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.

’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

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.

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.

PTI, JI for campaign against Musharraf

LAHORE, Jan 7: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Sunday called on MMA chief Qazi Husain Ahmad at Mansoorah and both the leaders stressed the need for forming an anti-Musharraf platform for limiting the army to its constitutional role.

Speaking on the occasion, Qazi Husain said patriotic parties needed to get on one platform for checking any extra-constitutional role of the army. He said he was in touch with all the parties, including the ARD, MMA and PTI.

He said the JI was trying to mobilise the masses for removing military dictatorship and ensuring fair and free elections.

“Parties do not want to take part in elections under a dictator, who controls almost everything in the country.”

Imran Khan said mobilising people was the only way to stop Pervez Musharraf turning into Hosni Mubarak of Pakistan.

“The General controls everything — judiciary, election commission and district governments — in the country, and there is no other way but to mobilise people.”

He said all those parties which did not want to negotiate with Gen Musharraf should get on one platform and struggle against the military dictator.

Source: Dawn

لاکھوں افراد ووٹر لسٹ سے خارج

پاکستان میں انتخابی عمل کی نگرانی کرنے والی پینتیس غیرسرکاری تنظیموں نے کہا ہے کہ ملک میں آئندہ عام انتخابات کے لیے جس طریقے سے ووٹر فہرستیں تیار کی جارہی ہیں اس سے سوا دو کروڑ سے زیادہ افراد حق رائے دہی سےمحروم ہو جائیں گے۔

چاروں صوبوں میں کام کرنے والی پینتیس مختلف غیرسرکاری تنظیموں (این جی اوز) نے فری اینڈ فیئر الیکشن نیٹ ورک (فافین) کے نام سے ایک مشترکہ تنظیم بنائی ہے جس کا مقصد منصفانہ انتخابات کے لیے شہریوں کی مدد سے انتخابی عمل کی نگرانی کرنا ہے۔

جمعہ کو لاہور میں غیرسرکاری تنظیم فافین کے اجلاس کے بعد اس کے سیکرٹری جنرل سرور باری نے کہا کہ سرکاری اعداد و شمار کے مطابق ملک میں تقریبًا سوا دو کروڑ افراد کے پاس شناختی کارڈ نہیں ہے جس سے ان کا نام ووٹر لسٹوں میں درج نہیں کیا جا رہا۔

Increase in LPG rates is Musharraf’s New Year gift for masses: Imran

ISLAMABAD:Chairman of PTI, Imran Khan has berated another raise in LPG tariff and has termed it as Musharraf’s “New Year gift for masses”.

While expressing his deep concern at the increase, in a statement he has strongly urged the government to cancel the increase.

Imran Khan said that no other government in the history of Country has ever Served the interests of rich and influentials with such an impunity and “boldness”.

He said that this was the second increase in LPG tariff within a spate of few days and has overburdened the already pent-up masses, who would be forced to resort to axing trees in the hilly regions affecting all the fauna and flora, posing serious environmental hazards.

He said that the industrialists have earned record profits ever in all the 60 years of Country, while poor masses have suffered greatly.

Source: Online News

PTI seeks unity to fight wrongs

LAHORE, Jan 4: Tehreek-e-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan has said his party is making efforts to unite all political forces to fight injustices prevalent in the country. Speaking at a meeting held on Thursday at the party provincial secretariat to finalise the plan for taking out rallies as part of the ongoing mass contact campaign, he claimed that the TI was an ideological party striving for the rule of law and economic and judicial justices. It had not compromised on the interest of the people in the past nor would it do so in future because it believed in the principle of power for the people and through the people.

The TI wanted to solve the problems being faced by the people of Pakistan. The gap between the classes was increasing as the rich were becoming richer and the poor poorer owing to the government’s economic policies.

Source: Dawn

Imran might contest NA polls from 2 Lahore seats

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan might to contest the election for a National Assembly seat from two Lahore constituencies, in addition to contesting from his home constituency in Mianwali, Punjab PTI information secretary Umer Cheema said on Thursday.

However, he said, a final decision would be taken after negotiations with other political parties.

PTI sources told Daily Times that Imran could contest the Lahore constituencies NA-125 and NA-126. Imran had in the 2002 election contested NA-121 (Lahore), but lost to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

Pak politician voice sadness over Saddam’s execution

Fair trial was denied to Saddam Hussein throughout from his arrest to the execution: Imran Khan

LAHORE: Various politicians voiced Saturday sorrow over the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein as well as expressed dissatisfaction over the trial procedure.

Talking to media, Federal Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that he is sorry for the sad demise of Saddam Hussein.

MMA Chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed said Saddam Hussein has been victimized in retaliation for challenging Bush’s authority and arrogance, adding that Muslim nation needs to foil the US attempt to fan the religious sectarian strife in Iraq.

MMA leader Liaquat Baloch said that across the world, this decision by US would not be admitted; as, it was Iraqi people’s internal affair to bring Saddam Hussein to book.

JUP Chief Anas Noorani said that Saddam Hussein refused to surrender to vice.

Source: The News

Human Rights Watch on Saddam’s trial

Gen Musharraf’s election opposed

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has decided to mobilise public opinion against what it called the government plans to get General Pervez Musharraf re-elected as president by the present assemblies.

The decision was taken at the first meeting of the newly-elected SCBA after a re-polling was held under the supervision of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) to end a bitter row between two groups of lawyers.

The missing link: families ‘outbid’ US

“The brazen use of force against innocent parents, sisters and brothers of the missing persons exposes the ugly face behind the mantra of enlightened moderation” : Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: The families and friends of the missing persons on Friday continued their protest for the production of their loved ones in a court of law while offering the government $6000 for the release of each person against $5000 being given to it by the Bush administration.

The relatives and friends of the missing persons from all over the country staged a demonstration in front of Lal Masjid after the Friday prayers. MNA Mian Muhammad Aslam was the only local politician who attended the protest by the distressed families of the missing persons, some of whom were allegedly picked up by the secret agencies in 2002.

The peaceful protesters, carrying placards inscribed with angry slogans against President Musharraf’s policies, attracted a sizeable number of people on the busy Melody Road adjacent to Lal Masjid.

Imran Khan in ‘Capital Talk’

This episode of Capital talk was recently aired on GEO after IRI poll results were published declaring Musharraf as most popular.

Courtesy: moveforjustice.org

Spooks trying to create rift in opposition alliance: Imran

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has termed the reign of General Pervez Musharraf as the worst in the country’s history claiming it has weakened the federation leading to a sense of deprivation.
In an interview with The Nation newspaper published yesterday he claimed the incumbent ruling set-up comprises “a bunch of mischievous people” and alleged that the corruption done by the ruling politicians was “beyond compare.”

Khan alleged that operatives of secret agencies worked for creating a rift among the ranks of political opposition. He said the basic motives of any dictator had been to weaken the democratic institutions, undermine the prestige of judiciary and render the bureaucracy completely ineffective.
“This leads to the decline of values of equality and social justice which causes suppression, chaos and disorder,” he said.

Maulvi at Heart

In a press release issued here today Col (r) M Younus member of the Central Executive Committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has repudiated some contents of the article “Political Survival” by Mr Azam Khalil published in The News on December 25. According to Col Younus, in this article the writer contends that by following the Jamat-e-Islami and the MMA, Imran Khan too is a “maulvi-at-heart”.

Col Younus said by referring to Imran Khan as a maulvi-at-heart that the writer has conveniently forgotten the past history of the politics of Pakistan. That is, Col Younus explained, in her first tenure as prime minister in 1988 Benazir Bhutto entered into a political alliance with Maulana Fazlur Rehman of JUP (F).

So, the question arises was Benazir Bhutto a maulvi-at-heart too? Similarly, Nawaz Sharif formed a grand political alliance with the Islami Jamhori Ittehad (IJI) and by virtue of this alliance became the prime minister of Pakistan. Here it is pertinent to ask if Nawaz Sharif was a maulvi-at-heart too. Likewise when Pervez Musharraf aligned with the MMA and got his 17th amendment passed by the parliament was he a maulvi-at –heart as well?

Col Younus said Imran Khan has always followed the principles and the high ideals of Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam. So, were these two great leaders of the Muslims of the subcontinent also maulvis-at-heart?

Col Younus said Imran Khan is a man of broad vision and can see things in their true perspective. He always has a pragmatic approach to any issue and is ever ready to accept new ideas for change for the better. Some columnists do need to adopt a professional approach and they must not be oblivious to the political realities.

Media Cell, PTI, Islamabad

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

Islamabad