PPP clear winner in Gilgit-Baltistan elections

PPP is clearly the most popular party, the only major political party which has roots in all parts of the federation. The same fact is once again evident in the unofficial results of the Gilgit-Baltistan elections. Here are the results so far:

Seats announced: 21
PPP: 12
PML-N: 2
PML-Q: 1
MQM: 1
JUI: 1
Independent: 4

Unofficial results of G-B elections
Updated at: 2200 PST, Thursday, November 12, 2009

GILGIT-BALTISTAN: Pakistan People’s Party’s Syed Mehdi Shah has emerged successful with 5,295 for LA-7 Skardu-1 in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative elections, according to an unofficial result. Wazir Wilayat of Pakistan Muslim League-Q is runner up with 2,270.

Independent candidate Deedar Ali wins LA-2 Gilgit 2 by bagging 4,535 votes while PPP’s Jamil Ahmed received 2,774 votes and remained second.

PPP’s Wazir Baig emerged victorious on LA-6 Gilgit 6 with 3,571 votes, leaving MQM’s Kamil Jan behind who bagged 2,240 votes.

JUI(F)’s Gulbar Khan received 2797 and won LA-18 Diamir 4. Independent candidate Malik Muhammad Miskeen is runner up with 1,535 votes.

PPP’s candidate Wazir Shakil won the seat of LA-9 Skardu 3 with 6,423 votes in Gilgit-Baltistan elections. PML-N’s Haji Fida Muhammad Nashad stands second with 2,592 votes.

PML-N’s Muhammad Abdullah wins LA-23 Ganche 2 with 4,240 votes while Amina Ansar of PML-Q’s loses with 3,963 votes.

PPP’s Muhammad Ismail Engineer clinches LA-24 Ganche-3 while Muhammad Shafiq of PML-N stood second.

MQM’s Raja Azam Khan has emerged successful on LA-12 Skardu 6 with 9316 votes, leaving behind PPP’s Imran Nadeem who bagged 7,125 votes in Gilgit-Baltistan elections.

PPP’s Muhammad Jafar has won LA-22 Ganche 1 with 3,772 votes in Gilgit Baltistan elections. PML-N’S Muhammad Ibrahim Sanai bagged 1,741 votes and remained second.

Ghulam Muhammad clinched LA-21 Ghazar 3 with 4,961 votes while Independent candidate Ayub bagged 4,894 votes and stood second.

PPP's Shaikh Nisar received 7,793 votes to win LA-8 Skardu 2 while independent candidate Muhammad Ali shah stood second with 4,701 votes.

It may be noted that in the election, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged as the major party before elections which had 22 candidates followed by Mutahida Qaumi Movement which has 20 candidates, while the other Political Parties included: Pakistan Muslim League N 15, PML Q 14, GBDA 4, Awami National Party 3, Jamat Islami 2 and Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf two.

Charges of rigging

Analysis by Tahir Sarwar Mir

Some comments: (source pkpolitics)

bechari-awam said:

btw where is PTI. I thought their principled stand was to take part in every election. I understand IK is hospitalized and I pray that he get well soon, but what about the other party cadre. Even Marvi memon is there campaigning for her candidates. Until today, I didn’t even know that there are PTI candidates running in the elections.

I guess, the results are already known. PPP will definitely win, considering it’s historical strong presence in GB and the reason, it is their federal govt which gave those disenfranchised people a right to elect their legislative body.

dr_abrar said:

PTI had atleast 2 candidates in the running and they were supporting one of the independents but their performance is really poor

Sweettruth said:
What happened to world’s greatest party PTI (according to some people here on this site) in these elections?
Why PTI is always so scared of elections?
Why PTI always want to remain a pressure group in Pakistani politics?
Why PTI cannot participate in an election where candidates can win a seat with few thousands votes?
Why PTI wants to remain one man tanga size party?
How long PTI will remain alive on media only? (thanks to TV anchormen who invite IK almost daily basis)

I have always advised some of my PTI supporter friends to tell Imran to take part in every elections. Take example of MQM; they participated first time in these elections and have already won a seat. In politics Imran’s style is arrogant and inappropriate and he does not want to take part in any election process. In elective politics leaders have to go to public for their voting support while IK expects people to come to him.

dr_abrar said:

Well I personally like IK very much but thats it , it is just IMRAN KAHAN not a party as such. IK has been in politics from last 17 years but it hurts to say that he has never taken any correct political decisions in his life. His whole politics revolves around anto government and more of JI type politics. He is personally a very sincere and capable person but he is just surrounded by Munawar hussain and Qazi hussain ahmed type of people.

Sweettruth said:

@dr_abrar

Once again good analysis about Imran and his ineffective style of politics and you are right that Imran’s politics and policies are centred around world’s biggest munafiq pressure group JI. IK did not learn his lesson even after Punjab university beating by Jamiat students. His party membership has increased mainly due to some JI members who have joined his party only to ruin IK politically.

dr_abrar said:

I think we should not be that biased and should give mqm some credit. Without going into their past and their style of polictics, they have worked really hard in GB and they have been very organised and vocal. They are attracting people now, I am very surprised to see their rally in Lahore to celebrate their GB success. I never thought they can attract so many people in Lahore.

dara said:

These results show one thing, Nawaz league needs to come out it’s Punjab shell and take the responsibility of the whole country. People vote PPP because they know it is not a reginal party. Also people don’t vote on the basis of media trial , they know what is the propaganda and what is the reality.

The sucees of MQM is also based on their support to other issues like peolpe of Pakistan know that MQM has shown support to Baluch ( though it was lip service only as they didn’t leave Musharaf Govt), also they now a days talk about the whole of Pakistan.

People also know what change Iftikhar Ch has brought so far? just giving benefits to Nawaz Sharief for equiting him out, That issue of judiciary is only popular in big cities of punjab.
In gilgit and Sakurdu people are still voting for N league because Nawaz sharief has done some good work to bring employement not because he has so called ” Asooley Mokaf”.

Imran Khan doesn’t even exist in these election because he never bothered about Gilgit as there are less people in those areas who go far stupid right wing agenda blindly.

People in Baltistan are less concerned about so called Anti american slogans as they know these are only slogans, every anti American in our country is a greatest supporter of capitalism and a big “Sarmayadar”.

ninetykman said:

@ dara

Well I agree with you on NS. He had a great chance after BB to become a national leader, but he has lost it big time. He has restricted himself to Laore, ISB and Muree.

A real leader knows the pulse of the nation.

Forget GB. He didnt even go to Sindh or Baluchistan. He keeps on going to dubai and london instead.

mir munsif said:

Pakistan is federation and for a welfare federal state,the essence lies in strong ppl oriented federal parties.But dilema in our country is that Military economic umpire with its co operative tools (moulvis,bureacrats and self created politicians) tried to weaken the federal parties.They had always been against PPP and they propoagated hate and biased propaganda against PPP and its leadership.People were pumped with all sort of propaganda against PPP,because they feel challenge from democratic system and federal parties.

But time and again,one thing gets clearer..when ever ppl are given free choice to select,they prefer federal parties esp PPP.PPP has once again emerged as leading party in GB.Its not this election,if any one is serious political observer,they know that PPP has strong presence in GB for last many decades.This victory of PPP is signal to all PPP haters both in establishment and fasciast/Ultra orthodox talabinist that with all your efforts,you could erase PPP and will never succeed inshAllah.

This success of PPP shows that its CHAIN of FEDERATION whose presence is every where in Pakistan…its not just regional party.Its Pakistan’s peoples Party..!!

dara said:

The results are not completed as of yet , but its seems that PPP will definitely be single largest party. I know same portion of media will come after ppp with rigging elegations. The way that perticuller media was painting situation if you really believe them then there was no chance for ppp to even win ne seat rigging or no rigging.

The problem with peolpe who hate ppp is that they forgrt one thing that political parties can not be rooted out, they could loose or win support but real political parties couldn’t be evapurated. PPP has one big advantage over other parties that is being a federal party having support in all over Pakistan, in all religons and in all sects and linguistic groups.

people of pakistan might vote ppp out in next national election but that is not because of Kerry Louger Bill or NRO or on Ch Iftikhar issue it will be bevause of their performance to provide basics Roti , Kapra or Makan.

People know that those who are oppossing Kerry Loger package are the one who have looted 12 billion in recent past and have been looting US aid since 1950’s. They know this aid will ensure some help in social sector. They know that NRO was accepted by PPP because that was a way out from political motivated cases . They know NRO beneficiaries are over 60% from bureaucracy and traders and PPP’s share is not that one. They know that those who have looted more then any political personality are never trialed. They know even Ch Iftikhar has no courage to re open Gawader land mafia files as it has names from an institution who is above and beyond any accountability.

So they know.

mir munsif said:

Total seats are 24 and PPP has placed its 23 members,second id MQM with being 18 members,third id PMLN 15,PMLQ 14,ANP 4,and others etc.Even from these numbers,its clear that only PPP has biggest base thats why its has placed members for most of the seats and other parties could not find even members against seats.There is no show of TI,JI etc here.Its not PPP’s faults,if other parties could not find members to run for elections on their platform against some seats…This is simple example of PPP’s viberant and visible presence and ofcourse success story in GB polls.

mir munsif said:

@cheeta111

Itni jhooty ilzaamoon aur hate propganda ki bavajood bhi
elections PPP ni jeeta
Loogho ni un ko chuna
Loogho un un pey aitmaad kiya,
aur phir leaders ni awam ki li sab kurbaan kiya
Jamhooriyat ley aahy,
Mush ki vardi utrvai
Army ko wapas barracks mein bheeja..power ley ki
Jhamooriyat ki jeet huey
PPP power mein aahy aur dushmano ki diloon mein ik azaab aayaa
aur TI ni hamesha Tanga party sey aaghi kuch nahi payaa
Karkun tu daur,Ik ki bagheer koi leader hey nahi mila
Ik chaur hey biased approach kaa…baas nafar ka seelab
par PPP hey Pakistan ki awam ki party..
.na taliban khano ki,na fauji jerneelo ki,na fasciast logo ki..
PPP zinda baad,Pakistan Painda baad..Nafrat zada propagnda Murda baad!!

I never say PPP is party of angels,I repeat the same but it has come through legitmate process not behind the doors with mighty guns of 111 birgade.We can criticise PPP if it goes wrong,but I dont understand most of the ppl on this forum can tolerate injust rule and Military take over for decades but cant give chance a democracy to take roots.

Democracy is longer,boring but its healthy in long run.To a words of winston churchal ..Democracy is not the ideal system but its best among all the systems to the date.For a democratic system to flourish and parties to get more refined,it needs time and healthy pressure from civil society.The federation of Pakistan can only survive,if we strengthen our federal parties,which chains whole nation.Criticise PPP,I welcome it but please DONT BE BIASED,dont just take it granted that every wrong doing is coz of democratic system.Rather analyze the situation on rational basis and come up with sane vision,rather sticking to hate pouring and blind propganda pumped by pro establishment economic umpire,anti PPP Media and hate groups.

Long live Democracy and PPP!!
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mir munsif said:

Human rights commision and Independent Observers have said in their reports that they are satisfied with Election process and over all they termed it fair.They appreciated Election process in GB and They highlighted some adminsitrative weaknesses which need to be improved in future for any election.Their report confirms the fair victory of PPP.


meengla said:

@Mir Munsif,

1) You and @Dara are far too polite and rational for a large number of this PMLN or PTI or MQM crowd. You are trying to talk about a viable ’system’ while these paindoos (no ethnicity intended) are so blinded by hatred of PPP that they are digging up Zardari’s past records (which are tainted–though not a unique case in Pakistan at all–please see Ishaq Daar’s confession against NS and SS) to be willing to bring down the whole system just to have their own men in power.

2) Why is it so surprising to have the PPP win in G-B in these elections? PPP did not have a strong base in NWFP either but in Feb. 2008 elections it came very close to ANP in terms of seats. It was sympathy votes for Benazir or strong candidates or smart electioneering. Something worked. And worked well enough to kick out the PMLQ and the MMA. So why can’t it happen in G-B when Kaira and Gilani are offering the locals the moon?

3) I think for MQM it is a moral victory to finally have one candidate win outside of Sindh. And so MQM is going to cheer. But PMLN is quiet either to avoid embarassing coverage (the most popular politician in Pakistan (Punjab) is NS, right) or is simply waiting to see the unconstitutional toppling of PPP setup. Yeah, it is not out of question for these fake Muslim Leaguies (the real one died with MA Jinnah) to ask the military to intervene again.

4) PTI’s Tonga Party and its ‘Kochbaan’ leader Imran Khan has no excuse to field less than 5 (only 2?) candidates in these elections? Even MQM tried to ‘fake it’ and fielded 18, knowing that there was no chance. Mr. Tonga Taliban Khan is waiting for a military general to start a coup and give Mr. Khan a PM ship. No amount of excuses or white-washing is going to justify PTI not at least contesting these elections in full force. Anyone? Come on, please be honest. I too think our Taliban Khan is uncorrupt and is perhaps even uncorruptible. But then a local Mosque’s Maulvi can have similar attributes and often do in Pakistan. Brains is a different matter. Sorry Taliban Khan. I ‘want to believe’ in you but there is not even the intelligence of a Ross Perot in you and your party to convince me of your credentials. PLEASE BE CORRUPT A LITTLE BUT PLEASE HAVE SOME BRAINS TOO.

sitaraakhri said:

Zardari does not control all. In fact he controls very little. He had to undo his stance on the judges; undo his stance on the SMS issue; and I have no doubt that he will undo his stance on 17th Amendment. I would rather have that than a control freak called Imran Khan.

You have conveniently mentioned all of Imran Khan’s plusses but none of his minuses. At least the PPP has conventional wisdom in the form of Aitzaz, Raza Rabbani, etc. Who are IK’s advisors/candidates? Do you know who his candidate from Islamabad was in 2002 (the last election his party contested)? It was that Ahmad Raza Kasuri joker who then went on to side with Musharraf and was against the lawyers’ movement and then got ridiculed by the lawyers. So IK has no team to speak of.

Also where is all this stuff about khudari coming from? IK’s children lead privileged lives just like Bilawal does. Is IK funding them? If so, he must have assets abroad. If not, then he is ok with getting Goldsmith aid for his children and his ghairat is no issue but Heaven Forbid the poor Pakistani awam benefit from American aid—because it “comes with conditions”. oOOOH. Guess what? All aid comes with conditions. According to a recent article Jemima wrote, “ever since her kids left Pakistan, they no longer think the pig is ganda”—yes that is exactly what she wrote —proudly. IK is such a hypocrite. One standard for himself but another for the others.

Sweettruth said:

Imran is waiting for a miracle for winning an election. He is so scared of whole election process that he hardly managed to field only 2 candidates for these small scale election in Gilgit. Evne MQM fielded 18 candidates and won 1 seat. Can someone tell him that you have to go in public to beg votes while IK expects public to come to him. IK does not have any vote-winning slogan like roti kapra makan of PPP which is still very popular among Pakistani public. IK may have a good support on Internet through his IK fan club mostly living in USA and UK but his electoral suppot among Pakistani voters is less than 1%.

Wake up Imran and get rid of munafiq Jamat Islami because your party PTI and JI have same policies and JI is strongly hated by majority of Pakistani public. IK also has to stop supporting taliban terrorists because his support for Taliban animals is also a policy of Jamat Islami.

Read more...

Zardari phobia and hostile col-anchors

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For years at least some of our anchors have claimed that the Mehsud militants are backed by foreign enemies of Pakistan. But neither the war in Waziristan nor the terrorist attacks in Rawalpindi have received the kind of attention that befits them. For the overzealous TV anchors, the real issue is how to embarrass President Zardari. Some of them claim they have the establishments backing in doing so. (Source)

Abbas Athar requests everyone to pray for the swift recovery of those col-anchors (pro-Taliban or pro-establishment) who are currently suffering from Zardari phobia.

In the words of Sadiq Saleem:
Those striving for a Constitutional knockout of President Zardari need to reconsider whether they will accomplish anything even if they succeed. The first consequence of such a knockout would be to give the PPP and the Bhutto-Zardari family the mantle of victimhood once again. After the initial grumbling is over, the People’s Party will most likely rally round the family that has given the greatest sacrifices for it. Even if Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani becomes part of the knockout plan, which is highly unlikely, he would be reduced to the same position as Farooq Leghari was within months of his action against Benazir Bhutto in 1996.

If the fingerprints of the establishment are found in President Zardari’s decapitation, as the anti-Zardari anchors and columnists claim, it would revive in all likelihood the anti-establishment polarization that the military sought to end by withdrawing from politics after the eclipse of General Pervez Musharraf. In any case, why should the establishment become part of an anti-Zardari game plan if all it would do is bring Mr Nawaz Sharif to power?

The issue of civil-military relations will certainly not be resolved to the establishments satisfaction because if Mr. Nawaz Sharif rises to power with the weakening of a Zardari-led PPP then he is unlikely to be more deferential to GHQ.

Since the unfortunate era of General Ziaul Haq the Pakistani establishment has had a pro-Jihad faction that operates politically through the media and various political actors. These people did not respect General Asif Nawaz, General Abdul Waheed, or General Jehangir Karamat. General Pervez Musharraf pleased them by championing adventurism in Kargil but lost their backing in the post-9/11 context. Now, too, it is not General Ashfaq Kayani who wants an army (or establishment) role in politics. It is the beneficiaries of Jihad Inc., including the many media figures beholden to the Jihadis, who want to shoot at a liberal government using the establishments shoulder.

If Pakistan will gain nothing from upsetting the applecart, why are some people so insistent on continuing to distract the nation from fighting terrorism and from sympathizing with terrorist victims? Why not allow the Parliament to decide matters even if it is with a single vote? Why don’t the TV anchors ask Imran Khan how he can judge the government’s actions and claim to speak for the people without being elected? Why is every initiative of PML-N a media initiative and never brought to the elected chambers? Is it not the purpose of democracy to find a way to get past issues instead of getting bogged down by them?

The media, especially its electronic manifestation, seems like a bunch of quacks (fake doctors) that keep generating campaign after campaign against someone they dislike (President Zardari). It is time the people fight back and say let there be some sanity in the country. Let priorities be priorities.

"Media Terminators" in Pakistan
By Tahir Sarwar Mir


Col-anchors will never raise the following issues (courtesy "revolution"):

Where are CJ Iftikhar Chauhary's famous suo moto actions?
Why is Amina Masood Janjua still standing outside Supreme Court Building?
Why no one got punished for November 3 and May 12 actions?
Why No suo moto against foreign interventions in Islamabad streets?

Read more...

The Project IJI - Second Edition

Compiled by: Abdul Nishapuri

Title: The Project IJI (Islami Jamhoori Ittehad - Second Edition)

Alias: Mullah Military Alliance

Aim: To destabilize the democratic government of Pakistan

Key sponsor: ISI, GHQ

Key constituent parties: PML(N), PML(Q), Jamaat-e-Islami, MQM, Farooq Leghari, Mumtaz Bhutto

Key media agents of the ISI: Ansar Abbasi, Shahid Masood, Shaheen Sehbai, Hamid Mir, Javed Chaudhry, Haroon-ur-Rashid, Talat Hussain, Irfan Siddiqi

The hidden agenda: All of the above (except MQM and Haroon-ur-Rashid) are staunch supporters of Taliban. MQM has been blackmailed into this alliance because they have been offered an "NRO" by Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan on the 12 May 2007 massacre in Karachi. Haroon-ur-Rashid is known for his qasida khwani (praise) of General Zia-ul-Haq, General Hameed Gul, Major Amir, and other criminals of the ISI (mullah-military alliance). He has also written an 'official history' book titled Fateh in appreciation of the criminal General Akhtar Abdur-Rehman.

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PPP MPs annoyed with NRO spat

ISLAMABAD: Some Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNAs on Tuesday severely criticised opposition parties for blocking the NRO in parliament and the role played by a section of the media in the affair. While the government decided to withdraw the ordinance, the controversial document appears to continue to haunt those in power. National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza clarified a news item, saying her husband and she never benefited from the NRO, while the PPP’s Nawab Yousaf Talpur also had to give a similar clarification. PPP member Akunzada Chattan said the move to block the NRO in parliament was worse than former president Pervez Musharraf’s imposition of emergency rule, as “political forces, the civil society and a section of the media acted against the PPP at the behest of the GHQ”. The PPP’s Chaudhry Nadeem Afzal Chan said politicians were being defamed under a conspiracy. He also criticised some private TV anchorpersons and journalists who had become “propaganda tools”. irfan ghauri (Daily Times)

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Kerry-Lugar law critics are Taliban backers: Holbrooke

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: US special envoy Richard Holbrooke has said those criticising the Kerry-Lugar law are either opposed to the current Pakistani government or are supporting the Taliban, reported a private TV channel on Tuesday.

Holbrooke told the channel that Pakistan’s current political situation would not become similar to the crisis on March 16 – when top US officials had to make phone calls to the Pakistani leadership to sort out issues related to the restoration of the judiciary. He said the US only supported the leadership of constitutionally elected governments. Holbrooke said although the NRO did not come under much discussion during Hillary Clinton’s recent visit to Pakistan, US officials were fully aware of the situation.

About Pakistan’s claim that India is supporting militancy in the Tribal Areas and an insurgency in Balochistan, the envoy said the US fully understood these concerns.

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(Nazir Naji)

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EDITORIAL: Retreat over NRO

After a high level meeting of the ruling alliance at the Presidency on Monday, the PPP government has decided not to bring the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to parliament for a vote. This is clearly a reversal but one which could have been avoided had the ruling party consulted its allies beforehand. It is quite apparent that the NRO as a bill was brought to the relevant committee of the National Assembly without making sure that all the numbers needed were in hand.

The withdrawal will not put an end to the “dangers” that the NRO represented to the map of power brought about by the 2008 general elections. After the debacle caused by an aggressive withdrawal of the MQM from the pro-NRO consensus, the next crisis in the offing is the march of the opposition to a no-confidence vote. The PML-N, whose chief is determined to start a Long March on the ordinance, is no longer averse to the thought of a mid-term change, whether through a new general election or through the ‘minus-one’ formula under a ‘national government’, possibly with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the driving seat.

Monday night, the MQM seemed overly righteous about the NRO, which betrayed some other long-brewing disagreement between the PPP and Mr Altaf Hussain. The disagreement was definitely not on the NRO. Had that been the case, the MQM would have taken a position on it long ago. It says the MQM members supposed to be let off the hook by the NRO were never really affected by it. It insists that all the cases were criminal and were reviewed by the courts and struck from the record. Mr Altaf Hussain, who spoke in some detail to the TV channels, kept emphasising that his party was not targeted for corruption, hinting that the PPP government was in the dock for corruption, not only under the NRO, but also because of its current performance.

The depth of the MQM alienation from the PPP could be grasped from the way the MQM chief kept using the “sacrifice” innuendo for President Asif Zardari, which the media took to mean that he was actually asking the PPP chief to resign as president. This can only mean that the two allied parties had engaged in some kind of polemic over the sharing of power — most probably in Sindh — and had failed to resolve it despite the several meetings the MQM top leaders had with President Zardari over matters in Karachi. Mr Hussain was angry but was at pains to hide his anger behind the justifications he offered for not supporting the government on the NRO.

Had someone in the PPP looked deeper into the NRO imbroglio he would have examined the options of a power-denied MQM. It was a question of whether the PPP should give the MQM what it wants in Karachi or face the NRO alone. It is obvious that the PPP took it for granted that the MQM will not be able to go against the NRO because of the extent to which it had benefited from it. It forgot that the MQM was disciplined enough to take the fallout from going against the NRO to pressure the government in Islamabad. It is because of the cadre discipline of the MQM that it has been able to take the bitter pill of opposing the NRO in order to challenge the PPP’s decisions in regard to the governance of Karachi. The intensity of the PPP-MQM clash is reflected in the latter’s decision to vote against the passage of the NRO.

Pakistan will be further destabilised from now on. The PML-N will muster the forces intent on overthrowing the government and will move to ask the government to take a confidence vote. Its pious assertions to the contrary, it will push the country towards another general election while the Taliban have passed to the phase of targeting innocent citizens wherever they find them in large gatherings. Taking the PPP government as ‘pro-America’, they will most likely spare the Long March agitation of the grand opposition, if it comes. Faced with this, the remaining allies will rethink their political strategy and make the paucity of numbers in parliament more glaring for the PPP. Meanwhile there is always the “peaceful” alternative of going to the Supreme Court, which is likely to strike the NRO down as being violative of the spirit of the constitution. * (Daily Times)

(Muhammad Amir Khakwani)

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(Tahir Sarwar Mir)

Also read:

How did MQM foil PML-N's anti-democratic plans on NRO - An analysis

Read more...

Nawaz Sharif's opportunistic politics and the Kerry-Lugar Bill

ایک سوال کے جواب میں نواز شریف نے تصدیق کی کہ وزیر اعلیٰ پنجاب میاں محمد شہباز شریف اور قومی اسمبلی میں قائد حزب اختلاف چوہدری نثار علی خان نے گزشتہ دنوں آرمی چیف جنرل اشفاق پرویز کیانی سے ملاقات کی تھی۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ دونوں رہنماؤں نے انھیں بتایا کہ ملاقات میں سیکیورٹی سے متعلق امور پر بات چیت ہوئی لیکن انھوں نے کہا کہ شہباز شریف اور چوہدری نثار کو آرمی چیف سے چھپ کے ملنے نہیں جانا چاہیے تھا۔

نواز شریف نے جمعرات کو لاہور میں ایف آئی اے کے دفتر اور پولیس مراکز پر ہوئے حملوں کو افسوسناک قرار دیا تاہم انہوں نے اس بات کا جواب دینے سے گریز کیا کہ ان حملوں میں کونسے گروہ ملوث ہیں اور حکومت پنجاب ان کے خلاف کیا کارروائی کرے گی۔ انہوں نے اس سوال کا بھی جواب نہیں دیا کہ دہشتگردی کے خلاف حکومتی پالیسی پر ان کی جماعت کا کیا موقف ہے۔

http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2009/10/091015_nawaz_army.shtml

Tahir Sarwar Mir

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Nazir Naji

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What is behind the ‘Ghairat’ debate?

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 By By Sadiq Saleem

Every few years Pakistanis go through angry phases of self-righteous indignation over the country’s dependence on foreign aid. The ‘Ghairat’ (national honour) lobby, led by Islamist political parties, retired generals and the newly empowered right wing conspiracy theorists serving as television anchors have worked up the nation once again in the “honour is more important than aid” slogan mongering. Now that the controversy relating to the Kerry-Lugar Bill is de-escalating, it is time to understand the economic and security compulsions that have made us a dependent nation. Since 1947, when soon after independence the father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah himself appealed for US aid, each one of Pakistan’s budgets has depended on external flows mainly because our own resources are limited and over-stretched. Notwithstanding the evolution of our indigenous defence capabilities, much of our military equipment still comes from the US or from China. Pakistan needs aid and no amount of hyper nationalist chest-thumping can change the fact that with huge unavoidable defence expenditure, growing unproductive population and a bloated government we have no option but to seek aid for development. The ‘Ghairat’ lobby, always eager to mobilize street protests of the “Go America Go” variety, never runs a campaign to get the nation to pay taxes. Ditto for the industrialists and traders that support the various factions of the Pakistan Muslim League and the landowners that are incharge of the Pakistan People’s Party. Few Pakistanis know we have a tax-to-GDP ratio of 8%, even below Ghana, which collects 15% of its GDP as revenue. It is fashionable to say we will break the proverbial begging bowl (kashkol) and tighten our belts. This is a good populist slogan much beloved of some Urdu columnists. As prime minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif championed this view and became rather popular among middle class urban Pakistanis. He started the National Debt Relief Program with the explicit purpose of raising donations from overseas and rich Pakistanis. Only $178.3 million were collected against the then outstanding national debt of $35 billion. Of this only $28 million was in donations, $1.6 million in Qarz-e-Hasana, and $148 million was in profit bearing deposits. So much for ‘Ghairat’ and hyper nationalism trumping economic realities. The economies of nations grow through aid, trade, investment and productivity, That is how Japan and Germany overcame the destruction of World War II and South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia all became Asian tigers. Pakistan’s problem has been that we are aid dependent but instead of completing the cycle and moving towards the large scale investment and productivity stage our ‘Ghairat’ makes us abandon and restarts the cycle periodically. There are national security needs too that dictate our gravitation towards the US but that requires a separate detailed discussion. Suffice it to say that when hyper-nationalists and their Jihadism brought Pakistan to the brink of full-scale war during the unfortunate Kargil episode in 1999, Mian Nawaz Sharif travelled to the United States to seek a bailout. Then, those in the media claiming to speak for the military and intelligence agencies termed his action a “betrayal” only to bow to the US again after the October 1999 coup d’etat. Once again the PML is talking of foregoing US aid, to “slap the US in its face for insulting language in the Kerry-Lugar Bill” as one PML-N hothead put it on television. Of course, slapping the US on the face means not just losing US aid but also taking a hit in inflows from America’s allies, the IMF, the ADB and the World Bank. With national pride as its main asset, no wonder Sharif’s first government left only $1 billion in foreign exchange reserves in 1993. Just before he was ousted from power in General Musharraf’s military coup, foreign exchange reserves under Sharif’s second government had fallen to $700 million. The pro-Americanism of Shaukat Aziz and Musharraf might not have brought much satisfaction to Jamaat-e-Islami and pro-Taliban columnists and anchors but by January 2008, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves stood at $16 billion. Similarly, President Asif Zardari’s whirlwind foreign tours for mobilizing aid might not please those who speak in the name of national pride and honour on almost daily basis. But they have brought back the foreign reserve position back to $14 billion by September 2009. With the Kerry-Lugar aid money we will be bale to invest more in our social sectors while keeping our current level national security spending intact. Now that ‘Ghairat’ is being invoked again to try and trip President Zardari over the Kerry-Lugar Bill, we need to review our history and thank God that for most of our history as an independent nation we have pursued realism and not allowed the ‘Ghairat’ chanting to dictate policy. Here is a look at the historic relationship between today’s ‘Ghairat’ lobby and conditional foreign aid: The Jamaat-e-Islami was too busy opposing the creation of Pakistan to notice that in November 1947 Quaid-e-Azam sent Mir Laik Ali (of Hyderabad Deccan) to Washington to ask for $2 billion in aid from the Americans. Pakistan, however, only received $10 million, only 0.5% of the original request. The fathers and grandfathers of most of the Pakistan Muslim League leaders (both N and Q) were in Pakistan Muslim League Convention when Field Marshal Ayub Khan secured large amounts of aid to build Pakistan’s Air Force (which saved our neck in 1965), create the agricultural revolution and build huge projects like the Mangla and Tarbela Dams. All of Ayub’s social and economic achievements were because of American aid, which always brings other aid. Aid from the World Bank and other institutions for many projects including the Indus waters system were amongst the many benefits at that time. Had ‘Ghairat’ trumped aid, we would be short of a lot more than what we face today. We are lucky that Brigadier Imtiaz Billa and Lt Gen Hamid Gul were still in service and Irfan Siddiqi and Haroonur Rashid had not yet become as influential as they are today during the rule of Ziaul Haq when we got massive amounts of aid enabling us to build huge airports, secure F-16s and covertly build the nuclear programme. Had their slogan mongering of today been national policy in the 1980s even the ISI would not have become the formidable intelligence service it has become because, after all, that all happened because of US assistance. If ‘Ghairat’ had been such an issue during General Zia’s period then our anchors would have been screaming each time Zia drove himself in his car to meet the American ambassador in complete violation of protocol, as reported in Lt Gen KM Arif’s book. But no one can dare question the patriotism of a coup-making four-star general. It is only civilians who are periodically suspect. Another recent addition to the ‘Ghairat’ lobby, former ISI chief Lt Gen Javed Ashraf Qazi was happy to be Minister of Railways in Musharraf’s era, gladly spending the money coming in as US aid. He did not bother to read the terms of American aid provided in 2001 and 2007 that included humiliating and insulting certification that Pakistan “had closed all known terrorist camps operating in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.” Azad Kashmir was referred to as Pakistan occupied Kashmir in an American aid bill, under direct military rule with all the current commanders holding senior positions, and no one had problems because aid was more important. In addition US aid legislation required that Pakistan takes “tangible serious and identifiable measures to prohibit and prevent the infiltration of Islamic extremists across the Line of Control (Loc) into India,” implying that the US Congress considered Azad Kashmir as Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Indian occupied Kashmir as India. Again our ‘Ghairat’ lobby had no problems with any of these conditions, partly because the professionals in the foreign office and the army knew that it was not binding nor did it create international law. The ‘Ghairat’ lobby is going ballistic with the Kerry-Lugar Bill, saying that the Americans want to dictate and control “our army” but the same lobby had no problems when in 2007 US aid was provided only when the American President certified that Pakistan had agreed to “undertake a comprehensive military, legal, economic, and political campaign to” “eliminate” groups like Taliban, al-Qaeda and others and Americans saw proof of the same. The language of the bill at the time stated that it was necessary that Pakistan “is currently making demonstrated, significant, and sustained progress toward eliminating safe haven or support for terrorists.” The ‘Ghairat’ lobby sees the Kerry-Lugar Bill as imposing restrictions on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme when all it talks about is any future proliferation, protecting Dr AQ Khan’s shenanigans. However, in 2007 the Americans had said that all licenses under the Arms Export Control Act would be suspended unless Pakistan “satisfied US requests for assistance and information, including whether the US has asked and been granted direct investigatory access to key persons involved in nuclear proliferation network.” How did our great ‘Ghairat’ lobby eat this humble pie in 2007? Or was it that some realists rightly thought aid was more important than ‘Ghairat’ and are now using the ‘Ghairat’ card simply to destabilize the elected civilian government? The problem with the Kerry-Lugar Bill is not that it is insulting or an affront to national honour. The problem is that it has come under civilian rule and primarily for civilian purposes. Our military has made the correct decision to get out of politics and stay out of politics but some civilian superhawks want to drag it back in by raising the spectre of threats to national security in the garb of the Kerry-Lugar Bill. The loudest noise against the Kerry-Lugar Bill is coming from those who have wanted Asif Zardari out of the presidency from the day he was elected. The game is to drive a wedge between the military and civilian leaderships, sow doubts about the patriotism of our elected leaders and their chosen officials and return the country to the point where only a handful of people with right wing political affiliations determine who is a patriot and who is not. And there is no chance whatsoever that even after this government is toppled or some heads rolled in the name of national honour Pakistan will stop seeking aid or that aid will be readily available without some insulting terms. The nation needs to know that it cannot eat ‘ghairat’ but which TV anchor is willing to have an honest debate on that subject? Sadiq Saleem is a businessman and part-time analyst based in Toronto, Canada. sadiqsaleemca@gmail.com (The News)

List of Gheratmand Brigade in Pakistan (comprising supporters or sympathizers of Taliban and Al Qaeda

Captian: Imran Khan (clean-shaven mullah)
Vice Captain: General Hamid Gul
Vice Captain (Female Taliban): Dr Shirin Mazari

1)General Aslam Beg
2)Irfan Siddiqui
3)Khawaja Saad Rafique
4)Qazi Huissain Ahmed
5)Nawaz Sharif
6)Munawar Hassan
7)Hamid Mir
8)Maulana Fazlur-Rehman
9)Mushtaq Minhas
10)Kashif Abbasi
11)Talat Hussain
12)Javed Chaudhary
13)Dr Shahid Masood
14) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
15) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
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Shaheed General Zia-ul-Haq

Tahir Sarwar Mir:

From Shaheed Zia-ul-Haq to Azeezi Imran Khan - A parody of Haroon-ur-Rasheed's column

by Waqar Khan

Daily Aaj Kal

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Kerry-Luger Bill or Carry-Looter Bill? Fact versus Fiction

Wusatullah Khan's critique on "intellectuals" such as Kashif Abbasi, Irfan Siddiqi and Dr Shahid Masood:

چوبیس روپے کی دانشوری

وسعت اللہ خان

بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، اسلام آباد

آب اعتراض کرنے والوں نے منظوری سے قبل کیری لوگر بل کا مسودہ حاصل کر کے اسے پڑھنے کی کوشش نہیں کی

آپ کبھی اپنے کسی عزیز یا دوست سے کہیں ’بھائی صاحب ایک لاکھ روپیہ فوری طور پر چاہیں۔ چھ ماہ کے دوران چھ قسطوں میں لوٹا دوں گا‘۔ پہلا سوال ہوگا ’خیریت تو ہے ایسی بھی کیا ایمرجنسی آن پڑی؟‘ یہ سوال کرتے ہوئے دل ہی دل میں آپ کا دوست یہ بھی سوچ رہا ہوگا کہ سال بھر پہلے جو دس ہزار روپے آپ کو دیے تھے وہ یاد دلاؤں کہ نہ دلاؤں۔ چنانچہ قوی امکان ہے کہ آپ کا عزیز دوست یہ کہہ کر ٹالنے کی کوشش کرے کہ اگر کہیں اور سے پیسوں کا انتظام ہوجائے تو دیکھ لو۔آج کل ہاتھ ذرا تنگ ہے اور کہیں سے بھی نہ ملے تو پھر کچھ نہ کچھ تو تمہارے لیے کرنا ہی پڑے گا۔

آپ کسی بھی بینکر کے پاس جائیں اور کہیں پچاس لاکھ روپے چاہیں گھر بنانا ہے۔ پہلا سوال ہوگا۔ پلاٹ کے کاغذات کہاں ہیں؟۔ دوسرا سوال ہوگا ماہانہ آمدنی کتنی ہے؟ پھر پوچھا جائےگا بچے کتنے ہیں؟ ان کی عمر کیا ہے؟ زیرِتعلیم کتنے ہیں؟ آپ کے بینک اکاؤنٹس کی تعداد کیا ہے اور کن کن بینکوں میں ہیں؟ آپ کے پاس کریڈٹ کارڈز کون کون سے ہیں؟ پچھلے چھ ماہ کے بینک سٹیٹ مینٹس کہاں ہیں؟ کیا پہلے کسی بینک سے قرضہ تو نہیں لیا؟ کتنے عرصے کے لیے قرضہ چاہیے؟ ضمانتی کون کون ہیں؟ کتنی قسطوں میں اور کتنے برس میں واپسی ہوگی؟ قرضے کی انشورنس کس کمپنی سے کروائیں گے ؟

اگر آپ کا عزیز دوست محض ایک لاکھ روپے کا غیر مشروط قرضہ دینے سے ہچکچا رہا ہو اور پچاس لاکھ دینے سے پہلے بینک آپ کی مالیاتی اوقات کے بارے میں اس قدر چھان بین کررہا ہو اور طرح طرح کی دستاویزات اور ضمانتیں طلب کررہا ہو تو سوچیے جو ملک آپ کو ڈیڑھ ارب ڈالر سالانہ دینا چاہتا ہے وہ کیا کیا ضمانتیں طلب نہ کرے گا اور کیوں طلب نہ کرے گا؟

جب کیری لوگر بل پچھلے کئی ماہ سے کانگریس کے زیرِ غور تھا تو ہر آتے جاتے امریکی اہلکار سے بہانے بہانے پوچھا جاتا تھا کہ کتنی دیر اور لگے گی؟ اس دوران کسی ٹی وی اینکر پرسن یا تجزیہ باز کو توفیق نہ ہوئی کہ مباحثے کا دنگل سجانے سے پہلے انٹرنیٹ پر دس ڈالر ادا کرکے اس بل کا مسودہ منگوا کر شق وار پڑھ ہی لیتا۔ اب بل منظور ہوگیا تو اسکی شرائط پر غل مچایا جا رہا ہے اور سب سے زیادہ غوغا پندرہ روپے کا انگریزی اور نو روپے کا اردو اخبار پڑھ کر رائے قائم کرنے والا چوبیس روپے کا دانشور کر رہا ہے۔

اگر آپ کو ڈیڑھ ارب امریکی ڈالر سالانہ کے ساتھ نتھی شرائط اتنی ہی ناگوار گذر رہی ہیں تو انکار کردیں۔ کوئی اور دروازہ کھٹکھٹا لیں، صبر کے گھونٹ پی لیں یا پیٹ پر پتھر ہی باندھ لیں

چین تو آپ کا یار ہے نا! ذرا اس سے سو ملین ڈالر غیر مشروط طور پر لے کر دکھا دیں۔ سعودی عرب تو برادر ملک ہے نا! ذرا اسی سے تین ماہ سے زائد کے کریڈٹ پر تیل لے کر بتا دیں۔ اگر آپ کو ڈیڑھ ارب امریکی ڈالر سالانہ کے ساتھ نتھی شرائط اتنی ہی ناگوار گذر رہی ہیں تو انکار کردیں۔ کوئی اور دروازہ کھٹکھٹا لیں، صبر کے گھونٹ پی لیں یا پیٹ پر پتھر ہی باندھ لیں۔

لیکن ڈیڑھ ارب ڈالر دینے والے اور صرف وعدہ، تسلی کرنے والے سب جانتے ہیں کہ اپنا بھاؤ خود لگانا آپ کے بس کی بات نہیں۔ آپ صرف بھاؤ دکھا سکتے ہیں!

Abbas Ather:

Abbas Mehkari:

Tahir Sarwar Mir:

....

کیری لوگر بل: ’ہمارے دشمن بھارت نے بہت لابئنگ کی ‘

آصف فاروقی

بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، اسلام آباد

’ہمارے دشمن ملک بھارت نے لابی کرنے والوں کے ذریعے لاکھوں ڈالر خرچ کیے تاکہ پاکستان کے لیے امریکی مدد کا یہ بل منظور نہ ہو لیکن صدر پاکستان کی کامیاب سفارتکاری کے ذریعے ان بھارتی عزائم کو شکست ہوئی‘ قمر زمان کائرہ

وفاقی وزیراطلاعات قمر زمان کائرہ نے کہا ہے کہ کیری لوگر بل کے تحت ملنے والے ایک سو بیس ارب ڈالر سالانہ کا بڑا حصہ صوبہ سرحد کی ترقی اور وہاں غربت کے خاتمے کے لیے صرف کیا جائے گا۔

نیشنل پریس کلب اسلام آباد میں کیری لوگر بل کے بارے میں ایک مباحثے سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے انہوں نے کہا کہ عام تاثر کے برعکس حکومت اس بل کے تحت ملنے والی رقم کو بجٹ کی تیاری پر خرچ نہیں کرے گی بلکہ اس رقم کا بڑا حصہ، تقریباً اسی سے ایک سو ارب روپے ہر سال صوبہ سرحد کے شدت پسندی اور دہشت گردی سے متاثرہ علاقوں میں خرچ کیے جائیں گے۔

انہوں نے کہا کہ یہ کتنی بڑی رقم ہے اور اس سے اس صوبے میں کتنی بڑی سماجی تبدیلی آ سکتی ہے اس کا اندازہ اس بات سے لگایا جا سکتا ہے کہ اس وقت صوبہ سرحد کے لیے حکومت زیادہ سے زیادہ دس ارب روپے سال کے خرچ کرتی ہے۔

’جب یہ ترقیاتی رقم آٹھ سے دس گنا بڑھ جائے گی تو آپ خود اندازہ لگائیں کہ وہاں کتنی معاشی اور سماجی ترقی ہو گی اور اس کے نتیجے میں ان علاقوں میں پنپتی شدت پسندی کو ختم کرنے میں بہت مدد ملے گی‘۔

کیری لوگر بل کے ذریعے امریکہ پاکستانی مسلح افواج کے افسران کی ترقی اور اعلیٰ عہدوں پر تعیناتی کے عمل کو بھی مانیٹر کر سکے گا۔ یہ ایک غیر ضروری شرط ہے اور اس کا مقصد سول اور فوجی قیادت کے درمیان خلیج پیدا کرنا ہے۔

مشاہد حسین

قمر زمان کائرہ نے کہا کہ ساری دنیا اب یہ محسوس کرتی ہے کہ شدت پسندی اور دہشت گردی کی جڑیں غربت اور بے روز گاری میں ہیں۔ ’ہم اس رقم کو دہشت گردی کی جڑیں کاٹنے میں صرف کریں گے‘۔

سمینار میں شریک حزب اختلاف کی جماعتوں کے نمائندوں کی جانب سے کیری لوگر بل کے ساتھ منسلک شرائط پر اعتراض کا جواب دیتے ہوئے وفاقی وزیراطلاعات نے کہا کہ کیری لوگر بل امریکہ میں ہونے والی قانون سازی ہے، پاکستان اور امریکہ کے درمیان دو طرفہ معاہدہ نہیں جس پر عمل کرنا پاکستان کے لیے لازمی ہو۔

’ہم امریکی پارلیمنٹ کو ڈکٹیٹ نہیں کر سکتے کہ وہ اپنے قانون کیسے بنائے۔ اگر اس میں موجود شرائط ہمیں یا ہماری پارلیمنٹ کو منظور نہیں ہوں گی تو مدد کی اس پیش کش کو مسترد کیا جا سکتا ہے‘۔

قمر زمان کائرہ کے مطابق ان کی حکومت نے سفارتکاری کے ذریعے اس بل میں پرویز مشرف دور حکومت میں شامل کی گئی بعض شرائط نکلوائی ہیں جن میں ایٹمی سائنسدان ڈاکٹر عبد القدیر تک رسائی کی شرط بھی شامل تھی۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ اس بارے میں اب ایک عمومی سی بات کی گئی ہے کہ پاکستان ایٹمی پھیلاؤ کے خاتمے کی کوششوں میں تعاون کرے گا۔

’یہ تعاون تو ہم ہر حال میں کریں گے چاہے مدد ملے یا نہ ملے لیکن ڈاکٹر قدیر تک کسی غیر ملکی کو رسائی دینے کا سوال ہی پیدا نہیں ہوتا‘۔

وفاقی وزیر اطلاعات نے بتایا کہ بعض ممالک کیری لوگر بل کو منظور ہونے سے روکنے کے لیے اپنا اثر و رسوخ استعمال کرتے رہے ہیں۔ ’ہمارے دشمن ملک بھارت نے لابی کرنے والوں کے ذریعے لاکھوں ڈالر خرچ کیے تاکہ پاکستان کے لیے امریکی مدد کا یہ بل منظور نہ ہو لیکن صدر پاکستان کی کامیاب سفارتکاری کے ذریعے ان بھارتی عزائم کو شکست ہوئی‘۔

قمر زمان کائرہ نے کہا کہ اس بل کے ساتھ منسلک جن شرائط پر اعتراض کیا جا رہا ہے وہ پاکستان کو ملنے والے ڈیڑھ ارب ڈالر کی غیر فوجی امداد کے ساتھ نہیں بلکہ اس فوجی امداد کے ساتھ منسلک ہیں جس کا ابھی تعین بھی نہیں ہوا۔

’آپ نے کیسے یہ فرض کر لیا کہ ہم ایسی فوجی امداد کے لیے جو تیس کروڑ ڈالر سے زیادہ نہیں ہو گی ایسی شرائط مان لیں گے جو ملک کے مفاد میں نہ ہوں‘۔کائرہ نے کہا کہ ابھی یہ بل قانون نہیں بنا اور اس میں ابھی تک ترمیم کی گنجائش موجود ہے۔

کیری لوگر بل میں شامل شرائط کا جائزہ پیش کرتے ہوئے مسلم لیگ (ق) کے سیکرٹری جنرل اور خارجہ امور کے لیے سینیٹ کی کمیٹی کے سربراہ مشاہد حسین سید نے کہا کہ اس بل میں بعض ایسی شرائط ہیں جو امریکہ میں بھارتی لابی نے شامل کروائی ہیں جن سے پاکستان کی سلامتی کو خطرات لاحق ہو سکتے ہیں۔

’ان میں سے ایک شرط یہ ہے کہ پاکستان خطے کے دیگر ممالک اور ان کے اداروں کے تعاون سے علاقے میں دہشت گردی اور اس کے اڈے ختم کرنے کے لیے کام کرے گا‘۔

مشاہد حسین کا کہنا تھا کہ اس شق کی بنیاد پر بھارتی خفیہ ادارہ را پاکستان میں دہشت گردی کے خلاف کارروائی کر سکتا ہے۔

اس کے علاوہ انہوں نے بتایا امریکہ پاکستانی مسلح افواج کے افسران کی ترقی اور اعلیٰ عہدوں پر تعیناتی کے عمل کو بھی مانیٹر کر سکے گا۔ مشاہد حسین کا کہنا تھا کہ یہ ایک غیر ضروری شرط ہے اور اس کا مقصد سول اور فوجی قیادت کے درمیان خلیج پیدا کرنا ہے۔

آپ نے کیسے یہ فرض کر لیا کہ ہم ایسی فوجی امداد کے لیے جو تیس کروڑ ڈالر سے زیادہ نہیں ہو گی ایسی شرائط مان لیں گے جو ملک کے مفاد میں نہ ہوں

قمر زمان کائرہ

امریکہ میں سابق پاکستانی سفیر طارق فاطمی نے کہا کہ کیری لوگر بل کے ذریعے پاکستان کو اب بھارت میں بھی امن قائم کرنے کی ذمہ داری سونپ دی گئی ہے کیونکہ اگر وہاں بھی کوئی دہشت گردی کی واردات ہوئی تو اس کا جواب پاکستان کو دینا ہو گا۔

طارق فاطمی نے کہا کہ اس بل میں شامل بعض شرائط نا قابل عمل ہیں اور بعض ایسی ہیں جو پاکستانی عوام میں امریکہ کے خلاف جذبات ابھارنے کا باعث بنیں گی۔ طارق فاطمی کے بقول کیری لوگر بل پاکستان کے خلاف فرد جرم ہے۔

پاکستان مسلم لیگ نواز کے رکن قومی اسمبلی اور معروف لکھاری ایاز امیر نے کہا کہ اس مسئلے پر ان کے اپنے جذبات بہت زیادہ ہیں اس لیے وہ پارٹی کی ترجمانی نہیں کریں گے بلکہ اپنے ذاتی خیالات بیان کریں گے۔

انہوں نے کہا کہ کیری لوگر بل میں شامل شرائط پر بحث اس وجہ سے لاحاصل ہے کیونکہ پاکستانی حکومت اور قوم کو فیصلہ کرنا ہے کہ وہ غیرت اور حمیت سے زندگی گزارنا چاہتے ہیں یا بھیک مانگنے والوں کی طرح۔

ایاز امیر نے کہا کہ اگر پاکستانی قوم غیرت کی زندگی گزارنا چاہتے ہیں تو انہیں بنیاد پرستی اور عیش پرستی کو خیرباد کہ کر اپنی چادر کے مطابق پاؤں پھیلانا سیکھنا ہو گا اور ایسا کرنے میں نہ کیری لوگر بل کی ضرورت ہے اور نہ وہ اس کے آڑے آتا ہے

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ANALYSIS: Limited options —Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi

The Pakistani government is not prepared to admit publicly that its precarious economic situation restricts its foreign policy options and increases its dependence on international financial institutions and the US

US-Pakistan relations have passed through many ups and downs. Alternating periods of cooperation and sanctions against Pakistan always evoked debate in both countries, reflecting varying degrees of distrust as well as convergence and divergence on bilateral, regional and global issues.

Given the sharp differences in the positions of the two countries in the global hierarchy, Pakistan’s political circles always found this relationship overwhelming. This perception became more conspicuous in the early 1980s when the United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and many other states joined hands to build an Islamic-Afghan resistance to the Soviet military presence in Afghanistan.

Since then, US policies towards Pakistan have had greater implications for Pakistan’s domestic context. There were Pakistani winners and losers from the American economic and military assistance and secret funding in the 1980s. In addition to General Zia-ul Haq’s military government, the major winners were Islamic groups and parties. The ISI and the CIA used American funds, material and weapons to strengthen Islamic orthodoxy and militancy to expel the Soviets from Afghanistan. Even when the US left the region in 1990, Pakistan’s military continued to rely on orthodoxy and militancy to pursue its agenda in Afghanistan and it launched a new jihadi project in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The US’ Pakistan policies helped improve the political clout of the extreme right-orthodox religious elements, especially those advocating or pursuing jihad as an instrument of foreign policy and security agenda. This created a symbiotic relationship between Islamic militancy-jihad and the Pakistani state.

The reinvigoration of Pakistan-US relations after 9/11 had similar far reaching implications for Pakistan’s domestic politics.

Islamic parties and militant groups have been the major losers of the current Pakistan-US relations. Their privileged interaction with the Pakistani state suffered initially when the government and the military downgraded their relationship with Islamic and militant groups rather than severing it. However, the drift between the two increased over the years and by 2007, the Taliban and their associates openly turned against their one-time patron — the Pakistani state.

Pakistan’s decision in April 2009 to launch the Swat/Malakand military operation drew the battle lines. In addition to the Taliban and their associates, most Islamists and militants are opposed to Pakistan’s counter-terrorism policies which are described as an appendage to American policies.

The on-going debate in Pakistan on Pakistan-US relations is influenced more by domestic power politics rather than the realities of global politics and the options available to Pakistan against the backdrop of its troubled economy. Pakistani critics have chosen neither to pay any attention to the dynamics of global politics nor take into account the imperatives of promoting internal political cohesion in Pakistan and revitalising its economy.

The current domestic debate, at times emotionally charged, focuses on a number of issues including the physical and personnel expansion of the US embassy in Islamabad, renting of about two hundred houses in Islamabad by the American embassy, and the provisions of the “Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act 2009” (The Kerry-Lugar Act).

There are several unsubstantiated issues that are being raised by those opposed to reinvigorated Pakistan-US relations. These include allegations of the presence of an American security agency, Blackwater, and the arrival of several hundred marines, some of whom are engaged in military-like activities in the vicinity of Islamabad. These people also claim that a good number of American personnel enter Pakistan without visas and without the knowledge of the Pakistani government.

Islamic parties and militant groups are pursuing a massive propaganda campaign against the above issues. Their discourse, unsubstantiated by facts, reflects their self-created perceptions influenced by a narrow religious disposition. Most of them rely heavily on a host of conspiracy theories to explain how the US wants to destabilise and undermine Pakistan.

The Jama’at-e Islami, known as pro-West until 1990, spearheads the anti-US campaign and publicises the threat of the US taking over Islamabad or dismantling the nuclear programme by using a private security agencies and American marines that have been sneaked into Pakistan. Such disposition of Islamic and militant groups is not merely ideological but also reflects their fury on the loss of political clout in Pakistan’s domestic context due to Pakistan’s participation in the US-led global efforts to contain militancy, especially the recent military operations in Malakand/Swat and the tribal areas.

Some opposition is coming from the PMLN and others with strong rightist-nationalist orientations. The PMLN is pursuing a two-track policy. The top-most leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif do not publicly criticise current American counter-terrorism policies and support Pakistani security operations in Malakand and the tribal areas. However, the PMLN’s second line of leadership minces no words about Pakistan’s security operations, Pakistan-US relations and especially the Enhanced Partnership Act, which is being described as an insult to Pakistan. Their views overlap with those of the Jama’at-e Islami.

The current attack on the Enhanced Partnership Act is also part of the opposition effort to somehow knock out the PPP-led federal government, which is already facing a credibility crisis due to poor governance. If that is not possible, they want at least President Asif Ali Zardari forced out of office. The current controversies on Pakistan-US relations provide the opposition with a good opportunity to build additional pressure on the government.

The US government has to share the blame for the current anti-US campaign in Pakistan. Some American statements provide ample ammunition to the opposition in Pakistan. The occasional talk of drone attacks in Balochistan to wipe out the ‘Quetta shura’ of the Taliban gets a negative response even from those who actively support counter-terrorism.

The wording in the Enhanced Partnership Act regarding monitoring could have been done more carefully to take into account sensitivities in Pakistan’s political domain. For example, nuclear proliferation has been mentioned three times and the stipulation in section 203 (c)(1) “...to dismantle supplier networks relating to the acquisition of nuclear weapons-related materials, such as providing relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks” can easily cause controversy if not read carefully.

The provision in section 302 (a) (15) regarding “...military budgets, the chain of command, the process of promotion for senior military leaders, civilian involvement in strategic guidance and planning, and military involvement in civil administration” has caused alarm in political circles. Though the Act talks of monitoring only, this is being interpreted in Pakistan as a cover for interference, making it obligatory for Pakistan to seek US approval on these matters.

The government of Pakistan has allowed confusion to persist on the issues being raised by the political circles and the media. Its explanations are often vague and do not fully respond to the questions being raised.

The Pakistani government is not prepared to admit publicly that its precarious economic situation restricts its foreign policy options and increases its dependence on international financial institutions and the US. The government is unable to defend the new US assistance as an opportunity to revive the economy or to counter the criticism by Islamist and rightist-nationalist circles. (Daily Times)

Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi is a political and defence analyst.

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Imran Khan to contest bye-elections in Lahore and Rawalpindi?

Here is a proposal by Haroon Rasheed in today's Jang:

If what HR claims is true, Imran Khan should stand for elections in NA 123 and NA 55 as hundreds of thousands of his (imaginary?) voters are waiting for him.

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Article by Tahir Sarwar Mir

Imran Khan: From Score to Votes

Kashif said: (pkpolitics)

If any pro-Zardari or pro-Sharif journalist writes like this whole cyber PTI/JI pultoon will jump on him. Despite his blatant support to Imran Khan they shamelessly claim Haroon Rashid is unbiased. My foot unbiased …. he is probably most biased right winger openly compagining for IK. I wish this phutoo Taliban Khan listens to his ill adviser and file his papers. I doubt it will achieve any of the goals that Mr. unbiased has listed but will certainly burst IK’s cyber bubble.

Pakistani said:

To applogise some of you - he is lacking political wisdom and etiquette talking in public and infront of media - written on wall from very day one he can not make a place.

Cancer hospital in Lahore is a good example of his effort - he should concentrate his time for a new cancer hospitals in Gilgit and Sibi rather than politics.

Junaid Khan said:

Well written Haroon Rashid , I totally Support his pts of view and further more I want that Imran Khan should file his nomination for NA123 seat , and contest against Nawaz Sharif , This been a great Political move by Imran Khan .
And Pls note my all PTI fellow , we should not been afraid of losing , We have to take bold decision in respect of uplifted ourselves in the eyes of people of Pakistan . secondly Nawaz Sharif personality is so controversial which describe by Haroon Rashid as well in his coloum as well , so we can easily cash it through proper compaigning and right manner that people more and more aware abt that , and in last it will boost a new energy among worker and welll support PTI can gather in future .
I wish Imran Khan read all this and should take a bold decision , which will make him popular leader in future .

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Jamaat-e-Islami - From Zia-ul-Haq to Musharraf

Tahir Sarwar Mir:

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Qadam barhao Nawaz Sharif: Not only against Musharraf but also against Hamid Gul and Zia

An interesting analysis by Latif Chaudhry. Also watch a video clip of Nawaz Sharif praising General Zia-ul-Haq and contrast that vidoe with his today's stance against Musharraf.

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