties. Entire unrest in the country is based on greed of the corrupt generals. Every day victims are joining resistance movement, which Musharraf is posing war on terrorists and extremists.
Gen Musharraf is clearly denying United Nations Agreements on Human Rights. Moreover, his gang is involved in state terrorism, nepotism, human rights violations, corruption, torture, extra judicial measures, imprisonments, abductions, target killings, harassment to media and judiciary, and even hiding dead bodies of killed by agencies. Musharraf & Co is not different from war lords of Afghanistan, sectarian gangs of Iraq and drug mafia of South America.
(Pkease see Part 2)
Earthman, Pakistan
Avoid Chaos
The lawyers had been doing to law what the moulvies have done to religion in this country—claiming absolute ownership of the whole body and in the process making it a part of the problem rather than a part of the solution.
The most appropriate thing would have been to convene the parliament and request the warrants for the arrest of the Chief Justice and the gang……it had really gone to their heads
N, Pakistan
PRESIDENCY
1)Is this act justified at such a crucial time?
Answer is: No sir not at all
I think it is present government to be blamed as following reasons:
-army action in BALOCHISTAN/WAZEERISTAN/WANA/HANDLING OF LAL MASJID MATTER and worst was that when we agree to be with USA in war against terrorism. I remembered our president said USA threatened that if we refuse to be with them in war against terrorism, they will destroy our beloved country (STONE AGE). I feel pity and at the end I said to myself, okay our president is intelligent person and also he is a brave, what he did that time was in the interest of Pakistan and people. Later actions in Balochistan-Wazeeristan-Wana against terrorists and than action at lal Masjid also against terrorists.
DO WE ALL ARE TERORISTS OR THOSE SENDING US IN STONE AGE
Most recently, I heard myself on T.V. president Bush said to his nation, war against terrorism is going on not in USA territory but away. I would like to ask our government don’t you understand what does it means ? “FOR GOD SAKE”
2)Will emergency help curbing Extremism and fundamentalism?
From my point of view it will only demoralize whole nation.
3)Is this the end of a free Judiciary?
End of free judiciary? if you are talking about free judiciary in Pakistan, well I don’t think if Pakistan has ever free judiciary.
BEING A PAKISTANI I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE FREE JUDUCIARY
Muhammad Rafique, Pakistan
Salam everyone,
What I have come to realise is that the majority of leaders of Pakistan such as musharraf have a fetish of showing their ego especially when it comes to the international arena. musharraf imagines himself to be kamal attaturk the leader of turkey who finished the ottomon empire and brought about secular rule....it's not that all the problems are arising becuase of ethnic and religious tensions in pakistan but the root causes are the cheap and ugly egoism of these leaders. Apart from everything else all is fine...musharraf felt threatened so he took measures to secure his own bottle and appease his yankee chums at the same time.
Mujtaba Haydar, Pakistan
emergency not justified
The cat is out of bag ,finally musharraf has shown his true colours .All his tall claims have been again fallen flat and proved wrong .He just wants to cling to power and nothing else .He is a real dictator ,the way he banned all the channels proved that he is just trying to manipulate the press ,its the worst kind of arm twisting .In no civilaized country we have seen this kind of tyranny ,by banning all channels he has proved that he wants to only see his side of story on channels as if ptv was not enough .By depriving the nation from their basic right he has again proved that he has no tolerance for the freedom of speech .kudos to all judges who stood firm and refused to take oath under pco ,they have proved that their principles cannot be bent in paving the way of "disguised dictatorship ",they have fullfilled their moral and legal duty by taking a stand now its our nations turn to condemn this despicable cowrdly act of a defacto rular .we must condemn this act ,its just another blow to democracy . Judicial system and freedom of media is again under siege .we should hang our heads in shame that we let this happen to us over and over again and again all those so called "intellectuals" and scypohants who are supporting it should look in the mirror what they have done to our country on the name of national interest .
aisha sana , Pakistan
Bullies
I don't like the destabilization of your country because of ours. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND YOUR PRESIDENTS DECISSION. I only wish we were as bold as to stand by reality. Glenn Edward Leslie 1/8/59
Glenn, United States of America
I blame the former CJP and some portions of the media for this emergency.
Our President had no choice left.
Pakistan first!
Imran Siddiqui, Canada
Pakistanis NEED DANDA not DEMOCRACY
Democracy is a farce for Pakistan. Pakistanis cannot handle freedom. They only know the language of voilence. Show these Political and Tribal Terrorist traitors a fauji Danda President sahib.
educated Pakistanis are with, who did not bought or cheated to get their degrees.
Adnan, Pakistan
+ve Hope
I think it was required at this time. The country was going trough a very critical phase and many external factors were taking the advantage of this situation. Its not an ideal situation but atleast its a good step to save Pakistan becoming a rough state from where it is currently.
I think there is no doubt in Musharaf's sincerety towards his country. Lets hope +ve results from this and catch up back to the same economy growth which people of Pakistan just started to enjoy.
Sangra, India
Emergency operation upon a diseased body.
My replies to the questions are, as follows:
1)Is this act justified at such a crucial time?
You cannot tie some ones hands and still expect him to swim. Musharraf is definitely sincere in the fight against terror. He is repeatedly blamed by the West for insufficient action and being pressurized to do "more". Being a soldier specially trained for surviving against various difficult odds, he needs to be given free hand and left to his own devices. He gave enough latitude to his opponents and Judiciary but they worked senselessly to their own peril. No body can have time without limits. What he did, was long over due. His patience should be noted and appreciated
2)Will emergency help curbing Extremism and fundamentalism?
Extremism is an off-shoot of fundamentalism. When normal treatments do not work and body rejects simple procedures, ultimate and emergency operations are the only last resorts. Patient cannot be left to die without utilizing all options. And we should remember, no body can be his own surgeon.
3)Is this the end of a free Judiciary?
On the contrary, this is a practical example of the fact that, Judiciary cannot claim to be above errors. It cannot be super-intelligent. It also comprise of the same people who make the society. To err is human, but to err and be defiant is a passport to peril. For me as a lay-man, it is difficult to imagine that, a bench of Jurists having several minds read a situation differently and give split decisions. Yet they claim to be absolute in honesty and fairness. For me it is a paradoxical situation. Country and its future is kept at ransom by those who are not sure of their own decisions. Can a patient be successfully treated for a disease by any split decision? You can only rely upon the best available hand to operate upon you.
M.Saeed, Pakistan
I believe it is a good move, as we all know that Pakistan is facing serious threats of terrorism and lawlessness. I urge Musharraf to be strong and firm to fight against these thugs and cowards. He must work hard to ensure that government writ is established and people have security. It is important for Mush to take action against so-called black jackets (Lawyers), political judges, useless politicians and corrupt police officers. All I read in the newspapers, there is strike in Pakistan, there is bomb blast, there is killing of security forces. Just imagine, if the law enforcement agencies are not safe then think about common people, how much safety they will have!
The entire system is Pakistan must be fixed, people in even Pakistan do NOT really care if it is State of Emergency or Democracy in the country, they expect a transparent system. Why give another opportunity to BB or Nawaz corporations to destroy Pakistan further.
Mush must not play politics, he must spend his energy to ensure that law and order is fully implemented and people of Pakistan must think realistically that your democratic regimes have failed you many times.
zulfikar Tanoli USA, United States of America
i just want 2 say 2day im feeling really shame as a pakistani and i dont ve words to salute our judicary who took brave step.i appeal to all pakistani condemen and support to all layers fot their fight to end dictator ship.i also want 2 people of pakistan gather at one point and then march to GHQ.get this traitor out kick him and do his court marshall outside in front of world.so whole world knows how this nation treat to traitors.god bless pakistan
tahir, Pakistan
Let us think only positive.
PAK GOVERNANCE IS PERHAPS THE TOUGHEST JOB ON PLANET EARTH AND THE COUNTRY DEFINITELY WAS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR SO.MOST OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE THEIR CONNECTION TO THE WAR LIKE OR PSEUDO WARLIKE SITUATION AROUND OUR BORDER IN THE WEST SINCE 9/11.PAKISTAN HAS BEEN ON THE RADAR SCREEN AND THE SITUATION AT HOME WAS NOT CONCILLIATORY.
WE MUST'NT POINTING OUR FINGERS AT ANY BODY OR PARTY,RULING OR OTHERWISE,OUR MILITARY AND JUDICIARY.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THERE WAS NO HELPING HAND TO THE GOVERNANCE IN THE TOUGHEST TIME OF OUR HISTORY.PAKISTAN WILL BE IN DIRE TROUBLE IF ITS ECONOMY STARTS SLIPPING OR SLIDING. EVEN THE JUDICIARY AND THE CORRUPT POLITICIANS OF THE PAST WERE ENGAGED IN DOG FIGHT RATHER THAN CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS ON ECONOMY OR DEVELOPMENT.THE MEDIA ITSELF SEEMED TO BE CARRIED AWAY ON PUTTING DOWN THE PAK GOVERNANCE AND EVEN OUR SACRED ARMY IN TOTAL DEROGATORY MODES.
AS I MENTIONED IN MY LETTERS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS THAT ARMY IS THE ONE THAT HAS TO FACE THE BULLETS FIRST WHEN A COUNTRY FALLS.
THERE IS ONE POSITIVE THING IN THE COUNTRY THAT ARMY SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY INSTITUTION THAT IS UNITED RIGHT TO THE CORE. POLITICIANS AND OTHER CIVILITY IS GONE INTO DAILY RITUAL OF HORSE TRADING AND KANGAROO COURTS.
PAKISTAN IS THE MOST STRATEGICALLY LOCATED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND THE WORLD'S MIGHTY ONES ARE CONTESTING IT ALL ON THE PAK SOIL AS SUPPORT. A VERY STRONG AND UNITED ARMY IS ALLWAYS THE SUPPORT TO FALL BACK UPON IN ALL SUCH DEADLOCKED SITUATIONS.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE MEDIA,THE JUDICIARY,THE POLITICIANS ETC HAD TAKEN UP POLITICAL SHAPES AND FORMS RATHER THAN THE PROFESSIONAL SCOPE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO ACT UPON.THERE WAS AIR OF CHALLENGES AND COUNTER CHALLENGES TO NOT ONLY WRIT OF THE GOVERNMENT,BUT DEIGNING INSULT OF PAK MILITARY AND THE HEAD OF THE STATE.
PEOPLE IN AMERICA MAY BE CRITICIZING BUSH FOR HIS MAXED POLICIES,BUT AMERICAN COURTS AND LAWYERS ARE NOT GONE WILD IN INSULTING AND CHALLENGING BUSH.
WELL,I DO NOT HAVE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ANY ONE INVOLVED. THIS IS A MOVE,A POWERFUL MOVE BY MR MUSHARRAF TO DIAGNOSE THE NATION'S DETERIORATING SITUATION.LET US SEE HOW IT AFFECTS TO REDRESS AND MITIGATE THE PROBLEMS.IF THE SITUATION IMPROVES IN PAKISTAN,THEN MUSHARRAF WILL BE HERO.LET US NOT EVEN SPECULATE ON THE BAD SIDE AS THE NATION ONLY WANTS TO GET BETTER.LET'S PRAY TO ALLAH THAT IT WORKS OUT BETTER FOR THE NATION.
PAKISTAN'S EXTRAORDINARY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES HAD MORE TO DO WITH THE TOUGH GLOBAL SITUATIONS. YOU HAVE THE WORLD STRUGGLING FOR ENERGY SECURITY AND SURVIVAL WITH US PAKS AS VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE GLOBAL EQUATUION OF WAR AND PEACE.
LET ALL BE PATIENT AND HOPE THAT ALL WORKS BETTER FOR THE NATION BEFORE STARTING OTHER CONFRONTATIONS LIKE IN PAST.WE CANNOT DENY THAT THERE WAS NO LACK OF CONFRONTATIONS AND OBSTRUCTIONS WHERE THERE SHOULD'NT HAVE BEEN.
HERE ARE MY ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS AS SUCH:
1)Is this act justified at such a crucial time?
ANSWER;
I THINK PAKISTAN HAS BEEN AT VERY CRITICAL SITUATIONS SINCE 9/11.MORE SO,WE HAVE BEEN PUT ON CRITICAL SPOT LIGHT OF THE GLOBAL CONTEST ON ENERGY SECURITY OF THE WORLD THAT WILL DETERMINE THE HEALTH OF ALL THE WORLD'S ECONOMIES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DECADES.WAR ON TERROR IS JUST A TOOL OF MASSAGING THE REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM OF ENERGY INSECURITY LOOMING FOR ALL MANKIND.
THERE CAN BE EXTRAORDINARY REACTION TO ONE VERY PRESSING CRUCIAL PROBLEM OF MIDDLE EAST OIL AND GAS AND ITS VITALITY TO THE WHOLE WORLD.CRUCIAL TIMES DO REQUIRE EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES.LET US HOPE THAT THINGS GET BETTER WITHOUT EVEN SPECULATING ABOUT NEGATIVITY.
2)Will emergency help curbing Extremism and fundamentalism?
IT REQUIRES CO-OPERATION FROM ALL INCLUDING MILITANTS. AS NEW MILITARY BOSS SAID THAT MAXIMUM RESTRAINTS WILL BE APPLIED. THE EXTREMISTS AND ALL MAY HAVE TO BUTTRESS WITH EACH OTHER FOR BETTER.BUT,THE IRAQ SITUATION,THE WEST'S STRUGGLE TO SECURE ENOUGH SHARE OF OIL AND GAS FOR ITS ENERGY SECURITY,AND THE RELATED WARS THAT MAY VERY SOON DRAW TURKEY IN AS INEVITABLE TO HAPPEN.IT IS A VERY TOUGH CALL FOR THE WHOLE WORLD AND WE PAKS ARE VERY MUCH AFFECTED TO BE IN THE EQUATION WITH SPILLOVERS.UNFORTUNATELY, PAK POLITICS HAS NEVER EXTENDED HELPING HAND TO THE RULING ONES.IN STEAD,IT HAS HAD BECOME COMPULSION TO UNITE WITH ONLY ONE MOTIVE OF DETHRONNING THE RULERS AND THEN CARRY OUT THE SAME CYCLE AGAIN AND AGAIN.PAKS NEVER HAVE HAD DEMOCRACY. RATHER THEY HAD AUTOCRACY AND THE WILL TO UNITE AGAINST THE GOVERNANCE FOR THE ONLY PURPOSE OF DEFEATING IT BY HOOK OR CROOK OR WHATEVER WAYS.
LET US PRAY FOR POSITIVE, AND WISH THAT THIS MOVE WILL MITIGATE EXTREMISM. NO NEGATIVE THINKING PLEASE.
3)Is this the end of a free Judiciary?
ANSWER:
THERE IS NO FREE JUDICIARY OR FREE ANYTHING, WHEN YOU HAVE GLOBAL EMERGENCIES.I MUST SAY THAT THERE WAS POLITICAL FLAVOUR ON JUDICIARY AS WELL.JUDICIARY TOO WAS ANTI SOMETHING AND WAS'NT FREE.
Anwar Mahmood, Canada
What is Pakistan, we have punjabi, sindhi, baluchi, pakthoons etc. Religion cannot be a basis of nationhood. The myth of pakistan has prooved it.
Y V Choudary, India
Is it a reality?
An economist shows a positive projection to president and he sleeps well asuming that nationals are happy.
WAQAR JAHANDAD, Pakistan
Totally illegal
Yes this act of declaring emergency is totally illegal.As usual there may be many factors,and the logic offered that it will curb chaos,and suicide bombing is as bogus as the army getting in politics.Now the army has declared itself as the enemy of the nation and nation will react accordingly.
When a civilan leader does anything that can be used as ground(e.g.emergency of Bhutto) the army immediately creeps in(Zia crept in) but when army does any criminal activity all the organisation stands quietly behind it.DOes the army thinks itself above the nation and different?
Dr.M.jawaid Khan, United States of America
1) Yes, Justified
2) I dont think so
3) No, not at all. Unfortunately the CJ acted like a Dictator due to personal clash with the President.
Siraj Imam Syed, United States of America
Worsenning
Now the condition of the government and population will get worsen. It will negatively develop from worse to worst.
Mohammad Ilyas, Pakistan
YES thisIs the end of a free Judiciary
, Pakistan
Budmaash Chokeedar
When you spend 70% of your household income to arm your chokeedar and your chokeedar has now practically more money and power than you, you shouldn't expect anything less.
Saif, Pakistan
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