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Pakistan and Politics

by ikram ul haq

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A NEW PRESIDENT

IT IS ALRIGHT TO CONDEMN , DEFAME AND RIDICULE THE JUDICIARY

THE HIGHEST PAID BEAUROCRAT

TRAGEDY AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

THE END OF JUDICIAL ACTIVISM AND OTHER MATTERS

RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE MOTORWAY, SWISS ACCOUNTS AND ZARDARI

THE PMLn 's PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STUMBLES

HAPPY NEW YEAR MAY 1998 BE GOOD FOR EVERYONE

A NEW PRESIDENT>--1.12.1998

The legislators of pakistan have selected a new president in what turned out to be single horse race. This is for the first time that a relatively unknown has been made president. Nobody knows much about Rafiq Tarrar(375 votes). He is seen as a Punjabi chauvinist and has generally adopted a hardline conservative attitude. He has recently stated that he will change that attitude and work to solve the problems of smaller provinces. He has also magnanimously declared that women too can participate in development. What women did before his arrival on the scene is not known. That shows that he has already started to learn and might change the PMLn attitude of keeping women away from the centers of politics(joke). One PMLn leader has stated that they never consult women as that causes problems and confusion. The Pakistani state run television(PTV) has already been assigned the task of building Tarrar's reputation(They usually make a hash of it). Anyway there are already rumours that Tarrar spent an astronomical 25 crores to buy the votes necessary for his success. .!!! Where he got such a huge amount is not known. However one must praise the PMLn in getting the support of ethnic based provincial/regional organisations without too much trouble. Obviously they have not fallen for Tarrars personality.In related moves PPP,s Asif Zardari who took oath as a senator yesterday immediately started attempts to buy votes for his party or sell his parties votes as an alternative. But apparently there were no takers as the PMLn had the election won before his arrival. Even former ally Fazlur Rahman (fundamentalist maulvi) refused to return his telephone calls. The PPP had earlier refused to support Fazlur Rahmans candidate Maulvi Sheerani(22 votes). The PPP's own candidate the lacklustre Aftab Mirani a bhutto relative got 58 votes.Tarrar is oddly related to the PPP's senator from lahore Aitzaz Ahsan. One will probably now have to hear the name of Tarrar and Nawaz at the start of every bulletin which usually is very good for the opposition as people get sick and tired of listening to what the two personalities did that day. When people reach that stage the end of the govt is usually not far off. There are hopes amongst the PMLn that Tarrar will run a no frills presidency and will be willing to meet ordinary people humbly ie squattted on the floor. All the presidencies furniture will be auctioned off and the money distributed amongst the poor. Others suggest that Tarrar will move to a humble abode in one of Islamabads poorer sectors. Still others suggest that a choogi(cane hut) will be built in the presidencies lawns to serve as a diwan e aam (commoners meeting place)and that Tarrar will be freely available there for gup shup since he has few other responsibilities. That is being suggested in contrast too the hoity toity bird shooting Leghari. Tarrar has said that as president he will have to act according to the constitution. In turn Nawaz has assured that the constitution will be further ammended to consolidate his power. Methinks he is getting too carried away with the amendment act!!!
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IT IS ALRIGHT TO CONDEMN , DEFAME AND RIDICULE THE JUDICIARY>--31.12.1997

In what is turning out to be the "war of rubber stamps" the Punjab High Court instead of deciding on the disqualification of Rafiq Tarrar gave an unnecessary explanation of its earlier decision of staying Rafiq Tarrars disqualification by the CEC. It put off deciding on Tarrars qualification for another two weeks. That means that the PMLn too is uncertain about Tarrar and wants to see how he behaves after his election before nodding either way. What the Supreme Court and the Punjab High Court are indicating is that it is alright to ridicule the judiciary if u are on the govt side. It also indicates that the Punjab High Court has like the Supreme Court decided that rubber stamping govt decisions is the way to go. Anyway the way is still open for the judiciary to disqualify Tarrar in a few weeks and cause another presidential election . That would serve the PMLn purpose of telling the conservatives that they have tried but failed. One however sees in the PHC decision a tacit acceptance of President Tarrar . Well if Nawaz , Tarrar and Benazir can ridicule the judiciary so can we and for that matter anyone else.
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THE HIGHEST PAID BEAUROCRAT >--29.12.1997

NAWAZ SHARIF is appointing Moeenuddin Khan an expatriate banker/process expert and obviously Lahori as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Revenue. According to the press he is set to become the highest paid beaurocrat in the country working directly under the prime minister. He will also be solely responsible to the prime minister and will not work under the finance ministry. He is going to be paid an astronomical 1800000 a month in salary and perks. One can now expect that nobody will question the Nawaz families tax returns. The CBR as the countries tax collection/rule forming organization is known seems to be failing inits appointed task as Nawaz has ordered it not to harass the real rich (businessmen, agriculturists, industrialists and highly paid employees). Nawaz Sharif is a supporter of voluntary taxation (an impossible system) and supports increasing tax collection by targetting traders and shopkeepers and middle income groups. He has recently imposed taxes on urban housing and retail sales. Upto now the failure of the CBR was seen as a failure of the Finance minister. Now it will be seen as a failure of the prime minister. Upto now Nawaz seems to be fighting an imaginary enemy which is working against his interests. He now says that there are no more machinations against his govt and that supposedly will improve things automatically. Unfortunately unless Nawaz Sharif forms proper policies and implements them effectively only than will things improve. Unfortunately for that to occur Nawaz Sharif and his cohorts will have to accept responsibility for all failures and successes which he/they is/are extremely reluctant to do. Apparently the Nawaz mafia is already at work to destroy the new CBR chief as again according to the press someone has injured the New CBR chiefs son by firing a shotgun into his legs???!!!

The New Chief Election Commisioner

The Nawaz mafia(SOCALLED as they do not tolerate any opposition) has acted quickly to appoint a new Chief Election Commisioner after the acting Chief Election Commisioner Mukhtar Junejo embarassed them by disqualifying their presidential candidate. The Punjab High Court which is hearing Tarrar's appeal might decide the appeal in a day or two. Since the court had asked the CEC AND GOVT to appear the govt acted to remove the acting CEC immediately. The new CEC Qadeer Chaudhry a retired judge of the Supreme Court and supposedly well respected will now have to explain the disqualification. How he does that will show whether he is an independent person or a rubber stamp(most people in the Nawaz camp are well known for their ability to follow orders and doing little else). The new CEC who is obviously a Punjabi hails from Sibi (Balochistan). The Nawaz appointment committee had previously only considered people from in and AROUND lahore for important positions in govt. Qadeer might also turn out to be a resident of Lahore so don't start thinking that Nawaz has suddenly turned against his punjabi chauvinists. Anyway the only thing that is known about Qadeer is that he headed the Mehran Bank Scandal Inquiry Commission. As is usual for judicial commissions in this country they exonerated all shades of politicians said to be implicated in the scandal. The people said to be implicated in the Mehran scandal included Asif Zardari, Aftab Sherpao, Faruk Leghari, The Sharifs and the Chaudrys. Shahbaz Sharif according to recent interpretations has been moving closer to the actual people involved in the scandal and Nawaz Sharif has moved to release the principal accused who proposed to return the billions in return for freedom. When u can buy immunity than crime and honesty become equal. While recovering stolen money is important it is also necessary that those involved in the frauds be made to realise that their actions are not sanctioned by the govt or society. Nawaz while championing some good causes seems to be failing his mandate in giving protection to the rich in their attempts to defraud others . Riches do not signify honesty or sainthood Mr Sharif. One wonders if Qadeer has been given the CEC job in recognition of services rendered, honesty or having gotten the involved off the hook without the trouble of going thru even a trial???
Added on 31.12.1997
It has been reported that that Qadeer has been a resident of quetta since his retirement and can be called a genuine baluchi. It is also being rumoured that Qadeer and Tarrar were behind the judicial coup that saved Nawaz Sharifs neck and obviously govt. That is why they have been rewarded. According to the press a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Fazal Ilahi has retired about ten months earlier than scheduled. It is most probable that the judge is miffed at being overlooked for the position of CEC which he had been interested in. The PMLn had also hinted at appointing Fazal Illahi to the position of CEC. In the next few months another two judges of the SC are going to retire which will cause the SC to become dominated by Nawaz loyalists.
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TRAGEDY AND CONFLICTS OF INTERESTs>--25.12.1997

Yesterday was a tragic day here as two trains collided head on killing 34 and injuring many in Jhang. In another incident three young tennis players died of coal gas suffocation in Taxila
The ANP showed its political immaturity by taking out a provocative Pukhtunkhawa march in the hazara heartland of Abbottabad. It raised the ires of the Hazara Qaumi movement who turned out in full force and obviously both clashed as tempers rose. The police teargassed the rallys to prevent further problems and violence. The area was literally cutoff from the rest of the country due to the tensions.
The judge who gave a temporary stay order allowing Rafiq Tarrar to contest the presidential election turns out to be a brother of a PMLn MNA. According to the judges case decision such judges who have political links should be removed from the judiciary. While the Chief Justice of the Punjab High Court refused to sit on the larger bench as he was also a member of the Election Commision Justice Qayum showed no such honesty and refused to stand down from the bench when lawyers objected to his inclusion in the three member bench constituted to hear the case.
The Supreme Court has set up a five judge panel to frame new rules for the judiciary and everyone hopes that it will include rules on conflict of interests. The Provincial high courts too should frame rules on conflicts of interests and not leave it to the conscience of judges.
In another conflict of interests story the sales tax on the Gadani ship breaking industry has been substantially increased. The ship breaking industry is in direct competition with the Nawaz Sharif family owned iron industries. This is the only industry on which sales tax has been increased by the Nawaz govt.
In other conflict of interest stories related to the first family the Income Tax Commisioner for the Lahore region was fired for insisting that the Sharifs pay their taxes. The Nawaz Sharif clan is becoming notorious for avoiding taxation on their industrial incomes.People are saying that if the Sharifs can default on taxes so can they.
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THE END OF JUDICIAL ACTIVISM AND OTHER MATTERS>--24.12.1997

The Supreme Court ten judge panel today struck a decisive blow against judicial activism/independence of the judiciary and opposition to govt dictates. The judges who had rebelled against Sajjad Ali Shahs authoritarianism and opposition to certain political figures decided that his appointment as CJ was illegal and ordered that the seniormost judge Ajmal Mian be made CJ who was immediately sworn in by the acting president. That ends another power held by the prime minister/president combine and now the senior most SC judge will automatically have to be appointed CJ. This decision as is well known is based on personal opposition to the Sajjad Ali Shahs personality and not on any legal or constitutional provision. In a way it is a very submissive continuation of Sajjad Ali Shahs judicial legislation. The judges have now enshrined the principle of seniority in appointments which could cause a lot of problems in appointments and promotions in other organizations. Lets see how the SC operates under Ajmal Mian who is the only non punjabi in the countries top heirarchy. He is suspected to be a disciplinarian and could run into flak from the individual minded judges. Sajjad Ali Shah will now become an ordinary judge and has said that he will file an appeal as the judgement was apparently made in haste and without listening to the concluding arguments of his counsel. His counsel has stated that the decision is obviously bad, unconstitutional,was predetermined by the judges attitudes and that the judges did not listen to any of his arguments.Which is obviously normal as the SC judges are known to predetermine most cases than mock opposing counsels views.

In another case the SC refused to stay the Sind High Court decision to allow Asif Zardari to take oath as a senator.

NAWAZ LOSES IN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE SULTAN MAHMUD ,AJK PREMIER

In what may be seen as one of nawaz sharifs worst political defeats the movers of the noconfidence motion in the Azad Kashmir withdrew when only six members(mostly from the opposition) turned up. It is also a defeat for house Speaker Mumtaz Rathore who was behind the move. Rathore expected to be named prime minister if the move succeeded. It is thought that Kashmir Affairs minister Majid Malik and Nwfp Chief Minister Mehtab Abbasi were behind the attempts to topple Sultan Mahmud. The AJK assembly is dominated by the PPP and its speaker is opposed to Sultan Mahmud. The PMLn attempted to exploit the rifts between AJK cabinet members aswell as the prime minister and the speaker. Rathore says that another no confidence attempt motion will be mounted soon. However the PPP had expected to win the noconfidence motion move with ease which caused the rivals to quit.

ANP MIGHT RESIGN FROM NWFP CABINET

It seems that the rift caused by the Puktuunhkwa resolution and not naming a Pukhtun to the presidency might eventually result in an ANP resignation from the NWFP cabinet. ANP is caught in a vice between its desire to be in govt and wanting everything their own way. Their is a clear conflict between the ANP and the PMLn but the coalition survives because Nawaz forces them to stick to principles even though they are daggers drawn behind the scene. To keep them quite and contented Nawaz has started three major projects ie Extension of the Chasma Right Bank Canal, Islamabad-Peshawar motorway which is routed thru Charsadda(Wali Khans hometown) and the Pehur High Level Canal. Such huge programs have only been initiated in the NWFP.
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RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE MOTORWAY, SWISS ACCOUNTS AND ZARDARI >--22.12.1997

According to the press Nawaz Sharif seems to be running or motoring up and down the motorway all the time. He has acted as the night in shining armour in at least two accidents and opted to pay the damages of a car owner who ran into a couple of donkeys. One wonders how he finds the time to enjoy motoring to and from lahore literally all the time. He apparently dashes off to lahore even if he wants to chat with his father or brother. Obviously very afraid to use the much bugged telephone???!!! The govt has issued a clarification to a spate of rumours that suggested people were avoiding the motorway due to high costs, accidents ,lack of safety ,no medical facilities and non availibility of petrol, rash driving etc. The govt says that 9000 vehicles are using the motorway and that they are improving availibility of service and medical facilities. Income generation is low at around a million rupees per day. A helicopter will be made available for emergency medical aid which will get to the site of an accident in five minutes. More petrol pumps will be made available. People overspeeding that is driving above 100kph are being fined rupees 750 and attempts are being made to teach drivers some road sense. Several people have beeen caught driving at speeds of over 140kph which includes the senior minister in the Punjab cabinet.
Benazir Bhutto has disowned all the swiss accounts that have apparently been permanently blocked by the Swiss authorities. The Punjab High Court also got into the act and ordered Benazir, Nusrat and Zardari not to operate their foreign accounts forthwith. Saif the 007 of the Nawaz mafia apparently suggests that all the companies registered in the Virgin islands are Bhutto owned and all the foreign accounts in Switzerland and France belong to the Benazir-Asif syndicate. They hope to have the millions returned to the treasury soon. He has however refused to specify the amounts that Benazir has secreted away and now suggests that it could range between 100 million to 1.5 billion dollars. The British authorities have also been contacted to to confiscate all Bhutto-zardari family properties and bank accounts. Saif has suggested that about 100million dollars are expected to be returned by February 1998. Asif Zardari has also stated that he has no foreign accounts.
The Sind High Court has finally realized that Asif Zardari has some rights too and ordered the provincial and federal govts to make arrangements for Zardari to appear in the senate to which he was elected some time back. Asif Zardari has been in jail since the Nawaz govt came to power on unsubstantiated and unrevealed charges.
It seems that there might be some more fireworks in store for us in the Rafiq Tarrar nomination. Apparently the govts covering candidates have not taken back there nominations and even if elected Tarrar might be disqualified after becoming president. Nawaz Sharif apparently went to offer condolences on the death of a relative to the judge of the Punjab High Court who allowed Tarrar to contest the presidential elections apparently without jurisdiction as the first appeal against the decision of a returning officer has to be made to an election tribunal.
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THE PMLn 's PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STUMBLES>--19.12.1997

Added on 20.12.1997
In what is seen as a tit for tat reaction amongst various judicial organs of the state a single judge bench of the Punjab High Court stayed the order of the CEC and allowed Tarrar to participate in the presidential election pending the constitution of a larger bench to hear the case. Tarrar who claims to be a dervish hired an expensive Lahori lawyer to defend his case who argued that past statements and newspaper clippings could not be used to disqualify his client. He also argued that the CEC as the returning officer did not have the jurisdiction to apply the constitutional provisions regarding a candidates disqualification.

We Are Unable To Handle Ordinary Projects On Our Own

The prime minister who is increasingly being seen as doing nothing has awarded two major contracts to Turkish organizations . Work was initiated on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway and the Pehur High Level Canal. One wonders why the prime minister is encouraging foreign organizations while continuing to denigrate locals. One should expect the pakistani govt to encourage local entrepreneurs/construction companies rather than go looking for Bayindirs, STF's and Daewoos to construct relatively low tech motorways and canals.

Local Body Elections

The govt has announced local govt elections in february to be held in all provinces. Since the govt is faring very badly at the local level the polls will be held on a non party basis so as to hide any loss in popularity and make the badly divided opposition vote for govt sponsored candidates. Since the martial law era this tactic has been adopted to hide failures and prop up such jiyalas(bad mannered political workers of political parties) who generally do not have a good reputation. The Punjab Chief Minister has assured everyone that all jailbirds will be given tickets in the local elections. One wonders whether the PMLn does not have any clean hardworking and right image people who are not used to breaking the law and spending time in jail. The exercise is being carried out without any effort to enroll new voters. The previous electoral rolls are about ten years old and many new voters will be deprived of the vote if special efforts are not made to enroll all those entitled to vote.
Original content-19.12.1997
In what may be a turning point in pakistans democratic history the acting Chief Election Commissioner Mukhtar Ahmad Junejo rejected the nomination papers of the PMLn candidate Rafiq Tarrar under article 63(g)(1) and 41(2) of the constitution for making remarks ridiculing the countries judiciary. It is for the first time that the papers of a major candidate have been rejected. Tarrar made the controversial remarks in two interviews published in the daily Jang and weekly Takbeer. In one statement Tarrar said the Chief Justice did not deserve the top judicial slot and alleging that he violated the code of conduct. He also charged some of the Punjab High Court judges with amassing illegal wealth. Tarrar also alleged that that the judiciary had always been used in the personal interest of the rulers. He accused respected former Chief Justice Haleem of sympathising with the PPP forgetting his own judgements in favour of the PMLn. In another statement Tarrar said that Sajjad Ali Shah was a judicial terrorist who was sincere to the britishers and should be disgraced.In the tradition of the PMLn he also referred to the Chief Justice of Pakistan as "Zaleel". He also wanted to send a reference to the Supreme Judicial Council against the judges who had allegedly sabotaged the constitution and revived lotaism(a statement very similar to the prime ministers). Tarrar was also quoted as having said that a judge of the High Court had purchased a floor mill for Rs 9.5 million and that the former govt had appointed judges who were touts and corrupt. The CEC made the decision after reading the entire interviews and ascertaining from Tarrar that he had not contradicted any parts of the interviews. It is now possible that the PMLn presidential candidate might be Haleem Siddiqui(Karachi) or Zaffrullah Jamali(Balochistan). There is also an impossible numerical possibility of a non PMLn candidate becoming president if all non PMLn legislators vote for one candidate.
In a statement the PPP now reveals that it wanted to appoint the senior most Supreme Court judge Saad Saoud Jan as the Chief Justice but Leghari appointed Sajjad Ali Shah instead. It is difficult to accept that the PPP did not reveal its desire than and has only come out with its position after almost four years. It now seems that Benazir was literally under the thumb of Leghari and was pretty weak as prime minister
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