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Pakistan and Politics
The site consists of comments on Pakistans current political scene. It will highlight the controversies, the scandals, the political leaders and happenings vis a vis the countries present day politics.
THE LATEST COMMENTS ARE ON THIS PAGE.AFTER THIS TRY PAGES 28 , 27 ,26 and 25. THE OTHER PAGES CONTAIN COMMENTS ON EVENTS SINCE MAY 1997.
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Pakistan and Politics
by ikram ul haq
WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY EID MUBARIK
WELCOME TO 1999
PAGE INDEX click on any link
ARMED FORCES SALARIES RAISED
FC ACCOUNTS PARTIALLY RESTORED
ALHAMRA, DADA,LJ,100 DAYS
CRICKET, IMF LOANS, TARBELA WATER LEVEL
TERRORISM WALKOUTS AND BILLION RUPEE TRAVELS
RETURN OF ASIF ZARDARI THE CROOK
MILITARY DEATH SENTENCES STAYED
PROTESTOR DIES,IB WALAS BEWARE
REORGANIZING THE IB
17 KILLED IN SECTARIAN ATTACK
PM,CMs, EB INVESTIGABLE BY CEC, RAIWIND BLAST,CRICKET, ATTA RIOTS
EXIT CONTROL, NAHID, FIGHTERS, POWER SECTOR WOES
PMLn MNISTER QUITS,BANNU RIOTS
- Pakistans much reviled ministry of information is tobe abolished by the year 2002(very funny)
- A pro govt judge of the Supreme Court stayed the order of the Punjab High Court unfreezing of Foreign Currency Accounts on the plea that the GOP did not have enough resources to handle them. It is a strange argument as the FC accounts have caused no problems when the countries Foreign exchange reserves were much lower
- Another MQM terrorist namely imran danish died in police custody apparrently from police torture
- The ANP is hinting at restarting its failed alliance with the PMLn after its attempt to topple Mehtab Abbasi failed due to disagreements on the next chief minister and a lack of the necessary votes
- The Pakistan Foreign Office has protested over violations of its airspace by US PC3 Orions
- In what seems tobe an apparent case of favouritsm the Punjab High Court quashed the fine imposed by CBR on Redco(owned by Saif ur Rehman) for undervaluing imported BMW's to avoid taxes
- In another attempt to forestall martial law the GOP raised the salaries of the already much pampered pakistan armed forces by 7-33% costing the country an annual Rs4.7billion. No details were provided. After the raise the army chief immediatly ruled out a pak-india war. One wonders what he is doing in siachen and kashmir?
- Five police officials were shot dead by two motorcyclists in Multan
- The Sind law minister was censured by the Sind Assembly for critisizing the speakers rearrangement of treasury seats
- Under a new ordinance military courts are tobe established all over the country to handle cases of terrorism and heinous crimes
- Six people were killed when an indian made bomb exploded in a tonga in sialkot
- The Supreme Court in a revision of its earlier decision allowed the GOP's suspension of constitutional provisions thus disallowing the Sind Speaker from convening a session
- In the NWFP the director information who was accused of corruption was simply transferred to a different post
- Pakistan has arranged a $3.3billion rescheduling of its debt from the paris club of countries
- Three men being held for the raiwind bridge blast were killed in police custody when allegedly SSP workers opened fire on police in an attempt to free them.Similarly four arrested MQM workers were killed in another alleged atack on police.According to opposing sources this is one of the worst waves of custodial killings in lahore
- ADP has cancelled its mission which was scheduled to negotiate a $300 million loan
PAGE INDEX
- The Punjab High Court partially restored Foreign Currency accounts which the GOP had frozen after sanctions were imposed in May1998. However account holders right to withdraw their foreign currency has not been restored and the judges asked the State Bank to formulate policy in three weeks which should allow partial or minimum withdrawals in foreign currency .
- The Nawaz Sharif family owned factory Hudaibya Engineering suffered a setback when its engineers were beaten up by employees of a Kenyan Sugar Mill which they had contracted to operate.There were also rumours that the contract had been obtained after underhand dealings and some kenyan legislators asked for the deals cancellation
- Three mqm activists were awarded death sentences in the murder of PMLn Mna Zuhair Akram Nadeem
- Benazir Bhutto accuses Nawaz Sharifs personal raiwind secret service organization of involvement in high profile murder cases.
- The jang group has taken its case of harassment by the GOP in matters of taxation, employee removal and newsprint quotas to court
PAGE INDEX
- A former arts professor and his daughter were shot dead in lahore by an associate of a drummer who regarded them as a financial threat
- An impression is being created that the PMLn is not too interested in legislation via the joint sitting of parliament even though it is behind the move. The GOP also does not intend to move the shariah bill in the joint sitting
- Two people belonging to the the countries most feared terrorist organization lashkar jhangvi have been arrested for planting the raiwind bomb.Nawaz Sharif has been targeted as he has carried out a one sided campaign against their terrorists in their war against the shiites(TNFJ a GOP ally). Statistics show that 400 shiites and 200 sunnis have died mainly in the punjab over the last eight years in sectarian violence
- The retired fauji who immolated himself outside Nawaz Sharifs residence to highlight his poverty and joblessness has died. As a result the Nawaz Sharif's khuli kutchery has been moved to Club Road in the heart of the city which will now be taken care of by a provincial minister.This is also due to increasing concerns for nawaz sharifs safety
- Around 47000 cars are being manufactured annually in pakistan
- The WB has released $350 million for public sector reform.
- Pakistan has postponed a proposed ballistic missile test
- The govt has submitted to parliament its almost laughable agreement with the IMF which calls for a reduction in the budget deficit(3.3%) , inflation(6%), increasing GDP growth(5-6%), savings(16%)and an impossible to achieve 30% hike in utility charges tobe implemented by September
- Famous architect Nayyer Ali Dada and the contractor for the Alhamra Art Palace built 24 years ago in lahore have been arrested for faulty construction which caused Alhamras recent steel structure roof collapse
- Direct investment in the pakistani stocks exchanges fell to $15 million in 1998 from$55million
- UBL is to close 100 branches which should theoretically cause a further employee removal
- MQM mpa Afzal Anwer has been arrested for murdering a PPP leader
- A pir and three others were shot dead in Shorkot in apparently sectarian violence. Some suggest that this might be in retaliation for murders earlier in a village near muzzafargarh
- The GOP cabinet met after 100 days. The reasons for such a huge delay/gap in meetings despite the occurrence of important events has not been explained. Some suggest that the army had taken over behind the scenes
- The british govt has given arch terrorist Altaf Hussein and his secretary Nusrat Javed asylum cum temporary resident status. Both Altaf and Nusrat are involved in many terrorist incidents in karachi. The GOP says it does not understand the UK action and will nolonger negotiate with him. The PMLn has continued contacts with Altaf despite a firm belief in his terrorist involvement
- There are 55000 internet users in pakistan and around 22 ISP's
- Nine people died in a shootout in the Kurram Agency between rival factions over the preachings of an afghan maulvi
- Nawaz Sharif gave $6000 in tips while on a trip to Saudi Arabia
- The GOP now plans to setup military courts allover the country and create job opportunities in the govt sector
PAGE INDEX
- MQM activist Anwer alias kala died in police custody after being arrested two days ago
- The PMLn is considering Abdul Manan, Ijaz Shafi and Haleem Siddiqui for the post of Commerce minister in an expected reshuffle
- The pakistani cricket team for india has been announced with the inclusion of Mohd Naveed, Wajahatullah, Azhar Mahmood, Nadeem Khan and Shahid Afridi. Mohd Nadeem is not the countries best left arm spinner and Afridi/Azhar have failed consistently. One feels an extra paceman should have been included and Shakeel Ahmed should have been considered over Nadeem Khan on performance.Amer Sohail has been dropped
- It seems that the IRSA a Nawaz created body has caused the excessive releasesof water from Tarbela despite the knowledge that inflows were down and that it would cause problems in electricity generation and a lack of water in the winter months. Usually the level at tarbela in december this year is reached after the winter and if water releases are realistically controlled there would be no need for the excessive load sheddings that occurred this year. It also seems that the govt might have gone for excessive hydel generation for a few months to decrease usage of thermal power
- The IMF board has approved a $1.5 billion three year balance of payment support for pakistan
PAGE INDEX
- After failing to get eight bills approved from the senate the national assembly called for a joint sitting of parliament to approve the bills. The opposition and the PMLn parliamentary secretary Zafar Ali walked out at the speakers attitude and bypassing the senate
- A PMLn mpa Ikramullah Niazi was shot dead in his home in Mianwali while meeting constituents
- Foreign investment in pakistan has fallen by around 70% during the past six months
- Around 15 million rupees were spent on the primeministers visit to the USA. All told nearly a half billion rupees are wasted by the primeminister on annual travels
- Terrorism they say is the employment engine for retired faujis. While only a retired colonel heads the countries intelligence network a retired major general and retired brigadier have been appointed to oversee Nawaz Sharifs personal security. Is Nawaz Sharif getting frightened .Many think the answer is yes
PAGE INDEX
- In what can be seen as a reassertion of the Supreme Court the powers of the Sind Assembly vis legislation and assenbly speakers powers were restored. The SC stated that while the center can take over the governmental powers of the sind assembly it cannot suspend its legislative powers which if used negatively can be checked by the national assembly
- In a change of track the DIG Karachi has accused Asif Zardari of killing Justice Nizam by hiring contract killers from peshawar and planning the murder in Bilawal house.Most of karachi's murders are generally blamed on the MQM and this seems tobe another attempt at political victimisation in the guise of handling terrorism and crime.The GOP seems to be trying to do an about turn and is thinking of returning toits old policy of buying MQM support
- A PPP think tank suggests that Nawaz Sharif might impose a civilian martial law under the guise of Islam and become the Chief Martial Law Administrator. Nawaz seems tobe greatly impressed and in awe of his deceased mentor General Zia Ul Haq who played the accountability, victimisation and islam card to the hilt
- According to the Frontier Post Rafik Tarrar urf naib qasid has demanded of Nawaz Sharif to restore some of his powers as Nawaz has been unable to control the situation by denuding the presidency of all powers
- The Peshawar High Court on the advice of Mehtab Abbasi alias chiefminister has ordered sessions judges to hold trials of 26 cases of heinous crimes on a day to day basis.This is in contrast to the military courts in karachi. The provinces might be attempting to create a new quick fix judicial system
- The GOP might move to tame the Chief Ehtesab Commissioner by legislating to itself new powers of appointing and removal of the CEC at will
PAGE INDEX
- In a major judgement favouring MQM murderers the mohajir CJ Ajmal Mian heading a seven judge Supreme Court panel stayed the execution of military death sentences till a decision of the case about the legality of the military assuming judicial functions.This is a delaying tactic by the SC which is against military courts which are being seen as more efficient vis a vis the traditional tortoise courts. It is being noticed that the SC is trying to adopt an administrator cum judicial role in this case and perhaps the thinking in the court might be that the military courts are serving the purpose and if the MQM behaves in the interim it might declare the military courts as illegal.The GOP on the other hand is considering legislation to allow military courts tobe created whereever needed. Nawaz Sharif who is firmly advocating military courts has in the past even been against the setting up of tribunals for financial offences
- The two opposition alliances PAI and PONM are set to merge as the PPP has finally decided to move Sherpao to country level politics and allow Masood Kauser to head the NWFP provincial PPP
- The countries foreign exchange reserves are set to cross $2 billion in the near future
PAGE INDEX
- An auto spares shopkeeper died as a protest strike was underway against the removal of a bus and wagon stand from the Rialto area in Rawalpindi.The stand was a cause of traffic congestion and has been shifted to the Pirvadhai bus stand. Police say the shopkeeper died of a heart attack while transporters contend that he was beaten to death by the police
- The govt intends to fire over 3000 intelligence workers from the IB who are political appointees and according to the GOP do no useful work. The countries leading intelligence agency has around 4000 employees and bugs and snoops on literally everything and everyone
- An unemployed retired fauji tried to burn himself at the lahore residence of Nawaz Sharif after the primeminister refused to meet him. The photographs in the press show well dressed and healthy policemen dragging away a bedraggled impoverished man
PAGE INDEX
- The Supreme Court in a partial approval of military courts has suspended the hanging of those given death sentences by military courts until it can hear arguments on their validity on the 11th
- Nawaz Sharif has appointed a defacto intelligence minister by giving the Ehtesab Bureau head Saif Ur Rehman control of the Intelligence Bureau reports the Frontier Post. Recently a low level retired military official was made deputy head of the IB who transferred several senior IG level police officials out of the IB replacing them with retired military officials.The interior ministry is now only left with control of the police and the defunct FIA. This is seen as a sort of debacle for Chaudhry Shujaat who is fighting a losing battle with Saif Ur Rehaman for control of the police apparatus. This comes in the wake of a bomb blast and massacre in muzzafargarh
- In karachi meanwhile a police official was killed in a raid on a suspected militant hideout from where several terrorists and a cache of weapons were recovered
- In what seems tobe an acceptance of defeat the new military management of Wapda has asked for an 11% increase in electricity rates . This suggests that there is no scope for a decrease in losses which supposedly occur due to corruption and line losses
PAGE INDEX
- In what can only be seen as a sectarian event 17 shiites were killed near muzaffargarh as four terrorists fired at worshippers after fajr prayers at a shiite mosque in village Karam Dad. This is the third serious sectarian incident that ocurred in the month of january in three contiguous years. This event occurred as the pakistan foreign secretary visited iran
- In peshawar an atta dealer shot dead an atta seeker
- There are over 1700 people who are on the GOP's exit control list of which 56 are parliamentarians
- In the past year and a half Nawaz Sharif spent 76 days travelling to 37 countries for no particular reason
- The army operation against power theft is to begin next week
- 30 shops were gutted as a fire broke out in the Shadman center on tariq road in karachi
- GOP rethinking power sale to india due to a lack of surplus power as well as problems which are expected to occur in payments
- In karachi a third MQM murderer was awarded a death sentence and a further 48 cases were sent to military courts
- Benazir Bhutto in a press statement has stated that over 2 lakh wapda and army personnel are to be removed from service
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- In what is being considered by the PPP as a landmark decision the Chef Ehtesab Commisioner has decided that references against the prime minister, punjab chief minister and the Ehtesab Bureau Chief can be got investigated by an independent agency and need not be referred to the Ehtesab Bureau
- A bridge enroute to Raiwind was blownup by a 5kg timebomb causing the death of three people and several injured in what is being considered as an assassination attempt on the primeminister. The almost continuously travelling Nawaz Sharif was to pass over the bridge in a few hours. The primeministers credibility and popularity have been falling and various internal and external elements are being cited as possible suspects.The blast comes in the wake of the withdrawal of the indian ambassador and execution of a murderer and rapist by military court orders in karachi.However police is pointing to local involvement and according to the PMLn ,Altaf Hussein predicted the blast thus showing possible involvement
- In what can be said tobe a 180degree about turn the pakistani cricket board has reappointed Wasim Akram as captain and brought back almost the same cricket team of a few years ago with no major changes. The only important player missing could be Mohammed Zahid who is still recovering from injury and operations Several unnecessary players have been included in the 23 probables including Mohd Hussein, Mushtaq Ahmed, Nadeem Khan, Wajahatullah, Shahid Afridi, Rashid Latif, Asif Mujtaba and Amer Sohail
- Atta seekers from the NWFP's security apparatus the Frontier Constabulary fired at a minister and free atta distributers in the NWFP village of Topi when not given an appropriate share leading to demos and road blockages
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- In what was reffered to as barbaric and cruel by a tearful Benazir Bhutto the GOP refused to allow her to travel to Dubai tobe with her children on a new years day. She also immediately challenged the action in the Punjab High Court who allowed tp proceed to Dubai
- In further judicial news two judges of the normally pro PMLn Punjab High Court reluctantly gave two days of pre arrest bail to Benazirs personal secretary Nahid Khan. The judges were irritated at the negative comments that are common about the judiciary and wanted to know why the PPP leaders came to them if they did not think them fair and honest. A lawyer replied that they had no other channel to air their grievances against the GOP's political victimisation. The police were after Nahid for having disrupted a court by throwing ink on a participants face. The judge also expressed his annoyance at a lawyers remarks that dogs would eat his body. The judges obviously donot realise that such low key offences should not get a person tobe hounded by the entire punjab police
- The Frontier Post reports that after considering and being rejected by Russian, French , and US airplane manufacturers on political and financial grounds the GOP is considering falling back on the purchase of the updated version of the chinese fighter plane known as the F-7 a version of the outdated MIG21. In the PAF the F-7 is known as "The Flying Coffin" for its unreliable nature and inability of the planes ejection system to function properly. The chinese themselves now depend on russian fighters namely the SU27-31
- Load Shedding continues to add to the woes of the people in addition to foggy weather, dry dusty weather and obviously ramazan and the GOP. The govt has brought load shedding onitself by releasing too much water from Tarbela and Mangla. The lack of seasonal rains and extreme colds in the northern areas are also an additional cause The privately run Hubco and Kapco are also producing below capacity either deliberately or due to inefficient maintenance systems.Wapda too is facing problems with frictions emerging between civilans and faujis. Similarly some of wapdas thernal plants which had been shutdown as being inefficient are being restarted . The problems are also due to canal closures and govt restrictions on fuel supplies to WAPDA and KESC for non payment and trying to conserve foreign exchange reserves
- In karachi masked rioters exchanged fire with rangers and blockaded roads and set a bus on fire. This resulted from the removal of 300 shanties on govt land in Gharibabad which the GOP said were being used as hideouts for criminals and terrorists
- The GOP's foreign exchange reserves have reached $1.021 billion after the receipt of the F-16 refunds
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- In Bannu a very unlikely place for riots five people were killed and twenty injured by a mob after a policeman shot dead a boy apparently on offering resistance to being molested. The police and the rioters exchanged fire when the mob attacked police posts and the police station.Later the army was called in to patrol the streets
- A punjab PMLn minister for excise and taxation Mian Merajdin resigned after he was found involved in power theft. His cinema apparently used a slowed down meter in connivance with wapda staff who were apparently gratified with nominal sums of money. Earlier the govt had transferred the electric utility LESCO head on raiding the ministers cinema
- Five people including a imam were killed when a rival opened fire on a mosque in mardan
- According to The News Benazir Bhutto has been put on the exit control list thus forcing her to seek prior GOP permission if she wants to travel abroad
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