Human Rights Advocacy and Media Watch
Ali Dayan Hasan holds civilian government not ISI and army responsible for terrorism in Pakistan
Who knows better than Ali Dayan Hasan the distinction between the lucrative profession of human rights and the actual practice of human rights! A cursory look at his family background and career will tell us a lot about his selective take on human rights and free speech (wiping out mass murder of Hazara, blockade of Parachinar, mass murders in
LUBP supports the following initiative and hopes that this movement spreads and grows all over Pakistan. Furthermore, while we applaud and support this development, we think it should be extended to:
1) Support for Baloch Human Rights which cannot be possible with an end to the Brutal Military Operation and presence.
2) The Continual Massacres of Pushtuns, especially the Shias of Parachinar by the State supported Taliban and their various Jihadi-Sectarian affiliates. (Qudsia Siddiqui)
Source: Baghi
People of Islamabad got together in front of the Parliament House on Dec 30, 2010 in order to protest against a highly discriminatory
Taking Sides : The Liberals and the Right
The decision of a lower court to award the death penalty to a poor Christian woman accused of blasphemy has ignited a wide debate over Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Liberals have asked that the Zia-era blasphemy law should be repealed or amended because it has become an instrument of oppression and injustice in the hands of mobs and
Here is a latest example of the notorious Teen Jeem Alliance (the pro-military establishment alliance of Pakistan’s judiciary, army and media).
This news item was carefully censored or de-prioritized by most newspapers and TV channels in Pakistan.
According to daily The Nation:
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi, (ATC-III), sent the former police chief of Rawalpindi Syed Saud Aziz and former SP Rawal Town Khurram Shahzad to Adiala Jail on 14-day judicial remand after setting aside the Federal Investigation Agency’s request to extend their physical remand for nine more days in Benazir Bhutto’s murder case.
The court also issued show-cause notice to FIA Assistant Director Asghar Jatoi on account of writing a letter to Interior Ministry mentioning in it that the court ordered the agency to investigate ISI and MI officers in BB’s murder case. However, the FIA officer immediately tendered his apology with the court. The FIA had presented two former top cops before the court of Rana Nisar Ali Khan.
According to Sana News:
During the course of hearing ATC took strong notice of letter written by Assistant Director FIA Asghar Jatoi to the Interior Ministry in which Asghar Jatoi claimed that court has instructed FIA to investigate from intelligence agencies (ISI and MI). The court observed that why FIA used court name illegally whereas court never ordered to hold investigations from the officials of these agencies. Court said that this court has no jurisdiction to issue orders in this regard.
It may be recalled that only three days ago, on 27 Dec 2010, the following was reported in Pakistani and international media:
Pakistan may widen the scope of investigations into the killing of former premier Benazir Bhutto to probe the possible involvement of some intelligence officials in the plot.
The investigations into the assassination are likely to be expanded to unveil some faces who have so far been out of picture, the Dawn reported.
The paper said the move to widen the investigation is likley to be ordered as three years of probe have failed to unravel the conspiracy of who killed Bhutto.
“So far little conclusive evidence has emerged about who planned or perpetrated the assassination, or under whose ultimate authority the crime scene investigation was so mismanaged,” the paper said on the third anniversary of the gory killing of the charismatic leader.
The probability of probing intelligence officials, the paper said had been thrown up after the arrest of the two former police officers who have told investigators that some intelligence officials were in contact with them on the fateful day of December 27, 200
The Federal Investigation Agency obtained on Thursday six days’ physical custody of former chief of Rawalpindi city police Saud Aziz and SP Khurram Shahzad to recover the cellphones they were using on the day the former prime minister was assassinated in a gun-and-bomb attack outside Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh
Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali told reporters after the court proceedings that arrested officers had informed the investigators that four officers of the Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence had been in contact with them.
But he said that their names could not be disclosed now because it was yet to be ascertained in what context they were in contact with the accused.
If concrete evidence was found against the intelligence officers they would be included in the investigation.
The FIA investigators said in the court that forensic tests of the cellphones were needed to ascertain who had been in contact with the two police officers on the day of Benazir’s assassination.
Advocate Zulfiqar said that phone data would help the investigators to know if other elements were also involved in the murder.
He said the police officers had given divergent statements about the cellphones and the numbers used by them three years ago. First they said they had lost the phones and later claimed that these had broken up.
The two police officers were brought to the court without handcuffs in a van with windows covered with newspapers.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had a few months ago formed a three-member committee, headed by Cabinet Secretary Chaudhry Abdul Rauf, which excluded from inquiry some top military officials who allegedly ordered the hosing down of the assassination site. The inquiry report, however, has not been made public.
The UN commission on Benazir’s assassination had accused MI’s former director general Maj-Gen Nadeem Ijaz and some top police officials of being behind the hosing down of the site.
The joint investigation team has prepared the 32-point questionnaire for the former president.
Interior ministry sources said the document contained questions relating to security lapse and asked the former president why he did not provide adequate security to Ms Bhutto although she had expressed fears about threats to her life. Gen (retd) Musharraf’s spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said the former president had nothing to do with the security of Bhutto. He termed the government’s move to send the questionnaire to Gen Musharraf an attempt to politicise the case and damage him politically.
Here is an Urdu version of the news report from daily Express which confirms how the court admonished the FIA for “misusing” court’s name by suggesting to interrogate the ISI and the MI in Benazir Bhutto’s murder case.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's arrival in Pakistan on 18th October 2007. She was martyred by the military establishment of Pakistan on 27 December 2007.
میلے لاوو، جشن مناوو، فتح دے جھنڈے اج لہراوو
بھٹو دی بیٹی آئی جے
ظلم دیاں زنجیراں توڑن، مظلوماں دے رشتے جوڑن، دکھ دے دریاواں چوں گزر کے، اپنی جان تلی تے دھر کے
بھٹو دی بیٹی آئی سی، انج جان وی نذر چڑھائی سی، سارے جگ وچ پئی دھائی سی، بھٹو دی بیٹی آئی سی
پھانسی گھاٹ توں علم اٹھایا سی، نالے جنگ دا بِگل وجایا سی، جناں بچے اودے رلا دِتے، دویں ویر وی قتل کرا دِتے
اوھناں پنڈی گھات لگائی سی، اِک سازش لکھی لکھائی سی، سارے جگ وچ پئی دھائی سی، بھٹو دی بیٹی آئی سی
چہوی(٢٤) سال دی عمرے جنگ چڑھی، تی (٣٠) سال کفن سِر بن کے لڑی، نا او کارساز بمباں توں ڈری، سج دج نال مقتل وچ اتری
جدوں قاتلاں گل مکائی سی، روئی اتھرواں نال خدائی سی، سارے جگ وچ پئی دھائی سی، بھٹو دی بیٹی آئی سی
کِسے بے نظیر فیر آوناں نہیں، لوکاں عشق دا میلا لاوناں نہیں، چارے صوبیاں دی زنجیر بنی، نالے ملک دی او تقدیر بنی
جِنے جِندڑی اودی بنائی سی، اونے اِنج دی لکھی جدائی سی، سارے جگ وچ پئی دھائی سی، بھٹو دی بیٹی آئی سی
آئی سی اِنج آئی سی، عمراں دی پئی جدائی سی
عباس اطہر
Related article:
Attack on Shia students in Karachi: An ISI-Sipah-e-Sahaba production
After receiving the news of the blast at Karachi University, I quickly checked the news coverage including the “Breaking News” section of DAWN.
Here is how they reported it:
“KARACHI: A blast reported at the University of Karachi on Tuesday was probably caused by a firecracker, police said.
“It was a low intensity blast and was caused most likely by a cracker,” Karachi police chief Fayyaz Leghari told Reuters.
Leghari said three people were wounded in the incident, though a senior university official estimated at least six.
“The blast took place outside the main cafeteria of the university and at least six people were wounded,” said Kaleem Raza Khan, registrar of the University of Karachi.
This is the first such incident at an educational institution in Karachi, though the campus often sees regular, violent clashes between rival student groups.
Leghari said Tuesday’s incident may be related to these rivalries but added police were investigating.
Last year, two suicide bomb blasts at the International Islamic University in Islamabad killed six people, including the bombers, and wounded at least 20.”(Source)
Reading this report, one would get the impression that this is simply a fire cracker accident that injured six university students. I wonder, was this some festival that they were celebrating; a belated Christmas, Jinnah day or some such sort. Then there is a vague description of “violent clashes” between “rival student groups”
Who are these “student groups” ? Are they the dissident wings of the Bader Meinhoff or the Red Army Brigades?? “I love Miandad” vs “I worship Imran and His Holiness Chaudhary Iftikhar”. How about MQM vs every other ethnicity of Pakistan!
The conclusion is even more interesting where a reference is made to two suicide bomb blasts at the “International Islamic University” thereby creating a causal link between that event and today’s. Now I get it; it must be that damned “foreign hand”; that dark consortium of Jews, Hindus and Blackwater/Xe blonds, as we all know muslims can never do this and Islam had been targeted in the university blasts in Islamabad!!
Nope, as always, no details are provided. After all, that would be completely contrary to DAWN’s style of reporting; you know fudging and obfuscating facts, falsely linking two events and dishonestly presenting the sheer terror tactics of IJT and Sipah Sahaba as an equal force to its various victims.
There is NO reference to the facts that this was no fire cracker but an elaborate remote control bomb with bearings that was used to target Shias students. Ofcourse, the 20 that were injured was casually reduced to 3 and no mention was made of the fact that 2 are in serious condition. Such insensitivity has become the norm for much of the media in reporting attacks on Shias and other minority groups and DAWN is hardly the exception. On the contrary, its disgusting bias just shines through…
The more important context to this would have been the press conference by Shia cleric and activist outside the Press Club just days ago of the abduction of Shia youth by the ISI! Or the threatening SMSs that were sent to scores of Shias since the commencement of Muhurrum in early December. No, such facts would hurt the reputation of DAWN as an establishment rag whose insensitivity for minorities is directly proportional to its fawning over the Judiciary and its dubious cause.
The irony of highlighting Jinnah, the SHIA founder of Pakistan, as the founder of DAWN escapes its ownership who themselves are allegedly Shia. Ingratiating themselves with the establishment is probably more lucrative for DAWN than honest journalism and caring for the plight of minorities.
Carry on DAWN, no one can do euphemisms better than you. In doing so, you churn out the best de-contextualized reports that ensure that the establishment and its Islamofascist proxies will never be held to account for the crimes against the Pakistani people!
ISI, the Inter Services Intelligence, an agency members of whom were found guilty of raping more than 35000 women in East Pakistan. 1386 members of the famous ISI were recommended to be trailed in the Hamood ur Rehman Commission’s report.
ISI, the Inter Services Intelligence, an agency which made millions of petro-dollars in the Afghan War. Tempering the myth of Jihad was an easy job on hand with lush green dollars. General Akhtar Abdul Rehman and Hameed Gull exported children of poor helpless mothers for the Jihad e Afghanistan when their own sons were studying in the United States.
ISI, the Inter Services Intelligence, an agency that sold Stinger Missiles received as an aid in the black market. Upon an inspection, the Ojhri Camp blasted out bringing the doom’s day for the citizens of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
ISI, the Inter Services Intelligence, an agency which holds the prestige of looting the nation via Mehran Bank Scandal. Lt. Gen Asad Durrani the then DG ISI alone made 1.6 billion in the filthy trade.
ISI, the Inter Services Intelligence, an agency which took clothes off the Baloch Women. Zarina Marri, a Baloch school teacher was abducted by the ISI and gang-raped, she was further used as a humiliation tool for the Baloch Nationalists.
ISI, the Inter Services Intelligence, an agency which is involved in the human trade. General Pervez Musharraf exclusively explains in his books the norms of human trafficking. 500 U.S. dollars was the rate of each Pakistani citizen sold to the U.S. That included Dr Aafia Siddiqi and several others.
There is a lot more to say about the “Prestigious and Patriotic” role of he ISI but these facts might not ruin the show of our clowns in the blog-sphere.
“ISI is committed to defending our borders.”
ISI, the Inter Services of Intelligence, an agency which only holds political scandals on its credit sheet. ISI has on numerous occasions tried to subvert the elected governments. ISI is the name of a filthy political player.
ISI managed to create IJI, a right wing alliance to counter the Leftist Pakistan Peoples Party though an alliance of the Pakistan Muslim League and several religio-political parties including the Sipah-e-Sahaba, Jamaat-e-Islami and others. For this purpose, ISI used state money and resources to bring the fundamentalists on political front.
ISI tried to over-throw the elected government of Benazir Bhutto via Saudi riyals. ISI distributed huge sums of money in the right wing politicians to buy loyalties of pro-Benazir Bhutto parliamentarians.
ISI distributed millions in right wing politicians in order to ensure their victory against Benazir Bhutto.
ISI rigged the elections 2002 to ensure the victory of its divine master Pervez Musharraf. The ISI chief Lt. General Ehtashnm Zameer later confessed the fact in the Pakistani media.
A lot more can be written on what ISI’s real role is, but the clowns of the establishment in Pakistan’s mainstream and alternative media might find it hard to ruin their show.
I will just give a glimpse of what “ISI has done to protect the borders of Pakistan.”
ISI briefed the MO branch on the possible reaction of the Indian side on the Kargil Adventure. According to ISI India will at the most move forward with Special Operatives and try taking back the Tiger Hill. There are rare chances of application of artillery as India would try not to agitate Pakistan. Role of Air Force or Navy is beyond possibility grounds. India will never look forward to a full scale war. All these fables of ISI were flushed to gutter when India respond to Kargil drama with full might and Pakistan Army had to accept the bodies of it’s soldiers with humiliation.
Pakistan is under attack but by whom?
Pakistan is under attack by the filthy politically motivated generals of Pakistan Army and its political and jihadi operatives.
All the terrorists today were given birth by the Pakistan Army in early 1980s under the Riyal-Dollar umbrella. These mujahhideen of the past have turned blood sucking beasts of today’s Pakistan and Afghanistan. The lives of hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis go in the credit sheet of Pakistan Army.
Today Balochistan lies at the brink of demise. Thanks to Pakistan’s myopic generals, Balcohistan now does not see a way back. The genocide and rapes in Balochistan have yielded perfect results, Balochs are not ready to forget the humiliation they were served with.
“Ahmed Qureshi is a Patriotic Pakistani”
Yes Ahmed Qureshi, the ISI’s stooge in Pakistani media (along with other more refined operatives who keep on reinforcing the military establishment’s narrative on Taliban, India, drone attacks, politicians etc) is patriotic to the extent that he spends days and nights making up stories which have no farthest connection to reality.
In the words of this patriot:
“Yes we need to create more fake stories that appeal to the audience, like the one created about the Israeli Primer David Ben Gorian to have more guys attracted towards Pakistan.”
Sorry LUBP is not that patriotic we publish which is the truth!
“You people will be liable for high treason when a revolution comes”
I guess the clown brigade is once again looking forward to the politically and financially corrupt generals of the nation.
Let us prepare some lushing medals for Pakistan Army as their achievement sheet does not seem to end. Even a glimpse is hectic to watch:
1. Land Grabbing: The colonial tradition of land grabbing by military officers continued unabated during the past three years.
a) 111 armed forces men have allotted to themselves at least 400 or more kanals each of prime land in Bahawalpur and Rahimyar Khan districts, heart of Punjab, “to defend it from the enemy,” at the throw away rate of Rs 47.5 per kanal, while the real price in those areas ranges 15,000 to 20,000 rupees per kanal. Thus 35,000 kanals of land were distributed among 111 military men in one case alone. Theypaid 1,662,500 rupees at the nominal rate of 47.5 rupees per kanal, while the real price comes to 700 million rupees.
The list includes the names of:
· General Pervez Musharraf, Current President, 400 kanals in Nouabad village, Yazman, Bahawalpur.
· General Moinuddin Haider, Current Interior Minister, 400 kanals in Chak DB/43.
· General Aziz, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, 400 kanals in Chak DB/44.
· Lt. General Khalid Maqbool (Current Governor Punjab), 400 kanals in Chak 54/p.
· Major General Muzaffar Usmani (Later promoted to Lt General and retired recently as Deputy Chief of Army Staff Musharraf), 400 kanals in Chak 93/p.
· Lt. General Muhammed Afzal Janjua, 400 kanals in Chak 54/p
(i) 64 serving and retired officers of colonel to general rank got 400 kanals or more. They include:
10 Generals, 9 Lt. Generals, 16 Maj. Generals, one Admiral, one Air Marshal, 18 Brigadiers, 5 Lt. Colonels and 3 Colonels.
They paid 19,000 rupees for 400 kanals of land worth 400,000 rupees at market ratesif the land is unirrigated. The value of irrigated land in these areas is much higher.
(ii) 47 non-commissioned officers also got plots of agricultural land measuring 200 kanals or less.
Many of the generals have already sold their lots earning millions of rupees in profit at market rates, while others have turned into feudal lords with hired labor toiling for them.
b) Former Chairman of national Accountability Bureau Lt. Gen. Muhammed Amjad was allotted a 2-kanal (1000 sq. yd.) plot in Lahore, with a market value of 10 million rupees, against mere 800,000 rupees payable in 20 years. Invested in Defense Saving Certificates, those 800,000 rupees would multiply to 225 million rupees. He immediately sold half of the plot for 4.5 million rupees earning a profit of 8.2 million rupees on one plot.
c) General Musharraf has acquired a commercial plot, with the market value of 20 million rupees, in Defense Society, Lahore, for mere 100,000 rupees that he will pay in installments spread over 20 years. The General has neither showed this piece of land in his assets, nor sold it. If 20 million rupees are invested in the Defense Saving Certificates, they would grow up to about 500 million rupees. He owns several plots in other localities with a total market value of 200 million rupees. He has gifted a house with a market value of 20 million rupees to his daughter, which he has not shown in his assets. The 400 kanal agricultural plot that he got in Bahawalpur is also not mentioned in his assets.
d) The ISI has forced Environment Minister Shahida Jameel to allot 100 acres of land in the Margalla Hills National Park, one of the big attractions of the capital city. The agency wants to construct a new and “safe” Headquarter as well as, quite intriguingly, a housing colony for its officers. An official summary generated by Barrister Jameel’s ministry has been sent to President Pervez Musharraf, for an urgent decision. Initially the Environment Ministry response was one of alarm, as giving away 100 acres on these hills would almost destroy the whole area as a natural park, which needed to be preserved. When the ISI bosses learned about it, they immediately contacted the Minister and “convinced” her about the immediate need of 100 acres. The lady, naturally, could not resist the pressure. Again, the Generals would grab the best pieces for their homes.
e) Another 100 acres is being selected in Bahawalpur for the outgoing Naval Chief. Defense officials’ teams have been seen visiting Bahawalpur to select these 100 acres, while an offer had also been made to the outgoing Chief to become Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tunisia. The Chief wants to be Ambassador to France and his argument is that his force has a lot to buy from France, like the Augusta submarines his predecessor Admiral Mansurul Haq bought.
f) In a report, after a random check of 4 out of 11 military estate offices in 2000 –2001, Director General of Audit of the Defense Services has found close to five billion rupees loss caused by misuse of land, mismanagement and encroachments. According to an analyst, “the report is an outright indictment of the military, as it not only shows the monumental size of the lands acquired, but also the losses being caused are gigantic, compared to peanuts for which politicians are persecuted day in and day out.”
g) The Defense Housing Authority has been grabbing large chunks of valuable residential land at nominal prices around the country for the exclusive benefit of officers of the armed forces. For instance, in January 2001, the Sindh Governor bypassed the Sindh High Court stay orders, and permitted sale of highly valuable 200 acres of coastal land along Clifton, Karachi, at embarrassingly low rates to Defense Housing Authority. The land valued at market rate of Rs. 4,000/- per square yard was sold to Defense Housing Authority at Rs 20/- per square yard. Thus, the governor caused a staggering loss worth billions of rupees to the exchequer! An acre contains 4840 square yards. The real cost of 200 acres, multiplied by 4,000 per sq. yd. comes to 3.872 billion rupees
2. Defense Purchases: The submarine purchase scam involving Mansurul Haq is only a tip of the iceberg. Many more such deals with heavy kickbacks are hidden in the military closets. A large of deals for purchase of tanks, submarines, mine hunters, Mirage aircraft and army jeeps were signed through the Army Welfare Trust, Sheen Foundation and Bahria Foundation. It is estimated that various military officers pocketed commissions totaling 5.7 billion rupees in these deals.
a) A former NAB Chairman is reported to have written to the three service chiefs to provide records of certain arms deals, but NAB still awaits an answer.
b) The records could provide proof to the allegation that a former air chief Abbas Khatak received three million dollars (180 million rupees) in the purchase of 40 old Mirage aircraft for 120 million dollars. He is also accused of receiving kickbacks in deals for French missiles and Italian radars.
c) Another former air chief Farooq Feroze Khan is suspected of receiving 5 percent commission on purchase of 40 F-7 aircraft for 271 million dollars.
d) In 1996, Army bought 1047 GS-90 jeeps at 20,889 dollars per jeep, while the market price of the jeep was 13,000 dollars. NAB sources have been reported saying that some senior army officers pocketed 8.5 million dollars (510 million rupees).
e) The British Inland Revenue Services wrote a confidential letter to the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) in Islamabad to confirm a payment of five million pound sterling (450million rupees) in commission to an Islamabad-based Pakistani citizen who had acted as an intermediary between the British agent of an American company and the Pakistan Army for an 80 million pound sterling deal.
When summoned to the CBR in Islamabad for confirmation about the payment he had received from London, the Pakistani agent stunned the then chairman CBR Moinuddin Khan by acknowledging, unhesitatingly, that he had received the amount mentioned in the letter.
This shadowy businessman soon dropped a bombshell by disclosing that he got only 200,000 (2 lakh) pounds from the total payment of five million pounds (50 lakh pound) while the remaining amount was distributed among four senior officers of the Army. He also provided an actual breakdown of the payments and impressed upon the then CBR chairman that the then Chief of Army Staff had personally authorized the contract, meaning the COAS was also involved in corruption.
Within next few days a retired major general, who was the former Director General Weapons and Equipment (DGW & E) at the GHQ and had structured the deal with the American company through its British agent, approached the top CBR official and briefed him as how the disclosure and any probe into this deal would jeopardize the national security interest of the country.
After a flurry of activities between the CBR and some retired military officials, the CBR shelved the matter. This controversial deal is understood to be in the knowledge of the present military set-up, but there is nothing on the ground to suggest that it is being probed afresh
Around June/July this year, Pakistan Army awarded a contract for purchase of 1000 Hino trucks at $40,000 per truck, while the Gandhara Industries had offered Isuzu truck of same specifications at $25,000. As per standard procedures for bulk military purchases in Pakistan, no international tenders were invited but tender documents were sent to four pre-selected companies for procurement of 1,000 5-ton 4×4 trucks (ammunition carrier vehicle) by the director general military purchase on April 10. Gandhara Industries sources dispute the Army’s claim that their vehicle was not approved as 5-ton ammunition carrier. The Isuzu trucks were delivered to the Army for extended trial in February and after two months of trials the vehicle was finally short-listed and approved as 5-ton ammo carrier at the GSEEC meeting held on April 13. However, the top brass made final decision in favor of the Hino trucks. The loss to the national exchequer in this deal, at the rate of $15,000 per truck amounted to $15,000,000 (900 million rupees).
g) Pakistan Army’s purchase of more than 3,000 Land Rover trucks in 1995 had also generated controversy with the allegation that the owner of Sygma motors, which had supplied the vehicles, was closely associated with the then chief of general staff of the Pakistan Army. Corruption amounting to 2 billion rupees is alleged in that deal.
h) The Field General Court Martial (FGCM) sentenced former Naval Intelligence Chief Commodore Shahid to 7 years of hard labor, but former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Fasih Bukhari wrote off his sentence after three months, which he had spent in the comfort of his home. It is believed he was freed after he threatened to disclose many more shady deals including a 250 million dollars purchase of mine sweepers.
i) In April 2001, the Public Accounts Committee ordered court trial of 22 corrupt officers of Garrison Engineers (Army) Rawalpindi for causing over a loss of over one billion rupees to the national exchequer with dubious purchases and embezzlement. Defense Ministry officials present at the PAC hearing opposed publication of the culprits’ names, whereupon senior PAC member Lt. General Talat Masood (retd.) admonished them and said that hidden faces involved in corruption must be exposed.
A lot more will be provided on demand.
In the meanwhile, let us salute the saviors of the nation before we are beheaded by the patriot brigade!
Photo Source: Samaa TV
Related article:
Dawn: A “cracker” of a job confusing the public with euphemisms – by Qudsia Siddiqui
A bomb blast reported at the University of Karachi today injuring at least 15 students. The blast took place outside the main cafeteria of the university when Shia students were offering the mid-day prayers.
According to SSP Naeem Sheikh it was a parcel bomb. Heavy contingents of police and rangers with rescue teams rushed to the scene and started to move the injured to the hospitals. The initial reports describe that the bomb was hidden in a small parcel and it blasted during the Zohar Prayer at a place between the mosque and cafeteria near Arts and Economics Lobby. (Source)
Six of the injured were shifted to Patel Hospital, 2 are reportedly in serious condition. (Source)
This is the first such incident at an educational institution in Karachi, though the campus often sees regular, violent clashes between rival student groups.
ے ۔کراچی کے علاقے گلشن اقبال میں واقع شہر کے اہم تدریسی سینٹر جامعہ کراچی میں دوپہر ایک بجے کیفے ٹیریا کے قریب نماز کیلئے قائم جگہ پر ایک درخت کے ساتھ دھماکا ہوا جس سے5 افراد زخمی ہوگئے،جنہیں ابتدائی طبی امداد کیلئے پٹیل اسپتال منتقل کر دیا گیا۔ دھماکے سے کراچی یونیوسٹی میں بھگدڑ مچ گئی اور طلبہ و طالبات میں خوف و ہراس پھیل گیا۔ سی سی پی او کراچی فیاض لغاری کے مطابق ہلکی نوعیت کا دھماکہ کریکر کا تھا جو ایک مذہبی طلبہ تنظیم کی نماز کی جگہ کے قریب درخت کے ساتھ ہوا۔ دھماکے سے قریبی بلاکس کے شیشے ٹوٹ گئے۔کراچی یونیورسٹی کے حفاظتی انتظامات پاکستان رینجرز اور جامعہ کی اپنی سکیورٹی کے حوالے ہیں۔ہلکے دھماکے کے بعد کسی اور دھماکے کے خدشے کے پیش نظر یونیورسٹی کو خالی کرا لیا گیا جبکہ والدین کی بری تعداد بھی طلبہ و طالبات کو لینے کیلئے یونیورسٹی پہنچ گئی۔ گلشن اقبال پولیس کے مطابق واقعہ کی تفتیش شروع کردی گئی ہے۔ دھماکے کے بعد طلبہ مشتعل ہوگئے اور انہوں نے حکومت اور انتظامیہ کے خلاف شدید نعرے بازی کی۔ آخری اطلاعات تک طلبہ یونیورسٹی روڈ کو بلاک کرکے احتجاج کررہے ہیں۔
Source: Jang
Last year, two suicide bomb blasts by extremist Deobandis (Taliban supported by the ISI) at the International Islamic University in Islamabad killed six people, including the bombers, and wounded at least 20.
It may be noted that the military establishment of Pakistan (ISI, MI, Sipah-e-Sahaba, Taliban) have recently started a wave of anti-Shia campaign in Karachi to harass the Muslim minority community.
Apparently, the main aim of Pakistan’s military establishment and its proxies in the media is to “make” public opinion on the North Waziristan operation.
Missing Shias abducted by the state
Recently, at least 10 Shias have been illegally abducted by the ISI and MI in Karachi in the last few days.
“The 10 missing Shias were abducted from different areas of the Karachi city within 10 days by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs),” Maulana Hassan Zafar Naqvi, leader of the MWM told reporters during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, a Press TV correspondent reported on Tuesday.
Missing persons’ relatives for CJ’s help
By: Danish Rafique | Published: December 25, 2010
KARACHI – Families of 10 missing persons belonging to Shia Community have appealed to the Chief Justice to take action and help recover them from the custody of law enforcement agencies.
As per details, Maulana Mirza Yousuf along with the family members of 10 Shia men who allegedly in the custody of Law enforcement agencies held a press Conference at Karachi press Club on Friday and claimed that after the Ashura of Muhram-ulHarram the law enforcement agencies conducted raids at different Shia localities including Jafar Tyaar, North Karachi, Federal B area Cant Station and Orangi Town and apprehended several people without any charge. During the press conference, the families also carrying pictures of the missing people and raised slogans against the authorities as well as law enforcement agencies.
Mirza Yusuf in his addressed informed that that on the other side, the doctors, engineers and other intellectual of the community are being target in ongoing sectarian killing and on the other side law enforcement agencies also arresting our people without any ground. He further said that the authorities were hesitant to take stern action against the culprits of Ashura and Chehlum blasts and those who were behind the killing of Shia people while they arrested the people without any reason from their home and search warrant. He claimed that law enforcement agencies also threatened to kill the arrested men in vivid encounter if they raise their voices again their arrest. He said “Our 10 people were arrested by different raid including Husnain Abbas, resident of Orangi town, two brothers Tanveer Abbas and Mazher Abbas, residents of Sector 10 North Karachi, Pervez Zaidi, resident of Orangi town no 10, Sikander and Jhangir, resident of New Karachi 11-D. They were arrested from Cantt station, Abrar and Ali Mehdi, resident of Jaffer Tayyer,they were arrested when they returning from imam Bargah, Rafat Abbas alias Mesum and Komail, both were the resident of FB Area.” Later, the family members also appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Yusuf Raza Gilani and Interior minister of Sindh to recover the missing men.
Source: The Nation
In video: Blast at Karachi University
…….
Tourism and traveling is big business in today’s world. People travel and see fascinating things. Traveling is a way to relax. People take pictures to freeze their memories. I also travel a lot after coming to America, but my Pakistani soul is desperate to see anything related to my beloved country.
In past 6 months, I have visited several big book stores and libraries. I always go into Travelling and Tourism section and try to find a book on travelling and touring Pakistani. I haven’t found a single book yet. Why? Does this mean that we have a bland country? Obviously NO. Our country is rich in natural beauty. From northern mountains to valleys to plains to deserts and sea shores, we have worth seeing places. We have different regional rich cultures and when they are blended together, they give rise to a rich Pakistani culture which doesn’t consist of just a black burqas and bearded men~ that’s what people think here.
I have seen books for travelling and tourism on almost every country. There are books about India, Iran, Jordan, Egypt, Congo, Jamaica, Haiti, Honduras, Tunisia, etc. My point is not to disparage the travelling in such countries, but to emphasize the need for production and publication of quality books about travelling Pakistan and spreading them all around.
We also have to revolutionize the media in this aspect. They broadcast everything negative but never promote tourism and positive aspects. People not living in Pakistan only get what they see in T.V, or read in magazines and journals. Why will International media tell the world about Pakistan as a tourist destination when our own media is not telling them anything? Charity always begins at home.
All of us should start individual and collective efforts in promoting tourism to Pakistan. Things are not that bad as they are portrayed. We should start working on this issue before it’s too late. Even if an ordinary foreigner goes to a book store and picks a book about Pakistani Travel, just flips few pages and see some pictures of worth seeing places, it will have an effect.
I request all of you to raise this issue to concerned authorities, especially to the Ministry of Tourism- Government of Pakistan to take practical steps in this regard.
If not now, then when???
Beautiful Deosai Plateau
Related Interviews:
Brief Introduction:
LUBP is pleased to present an exclusive interview with Mr. Olaf Kellerhoff Resident Representative Pakistan at Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
Olaf Kellerhoff has also worked as a Intercultural Mission Advisor at UNIFIL, Chief Target Audience Analysis at ISAF, Political Advisor at ISAF Chief Cultural & Religious Advisory Group at ISAF and Political Advisor at KFOR.
His profile on Linked in describes his expertise as follows:
– Conflict management & political consulting
– Communication for Islamic world
– Strong cross-cultural & language skills (viz. Farsi, Arabic, Turkish)
– Extensive mission experienced in post-conflict countries
– Creativity and communication
– Work style shaped by passion and reliability
LUBP: Olaf Kellerhoff, thanks for taking out the time to interview with us tell us something about your background and your experience as a representative of Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung?
Olaf Kellerhoff: First of all, dear Junaid, many thanks for your interest in our work here in Pakistan. That’s also why I joined the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) in 2008. I had studied Islamic History and International Relations and served as an Officer of the German Federal Armed Forces in many missions. Due to my interest and studies I had been working and living in several Muslim countries but until 2008 I didn’t know Pakistan. This country is one of the most fascinating places in the world for me. Consequently, I was very lucky when I received this job offer.
Since January 2009 I am the Resident Representative of our foundation in Pakistan. For me personally a fabulous experience. I enjoy my work and life over here and would even love to enjoy it more if the work doesn’t take its toll: just too many things to do and nothing should be delayed as it’s too important for the betterment of the country.
LUBP: Tell us something about your organization, its main objectives and work in Pakistan, especially in the promotion of liberal democratic politics and human rights?
Olaf Kellerhoff: A peaceful and progressive Pakistan – that’s what the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit (FNF) is committed to since 1986. Our team in Islamabad is part of a family with more than 60 branches around the world. The first President of Germany, Theodor Heuß, established the Foundation in 1958 and named it after his mentor, the German philosopher and politician Friedrich Naumann (1860–1919). Ever since we do not loose focus in our work for human and civic rights, democracy, rule of law and free market economy on the basis of the political philosophy of liberalism. Today, FNF belongs to the 200 leading think tanks of the world.
Our vision is an open society with equal rights for individuals in freedom with responsibility. Our mission is to strengthen civil society in a sustainable and professional manner. Therefore, we do not only fund, but first of all train, consult and interlink our partners. In Pakistan we work in joint partnerships with for example the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Shehri – Ciitzens for a better Environement, Society for Protection of the Rights of the Child (SAPRC) or Center for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) and few more. Thus, our partners and friends do their share as responsible and vigilant citizens for the bright future of Pakistan.
LUBP: The socialists and Islamists suggest that liberalism in Pakistan is an alien idea for the majority of the people, they portray that it is a grand western scheme to dominate third world’s market and eastern values? How do you view such claim/narrative?
Olaf Kellerhoff: Al-hamdu li’llah previous generations of the Pakistani people have been open minded: Imagine Islam being rejected as foreign import from the Arab Peninsula – or even worse as Arab scheme to dominate the Eastern markets or getting hold of the ressources in the Subcontinent! Islam is universal and so is liberalism. The one is a religion, the other a political philosophy – both complementing each other in a very suitable manner. This xenophobe attitude of some people demonstrates their ignorance in general but interestingly also in their claim as subject matter expert. So far, please excuse there might be, but I haven’t met any socialist or islamist who has real expertise on socialism or islamism.
Most likely, it is just the natural human fear of changes . Especially, in a world which is becoming more and more interlinked (it always has been global) and countries more competing with each other, the idea that you have to compete is not a very convenient one. There are a few countries which try to protect themselves by customs. Fine that works for one industry sector. The problem is that you as consumer and tax payer pay the price for it and you as an employee even might pay the price with unemployment. On the long run this sector gets less and less competitive. In other term the consumer/tax payer pays for a very few getting richer or at least defending their funds.
Similarily, it is natural and human that a religious functionary wants to keep his job and influence. Any change means a threat to his or her position. Accordingly, he or she will always argue against it. This is not unique in Pakistan or in Islam. This happened and happens all over the world. For example, the Syrian Intellectual Sadiq al-Azm has done acomparison once between Islamist and ultra-conservative catholicism: Almost everything was exactly the same: the same demands, the same arguments, the same opponents – just you had exchange the word Islam with Christianity.
Have a look for example at the negotiations of the Tehreek-e Nifaz-e Shariat-e Muhammadi (TNSM) for Swat in 2009. The claim of a Sharia court was not about the following sirat al-mustaqim of Islam, but giving jobs to quite untrained clientel. The legitmate wish of the Swati people for justice (as the State failed to deliver) was just too easy to exploit. Why should all the Army checkpoints be removed? Because each checkpoint diminishes the profit of contraband like mainly wood, cars, gems etc. Why should all NGOs leave immediately? Why was the Middle Strata of the Society threatened and made leave? Because every thinking person undermines the nonsense told by religious extremists. Unfortunately, to a good part they could succeed. Thinking persons are leaving – often not only Swat but Pakistan on the long run. Also this is an overall trend: Where do you find the best Islamic scholars? Mainly in Western countries where there are free to think, to talk, to publish. This not because these scholars have alien ideas but threaten by undermining the position of certain extremist groups. That’s very unfortunate as more thinking persons are needed – for the sake of Islam and the people. Or in the words of first Nobel Laureate Sully Prudhomme (1839-1907): Always can be found in the most intelligent humans the most liberal and in the most uneducated the most radical.
LUBP: In the current global economic crisis, we have seen European union stepping in to bail out countries in their fraternity. Possibly the good money was being spent to bail out bad investments. The bailouts have been in billions. Dont you think that developing markets like Pakistan would have been a destination for flows of funds? The europeans would have earned a better name and at the same time increased their influence in Pakistan which has been the forte of USA and middle eastern sheikhdoms?
Olaf Kellerhoff: Please excuse that I can’t see the point: Germany has donated 12,5 million Euro as emergency relief. Furthermore, additional 22,5 million Euro were allocated for food. Not to forget that the German share of European emergency relief is about 20 percent which comes on top of it. This equals around eight million Euro. And the German people have donated privately 160 million Euro (17,2 billion PKR). This is more than any other nation has given from the public. All this money comes directly to the people of Pakistan. Equally, we saved our currency. Not doing it would have had a major impact on world economy – with disadvantages to Pakistan, too.
LUBP: Pakistan is currently facing extremism, militancy and an anti-democratic establishment. What are the reasons for Pakistan not being a developed democracy? Are we the sole responsible for the present democratic crisis or the foreign players and their agenda is the biggest reason? Kindly also share your understanding about the nature of radical approach here, and suggest us ways to cope up with this overall menace?
Olaf Kellerhoff:Truly, I believe in self-responsibility. There will always be hampering factors or challenges for everyone. This could be ressources, could be interference from others and so on. But still you are repsonsible for yourself and blaming others does not help except for feeling better because of not feeling responsible (which is always more convenient). So, if the people of Pakistan want to have a functioning democracy – noboday says they have to have this wish – every citizen can work for it. Democracy has not come in history and will not come in the future as a ready-made gift to a people. Also once introduced but democracy remains a constant task.
If Pakistanis want democracy they should develop it by themselves – and also only if wanted seek help from outside. This would have the advantage not to make (bitter) experiences yourself but come out of the findings and bitter experiences of other people to better solutions directly.
Of course, the idea of democracy is a thorn in the eye of extremist and autocratic rulers (feudal lords included) who want to exploit for selfish reasons. Thus, they will always discourage it. If you don’t want to be exploited then the consequence is to take your responsibility as citizen and work for a functioning democracy.
LUBP: How do you view the recent liberalization of media here? And especially after the fake Wikleaks appeared on Pakistani main stream newspapers do you think Pakistani media is doing its job responsibly?
Olaf Kellerhoff:The Pakistani people can be very happy that it has a vast media landscape. Since its liberalisation it has extended so widely which is wonderful. What is natural in this quick development is that there was not time enough to train all the newcomers. So, many claim to be a journalist without being trained. Consequently, some journalists do not work properly, if not to say irresponsible. Therefore, we have developped with our partners FIRM – Free, Independent and Responsible Media. This is a programme designed especially for journalists in technical skills as well as in understanding and internalizing underlying values of responsible reporting.
The fake Wikileaks made it crystal clear that we are still far away from achieving our goal here. Just simple cross-checking – the basic rule of every journalistic research – would have made the fake obvious.
LUBP: Do you think Wikileaks is helping to to democratize the global world? or such sort of revelations are counterproductive?
Olaf Kellerhoff:Wikileaks is an interesting phenomena: So far, we don’t know how it will change the world on the long run. It is clear that it changes patterns and structures of journalism and to a certain extent also inter-state relationships. If Wikileaks democratises has to be seen. The Right to Infomration and the Freedom of Information, which is after the 18th amendment (Article 19-A) given to the people of Pakistan, is different in nature. This is really the “oxygen of democracy” as it brings light into bureaucracy and government what loyal citizens have paid taxes for. There every person has the right to know for example how his money has been spent. This is public information anyhow and has to be public. Some diplomatic, military and secret service information are not included in it. This is different from Wikileaks which focuses especially on this information which is confidential by nature. There is also a reason why it is confidential. So, not everything should be disclosed.
LUBP: Do you think global liberal world also requires the fundamnetal re-definition of terms like ‘sovereignty’ and ‘self-reliance’?
Olaf Kellerhoff:A liberal world is our vision. It will still take many years if not generations. It will not require a re-definition but souvereignity and self-reliance will be consequence of it not a precondition.
LUBP: kindly share with us ‘Germany’s experience of democracy and also tell us how we can transform Pakistan as a democratic nation?
Olaf Kellerhoff:Germany was a “belated” nation in terms of nation-building. Also the emergence was different from other countries and determines state and mentality of Germans until today. That means, due to the diversity it has a strong federal setup.
Furthermore, from the experience of the Weimar Republic (1918-1933) we know that a “Democracy without Democrats” does not work out. In Berlin of 1920s we had street clashes and targeted killings perhaps like nowadays Karachi. As a consequence political foundations like ours have been set up in order to train German citizens in democracy – a task we still fulfill until today. It is a model which has been exported since the 1960 very successfully. That is also the learning experience: democracy education. You don’t need not only trained politician but trained citizens who can perform their duties as citizens: citizens who know how to vote, who know how to be vigilant, who know how to protest in a peaceful way. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to indtroduce civic education in school curricula and to make it obligatory for each and every citizen – starting from the earliest years of life.
LUBP: What are your views and observations about the internal heterogeneity of Islam. Currently, Pakistani Muslims are faced with a wave of terrorism which is inspired by religious and sectarian ideology. How could this situation be improved?
Olaf Kellerhoff:Terrorism is a communication strategy of weak groups. Often there are legitimate demands behind but these groups have not learned how to express these demands in a peaceful way or if so are ignored. It is clear that you can not “bomb” a communication, in other terms a “war on terrorism” is not only by its words pure nonsense. The need of people has to be addressed on one hand and rule of law maintained on the other. A state has to deliver to its citizens. A government has to be in communications with its voters. A nation has to create opportunities and lead the way ahead for its people.
The ideology is secondary. Of course, persons in search of personal power will always prefer to exploit the obvious as this is much easier, i.e. in this case Islam. But Pakistan’s terror challenge is not about religion: extremist groups contradict and act antithetically against Islam. Most of its adherents are just simple dacoits in search for money and opportunities without any knowledge of nor interest in Islam. It is a personal challenge, a bigger jihad, to restrain from temptations of this world, instead of getting paid 12.000-15.000 PKR as an ordinary talib, driving around in brand new pick-up, and take things you always wanted to have – and even worse: suddenly being respeceted (or let’s say feared after intimidating people but gives you a sense of respect you might have been looking for). In other words: “That’s cool, man!” – especially compared to be just a simple law obedient Muslim and worthful member of your community.
Generally, heterogenity is richness. It can be a very fruitful learning experience when different groups are in communication with each other but it is a threat of those who want to command and control. It belongs to the inner logic that extremists create an “illusion of alternatives”. The Nazis did this, too: Either National Socialism or Bolshevik Chaos! Either believer or unbeliever. Either Muslim or kafir. But the world is not black and white, not only good guy or bad guy, not Muslim and kafir. There many different Muslims and almost forgotten is the category of ahl al-kitab. The “people of the book” are not kuffar, unbelievers. Extremists do not only – willingly or unwillingly (because in general they don’t know anything about Islam) – ignore this category but also have to declare Muslims who are not in line with them, who do not want to be controlled by extremists, kuffar. The takfir is part of the propagandist game extremists have to play.
So, what you could and should do as a citizen:
- Get not trapped in the “illusion of alternatives”. Do not allow others to impose this question on you as this is not legitimate. It’s none of other people’s business what you believe in but between you and God.
- Query whenever somebody comes up with simplistic explanations.
- Don’t get into the blame game but look ahead how to solve problems.
- Demand the state to deliver to all citizens – regardless region, religion or ethnicity.
Contribute to an open-minded, multi-cultural society. This is the richness of Pakistan and not it’s problem.
LUBP: Are the notions of human rights and democracy compatible with Islam?
Olaf Kellerhoff:Definitely, there is no contradiction but even more the obligation as a Muslim to follow human rights and democracy. There exist only very few differences between Islamic notion of human rights and Western concepts. Of course, I am well aware that different regimes in history and presence tried – with some success – to portray this in another way. For good reasons: each autocratic leader will loose his power in favour of power to the people. Obedience to human rights is very annoying to rulers. Accordingly, selfish leaders who want to impose their will on the people will continue to mock human rights and democracy.
LUBP: Your message for young Pakistani Liberals?
Olaf Kellerhoff:Live liberalism in practice! Be an example for others!
Unfortunately, the word liberalism is often misunderstood to that extent that someone who drinks alcohol and is hanging around with other women (or men in case of women) claims to be liberal. This is nonsense! Living liberalism means
- to see other persons as equal, to pay them respect
- to be responsible for yourself (often very unconvenient if you can not blame others)
- to be responsible for your family, community and state
- to act as a vigilant citizen
- to obey rule of law and demand its implementation.
MQM decides to resign from the Federal ministries. Tonight its party night at houses of people like Kamran Khan, Shahid Masood et al; who were striving for this to happen for long.
MQM’s resigning from ministries however is a pressure ploy to see if the Government is willing to concede to its demands, that of more federal ministries & committee chairs and that of more provincial ministries, espacially that of Home minister Sindh. Which can be so decisive in the local bodies elections
MQM is specifically an agencies’ party, and this may be a sign of things to come. This resignation from cabinet may mark that all is not well for PPP led government, as far as agencies’ plan go. This hardly is a secret however.
The government in National Assembly, with MQM, is 16 seats short of a majority. But being a minority government doesn’t necessarily mean that the government would collapse automatically. The law making process would be difficult, but if the current policy of reconciliatory legislating is continued, then PPP may continue to pass the required laws. In any case, most of the day to day work is done through executive orders and secondary legislation, and as such this shouldn’t be perturbed by losing majority.
Most importantly, would the government fall if MQM sits in the opposition? not automatically. According to the constitution, to make the current government resign, there is need for a vote of no confidence. This is when a motion is passed in the Parliament and it is passed by the majority of the members. In that case, government’s survival is not to be decided by MQM but by PML-N. In this scenario, Nawaz Sharif’s statement of 26th December is vital, where he commented that he wouldn’t let the government fail.
This is a big victory for the negotiating team of PPP, who have this public commitment from the leader of the main opposition party. This may also been the reason behind PPP’s decision not to budge under MQM pressure, after JUI’s resignation. But in politics, nothing is set in stone, this is specially true for Pakistani Politics.
Current situation has however created a silver-lining where PPP is sure that no more back stabbers remaining amidst them in the coalition. MQM’s departure does create one immediate concern, and that is the law and order situation in Karachi – the party’s hub. MQM would create unruliness soon, this is given. The options of past have been from bringing in rangers and Army, to impost curfew and martial law. All these have led to MQM gaining greater political influence at the same time not making things any better. The other option of Political conciliation has led to MQM taking too much advantage of their position.
One possible way of this may be to use all the available resources to control the events and not let them escalate. Peace in Karachi and Urban Sindh is in interest of Government and not in MQM’s interest. They will try to make things worse. The PPP and its ally ANP, must be ready to bear the first strike and must ensure that this is known who struck first. They have available to them the 21st century’s devices, such as video cameras, that would have proof of such actions. Even then, government intervention much come when public consensus is build, much like the Lal Mosque. But unlike the Lal Masjid, the retaliation must be measured and proportionate. Aim being restoration of peace, not annihilation of the party. Government must control the narrative, and that must be that MQM have slipped back to old ways. A successful operation would see MQM calling cease fire very soon, especially when it becomes clear that no political gain could be had. Otherwise consequences would be dire for the city and economy of the country.
How do they resolve this quandary is main test of the Government after today’s developments.
Related articles:
On Safdar Abbasi’s participation in Geo TV’s Capital Talk – by Abdul Nishapuri
An advice to Naheed Khan – by Abbas Ather
‘Touch my workers and I will not let you loose alive.’
An open letter to Senator Dr Safdar Abbasi
“Real workers of PPP can never support Zardari.” Really? – by Khalid Wasti
After the Judicial murder of ZAB, it was BB who was the life force for the young idealist activists of PPP. For these activists, often referred to as jiyalas, ZAB was a myth while BB was the current life force of the party. For the next 30 years after ZAB, it was BB who defined and lead the PPP.
Her journey starts under arrest by the Zia regime. The latter did his best to malign the young workers of the PPP who lead the MRD movement under the leadership of BB and Nusrat Bhutto. Towards this end, Zia used the political immaturity of the late Murtaza Bhutto and enlisted the help of ex-IJT activist, Salimullah Tipu in the staged hijacking of Peshawar-bound PIA plane from Karachi. The aim of this tyrant was to portray all jiyalas as terrorist and therefore de-legitimize the MRD movement and he used IJT activists like Tipu to penetrate the PSF.
Only Benazir stood in his way and exposed the dirty tactics of Zia and his coterie by ensuring that the MRD remained about democracy, federation and the aspirations of the masses. It was her genius to de-link the PPP/PSF and MRD from the staged hijacking master minded by Zia and it was this genious that allowed the party of young idealists to thrive.
After the MRD, Zia knew that the only way he could continue to take a hostage nation along his dark and bigoted path was to unleash the forces of fanaticism and fascism. He did the former by promoting sectarian elements starting from Jhang, Punjab. In Sindh, he cobbled together the MQM from prominent ex-IJT activists like Altaf Hussain and Farooq Satter.
Benazir is often accused of compromising on the ideology of the PPP; that much of this criticism comes from discredited traitor uncles who betrayed her father to the gallows speaks volumes. However, Benazir was a creative follower of her father and knew when to differentiate between relative and essential parts of Bhuttoism.
She proved herself on the Afghan issue where we can laud her creativity and foresight. The Afghan policy that she wanted was to respect the formation of an elected government and to end foreign interference in the affairs of Afghanistan. Even then, she could see the destructive effects of the Saudi Jihadism and wanted to save the youth from it. Benazir supported the UN peace initiatives in Afghanistan and in that regard; she ensured that the PPP would differentiate itself from the policies of the establishment.
Rare individuals have the ability to feel the pulse of emerging movements. Unlike many others on the Left, Benazir knew that the end of the Cold War would change the world radically. It was this ability that distinguished her from the rest of the civil society elites and other extensions of the Deep State. Similarly, it also distinguished her from compromised leftists like Tariq Ali whose support for the Taliban, Hamas and Hizbullah highlight that his thinking is still stuck in the Cold War while his purse is fed by the successors of Khomeini. Her education, travel and above all, her uncompromised intellect allowed her to see that the end of the Cold War dictated that a fresh political and economic approach was required. Liberal democracy, regional trade agreements and soft borders were the main features of this changed world and Benazir knew that Pakistan had to accept and adopt these new realities. When Benazir expressed that Pakistan needed a new political and economic vision, she was victimized by the PPP deserters and constrained by the perennial establishment after the 1988 elections.
The Presidency, Ministry of Finance and Foreign policy were off limits to her. Her efforts to initiate a lasting and transparent peace with India raised howls of protest from the Deep State; in their eyes this made her a traitor!
Nonetheless, Benazir realized that for Pakistan to emerge as a progressive, modern, enlightened and developed country, it had to be gently extricated from the clutches of the Deep State. Throughout her life, she actively and passively resisted the “Jihadi” adventurism of the security establishment, for whom this policy was a holy doctrine that the “bloody civilians” dare not change!
However, for Benazir, the end of the Cold War signaled the end of the “Crush India”, “Thousand Years War” and “Islamic Bloc” way of thinking. For her, it was about trade policies that would benefit the masses and not just the chattering elites. This was her vision when she presented the concept of Common Wealth of South Asian countries. Today, events have vindicated her progressive vision for which she was often derided as Pro West and Anti-Pakistan.
In espousing her progressive cause, she engaged in a decades-long struggle to campaign for the rights of women and minorities and provided tickets to minority members. Inspite of all the constraints placed on her by the establishment, she did her best to promote liberal change within the society and guide the electorate towards moderation and away from religious bigotry and fanaticism. She promoted the liberal and progressive sections within her party and did away with intransigent policies that alienated potential allies.
While the rest of Pakistan’s urban chattering elites are somnolent and awash in conspiracy theories, Benazir could see that 9/11 highlighted the growing cancer of extremism within the Muslims. Those who eulogize Hitler, Mawdodi and Khomeini can never be for peace and progress and Benazir did her best to promote a social justice agenda and guide people away from religious bigotry. In that regard, one can only appreciate the slogan:
“Bhutto-ism is our Destination and Benazir is our Leader”
Time has proved her right!
بھٹو کا قاتل کون تھا ؟ مہروں کے پیچھے ہم کتنے ہاتھ بھی تلاش کرلیں ، اس وقت سامنے صرف ایک چہرہ تھا ، ضیاء الحق کی قیادت میں متحد ملٹری ایسٹبلشمنٹ ، یہ قتل کسی قبائلی کا قتل نہیں تھا اور نہ ہی یہ کسی انقلابی تحریک کے رہنما کا قتل تھا ، بھٹو انتخابی سیاست میں یقین رکھنے والے ایک ایسے سیاست دان تھے جو اپنا ووٹ ان طبقات سے لیتے تھے جن کو پاکستان کی اسٹبلیشمنٹ حق فیصلہ دہی کے قا بل نہیں سمجہتی تھی،
رہی یہ بات کہ بی بی گاڑی کے لیور سے مری یا قا تل کی گولی سے یہ ویسا ہی سوال ہے کہ بھٹو صاحب کو تارا مسیح نے مارا یا فوجیوں کے تشدد نے ، حقیقت یہ ہے کہ بھٹو صاحب کو پاکستانی ایسٹبلشمنٹ ما رنا چاہتی تھی انہوں نے کسی بھی طرح مار دیا ،
People support owner of Marriott hotel Sadaruddin Hashwani as he visits the site of explosion Sept. 20, 2008. A massive truck bomb devastated the heavily guarded Marriott Hotel in Islamabad killing at least 53 people and wounding at least 250 more.
Related article:
Disgracefully dismissed: Dr Shahid Masood fired from ARY TV
…….
Dr Shahid Masood flattering Hashwani
I am pleased to announce that I will be a colleague and a co-worker with some of you very soon in my capacity of ‘CEO and President’ for an upcoming Media Group. Mr. Sadruddin Hashwani leads this consortium of giants from the Middle East and Europe.
This Group, is a Media House that will bring out quality TV channels, Dailies and Periodicals besides establishing of Media University of international standard. But honestly none of this would really have been possible, if there was not a Group behind my dream.
In the forefront of this initiative is the man leading this Global consortium, whom I must thank for his having agreed to venture in this media enterprise. Mr. Sadruddin Hashwani a name you are all familiar with. Someone we have all come to respect as a man whose patriotism makes us proud, whose resolve makes us believe more in our own selves. A role model to have risen above the rest as a self made man who now wishes to set a precedence in media, reinventing, reinvigorating and reviving our industry bogged down by lethargy.
“I must admit that this introduction to Mr. Hashwani or the international consortium is no justice. And I fail in introducing them to the hilt that they deserve an introduction, but I do intend on introducing them in more details that I shall share with all of you soon….It is history in the making, it is a hard task. And I know. I am embarking upon a journey to redefine Media History in Pakistan as we know it. Never before, had a working professional in Media could dream of being a stake holder in equity in a big Media Group before, I am to set the precedence.”
Dr. Shahid Masood
President & CEO
Pearl Communications (PVT) Ltd
Shalimar 5 Agha Khan Road Islamabad
http://www.drshahidmasood.com/
……..
Who is Sadruddin Hashwani?
Sadruddin Hashwani is the Chairman of Hashoo Group (Established 1960), a diversified industrial groups in Pakistan with interests across tourism, travel, real-estate development, pharmaceuticals, IT, and oil and gas. Also, the Hashoo Group of Companies has in its fold, as owners and operators, the Pearl Continental Hotels and Marriott Hotels brands with presence in all major cities of Pakistan and Ocean Pakistan Limited, an Oil and Gas exploration and production company.
……
The Hashwani-CIA Connection
Bawa:
اس نئے میڈیا گروپ کو سمجھنسے کے لیے ہمیں سب سے پہلے اس گروپ پر سرمایہ کاری کرنے والوں کو سمجھنا ہوگا
اگر میری یادداشت زیادہ کمزور نہیں ہے تو یہ ہاشوانی گروپ وہی ہے جو اسلام آباد میریٹ ہوٹل کا مالک ہے اور جس نے اپنے ہوٹل میں امریکی فوجیوں کو اڈے قایم کرنے کی اجازت دے رکھی تھی اور اس ہوٹل کو طالبان نے بارود سے اڑا دیا گیا تھا جسمیں سینکڑوں پاکستان شہید اور کچھ امریکی فوجی مارے گئے تھے
کیا ان بے گناہ پاکستانیوں کا خون اس گروپ کے ہاتھوں پر نہیں ہے جس نے امریکی فوجیوں کو وہاں اڈے قایم کرنے کی اجازت دی
http://www.jang.net/urdu/details.asp?nid=305786
…………
The Hashani-Hamid Mir (ISI-MI) propaganda cell
Hashwani also happens to be a good friend of Hamid Mir although he later retracted the agency-made ‘news’ which he leaked to Mir:
ISLAMABAD, September 16, 2009 (Balochistan Times): Top Hotelier and Chairman of Hashoo Group and Marriott Chain of hotels, Sadruddin Hashwani has termed as incorrect and baseless the impression that he was shifting abroad due to President Asif Ali Zardaris pressure. It is wrong that I am shifting abroad due to pressure of President Zardari. There is neither any pressure on me from the President nor there has been any talk between them in this connection. It may be pointed out that a couple of days back when President Zardari hosted Iftar dinner for journalists, prominent Anchorpersons Hamid Mir told the President that Sadruddin Hashwani was propagating that he left the country because of the President. The President described this impression and Propaganda as baseless. At this the President asked his staffers to connect him with Hashwani in Dubai but the staff could not succeed. Then President Zardari asked the security personnel to bring in the mobile set of Hamid Mir and asked him to get him connected with Sadruddin Hashwani. When Hashwani came on line, he informed the President that there was no truth in the report that he(Hashwani) left the country because of President Zardari. At this the President handed over the set to Hamid Mir who also spoke with Hashwani on the occasion. It may be recalled that Sadruddin Hashwani along with his family shifted to Dubai last month. During this period he had been giving impression to important political leaders and elites that he shifted abroad due to pressure from Aiwan-e-Sadr but now he is denying this impression.
(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)
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Venturing into a profitable business: Hashwani’s shrewd (political) investment in Pakistani media
smsupportmovement:
ڈاکٹر شاہد کی رونمائی ، نئی پتلیاں میدان میں
ہاشوانی گروپ کا میڈیا بجٹ
آؤ آؤ ڈاکٹر شاہد مسعود لے لو
مکر کی چا لوں سے بازی لے گیا سرمایہ دار ، جیب میں مال ہے اور بھی جائیں گے دیکھو کون جیتتا ہے ایکسپریس والا سرمایہ دار یا جنگ والا یا ہاشوانی
آؤ آؤ حکومت کو گا لیا ں دو ، مال پھر ہی بکے گا ، ریاست کمزور ہو گی تو ملٹی نیشنل طاقت ور ہو گی
آو جمشید دستی کو گالیاں دو ، تندور کی روٹی کھاتا ہے ، برگر کیوں نہیں کھاتا
آؤ نواز شریف کو گالیاں دو سری پائے کیوں کھاتا ہے
برگر امریکہ کا ہاشوانی امریکہ کا ، شاہد مسعود امریکہ کا پاکستان امریکہ کا رہے نام امریکہ کا
مکر کی چالوں سے بازی لے گیا سرمایہ دار ، پہلے ریڈیو اور ٹی وی کے ذریعے مال بیچتا تھا ، ٹی والوں کو پیسے دو کچھ بھی کہلوا لو
ٹی وی والا گوالے کے دودھ کو زہر ثابت کرتا رہا پھر پتہ چلا کہ سرمایہ دار پیکٹ کے دودھ میں فارمولین ڈالتا ہے
اب سرمایہ دار نے سوچا ہے کہ ٹی وی چینل بنالو ، مال بکے گا بھی اور حکومت پکڑے بھی نہیں جو پکڑے گا آزاد میڈیا اور آزاد عدلیہ اس کو حکومت سے نکا ل باہر کرے گی
کوئی سوال نہیں کرتا کہ صدر الدین ہاشوانی صرف پیزا ہٹ ، مکڈونلڈ اور کے ا یف سی کی رائلٹی میں کتنا پیسہ باہر بھیجتا ہے اس لیے کہ شاہد مسعود جیسوں کی تنخواہ اس سے ملتی ہے
کمال کا دھوکہ مال امریکہ کا نام طالبان کا ، بغل میں امریکہ منہ میں طالبان ، واہ رے میرے شاہد مسعود
اور وہ کون تھا جس نے ٹی وی پر بتایا تھا کہ صدر الدین ہاشوانی کی آرمی چیف سے بھی ملاقات ہوئی تھی ، رہے نام امریکہ کا رہے نام آرمی کا، رہے نام ہاشوانی کا جس کا ہر منصوبہ کسی امریکی چین کا حصہ ہے
رہے نام طالبان کا کہ یہ بھی ایک امریکی چین ہی ہے
لے لو امریکہ کا مال
لے لو شاہد مسعود
لے لو طالبان
………….
Petition to The Hashwani Group
Source: http://www.petitiononline.com/5tgb7ujm/petition.html
To: The Hashwani Group
HOW MUCH DOES YOUR STAY AT THE PEARL CONTINENTAL COST YOU?
Because the workers who clean the rooms, make the meals and run the hotel only get Rs. 7800 per month for nine hour shifts each day. And, when they tried to organize a union to fight for their rights, some were fired and others thrown in secret prison on false charges. 150 of them are now occupying the basement of the Pearl Continental Hotel to demand that its owners, the Hashwani Group, abide by the law. This is following an attempt by the PC to fire four workers, all union activists. Food has become scarce while they have been on strike and management has refused to allow outside deliveries to be made.
The current Human Resources Director at the PC is a retired Major Zia Jan who came to the PC after busting a union at the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC). Major Zia recently told the striking workers that they ought to be ashamed of themselves for fighting the PC.
The workers are being filmed and monitored by security. They are afraid that they will soon be subject to Ranger or police brutality. The families of the workers who protested outside the hotel in solidarity have already been baton-charged by the police.
We, the undersigned, demand that the PC Hotel abide by the law and accept the workers’ demands, which are as follows:
1. GIVE US OUR JOBS BACK!
Firing of union activists while negotiations are ongoing is illegal.
2. RECOGNIZE OUR UNION!
The courts already do. It’s time for the PC to abide by the law.
3. COME TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE!
The PC refuses to negotiate the charter of demands. The 2002 and 2006 demands are still pending.
—
For more details and updates as they become available, please see: http://progpak.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/pc-workers-occupation/
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
…………..
The Hashwani-CIA connection
ہوٹل میں امریکی فوجیوں کا پراسرار آپریشن! کیا حملہ ان فوجیوں پر تھا؟
Source: Jang
اسلام آباد(انصار عباسی) ہفتے کی شام جب میریٹ ہوٹل پر حملہ کیاگیا تو کیا اس وقت وہاں امریکی میرین فوجیوں کا کوئی خفیہ آپریشن جاری تھا۔ اگرچہ کوئی بھی شخص اس کی تصدیق نہیں کرتا لیکن ایسے بہت سے واقعاتی شواہد ہیں جن کی بناء پر یہ کہاجا سکتا ہے۔پیپلزپارٹی کے بہت سے ارکان قومی اسمبلی اور انکے دوستوں کی شہادت کے مطابق امریکی سفارتخانے کے ایک بہت بڑے سفید ٹرک سے فولادی بکس اتارے گئے اور انہیں میریٹ ہوٹل کے اندر منتقل کر دیا گیا ، یہ واقعہ اسی رات پیش آیا تھا جب امریکی ایڈمرل مائیک میولن وزیر اعظم یوسف رضاگیلانی اور دیگر سے ملے تھے۔ ہوٹل کے دونوں مرکزی دروازے بند کردیئے گئے تھے اور امریکی میرینز کے علاوہ کسی کو ٹرک کے قریب جانے کی اجازت نہیں تھی ۔یہ فولادی بکس ان اسکینرز سے بھی نہیں گزارے گئے تھے جو کہ ہوٹل کی لابی کے داخلی راستے پر نصب تھے ، مبنیہ طور پر ان بکسوں کو ہوٹل کی چوتھی اور پانچویں منزل پر منتقل کر دیا گیا۔ پیپلزپارٹی کے دیگر بہت سے ارکان پارلیمنٹ کے علاوہ رکن قومی اسمبلی ممتاز عالم گیلانی بھی اپنے دو دستوں سجاد چوہدری ،پیپلزپارٹی کے ایک رہنما اور بشیر ندیم نے پراسرار سرگرمی کو دیکھا اور اس پر انہوں نے اعتراض اور احتجاج بھی کیا۔ایک ذریعے نے دی نیوز کو بتایا ہے کہ نادیہ ریسٹورنٹ میں ضیافت کے بعد آدھی رات کو اپنے دوستوں کے ہمراہ ہوٹل سے روانہ ہورہے تھے تو انہوں نے امریکی سفارتخانے کا ٹرک ہوٹل کے مرکزی گیٹ کے سامنے کھڑا ہوا دیکھا، ہوٹل کے اپنی سیکورٹی سمیت کسی شخص کو ٹرک کے قریب جانے کی اجازت نہیں دی گئی، ہ ہی ان سے اتارے جانے والے اسٹیل باکسز کو ہوٹل کے اندر لے جانے کیلئے اسکینرز سے گزارنے کی اجازت دی گئی۔پیپلزپارٹی سے تعلق رکھنے والے ان تین دوستوں نے جو پریشانی کی حالت میں مرکزی دروازے کے سامنے کھڑے تھے نے معاملے کی بابت دریافت کیا تو انہیں بتایا گیا کہ مشکوک قسم کے بکس ہوٹل میں لے جائے جارہے ہیں اور انہیں ہوٹل کی چوتھی اور پانچویں منزل میں منقتل کیاجارہا ہے۔ ممتاز عالم کو امریکی میرینز اور ہوٹل کی سیکورٹی دونوں پر غصہ آرہاتھا نہ صرف اسلئے کہ انہیں باہر نکلنے میں تاخیر ہورہی تھی بلکہ سیکورٹی کی ان خامیوں کی وجہ سے بھی جو کہ انہیں نظر آرہی تھیں۔ ان کے احتجاج پر امریکی میرینز نے کوئی توجہ نہیں دی اور ہوٹل کی سیکورٹی کے وہ لوگ جن سے انہوں نے رابطہ کیاوہ بے بس نظر آرہے تھے۔ ممتاز عالم نے ہوٹل کے سیکورٹی عہدیداروں سے کہا کہ وہ ہوٹل اور اسکی سیکورٹی کو خطرے میں ڈال رہے ہیں۔ انہیں یہ کہتے بھی سنا گیا کہ وہ آئندہ کبھی اس ہوٹل میں نہیں آئیں گے۔ انہوں نے اس معاملے کو پارلیمنٹ میں اٹھانے کی دھمکی بھی دی۔کسی کو یہ تو معلوم نہیں کہ آیا پیپلزپارٹی کے اس رکن قومی اسمبلی نے اس پراسرار رات کے بعد پھر ہوٹل کا دورہ کیا یا نہیں لیکن ان کے بھائی امتیاز عالم جو کہ ایک سینئر صحافی ہیں وہ دھماکے کے وقت اسی ہوٹل میں تھے۔امتیاز عالم خوش قسمت تھے کہ اس دھماکے سے بچنے میں کامیاب ہوگئے اور مشکل سے ہی سہی لیکن بھرپورتاریکی میں ہوٹل سے باہر نکل آئے۔ ایک لفٹ جسے وہ استعمال کر رہے تھے وہ اس وقت زمین پر آگری جب انہوں نے زور لگا کر چوتھی منزل پر دروازہ کھولنے کی کوشش کی او ر وہ اس سے نکل آئے۔
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Report: U.S. Planned to Buy Bombed Peshawar Hotel
By ROBERT MACKEY
June 9, 2009, 6:41 PM
Source: NYT
Pakistan’s Geo TV aired security camera video showing how the attackers struck the Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar, Pakistan on Tuesday. After armed militants fired at security guards, a car and a truck loaded with explosives sped towards the hotel. In the bright flash after the explosion, the militants could be seen at the perimeter of the complex.
As a colleague here at The Times points out, the Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar, Pakistan, which was partly destroyed on Tuesday by a massive car bomb, is well known locally as a meeting point for not just wealthy Pakistanis, foreign aid workers and journalists but also intelligence agents. In other words, it is the sort of place a modern-day Graham Greene novel might be set, with security so tight that even the lifeguards at the hotel pool are armed with AK-47s.
Given that reputation, the hotel was an obvious target for militants — even before a report surfaced two weeks ago that the United States was planning to buy the hotel as part of a plan to greatly expand its diplomatic presence in the city. As the Press Trust of India reported on Tuesday, the Pearl Continental is currently owned by Sadruddin Hashwani, who also owns the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, which was bombed last September, resulting in more than 50 deaths.
According to a report by Saeed Shah and Warren P. Strobel of McClatchy Newspapers, the hotel was apparently at the center of an American plan to establish a long-term presence in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province:
A senior State Department official confirmed that the U.S. plan for the consulate in Peshawar involves the purchase of the luxury Pearl Continental hotel. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. […]
Peshawar is an important station for gathering intelligence on the tribal area that surrounds the city on three sides and is a base for al Qaida and the Taliban. The area also will be a focus for expanded U.S. aid programs, and the American mission in Peshawar has already expanded from three U.S. diplomats to several dozen.
In October 2001, a report in Time magazine described how the Pearl Continental fit into the cloak-and-dagger atmosphere of Peshawar, the city “where the terrorists meet, form cells and deploy — and where access to the closed world of the Taliban begins. Bin Laden’s foot soldiers regularly slip through the walled enclaves and jostling bazaars to recruit jihadis or send out instructions. Taliban fighters float through to spy and resupply. Every Afghan faction has its representative in some dim house. Intelligence agents linger in the lobby of the Pearl Continental Hotel, where the phones are tapped and drivers let fall scraps of information.”
As with the attack on the headquarters of the Pakistani intelligence service in Lahore on May 27, the bombing on Tuesday seems to have taken place at a site that militants knew to be central to the operations of the intelligence agencies fighting to defeat them.
……….
Peshawar PC Hotel Blast: Where is Hashwani
Source: fkpolitics
Remember after the Marriott blash, Hashwani, the owner of Marriott and the PC Hotel chain in Pakistan, was all over the TV channels and his picture splashed in all the newspapers. But after last night’s blast at PC Peshawar, there is no sign of him. Curious isn’t it?
Is it because he is NOT the owner any more? Reports are PC, Peshawar was “sold” to the Americans some time back and is the center for their intelligence agencies for the whole area. It was reported by at least one channel (SAMAA TV) that the 3rd and 4th floors WERE completely under American control (just like Marriott where it was the 6th and 7th floors). Further credence is given to the report by the fact that a “tender notice” has already been issued for another PC in Peshawar (Hayatabad). Now why does a smaller city like Peshawar need TWO PC hotels when much bigger cities like Karachi and Lahore have only one?
According to that earlier report, plans were for complete take over of the current PC by the Americans in the coming days, leaving Peshawar with out one. Hence the plans for constructing a new one….
So suggesting this was “a random act of violence” is completely preposterous. PC being the “US Intelligence Headquarters” was common knowledge in Peshawar so an attack there was all but expected sooner or later. The blame for civilian deaths and injuries falls squarely on the government for allowing Americans to set up a base there despite having the example of Marriott before them.
BTW: Americans knew something was up. The following is from last week:
P.S. The story being spun by the media is that the foreigners there were all UN or NGO workers who were there to help the IDPs. Hogwash, I say. I am sure this is true of a few but I say shame on them for wasting all that money on their stay in a five-star hotel when that money could be better spent on the IDPs.
UPDATE #1:
Hashwani has finally shown up talking tough and claiming: “Despite the losses, I will make the (Pearl Continental) operational in two months just as I reopened the Marriott in three months.” Well, sure he “reopened” Marriott but I am told no one goes there (except his old clients 
perhaps.) The same will be the case will this one. Only foreigners will be there and it will continue to be a target. Wonder just how much bigger the “no-go area” would be around the hotel now. Kind of kills the will to go there anyways. So I guess the new owners will have it all to themselves sooner than planned. Or was this the plan in the first place??
(I still believe Hashwani has handed it over to the Americans and they “own” it, just like they own him….)
Update #2:
Well, here is where most of the money for rebuilding PC is going to be coming from:
US to spend $1 billion on embassy expansions in Pakistan, Afghanistan
But more significant is this bit from the story that confirms what i have been saying:
BUYING THE PEARL IN PESHAWAR
A senior State Department official confirmed that the US plan for the consulate in Peshawar involves the purchase of the luxury Pearl Continental hotel. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.
The Pearl Contintental is the city’s only five-star hotel, set in its own expansive grounds, with a swimming pool. It’s owned by Pakistani tycoon Sadruddin Hashwani.
Peshawar is an important station for gathering intelligence on the tribal area that surrounds the city on three sides and is a base for Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The area also will be a focus for expanded US aid programs, and the American mission in Peshawar has already expanded from three US diplomats to several dozen.
In all, the administration requested $806 million for diplomatic construction and security in Pakistan.
“For the strong commitment the US is making in the country of Pakistan, we need the necessary platform to fulfill our diplomatic mission,” said Jonathan Blyth of the State Department’s Overseas Buildings Operations bureau. “The embassy is in need of upgrading and expansion to meet our future mission requirements.”
A senior Pakistani official said the expansion has been under discussion for three years. “Pakistanis understand the need for having diplomatic missions expanding and the Americans always have had an enclave in Islamabad,” said the official, who requested anonymity, because he wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly. “Will some people exploit it? They will.”
Any doubts??? 
Note: DO pay special attention to the statements:
“$736 million to build a new US embassy in Islamabad…The scale of the projects rivals the giant US Embassy in Baghdad, which was completed last year after construction delays at a cost of $740 million.”
AND
“The embassy is in need of upgrading and expansion to meet our future mission requirements.”
So you know what’s coming….
And this DOES CONFIRM the statement made by me earlier i.e. that:
So no tears here…Just applause
An daylight of December 27, 2007, I perceived the alteration in the shade of the blue _ Then, the world gives a vision of the mountains, stooping in veneration and in admiration of someone, later, all the gesticulates of the oceans stood tranquil_ The marvels were quite conspicuous, though, the day was bringing something too ruthless, yes, too hard to acknowledge _ It was all but a ghastly instant, as the timer touched 5 but Gosh! What is that all going…??? Yes!!! It was the day, when my Benazir was snatched from the world _ The world lost its Champion of Democracy _ and the people of Pakistan lost their anticipate _ and Saria lost her intact world, that laid with her. Those minutes of my existence are too horrific to evoke, but after too many days, my hands can’t discontinue to engrave about her, eyes can’t stop to squirt tears in her dearth, mentality can’t impede to imagine about her and of course, my statements and the planet remains curtailed without her.
The tone of Jeay Bhutto rang in every ear and engaged the ambiance. The prospect became crammed with the red, green and black pennons of the Pakistan Peoples Party and every flash held with it, an inimitable facet in the cosmos. The world, for that time, forgot everything to the heroism of the Daughter of Destiny Mohtarmah Benazir Bhutto_
Benazir, who was entirely Benazir in verve, Benazir in valor, Benazir in the final moments of her life as well. The ocean of support for Peoples Party and Benazir _ for the Bhutto bequest was too unfathomable enough to sink the whole world in it _ the world of democracy aficionados _ the world of peace and justice _ the world free from altercation, but democracy and reconciliation _ yes! The world free from starvation, scarcity and malady_ the world, free from redundancy _ the world of Benazir’s apparition_ Yes. A Benazir world!
My existence had taken a new twirl, when I witnessed my leader _ full of optimism and audacity -anticipate of accomplishing the delirium of her father and guts of fighting every encumbrance in her way .A sudden distress got me paralyzed, as soon as I heard the voice of pellets after such a gargantuan public support for Benazir and then, blood _ O No!!! Later, too shoddier a catastrophe .A tragedy _ the greatest adversity, had I ever observed _ My Benazir, who had lain down her life.
The day had brought with it, lots of anguishes _ torments for democracy , for humanity, for impartiality, for true depiction of Pakistan and Islam, for Benazir was certainly, an incarnation of high virtues,.! The next instant, I do see the roads being freshened, hiding my Bibi’s blood and later, adding offense to the injuries, alteration in statements, about the reason of death……..The second day, even averring people accountable for the assassination and the other, considering themselves, extremely untainted beings .This was their realism, who even failed to grant security to the former Prime Minister of a state _ mercy on them and their disreputable misdemeanors.
My eyes do hold back to the bereavement _ yes! I see December 28, when I screech out my Benazir is alive _ Thereby, I see the soil of Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto, taking in itself , another Bhutto, who had been martyred _ Whose life had been grabbed in pursuit of providing Bread, Clothing and Shelter to the natives of her state _ I too, can’t rebuff this very remarkable moment _ Benazir was not buried under mud, but she laid in the divan of roses _ she rules the world _ yes! She rules the essence of her people, this day too from her grave.
Benazir-ism _ an everlasting rule _ an enduring inheritance! To this day, I see my favorite Benazir in President Asif Ali Zardari. When I look at Bilawal, Aseefa and Bakhtawar, my heart coerces me to acknowledge that Benazir Bhutto is at all times with me in their appearance, she’s always with us and directs us. Her phantasm is always with us and we can even peril our own lives to realize it.
Har gar say Bhutto niklay gaa,
Tum kitnay Bhutto maro gay…..
Zinda Hai Bibi, Zinda Hai…!
It was a Thursday, last weekend of 2007. I had my wife’s family visiting us in Dubai. With the election campaign going at full throttle, I had planned to be in Karachi on 4th of January 2008, allowing me to cast my vote and hopefully celebrate a PPP victory. Thursday being weekend in Dubai, the plan was my family will come to my office in a cab and we’ll all go together after I got off from work to Global Village. The visiting kids were very excited and I was looking forward to a hectic but pleasurable weekend.
It was at 5.15 pm that I got a call from a friend saying Rawalpindi has had an attack. I checked on a website and it said PML-N Rally attacked, 4 killed. I said yeah unfortunate that there was an attack on a PML-N rally. He said, “nahee nahee, check karo Benazir par attack hua hay!”. One click of refresh said “Attack on Benazir rally, Benazir injured!”. Oh my lord!!! I just switched to BBC on the office TV and it said “Benazir attacked, while unconfirmed sources say that she may have been critically injured”. I immediately called up my mother in Karachi. All she said was “Yeh nahee ho sakta hay” and then the line dropped. With my eyes on the TV and ear on the phone, the worst possible fear came true within seconds “Benazir Bhutto Assassinated”. In 10 minutes time, the whole world had shaken. Pakistan had lost its leader. I had lost my leader. I prayed Maghrib and for her departed soul and walked out of the office. My family was waiting for me on the ground floor of the building. They had heard the news on radio. Everyone was so quiet. We just sat in our car and went back home. There has never been so much silence in my car. All the way I kept ringing my mother. There was no response. My youngest brother was at home, then 15 years old. He was all alone. I asked him where ammi was and all he said was “She was going to Bilawal House”. During this time, all the rioting and looting had started. So Benazir’s assassination and my family members safety worried me further. It was after 4 hours that I got confirmation that my mother was safe.
When we got home, all we did was watch TV and pray for her departed soul. Geo was running the minute by minute coverage and off course flashbacks of her life and her speeches. They also ran the episode in which Sohail Warraich spent a day with BB in London for his program “Aik din Geo kay saath”. Amongst the many questions asked, Sohail Warraich asked her that “aap Pakistan kee itni bari leader hayn, phir bhee London aur Dubai meyn rehna pasand kar rahee hayn. Iss kee koi khas wajah?”. She responded like a mother and said “Yeh shayad Allah ko manzoor hay kay mayn apnay bachon kay saath thora waqt guzar pa rahee hoon aur unn ko bara hota dekh rahee hoon”. On this response, I couldn’t stop crying. The charismatic leader was no more with us. Only her memories were. May she rest in peace forever.
She knew the dangers that faced her. She didn’t shy away from them. She looked at her death all the time and was prepared for it. On her death, all those who had hounded her i.e. the press, media and establishment started calling her a “Shaheed”. Her hounding still continues. Her family’s hounding continues. Her party is still victimized even though in power. They can hound her name, her party and her people but they cannot eliminate them.
BENAZIR BHUTTO, the bravest of all, more steadfast than all men of Pakistan who put together the voice of SANITY, SECULARISM and DEMOCRACY. Like HERCULES, she was carrying the nation on her shoulders, a beacon of light after years of darkness, the LIGHTNING ROD we were waiting for. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed molded the future of this country by her constant and firm struggle against regressive forces. She emerged on the political horizon of this country when a dictator had besieged this nation by his satanic policies implanting seeds of terrorism, Islamic fundamentalism and sectarian violence. Since then she spent every moment of her life in a continuous struggle to eradicate Zia’s relics that were playing havoc with this country. Her struggle comprised numerous ups and downs, soaked with tears, angst-ridden and drenched in blood.
Fortunate were the subjugated people of Pakistan who were led by the leader like Benazir Bhutto Shaheed whose struggle was no less than that of Nelson Mandela, Aung san suu Kyi, Mao Ze Deng and other icons of international stature. She dreamt of making Pakistan a country, free from poverty, terrorism, illiteracy, unemployment, corruption, inflation and sectarian violence. In order to materialize her dreams she faced every privation with patience but there was nothing that could deter her from this struggle.
She believed that the solution of all problems along with the progress and prosperity of her motherland lay in the ideology of Bhuttoism. Following the ideology of her great father she gave this nation a new vision and concept of reconciliation. A vision that did not bear fruit in a vacuum but was the result of her struggle and acumen. It was her vision and political insight that a true and parliamentary democracy has been restored in Pakistan. It was her vision that has today placed a perpetual block on the future of dictatorship.
It is indeed hard to forgive those who maligned her image, made her life tortuous, tarnished her image through mudslinging and wiped out the loved ones from her life life. Full kudos to the great leader Benazir Bhutto Shaheed who pardoned her worst rivals and introduced politics of reconciliation. How one can forget the era of 90’s and dubious role of PML-N leaders? But it was the vision and patience of Mohtarma that today the same leaders are heading the richest province of Pakistan. They should be thankful to Mohtarma who saved their political career and introduced a golden epoch of political patience. The return of democracy, much damaged by General Pervez Musharraf, is a crystal clear proof of her continuous struggle. She has laid the stage on which today’s politicians are rehearsing their games of politics with much fanfare and revived strength.
She did not buckle before a dictator but pursued him to assure restoration of democracy and secured the return of many exiled leaders. If there would have been no Benazir there would be not have been democracy in Pakistan and many leaders would have still remained in political asylum.
No one could imagine that ANP and MQM could be on the same frequency, no one could imagine a Pakistan without politics of revenge and personal vendetta and no one could imagine an atmosphere of reconciliation in a country whose history is replete with stories of political victimization but the vision and ideology of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed made all this nothing but a reality. She proved herself as a woman with God gifted qualities of leadership. Charter of democracy signed between to worst rival political parties was also a result of charisma of her political insight and acumen.
After the Constitution of Pakistan this is the most sacred document that proved a milestone which is a guarantee of the vibrant future of Pakistan. She induced the golden principle of her ideology, vision and sagacity for the success and progress of this country. Pakistan needs no other philosophy because these principles ensure a prosperous, invincible and strong Pakistan.
Fortunate were the people of Pakistan that got a leader like Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed but how unlucky was the “daughter of East”, who laid down her life for democracy but could not see her dream becoming a reality. Lucky were the browbeaten people of Pakistan who got the leader that strove for their rights but unfortunate was the Mohtarma who could not have a single sigh of relief throughout her life. Auspicious is the land of Pakistan that witnessed a leader like Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and how unlucky was the Mohtarma whose life was snatched by the fifth column of that very country……………..
Let’s pay tribute to her by saying these lines of great figure of literary world RUMI…
“THE FORMS MAY CHANGE,,,
YET THE ESSENCE REMAINS THE SAME,,,,,,
EVERY WONDROUS SIGHT WILL VANISH,
EVERY SWEET WORD WILL FADE,
BUT DO NOT BE DISHEARTENED,,
THE SOURCE THEY COME FROM IS ETERNAL……….
ڈاکٹر سکندر نیویارک میں ٹیکسی چلا رہے تھے جب ستائیس دسمبر سنہ دو ہزار سات کو پارک ایوینیو پر انہیں پاکستان سے ان کی بیٹی نے فون پر بتایا کہ بینظیر کو قتل کردیا گيا ہے۔ ڈاکٹر سکندر نے وہاں ٹیکسی کھڑی کی، وہ سکتے کے عالم میں آگۓ اور آنے والے چند دن انہہوں نے دل پر سٹریس کے مریض کے حیثیت سے ہسپتال میں گذارے۔
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