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Imran lambasts ‘borrowed’ education reforms

KARACHI: Chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has stressed the need of grooming and educating the youth to assume the country’s leadership while keeping the traditional values of the society intact.

He criticised the rulers “for toeing the American line” by trying to impose a ‘secular education system’ in the country. The new education system, according to him, would prepare an army of Pakistanis who would be American in their thought and serve their masters without giving a second thought to the welfare of the country.

Imran Khan asks opp not to move SC against proposed re-election of Musharraf

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan has advised the opposition not to move to the Supreme Court against the proposed re-election of President General Pervez Musharraf by the incumbent assemblies as, the apex court’s verdict will be in favour of the government.

“The opposition parties have no other option but to go to the masses against unconstitutional (proposed) re-election of General Musharraf by the sitting assemblies. If they (opposition parties) commit this mistake, they will be in total loss in line with the past”, Khan contended while addressing “meet the press” programme at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

The cricketer-turned politician said he did not expect any relief from the apex court if the opposition parties took the issue of the re-election of an uniformed president there. ” Unfortunately, the judiciary is not independent. There are some no-go areas for the Supreme Court, and it cannot operate in these areas”, he asserted.

Citizens should be allowed to keep arms

PTI Sindh president Zubair Khan has demanded that citizens should be allowed to keep arms in order to protect themselves from dacoits and bandits. The Police have totally failed to provide security to citizens. Rate of street crimes is on the rise despite government claims. People are living under desperate fright as their lucrative and lives are unsafe. Dacoity in daytime hours is a clear manifest that the provincial administration has no control over crimes and criminals.

SCBA to move apex court on Musharraf’s re-election

LAHORE, Jan 22: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) said on Monday that it would move the Supreme Court against President Musharraf’s any bid to get himself re-elected from the present assemblies.

Flanked by SCBA office bearers, the SCBA secretary Zulfiqar Ali Bokhari told a press conference that present assemblies having a five-year tenure were not entitled to elect a president for two terms or 10 years. “What will be next assemblies do if the present assemblies cast vote twice?” he asked.

Tehreek-e-Insaf to contest polls in full force: Imran Khan

RAHIM YAR KHAN Jan 22 (APP): Tehreek-e-Insaf Pakistan will  fully participate in the next general elections, whether or  not PML-N and PPP chiefs return to the country to take part in  the polls.

This was stated by Tehreek Chief Imran Khan while addressing  a press conference here Monday. Other senior party leaders were  also present.

He said although he was very much involved in pre-poll arrangements,  these activities will not hinder his commitment to social welfare,  where he is fully active and the work continues as usual.

“Shaukat Khanum Hospital, with an annual expenditure of Rs 700  million, has been providing free treatment to needy and deserving cancer patients,” he said.

A similar hospital will soon be established in Karachi,  while a technical college has been planned to set up in Mianwali  later this year, he added.

The Tehreek chief said that his dedication to welfare work  will not be affected by his political and patriotic aspirations.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

’Punjab has become a police state’

BAHAWALPUR: In a rally held under the auspices of MMA, Liaqat Baloch and Imran Khan, while addressing the occasion, have accused the Punjab of turning into a hotbed of police state, backing all the feudals, and nefarious elements.

They said that public life and property was most unsafe, and quoted the statement of Lahore High Court Bench which had earlier expressed the exact sentiments.

Liaqat Baloch accused the government of sabotaging the integrity of two-nation theory, Islamic values and culture of the Nation, and forcing the unemployed youth of the Country towards criminal activities.

PTI’s intra-party polls to be held in February, March

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) intra-party polls will be held in February and March throughout the country, and the voter list is likely to be completed by the end of January, PTI General Secretary Muhammad Amin Zaki told Daily Times.

Zaki said that the party’s election schedule for district office-bearers would be announced by February 15 and for provincial office-bearers in the first week of March, while the schedule for central office-bearers would be announced in the middle of March. He said that Imran Khan would be the consensus candidate for the PTI chairman’s post, while Hamid Khan, Brig (r) Muhammad Shahid Zulfiqar and Admiral (r) Javed Iqbal would contest the elections for the central senior vice president, secretary general and deputy secretary general posts.

The PTI had held public meetings in Hafizabad, Pakpattan, Multan, Sahiwal, Okara and Kasur to mobilise its workers, he said, adding that the party would hold a public meeting in Bahawalpur on January 21, and the party would announce its election schedule during the last workers’ convention in Lahore in the second week of February. Zaki said that a meeting of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and PTI representatives would be held today to finalise the schedule of joint public meetings in Punjab.

Source: Daily Times

PTI to contest election under Musharraf if opposition decides to do so

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) would contest the forthcoming election under Musharraf if the opposition parties were ready to run for election under the current setup, said PTI chairman Imran Khan.

Talking to a private TV channel, Imran Khan, said that the PTI would see what the opposition parties decide about participating in the election; however, he said that his party had started election preparation.

Talking about the All Parties Conference (APC) convened by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Nawaz Sharif, he said, it had so far not been decided whether the conference would take place or not. He, however, said the opposition must unite on any platform and take tangible steps for the restoration of democracy.

Responding to a question, Imran Khan, rejected the allegation that the intelligence agencies had got him elected in the previous elections. He said if I was elected by the support of agencies, the entire members of ruling PML would have been elected by the support of intelligence agencies.

Source: Online News

Relatives of missing people register protest in front of SC

ISLAMABAD: The relatives of missing people staged a strong protest in front of Supreme Court here on Wednesday.

President of Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan also participated in the protest rally and announced to take part in future demonstrations.

Addressing the relatives of missing people, Imran Khan said that rampant lawlessness has deteriorated law and order situation of the country. Intelligence authorities are governing the country, he added.

“If the missing people are innocent then the government should proceed their cases in the court,” he held.

“It is sheer violation of justice that destitute and helpless people are protesting for their relatives,” he remarked.

Lamenting the current situation, he pointed out that the contemporary situation was worse than the British rule.

Amina Masood elaborated that 16 cases of missing people had registered and more than 100 cases were under process in Supreme Court.

She said that the Apex Court was executing the case of missing people but it was postponed due to unknown reasons.

In the protest, 20 women, 20 men, and 12 children were sitting outside of the supreme court in severe cold to register their protest. They were holding placards, banners and posters inscribed with slogans against the government.

Source: Online News

Politics keeps Imran busy in 2007

Vinod Sharma
Lahore, January 17, 2007

It is politics, not cricket that keeps Imran Khan occupied in this year of the general elections and the election of the General to the Pakistani presidency.

But the former test all-rounder wants Pervez Musharraf back to the pavilion.  He compares him with Hosni Mubarak, the US-propped military ruler who is also the president of Egypt.

“The Opposition has a huge responsibility to ward off attempts to impose a Mubarak on Pakistan. The Egyptian leader also holds elections but they haven’t ushered in genuine democracy in that country,” Imran told the Hindustan Times in an interview.

For him, genuine democracy is about dismantling the system fathered by the Pak President: “There can be no compromise or a deal with Musharraf. His policies are potentially destructive of Pakistan.”

GDA, The only platform for struggle

PTI Sindh President Zubair Khan has condemned missile attack on a religious seminary at Khar, Bajor (NWFP). He said the strike was launched to appease the Bush Administration to pave the way sought for consistency to rule the country for decade. The attack was pre-planned and the purpose was to impress the US Government that the present coalition Government led by General Pervaiz Musharraf is acting as the sole trustworthy US ally against terrorism and no other government would entertain the interests of the US Government. He was speaking to a large protest rally and demonstration outside Karachi Press Club staged against the missile attack on Khar, Bajor and show unity with the victims.

Government efforts to sbjugate media condemned

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh president Zubair khan has said that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s claims for a free media is in contrast to the applied practices by the government whereof the print and electronic media have suffered tremendous sanctions for exposing the dark sides. Several high ranking dailies and a number of private television channels have been inflicted for repulsing despotic advices. As and when statements issued by high officials for the freedom of expression are meant to be a new threat telling the press that the threads are in governments hands that could be relaxed or pulled up according to how much the media bows down.

PTI condemns US Threat

PTI Sindh president Zubair Khan has warned USA of consequences if US Army or NATO forces launch attack on Pakistani soil under the pretext of search for the Taliban leaders. Pakistan is not a small fry. It has disciplined Army equipped with traditional and nuclear warheads. Any mistake will be priced high, as Pakistan will prove second Vietnam in case of any blind attack. We shall keep our freedom and every inch of our motherland will be safeguarded at any cost.

It may be General Musharraf or any other that could act according to US ambitions but the rest of Pakistan Army and the entire nation will rebound unanimously with full patriotism to protect our soil. We are not American colony nor We shall ever be forced to be one, he said.

PTI condemns inclusion of property tax into electricity bills

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh President Zubair Khan has criticized the government’s decision for receiving property tax with electricity bills. Government has failed to lower down price hike but has rather levied a new blood-sucking tag to already dying of poverty nation. It is quite tyranny on behalf of the government to press the people to pay out amount for luxurious improvident government that is a true symbol of God’s wrath.

APC sans Benazir to be of no use, no importance: Imran Khan

LAHORE: PTI chief Imran Khan has said All Parties Conference (APC) will lose its importance as well as necessity if Benazir Bhutto does not participate in it.

He said this while talking to Online Monday on the eve of a ceremony held here in a local hotel in connection with joint cooperation between Shaukat Khanum Memorial hospital and research centre and Sisko company.

He underscored the need for joint role of opposition to bring to end the rule of an individual. The need is there that opposition goes ahead in unison for restoration of genuine democracy in the country. But it is unfortunate that government agencies are blocking the formation of opposition grand alliance on every step, he maintained.

To a question on participation in election in the presence of President Musharraf he said no one can even think that transparent election will be held under general Musharraf. We are very clear on it. The objectives can not be achieved if only one party boycotts. To my opinion the matter of participation in election in the presence of general Musharraf will be decided in the APC being convened by Nawaz Sharif in London, he remarked.

He predicted 2007 is year of vital changes. ” We are trying to persuade opposition parties to launch protest movement from a joint forum. If opposition initiates the movement for a joint motive then to my opinion the chances will grow 100 percent to launch a massive movement against the rulers this year.

If opposition is agreed on a common agenda, people are ready to go for a massive movement against the government, he remarked. As far as his party is concerned it has already started country wide mass contact campaign, he told.

Source: Paktribune

MPC forms campaign panel

QUETTA, Jan 14: A multi-party conference (MPC) here on Sunday constituted a committee to contact the political leadership of other provinces for launching a nation-wide movement for restoration of genuine democracy in the country.

It appealed to the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of what was described as government’s unconstitutional and extra-judicial actions and to stop such actions.

The meeting opposed the fencing and mining of borders with Afghanistan and urged the government to review its decision.

The conference convened by the Balochistan chapter of PPP Parliamentarians was attended by the National Party, Balochistan National Party (Mengal), Awami National Party, PML-N, Jamhoori Watan Party, Jamaat-i-Islami and Tehrik Insaf. It was presided over by the PPP’s provincial chief Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani. The Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party did not attend the conference.

PTI Flays victimization of leadership

PTI provincial chief Zubair Khan has condemned government’s attempts for registering fake FIR against political leaders that is tantamounting to political victimization by the state. Government is afraid of escalating public pressure against its anti-social policies that has snatched morsel from poor man’s mouth.

This is our democratic, political and constitutional right to conduct and participate public protest over public and national issues. Government is after fixing political leadership under authoritative presidential orders that are unconstitutional as the incumbency of president General Pervaiz Musharraf is itself null and void as per constitution of Pakistan, He said.

Those misusing the administration to lodge fake FIR against leaders of PTI, JI and others politicians have committed a serious constitutional offence as the legitimacy of their actions is controversial. There would be a time when the dictatorship would be brought to witness box before fully autonomous judiciary and justice will be made. Present rulers must not forget their misdeeds, Zubair warned.

We appeal the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take sue motto action against Sindh government for victimizing politicians through engaging them in fabricated cases.

General Musharraf has been publicly saying to the people of Pakistan to vote for his selected group of men, which is a violation of constitution of Pakistan. He is paving ways for the victory of his men in next general elections for which he has imposed ban on exiled leadership to come back while political leadership in country is being threatened, killed and engaged in fake cases so that they should leave the ground free for his vested designs, Zubair said.

New Human Rights Watch report drubs Pakistan

WASHINGTON: Human Rights Watch (HRW) says in its annual report issued this week that President Pervez Musharraf’s government did little in 2006 to address a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation.

The report’s “ongoing concerns” include arbitrary detention, lack of due process, and the mistreatment, torture, and “disappearance” of terrorism suspects and political opponents; harassment and intimidation of the media; and legal discrimination against and mistreatment of women and religious minorities. However, the human rights watchdog group calls the passage of the Women’s Protection Bill a significant development, besides the North Waziristan peace deal with “Taliban supporters” and reconstruction efforts in Azad Kashmir after the earthquake, though the later were marred by allegations of corruption.

PML-N, PTI and MMA join hands in Punjab

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will hold joint public meetings in Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi in February, as part of an anti-government campaign.

The decision on continuing the campaign will be made after the initial rallies. A coordination committee consisting of Raja Ishfaq Sarwar, Inamullah Khan Niazi and Manshaullah Butt of the PML-N, Pir Ejaz Hashmi, Maulana Amjad Khan and Waqas Jaffari of the MMA, and Mian Sajid Pervaiz, Amin Zaki and Umer Sarfaraz Cheema of the PTI will arrange the meetings.