Corruption at its peak! some facts!

RAWALPINDI: Corruption is at its peak, as there is no real anti-corruption institution in the country. While on the other hand, handpicked people have been appointed in national organisations, who have been taking decisions at their free-will for personal gains due to which national institutions are seen at the verge of destruction, Karman Khan said. For example, PIA was suffering Rs13 billion deficit in 2007, which surged to Rs40 billion in 2008. The balance sheet of the national airlines is in such a condition that it could be declared bankrupt. According to experts and PIA sources, PIA with current deficit and number of employees could not earn profit in next 50 years. In his talk show “Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Sath”, Kamran Khan said, on the one hand the PIA is struggling to run its financial matters on daily basis and grounded dozens of its planes while on the other hand the Managing Director of PIA Captain Aijaz Haroon is planning to purchase new planes at a cost of Rs160 billion. PIA is suffering loses of millions of rupees due to the monopoly of travel agents on transportation and tickets. Despite record financial deficit, on the directives of the government, the PIA managing director made fresh recruitments of 6,000 workers in the airlines. PIA is on top compared to other airlines in employing maximum number of workers per aircraft. A few weeks ago, the PIA appointed new airhostesses including 12 from interior Sindh as recommended by the PPP office-bearers. The corporation reinstated some of those former employees who were sacked for irregularities and offered them foreign postings. Easy AdSense by Unreal Similarly, Pakistan Steel had a reserve of Rs11 billion and an inventory of products worth at least Rs6 billion in June 2008. In July 2009, Pakistan Steel’s current liabilities reached Rs21 billion. The Pakistan Steel management has already consumed the entire amount of employees’ gratuity and provident fund. In the absence of blast furnace, the steel mills is running at 15 per cent of its capacity. Transactions of the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) damaged the nation’s image in the world. On the recommendation of a federal minister, an income tax officer was appointed as chairman of the TCP last year. Due to this appointment strategy of plunder in government’s trading activity such as procurement of fertilisers, sugar and wheat from international market and an attempt to re-nationalise export of rice from Pakistan by procuring rice locally at an inflated price was unearthed. Imports were timed in such a manner that maximum profits could be earned from local markets. The national exchequer lost Rs3 billion by re-nationalising the rice export, while Rs20 billion loss was caused by non-transparent import of Urea. Due to irregularities of TCP management, the people were forced to buy sugar at an all-time record high price of about Rs50 per kg. The National Bank is assisting the government in these transactions. Its emergency financing of Rs10 billion of Pakistan Steel may eventually benefit private individuals who are calling shots in its affairs from their private offices. The National Bank’s role and interest in enhancing exposure and affairs of some sugar mills of Sindh and their links with powerful political individuals has left many questions unanswered. The bank’s interest in controversial rental power plants scheme of the government also carries many questions. -Source: The News-

Pakistan Khappay, Steel mill Khappay aur PIA Khappay!

Lets HANG Musharaf for……….

I am no journalist to write articles on things but I can look at black and white facts and know the difference so lets have a look on why should Musharaf be tried for…

On 15th February 2008 the exchange for dollar and pound in Pakistan was (http://www.dawn.com/2008/02/18/forex.htm)

Countries    Selling       Buying   Buying
U.S.A.          63.08          62.88   62.71
U.K.              124.18        123.79 123.44

And today a year after Pervez Musharaf’s resignation the same rates are (http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/forex-and-gold)

Countries  Selling    Buying    Buying

U.S.A.        82.5          82.3       82.12
U.K.           135.64      135.31  135

So please for having the rates exchange at such a low during Pervez Musharaf’s 8 year tenure put him on trial for treason and distribute sweets for the success of the current failed government…..

And please register an FIR against Musharaf and his team for achieving the following.. .

Pak Economy in 1999 was: $ 75 billion
Pak Economy in 2007 is: $ 160 billion

According to Prime Minister Gilani in a conference in April 2009 he said..

Our GDP has doubled to US $170 billion in 2009

It should be noted that the above obviously could not have occurred under the current regime or through any of their efforts. In reality, the above is the fruit of the hard work carried out by the Musharraf government from 1999 till 2007.

GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 1999: $ 270 billion
GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 2007: $ 475.5 billion

GDP per Capita in 1999: $ 2,000
GDP per Capita in 2007: $ 3,004

Pak revenue collection 1999: Rs. 305 billion
Pak revenue collection 2007: Rs. 708 billion

Pak Foreign reserves in 1999: $ 700 million
Pak Foreign reserves in 2007: $ 17 billion

Pak Exports in 1999: $ 7.5 billion
Pak Exports in 2007: $ 18.5 billion

Textile Exports in 1999: $ 5.5 billion
Textile Exports in 2007: $ 11.2 billion

KHI stock exchange 1999: $ 5 billion at 700 points
KHI stock exchange 2007: $ 70 billion at 14,000 points

Foreign Direct Investment in 1999: $ 1 billion
Foreign Direct Investment in 2007: $ 8 billion

Debt servicing 1999: 65% of GDP
Debt servicing 2007: 26% of GDP

Poverty level in 1999: 34%
Poverty level in 2007: 24%

Literacy rate in 1999: 45%
Literacy rate in 2007: 53%

Pak Development programs 1999: Rs. 80 billion
Pak Development programs 2007: Rs. 520 billion

Lets look at education now…

Education under Musharraf Era

In 1999-2000 there were 31 Public Universities. Now 2005-2006 there are 49 Public Universities. Under Musharraf 20 NEW UNIVERSITIES SET UP!

** Air University (established 2002)

** Institute of Space technology, ISB (established 2002)

** Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University , Quetta (established 2004)

** University of Science & Technology, Bannu (established 2005)

** University of Hazara (founded 2002)

** Malakand university, Chakdara (established 2002)

** Karakurum International university, Gilgit (established 2002)

** University of Gujrat (established 2004)

** Virtual University of Pak, Lahore (established 2002)

** Sarhad University of IT, Peshawar (established 2001)

** National Law University , ISB (2007)

** Media University , ISB (2007) etc.

** University of Education , Lahore (2002)

** Lasbella University of Marine Sciences, Baluchistan (2005)

** Baluchistan University of IT & Management, Quetta (2002), etc.

Pakistan now has a total of 245,682 Educational institutions in all categories, including 164,579 (i.e. 67 percent) in the Public sector and 81,103 (i.e. 100 percent) in the private sector, reports the National Education Census (NEC-2005). The census — jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education, the Academy of Educational Planning and Management (AEPAM) and the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) — reveals that the number of private-sector institutions has increased from 36,096 in 1999-2000 to 81,103 in 2005, i.e. by 100 per cent.

Total 99,319 Educational Institutions (Public & Private) have increased in Musharraf Era!
Now some of you reading this may come back and say these figures are fake , forged or dummy figures will since I have done my job through facts then please bring facts on the table to prove me wrong….

And people refering to Lal Masjid as a massacre so people, if Lal Masjid was a massacre then what would you call operation in Swat?

Is this still now enough to hang the former chief of staff then please hang him for the following

** 9 world class Engineering universities were being developed and 18 Public universities already developed.
** Private sector institutions have increased from 36,096 (in 1999) to become 81,103 (in 2006).

** PAK was the 3rd best in world Banking profitability and currently Barclays has said that it has been the best new market for them (http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/business/09-barclays-sees-huge-potential-in-pakistan—szh-05)

** PAK IT industry now values around $2 billion, including $1 billion exports and employs around 90,000 professionals.

** CNG sector has attracted over $70 billion investment in last 5 years; and created 45,000 jobs.

** Telecom sector attracted around $10 billion in investment and created above 1.3 million jobs.

** Industrial Parks were being setup throughout the country for the first time! M3 estate, Sunder industrial estate, Chakri, etc.

** Major Mega projects like the Saindak, Rekodiq, Marble production, Coal production and Mining & Quarrying were being pursued.

** In 2006, GDP growth was 6%. Earlier in 1999 was 3.5%.

** Foreign Reserves from $1 bn to $17 bn and today they are around $8bn

** KHI stock market: from 700 points to 13,000 points. today its KSE 100 – Shares Index
Monday’s 7,932.55 (http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/stocks)

** Literacy rate improved by 11%.

** Poverty decreased by 10%.

** He made 4 dams: Mirani, Subakzai, Gomalzam, Khurram Tangi dams.

** 6 Motorways completed or under construction: M1, M3, M8, M9, M10, M11.

** Six major highways under constructed.

** GWADAR advance mega Sea port developed under his vision!

** Historic 100% increase in Tax collection of $11 billion.

** Large scale manufacturing is 30 year high, and Construction activity is 17 year high.

** Newly found World class copper- gold deposits in Chagai will fetch $600 million per year.

** A new Oil refinery with UAE will fetch $5 billion & will process 300,000 oil barrels a day.

** Industrial sector registered 26% growth.

** PAK in 1999 was a $75 billion economy; and in 2006/2007 it’s was $160 billion economy!

** PAK economy was 3rd fastest growing economy after China & India .

So have I convinced you enough to hang him ? or do you need more

I tried to look for accomplishments of the current government but sadly I couldnt find any so can anyone fetch them for me ? You might be lucky enough to get hold of anything apart from meetings in Dubai, London, Muree and a few rallies…

P:S Thank you to Usman for conducting the above research. Hats of you to brother!

In the end, Geo Musharaf Geo.

Operation Clean up!

Coming soon a cracking post on how Pakistan’s future can be secured!

Indira Grandson On Defensive After Hate Speech!

Taken from www.aryoneworld.net

 Updated :   Wednesday  March  18 , 2009  6:57:48 PM

 

 

 

 

NEW DELHI: The grandson of late Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi on Wednesday denied making an anti-Muslim hate speech while campaigning for next month’s elections, and said his remarks had been doctored.  Varun Gandhi defended himself a day after India’s Election Commission ordered he face “criminal charges” for reportedly telling a rally that his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would “cut the head of Muslims.” “Nothing I have said was intended to incite anyone. There is no question of my having any ill feeling towards any community,” he told reporters in New Delhi. “My attempt is to instil confidence in a community which feels it is under siege in their own country,” he added, presenting Indians as a people living in fear of attacks by Muslim militants. Footage aired by the NDTV news channel this week showed Varun saying Muslims “have scary names” and that “if you meet them at night you will be scared.” Muslims make up India’s largest minority community, and relations with majority Hindus have been troubled and often violent since independence from Britain in 1947. Varun’s comments were criticised by the ruling Congress party, which is headed by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of Indira’s eldest son Rajiv, and the torch bearer of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. Varun is the son of Indira’s second child Sanjay, a side of the family that was disowned by the dynasty. The Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has no blood relation to Mahatma Gandhi, the icon of India’s independence movement. The young Gandhi said the tapes were “doctored” and that he was the “victim of a political conspiracy.” India goes to the polls to elect a new parliament and government from April 16 to May 13.

Someone now should tell that Maulana Madini who told Musharaf in a recent conference in India that people stand shoulder to shoulder in India with Muslims.

Missing you already!

Departure of A "HERO"

Fatima Bhutto (http://pakistankakhudahafiz.wordpress.com)

Pakistan has become a very unusual place. In Lahore, the heart of Pakistani cricket, the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in broad daylight by masked gunmen carrying guns and rocket launchers, because you never know when a rocket launcher will come in handy during an urban attack. The government had been warned of a potential terror threat but, true to form, ignored it. After killing eight people, mostly policemen, and wounding several others including the foreign cricketers, the gunmen ambled leisurely away. They were caught on CCTV camera calmly mounting their motorcycles and surveying the scene before deciding they had other places to be. 

Immediately the cacophony of ludicrous claims hit the media. “The attack is to ruin our [the ruling party’s] image,” bellowed Raja Riaz, a Pakistan People’s Party hack. Er, no. “The motive was to damage the state of Pakistan and end cricket here,” said Imran Khan, head of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party. Er, no. The Pakistan cricket team are perfectly capable of ruining the state of cricket in the country on their own; masked gunmen are not required, thank you very much. Incidentally, on Monday night local police attacked the offices of Khan’s party brandishing Kalashnikovs and pistols. It’s probably not a coincidence that Khan has been openly critical of the Zardari government.

It’s fear. That’s what it is. It’s the state of a nation at war with itself. When vigilantes armed with sophisticated weaponry can attack a team of cricket guests (and there are no guests more esteemed in south Asia) in the middle of the afternoon, what they’re telling you is that no one is above the reach of the terror that has taken over Pakistan. It’s startling how adept this government has been at losing control of law and order, leasing out Pakistan’s stability for an increased role in the war on terror in preparation for the troop surge in Afghanistan, and generally running the country to rot.

“Droned” is a verb we use now in Pakistan. It turns out, interestingly enough, that those US predator drones that have been killing Pakistani citizens almost weekly have been taking off from and landing within our own country. Secret airbases in Balochistan – what did we ever do before Google Earth?

The PPP-led government, hailed as being “democratic”, capitulated to the Pakistan Taliban’s demands for sharia law in the Swat Valley in February. There was no vote, no referendum, nothing. The government, tired of fighting those pesky militants who’ve been burning down Sufi shrines and local girls’ schools, just declared that a part of the country would be ruled no longer by federal law, but by a myopically interpreted and Taliban-approved “Islamic” code. And verily it shall be.

We’ve just had senate “elections”. Of course, there are no actual elections involved: the ruling party puts forward winners and they end up in parliament. On Monday, in a shock move, President Asif Ali Zardari’s former attorney, who defended the erstwhile criminal on corruption and murder charges, was made chairman of the senate. What a gas!

Meanwhile, with Delhi still beating war drums over the November Mumbai attacks, our former dictator/president Pervez Musharraf travelled to India recently, and there he warned our neighbours of an all-out war should they strike Pakistan. He also let us know that he is ready to return to the call of political duty. Outsiders might be confused at this change in the situation – what’s he doing there? Didn’t he resign in August? Here’s the beauty of it all: Musharraf’s re-emergence has many middle-class Pakistanis excited and hopeful. Is he back?! A series of op-eds in a local English newspaper (not highly censored because no one reads them) was titled “Why I miss Musharraf”. When a dictator tickles your fancy, you know something has gone very, very wrong.

So, the mood in Pakistan is one of confusion. How did we come to this? How do we get out?

On the eve of spring, it is the same problems that blight the country’s poor – there is no electricity, there is no potable water, and food inflation continues to rise. The newspapers warned us this week that “load shedding” in the summer will be some 15 hours long, which is not that bad considering the fact that we’re sitting in darkness for 12 hours a day now. Pakistan has long missed its millennium target goals of eradicating polio, largely because we can’t keep the electricity going long enough for the vaccines to be properly refrigerated, so they keep going bad. And we’re a nuclear country, a grossly corrupt one at that.

The press censorship continues unabated with future threats of an absolute blackout on any criticisms of the government safely enclosed within the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act that the parliament is currently sitting on. The bill, which imposes jail sentences from three months (for having an email account not registered in your real name) to the death penalty, and criminalises the acts of “spoofing”, “spamming” and “character assassinating”, will apply to the width and breadth of the country and to any person, regardless of nationality or citizenship. It will crack down on all objectionable – the definition of what is objectionable is typically vague – messages sent via, but not limited to, “electrical, digital, analogue, magnetic, optical, biochemical, electrochemical, electromechanical, electromagnetic, radio electric, and wireless technology”. So any subversive content found on cell phones, computers, or toasters will soon be illegal. Your head should be spinning by now.

Pakistan is in a dire situation. Religious extremism, violence and a faltering economy have made the state of affairs here decidedly grim. Joe Biden and John Kerry see American dollars as the only way of helping Pakistan stave off extremism; but Yankee aid donations and senatorial money will not help us now. It is estimated that President Zardari and his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, stole between $2bn and $3bn from the country’s treasury during their two previous stints in power. Now Zardari has claimed his personal wealth to be somewhere in the ballpark of $1.8bn. Nawaz Sharif, leading coalition partner and head of the Pakistan Muslim League, declared his fortune to be not as grand, at only $1.4bn. You do the maths.

The New Chess Board Of Old “PAWNS”

 

Pakistan Zindabad

 I am not the only one doing an analysis/discussion on the current political setup in Pakistan. However, I am the from the few ones doing it in  light of FACTS, HONESTY & LOVE FOR PAKISTAN. Every reader now has seen the jubilation thousands of  citizens of Pakistan  mostly from Punjab on the reinstatement of Chaudry Iftikhar as the chief justice of Pakistan. Sweets have been distributed, slogans have been chanted and the wickedness of the whole scenario is the joy and pride of PML N specially Sharif brothers. There is Jay Ho Jay Ho going on for lawyers movement & PML N on the whole and along the side line there are also positive chants of GA Bhutto and Pakistan Army specially COAS General Kiyani.  

In all the celebrations somehow the dented integrity, credibility and stability of Pakistan has been compromised even more and current political stake holders have managed to ignore it.  Let me take a deep breath and try to take you through my analysis of every stakeholder and how they positioned themselves for tomorrow.

1.  Iftikhar Chaudry and Lawyers

 It should be noticed that during the past few days of building up of  “Wrong March” for some reason Chaudry  was quite. There weren’t any addresses, interviews or even statements in media. This opens up two fronts

a) He knew about his reinstatements before the march began.
b) He was thinking about the actions he would be taking after the reinstatement. (NRO, 3rd Nov and Musharaf)

Whichever of the two it does make me think that when Sharif brothers were buzzing to restore Chaudry, he was actually sat at home viewing the whole situation from the outside. Even after his reinstatement this time around he has not shown massive  joy over it like he did the last time. Although, the biased media is acting as cover up saying that he wont make any more public speeches , meeting politicians etc because he is now the Chief Justice of Pakistan and any such contacts are beyond the ethics of his post. The restoration after the retirement of Chief Justice Dogar sounds more like a re-appointment of  Chaudry after the retirement of Chief Justice Dogar. This is one very important point which has been missed by the biased media, two faced analyst etc. 

In my opinion, the grey areas effecting his mood’s are that during the speech of puppet PM Gilani he didn’t mention anything along the lines of 3 November’s position. Quoting from his speech ,

Iftikhar Chaudry Re-appointed Chief Justice Pakistan

 

Dear countrymen as per my and the President of Pakistan’s promise I announce the restoration of all the deposed judges including Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. On the retirement of Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on March 21 Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry would take charge of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The notification of this is being issued.”

Now the news in media is that Chaudry won’t be touching the controversial political cases. This means he will be avoiding NRO. NRO which was the worst thing to be imposed on Pakistani public by the western stations and now we hear it is going to go un- accounted for. So long to the slogans of free judiciary, honest judiciary and a new sunrise in the justice system will still bow to corrupt political setup.

General Kiyani & Army

General Kiyani has played a very dignified role in this process and has asked the democratically elected dogs to sort out the mess. He has done the dictation on it and the government has followed it. Initially I wasn’t happy about General Kiyani’s moves but on the wider angle I think he has kept army’s directly away from the political setup because at the moment Army cant have another distraction in the form of a coup.

Bravo sir, if you are doing what I think you are then I SALUTE  you….  

 

 

General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani & General (R) Pervez Musharaf

Pakistan Media

The biased media of ARY one world, Geo TV and others have yet again played the role of effecting Pakistan in a negative way. In Lahore and Pindi out of the millions of population of Punjab only a few thousands turned up for the protest / march. Those turned up were mostly political workers or lawyers so how the hell is this march termed as successful? How can media say that the masses have shown what they want i.e. free judiciary. Punjab is not the only province of Pakistan there are others as well and clearly others are not bothered as much.  However, media has not highlighted the real masses and yet again played like the pawns of CIA.

Moreover, the media reckons that this whole solution of the crisis didn’t have a western hand in it. Well if it didn’t then my question is,

What did Clinton have phone conversation with all the major stake holders for?
Why did Holbrooke played an active role during the crisis?

In my opinion, there was a major hand of Americans in all this process and they supported the chief justice and wanted him reinstated. It should also be noted here that the emergency rule placed by Pervez Musharaf which lead to the sacking on Chief Justice was not supported by US and Condoleezza Rice strictly condemned it. This was the point when they really decided to take Pervez Musharaf out of office. When I can see these conspiracies being hatched, when my peers can see it then why is a media trying to give masses a completely wrong story.  Media anchors and analyst like Kashif , Asma , The idiot from dateline Pakistan are all funded by enemies of Pakistan and they are not doing justice Pakistan at all. 

 

Sharif Brothers

It would be interesting to see their next move. In my opinion now that they have bullied government into filing a review petition it seems like they will be back in Punjab government again which will also pave way for Nawaz Sharif to be elected as a member of parliment. Which then will result into political confrontation with the PPP and they will try to topple the government in  the center in order for Nawaz Sharif to once again hold the office of Prime Minister of Pakistan. They have got the judicial system in  their favor and who knows lawyers might march again to get the decision of the courts against Sharif brothers disqualification reverted (if the review petition is not successful). Sharif brothers are to blame for the lasting political turmoil in the country, the detarioting economic condition and the politics of provinces rather than politics of Pakistan.  

The way they lead the march showed signs of challenging the writ of Pakistan. I have said this before, the march also showed that Sharif brothers, if not happy might even opt to make another Bangladesh by trying to run a separatist movement in Punjab.

India, US, and UK all favor the Sharif brothers because they pose a major threat to Pakistan and they can serve the purpose of long lasting destabilized Pakistan. 

President Zardari

Well what can I say, he is completely out of the picture at the moment. It seems like he has been warned by General Kiyani and now has been sidelined from all the governing matters. I can even see a change in the office of the President in the near future. The party members of PPP are revolting against him and it seems like PPP has a rollercoaster ride in the future.  

From the way I see it President Zardari has won this round of confrontation by restoring the chief  justice just the way he liked it. No NRO, no other cases. Just him doing his term and President Zardari doing his term.

My Conclusion

• The re-appointed chief justice will be a puppet and will sit quietly and serve his term. 
• One man cant change the corruption full justice system of Pakistan. He will never succeed in fact lawyers might even go against him in the future.
• NRO and other controversial cases will be avoided in the name of stability of Pakistan, they will once again fool people.
• Nothing will change in the judicial system and to take the attention of the masses away an even bigger crisis will be created in the country
• Army will keep their hands hidden but play an indirect active role in the current democratic system and will try to keep the government going as long as possible. 
•  Sharif brothers will try to achieve their ill motives to try to destabilize Pakistan by using Punjab government.

Next few months are very important for Pakistan. Now that the whole judiciary problem has been resolved its time for the government to finally come up with some policies to put the economy, stability and integrity of Pakistan back on track. They mustn’t forget that India is still trying to detroit the situation in Pakistan, ISI and Army are facing a threat from inside and the outside and finally Pakistani Taliban terrorist are trying to gain grounds and are being funded by RAW.

Pakistan ka khuda Hafiz   

The ‘Wrong’ March: Why The Pakistani Military Won’t Intervene

By AHMED QURAISHI
Saturday, 14 March 2009.
WWW.AHMEDQURAISHI.COM

 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The Pakistani military will not intervene to protect President Asif Ali Zardari or his nemesis Nawaz Sharif. Although firmly opposed to intervention as per the wishes of Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Pakistani military is nonetheless exploring all options to deal with the looming specter of a total collapse of government leading to anarchy across the country.

There is a common feeling in military circles that Pakistan’s elite political class should bear the responsibility for its decisions. The full range of the public administration abilities of these politicians, many of whom have been elected more than twice and thrice, are exposed as sharply lacking. The political class consists of people who are recycled, tried, tested and failed.

 But the ineptitude of Pakistani politicians has entered a dangerous phase now. The new threat includes creating an ethnic confrontation between two provinces, Sindh and Punjab, which could result from the aggressive drive by Mr. Nawaz Sharif to dislodge the Zardari government.

 

This time Pakistanis are seeing a breathtaking failure and irresponsible behavior across the board.

 

 ZARDARI VS. SHARIF

 The incompetence of President Zardari is evident in the manner in which he deliberately pushed all his political enemies to align themselves against him simultaneously. The support for Mr. Zardari’s government from the United States and the United Kingdom is a matter of deep concern for many Pakistanis. These Pakistanis feel that Mr. Zardari’s government is a vehicle for Washington and London to contain Pakistan’s military, intelligence agencies and its nuclear and advanced missile programs. They cite the examples of the behavior of this government in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, the attempts to sideline and dismantle ISI, and the acceptance of U.S. military’s aerial and ground border violations. In this sense, Mr. Zardari has few friends within the Pakistani public opinion. His ouster is the demand of most Pakistani nationalists.

But Mr. Nawaz Sharif’s role is no less deceptive and destructive than that of Mr. Zardari’s. The former premier, who is denouncing Mr. Zardari today, played the most important role in helping Mr. Zardari become President. Nawaz Sharif helped Zardari come to power. It is hypocritical for Mr. Sharif now to condemn NRO (the law that Musharraf promulgated on Anglo-American desire to facilitate the return of the Bhutto-Zardari combine back to power) when his own political career is at stake.  Nawaz Sharif’s recent outbursts are not principled politics but revenge. The sorry part is that the lawyers and the media have failed to put this opportunism by Mr. Sharif on the spotlight. 

Mr. Sharif has also declared ‘rebellion’ against the State and has encouraged policemen and government officials to declare mutiny. This is the most dangerous aspect of this crisis. The fact that Pakistani television commentators have almost ignored this dangerous call is surprising. For those Pakistanis who had condemned, in 2005, the rebellion against the State by politician-turned-terrorist Akbar Bugti, Mr. Sharif’s statements came as a shock. It is possible that in the near future, Bugti-wannabes will quote Sharif’s example to justify such rebellions. Their argument will be, ‘You ignore the calls for rebellion from Punjab politicians but condemn those from smaller provinces.’

Another alarming development was how Mr. Sharif resorted to portray his issues with Mr. Zardari as a battle between the entire Punjab province and a President from Sindh.

 This use of the so-called ‘Punjab card’ by the Sharif brothers sets a dangerous precedent. Pakistan’s security managers must stay alert to the possibility of trouble in Sindh if the Zardari government falls. There are indications that subversive elements will stoke trouble by suggesting that Mr. Zardari’s government crumbled due to a mutiny led by Punjab.

This is why it is important that Mr. Nawaz Sharif does not emerge from this crisis with more political influence than what he had before the crisis. Pakistanis are right in wanting Mr. Zardari and his team out, but the Sharif brothers are not the right replacement. This is also why it is important to heed the advice of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain of the PML-Q. Shujaat has proposed a three-party coalition government in Punjab, where Mr. Sharif will have to share power with both PPPP and PML-Q.  

AMERICA & BRITIAN

It was surprising to see some Pakistani commentators describe the panicked American and British diplomatic moves to save the Zardari government as ‘good this time’ because, in the words of these commentators, the two countries were trying to stabilize Pakistan and save democracy.  

The reality comes with a twist. Such naïveté on the part of some Pakistanis is unfortunate and shows the extent to which Pakistan stands confused and disturbed thanks to the constant barrage of Anglo-American psychological operations, missile attacks, and covert insurgencies being waged against this country by the powers that occupy Afghanistan.

The fact is that Washington and London moved swiftly to save the Zardari government regardless of whether they like Mr. Zardari or not. This is a government in which Washington had made huge investment. It is part of a ‘deal’ linked to the Anglo-American interests in the region.

 It is incorrect that Washington ‘does not trust’ President Zardari, as some Pakistani commentators have been saying recently. The Americans accepted Benazir Bhutto after a long neglect when they felt they needed to counterbalance the Pakistani military and Musharraf, whom America and Britain did not trust.

President Zardari is as acceptable to Washington and London as Benazir Bhutto was when the ‘deal’ was brokered by the two capitals to force a beleaguered Musharraf to share power with someone the Anglo-Americans could trust.

The real problem this time was that President Zardari made an unnecessary move that threatened this government and made the military takeover look good to many Pakistanis. The Americans need this democracy so that they can use its players to counterbalance the Pakistani military in Afghanistan and Kashmir. They know it is easy to meddle in Pakistan. They know that Pakistani politicians are characterless, corrupt and easily buyable through money and power. There are no political parties in Pakistan, only political families with their own interests. It is easy for foreign powers to manipulate these players for their interests.

So U.S. and U.K. intervened to save ‘democracy’ and avert the scary possibility of the Anglo-Americans having to deal with the Pakistani military in the driving seat again.

 LAWYERS’ MOVEMENT

Despite the good intentioned statements to the contrary, the lawyers’ movement has become thoroughly politicized by now. Pakistanis have noticed how Mr. Nawaz Sharif, a political partisan with his own agenda, has become the face of the movement and its official spokesperson.

In 2007, wily politicians too scared to directly confront the military government sheepishly hid behind the lawyers’ movement and used it to topple the military government.

In 2008, the politicians ditched the lawyers and refused to boycott elections under a military ruler.

 In 2009, one politician, Nawaz Sharif, is using the lawyers to topple another politician, Asif Zardari.

Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan played a key role in turning the movement into a tool for ambitious politicians. Chaudhry Iftikhar, the deposed chief justice, would have done a great service by decisively shunning this overt politicization. But even he, after being released from house arrest in March 2008, dashed straight to the residence of Asif Zardari, not a president then but the leader of the party in government, to thank him for releasing him. When Zardari shunned him, Iftikhar is now basking in the glory of Mr. Sharif.

 Mr. Sharif is no innocent political player and the message of change that the lawyers’ movement is promoting cannot happen with Mr. Sharif at the helm.

The question is: Have the two Chaudhrys – Iftikhar and Aitzaz – irreparably politicized the noble cause of an independent judiciary? If he is restored, will Chaudhry Iftikhar be in a position to fairly deal with Mr. Sharif and the other political players in the country?

Then there is also this: Pakistan does need an independent judiciary. But this should come as part of wider changes in the entire political system that is falling apart. Merely reinstating a few judges, who are also now politicized, will never solve the problem for good. 

THE MEDIA

The media in Pakistan has also gone berserk, becoming political partisan under the pretext of siding with truth. First its hype helped these failed politicians come to power. The media failed to help the Pakistani public opinion ask questions about the past record of these politicians before electing them. During the run-up to the 2008 elections, the media suppressed any criticism of these politicians under the pretext of fighting dictatorship. And today when these politicians have plunged the nation into another unnecessary confrontation because of their lust for power, the media has readily become a tool in this fight, siding with one party against another. Until now, there is no regulation whatsoever of this important medium of influence. Other countries have sophisticated media management systems that wage diplomatic and military wars. In Pakistan, this important pillar of national security is running amok.

DEMOCRATIC HORROR

If democracy could turn into horror, it just did in Pakistan. Politicians and partisan activists posing as civil society have just turned Pakistan into the butt of global jokes: a nation with vast economic, geographic, cultural and military potential that is unable to produce a mature, educated leadership.

 

This internal chaos is excellent fodder for the propaganda that strong lobbies in the United States have been engaging in against Pakistan over the past two years, trying to convince the world that Pakistan is a dangerous country that desperately needs U.S. military intervention and containment of its nuclear and strategic programs.

The worst part is that even if the judges are restored and Mr. Nawaz Sharif’s government in Punjab is reinstated, this failed political system in Pakistan will keep generating artificial tensions and crises linked to dogfights among politicians over booty. Pakistan is ripe for a major overhaul in its political structure and foreign policy. Sooner or later, the ball will fall in the military’s court. When that happens, the military better be ready with creative solutions because old-style coups won’t work this time. 

© 2007-2009. All rights reserved. AhmedQuraishi.com & PakNationalists

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Cricket & Pakistan

When "WE DID IT"

I was sitting and  reading some news on cricket when suddenly the who Sri Lankan team episode flashed in my mind. Then I read some interviews of Inzamam-ul-Haque and a few other players all making a point that cricket in Pakistan is finished now (for sometime)….
It reminded me of the final of 1992 world cup. I ended up watching the first half of the match i.e. Pakistan’s batting innings in a shop of a tailor in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi, squezed between a sweeing machine and few friends. (due to loadshedding there wasnt electricity at ours). The joy that win brought to who country was great. Pakistan was nearly out of the tournament and then things turned Pakistan’s way and we did it.

Those were the days when we had all the cricketing greats and today we have these pains to live with…..

Allah Help us!

Random – Islamic Pakistan – Musharaf policies – Pakistani

 

The following paragraphs are as a results of discussion on a forum on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3110245471

Some people  seem to have an assumption that moderate Pakistani citizens haven’t read Quran. The reality is we have and we all know what Quran, Islam , hadees are all about and we have been brought up with all that so they need to stop bringing religion into every discussion.

Pakistan is not being run the away our religion says and probably it will never run that way so why debate on the issue?  just live your life the way Muslims are supposed to and enjoy it. It is irresponsible religious statements which have put Pakistan on the back foot. Islam should be implemented in one’s own life first,then in one’s own house  and then the preaching should began. If so called religious people are conscious enough of the fact that Pakistan is not being run according to teachings of Islam then starting from today  they should start a movement for Islamic governance in Pakistan. Eradicating the honest governance of beloved soldier of our homeland doesnt do any justice. 

Pakistan was made in the name of religion but its NOT governed in the name of religion. Our constitution is not in the name of religion. If Sharia law is introduced in the whole of Pakistan then shakers who want Islamic rule implementing will be leaving the country first. Unfortunately, Pakistani’s live a highly double standards life. On screen its, implement islam, islam is our religion etc off screen its things like woh kafir hai (he is not a muslim), ya sahi islam hai (my way of islam is the right way), woh ghalat islam hai (his way of islam is the wrong way) etc etc etc.

With regards to quran and sunnah in Pakistan. First of all what I fail to understand iswhich Islam should be followed in Pakistan. Which maslak? Shia, Sunni, Deobandi, Barailwi, Ismaili etc etc etc?

 

Lal Masjid Student in ACTION

 

 People say Lal Masjid was not handled well etc etc. In my opinion Lal Masjid was handled well. Infact it should have been dealt very earlier. Pervez Musharaf was kind enough to let them go on for so long.

Its easy to criticize Pervez Musharaf, when one is in power only then he realizes the challenges and the core of running a country.  In 21^st century for survival as a nation you need economy, image, governance, planning, strong leadership skills and he gave you all that. Pakistan never saw $16 billion in reserve’s he showed you that, he showed the true potential of Pakistan.   

Today, Pakistani’s are capable enough to point a finger at Pervez Musharaf because he enlightened them and our fellow citizens to question his moves, constructively criticize policies and brain storm. Pakistani’s have forgotten the time when media was not allowed to utter a single word against the government. Why do Pakistani’s suffer from short term memory lack is un explained.

If people watch resignation address it shows Pervez Musharaf’s patriotism and his love for this country. An honest man stood tall to defend our home land, he fought wars for us so that people like you could sleep in peace in our independent home land, he put his everything at stake and people blame him for un Islamic, un democratic acts etc which don’t even exist in our country.

Leaders are humans and they do some mistakes Nelson Mandela did mistakes, Quai-e-Azam did mistakes and so on so forth but that don’t over shadow their great work. Pervez Musharaf is human as well and he did some mistakes as well but they cant over shadow his exceptional work for Pakistan.

 ”The greatest threat to Pakistan is Pakistani’s nothing else.”

Na shukray logon ka koee haal nahin……. 

 

 

 

 

Pakistan- A year after the “ELECTIONS 2008″

Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah said,

                      “There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan.”

More than a year ago when the first much monitored elections took place in Pakistan on the 18th of February a new wave of happYness went across the country. It cleared the way for PPP (on a sympathy vote), a come back from PML (N) and a winning defeat for PML (Q).  Much of the analyst said that people have given their mandate to PPP and PML (N) and rejected the policies and the government of PML (Q) and Pervez Musharaf. Media was  biased throughout the post elections and it kept the same tone and raised the bar even higher. And on the very first evening after the election results there were chants of “Go Musharaf Go”. 

I dont need to repeat in detail the promises which PPP and PML (N) made before the elections however, I would like to highlight a few of the  important ones.

1. Reinstating judges
2. Better economic policies
3. Roti Kapra Makaan (Food, Clothing and Housing for poor)
4. A safer and stable Pakistan etc etc etc.

Today i.e. the 10th of March 2009 the main character of judges team is yet to be restored(In my opinion he needs to be taken to trial for the turmoil caused because of him), Pakistan is in an economic turmoil Karachi Stock which was the  biggest and most liquid exchange in Pakistan. It was declared the “Best Performing Stock Market of the World for the year 2002”. had  a market capitalization of Rs. 3,746.203 billion (US$ 56.334 billion) having listed capital of Rs. 705.873 billion (US$ 10.615 billion). and was well above the 12000 index point now stands at only 5000+ points.  General public has become poorer and the over all buying power has fallen by 39% in the past year (according to the survey conducted by World bank). Finally, stability in Pakistan has gone to the worst possible stage (unfortunately). The so called greatest alliance of reconciliation of democratically elected  crooked cream of the crop has once again pushed Pakistan on the back foot of disasters.  This is the Pakistan which voters voted for, media campaigned for, lawyers rallied for and politicians did a deal for? 

In the current setup Pakistan has a dishonest head of state, a disillusioned governance in Punjab, a gloomy government in NWFP, a shaky setup in Balochistan and a fragile coalition in Sindh. The recent disqualification drama of Sharif brothers has plunged the country into new crisis of confrontational politics. The Sharif brothers who in their rule attacked the supreme court of Pakistan in order to throw chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah out, who also directly interfered in Army affairs, gave Taliban a freehand to make bonkers of madrassah and are responsible for ordering killings of 1000’s of youths are today talking about a DEMOCRATIC Pakistan.

The pathetic, politically motivated lawyers movement has damaged the countries justice system even more. If the judges, the lawyers etc were loyal to their profession then Pakistan’s Justice system would have been in a much better state. I know and I assume all Pakistani’s know how justice works in courts and how decision swings the way of money rather than material facts. In my opinion, any lawyer who participates in lawyers movement/ rally etc should be dismantled from his duties and thrown for a life time imprisonment. A new justice system should be given shape, with seperate court’s for women in order to process the cases quickly and effectively. Its time to clear the rubbish black coats out and flush their corrupt systems.

Above are only few of the internal failures. For external failures like drone attacks, Mumbai events and over all foreign policy has been a mega disaster on its own.

Someone said once right“Its only when wishes come true, one tends to realize what they had actually wished for” 

Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah said,

“Yet this is a truth people so easily seem to forget and begin to prize local, sectional or provincial interests above and regardless of the national interests. It naturally pains me to find the curse of provincialism holding sway over any section of Pakistan. Pakistan must be rid of this evil”

In a nutshell, the current political condition of the country is more about power rather than being about reforms for people. Sharif brothers are soo much lost in the greed of power that even after the attacks on the Sri Lankan team they had the cheek to hold a press conference against the government rather than putting their difference aside and standing ONE for Pakistan. I cant believe that people still support them even after the whole drama of them claiming of not signing a deal to go to Saudia, then the claim of signing a deal for 5 years and finally the Saudi evidence of a signed deal of 10 years.

One LOTA Imran Khan cant decide which way to swing, he has now been a part of every possible alliance, from being a supporter of Pervez Musharaf to even brushing shoulders with Qazi Hussain Ahmed. The irresponsible behaviour by the politician is being more and more damaging to Pakistan day by day.

Above this, the media which was awarded freedom by Pervez Musharaf became a concrete enemy of Pervez Musharaf is now trying to criticize the government with him. This tells us that how the balance of attention shifts from one ounce to another withthe passage of time. If only media was sincere , the aware-ness of Pakistani nation would be on a different level.

Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah said,

“We are now all Pakistanis–not Baluchis, Pathans, Sindhis, Bengalis, Punjabis and so on–and as Pakistanis we must feet behave and act, and we should be proud to be known as Pakistanis and nothing else” 

Its still not late for us as a nation to boycott all political parties and opt for a new setup by looking at facts and figures. Its time to use our voice, strength and mindset to change the path of our beloved nation. Its late but its never too late for a change.  These political parties which have always shifted sides based upon their interest have never given us anything and they never will. So lets kick them out  and select our own path of success….

“Yet another awaited coup, yet another lesson and nation will never learn”

Pakistan Paindabad, Pakistan Zindabad