------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 17 August 2002 Issue : 08/33 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Senate election on Nov 12: Nominations from 19th: EC + Parliament can reject changes, EU told + Delhi's charges of cross-border terrorism rejected + Musharraf vows to hold fair polls: Kashmir elections rejected + SC refuses to pass any direction: LG polls in Islamabad + CEC asks ROs not to accept nominations of ministers + EC allows 71 parties for poll + EC turns down Ijaz's registration request + SC admits petition of PML-QA: Delimitation of constituencies + Defaulters cannot contest polls: EC + Nomination form for Benazir being obtained today + PPP complains to CEC against govt's smear campaign + Court notice to AG on Benazir's petition + PPP chief moves SHC to contest election + Benazir ready to work with Nawaz + Benazir and Shahbaz to face law, says minister + Hearing of Benazir's plea adjourned + LHC seeks order against Shahbaz + Plea against bar on Shahbaz's entry + Sharif family won't be allowed to return: ISPR + C'wealth informed of anti-PPP steps + Govt flayed for 'pre-poll rigging' + Imran opposes return of Benazir, Nawaz + Imran vows to ensure justice and self-respect + Grand National Alliance formed + PPPP, JI agree to cooperate + SHC to hear Omar's appeal in Karachi + Search for Al Qaeda men launched + Defence closes evidence today: Meerwala case + More defence witnesses depose: Meerwala gang-rape case + ATC summons six more witnesses: Meerwala gang-rape + Lashkar-i-Jhangvi blamed for attacks + Banned groups behind attack + Wattoo seeks release in pending reference + No disqualification on me: Wattoo + Courts order Wattoo's release + American school may be closed down --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Six million dollars debt rescheduled + Several groups vying to be king of country's financial sector + HBL sell-off attracts local, foreign investors + KSE index manages to finish with modest rise + Stock market back on rails --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + We never learn from history-3 Ardeshir Cowasjee + Bewildered: the cavalry under siege Ayaz Amir + Pre-emption as a principle not in US interest Henry A. Kissinger + Vendettas, victims and victors Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + PCB's financial misdeeds exposed + PCB signs three-year contract with CBFS + Improved Pakistan outplay Sri Lanka + ICC, Pakistan reject Tangiers + Pakistan to lose domestic audience, money after Aussie pull out + Jansher returns to big time squash + Jansher may get wildcard
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 20020817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Senate election on Nov 12: Nominations from 19th: EC ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Rafaqat Ali ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The Election Commission announced the schedule for elections to the National and provincial assemblies to be held on Oct 10. The Election Commission announced that the election to the Senate would now be held on Nov 12, exactly one month after the deadline fixed by the Supreme Court for holding of the NA, PAs and Senate elections. The senator from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) would be elected through direct vote on Oct 10. Candidates have been asked to file nomination papers from Aug 19 to 24. Returning Officers would scrutinize nomination papers from Aug 25 to 31. Candidates or their rivals would be able to file appeals against the decision of Retuning Officers, accepting or rejecting the nomination papers, till Sept 4. Last date for withdrawal of candidature has been fixed at Sept 12. On the next day, Sept 13, the revised list of candidates will be published. Polling for election to the National and provincial assemblies and Senate (only in the Fata) will be held on Oct 10. The same program will apply to the seats reserved for women and minorities in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan. Official notification issued on Friday stated the position about the Senate election. It said it was earlier announced that the elections for the Senate would also be held on Oct 10. A large number of people, political leaders and political parties had desired that the election to the Senate be held according to existing scheme of the Constitution, it added. The original scheme for holding election to the Senate provided that the senators from the provinces were to be elected by the members of the provincial assemblies and from the federal capital by the members of the National Assembly. "The election to the Senate cannot, therefore, be held till such time that the elections to the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies are complete, the members have taken oath, the Speaker and Deputy Speakers have been elected and thereafter a reasonable period is provided for filing and scrutiny of papers," the notification said. The general seats for National Assembly had been increased from 207 to 272 after delimitation of the constituencies in the light of census results. The government has also increased the representation of women in the National and provincial assemblies. The elections would be held on joint electorate basis, first time after 1977 election. Besides, the government has withdrawn its proposal for the withdrawal of the special seats for the minorities and has restored these. Candidates on the reserved seats for women and non-Muslims will be elected through proportional representation system of political parties lists of candidates on the basis of total number of general seats won by each political party in a provincial assembly. The independents would have no say in the election of women seats. The law provides that every political party would have to give a list of candidates for the seats reserved for women and minorities, in order of priority. A political party securing less than five per cent of the total number of general seats in the National Assembly will not be entitled to any reserved seat for women or non-Muslims. The Punjab Assembly will consist of 372 seats, including 66 reserved seats for women and nine for minorities. Similarly, the Sindh Assembly will have a total strength of 167 members, including 29 seats for women and eight for minorities. Balochistan Assembly will consist of 65 members, including 11 women and three minority members; and NWFP Assembly will consist of 124 members, including 22 women and three minority members. The government has amended the Representation of People's Act, empowering the Returning Officers to reject the nomination papers of any candidate on the basis of information received from "any source." Election schedule at a glance Filing of nomination papers Aug 19 to 24, 2002 Scrutiny of nomination papers Aug 25 to 31, 2002 Last date of filing of appeals Sept 4, 2002 Last date for deciding appeals Sept 11, 2002 Last date for withdrawal Sept 12, 2002 Publication of revised list Sept 13, 2002 Polling day Oct 10, 2002 Senate election Nov 12, 2002 The above program shall also apply to the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Parliament can reject changes, EU told ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: Chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau, Lt Gen Tanveer Naqvi assured European Union electoral observation mission that the constitutional reforms being introduced are not reversible and subject to approval by future parliament. "Constitutional amendments would stand unless there is a negative resolution approved by the parliament," Naqvi told the EU observer. "Parliament is sovereign and it can do whatever it likes and the Constitution clearly lays down the procedure in this regard," Naqvi said. The European Union mission, who had been criticized for interfering in Pakistan's internal affairs, met the NRB chairman here on Friday. According to an official announcement, chief of the mission Cashnahan in his meeting with the NRB chief explained the role of his mission and said the EU has a universally recognized criteria for observing elections process in different countries and it would not interfere in the internal politics of any country. Gen Naqvi briefed the mission about the proposed National Security Council and said it would be a consultative body and an executive or quasi-executive body. The objective behind establishing it was to bring stability to democratic system, he added. He also explained the rationale behind introduction of the condition of graduation for the candidates to the elected institutions. The NRB chairman also informed the mission about the role of Election Commission. "Election Commission derives its role directly from the Constitution and is an autonomous body, which conducts elections strictly in accordance with the parameters of its defined role laid in the Constitution," he said. Replying to another question regarding link between EC and NRB in the backdrop of local government elections, the NAB chairman said election commission interacted with the NRB because it was a new system requiring more understanding and clarity. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Delhi's charges of cross-border terrorism rejected ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Pakistan on Thursday rejected the allegations of cross-border terrorism hurled by Indian prime minister in his speech on the Independence Day of India. Such accusations were routinely levelled by the Indian leaders to cover up the reign of terror let loose by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, a foreign office spokesman said. In the face of India's own sordid record of fomenting terrorism across South Asia during the past several decades, he described the Indian prime minister's reference to 'double standard' as hypocritical. He also took exception to the Indian prime minister's assertion that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India. This statement, he said, was contrary to international legality as reflected in the relevant UN Security Council Resolution on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Such a statement reflected India's colonial mindset, its disregard for morality, and its intention to persist with its illegal control over the Indian-Occupied Kashmir through brute force. This Indian attitude was the principal impediment in the way of a peaceful and just settlement of the Kashmir dispute. He reiterated Pakistan's rejection of the election being planned for the Indian-Occupied Kashmir. Besides, the illegitimate nature of this exercise, all such elections had been blatantly rigged in the past and had been rejected by the Kashmiri people. He questioned the credibility of an election conducted in the presence of 700,000 strong Indian occupation force with license to kill. He pointed out that despite enormous Indian pressure, the APHC had refused to take part in the fraudulent elections. However, he welcomed India's desire to live with Pakistan as a good neighbour and Mr Vajpayee's observation about resolving the dispute through talks. He emphasized that Pakistan had already made repeated offers to India for the resumption of a meaningful dialogue to resolve all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf vows to hold fair polls: Kashmir elections rejected ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: President Gen Pervez Musharraf gave a firm assurance to the nation on Wednesday that the October elections would be free, fair and transparent. Addressing a select gathering on the 55th Independence Day, the president said: "On this solemn occasion, let me give the whole nation a personal guarantee... I will take all possible measures to ensure a free, fair and a transparent election" with a view to restoring democracy. "Our government has taken a number of steps to encourage a change and bring in new leadership," he said, adding that the voter's age had been reduced to 18 years and minimum educational qualification of BA had been introduced for the candidates. The step, he believed, would stop looters, criminals, defaulters, and tax- evaders from entering the assemblies. The president urged people to understand the value of their vote and told them to vote for those who could serve the nation with honesty, sincerity and dedication. The president urged Ulema, religious parties and other organizations to come forward to protect Islam from distortion and abuse. Gen Musharraf emphasized that resolution of the Kashmir dispute was imperative for a durable peace in South Asia and added that the struggle for self-determination of Kashmiris was a sacred trust which could never be compromised. He reiterated Pakistan's support to the struggle of the people of occupied Kashmir for their right to self-determination promised to them by the international community. Reiterating Pakistan's strong desire for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir and all other outstanding issues, Gen Musharraf made it abundantly clear that Pakistan would never be subdued by coercion. He, however, said that Pakistan believed in peace. He warned that no one should dare think of any adventurism across "our borders". He assured the nation that its armed forces were standing guard on the country's borders. The armed forces, he said, would not only defend every inch of the motherland but carry the fight across the border. The president said that the announcement by India to hold elections in occupied Kashmir was yet another attempt to give a mask of legitimacy to its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. He said Pakistan's position on the issue was based on the Security Council resolutions that elections cannot be a substitute for a free and impartial plebiscite to be held under the auspices of the world body. He pointed out that the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, the sole credible voice of Kashmiri people, had already rejected the holding of such elections. He said if the past was any guide the elections planned by India would once again take place without participation of the Kashmiri people and they were only designed to obtain pre- determined results. The president said India claimed that peaceful elections in occupied Kashmir would be a test of Pakistan's sincerity for a dialogue with New Delhi. Terming it a self-serving argument, he said Pakistan cannot accept any responsibility for the developments taking place inside occupied Kashmir nor can India blame the failure of elections on Pakistan. Referring to the government's achievements during the last three years, he said: "We have demonstrated to the world that good governance, economic progress and elimination of corruption is possible in Pakistan. The world accepted this now". He pointed out that this was no mean achievement when compared with the despair and despondency prevailing in 1999. At that time, he said, the target was revival of fledgling economy, strengthening of the federation, improving law and order, de- politicizing state institutions, introduction of a system of accountability, and rebuilding of national confidence. He observed that substantial progress had been made on this agenda during the short period of less than three years. The president said the government had decided to rebuild the state institutions and undertake fundamental and far-reaching reforms to ensure sustainability and long-lasting growth. He said his government's strategy was to get out of debt trap and reschedule debt to get fiscal space. The resources thus spared were being used on development projects, he added. Gen Musharraf paid tribute to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal and other heroes of the freedom struggle who had fought against all odds to create a new homeland for the Muslims of South Asia. Addressing the youth, the president said: "We have tried to create conditions for you to take charge and steer the country ahead to progress and prosperity." He advised them to build high character and honour. The colorful ceremony was attended by ministers, services chiefs, diplomats, civil and military officials, prominent citizens and thousands of students. The young boys and girls were carrying miniature Pakistani flags which they warmly waved during the proceedings of function. A group of children presented patriotic songs, enthralling the audience. After the ceremony, the president went to them and appreciated their national spirit. Earlier, the president unfurled the national flag. It was preceded by the sounding of sirens across the country at 7.59am. After the flag-hoisting, the participants of the ceremony and the entire nation joined in singing the national anthem. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SC refuses to pass any direction: LG polls in Islamabad ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: The Supreme Court declined to pass any direction to the government for holding local government elections in the federal capital, saying that the fundamental rights including political rights of citizens had been suspended by the proclamation of emergency. The court made these observations on a petition filed by the editor of an English daily. The three-judge bench, comprising Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqi, Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq and Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal, did not dispose of the writ petition and allowed the counsel to submit news clippings on which he wanted to rely. The court adjourned the case without issuing notice to any of the respondents or fixing the date for next hearing. The counsel for the petitioner stated that the government had adopted discriminatory attitude towards the Islamabad Capital Territory which was the only place in the country where local government elections had not been held. He contended that the local government elections were held in the country at a time when the same proclamation of emergency was in force. He said the dispute between NRB and interior ministry had resulted in denial of fundamental rights to the citizens of Islamabad. The petitioner stated that the local councils were the first tier of the democratic process as they performed municipal functions. Besides, the local bodies formed the training ground for future political leaders of national stature, he added. The petitioner also recalled that interior minister Lt-Gen Moeenunddin Haider had announced during the referendum campaign in his capacity as the minister in charge of capital administration that the local government elections would be held in Islamabad before September 2002. However, no practical steps have been taken so far for holding the elections, the petitioner regretted. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- CEC asks ROs not to accept nominations of ministers ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, on Tuesday directed the Returning Officers not to entertain the nomination papers of sitting federal and provincial ministers and governors of the provinces, for contesting the general election until they resigned from their offices. The Chief Election Commissioner has been repeatedly asking the sitting ministers desirous of contesting the forthcoming general election, to resign from their offices before filing the nomination papers. The election schedule for the general election is expected within a couple of days. After a meeting of the Election Commission held here, the Chief Election Commissioner directed the Returning Officers throughout the country not to entertain the nomination papers of all those sitting federal and provincial ministers and governors of the provinces who were willing to contest election to national and provincial assemblies or Senate, until they relinquished their respective offices before filing the nomination papers, an announcement of the Election Commission said. The Chief Election Commissioner said that the principle of neutrality and impartiality demanded that incumbent ministers relinquished their offices before filing their nomination papers or be asked to resign by the President well before the election day. He said that an incumbent minister willing to contest election, would enjoy inherent advantages, which would not be available to the opposing candidate and it would be unfair. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- EC allows 71 parties for poll ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Rafaqat Ali ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The Election Commission on Tuesday returned the documents of 58 political parties for not being in conformity with the Political Parties Order, 2002, but found the documents of 71 political parties correct and declared them eligible to contest forthcoming elections. The Election Commission, which met here on Tuesday, announced that it had returned documents furnished by 58 political parties for not being in conformity with the provisions of the Political Parties Order 2002. The meeting was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Irshad Hasan Khan. The parties whose documents for registration as political parties have been found in conformity with the PPO included Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Muslim League (QA) Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jamaat-i- Islami, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Awami National Party. The parties which failed to fulfil the requirements of Political Parties Order 2002, would not be entitled to election symbols in the forthcoming elections. The recently promulgated Political Parties Order 2002, required the political parties to submit documents, including certificates of intra-party polls, amended party constitutions in the light of Political Parties Order 2002, and audited reports showing their expenses, to the Election Commission. The documents of these political parties would be published in the Gazette of Pakistan for public information. The EC announcement said that after the scrutiny of the paper including constitutions, certificates of intra-party polls and other information, the commission was of the opinion that the documents of the following political parties were in order: Awami National Party, Mohib-i-Watan Nowjawan Inqlabion Ki Anjum (MNAKA), Pak Watan Party, Shan-i-Pakistan, Pakistan Awami Party, Jamaat-i- Islami, Balochistan National Congress, Islami Siyasi Tehreek, Islami Tehreek Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Labour Party of Pakistan, Balochistan National Movement, Mohajir Ittehad Tehreek, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Pakistan Pashthoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, Sindh National Front, Pakistan Ittehad Tehreek, Jamiat Ulema-i- Islam Pakistan, Jamhoori Watan Party, Balochistan National Party, Pakistan Muslim League(N), Sunni Tehreek, Pakistan People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto), Pakistan Workers Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Niazi), Pakistan Ghareeb Party, Balochistan National Democratic Party, Tehreek-i-Hussainia Pakistan, Sindh Democratic Alliance, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Markarazi Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadith Pakistan, National Awami Party Pakistan, Awami Qiadat Party, Pakistan Seraiki Party, Azmat-i-Islam Movement, Pakistan Muslim League (J), Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League, (Qasim Group), Tameer-i-Pakistan Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F), Markazi Jamiat Ulema Pakistan, Jamot Qaumi Movement, Balochistan National Party (Awami), Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Noorani), Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao), Kakar Jamhoori Party, Qaumi Jamhoori Party, Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Hamwatan Party, Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians, Jamiat-i-Mashaikh Pakistan, Qaumi Inqalab Party, Pakistan Muslim League (QA), Punjab National Party, Hazara Qaumi Mahaz, Pakistan Social Democratic Party, Pakistan Democratic Party, National People's Party, Istaqlal Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Nafaaz-i-Shariat), Tehreek-i-Jamhooriat Pakistan, Millat Party, Nizam-i-Mustafa Party, Ittehad-i-Milli Hazara, Pakistan Shia Political Party, Pakistan Muslim League(F), Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah), Grand Democratic Alliance, Pakistan Freedom Party, Pak- Muslim Alliance and National Alliance. The parties whose documents were not found in conformity with the provisions of the PPO were, Tehreek-i-Istaqlal, Pakistan Maqsad Hamayat Party, National Muslim League (Mohasiba Group), Pakistan Awami Tehreek-i-Inqalab, Seraiki Sooba Movement Pakistan, Qandeel Party of Pakistan, Pakistan Progressive Party, Progressive Democratic Party, Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party, Tehreek-i-Musawat, Swabi Qaumi Mahaz, Communist Mazdoor-Kisan Party Pakistan, Tehreek Wafaq Pakistan, Markazi Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadith Pakistan, Jamaat Ahl-i- Hadith Pakistan, Khaksaar Tehreek Pakistan, Pakistan Awami Quwwat Party, Ahle Sunnat Jamaat Sadaat, Pakistan Muslim League (M), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Ainee Group), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan (Qadri), Pakistan Muslim Front, Pakistan Labour Kisan Party, Pakistan Overseas Alliance, Pakistan Trade Union Party, Jamiat Mashaikh Pakistan, Ittehad Alam-i-Islam Pakistan, Pakistan Peoples League, Pakistan Brohi Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Inqalab, National Peoples Party (Workers Group), National Workers Party, Mohajir Kashmir Movement, Islamic Democratic Front, Azad Parliamani Group, Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum Group), Afghan National Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nazriati Group), Pakistan Muslim League (Qasim), Pakistan Jamhoori Aman Party, Awami Hamayat Tehreek Pakistan, Pakistan Popular Republican Party, Pakhtoonkhwa Qaumi Party, Ulema Mashaikh Supreme Council Pakistan, Muttahida Deeni Mahaz, Punjab National Front, Pakistan Progressive Party, Sindh Democratic Party, Punjab National Party of Pakistan, Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan, Qaumi Tahaffuz Party of Pakistan, Punjabi Qaumi Tehreek, Seraiki Qaumi Tehreek Pakistan, Social Democratic Party Pakistan, Mazdoor Kisan Party, Pakistan National League, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan and Pakistan Muslim League Ziaul Haq Shaheed). DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- EC turns down Ijaz's registration request ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The Election Commission (EC) turned down on Tuesday the request of Ijazul Haq for registration of another faction of Pakistan Muslim League, saying that it was inconceivable that elections of his party were held on Aug 3, when he was member of the PML(QA) till Aug 4. The application of the PML (Ziaul Haq Shaheed Group), filed by Mr Haq, was returned by the EC on Tuesday. In its order, the EC stated that the application of the PML (Ziaul Haq Shaheed Group) was returned as contemplated under rule 10 of the Political Parties Rules, 2002. The EC stated that till Aug 4, Ijazul Haq was member of the Pakistan Muslim League (QA). "It is, therefore, inconceivable that his party could have come into existence and its election held on August 3, 2002." Mr Haq, had contested PML(QA) intra-party election on Aug 3 and was defeated by Mian Azhar. The application, which he submitted in the Election Commission, stated that he had formed political party on Aug 3 and its intra- party elections were held on the same day. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SC admits petition of PML-QA: Delimitation of constituencies ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Rafaqat Ali ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The Supreme Court admitted a petition challenging the delimitation of five provincial assembly constituencies of the Lahore district. The petition alleged that the constituencies were altered to favour a government-backed candidate of the PML(QA). The bench - comprising Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq and Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal - heard Advocate Chaudhry Mushtaq before issuing notice to the election commission. The apex court required the election commission to submit comments. It, however, fixed no date for the next hearing. The petitioner, Raja Munawar Ahmad, challenged the delimitation of PP 151, 152, 161, 168 and 169 on the grounds that it had been altered in such a way that Arshad Imran Sulehri, a likely candidate of the PML(QA), would take benefit of it. The petitioner stated that PP-151 comprised a population of more than 300,000 against 247,857 prescribed by the election commission as the average population for a provincial assembly constituency. It was stated before the apex court that the principle of compactness had been violated inasmuch as that not only the town forming PP-151 had been bifurcated, but the small administrative divisions had also been bifurcated. Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Justice Irshad Hasan Khan told a press conference on Monday that to make the process of delimitation transparent, objections to the preliminary delimitation of constituencies were invited from entitled voters. He said the election commission had received 945 representations against preliminary delimitation of 849 constituencies, out of which 307 pertain to the National Assembly and 638 to the provincial assemblies. The objections, he said, were heard and disposed of by the election commission, members. The CEC stated that 92 writ petitions were filed in the four high courts challenging the delimitation of the constituencies out of which 58 had been dismissed and 40 were pending adjudication. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Defaulters cannot contest polls: EC ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: A bank loan default amounting to Rs2 million and of utility bills totalling Rs10,000 or more would rob a person of the chance to run for the upcoming polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan notified on Saturday. A candidate aspiring to contest the elections will have to submit a declaration with the nomination papers that no loan for an amount of two million rupees or more, obtained from any bank, financial institution, cooperative society or corporation body in his own name or in the name of his spouse or any of his dependents or any business concern mainly owned by them or the aforesaid, stands unpaid for more than one year from the due date or has got such loan written off. A candidate in a separate declaration will have to state that he, or his spouse or any of his dependents or a business concern mainly owned by him or the aforesaid is not in default in payment of government dues or utility charges, including telephone, electricity, gas and water charges of an amount in excess of Rs10,000 for over six months at the time of filing of nomination papers. According to some reports, the CEC has already obtained a list of loan defaulters from the State Bank of Pakistan and utility bills defaulters from the respective agencies. The CEC said the Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2002, promulgated on July 31, 2002, laid down these conditions for acceptance of nomination papers. Besides the aforementioned declarations, the candidates will have to state their party affiliations and submit a certificate from the political party establishing their party candidature from the constituency for which nomination papers are to be filed. Moreover, a candidate will have to declare that he fulfils the qualification specified in Article 62 and is not subject to any of the disqualifications specified in Article 63, or any other law for the time being in force, for being elected as member. The candidates will have to submit statements of their assets and liabilities and those of their spouses and dependents as on the preceding 13th day of June. Apart from these, the nomination papers should also be accompanied by a statement of educational qualifications, occupation, national identity card number and national tax number along with attested copies of these documents. The CEC said the nomination forms were being printed and would be despatched to all returning officers shortly for onward supply to the prospective candidates of national and provincial assemblies' constituencies throughout Pakistan on payment of Rs10. These nomination forms are also available on the web site of the Election Commission - www.ecp.gov.pk. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nomination form for Benazir being obtained today ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The Pakistan People's Party has said that former deputy speaker of National Assembly Dr Ashraf Abbasi, former MNA Nawab Shabbir Chandio, Shahid Bhutto and Anwar Bhutto will receive the nomination form for the forthcoming elections on behalf of Pakistan People's Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto from the returning officer in Larkana on Saturday. A PPP spokesman Nazir Dhoki said on Friday that as per the official instructions nomination forms for the National and provincial assemblies can be obtained by the candidates themselves or their authorised nominees from returning officers. The Election Commission of Pakistan had already announced the availability of nomination forms with the returning officers, which can be had for Rs10 each. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PPP complains to CEC against govt's smear campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The Pakistan People's Party has lodged a complaint with the election commission against alleged pre-poll rigging and a smear campaign against its leader on the state-owned electronic media. Through a letter, PPP acting secretary-general Raza Rabbani told the chief election commissioner (CEC) that the government was resorting to systematic pre-poll rigging and an adverse propaganda campaign on the electronic media despite his (CEC's) clear directives that no such campaign would be launched against any political party. "The party has on a number of occasions pointed out to the election commission the use of the civil administration and the offices of the governors to further the political agenda of the regime in the said elections," he said. Although the commission had taken note of the same, the regime continuously flouted those directives, he said. Enlisting the incidents of the alleged propaganda campaign against the PPP on the electronic media, Mr Rabbani wrote: "On August 11, 2002, a television show was telecast wherein a serving Maj. Gen namely Rashid Qureshi, who is in the service of Pakistan, made political comments, levelled false and fabricated charges, distorted facts and circumstances and maligned the chairperson of Pakistan People's Party with mala fide intent and purpose. The false imputation made by Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi amounts to influence the ongoing electoral process." Mr Rabbani demanded of the CEC to take 0appropriate notice of the "violations" of the elections commissioner's directives by the regime. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Court notice to AG on Benazir's petition ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Aug 16: A division bench of the Sindh High Court put on Friday the attorney-general on notice for Aug 21, when a petition of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto challenging the Musharraf regime's measure to keep her out of political and electoral process came up for pre-admission hearing. The bench comprised Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Ali Aslam Jafferi. Ms Bhutto has made the Federation, Chief Election Commissioner, Returning Officer NA-207 and NAB Chairman respondents in the petition. Arguing the petition, which was filed by Ms Bhutto's counsel Farooq H. Naek, Barrister Kamal Azfar contended that section 8D (2) (n) of the CE's order 21 of 2002 was unconstitutional while at the same time challenged the vires of section 31 of the NAB Ordinance. It is the case of the petitioner that the military regime sees in the petitioner a threat to its power and is continuing her politically-motivated persecution. In this connection, the regime passed an absentee law in the shape of Section 31-A by amending the NAB Ordinance 1999 and malafidely and unlawfully applied it in the aforesaid three courts against the petitioner which is being challenged. It is also her contention that the military regime repealed the Political Parties Act and made Political Parties Order 2002 requiring parties seeking to contest the elections to hold intra- party elections within a short period which the petitioner's party, the PPP, did. The Political Parties Order 2002 also lays down that a party leader disqualified from contesting election would be refused permission to file application for election symbol with the Election Commission. As soon as the PPP elected the petitioner as party leader the regime passed a Benazir-specific amendment to the Chief Executive Order 7 of 2002 by way of the Chief Executive Order 21 of 2002 disqualifying a person from contesting election, if convicted of non-appearance in court by the absentee law. Kamal Azfar claimed that despite harassment and six references, the government had not been able to secure conviction of Ms Bhutto. Barrister Azfar, who represented the petitioner along with Farook H. Naek, argued that the basic issue was the question of representative democracy in Pakistan: whether the people were sovereign to elect their representatives freely or the establishment would impose its own malafide solutions. Ms Bhutto's counsel maintained that there was no question of absconcion and termed these amendments Bhutto-specific. He submitted that the apex court in Asif Ali Zardari case had quashed the conviction and there was no conviction against the petitioner. Barrister Azfar argued that the Pakistan People's Party's self- exiled chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, never absconded in terms of section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance of 1999, as the petitioner had left the country with the permission of the Lahore High Court. Thus, no question of disqualification under clause 2 (n) of article 8D of the CE Order No7 of 2002, as amended, arose Even otherwise article 8D 2 (n) only applied where a person had been convicted of absconcion. Under section 31-A, the guilt was determined by operation of law and not as a result of conviction. Thus, the disqualification envisaged under article 8D 2 (n) did not apply in the case of the petitioner, he submitted. It is her case that even otherwise section 31-A of the Ordinance of 1999 only applies where a person absconds to avoid being served with any process. The petitioner has not absconded to avoid being served with any process. The petitioner has maintained that the very concept of automatic conviction without even a trial is completely subversive of the cardinal principle of due process of law and is inconsistent with the norms of civility and justice. It is her contention that article 8D 2 (n) of CEO 7 of 2002, as inserted by the CEO No 21 of 2002, is violative of articles 4 and 9 of the constitution as a person is disqualified from being elected to parliament against the doctrine of due process of law and the principle of natural justice. She claims that passing sentence of imprisonment for any term is basically a judicial function. Section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance of 1999 is violative of article 175 of the constitution as it interferes with the judicial functions which the courts are required to perform in accordance with, inter alia, the CrPC, while dealing with cases of absconcion. The legislative fiat reflected by section 31-A of the Ordinance of 1999 flouts the independence of judiciary. The petitioner maintains that section 31-A of the Ordinance of 1999, which automatically convicts a person is violative of articles 4 and 9 of the constitution, which guarantee the right of every citizen to be dealt with in accordance with law. Conviction of a person without any trial whatsoever is a mockery of due process of law. Section 31-A of the Ordinance of 1999 which automatically finds a person guilty for reason of absconcion regardless of the individual circumstances of each case, is manifestly arbitrary and discriminatory. Article 8D 2 (n) of the CEO 21 of 2002, as amended, is inconsistent with articles 63 (h) and (l) of the constitution, which already provide for convictions resulting in disqualification of a person. This provision also maintains distinction between "guilt" and "conviction." Article 63 does not cater for disqualification based on section 31-A of the Ordinance of 1999, the petitioner claimed. Article 8 D 2 (n) of the CEO of 21 of 2002, as amended, is outside the parameters of limited power to amend the constitution for the welfare of the people which has been circumscribed in Zafar Ali Shah's case. She has therefore prayed for declaring section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance of 1999 ultra vires of the provisions of the constitution and that it be struck down. She has also prayed for declaring article 8D 2 (n) of the CEO 7 of 2002, as inserted vide the CEO 21 of 2002, inter alia, ultra vires of the provisions of the constitution, and that it should be struck down. Her prayer is also to declare that the petitioner is qualified to contest the forthcoming elections, and so the respondents should be directed to accept her nomination papers. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PPP chief moves SHC to contest election ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Aug 15: The chairperson of Pakistan People's Party, Benazir Bhutto, challenged the Musharraf government's attempt to keep her out of political and electoral process. A constitutional petition questioning the legality of amendments to section 31 A of the NAB Ordinance and Chief Executive's order 21 of 2002 was filed in the Sindh High Court on her behalf by Farook Naek, advocate. These amendments pertain to presence of defendants during trial and making absentee defendants ineligible to contest the October elections. Ms Bhutto's counsel termed these amendments "Bhutto- specific" and against the constitutional guarantees. The petition is fixed to come up before a division bench comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Ali Aslam Jafferi on Friday. Ms Bhutto has made the Federation, Chief Election Commissioner and Returning officer NA-207 respondent. "She has been implicated in politically-motivated false cases by the Musharraf government," Mr Naek said, adding that "Benazir Bhutto has a right to contest the elections and that is why this petition has been filed." In view of the government laws, the PPP had to launch its Parliamentarians group to remain in contention. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benazir ready to work with Nawaz ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Pakistan's two main opposition parties agreed on Thursday to cooperate in October elections. A spokesman for Pakistan People's Party said she had given the go-ahead to cooperate with Nawaz Sharif's Muslim League (N), for long her arch rival. Farhatullah Babar told Reuters the idea was to make sure the two parties, both of whose leaders are barred from contesting the Oct 10 polls, did not cancel out each other's votes. "That means where PML candidates are strong, the PPP will withdraw its candidate and vice-versa," Babar said. "It further cements political opposition against the government and acts as an impetus for the restoration of democracy." PML spokesman Siddiq-ul-Farooq told Reuters the objective of both parties was to defeat military ruler President Pervez Musharraf. "Though we are traditionally rival parties, I don't rule out election adjustment with the PPP on some seats," he said. The law promulgated by the government effectively excludes both Sharif and Bhutto from the running and both are also disqualified under a law banning people convicted of crimes. Benazir has been living in self-imposed exile in London, while Nawaz and his family are in exile in Saudi Arabia. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benazir and Shahbaz to face law, says minister ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent HYDERABAD, Aug 13: Federal Minister for Law Khalid Ranjha has categorically stated that Ms Benazir Bhutto and Shahbaz Sharif would be arrested as soon as they arrived in the country and the government was not bound to give any special concession to facilitate them to go to the relevant court of law directly from the airport. He said that it never happened that an accused was allowed by the investigating officer or police to seek pre-arrest bail. He said that the law would take its own course when they returned to the country, and added that normally the accused do not seek pre-arrest bails with the help of the police. He said that it was, however, upto the court to give any relief to the accused Benazir Bhutto and Sharif family. He said that a convict was disqualified to contest the polls till his sentence was set aside by the court. Mr Ranjha disclosed that the prosecution of the Sharif family would be started from where it was left when they signed a deal and opted for Saudi Arabia. He said that Benazir Bhutto, the Sharif family, and so many other people who had cases pending against them in the court had left the country of their own free will and there was no ban on their return. He said that the government was going to introduce only those amendments in the Constitution which were inevitable for the continuity of the on-going process, adding that the rest of the amendments that deal with the provincial autonomy, council of common interest, and other issues would be left to the new parliament. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hearing of Benazir's plea adjourned ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The Supreme Court adjourned hearing an appeal filed by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto challenging the inclusion of her name in the accountability reference in which it is alleged by the prosecution that she made illegal appointments in PIA when she was prime minister of the country. The three-judge bench, comprising Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq and Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal, adjourned the hearing of the case till the third week of September. Farooq H. Naik, appearing on behalf of Ms Bhutto, requested for adjournment on the ground that another counsel of the petitioner, Hafeez Lakho, who had been representing her in the accountability reference, was on general adjournment and was out of country. Deputy Attorney General Sardar Aslam, however, did not raise any objection on the contention of Ms Bhutto's lawyer. Ms Bhutto had challenged the inclusion of her name in the Sindh High Court. The SHC, however, dismissed her appeal against which she filed leave to appeal in the Supreme Court. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- LHC seeks order against Shahbaz ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Shujaat Ali Khan LAHORE, Aug 16: The Lahore High Court asked a federal law officer to produce the government order or notification, if any, barring Mian Shahbaz Sharif's entry into Pakistan and adjourned further proceedings in a writ petition seeking the Pakistan Muslim League leader's unhindered return home to August 20. Justice Tasadduq Husain Jilani, who would be availing his summer vacation next week, referred the petition to the chief justice for consideration by another judge. The petitioner, a PML (Nawaz) worker, says that Shahbaz Sharif has a constitutionally-guaranteed right to return home and lead his party in the forthcoming electoral contest. His counsel, Advocate AK Dogar, vehemently argued in favour of the petition and contended that Shahbaz Sharif was exiled against his wish. "If there is a deal as claimed by the government, what are its contents and why should they not be made public?" he asked. Deputy Attorney-General Khwaja Saeeduz Zafar, who was present in another case, was asked by Justice Jilani whether the issue had been agitated before the court previously and, if so, what was the outcome. The DAG said two petitions were filed for publication of the so- called deal and for cancellation of the citizenship rights of the Sharifs. Both were dismissed by the Lahore High Court. In any case, he said, the petition was not maintainable in asmuch as the petitioner had no locus standi in the presence of Mr Sharif and members of his family, one of whom (Hamza Shahbaz) permanently resides in Lahore. What if they disown the averments made in the petition? the law officer asked. Let the aggrieved party come forward, he said. Mr Dogar said Hamza was too busy looking after the family business and it was basically for the party workers to seek their leader's return. The petition has the sanction of PML's Punjab chief Zulfiqar Ali Khosa. Besides, public interest petitions could be filed by any citizen as held by the Supreme Court. Mr Saeeduz Zafar said the Supreme Court had wider powers than a high court. Only petitions for writs of habeas corpus and quo warranto can be moved by non-aggrieved persons. The court asked the law officer to find out whether there was any order barring Mr Sharif's entry and adjourned the hearing. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Plea against bar on Shahbaz's entry ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, Aug 15: The Lahore High Court was requested on Thursday to restrain the government from barring the entry of PML(N) President Mian Shahbaz Sharif to Pakistan. A writ petition filed by a PML(N) primary unit president, Gulzar Malik, through Advocate A.K. Dogar said Shahbaz Sharif had a constitutionally-guaranteed right to return to Pakistan because his exile from the country was unconstitutional. He also had a fundamental right to contest the polls, conduct his party's election campaign and form a government of if it won. The petition said Islam does not recognize forcible seizure of power or the law of necessity nor does it empower the judiciary to uphold or validate either. This aspect of the 1999 military takeover was not decided by the Supreme Court in the Zafar Ali Shah case. Pending the disposal of his petition, the petitioner sought an interim declaration in favour of the PML(N) leader's return and participation in the electoral process. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sharif family won't be allowed to return: ISPR ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: Inter-Services Public Relations director-general and government spokesman Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi said that the government will not allow any member of the Sharif family to return. Speaking in the Pakistan Television program "Encounter", he said there was no doubt that the Sharif family could not return to the country before the lapse 10 years. He said the Sharif family went outside the country on its own request and under an arrangement. The Saudi government, which was a party to the deal, would also not allow them to leave its land, he said. The decision to send the family to exile was taken in the national interest, he claimed. Gen Qureshi said Pakistan Muslim League and its chairman, Raja Zafarul Haq, were not even aware when the Sharif family was leaving the country. The family held talks with the government for a deal for a long time and Kulsoom Nawaz was holding meetings while carrying out negotiations for an arrangement to get out of the country, he said. He said that due to sensitive nature of the deal, the government could not divulge its details. However, in the future, the government might come up with aspects of the deal, he said. The family had signed some papers to conclude the deal, he said. He said people should remember that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had an aeroplane case against him and the punishment awarded by the courts to him stood valid. He said there were also many other cases of loot and plunder against the Sharif family. He said former prime minister Benazir Bhutto would have to face cases if she decided to return. Replying to a question, he said Ms Bhutto had fled the country to evade corruption cases before the government took over. At least 12 cases of loot and plunder were pending against her and her husband Asif Ali Zardari, he said. He said a court had convicted Benazir Bhutto for absconding from the law. He claimed that the people did not want Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to return to the country and feared that they would again commit corruption. He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf did not believe in personal agenda.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- C'wealth informed of anti-PPP steps ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: Human Rights Cell of Pakistan People's Party in a letter to the Secretary-General of Commonwealth Don McKinnon has apprised him of the government's measures to prevent Benazir Bhutto from contesting the elections. The letter, written by Central Coordinator of the cell, Fauzia Wahab, enlisted five ordinances promulgated by the military which she said were aimed at sidelining Ms Bhutto. "The PPP being a responsible political party fulfilled all the cumbersome requirement under the new laws, the regime, however, has come out with another trick to create hurdles and that is the re- allocation of the election symbol. It had asked the political parties to submit their application for election symbol," she said. "We apprehend that the EC would again change our symbol and create hurdles for our voters," she stated. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt flayed for 'pre-poll rigging' ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chairman Tahirul Qadri has said that the upcoming general elections will most likely be engineered in view of the fact that the government has already started "pre-poll rigging" by not allowing political parties to start election campaigns. He was talking to reporters at the party's office here after his meeting with the chief of European Union team of election observers, John Cushnahan. "It looks as if the present military government has become a party and is using all the state resources to monopolise the results of the upcoming general election," he said. He pointed out that with less than two months to go, the government was yet to lift the ban on political activities. Lifting the ban is a must for impartial elections, he maintained. "Until people are not aware of the true picture of the country's political scene, they will not be able to elect true leaders to the elected institutions," he remarked. Election rigging is not just restricted to the polling day only, Mr Qadri said and added: "It rather starts with the announcement of general election when unwanted political parties are subjected to certain calculated obstacles." Commenting on his meeting with Mr Cushnahan, the PAT chief said that like other political parties, the PAT had also shared its apprehensions with the EU representative. Asked if he was in favour of EU interference in the election process, he said there was no harm if somebody wanted to observe the election process. In response to a question, Mr Tahir expressed his regrets over his party's support to the referendum to allow President Gen Pervez Musharraf another five-year term as president. The PAT was of the view that reforms started by the military government would bring about a positive change, hence it had decided to support Gen Musharraf, he said. But to PAT's utter disappointment, the present military government followed in the footsteps of its predecessors in working on an agenda to prolong its tenure rather than mitigate the sufferings of general public, he added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Imran opposes return of Benazir, Nawaz ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent KHAIRPUR, Aug 13: The Chairman, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, Imran Khan, has said that the economic conditions of the country are critical and asked what impression the PML and PPP are trying to create by demanding the return of Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir Bhutto. He said that the two former rulers took loans and looted the national exchequer worth millions of rupees, and added that how they could be allowed to come back and lead the nation. He said that to the best of his knowledge, the government was not hammering out any deal for the return of Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir and such news were creating the wrong impression in the minds of the general public. He supported the reforms saying that the educational and judicial systems should be improved. He observed that in a country where the judicial system was powerful, there would be no political crisis. He suggested a national council consisting of retired judges, lawyers, journalists, intellectuals, and other responsible people for the accountability of the whole system. Mr Imran said that successive elected governments had been providing an opportunity to the army to take over by creating a crisis-like situation in the country where the army was left with no other option. Talking about the elections, he said he was sure that the elections would be held as per schedule and there was no reason for its delay. Defending the reason for supporting the referendum of President Pervez Musharraf, Mr Imran said that there had been a meeting of political parties where all had agreed to support the referendum, but later some of them backed out. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Imran vows to ensure justice and self-respect ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Habib Khan Ghori KARACHI, Aug 11: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan kicked off his election campaign by announcing three main points of his party's election manifesto - provision of justice, promotion of human values and ensuring self-respect. Addressing a public rally at Nishtar Park he said that he was launching his election campaign from Karachi as the city had always remained a centre of politics and democracy and any movement which began from the metropolis had soon taken the country into its grip. But he lamented that from the last few years this role had been denied to the city, which is a mini- Pakistan. He recalled that in the past, the two main parties which remained in power one after the other had failed to implement their election manifestos because of lack of determination. But, Imran Khan said, for the last 25 years the nation had remained aware of his role as whatever he had promised he had honoured his commitments. Imran Khan said he had derived the three points from Islam and added that the country could not be put to progress unless we are prepared to do justice with its ideology for turning Pakistan into a welfare Islamic state. He said that all our crises were a result of our failure to do justice with our people. He said in our country only the weaker section of society was being made a victim of all repression and oppression while the powerful enjoyed immunity even after plundering the nation's wealth. In this connection, he referred to a report published in Dawn, in which names along with cheque numbers of those who had benefited from Rs500 crores of the Mehran Bank were published. He said these people were again in the field to contest the elections. The case of plundering the wealth has been pending in the court and was not being proceeded because of the influence of those involved in corruption, he maintained. He pledged that his party would never involve in politics of power and would not make alliance with any party whose leader had been involved in corruption. "Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf believes in fair and free elections and will ensure the election to be conducted by a neutral umpire as I was the person who first introduced neutral umpire in the cricket world." He said the government had been trying to reform the system of education in religious institutions but was not paying heed to the English medium institutions, which had been producing Westernized youths devoid of Pakistani spirit. He said no society could progress without giving due status and respect to its teachers, judges and religious scholars. Spelling out the third point of the manifesto, he said the government had been acting on the dictates of the IMF and the World Bank and if Allah gave him an opportunity to serve the people, he would certainly repay their loans but would not take dictation from them. The others who spoke on the occasion including Mairaj Mohammad Khan, Dr Arif Alavi, Zahid Bhurgari, Mir Haider Talpur, Tehmina Khattak, Bismillah Khan, Ashraf Quraishi, Fauzia Khan, Tufail Abbas and Amanullah Paracha. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand National Alliance formed ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and the National Alliance formed a Grand National Alliance with an understanding to contest the October elections on seat-to-seat adjustment basis and to jointly work in the future parliament. "The alliance has been formed to promote stability in the democratic process," General Secretary PML(Q) Zafarullah Jamali said at a press conference, which was jointly addressed by General Secretary of National Alliance Muhammad Ali Durrani. Though the leaders of the two pro-government political groups agreed after overnight consultation on forming the alliance, the issue as to who would head this new conglomerate remained unresolved. A brief statement made by the two general secretaries made no mention of the office-bearers of this alliance, which would go beyond elections. The parliamentary party to be formed after the elections would settle the issue of leadership by electing any one from amongst themselves to lead the alliance. A plain and straight "no" was the reply of Mir Zafarullah Jamali when anxious reporters shouted question whether they had elected any chairman or president of this alliance. A brief meeting between the leaders of PML(Q) and the National Alliance, which lasted for less than half an hour, was held at a local five-star hotel, prior to the formal announcement of the alliance. Former president Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, President of National Awami Party Ajmal Khattak, former prime minister and head of National People's Party Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and Muhammad Ali Durrani represented National Alliance, while Mian Muhammad Azhar, Chaudhry Shujaat and Ghulam Sarwar Cheema represented PML(Q) at the talks. The idea of forming a grand alliance among the pro-government parties had been under consideration since the formation of National Alliance. However the agreement on Monday was reached after behind-the-scenes deliberations that had been going on for the last 24 hours. The GNA would also contact other parties to make seat adjustments with the alliance, Mr Durrani said. On a question whether GNA component parties would contest elections under one symbol, Mr Durrani said that NA and PML(Q) had already applied separately for the election symbols and would contest election under their respective symbols. "The alliance has been formed keeping in the view the bitter experiences of the past," Mir Zafarullah Jamali said. He brushed aside reports that the alliance had been cobbled together by the invisible forces which had also formed the Islamic Jamhori Ittehad (IJI) in 1999. "We have reached broader understanding. Actual adjustment would be done later," a NA source said. The source disclosed that a delegation of GNA would proceed to Peshawar on Tuesday to hold negotiations with Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on extending seat-to-seat adjustment. In the provinces of Sindh, the Sindh Democratic Alliance and Ghinwa Bhutto have already been part of the alliance. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PPPP, JI agree to cooperate ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Makhdoom Amin Fahim, chairman of People's Parliamentarians Group (PPG), held a meeting with Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed at the latter's office and the two reached a consensus on creating an atmosphere of national reconciliation. Both declared that they had agreed to protect the 1973 constitution against amendments and to create an atmosphere of democratic reconciliation on the basis of fundamental rights and objective resolution. They, however, denied that they had discussed seat adjustments in the coming polls in their hour-long meeting. Talking to newsmen, Makhdoom said our decision to create a new entity was to ensure that we were not thrown out of the election process. "We have submitted our registration papers, etc., with the Election Commission today," he added. He said his group had applied for the symbol of "arrow" and it was now up to the EC to decide. Replying to a question about his party's future relations with the army, Makhdom said: "We want the army to have an honorable exit, resume its original work and let the politicians run the country's business." Qazi Hussain Ahmed said: "We both have agreed that we must work together to protect the 1973 constitution against any amendments by an individual and to create a truly democratic atmosphere conducive to the conduct of free, fair and independent elections." He reiterated his party's demand that the Election Commission be reconstituted and an undisputed personality brought in in place of Irshad Hasan Khan. Makhdoom Fahim said nothing was final in politics and "we can take joint steps in a number of areas in the future." When a questioner made reference to mistakes committed by the party in the past, the PPG leader said: "Let us bury our past and take a new start, with a determination not to repeat the mistakes which had resulted in military takeover." To a question whether his party had pardoned the blood of its workers shed during the PPP government, Qazi said: "It was a matter to be decided by the court where it was pending." The JI chief said that "we have agreed in our discussion that taking out processions and staging sit-ins were democratic rights of the people and there must not be any use of force against such demonstrations in the future." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SHC to hear Omar's appeal in Karachi ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Aug 13: The appeal of Ahmad Omar Saeed Shaikh against the death sentence awarded to him in the Daniel Pearl kidnapping/murder case by an anti-terrorism court was admitted on Tuesday for regular hearing in Karachi by a division bench of the Sindh High Court. The bench, comprising Justice Roshan Essani and Justice Mujeebullah Siddiqui, announced this when the appeal of Omar, filed by Abdul Waheed Katpar, came up for pre-admission hearing. Mr Katpar and Mohsin Imam advocates were present for the convicted appellant, whereas Sindh Advocate-General Raja Qureshi represented the State. Similar orders were also passed on the appeals of the three accomplices of Omar against life terms awarded to them by the ATC, and on the State's appeal for enhancement in their sentences. On July 15 the Special Judge in Hyderabad had awarded death penalty to the British-born Omar, whereas his three accomplices - Fahad Nasim, Syed Salman Saqib and Shaikh Mohammad Adil - were given life terms. Their appeal was filed by Rai Bashir Advocate. On Mr Katpar's plea for hearing in Karachi, the advocate- general had contended that the Supreme Court had directed the matter to be heard in Hyderabad. However, Mr Katpar sought refuge in clause 7 of the notification of the SHC, dated February 19, according to which appeals, revision applications and miscellaneous applications, arising out of or involving a sentence of death, shall be heard at the principal seat of the SHC. Justice Essani, however, observed that another bench had already decided that all appeals would be heard in Karachi. The court was of the view that contents of the memo of appeal required consideration and the parties should be put on notice. Mr Katpar has claimed his client's total innocence in the memo of appeal. He claimed that the impugned "judgment is against law and facts" and, therefore, should be set aside. Counsel for the three co-accused claimed that the trial court had adopted "pick and choose" method and had considered only those points "which were favourable to the prosecution." The counsel has contended that neither the complainant, Marriane Pearl (widow of Daniel Pearl) nor any other witness appeared before the trial court to prove the contents of the FIR and signature of the complainant on it. The State was first to file appeal for enhancement of sentence of the co-accused, who were convicted and sentenced under section 7 of the anti-terrorism act 1997 to suffer imprisonment for life. Being aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgment, Raja Qureshi had claimed that "overwhelming incriminating evidence has actually come on record" in respect of the three persons who have been awarded a lesser punishment than what is prescribed by law being normal punishment. It is the contention of the State that the case set up by the prosecution was and is based on the conspiracy hatched by the four accused, in furtherance of which they committed separate acts with the common intention as well as with a meeting of minds, falling within the concept of criminal conspiracy. "Hence the accused would not in any manner deserve a punishment lesser to what has been awarded to the principal accused." With consent of the parties, the matter was adjourned to a date-in- office. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Search for Al Qaeda men launched ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Musaddiq Ali MANSEHRA, Aug 13: A search operation was launched in the tribal belt of Kala Dhaka by the law enforcement agencies for Al Qaeda men on the directives of the interior ministry. The police in the district are on alert and the doctors and paramedical staff at the hospitals have been asked to remain on duty round the clock to meet any emergency. Heavily armed contingents of the frontier constabulary have encircled the tribal belt along the Indus River and reports reaching here reveal that the tribesmen have blocked the Dour Maira road, connecting the area with Mansehra district. It is learnt that 22 Al Qaeda suspects arrested in Peshawar have disclosed that they have their hideouts in Kala Dhaka where some of their companions are getting training. A police officer said a sensitive agency had found clues that some suspects involved in attacks in different parts of the country had taken shelter in the tribal belt. When contacted, Mansehra District Nazim Mohammad Azam Khan Swati said the NWFP governor had phoned him on Sunday night and asked him to make vehicles and logistics arrangement for the paramilitary troops carrying out the operation. He said the governor had received a fax message from the interior ministry on Sunday in this regard. Asked if he was taken into confidence about the operation, Azam Swati said the matter was sensitive so it had been kept secret and the operation was being carried on the directives of the federal government. Replying to another question, he said he did not know whether the officials of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation or any other foreign agency were helping the troops in the operation. The police on Aug 9 raided a house here in Ghazikot township, arrested 10 people and took into possession a jeep (RIP-8144), but they proved their identity as officers of a secret agency and were released. The officers, according to a source in the police, were on a mission for tracking the Al Qaeda men in Kala Dhaka. Senior superintendent and deputy superintendent of Mansehra police were not available for comments. Sources said the FC troops had taken positions along the Indus and were facing difficulty in making advance as the tribesmen had blocked the Dour Maira Road. They said the situation was tense. The Kala Dhaka area has a population of 300,000, mostly comprising theBassi Khel, Mada Khel, Nusrat Khel, Akazia and Hassanzai tribes. The area borders Mansehra, Buner, Swat, Mardan, Batagram and Haripur districts. The sources said the entry points of the area had been kept under strict surveillance by the law enforcement agencies to check the movement of the suspects. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Defence closes evidence today: Meerwala case ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Nadeem Saeed MULTAN, Aug 16: The defence in Meerwala gang-rape case has assured Dera Ghazi Khan anti-terrorism court that it will complete series of its witnesses today (Saturday). When the ATC reassembled on Friday to take up the case being tried in-camera on day-to-day basis, Jatoi police station in-charge Inspector Abdul Lateef Chandia told the court that Fayyaz Husain of Meerwala could not be traced out. He said the notables of the area had told the police that he (Fayyaz) had been missing since the registration of the case on June 30 last. The court on Aug 10 summoned Fayyaz Husain to appear as a defence witness on Aug 15 on the request of defence counsel Malik Muhammad Saleem. He was supposed to record his statement as a witness to the alleged nikah of Mukhtaran Mai with accused Abdul Khaliq. Moreover, the defence had also pleaded that he was the accused named by the complainants but the police had arrested and were prosecuting one Fayyaz Husain of Rampur village. The arrested Fayyaz had no relationship with the accused while the other Fayyaz was the first cousin of main accused Abdul Khaliq. Fayyaz did not appear in the court on Aug 15 and the police told the court that he was missing. At this, the court had issued his non-bailable warrants for Aug 16. The police had also informed the court that Fayyaz was wanted in a case registered by Alipur police station under section 337 PPC on Feb 16, 2002. The court had sought the record of the case as well on Thursday. The record of the case that was produced before the court on Friday revealed Fayyaz was on bail in the Alipur case and trial of the case would be initiated for the first time on Sept 16, 2002, by an area court. While reissuing warrants of Fayyaz, the court directed the police to contact the guarantors of Fayyaz in the Alipur case to ensure his availability. The other witness of the alleged nikah of Mukhtaran Mai, Ghulam Husain was present in the court. However, the prosecution team, headed by special public prosecutor Ramzan Khalid Joiya, informed the court that they wanted to examine the statements of both the witnesses of the alleged nikah once on a same day. The defence assured the court that it would not use delaying tactics and would complete its series of witnesses on Saturday even if the police failed to serve the court notice on Fayyaz. Sub-Inspector Shabbir Kithran of the Jatoi police station was present in the court on Friday. It may be recalled the court had issued his bailable warrants for not coming to the court on Thursday. He was assigned the duty of serving court notice on Fayyaz Husain. The court also issued bailable warrants of Jatoi's local daily's correspondent Mureed Abbas. He was summoned on Friday to testify non-compliance of the court notice issued to Fayyaz Husain. The court adjourned proceedings of the case for Saturday. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- More defence witnesses depose: Meerwala gang-rape case ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent MULTAN, Aug 15: The Muzaffargarh district coordination officer has instructed the Alipur branch of the National Bank not to make payments through the joint account of Mukhtaran Mai, the Meerwala gang-rape victim, and her father without his consent. This was stated by bank manager Muhammad Younas while deposing before the local anti-terrorism court on Thursday as defence witness. He was called as witness by the court on the request of defence council Malik Saleem in order to give details of the account jointly managed by Mukhtaran Mai and her father, Ghulam Farid. The manager said an account was opened in the name of Ghulam Farid on July 5, 2002, and a cheque for Rs500,000 issued by the President's Secretariat was deposited by him on July 10. Another cheque issued by a local public school was also deposited by the account holder on July 15, he said. In the meanwhile, a joint account in the name of Ghulam Farid and Mukhtaran Mai was also opened in the same branch and Rs500,000 were transferred to this account from the account of Farid. He said Rs30,000 and Rs15,000 had been withdrawn from the account of Farid on July 15 and Aug 12, respectively. He said the joint account was opened on the directions of the Muzaffargarh DCO who had instructed the bank that no payment should be made through the joint account without his consent as Mukhtaran Mai had announced that she would open a school with this grant. The defence called the bank official because the victim had deposed before the court that she had not received even a single penny from anybody and that she had donated the presidential grant of Rs0.5m for the construction of a school in the area. Dawn's correspondent Nadeem Saeed deposed his statement as defence witness two. He said he visited Meerwala on July 11 last and the victim's brother, Hazoor Bakhsh, told him that the police had arrested one Fayyaz Husain of Rampur instead of the actual rapist, Fayyaz Husain, of Meerwala. Molvi Abdul Razzaq also endorsed the statement of Hazoor Bakhsh. The version of Hazoor Bakhsh was quoted in the story "Police, feudals trying to save the chief juror" published in this paper on July 12. On cross-examination by the prosecutors, the DW2 said neither he knew Hazoor Bakhsh and Molvi Razzaq before July 11 nor they showed their identity cards to him to prove their identities. He said Abdul Shakoor, the younger brother of the gang-rape victim, introduced Hazoor Bakhsh to him as his elder brother. He said he had recognized Shakoor easily because of his pictures published in newspapers. Defence counsel Malik Saleem objected to the prosecution query about the version of the accused published in the July 12 story regarding the Meerwala incident. At this, the court advised the defence counsel to refrain from frequent interruptions. Replying to another query, the DW2 said he could not get official response to the Hazoor Bakhsh's claim regarding the arrest of accused Fayyaz on the same day. However, on July 15 he succeeded to contact Dera Ghazi Khan range DIG Asif Nawaz who expressed a surprise over the complainants' accusation, saying the police produced the accused before them while recording their (complainants) statements under Section 164 CrPC and that they duly recognized all of them, including Fayyaz. He denied that his late father, Mustafa Saeed, had friendship with defence counsel Malik Saleem and that the latter convinced him to appear before the court as witness. He said he was only complying with the court orders. He admitted that one of the defence counsel, Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, was his friend and that he provided him the unattested copies of the day-to-day proceedings of the in-camera trial of the Meerwala case. Jatoi police station muharrar head-constable Akbar Ali deposed before the court as DW3. He said no case was registered against Molvi Razzaq during the last Muharram on the basis of information that he had links with the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan. A sub-inspector of the Muzaffargarh city police station, Muhammad Ashraf, while recording his statement as DW4 admitted that he brought out Fayyaz Husain from jail on July 14 last for interrogation in a case registered under sections 380 and 458 PPC. The case was registered against unidentified accused on Feb 10, 2002. He denied that he was directed by the authorities to replace the arrested Fayyaz with the actual accused. He admitted that no accused had so far been challaned in the case. He said Fayyaz was again sent to jail after two days of interrogation when his involvement in the case could not be established. Earlier, when judge Malik Zulfiqar Ali resumed the trial of the case, the defence counsel informed the court that they wanted to give-up Muzaffargarh district Nazim Sultan Hinjra to appear as DW. The court granted them the permission. It may be noted that Sultan Hinjra was summoned by the court on Saturday last on the request of the defence to clarify his interview published in a local Urdu daily on Aug 12 last in which he was quoted to have said that women had never come up to the panchayats to seek pardon. It is learnt that the district Nazim reportedly denied outside the court on Thursday that he had even given any such interview. At this the defence thought it better to give-up him as DW. Earlier, Hinjra had appeared as court witness (CW1) in the Meerwala case. Jatoi SHO Abdul Latif Chandia informed the court that Fayyaz Husain of Meerwala could not be traced to serve him the court notice to appear as defence witness to testify that a 'nikah' was actually solemnized between Abdul Khaliq and Mukhtaran Mai. Fayyaz of Meerwala is a cousin of Khaliq, and the defence was pleading that he had been replaced with Fayyaz being prosecuted wrongly. The court issued non-bailable warrants for Fayyaz Husain for Aug 16. The other 'witness' of the 'nikah' was present in the court but the prosecution refused to cross-examine him separately. At this, the court directed him to reappear on Friday. The court also issued bailable warrants for sub-inspector Ghulam Shabbir of the Jatoi police station for not turning up to the court on Thursday. He was directed to serve notice on Fayyaz Husain. The correspondent of a local daily was also summoned for Friday. The judge adjourned the proceedings for Friday. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ATC summons six more witnesses: Meerwala gang-rape ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent MULTAN, Aug 10: Dera Ghazi Khan anti-terrorism court's judge Malik Zulfiqar Ali summoned three more court witnesses and as many defence witnesses in the under-trial Meerwala gang-rape case. Those summoned as CWs are Muzaffargarh district Nazim Sultan Mahmood Hinjra, Dawn correspondent Nadeem Saeed and Jatoi police station's Sub-Inspector Ashraf. Sultan Hinjra had already appeared before the Dera ATC as CW1 in the case. Among the summoned DWs are Jatoi police station's Muharrar, accused Abdul Khaliq Mastoi's maternal uncle Ghulam Husain and his paternal cousin Fayyaz Husain. Both the CWs and the DWs have been called on the request of the defence. Sultan Hinjra (CW1) has been recalled in connection with his interview published in a local Urdu daily on Aug 2 last in which he claimed the women had never turned up to the Panchayats under the local traditions to seek pardon. This correspondent has been summoned to verify one of his dispatches published in Dawn on July 12 last under the caption 'police, feudal trying to save chief juror'. Quoting gang-rape victim's brother Hazoor Bakhsh, the report said the police had arrested one Fayyaz Husain of Dunni (Rampur village) instead of actual rapist Fayyaz Husain of Meerwala. Sub-Inspector Ashraf has reportedly been called to explain why the arrested Fayyaz was brought out of the jail on July 14 last on two- day remand in police custody in a case registered on Feb 10 last under section 458 and 380 against some unidentified people. The Muharrar of the Jatoi police station would bring with him an alleged report recorded against Maulvi Abdul Razzaq (PW) on March 26 last during Muharram for the latter's alleged link with the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan. While DWs, Ghulam Husain and Fayyaz Husain, have been called because the defence in the Meerwala case has claimed that they were the witnesses to the Sharae Nikah of Mukhtaran bibi and accused Abdul Khaliq. All the CWs and DWs have been directed to appear before the court on Aug 15 (Thursday). DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Lashkar-i-Jhangvi blamed for attacks ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The government identified the outlawed militant network Lashkar-i-Jhangvi as the group suspected of launching two attacks on Christian targets last week in which 11 people died. "We strongly suspect the attackers to be part of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, one of its main factions," interior ministry spokesman Iftikhar Ahmed told AFP. "There are strong connections between those two attacks." Lashkar-i-Jhangvi has also been linked to the suicide car-bomb attacks in Karachi outside the Sheraton hotel in May and the US consulate in June, and the murder of abducted US journalist Daniel Pearl this year. Police have detained "six or seven" people for questioning over Friday's grenade attack on the Christian Hospital chapel in Taxila, 25km from Islamabad, he said. "They've made different arrests, not of the culprits, but rather their associates," the spokesman said.- AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Banned groups behind attack ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: Pakistani investigators said that the three men behind Friday's grenade attack on a hospital chapel were believed to belong one of two banned Islamic militant groups. One of the three died in the attack, in which grenades were lobbed into a crowd of women filing out of a Presbyterian chapel, killing three nurses and injuring dozens more. "After identifying the accused who was killed in the attack, we have information that the attackers were members either of the banned Jaish-i-Mohammad or Harkat-ul-Mujahideen groups," Rawalpindi District Mayor Tariq Kiani told Reuters. "Or they may be members of splinter or breakaway groups of these banned outfits," he said. "We believe we will track down the remaining two...we are pretty sure we will arrest them." On Monday, three men raided a Protestant missionary school for foreign students in Murree killing six Pakistanis. The three later blew themselves up after being challenged by police. Investigators said an autopsy on the attacker who died on Friday showed he was hit by a piece of shrapnel from a grenade. Kiani identified the killed attacker as Kamran Butt, a resident of Rawalpindi. "The police are questioning his friends and relatives to find more details so as to reach the remaining two attackers." An officer said Butt had fought alongside mujahideen in occupied Kashmir.-Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Wattoo seeks release in pending reference ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, Aug 15: Former chief minister Manzoor Wattoo submitted an application before an accountability court for his release in a corruption reference pending for adjudication. The court issued notice to the NAB on the application for Aug 17. Wattoo in his application pleaded that he had been acquitted in two NAB references by the Lahore High Court last week and he was still in NAB detention at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology. He stated he had been implicated as co-accused along with former provincial food minister Tikka Muhammad Iqbal in a corruption reference filed before the accountability court in March 2001. He claimed he had not been formally arrested by police on the charges levelled in the reference, and he was simply being summoned by the court as a co-accused. He offered to furnish surety bonds with the court as a token of guarantee for not absconding the court proceedings following his release. In the reference, Tikka along with the former chief minister has been held accused of causing a Rs44.7 million loss to the national exchequer. According to the prosecution, Tikka in connivance with Wattoo forced the Food Department to purchase 3,000 bales of jute bags worth Rs29.2 million following the expiry of procurement season. It has been alleged in the reference that the payment of Rs29.2 million resulted in a six-month delay in repayment of loans to banks and the Food Department had to pay an interest of Rs22.2 million. The investigations further revealed that the jute bags were purchased at an excessive rate of Rs2.50 per bag for which an additional payment of Rs22.50 million had to be made to the mills owner bringing the quantum of total loss to Rs44.7 million. Tikka has already been allowed by the LHC to leave for the US for medical treatment. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No disqualification on me: Wattoo ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, Aug 11: Former Punjab chief minister Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo claimed that there was no disqualification imposed on him for contesting next general elections. Talking to Dawn, Mr Wattoo said he did not accept the 10-year disqualification for contesting elections imposed on him by an accountability court in June last in three Baitul Maal references. "The court simply dismissed my application for exemption from section 15 (1) of the NAB Ordinance imposing 10-year disqualification from contesting elections and did not issue a formal order while concluding the case," Mr Wattoo claimed. According to the former Punjab chief minister, the cases had been filed against him under the Ehtesab Act 1997 which did not prescribe any disqualification for an accused striking a plea bargain deal. He alleged the three references were outcome of a grudge which Mian Nawaz Sharif had against him. "I did not move an application for plea bargain in these three references because I did not misuse Baitul Maal funds," he claimed. He said the other five accused had deposited Rs10.07 million with the NAB and had moved an application for plea bargain. Replying to a query, former Punjab chief minister acknowledged that he should have moved an application for his pre-mature acquittal before the accountability court instead of pleading for his exemption from Section 15. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Courts order Wattoo's release ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter LAHORE, Aug 10: Two accountability courts issued formal orders for former Punjab chief minister Manzoor Wattoo's release from jail provided he had not been arrested in any other case. The orders were issued by two trial courts following Mr Wattoo's acquittal by the Lahore High Court in two references. In the reference decided by judge Mahmood Akhtar Siddiqui on Jan 6, 2001, Mr Wattoo had been awarded three years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs10 million for misusing his authority as chief minister. He had been charged with paying without legal authority Rs1,061,125 to a firm, Messers Design Tex. In the reference decided by judge Rafique Goreja on Apr 4, 2000, he was sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs4 million. In this reference he had been charged with having issued 110 plot allotment orders in housing schemes of the Lahore Development Authority on the last date of his tenure as chief minister. The prosecution alleged that 63 of these plots were allotted without formal applications. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- American school may be closed down ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The administration of American International School has threatened to close down its institution, if the government fails to provide adequate security cover in the wake of recent terrorist attacks, an official source said. The school administration held a session with the Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider on Tuesday and apprised him of their security concerns. Shortly after the meeting, the chief commissioner and inspector general of police Islamabad went to the school and assured the administration that they should not worry as the police were taking all possible measures for their security. The source said the school staff who was expected to return on August 15 have deferred their arrival for an indefinite period. The school management held a meeting with the interior minister on Tuesday and expressed their security concerns. The source said in view of the security concern shown by the American School administration 'Black Tiger' police squad had been formed and deployed at the school. The well-equipped squad will be stationed in the school building and also escort the school van during pick and drop service, the source said. When a senior police official of Islamabad Capital Territory police was contacted, he confirmed the formation of Black Tiger squad and said that it was formed after the terrorist threat. In another move, the secretary interior has sought explanation from the chief of Islamabad police (IGP) about allegations of misbehaviour and indifference of the police officials towards foreigners seeking security cover, the source said. The interior secretary's move came after a diplomat complained that neither the capital police IGP nor the SSP responded when he expressed his security concerns and asked the police to take effective security measures, a source in the interior ministry said. When a senior police officer was contacted, he confirmed that complaint had been lodged and the police had responded. "Unfortunately, the reply was missed somewhere in the mail". Diplomats in Islamabad have been advised to refrain fromgoing to deserted places and offered to take police guards, if they so desire for their protection, following the recent attacks in Murree and Taxila.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Six million dollars debt rescheduled ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: Pakistan signed an agreement on consolidation of debt with Finnvera Plc Finlandhere on Tuesday. Under the agreement, Pakistan's debt amounting to $6.122m as of Nov 30, 2001, has been rescheduled. The amount is to be paid in 23 years including five-year grace period at the interest rate of six month Libor for US dollars plus 0.55 per cent per annum. This was the first agreement on rescheduling arrangement signed with Finnvera Plc Finland under the Paris Club Agreed Minute of December 13, 2001, said an official announcement. It was expected that similar agreements with Belgium, Canada, Netherlands and United States of America would be signed later this month. Following the Paris Club Agreed Minute of December 13, 2001, negotiations were held between Islamabad and Finnvera Plc Finland acting on behalf of the State Guarantee Fund on the consolidation and rescheduling of debt owned by the former to the latter. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Several groups vying to be king of country's financial sector ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Dilawar Hussain KARACHI, Aug 13: First Leasing Corporation Limited told the stock exchange that three nominee directors of Pak Libya Holding Company had been replaced by nominees of the Crescent group. The decision of the Board taken at the meeting on Monday, went to confirm the July 23 report by Dawn that the Cres Group had purchased strategic equity interests held by Pak-Libya Holdings Limited in two leasing companies - First Leasing Corporation and Paramount Leasing Company for cash consideration of Rs175 million. Probably unaware of the undercurrents, the local management of First Leasing had expressed ignorance about the transaction to an earlier query by the stock exchange. Paramount Leasing had said that the matter was under discussion. Dawn has learnt that similar changes on the Board of directors of Paramount would be made at the meeting of its board scheduled for August 27. Both publicly traded companies - First Leasing Limited and Paramount Leasing Limited - are in advanced talks for merger, which would create "First Paramount". Cres Group, is understood to have paid Rs5 per share to Pak-Libya for its 36 per cent stake in First Leasing, while acquiring the 56 per cent majority holding in Paramount Leasing at Rs10 per share. The group would probably be able to induct four nominees on the seven-member board of directors of Paramount, on August 27. When the proposed merger of Paramount with First Leasing is completed, the Crescent group would go to hold 52 per cent equity in the merged company - First Paramount Leasing Company. Paid-up capital of First Leasing is Rs272 million and that of Paramount Rs250 million, which takes the combined capital of 'First Paramount' to Rs522 million - largest among 32 companies listed on the leasing sector. Interestingly, over 80 per cent equity in both leasing companies was vested in financial institutions, which was why acquisition of majority stake looked both an easier and a timely strategic move. At separately held extraordinary general meetings on August 6 at Lahore, shareholders in two other listed entities - Altowfeek Investment Bank and First Crescent Modaraba gave their approval to the scheme of arrangement for amalgamation of the two companies into the "First Standard Investment Bank Limited". Cres group would hold 35 per cent shares and place three nominees on the seven member board of the First Standard Investment Bank Limited. The strategy of the Cres group appears to be to combine the modaraba, investment bank and the two leasing companies, into a kind of financial super market: "Altowfeek Bank" which would hold three-quarters of a billion rupees in capital and more than Rs8 billion in assets. Things appear to be progressing according to plans for the group. But in the race to be the biggest in the financial sector, there are other equally fierce competitors: PICIC and the Mansha group are the two more openly in the race. Through mergers & acquisitions including aggressive biddings on privatization of state-controlled banks, major groups and business houses are vying to tower above the rest in the financial sector. As regulators push for consolidation by prescribing huge equity deadlines, more mergers and takeovers among investment banks, modarabas and leasing and insurance companies would be inevitable. If the Privatization Commission is able to keep up to its targeted sale of UBL, HBL, NIT and ICP before the year is out, it won't be too long before the dust settles and from among the various contestants, the group that is to be the king of the country's financial sector, emerges fully into view. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- HBL sell-off attracts local, foreign investors ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jawaid Bokhari KARACHI, Aug 10: State-run Habib Bank is a "jewel" that has been offered for sale as Dr Ishrat Husain, Governor of State Bank, puts it and sources say it has attracted domestic strategic investors as well as multilateral agencies, interested in acquiring stakes in the bank. A consortium of leading local businessmen - the Aga Khan Foundation, Habib Bank A.G. Zurich and Bestway Holdings Group of Abu Dhabi - are among those who have submitted EoIs (Expressions of Interest) to the Privatization Commission. The last date for submitting EoIs was July 31 and the process of pre-qualification of prospective bidders is expected to be completed by August 15. And outside the formal sale process, World Bank's affiliate International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank and Commonwealth Development Corporation are looking at the bank and the proposed deal with an aim at acquiring stakes jointly with the winner in the bid. the representatives of these institutions have been sounding some of the prospective bidders. Road shows have also been held for 2-3 possible buyers in the Middle East and the UK, which were conducted by HBL president Zakir Mahmood and an official of the Privatization Commission. Whereas Pakistan is currently not a destination for large investments from the West required for purchase of HBL, the domestic investors have been activated by the restructuring and privatization of the financial sector. Some of the locals have joined hands with Arab investors. The entry of Mian Mohammad Mansha, a top textile industrialist into banking, his acquisition of MCB and bid for UBL has perhaps inspired a group of Karachi businessmen that includes leading textile barons Bashir Ali Mohammad and Tabba to bid for Habib Bank. They are progressive businessmen, who have been modernizing their plants depending more on their own equity rather than bank borrowing to face global competition. And they have a track record to impress the Privatization Commission. Whether they would be able to raise the kind of money that is needed to buy at least 26 per cent of the stakes, is the moot question. Their interest in HBL also indicates that textile owners are exploring fresh avenues for investment, not for new projects but acquisition of running enterprises. Currently, the State Bank is looking at the sources of funds, which MCB would use to buy the UBL. If Mian Mansha gets UBL, he would benefit from synergies created by the merger of UBL and MCB, and the merged unit would also have global reach, which his bank currently does not have. Pakistan needs large banks to have a presence in the global market and compete with leading foreign banks. The merger would lead to cutting of overhead costs, saving on closure of competing branches and the merged unit would benefit from UBL's foreign subsidiaries, branches and joint ventures. Barring a major upset, Mian Mansha would emerge the winner. Among those who have submitted EoIs for HBL to the Privatization Commission is Geneva-based Habib Bank A.G. Zurich, which was launched by the owners of the Habib Bank when HBL was nationalized by Bhutto's government. As former owners, they would expect that the HBL should be returned to them as it was being privatized. The right of first refusal was not given to Adamjees in case of MCB sell-off. It is unlikely that the government would concede on this point. Although some experts believe that the former owners should have the first right of refusal if they can match the highest bid. But not all the bidders would be able to mobilize resources for acquiring the kind of money that is required to buy 26-51 per cent stakes in the HBL. The government may prefer a buyer acquiring 51 stakes to the offer made for a mere 26 per cent stakes. Herein comes the advantage of the Aga Khan's resources and his creditability with the international agencies like IFC and CDC. Normally, IFC takes a maximum of 25 per cent stakes in any venture. How the Bestway group of Abu Dhabi would fare is difficult to forecast as was the unpredictable course they took in case of bid for UBL. But they do indicate that investors from the Middle East are continuing showing interest in acquiring stakes in the financial sector. The latest example is the interest of Pak-Kuwait to buy IDBP, which has a licence for commercial banking. Sources say that the State Bank would like the IDBP to be run as a SME bank. Initially, as market reports go, Pak-Kuwait may acquire the bank on a two-year management contract. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- KSE index manages to finish with modest rise ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Aug 16: The KSE 100-share index managed to finish with a modest rise of 2.28 points followed by active short-covering in PSO and some others ahead of their board meetings. It finally ended at 1,843.26 points as compared to overnight's 1,840.98 amid relatively better turnover figure, signaling that the market is expected to maintain its upward drive during the next week also. Prominent gainers were led by Atlas Honda, Shell Pakistan ahead of its board meeting on Aug 20, Dilon, PSO and Pak Reinsurance, up by Rs2 to Rs36.65. IGI Insurance, Al-Azhar Textiles, Shafiq Textiles, Gatron Industries and some others followed them, rising by one rupee to Rs1.50. Losers were led by Millat Tractors, Treet Corporation, Gillette Pakistan, Nestle MilkPak and Wyeth Pakistan, off Rs1.50 to Rs10 followed by Exide Pakistan and Glaxo-Wellcome, falling by Rs1.15 to Rs1.35. Trading volume showed a modest rise at 96m shares as compared to 87m shares but losers maintained a fair lead over the gainers at 111 to 94, with 56 shares holding on to the last levels. The most active list was topped by PSO, sharply higher by Rs4.70 at Rs151.25 on 30m shares followed by Hub-Power, up by 10 paisa at Rs26.25 on 29m shares, PTCL, lower five paisa at Rs18.45 on 9m shares, Sui Northern Gas, up 45 paisa at Rs15 on 7m shares and National Bank, higher 25 paisa at Rs22.25 on 4m shares. Other actives were led by Adamjee Insurance, up 35 paisa on 1.801m shares, ICI Pakistan, steady five paisa on 1.800m shares, Fauji Fertiliser, firm by five paisa on 1.417m shares, WorldCall, up 20 paisa on 1.351m shares and Dewan Salman, lower 10 paisa on 1.280m shares. CLEARED LIST: PSO again came in for strong speculative support amid market talk of higher sales combined with upward revision in fortnightly POL prices. It rose by Rs4.25 in line with its ready board quote at Rs151.25 on 5.654m shares. Among the most actives, Hub-Power was leading, up 15 paisa at Rs26.35 on 7.441m shares, followed by PTCL, unchanged at Rs18.55 on 1.345m shares. Sui Northern was also actively traded, higher by 40 paisa on 0.578m shares. DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Suzuki Motorcycles again came in for modest support and rose five paisa at Rs3.80 on 9,000 shares followed by Allied Motors, unchanged at Rs11.05 on 2,500 shares. Burma Oil was marked down by 50 paisa at Rs8.50 on 1,000 shares, while others were traded fractionally. DIVIDEND: Pak-Apex Leasing Company, cash 7.5 per cent for the year ended June 30, 2002. BOARD MEETINGS: KASB Premier Fund, Central Insurance on Aug 20; Atlas Honda, Singer Pakistan, Muslim Insurance on Aug 21; KSB Pumps on Aug 23; and HinoPak Motors on Aug 26. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Stock market back on rails ------------------------------------------------------------------- Muhammad Aslam The KSE 100-share index attained the coveted level of well over 1,800 points at 1,815.76 as compared to previous 1,779.40,pushing the market capitalization to a respectable figure of Rs423 billion. The net rise in the index being 36.36 points or 2.5 percent over the week. After a month of low volumes including a record low of 17m shares in a single-session, the turnover figure swelled to a respectable total of 95m shares but still below the average daily to total of 100 million shares in normal trading sessions. The buying support was so strong that it breached through the circuit breaker, leading the way for other blue chips to follow its lead and it was promptly picked up by some others including PSO. According to market sources the MCB group led by Mian Muhammad Mansha has, over the last two years, cornered about 40 percent of its floating stock and is planning for a hostile take-over after buying its floating stock. In an identical hostile take-over bids, its 10.00-rupee share had touched the peak level of Rs.105.00 and Rs.70.00 a couple of years back as speculator joined to race for capital gains. Opinions are however still divided over the future market outlook but some stock analysts predict the lean period may be over and consolidation forces are in to restore credibility to stock trading. Next couple of sessions will show how the market behaves. Plus signs dominated the list,major gainers being Shell Pakistan, Century Papers, Clover Pakistan, Kohinoor Weaving, Adamjee Insurance, PSO, Pak Reinsurance and Wyeth Pakistan Arif Habib Securities, International Industries, Anwar Textiles, Dawood Hercules after an interim dividend of 55 percent, Ghani Glass, Abbott Lab, Kohinoor Weaving, PSO, Shell Pakistan and several others. The largest rise was, however, noted in Wyeth Pakistan, which rose by Rs10.00 to 20.00 in each session. Losers were led by Spencer & Co, Al-Ghazi Tractors, Shafiq Textiles and New Jubilee Insurance, Attock Refinery, IGI Insurance, Glaxo- Wellcome Pakistan, Aventis Pharma, Shell Gas and Nestle MilkPak and some others. Trading volume rose to 238 million shares from the previous weekly low level of 163m shares, bulk of which was contributed during the last three sessions of the week including 95 million shares on Friday. Hub-Power, PTCL, PSO were leading among the volume leaders and accounted for 70 per cent of the total followed by ICI Pakistan, MCB, National Bank, Sui Northern, Adamjee Insurance, Engro Chemical, FFC-Jordan Fertiliser, WorldCall, Pak PTA and several others. FUTURE CONTRACTS: After early weakness, speculative issues on the forward counter also rose in sympathy with their counterparts in the ready section. PSO was the top performer as gainers, while Hub- Power topped the list of volume leaders followed by PTCL, ICI Pakistan, notably after the announcement of interim profit, MCB and Engro Chemical, finishing on-balance steady amid active two-way trading.Back to the top
EDITORIALS & FEATURES 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- We never learn from history-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ardeshir Cowasjee The contents of my two previous columns in this series are not revelations; they are a narrative of facts on record in our Supreme Court and as reported in our press, dating back to 1994, and for these past eight years there has been no public refutation of any accusation levelled against the politicians who accepted the people's money or were involved in one way or another in the shenanigans of the ISI. Now, my friend Roedad Khan, perpetual bureaucrat steeped in the art of bureaucracy, yet again ready to serve his country, has reacted in a letter printed in this newspaper on July 26. Apparently, his innocence has been injured. He denies having had any connection with those in President Ghulam Ishaq's secretariat who were paid to 'fix' the 1991 elections. He has, however, said that though he does not wish "to comment on the substance of the matter," he "will do so at the appropriate time," which, hopefully, will be soon. His secretariat colleague, General Rafaqat, is listed as having accepted ISI funds to do the job. So it should seem unlikely that the other secretariat members such as Roedad Khan, Ijlal Zaidi and Chaudhry Shaukat would not be in the know. (Oddly enough, when last month President General Pervez Musharraf met a band of 'intellectuals' with whom to discuss the coming elections, the strategy to be adopted, and the constitutional amendments, these four retired members of Ghulam Ishaq's special assignment cell were amongst those summoned.) One other to respond, whose letter was printed on August 8, was Kunwar Khalid Yunus of the MQM, who has spent well over two years in jail on various occasions during the last decade and who, when he is out and about, is the press spokesman for his party. He categorically states that the MQM has never received any illegal amounts on behalf of its founder and leader, Altaf Hussain. Listed amongst the recipients of ISI funds was "Yusuf Haroon, Rs 5 million [he confirms having received this for Altaf Hussain of the MQM]" which Khalid does not refute. Yusuf, now in Karachi, has reconfirmed that he handed over the money to Altaf Hussain at Nine- zero. Obviously Khalid was not privy to the transaction. Last week, I was reminded by General Naseerullah Babar that I had ommitted certain names from the list of those 'anti-PPP politicians' who received payments from the ISI during the run-up to the 1990 elections rigged in favour of the IJI and Nawaz Sharif. These were: Jamaat-i-Islami Rs 5 million; Altaf Hussain Qureshi and Mustafa Sadiq Rs 0.5 million; Arbab Ghulam Aftab Rs 0.3 million; Pir Noor Mohammad Shah Rs 0.3 million; Arbab Faiz Mohammad Rs 0.3 million; Arbab Ghulam Habib Rs 0.2 million; Ismail Rahu Rs 0.2 million; Liaquat Baloch Rs 1.5 million; Jam Yusuf Rs 0.75 million; Nadir Magsi Rs 1 million; Ghulam Ali Nizamani Rs 0.3 million; Ali Akbar Nizamani Rs 0.3 million. Yet more payments: During the Mehrangate investigations of 1993 which led up to the Supreme Court case, Younas Habib of HBL/MBL, as per his statement filed in court (recorded in Karachi under section 161 Cr.P.C), disclosed that the following political and other pay- offs were made between 1991 and 1994: "General Mirza Aslam Beg Rs 140 million; Jam Sadiq Ali (the then chief minister of Sindh) Rs 70 million; Altaf Hussain (MQM) Rs 20 million, Advocate Yousaf Memon ( for disbursement to Javed Hashmi, MNA, and others) Rs.50 million; 1992 - Jam Sadiq Ali Rs 150 million; 1993 - Liaquat Jatoi Rs .01 million; 1993 - chief minister of Sindh, through Imtiaz Sheikh Rs 12 million; Afaq of the MQM Rs 0.5 million; 1993 chief minister of Sindh, through Imtiaz Sheikh, Rs. 01. million; 1993 - Ajmal Khan, a former federal minister, Rs 1.4 million; 1993 - Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister, Rs 3.5 million; 27/9/93 Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister, Rs 2.5 million; 26/9/93 Jam Mashooq Rs 0.5 million; 26/9/93 Dost Mohammad Faizi Rs 1 million; Jam Haider Rs 2 million; Jam Mashooq Rs 3 million; Adnan, son of Sartaj Aziz, Rs 1 million; Nawaz Sharif and Ittefaq Group of Companies Rs 200 million (photocopies of cheques and deposit slips, etc, already attached with affidavit at page nos. 42 to 73); Sardar Farooq Leghari 12/12/93 (payment set/off) Rs 30 million - 6/1/94 Rs 2.0856 million - 19/3/94 Rs 1.92 million." In 1997, in the Supreme Court, during the hearing of Human Rights Petitition 19/96 filed by Air Marshal Asghar Khan against the illegal distribution of the people's money by the ISI for political purposes, and also seeking the post-retirement court martial of General Mirza Aslam Beg, accusing him of gross misconduct by ignoring while he was chief of staff of the Pakistan Army such illegal distributions, Aslam Beg made the following statement: "I hereby take oath, and knowing fully well that I am saying this in the presence of Allah Almighty and this Honourable Court, submit that: "ISI is Inter-Services Intelligence organization cretaed by the government of Pakistan and had been directly answerable/responsible to the three Services through JCSC till 1975. In 1975 the then prime minister of Pakistan, through an executive order, created a political cell within the organization of ISI and by virtue of this change in the working of ISI it came directly under the control of the chief executive, particularly on political matters and for all the security matters concerning the armed forces ISI reported to the Joint Chief of Staff Committee. This status continues till today. ISI is virtually divided into two parts, one is [the] political wing and [the] other concerns matters relating to counter and strategic intelligence of the armed forces. During the days of Zia martial law, the ISI was reporting in all matters to the president, who, by virtue of his office as chief martial law administrator and president of Pakistan, controlled its office. "After the general elections of 1988, ISI was free completely from the influence of the army and since then ISI is virtually under the control of chief executive while remaining responsible to JCSC. In 1990 when the money was donated by Younas Habib, ISI was acting under the directions of higher authorities. As chief of the army staff at that time, when I was informed of this matter my only concern was that the money received by the ISI was utilized properly and an account was maintained and beyond that I had no concern with the money. "Although the director-general, ISI, is an officer in uniform but the chief of army staff has no authority to take action against him. The head of ISI was a person from army of which I was head at the relevant time." During the hearing of the Supreme Court case, General Babar filed an affidavit recording that Rs.140 million was collected by the political cell of the ISI from Younas Habib at the instance of General Beg, the then COAS. When the then head of the ISI, Lt General Asad Durrani, was approached, he provided certain details in an affidavit, but approached the then prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, asking her to 'shelve' the case. The affidavit was obtained by Rahman Malik of the FIA who was sent to Germany, where Durrani was then the Benazir-appointed ambassador, with stamped papers for him to sign. In the affidavit, Durrani confirmed that he had received instructions from COAS General Beg to provide 'logistic support' for the disbursement of donations made by certain 'businessmen of Karachi' to the IJI election campaign of 1990, and was told that the operation had the blessings of the government. The former attorney-general of Pakistan, Iqbal 'Groovy' Haider, representing General Babar in the Supreme Court, informed the court that the money was distributed not to political parties but to political individuals. It was common knowledge, he said, that the ISI was involved in politics. Lt General Hameed Gul, a former ISI chief, was on record as having boasted that it was he who created the IJI, and another ISI chief, Lt General Javed Nasir, had taken credit for creating the MQM Haqiqi. Air Marshal Asghar Khan's pending petition involving illegal payoffs and corruption during the run-up to one of our previous elections should be heard now by the Supreme Court before the next round of elections. It will then be up to our honourable election commission to ensure that if any of the personalities involved in the ISI payoff and Mehrangate scandals are filing to stand once again for election to our assemblies they are disqualified from so doing. This human rights petition has apparently been consigned to the Supreme Court morgue (for whatever reason). The air marshal has consistently written to all our successive chief justices of Pakistan asking that the case be heard, but nothing has happened. The last chief justice to show any interest in hearing the case was Sajjad Ali Shah who prematurely retired in December 1997 after having lost his battle with prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Since then, no chief justice has responded to the air marshal's repeated requests. We must hope that the next request that is being made this coming week will not be ignored by Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, who, in 1994 was the federal law secretary and undoubtedly remembers the SROs he issued in this matter. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bewildered: the cavalry under siege ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ayaz Amir The wagons have been drawn into a circle and the cavalry's sharpshooters, anxious eyes peering through slit-holes, await with beating heart the attack of the Red Indians. We can see the dismounted cavalry behind the wagons. But where exactly are the Red Indians? Hidden behind which high mountains? Each passing day reveals in clearer outline a startling paradox: in an uncertain situation the only thing certain is the anxiety of a befuddled government. A government prone to inventing dangers or seeing dangers where none exist. Or which exist only in the insecurities of the military mind. No other explanation suffices for the government's actions in the political sphere. Of what is it afraid? What Red Indians is it fortifying itself against? The president is all set to be the most powerful figure in the new political set-up being designed by his various constitutional technicians, chief among them the much commented-upon General Naqvi. The prime minister will walk in his shadow, having no other choice knowing that he will serve at the president's pleasure. Over the National Assembly will perpetually hang the sword of dismissal. Even otherwise that body will be packed with loyalists. Somewhere on top will hover the National Security Council, with the service chiefs sitting in it, keeping a beady eye on civilian goings-on. So what are Pakistan's generals afraid of? Not to forget another factor, President Musharraf will also keep riding his other horse as army chief. This is the ultimate guarantee of his security and survival, the one plank against which political parties find themselves helpless. And yet even after fitting himself with all this armour, General Musharraf seems to be walking in dread of the future. At least this is the impression his actions betray. Forget about the extraordinary shroud of security which has come to surround his person, the double and triple sets of Mercedes cars in which he now usually travels. That is, when he travels at all because he has cancelled several travel plans lately out of security concerns. These precautions are related to the terrorist backlash the country is facing as a result of the war against extremist elements. If religious extremists can strike at churches, consulates and schools, they will not stop short of hitting other targets given half the chance. So it is only natural that the president's security should be upgraded. But the slaughter we are seeing in the constitutional arena has nothing to do with jihadi concerns or any war on terror. It is related to the terror about the future lurking in the minds of the present holders of power. That this is irrational hardly needs emphasizing. Taking precautions against the followers of Shaikh Omar or any jihadi organization is one thing. Taking extraordinary precautions against the people of Pakistan is an altogether different matter. The fear arising from the motives or actions of the jihadi organizations can be put in quantifiable terms. There are hard-core elements who are terribly upset by Pakistan's collaboration with the United States in its war against Al Qaeda and its supporters. To vent their anger and undermine the Musharraf government, these elements can be expected to do anything. This is a tangible threat and to meet it tangible precautions can be taken. Hence, among a whole range of other measures, the heightened security around the president's person. But the fear consuming the military government regarding the future and the uncertainties of the political process is harder to define because it is a form of paranoia. Hence the difficulty in deciding when enough is enough. Starting with the referendum and then going on to the projected amendments in the Constitution, layer upon layer of precaution is being devised to keep the future in check, to see that it does not get out of hand. Still the germs of doubt and insecurity lodged firmly in the military mind are not being eradicated. This is a pity because by suspecting the Pakistani people and falling prey to nameless anxieties, the military government has already blown what might have been an historic opportunity. By holding open elections and allowing everyone to participate (what castles would Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto have demolished?) and then, even as Gen Musharraf remained president, allowing for a transition to civilian rule would have given Pakistan the stability which has so long eluded it. Referendum or no referendum, there is no real dispute across the political spectrum about Gen Musharraf continuing as president armed with substantive powers. Musharraf as president, a popularly- elected leader as prime minister. The political parties chastened and therefore acting with greater responsibility. The National Assembly restored to its position as the fount of executive authority but, heeding the lessons of past failures, acting more wisely than in the past. The armed forces back to where they belong. The nation united and collectively turning its back upon the follies and extremist aberrations of the Zia years. Given a modicum of vision, this was the choice the military government could have made. Instead of which it has opted for the easier solution: battening down the hatches and tightening controls on the political process. In other words, reaching into the past and seizing some of its failed nostrums. It might have been supposed the army leadership would have learnt from experience. But clearly old habits die hard and vision is not a commodity you can buy off a supermarket shelf. Thus the shambles of the Naqvi reforms which are destined to drive another stake through the heart of a sorely-tried nation. There is a class of Pakistanis mostly living abroad who, depressed by gloom-and-doom stories from home, want desperately to hear something good about their country. Their concerns are understandable but they should ask themselves about the wisdom of painting a fundamentally unwholesome situation in bright colours. Will the paint job alter the underlying reality? Bad tidings no one likes but the answer to this is to change the nature of the tidings not shoot the messenger. Whatever the reasons for Gen Musharraf's coup three years ago - there being no point in raking up old arguments - the necessity before Pakistan is to move ahead, leaving the discontents of the past behind. There is no quarrel between the army and the people. Neither ideological nor political. Why must then the army command discover enemies behind every bush? Why must it conjure up threats where none exist? Why must it think of the political parties as adversaries when these should be looked upon as partners in the business of national consolidation? That the political parties need to get their thinking straight is clear. In their behaviour there should be no room for the shenanigans of the nineties, the mutual bloodletting and the poor performance in government which paved the way for the present military takeover. But the army command has to clear some cobwebs from its mind too. The army in government is a doomed enterprise, destined to fail. There is no scope for the Indonesian model here, a model which has been Indonesia's ruin. Where lies Indonesia's oil wealth? Squandered by a corrupt elite. Pakistan doesn't even have any oil to squander. All the less reason for it to emulate a bad example and give the service chiefs a permanent role in government. The political parties have to be given space to breathe. They'll keep making mistakes but that's the way democracy advances - through trial and error. There are no short-cuts to its golden fruits. As for the army, it has to return to its primary duty of soldiering and keeping its guns clean. Trying to fix organizations like Wapda and the KESC should be a chastening experience. Have these white elephants been turned around? If not, what justification for uniformed mahouts to sit on top of them? Or take the most recent example of military brightness. A former army top gun, now communications czar, imports railway carriages from China only to discover that our railway platforms are six to nine inches too narrow to take them. Hence the loud sound of hammers right from Karachi to Rawalpindi as railway platforms are broken down to accommodate the new custom- built carriages. Before such hilarious lunacy it is hard to decide whether to laugh or cry. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-emption as a principle not in US interest ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Henry A. Kissinger As the anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Centre draws near, the administration is facing the most consequential foreign policy decision of the George W. Bush presidency. The president and Secretary of State Colin Powell have repeatedly stated that the United States insists on regime change in Iraq. In an eloquent address in June at West Point, President Bush stressed that new weapons of mass destruction no longer permit America the luxury of waiting for an attack, that we must "be ready for pre-emptive action when necessary to defend our liberty." At the same time, the administration's formal position is that no decision to resort to force has yet been taken. Ambiguity often can help create awareness without encumbering the discussion with the need for decision. But when ambiguity reaches the point of inviting leaks concerning military planning, congressional debate and allied pressures, the time has come to define a comprehensive policy for America and for the rest of the world. The new approach is revolutionary. Regime change as a goal for military intervention challenges the international system established by the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia, which, after the carnage of the religious wars, established the principle of nonintervention in the domestic affairs of other states. And the notion of justified pre-emption runs counter to modern international law, which sanctions the use of force in self-defence only against actual, not potential, threats. Therefore, an American military intervention in Iraq will be supported only grudgingly, if at all, by most European allies. The Middle East will be split into an inarticulate group, which will be weighing relief from radical pressures authored by Baghdad against the rising dangers from the local Arab street, and radical Islamists, already enraged by the American presence in the region. As for other nations, Russia will balance the blow to Arab radicalism against its economic stake in Iraq and the benefits of American goodwill against its fear of being marginalized. China will view pre-emptive action in terms of its reluctance to justify intervention in its own country against its desire for a cooperative relationship with the United States during a period of political succession and integration into the world economy via the WTO. The most interesting, and potentially fateful, reaction may well be India's, which will be tempted to apply the new principle of pre-emption against Pakistan. To find our way through this thicket, the administration needs to establish a comprehensive strategy for itself and a clear declaratory policy for the rest of the world. Nor can a conflict of such import be sustained as an expression of executive power alone. A way must be found to obtain adequate congressional and public support for the chosen course. The administration should be prepared to undertake a national debate because the case for removing Iraq's capacity of mass destruction is extremely strong. The international regimen following the Treaty of Westphalia was based on the concept of an impermeable nation-state and a limited military technology which generally permitted a nation to run the risk of awaiting an unambiguous challenge. But the terrorist threat transcends the nation-state; it derives in large part from transnational groups that, if they acquire weapons of mass destruction, could inflict catastrophic, even irretrievable, damage. That threat is compounded when these weapons are being built in direct violation of U.N. resolutions by a ruthless autocrat who sought to annex one of his neighbours and attacked another, with a demonstrated record of hostility toward America and the existing international system. The case is all the stronger because Saddam expelled U.N. inspectors installed as part of the settlement of the Gulf War and has used these weapons both against his own population and against a foreign adversary. This is why policies that deterred the Soviet Union for 50 years are unlikely to work against Iraq's capacity to cooperate with terrorist groups. Suicide bombing has shown that the calculations of jihad fighters are not those of the cold war principals. And the terrorists have no national base to protect. Therefore, the concern that war with Iraq could unleash Iraqi weapons of mass destruction on Israel and Saudi Arabia is a demonstration of self-deterrence. If the danger exists today, waiting will only magnify possibilities for blackmail. There is another, generally unstated, reason for bringing matters to a head with Iraq. The attack on the World Trade Centre had roots in many parts of the Islamic, and especially the Arab, world. It would not have been possible but for the tacit cooperation of societies that, in the words of George W. Bush, "oppose terror but tolerate the hatred that produces terror." While long-range American strategy must try to overcome legitimate causes of those resentments, immediate policy must demonstrate that a terrorist challenge or a systemic attack on the international order produces catastrophic consequences for the perpetrators, as well as their supporters, tacit or explicit. The campaign in Afghanistan was an important first step. But if it remains the principal move in the war against terrorism, it runs the risk of petering out into an intelligence operation while the rest of the region gradually slides back to the pre-9/11 pattern, with radicals encouraged by the demonstration of American hesitation and moderates demoralized by the continuation of an unimpaired Iraq as an aggressive regional power. The overthrow of the Iraq regime and, at a minimum, the eradication of its weapons of mass destruction would have potentially beneficent political consequences, as well: the so-called Arab street may conclude that the negative consequences of jihad outweigh any potential benefits. It could encourage a new approach in Syria; strengthen moderate forces in Saudi Arabia; multiply pressures for a democratic evolution in Iran; demonstrate to the Palestinian Authority that America is serious about overcoming corrupt tyrannies; and bring about a better balance in oil policy within OPEC. For this reason, the objective of regime change should be subordinated in American declaratory policy to the need to eliminate weapons of mass destruction from Iraq as required by the U.N. resolutions. The restoration of the inspection system existing before its expulsion by Saddam is clearly inadequate. It is necessary to propose a stringent inspection system that achieves substantial transparency of Iraqi institutions. Since the consequences of simply letting the diplomacy run into the ground are so serious, a time limit should be set. The case for military intervention will then have been made in the context of seeking a common approach. At that point, too, America's allies will be obliged to face the choice they have thus far evaded: between their domestic opposition or estrangement from the United States. Dissociation from U.S. actions will not save the allies from the consequences of abdication in a world of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction and distancing themselves from an ally of half a century. Special attention must be paid to the political and psychological framework vis-a-vis the Arab world. An explanation is needed of why Iraqi weapons of mass destruction impede the solution of all matters of concern in the area - not in Western categories of security but in terms relevant to upheavals in the region. This is why it is so important to couple military pressures with a program of economic and social reconstruction in which allies and moderate Arab regimes should be invited to participate. At the same time, the administration should reject the siren song that an Iraqi intervention should be preceded by a solution of the Palestine issue. It is not true that the road to Baghdad leads through Jerusalem. Much more likely, the road to Jerusalem will lead through Baghdad. The president has committed his administration to a three-year program for the creation of a Palestinian state. He has left no doubt about his determination to bring progress on this timetable. But that timetable should not be used to defer decisions that cannot wait. In the end, however, Iraq policy will be judged by the way the aftermath of military operations is handled politically. Precisely because of the precedent-setting nature of this war, its outcome will determine the way American actions will be viewed internationally far more than the way we entered it. And we may find many more nations willing to cooperate in reconstruction than in warfare if only because no country wants to see an exclusive position for America in a region so central to energy supplies and international stability. This could be the way to relate unilateral American action to an international system. Military intervention should be attempted only if we are willing to sustain such an effort for however long it is needed. For, in the end, the task is to translate intervention in Iraq into terms of general applicability for an international system. The imminence of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the huge dangers it involves, the rejection of a viable inspection system, the demonstrated hostility of Saddam combine to produce an imperative for preemptive action. But it is not in the American national interest to establish preemption as a universal principle available to every nation. And we are only at the beginning of the threat of global proliferation. Whatever the views regarding Iraq, the nations of the world must face the impossibility of letting such a process run unchecked. The United States would contribute much to a new international order if it invited the rest of the world, and especially the major nuclear powers, to cooperate in creating a system to deal with this challenge to humanity on a more institutional basis. - Los Angeles Times Syndicate DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020817 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Vendettas, victims and victors ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Irfan Husain The United States has long expected friends and allies to share its belief in values and concepts like democracy, secularism and capitalism. To this short list, you can now add an unquestioning and uncritical support for Israel. For decades, American governments have stood by the Zionist state more as a moral imperative than an expression of a foreign policy objective. In its earlier, formative years, Israel was admired as a David beset by Goliath and drew much support from the American left, specially as so many Jewish intellectuals were themselves left-wing radicals. In addition, memories of the Nazi Holocaust were still fresh, and the fledgling state enjoyed the good wishes of many Europeans who bore a heavy burden of guilt for what had been done to millions of Jews. The founding fathers of Israel included many idealists who were dedicated to the concepts of humanism and equality. Ranged against this small island of democracy was a collection of venal local despots with unsavoury images in the West. In terms of public relations alone, it is easy to see why so many intellectuals and idealists identified with Israel. But years of occupation, combined with the plight of the Palestinian refugees and the growing arrogance of Israel with its elevation as the region's paramount military power have taken their toll. It is now seen as the regional bully, not the victim. Ever since the second intifada began over two years ago, the sight of Israeli tanks and helicopters wreaking death and destruction among defenceless Palestinians has angered people around the world. Even erstwhile European supporters have been repulsed by these televised images, and their governments have become increasingly critical of Israeli policies. American support, however, has been reinforced by the events of 9/11: identifying with Israel as fellow-victims of (Islamic) terrorism, the Bush administration has assailed the Palestinian freedom struggle as none of its predecessors has ever done. So much so that the American establishment, led by an influential coterie of neo-conservative Jewish columnists, has charged Europeans of anti-Semitism because of their relatively even-handed approach to the Middle East imbroglio. Indeed, American annoyance and contempt for its European allies are also reinforced by a growing reluctance to get dragged into a war with Iraq. To Bush's inner circle of advisers, this is all evidence of European cunning that took advantage of American defence against the Soviet threat for decades, but now balks at supporting the United States against its enemies. In Europe, it is the charge of anti-Semitism that stings most. In a recent article in the Financial Times, John Lloyd quotes George Will, a Washington Post columnist and a fervent supporter of Israel: "Anti-Semitism is a stronger force in world affairs than it has been since it went into a remarkably brief eclipse after the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. Today, many people say that the Arabs and their European echoes would be mollified if Israel were to change its behavior. People who say that do not understand the centrality of anti-Semitism in the current crisis. The crisis has become the second - and final? - phase of the struggle for a final solution to the Jewish question." Lloyd then quotes William Kristol, a former foreign policy adviser in Bush Senior's presidency and at present editor of the Weekly Standard: "We are sympathetic to Israel generally because they seem so much like us. They take religion seriously. They are willing to fight their enemies. They are patriotic and proud of their state. They are a settler society with a dangerous frontier." In a conversation with Lloyd, Gideon Rose, editor of the prestigious and hugely influential Foreign Affairs says: "It's clear that there is an anti-Israel bias in Europe. I don't think it's necessarily anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism is a very serious charge. The Israelis believe that the Europeans would not lift too much of a finger to help them. If they had to rely on the Europeans to protect them they wouldn't be around today." It is true that despite holding the military whip in hand in its fight against the Palestinians, Israel and its supporters are feeling isolated. In an impassioned article in a recent issue of France's most respected daily Le Monde, Arno Klarsfeld writes: "Israel is one of the rare - if not unique - countries that does not respond to barbarism with barbarism. Who is there to recognize this? Nobody. But most countries, and particularly those who have always answered barbarism with barbarism, are ready to denounce self-defence measures Israel is forced to take for the sake of its people... Is it the same thing to wish to eliminate as many Jews as possible as to want to destroy those who organize the crimes against humanity that are committed nearly every day in Israel?... But European public opinion-makers are impervious to logic in the case of Israel as they are so accustomed to view Jews as passive victims..." Ever since the escalation of violence in the Middle East, there has been a tendency among the supporters of Israel to silence criticism of the Zionist state by accusing the critics of anti-Semitism. Although I have long been critical of Israeli policies, I resent this gross oversimplification as it greatly reduces the space for rational debate. It is almost as if criticizing Robert Mugabe's policies in Zimbabwe made one a racist. In any case, I have many Jewish friends and have long admired the accomplishments of this remarkably gifted race, apart from sympathizing with it for its trials and tribulations over the centuries. To be branded an anti-Semite for opposing the suicidal policies of successive governments in Tel Aviv is ridiculous. The fundamental and central problem Israel and its supporters fail to recognize is that it is viewed by its neighbours as a colonial outpost, and not as an indigenous entity. Its citizens are seen as foreigners who have dispossessed millions of Palestinians and wish to grab even more land. Israel has done little to address these concerns: in the name of a flexible definition of 'security', it has steadily expanded its 1948 frontiers, and given the Palestinians little to hope for beyond a moth-eaten and non-viable state at some undetermined point in the future. To mitigate the sufferings caused by one historical injustice - the Holocaust - another injustice was committed - the creation of Israel in a land populated by a people who were understandably unsympathetic to the enterprise as they had nothing to do with the suffering of the Jews of Europe. But life has to go on, for both the Israelis and the Palestinians; we cannot forever fight old battles whether in Kashmir or the Middle East. Sooner or later, Israel and the United States will have to recognize that the occupation of land causes resistance, and the only way to end violence is to evacuate the occupied territories.
SPORTS 20020814 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PCB's financial misdeeds exposed ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ali Kabir The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is playing a very sensitive game of maligning Patron-in-Chief of the PCB by misinforming the general public of it's financial wrongdoings. Dawn carried a story on the financial mismanagement in the PCB on July 5, 2002, bringing out some facts to limelight. The PCB through it's Media Manager, tried to misguide the public by totally giving false information, forgetting that his statement will directly or indirectly bring the patron of PCB into some controversy. But showing total disregard to the patron, the PCB showed guts to contradict the story. Dawn has received photo copy of the letter sent by the Manager Finance, Mushtaq Ahmad, which itself explains the whole truth. Dawn carried the story that the CBFS had not paid even appearance money for the last two events. It was just a strange coincidence that just on July 4, 2002, a day earlier than the story appeared, the Manager Finance sent a letter to the CBFS urging them to arrange immediate payment of US$919,032 which was outstanding against them. The Finance Manager also sought clarification of the amount charged by the CBFS for arranging the Pakistan-West Indies series which was beyond imagination. The clarification was sought on the expenses incurred such as: Visa fee $41250, One would like to know how many people went to Sharjah on PCB account. The CBFS charged the PCB an amount of $247,500/- as hotel accommodation for the Test series duration. The PCB letter shows that the CBFS owes 1,319,032 out of which the PCB received $200,000 from the CBFS and another $200,000 from the Ten Sports. How the PCB got any amount from Ten Sports is anybody's guess as, it has no official link with it till March 2003, when the PCB's contract with TWI expires. The PCB Media Manager claimed that there is total transparency in finalising the bid for fresh contract. How then, Ten Sports has figured in financial dealing with the PCB is anybody's guess. The PCB clarification had claimed that the accounts of the board were audited by renowned accounting firms till 2000-2001. If the claim of the PCB has any credibility can it justify the letter of the Manager Finance has taken into account the travel expenses of PCB officials for April 2001 which shows that the CBFS spent US$1457 the travel of Mr Mohammad Bashir to Morocco and travelling expenses of Mr and Mrs Zakir Hussain Syed. One wonders since when employees wife have become entitled to travel on organizations expenses. It will be better if the PCB puts it's house in order and atleast save the patron from such controversies with which he has nothing to do. He is simply figure head of the PCB by the virtue of his office. The PCB will do well by trusting people of integrity which is of great significance in promoting the credibility of the institution and should avoid mud slinging. Only men who have no credentials, try such methods to cover up their misdeeds. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PCB signs three-year contract with CBFS ------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Representative TANGIERS, Aug 11: The Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has signed a three-year contract in which it will play at least one tournament a year. The chairman of the CBFS, Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, told reporters that Sri Lanka and South Africa have also signed similar agreements while he was in discussions with the West Indies, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. He, however, clarified that signing the contract doesn't meant that Pakistan will have to appear every year here. "They can appear in Sharjah or in Morocco, depending upon their availability," he said. He said he was in contact with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) but added that there was no constructive development so far. "BCCI is dependent on government approval. I can't understand why they are not coming but at the same time I am convinced that they would come one day. "I don't think their not coming to us has anything to do with Pakistan. It's a political matter and I believe it that to the politicians. But yes, India's not playing in Sharjah has certainly affected our budget. We have managed so far and hopefully will manage in the end," he said. India has not played in Sharjah since October 2000 during which the CBFS organized four tournaments. But the frustration is evident on the CBFS officials' faces as there is clearly a sharp drop in the profits in the absence of sponsors who mostly are Indians. Bukhatir said in India's absence, the other teams were demanding more money than they usually do. But he said he understood their stand and had no grievance. Bukhatir said Ten Sports was launched to provide a cushion to the CBFS, adding that the sports channel was still young and needed to first sustain itself before it can pamper the organizations. "But yes, Ten Sports and the CBFS are supporting each other." He said he was ambitious to have Tests at his centres and also indicated that he was willing to host Pakistan's home Test series in Sharjah. But at the same time, he admitted that the reception for the West Indies Tests was poor. The CBFS chief defended his decision to make Tangiers as the latest venue by saying it was done because of climatic reasons. "We can't play cricket in Sharjah at this time. But the weather here is excellent. We are developing more facilities and hopefully in years to come, it will emerge as one of the best centres. "I know there will be a small spectators turn-out but that is understandable because there are very few cricket educated people here," he said. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020816 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Improved Pakistan outplay Sri Lanka ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Samiul Hasan TANGIERS, Aug 15: Pakistan got back into their winning ways with a commendable 28-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second game of the Morocco Cup Wednesday. Pakistan, beaten by South Africa Monday, earned their success through a disciplined performance that displayed their firepower with the bat, athleticism in the field, and bite and penetration in bowling. Put into bat by Sanath Jayasuriya, Pakistan rode on excellent half centuries from Saeed Anwar,Inzamam-ul-Haq and Man-of-the-Match Younis Khan to post an imposing 279 for five. Waqar Younis's men restricted Sri Lanka to 251 for eight after they had made a breezy start by putting on 82 for one in the first 15 overs. Pakistan were, however, fined five per cent of their match fee for slow over-rate. Saeed's return to his majestic best or Inzamam's ability to carry the innings through or Younis's and Abdul Razzaq's whirlwind finish with a ruthless slaughter of Sri Lankan bowlers in the death overs was no big surprise because they all are well capable of doing this. Usually lethargic and lazy fielders were on their toes throughout the 50 overs. They backed their bowlers by cutting off ones and twos, held all the catches that came their way except Inzamam, who dropped Upal Chandana when the ball was lost in the sun, and Imran Nazir who grassed a sitter of Atapattu in the fifth over. Also impressive was Pakistan's bowling in the absence of Shoaib Akhtar. After Jayasuriya (36 off 33) took the attack to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, the young guns in Sami, Razzaq and Shahid Afridi rose to the occasion and bowled intelligently, according to the field. Sami's inclusion gave the attack the option that was missing in the absence of Shoaib Akhtar. Sami bowled almost regularly at 143kph that made it difficult for the batsmen to adjust and throw their arms around. Shahid made full use of a bouncy track by bowling to a teasing line and length while Razzaq was as mean as ever to end up with three for 36. It was this young trio that tightened the screws around Sri Lanka when they conceded 111 runs from their 30 overs. Such was the accuracy of the three that when Chandana hit Shahid was a six in the 35th over, it was the first boundary in 81 balls. For a change, it was Wasim and Waqar who got the hammering. The two old war horses gave away 133 runs between them, with the skipper being hit away for 77 after grabbing five for 38 only a couple of days back. In the batting, there was purpose, planning and strategy evident from the way they handled spin king Muthiah Muralitharan. None of the batsmen took chances against him and concentrated on keeping their wickets intact but missed no opportunity to punish bad balls. Saeed showed his class and wristy elegance with some exquisite stroke-play. But he must be regretting the opportunity of missing his 20th century, his first in two years, when he was bowled by Chandana while trying to manufacture a single after having hit a six and four in three balls. Saeed scored 70 off 77 balls that included seven boundaries and a six. Inzamam played the role of the most seasoned player with perfection while contributing 63 off 95 balls that included five fours and a six. But it was Younis Khan's clean hitting that helped Pakistan collect 99 off the last 10 overs, including 55 from the final five overs. The best stroke of the match also came from the willow of Younis when he swept fast bowler Dilhara Fernando for an incredible six over square-leg. Younis slapped five fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 39-ball 56. Together with Razzaq, who scored 29 off 11 balls with two fours and as many sixes, Younis put on 50 runs for the unfinished sixth wicket from 22 balls. The two were also responsible for spoiling Chaminda Vaas's figures when they hit him for 35 runs in his last two overs, including 25 in the final over of the innings. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020813 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ICC, Pakistan reject Tangiers ------------------------------------------------------------------- TANGIERS, Aug 12: Pakistan turned down a proposal to host their Test series against Australia in Morocco and found themselves backed fully by cricket's world governing body. Abdulrehman Bukhatir, the chief organiser of one-day cricket in United Arab Emirates and Morocco, had offered Tangiers as a possible neutral venue for the Test series in October after Australia declined to tour Pakistan for security reasons. But Pakistan captain Waqar Younis rejected the proposal, saying he wanted to play the series closer to home where the conditions and crowd support suited his team. "Tangiers is a great venue for cricket, but since the Australia Tests are a home series for us, we would rather play at a place where the pitch conditions and crowd support us," Waqar said. The Pakistani captain declined to state his preferred option, but the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka and the Gulf emirate of Sharjah are being touted as possible venues. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, here to witness Monday's opening match of the Morocco Cup between Pakistan and South Africa, said it was too early to consider Tangiers a Test venue. "I doubt if the wicket will last five days," said Speed. "I am very impressed by the facilities here, but we are only looking at one- dayers for the time being." Speed said a final decision on where the Tests will be played rested with the Australian and Pakistani authorities. The keenly-awaited series between two of the best teams in modern cricket has been slotted for October, soon after the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka in September. It is still uncertain if the series will be held at all since Pakistani cricket authorities are reportedly angry at Australia's refusal to undertake the tour. But if the series goes ahead, a neutral venue is expected to be finalized within the next fortnight. Speed said he was hopeful the series will take place. "Its an important event which we all are looking forward to."-Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan to lose domestic audience, money after Aussie pull out ------------------------------------------------------------------- KARACHI, Aug 10: Pakistan cricket stands to lose much of its domestic audience and income essential for a healthy future of the game in the wake of Australia's decision to pull-out of a planned October tour, officials and former players said. "We are disappointed and so are Pakistani cricket fans as Australia's pull-out will prompt a decline in local interest in the game and cause a loss in profits," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director Chishty Mujahid told AFP. Australia ended long-running uncertainty over the October Test tour Friday by announcing it was withdrawing over security concerns. Pakistan's cricket crazy fans have watched only three Tests and as many one-day internationals on home grounds since December 2000 following cancellations by India, the West Indies and now Australia to compete in the troubled Islamic republic. New Zealand, having already postponed their scheduled tour of Pakistan a week after Sept 11 attacks, cut short their rescheduled tour when a suicide bomb blast killed 14 people outside their hotel on May 8. India is the next team on Pakistan's home series calendar with competition due to take place in April. But the tour is unlikely to take place amid friction between the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals over Kashmir. This leaves Pakistan likely to host only minnows Bangladesh in September next year, a series which is unlikely to generate much interest. "Its very, very unfortunate for Pakistan cricket that we can't play cricket at home, but international events are beyond our control," said former captain Intikhab Alam. "Australia's decision is understandable and we must realise that if, God forbid, any mishap had occurred when they were here, where would Pakistan cricket stand then?" he said. Alam also rejected the idea of staging an Asian boycott of Australia. "Pakistan would not be able to achieve anything from a boycott," he said. The Former secretary of Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Zakir Hussain Syed, said Pakistan's problems were serious. "Pakistan's problems are serious and the International Cricket Council (ICC) and ACC must decide a course of action and sort out ways to help Pakistan," Syed said. Since the United States began its war on terror in neighbouring Afghanistan last year, security fears have forced Pakistan and the West Indies to shift their series to Sharjah in February-March this year. Pakistan also had to relocate its Golden Jubilee year tri-series to be played later this month and also involving Australia, to Nairobi. "The PCB has various options after Australia's pull-out and playing at a neutral venue is one of them. After consulting with the government we will take a decision on that in a couple of days," the PCB's Mujahid said. Bangladesh is one of three neutral venues suggested for the series, with Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates also offering their grounds for the series. On the monetary front, Pakistan has incurred losses of around 25 million dollars in the last two years. Former captain Imran Khan said Australia's withdrawal was a serious financial blow to Pakistan cricket. "Pakistan is financially devastated and if we fail to stage a home series than the PCB could go bankrupt," Khan said. "You can't get prosperous by playing outside - in cricket only home series earn you good amounts," he said. But ICC finance committee head Ehsan Mani, a Pakistani, disagreed. "There is no question of the PCB going bankrupt because constant funding are provided to member countries," said Mani, who will take over as ICC president next year. "Pakistan will get around seven million US dollars from the 2003 World Cup and then another nine million from the 2007 World Cup, besides various other funds like a share of the ICC Champions Trophy," he said.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020811 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jansher returns to big time squash ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Correspondent LAHORE, Aug 10: Former world champion Jansher Khan has decided to return to the international arena, withdrawing his retirement which he had announced some five years ago. Announcing his decision at a press conference here Saturday, Jansher said "I have gained complete fitness and feeling eagerness to again appear at the court to earn glory for the country as well as myself". Jansher announced his retirement in 1997 after the British Open. He again tried to make a come back two years later when appeared in the Dutch Open but a nagging knee forced him to to quit for the second time. "I have got my knees operated and now I am playing squash for the last three months without any problem. It boosted my morale and prompted me to make come back", Jansher winner of eight World Open and six British Open titles said. Elaborating his plan, Jansher said that before playing abroad he would appear in three international tournaments to be held in Pakistan this year. The PNS tournament which is being held in Karachi from Sept 18 will be the first appearance of Jansher followed by Chief of Air Staff tournament in Peshawar and another in Lahore. Jansher who dominated world squash for nearly a decade, was optimistic about winning the three home events. "Competing in these tournaments will bring him in top world ranking of around 40. It will also boost my confidence, a necessary factor to deliver goods out of the country" he added. While replying to a question, Jansher said that he had no plans of making a come back, but it was his complete fitness which prompted him to take the decision. The 34-years old Jansher said that in past he had been winning international tournaments even with the fitness problems. He said that during his long absence of five years no Pakistani player could attract the international circuit which showed that he would face little difficulties in winning the local tournaments. Jansher said that he would also continue with his job in setting up an academy in Pakistan and claimed that there was lot of talent in Pakistan and with proper coaching quality players could be produced in abundance. Jansher who was recently retired by PIA alongwith another squash great Jahangir Khan and cricket legend Zaheer Abbas declared that he was not facing any problems in getting sponsorship for him. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20020812 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jansher may get wildcard ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: Former world squash champion Jansher Khan, who announced Saturday he was returning to the court after quitting almost five years ago, is likely to be granted a wildcard for this October's CAS Open in Peshawar. Although Jansher has not officially intimated the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) of his plans, it is understood that he will be requesting the squash managers for a wildcard soon. Jansher, who held news conference in Lahore to announce his comeback, said that he would first be competing in the CNS Open in Karachi that precedes the CAS tournament. But an official of the PSF, requesting anonymity told Dawn that if he does not re-register himself with the Professional Squash Association (PSA) before the closing date of entries for the CNS championship, he will have to qualify for the main round. Jansher, 34, effectively dominated the sport for almost a decade during which he won eight World Open and six British Open titles. He quit in 1997. ------------------------------------------------------------------- You can subscribe to DWS by sending an email to <subscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following text in the BODY of your message: subscribe dws To unsubscribe, send an email to <unsubscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following in the BODY of you message: unsubscribe dws ------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to the top.
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