By Our Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Nov 15: Some 35 Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) workers were arrested on Thursday while staging a peaceful protest demonstration in Barkat Market, Garden Town.
Those arrested included 20 female workers, including three sisters and four cousins of PTI Chief Imran Khan. Later, police released 20 party women.
A heavy contingent of police was present at Barkat Market before the arrival of protesters. When party workers arrived there in cars at around 3:45pm, policemen pounced on them soon they raised the first slogan and displayed the first placard under the leadership of PTI Lahore President Shabbir Sial. Though Mr Sial and PTI Coordinator Ahmad Nasir courted arrest, police baton-charged and thrashed other protesters, who tried to resist arrest.
Police thrashed a boy, tore apart his shirt and vest and bundled him into a police van.
Talat Naqvi, PTI office-bearer who tried to come to the young lad’s rescue, later on condemned police highhandedness. She told reporters the PTI workers had come out to save national heroes Imran Khan and Abdul Qadeer Khan. “We want justice,” she demanded.
Ms Naqvi was herself later arrested along with 19 other women after the authorities dispatched a contingent of policewomen to the spot. In the interim, policemen encircled the female protesters so that they could not escape.
Some women workers were dragged, and plainclothesmen did eventually throw off the mask of decency to push them inside the bus. The arrested women included Aleema Khan, Rani, Uzma, Saloni Bukhari and Salma Ejaz Chaudhry.
Later, 20 party women, who were detained by the police were released, a capital city police official said.
He said seven PTI activists, who were also arrested at the demonstration, would be booked and cases would be registered against them in Garden Town police station.
Dawn 16/Nov/07
Showing posts with label Emergency 2007. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emergency 2007. Show all posts
Friday, November 16, 2007
Hameed Gul Former ISI chief released
Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Nov 15: Former ISI Chief Gen (retired) Hameed Gul, his son and two other detained people were released after government withdrew detention orders here on Thursday.
Earlier, there was a report that Saudi government has intervened to secure the release of former ISI chief. The report was not denied by the Pakistani government.
On Wednesday, Gen Hameed Gul and his son were shifted to their Chaklala residence, which had been declared as sub-jail. However, the personnel of law enforcement agencies were removed from his house on Thursday after the withdrawal of the detention order.
A senior officer of Islamabad administration confirmed to Dawn that the city management had withdrawn the detention orders of Gen (retired) Gul, his son Abdullah Gul, a political activist and a lawyer of Islamabad Bar Association.
Dawn 16/Nov/07
ISLAMABAD, Nov 15: Former ISI Chief Gen (retired) Hameed Gul, his son and two other detained people were released after government withdrew detention orders here on Thursday.
Earlier, there was a report that Saudi government has intervened to secure the release of former ISI chief. The report was not denied by the Pakistani government.
On Wednesday, Gen Hameed Gul and his son were shifted to their Chaklala residence, which had been declared as sub-jail. However, the personnel of law enforcement agencies were removed from his house on Thursday after the withdrawal of the detention order.
A senior officer of Islamabad administration confirmed to Dawn that the city management had withdrawn the detention orders of Gen (retired) Gul, his son Abdullah Gul, a political activist and a lawyer of Islamabad Bar Association.
Dawn 16/Nov/07
Students rise for Imran, against IJT Unprecedented campus march
By Mansoor Malik
LAHORE, Nov 15: A large number of Punjab University students on Thursday held a protest demonstration against Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT) for its manhandling of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf Chief Imran Khan.
The event was unprecedented in the history of campuses in Punjab, which have been under the Jamiat’s rule for decades.
Some 3,000 students, including girls, chanted slogans against IJT for over two-and-a-half hours. They started off from the University Law College and marched to all academic departments on the New Campus of the Punjab University as well as through hostel areas. They also held a massive demonstration in front of the vice-chancellor’s office.
The protesters included a number of students who resigned from the IJT following its action against Imran Khan on Wednesday on the university campus. The students were carrying placards bearing slogans: “We, PU Law College students, resign en mass from IJT membership” and “Go Jamiat Go”. They also tore down Jamiat’s posters pasted on walls in the university.
The students chanted “Imran terey jaanisar - Beshumaar beshumaar”, “Prime Minister of Pakistan - Imran Khan, Imran Khan”.
Some students told Dawn that IJT leaders had threatened them with dire consequences for taking part in the anti-Jamiat demonstration.
The protest march began at 11:30am, and on the way, groups of students belonging to various departments joined in. University teachers were also heard condemning Wednesday’s incident and supported the protesters on the campus.
“This is unprecedented. Thousands of students have united against IJT and compelled them (the IJT activists) to run away from the university,” a teacher said.
Some of the marchers tried to damage Jamiat’s office at the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (ICET), an IJT stronghold. They were, however, prevented from doing so by their fellow protesters who pleaded for a peaceful demonstration.
In fiery speeches made during the protest, the students lambasted those involved in Imran Khan’s manhandling. Law College’s Rai Kashif said he had resigned from IJT membership along with many other law college students and all of them were now protesting as Imran Khan’s jiyalas. He said on Wednesday a large number of students had turned up to join Imran Khan in his protest, but the Jamiat activists disrupted the meeting and facilitated Imran’s arrest after a clash with his supporters. He said the Jamiat had thus cheated and degraded the students.
Speaking to the protesters in front of the VC’s office, Rao Samiullah said the students had stood up and would not allow the Jamiat activists to continue their ‘gundaism’ on the campus.
Talking to Dawn, two girl students said they had become sick of IJT activists, “who were harassing students on the campus”. Rizwan, another student, said whosoever was working for the restoration of constitution would be welcomed in the university. “We support lifting of emergency and Imran Khan is a leader of progressive and modern Pakistan,” he said.
The protesting leaders announced another demonstration on the law college ground at 9am on Friday (today).
Meanwhile, PTI’s Lahore President Ahsan Shabbir visited the university and told students that Imran Khan was alright and he was thankful to the students, who were protesting in his favour on the university campus. He also invited the students to join the PTI protest in Barkat Market later in the afternoon.
Talking to Dawn, PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said Thursday’s protest was a proof that the university was alive and that all shades of opinion were represented here. He said the university administration understood the students’ anger, calling the protest civil society’s response to Imran Khan’s manhandling
Dawn 16/Nov/07
LAHORE, Nov 15: A large number of Punjab University students on Thursday held a protest demonstration against Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT) for its manhandling of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf Chief Imran Khan.
The event was unprecedented in the history of campuses in Punjab, which have been under the Jamiat’s rule for decades.
Some 3,000 students, including girls, chanted slogans against IJT for over two-and-a-half hours. They started off from the University Law College and marched to all academic departments on the New Campus of the Punjab University as well as through hostel areas. They also held a massive demonstration in front of the vice-chancellor’s office.
The protesters included a number of students who resigned from the IJT following its action against Imran Khan on Wednesday on the university campus. The students were carrying placards bearing slogans: “We, PU Law College students, resign en mass from IJT membership” and “Go Jamiat Go”. They also tore down Jamiat’s posters pasted on walls in the university.
The students chanted “Imran terey jaanisar - Beshumaar beshumaar”, “Prime Minister of Pakistan - Imran Khan, Imran Khan”.
Some students told Dawn that IJT leaders had threatened them with dire consequences for taking part in the anti-Jamiat demonstration.
The protest march began at 11:30am, and on the way, groups of students belonging to various departments joined in. University teachers were also heard condemning Wednesday’s incident and supported the protesters on the campus.
“This is unprecedented. Thousands of students have united against IJT and compelled them (the IJT activists) to run away from the university,” a teacher said.
Some of the marchers tried to damage Jamiat’s office at the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (ICET), an IJT stronghold. They were, however, prevented from doing so by their fellow protesters who pleaded for a peaceful demonstration.
In fiery speeches made during the protest, the students lambasted those involved in Imran Khan’s manhandling. Law College’s Rai Kashif said he had resigned from IJT membership along with many other law college students and all of them were now protesting as Imran Khan’s jiyalas. He said on Wednesday a large number of students had turned up to join Imran Khan in his protest, but the Jamiat activists disrupted the meeting and facilitated Imran’s arrest after a clash with his supporters. He said the Jamiat had thus cheated and degraded the students.
Speaking to the protesters in front of the VC’s office, Rao Samiullah said the students had stood up and would not allow the Jamiat activists to continue their ‘gundaism’ on the campus.
Talking to Dawn, two girl students said they had become sick of IJT activists, “who were harassing students on the campus”. Rizwan, another student, said whosoever was working for the restoration of constitution would be welcomed in the university. “We support lifting of emergency and Imran Khan is a leader of progressive and modern Pakistan,” he said.
The protesting leaders announced another demonstration on the law college ground at 9am on Friday (today).
Meanwhile, PTI’s Lahore President Ahsan Shabbir visited the university and told students that Imran Khan was alright and he was thankful to the students, who were protesting in his favour on the university campus. He also invited the students to join the PTI protest in Barkat Market later in the afternoon.
Talking to Dawn, PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said Thursday’s protest was a proof that the university was alive and that all shades of opinion were represented here. He said the university administration understood the students’ anger, calling the protest civil society’s response to Imran Khan’s manhandling
Dawn 16/Nov/07
Washington march demands end to emergency
By Our Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov 15: In a display of solidarity with the Pakistani lawyers, more than 700 American lawyers marched outside the US Supreme Court and Congress, condemning the Bush administration for supporting a military regime in Pakistan.
“We the lawyers of America call upon General Musharraf to end the emergency rule and restore the Constitution,” said William Neukom, president of the American Bar Association, which sponsored the rally in Washington.
“We want him to reinstate the judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and to release those lawyers and other leaders who have been wrongly jailed for their lawful protest of his lawless actions.”
“Gen Musharraf’s actions are an open assault on courts and an open assault on the rule of law,” said former US Attorney John McKay, now a professor at the Seattle University School of Law.
“Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,” said Mr McKay, quoting Martin Luther King Jr.
Akram Shaikh, former president of the Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association, warned the rally that Gen Musharraf would like the situation to deteriorate “so that he can hand over power to another general.” The international community, he said, should not let that happen. “I would request President Bush to kindly withdraw his recognition,” he said.
Dawn 16/Nov/07
WASHINGTON, Nov 15: In a display of solidarity with the Pakistani lawyers, more than 700 American lawyers marched outside the US Supreme Court and Congress, condemning the Bush administration for supporting a military regime in Pakistan.
“We the lawyers of America call upon General Musharraf to end the emergency rule and restore the Constitution,” said William Neukom, president of the American Bar Association, which sponsored the rally in Washington.
“We want him to reinstate the judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and to release those lawyers and other leaders who have been wrongly jailed for their lawful protest of his lawless actions.”
“Gen Musharraf’s actions are an open assault on courts and an open assault on the rule of law,” said former US Attorney John McKay, now a professor at the Seattle University School of Law.
“Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,” said Mr McKay, quoting Martin Luther King Jr.
Akram Shaikh, former president of the Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association, warned the rally that Gen Musharraf would like the situation to deteriorate “so that he can hand over power to another general.” The international community, he said, should not let that happen. “I would request President Bush to kindly withdraw his recognition,” he said.
Dawn 16/Nov/07
Jemima starts ‘Free Pakistan Movement’
By Our Special Correspondent
LONDON, Nov 15: Jemima Khan, former wife of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan, on Thursday launched what is styled as ‘Free Pakistan Movement’ (FPM) with the active support of journalists, students, lawyers, doctors, other professionals, civil society workers, businesspersons and prominent political persons of Pakistani origin living in the UK.
The FPM has chalked out an elaborate programme of daily events in London as well as in other parts of the UK to mobilise public opinion in Britain in general and among 100,000 or so people of Pakistani origin living here in particular against what the FPM termed as Gen Pervez Musharraf’s second martial law.
The FPM has finalised plans to hold a big protest rally in front of the Pakistan High Commission.
A group of students, lawyers and journalists which was working under the name of Campaign against Martial Law in Pakistan (CAMLP) has joined the FPM.
The UK branch of Therik-i-Insaaf will be a component of the FPM.
Meanwhile, a report in the Independent on Thursday said that Imran Khan was arrested on Wednesday, less than 48 hours after sending a desperate text message to his solicitor in London saying that he feared for his life.
The report said Imran was charged under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, which includes penalties that can carry the death sentence or life imprisonment.
Dawn 16/Nov/07
LONDON, Nov 15: Jemima Khan, former wife of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan, on Thursday launched what is styled as ‘Free Pakistan Movement’ (FPM) with the active support of journalists, students, lawyers, doctors, other professionals, civil society workers, businesspersons and prominent political persons of Pakistani origin living in the UK.
The FPM has chalked out an elaborate programme of daily events in London as well as in other parts of the UK to mobilise public opinion in Britain in general and among 100,000 or so people of Pakistani origin living here in particular against what the FPM termed as Gen Pervez Musharraf’s second martial law.
The FPM has finalised plans to hold a big protest rally in front of the Pakistan High Commission.
A group of students, lawyers and journalists which was working under the name of Campaign against Martial Law in Pakistan (CAMLP) has joined the FPM.
The UK branch of Therik-i-Insaaf will be a component of the FPM.
Meanwhile, a report in the Independent on Thursday said that Imran Khan was arrested on Wednesday, less than 48 hours after sending a desperate text message to his solicitor in London saying that he feared for his life.
The report said Imran was charged under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, which includes penalties that can carry the death sentence or life imprisonment.
Dawn 16/Nov/07
APDM asks JI to stay away from protest
By Our Correspondent
SWABI, Nov 15: The Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf which are in the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) on Thursday asked Jamaat-i-Islami to stay away from their protest to be held here on Friday.
Condemning the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba, the student wing of Jamaat-i-Islami, for helping police arrest Imran Khan, PTI provincial vice-president Asad Qaisar told Dawn that opposition parties would not hold a protest demonstration with the Jamaat-i-Islami whose student wing had tried to sabotage the anti-government movement.
He said the PTI leader’s arrest was a conspiracy which had harmed the APDM.
He said that all APDM parties, minus Jamaat-i-Islami, would continue their struggle for the restoration of the Constitution, lifting of emergency, independence of judiciary and unity of opposition against the government.
He said the ANP and PML-N were aware of the fact that a conspiracy had been hatched to create differences among APDM parties.
He said the leaders of the two parties had been informed about demonstration and the PTI’s decision.
“They supported our point of view and agreed to keep Jamaat-i-Islami out of the protest.”
Meanwhile, The Swabi Union of Journalist and Abaseen Union of Journalists held a protest camp here against curbs on the media. The protesters condemned the arrest of journalists.
Leaders of various political parties visited the camp and expressed solidarity with journalists.
Dawn 16/Nov/07
SWABI, Nov 15: The Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf which are in the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) on Thursday asked Jamaat-i-Islami to stay away from their protest to be held here on Friday.
Condemning the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba, the student wing of Jamaat-i-Islami, for helping police arrest Imran Khan, PTI provincial vice-president Asad Qaisar told Dawn that opposition parties would not hold a protest demonstration with the Jamaat-i-Islami whose student wing had tried to sabotage the anti-government movement.
He said the PTI leader’s arrest was a conspiracy which had harmed the APDM.
He said that all APDM parties, minus Jamaat-i-Islami, would continue their struggle for the restoration of the Constitution, lifting of emergency, independence of judiciary and unity of opposition against the government.
He said the ANP and PML-N were aware of the fact that a conspiracy had been hatched to create differences among APDM parties.
He said the leaders of the two parties had been informed about demonstration and the PTI’s decision.
“They supported our point of view and agreed to keep Jamaat-i-Islami out of the protest.”
Meanwhile, The Swabi Union of Journalist and Abaseen Union of Journalists held a protest camp here against curbs on the media. The protesters condemned the arrest of journalists.
Leaders of various political parties visited the camp and expressed solidarity with journalists.
Dawn 16/Nov/07
Swiss govt halts arms delivery
BERN, Nov 14: Switzerland has indefinitely postponed the delivery of anti-aircraft systems to Pakistan because of the current situation in the South Asian country, the economics ministry said on Wednesday.
The decision concerns 21 vehicle-mounted air defence batteries known as Skyguard — a deal approved in December and worth $121 million.
Six of the weapons have already been delivered, the ministry said in a statement.—AP
Dawn 15/Nov/07
The decision concerns 21 vehicle-mounted air defence batteries known as Skyguard — a deal approved in December and worth $121 million.
Six of the weapons have already been delivered, the ministry said in a statement.—AP
Dawn 15/Nov/07
EU reluctant to cut aid
STRASBOURG, Nov 14: The European Union urged caution about cutting off aid to Pakistan on Wednesday while stepping up calls for President Pervez Musharraf to lift emergency rule.
“Any measures to suspend cooperation... would strike a population which is already struck with many difficulties,” said Portuguese European Affairs Minister Manuel Lobo Antunes, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency.
“Such a stop in cooperation has to be looked at closely indeed,” he added, addressing the European Parliament.—AFP
Dawn 15/Nov/07
“Any measures to suspend cooperation... would strike a population which is already struck with many difficulties,” said Portuguese European Affairs Minister Manuel Lobo Antunes, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency.
“Such a stop in cooperation has to be looked at closely indeed,” he added, addressing the European Parliament.—AFP
Dawn 15/Nov/07
Deposed CJ seeks help over ‘govt plan’
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who has been under house arrest since Nov 3, approached the Supreme Court registrar on Wednesday to express his apprehension that he might be forcibly shifted to Quetta by the Islamabad administration.
A lawyer close to the family of Justice Iftikhar told Dawn that an ‘order’ had been forwarded to the registrar requiring him to direct Islamabad’s inspector-general of police to take the ‘necessary action’.
“This order is being served through us because there are no other means since the Hon’ble Chief Justice is under house arrest and all his telephone connections have been severed,” he said, adding that the order had also been served on the authorities concerned.
“I am not interested in going to Quetta or elsewhere and it will be an act of abduction and forcible detention for which the secretary for interior, Islamabad’s commissioner, deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner on duty shall be responsible along with law-enforcement agencies,” the deposed Chief Justice said in the letter to the SC registrar.
“Presently, I am holding the post of Chief Justice of Pakistan under Constitution and I am occupying the official accommodation,” he said.
He said he and his family members were not allowed to go out of the house and his children were not allowed even to go to school and university.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who has been under house arrest since Nov 3, approached the Supreme Court registrar on Wednesday to express his apprehension that he might be forcibly shifted to Quetta by the Islamabad administration.
A lawyer close to the family of Justice Iftikhar told Dawn that an ‘order’ had been forwarded to the registrar requiring him to direct Islamabad’s inspector-general of police to take the ‘necessary action’.
“This order is being served through us because there are no other means since the Hon’ble Chief Justice is under house arrest and all his telephone connections have been severed,” he said, adding that the order had also been served on the authorities concerned.
“I am not interested in going to Quetta or elsewhere and it will be an act of abduction and forcible detention for which the secretary for interior, Islamabad’s commissioner, deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner on duty shall be responsible along with law-enforcement agencies,” the deposed Chief Justice said in the letter to the SC registrar.
“Presently, I am holding the post of Chief Justice of Pakistan under Constitution and I am occupying the official accommodation,” he said.
He said he and his family members were not allowed to go out of the house and his children were not allowed even to go to school and university.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
1999-like situation necessitated emergency, SC told
By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Chief of Army Staff Gen Pervez Musharraf, in his reply to petitions filed in the Supreme Court against his proclamation of emergency, submitted on Wednesday that the situation which forced him to impose emergency was ‘analogous’ to the October 1999 situation.
In a 10-page reply to the petitions filed by Tikka Iqbal Mohammad Khan and Watan Party chairman Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Gen Musharraf sought validation of the emergency and the Provisional Constitution Order and pleaded to empower the army chief to amend the Constitution as had been done by the court in the 2000 Zafar Ali Shah case.
A 10-member bench comprising Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, Justice M. Javed Buttar, Justice Ijazul Hassan, Justice Mohammad Qaim Jan Khan, Justice Mosa K. Leghari, Justice Ch Ijaz Yousaf, Justice Mohammad Akhtar Shabbir and Justice Zia Pervez will on Thursday start hearing the petitions challenging the emergency rule and the PCO and curbs imposed on judges of superior courts, the electronic media and the freedom of citizens.
Drafted by Advocate Raja Mohammad Ibrahim Satti on behalf of respondent-1, Gen Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as the army chief, the reply prayed the court to dismiss the petitions since they were not maintainable under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
It said fundamental rights under Articles 9 (security of person), 10 (safeguards as to arrest and detention), 15 (freedom of movement), 16 (freedom of movement), 17 (freedom of association), 19 (freedom of speech) and 25 (equality of citizens) had been suspended under the PCO 2007. Therefore, it said, these were not enforceable and their enforceability could not be urged under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
Similarly, it said Article 4 (rights of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with the law) of the Constitution, as asserted by the petitioners, did not fall within fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
About measures taken under the emergency, the reply said these had been taken in pursuance of the proclamation of emergency and the PCO which could not be questioned and were covered in the Zafar Ali Shah case.
Moreover, it said, the 12-member bench which had validated the emergency and the PCO of 1999 in the Zafar Ali Shah case included Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and Justice Rana Bhagwandas, who had been removed under the PCO.
Under Article 3 of the Oath of Office (Judges) Order 2007, all judges of the Supreme Court, the Federal Shariat Court and the high courts ceased to hold office and they were no more judges till they took a fresh oath, it said.
Besides, it claimed, all measures and instruments, including emergency, PCO and oath of judges, were legal and lawful and had been issued with lawful authority.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Chief of Army Staff Gen Pervez Musharraf, in his reply to petitions filed in the Supreme Court against his proclamation of emergency, submitted on Wednesday that the situation which forced him to impose emergency was ‘analogous’ to the October 1999 situation.
In a 10-page reply to the petitions filed by Tikka Iqbal Mohammad Khan and Watan Party chairman Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Gen Musharraf sought validation of the emergency and the Provisional Constitution Order and pleaded to empower the army chief to amend the Constitution as had been done by the court in the 2000 Zafar Ali Shah case.
A 10-member bench comprising Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, Justice M. Javed Buttar, Justice Ijazul Hassan, Justice Mohammad Qaim Jan Khan, Justice Mosa K. Leghari, Justice Ch Ijaz Yousaf, Justice Mohammad Akhtar Shabbir and Justice Zia Pervez will on Thursday start hearing the petitions challenging the emergency rule and the PCO and curbs imposed on judges of superior courts, the electronic media and the freedom of citizens.
Drafted by Advocate Raja Mohammad Ibrahim Satti on behalf of respondent-1, Gen Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as the army chief, the reply prayed the court to dismiss the petitions since they were not maintainable under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
It said fundamental rights under Articles 9 (security of person), 10 (safeguards as to arrest and detention), 15 (freedom of movement), 16 (freedom of movement), 17 (freedom of association), 19 (freedom of speech) and 25 (equality of citizens) had been suspended under the PCO 2007. Therefore, it said, these were not enforceable and their enforceability could not be urged under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
Similarly, it said Article 4 (rights of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with the law) of the Constitution, as asserted by the petitioners, did not fall within fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
About measures taken under the emergency, the reply said these had been taken in pursuance of the proclamation of emergency and the PCO which could not be questioned and were covered in the Zafar Ali Shah case.
Moreover, it said, the 12-member bench which had validated the emergency and the PCO of 1999 in the Zafar Ali Shah case included Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and Justice Rana Bhagwandas, who had been removed under the PCO.
Under Article 3 of the Oath of Office (Judges) Order 2007, all judges of the Supreme Court, the Federal Shariat Court and the high courts ceased to hold office and they were no more judges till they took a fresh oath, it said.
Besides, it claimed, all measures and instruments, including emergency, PCO and oath of judges, were legal and lawful and had been issued with lawful authority.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
Bush urges Musharraf to lift emergency
By Our Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov 14: US President George W. Bush has added his voice to the demand that General Pervez Musharraf should lift the state of emergency and then hold elections.
So far his aides have been making this demand but Mr Bush had not addressed the issue directly.
The US president also hoped that the Pakistani leader would remain a strong ally in the war against terrorism. “He understands the stakes of the war, and I do believe he understands the importance of democracy,” Mr Bush said on the Fox Business Network.
Mr Bush described the unrest in Pakistan as “an ever-changing situation”, and noted that he had urged Gen Musharraf by telephone one week ago to lift the state of emergency, hold elections, and quit as army chief. “He’s agreed to hold elections in January, and he’s agreed to take his uniform off. And our judgment is that the sooner he can suspend his emergency decree, the faster Pakistan gets back on the road to democracy,” Mr Bush said. “When I talked to him, I said: ‘You got to get Pakistan back on the road to democracy as quickly as possible.’ And that means elections, and that means … you can’t be the head of the military and the president at the same time,’’ Mr Bush said.
At the State Department, deputy spokesman Tom Casey confirmed that Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte will discuss the current situation with Pakistani leaders when he arrives in Islamabad during the next 24 hours.
“Obviously, he will … be making the same kinds of points to the Pakistani officials he meets with that you’ve heard from the president, from the secretary (Condoleezza Rice) and others; that being that we want to see an end to the state of emergency.”
Mr Negroponte will also tell Pakistani officials that the US wants to see elections move forward as quickly as possible.
“We want to see those elections take place in an atmosphere that allows for free, fair and open competition. We want the elections to be representative of the will of the Pakistani people,” Mr Casey said.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
WASHINGTON, Nov 14: US President George W. Bush has added his voice to the demand that General Pervez Musharraf should lift the state of emergency and then hold elections.
So far his aides have been making this demand but Mr Bush had not addressed the issue directly.
The US president also hoped that the Pakistani leader would remain a strong ally in the war against terrorism. “He understands the stakes of the war, and I do believe he understands the importance of democracy,” Mr Bush said on the Fox Business Network.
Mr Bush described the unrest in Pakistan as “an ever-changing situation”, and noted that he had urged Gen Musharraf by telephone one week ago to lift the state of emergency, hold elections, and quit as army chief. “He’s agreed to hold elections in January, and he’s agreed to take his uniform off. And our judgment is that the sooner he can suspend his emergency decree, the faster Pakistan gets back on the road to democracy,” Mr Bush said. “When I talked to him, I said: ‘You got to get Pakistan back on the road to democracy as quickly as possible.’ And that means elections, and that means … you can’t be the head of the military and the president at the same time,’’ Mr Bush said.
At the State Department, deputy spokesman Tom Casey confirmed that Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte will discuss the current situation with Pakistani leaders when he arrives in Islamabad during the next 24 hours.
“Obviously, he will … be making the same kinds of points to the Pakistani officials he meets with that you’ve heard from the president, from the secretary (Condoleezza Rice) and others; that being that we want to see an end to the state of emergency.”
Mr Negroponte will also tell Pakistani officials that the US wants to see elections move forward as quickly as possible.
“We want to see those elections take place in an atmosphere that allows for free, fair and open competition. We want the elections to be representative of the will of the Pakistani people,” Mr Casey said.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
PPP leaders arrested
By Our Staff Correspondent
FAISALABAD, Nov 14: Punjab PPP President Shah Mehmood Qureshi and three other party leaders, Dr Asad Moazam, Hassan Murtaza and Raja Riaz Ahmed, were arrested in Rajewala on Wednesday.
The news of their arrest sparked protests by PPP workers. Seven policemen and a number of protesters were injured when PPP workers pelted baton-charging policemen with rocks.
Before his arrest, Mr Qureshi addressed a press conference at the party’s divisional office in Rajewala.
He declared that his party would continue the struggle against the government till the emergency was lifted, Provisional Constitution Order revoked and the sacked judges reinstated.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
FAISALABAD, Nov 14: Punjab PPP President Shah Mehmood Qureshi and three other party leaders, Dr Asad Moazam, Hassan Murtaza and Raja Riaz Ahmed, were arrested in Rajewala on Wednesday.
The news of their arrest sparked protests by PPP workers. Seven policemen and a number of protesters were injured when PPP workers pelted baton-charging policemen with rocks.
Before his arrest, Mr Qureshi addressed a press conference at the party’s divisional office in Rajewala.
He declared that his party would continue the struggle against the government till the emergency was lifted, Provisional Constitution Order revoked and the sacked judges reinstated.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
Musharraf says he considered quitting
By Our Special Correspondent
LONDON, Nov 14: In what appears to be a quick response to Benazir Bhutto’s call on Tuesday asking President Gen Pervez Musharraf to step down, the beleaguered general said on Wednesday that he had considered resigning over the current political crisis, but had discounted it.
In an interview with the Sky News published in The Times on Wednesday, Gen Musharraf said he had decided that he was the only person who could lead Pakistan towards democracy.
“When there is no turmoil in Pakistan, I will step down. I am not a dictator, I want democracy,” said Gen Musharraf, making the timetable for transition to democracy still vaguer.
Gen Musharraf also said that he felt let down by the West and the media and warned: “We may lose the battle on terror because of misreporting by some parts of the media in Pakistan and around the world.”
President Musharraf defended his decision to impose a state of emergency and reiterated that general elections promised by Jan 9 would be held under emergency rule, adds AFP, quoting excerpts released by the Sky News on its website.
Gen Musharraf admitted the political situation was not going well and called for unity. “Leave the past behind. The country must work together for the best of Pakistan.”
President Musharraf in an interview with the AP news agency said he expected to step down as army chief by the end of November and begin a new presidential term as a civilian, warning that the country risked chaos if he gave into opposition demands to resign.
In an interview with The Associated Press, the military ruler accused Benazir Bhutto, currently under house arrest, of fuelling political turmoil and rejected Western pressure to quickly lift emergency rule.
“All those who are blunt enough to tell me to my face what the reality is, all of them think, yes, it will lead the country to chaos if I do not handle the political environment now with me remaining as the president,” he said at his army office.
The US-backed general had originally planned to quit as chief of the army by Thursday, when his presidential mandate and the term of the current parliament expire, but said he was forced to delay the restoration of civilian rule until a court ruling on his recent re-election.
He said the exact timing would depend on the Supreme Court – which he purged of independent-minded judges when he suspended the Constitution on Nov 3 – but expected it to happen within this month.
The US and other Western allies have been pushing for him to take off his uniform and end the emergency, warning that it could seriously undermine the legitimacy of the elections that are meant to end eight years of direct military rule since he took power in a coup.
Gen Musharraf dismissed a threat from Commonwealth to suspend Pakistan unless the emergency is lifted by Nov. 22.
“I take decisions in Pakistan’s interest and I don’t take ultimatums from anyone,” he said.
He lashed out at Ms Bhutto for stirring up political tensions. He said she was overplaying her popularity and thought it unlikely she could become prime minister for a third time by winning the elections, but left open the door for working with her if she did.
“If she does become the prime minister, we will see. I do function with everyone. I’m quite good at functioning with people. It depends on her if she wants to be on a confrontational course or a conciliatory one,” he said.
He admitted he was concerned about the threat of a boycott of elections by opposition parties, but said he thought it unlikely and urged the opposition against it.“Emergency is not meant to rig elections. Emergency is in fact meant to make sure that elections are held in a peaceful manner,” the president said.
He remained confident that he would retain the backing of the military even when he gives up his uniform. Commenting on rumours that spread last week that he had been put under arrest by another general, Musharraf said the army would never turn against him.
“People don’t know our army. They follow me not because of the rank but because of the respect that they hold for me. I have no doubt on the loyalty of this army. Never will that happen against me.”
He said unity in the military would prevent Pakistan from ever becoming a failed state.
“The military is very strong and extremely disciplined. As long as the armed forces of Pakistan remain united, which they will and are, no harm can come to Pakistan. The harm can come from the political dilemma. We have to resolve the political dilemma,” Gen Musharraf said.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
LONDON, Nov 14: In what appears to be a quick response to Benazir Bhutto’s call on Tuesday asking President Gen Pervez Musharraf to step down, the beleaguered general said on Wednesday that he had considered resigning over the current political crisis, but had discounted it.
In an interview with the Sky News published in The Times on Wednesday, Gen Musharraf said he had decided that he was the only person who could lead Pakistan towards democracy.
“When there is no turmoil in Pakistan, I will step down. I am not a dictator, I want democracy,” said Gen Musharraf, making the timetable for transition to democracy still vaguer.
Gen Musharraf also said that he felt let down by the West and the media and warned: “We may lose the battle on terror because of misreporting by some parts of the media in Pakistan and around the world.”
President Musharraf defended his decision to impose a state of emergency and reiterated that general elections promised by Jan 9 would be held under emergency rule, adds AFP, quoting excerpts released by the Sky News on its website.
Gen Musharraf admitted the political situation was not going well and called for unity. “Leave the past behind. The country must work together for the best of Pakistan.”
President Musharraf in an interview with the AP news agency said he expected to step down as army chief by the end of November and begin a new presidential term as a civilian, warning that the country risked chaos if he gave into opposition demands to resign.
In an interview with The Associated Press, the military ruler accused Benazir Bhutto, currently under house arrest, of fuelling political turmoil and rejected Western pressure to quickly lift emergency rule.
“All those who are blunt enough to tell me to my face what the reality is, all of them think, yes, it will lead the country to chaos if I do not handle the political environment now with me remaining as the president,” he said at his army office.
The US-backed general had originally planned to quit as chief of the army by Thursday, when his presidential mandate and the term of the current parliament expire, but said he was forced to delay the restoration of civilian rule until a court ruling on his recent re-election.
He said the exact timing would depend on the Supreme Court – which he purged of independent-minded judges when he suspended the Constitution on Nov 3 – but expected it to happen within this month.
The US and other Western allies have been pushing for him to take off his uniform and end the emergency, warning that it could seriously undermine the legitimacy of the elections that are meant to end eight years of direct military rule since he took power in a coup.
Gen Musharraf dismissed a threat from Commonwealth to suspend Pakistan unless the emergency is lifted by Nov. 22.
“I take decisions in Pakistan’s interest and I don’t take ultimatums from anyone,” he said.
He lashed out at Ms Bhutto for stirring up political tensions. He said she was overplaying her popularity and thought it unlikely she could become prime minister for a third time by winning the elections, but left open the door for working with her if she did.
“If she does become the prime minister, we will see. I do function with everyone. I’m quite good at functioning with people. It depends on her if she wants to be on a confrontational course or a conciliatory one,” he said.
He admitted he was concerned about the threat of a boycott of elections by opposition parties, but said he thought it unlikely and urged the opposition against it.“Emergency is not meant to rig elections. Emergency is in fact meant to make sure that elections are held in a peaceful manner,” the president said.
He remained confident that he would retain the backing of the military even when he gives up his uniform. Commenting on rumours that spread last week that he had been put under arrest by another general, Musharraf said the army would never turn against him.
“People don’t know our army. They follow me not because of the rank but because of the respect that they hold for me. I have no doubt on the loyalty of this army. Never will that happen against me.”
He said unity in the military would prevent Pakistan from ever becoming a failed state.
“The military is very strong and extremely disciplined. As long as the armed forces of Pakistan remain united, which they will and are, no harm can come to Pakistan. The harm can come from the political dilemma. We have to resolve the political dilemma,” Gen Musharraf said.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
JI students’ wing hands over Imran to police
By Intikhab Hanif
LAHORE, Nov 14: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan was arrested from outside the Punjab University’s new campus on Wednesday after he had been manhandled and detained in the campus allegedly by activists of the Islami Jamiat Talaba.
Imran Khan had gone to the university at the invitation of a joint action committee of students. The visit had been approved by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of Jamaat-i-Islami, to which the IJT is affiliated.
The police booked Imran under section 124, 353, 149, 186, 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code, Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Imran was first taken to the Iqbal Town police station and later moved to the Sabzazar police station, and again to the Civil Lines police station.
On his arrival at the campus, the PTI chief was confronted reportedly by a group of IJT activists who kicked him around and punched him. They took him to a room in the Centre for High Energy Physics and detained him there for about 45 minutes.
A cameraman of a private television channel who managed to get inside the building and a teacher said the students had maltreated Imran also in the room.
They quoted the PTI leader as saying that he had come to the university at the invitation of students to join them in a protest. The assailants bundled Imran into a wagon with white curtains and later handed him over to police waiting outside.
JI information secretary Amirul Azim, who was present when all this was happening, condemned the action of IJT activists and said that they had discredited the party in front of the international media and harmed the joint cause. Punjab University IJT nazim Mohammad Ayub alleged that Imran Khan had been manhandled by the university administration and that his party was not involved in either detaining him or handing him over to police.
At the same time, he and other IJT activists denied that they had invited the PTI chief to the university. “We do not want any politician to hijack the movement of students against the imposition of emergency and they should keep away from the campus,” they told reporters.
University registrar Dr Mohammad Naeem Khan said the university administration had not helped police in arresting Imran Khan. “We had given him a free passage.”
PTI secretary-general Shahid Zulfikar and other leaders blamed IJT activists for the incident.
Addressing a news conference at the Lahore Press Club, they held the entire JI leadership responsible for what had happened to their leader.
“The JI leaders should have informed us if they had any doubts about the students’ intentions. But they did not do so although we contacted them after the IJT had issued press releases opposing Mr Khan’s visit.”
Punjab PTI leaders Saloni Bukhari, Naseem Zahra and Talat Naqvi, who had accompanied Imran Khan to the campus, claimed that he had been detained by plainclothesmen and after he was driven out in “a joint operation by agencies and IJT activists”.
The PTI chief who was reported to have been hiding in the campus since early morning, had appeared suddenly in front of the CHEP building at around 12.30pm and a group of students, mainly from the university’s Law and Hailey colleges, warmly welcomed him and raised slogans in his favour.
Two students lifted him on their shoulders, but soon another group of students came there and pushed the two students to the ground. They took hold of Imran and dragged him into the building.
A few fire-crackers were exploded to scare away students who had started gathering outside the building where he had been detained.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
LAHORE, Nov 14: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan was arrested from outside the Punjab University’s new campus on Wednesday after he had been manhandled and detained in the campus allegedly by activists of the Islami Jamiat Talaba.
Imran Khan had gone to the university at the invitation of a joint action committee of students. The visit had been approved by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of Jamaat-i-Islami, to which the IJT is affiliated.
The police booked Imran under section 124, 353, 149, 186, 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code, Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Imran was first taken to the Iqbal Town police station and later moved to the Sabzazar police station, and again to the Civil Lines police station.
On his arrival at the campus, the PTI chief was confronted reportedly by a group of IJT activists who kicked him around and punched him. They took him to a room in the Centre for High Energy Physics and detained him there for about 45 minutes.
A cameraman of a private television channel who managed to get inside the building and a teacher said the students had maltreated Imran also in the room.
They quoted the PTI leader as saying that he had come to the university at the invitation of students to join them in a protest. The assailants bundled Imran into a wagon with white curtains and later handed him over to police waiting outside.
JI information secretary Amirul Azim, who was present when all this was happening, condemned the action of IJT activists and said that they had discredited the party in front of the international media and harmed the joint cause. Punjab University IJT nazim Mohammad Ayub alleged that Imran Khan had been manhandled by the university administration and that his party was not involved in either detaining him or handing him over to police.
At the same time, he and other IJT activists denied that they had invited the PTI chief to the university. “We do not want any politician to hijack the movement of students against the imposition of emergency and they should keep away from the campus,” they told reporters.
University registrar Dr Mohammad Naeem Khan said the university administration had not helped police in arresting Imran Khan. “We had given him a free passage.”
PTI secretary-general Shahid Zulfikar and other leaders blamed IJT activists for the incident.
Addressing a news conference at the Lahore Press Club, they held the entire JI leadership responsible for what had happened to their leader.
“The JI leaders should have informed us if they had any doubts about the students’ intentions. But they did not do so although we contacted them after the IJT had issued press releases opposing Mr Khan’s visit.”
Punjab PTI leaders Saloni Bukhari, Naseem Zahra and Talat Naqvi, who had accompanied Imran Khan to the campus, claimed that he had been detained by plainclothesmen and after he was driven out in “a joint operation by agencies and IJT activists”.
The PTI chief who was reported to have been hiding in the campus since early morning, had appeared suddenly in front of the CHEP building at around 12.30pm and a group of students, mainly from the university’s Law and Hailey colleges, warmly welcomed him and raised slogans in his favour.
Two students lifted him on their shoulders, but soon another group of students came there and pushed the two students to the ground. They took hold of Imran and dragged him into the building.
A few fire-crackers were exploded to scare away students who had started gathering outside the building where he had been detained.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
Benazir in move to unify opposition
By Nasir Jamal
LAHORE, Nov 14: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto has stepped up her efforts to forge a united front of all opposition parties for a struggle to oust President Gen Pervez Musharraf who, she said on Wednesday, was the main obstacle to the restoration of democracy in the country.
“It’s time for (President Gen) Musharraf to go. There is a consensus among all opposition political parties at the moment that the general must step down to pave way for the return of democracy,” she told Dawn by telephone from the residence of PPP Senator Latif Khosa where she was detained recently for seven days.
In a major shift from her earlier stance, Ms Bhutto demanded, hours after detention orders were served on her, that President Musharraf must step down.
She also said that she would not work with him even if he quit his army post.
She established contacts with opposition politicians, including Nawaz Sharif, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Asfandyar Wali and Hasil Bizenjo to persuade them to agree on a minimum common agenda of restoration of democracy and the Constitution and to launch a united struggle from one platform. About her contacts with other parties, she said: “I’ve spoken to Nawaz Sharif today on the subject and will contact him again tomorrow. I want to hear the views of all opposition leaders to define the minimum common agenda for political parties to rally round.”
She said she wanted to invite all opposition leaders to an interactive session over a cup of tea.
“I know most leaders are arrested and would not be able to come, but I want to have an interactive session so that we can learn from each other’s experiences and agree on a minimum common agenda of restoration of democracy and the rule of law.”
Ms Bhutto claimed that all political leaders she had spoken to were interested in getting together (for the purpose of discussing the common agenda for a united struggle). But she did not say if everyone was interested in uniting on one platform for launching a pro-democracy movement.
Asked about US Secretary of States Condoliza Rice’s statement that Ms Bhutto and Gen Musharraf could still work together and reports that Deputy Secretary of States John Negroponte might be visiting Pakistan for removing differences between her and the president, she said she had not read the full text of the statement and hence was not in a position to comment.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
LAHORE, Nov 14: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto has stepped up her efforts to forge a united front of all opposition parties for a struggle to oust President Gen Pervez Musharraf who, she said on Wednesday, was the main obstacle to the restoration of democracy in the country.
“It’s time for (President Gen) Musharraf to go. There is a consensus among all opposition political parties at the moment that the general must step down to pave way for the return of democracy,” she told Dawn by telephone from the residence of PPP Senator Latif Khosa where she was detained recently for seven days.
In a major shift from her earlier stance, Ms Bhutto demanded, hours after detention orders were served on her, that President Musharraf must step down.
She also said that she would not work with him even if he quit his army post.
She established contacts with opposition politicians, including Nawaz Sharif, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Asfandyar Wali and Hasil Bizenjo to persuade them to agree on a minimum common agenda of restoration of democracy and the Constitution and to launch a united struggle from one platform. About her contacts with other parties, she said: “I’ve spoken to Nawaz Sharif today on the subject and will contact him again tomorrow. I want to hear the views of all opposition leaders to define the minimum common agenda for political parties to rally round.”
She said she wanted to invite all opposition leaders to an interactive session over a cup of tea.
“I know most leaders are arrested and would not be able to come, but I want to have an interactive session so that we can learn from each other’s experiences and agree on a minimum common agenda of restoration of democracy and the rule of law.”
Ms Bhutto claimed that all political leaders she had spoken to were interested in getting together (for the purpose of discussing the common agenda for a united struggle). But she did not say if everyone was interested in uniting on one platform for launching a pro-democracy movement.
Asked about US Secretary of States Condoliza Rice’s statement that Ms Bhutto and Gen Musharraf could still work together and reports that Deputy Secretary of States John Negroponte might be visiting Pakistan for removing differences between her and the president, she said she had not read the full text of the statement and hence was not in a position to comment.
Dawn 15/Nov/07
PBC to continue boycott of courts
By Our Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Tuesday decided to continue the boycott of the superior courts till the restoration of the pre-emergency judiciary.
“The boycott will continue unless the real and constitutional judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts return to resume their constitutional duties and functions,” a resolution passed at a meeting of the council said. According to a press release, the meeting was presided over by PBC Vice-Chairman Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig.
The meeting decided that the strike and boycott of the subordinate courts would continue for at least an hour a day. The one-hour strike is the minimum call of the Pakistan Bar Council.
However, the provincial bar councils and bar associations are free to observe strike for more than one hour if they decide to do so. Members of the district bar associations were asked to look after the lawyers detained in jails in their areas.
The meeting praised the community for standing united against the dictatorial rule and martial law in the guise of emergency rule. Members of the bar throughout Pakistan were called upon to continue their movement with greater vigour and determination for restoration of the Constitution, reinstatement of independent judges and ouster of military regime and its effects like PCO, emergency and PCO judges.
The meeting expressed the fear that the Musharraf regime and the intelligence agencies wanted to get approval of the emergency and the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) from the PCO judges.
Dawn 14/Nov/07
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Tuesday decided to continue the boycott of the superior courts till the restoration of the pre-emergency judiciary.
“The boycott will continue unless the real and constitutional judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts return to resume their constitutional duties and functions,” a resolution passed at a meeting of the council said. According to a press release, the meeting was presided over by PBC Vice-Chairman Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig.
The meeting decided that the strike and boycott of the subordinate courts would continue for at least an hour a day. The one-hour strike is the minimum call of the Pakistan Bar Council.
However, the provincial bar councils and bar associations are free to observe strike for more than one hour if they decide to do so. Members of the district bar associations were asked to look after the lawyers detained in jails in their areas.
The meeting praised the community for standing united against the dictatorial rule and martial law in the guise of emergency rule. Members of the bar throughout Pakistan were called upon to continue their movement with greater vigour and determination for restoration of the Constitution, reinstatement of independent judges and ouster of military regime and its effects like PCO, emergency and PCO judges.
The meeting expressed the fear that the Musharraf regime and the intelligence agencies wanted to get approval of the emergency and the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) from the PCO judges.
Dawn 14/Nov/07
Japan threatens to cut aid
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TOKYO, Nov 13: Major donor Japan warned on Tuesday it may cut aid to Pakistan after the military regime declared emergency rule and placed a key opposition leader under house arrest.
“I have concerns about the current situation in Pakistan. We’ve been considering increasing official development aid to Pakistan as the country was thought be in the democratisation process and was making efforts in the ‘war on terror,’ Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told journalists.
“But we may have to examine carefully whether to increase the amount of aid at this point while closely watching the democratisation process in the country,” he said.
Asked if Japan may cut its current aid to Pakistan, the foreign minister said: “We’ll consider every option.” Military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf, facing a potential setback from the Supreme Court, declared a state of emergency on November 3 which he said was necessary to fight militants.
His government on Monday placed former prime minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest for the second time since she returned from self-exile last month.
Japan said last month it was considering boosting aid to both Pakistan and Afghanistan to assist the “war on terror” after Tokyo’s military contribution, a naval mission providing fuel, was suspended due to domestic opposition.
Japan has been officially pacifist since the World War II and relied on aid as its main foreign policy tool. But consecutive conservative-led governments have tried to increase Japan’s military presence.
Japan used to give hundreds of millions of dollars a year to Pakistan in low-interest loans and grants.
Japan, the only nation to suffer first atomic attack by the United States, suspended all assistance to both Pakistan and India in 1998 due to their nuclear tests.—AFP
Dawn 14/Nov/07
TOKYO, Nov 13: Major donor Japan warned on Tuesday it may cut aid to Pakistan after the military regime declared emergency rule and placed a key opposition leader under house arrest.
“I have concerns about the current situation in Pakistan. We’ve been considering increasing official development aid to Pakistan as the country was thought be in the democratisation process and was making efforts in the ‘war on terror,’ Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told journalists.
“But we may have to examine carefully whether to increase the amount of aid at this point while closely watching the democratisation process in the country,” he said.
Asked if Japan may cut its current aid to Pakistan, the foreign minister said: “We’ll consider every option.” Military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf, facing a potential setback from the Supreme Court, declared a state of emergency on November 3 which he said was necessary to fight militants.
His government on Monday placed former prime minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest for the second time since she returned from self-exile last month.
Japan said last month it was considering boosting aid to both Pakistan and Afghanistan to assist the “war on terror” after Tokyo’s military contribution, a naval mission providing fuel, was suspended due to domestic opposition.
Japan has been officially pacifist since the World War II and relied on aid as its main foreign policy tool. But consecutive conservative-led governments have tried to increase Japan’s military presence.
Japan used to give hundreds of millions of dollars a year to Pakistan in low-interest loans and grants.
Japan, the only nation to suffer first atomic attack by the United States, suspended all assistance to both Pakistan and India in 1998 due to their nuclear tests.—AFP
Dawn 14/Nov/07
UK urges Musharraf to lift emergency
By Our Special Correspondent
LONDON, Nov 13: Britain has again urged President General Pervez Musharraf to indicate when the state of emergency in his country would be lifted.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband welcomed the president’s commitment to elections by January 9, but said “less welcome” was the “lack of clarity on when the state of emergency will end”.
He warned: “Current conditions stand in the way of free and fair elections.”
However, like the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) which met here on Monday to consider Pakistan’s case, Mr Miliband also glaringly missed out saying anything about the restoration of the ‘dismissed’ chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
And the two also did not question Gen Musharraf’s attempts to have the new judges who took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) to approve his candidature in uniform for the presidential elections which were held under the suspended constitution which, however, did not allow a serving general to contest elections though it had allowed General Musharraf to keep the two offices (president and the army chief) until November 15, 2007.
The CMAG has in effect extended the November 15 deadline for Gen Musharraf to give up the army post by almost a week allowing him time to get a favourable verdict from the court.
Meanwhile, the Times in an editorial on Tuesday said that Benazir Bhutto’s power to mobilise the masses was beyond dispute, “even if the crowd that greeted her in Karachi, on her return from eight years abroad, may have owed more to the party’s feudal machinery than to spontaneous adoration of its leader.”
The newspaper said for that reason she was probably an indispensable part of any solution to the present crisis.
“So, too, is Nawaz Sharif, leader of the rival Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), the deeply conservative mainstream party. And so is President Musharraf (or “another khaki”, as Pakistanis refer to generals who may succeed him). Even though these three people cannot stand to be in the same room together (apart from the spasms in which they decide that they might do deals), they are necessary players if Pakistan is to edge its way from military rule to democracy.
“Government officials said on Monday that under the state of emergency Ms Bhutto’s march could not take place, and they placed her under house arrest for a second time to prevent her attendance. Their justification is bankrupt...”
Dawn 14/Nov/07
LONDON, Nov 13: Britain has again urged President General Pervez Musharraf to indicate when the state of emergency in his country would be lifted.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband welcomed the president’s commitment to elections by January 9, but said “less welcome” was the “lack of clarity on when the state of emergency will end”.
He warned: “Current conditions stand in the way of free and fair elections.”
However, like the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) which met here on Monday to consider Pakistan’s case, Mr Miliband also glaringly missed out saying anything about the restoration of the ‘dismissed’ chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
And the two also did not question Gen Musharraf’s attempts to have the new judges who took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) to approve his candidature in uniform for the presidential elections which were held under the suspended constitution which, however, did not allow a serving general to contest elections though it had allowed General Musharraf to keep the two offices (president and the army chief) until November 15, 2007.
The CMAG has in effect extended the November 15 deadline for Gen Musharraf to give up the army post by almost a week allowing him time to get a favourable verdict from the court.
Meanwhile, the Times in an editorial on Tuesday said that Benazir Bhutto’s power to mobilise the masses was beyond dispute, “even if the crowd that greeted her in Karachi, on her return from eight years abroad, may have owed more to the party’s feudal machinery than to spontaneous adoration of its leader.”
The newspaper said for that reason she was probably an indispensable part of any solution to the present crisis.
“So, too, is Nawaz Sharif, leader of the rival Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), the deeply conservative mainstream party. And so is President Musharraf (or “another khaki”, as Pakistanis refer to generals who may succeed him). Even though these three people cannot stand to be in the same room together (apart from the spasms in which they decide that they might do deals), they are necessary players if Pakistan is to edge its way from military rule to democracy.
“Government officials said on Monday that under the state of emergency Ms Bhutto’s march could not take place, and they placed her under house arrest for a second time to prevent her attendance. Their justification is bankrupt...”
Dawn 14/Nov/07
Senior advocate hospitalised after ‘police torture’
By Zulfiqar Memon
NAWABSHAH, Nov 13: A senior advocate and member of the Nawabshah District Bar Association, who had been allegedly tortured by police in the lock-up, was on Tuesday shifted to the local hospital in serious condition.
Hassan Tariq, active in protests against the imposition of the state of emergency, was arrested on Nov 8. He told Dawn in the chest ward of the Nawabshah Medical College Hospital that he had fallen unconscious after police tortured him at the time of arrest.
“When I regained consciousness, I found myself in the lockup where I had severe breathing problem.”
He said he kept requesting them to take him to a hospital, adding that he was once taken to a doctor and was provided some pills which proved ineffective.
A senior doctor said the lawyer had been admitted as a general patient and without any police letter, but police were deployed outside the room. He said the patient was suffering from haematoma and had injuries on his ribs.
He said the lawyer was also complaining of serious breathing problem and might lose a lung. The doctor said the patient was under observation and would be operated upon on Wednesday morning.
Dr Zakira, wife of Advocate Tariq and a physician in the NMC Hospital, said that his condition was unstable and he had received serious lung and chest injury. She said that his blood tissues were also damaged and he might lose functioning of his lung permanently.
Earlier, head munshi of the A-section police station, Mohammad Mithal Solangi, told Dawn that the lawyer had been taken to the hospital because of some complaint and was back in the police station.
District Police Officer Dr Ghulam Sarwar Jamali denied that Mr Tariq had been detained, saying that no person with such name was arrested by police.
Nawabshah District Bar Association president Ali Mohammad Dahiri condemned the police torture and said that Advocate Tariq was innocent. He demanded that police officers involved in this heinous crime should be suspended.
Dawn 14/Nov/07
NAWABSHAH, Nov 13: A senior advocate and member of the Nawabshah District Bar Association, who had been allegedly tortured by police in the lock-up, was on Tuesday shifted to the local hospital in serious condition.
Hassan Tariq, active in protests against the imposition of the state of emergency, was arrested on Nov 8. He told Dawn in the chest ward of the Nawabshah Medical College Hospital that he had fallen unconscious after police tortured him at the time of arrest.
“When I regained consciousness, I found myself in the lockup where I had severe breathing problem.”
He said he kept requesting them to take him to a hospital, adding that he was once taken to a doctor and was provided some pills which proved ineffective.
A senior doctor said the lawyer had been admitted as a general patient and without any police letter, but police were deployed outside the room. He said the patient was suffering from haematoma and had injuries on his ribs.
He said the lawyer was also complaining of serious breathing problem and might lose a lung. The doctor said the patient was under observation and would be operated upon on Wednesday morning.
Dr Zakira, wife of Advocate Tariq and a physician in the NMC Hospital, said that his condition was unstable and he had received serious lung and chest injury. She said that his blood tissues were also damaged and he might lose functioning of his lung permanently.
Earlier, head munshi of the A-section police station, Mohammad Mithal Solangi, told Dawn that the lawyer had been taken to the hospital because of some complaint and was back in the police station.
District Police Officer Dr Ghulam Sarwar Jamali denied that Mr Tariq had been detained, saying that no person with such name was arrested by police.
Nawabshah District Bar Association president Ali Mohammad Dahiri condemned the police torture and said that Advocate Tariq was innocent. He demanded that police officers involved in this heinous crime should be suspended.
Dawn 14/Nov/07
Pakistan rejects C’wealth deadline
By Amir Wasim
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: Pakistan on Tuesday expressed deep disappointment and regret over a statement issued by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and rejected its demands of restoring the Constitution and lifting emergency.
“The statement reflects ignorance of the ground realties and the enormity of the challenges faced by Pakistan and undermines the efforts vital for maintaining political stability and preserving the ongoing political process in the country,” says a statement issued by Foreign Office here on Tuesday.
The Commonwealth on Monday gave Islamabad a 10-day deadline to restore the Constitution and lift emergency or face suspension from the 53-nation grouping.
The FO statement said that the emergency was imposed in extraordinary circumstances to avert an institutional breakdown and internal crisis that could have paralysed the government, causing incalculable harm to the country.
“The international community must also understand that such a situation would have constricted the ability of the government to counter militancy and terrorism that posed a grave threat not just to Pakistan but to the whole world,” the statement said, adding that the government was committed to a full democratic rule.
The statement further said that the assemblies were shortly to complete their tenure, caretaker governments were about to be formed and the president had announced elections to be held before January 9, 2008.
“Pakistan will follow its own roadmap to transition to democracy as outlined by the president. Decisions on issues of vital importance will be taken in accordance with our national interests and requirements and not in observance of any artificially set timelines from outside.
Dawn 14/Nov/07
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: Pakistan on Tuesday expressed deep disappointment and regret over a statement issued by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and rejected its demands of restoring the Constitution and lifting emergency.
“The statement reflects ignorance of the ground realties and the enormity of the challenges faced by Pakistan and undermines the efforts vital for maintaining political stability and preserving the ongoing political process in the country,” says a statement issued by Foreign Office here on Tuesday.
The Commonwealth on Monday gave Islamabad a 10-day deadline to restore the Constitution and lift emergency or face suspension from the 53-nation grouping.
The FO statement said that the emergency was imposed in extraordinary circumstances to avert an institutional breakdown and internal crisis that could have paralysed the government, causing incalculable harm to the country.
“The international community must also understand that such a situation would have constricted the ability of the government to counter militancy and terrorism that posed a grave threat not just to Pakistan but to the whole world,” the statement said, adding that the government was committed to a full democratic rule.
The statement further said that the assemblies were shortly to complete their tenure, caretaker governments were about to be formed and the president had announced elections to be held before January 9, 2008.
“Pakistan will follow its own roadmap to transition to democracy as outlined by the president. Decisions on issues of vital importance will be taken in accordance with our national interests and requirements and not in observance of any artificially set timelines from outside.
Dawn 14/Nov/07
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