Ali Dayan Hasan (HRW Pakistan) recants statement against ISI

Ali Dayan Hasan at IPSMM2012

The newly appointed Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence may have attained an understated and unsung victory for his intelligence agency considering the recent and highly surprising statement by Human Rights Watch‘s Pakistan head Ali Dayan Hasan that the ISI may not be involved in the Saleem Shahzad murder AT ALL!

Mr Hasan made this statement at the recently concluded India-Pakistan Social Media Mela held at a local hotel in Karachi.  He was invited as a speaker for the session titled ‘Negotiating complexity: human rights and social media.’

Apart from his condemnation of ‘trolls’ (read his notoriously egotistical irritation on being questioned by critics in general and Twitter activist @Laibaah1 Marri in particular) on social media, Mr Hasan said “My position and HRW position is clear. We never say that he was killed by the ISI. Who killed him has to be determined by an independent probe.” Could we be correct in considering this latest statement by Mr Hasan a recanting of the previous allegations that HRW has made, all but implicating the ISI in carrying out the Saleem Shahzad murder?

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto: The Soul of PPP – by Aamir Hussaini

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!

A flashback of the Benazir Murder – By Taha Kehar

On the evening of 27th December, 2007, we edged along the crowded Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi. A cold winter breeze drifted in from a car window that had been left open for ventilation. Air-conditioners were a redundant luxury now that the temperature had plummeted to a cold extreme. And yet, there was a strong undercurrent of political friction that constantly reminded us that we were living through an era of sweeping changes.

There was a flood-tide of expectations from the forthcoming elections.

Optimism was virtually a non-entity as suspicion governed thought-processes. Many judicious observers had gone to the extent of stating beforehand that the elections would be rigged, damaging the political process entirely. However, not everyone was thoroughly convinced.

Against this backdrop of uncertainty, we drove leisurely towards our destination – the house of an ailing grand-aunt. But before we knew it, things took an unpredictable turn. A phone call announcing Benazir Bhutto’s murder left us astounded. The instinct of self-preservation prodded us to turn back.

Political murders were catastrophic events, particularly in turbulent countries like Pakistan. They could trigger a spate of socio-economic uncertainties. Mob tendencies would grow fearfully extreme and life would reach a standstill.

But there was a general consensus that this assassination had greater symbolic significance than any other mission of sabotage. To some it implied the derailment of democracy and to others it indicated the growth of radical Islam. In a sense, the murder had been expected much before Benazir Bhutto had returned to Pakistan to rally support for her political goals. Unfortunately, no one had anticipated it that evening.

As we drove homewards, fear enveloped my mind.

How could life be so brittle? I asked myself.

Here was a woman who had floundered for the upkeep of social justice, equality and the restitution of democracy. In the months following General Zia’s totalitarian takeover, she emerged as the true embodiment of righteousness when she untiringly fought to claim justice for her father. Her efforts may not have been of much avail but they steeled her to confront countless adversities she faced during her years in and out of public office.

How could moral courage that was obtained through several years of a dismal struggle be thwarted in a single explosion? More importantly, how could death justify a divergence of political opinion?

It was these questions that plagued my thoughts that night as the trepidation of Benazir’s murder turned into resignation. Their urgency astonished my sixteen-year-old mind. I felt the restive urge to understand this murder. But I knew that facts would not offer an accurate representation of its purpose. They would simply provide a string of politically motivated excuses for this heinous crime. All I could decipher in those brief moments was that life was precious. One simply could not divest it from anyone. It seemed so futile, so completely immature.

As the hours passed, I continued to ponder over this. But on a more pragmatic level I was convinced that no one in a world ravaged with political violence would understand this. Thus, I endeavoured to seek answers for myself. In a frenzied spurt of agony, I walked to my desk, equipped myself with a pen and several reams of paper and began to write.

Initially I had contemplated a lengthy perusal of the many manuals on Pakistan’s history that had been tucked into a book shelf but the ideas came across as absurd. After all, how could something as fragile as death be explained through politics? Did it not surpass its influence?

I was certain that it did. And so, I chose to write in an attempt to immortalize Benazir’s life. I realized that so long as her life had been productive, the idea of its denouement would not seem bizarre. In fact, it would make death seem like a necessary phase of respite.

Moments later I was prepared with a poem that celebrated the life and times of a courageous woman:

Enthused by that graceful soul,

We throng to her sepulchre in cries and doles.

Our mind eclipsed in disbelief,

As her mission remains adjourned.

We recall those hours, unsightly and grim,

When she willingly floundered, fulfilling our whim.

She decreed for us the bounties of liberation,

Vowing to succour this poverty-stricken nation.

In a mesh of foreboding, she slithered to our rescue,

Wallowing in our woes; exulting when necessary,

Until her demise forced her to eschew.

Now, the Empress of Sindh, a saviour and kin,

Is ensconced in a mausoleum of martyrdom.

As melancholy hymns permeate in hopeful dins,

We wail and wait akin.

Orya Maqbool Jan and his Taliban apologist perspective on democracy – by Shoaib Adil

Mr Shoaib Adil belongs to the school of progressive writers. He is Editor in Chief of the “Nia Zamana”, a liberal pro-democracy journal. In his current article (originally published in the ‘Daily Aajkal’), he criticizes Orya Maqbool Jan, a right wing columnist of Jamaat-e-Islami, for his anti-democratic and anti-West approach. Orya Maqbool Jan, a leading Taliban apologist and a member of Taliban Union of Journalists, continues to claim that the Taliban government in Afghanistan was the most just, honest and social welfare oriented government the world has ever seen since the time of the four caliphs. He also amazingly blames America, West and democracy for all evils in Pakistan. He has written a serial of columns in support of Taliban, in which he praised Mullah Umar and his ‘Talibanic’ style of governance. He also suggested to the present civilian elected government to follow Taliban.

Here is Mr Adil’s article in the daily Aaj Kal:

Shia physician charged with blasphemy in Hyderabad Sindh

Extremist Deobandis (supported by extremist Barelvis) have charged a famous physician Dr Noushad Ali Valliani (M.B.B.S, R.M.P, P.M.D.C) of blasphemy for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad. He has been arrested for throwing a Medical Representative’s visiting card into dustbin. Medical Rep Mr Muhammad Faizan called his colleagues, beat him up and then dragged him to the police station where has been formally charged with blasphemy. According to Pakistani law, any one convicted of blasphemy may be sentenced to death.

The controversial blasphemy law is supported by the PML-N (Nawaz Sharif), Jamaat-e-Islami (Munawar Hasan), Sunni Tehreek, Sipah-e-Sahaba and Taliban.

Naushad Valiyani. PHOTO: Express Tribune

توہین رسالت کا مقدمہ درج

پاکستان میں توہین رسالت قانون کے خلاف مظاہرے بھی ہوئے ہیں

پاکستان کے شہر حیدرآباد میں ایک شخص کی درخواست پر پولیس نے شہر کے معروف معالج ڈاکٹر نوشاد ولیانی کے خلاف توہین رسالت کے الزام میں مقدمہ درج کر لیا ہے۔

پولیس نے ڈاکٹر نوشاد کو حراست میں بھی لے لیا ہے۔

حیدرآباد کے ریجنل پولیس افسر حیدرآباد سید مشتاق شاہ نے بی بی سی اردو سروس کے نامہ نگار احمد رضا سے بات کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ یہ مقدمہ درج نہیں ہونا چاہیے تھا لیکن بعض مذہبی تنظیموں کے کارکنوں نے سڑک بلاک کرکے احتجاج شروع کردیا تھا جس کی وجہ سے عشرہ محرم میں نقص امن سے بچنے کے لیے پولیس کو مقدمہ درج کرنا پڑا

حیدرآباد کے ریجنل پولیس افسر سید مشتاق شاہ کیا کہتے ہیں؟
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2010/12/101211_rpo_hyd_interview_ha.shtml

محمد فیضان کا کہنا ہے کہ ڈاکٹر نوشاد ولیانی نے جمعرات کے روز ان کا وزیٹنگ کارڈ ردی کی ٹو کری میں پھینک دیا تھا اور حضور کی شان میں گستاخانہ الفاظ ادا کیے۔

حیدرآباد میں بی بی سی کے نامہ نگار علی حسن کے مطابق سنیچر کو کئی میڈیکل کمپنیوں نے نمائندوں نے ڈاکٹر کی کلینک پر دھاوا بول دیا اور پہلے ڈاکٹر کو زد و کوب کیا پھر انہیں کینٹ پتھانے لے گئے۔

ڈاکٹر نوشاد نے پولیس کو پیش آ نے والے واقعات سے آگاہ کیا اور کہا کہ وہ کسی طور پر بھی توہین رسالت کے مرتکب نہیں ہوئے ہیں۔ ڈاکٹر نوشاد اسماعیلی فرقے سے تعلق رکھتے ہیں۔

فیضان اور ان کے ساتھی ڈاکٹر نوشاد کی وضاحت پر مطمئن ہوگئے تھے لیکن اس سے قبل کہ معاملہ رفع دفع ہوتا، بعض کالعدم مذہبی تنظیموں سے وابستہ سرگرم کارکن تھانے پہنچ گئے۔

ان لوگوں نے موقف اختیار کیا کہ معاملے کو رفع دفع نہیں کیا جاسکتا اور پولیس کو باقاعدہ مقدمہ درج کرنا ہوگا۔ اس دوران تھانے کے باہر ہجوم سا لگ گیا جس نے نعرے بازی شروع کردی۔

مذہبی تنظیموں کے کارکنان کے مقدمہ درج کرنے کے مطالبے پر فیضان اور ان کے ساتھیوں نے بھی وہ ہی موقف اختیار کرلیا جس پر پولیس نے مقدمہ درج کرلیا

Source: BBC Urdu

Mohsin Baig’s Online-International News Network: A news ‘agency’ you can trust!

'Lance Naik' Mohsin Jamil Baig: A long-time ISI mole in Pakistan's 'free' media along with Dr Shahid Masood, Shaheen Sehbai, Ansar Abbasi, Zafar Hilaly, Mosharraf Zaidi, Talat Hussain, Hamid Mir, Majeed Nizami and Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman

Related article:

Story of a spy agency’s news agency – by Aamer Ahmed Khan

A glaring example of how ISI dictates Pakistani newspapers: The case of a missing WikiLeak cable

News agency fails to confirm source of WikiLeaks disclosure

Source: The News, December 10, 2010

By our correspondent

KARACHI: A story filed by a news agency about purported WikiLeaks cables disclosing Indiaís involvement in Balochistan and Waziristan, carried by The News, Daily Jang and many other Pakistani newspapers, has been widely criticised as not being accurate. The prestigious British newspaper The Guardian described the report as “the first case of WikiLeaks being exploited for propaganda purposes”.

The report said that US diplomats described senior Indian generals as vain, egotistical and genocidal, and that India’s government was secretly allied with Hindu fundamentalists. It also claimed that Indian spies were covertly supporting Islamist militants in the tribal belt and Balochistan.

The story was released by the Islamabad-based Online news agency and was run by The News and Daily Jang with the confidence that it was a genuine report and must have been vetted before release. However, several inquiries suggest that this was not the case.

When contacted, the owner of the agency, Mohsin Baig, and some of the editorial staff were themselves unclear about the source of the story and said they would investigate the matter at their end.

Mohsin Baig said he had just returned from Turkey where he had accompanied the prime minister on his official visit and was therefore in the dark about how the story was released. He said he would talk to his editorial staff and get back to us. After a while, Onlineís news editor contacted us and told us he too was unaware about the source of the story and would check and get back to us as soon as possible. Despite repeated requests, he declined to contact the employee who had downloaded the news, and asked us to check with them the next day. On further inquiries, we learnt from our sources that the story was dubious and may have been planted.

A check on the Internet as well as The Guardian report showed that the story was not based on Wikileaks cables, and had in fact originated from some local websites such as The Daily Mail and Rupee News known for their close connections with certain intelligence agencies. The Guardian quoted Shaheen Sehbai, Group Editor The News, as describing the story as “agencies’ copy” and said he would investigate its origins.

……..

اس بارے میں بی بی سی کے نامہ نگار حفیظ چاچڑ سے بات کرتے ہوئے خبر رساں ایجنسی آن لائن کے سربراہ محسن بیگ نےدعوٰی کیا یہ دستاویز اصل ہے۔ انہوں نے ان اخبارات پر تنقید کی جنہوں نے اس خبر پر معذرت شائع کی ہے۔

ان کے مطابق ’اگر ہماری خبر کی وکی لیکس تردید کر دے تو ان اخبارات کی معذرت جائز ہے اور وکی لیکس کی اس خبر کے انٹرنیٹ پر بے شمار لنکس موجود ہیں‘۔

محسن بیگ نے کہا کہ وکی لیکس کے دستاویزات شائع کرنے کا برطانوی اخبار گارڈین کے پاس کوئی اختیار نہیں ہے اور یہ دستاویزات انٹرنیٹ پر موجود ہیں اور انہیں کوئی بھی چھاپ سکتا ہے۔ انہوں نے ان خبروں کی بھی تردید کی جن میں کہا گیا ہے کہ خبر رساں ایجنسی کو یہ خبر مخصوص مقاصد پورے کرنے کے لیے دی گئی تھی۔

Source: BBC Urdu
……..

An official introduction of the Online News Agency:

Online-International News Network

A testimony to Pakistan’s claim to media independence
It is indeed our great privilege to introduce Pakistan’s leading news/photo agency Online International News Network (OINN) to you. This is Pakistan’s first bilingual news and photo wire service, dedicated to issues that are neglected by the mainstream media. We focus on national and global processes affecting the economic, social and political development of the people of Pakistan in particular and the region in general. We disseminate genuine as well as useful information to the nation and the people across the globe.

OINN is different from contemporary Pakistani news agencies in many ways. There has been a very strong feeling in the outside world that there is no credible and independent source of information in Pakistan, chiefly because the electronic media including radio and television networks are state-owned.

It was in this background that Mr Mohsin Baig, the company’s Chairman thought of setting up a news network worthy of credibility at home as well as in the foreign world. Mr Baig, who has been a journalist in his own right and now Chief Executive Online initiated this project in January 1999.

Chairman’s primary concern was to build a highly professional team of reputable journalists, and marry it with state-of-the-art technology. Following these objectives, each journalist was selected on merits to ensure maintaining high journalistic values and each equipment was specially designed to cater to the modern day needs. This was done, keeping in view, that we were at the turn of the century and as a nation we have to enter the next millennium with dignity and honour.

As we were still in the process of training our staff at new technology and preparing a style-sheet when an unforeseen event of Oct 12, 1999 took place in the country with military take-over in Pakistan. The Online team on that day huddled together, and unanimously decided to break ground forthwith, ahead of its scheduled launching of Nov 1, 1999. We jumped in the arena half-prepared, yet we were largely welcomed by the print media within Pakistan.

After attaining the status of a credible and most subscribed news/photo service provider in Pakistan, we later launched our English/Arabic news and pictures service for daily, weekly and monthly publications across the globe.

Online is the first-ever Pakistani news agency operating English, Urdu and Arabic news services simultaneously along with comprehensive national and international photo coverage. Our news reports often appear in the national and international print media while our photographs dominate news pages in most of the newspapers coming out from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta besides some leading papers in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

In English, Arabic and Urdu languages, we offer information packages to suit diverse needs; both local and international publications, print and electronic media, dailies and weeklies, magazines and periodic journals, specialised and subject-specific publications. We are also equipped for prompt dissemination of breaking news to the print and electronic media around the world.

Today, we are proud to operate off a root network purpose-built for Online in the United States. Naturally, our transmission quality and timings match any other big news agency of the world.

The constituent elements of Online are an independent policy, a pioneering spirit, a highly motivated professional core team, state-of-the-art technology, strategically located Bureaux and Correspondents spread all over Pakistan, and above all a sense of mission.

INDEPENDENCE
An independent policy is the very substratum of the credibility for a news organisation. Naturally, everyone in the business claim they are independent. Few, however, appreciate what independence actually takes, and how difficult it is to uphold.

Online deems its financial independence to be the bedrock of its policy independence. A single-owner proposition from day one, the organization has kept its hands clean of any government grant, party contribution, or philanthropic endowment, and has a firm determination to always keep things this way.

Equally important at Online is intellectual independence, for vested interest groups have traditionally found it a breeze to infiltrate the ranks of media organisations with their henchmen. At Online, however, we have been able to foster a strong tradition of liberal thinking in a brief span of time so that any of our key members would feel disgraced if seen to be biased.

Freethinking professionals constitute the core team at Online, who have the intellectual duty to uphold liberal, rational thought at every level of the organisation, at the same time maintaining the richness of diversity of ideas characteristic to our society.

BUREAUX AND CORRESPONDENTS
It is our pride to claim that Online with its Central office in New York and head office in Islamabad is a news network that has its bureaus at each provincial headquarters in Pakistan besides some major cities including Muzaffarabad, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, and Multan. Our bureaux are headed by senior, respectable and professional journalists. Their reporting teams comprise young, educated and honest reporters and photographers. More than 450 correspondents represent Online in every district and tehsil headquarter of the country.

This much for our domestic network; as well, Online has its correspondents in important world capitals and major cities including Washington, New York, Koeln (Germany), Moscow, Tokyo, Chicago, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Cairo, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait covering events round-the-clock.

Working in tandem with our core team, this extensive network of ears and eyes puts Online on top of the news ahead of the competition.

Source

Bawa:
آن لائن نیوز ایجنسی کا فوج آئی ایس آئی سے تعلق بہت گہرا اور پرانا ہے. فوج نے پھر اسی ایجنسی کو وکی لیکس کی آڑ میں اپنے مخصوس پروپیگنڈہ کے لیے استعمال کیا. جنگ گروپ نے بغیر کسی تصدیق کے اس سٹوری کو شائع کرکے فوج اور اسٹبلشمنٹ سے اپنے خفیہ تعلقات کی نشاندھی بھی کر دی ہے

ماضی میں اسی آن لائن نیوز ایجنسی کے ڈائیریکٹر محسن بیگ نے فوج اور خفیہ ایجنسیوں کی ایما پر ڈاکٹر شاہد مسعود کی مدد سے ڈاکٹر شازیہ کو ملک چھوڑنے پر مجبور کیا تاکہ کیپٹن حماد کی کرتوتوں کی وجہ سے ہونے والی بدنامی سے فوج کو بچایا جا سکے

Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’s (Jang Group) Aman Ki Aasha

Sagar (via Cafe Pyala):

Isn’t this the same group that promotes ‘Aman ki Asha’ jointly with Times of India. Wonder why only Asha (hope) and why not actual Aman itself? And how can someone claiming to promote ‘Aman’ call themselves the ‘Jang’ group? Strange paradox.

Dr Shazia Khalid’s case

Rape victim Dr Shazia Khalid herself revealed Dr Shahid Masood and Mohsin Beg’s role during an interview with BBC Urdu on Sept 5, 2005. Here comes the link FYI.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/miscellaneous/story/2005/09/050909_shazia_text_nisar.shtml

A perspective on Dr Shahid Masood’s dubious journalism – by Dr Ayesha Siddiqa

We reproduce below an excerpt from Dr Ayesha Siddiqa’s email (circulated in the Press Pakistan group) to Dr Moeed Pirzada explaining her perspective on Dr Shahid Masood and his style of journalism. Unlike Shahid Masood who is a medical doctor by profession, Ayesha Siddiqa has a PhD from King’s College, London. Dr Siddiqa highlights certain worrying areas in Dr Shahid Masood’s style of journalism including the dubious role he played in Shazia Khalid case (who was raped by a Pakistan Army officer), and also the opportunistic role Shahid Masood played in organizing some sham conferences in the USA.

It is surprising that Dr Shahid Masood has the gumption to keep marketing himself and move from one to another channel. Perhaps, it also shows how desperate are channels to take someone who has no honor and reputation left.

It is certainly not about changing channels but what you do with that time. I have nothing against Shahid Masood’s campaign against Zardari’s corruption at all. I have an issue with Masood’s intellectual corruption. I stopped appearing on his programs when I saw him editing selectively.

I had criticised Mr Zardari which was relayed but minus the context. And it wasn’t even a long speech which had to be edited. This is professional dishonesty. He edits to fit his own thesis which means quoting people out of context.

Not to mention the role he played in the Shazia Khalid case. Who, in Pakistan’s media, will dare do a ‘merey mutabiq’ on that tragic but painful case?

He was in Washington recently trying to convince the world about his independent-mindedness by arguing that how he wanted to take the army chief to task.

The question is that does he dare do that or was it just for his own face-saving (plz refer to the Shazia Khalid case for his credentials).

I know a lot of people will be jumping up and down if i argue that the media in Pakistan today is different from the media of the 1980s. The old one had more balls and a spirit. This one has technology but no spirit. And this is not even about presenting a pro-government picture.

Plz note that I fully realize that the government has its point of view and the right to argue for its perspective. Before anyone jumps up and quotes the example of foreign media, I will say that yes people make a choice and seek information from the government which is a big source itself. However, I see people on the media who don’t then boither to study the details to make their view look independent. Their script is so carefully written for them. You listen to them or read their writing and you know which one is actually a provided script.

But going back to Shahid Masood, I heard him speak at a conference in Canada. Nothing to say except how he was given a bullet-proof jacket by BB and then straight to when he became chairman PTV. I asked him during the break about would it not have beena good idea to remain independent and his answer was that how many people have chairman and MD PTV on their CV. So, at the end of the day it is all about cooking up your resume!

I wish one could ask him about the couple of conferences he organized in the US with money from (don’t know where) on which he had absolutely nothing to say because the subject was beyond him.

These incidents or events are basically tip of the iceberg. ….pray ask yourself the question from the perspective of an ordinary citizen that this intellectual dishonesty and corruption is becoming intolerable. As an ordinary citizen I would like to believe in something.

Regards
ayesha

……….

Some useful links and resources which point towards the ugly role played by Daktar Shahid Masood and Mohsin Baig in the Shazia Khalid case:

“On 19 March 2005, when an investigation into the crime was supposed to be underway, Dr. Shazia Khalid was spirited out of Pakistan into a “safe haven abroad”, allegedly on the pretext of escaping imminent assassination. But the moment she was out of Pakistan and seeking asylum in the UK, Shazia and her husband Khalid were dumped and disowned by the very government that transferred her there. Dr Khalid claims to have been blackmailed into leaving the country by government officials trying to cover up her rape.”

Who was the person acting on behalf of Pakistan Army / the ISI insisting that Dr Shazia Khalid must leave the country? Yes, our own Dr Shahid Masood.

Here is Dr Shazia Khalid’s story in her own words:

Q. How did you end up in the UK?

“Dr Shahid Masood and Mohsin Baig came from Islamabad to see us in Karachi. They told us they had met with the high authorities there and that we had no choice but to leave Pakistan as our lives were in danger.

They asked us where we wanted to go. We argued that we did not wish to leave, but they insisted our lives were in serious danger and we could not stay in Pakistan. We said Canada was the logical choice. I have a sister-in-law and a brother-in-law and family friends there, but I had never been out of Pakistan before. So they brought us the forms for Canadian immigration which they said they would submit on our behalf. Not much time had passed since the incident so I was still in shock.

Masood returned two days later and said the Canadian High Commission required more time, perhaps four or five weeks. He said it would be a great risk to wait that long and so he had brought the form for a UK visa. We said we didn’t know anyone in the UK but he remained adamant that we go to the UK while they continued with the Canada application.”

“There was another problem. I didn’t want to leave without my adopted son, Adnan. He is actually the son of my late brother who passed away when Adnan was four. But they said: “For now, you and your husband go. Once you are there, we will get his paperwork done and he will follow soon after.””

“Q. What is your situation in the UK?

In the beginning when we arrived and filed our asylum application, the UK government gave us a small hotel room to stay in. Now, four months later, we have been shifted to this new place. We spoke to our solicitor and asked about all our options but unless our case is expedited we are stuck. We cannot go anywhere, nor take employment. My husband and I lived comfortably in Pakistan, but now we are almost destitute. We get £30 a week from the state and have this bedsit to live in but it is not much of a life. People in the media have been talking about it as if we’ve been living a life of comfort and are enjoying ourselves in London. It’s nothing like that. Our daily routine is restricted to this room, the library, and to the solicitor’s office and back. We don’t meet anyone, except the occasional journalist. It’s almost like being imprisoned.

We arrived on 18 March. While we were still in Islamabad, Mohsin Baig took us to meet Tariq Aziz, special advisor to the President. He said that once we were in the UK they would sort out our migration to Canada. They would also send a representative who would help us get settled and gain employment status so we could get our lives going again. I told him that I want my son to come with us, but he said the same thing: “You go first and I will make sure that your son follows.”

But once we got here, they stopped all contact. The first time we called them, they told us to relax and get some rest, and that they were looking into our immigration status. After that they stopped taking our calls and we were completely abandoned and had no idea who or where to turn to.”

“I’ve lost my job, my career, my life. We are estranged – from our own home, our country, my family, my son. From where I am standing right now, my future looks bleak.”

http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-protest/pakistan_2868.jsp

…..

According to the following source, Iftikhar Ahmed of Jawab Deh asked some tough questions from Dr Shahid Masood on this topic:

Dr Shaid was confronted on this program by Iftikhar—regarding Dr Shazia—Dr Shahid blamed it on his friend—I forgot the name—the the interviewer pegged him back by saying the he had talked to the other person who reitterated that it was Dr Shahid who was responsible of making the Dr Shaiza issue and making arrangements for her asylum to Canada.

It is on youtube and someone pasted that video on our site as well.

http://www.defence.pk/forums/members-club/39836-pakistan-kay-mutabiq-pakistans-voice-dr-shahid-masood-2.html

– Is Dr. Masood an agent of the Security network that controls the affairs in Pakistan?
– What was the cause of his saying that Dr. Shazia’s life is not guaranteed for even a day in Pakistan and that they should forget justice on her rape?
– What made him back off from the repeated promises that he would arrange Canada visa for her and just vanished like a ghost after Dr. Shazia and her hubby were standing and stranding on London footpaths.
– What restricts him not say a word on this incident?
http://jazbablog.com/jazba/2008/09/19/shahid-masood-2/

1. Dr. Shahid Masood and Mohsin Baig compelled ill fated Dr. Shazia Khalid (who was brutally raped in Sui, Baluchistan) and her hubby to fly to London. For this purpose they arrived from Islamabad to Karachi and made several visits to the poor couple who were in the “safe” hands of Agency. While this act of them (instead of giving help to get justice from Pakistani courts, he threatened them that the couple’s lives were in danger and not safe for “even one day”) is against Dr. Shahid’s so self proclaimed image of champion of justice, this creates a question whether Dr. Shahid is Agency’s agent or not. Both Dr. Shahid Masood and Mohsin Baig dissociated from this episode the moment Dr. Shazia and her hubby were standing and stranding on London footpaths as if they were never instrumental in the couple’s flight. If Dr. Masood by any chance reads this post, kindly tell the “hidden truth” to the masses.

http://pakalert.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/geo-tv-kamran-khan-and-the-lies-of-dr-shahid-masood/

From that moment on, Dr. Shahid has touched every issue and non-issue as well but never touched the issue of this horrible rape case and that what his role was in Dr. Shazia’s flight to London. Mind you, Dr. Shazia and her husband were in agency’s “safe hands” during the period these two journalists were visiting the couple and strongly pursuing them to leave the country. Only Dr. Shahid Masood can untie this knot.

http://pakalert.wordpress.com/2008/11/25/it-gets-worse-for-dr-shahid-masood/

…..

Dr Shaiza Khalid’s Interview (Source: BBC Urdu)

: ہم تو شروع سے چاہتے تھے کہ ہم کیس کریں، میڈیا میں آئیں تاکہ لوگوں کو پتہ چل سکے کہ میرے ساتھ کیا ہوا ہے اور ٹریبیونل کے لیے ہم کوئٹہ جانا چاہتے تھے۔

دیکھیں انہوں نے اپنی ایجینسیز کی رپورٹ پر کہہ دیا ہو گا کہ وہ بے قصور ہے لیکن ایک جگہ پہ انہوں یہ بھی کہا ہے کہ ڈاکٹر شازیہ کے کیس میں ان کو بہت کچھ پتہ ہے۔ لیکن اگر وہ اپنی بات فاش کریں گے تو ڈاکٹر شازیہ کی جان کو خطرہ ہے۔ اس کا مطلب ان کوپتہ تھا کہ ملزم کون ہے۔ مگر ٹھیک ہے اگر وہ چیف سسپکٹ نہیں ہے کوئی اور ہے تو ان کو پتہ ہے وہ کون ہے کیوں نہیں بتاتے۔

جب میری شناخت پریڈ ہوئی تھی تو شناخت پریڈ کے دوران ملٹری انٹیلیجنس کا ایک میجر آیا۔ اس نے کہا کہ جی آپ کی جانوں کو خطرہ ہے آپ ملک سے نکل جائیں تو اچھا ہے آپ کے لیے اور ہم آپ کو خوشخبری سنائیں گے آپ ملک سے باہر جہاں بھی جائیں گے تو ہم آپ کو خوشخبری سنائیں گے کہ ملزم پکڑا گیا ہے۔ ہمیں پتہ ہے، ایم آئی اے کے لوگوں کو پتہ ہے۔ یہ ٹربیونلز یہ پولیس انوسٹیگیشنز آپ ان کو چھوڑ دیں، یہ سب ہمارے اوپر ہے، ہم جانتے ہیں کہ اصل مجرم کون ہے۔وہ کہہ رہے ہیں کہ ان کو پتہ ہے۔اب جب ایم آئی اے کے لوگ کہہ رہے ہیں۔ وہ کور کمنانڈر کا پیغام لے کر آیا تھا میجر۔

سوال: کون سا کور کمانڈر
مسٹر خالد: نام نہیں بتایا۔ لیکن انہوں نہ کہا کہ میں بلوچستان سے آیا ہوں۔

سوال: اس نے آپ کو اپنا کارڈ دکھایا تھا، ایم آئی سے ہی تھا۔

جواب: وہاں ایس ایس پی جو تھا وہاں پہ، جج تھا جو ساتھ بیٹھا ہوا تھا۔ ان سے بھی وہ ملا تھا، ان سے بھی وہ باتیں کر رہا تھا۔ ہمیں اس نے کچھ نہیں بتایا کہ وہ ایم آئی کا آدمی تھا۔ میجر نے بتایا کہ دو طرح کے پیغام ہیں اس کے پاس، بلوچستان سے کچھ لوگ مارنا چاہ رہے ہیں آپ کو، کراچی میں گھوم رہے ہیں ہتھیاروں کے ساتھ، اس لیے آپ کی جان کو خطرہ ہے، ملک سے باہر چلے جائیں اور دوسرا یہ کہ جو کلپرٹ ہے اس کے بارے میں ہم جانتے ہیں۔ پولیس نہیں جانتی۔

سوال: آپ کہ رہی ہیں کہ آپ کا بیٹا بھی وہیں پر ہے۔ اپنے بیٹے کے بارے میں کچھ بتائیں۔
جواب: میرا یہ بیٹا لے کر پالا ہوا ہے ۔ جب چار سال کا تھا تو اس کے والد کی وفات ہوگئی تھی تو اس کی امی نے دوسری شادی کر لی تھی۔تب سے میں ہی اس کی دیکھ بھال کر رہی ہوں۔ لیکن مجھے ڈر لگ رہا ہے کیونکہ جب ہم اسلام آباد میں تھے تو وہ لوگ کہہ رہے تھے کے یہاں آپ کا بیٹا بھی ہے اور آپ تو چلے جائیں گے ہم کچھ بھی کر سکتے ہیں۔

سوال: یہ کس نے کہا تھا آپ کو؟

جواب: یہ نیوز آن لائن کے جو ڈائریکٹر ہیں محسن بیگ، انہوں نے کہا تھا۔

سوال: آپ کا جو بیٹا ہے اس کو انہوں نے آپ کو لے جانے نہیں دیا کہ آپ خود اس کو وہاں چھوڑ کر آئے ہیں۔

جواب: جب ہم کراچی میں تھے تو ڈاکٹر شاہد مسعود اے آر وائی کے اور محسن بیگ ہمارے پاس ملنے کے لیے آئے تو شاہد مسعود نے کہا کہ محسن بیگ حکومت کا بندہ ہے۔ ہم آپ کی مدد کریں گے۔ آپ کی جانوں کو خطرہ ہے۔

سوال: جانوں کا خطرہ کس سے ہے؟

جواب: کہنے لگے کہ اسلام آباد کی ایجنسیز سے ہم ملے ہیں تو آپ لوگوں کو بہت رسک ہے اور بلوچستان کے حالات آپ کی اشو کی وجہ بہت خراب ہو گئے ہیں۔

مسٹر خالد: ہم سے ملنے سے پہلے وہ اسلام آباد گئے تھے۔ محسن تو وہ ظاہری بات ہے کہ وہ ایجنسی کا بندہ ہی ہے اور شاہد مسعود نے بھی اس کا اقرار کیا۔ اس نے مجھے کہا تھا کہ محسن بیگ گورنمنٹ کا آدمی ہے۔ میں (شاہد مسعود) اور محسن آپ کی مدد کریں گے۔ اب گورنمنٹ شاہد مسعود اور محسن بیگ کے درمیان جو کھچڑی پک رہی تھی اس کا ہمیں تو علم نہیں۔ شاہد مسعود ہم سے اسلام آباد میں انٹرویو لینے کے بعد غائب ہو گیا تھا۔ پھر دوبئی سے اس نے فون کیا تھا۔ بڑا ڈرا ہوا تھا اور ایجنسیز کے لئیے اس نے کافی بری طرح سے باتیں کی تھیں کہ وہ تو ’مجھے ہی مار دینا چاہتے تھے اور میں اپنی جان بچا کے چار ائیرپورٹس سے اپنے ٹکٹ بک کرواکے اور جان بچا کے نکلا ہوں‘۔ پھر اس کے بعد محسن صاحب آ کے کھڑے ہو گئے جی شاہد مسعود صاحب کو ہم نے فرنٹ پہ رکھا ہوا تھا۔ سارا کام اور آپکا ویزہ وغیرہ تو ہمارا کام ہے، وہ تو ہم نے کیا ہے۔ پریزیڈنٹ سے بھی میں آپ کو اجازت دلوا رہا ہوں اور طارق عزیز جو سپیشل ایڈوائزر ہیں ان سے بھی اس نے ملاقات کروائی لیکن اس نے کہا تھا کہ- – – –

سوال: طارق عزیز سے ملے؟
جواب: مسٹر خالد: جی ان سے ملاقات ہوئی۔

سوال: انہوں نہ کیا کہا تھا آپ سے؟

مسٹر خالد: طارق عزیز سے جو ملاقات ہوئی تھی اس سے پہلے محسن بیگ صاحب نے ہمیں کہا تھا کہ آپ طارق عزیز صحاب کو کچھ نہ کہیں، آپ ان کی باتیں سنیں۔ میں نے کہا ٹھیک ہے۔ اور پھر ان سے ملاقات ہوئی انہوں نہ کہا کہ آپ نے تو بہت اچھا کیا ہے اور آپ کی سٹیٹمنٹ جو خود ہی انہوں تیار کی تھی اسی سٹیٹمنٹ کی بات کی۔

سوال: سٹیٹمنٹ میں کیا لکھا ہوا تھا؟

مسٹر خالد: سٹیٹمنٹ میں کچھ ایسی چیزیں تھیں جس طرح سے پی پی ایل کو بچایا گیا تھا کہ پی پی ایل نے شازیہ کو ٹریٹمنٹ دیا تھا، میڈیکل سپورٹ دی تھی۔ ایسی کوئی بات نہیں، دنیا کو پتہ ہے کہ پی پی ایل نے کیا رویہ اختیار کیا وہ تو آن ریکارڈ ہے، پولیس کے ریکارڈ سے آپ دیکھ لیں کہ انہوں نے کوئی تعاون پولیس کے ساتھ بھی نہیں کیا۔ تو وہ تو جھوٹ نہیں بول رہے۔ اور سینٹ میں بھی اس چیز کو اچھالا گیا ہے۔ ایم ڈی کو بلایا گیا ہے۔ بلکہ ٹریبیونل میں جو انکی یکطرفہ رپورٹس ہیں ان میں بھی یہ بتایا گیا ہے کہ پی پی ایل کی یہ ذمہ داری ہے۔

سوال: سٹیٹمنٹ میں یہ لکھا ہوا تھا کہ شازیہ کو پی پی ایل نے بڑی اچھی طرح سے ٹریٹ کیا۔

مسٹر خالد: جی

سوال: اور یہ وہ خود لکھ کے لائے ہوئے تھے؟

مسٹر خالد: جی لکھ کے لائے ہوئے تھے۔

ڈاکٹر شازیہ: اور ا س میں یہ بھی لکھا ہوا تھا کہ میں اپنی مرضی سے ملک چھوڑ کے جا رہی ہوں اور حکومت نے میرا بہت ساتھ دیا ہے۔ تو میں نے کہا کہ میں اس سٹیٹمنٹ پہ سائن نہیں کروں گی۔ تو محسن بیگ نے کہا کہ اگر تم سائن نہیں کرو گی تو ایجنسیز والے یہ کہتے کہ اگر ہم خالی کاغذ پر لکیریں بھی ڈالیں تب بھی آپ اس پر – – – -سائن کرکے یہاں سے اپنی جان بچاؤ اور بھاگو۔

سوال: اس میٹنگ میں جب آپ طارق عزیز سے ملے تھے تو آپ تھیں آپ کے خاوند تھے،محسن بیگ تھے اور طارق عزیز تھے بس۔ (تاہم محسن بیگ نے بی بی سی سے بات کرتے ہوئے اس بات کی تردید کی ہے کہ انہوں نے ڈاکٹر شازیہ کی ملاقات طارق عزیز سے کروائی تھی)۔

مسٹر خالد: نہیں شازیہ کی جو بھابھی تھی وہ ان کے ساتھ تھی، تو طارق عزیز کو بھی ہم نہ کہا تھا کہ عدنان کو وہ ہمارے بیٹے جیسا ہے ہم اس کو لے جانا چاہتے ہیں تو انہوں نے کہا کہ جی آپ اس وقت چلے جائیں آپ کے پاس وقت بہت کم ہے۔ آپ یو کے جائیں اور اس کے بعد محسن وغیرہ بھی ہیں ہم آپ لوگوں کی مدد کریں گے اور عدنان بھی آپ کو آ کر مل لے گا۔

سوال: پاسپورٹ آپ کے کس پاس تھے؟

مسٹر خالد: پاسپورٹ ہمارے شاہد مسعود کے پاس تھے اور جب اس کو انہوں نے نکال دیا تو اس نے پاسپورٹ جو تھے کسی دوست کو دئیے تھے اور ان کا دوست ہمارے پاس تقریباً رات ایک بجے آیا تھا اور پاسپورٹ ہمیں دے کر چلا گیا۔

سوال: ویزہ کس نے لگوایا تھا۔
جواب: دونوں نے۔ شاہد مسعود نے
مسٹر خالد: شاہد مسعود نے، محسن بیگ نے لگوایا ہے۔ اب کس نے لگوایا ہے ہمیں نہیں پتہ اس بات کا۔
ڈاکٹر شازیہ: دو دن میں وہ ہمارا پاسپورٹ لے کر گئے اور دو دن میں واپس کر دئیے۔ تو دو دن میں ویزا کون لگوا سکتا ہے۔

شیخ رشید صاحب کا بیان آیا تھا کہ ہم نے نہیں بھیجا اور کوئی این جی او ہے جس نے یہاں ان لوگوں کو بلوایا ہے۔

مسٹر خالد: شیخ رشید کا بیان اس طرح آیا تھا کہ ہمیں تو پتہ ہی نہیں ہے کہ ڈاکٹر شازیہ کیسے فلائی کر گئیں اور ہم نے امیگریشن سے پتہ کروایا کہ اس طرح کا کوئی بندہ نہیں گیا۔

سوال: ایک اخبار نے ایک فائنڈنگ کی تھی اور آپ کی تصویر آئی تھی ائیرپورٹ پر۔ وہ ائیرپورٹ پر ہی کھینچی گئی تھی، اس کے پیچھے جو صوفہ تھا وہ تو کہیں نہیں پایا گیا۔

جواب: نہیں جب مجھ سے سٹیٹمنٹ لی گئی تھی اسلام آباد میں اس وقت میرے فوٹوز نکالے تھے انہوں نے۔

مسٹر خالد: اس وقت گیسٹ ہاؤس میں فوٹو لئیے تھے۔ اچھا شیخ رشید صاحب کی بات کریں کیونکہ وہ تو اس طرح کی باتیں کر رہے ہیں کہ ہمیں جی پتہ نہیں ہے اور این جی اوز نے بھیجی ہیں۔ اس کے بعد ہیومن رائٹس اور این جی اوز نے اس باتوں کی تردید کی تھی۔ اب یہ بتائیں کہ حلومت اس طرح کے جھوٹ کب تک بولتی رہے گی۔

سوال: آپ کی کسی این جی اوز نے مدد نہیں کی تھی۔

مسٹر خالد: کسی این جی اوز نے نہیں۔ جب ہم طارق عزیز سے مل کر جا رہے ہیں اور ان سے اجازت لے کر جا رہے ہیں تو سمجھیں کہ بات تو ختم ہو گئی۔ ہم سمجھ رہے تھے جیسے کے صدر سے مل کے جا رہے تھے۔

اس وقت جو حالات تھے ہم خود گھبرائے ہوئے تھے اور ہمیں ڈرایا جا رہا تھا۔ اور محسن بیگ اس طرح کی باتیں کرتے تھے اور کہتے تھے یہاں سے نکل جائیں آپ کی زندگی بچ جائے گی۔

سوال: آپ وہاں سے جانا چاہتے تھے۔
جواب: ذاتی طور پہ ہم نہیں نکلنا چاہتے تھے لیکن حالات جو ہو گئے تھے تو ہم مجبور ہو گئے کہ ہم نکلیں۔اس اشو اتنا پولیٹیسائز کیا جا رہا تھا اور انصاف تو مل ہی نہیں پا رہا تھا۔ ایم آئی کے کرنل مجھے ملے تھے، کرنل حفاظت صاحب ملے تھے انہوں نے کہا کہ 48 گھنٹوں کے اندر آپ کو ایک بندہ ملے گا۔ کلپرٹ ملے گا۔ ایم آئی کے جنرل نے کہا کہ وہ میرے ہاتھ میں ہے۔

http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/miscellaneous/story/2005/09/printable/050909_shazia_text_nisar.shtml

….

Another controversy surrounds Dr Shahid Masood and Mohsin Baig
Saturday, June 19, 2010
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010619story_19-6-2010_pg7_4

* Email claims TV anchor had role in forcing rape victim Dr Shazia out of country

* Masood denied UK asylum for fraudulent practices

Staff Report

LAHORE: Noted TV show host Dr Shahid Masood is surrounded by yet another controversy after the surfacing of allegations regarding his role in forcing Dr Shazia Khalid out of the country.

Shazia had alleged that an army officer had raped her in a hospital while she was serving in Balochistan in 2005. The controversy is associated with an email circulated with the name of noted defence analyst Dr Ayesha Siddiqa. The email said Dr Shahid Masood and another person, Mohsin Baig, harassed Dr Shazia, warning her that she and her family would be assassinated if they did not leave the country immediately and if the proceedings of her case were not halted in Pakistan.

Dr Shazia was quoted as saying that Dr Shahid and Mohsin Baig made her rush out of the country. Daily Times tried contacting Dr Shahid a number of times for comments, but failed to get through.

British refusal: Also, documents obtained from reliable sources in the British Home Office revealed that Masood was denied asylum in the United Kingdom for fraudulent practices.

According to the documents, he travelled to the UK on April 26, 2000, with his family. Masood sought asylum in Britain on May 3, 2000, but his request was denied by the British authorities who stated, “On June 9, 2000, a decision was made to give directions for his removal from the United Kingdom as mentioned in Section 16(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 and to refuse to grant asylum under paragraph 336 of HC 395.” Paragraph 336 of HC 395 authorises British officials concerned to remove any individual who enters the UK illegally.

While giving the reasons for the rejection, the authorities wrote, “He claimed to have entered the United Kingdom on April 26, 2000, using a Pakistani passport of which he was not the rightful owner, accompanied by his daughter and his sister and her two children.” Dr Shahid attached a statement of evidence form SEF3 dated May 16, 2000, asylum interview record SEF4 dated June 5, 2000, and other documents supporting his application. The document mentioned Home Office Reference Number M1045053, and Port Reference Number EDD/00/4390.

Source

Khalid Humayun:

I think Dr. Shazia Khalid rape case in Sui Baluchistan also belongs to 2005 and in that case a captain of Pak Army is an alleged accused. Without coming in the court of law and clearing his innocence, Captain Hammad was cleared by none other than Musharraf stating that the matter had been investigated and Captain Hammad was not involved in any way. Not to mention, two eminent journalists compelled Dr Shazia and her hubby to fly away from Pakistan lest they were going to be killed. Where do the courts of Pakistan and justice stand in between this sordid story? And where are those two journalists namely Dr. Shahid Masood and Mohsin Baig and under whose instructions they came all the way from Islamabad to Karachi to convey the message to the iill fated couple “better leave the country of face the death”.

Dr. Shahid Masood and Mohsin Baig, arrived all the way from Islamabad to Karachi and met the poor couple and advised them that they better leave the country within “24 hours” as “their lifes are not safe for even one day”. Who are Dr. Shahid Masood and Mohsin Baig? Are not they media men? Five years of this brutal rape has gone by and not a single word from these two gentlemen!

ISI admits kidnapping 11 inmates from jail, SC judges say 'thank you'!

I don’t have time and energy to translate this wonderful conversation which yesterday took place in Pakistan’s Supreme Court. Many honourable judges of the Supreme Court (CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry and Justice Ramday in particular) were seen showering thanks and congratulations on the ISI for its admission to a crime (illegal kidnapping and custody of Pakistani citizens) and also for previously submitting a false statement to the Supreme Court.

Eleven missing men in agency custody, SC told
Dawn, 9 Dec 2010
By Nasir Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: The mystery of 11 prisoners, who had been missing from Adiyala jail since their acquittal on terrorism charges in May this year, was finally solved on Thursday, with two premier spy agencies claiming that they had ‘recovered’ the men from terror camps and were now questioning them for masterminding terror campaigns after which they would be tried under the 1952 Army Act.

“These prisoners belong to a well-knit group of terrorists and were taken to their hideouts by persons disguised as spies in areas where the army is currently engaged in an operation against militants,” Advocate Raja Mohammad Irshad, the counsel for the Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence, told a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court hearing a joint petition against the mysterious disappearance of the prisoners after their acquittal on terrorism charges by a trial court.

Everyone in the court was surprised by the statement because a few days earlier Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq submitted a brief statement on behalf of the agencies denying that they had the custody of the prisoners.

The statement also questioned the jurisdiction of the apex court to look into such matters, prompting the court to observe whether there was any law to govern the affairs of spy agencies and whether they considered themselves to be above the law.

The government had on Tuesday filed an application requesting the court to fix the case for Thursday as it wanted to share some important information with the court.

The petition was moved by Atiqur Rehman and others against the alleged kidnapping of Dr Niaz Ahmed, Mazharul Haq, Shafiqur Rehman, Mohammad Aamir, Abdul Majid, Abdul Basit, Abdul Saboor, Shafique Ahmed, Said Arab, Gul Roze and Tehseenullah from Rawalpindi’s Adiyala jail.

After the hearing on Thursday, relatives of the prisoners accused the counsel of misleading the court.

“Whatever the counsel informed the court is nothing but a pack of lies which is evident in the light of a report submitted by the Punjab chief secretary and admitted by the Punjab IG that the prisoners were mysteriously taken into custody by intelligence agencies from the jail at 11pm on May 29 this year,” Atiqur Rehman, one of the petitioners, told reporters.

The attorney general had rejected the chief secretary’s claim.

“If the statement of the counsel (Advocate Raja Irshad) is true the entire jail staff, Adiyala jail superintendent and the chief secretary should be hanged for being bought off by certain elements and telling lies before the court in writing,” said Mohammad Imtiaz Abbasi, a maternal uncle of Dr Niaz Ahmed, one of the prisoners.

Counsel Raja Irshad said that soon after the court had issued notices the intelligence agencies swung into action and launched an operation against the groups and arrested 20 to 25 terrorists, including the 11 prisoners.

“The prisoners are high-profile terrorists having links with terrorist outfits and mastermind of various terrorist attacks, including a rocket attack on the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra, firing anti-aircraft shots at a plane carrying former President Pervez Musharraf, conducting suicide attacks on a bus of an intelligence agency in Rawalpindi and at the main entrance of the GHQ, bomb blasts at the Rawalpindi Parade Lane mosque and killing a number of senior army personnel,” he claimed.

The counsel rejected a perception that the army, ISI or any other intelligence agencies were not amenable to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and said that these institutions completely submitted to the Constitution and to the authority of the court and always appreciated the role of the court in constitutional governance. “These agencies are also bound to follow the orders of this court,” he said.

“Certain elements while playing in the hands of the enemies of the country always defame the ISI as if the institution has no respect for the law and always consider themselves above the law,” the counsel said.

Citing examples from India, he said people there never criticised their intelligence agency RAW. “But, here (in Pakistan) every Tom, Dick and Harry just starts censuring the ISI for everything,” he said, adding that agency personnel deserved a word of appreciation for spending sleepless nights in the defence of the country. “They are being attacked day in and day out.”

The counsel requested the court to dispose of the petition because the prisoners were no longer missing. But the court decided to issue a suitable order when the counsel would submit a written statement on Friday.

The prisoners had been acquitted by trial courts in four terrorism cases, including charges under the Explosive Substance Act. The Lahore High Court had on May 26 upheld the trial court’s decision of exonerating them of the charges.

But District Coordination Officer Imdadullah Wassal issued a detention order to prevent their release. After the expiry of the order a similar decree was issued by Punjab’s Home Secretary Shahid Khan.

Both the orders were challenged before the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court by the petitioners. Subsequently, the high court ordered them to approach the judicial commission on missing people set up by the Supreme Court.

According to the petitioners, their relatives were abducted from the Adiyala jail and allegedly handed over to intelligence agencies when the high court had ordered their release. A case was also registered in this regard.

Source

NLC: Yet another evidence of Pakistan army's financial corruption – by Rauf Klasra

Related articles:
Corrupt politicians and our saviours in army

Zardari’s corruption and our saviours in Pakistan Army

In defense of Nawaz Sharif: Are our politicians corrupt? Is Pakistan Army a sacred cow?

PML-N’s fact sheet on corrupion of our saviours in Pakistan Army

Transparency International’s damning report on Pakistan’s judiciary and army

Our saviours in army: Two top generals found involved in yet another multi-million-rupee corruption – by Rauf Klasra

Is it fair to compare corruption of Pakistani politicians with corruption of Pakistani Generals?

Transparency International for check on Army procurements

It is a fact that while urban, middle class chatterers of Pakistani media and blogs bash Pakistani politicians, financial (as well as moral and political) corruption of the military remains conveniently ignored or is not subject to one tenth of the scrutiny which is shown in the case of politicians. Historically and institutionally in Pakistan, military is not under any transparent accounting check and control system or audit. Therefore irregularities and corruption in the military remain unnoticed by the public. While the Military Incorporated is engaged in vast business activities in Pakistan, there is an urgent need to make them subject to proper accounting systems, internal financial controls supervised by reputed external auditors preferably reputed international auditing firms and also in the parliament. (Sarah Khan / Abdul Nasir).

NLC scam: PAC ruling in limbo till Army inquiry is over
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has decided to wait for the outcome of the inquiry ordered by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in the Rs4 billion NLC scam instead of giving its own ruling in the light of three inquiry reports pending before it for more than a year.

Defence Secretary Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Athar Ali, who attended the PAC meeting, said the military inquiry would be completed within one month and its details would be shared with the PAC.

General (retd) Athar told the committee that the army command had ordered inquiry into the NLC scam after the Planning Division’s inquiry report was brought to his notice.

He said the army act fully empowers the high command to hold inquiries against retired army officers. General Athar said the purpose of this inquiry was to send a loud message to junior military ranks that all uniformed men were equal in the eyes of military laws.

He said COAS General Kiyani had decided to hold military inquiry public “so as to show our genuine intentions” to establish transparency and fair play.

PAC Chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had claimed in the last meeting that no further investigations were required to reach any conclusion in the scam.

The protests by one PAC member that it was a body of a sovereign house and should proceed in the light of three available inquiry reports on NLC scam were, however, not given any weight by the PAC chairman and his fellow members.

The defence secretary was told that the PAC would not announce its own decision, though it was convinced about the alleged role of military generals in the scam. Lt-Gen Athar was informed that the committee would wait for the arrival of a fourth inquiry report and then make up its mind how to proceed.

Earlier, in a dramatic move, army chief General Kayani had announced instituting an inquiry into the scam to determine the role of three military generals allegedly involved in the mega scam. General Kayani’s initiative was taken in a negative sense as it was claimed that the inquiry was apparently ordered to preempt the PAC decision which was expected in the first week of December.

PAC member Saeed Zafar Padhiar did not agree with Chaudhry Nisar’s decision to wait for the GHQ report. He told the committee “we should treat NLC and GHQ like we treated the rest of civilian institutions” whose acts of omission and commission come before them.

“We even don’t know what the GHQ was up to and what sort of inquiry they were conducting,” he remarked.

But Nisar argued that the committee should keep its intentions positive and should take action of General Kayani in a positive light.

“We will treat the GHQ report as fourth inquiry report into the scam,” Nisar said. He also told General Athar to tell the GHQ that its inquiry board should read three past inquiries conducted into the scam, so they should know what were the main points raised in those reports.

Nisar said if the military wanted to conduct its own inquiry as an institution, then he did not have any problem. But he wondered if the army act allowed action against retired army officers. He said the inquiry should be done in a transparent manner, “so we should know what those generals under Musharraf were doing”.

He added that it might have been better had the defence secretary discussed it before ordering an inquiry so that everyone remained within the given domains.

Auditor General of Pakistan Tanveer Agha also proposed that the army should conduct its inquiry in the light of three earlier investigations into the affair.

Two serving major generals appeared before the PAC members surprisingly in civilian clothes, not in military uniforms. Usually, all serving military men are required to attend parliamentary bodies’ meetings in their military uniforms. PAC member Riaz Fatiana pointed out this lapse on the part of two military generals but, noticing complete indifference of his colleagues towards this otherwise serious issue, he too did not push it further.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2010.

Tariq Ali's "Pushtun nationalists" kill tribal elders: At least 50 Pushtuns butchered by extremist Deobandis in Mohmand agency

Related articles:

The Taliban is NOT an expression of Pushtun Nationalism – By Qudsia Siddiqi

Pakistan’s left towards rights- Tariq Ali praises Taliban and Hezbollah

MOHMAND AGENCY: At least 40 people were killed and 70 others wounded when a suicide bomber attacked the office of a political agent in Ghalnai on Monday.

The bomber hit the office at about 2:00pm, killing 40 people including two journalists. About 30 injured have been shifted to Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. An emergency has been imposed at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Two bodies have also been taken to Peshawar’s hospital.

The political administration of Mohmand Agency told SAMAA that several injured people are in critical condition.

While talking to the media after visiting the injured in Lady Reading Hospital, provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the government was taking all possible measures to curb the menace of terrorism from the country. But, he added, peace in Pakistan is linked to peace in Afghanistan. He bitterly condemned the suicide blast and directed the hospital administration to provide better facilities to the injured. Mian Iftikhar Hussain was of the view that this situation will continue in the country for the next 14 years if proper steps are not taken against terrorism. (Source)

مہمند ایجنسی کی انتظامیہ کا کہنا ہے کہ یہ دھماکے مہمند ایجنسی کے علاقے غلنئی میں واقع پولیٹیکل انتظامیہ کے دفتر کے باہر ہوئے ہیں۔

حکام نے بتایا کہ دو حملہ آوروں میں سے ایک نے اسسٹنٹ پولیٹیکل ایجنٹ کے دفتر کے باہر اپنے آپ کو دھماکے سے اڑا دیا ہے جبکہ دوسرے کو سکیورٹی اہلکاروں نے گیٹ پر روکا جہاں اس نے اپنے آپ کو دھماکے سے اڑا دیا۔

کلِک مہمند میں خودکش دھماکے: تصاویر

ہمارے نامہ نگار عزیز اللہ خان نے بتایا کہ پولیٹیکل ایجنٹ مہمند ایجنسی امجد علی خان نے صحافیوں کو بتایا کہ دونوں حملہ آوروں نے خاصہ داروں کی یونیفارم پہنی ہوئی تھی۔ انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ اس مرتبہ بارودی مواد کے ساتھ چھروں کی بجائے گولیاں ڈالی گئی تھیں اور یہ گولی جس کو لگی ہے وہ موقع پر ہلاک ہوا ہے۔

دونوں حملہ آوروں نے خاصہ داروں کی یونیفارم پہنی ہوئی تھی۔ انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ اس مرتبہ بارودی مواد کے ساتھ چھروں کی بجائے گولیاں ڈالی گئی تھیں اور یہ گولی جس کو لگی ہے وہ موقع پر ہلاک ہوا ہے۔
مہمند پولیٹیکل ایجنٹ
انھوں نے کہا کہ یہ حملہ دوپہر دو بجے کیا گیا ہے اور اس وقت مقامی قبائل کا ایک جرگہ ہو رہا تھا۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ یہاں روایات کے مطابق ہر ایک کی جامہ تلاشی لینا مشکل کام ہے ۔

مقامی لوگوں نے بتایا ہے کہ اس حملے میں ہلاک ہونے والوں میں دو صحافی اور دو قبائلی رہنما شامل ہیں جبکہ ایک اسسٹنٹ پولیٹیکل ایجنٹ زخمی ہوئے ہیں۔

دریں اثنا تحریک طالبان پاکستان کے مہمند ایجنسی کے سربراہ عمر خالد نے نامعلوم مقام سے ٹیلیفون پر اس حملے کی ذمہ داری قبول کی ہے اور کہا ہے کہ یہ کارروائی چند ماہ پہلے ان کے عرب ساتھیوں کے خلاف سکیورٹی فورسز کے آپریشن اور ان کی گرفتاری کے خلاف کی گئی ہے۔

یاد رہے چند روز پہلے مہمند ایجنسی کی تحصیل صافی میں سکیورٹی فورسز پر حملے کی ذمہ داری بھی اسی تنظیم نے قبول کی تھی اور کہا تھا کہ ان کے حملے جاری رہیں گے۔

Source: BBC Urdu

The car race tragedy in Malik Riaz Hussain's Bahria Empire

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Five killed as racing car crashes into spectators in Islamabad

* Driver of racing car loses control, crashes into spectators after hitting safety railing

* Police claim race held every week despite not being given permission to do so

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: At least five people, including three of a family, were killed and two others injured as a car crashed into spectators during a race in Islamabad, a private TV channel reported on Sunday.

According to police, a car race competition had been arranged on Sunday to promote motor sports in the country. During the car race, one car lost control and crashed into spectators after hitting the safety railing and smashing into a footpath. The driver, along with four other bystanders, including one child, was killed. Three members of a family, including a father and his son, were also among the unfortunate bystanders. The car was running at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour. Two of the wounded have been shifted to a nearby hospital by rescue teams, where their condition is reported to be stable, the channel said.

Police said the car race was held every week, even though people had not been given any permission to do so. Rawalpindi DCO Imdad Bosal said the administration did not permit the race, adding that after which, the organisers of the race chose the area. Whereas, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aamir Ali said permission for the race was not sought from the Islamabad administration.

On the other hand, Rawat Police Station SHO has admitted that the race site was in the limits of the police station and two sub-inspectors, one ASI and 10 police constables were deployed at the site, the channel reported.

According to details, one Atif Sheikh wrote a letter to the DCO office on December 1 seeking permission for the race. On December 2, the DCO’s office asked the Special Branch to present a report on the matter. A report from the DPO office permitted the race, but the report from the Special Branch disallowed it. On December 4, the Rawalpindi DCO office formally prohibited the race, saying that it could not be allowed. In spite of this, the race was held in the limits of the Rawat Police Station. However, SHO Chaudhry Mehdi claimed that he had a permit letter for the race. Investigations into the incident have begun by the Rawalpindi DCO.

The organisers of the race have said that the spectators were warned several times to stay at a distance from the race track and not to get close to the railing. (Source)

Bahria town racing: Speed thrills but kills five
Umer Nangiana

RAWALPINDI: Five spectators of a drag race were killed when one of the sports cars skidded off the road and ran them over. A woman and a minor child were also injured in the incident, which took place on Sunday in Phase VIII of Bahria town, a posh locality in the outskirts of the twin cities.
Driver of car number 707, Muhammad Majid Khan, who is also the senior manager of a national telecom giant, managed to escape from the scene with a few injuries, said police.

It was not clear if the race was legally organised or not. The Rawat area police denied having given permission to the telecom company to organise the race. The company officials, however, had somehow managed to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Bahria Town management.
“A copy of the NOC was sent to the police station after we had rejected their application seeking permission to hold the race,” said a police official.
Witnesses told the police that the speeding driver had lost control of his car, and was trying to reduce speed by grazing it along the footpath. However, he failed to regain control and after hitting the footpath, the car skidded straight on to crush the spectators.
Four people Daniyal Khan, Babar Khan, Sohail Khan and (son of) Colonel (Retired) Mohsin Khan died on the spot, while Asfand Yar was pronounced dead upon reaching the hospital. A woman Jamana Khan and a minor child Hamza Iqbal suffered injuries and were shifted to the nearby Safari hospital.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Commissioner Rawalpindi, Zahid Saeed said that the race was illegally organised.
“After they were refused permission, the organisers informed us that the race would be held in the jurisdiction of Islamabad and not Rawalpindi but then they did it in the latter,” said Saeed.
Police said cases were registered against the driver of the car, the Bahria Town management, and the chief organiser of the race, Sheikh Atif, who had managed to escape.
Commissioner Saeed said that strict action would be taken against everyone found involved in organising or executing the race. The race was allegedly sponsored by the leading telecom company but no spokesperson was available for comments.
In a drag race, two challengers race down a straight road. Usually, light sports cars fitted with powerful engines are used. Winning the race requires being able to change gears quickly and smoothly at the perfect time (depending on the optimum revolutions per minute (rpm) of the engine). Since the cars normally speed down a straight road, spectators feel safe standing just on the side and watching the events unfold at relative proximity. Drivers are required to keep a close watch on their rpms, turning and manoeuvring skills are not tested. Majid, however, managed to lose control over his vehicle and drove off the track. Because the car was at a high speed, the spectators did not have any time to move out of the way or run for safety.
“The car was completely smashed,” said police. Rawat police were on the look out for Sheikh Atif and Majid Khan. However, no arrests were made till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2010.

The Bahria Town (Pvt) Limited Malik Riaz Hussain heads the massive project which is currently developing state-of-the-art schemes in Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Though Malik Riaz may not be having a very renowned name in business circles, fact has it that the value of his land-holdings both within & outside Pakistan amounts dozens of billions of rupees. Emerging out of the blue, this developer has reportedly developed tremendous connections where it matters in Pakistan-One of the few reasons why his constructed projects get completed in time without hindrance. Whether he has gifted bungalows free of cost of country’s bigwigs or offered them at highly concessional rates, the reality on the ground is that Malik has managed to mesmerize most through his generous wallet. Possessing no convincing financial background, Malik Riaz is known to have been
benefited immensely-courtesy patronage of former Pakistan Navy chief admiral retired Mansoor ul Haq. Others say both Malik and the admiral had stuck a $ 200,000 deal but the man behind the Bahria Town is least moved and irrespective of who is in power; he continues to build house after house-swelling his wealth. And then he is happy being a sponsor for many-welfare parties held under patronage of the ruling elite. (Source)

5 dec 2010, venue (Bahria Town Rawalpindi) racing event turns into a death event for some innocent people who died due to the crash of Toyota supra at 160 kmphr

Two plus Two

While as many documents of Wikileaks keep pouring in, each document sparking many debates, opinions, arguments and such around the whole world. Same is also true for Pakistan. However, in Pakistan, generally speaking, the leaks have also so far revealed two consistent patterns.

First of this is that of the media’s self fulfilling prophesies. The way the documents work is that these are embassy reports sent back to United States Government. Now if media runs a news President Zardari is about to be toppled. US consular, hearing the ‘news’ broaches the subject in next meeting with President Zardari. President, who has also heard the news states that he does have some contingency plan. Which is obvious in almost every case, even Obama would have one or any person, who shows some responsibility, would have one. This plan now revealed becomes ‘evidence’ of veracity of the original ‘news’. Or so the media has us believe. Instance of such self fulfilling prophesies are many. But for those who still don’t see the big picture. This is such a vindication of their rumor-mill journalism that they will shout till it becomes accepted as truth. Not much different from business as usual here then.

Second revelation is more worrying but not nascent. Leaks show many pieces of puzzle, solution of which is already known. That is; power to Islamabad lies in Washington. This has been typically true since advent of a certain Gen. Zia. There are many instances of politician and generals trying to get NOCs, sanctions & such before acting in affairs that are of national stature. Since media has once again failed to fully grasp this revelation, they have consequently failed to observe the original cause.

One would do well to go back at this juncture to read Eqbal Ahmed’s analysis on this, made almost more than a decade and half ago.* He terms this phenomenon as neo-colonialism.% At risk of simplifying it to libel. The theory states that specifically the British had ruled India with help of a clique of higher-up native bureaucrats and army officer loyal to empire. With Partition, forming of the republic and consequent demise of British empire and rise of American hegemony, balance shifted. To the extent that now we have rank heirs to that clique now are loyal to the new imperialists i.e. Americans. Who conveniently needn’t even physically occupy to exercise power and pursue their interest.

In Pakistan with removal of democratic government in late 70s & with increased interaction of 80s has led to a chain of command where the higher Army officers look towards Washington for their order. This notion is only reinforced by Wikileaks. Be that Zardari’s thanking us for restraining Musharaff, return of Shaheed Benezir, during General Elections and his own removal, or Kiyani’s admittance to Paterson of his future plans or more so his handing of letter to Obama.#

All this is a proof that power remains in US and not because of politician but the Army. More over, it then dictates politicians to do their and master’s bidding. Failure to follow is made example that is clearly evident in History. Thus,politicians do what every three year does when he is plucked by a bully, they tell on them. Thus politicians go to the US to complain of their own army,supposedly under their control. But Army wouldn’t listen to them, this is very clear, even without wikileaks.

What is ironic that, though they seem to have maintained pomp, show and evidently even the mission objective (remain loyal to frangi-master) acquired from British. The officer’s discipline of following higher command, remaining faithful to one’s oath and showing courage and honour in duty is sorely missing. These of course are the mark of great armies in world.

But of course the PR machine of later is much more potent and this too would be fault of Zardari and his cronies.

This would be evident to all but the silent majority that votes for Zardari. Being illiterate as it is, it has been spared from the propaganda that educated lot go though. As such they can see clearly where myopia and propaganda blind us, and who is pawn of whom.

Another greater example of case against effects of bad education than this!

More surely is in store as the documents are revealed everyday but I personally doubt we’d find anything contrary to these two trends

*http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=62745
% Term can different meanings for the political scientist. Eqbal Ahmed defines it neatly for purposes of Pakistan.
# http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/02/policy-paper-catches-obamas-attention.html

People’s Poet of Balochistan: Commemorating Mir Gul Khan Nasir

5th December is the death anniversary of People’s Poet of Balochistan, Mir Gul Khan Nasir. He was a prominent progressive poet, politician, historian, and journalist of Balochistan, Pakistan. Born on 14 May 1914 in Noshki. His father’s name was Mir Habib Khan. Habib Khan belonged to the celebrated Paindzai subclan of the Zagr Mengal branch of the Mengal Tribe.

Naseer in defence of Nationalism

Mir Gul Khan had been doing poetry since the age of eight but it was during his time in Lahore when he began writing Urdu poetry which was of a revolutionary nature.  This poetry of his became very popular and was published in the newspapers under his pen name Nasir which he chose as a tribute to Mir Nasir Khan The First (The Ninth Khan of Kalat, also known as Noori Nasir Khan). These Urdu poems of his, like Nawab Youzaf Ali Khan Magsi and Mohammad Hussain Anqa’s poems, were aimed at raising the political awareness of the Baloch people, especially, the youth. During his time at Lahore Mir Gul Khan played an important role in the students organization “Baloch aur Balochistani Thalbaa kee Anjuman” (B.B.S.O) which was formed by Mureed Hussain Khan Magsi and other Baloch students on the advice of Mir Yousaf Ali Khan Magsi.

He participated actively in student politics and was a part of various progreesive parties and alliances as Anjuman-i Ithihaad-i Balochaan, Anjuman-i-Islamia Kalat, Kalat State National Party, Muslim League(for a short period), Usthman Gul(Balochi fot “The People’s Party), Pakistan National Party and finally National Awami Party(NAP), He served as the first education minister in the NAP provincial Govt in Balochistan. When NAP Govt was dismissed by ZA Bhutto, His brother Mir Lawang Khan  martyred in military action after the imposition of Governor Raj, he was imprisoned along with other NAP leaders and was imprisoned along with other NAP leaders and was facing trison charges in Hyderabd Tribunal case.

Mir Gul Khan Nasir was arrested on several occasions from 1939 to 1978 on many different charges, all of them pertaining to politics. He collectively spent almost 15 years of his life in jail.

Mir Gul Khan Nasir was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and passed away on 5th December, 1983 in the Mid East Hospital, Karachi. He was taken back to his village, Noshki, in the form of a huge procession. On 7th December, 1983 he was laid to rest in his villages’ cementery.

Literary Works

Gul Baang (1951) was his first collection of Balochi Poetry.

History of Balochistan (1952) (Urdu) Volume 1 – After much research Mir Gul Khan published this book which consists of 340 pages. It is a history of the Baloch Race and removes many mis-conceptions about the Baloch which were prevalent at that time.

History of Balochistan (1957) (Urdu) Volume 2 – This volume consists of 15 chapters and deals with the history of Balochistan from Khan Khudadad Khan to Khan Ahmedyar Khan until 1955.

Daastaan-e-Dostain o Sheereen (1964) is considered to be one of the best books of Mir Gul Khan Nasir. In this book he has penned the classical Balochi Love Story of Dostain and Sheereen. In the preface of this book the famous Baloch poet Azad Jamaldini called Mir Gul Khan “The Greatest Poet of the Balochi Language”.

Koch o Baloch (1969) was a book in which Mir Gul Khan, through intellectual reasoning proved that the Brahvis and the Balochis actually came from the same race.

Garand (1971) is an important collection of Mir Gul Khan Nasir’s poems.

Balochistan Kay Sarhadi Chaapa Maar (1979) is an Urdu translation of General Dyre’s “Raiders of the Frontier” by Mir Gul Khan Nasir.

Seenai Keechaga (1980) is a Balochi translation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s “Sar-i Waadi-i Seena” by Mir Gul Khan Nasir.

Mashad Na Jang Naama (1981) – Mir Gul Khan Nasir completed this Brahvi book when he was a student in the 8th grade but it was published in 1981.

Shah Latif Gusheet (1983) is a Balochi translation of that part of Shah Abdul Latif Bhatai’s poetry which concerns the Balochs.

Posthumous Compilations

Gulgaal (1993) is the ninth compilation Mir Gul Khan’s poetry.

Shanblaak (1996) is Mir Gul Khan Nasir’s tenth collection of Balochi Poetry which also includes Urdu translations by himself.

Poetic Skills

Gul Khan Nasir wrote poems in Balochi, Urdu, Farsi (Persian), Brahvi and English. Most of his poems are in Balochi language. He was good friends with Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Once Faiz Sahib offered to translate Mir Gul Khan’s poems in Urdu but Mir Gul Khan turned down the offer. Most of Mir Gul Khan Naseer’s Urdu poetry was written between 1933 – 1950 and there has bee no publication of his Urdu poetry to this date. Mir Gul Khan’s poetry is filled with revolutionary and anti-imperialist themes and it reflects his progressive nature and socialist ideals. Mir Gul Khan Naseer was very much against the class differences that prevailed at that time, and still do. He wrote many poems against the Sardari System and their bogus institutions like Jirga and tribal traditions of injustice and discrimination.

He opposed Sardars for playing in the hands of miliatary establishment, criticized the clergy for his retrogressive tactics and religious doctrines and thethe Jirga syatem, a tool of oppression in the hands of Sardars against their peoples whom they treated as sub-ordinates.

While speaking to the Mullah in his poem titled as “Man O Mullah”

English Translation of Balochi poem

The Mullah getting ready to deliver his sermon,
Stroked his beard proudly,
And started preaching:

“One is a Master, One is a Mir (a leader or chief)
One is a Ruler, One is a Pir (a saint)
One is sad, another is happy

One makes heaps of wealth
One is starving, One is fed
One’s faults are visible, another’s are hidden

One rides his steed,
Wears only the best
His galloping horse kicks up dust

While another Bare-footed,
Naked and hungry
Miserably drags himself through life

Without a doubt it’s God’s will
It is written in the Righteous Book (Quraan)
That the path is narrow and quite tough

Five fingers can never be equal
God himself has made it that way
So, you should accept this as fate”

Waves of anger rising in my heart made me interrupt him
I said: “May you be smitten O Mullah!
Don’t lie so much

Evenings of begging have left you blind
The Devil has over-powered you
Why are you hiding the truth like this

Humans of every kind are alike
Men and women, both, are equal
Just as Honour and Dignity are the same

Humans aren’t high and low
O Moron! Just read the Quraan
You’ve been misled by the Satan

These Mirs, Masters and Sardars (Tribal Chieftans)
These Pirs, Clerics and Zardaars (the Wealthy)
These are the real roots of evil

They are criminals and pimps,
Traitors of humanity,
Blood sucking Leeches and Poisonous snakes

They travel in cars and planes
Their houses are furnished with velvet carpets
And they eat from golden plates

I know you’re mouth is watering
You’re living off loans from the Rich
Mullah! Now just think

From where did they get this wealth?
How did they amass this fortune?
How did they become our masters?

Mullah! Now stop making excuses
The mother’s womb didn’t provide them with all these riches
Nor did the sky rain money on their heads

Listen to my words,
Open your eyes which have been blinded
The answer is right infront of you

They have stolen the rights of the weak,
They have looted the property of the poor
And disrobed everybody in sight

Who has told you this is fate?
It’s an argument not thought out,
A serious blow to faith

Mullah! Now don’t you mislead
Don’t stray people off the path of God
Just to satisfy the affluent

Don’t sell your faith for cash
Don’t present the lies as truth
And stop your incessant gibbering

The times have now completely changed
You’re going to vanish alongwith the rich,
The aristocrats and the powerful monarchs

A better age will dawn on us
When no one will be worried for food
And there won’t be wars for money

Mullah! It’s time you woke up and smelled the air
Because in this new world your obsolete teachings won’t work
There won’t be anymore killings in the name of religion

Humanity’s liberation is inevitable
Mullah! If there’s any doubt in your heart
Then you ought to be taught a lesson

Mir Gul Khan Naseer, G B Bizenjo, Attaullah Mengal

He was a nationalist but with progressive ideas believing in the contemporary political thoughts and institutions and for his whole life struggled for the cause of getting social, political and economics rights for his people. He complained his countrymen for their Criminal Silence over the Genocide of Balochs and crying in solidarity with people of Palestine, Kashmir and other parts of the world.

He mocked at the feudals, landlords, Waderas, Khans, Peers, Sardars and Bourgeoisie intellectuals raising the slogans of Socialism, hence playing politics of Deceit with the emotions of the masses.

Socialism-i-Amal

English Translation of his Balochi poem

Today, the world is changing fast

Socialism’s charm is in full swing

Sindh’s Wadera, with a bank balance of millions

Is telling Lenin how socialism should be

Punjab’s rich and pompous Chaudary

Is twisting and twining socialism

Khan Sahib (of The Pashtuns), whose pockets are full of cash

Is (pretending to be) trembling in agony [like the strings of a violin]

On the pain of the proletariat

Mir Sahib (of the Balochs) is looting the impoverished Baloch farmers (not the big landlords)

On pretext of enacting land reforms (like Mao)

Even as I am uttering these words

The fire burning in my heart is barbecuing it

The dacoit has donned the mendicant’s garments

The murderer’s thoughts are of earning rewards from God

The defendant wants to be the judge

Thieving pigs desire to be compared to friends of the Prophet

The wolf yearns to be made the shepherd of the sheep

The cat dreams of getting pieces of fresh meat

The mouse is craving for flour

The jackal is impatient to get its hands on the hen

The rich and powerful are asleep

The black snake (the bourgeoisie) is burning

The bosses’ brains are located in their heels

The ship of their thoughts is sailing towards a mirage

These Mirs and Waderas fail to realize

That imperialism is about to leave (its foot is in the stirrup)

The poor labourers and farmers

Have their loins girded, and are ready for a revolution

The age of flattery has gone

Now things will happen as they do in the books

The public have become their own masters

The bubble of the aristocrats is about to burst

Take a look at the tides of change

Nasir is moving forward with the red flag

It was the reason when Habib Jalib said about him,

“Had Mir Gul Khan Nasir been born in Punjab he would’ve become Faiz Ahmed Faiz and if Faiz had been brought up in Balochistan, he would’ve become Gul Khan Nasir”.

Courtesy: Mir Gul Khan Naseer official Site

General Kayani allowed US special forces to secretly operate in Pakistan

Related articles:

Wikileaks on General Kayani and his ‘democratic’ puppets

Wikileaks reconfirm the Taliban ISI Alliance (LUBP update 29 Nov 2010)

‘President’ Kayani is the most powerful man of Pakistan

Who is Gilani trying to please? by Omar Khattab

US embassy cables released by whistleblower website WikiLeaks reveal that teams of US special forces have been secretly working with Pakistan military in the tribal areas, the Guardian said on Wednesday.

Small US special forces teams helped hunt down Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters and co-ordinate drone strikes, American cables revealed.

They pointed out that the number of soldiers involved were limited to just 16 in October 2009 – but the deployment is of immense political significance.

The first special forces team of four soldiers was deployed at an old British colonial fort in the northern half of the tribal belt in September 2009, so as to help Frontier Corps paramilitaries to carry out artillery strikes on a militant base, one of the leaked US cables revealed.

A month later, two more teams of six soldiers each were deployed at Pakistani army bases in North and South Waziristan, a lawless warren of mountains considered to be the global headquarters of al-Qaeda, it said.

Their job was to provide “intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance” support, “general operational advice” and to help set up a live satellite feed from American drones flying overhead.

American officials, who had long been pushing for such a deployment in the face of “adamant” Pakistani opposition, were jubilant, viewing it as a sign of growing trust in an often troubled relationship, the cable said.

“The developments of the past two months thus appear to represent a sea change in [the military’s] thinking,” read one of the cables.
American special forces had been deployed in Pakistan since 2008 but were limited to a training role, it noted.

Permission for the active combat deployment “almost certainly” came with the personal consent of Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, another cable read.

“Patient relationship-building with the military is the key factor that has brought us to this point. The Pakistanis are increasingly confident that we do not have ulterior motives in assisting their operations,” according to the cable.

Participation of American soldiers in combat operations in the tribal campaign has never been publicly acknowledged due to its extreme political sensitivity in a country seething with anti-US sentiment, it further noted.

In the cables, Pakistan bureaucrats have been shown as supporting the drone attacks, viewing them as a solution to a problem. (Source)

’امریکی فوجی پاکستانی سرزمین پر‘

وکی لیکس کی جانب سے افشا کی جانے والی امریکی سفارتی دستاویزات کے مطابق پاکستان نے سنہ دو ہزار نو میں امریکی فوج کے خصوصی دستوں کو قبائلی علاقوں میں پاک فوج کی کارروائی میں شرکت کی اجازت دی تھی۔

وکی لیکس پر بدھ کو شائع ہونے والے ایک مراسلے میں جو نو اکتوبر سنہ دو ہزار نو کو امریکی وزارت خارجہ کو بھیجا گیا تھا، اس وقت پاکستان میں تعینات امریکی سفیر ڈبلیو این پیٹرسن نے کہا تھا کہ پاکستان فوج نے اجازت دے دی ہے کہ قبائلی علاقوں میں جاری فوجی کارروائی میں امریکی سپیشل فورس پاک فوج کا ساتھ دے۔

اس مراسلے میں کہا گیا ہے کہ یہ دوسری بار ہے کہ پاکستان فوج نے امریکی فورسز کو اپنے ساتھ کارروائی میں مدد کرنے کی اجازت دی ہے اور اس سے قبل سنہ دو ہزار نو ستمبر میں امریکی سپیشل سروسز کے چار اہلکاروں کو پاکستان کے قبائلی علاقوں میں فرنٹیئر کور کے ساتھ منسلک کیا گیا تھا اور یہ تعاون نہایت کامیاب رہا تھا۔

مراسلے کے مطابق جی ایچ کیو نے امریکی فورسز کو گیارہویں کور کے ساتھ کام کرنے اور پاک فوج کو انٹیلیجنس، نگرانی اور دیگر امور پر مشورے دینے کی اجازت دی۔ یہ فورسز پاک فوج کے ساتھ جنوبی اور شمالی وزیرستان میں تعینات کی گئیں۔

مراسلے میں کہا گیا ہے کہ امریکی سپیشل فورسز پاکستان میں چار سال سے موجود ہیں لیکن سنہ دو ہزار نو سے قبل ان کا کردار تربیتی شعبے میں تھا۔

امریکی سفیر کے مطابق جی ایچ کیو کی جانب سے امریکی سپیشل فورسز کو اجازت ملنے سے یہ ثابت ہوتا ہے کہ پاکستانی فوج میں امریکی فوج کے حوالے سے سوچ میں تبدیلی آئی ہے۔

امریکی سفیر نے اس مراسلے کے آخر میں لکھا ہے کہ امریکی فوج کی پاکستان فوج کے ساتھ ہونا سیاسی طور پر نہایت حساس ہے اور اگر یہ خبر پاکستانی میڈیا تک پہنچ گئی تو پاکستان فوج یہ اجازت نامہ منسوخ کر دے گی۔

Source