THE LATEST COMMENTS ARE ON THIS PAGE.AFTER THIS TRY PAGES 29 , 28 ,27 and 26. THE OTHER PAGES CONTAIN COMMENTS ON EVENTS SINCE MAY 1997.

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Pakistan and Politics

by ikram ul haq

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ANOTHER MINISTER CAUGHT ROBBING ELECTRICITY

VAJPAYEE HAS FOOLED NAWAZ AGAIN

MINISTERS LEAD ELECTRICITY THEIVES

THE FALL OF LAHORE

MTC's DEAD, NAWAZ IS VAJPAYEES BEST FRIEND IN PAKISTAN

VAJPAYEES BUS TRIP, PONM'S IMPOSSIBLE AGENDA

RALLY PELTED WITH BRICKS

ANP-PMLN ALLIANCE OFF

SPYING NGOS, MANZOOR WATTOO UPSETS NAWAZ,INDIAN AGENDA

PUKHTUNKHWA ACCEPTABLE, SHERPAO REMOVED,PM'S ON BUSES

THE SHARIFS EMPIRE

ANOTHER MINISTER CAUGHT ROBBING ELECTRICITY--03 MARCH 1999

• Population minister Abida Hussein and PMLn MNA Fakhar Imam were caught stealing electricity.An electricity meter was found tobe tampered at their Shah Jewna farm. Ministers are said tobe pressuring Nawaz to remove the Wapda chief who they argue is going after them with a veangeance. Another Nawaz appointee UBL head Zubyr Soomru is in hot waters too after appointing a model as a Rs150000 secretary and writing off loans of Sindhi cronies
• The Sharifs sponsored Daewoo group is the only prominent party that has offered to buy HBL apart from the employees group and arab parties. The PC immediately stopped receiving offers when the Daewoo bid was entered. A behind the scenes deal maybe in the works. Since no major parties have shown interest another effort should be made to get some real parties interested. There is no point in literally destroying the countries biggest bank.Newspaper reports suggest that the GOP hardpressed for qualified buyers in the failed privatization process is literally willing to give the Convention Center, a hotel site, 45% of ABL and might be even KESC to DAEWOO.Such is the magic of the korean group. One wonders why there is no real interestin pakistans privatization
• A forner PPP minister Dr Sher Afghan was fined Rs38000 for electricity theft
• The GOP in an effort to prop up its flagging campaign against Benazir and Zardari is taking out large ads in two of the countries largest anti PPP newspapers describing the Benazir wealth which are supposed to stop the ebbing support for the PMLn dirty politics
• NasrullahKhan who is probably the only turkish cap wearer in the country has become the head of the opposition alliance PAI
• Saeed Bharam and Saleem Ganja MQM terrorists involved in 1997 killing of four US workers arrested
• The SC has indicted six PMLn ghundas , two MNA's and four MPA's for contempt of court .They raided the SC building amid hooliganism in November 1997.They include MNA Tariq Aziz and MPA Akhter Rasool.

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VAJPAYEE HAS FOOLED NAWAZ again--28 FEBRUARY 1999

• It is the JI contention that Vajpayee has fooled nawaz once again. Nawaz on the other hand is finding it difficult to explain his meekness in dealing with the indians.His reasoning is that it is all the fault of the JI which is finding it difficult to deal with pakistan's nuclear status. It seems that Nawaz is negotiating more with his colleagues than with the indians giving rise to the oft repeated suggestion that mohajirs find fighting the indians difficult.His latest explanation is the childish one that the dispute cannot be resolved without talking to the indians and that a different response will be adopted if the indians donot budge after some yet to be defined timeframe. One would question that assertion by the oft repeated response that is the past fifty years not an adequate timeframe to judge the indians attitudes.It is becoming clear that unless the indians provide some movement on real talks on kashmir the attempts at CBM's(Continental ballistic missiles ) or confidence building measures alone will not be sufficient. Maybe if Nawaz was as aggressive in his negotiations as he is in his explanations things would start moving. A lot of people get the impression that Nawaz is behaving like an injun.
• A PMLn senator Nisar Khan and PMLn Balochistan chief Jam Yusuf have been indicted for power theft.According to the army 116000 of balochistans 250000 power consumers are guilty of theft or default. The prime minister has recently allowed the continuation of almost free flat rate electricity to agricultural tubewells in balochistan until 2002
• The entire local administration of lahore has been transferred for mismanaging arrangements during the Vajpayee visit. Maybe Nawaz needs to understand that the people are not too keen to host the indians especially vis their brutality in kashmir
• Two ASI's and ten dacoits were killed in police encounters reported from sheikhupura, gujranwala, multan and peshawar
• The GOP plans to raise employee salaries by around 15% in the next budget
• Ishaq Dar has again refused to defreeze the FCA's despite an easing of reserves and a court order

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MINISTERS LEAD ELECTRICITY THEIVES--24 FEBRUARY 1999

• Son in law of Minister for Water and Power Gohar Ayub has been arrested for electricity theft. Similarly relatives of another minister Tehmina Daultana were fined Rs775000 for power theft
• PONM an alliance of certain oppressed nations living in NWFP , Balochistan and Sind have demanded the right to electricity theft without army interference
• The Punjab govt seems tobe choking of wheat supplies to millers causing atta shortages in some areas
• Criticism is mounting at the meaningless nature and outcome of the Nawaz-Vajpayee lahore meeting

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THE FALL OF LAHORE--23 FEBRUARY 1999

• The karachi bound Chenab express train derailed near the Jungshahi staion in Thatta killing five
• The GOP which cares little for the plight of the poor aims to increase the support price of wheat to around Rs300 per maund from Rs260
• Vajpayee the indian primeminister visited lahore as 34 were killed in continuing violence in occupied kashmir. Lahore was turned into a battlefield as the JI protesting the vajpayee visit organized armed demos which turned into pitched battles with the police. One policeman was killed and a hundred injured as several vehicles and buildings were set on fire.In fact lahore was shutdown as all public transport went of the streets and a defacto strike took effect.
• The Monopoly Control Authority ordred cement prices tobe reduced by Rs100 from Rs240 which is being resisted by the manaufactureres
• 1000 JI workers were arrested including the temporary detention of Qazi Hussein Ahmed and other leaders as police clashed with JI demonstrators protesting the Vajpayee visit. Some people saw the Vajpayee visit as a repeat of the fall of Dacca while the GOP projected it as a historic event
• Nawaz has vowed to continue fighting terrorism and has distributed Rs50 million amongst the heirs of around 400 policemen killed during violence in karachi. He also agreed to raise police salaries and setup 10 anti terrorist courts for addressing terrorism related judicial problems
• Three people including an iranian were killed in karachi in what seems tobe a reoccurrence of MQM instigated violence

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MTC's DEAD, NAWAZ IS VAJPAYEES BEST FRIEND IN PAKISTAN--18 FEBRUARY 1999

• The Supreme Court in a unanimous decision that was expected has declared the military courts setup in karachi and elsewhere in the country as illegal and unconstitutional. It transferred all cases to the anti terrorist courts and appointed a two judge panel to oversee the courts instructions to see that ATA courts adjudicate on one case at a time and that appeals are decided in seven days .The court also said that the armed forces help could be used to protect courts in case of threats or disruptions. The decision generally benefits the MQM and electricity thieves who have probably gotten a lease of life. It was shown that even the court martials setup under the army act cannot give more than five year sentences and the military courts could not be setup without being under the countries existing judicial authority ie the Supreme Court.
• The JI seems to have backed out of a confrontational posture on the Vajpayee bustrip to lahore and now seems to be organizing a strike in lahore on his arrival
• Nawaz Sharif seems to be the indians best friend in pakistan and pakistanis challenge him to show any change in indian attitudes. Nawaz seems tobe acting as an outsider in a floundering indo pakistan dialogue process. It would be beneficial for pakistan if the primeminister focussed on pakistans agenda and itemised what he wants to talk to india on and about .What he thinks is progress and what pakistan should be getting out ofit rather than just focussing on polemics. Detente cannot be beneficial or functional if the only issue is sidetracked. Lets force the indians to start opening up on kashmir for a start.For example how about opening a wagah on the ceasefire line for a start Allow the people to flow thru the kashmir dispute too since u can do that at wagah? CONFRONTATION THE PRIMEMINISTER SHOULD REALISE IS ALSO A TOOL AND just meeting without talking about anything is going tobe useless too. Pakistan cannot avoid talking about something just because the indians dislike the topic
• Two lashkar e jhangvi activists were shot dead in multan police custody when an attempt was made to get them released

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VAJPAYEES BUS TRIP, PONM'S IMPOSSIBLE AGENDA, SWISS ACCOUNTS--17 FEBRUARY 1999

• The newspapers suggest that Vajpayee will only travel on the bus from the Wagah border where he will arrive by air.However due to threats of attack from the JI the entire 27 km route will be cordoned off by the pakistan army. Nothing substantial is expected from the vajpayee-nawaz parleys. Some newspapers suggest that there might be improvements in some non essential spheres and they might decide to end visa restrictions and facilitate pakistani visits to all parts of india as well as the disputed regions of kashmir.
• Wali khan has again adopted the robes of a racist and has stated that the present chief minister whom he calls a kashmiri has no right to comment on the renaming of NWFP.Wali Khan also adopted a hardline position on the ANP's renewed attempts to form a coalition with the PMLn.
• The Pakistan oppressed nations movement (PONM)which is in essence an ANP run anti punjabi grouping is supposedly going to adopt a constitutional agenda which it will find difficult to implement. It is beginning to appear that the PONM goal is to expand NWFP by incorporating FATA and the entire or pukhtoon dominated parts of BALOCHISTAN and reduce the size of the other three or four provinces. It also supports forming Seraikistan and thus change the country into five autonomous states instead of provinces. It also aims to reduce the powers of the national assembly and increase those of the senate and also wants to equate all provinces in matters of legislation. It also wants a strange five language educational instruction system and a different two language communication system. It wants to replace the GOP/provincial govts by the senate/ courts in matters of inter provincial disputes.It wants emergency declaration presidential powers to be given to the senate.Another tier of courts in the provinces namely provincial supreme courts are also envisaged The PMLn on the other hand is for a reduced provincial/national assembly role and a centralized dictatorial primeminister/cabinet decision making system
• According to the Frontier Post even army organizations such as the FWO are involved in power thefts which are being ignored by the army checking teams.
• According to the statement of a Ehtesab Bureau official in the Punjab High Court none of the Swiss accounts belong to either Benazir or Asif but were in the name of Offshore companies??
• The GOP is apparently going to end the subsidy given to hard hit electricity consumers as well as increase electricity rates which will in effect push up electricity prices by over 20%
• The hawkish Sartaj Aziz has been dropped from the team meeting Vajpayee which suggests differences amongst the cabinet in dealing with the indians

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RALLY PELTED WITH BRICKS--15 FEBRUARY 1999

• The GOP has lifted the ban on recruitments. There are said tobe around 20000 vacancies in the state sector. The GOP has been forced to take this action as a rise in unemployment is seen as a bad omen for GOP leaders
• The Frontier Constabulary mounted a full scale assault on the tribal territory of darra adamkhel and nabbed 22 outlaws, however they could not locate any MQM terrorists. This action could be a prelude to installing electricity meters in tribal territories which at the moment use subsidised and almost free electricity
• Punjab 's anti corruption dept plans to arrest around 100 politicians on corruption charges
• Osama ben Laden the anti western terrorist has vanished from his afghanistan hideout just days after the US and British asked for his expulsion
• A Benazir led largely PPP rally in islamabad was teargassed, lathi charged and according to one newspaper brickbatted.
• In the light of lower revenues the GOP is likely to reduce expenditure by around Rs40 billion. Also on the cards is a reduction of maximum import tarifffs to 35% which will cause further revenue loss
• PMLn mpa Shahnawaz Ranjha has been arrested for power theft and harbouring criminals
• Reports appearing in the press suggest that an atta shortage which persisted in the NWFP is spreading to the punjab as well
• Six peopel died and 200 were injured in lahores celebration of basant
• Two policemen were killed in a shootout with SSP activists in Multan.Police has mounted a fullscale search for SSP activists involved in anti TNFJ activities in the Multan area. TNFJ has held several protest demonstrations in the Multan area and TNFJ leader Sajjad Naqvi has asked his followers to buy weapons and arm themselves

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ANP-PMLN ALLIANCE OFF--12 FEBRUARY 1999

• MPA Moezzam Wattoo son of former punjab chief minister was also arrested by police.No specific reasons were given. Manzoor Wattoo was arrested yesterday for embezzling charity funds, using special funds for his sons wedding expenses and ripping of funds meant to overhaul the chief ministers residence. The general sense is that the present chief minister probably wants a share in wattoos corruption
• A PMLn MPA Mansha Sandhu killed an opposing political rival and kidnapped his brother in law
• The Supreme Court CJ in remarks during hearings on military courts said that even hanging 200 persons will not bring desired results. Many however doubt that . The relaxation in the karachi law and order situation has again resulted in at least one politically motivated murder.According to police the MQM murdered the sister of a PPP leader who was also murdered earlier by the MQM
• According to the Sind Governor they have arrested around 1457 criminals which include 100 notorious criminals, 396 belonging to the MQM and 100 belonging to the MQMh .They have also identified ghost employees in the KMC and around 3000 ghost teachers in interior Sind apart from confiscating over 1150 weapons including anti tank rockets, rocket launchers, kalashnikovs and LMG's
• The Taliban have effectively put Ossama Ben Laden under house arrest but have refused to hand him over to the US authorities
• The ANP chief Ajmal Khattak has ruled out a realliance with the PMLn. Newspapers had printed stories of negotiations and contacts between the two parties in recent days

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SPYING NGOS, MANZOOR WATTOO UPSETS NAWAZ, INDIAN AGENDA--10 FEBRUARY 1999

• According to a Frontier Post report the indians expect a reduction of tensions via the vajpayee bus visit to lahore.The indians donot want the solution of the real problems like kashmir and siachen but want improvement in unimportant areas such as culture, sports,information,music,trade and communications. As far as pakistan is concerned these are just minor matters
• Manzoor Wattoo former punjab chief minister was arrested alongwith his son in law and brother in law for embezzling Bait Ul Maal funds just a day after he published an advertisement itemising his assetts before and after 1985 and challenging Nawaz Sharif to do the same . This was a new case registered almost five years after his removal from the office of chief minister.Several other cases are pending in various courts
• Exports plummetted by 26% in the month of January 1999
• In the light of declining revenue collections the GOP increased the rate of central excise taxes on cigarettes by 14% and imposed a 25% tax on imported soyabean. The purchase prices of local oilseeds such as canola, sunflower and soybean were also increased by Rs50 per 40 kg
• The Health ministry announced that it has ordered the decrease of 10% in the prices of 46 medicines
• Five TNFJ members and two SSP leaders were shot dead in multan , jehanian and khanewal over the past week. One of those shot dead was a witness to earlier murders in mailsi.
• The Jang group has reached an agreement with the GOP and its newsprint has been released and six bank accounts unfrozen
• One of the Supreme Court judges hearing the case against military courts opined that the doctrine of necessity under which the Supreme Court approved Zia Ul Haq's martial law should be buried for ever. Aitzaz Ahsan in his arguments against military courts said that the army could be used under article 245 to protect courts but could not assume the function of the courts
• According to the Frontier Post suspicious NGO's are being kept under close supervision in the punjab. These include NGO's supervised by women and funded by foreign organizations. Some of those mentioned are campaigning against the smuggling in of Bengali women for prostitution and slavery, working against family values and one which recently issued a newsletter for the reunion of india.Some NGO's they say are actually involved in spying whereas some NGO owners were extremely wealthy, owned pajeros and worked hand in glove with suspicious foreign donors and contacts.
• According to another Frontier Post report an NGO survey suggests that NWFP babies and young children have a lot of problems in birth weight(32% below healthy weight averages) , height(43% had low height in children aged upto 3years) and weight (11% of children upto three years had below average weight). Generally and visually speaking the Nwfp children seem much healthier than children in other provinces

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PUKHTUNKHWA ACCEPTABLE, SHERPAO REMOVED,PM'S ON BUSES--09 FEBRUARY 1999

• The GOP is contemplating banning over 700 NGO's which are apparently involved in anti-govt activities
• Police killed four dacoits in faisalabad and nabbed one
• Seven were buried alive when the roof of an under construction madrassa in faisalabad caved in
• Pakistan stresses lifting of military curbs before signing CTBT in meetings with US's Strobe Talbott
• Major(r) Mushtaq has been appointed the head of the FIA
• Army is also to run prisons in Sind and recover bank loans says the Frontier Post
• Under US influence the newly started bus service from lahore to delhi will be used as a gimmick to start negotiations on the nuclear issue.Vajpayee will travel on the inaugural trip to lahore and nawaz is expected to accompany him back to delhi on the return trip. If the two leaders were really serious they could easily fly into each others capitals in a matter of minutes
• In what can be described as a forceful decision to rid infighting amongst two leaders in the NWFP, Benazir Bhutto removed Aftab Sherpao and Massoud Kauser from all party positions in the NWFP. Decisions about the twos membership of the Central Executive Committee will be made later.They have been replaced by Khawaja Hoti and Humayun khan .Benazirs slow moving management style is considered largely responsible for the PPP's lack of cohesion and decay
• The Frontier post opines that the US may launch a cruise strike on afghanistan if the Taliban donot handover Osama
• A PPP founding member Jehangir Khan shot himself dead while addressing a press conference in Shikarpur
• MSF youth on the orders of PMLn MNA Zafar Ali Shah disrupted the PTV award ceremony for over two hours until they were given over 70 invitation passes
• After several PMLn mna's and mpa's complained of harassment by army authorities who were checking electricity pilferage the punjab speaker ordered the army to be careful in handling electricity thiefs belonging to the ruling party.Several important PMLn mpas and afew mna's have been accused of electricity theft
• The GOP has backed out of its confrontation with the Jang group and the two sides have reportedly reached a settlement
• Pakistans Foreign exchange earnings have declined by 20% or over half a billion dollars during the first six months of this year
• The News and the Frontier Post report that the PMLn and the ANP are close to a new mutually acceptable coalition agreement which might include approval of Kalabagh dam by the ANP and acceptance of Pukhtunkhwa by the PMLn

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THE SHARIFS EMPIRE--03 FEBRUARY 1999

• According to the news only four units of Nawaz Sharifs industrial empire of 33 factories is properly functional. The Sharifs have asked banks to take over their factories in exchange for loans owed to eight banking concerns
• Former secretary ,food and agricultural Dr. Zafar Altaf has been charged with the disappearance of 17 GOP vehicles
• A Murtaza Bhutto associate Abdul Sattar Baloch who was arrested for allegedly murdering a judge Nabi Sher Junejo was killed/died in police custody
• The Supreme Court has asked the GOP to desist from airing programs against the MQM's terrorism
• The Supreme Court has ordered the release of newsprint on which taxes have already been paid to the Jang group
• The GOP has ordered the closure of 11 cable networks for spreading immorality,one of which was owned by the Jang group

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