Sharifuddin Pirzada seeks Justice
Dawn newspaper published a story today about the arrest of a few NAB officials who were arrested for beating an accused ‘within the premises of the Supreme Court’ whats interesting to read in the report was the fact that
Dogar Court was actually responding to a petition filed by ‘Judicial King Pins’ like Sharifuddin Pirzada, Senator Babar Awan and Wasim Sajjad who wanted to transfer ‘a case’ from Lahore High Court to the Supreme Court [mifled laughter] because they did not expect any justice from the high court as it was, “under the influence” of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif[...and the Supreme Court is under the influence of ....LOL - whatever happened to the notion of justice]
Its hilarious to see Sharifuddin Pirzada plead ‘for justice’ when historically he has been involved in actually manumpilating and altering the Constitution of Pakistan molding in favor of the ruler of that time most recently he helped Musharraf manipulate the consutitution to protect his martial law and other illegal steps he took during that time - all have now been embeded and legalised by his very own Dogar Court
Realistically I have no idea what’s at stake in this case but apparently it seems to be an old-guard [PML-Q] vs new-guard [PML-N] issue and Sharifuddin Pirzada being a chip off the old block is definitely helping out and cashing in his favors - its payback time for Dogar Court
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Khalid Shahinshah, key suspect in BB’s murder assassinated in Karachi
A key witness of a Bhutto assassination has been shot dead in Karachi yesterday on Khy-e-Bhukahri
DAWN: Khalid Shahanshah, the chief security officer of PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, was assassinated on Tuesday afternoon outside his Clifton residence, police and witnesses said. They said that gunmen on a white car sprayed him with a volley of bullets while he was stepping off his double-cabin vehicle in front of his house at Khyaban-i-Bukhari.
If many may recall a video surfaced after Benazir Bhutto assassination in Islamabad which showed Khalid Shahinshah suspiciously signaling to some one in the crowd.
- Table Talk: Ousting Zardari > The Insider Brief blog → Shan Akbar shares his intel about some talk within the intelligence agencies of ousting Asif Ali Zardari and replacing him with Nawaz Sharif. It could be just another series of speculations but he has a compelling argument to support the reports #
Update on ASP Shahid Hayat rumor
After the publication of our latest Rumor Mill report which concerned the alleged pardoning of the Police officer involved in the murder of Murtaza Bhutto by the Dogar Court, we very soon received a confirmation report from another credible source who states
Yes, all the police officers implicated in the Murtaza Bhutto case (including Shoaib Suddle), were given extensions in tenure equivalent to the time they spent under suspension.
It is a novel decision and contrary to all legal precedents.
After this decision, several government officers who had for one reason or another been suspended in their careers also filed cases seeking similar extensions in their retirement ages.
Now I believe the government has been forced to file a review of the decision. Neither Dogar nor Zardari realised (or cared) at the time that the Supreme Court decision would not simply help out a few police officers Zardari sympathised with but would create a precedent for thousands and thousands of civil servants.
The matter has been reported in the press.
SA
Its interesting to note that practically all the people involved in the 1996 assassination have now been set free and more importantly rewarded, yet not a single person was brought to justice despite the fact it happened during his sister, Benazir Bhutto’s second term as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Ironically it may seem to be almost like a repeat telecast of the same assassination where today we stand yet again having witnessed another Bhutto being murdered on Dec 27th and have yet to see a single person be caught and brought to justice. Need I say more
Rumor Mill: ASP involved in Murtaza Bhutto’s murder compensated by Dogar Court
This rumor report has been submitted by a credible source, naturally more investigation is still needed
Last night at a wedding a very senior government officer narrated to me a strange story.
He said that he has seen a Supreme Court document, which is a decision on the application of ASP Shahid Hayat who was one of the accused in the Murtaza Bhutto case. His application to the Court filed on July 6th stated that he was an accused in the murder of Murtaza Bhutto and was suspended for two years. Therefore besides claiming benefits for the missing years (he was paid his emoluments) he requested that his service may be extended beyond the age of retirement for two years also.
The Dogar Court under the unofficial direction of Mr Zardari has given the decision in favor of ASP Shahid Hayat on July 13th that is within 7 days of his application. My source says that the decision was given (not announced) with instructions that it should not be released to the media. He says he has read the decision which was brought to him by another officer who is going to plead his case along the same lines (basically loss of income…..not salary but all those under the counter benefits)
I have no way of confirming this yet but am circulating this with the request that people stretch their antennas and look for some confirmation from other sources.
- Where have all the lawyers gone? Long time passing > Ayesha Tammy Haq → As we move along in this state of no perceptible governance, where everything, including the weather seems to be out of control, the oft-heard refrain is ‘what happened to the lawyer’s movement?‘ ‘Why has it petered out?‘ ‘Where are the lawyers now?‘ And they ask ‘why aren’t they doing something?‘ The short answer is that they have not gone anywhere. They are standing by their commitment to the rule of law and constitutionalism. The question is where are you? #
Say NO to Terrorism - Yeh Hum Naheen
Almost a year back in February of 2007 we had on this blog, participated in campaign launched by Waseem Mahmood, where a number of popular Pakistani vocalists had joined hands to raise their voice on behalf of the Muslim world coming together in the form of an amazing soul touching sound track called Yeh Hum Naheen featuring names like Haroon, Ali Haider, Ali Zafar, Shufqat, Strings, Shuja Haider and Hadiqa Kiani.
With some good dedication on part of Waseem Mahmood’s team this initiative has grown exponentially, he even shares his surprise in his message on the website
I am amazed that what started as a simple song has gone on to become an unprecedented anti terrorism movement
The underlying message is quite simple
We plead the world to hear this cry,
Muslims are NOT Terrorists…
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Arrested, Released, Happy and Startled - Karachi Lawyers/Left/Civil Movement Protest
Guest Post by Riaz Ahmed of International Socialist of Pakistan
Police arrest Ayub Qureshi
We were released around 12:05am after being arrested at 10:55pm on July 17. It was a fantastic experience. Everyone managed to force the police to spoil the Doger show. Imposed as Cheif Justice of Supreme Court on Nov 3 by General Musharraf Doger is trying to establish himself and came to address a function in the late of night on July 17 at the Sindh High Court.
Thanks everyone for the frantic phone calls, smses and email alerts that within minutes the news of arrests of us 16 was flashing on the entire planet! So much energy. But we should not exaggerate. Not because that exposes our weakness in mobilizing many after the Long March but solely because exaggeration of our numbers obscures the fragility of this regime — its panic, its inability in handling a minor protest, its failure to estimate the popularity of our movement, its inefficiency in forcing a small victory for its side — its powerlessness after being so ‘powerful’ with all the state apparatuses.
We were few, I counted at most 70 to 80 people in all, at the most, not more. They, the police were many, about 50 on trucks and vans on each side of High Court, hundreds waiting in police stations all around. When people assembled at 8:55pm at the Naubahar Restaurant opposite Election Commission Office on the road leading to the imperial High Court Sindh building it was obvious the protest will be a photo-session. Leaders of Karachi Bar like Secretary Naeem Qureshi (who was arrested later) were quick to first move the protest from main road (already blocked by five police vans) near to the pavement and then to the disgust of all us activists (Peoples Resistance 4, International Socialists 5, Trade Unionist 1 and about 12 lawyers led by the very able Ahmed Salahuddin) the Naubahar was forced open by police and Naeem Qureshi announced at about 9:25 that we stop the protest and have dinner inside!!
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Brief Account: Sindh High Court demo and arrests
A major show of renewed vigor, strength and conviction in the lawyer and civil society movement for judiciary was demonstrated outside Sind High Court this evening. 23 lawyers and civil society members were brutalized and arrested out of over 250 while they were holding a peaceful protest on self-proclaimed Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar’s visit to Sind High Court.
Those arrested included lawyers from SHCBA, KBA and 6 citizens from PEOPLE’S RESISTANCE.
PCO Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar was visiting Karachi on the last leg of his public relationing tour of Sind. Thursday being the regular protest day for restoration of judiciary, the current PCO Sind High Court organized his visit in the dark of night so that lawyers and civil society members could not come in numbers.
Despite the timing, at about 9 pm, over 250 lawyers and citizens gathered about 500 feet away from the main Sind High Court buildings. They held a passionate demonstration raising slogans in favor of non-functional judiciary and against the foot dragging by the government on their restoration. They were stopped by a large posse of police in riot gear led by two DSPs by creating a wall in front of them. The police asked protesters to disperse saying that their protest has been recorded and asked some lawyers to tell their colleagues that “you are already on TV, now you must go”. Hearing this message, there was an uproar of naaras (slogans) of “High Court or Jail !!”.
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Pictures of Sindh High Court Arrest
Arrests outside Sindh High Court
Several lawyers and civil society activists have been arrested while protesting against PCO judge Dogar’s visit to the Sindh High Court on Thursday night.
Those arrested include Naeem Qureshi of Karachi Bar Association, K.K. Javed, Salahuddin Ahmed, Riaz Ahmed, Noor, Ayub Qureshi, Noman Qadir, Samina Noman and Anis Haroon. They area reportedly being taken to Predy Police Station.
The lawyers and members of the civil society held a strong protest demo for about one and a half hour outside the SHC and some of them succeeded in reaching its back entrance where a large number of security personnel baton-charged them and made the arrests.
Just to win peace for myself, my wife and my children
The borders of Pakistan remain under constant pressure from the offensive generated by the American War on Terror, it is this plague amongst other problems that continue to weaken Pakistan on a daily basis. Its ironic that the war is thousands of miles away from the coast of America yet they assume the offensive to walk into any country waging their agenda ransacking the country to ruins and in this case it happens o be Pakistan. This war sadly creeps deeper into our borders by the minute and the elusive Taliban’s who have been on the receiving end of this war on terror started within the caves of Afghanistan and been pushed into the lands of Pakhtunistan.
Sporadic reports emerge from the region about the ongoing offensive and it mostly revolves around prescribed press releases as issued by the American Militia. To hear the stories from the people on the ground who are actually suffering gives a peak into the impact of this war, it seems that it no longer is an offensive to root out the terrorists but instead more to terrorize the inhabitants more as to show who is the boss.
I was alerted to one such discussion on the Care2 forum initiated by a resident of the Tribal Areas in Pakistan a 41 year old man named Muhammed Khurshid, a father of four has one simple yet powerful wish Just to win peace for myself, my wife and my children. Since the past two days he has been trying to urge for peace in his neighborhood more so as his own desperate attempt to bring Peace for himself, his wife and four children, simply his own paradise on earth. He has made a couple of posts on the forum at the time of this article and expect more to come, I share his debate here to better understand the problem while at the same time promote his plea for peace and tranquility in the region, if not for the people of Pakistan but at least for his small family caught up in the midst of this battle
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Standing up for your Country
Guest Blog by Samad Khurram
Published in The News on 11th July 2008
Continuous air strikes on Pakistani territory and repeated intrusions of Pakistani airspace by US-led coalition forces in stark violation of international norms and customs have troubled Pakistanis across the country. These are very similar to US interventions in the political sphere of our country, where elected leaders are constantly bombarded by the Negropontes and Bouchers of this world. A combination of US geopolitical interests in the region and incompetent leaders unable to say “no” to a global superpower, have seriously undermined Pakistan’s physical and political sovereignty.
It is disgraceful for Pakistanis to have their most important decisions being made in Washington and not Islamabad. Pakistanis, for instance, are vehemently opposed to the unconstitutional actions of Nov 3 by Pervez Musharraf and have rejected him and his King’s Party in the Feb 18 election. A recent poll by the International Republican Institute suggested that 81 percent of Pakistanis want Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry reinstated. Already the compromised political process is unable to function properly and the elected leaders are still unable to fulfil their pre-election promises. When the US constantly praises Musharraf, issues statements calling him a constitutional president, or when the Bouchers and Negropontes try and influence every political decision in this country, it becomes obvious to people just who is pulling the strings in their homeland.
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True independence of institutions or just a ‘job’
Guest Blog by Amjad Malik
On 5th of May 2007 Lahore High Court Bar gathered a storm where deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan was facing trial on charges of misconduct, came to the city with a procession of lawyers and won the day. He won the hearts and minds of lay Pakistanis for just saying ‘No’ to the outgoing General. Ahsan Bhoon then President of Lahore High Court Bar was at forefront in the host committee organising that event. Since then he became a priority in the eyes of establishment and like Americans say ‘there is a price for everyone in Pakistan’ Mr. Bhoon proved that right by putting the price of his leadership of popular lawyer movement for the sake of becoming Mr. Justice Bhoon proving Sir Allama Iqbal right that Muslims bowed down when the time came to standstill in the battlefield. No offence to the judge, he did what all are doing around, he grabbed what he could.
Another example of a fiery anchor Dr Shahid Masood who gained prominence from his popular ‘views on news’ programme at local TV channel later was prompted or rather demoted to ‘Merey Mutabiq.’ He successfully caused stir in the ranks of the blue eyed clan by touching the corny subjects. One TV channel nearly went bankrupt as these lots were adamant that these newly liberated channels can truly bring true independence of media in a society where military regimes have deep rooted stakes visible at every corner of the major cities and ingrained in every chapters of the national history of Pakistan. He hit the nail aright and after partly causing 3 of November emergency, caved in when newly installed Government found him to be their loyal subject ready to do a job under them other than the job of nailing them for their wrong doings. At last his fire, mighty claims of principles, and future aspirations seeing media on top, all went to ashes and he gave in and accepted the hiring & firing role of chairmanship of national television PTV, a job truly well suited for a managerial type man. In UK, Jeremy Paxman would never accept a job of management of a TV station when his mastery is an anchorship of BBC ‘Newsnight’ a popular daily current affair programme. However, the sacred struggle for a genuinely free media was sacrificed at the altar of pragmatism and after shaking all the conscience of the nation to be brave and steadfast against the General, he left all on the likes of Hamid Mir, Ansaar Abbassi and Rauf Klasra or at best for the younger generations to fight for the so called freedom in some other times. He must have thought that he has done enough and let’s give other a chance, can’t blame him, he did befittingly to the environment as who knows he may not have this opportunity again. Alas, the destination is far away but struggle is lost for a job.
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The rat may come out of the bag…
You get different versions here in London… some very interesting, no matter how sad they are in nature…
A few month back, before the elections, a textile tycoon, a friend, a very ‘educated’ man from Lahore, sat with me at Leister Square’s ‘All Bar One’ and cursed both Benazir and Nawaz. ‘They should both be hung from the trees,’ he said. ‘Already textile exports have started to suffer, the cost of business is becoming more and more expensive – and these____ are now trying to create more problems for us, they want elections…’
I could understand his problem. Maintaining factories, houses in Defence Societies and expensive cars can be a very taxing exercise. One needs a status quo though also wishing for changes now and then albeit in areas of one’s likings… And I, sentimental man that I am, did not wish to lose his friendship – a very delicate thing friendship is anyway, more so when one is not doing well himself and thus does not seem to possess any credibility of thought, mind or wisdom.
I just did not want to remind him of the occasion when a serving Brigadier of Wapda had felt slighted by him a few years ago and had cut of his factory’s electric supply demanding a personal and somewhat humiliating apology from him in person before the factory could start functioning again… it was an ego issue as such – but then, after all, at this point in time, the factory did have electricity… and then instead of blaming, one should only praise the courage of these entrepreneurs who have directly and indirectly kept Pakistan going whether or not that had been their first intention…
Reko Diq Mystery
Reko Diq is a small town in Chagai District, Baluchistan having the world’s largest Gold and Copper reserves (!!!). Reports emerging from various sources indicate that the US $ 65 Billion natural deposit might have been sold for US $ 21 Billion to Tethyan Copper of Australia which has taken the contract to develop this mine while Barrick Gold Corporation of Canada and Antofagasta of Chile have a joint-ownership of the copper-gold deposit at Reko Diq.
The Reko Diq deposit is being explored by Tethyan Copper Company Pty Ltd (75%) and the (BDA) Balochistan Development Authority (25%). Tethyan Copper Company is held jointly (50:50) by Barrick Gold Corporation and Antofagasta Minerals.
Currently the deposit is at scoping / pre feasibility stage. It is a world class copper / gold porphyry style deposit, typical of the tethyan belt. It has been sold to the Zionist controlled regimes by the Pakistani Government under the dictator at a price of $21 billion. Rough estimates suggest that the gold and copper at the surface accounts for $65 billion worth of deposits.
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The curse of the Neo-Colonized
Guest Post by Areej M
“In the modern planetary situation, Eastern and Western ‘cultures’ can no longer meet one another as equal partners. They meet in a westernized world, under conditions shaped by western ways of thinking.” — W. Halbfass
I have no words to convey my utter disgust at the hypocrisy of the United States, in matters ranging from International Relations to domestic concerns of other nation states. What is deemed correct for one nation is utterly wrong for another. Why then, would someone please explain to me, was there a need for the establishment of the United Nations? If US was bent upon being the sole dictator of the international political environment, why did it participate in the setting up of the UN at all? As far as USA is concerned, the UN is only a machine, a valid front for its inhumane and unjust activities. It is your proverbial curtain in front of your eyes. The UN is a means to manipulate the international community to buy the lies that US sells through its well established and wide spread media.
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