Ideas-2006: what did it achieve?

What is a cause for greater concern is the failure of our defence managers to understand that Pakistans policies are too defence-centric for our good.

By Zubeida Mustafa

THE government has billed the much hyped up Ideas-2006, the fourth exhibition of defence equipment to be held in Karachi last week, as a big success. The grand display of various weapon systems with indigenised names was said to be good for the countrys image. If nothing else, it was claimed that the exhibition proved beyond doubt that Pakistan had advanced technologically and could manufacture tanks and aircraft.

In the absence of technical evaluation from independent sources we cannot be sure how much of the defence manufacturing is local and how much it involves merely the skill of assembling various parts manufactured abroad as our car industry is doing. But Ideas-2006 had a negative impact in one important respect, apart from the traffic woes it created for the citizens of Karachi. It has focused attention sharply on the imbalance in the governments financial and policy priorities. Concern was voiced frequently in the talk shows held by television channels that the government is spending heavily on defence while the social sectors are being neglected.

This is not a baseless concern. Let us first take the argument that is directly related to Ideas-2006. An air vice marshal boasted in one programme that Pakistans arms exports will receive a fillip thanks to the exhibition. He said that we are exporting 200 million dollars worth of arms and that will offset somewhat our defence spending. One may well point out that the quantum of our exports is no more than a drop in the ocean being Rs 1.2 billion, even if we do not adjust the amount we spend on the import of parts and raw material for the manufacture of the exported weapons. And what is our defence budget? It was Rs 241 billion in 2005-06 and will rise to Rs 250 billion in the current fiscal year in fact it will be more when the revised figures are announced in June 2007.

That was the least worrying argument presented in defence of Ideas-2006. What is a cause for greater concern is the failure of our defence managers to understand that Pakistans policies are too defence-centric for our good. They always start with the premise that India is our enemy and if we do not build a feasible deterrence in the shape of a credible war machine and a nuclear capability we will make ourselves vulnerable to foreign aggression implying an Indian attack and destruction. One retired lieutenant general even said that this kind of security calls for a sacrifice from the people when they are denied facilities like health care, education and housing. The icing on the cake was his claim that the people are giving this sacrifice very willingly.

Continue reading on: Dawn

Imran for joint struggle against military rule

KOHAT, Nov 28: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan has urged opposition parties to agree on a one-point agenda of removing the government of Gen Pervez Musharraf to ensure free and fair polls.

Addressing a big public meeting at the Company Park here on Tuesday, he said: “The opposition is indecisive whether to get rid of the dictator first or to contest elections under his authority, as leaders of main political parties are still shuttling between Islamabad and London for a patch-up.”

He said that he was so disappointed by the attitude of some opposition parties that his party had decided to launch a mass movement against the government alone. He said the opposition should immediately start a joint struggle for removal of present government.

“They, on one hand, say that fair elections are not possible under President Gen Musharraf but at the same time are preparing for election campaign. They should realise that we have no other option but to get rid of Gen Musharraf before elections.”

Criticising the passage of the Protection of Women Bill in a hurry he observed that it was just an eyewash and in fact Gen Musharraf had amended the Hudood Laws to please the West.

He said the government could have waited for another year to enact the bill through a legitimate parliament. He said parliament should do legislation to check corruption, unemployment, price hike and law and order and to ensure education and health to the people of Pakistan.

“President Musharraf showed fists to the nation in his speeches while wearing commando uniform to teach lesson to extremists, but surrendered the sovereignty of the state on a single phone call from the US after 9/11. He chose salutation for the Pentagon and bombs for innocent tribal people and Afghanistan. Had their been a true leadership in the country the situation would have been much different,” he remarked.

He condemned the Bajaur incident and asked President Musharraf not to malign military by taking its responsibility, because it was undoubtedly a US action. He said after the statement of Gen Musharraf that the Pakistani military had conducted the whole operation, many innocent soldiers lost lives in the Dargai suicide attack.

Imran Khan said that solution to the problems of Pakistani people lay in independence of judiciary, declaration of education and employment emergency and bringing real tax reforms by making 90 pert cent direct recoveries from the rich.

Secretary general of the TIP, Admiral Javed Khan alleged that the earlier military dictators gave away three out of five rivers to India and their followers divided Pakistan.

Source: Dawn

More of Keynes, again

By Shahid Javed Burki

WE in Pakistan — and by that I mean those who make economic policies and those who comment on them — are not given to deep reflection. Why? There are several reasons. The country’s colleges and universities don’t teach economics, political science, sociology and anthropology the way they should be taught.

Consequently, those who enter public service either as politicians or government servants are poorly equipped to handle economic and social issues. Those who write on these issues from outside the government are equally ill-equipped to correctly analyse the situation or events on which they comment.

Continue reading on: Dawn

PTI assails govt for bourse, sugar crises

LAHORE, Nov 26: The government has not been able to move against those responsible for the stock market crash as they enjoy backing of powerful people within the system.

This was said by Omer Sarfraz Cheema of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) while addressing a press conference here on Sunday.

The PTI information secretary said the stock exchange crash and sugar crisis were the two biggest scandals in the history of the country which affected almost everyone. But those responsible went free because of their political value in the system of governance.

He urged the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of both the scandals and punish the culprits.

The people had been severely hit by price hike, lawlessness, unemployment and poverty, but the government was spending millions of rupees on advertising fake development projects, he said.

Mr Cheema alleged that the government was also using public money for political bribe instead of spending it on rehabilitation of the people and solving their problems.

“It is consoling people with meaningless news like expanding cellular telephone markets and foreign exchange reserves. No one in the world takes the former as a development indicator and the latter has not been able to serve masses in any way.”

He said real development could take place only if the country had democratic system. Independent media disseminated such scandals quickly pre-empting any investment in a country like Pakistan. The government would have to understand this fact if it wanted to attract foreign investment, he said and added that it would have to clean itself before expecting any investment.

The PTI leader said the city wore a clean look during the last three days to welcome the Chinese president which showed that resources were available, but priorities were not right.

The opposition, he said, must get together to liberate the country of corrupt rulers.

Source: Dawn

Developments in NWFP PTI

Engineer Hamid-ul-Haq took oath as Peshawar District President of Tehreek-e-Insaf during a jalsa in Kohat on 18th November. Imran Khan took the oath, and goinsaf’s own Saad Abdullah was the host of the event.

Saad Abdullah, President Youth Wing NWFP, is now organizaing a jalsa in Kohat on Nov 28. He has instructed four District Youth Presidents to bring along one or two flying coach full of workers. The purpose of the jalsa on 28th is to gear up the movement against the present regime.

An Insaf Student Community has been launched for all colleges and universities of NWFP. Saad said that the name “Insaf Student Federation” was rejected as it reflected a violent path, whereas the name “Insaf Student Community” reflects a more welfare orientation. Imran Khan approved the formation of the Insaf Student Community.

Also, Ryasat Sarhadi has been appointed Youth Wing General Secretary for NWFP. Sohail Yousafzai, Waseem Khattak of Hazara and Zahoor Shakir from Hangu were chosen as Vice Presidents of the Youth Wing. Saad Abdullah pointed out that a conscious effort was made to choose the VPs from districts other than Peshawar as well, as in the past all posts used to be dominated by members from Peshawar. Now, the PTI Youth Wing’s span and effect will broaden to a greater part of NWFP.

Saad mentioned that in order to continue Tehreek-e-Insaf’s momentum, donations from supporters were urgently needed at this crucial juncture. There are alot of costs involved in running the movement such as publishing advertising materials, membership cards, badges, and arranging coaches for transportation of youth from different districts. As the youth cannot generally afford the transport themselves, the costs are being borne by the President and General Secretary Youth Wing themselves, and it is getting to the point that this can no longer continue. An appeal is made to overseas Pakistanis to come forward and help support the movement for justice.

Source: goinsaf.org

لگڑبھگا جانتا ہے۔۔۔

وسعت اللہ خان
بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام

پاکستان میں پچھلے چھ برس کے دوران اسٹیبلشمنٹ کا لگڑبھگا سینکڑوں لوگوں کو منہ میں دبا کر لے گیا اور اب بھی لے جارہا ہے۔ کیا کسی نے سوچا کہ پہلے ادوار میں لوگ زیادہ تر گرفتار ہوتے تھے مگر اب ہر ہفتے کسی نہ کسی کے غائب ہونے کی اطلاع اتنے تواتر کے ساتھ کیوں آتی ہے۔

اسٹیبلشمنٹ کے لگڑبھگے پر یہ راز پوری طرح کھل چکا ہے کہ سول سوسائٹی کے جتنے بھی نمائندہ ادارے یا افراد ہیں وہ دیکھنے میں تو بظاہر ہزاروں، لاکھوں میں ہیں۔ لیکن ان میں اتنا ہی ایکا ہے جتنا کہ قصائی کے پنجرے میں بند مرغیوں میں یا چیتے کا سامنا کرنے والے جنگلی بھینسوں کے غول میں یا بھیڑیے کو دیکھنے والی بارہ سنگھوں کی ڈار میں ہوتا ہے۔

Full Article: BBCUrdu

On the same topic:
وہ جو لاپتہ ہیں۔۔۔

پاکستان یا غائبستان

 

PTI to launch civil disobedience movement

HYDERABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh chapter president Zubair Khan announced here on Friday that his party would launch a civil disobedience movement after its anti-government public mobilisation campaign.

Addressing a news conference at the press club, he said PTI chief Imran Khan would start a visit to Sindh on Dec 2 as part of the public mobilisation drive and would be in Hyderabad on Dec 3.

He said that after addressing a public meeting in Karachi, the party chief would arrive in Hyderabad to lead rallies and public meetings, adding that a public meeting would be held in Hyderabad whether or not the district government gave permission for it.

Khan said the federal, provincial and district governments have failed to address the problems of the citizens. He added that the local government system has failed in the country, especially in Sindh, where people are deprived of basic necessities of life.

He said civic life has been disturbed through development works and ill- planning is resulting in difficulties for the citizens. Roads are in a poor condition in Hyderabad and other parts of the province, he said.

Khan said the PTI wanted to form a combined opposition, but the opposition is not united.

Source: The News

How democracy works in Pakistan

29 – 9 – 2006

The authorities in Islamabad have many ways to ensure the right result in elections. Irfan Husain tells some tales from the polling booth.

The circumstances surrounding the destruction of a madrasa in Bajaur which killed up to eighty-five people on 30 October 2006 demonstrate yet again the tricky nature of President Pervez Musharraf’s current balancing-act. In particular, the involvement of the United States in the assault, and the nature of the protests in its aftermath, reveal Musharraf to be caught between the hammer of Washington’s demands and the anvil of his people’s rising anger.

Continue reading on: www.opendemocracy.net

Irfan Husain is a columnist with Dawn newspaper in Pakistan.

Pakistan: Reforming the Education Sector

Asia Report N°84
7 October 2004

Pakistan’s deteriorating education system has radicalised many young people while failing to equip them with the skills necessary for a modern economy. The public, government-run schools, which educate the vast majority of children poorly rather than the madrasas (religious seminaries) or the elite private schools are where significant reforms and an increase in resources are most needed to reverse the influence of jihadi groups, reduce risks of internal conflict and diminish the widening fissures in Pakistani society. Both the government and donors urgently need to need give this greater priority.

Recent attempts at reform have made little headway, and spending as a share of national output has fallen in the past five years. Pakistan is now one of just twelve countries that spend less than 2 per cent of GDP on education. Moreover, an inflexible curriculum and political interference have created schools that have barely lifted very low literacy rates.

In January 2002, President Pervez Musharraf’s government presented its Education Sector Reform (ESR) plan, aimed at modernising the education system. A major objective was to develop a more secular system in order to offset mounting international scrutiny and pressure to curb religious extremism in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks. But Pakistani governments, particularly those controlled by the military, have a long history of failing to follow through on announced reforms.

Executive Summary & Recoomendations: www.crisisgroup.org

Full Report

 

Musharraf’s predicament, Pakistan’s agony

5 – 9 – 2006

The 9/11 attacks made Pakistan the frontline of the global war on terror. But it has all been downhill for Pervez Musharraf since then, writes Iftikhar H Malik.

The events of 11 September 2001 transformed the position of Pakistan in world politics, and offered its leader General Pervez Musharraf a frontline role in the “war on terror” the United States announced in their aftermath. Five years on, what has the country under Musharraf’s leadership made of the responsibility – and the opportunity – it was then presented with?

The phone call from the US’s then secretary of state Colin Powell that woke Musharraf with the news of the attacks in Washington and New York offered him a straight choice: Washington or the Taliban. For Musharraf, it was more than an easy decision – it was a godsend. Since his dismissal of an elected government in October 1999, the military ruler had become a pariah in the west, and the 9/11 attacks were a quick route to recover lost (or never gained) legitimacy, as well as a vanguard role in the unfolding war.

Continue Reading on: OpenDemocracy.net

Iftikhar H Malik is professor of history at Bath Spa University, England, and is also associated with Wolfson College, Oxford. His forthcoming book, Crescent between Cross and Star: Muslims and the West after 9/11 (2006) is being published by Oxford University Press.

Forecast from The Economist

General Pervez Musharraf, the president and chief of army staff, will continue to dominate the political scene in the forecast period, although his position is becoming more insecure. General Musharraf, who came to office in a military coup in 1999, retains the power to dismiss parliament and the prime minister (and thereby impose full military rule) in his capacity as chairman of the National Security Council. His firm control over the army remains his ultimate guarantor of power. The opposition is severely critical of his rule, and has been aggressively campaigning for a return to full democracy. Despite being weak, the opposition is gaining popularity. The government’s support for the US-led “war on terror” has raised political tensions within Pakistan, and militant groups in Waziristan and Baluchistan will continue to try to undermine federal rule. Real GDP will slow from 6.6% in fiscal year 2006/07 (July-June) to 6.1%, in 2007/08, largely owing to a slowdown in the manufacturing sector. High international oil prices, inflation and a widening current-account deficit remain the biggest threats to the economy.

Key changes from last update

Political outlook
An attack in late October by the Pakistani army on a Madrassa (Muslim religious school) in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) led to the deaths of over 80 religious students whom the Pakistani government alleges were terrorists. The move has angered the local population and is likely to lead to increased violence in the province.

Economic policy outlook
The Oil and Gas Development Company, Pakistan’s largest state-owned energy exploration company, is planning to double its budget and begin a series of overseas ventures for the first time. Strong real GDP growth will continue to force planners to seek new energy supplies.

Economic forecast
The Economist Intelligence Unit has revised up its forecast for real GDP growth in 2006/07 from 6.4% to 6.6%. The revision reflects our improved expectations for the monsoon; the agricultural sector will benefit from favourable weather conditions.

Source: The Economist

PAC seeks briefing on loan write-off

ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned the governor of the State Bank and president of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to brief it on Wednesday about their policy of writing off loans.

The committee expressed concern over the fact that numerous influential defaulters were rescheduling and taking new loans from the financial institutions with impunity.

Finance Secretary Tanvir Ali Agha said continuous intervention of the government in the affairs of the public sector banks was responsible for the chronic problem, which must be checked to save the institutions from the onslaught of wilful defaulters.

PAC member Syed Qurban Ali Shah said the NBP had written off Rs18 billion loans to the owners of a tobacco company. It was not clear from the NBP’s list of defaulters whether they had got loans from the National Development Finance Corporation (NDFC), the Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan (IDBP) or some other institutions now merged into the NBP, he said.He alleged that the owners of the company had taken loans of billions of rupees in the name of their employees and fake companies in the 1980s and later refused to pay back the loans.

They were arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and then released mysteriously after agreeing to pay Rs1.2 billion, he said.

“Nobody knows how much they owed to the NDFC and how much was written off or waived in settlement with NAB. The committee should summon all details in this regard,” he argued.

The committee took serious notice of the NBP’s move of sanctioning a Rs410 million loan to a textile mill in 2000 in breech of procedure. The loan was provided by the NDFC.

“I wonder whether there is any law in this country to check defaulters and many industrial giants have been getting their loans written off over the past four years,” said member Rai Mansab Ali Khan.

Full Story: Dawn (22nd Nov 2006)

Free and Fair Election Network launched

Islamabad: Civil society organisations have come together to monitor all aspects of the electoral processes and work for free and fair elections and formed a Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), which was formally launched on Tuesday in Islamabad. The monitoring work of FAFEN would focus on the actual conduct of the elections and the various stages and processes before and after the elections.

In the past, election results have rarely been accepted as free and fair, which seriously undermined the process of democratic development. People have lost confidence in participating in the country’s governance through the power of their vote. This confidence needed to be restored and so the civil society organisations realised their responsibility to come forward and play their role. As a network, FAFEN is committed to work in an impartial and a non-partisan manner.

FAFEN Secretary General Sarwar Bari said that in order to seek feedback for ensuring free and fair elections, FAFEN would soon hold consultations with political parties and the elections authorities to evolve its strategy for the monitoring of elections. Political parties were the main stakeholders in elections and thus FAFEN would value their views and feedback in the process of developing and implementing its monitoring initiatives, he said.

Unlike previous elections observations, FAFEN will adopt a holistic and proactive approach in the process of monitoring the behaviour and activities of the government, the election authorities, the media and the political parties. In line with international best practices, FAFEN will identify the related problems and gaps and inform the public. FAFEN will undertake appropriate advocacy initiatives to persuade the election authorities, the government and the political parties for electoral and democratic reforms.

FAFEN consists of a general body and an elected executive council of seven members, which includes one member from each province, two general members and a secretary general. EC members include Sarwar Bari (Pattan), Mukhtar Ahmad Ali (CPDI-Pakistan), Sadiqa Salahuddin (IRC), Nasrullah Khan (CPD), Mukhtar Javed (Sungi), Muhammad Zahid Islam (Sangat) and Mussarat Qadeem (Paiman). FAFEN’s aim is to promote democratic polity and strive for participation of the citizenry in electoral, political and governance processes and structures through awareness, mobilisation, empowerment, research and advocacy.

Source: Daily Times

’انٹیلیجنس ریپبلک آف غائبستان‘

حسن مجتبیٰ
سان ڈیاگو، کیلیفورنیا

وطن عزیز جہاں اغوا برائے تاوان ایک صنعت کا درجہ حاصل کرچکی تھی وہاں اب ’اغوا براۓ گمشدگی‘ کی وارداتیں ریاستی ہنر و حرفت کا اعلیٰ نشان بن چکی ہیں۔ ’باطل سے دبنے والے اے آسماں نہیں ہم۔۔۔۔‘

 

رکھوالوں کی نیت بدلی گھر کے مالک بن بیٹھے
جو غاصب محسن کش تھے صوفی سالک بن بیٹھے
جو آواز جہاں سے اٹھی اس پر تیر تبر برسے
ایسےہونٹ سلے لوگوں کے آوازوں کو بھی ترسے

احمد فراز کی آواز ہر دور کی حکومتوں کے لیے درویش کا اپنی جوتی میں بھیجا ہوا رقعہ ہے۔

Read full article on: BBCUrdu

Promoting tourism in Pakistan

By Anwar Kemal
RECOGNISING the potential of tourism as a means of boosting national income in a relatively short time, the government has declared 2007 as “Visit Pakistan Year”. It has also set in motion a number of useful changes, including a liberal visa policy for visitors from “tourist friendly countries” and a generous depreciation allowance of 50 per cent for new investment in tourism.

Pakistan has an attractive coastline, three of the highest and most scenic mountain ranges in the world, cities that offer a variety of interesting products for sale, river plains, colourful deserts and many interesting historical and cultural sites. Our people are traditionally friendly and hospitable to strangers. So why is Pakistan one of the least frequented and most under-appreciated tourist destinations in the world?

The reported presence in Pakistan of some of the world’s diehard terrorists may have something to do with the dearth of tourists. A reputation for religious and cultural intolerance, undeserved by the population as a whole, does not help either. The third deficiency is that Pakistan lacks the infrastructure that a modern tourism industry demands. Power failures are common, speeding buses on crowded highways are a menace to passengers, pedestrians and smaller vehicles, the railway system is old, decent accommodation is scarce and costly, and the natural environment is becoming degraded.

Not surprisingly, in 2004 only 648,000 foreigners visited Pakistan, generating revenues of $186 million, as compared to India’s 3.5 million visitors who generated receipts of $6.1 billion. In 2006, the number of visitors to Pakistan increased to 798,000 but earnings, surprisingly, remained the same. The reason for the small volume of receipts is that a large proportion of the visitors are overseas Pakistanis, not genuine tourists.

Pakistanis, who frequently travel abroad, may wonder why countries with similar cultural and religious backgrounds are able to attract so many more tourists. For example, Egypt hosted 8.6 million tourists in 2005, who spent $6.5 billion, in spite of deadly bombing attacks in the Sinai, while over 17 million tourists are expected to visit Turkey and generate $16.5 billion in 2006.

Full Article: Dawn Editorial (21st Nov 2006)

Council of Islamic Ideology wants Hudood Ordinance to be removed completely

ISLAMABAD: The draft of the Women’s Protection Bill passed by the National Assembly was not referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), said its Chairman Dr Khalid Masud, while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.

The CII chief, however, said it was the government’s discretion to refer a draft of any bill to the council or not before going for legislation.

When asked that President Gen Musharraf had also thanked the CII for its role in preparing the draft of the bill, he said that the president referred to some members of the CII and not the council as an organisation. “The bill does not contain the council’s recommendations,” he said, and added that recommendations of the some council members had been included in the bill, and according to them, the bill was not against the injunctions of the Holy Qur’aan and Sunnah.

Dr Khalid Masud said although the CII enjoys constitutional status, but it acts as an advisory body. He said the draft of the bill was not sent to the council for its recommendations, however, the council would give its opinion after going through it in detail. He did not give any timeframe for finalisation of the opinion of the council.

Responding to a question, he said parliament enjoys the power to make any legislation, and an Ulema committee could not be preferred on it. He added that the CII had demanded that the Hudood Ordinance required complete repeal, as partial amendment to the ordinance would not serve the purpose. “The Hudood laws are very controversial, and awareness is required on these laws so that any confusion in this regard could be removed.”

In this connection, he said, the CII also organised an international seminar on the Hudood laws and prepared a report in the light of proceedings of the seminar. “We also sought opinions of the Ulema, lawyers, police official and people belonging to other segment of society, and the process still continues,” he said.

He said the CII, so far, had prepared 73 reports containing 3,000 recommendations; some of those were enacted in the law by the government. However, he said during Gen Ziaul Haq tenure when the council was given more importance, around 100 recommendations suggested by it were given the shape of law.

Source: The News

Council of Islamic Ideology

Imran Khan rejects Hasba, women rights bills

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday rejected both the Protection of Women’s Rights Bill and the Hasba Bill and said that both the bills had been adopted with ulterior motives; the former to divide opposition parties the latter to establish a parallel judicial system.

The Protection of Women’s Rights Bill, he said, had been passed to introduce a ‘made-in-Washington Islamic system in the country. It is also aimed at dividing the opposition parties. If a law related to women had been in place for more than 26 years, why it was not allowed to continu for one more year?” he said.

“We had never accepted the amended bill that had been passed by the National Assembly because it had not been endorsed by an elected parliament,” he said.

Referring to the Hasba Bill, he said that if the provincial MMA government was really interested in resolving public issues, it should have concentrated on strengthening the judicial system and reforming the police department, instead of passing a controversial law. He was speaking at the oath-taking ceremonies of the PTI’s youth wing and district Peshawar office-bearers.

Newly-nominated PTI district president Hamidul Haq, general secretary Mohammad Asif, Arif Yusuf and president of the party’s youth wing Tariq Meer and press secretary Jawad Ali Shah took oath on the occasion.

Imran Khan said that his party would mobilise people to stage anti-government protests, adding that a rally would be held in Kohat district on Nov 28. He said that it was clear now to everyone that President Musharraf would never leave power.

He urged the opposition parties to unite on a single-point agenda to make President Musharraf quit government and force him to hold free and fair elections through an independent election commission.He said that he would go to Britain soon to meet former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for launching a movement against the government.

Referring to his party’s position about the issue of resigning from parliament, he said that the opposition needed to take a decision to resign en bloc, adding that MMA’s resignations alone might not work.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/11/20/nat7.htm

PTI launches drive against Musharraf

The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf will continue its struggle till the removal of the Musharraf government. This was stated by PTI chairman and MNA Imran Khan while addressing public gatherings at Mazdoor Pully, Railway Road and Jogi Chowk here on Saturday.

The PTI chief said the movement against the government had been launched while contacts with other political parties were being made to rid the country of the present rulers.

He said the PTI would alone continue its efforts in case the ARD or the MMA did not extend any cooperation.

Mr Khan said the party would divert its energies towards the rural areas after its mass campaign in urban areas.

To safeguard his position, he alleged that President Pervez Musharraf had allowed the US army to bombard Bajaur. He said the killings of Pakistani jawans in Dargai were the reaction of the Bajaur incident.

Earlier, when he reached Katorwala Morr Imran Khan was accorded a warm welcome by the PTI leaders, including Muhammad Shafiq Khan, Nadeem Butt, Naseem Insari and Afzal Chaudhry. The PTI chief was accompanied by central secretary-general Air Marshal Syed Shahid Zulfiqar Ali (retired), deputy secretary-general admiral Javed Iqbal (retired), Punjab president Ahsan Rasheed, secretary-general Amin Zaki, information secretary Umar Sarfraz Cheema, Lahore president Shabbir Sial and others.

Meanwhile, the district management did not allow the PTI chief to address at the local football ground. The use of loudspeaker was also not allowed.

Earlier in the day, the PTI caravan left Lahore, marking the beginning of the anti-Musharraf drive.

Source: Dawn.com

PTI announces Nationwide protest movement from 18th Nov

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) has announced a Nationwide protest movement against the current regime, and have also announced its intention of registering a FIR against President Musharraf for the recently perpetuated Bajaur bombings.

While addressing a press conference flanked by secretary information, Ahmad Awais, secretary general Air Marshal (Retd) Syed Shahid Zulfiqar Ali, deputy secretary Admiral (Retd) Javed Iqbal, president Punjab Chapter Ahsan Rashid, president Sindh Province, Zubair Khan, president Balochistan Dost Muhammad Khan, and the Provincial president NWFP, Akbar Khan, chairman PTI, Imran Khan accused President Musharraf as being solely responsible for the genocide of 85 innocent citizens of Bajour, and urged The Apex Supreme Court to take Suo motto notice of the tragedy.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahmad Awais Sheikh vowed that PTI would also register a FIR against the issue, for which every police station of the Country is legally bound.

Imran Khan said that PTI had ensured its level best, for a Grand Alliance of the opposition, but failed and in utter disappointment has decided to go it alone with mass agitation movements against the regime.

http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=104821

Also read on BBCUrdu: مشرف کےخلاف تحریک چلے گی

Musharraf wants to be Pakistan`s Hosni Mobarak: Imran

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf and member national assembly MNA drawing parallel between long serving Egyptian President Husni Mobarak and the President General Pervez Musharraf said that President Musharraf wishes to become `Hosni Mobarak` of Pakistan.

In an interview to a private TV channel on Tuesday the opposition leader said, the resignations are not being tendered from the assemblies due to the internal differences within Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

He observed that we don`t consider PML a political party nor have any differences with it, real differences are with the military dictator who are endeavoring towards the `murder` of democracy in Pakistan.

For the restoration of true democracy the MMA decision of en masse resignations is praise worthy and I completely agree with it. All opposition parties must tender en masse resignations from the assembly.

Due to the differences within MMA this is not possible. If any one from MMA will resign that will be Jamaat-e-Islami. The Fazlur Rehman group will never resign.

In response to a query, he said there are weaknesses that lie with some of the opposition parties because of which they cannot unite at a single platform and a little role in this is of the governmental agencies. They will never let grand alliance become a success.

In apropos Women Protection Bill, he supported MMA stance but opposed Hasba Bill adding that the bill will weaken institutions in the name of Islam.

Source: Paktribune