Swiss magistrates found Benazir and her Husband Guilty of Money Laundering and were Awarded Six-Month Suspended Jail Terms: PakTribune

Switzerland
On 6 August 2003, Swiss magistrates found Benazir and her husband guilty of money laundering. They were given six-month suspended jail terms, fined $50,000 each and were ordered to pay $11 million to the Pakistani government. The six-year trial alleged that Benazir and Zardari deposited in Swiss accounts $10 million given to them by a Swiss company in exchange for a contract in Pakistan. The couple said they would appeal. The Pakistani investigators say Zardari opened a Citbank account in Geneva in 1995 through which they say he passed some $40 million of the $100 million he received in payoffs from foreign companies doing business in Pakistan. Read more….
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After Trumpetting disownership of Surrey Palace for Several Years Mr. Zardari takes a U-Turn exposing him to Morality Dilemma: Pakistan Times

Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD: The surprising admission of Asif Ali Zardari to the ownership of Rockwood Estate, generally known as "Surrey Palace", through his counsel in the Isle of Man, UK, high court has validated the Pakistan government's claims on the issue."The identity crisis finally is over now when Lawyer John Acock has admitted on behalf of his client (Zardari) on 16.08.2004 in Isle of Man high court that the latter is the beneficial owner of the Rockwood Estate and would like to contest the petition filed by the official Liquidator of the Rockwood Estate", a government spokesman said here Tuesday.Read more….
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Mr. Zardari has been cleared in a number of corruption and criminal cases filed against him by previous governments. PTI

Karachi, 24 March 2008

A Pakistani court today acquitted PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari in the double murder of a retired judge and his son in 1996, citing lack of evidence.

Zardari, against whom four murder cases have been registered in the past, was named a co-accused in the murder of former Justice Nizam Ahmed and his son Nadeem Ahmed, who were killed outside their residence in Karachi on June 10, 1996.

Zardari has also been acquitted in a murder case involving former chairman of Pakistan Steel, Sajjad Hussain, in 2004.

The murder cases of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Alam Baloch are still pending before the sessions courts of Hyderabad and Karachi respectively.

In recent days, Zardari has been cleared in a number of corruption and criminal cases filed against him by previous governments.

He took charge of the PPP after the assassination of his wife, party chairman Benazir Bhutto, on December 27 in Rawalpindi. — PTI Read more….
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After having Consistently Refused for Nine Years that he had Bought the Rockwood Estate, Zardari admitted in 2004, to Owning the Surrey Palace

Under the settlement arrived at between Zardari and the government as part of the bargain envisaged in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), the latter has conceded that it will cooperate with the former to enable him to obtain any of the asset (now no more under litigation) without any claim on its part.

The government of Pakistan gave up all its claims on the so-called Surrey Palace sales that proceeds on Thursday and instructed its lawyers in the UK to withdraw the case which had instituted against Asif Zardari in the Queens Court for recovery of the said proceeds.

The Rockwood Estate includes a 20-room mansion and two farms on 365 acres of land. Read more….

Zardari's accounts were frozen in 1997: Herald Tribune

Nawaz Sharif taking oath as Prime Minister for the second time, in 1997

Switzerland has released millions of dollars in assets belonging to Asif Ali Zardari, a leading Pakistani politician who is expected to be named the country's president next week, the Swiss authorities said.
Zardari's accounts were frozen in 1997 at the request of the Pakistani authorities investigating allegations that Zardari had received kickbacks while he was a government official and his wife, Benazir Bhutto, was prime minister.Read more….
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Asif Ali Zardari 'mentally unstable': report The Australian

August 27, 2008
Sources in Islamabad say the generals are unlikely to countenance the turmoil for much longer. The top brass is believed to be horrified at the thought of Mr Zardari becoming president and sources yesterday said they were considering whether to "intervene".

As reported by the FT, Mr Zardari's medical reports show that in March last year, less than a year before he led the PPP to victory, Mr Zardari was described by New York psychiatrist Philip Saltiel as suffering from "emotional instability" and memory and concentration problems. "I do not foresee any improvement in these issues for at least a year," Mr Saltiel wrote.

Stephen Reich, a New York psychologist, in March last year diagnosed Mr Zardari with dementia, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mr Reich re-examined Mr Zardari in June and September last year, each time concluding he still had problems that might make it impossible for him to testify incourt. Read more….
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Switzerland frees millions in Zardari's assets: New York Times

The Swiss action came as a shock to Daniel Devaud, the judge in Geneva who originally investigated the charges. He said it should not be interpreted as a sign of Zardari's innocence.

"For money laundering to be proven, you have to show it was the product of a crime, but we don't have any evidence for a crime committed in Pakistan," Zappelli said.

We know that all cases against Mr. Zardari in Pakistan have already been dropped in the cover of NRO, so as there is no conviction or criminal investigation going on against him, he is totally clean now and hence no question of money laundering arises.

The value of the assets is about $60 million, (Rs, 450 Crores) said a Swiss official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the figure had not been disclosed publicly.

The Swiss action came as a shock to Daniel Devaud, the judge in Geneva who originally investigated the charges. He said it should not be interpreted as a sign of Zardari's innocence.

Zardari and Bhutto were suspected of using Swiss bank accounts to launder millions of dollars, allegedly bribes paid by companies seeking customs inspection contracts in Pakistan in the 1990s. Read more….
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Mr. Asif Ali Zardari should withdraw in view of his mental health report: Senator Mushahid Hussain

Islamabad, Aug 29 (PTI) The opposition PML-Q's Presidential candidate today asked ruling PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari to withdraw from the race in view of reports raising questions about his mental health.

Referring to a Financial Times report that had raised questions about the state of Zardari's mental health, Sayed said, "I do not want to comment on a person's mental health"."But since he (Zardari) is a public figure contesting a public office the office of supreme commander of the armed forces, who has his hand on the nuclear trigger, who is also chairman of the Nuclear Command Authority it is legitimate for the people of Pakistan to ask whether that story is true or not and what is his response," he added. PTI.

It may be recalled that in March 2007 New York psychiatrist Philip Saltiel presented written documents, before the court saying, "I do not see any improvement in these issues for at least a year. Read more….
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Mr.Zardari has not told How he earned Rs.450 Crores in Swiss Bank Accounts that were Recently Unfrozen by Swiss Authorities: Senator Mushahid

Islamabad, Aug 29 (PTI) Mushahid Hussain Sayed, the secretary general of PML-Q, said that Zardari has not accounted for USD 60 million (Rs. 450 Crores) in bank accounts that were recently unfrozen by Swiss authorities, who dropped a money laundering case against him.

"I feel it would be in the interests of Pakistan, democracy and the Pakistan People's Party that this office (of President) remains above controversy and I would humbly request Mr Zardari that he should withdraw his candidature in the supreme national interest and in interest of democratic stability," Sayed told reporters outside Parliament.

The presidential election on September six is widely expected to be a triangular contest between Zardari, Sayed and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui, who was fielded by the PML-N after it broke away from the PPP-led ruling coalition. Tomorrow is the last day for withdrawing nominations for the presidential polls.Read more….
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Most charges of Corruption against Mr Asif Ali Zardari were justified: Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan

In a highly volatile and extensive interview with the New York Times magazine 1st June '08 (Ahsan was on the cover of the magazine), he said that most charges of corruption against Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mr Asif Ali Zardari were justified.
The author of the article, James Traub, writes: “I asked him (Mr Ahsan) how many of the allegations of corruption he believed were justified.
“Most of them,” Mr Ahsan said, after a moment’s reflection.
“The type of expenses that she had and he (Mr. Zardari) has are not from sources of income that can be lawfully explained and accounted for.”
In the interview which was conducted over a week, James Traub said that Mr Ahsan recognised that the PPP was itself a feudal and only marginally democratic body led by a figure accused of corruption and violence.
Mr Ahsan told Times that the charges of “corruption against both” and in Mr Zardari’s case also of “kidnapping, ransom and murder”, were justified. Read more….
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Mr. Asif Ali Zardari’s eligibility may be challenged

ISLAMABAD: The legal experts who are against PPP have claimed that the eligibility of PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari for the presidential election is going to be challenged in the Supreme Court. Read.

In a growing political nightmare Sharif offers hope: Dr. Shireen M Mazari

With the departure of Musharraf the euphoria pushed the nightmare into the background for a while. But with the announcement of the Zardari candidature for the presidency the nightmare has returned.Read.

The Presidential Election: Does Mr. Asif Ali Zardari Qualify as Presidential Candidate according to the Constitution of Pakistan?

According to the Constitution, the president represents the unity of the Republic. Therefore, he has to be a man of high moral standing who is above party politics. Zardari is hardly the person whose name springs to mind in this connection. There is also the likelihood that if Zardari becomes president, the PPP may not pursue the constitutional amendments necessary to restore the system of parliamentary democracy to which the parties committed themselves in the Charter of Democracy. That would mean more political strife, something we can ill-afford in the present conditions. source.

Following are the parts of the relevant articles of The Constitution of Pakistan regarding the Qualification of the Presidential Candidate. One can easily find out if Mr. Zardari and the others qualify to become the President or presidential candidate according to the Constitution of Pakistan. One doesn’t have to be a constitutional expert in order to read and understand the constitution as can be seen by the following simple English original Text of the Constitution:


(Article)41.

(1) There shall be a President of Pakistan who shall be the Head of State and shall represent the unity of the Republic

(2) A person shall not be qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim of not less than forty-five years of age and is qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly.


(The Qualification for Member National Assembly, that is required for President as well, according to the above Article 41 of the Constitution follows in article 62)

(Article)62.

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A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Parliament (or The President of Pakistan) unless—

(a) he is a citizen of Pakistan;

(d) he is of good character and is not commonly known as one who violates Islamic injunctions;

(e) he has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings and practices obligatory duties prescribed by Islam as well as abstains from major sins;

(f) he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate and honest and ameen;

(g) he has not been convicted for a crime involving moral turpitude* or for giving false evidence.

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(The words highlighted in red just empahsize to stop and rethink whether our Presidential candidates are upto the mark)

It should be remembered that the above quotes are from the Constitution of Pakistan. The constitution of a country is the Supreme Law of that country. All laws, rules, regulations etc. of a country are derived and formed in the light and in strict accordance with the constitution of the country. President is elected by the vote of Provincial Assemblies, the Senate and the National Assembly. These institutions are sacred indeed but the Constitution is Supreme in a Parliamentary form of government. It is the foremost duty of the Supreme Court to uphold the Constitution of the country and the prerogative of sumoto action may have been incorporated to mainly facilitate this end.

A little explanation of the above words in red.

The unity of the Republic:

In Parliamentary form of Government like ours the President is the symbol of the unity of the country. Whereas the Political Parties are by definition controversial. It is the very basic trait of a political parties so these are always under criticism and scrutiny.

The co-chairman of a political party should be the last person of a country to become the President in a Parliamentary form of government.

It should be remembered that President is the Head of the State which comprises of all citizens of a country. Whereas Prime Minister in Parliamentary form of government is the Head of Government which comprises of one, or more parties in case of a coalition. He is under constant criticism from the remaining segments and the non-voters to his party. But on the other hand the president is supposed to be a non-biased, non-controversial figure, who is like a father of the state and all its citizens. His role is to counter the conflict and friction inherent to Parliamentary democracy, and for this reason he has to be an impartial and neutral personality. This is vitally important trait of Presidency in parliamentary form of government and is the one and the only differential prerequisite set for the post of the President which distinguishes him from the entire Parliament.

When the President assumes power, for instance, in case of crisis or in the absence of Prime Minister because of no confidence move, death, resignation or before holding an election the only thing his rank and position would demand is neutrality and impartiality. I wonder, for instance, how Mr. Zardari would remain impartial in the next elections and how the nation would have a trust and faith in such elections.

The President should represent Unity of the Republic. This is such a basic and elementary institution and practice of a Parliamentary Constitution that you don't have to have a degree or diploma in political science to know that, even if one has studied democracy and constitution for a few hours only, he would know this. But unfortunately there is nothing wrong about our knowledge, its all about Honesty.

I am surprised how unbelievable and ridiculous things happen in our country over which educated people in other countries might laugh their heads off.

Practices obligatory duties:

The constitution says that the Presidential Candidate has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings and practices obligatory duties. There might be a very long list of obligatory duties of a Muslim according to scholars but atleast one that stands out is saying prayers five times a day.

Abstains from major sins:

The major sins are those acts which have been forbidden by Allah in the Quran and by His Messenger (SAW) in the Sunnah (practise of the Prophet), and which have been made clear by the actions of of the first righteous generation of Muslims, the Companions of the Prophet (SAW).

There is some difference of opinion among scholars in this regard. Some say these major sins are seven. Abdullah ibn Abbas said: "Seventy is closer to their number than seven." Out of the list of seventy the following are more relevant here:

Not Praying
A leader's deceiving his people and being unjust to them
Taking false oath
Illegal gain
Frequent lying
Judging unjustly
Giving and Accepting bribes
Betrayal of trust
Breaking contracts

He should be Honest:

The constitution says that a Presidential Candidate be sagacious, righteous and non-profligate and honest and ameen. Honesty is an all encompassing term. It covers almost every aspect of human behaviour. But keeping even the minimum possible force of the word just recall one headline news from yesterday. "The Geneva prosecutor says he has dropped money-laundering* charges against PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari" because the present government does not want to pursue the case against its own party chief.

The $60m seized at the request of the previous governments has now been released, with approximately $3.6m of the amount to be given to the state of Geneva. "The Swiss court had restored Zardari's assets worth 60 million dollars in a Swiss bank after dismissing the case against him, the paper added. (ANI)." This means that Mr. Zardari shall be restored or given back that money which amounts to more than Rs. 450 Crores. I wonder if this much money was earned honestly. As far as we know he owned two cinemas and a farm house before marrying Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

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*Moral turpitude is a legal concept that refers to "conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty, or good morals".

*Money laundering means engaging in financial transactions to conceal the identity, source, or destination of money, and is a main operation of the underground economy.
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According to the Constitution of Pakistan Mr. Zardari is not the person fit for Presidential candidature.

According to the Constitution, the president represents the unity of the Republic. Therefore, he has to be a man of high moral standing who is above party politics. Zardari is hardly the person whose name springs to mind in this connection. There is also the likelihood that if Zardari becomes president, the PPP may not pursue the constitutional amendments necessary to restore the system of parliamentary democracy to which the parties committed themselves in the Charter of Democracy. That would mean more political strife, something we can ill-afford in the present conditions.

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Hidden Truths about ASIF ALI ZARDARI

Hidden Truths about ASIF ALI ZARDARI

Asif Ali Zardari [A Shia Muslim] was born on 21st July 1956 in Nawabshah and was grown up in Karachi. He is the son of Mr. Hakim Ali Zardari, as well as the chief of Zardari Tribe. He did most of his schooling at St Patrick’s, he joined Cadet College Petaro [CCP] in 1963 [Ayub House] and passed his intermediate in 1965. He is a graduate, but I don’t know in which subject he has done his graduation. He married Late Benazir Bhutto on 18th December 1987, and has three children, Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Asifa.

TRUTHS:

Everybody knows that he is the husband of late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, everybody knows that he is the son of famous industrialist Mr. Hakim Ali Zardari, everybody knows that he is the father of new PPPP’s chairperson Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Everybody knows that he is the Co-chairman of Peoples Party, but what I am going to tell you, nobody knows except few.

His Stubborn Nature:

When he was studying in Cadet College Petaro (CCP), he insisted his father to open a cinema hall in College for the entertainment of cadets, as there was no other source of entertainment.

A Film Actor:

Very few people know that Asif Zardari has worked in a Super Hit URDU Film called “Salgirah” (Golden Jubilee) in 1969, he played the childhood role of chocolaty hero Late Waheed Murad. The film was produced by Naima Hassan, directed by Qamar Zaidi, lyrics by Shevan Rizvi and Music by Nashaad. Two songs of the movie sung by Late Madam Noor Jehan became very famous (1- Le aayi phir kahan per, kismat hume kahan se, 2- Meri zindagi hai naghma, meri zindagi tarana).A Playboy: The young Zardari’s main claim to fame was that he has a private disco at home that lead to the development of his reputation as a “Playboy”.

Mr. Ten Percent -10%:

He spent several years in jail on charges of corruption and was labelled “Mr. 10%” by the media and other Pakistani figures because of the alleged 10% extortion he forced on people during the PPP governments.A Brave Person: A close friend of Asif Ali Zardari, recounts an incident in the 1980s when he (Asif) was still a polo-playing and horse-riding bachelor: “We were on a cross-country ride in Karachi when one of our company, the daughter of a German diplomat, fell into a bog with her horse, there were 40 of us, we all stood around stunned except for this one man, Asif Ali Zardari, who jumped in and pulled out the girl and then the horse as well, During all this time, he could have drowned at any time himself.”

.

Fall Guy:

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When he married Late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he became “the designated fall guy”, a close family friend says, “Zardari knew this and accepted it, “the friend adds, “He walked into the marriage knowing it would always be about her, and never about him.”

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Illegal Relationships:

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Scandals of more than seventy (70) Pakistani Politicians are exposed in a famous book “Bazar-e-Husn se Parliament tak” written by a young journalist “Zaheer Ahmed Baber”, Asif Zardari is one of that 70 politicians. In this book Asif Zardari’s name has been taken with several showbiz ladies like Reema, Saima, Madiha Shah, Resham, Neeli, Andleeb, Hina, Laila and Marvi.[To me, this book is based on FAKE STORIES; the reason to quote this book here is its popularity in PAKISTAN]

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His Illness’s:

.

He suffers from diabetes and a spinal ailment. Had been under treatment for a psychiatric disorder called major depressive disorder. Source.
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Profile: Asif Ali Zardari

Profile: Asif Ali Zardari

Asif Ali Khan Zardari was born and bred in Karachi to Hakim Ali Zardari, head of one of the "lesser" Sindhi tribes, who chose the urban life over rustic surroundings.

Asif grew up in Karachi and was educated at St Patrick's School - ironically also the alma mater of Pervez Musharraf.

His father did relatively well, - the young Zardari's main claim to fame was that he had a private disco at home, helping him gain the reputation as a "playboy". Read more….
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Feudal Lord Vs. Middle Class Technocrat

Justice Siddiqui was the Head of the Bench which Ousted Its Own Chief Justice (R) Sajjad Ali Shah First Time ever in the World: BBC

جسٹس سعید الزماں صدیقی، چیف جسٹس کے عہدے پر فائز ہونےسے پہلے ہی پاکستان میں کافی شہرت پا چکے تھے۔
اس دور کے چیف جسٹس سجاد علی شاہ نے جب پیپلز پارٹی کی حکومت گرائے جانے کے حق میں فیصلہ دینے کے بعد جب نواز شریف کی کی چھ ماہ پرانی حکومت سے ٹھان لی تو سپریم کورٹ دو حصوں میں بٹ گئی۔
جسٹس سعید الزماں صدیقی نےسپریم کورٹ کے ان ججوں کی سربراہی کی جنہوں نے دنیا میں پہلی مرتبہ اپنے ہی چیف جسٹس کی تعیناتی کو کالعدم قرار دے انہیں عدالت سے نکال دیا۔

Read more….
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Chief Justice (R) Saeeduzaman Siddiqui

Education

Justice Saeeduzzaman received his school education at Lucknow and Dhaka; passed Matriculation from the Board of Secondary Education, Dhaka (1952); passed Intermediate Science (Engineering Group) from University of Dacca (1954); passed B.A. from University of Karachi (1958); passed LL.B. from University of Karachi (1960).

Career

Justice Saeeduzzaman joined the Bar (February 1961); enrolled as Advocate of High Court of West Pakistan (November 1963); enrolled as Advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan (November 1969); elected Joint Secretary, Karachi High Court Bar Association (1967); elected Member of Managing Committee of Karachi High Court Bar Association (1968-69); elected Honorary Secretary of High Court Bar Library (1977) and continued as such until elevated as Judge of Sindh High Court on 05-05-1980.He was appointed as Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court on 05-11-1990. Appointed as Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan on 23-05-1992. Appointed as Chief Justice of Pakistan/Chairman Pakistan Law Commission w.e.f. 01-07-1999

Judges vs. judges

In his self-imposed war against the Chief Justice, Nawaz Sharif succeeded in dividing the judges into two camps. The group of judges that sided with the Prime Minister said openly that if Justice Sajjad Ali Shah gives up trying cases against Mian Nawaz Sharif, they will accept him as the Chief Justice. The infamous Article 58(2)(b) a.k.a Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan was restored and suspended within minutes by two separate benches of the apex court assembled against each other. A 3 member bench headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah suspended the operation of the Thirteenth Amendment restoring the powers of the president to dissolve the National Assembly, a verdict which was within minutes set aside by another 10-member bench.The 10-member bench headed by Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui granted stay against the chief justice's order minutes after it was passed, even without receiving any formal petition or the copy of the order. All efforts to resolve the judicial crisis failed as both the judges' groups stuck to their stance and issued separate cause lists.The dissident judges, who do not acknowledge Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah as chief justice, issued a fresh cause list for 15 members' full court session. The full court, headed by Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, took up petitions questioning the validity of chief justice's appointment................

The attack on the Supreme Court

Pakistan grappled with its worst-ever constitutional crisis when an unruly mob stormed into the supreme court, forcing Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah to adjourn the contempt of court case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Hundreds of Pakistan Muslim League supporters and members of its youth wing, the Muslim Students Front (MSF), breached the police cordon around the courthouse when defence lawyer S.M. Zafar was arguing his case. . . . . . . . . Read More. . . . .
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Pakistan presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari 'suffering from severe mental problems'

Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto and himself a leading contender for the country's presidency, was suffering from severe mental illness as recently as last year, it has been reported.

And in March 2007 New York psychiatrist Philip Saltiel presented written documents,"I do not see any improvement in these issues for at least a year." Mr Zardari used the medical reports to successfully fight a now defunct English High Court case .

Mr Zardari is his party's candidate to succeed Pervez Musharraf as president of the nuclear-armed country.

Mr Zardari, co-chair of the Pakistan People's Party, was diagnosed with a range of psychiatric illnesses, including dementia,major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.


The illnesses were said to be linked to the fact that he has spent 11 of the past 20 years in Pakistani prisons fighting charges of corruption. He claims to have been tortured during his incarceration.


In March 2007 New York psychiatrist Philip Saltiel found that Mr Zardari's time in detention left him with severe "emotional instability", memory loss and concentration problems, according to court documents seen by the Financial Times.


"I do not see any improvement in these issues for at least a year," he wrote.
Stephen Reich, a psychiatrist from New York State, said Mr Zardari was unable to recall the birthdays of his wife and children and had thought about suicide.


Mr Zardari used the medical reports to successfully fight a now defunct English High Court case in which the Pakistan government sought to sue him over alleged corruption. The case was dropped in March.


Mr Zardari was not available to comment on the documents, but Wajid Shamsul Hasan, the Pakistan high commissioner to London said he was now fit and well.


Mr Zardari is his party's candidate to succeed Pervez Musharraf as president of the nuclear-armed country.


However, his coalition government with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, fell apart yesterday after Mr Sharif withdrew his party, the The Pakistan Muslim League-N.

Source.
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Political Agreements were not words of the Holy Qur’an that could not be changed: Mr. Asif Ali Zardari

Zardari told a British TV that political agreements were not words of the Holy Qur’an that could not be changed with the changing political scenario.

This raises the question that what would be the value of constitutional oath he would take as president. There are also doubts that whether he would keep state secrets as president and uphold internal and international agreements.
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President's Election

Mon, Aug 25, 2008
Ikram Sehgal

President's Election

According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission the election of a new president will take place on Sept 6. Direct elections would have been far better. The imperfect indirect process really does not reflect the combined will of the people. Both in the presidential form of government where the office is all-powerful or the parliamentary form where he (or she) is a figurehead, the attributes and behaviour of the symbol of the federation is critical for its health. The person has to be non-controversial, someone of national stature commanding respect among the peoples of all the provinces. The head of state should preferably be a non-party person, from a small party and/or not a party activist, and belonging preferably to one of the smaller provinces—i.e., the NWFP or Balochistan.
The “Reflections” Section of Air Marshal Asghar Khan’s recently launched book My Political Struggle highlights the key factors of personality and behaviour that are vital for aspiring leaders of a country. According to this “Primer,” a suitable presidential candidate must have character and integrity. “If the values the founder of Pakistan had given were to be summed up in one word, it would be honesty.” One may add that honest leaders are an endangered species, almost extinct. There is nothing more important than a leader standing the test of accountability. Aspiring leaders must have at least some of the Quaid’s values. Asghar Khan holds that “a real leader is a man of integrity. Integrity has many connotations, but taken in a broad sense it means reliability.”
About leadership, he says that a leader should have a quality “which inspires others to follow. A leader of men is one towards whom others turn in difficulty and from whom they expect guidance and direction. This quality is important for a nation in peace as well as in war, but whereas its absence in peace may cause inefficiency and social or economic decay, its absence in war will almost certainly spell disaster.”
Even though he left the superior judiciary and the military out of its ambit, Musharraf’s finest initiative, other than empowerment of women, was accountability, compromised later at the altar of convenience in trying to ensure his own longevity. Many in his successive cabinets faced charges of nepotism and corruption, accountability being used to blackmail them into loyalty. Asghar Khan says “It is among the relatively well-to-do people that corruption is more prevalent, where morality is at a low ebb, and where integrity is generally lacking. It is amongst the poorer sections of our society that a greater sense of honesty and integrity is to be found. Greed is today perhaps the most dominant characteristic in the more sophisticated elements of our society. When greed crosses reasonable limits, integrity goes by the board.” About “courage” he says: “courage can be moral and/or physical, preferably both, it is admired by all human beings in varying degrees and both have a relationship with integrity. Only a man of integrity will show moral courage, physical courage is usually to be found among people who cherish principles of behaviour born of a sense of integrity.” He adds: “good social conduct has an important bearing on the acceptability of a leader.”
The choice of aides really matter. The Air Marshal notes: “Of all the qualities of a leader, perhaps the most important for success is the ability to choose, developed largely by observing a high standard of moral and intellectual discipline. A talented person, a man of virtue and a man of ability and knowledge, will generally choose subordinates who posses in some degree the qualities that he himself values, whereas an incompetent person, or one devoid of integrity will generally surround himself with people who are equally incompetent or dishonest.” Does that sound eerily familiar? The former PAF chief says decision power is important, “Since a leader must lead there is nothing as frustrating, to those who expect to be led, as indecisiveness. The greater the sphere of influence or authority, the greater the need for this important quality.”
Asghar Khan’s life is exemplary, ideal presidential material. As a young Squadron Leader in 1942 he chose, at the risk of court martial, not to attack a Hur convoy He honed the PAF into a lean, mean fighting machine that did us proud during the 1965 war, albeit under the war leadership of Air Marshal Nur Khan. Asghar Khan led the campaign in the streets to get the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto out of Ayub’s jail in 1968. Tehrik-e-Istiqlal, the political party he founded in 1972, was ideal training ground for many of today’s leaders. These include Mian Nawaz Sharif, Aitzaz Ahsan and Javed Hashmi. The only leader to speak out in 1971 against the atrocities being inflicted on our own people in East Pakistan, it is a national tragedy that his outstanding merit, integrity and national service have no place before money and its influence. There is an age-old adage, people get the leaders they deserve.
Another candidate could be Air Marshal Nur Khan. Outstanding as a war leader, he was one of the best governors of West Pakistan. Indeed, why not Sartaj Aziz the PML-N loyalist Mian Sahib ignored in nominating Rafiq Tarar literally out of the blue in 1998? What about Lt Gen Quli Khan Khattak, a battle-tested soldier who should deservedly have been the COAS Mian Nawaz Sharif chose not to make, with disastrous consequences for himself, and as Mian Sahib now holds, for the country? After retirement Lt Gen Ali Quli Khan has excelled in business and industry, and is universally liked. What about Sher Sherbaz Khan Mazari or Illahi Bakhsh Soomro, political sons from Sindh’s soil who have always done Pakistani politics proud through their inherent integrity and decency? Or someone from the superior judiciary, outstanding judges Fakhruddin Ebrahim or Nasir Aslam Zahid? I would put my money on Iftikhar Chaudhry, that should appease the activists and (conveniently) take him off the Bench to prevent him from having go at the NRO. And Zulfikar Khan Magsi, who recently resigned as governor of Balochistan, a popular Baloch leader with strong Pakistani credentials? Can the PPP forget Nasirullah Khan Babar even as he fights for his life in hospital having had a stroke? And if a woman, what about our diehard dyed-in-the-wool democrat, the PPP’s Abida Hussain? One could go on and name many others, deserving sons (and daughters) of Pakistan who would make honourable Presidents.
While day-to-day governance must remain the prerogative of those elected by the people, their responsibility is to give us a president who inculcates most of the aforementioned human factors, the choice must cross party lines. The political parties must necessarily assuage the Army’s fears and preferences as to the suitability of any candidate. Their constitutional obligations notwithstanding, the uniformed ones have a national obligation to ensure the sanctity of the Presidential Office. Please do not gamble with the nation’s destiny out of a misplaced sense of constitutional duty! The president of Pakistan must not only make us proud but of whom we must be proud of.
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PCO and NRO: Two Names of One Vice

Shame. What has gone wrong with us! Have we lost all good judgment? Just as Mr. Nawaz Sharif was gaining respect there are talks from his side of giving constitutional protection to NRO. Is this what the lawyers and the whole nation has been fighting for? It means that we wanted the restoration of judges but not the restoration of justice and fair play. Constitutionalizing the NRO would clip the wings of independent judiciary and would express clearly the mindset of the present and future governments, as it comprises both the big parties, that they do not want any justice and fair play in future too. The whole struggle of the nation seems to be going vain. For the first time in history of our country a ray of hope had emerged that now honesty and wisdom shall prevail and we will be able to breakthrough the vicious cycle of corruption and dishonesty and run this country according to the principles of justice, fair play and impartiality as expressed in Quaid-i-Azam’s Historical Address of 11th August 1947, to the First Constitutional Assembly of Pakistan.

Actually the only weak point of Mr. Musharraf which spoiled his case legally was that he could not manage to constitutionalize his PCO 2 from the Parliament. And on part of Parliament, it was in accordance with the principles of justice and fair play that the unconstitutional PCO 2 was not given protection by the two-third of the parliament. But what has gone wrong now that the Parliament seems to be willing to indemnify the NRO through constitution. Is there an example in the constitutional states of the world of such a corrupt proceed? Have the lawyers of this country forgotten the Constitution and law. Or was it something personal against Musharraf. If his PCO 2 was wrong and did not deserve indemnity from the Parliament, and for that reason he had to "go Musharraf go". Then why this NRO is not "go Zardari/Sharif go". Is it just because they are popular leaders, and because we ourselves have elected them, we have lost rationality and impartiality? Does this make them above law? Is there any such provision in any constitutional law that shows indemnity and cover for popular leaders? I am sure law is same for everyone rich or poor, powerful or weak, popular or unpopular.

See what Article 63. of the Constitition says, "A person shall be disqualified from being elected, and from being, a member of the Parliament, if—1(h) he has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction on the charge of corrupt practice, moral turpitude or misuse of power or authority ...."

Ex-convicts are not allowed to contest elections or remain as member parliament according to our constitution, nor shall they be allowed to roam freely as heroes distorting the role model image of the innocent minds. And this won’t happen if Mr. Iftikhar Chaudhry is restored before constitutionalizing the NRO – to which Mr. Chaudhry has already shown his disapproval when he was still in office. PCO was meant to grant rule and authority unconstitutionally to an un-elected General whereas NRO is meant to unconstitutionally hand over the rule of country to elected or would-be bye-elected crooks. So they are one and the same thing. Both NRO and PCO intend to deliver the power to rule this country to the people who are not constitutionally eligible for it. Most of the corruption/murder etc cases were not initiated by Musharraf government but by their own independent democratic governments against each other establishing the credibility of the cases.

For God sake lawyers, keep up to your new mark. I have listened you people saying that the Law of Necessity has been buried forever. What is NRO? Isn't it rerun of Law of Necessity? Are we taking back the ex-convicts as our direct or indirect rulers just because they are popular and can get elected, and that conditions of the country are not well and we think that only this bunch of criminals can save us? If popularity could be the justification for illegal and unconstitutional rulers then every Martial Law administrator was justified when he overtook the charge. Believe me things are divinely controlled and Allah Almighty never bless dishonesty, or even ignorance. Honesty is always rewarded. It is the law of nature that prevails everywhere in this world, and thereafter. All that is needed is that we open our eyes, and our minds. Both eyes and minds are the greatest blessings of Allah Almighty to enjoy and explore His creations and thus bow before Him in gratitude and submission. But by shutting our eyes we show our thanklessness to God and by shutting our minds we show Him that we did not like Hs greatest endowment that He made us Ashraf-ul-Makhlukaat and that we want to revert to the level of animals or even stones. Allah always withdraws his blessings from the thankless and gives each what he is up to. His blessings are for those who follow His teachings. Dishonesty never pays, so do shortcuts. Covering up NRO would never pay us off. Now that when everything have seemed to be straightening out, we once again seem to be heading from where we had started. You can make a fool of people but not the One who manages things.
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NATIONAL RECONCILIATION ORDINANCE

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National Reconciliatioin Ordinance is the worst violation of the law and constitution of Pakistan. Now it is the first and the foremost duty of the would-be restored judiciary to annul this extra-constitutional Ordinance, and take legal sumoto action against the concerned parties. NRO is not constitutionally protected so far. Even if this NRO has been given the protection of Constitution, the Chief Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar may annul it, as it very plainly, goes against the spirit of our constitution.

..

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

ORDINANCE

..

..
October 5, 2007

(TEXT)

An ordinance to promote national reconciliation

.

WHEREAS it is expedient to promote national reconciliation, foster mutual trust and confidence amongst holders of public office and remove the vestiges of political vendetta and victimization, to make the election process more transparent and to amend certain laws for that purpose and for matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto;-
AND WHEREAS the National Assembly is not in session and the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action;
NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 89 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance;-
1.
Short title and commencement.
(1)
This Ordinance may be called the National Reconciliation Ordinance, 2007.
(2)
It shall come into force at once.
2.
Amendment of section 494, Act V of 1898. In the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), section 494 shall be renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof and after sub-section (1) renumbered as aforesaid, the following sub-section (2) and (3) shall be added, namely:-
(2)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in sub-section(1), the Federal Government or a Provincial Government may, before the judgment is pronounced by a trial court, withdraw from the prosecution of any person including an absconding accused who is found to be falsely involved for political reasons or through political victimization in any case initiated between 1st day of January, 1986 to 12th day of October, 1999 and upon such withdrawal clause (a) and clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall apply.
(3)
For the purposes of exercise of powers under sub-section (2) the Federal Government and the Provincial Government may each constitute a Review Board to review the entire record of the case and furnish recommendations as to their withdrawal or otherwise.
(4)
The Review Board in case of Federal Government shall be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court with Attorney-General and Federal Law Secretary as its members and in case of Provincial Government it shall be headed by a retired judge of the High Court with Advocate-General and/or Prosecutor-General and Provincial Law Secretary as its members.
(5)
A review Board undertaking review of a case may direct the Public Prosecutor or any other concerned authority to furnish to it the record of the case.
3.
Amendment of section 39, Act LXXXV of 1976. (1) In the Representation of the People Act, 1976 (LXXXV of 1976), in section 39, after sub-section (6), the following new sub-section (7) shall be added, namely:-
(7)
After consolidation of results the Returning Officer shall give to such contesting candidates and their election agents as are present during the consolidation proceedings, a copy of the result of the count notified to the Commission immediately against proper receipt and shall also post a copy thereof to the other candidates and election agents.
4.
Amendment of section 18, Ordinance XVIII of 1999. In the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (XVIII of 1999), hereinafter referred to as the said Ordinance, in section 18, in clause (e), for the full stop at the end a colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following proviso shall be added, namely:-
Provided that no sitting member of Parliament or a Provincial Assembly shall be arrested without taking into consideration the recommendations of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Ethics referred to in clause (aa) or Special Committee of the Provincial Assembly on Ethics referred to in clause (aaa) of section 24, respectively.
5.
Amendment of section 24, Ordinance XVIII of 1999. In the said ordinance, in section 24,-
(i)
in clause (a) for the full stop at the end a colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following proviso shall be inserted, namely.-
Provided that no sitting member of Parliament or a Provincial Assembly shall be arrested without taking into consideration the recommendations of Special Parliamentary Committee on Ethics or Special Committee of the Provincial Assembly on Ethics referred to in clause (aa) and (aaa), respectively, before which the entire material and evidence shall be placed by the chairman, NAB.; and
(ii)
after clause (a), amended as aforesaid, the following new clauses (aa) and (aaa) shall be inserted, namely;-
(aa)
The Special Parliamentary Committee on Ethics referred to in the proviso to clause (a) above shall consist of a chairman who shall be a member of either House of Parliament and eight members each from the National Assembly and Senate to be selected by the Speaker, National Assembly and Chairman Senate, respectively, on the recommendations of Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition of their respective Houses, with equal representation from both sides.
(aaa)
The Special Committee of the provincial Assembly on Ethics shall consist of a Chairman and eight members to be selected by the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly on the recommendation of Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition, with equal representation from both sides.
6.
Amendment of section 31A, Ordinance XVIII of 1999. In the said Ordinance, in section 31A, in clause (a), for the full stop at the end a colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following new clause (aa) shall be inserted, namely:-
(aa)
An order or judgment passed by the Court in absentia against an accused is void ab initio and shall not be acted upon.
7.
Insertion of new section, Ordinance, XVIII of 1999. In the said Ordinance, after section 33, the following new section shall be inserted, namely:-
33A.
Withdrawal and termination of prolonged pending proceedings initiated prior to 12th October, 1999.
(1)
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance or any other law for the time being in force, proceedings under investigation or pending in any court including a High Court and the Supreme Court of Pakistan initiated by or on a reference by the National Accountability Bureau inside or outside Pakistan including proceedings continued under section 33, requests for mutual assistance and civil party to proceedings initiated by the Federal Government before the 12th day of October, 1999 against holders of public office stand withdrawn and terminated with immediate effect and such holders of public office shall also not be liable to any action in future as well under this Ordinance for acts having been done in good faith before the said date;
Provided that those proceedings shall not be withdrawn and terminated which relate to cases registered in connection with the cooperative societies and other financial and investment companies or in which no appeal, revision or constitutional petition has been filed against final judgment and order of the Court or in which an appellate or revisional order or an order in constitutional petition has become final or in which voluntary return or plea bargain has been accepted by the Chairman, National Accountability Bureau under section 25 or recommendations of the Conciliation Committee have been accepted by the Governor, State bank of Pakistan under section 25A.
(2)
No action or claim by way of suit, prosecution, complaint or other civil or criminal proceeding shall lie against the Federal, Provincial or Local Government, the National Accountability Bureau or any of their officers and functionaries for any act or thing done or intended to be done in good faith pursuant to the withdrawal and termination of cases under sub-section (1) unless they have deliberately misused authority in violation of law.
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NRO to benefit several diplomats, bureaucrats and politicians

* Beneficiaries include Asif Ali Zardari, Hakim Ali Zardari as well as the MQM’s Altaf Hussain and Syed Muzzaffar Hussain * Mir Zafarullah Jamali among Balochistan beneficiaries * Shahbaz Sharif and Makhdoom Javed Hashmi among Punjab beneficiaries * No NWFP politicians to benefit due to limited period covered by Ordinance

By AR Qureshi, Razzak Abro, Akhtar Amin and Malik Siraj Akbar

KARACHI/LAHORE/QUETTA/PESHAWAR: Asif Ali Zardari, his brother-in-law, a former FIA DG, a Sindh law minister, the current Assembly speaker and a former chief minister are some of the likely beneficiaries of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

Pakistan People’s Party chairwoman Benazir Bhutto herself faces a number of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases, one of which is popularly known as the “ARY Gold Reference”. Another case against Bhutto is commonly known as the “Assets Case”. According to the prosecution, she filed a mis-declaration of assets before the Election Commission for the 1985 general elections and failed to submit complete details of the assets she owned. She also faces charges for the alleged commission of an SGS Cotecna through offshore companies. In this case, the Swiss government has decided to continue prosecuting the case despite the government of Pakistan’s withdrawal.

More recently, Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians leaders in the present Sindh Assembly — Nisar Khuhro, Syed Murad Ali Shah and Saleem Hingoro — were accused of beating a government MPA who allegedly slighted the honour of a party member by passing her a “friendly” note in the House.

Zardari to benefit: Bhutto’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari, also stands to benefit from the NRO as he faces four cases in Sindh. These include the artifacts-smuggling case commonly known as the “Container Case”, the murder cases of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and seven other workers and supporters of PPP-Shaheed Bhutto group, the double-murder case of Justice Nizam Ahmed and his son Nadeem Ahmed and the murder case of Alam Baloch, the former food secretary. Bhutto’s father-in-law, Hakim Ali Zardari, faces at least two cases before Karachi’s Accountability Court.

Bhutto’s sister-in-law and presidential hopeful Faryal Talpur’s husband, Mir Munawwar Talpur, faces cases before the Hyderabad Anti-Corruption Court. He is a former MPA and was a minister in the Syed Abdullah Shah cabinet. Rahman Malik, a former FIA DG, faces a case before Accountability Court IV.

NAB sources put the number at 50 for the politicians, bureaucrats and businessman involved in different corruption cases who could stand to benefit from the NRO. They could include former provincial minister for excise and taxation Agha Siraj Durani, Chaudhry Sharif, former chairman of the NDFC, MB Abbasi, former chairman of the EOBI, Shaikh Barkatullah, former chairman of the Hyderabad Cantonment Board, Riazul Rehman Hashmi and an officer of the board, Badar Alam Bachani, former general manager of the Port Qasim Authority, Irshad Ahmed Sheikh, former director general of the agriculture extension, Malik Akram and Nayyar Barri, former director of the Export Promotion Bureau.

Other PPP leaders facing cases of corruption or misuse of authority include former Sindh Law Minister Pir Mazharul Haq and former federal minister Syed Khursheed Shah.

Many MQM workers to benefit: Many Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders and workers have already been exonerated, as most cases against them have been withdrawn over the past few years. Nonetheless, dozens of its leaders and hundreds of its workers still face criminal trials dating from 1992 onwards. The most sensitive case is that of Saulat Ali Mirza who was sentenced to death in the murder case of KESC MD Shahid Hamid. All appeals have been rejected in this case. The Hakim Muhammad Said murder case is still inconclusive. Similarly, a number of prominent MQM workers have been declared absconders, including Nadir Shah Adil of the Liaquatabad sector and Junaid alias K-2, who is wanted in a murder case involving Pakistan Ranger officials. The lone MPA of the MQM-Haqiqi in Sindh would also benefit as he faces criminal prosecution.

MQM legislator Faisal Sabzwari told Daily Times that there were thousands of cases against party workers. Although they were criminal in content and allegation, the spirit behind the institution or registration of these cases was purely political, he claimed. He said that Altaf Hussain was booked in the murder case of Syed Ehsan Shah, brother of Syed Abdullah Shah, former Sindh chief minister. He was also nominated in the Major Kaleem case and the Hakim Said case, the MPA recalled, adding that all of them had failed to stand the test of trial.

Naming other leaders, Sabzwari said that cases are pending against Dr Imran Farooq, Saleem Shehzad and Tariq Javed.

Current Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah of the PMLF and former chief minister Syed Ghous Ali of the PMLN also face cases.Some bureaucrats accused of swindling public money or granting land at throwaway prices also face trial. Former Sindh secretary Ramesh Udeshi, Salman Farooqui and former PSM chairman Usman Farooqui are some of the accused in such cases.

Balochistan beneficiaries include former PM: The beneficiaries from Balochistan include former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, who faced corruption allegations in the Kech Flour Mills scandal, former chief minister Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali, dozens of former ministers, some sitting ministers and former members of parliament. Jam Yusuf also faced serious corruption charges when he was the chairman of the District Council.

Shahbaz Sharif and Hashmi to benefit: A former chief minister, two federal ministers and a provincial minister would benefit from the NRO in Punjab. The potential beneficiaries include former chief minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, and ex-federal ministers Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Jahangir Badr for illegal appointment and illegal assets, former principal secretary to Bhutto, Ahmad Sadiq, ex-MNAs Abdul Hameed, Mian Rashid, Rana Nazir ex-MPAs Tariq Anees, Chaudhry Zulfiqar and his business partner, former NWFP MNA Haji Kabir. Government employees who might benefit from the NRO are Gen (r) Zahid Ali Akbar who is accused of corruption during his tenure as WAPDA chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman. Brig (r) Karrar Ali Agha in Accountability Court Lahore. Ex-military land director Haroon Rasikh and land acquisition collectors Asad Lali and Amjad Sandal.

Businessmen include Sarwar Hayat, Raja Riaz and his son Mian Luqman, Khawaja Mohammad Tanoli, Kanwar Ajmad, Seth Nisar, Bulend Iqbal, Khalid Sharif, Asif Sharif and Hamad Khalid.Forex Companies and Shahid Hassan Awan of Bulls and Bears, Sheikh Manzoor Elahi and other directors of English Leading Company, Riaz Wahla and other directors of Nexus Forex Company, Dr Haroon, his wife, father and sister with Rauf International, Khurram Shahzad of Trade Station Securities, and Mohammad Yaqub and sons, who were involved in illegal banking.

Bankers who could benefit include Riaz Dar of the National Bank of Pakistan, Tafweez Amin of Emirates Bank, Khalid Mahmood and Rana Yasin of the United Bank Limited, Abdul Haq of the Agriculture Development Bank and Muzaffar Iqbal Cheema of the Allied Bank of Pakistan.No benefit for NWFP politicians: No politician and bureaucrat of NWFP will benefit from the proposed National Reconciliation Ordinance, as according to NAB officials, the corruption cases against the three currently facing prosecution had their cases registered under the NAB

Ordinance of 2001.All three people — former Board of Revenue Senior Member Abdul Hamid Khan and former Sarhad Development Authority chairman Ahmad Nawaz Shinwari, and current Peshawar District Nazim Ghulam Ali — would not benefit from the ordinance, as it only applies to the people who held public offices between 1986 and 1999. ANP central leader Haji Mohammad Adeel told Daily Times that no politician or bureaucrat would benefit from the NRO. He said the ordinance would only benefit Benazir Bhutto and her five subordinate officials, including her secretary, two bureaucrats and some MQM “terrorists” who were charged in the government of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto in terrorism cases in KarachiNational Reconciliatioin Ordinance is the worst violation of the l aw and constitution of Pakistan. Now it is the first and the foremost duty of the would-be restored judiciary to annul this extra-constitutional Ordinance, and take legal sumoto action against the concerned parties. NRO is not constitutionally protected so far. Even if this NRO has been given the protection of Constitution, the Chief Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar may annul it, as it very plainly, goes against the spirit of our constitution. Comedy clip, Hum sab umeed se hain, Money laundering, Comedy, NRo Corruption

source

Musharraf's Farmhouse near Islamabad

Read more….
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Estimates suggest that there are between 12,000 and 15,000 madrasahs in Pakistan, in which about one million students are enrolled.

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After Canada, now it’s France’s turn to ask: What’s happening in Afghanistan?

By: Myra MacDonald*
week the Canadians were soul-searching about their presence in Afghanistan after three female aid workers, two of them Canadian, were killed in an ambush. ”(The) Canadian deaths in Afghanistan underscore the most troubling aspect of the West’s strategy there,” said the Toronto Star. “Put simply, it isn’t working.”
Now it is the turn of the French to ask the same questions after the deaths of 10 French soldiers in a battle with Taliban fighters: What is happening in Afghanistan? Or, for some, what are we doing there?
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said France was “determined to continue the struggle against terrorism for democracy and freedom” after the biggest loss of French soldiers in combat since the Algerian war that ended in 1962. But French Socialist Party leader Francois Hollande demanded answers to the many questions he said were raised by the deaths. “What are the aims of this war?” he asked. “How many soldiers are needed to achieve the objectives?
Comments on the website of French daily Le Monde were tempered by mourning for the dead. Some blamed the United States for “this crazy war which the Americans have dragged us into”; others anguished about whether they were fighting a “just” war in line with French beliefs in human rights.
“We are talking about the defence of the free world,” wrote one person, “and these soldiers died for democracy fighting the Taliban, who want to send us back to the Middle Ages. The soldiers’ bodies are not yet cold and already the Taliban collaborators are reacting…”
But that in case, asked another, “when are we going to decide to go and defend Georgia against Russian aggression?”
“The invasion of Afghanistan at the end of 2001 was supported by a very broad international consensus,” was the reply. “W. Bush leaves in a few months. So what do we do? Pack our bags and leave the Afghans to go back to civil war?”
It is clear that the war in Afghanistan has climbed back up to the top of the agenda in countries which sent troops to fight a war which, unlike Iraq, had been supported by domestic opinion after 9/11. But now seven years on, will the voting public change its mind? Or are people simply waking up to the reality of the Afghan campaign, which by many accounts is getting uglier by the day?
Spare a thought for the people inside Afghanistan. “Taliban are really close to capital nowadays,” wrote the blogger Afghan Lord last week. “Horror is spreading fast among the people; the residents of Kabul are really worry what will happen in the next coming weeks.” Read more….
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* Ms Myra MacDonald has worked as a foreign correspondent for Reuters for 20 years, reporting from London, Paris, Cairo and New Delhi. She was Bureau Chief of Reuters in India in 2000-2003. In 2004, she took leave-of-absence to research the Siachen conflict, becoming one of the very few people to visit the war zone on both the Indian and Pakistani sides. Her book on Siachen, Heights of Madness, will be published next year. She currently works for Reuters in London.

Deposed judges not out of the woods yet

ISLAMABAD: There are unconfirmed reports making round in the capital that Asif Ali Zardari wants the resignation of both, the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and the incumbent CJ Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar

Sources indicated that the “iron-clad” agreement signed by the two sides recently to reinstate the judiciary to the November 2 situation within three days of Musharraf’s departure is now under threat of being violated.

In the evening, the Zardari House confirmed to this correspondent that the announcement on the judges’ restoration would follow the coalition leaders’ meeting on Monday. However, it all ended up without any announcement. When the Zardari House was approached, it insisted that the top leaders would meet again after dinner but it did not happen as the PML-N chief left for Murree soon after he concluded his session with Asif Zardari and others.

Already, there are unconfirmed reports making round in the capital that Asif Ali Zardari wants the resignation of both, the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and the incumbent CJ Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar. Neither the PPP nor the PML-N confirmed this. Read more….
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There are unconfirmed reports making round in the capital that Asif Ali Zardari wants the resignation of both, the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and the incumbent CJ Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar

POLITICS: Bush Covered up Musharraf Ties with Qaeda, Khan

Analysis by Gareth Porter*

WASHINGTON, Aug 20 Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's resignation Monday brings to an end an extraordinarily close relationship between Musharraf and the George W. Bush administration, in which Musharraf was lavished with political and economic benefits from the United States despite policies that were in sharp conflict with U.S. security interests.

It is well known that Bush repeatedly praised Musharraf as the most loyal ally of the United States against terrorism, even though the Pakistani military was deeply compromised by its relationship with the Taliban and Pakistani Islamic militants.

What has not been reported is that the Bush administration covered up the Musharraf regime's involvement in the activities of the A. Q. Khan nuclear technology export programme and its deals with al Qaeda's Pakistani tribal allies. Read more….

*Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist specialising in U.S. national security policy. The paperback edition of his latest book, "Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam", was published in 2006.

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Bomb attack on Pakistan hospital

At least 25 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a hospital in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, police say.
The attack happened at midday while local Shia Muslims gathered at the hospital in Dera Ismail Khan district, after their leader had been shot dead. Read more….
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'Ten French dead' in Afghan clash

Ten French soldiers have been killed in fighting with the Taleban east of the Afghan capital, Kabul, Afghan and French sources say.
Read more….
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Zardari's surprise admission to Surrey Palace Ownership!

Rockwood House (Surrey Palace) is now valued at estimated Rs. 80 Crores

Zardari's surprise admission to Surrey Palace Ownership!

Pakistan Times.net Federal Bureau Report

ISLAMABAD: The surprising admission of Asif Ali Zardari to the ownership of Rockwood Estate, generally known as "Surrey Palace", through his counsel in the Isle of Man, UK, high court has validated the Pakistan government's claims on the issue."The identity crisis finally is over now when Lawyer John Acock has admitted on behalf of his client (Zardari) on 16.08.2004 in Isle of Man high court that the latter is the beneficial owner of the Rockwood Estate and would like to contest the petition filed by the official Liquidator of the Rockwood Estate", a government spokesman said here Tuesday.

The U-Turn

The spokesman while terming it a U-turn from Zardari and Ms Benazir Bhutto said, Ms. Bhutto's spokesman who earlier trumpeted that the property did not belong to her, and she was not concerned 'who sold it to whom', stands exposed to a morality dilemma. It now stands proven that true owners of the multi-million dollars Rockwood Estate are former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari", he added.

Interesting Legal Battle

The spokesman said, the simultaneous admission of beneficial claim as real owner of the estate by Zardari has created a scene of interesting legal battle in lsle of Man's High Court.This also supports the Government of Pakistan's (GOP) earlier contention that the Rockwood properties had been purchased by Ms Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari with the proceeds of corruption, the identity of the true purchasers being deliberately concealed behind a network of trusts and companies. The GOP has consequently contended, and still does contend, that Pakistan is entitled to recover the properties, or the proceeds of sale, for the benefit of the people of Pakistan, the spokesman added.Until last month, the spokesman noted, the Rockwood properties, commonly referred to in Pakistan as the "Surrey Palace", were registered in the names of three Isle of Man companies, all of which were in liquidation.Last month the properties were sold. The Liquidator now holds proceeds of sale, less certain agreed amounts, he added.

Proceedings

The Isle of Man high court has adjourned the hearing until December-20, 2004 to give interested parties, including Asif Ali Zardari and Government of Pakistan, opportunity to prepare and file the contesting documents.The property was sold on July-16, 2004 for a sum of 4.35 million Pounds in consequence of GOP claim towards its legal and financial ownership. According to the spokesman, the sale was effected by the Liquidator of a number of Isle of Man companies which were created to disguise the true identity of the beneficial owners of the property.

A mere dining table shipped over

from Italy costs about Rs. 1 Crore

"I would describe him as flamboyant, eccentric"
Paul Keating on Asif Zardari

Builder Paul Keating

Source.
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General Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash on August 17, 1988

Early life

Zia was born in Jalandhar, British India, in 1924 as the second child of an Arain Muhammad Akbar, who worked in the GHQ in Delhi and Simla pre-partition. He married Shafiq Jahan and had five children. His two sons went into politics. He completed his initial education in Simla and then at St. Stephen's College, Delhi. He was commissioned in the British Indian Army in a cavalry regiment in 1943 and served during World War II. After Pakistan gained its independence, Zia joined the newly formed Pakistani Army as a major. He trained in the United States in 1962–1964 at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Zia was a tank commander.He was stationed in Jordan from 1967 to 1970, helping in the training of Jordanian soldiers, as well as leading the training mission into battle during the Black September in Jordan operations, a strategy that proved crucial to King Hussein's remaining in power. He was appointed as Corps Commander of Multan in 1975.

On 1 March 1976, Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto appointed Zia-ul-Haq as Chief of Army Staff, ahead of a number of more senior officers, most likely because both of them came from the same Arain tribe. At the time of his nominating the successor to the outgoing chief General Tikka Khan, the Lieutenant Generals in order of seniority were, Muhammad Sharif, Muhammad Akbar Khan, Aftab Ahmed Khan, Azmat Baksh Awan, Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram, Abdul Majeed Malik, Ghulam Jilani Khan, and Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. But, Bhutto chose the junior most Zia-ul-Haq for the top most, thereby superseding seven senior generals. However, the senior most at that time Lieutenant General Mohammad Sharif, though promoted to General, was made the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, a constitutional post akin to President Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry.


General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (b. August 12, 1924–August 17, 1988) was the president and military ruler of Pakistan from July 1977 to his death in August 1988. Appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1976, General Zia-ul-Haq came to power after he overthrew ruling Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in a military coup d'état on July 5, 1977 and became the state's third ruler to impose martial law. The coup itself was largely bloodless; however, he later had Bhutto executed.Zia initially ruled for a year as martial law administrator, and later assumed the post of President of Pakistan in September 1978. During his tenure he advanced the Islamization of Pakistan and carried out economic reform. The economy benefited from the influx of money from the West to support the mujahedin fighting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. To shore up the increasingly tenuous control of the central government over the tribal provinces, he appointed martial law administrators as governors of Balochistan and the tribal areas with wide powers, including the abridgement of civil liberties.Zia was killed along with several of his top generals and the then United States Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Lewis Raphel in a mysterious aircraft crash near Bahawalpur (Punjab) on August 17, 1988, the circumstances of which remain unclear. His death with the American Ambassador gave rise to many conspiracy theories


General Zia-ul-Haq's Islamization:

On December 2, 1978, on the occasion of the first day of the Hijra to enforce the Islamic system in Pakistan in a nationwide address, Zia accused politicians of exploiting the name of Islam: "Many a ruler did what they pleased in the name of Islam."After assuming power, the government began a program of public commitment to enforce Nizam-e-Islam (Islamic System), a significant turn from Pakistan's predominantly Anglo-Saxon Law, inherited from the British. As a preliminary measure to establish an Islamic society in Pakistan, General Zia announced the establishment of Shariah Benches.Under Offences Against Property (Enforcement of Hudood Ordinance 1979), the punishment of imprisonment or fine, or both, as provided in the existing Penal Code of Pakistan for theft, was substituted by the amputation of the right hand of the offender from the joint of the wrist by a surgeon. For robbery, the right hand of the offender from the wrist and his left foot from the ankle should be amputated by a surgeon. Hudood (حدود, also transliterated Hadud, Hudud; plural for Hadh, حد, limit, or restriction) is the word often used in Islamic social and legal literature for the bounds of acceptable behaviour. Although the punishment were imposed but the witnesses and prosecution system remained Anglo-Saxon. As in Islamic laws Hudud can only be given if 4 witnesses saw the crime happen. In reality hardly anyone can be punished by Islamic Hud laws as very rarely can the conditions for punishment be met.In legal terms, (Islamic law being usually referred to as Sharia, شريعة) the term is used to describe laws that define a certain level of crime classification. Crimes classified under Hudud are the most severe of crimes, such as murder, theft, and adultery. There are minor differences in views between the four major Sunni madhhabs about sentencing and specifications for these laws. It is often argued that, since Sharia is God's law and states certain punishments for each crime, they are immutable. It has been argued by some, that the Hudud portion of Sharia is incompatible with humanism or human rights. Although the Hud punishment were imposed but the Islamic law of evidence was not implemented and remained British in origin.Drinking of wine (i.e. all alcoholic drinks) was not a crime under the Penal Code of Pakistan. In 1977, however, the drinking and selling of wine by Muslims was banned in Pakistan and the sentence of imprisonment of six months or a fine of Rs. 5000/-, or both, was provided in that law.Under the Zina Ordinance, the provisions relating to adultery were replaced so that the women and the man guilty will be flogged, each of them, with one hundred lashes, if unmarried. And if they are married they shall be stoned to death.The Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code were amended, through ordinances in 1980, 1982 and 1986 to declare anything implying disrespect to Muhammad, Ahle Bait (family of Muhammad), Sahaba (companions of Muhammad) and Sha'ar-i-Islam (Islamic symbols), a cognizable offence, punishable with imprisonment or fine, or with both.Another addition to the laws was Ordinance XX OF 1984. Under this, Ahmadis were barred from calling themselves Muslims, or using Islamic terminology or practising Islamic rituals. This effectively resulted in turning the Ahmadiyya community of Pakistan into a minority group.He was also considered anti-Shia because during his reign many Shi'a Muslim personalities and politicians were killed,most prominently the killing of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto,which many think Zia did on the orders of the United States Government because Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was anti-American and had a nationalist approach for Pakistan.
Dismissal of the Junejo government and call for new electionsAs time passed, the legislature wanted to have more freedom and power. By the beginning of 1988, rumors about the differences between Prime Minister Junejo and President Zia were rife.On May 29, 1988, President Zia dissolved the National Assembly and removed the Prime Minister under article 58(2) b of the amended Constitution. Apart from many other reasons, Junejo's decision to sign the Geneva Accord against the wishes of General Zia, and his open declarations of removing any military personnel found responsible for an explosion at a munitions dump at Ojhri earlier in the year, proved to be some of the major factors responsible for his removal.After eleven years, General Zia-ul-Haq once again promised the nation that he would hold elections within the next ninety days. The late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's daughter Benazir Bhutto had returned from exile earlier in 1986, and had announced entering the elections. With Benazir's popularity growing, and a decrease in international aid following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, Zia was trapped in a difficult political situation.


Death: Conspiracy theories about the death of Zia-ul-Haq

As he was grappling with these problems, however, General Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash on August 17, 1988. After witnessing a tank parade in Bahawalpur, Zia had left the small town in Punjab province by C-130 Hercules aircraft. Shortly after a smooth take-off, the control tower lost contact with the aircraft. Witnesses who saw the plane in the air afterwards claim it was flying erratically. Directly afterwards, the aircraft nosedived and exploded on impact, killing General Zia and several other senior army generals, as well as American Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Raphel and General Herbert M. Wassom, the head of the U.S. Military aid mission to Pakistan. The manner of his death has given rise to many conspiracy theories.
Funeral and statements by world leadersHis funeral was held on 19th August in Islamabad, the country's capital. Also in attendance was his successor as President of Pakistan, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, who had earlier officially announced Zia's death in a nationwide address. Zia's remains were interred in a small tomb outside the King Faisal Mosque.