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LAHORE: Former chief justice of Pakistan Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui’s statement that the Inter Services Intelligence dished out millions of rupees to different politicians during President Ghulam Ishaq Khan’s regime to manipulate the 1990 elections, followed by Asghar Khan’s demand that the present chief justice should re-open the said case which he had filed in 1996 to take it to its logical end, has dusted off an old controversy, which is set to blemish the democratic credentials of many leading politicians of the country.
Chief justice (retd) Siddiqui told a private TV channel that the ISI was an intelligence agency and it should not interfere in national politics, or be used against politicians. Seasoned politician Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan had gone one step ahead in asking Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to reopen the case he had filed with the apex court almost 13 years ago with a view to take the culprits to task. His case is pending with the Supreme Court of Pakistan following the November 1997 unceremonious exit of former chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah from his office at the hands of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The case had originated on June 16, 1996 from a letter by Asghar Khan to the then chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah, asking him to take appropriate action on then interior minister Naseerullah Babar’s statement in the National Assembly. Babar had stated on the floor of the house: “The ISI collected some Rs 140 million from the Habib Bank Ltd and distributed among a number of politicians prior to the 1990 elections with a view to manipulate the results in favour of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad.” Asghar Khan’s letter was subsequently converted into a constitutional petition (19 of 1996) by the chief justice under Article 184(3), envisaging the human rights jurisdiction of the apex court. According to the petitioner, Asghar Khan, he had sent the first letter with the sole purpose of exposing the role of the ISI in manoeuvring the election results and supporting its favourite politicians to fulfil political ends of the establishment. “You never know how many elections have been rigged and manoeuvred by the ISI in the past,” Asghar had stated in his letter to the CJ, adding the ISI moves since 1988 were actually aimed at defeating the PPP and, therefore, the matter be adjudged and action be taken against those found guilty.
The respondents in the said case were former Army chief Mirza Aslam Beg, Lt-Gen (retd) Asad Durrani, ex-director-general of the ISI Directorate, and Younis Habib, ex-chief of ex-Mehran Bank Ltd, then confined to Central Jail, Karachi. However, the case could not be decided because of the premature dismissal of chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah. He was followed by CJPs Ajmal Mian, Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, Irshad Hasan Khan, Bashir Jehangiri, Shaikh Riaz Ahmed, Nazim Hussain Siddiqui and now Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. Yet, even after a lapse of 13 years, the Human Rights Petition No 19/96 remains shelved as none of the chief justices after Sajjad Shah had dared to invite the wrath of the mighty military and intelligence establishment by reopening the controversial case. In his written reply to the apex court and subsequently reported by the media, Aslam Beg had stated: “More serious damage has been caused to the reputation and the goodwill of the armed forces by Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan in bringing the petition before this Honourable Court and raising an issue before the apex court which of course would receive great publicity and would cause greater damage by scandalisation in the media... That dragging the ex-service chief to the courts on a letter may be detrimental to the prestige, honour and dignity of the institution he has once represented. That Asghar Khan has approached this august court with ulterior motives and his representation is based on mala fides.”
Beg had stated in his written reply to the apex court: “That in early September [1990], Mr Younis Habib, then serving in the Habib Bank Ltd as Zonal Chief, had called on the answering respondent [Beg] and informed him that he was under instructions from the President’s [Ghulam Ishaq] Election Cell to make available a sum of Rs 140 million for supporting the elections of 1990.
“That in 1990 the National Assembly of Pakistan was dissolved and the government of Ms Benazir Bhutto was dismissed. A caretaker government was formed to hold elections within 90 days. The then president, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, had formed an Election Cell directly under him managed by Roedad Khan/Ijlal Haider Zaidi. That later on, the answering respondent was informed by Director-General, ISI, that various accounts were opened and the amount of Rs 140 million was deposited in those accounts directly by Younis Habib. Director-General, Inter Services Intelligence, made arrangements to distribute these amounts amongst the politicians belonging to various political parties and persons as instructed by the Election Cell.”
The petition further stated: “That in 1975, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the then prime minister, had created a Political Cell within the ISI organisation. As a result, the ISI was made responsible to the chief executive, i.e. the prime minister/president for all matters of national and political intelligence. The receipt of this amount by ISI from Younis Habib in 1990 was also under the directions of the Chief Executive. DG ISI also informed the answering respondent that funds so received were properly handled and the accounts were maintained and that Ghulam Ishaq was briefed by him on this matter.
“That during this period, in his meeting with President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, the answering respondent had informed him about the donations made by Younis Habib and its utilisation by DG ISI under the instructions of the Presidentís Political Cell. That the petitioner has made the following allegations : (a) actions of Gen Mirza Aslam Beg and Lt-Gen Asad Durrani amounted to gross misconduct; (b) both have brought the armed forces of Pakistan into disrepute; (c) both have been guilty of undermining the discipline of the armed forces. That these allegations are false, based on mala fide, and unfounded. That DG had ISI acted within the limits of the ‘lawful command’ received from the President’s Election Cell. Definition of lawful command as interpreted by Pakistan Army Act Section 33 Note b(3) is: ‘A superior can give a command for the purpose of maintaining good order or suppressing a disturbance or for the execution of a military duty or regulation’, and Pakistan Army Act Section 33 Note b(11): ‘A civilian cannot give a ‘lawful command’ under this sub-section to a soldier employed under him; but it may well be the soldier’s duty as such to do the act indicated. That the actions of the respondent and Lt-Gen Asad Durrani did not amount to gross misconduct and the orders were carried out under a lawful command.”
Afterwards, a former ISI DG, Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani, had conceded in an affidavit submitted to the FIA that his political cell received Rs 140m from Younis Habib for distribution among the anti-PPP politicians at the behest of Aslam Beg. (The News)
PML-N warns of long march if Musharraf ‘not fixed’
Saturday, August 29, 2009 Says ISI money matters can’t undermine Nawaz’s popularity; threatens protest if vilification against its leader doesn’t stop ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said on Friday it could go for a Long March to ensure former president Pervez Musharraf was punished.
Addressing a news conference, PML-N Secretary Information Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said that character assassination of the party chief Nawaz Sharif could in no way deter the PML-N’s struggle for the supremacy of the Constitution, parliament and Musharraf’s trial under Article 6.
He said: “We succeeded to get the deposed judges reinstated despite the fact that democracy had not yet strengthened its root in the country at that time. This time too, we would make firm efforts to get our constitutional demands fulfilled,” said the information secretary.
He said the issue of Karachi operation was being trumpeted by those who afraid of Nawaz’s increasing popularity, adding that if such malicious campaign was not stopped, the N-League reserved the right to protest in as well as outside the Parliament.
The party leader said the November 3, 2007 steps were not protected under the Constitution, so it was essential that the person who took such steps must be tried. Ahsan Iqbal said the matter of giving money to political leaders by the secret agency could not undermine Nawaz’s popularity and people elected him despite such maligning drive. He told the media that the military operation in Swat got appraisal from all circles and if this operation had been carried out by dictator, it could have never won such praise. (The News)
In the ring
Thursday, August 27, 2009 The hand of the so-called 'establishment', that shadowy entity comprising the army, the bureaucracy and the agencies among other forces, has long been a part of politics in Pakistan. The coming and going of governments, the downfall of individuals and all kinds of other events are attributed to it. But today, we apparently find this powerful entity locked in what appears to be an internal dilemma. According to a report in this newspaper and rumours that drift across Islamabad's leafy avenues, elements within the establishment are engaged in an all-out effort to discredit Nawaz Sharif, a man whose political career is said to have begun with the support of the same lobby. The purpose appears to be to save former president Musharraf from trial – and possibly by exposing or threatening to expose misdeeds from the past – pressurising Sharif to abandon the strident position he has taken on the issue. It has been alleged that key figures have attempted to use the media to advance their stance and that a Karachi-based political party is also being used for the same purpose.
The tussle is a fascinating one in many ways. The PML-N, which insists it will not back down, has for the first time come up directly against those with whom it is said, in the past, to have worked with hand in glove. The accounts also suggest that as many suspect, the army is indeed keen to save a former chief and by doing so keep intact the notion that the men who wear khaki cannot be touched and ride above the law of the land. There have been some suggestions that Nawaz Sharif may still have supporters in powerful places who are willing to back him against Musharraf – thus opening up a distinct divide.
As has happened before, such events also act to throw light on some of the more murky deeds in our history. Sadly these are many. The continued lack of access to information means that truths about corruption rackets or other equally dark deeds rarely surface unless somebody wants to throw back the dust covers and expose such goings-on, to serve their own purposes. As such, there is a possibility, as the power struggle hinged around Musharraf continues, that more facts may emerge from the past. These could help satisfy curiosity and give the public more information about leaders. The risk though of course is that accuracy will be lost amidst the effort to score points. It is impossible for the present to predict who the winner will be in the ongoing tussle. But what it does underscore is the powerful role the establishment still plays in our set-up and how difficult it indeed is to distance the military from events in the political sphere. (The News)
60 MQM men buried in Margalla hills in 1997: Shujaat
Thursday, August 27, 2009 ISLAMABAD: PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Husain has disclosed that at least 60 activists of the MQM were buried in the Margalla Hills of the Federal Capital in 1997.
Talking to a TV channel on Wednesday, he said the said activists, apprehended from Karachi, were shifted to Islamabad, where they were tortured to death and later buried in the Margalla Hills. No investigations of any sort were held regarding the killing of the detainees.”
Chaudhry Shujaat further disclosed: “I was Federal Interior Minister at that time, but Chairman Accountability Bureau Saif-ur-Rahman was more influential than me. The map, which the law-enforcement agencies exposed, has no reality.
Responding to a query, he elucidated that trial for the former dictator Pervez Musharraf would not be held. Shujaat said he was personally not in favour of presenting the resolution in the House. The incumbents, as at this juncture of time, should focus their attention to relieve the masses from prevailing energy and commodity crisis, instead of indulging in dead issues.
The PML chief said the political leadership of the country was taken into confidence in connection with the 1992 military operation in Karachi. The federal cabinet was also not briefed before the military operation in Karachi, he said.
The PML-Q leader expressed his anger that the issues of 1992 military operation and ‘Jinnahpur’ were being aired at this particular time to divert the attention of the masses from prevailing crisis.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the PML-N, Siddiq-ul-Farooq, while refuting the allegations levelled by Chaudhry Shujaat, emphasised that the PML-N chief had nothing to do with any sort of genocide during his both the tenures.
Farooq said Chaudhry Shujaat Husain was federal interior minister in 1997 and should have resigned from his office, if he had any moral courage, over the ëkilling of 60 activists of the MQM in the Federal Capital. (The News)
Chief politicians embezzle donation money in Ishaq era
KARACHI: According to the sworn undertaking of ISI’s former chief Lieutenant General (rtd) Asad Durrani, which he took before Supreme Court (SC) on July 24, 1994, that he was instructed in September 1990 by the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the former General Mirza Aslam Baig for provision of Logistic Support to embezzle money donated for election preparations from some Karachi traders and use the same donation money for Islami Jamhuri Ittehad (IJI) party.
Asad Durrani was told that the instructions to misappropriate donation money were backed by the then government of Pakistan, according to his affidavit statement before SC.
Subsequently, in pursuit of the instructions he received, he was forced to open some fake bank accounts in Karachi, Quetta and Rawalpindi while one donator from Karachi, by the name Younis Habib, deposited as much as 140 million rupees and the money from all accounts were transferred to other places according to the need for extension of logistic support to IJI party while the remaining money was transferred to a special fund, his sworn statement added.
His statement further added, Rs10 million were given to Mir Afzal in NWFP province, Rs3.5 million to Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in Punjab, Rs5.6 million to Lieutenant General (rtd) Rafaqat for advertisement on media, Rs5 million to Jamat-e-Islami, Rs1 million to Begum Abida Hussain, Rs0.5 million to Altaf Hussain Qureshi and Mustafa Sadiq, Rs3.3 million to small groups, Rs5 million to Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi in Sindh, Rs5 million to Jam Sadiq, Rs2.5 million to Muhammad Khan Junejo, Rs2 million to Pir Pagara, Rs0.3 million to Molana Salahuddin, Rs5.4 million to small parties, Rs1.5 million to Humayun Muree, the son-in-law of Bugti, Rs4 million to Jamali, Rs1 million to Kakar, Rs0.7 million to Jam Yousuf, Rs0.5 million Bazinjo and Rs1 million were given to Nadir Mengal. (The News)
It is pertinent to mention that the value in rupees of 12 grams of gold was Rs33 at the time when money was misappropriated while it stands at Rs29,000 today. (The News)
Nawaz Kush Campaign and Fauji Chooran - By Rashid Murad:
Some relevant comments: Source: pkpolitics
runaway said:
Now NS claiming that 92 operation was done without his permission. What the hell? He was the Prime Minister of PAKISTAN not PUNJAB.
Kargil done without his knowledege..92 operation done without his permission. Was Qarz Utaro Mulk Sanwar and Dollar Freeze also done without his knowledge…bhola !!
Gul said:
I totally disagree the ‘quaidabad’ issue is of headline importance. This was clarified way back in 92 soon after the accusation was made.
Brig. Imtiaz’s bringing it up yet again, at this time, is nothing but a typical red herring to distract from the genuine issue of MQM’s terrorism, and the inquiries it now faces. It is also being used to somehow weaken Nawaz Sharif, who appears unstoppable in gaining popularity. It suits, and has always suited, the establishment not let any one political party or leader become very strong. Keep them all weak, thereby keeping own hold on country.
There can be NO other purpose in bringing up such a non issue at this time, and sending all the talking heads spinning into this rat hole.
Amir Hameed said:
@Gul, Re: your post above, I tend to disagree with you. We need to highlight the role of intelligence agencies in weakening the political structure of this country. Hamid Gul has also issued a statement recently where he has indicated how the agencies were involved in forming IJI. The bottom line is that agencies need to stay out of the political structure, period.
Gul said:
@Amir Hameed
I agree with you a 100% on the need to struggle against agencies’ role in preventing Pakistan from ever acquiring a strong democratic dispensation.
Where I don’t agree is that this dead issue, a red herring, will do that. As I said, the fact that there never was such a map was very much contradicted and clarified very shortly after the claim was made. Beating this idiotic and long failed, long disproven claim, NOW, is meant to serve purposes entirely different form highlighting agencies’ role in the past or the present.
Amir Hameed said:
@sacheebat, …unless politicians or parties are involved in anti-Pakistan or other illegal activities…
That is fine but it is related to treason and not the political structure. Agencies’ role should be to protect the country, both from inside and outside threats, BUT not to interject their influence in the political structure.
@Gul, Re: this being a dead issue; Altaf Hussain’s speech in India should also be a dead issue because we all know that it DID happen but we beat this dead horse every single chance we get. In the context of Jinahpur, I do not see any reason why we should not discus a) who orchestrated it, meaning where did the orders come from? b) why was it done? c) What was the role of the-then government?
These are all legitimate questions and should not be put under the cover. People have the right to ask and to know the truth.
PML-N not to step back from its ‘principled stand’ despite propaganda: Ahsan Updated at: 2100 PST, Friday, August 28, 2009
LAHORE: Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Muslim Leagu-N Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said that his party will not step back from its principled stand regarding former president Pervez Musharraf’s trial and repeal of 17th amendment despite all the propaganda against the PML-N and Mian Nawaz Sharif.
Addressing a press conference, Ahsan Iqbal said PML-N would not hesitate to go for the extreme step of launching another long march to push for its demands.
“The propaganda was initiated against Muslim League on its demand for holding Musharraf accountable,” he maintained, adding “fifteen years old fictitious stories and dead characters in renewed shape are being presented again.”
To a question, Ahsan Iqbal eluded direct rejection of taking money from the ISI and avoided seeking apology from the nation, saying PML-N has already sought apology for its past mistakes through Charter of Democracy (CoD) in 2006.
Ahsan Iqbal said PML-N can come up with 100 times serious allegations which will be based on facts, but it is not doing so for stability of democracy in the country.
I would like appreciate the gesture of Federal Government to finally approve this very important legislation and thank God, the Miniser for Kashmir and Northern Area is no more viceroy of Gilgit and Baltistan.
Cabinet to approve NAs reforms tomorrow
Friday, August 28, 2009 By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved proposals for political and administrative measures for the Northern Areas to give the special status with appointment of governor, chief minister and converting its Legislative Council into Assembly.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the committee on Northern Areas Governance Order held under the chairmanship of the prime minister here on Thursday.Sources said a special meeting of the federal cabinet has been summoned on Saturday to give the final approval to the Northern Areas Governance Order.
According to sources, under the proposed administrative measures for the Northern Areas, the president will appoint the governor on the advice of the prime minister while the Legislative Assembly will elect the Chief Minister.
Sources said the Council of the Northern Areas would also be established and the prime minister would be its chairman.The legislative Assembly will consists of 36 members, 24 would be elected directly, while seven seats each reserved for the technocrats and women.
Sources said the issue would be taken up in the special cabinet meeting and after getting its nod; the presidential ordinance will be issued to give a special status to Northern Areas.The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting and KANA, Qamar Zaman Kaira; Federal Minister for Labour & Manpower, Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Zaheer-ud-Din Babar Awan; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan; Minister of State for Law & Justice, Mohammad Afzal Sandhu; Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar and Secretaries Interior and KANA.
The Gojra inferno has once again highlighted the need to reassess our treatment of Pakistan’s most potential asset- the non Muslim Pakistanis and decide the future strategy in the light of past mistakes. One positive aftermath of this sad frenzy is that the media has extensively discussed our policy (if there is any) of treating the non Muslims and pondered over the likely facets of future ideological direction.
Although, now both federal and Punjab governments have already taken various administrative measures to heal the wounds of the minorities in Gojra and also announced a total of Rs. 200 million grant, for the welfare of the Christian affectees, but the real question is that whether we have learnt any lesson from this sad repetitive frenzy and will we ever be taught how to behave with our minorities in future or not? There is no doubt that incidents of setting Churches on fire in different parts of the country including Shantinagar in Khanewal, Sangla Hill and others places has badly tarnished our national as well as Islamic image at the global level, therefore, it’s high time that we evenly remember that what minorities have given to this country.
Our 62 years chequered history proves that minorities have played very proactive role in the collective welfare of this homeland of today’s 170 million people where even 400 people have shown the courage to declare themselves as ‘Jews’ in the ‘religion column’ in the last national census. It would be a surprise for many of us that Pakistan’s biggest minority is Hindus and not Christians, as according to 1998’s census; Hindus’ number is more than the Christians who are 4000 less in total population. According to the Census, caste Hindus constitutes about 1.6 percent of the total population and about 6.6% in province of Sindh. The 1998 census recorded a total of 2,443,614 Hindus in Pakistan.
To begin with, the founding father, Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, appointed two non Muslims-Sir Zafrula Khan as Foreign Minister and Jogindranath Mandal, a dalit Hindu leader hailing from East Pakistan, as Law and Labour Minister in the first federal cabinet of newly independent state of Pakistan in 1947. Today, very few could recall that it was Sir Zafrula Khan who drafted the Lahore resolution in 1940 and even a small number could tell that this dalit Hindu, Jogindranath Mandal presided over Pakistan’s first constituent assembly session in August 1947 and M.A.Jinnah took oath under his presidenship. Historians believe that without Mandal’s carrying of the significant scheduled caste Hindu votes in Bengal, in the 1946 elections, in favor of Muslims, it is unlikely that Pakistan would have come into being in the form that it did in 1947. But later on, he grew increasingly isolated and disillusioned with the post-Jinnah realpolitik, and when late Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan publicly supported a proposal to make Islam the official state religion, Mandal became more staggered, denounced it as ‘a rejection of Jinnah’s secular vision for Pakistan,’ and sent his letter of resignation in October 1950 from Kalkatta to the then Prime Minister of Pakistan. In his resignation letter, he openly assailed Pakistani politicians for disregarding the rights and future of minorities, as well as the vision of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Foreign Minister Sir Zafrula Khan also played important role in Peoples Republic of China’s entry in the U.N. We have forgotten our only Nobel Prize Laureate, Dr. Abdus Salam because he belonged to a minority faith.
We are even unfamiliar of the fact that S.P Singha- last Speaker of the British era Punjab Assembly and M.P., Ralia Ram- both leaders of All India Christian Association, cast their precious votes in favor of Pakistan and thus Punjab became part of Pakistan.
Can we explain why the great Quaid asked a Hindu- Jagannath Azad, a doyen of Urdu poetry to write the first national anthem of Pakistan in 1947 which remained a national anthem for the 18 long months? Because he wanted a cosmopolitan society in Pakistan.
It had beautiful poetry like this,
Aé sarzameené paak
Zarray teray haéñ aaj sitaaroñ se taabnaak
Roshan haé kehkashaañ se kaheeñ aaj tayree khaak
Aé sarzameené paak
(Oh land of Pakistan, each particle of yours is being illuminated by stars. Even your dust has been brightened like a rainbow)
There is no doubt that non-Muslims are amongst the most talented and the patriotic Pakistanis. The efforts of our magnificent flying heroes like Eric Hall, Nazir Latif, Mervyn Middle coat, Cecil Chaudhry, William Harney and Peter Christy can never be forgotten in wars against India. Many of you might not know that out of a total of 70 Sitara-e-Jurats (SJ) awarded to PAF officers in both the Wars, six were won by Christian officers. Three illustrious Christian Officers of the PAF namely Eric Hall, Steve Joseph and M.J. O'Brien held the rank of Air Vice Marshal. O'Brien is the only PAF officer to serve as the Commandant of the National Defense College. Joshua Fazal Din is known as the first preacher in Punjabi Christians who preached by Punjabi literature. He was also the Punjab Minister of Law and Treasury in early 50s. At that time, the government appreciated Joshua Fazal Din, for his services, for promoting Punjabi language, in shape of ‘Tamgha-e- Imtiaz.’ Meanwhile, Justice® Rana Bhagwan Das is held to amongst the most honest judges who served the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Pakistan’s best fashion designer Deepak Parwani is a Hindu, and one of the best models is a Christian namely Sunita Marshall. The owners of the largest hotels chain (Avari Hotels) are Parsis. The best leg spinner in Pakistan’s cricket team was a Hindu. Pakistan’s best drummer is a Goan Christian (Gumby of Junoon and Noori fame); some of Pakistan’s leading musicians are also Christians including bands like Saraab and Aks. And, who can forget legendry actress Shabnam and singer A. Nayyar. Even our best novelist in English-Bapsi Sidhwa is a Parsi.
Minorities’ contribution in fields of health, education and nation-building is simply undeniable. Pakistan’s best institutions like Kinnaird College, F.C College in Lahore and Parsi educational institutions in Karachi, besides chain of educational institutions in most of the cities, is a clear proof that our minorities are a silent nation-builders. Similarly, health institutions like U.C.H in Lahore, Memorial Christian Hospital in Sialkot and free eye hospital in Taxila are also run by non-Muslims.
More recently, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) and Baptist Global Response (BGR) worked with their local partners to distribute emergency care items among displaced Muslims in Malakand Division. The saga of minorities’ services is long and illustrious, the need is that the majority should learn from their minority brethren the lesson of selfless service and stop burning their properties. It would be better if we build a better Pakistan for all.
This will be the real contribution by us.
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The national media is revisiting Mehrangate, involving bribes paid by the ISI under the then army chief, General Aslam Beg, in 1990 for the creation of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) to foreclose the possibility of the PPP again coming to power after its dismissal by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan.
What has triggered this new media interest in Mehrangate is the latest statement by the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice (Retd) Saeeduzzaman Siddiqi that no one among the recipient politicians had denied receiving the bribe. The debate has also been given a fillip by revelations made by the ex-ISI officer and ex-IB chief, Imtiaz Ahmad, about how the army had interfered in, and damaged, the democratic process in Pakistan.
The whole affair started when the PPP’s General (Retd) Naseerullah Babar told the National Assembly in 1994 how the ISI had disbursed funds among politicians to manipulate the 1990 elections, form the IJI, and bring about the defeat of the PPP.
At the summit of power, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan was providing the legal cover. It is his name which was mentioned at the Supreme Court as the Chief Executive who ordered the disbursement.In 1996, Air Marshal Asghar Khan petitioned the Supreme Court against ex-army chief General Mirza Aslam Beg, ex-ISI chief Lt General Asad Durrani, and Younus Habib of Habib Bank and then Mehran Bank, concerning “the criminal distribution of the people’s money for political purposes”.
When the Supreme Court proceeded with the case General Asad Durrani submitted the famous affidavit containing names of the “recipients”.That list is now being brandished on TV channels. From the “best prime minister”, the “best leader of a religious party” to the “most popular political leader in the country”, everyone figures on it. In some cases the sums are so small that it seems ridiculous that our politicians can sell themselves so cheaply. Why should the generals stay put if the lure of “interference” is uncontested by any social and moral restraint? The generals already had power and made money; the politicians wanted power to make money.
Writing in Daily Times (January 22, 2006) columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee revealed a large number of disbursements made from Mehran Bank to General Aslam Beg and his organisation FRIENDS. This was actually a bank account sheet provided to the Court during its initial hearings by General Naseerullah Babar. It also included the fee General Beg had to pay to the lawyer who defended him in a case of contempt against the Supreme Court earlier.
Brigadier (Retd) Imtiaz Ahmad has confessed on a TV channel to having hated the PPP on the basis of his institution’s sense of “national security”. Ms Benazir Bhutto has already revealed in her memoirs how she was not allowed to rule under the Constitution and how General Beg had warned her away from Afghanistan and India policies handled by the army through the ISI. (Extrapolating from the de facto situation, Justice (Retd) Siddiqi was compelled to say on Wednesday that the ISI was a military organisation which should be separated from the civilian government.)
The Mehrangate case is still pending at the Supreme Court. The revelations are tonic for us today as we confront the task of understanding what Pakistan has become over the years. But the TV channels too must draw correct lessons from the information being regurgitated. Is the PPP still a “hated” party? Political accountability is an imperative that the PPP must submit to at all times, but “hatred” of the PPP is not a fair emotion on the basis of which to judge an elected government. Aslam Beg is still good for sound bytes if the PPP has to be pilloried for being an American or Indian “lackey”.
Quoted in Nawa-e-Waqt (August 24, 2009) Gen Aslam Beg said that America used Gen Musharraf against the Taliban, later it bought Baitullah Mehsud, Sufi Muhammad and Ajmal Kasab to fulfil its designs in the region. Is this a fair comment to publish? During a discussion on a TV channel about his handling of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, he defiantly advocated the policy of “outsourcing” the programme.With the passage of time, this mismatch between the thinking of our retired top brass and the survival of the state is becoming clear. We should be careful what lessons we draw from the Mehrangate scandal. * http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\28\story_28-8-2009_pg3_1
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Asghar still awaiting SC verdict on agencies’ role
LAHORE: Tehreek-e-Istiqlal founder and former Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief Air Marshal (r) Muhammad Asghar Khan on Thursday said he had been writing letters to chief justices of the Supreme Court since 1996 to seek a ruling on the issue of intelligence agencies funding politicians and the agencies’ role in politics. Talking to a private TV channel, the former air chief said none of his letters to the Supreme Court chief justices had elicited a response, adding that real democracy could not be established in the country without ending interference by the intelligence agencies in politics. He said the Inter-Services Intelligence covertly funded some political parties, adding he had also written to former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf in 2002, asking him to ensure that the intelligence agencies’ role in politics comes to an end. The former PAF chief added that the government should ensure that the intelligence agencies no longer play any role in the country’s politics. He said those who funded the politicians should also be brought to justice. daily times monitor
‘Midnight Jackal’ was launched to overthrow Benazir: Imtiaz
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: Former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Brigadier (r) Imtiaz said Operation Midnight Jackal was launched to topple Benazir Bhutto’s government, Dunya TV reported on Thursday.
Talking to the channel, he said the operation was not a big issue, but the politicians had politicised it.
He revealed that General (r) Aslam Beg, the army chief at the time, wanted to bring a change in the National Assembly through a no-confidence motion with the help of Operation Midnight Jackal, as General Beg believed that Benazir Bhutto’s policies were contrary to those of the army. He said General Beg did not agree to Benazir’s Afghan policy. The former IB chief said after Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as prime minister, General Beg and then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan had discussed at length the possibility of replacing her, adding that the operation was also launched for that reason.
Brigadier (r) Imtiaz said his major mistake was his failure to refuse to obey General Beg’s orders. During a subsequent inquiry, General (r) Hameed Gul advised him not to speak against the army chief as that could raise questions about the army, he maintained. Brigadier (r) Imtiaz told the channel that he was retired on the directions of General (r) Naseerullah Babar.
General (r) Asif Nawaz Janjua had suspected Imtiaz of tapping the former’s phone calls, the ex-IB chief said. Imtiaz said stayed quiet throughout his service since he did not want his institution defamed. He said president Ghulam Ishaq had offered him to join his “gang” and offered him privileges, as a cold war for power was raging between Nawaz Sharif and the then president. He said he had been meeting both the leaders and tried bring them together.
The former IB chief said he was also blamed for convincing General (r) Akhtar Abdul Rehman to join then president Ziaul Haq on the flight to Bahawalpur at the eleventh hour, whereas the names of those going to Bahawalpur had already been finalised in the General Headquarters.
Some relevant comments:
source: pkpolitics
MalangBaba said:
Asghar Khan’s petition on Army’s ISI’s role in making of IJI and a similar petition by Aradsher Kawasji is pending in supereme court for past 20 years. The million dollar question is that the current ‘independent’ judiaciary will take that case now to undo all the injustices done against PPP by army, establishment and ISI or they will play the same dirty role that Moulve Mushtaq, Naseem Hasan Shah, Sajjad Ali Shah, Anwar Al Haq etc played in the past. If article 6 has to be applied then it should start from past.
MalangBaba said:
@strikeone,
“Zardari is enjoying woman and wine in china and UK and USA and intelligence agencies have complete details”
What is the proof? This kind of naked and shameless lies r not new. If agencies would have anything against Zardari they would have used it by now. For past 20 years they r doing one sided character assasination but could not bring anything as a proof. In contrast these agencies are admitting that they bribed Jamaat Islami and NS for making IJI and also Imran Khan for supporting Mush in his first three years of Martial Law.
bsobaid said:
N-League is today’s biggest anti-establishment party (after signing maafi nama). Since when they started to care about army?? They want true democracy in the country. They want army’s role to end in the politics, then why are they using doctrine of necessity?
If army intervenes in Musharraf case, do a long march. N-League is an anti-establishment party with 79% popular support. darr kiss baat kaa hai???
qadam barhao nawaz shareef hum tumharay saath hein
NS is planning on being a Prime Minister for the third time, SS is his little brother who is influenced by the methods of SS. SS is trying to teach NS political issues so he can deal with the press with aplomb.
NS: What is this minus-one formula?
SS: It is the tragic outcome of a testicular operation.
NS: No, in Pakistan's context.
SS: It is the tragic outcome of a judicial operation.
NS: Then, what is a plus-one formula?
SS: It is when a chief minister with ambition has a governor with sedition on his mind.
NS: Okay and what is this dossier?
SS: It is an Indian dosa that we order every few months but return because it is inedible.
NS: Okay. And what is Imran Khan?
SS: He is Chairman of the biggest fan club of Imran Khan in the country, the Tehrik-e-Insaaf. He stopped partying years ago.
NS: And what is our position on the Taliban?
SS: The missionary position, but not as evangelical as Ansar Abbasi and Munawar Hassan.
NS: And what is it that the PPP means when they say consensus?
SS: Consensus is a pluralistic means of ensuring that things don't get done.
NS: And what is our position on dictators?
SS: We stand to the left and right of dictators. The approving right of it is Zia, the disapproving left when it is Musharraf.
NS: What is white-washing?
SS: It is your selective amnesia of events before 1999 and after it.
NS And why don't we like Holbrooke?
SS Because Holbrooke is all crook.
NS: And what do I say if people accuse me of being a hijacker?
SS: Say that it is Shabnam Majeed who is a hijacker. Just don't say you own a sugar mill.
NS: And what do I say when the press asks me my opinion of lawyers?
SS: Say they are the need of the nation, except when the Saudis get involved.
NS: Yes, Saudi is a great nation. In the deserts they are growing trees and hair for male pattern baldness. By the way, are we allies of the JI?
SS: Well only if there is another I involved, the IJI, not when there is a MMA as it gives the PML-N PMS.
NS: Are we rich?
SS: We are middle-class. We have less than Zardari, but more than Bilawal.
NS: Are we a party of real lions?
SS: Almost. Real female lions hunt for food, ours steal credit cards.
NS: What is our stance on the PML-Q?
SS: They are our brothers. Like the Biharis in Bangladesh.
NS: Why do we support Zardari? Is he better than Musharraf?
SS: Yes. Musharraf was a show-off who bought his gifts after tabling cheap prices for them. At least Zardari modestly prefers his gifts under the table.
NS Yes, but Zardari does not respect deals and promises.
SS: True, we respect all our deals, except with Saudis. After all, it is not like it was written in the Quran.
NS: We have made a committee on Gojra. Why is that?
SS: A committee is like having a consensus, as I explained before.
NS: Census?
SS: No, consensus. CON-SENSE.
NS What should I say our foreign policy is?
SS: Freedom for Kashmir and the creation of autonomous region of Raiwand.
NS: What shall I say about our plans for our government, what kind of cabinet will we have?
SS: It will be on merit. Mariam Nawaz will be Minister of Health, not Farah Dogar.
NS: Okay, so in a few months we should go all out against Zardari? We don't like shady characters with slicked back hair and trimmed moustaches.
SS: No, don't say that. Someone might think you are talking about Hazrat Zia-ul-Haq.
NS: Okay, okay, I will remember all of this. I think I have got it. Now can I have cake with my tea?
SS: No.
The writer is a Rhodes scholar and former academic. Email: fasizaka@yahoo.com (Source: The News)
A recent flurry of interviews to TV channels by ex-ISI operative and ex-IB chief Brigadier (Retd) Imtiaz Ahmad Billa — at his urging — has caused discomfort in a lot of quarters. Brig Billa’s “disclosures” are flying in all directions, indicating that the old spy has once again not employed his brains while strategising his public appearances after having languished in jail for eight years.
Brig Billa has turned out to be the proverbial loose cannon. In fact, if someone wants to give an example of how a not too well intellectually endowed person can shoot all over the place, he is the perfect reference. Known for his loyalty to the PMLN leader Mr Nawaz Sharif, he has criminally mistimed his “absolution” of the MQM from the Jinnahpur charge at a time when the PMLN was crossing swords with the MQM in parliament.
Clearing himself of the role he played in Operation Midnight Jackals against the PPP government, he has offended ex-army chief Aslam Beg and ex-ISI chief Hamid Gul too. Both had painstakingly removed from themselves the stigma of having toppled an elected government when the people are being told by Brig Billa that they had put him up to it. In a TV discussion he has admitted that he was “partly” wrong in hating the PPP government!
He thought the Jinnahpur “disclosure” would not go against “his leader” Mr Sharif, but it has done exactly that. Tuesday night, on a TV discussion, he actually had a spat with Khwaja Muhammad Asif of the PMLN and ended up threatening him with public disclosures about Mr Asif’s person.
In the course of the discussion that followed, Brig Billa ended up blackening the name of the ISI too. Tough verdicts were passed on ISI officers who were a permanent danger to democracy because their view of state security was an in-house concept that had nothing to do with the security of the people of Pakistan.
Brigadier (Retd) Imtiaz Ahmad Billa has caused a ‘get Nawaz’ conspiracy theory to raise its head. If this is not what he wanted — and we don’t know the truth — he has done exactly that because of his lack of intellectual gifts. God save us if there are more like him in the army. (Daily Times)
Ex-ISI officials come out with new versions on MQM operation
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer Major (r) Nadeem Dar claimed on Wednesday he had recovered maps of Jinnahpur from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters, a private TV channel reported. Meanwhile, former ISI director general Lt Gen Asad Durrani told another private channel then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan had ordered an end to the military operation against the MQM to deny political mileage to the Pakistan People’s Party.
Dar told the channel he had personally recovered the Jinnahpur maps from Nine-Zero during the 1992 military operation in Karachi. This contradicts claims by Brigadier (r) Imtiaz, who had claimed that he had informed then premier Nawaz Sharif there were no maps of Jinnahpur. Separately, Durrani told a channel the government was informed about every step of the military operation against the MQM. He claimed the MQM-Haqiqi had also supported the military in the operation. He alleged the 1992 military operation had been launched for ulterior motives and Jinnahpur had been used as a scapegoat. (Daily Times)
...
Fazl-e-Hussain article in Daily Nawaiwaqt on the 1992 Karachi Operation against MQM:
Here is an affidavit submitted by the ex-chief of Pakistan's ISI General Asad Durrani to the Supreme Court in 1994. The list exposes many sacred names who were part of the Mullah Military Alliance (Army's support for the right wing political alliance IJI), including General Aslam Beg, Nawaz Sharif, Jamaat-e-Islami, Mustafa Sadiq, Altaf Hassan Qureshi and others:
Chief politicians embezzle donation money in Ishaq era
KARACHI: According to the sworn undertaking of ISI’s former chief Lieutenant General (rtd) Asad Durrani, which he took before Supreme Court (SC) on July 24, 1994, that he was instructed in September 1990 by the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the former General Mirza Aslam Baig for provision of Logistic Support to embezzle money donated for election preparations from some Karachi traders and use the same donation money for Islami Jamhuri Ittehad (IJI) party.
Asad Durrani was told that the instructions to misappropriate donation money were backed by the then government of Pakistan, according to his affidavit statement before SC.
Subsequently, in pursuit of the instructions he received, he was forced to open some fake bank accounts in Karachi, Quetta and Rawalpindi while one donator from Karachi, by the name Younis Habib, deposited as much as 140 million rupees and the money from all accounts were transferred to other places according to the need for extension of logistic support to IJI party while the remaining money was transferred to a special fund, his sworn statement added.
His statement further added, Rs10 million were given to Mir Afzal in NWFP province, Rs3.5 million to Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in Punjab, Rs5.6 million to Lieutenant General (rtd) Rafaqat for advertisement on media, Rs5 million to Jamat-e-Islami, Rs1 million to Begum Abida Hussain, Rs0.5 million to Altaf Hussain Qureshi and Mustafa Sadiq, Rs3.3 million to small groups, Rs5 million to Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi in Sindh, Rs5 million to Jam Sadiq, Rs2.5 million to Muhammad Khan Junejo, Rs2 million to Pir Pagara, Rs0.3 million to Molana Salahuddin, Rs5.4 million to small parties, Rs1.5 million to Humayun Muree, the son-in-law of Bugti, Rs4 million to Jamali, Rs1 million to Kakar, Rs0.7 million to Jam Yousuf, Rs0.5 million Bazinjo and Rs1 million were given to Nadir Mengal.
It is pertinent to mention that the value in rupees of 12 grams of gold was Rs33 at the time when money was misappropriated while it stands at Rs29,000 today.
....
Affidavit names politicians who took money from ISI
* Former CJP quotes affidavit submitted by former ISI chief Lt Gen (r) Asad Durrani in court * List of recipients includes Nawaz Sharif, Abida Hussain, Pir Pagaro, JI
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) gave millions of rupees to different politicians during former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan’s regime and no one has ever denied receiving money from the agency, former chief justice of Pakistan Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui said on Wednesday.
Talking to a private TV channel, he said the ISI was an intelligence agency and should not interfere in politics, or be used against politicians. He said former ISI director general Lt Gen Asad Durrani had informed the Supreme Court that he had given money to politicians, ostensibly to ‘convince’ them to join the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI).
Justice (r) Siddiqui told the channel that he had said at that time that the ISI’s role should not be political. He said the case was still pending in the Supreme Court at the time of the 1999 coup. He said Lt Gen (r) Durrani had presented an affidavit in court, giving details of the money distributed to different politicians.
According to the affidavit, then chief of army staff General (r) Mirza Aslam Baig had advised the intelligence agency in September 1990 that it should give logistic support to the transfer of funds from the business community in Karachi to the IJI during the 1988 election.
According to the written affidavit of July 24, 1994, Lt Gen (r) Durrani said he was informed at the time that the step had the government’s complete support. After the orders, he said he opened a number of accounts in banks in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Quetta.
A man from Karachi named Younas Habib had deposited Rs 140 million in a bank account and the rest of the money was transferred to a special fund.
According to the affidavit, acquired by the TV channel, former caretaker prime minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi received Rs 5 million, former Sindh chief minister Jam Sadiq Rs 5 million, former prime minister Muhammad Khan Junejo Rs 2.5 million, Nawaz Sharif Rs 3.5 million, senior politician Pir Pagaro Rs 2 million, the Jamaat-e-Islami Rs 5 million, Mir Afzal Khan Rs 10 million, Abida Hussain Rs 1 million, Lt Gen Rafaqat Rs 5.6 million for managing the media campaign, Humayun Marri Rs 1.5 million, former prime minister Zafarullah Jamali Rs 4 million, Kakar Rs 1 million, Jam Yousaf Rs 0.7 million, Hasil Bizenjo Rs 0.5 million, Nadir Mengal Rs 1 million, Altaf Hussain Qureshi and Mustafa Sadiq Rs 0.5 million, Salahuddin Rs 0.3 million, smaller groups Rs 5.4 million and others received Rs 3.339 million. (Daily Times)
While some politicians admit, the hypocrites of Jamaat Islam are still in denial:
Abida Hussain admits to taking ISI money
LAHORE: I was information minister in Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi’s cabinet and received Rs 5 million from the Inter-Services Intelligence to join the IJI, Abida Hussain told a private TV channel on Thursday. Talking to the channel, Abida said she was told that Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia had sent this money through Mahmood Haroon. She also revealed that Nawaz Sharif, [Zafarullah] Jamali and Mir Afzal Khan were also beneficiaries. daily times monitor
Don’t know if JI took ISI money: Prof Ghafoor
LAHORE: Senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader Professor Ghafoor Ahmad said on Wednesday that he had no information that his party had ever received any money from the ISI agency, a private TV channel reported on Wednesday. Denying the allegations levelled against his party by former Chief Justice Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui, the JI leader said he was not aware that any such transaction had ever taken place. daily times monitor
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جس نے بھی یہ کہاوت کہی کیا خوب کہی تھی کہ ’سو چوہے کھا کر بلی حج کو چلی۔‘ ضیاء الحق سے لیکر نواز شریف کی حکومتوں تک پاکستان پرخفیہ ایجینسیوں کی حکومت کے ایک طاقتور کردار ریٹائرڈ بریگيڈئير امتیاز با المعروف ’برگیڈيئر بلا‘ دو دہائيوں کی خاموشی کے بعد ایران کونٹرا سیکنڈل والے کرنل اولیور نارتھ کی طرح طوطا مینا ٹائپ جنگي کہانیوں سے واپس آئے ہیں۔ میں اسے ’ویمپائر اسٹرائیکس بیک‘ کہوں گا۔
اب وہ اپنے متعلق کہتے ہیں کہ وہ ’آدھی شب کا گیدڑ نہیں بلکہ دن دہاڑے چیتا ہے۔‘
مجھے کوئی حیرت نہیں ہوگی کہ کسی صبح کوئي پاکستانی نجی چینل آن کرنے پر سدا امر آمر جنرل ضیاء الحق بھی بیٹھا کہہ رہا ہوگا کہ دنیا و دین کی بھلائی کے لیے وہ جان سے گزر گئے تھے۔ اور یہ کہ ’پاکستان میں آمر مرتے نہیں زندہ ہوتے ہیں۔‘ مرتے صرف بھٹو ہیں، نذیر عباسی ہیں، کہ یہ سولہ کروڑ گیدڑوں کا جنگل ہے جہاں نیم شب کی کوئی صبح نہیں۔ جہاں کی نجی چینلوں پر صبح شام کوئی میجر عامر، کوئي بریگیڈیر با اللہ، کوئی جنرل با پردہ ناصر، کوئي حمید گل کوئی درانی بالم بنے بول رہے ہوتے ہیں۔
نذیر عباسی کون تھا؟
نذیر عباسی پاکستان کے بائيں بازو کا وہ طالبعلم رہنما تھا جسے دوران قید مبینہ طور پر کل کے سندھ میں آئي ایس آئی کے کرنل اسی بریگيڈيئر امتیاز کے حکم پر تشدد کر قتل کردیا گیا تھا۔ نذیر عباسی کے ساتھی اور دوست اور نذیر عباسی کی بیوہ حمیدہ گھانگرو کی طرف سے بینظیر بھٹو کے دوسرے دور حکومت میں انیس سو چورانوے میں کٹوائی جانے والی ایف آئی آر بھی یہی کہتی ہے۔ تیس جولائي انیس سو اسی کو کراچی کے نارتھ ناظم آباد کی ایک بستی کے ایک کوارٹر سے نذیرعباسی کو اپنے ساتھیوں بدر ابڑو (مصنف اور ماہر آثار قدیمہ)، سہیل سانگي (صحافی)، شبیر شر (اب سندھ میں انسانی حقوق کے وکیل)، احمد کمال وارثی (مزدور رہنما) اور پرفیسر جمال نقوی کو فوجی ایجنسی اور آئی ایس آئی کے اہلکاروں نے گرفتار کیا تھا۔
سندھ نیشنل سٹوڈنٹس فیڈریشن کے صدر نذیر عباسی کی وہ کئي دنوں سے تلاش میں تھے۔ ’آج بھی وری ہو فاشی کتا مونکھے قابو کن تھا‘، شیخ ایاز کی مشہور نظم ہے۔ (|آج وہ فاشی کتے مجھے پھر قابو کرتے ہیں‘)۔ دبلا پتلا کنگلا لیکن خوبصورت شکل، خوبصورت آواز ذہن و دل والا نذیر عباسی جناح ہسپتال کے قریب قائم خفیہ ایجینسوں کے نیئپیر بیرکس نام کے عقوبت گھر میں مبینہ طور پر آٹھ اور نو اگست کے درمیاںتشدد کر قتل کردیاگیا۔ نذیر عباسی اور اسکے ساتھی، پاکستانی خفیہ ایجیسسیوں کی نظروں میں را، خاد، کے جی بیکے ایجنٹ تھے۔ نذیر عباسی کا جرم یہ تھا کہ وہ پاکستان سطح پر طالب علموں، مزدوروں، کسانوں کی رابطہ کمیٹی کومنظم کرنے میں سرگرم تھا۔
نذیر عباسی کے لیے بتایا گیا تھا کہ ’حوالات میں اس کی موت دل کا دورہ پڑنے سے ہوئي‘۔ معروف سماجی کارکن عبدالستار ایدھی جس نے نذیر عباسی کی لاش کو غسل دیا تھا کا کہنا تھا کہ ایسا لگتا تھا ‘جیسے کہ اس کے سر کو کسی شیشے سے ٹکرایا گیا ہو۔ ’وہ شخص جو شبخون میں مارا گیا ورنہ اس جیسا بہادرکوئی لشکر میں نہیں تھا‘ نذیر عباسی کے ریاستی قتل پر اس کے دوست شاعر معین قریشی نے کہا تھا۔ نذیر عباسی کا قتل ضیاء الحق کے آمرانہ دور میں پہلا ماورائے عدالت قتل تھا۔
پاکستان میں حزب مخالف خاموش کردینے کی کوشش کی گئي تھی اور ایسے میں یہ بڑی جرائتمندانہ آواز بیگم نصرت بھٹو کی تھی جس نے نذیر عباسی کے ضیا حکومت اور اس کی ایجینسیوں کے ہاتھوں تشدد میں قتل کی مذمت کی تھی جسے مجھے آج بھی یاد ہے بی بی سی نے نشر کیا تھا۔
’برگیڈيئر بلا‘ دو دہائيوں کی خاموشی کے بعد ایران کونٹرا اسیکنڈل والے کرنل اولیور نارتھ کی طرح طوطا مینا ٹائيپ جنگي کہانیوں سے واپس آئے ہیں۔ میں اسے ’ویمپائر اسٹرائیکس بیک‘ کہوں گا۔
کئي سال بعد شجاعت نام کے خفیہ ایجینسی کے اہلکار نے نذیر عباسی کے قتل کی تفتیش کرنے والے ادراے کے اہلکاروں کے سامنے بیان دیا تھا کہ ضمیر کے بوجھنے اسے چین سے رہنے نہیں دیا اور اسنے نذیر عباسی پر تشدد اس وقت کے آئي ایس آئي کے کرنل امتیاز کے حکم پر کیا تھا۔ کئي سال بعد انیس سو چورانوے میں نذیر عباسی کی بیوہ حمیدہ گانگھرو کی درخواست پر بینظیر بھٹو حکومت کے حکم پر سندھ پولیس نے برگیڈئیر امتیاز کے خلاف نذیر عباسی کے تحویل میں تشدد کے ذریعے مبینہ قتل کا مقدمہ درج کر کے ایف آئي آر سیل کردی تھی۔ ’اصل میں آج بینظیر بھٹو حکومت کا پہلا دن ہے‘، انیس سو چورانوے میں انٹیلیجنس بیورو کے اس سابق سربراہ کی گرفتاری کے وقت میرے صحافی دوست جاوید جیدی نے کہا تھا۔ اسکی گرفتاری کے دوسرے دن اسکی خبر کے ساتھ اخبارات میں پاکستان کے صحافیوں کی وہ فہرست بھی حکومت کی طرف سے جاری کی گئي تھی جو برگیڈيئر امتیاز اور اسکی انٹیلیجنس بیورو کے پے رول اور فوائد حاصل کرنے والوں میں شامل تھے۔
وہی برگیڈئیر امتیاز جو بعد میں نواز شریف کی پنجاب میں وزرات اعلیٰ اور پہلی وزرات اعظمیٰ کے دور میں اسکے کان اور آنکھیں تھا۔ وہ اصل میں اس وقت ’جیک دی رپر‘ ٹائپ کردار تھا۔
یہ جو کراچي اور سندھ دیکھ رہے ہو اس میں بشمول ایم کیو ایم کے ٹکڑے کروانے کے ان تمام فتنوں کے پیچھے دماغ اور پے رول برگیڈئیر امتیاز ہی بتائے جاتے ہیں۔ شاید اب بھی کسی بڑے کام کیلیے پھر اس گیدڑ نیم شب کو دن دیہاڑے چیتا بنایا گيا ہے۔
بریگیڈئر (ر) امتیاز احمد پاکستان کی تاریخ کے پندرہ اہم برسوں تک خفیہ اداروں آئی بی اور آئی ایس آئی میں اہم عہدوں پر فرائض انجام دیتے رہے ہیں۔ وہ انیس سو نوے میں ریٹائر ہوئے تھے تاہم انہیں وقتا فوقتاً سیاست میں مداخلت یا بدعنوانی کے الزامات کے تحت بےنظیر بھٹو اور صدر مشرف کے ادوار میں آٹھ برس تک قید بھی جھیلنا پڑی۔ ان پر بےنظیر بھٹو کی پہلی حکومت کے خاتمے کے لیے ’آپریشن مڈنائٹ جیکل’ میں ملوث ہونے کا بھی الزام ہے۔
اپنی ریٹائرمنٹ کے بعد انیس برس کی طویل خاموشی توڑتے ہوئے انہوں نے بی بی سی اردو سروس کو ایک خصوصی انٹرویو دیا جسے دو اقساط میں پیش کیا جا رہا ہے۔ پہلی قسط افغانستان، طالبان اور شدت پسندی سے متعلق ہے جبکہ دوسری قسط میں بریگیڈئر امتیاز ’آپریشن مڈنائٹ جیکال‘ میں اپنے کردار پر روشنی ڈالیں گے۔
بریگیڈئر(ر) امتیاز بی بی سی اردو کے ہارون رشید کو انٹرویو دیتے ہوئے
پاکستانی خفیہ ایجنسی انٹیلیجنس بیورو کے سابق سربراہ بریگیڈئر ریٹائرڈ امتیاز احمد کے مطابق طالبان امریکہ کی پیداوار ہیں اور ’طالبان کا جن بوتل سے امریکہ نے نکالا تھا تاکہ اس خطے پر اپنی گرفت مضبوط کر سکے‘۔
بریگیڈئر ریٹائرڈ امتیاز احمد کا کہنا ہے کہ موجودہ وزیرِداخلہ رحمان ملک اور سابق وزیرِداخلہ جنرل نصیر اللہ بابر امریکی ایماء پر افغانستان میں اس اسلامی تحریک کی داغ بیل ڈالنے گئے تھے۔ اس سوال کے جواب میں کہ طالبان کے خالق تو پاکستان کے اس وقت کے وزیر داخلہ نصیراللہ بابر کو سمجھا جاتا ہے ستر سالہ بریگیڈئر امتیاز نے واضح کیا کہ وہ اور رحمان ملک اس وقت کی سیاسی حکومت کے دور میں اکثر افغانستان جاتے رہے تھے۔’ لیکن وہ( رحمان ملک اور نصیر اللہ بابر) امریکی ایماء پر، اس کے علم میں ہوتے ہوئے اور ان کی رضامندی سے جاتے رہے۔ میں اتنا کہہ سکتا ہوں کہ وہ شاید ہدایات لے کر وہاں جاتے ہوں تاکہ وہاں کیا کیا اہداف یا ہدایات دینی ہیں۔ وہ امریکی ایماء پر ہی ایسا کر رہے تھے‘۔
وہ( رحمان ملک اور نصیر اللہ بابر) امریکی ایماء پر، اس کے علم میں ہوتے ہوئے اور ان کی رضامندی سے جاتے رہے۔ میں اتنا کہہ سکتا ہوں کہ وہ شاید ہدایات لے کر وہاں جاتے ہوں تاکہ وہاں کیا کیا اہداف یا ہدایات دینی ہیں۔ وہ امریکی ایماء پر ہی ایسا کر رہے تھے۔
بریگیڈئر امتیاز
جب بریگیڈئر امتیاز سے دریافت کیا گیا کہ آیا یہ سب کچھ ان کی ذاتی رائے تھی یا خفیہ اداروں کی تو ان کا کہنا تھا کہ وہ اس وقت خفیہ ادارے میں تھے ان کے پاس معلومات بھی تھیں اور ’کچھ باتیں ایسی ہوتی ہیں جو خود بولتی ہیں۔ لیکن جو کچھ میں کہہ رہا ہوں میں مطمئن ہوں کہ وثوق سے بول رہا ہوں‘۔
بریگیڈئر امتیاز کے مطابق امریکہ طالبان کو حکومت کا موقع دے کر انہیں نااہل ثابت کروانا چاہتا تھا۔ ’ان کو معلوم تھا کہ طالبان کا سخت گیر رویہ کسی کو قابل قبول نہیں ہوگا۔ وہ بہت زیادہ انتہا پسند اور غیرفطری سوچ کے حامل تھے۔ وہ حکومت زیادہ دن نہیں چلاسکیں گے‘۔
لیکن ایک سوال کے جواب میں کہ وہ اس وقت بھی تو حامد کرزئی جیسی کسی شخصیت کو افغانستان لا سکتے تھے، بریگیڈئر امتیاز کا کہنا تھا کہ امریکہ نے جنیوا معاہدے کے بعد اس خطے پر مسلط ہونے کا منصوبہ تیار کر لیا تھا جس میں حامد کرزئی ان کے ’ٹروجن ہارس‘ تھے۔ ’ اگر انہیں ابتداء میں لایا جاتا تو شاید وہ زیادہ دیر نہ چل پاتے‘۔
اس مبینہ امریکی منصوبے پر روشنی ڈالتے ہوئے، ان کا کہنا تھا کہ سات مجاہدین جماعتوں کے اتحاد کو ناکام بھی پہلے امریکہ نے کروایا اور پھر طالبان کی شکل میں پیادہ جگجوؤں کو بھی انہوں نے فیل کروایا تاکہ اپنے منصوبوں کو کامیاب کرسکیں۔ ’ان دونوں کی موجودگی میں حامد کرزئی تو کچھ نہیں کرسکتے تھے‘۔
’حامد کرزئی کے سی آئی اے کے ڈائریکٹر ویلیم کیسی کے ساتھ تعلقات تھے اور اب بھی ہیں۔ حامد کرزئی کے بھائی کے بھی جارج بش سے قریبی تعلقات ہیں۔ یہ ٹروجن ہارس موجود تھا صرف اسے لانے کا مناسب وقت چاہیے تھا۔ حامد کرزئی نے شملہ میں چار سال تعلیم حاصل کی۔ آج افغانستان میں جتنے بڑے تعمیر نو کے منصوبے ہیں وہ بھارت کے پاس ہیں۔ ان منصوبوں پر تقریبا چار سو انجینئر کام کر رہے ہیں جن کی حفاظت کے لیے ساڑھے چار ہزار بھارتی تعینات ہیں۔ میرا یقین ہے کہ ان میں سے آدھی فورس را آپریٹ کر رہی ہے‘۔
بریگیڈئر امتیاز نے انکشاف کیا کہ جب وہ آئی ایس آئی میں تعینات تھے اور جنرل مشرف جی ایچ کیو کی ایم ایس برانچ میں تھے تو انہوں (امتیاز) نے ہرے پال پوائنٹ پین کے ساتھ صدر مشرف کے بارے میں ایک مشاہدہ ریکارڈ کیا تھا کہ وہ ’ہائیلی انٹرو ورٹ اینڈ ڈینجرسلی ایمبیشئس شخص ہیں جو اعلی عہدوں پر فائز ہونے کے لیے شاید مناسب نہیں ہیں‘۔
آخر امریکہ کا مقصد کیا ہے اس خطے میں؟ اس بارے میں بریگیڈئر امتیاز کا کہنا تھا کہ وہ افغانستان پر مکمل قبضہ اور بھارت کو علاقائی طاقت بنا کر پاکستان کی اہمیت ختم کرنا چاہتا ہے اور اس سے بچاؤ کے لیے اس ملک کو ایک اعلی صلاحیت کی حامل قیادت کی ضرورت ہے۔
کیا موجودہ خفیہ اداروں کے پاس اس مبینہ امریکی منصوبے کو ناکام بنانے کی صلاحیت موجود ہے؟ جواب میں ان کا الزام تھا کہ سابق صدر جنرل پرویز مشرف نے تمام اداروں کو نقصان پہنچایا جن میں وہ بھی شامل تھے جو ملکی سلامتی کے ذمہ دار تھے۔ ’انہوں نے بڑے ننگے انداز سے خفیہ اداروں کی پیش ورانہ تربیت اور جذبہ تھا اسے دوسری جانب موڑ دیا۔ انہوں نے ان کا فیلڈ کمپیٹنس معیار تھا اس کو بری طرح نقصان پہنچایا‘۔
یاد رہے کہ بریگیڈئر امتیاز کو بھی سابق صدر مشرف نے گرفتار کر کے بدعنوانی کے الزام میں کئی برس تک قید رکھا تھا جبکہ بعد میں عدالت نے انہیں بری کر دیا تھا۔
بریگیڈئر امتیاز نے کہا کہ ’اس وقت پاکستانی خفیہ ایجنسیاں ’ہینڈی کیپڈ‘ (معذور) ہیں‘۔ ان کے مطابق اندرونی اور بیرونی چیلنج کئی گنا بڑھ گئے ہیں اور موجودہ ایجنسیاں ان سے نبردآزما ہونے کی صلاحیت نہیں رکھتیں۔
موجودہ لاٹ کو تو اسامہ اور بیت اللہ کی خصوصیات کا بھی علم نہیں ہوگا۔ یہ بھی را اور امریکی گیم پلان ہے۔ امریکہ کو نائن الیون کے چار طیاروں کے ہائی جیک ہونے کا تو علم نہیں ہوا تاہم آج امریکی وزیر خارجہ کے بیان کے مطابق یہ معلوم ہوگیا کہ اس حملے میں ملوث لوگ پاکستان میں ہیں۔
بریگیڈئر امتیاز
ان سے کشمیر میں جہادی تنظیموں پر صدر مشرف کی جانب سے پابندی کے بارے میں دریافت کیا تو ان کا جواب تھا کہ ’صدر صاحب کہتے کچھ تھے اور کرتے کچھ‘۔
بریگیڈئر امتیاز نے انکشاف کیا کہ جب وہ آئی ایس آئی میں تعینات تھے اور جنرل مشرف جی ایچ کیو کی ایم ایس برانچ میں تھے تو انہوں (امتیاز) نے ہرے پال پوائنٹ پین کے ساتھ صدر مشرف کے بارے میں ایک مشاہدہ ریکارڈ کیا تھا کہ وہ ’ہائیلی انٹرو ورٹ اینڈ ڈینجرسلی ایمبیشئس شخص ہیں جو اعلی عہدوں پر فائز ہونے کے لیے شاید مناسب نہیں ہیں‘۔
انہوں نے اس تاثر کو رد کیا کہ ملکی کے سکیورٹی ادارے یا خفیہ ادارے شدت پسندوں کی سرپرستی کر رہے ہیں۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ افغان جہاد کے خاتمے کے ساتھ اس وقت خفیہ اداروں کے اہلکار ریٹائر ہوچکے ہیں اور اب سب نئی قیادت ہے۔’موجودہ لاٹ کو تو اسامہ اور بیت اللہ کی خصوصیات کا بھی علم نہیں ہوگا۔ یہ بھی را اور امریکی گیم پلان ہے۔ امریکہ کو نائن الیون کے چار طیاروں کے ہائی جیک ہونے کا تو علم نہیں ہوا تاہم آج امریکی وزیر خارجہ کے بیان کے مطابق یہ معلوم ہوگیا کہ اس حملے میں ملوث لوگ پاکستان میں ہیں‘۔
روسیوں کے خلاف افغانستان میں جنگ کے فیصلے کے بارے میں بریگیڈئر امتیاز کا کہنا تھا کہ وہ اس وقت سکیورٹی اداروں کا جنرل ضیاء کی قیادت میں مشترکہ فیصلہ تھا۔’روس میں کہوں گا پاکستان کا دشمن تھا۔ وہ بھارت کو علاقائی طاقت کے طور پر استوار کرنا چاہتا تھا‘۔
دریافت کیا کہ اب یہ کام تو امریکہ یہاں کر رہا ہے تو فائدہ کیا ہوا؟ بریگیڈئر امتیاز کا ماننا تھا کہ یہ درست ہے۔ ’اس وقت کے حالات میں وہ پالیسی درست تھی تاہم موجودہ حالات کو دیکھ نہیں سکی۔ انہوں نے اعتراف کیا کہ امریکی گیم پلان کو وہ اس وقت نہیں سمجھ سکے‘
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’بینظیر کی پالیسیوں پر سکیورٹی اداروں کو خدشات تھے‘
بریگیڈئر (ر) امتیاز احمد پاکستان کی تاریخ کے پندرہ اہم برسوں تک خفیہ اداروں آئی بی اور آئی ایس آئی میں اہم عہدوں پر فرائض انجام دیتے رہے ہیں۔ وہ انیس سو نوے میں ریٹائر ہوئے تھے تاہم انہیں وقتا فوقتاً سیاست میں مداخلت یا بدعنوانی کے الزامات کے تحت بےنظیر بھٹو اور صدر مشرف کے ادوار میں آٹھ برس تک قید بھی جھیلنا پڑی۔ ان پر بےنظیر بھٹو کی پہلی حکومت کے خاتمے کے لیے ’آپریشن مڈنائٹ جیکل‘ میں ملوث ہونے کا بھی الزام ہے۔
اپنی ریٹائرمنٹ کے بعد انیس برس کی طویل خاموشی توڑتے ہوئے انہوں نے بی بی سی اردو سروس کو ایک خصوصی انٹرویو دیا جسے دو اقساط میں پیش کیا جا رہا ہے۔ گزشتہ روز شائع ہونے والی پہلی قسط افغانستان، طالبان اور شدت پسندی سے متعلق تھی جبکہ اس دوسری اور آخری قسط میں بریگیڈئر امتیاز ’آپریشن مڈنائٹ جیکال‘ میں اپنے کردار پر روشنی ڈال رہے ہیں۔
بریگیڈئر(ر) امتیاز بی بی سی اردو کے ہارون رشید کو انٹرویو دیتے ہوئے
انیس سو نواسی میں پیپلز پارٹی کی پہلی حکومت کے خاتمے کی ایک مبینہ سازش کے کلیدی کردار سمجھے جانے والے بریگیڈئر (ریٹائرڈ) امتیاز احمد کہتے ہیں کہ وہ ’مڈنائٹ جیکل‘ نہیں بلکہ ’ڈے لائٹ ٹائیگر‘ ہیں۔
بی بی سی اردو سروس کے ساتھ اپنے خصوصی انٹرویو میں پاکستان کی خفیہ ایجنسیوں میں پندرہ اہم برسوں کے دوران فرائض انجام دینے والے بریگیڈئر امتیاز کا کہنا تھا کہ سیاسی حکومت کے خلاف سازش پاکستانی خفیہ اداروں کی نہیں بلکہ بھارتی خفیہ ایجنسی را اور دو پاکستانیوں نے تیار کی تھی۔
’اس سازش کے کلیدی کردار ملٹری انجینرنگ سروس کے ایک سابق افسر اور وزیر اعظم سیکریٹریٹ میں ایڈیشنل سیکرٹری ایک سابق فوجی تھے۔ ان کا مقصد پاکستانی سکیورٹی اداروں کو بدنام کرنا تھا۔‘
حکمراں جماعت کے نمائندوں کی حمایت خریدنے کی اس مبینہ سازش کو ایک واقعہ قرار دیتے ہوئے انہوں نے کہا کہ ان کا صرف اتنا قصور تھا کہ انہوں نے اپنی فوج کی اعلی قیادت پر اندھا اعتماد کیا۔ ’میں اگر قصور وار تھا تو مجھ پر چار سال بعد بغاوت کا مقدمہ کیوں درج کیا گیا؟ میرے خلاف کورٹ مارشل کیوں نہیں ہوا؟‘
جب یہ سازش سامنے آئی تو اس وقت جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ اور جنرل حمید گل کو واضح موقف کے ساتھ سامنے آنا چاہیے تھا۔ انہیں فوج کا دفاع کرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ اپنے جونیئرز کے ساتھ وفاداری کا بھی ثبوت دیتے۔ لیکن انہوں نے سیاسی مصلحت یا دباؤ میں آکر ایسا نہیں کیا جس کی قیمت میں اور میرے بیوی بچوں نے ادا کی۔
بریگیڈئر امتیاز
ان کے مبینہ ملوث ہونے کے بارے میں سامنے آنے والی آڈیو ٹیپ کے بارے میں ان کا کہنا تھا کہ وہ جعلی تھی۔ ’وہ کسی اور کی آواز تھی۔ اس کا ٹرانسکرپٹ تیار کرنے والے بھی سازش میں شامل تھے۔‘
ان کا کہنا تھا کہ جب یہ سازش سامنے آئی تو اس وقت جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ اور جنرل حمید گل کو واضح موقف کے ساتھ سامنے آنا چاہیے تھا۔ ’انہیں فوج کا دفاع کرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ اپنے جونیئرز کے ساتھ وفاداری کا بھی ثبوت دیتے۔ لیکن انہوں نے سیاسی مصلحت یا دباؤ میں آکر ایسا نہیں کیا جس کی قیمت میں اور میرے بیوی بچوں نے ادا کی۔‘
بریگیڈئر امتیاز کا کہنا تھا کہ ملٹری انجینرنگ سروس کے سابق افسر بعد میں واپس ملک آئے۔ انہیں سرسری سزا دی گئی اور ایک ہفتے کے بعد رہا کر دیا گیا۔ ’یہ سیاسی و فوجی قیادت کی باہمی رضا سے ہوا۔ پھر اس شخص کو ایف آئی اے میں تعینات کیا جاتا ہے اور میرا کیس اسی کو دیا جاتا ہے۔ تاہم اب یہ دونوں شخصیات گمنام زندگی گزار رہے ہیں۔‘
سابق سپائے ماسٹر کا کہنا تھا کہ کسی کو محب وطن یا غدار خفیہ ایجنسیاں قرار نہیں دیتیں۔ ’میرے وقت میں ایسے غلط فیصلے ہوئے ملک کے مفاد کے خلاف ہوئے۔ یہ فیصلہ طاقت کی تکون نے سیاسی مصلحتوں اور اپنے اقتدار کو دوام دینے کے لیے کیے۔ میں نے تاہم ہمیشہ ملکی مفاد کو مقدم رکھا۔‘
انہوں نے اعتراف کیا کہ بےنظیر بھٹو کی افغانستان پالیسی، جوہری پروگراماور فوج کو اپنی گرفت میں رکھنے کی خواہش پر سکیورٹی اداروں کو خدشات تھے۔ ’اس بابت ہمارے پاس انٹیلیجنس بھی موجود تھی۔ ان کے اندرون اور بیرون ملک بیانات میں تضاد تھا۔‘
بینظیر بھٹو کی افغانستان پالیسی، جوہری پروگرام اور فوج کو اپنی گرفت میں رکھنے کی خواہش پر سکیورٹی اداروں کو خدشات تھے۔ اس بابت ہمارے پاس انٹیلیجنس بھی موجود تھی۔ ان کے اندرون اور بیرون ملک بیانات میں تضاد تھا۔
بریگیڈئر امتیاز
انہوں نے اس تاثر کی نفی کی کہ وہ پیپلز پارٹی مخالف تھے۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ جب وہ سندھ میں تعینات تھے تو یہی وہ وقت تھا جب پیپلز پارٹی کے بعض عناصر نے بغاوت شروع کی۔ ’اس میں را، خاد اور دیگر ممالک کی ایجنسیاں شامل ہوگئیں۔ میری ڈیوٹی تھی کہ اس دہشت گردی کو روکوں۔ اسی لیے شاید یہ تاثر قائم ہوا۔‘
انہوں نے اعتراف کیا کہ عام لوگوں اور انٹیلجنس ایجنسیوں کی رائے میں فرق ہوتا ہے۔ ’خفیہ اداروں کے پاس جو معلومات ہوتی ہیں وہ ان کی بنیاد پر رائے قائم کرتے ہیں لیکن عوام کے پاس ایسی کوئی معلومات نہیں ہوتیں۔‘
ان کا دعوی تھا کہ سابق صدر مشرف نے انہیں بےنظیر بھٹو اور نواز شریف کے خلاف وعدہ معاف گواہ بننے سے انکار پر آٹھ ماہ تک اڈیالہ جیل میں قید تنہائی میں رکھا
(۱) بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد 31 مارچ 1990ء سے 25 اپریل 1993ء تک انٹیلی جنس بیورو میں تعینات رہے اور اس دوران انہوں نے بے پایاں ناجائز دولت اکٹھی کی‘ کرپشن اور ناجائز دولت اکٹھی کرنے کے حوالے سے ان کے خلاف دو مقدمات درج ہوئے پہلا مقدمہ ایف آئی اے نے مورخہ 21 اکتوبر 1994ء میں بذریعہ FIR No. 10/94 بے نظیر بھٹو حکومت کے دوسرے دور میں درج کیا لیکن 1996ء میں محترمہ بے نظیر بھٹو کی حکومت کی برطرفی کے بعد بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد نے اثر و رسوخ استعمال کیا اور ایف آئی اے نے اس مقدمہ کی پیروی میں دلچسپی نہ لی لہٰذا بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد نے ہائی کورٹ میں رٹ کے ذریعے 4 جولائی 1997ء میں اس مقدمہ سے بری الذمہ قرار پائے ۔ اس موقع پر محترمہ بے نظیر بھٹو کی حکومت میں شامل سابق وزیر داخلہ نے چیف جسٹس لاہور ہائی کورٹ اور ہائی کورٹ راولپنڈی بنچ کے متعلقہ جج‘ جسٹس ممتاز علی مرزا کے نام ایک خط کے ذریعے بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد کی جائیداد کیس میں یہ کہتے ہوئے فریق بننے کی درخواست کی کہ آئی بی کے سابق سربراہ کے خلاف ایف آئی اے نے ملک بھر میں 27 قیمتی جائیدادیں اور برکلے بنک لندن میں ان کی بڑی رقم کے بارے میں دستاویزات جمع کی تھیں جنہیں ٹرائل کورٹ کے سامنے پیش کیا جانا تھا تاہم پیپلز پارٹی کی حکومت کی برطرفی کے باعث ایف آئی اے نے مقدمہ کی اچھے پیرائے میں پیروی نہیں کی لہٰذا وہ یہ دستاویزات عدالت کے سامنے پیش کرنا چاہتے تھے لیکن مقدمہ خارج ہو جانے کے باعث اس درخواست پر عملدرآمد نہیں ہوا۔
(۲) بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد کے خلاف ناجائز دولت اکٹھی کرنے کا دوسرا مقدمہ چیئرمین اکاؤنٹ ایبیلٹی بیورو کی جانب سے سیکشن 10 کے تحت بذریعہ ریفرنس نمبر 21/2000 اکاؤنٹ ایبلٹی کورٹ کے جج جناب سید سخی حسین بخاری کی عدالت میں دائر ہوا اس عدالت میں چیئرمین اکاؤنٹ ایبلٹی بیورو کی جانب سے یہ وضاحت کر دی گئی تھی کہ اس مقدمہ میں ایف آئی اے کے مقدمہ میں ظاہر کی گئی جائیدادوں کو شامل نہیں کیا گیا ہے جن جائیدادوں کے پیش نظر اکاؤنٹ ایبلٹی کورٹ نے کرپشن کا مرتکب ہونے پر بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد کو سزا دی ان میں مندرجہ ذیل جائیدادیں شامل تھیں:
(۱)۔ فارن ایکسچینج بئیرر سرٹیفکیٹ جن کی ویلیو 20.8 ملین تھی
(۲) یونٹ نمبر9 I-S, پلازہ ایف ٹین مرکز اسلام آباد
(۳) یونٹ نمبر 8 I-S, ایف ٹین مرکز اسلام آباد
(۴) یونٹ نمبر 2 I-S, پلازہ ایف ٹین مرکز اسلام آباد
(۵) ہاؤس نمبر 286 ایف ٹین فور اسلام آباد
(۶) ہاؤس نمبر 7 ایف سیون ٹو اسلام آباد
(۷) ہاؤس نمبر 6 نائنتھ ایونیو ایف ایٹ ٹو اسلام آباد
عدالت نے مندرجہ بالا جائیدادوں اور بینکوں کے ذریعے شواہد و ضوابط کی خلاف ورزیوں اور عدالت کے سامنے پیش کی گئی شہادتوں کی بنیاد پر کرپشن کے الزامات ثابت ہونے کے بعد مورخہ 31-07-2001ء کو بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد کے تمام بیان کردہ اثاثے بحق سرکار ضبط کرنے کے علاوہ 8 سال قید بامشقت ستر لاکھ روپے جرمانے کی سزا سنائی ۔ عدالت نے مندرجہ بالا سزا کے علاوہ بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد وغیرہ کو سنائی جانے والی سزا کے پورا ہونے کے بعد مزید دس سال کے لئے کسی بھی پبلک آفس‘ Statutory یا لوکل اتھارٹی کے منصب کے لئے نااہل قرار دیا لیکن حیرت ہے کہ قوم کی دولت لوٹنے اور ٹرائل کورٹ کی جانب سے مجرم قرار دینے کے باوجود اس مرتبہ بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد جنرل مشرف کے جاری ہونے والے NRO کے تحت کرپشن کے تحت کمائی ہوئی ناجائز قومی دولت کو پھر سے واگذار کرانے میں کیونکر کامیاب ہوا جبکہ NRO جاری کرتے وقت یہ کہا گیا تھا کہ NRO کے تحت ایسے ملزموں کو چھوٹ نہیں دی جائے گی جن کے خلاف الزامات ثابت ہوگئے ہوں ۔ یہ امر بھی قابل ذکر ہے کہ فوج سے ریٹائرمنٹ ایٹ فالٹ سے قبل 1988ء میں بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد نے جی ایچ کیو میں جائیداد کے جو گوشوارے جمع کرائے تھے ان میں لاہور کینٹ آفیسرز کالونی فیز ٹو میں دو کنال کا ایک پلاٹ اور ڈیفنس ہاؤسنگ کالونی کراچی فیز ایٹ میں دو ہزار گز کا ایک پلاٹ شامل تھا ۔ اس جائیداد کے علاوہ ان کی کوئی جائیداد نہیں تھی کیونکہ آئی بی کے ایک سینئر آفیسر (محمد یونس) نے عدالت میں بیان دیتے ہوئے سرکاری طور پر اس امر کی وضاحت کی تھی کہ آئی بی میں قواعد کے مطابق بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد نے نہ تو جائیداد کا کوئی گوشوارہ جمع کرایا تھا اور نہ ہی جائیداد کی خرید و فروخت کے لئے متعلقہ اتھارٹی سے کبھی اجازت لی تھی لہٰذا عدالت عالیہ اور حکومت سے مودبانہ درخواست کرتا ہوںکہ قومی دولت لوٹنے والے بریگیڈئیر امتیاز احمد کے کیسوں کو فوری طور پر ری اوپن کیا جائے کیونکہ ٹرائل کورٹس نے جولائی 2001ء میں انہیں سزا سنا کر جیل بھیج دیا تھا جبکہ دیگر کیس جسے عدم پیروی کی بناء پر خارج کیا گیا ہے کو بھی ری اوپن کیا جائے تاکہ قومی دولت کو واپس قومی خزانے میں جمع کرایا جائے
..
Finally, who is dirtier than the other? Ansar Abbasi or Brigadier Imtiaz? Both are subservients to the interests of intelligence agencies, supporters of General Zia-ul-Haq, and enemies of democratic forces in Pakistan. Har do lanat:
Who is behind the ‘get Nawaz’ campaign?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: The fact that Nawaz Sharif was once the establishment’s blue-eyed boy and that the creation of the IJI was the ISI’s work are well known and undeniable, but the general perception is that today he is being targeted to save Musharraf’s skin.
It is premature to say who is behind this ‘get Nawaz’ campaign to deter him from seeking Musharraf’s trial under Article 6 of the Constitution. Though the immediate suspect for many is the invisible, military-led establishment, there are indications of involvement of some key government players in this blame-game.
Brigadier (retd) Imtiaz, whose recent statements have created ripples and upset the PML-N and its chief, however, denied that he has been playing into the hands of the establishment or the government. He insists that he just had the urge to share with the nation past secrets, irrespective of who benefits and who is damaged politically because of his revelations.
Talking to this correspondent, Brig Imtiaz said that he is not part of any plan to save Musharraf from trial. “Instead, I am a strong advocate of holding Musharraf accountable for his crimes against Pakistan,” the former ISI spy of ‘midnight jackals’ fame and ex-director general of the Intelligence Bureau said.
Regarding the ‘midnight jackal’ operation, which was meant to manoeuvre a no-confidence against the Benazir Bhutto government, he said that he was once called by the then Army chief General Aslam Beg, who desired in-house change of the government arguing that the Army was facing problems from the government vis-a-vis the country’s nuclear programme and the Afghan policy.
But the PML-N leader and party’s spokesman Pervez Rashid is confident that Brigadier Imtiaz is playing someone’s dirty game. Rashid said that Brig Imtiaz’s interviews and MQM Altaf Hussain’s statements are part of the strategy to malign Nawaz Sharif and prevent him from pursuing Musharraf’s trial.
He said that there are many elements who fear that if Musharraf is tried for his unconstitutional actions, then they too would face the music for their part in the misdoings. So they have launched this anti-Nawaz campaign. He, however, expressed the resolve of his party to continue pressing for upholding the rule of law for which Musharraf’s trial is necesary.
Imtiaz claims that he still has liking for Nawaz Sharif but it is not possible for him to withhold the truth anymore. He denied that he had approached different television channels for interview. He also denied that he has recently met Rehman Malik, the interior minister.
But Dr Shahid Masood of Geo’s ‘Meray Mutabik’ told this correspondent that the Brigadier approached him for an appearance in his programme. Pervez Rashid endorsed Dr Shahid Masood’s view and said that Brigadier Imtiaz contacted different television channels, which in his view is a clear indication of a well thought out strategy to malign the PML-N top leader.
Meanwhile, a London-based source confided to this correspondent that a key Pakistani diplomat from Washington recently visited London to meet Musharraf. It is believed that certain players in the government are in close liaison with the ousted dictator and want to defeat the bid to try Musharraf on high treason charges.
The source said that a British national of Pakistani origin, who runs spices business in London, is financing pro-Musharraf campaign and is even organising Musharraf’s meetings with different media persons to oppose the demand for his trial. Recently he organised Musharraf’s meeting with some pro-Musharraf media anchorpersons at the residence of a Pakistani dentist there. (The News)
saleembutt said: (source: pkpolitics)
Nawaz Sharif claims being uninformed about :
What happend to the Supreme Court of Pakistan on November 27, 1997 ! (Nawaz Sharif does not know who’s responsible to protect the sanctity of the highest court in the land !)
Nawaz Sharif does not know what is ‘contempt of court’ !
Under what circumstances the then Chief Justice of Pakistan Syed Sajjad Ali Shah was attacked by the mobs organized by Nawaz League !
What treatment was meted out to journalists Sethi & Haqqani & The Jang Group !
The whole country has heard the conversation between Nawaz Sharif’s NAB Chairman (his best buddy and side kick – Saif Ur Rehman Piracha) and Mir Jameel ur Rehman – recorded & released by Mir Jameelur rehman !
Nawaz Sharif’s Law Minister Khalid Anwer communicates desires of the rulers to the Judge of the High Court Malik Qayum about the concocted criminal cases against Benazir Bhutto & her husband Asif Ali Zardari – the whole communication was recorded and released and everyone and his cousin heard it but – Nawaz Sharif doesn’t know it !
Of course!!! Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not know anything about Kargil – no he doesn’t know nothing about who paid millions of Sterling Pounds on his behalf in London to save his luxury appartments near Marble Arch when a British Court passed a judgement against his group in a loan default case !
Nawaz doesn’t know who paid for his palace construction in Saudi Arabia or the Raiwind Complex (the future capital of the Independent Dutchy of the Central Punjab ! )
And the list goes on and on and on ad- infinitum!
And now he has been declared as innocent as a ’stuffed rabbit’ – Supreme Court think so!
And I say let him be as innocent and as ignorant as he wishes to pretend but I ask you all here – why should we let a nincompoop like Nawaz Sharif play havoc with our destiny yet another time? What makes you think that this incompetent man has suddenly become so excptionally qualified that you can’t find out of 180 millions of us?
A tribute to Pakistani soliders fighting the terrorists of Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Sipah-e-Sahaba
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto 1953-2007
Ghalib
The rose, with its redolent petals The water lily, with its robe of virgin white These have surely come to us in transmigration Of but a few of those Endowed with sublime beauty and grace. Some embrace death to sprout again But most, forever, in dust remain.
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(Only) When love teaches the etiquette of self-knowledge, Are the Imperial Mysteries revealed to the slaves! Whether it be Attar or Rumi, Razi or Ghazali, Nothing comes to hand without supplication in the early dawn Do not lose hope in them, 0' wise guide! Even though the wayfarers are slow-moving, They are not without zeal (to reach the goal)! (Iqbal)
KARACHI: According to the sworn undertaking of ISI’s former chief Lieutenant General (rtd) Asad Durrani, which he took before Supreme Court (SC) on July 24, 1994, that he was instructed in September 1990 by the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the former General Mirza Aslam Baig for provision of Logistic Support to embezzle money donated for election preparations from some Karachi traders and use the same donation money for Islami Jamhuri Ittehad (IJI) party.
LAHORE: Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Muslim Leagu-N Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said that his party will not step back from its principled stand regarding former president Pervez Musharraf’s trial and repeal of 17th amendment despite all the propaganda against the PML-N and Mian Nawaz Sharif.
KARACHI: According to the sworn undertaking of ISI’s former chief Lieutenant General (rtd) Asad Durrani, which he took before Supreme Court (SC) on July 24, 1994, that he was instructed in September 1990 by the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the former General Mirza Aslam Baig for provision of Logistic Support to embezzle money donated for election preparations from some Karachi traders and use the same donation money for Islami Jamhuri Ittehad (IJI) party.
