Teeth Maestro

Pakistan stood stunned almost a year back on May 12th 2007 when the city of Karachi was held hostage in the hands of terrorists who went on a killing spree. The culprits were caught on tape and much was said about bringing these culprits to justice, but unfortunately nothing has come out, despite our repeated pleas for justice. Quite honestly how can any society, even imagine to dream about economic prosperity, when simple justice cannot prevail, there was ample video evidence to easily bring at least a few perpetrators behind bars, but unluckily they “knew the right people in the right places” to walk away scott-free as if no crime had ever occurred.

Dejected and helpless at the sad state of affairs surrounding our country, I simply share a few relevant posts made a year back. Read the anger and try to feel the frustration that besieged the citizens of Karachi that fateful day. Then take a moment and pray to God that Pakistan quickly comes out of the hands these ruthless above-the-law politicians and bring this country back to prosperity.

I must admit in the past few months the only shinning light I saw was through the resurrection of a strong and independent Judiciary, a dream which continues to evaporate into thin air. Innocent me, I dreamt of seeing Pakistan an embodiment of a fair and just society, where no body, not even me, is above the law and all are treated equally and with respect at least living in an Islamic state governed by the principles of the Quran and Sunnah, this should not be a dream, but an easy reality. Then why is it too hard for us to even live up to our name of ‘Islamic’ Republic of Pakistan. We might as well just become The Republic of Pakistan

• Karachi Witnesses an Organized Massacre
• 5/12
• A TT to my head & a press pass in my Pocket
• The 5/12 Massacre
• MQM threatens 20 journalists
• Eyewitness: Karachi, May 12, 2007
• Salman Ahmed speaks out against MQM

Members of civil society in Karachi asked the democratically elected government to respect their anti-establishment and pro-judiciary mandate and not follow agenda of establishment by complicating the issue of reinstatement of judiciary.

These views were expressed after a walk was held to support the restoration of judiciary from Khadda Market to the residence of non-functional Chief Justice of Sind High Court, Justice Sabeehuddin’s residence. The walk comprising of over 100 people was organized by People’s Resistance, a loose coalition of individuals, students, teachers, professionals, human rights organizations and common citizens.

Justice (r) Fakhrudin G. Ebrahim who joined the walk said, “If one man’s blatant actions are validated indirectly, this would mean that tomorrow who ever holds power can do anything he pleases with the nation against its will”. He added that the atta crisis and every other issue facing the country today is tied to supremacy of law and only by upholding the constitution can anarchy be avoided.
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The Nation published a news item highlighting the lavish spending done by the caretaker Prime Minster Muhammadmian Soomro when he took a few day sojourn to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. The state visit damaged our national exchequer to the tune of over $2.8 Million / equivalent to Rs 196 Million, since a Boeing 777 was brought into the maintenance shop to convert the aircraft into executive settings which apparently took over two days, then his Majesty flew to Makkah while he performed his rituals and begged for forgiveness the aircraft stood parked for four days to finally bring the entourage back to Pakistan. I wonder if he may even be a little guilty of this wastage and to know that he will finally be answerable to God for this blatant wastage while his people remain starving due to the crushing economy, the Rs 196 million could have given an astronomical number of people food for an entire month, just the thought of such wastage warrants that these leaders be tried for high treason

The Nation: Soomro’s ‘royal pilgrimage’ cost PIA $2.8m By Amraiz Khan - A visit of former caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro to Saudi Arabia for Umrah cost PIA $2.8 million while a Boeing 777 was used for the purpose, an expert on aviation said that the aircraft could have earned $2.8 million had it been utilized for the commercial flights. Perhaps Mian Soomro went to Makkah to seek divine guidance, but it is worth mentioning here that the Prime Minister was not invited by the Saudi Arabian authorities.
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People’s Resistance is organizing a walk from Khadda Market to Chief Justice Mr Sabihuddin’s house on May 11 at 6:15 pm. The participants will gather outside Rahat Milk Shop and start their walk from there. Prominent lawyers and civil society activists are joining the walk.

People’s Resistance, a coalition of concerned citizens, students, teachers, NGOs, trade unions and political parties, has been demanding Restoration of Pre-Nov 3 Judiciary, Independence of Media and Restoration of 1973 Constitution. People’s Resistance has organized street protests around Karachi against the illegal steps of November 3rd, 2007, against brutal killings and damage to lawyers’ properties on April 9, 2008 and against delay in the restoration by the
new government.

The elected political parties have failed to respect people’s mandate and have twice refused to follow the deadline given by themselves for the restoration of judiciary. The political parties are complicating the issue of restoration of Pre-Nov 3 judiciary by protecting the PCO judges.

It was back in April when Moin Ansari of the Rupee News Blog trumped us with the news that the Commandant of Guantanamo Bay Prison, Maj Gen Jay W. Hood had been sent to Pakistan. It does not take a genius to figure out that Guantanamo Bay was a major goof-up by the American forces, there were reports of desecration of the Holy Quran, Human Rights Violation and reports of blatant prisoner abuse. Apparently General Hood is lauded for his efforts at Gitmo, I wonder if this is the level of treatment that deserved a standing ovation in Washington I fear for the worst when he comes to Pakistan and tries to excersise his control over us.

An article written by Ishtiaq Baig on April 16th 2008 expressed similar sentiments

It is sad for Pakistan that America has nominated such a controversial person as its defence representative, one whose uniform is stained with the blood of Muslims. Under international law, Pakistan has the right to refuse the appointment of such a controversial person. Now that the new democratic government has come into office, perhaps Islamabad should request Washington to review its decision and in fact should tell it that it will not accept General Hood. We may not have been able to stop General Hood from desecrating the Holy Quran but we can at least stop him from coming to our country.

While Moin Ansari also reacted with some truly heart felt emotional words

It is disgusting to hear that General Jay Hood, the monster of Gitmo would be in the US Embassy in Islamabad. Was he the proposed person to take charge of the Nuclear Command of Pakistan? Will he monitor the renditions and transfer of prisoners. Whose idea was it ot put a lightning rod in the diplomatic enclave with “ah bail mujhe maar” (Bull come and hit me). Was it necessary to put General Hood in a sensitive areas. Does Hood no tknow how much people hate what went on in Gitmo? This was the worst blunder the new government made. It has since been rectified and the General’s appointment in Paksitan has been rejected

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An article written by Rauf Klasra published in The News today, is an eye opener, for the democratically elected forces actually contemplating to split the Supreme Court into two functioning bodies is almost akin to the mockery made by Pervaiz Musharraf when he created an Islamabad High Court in an attempt to protect his illegal actions. I doubt this proposal was afoot in the Dubai talks and may have truly surfaced when Zardari came rushing back to seek the blessings of the Presidency. Musharraf in his conspiring way could have easily coughed up this proposal (possibly in conjunction of the Jadogar of Jeddah). The division of the Supreme Court will be the biggest crime ever conceived.

Nawaz Sharif might indeed be toeing along simply to make the best out of the situation, but I feel if such a proposal is afoot one must act swiftly & quickly to nip the idea in the bud well before it takes a serious turn. Its about time PML-N quit the honeymoon coalition government and join the lawyers on the street in the ongoing struggle for the restoration of Judiciary in Pakistan. At the same time an evil genius (!!) within me might suggest Nawaz Sharif to hold on for just a bit longer, ensure that PPP is publicly committed on this concept and then pull the plug. Quite instantly the PPP bubble will fizzle like a balloon let free, even the PPP stalwarts might find it difficult to hold on even for their dear lives. All said, I truly hope that the suggestion of the bifurcation of the Supreme is unfounded, for the sake of Pakistan, I definitely hope its just another rumor floating around

Two Supreme Courts being considered to resolve judges issue
The News: Saturday, May 10, 2008

By Rauf Klasra - website

Two parallel Supreme Courts are being quietly discussed in Pakistan as part of a draft constitutional package to resolve the complex issue of the deposed judges’ restoration.

The proposal envisages one Supreme Court to be headed by the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry dealing only with criminal and civil cases and the other by the incumbent Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, which would be looking after the constitutional matters. It will also have all the suo motu powers.
Read the rest

I have just received this update via email, I try to be very careful on what get published on my blog, and do not necessarily react to rumors unless I can personally verify it from a trusted source. Truly this email simply amused me, it seems according to this unnamed source that Salman Farooqi has left his personal belongings in the US and has suggested to the Chairman PNSC to run a special cargo ship out to the United States to fetch his personal belongings and bring them to Pakistan

You may like to know that the famous ex-Federal Secretary Salman Farouqi called Chairman PNSC (Sikandar Viqar Naqvi) and asked him to arrange transportation of his personal belongings from USA to Pakistan. However, Chairman PNSC politely told him that PNSC ships do not visit USA.

On hearing this do you know what outrageous proposal was given by Mr. Salman Farouqi? He proposed that, “Can PNSC send a special ship to USA to pick up his personal belongings?”

You can now draw your own conclusions about what to expect during the next five years of PPP rule.

It could be just a funny joke but when I see a reference of Salman Farooqi it instantly shuttles back into his powerful reign in the 90’s when everything such as this was very much possible. As a disclaimer, please treat this post at face value, I personally cannot confirm this rumor and share it only to maybe forewarn us to our new found liberated future.

It is said that a leopard never changes his spots — has the PPP returned into power for the 3rd time all baptized to do no sin? or do we sit and wait for the actual fireworks to begin, I sadly expect them to be better then before.

A news report surfaced 6th May in The News titled Rs450b real estate scam leaves MQM red-faced which outlined how Former Minister for Housing Syed Safwanullah, who belonged to the MQM, allegedly issued 3,281 eligibility certificates for government properties and accommodations in Karachi estimated to be worth Rs450 billion among favored individuals, few retired government officials and ordinary public.

The news report went on to explain ‘When the scam first came to light MQM leaders vehemently denied any wrongdoing by the former minister and tried to hush up the matter. The matter became so that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had to intervene and announced cancellation of all allotments and ordered all those who were occupying the properties to be ejected immediately’. It may definitely appear that the new PPP led government may have leveraged this scam to test the waters on its fragile love-hate relationship with the MQM.

What surprised everyone of us was the following day The News reports Master file of Karachi real estate scam disappears where a few credible sources say that the specific file pertaining to the secret official record and copies of 3,128 eligibility certificates of government properties sold in Karachi in open market and the official correspondence of former housing minister Safwanullah, has been stolen from the housing ministry
Read the rest

By Samad Khurram and Aqil Sajjad
5/9/2008

PPP sympathisers complain about the mysterious “Establishment” and their alleged role in destroying democracy in Pakistan for decades now. The Establishment, as defined by them, is a collection of dark, mystifying hands that apparently have many vested interests in upholding the status quo. This inexplicable group comprises rich army officers, the intelligence agencies and foreign hands who scheme together for their own economic and geo-strategic interests. To support this argument, examples of the Mullah-Military Alliance from the 1980s are repeated. The Establishment supposedly destroys institutions, murders politicians, blackmails judges and leaders, and sustains the Military Inc.

One major threat to the Establishment’s hold would be an independent judiciary – a judiciary that will not bow down to pressure, sticks or carrots. Historically, many verdicts of our courts were not independent but extorted by threats and intimidation. Judges had regularly fallen victim to blackmail and “sex tapes” and received dictations from the Establishment. Judges who were bold enough not to obey the whims of the Establishment were conveniently removed.

Things changed considerably when Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry took charge and reoriented the judiciary’s direction in favour of the people. He was becoming increasingly independent and was beginning to check the excesses of the establishment. Among the most noted examples in this regard were the attempted loot privatisation of the Steel Mills well below their real worth and the case of the missing people illegally abducted and detained by the intelligence agencies.

As he became a growing threat to the Establishment, Iftikhar Chaudhry was summoned to General Musharraf’s camp office in the presence of serving military officers and the infamous Brig (r) Ejaz Shah on March 9, 2007. When he refused to resign, the nation stood up in his defence. This was unprecedented in the history of Pakistan and soon Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry became a national hero, arguably the most popular Pakistani alive today.

After his reinstatement with the support of lawyers, students and civil society the judiciary was able to exercise its powers with increasing independence. Naturally, the Establishment could not allow such a judiciary to flourish, as their dirty games could now be brought to justice before an independent tribunal.
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There will be protests in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad on Thursday, May 8th 2008 for the immediate restoration of the deposed judges and for purging the judiciary free from the PCO inductees and conspirators of the Nov 3rd coup. Please come to the protest in whichever city you are based in and also inform all your friends in Pakistan.

The battle for the judiciary will go on. AZAAD ADLIYA KO BAHAAL KERO!

Karachi
Parking area in front of Rahat Milk Corner, Khadda Market
6:15 - 7: 30 pm
Walk to the legal CJ of SHC, Justice Sabiuddin’s house

Lahore
Outside the PPP Secretariat, 25-A, Faisal Town (near FAST)
6:30 - 7:30 pm
Candlelight vigil and peaceful protest.

Islamabad
Outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Constitution Avenue
5:30 - 6: 30 pm
Candlelight vigil and peaceful protest
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ReallyVirtual, a fellow blogger from Lahore accidentally stumbled across a major security flaw, a few weeks back, within the website of the Lahore Electric Supply Corporation (LESCO) http://www.lesco.info/. It must be kept in mind that LESCO’s original public page is at http://lesco.gov.pk, but this alternate website seems to be geared towards the support personnel. Accessing the lesco.info website via the customer service link at http://www.lesco.info/mc/ guides you to their Human Resource Management System log-in page which incidentally already has the Guest login and password pre-filled for your convenience.

Once into the system a search around the website using the various convenient search options shows some remarkable information about the electricity consumers in Lahore. Designed by a Lahore based firm called Clicksoft (http://clicksoft.com.pk/) who claim to be a groundbreaking software development organization providing high-end technical solutions … vast experience of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions for demanding mission critical environments in, retail and wholesale, manufacturing, financial services lead by the Lahore based CEO Naseem Ahmad.

I have no idea if this data is deliberately placed online or it is an accidentally link into the back-end portal system, luckily one only comes across the names and addresses of all ‘in-process’ applications within LESCO system, no explicit revealing data is publicly displayed but ReallyVirtual, an IT professional, analyzes the system to rightly point out this easy backdoor access unfortunately opens the door for script kiddies to exploit the system by simple SQL injection techniques and be gifted with truck load of highly private and sensitive information which may be stored elsewhere in the system.

LESCO must be urgently urged to shut down their online system with immediate effect taking Clicksoft to task for this major security flaw ensuring that such a mistake was never to happen again.

A shoutout to ReallyVirtual for discovering this leak and then taking time to explain it to us, it must be noted that no harm has been done to the LESCO system at the filing of this report and a few screen captures were indeed taken simply to report the leak to the world.

Peoples Resistance shall hold a demonstration for Restoration of Judiciary on Thursday May 8th, 2008, at 6:15 pm at Khadda Market DHA (in front of Rahat milk shop). Participants will walk down to the Legal Chief Justice of SHC, Mr. Sabihuddin Ahmed’s house for a 30 minute protest.

PR expresses its disappointment that this important issue has not been addressed as promised. This protest acquires even more significance in view of the increasingly lesser chances of a solution by the 12th of May. Fakhruddin G Ibrahim opting out in protest from the core mediating body in Islamabad and the postponement of the bye-elections all have added to the crisis. We would like to reiterate the demand for urgent and unconditional restoration of judiciary.

All concerned citizens /groups are requested to join and show solidarity for the cause of restoration of original judges.

People’s Resistance is a coalition of students, teachers, NGOs, journalists and citizens concerned with restoration of judiciary, freedom of media and restoration of constitution. Bring banners, placards, flags, T-shirts and your friends!

All those in Karachi are requested to join. Please inform all your friends in Karachi.

Date: Thursday 8th May 2008
Location: Khada Market DHA (in front of Rahat Milk Shop)
Time: 6:15 sharp
Facebook Event: Walk for the Restoration of Judiciary - May 8th

KARACHI (May 5th): We, the citizens of Pakistan, welcome PPP’s and PML-N’s new promise to restore deposed judges by 12th May 2008. We hope that, this time round, the promise shall be kept.

At the same time, we condemn the proposal to retain the ‘judges’ appointed by General (R) Pervez Musharraf after 3 November 2007. These ‘judges’ happily accepted judicial appointments in place of those courageous souls who refused to bow down before a dictator and take oath under the PCO. These freshly appointed ‘judges’ were willing accomplices in Musharraf’s scheme to subvert the Constitution and destroy judicial independence and went out of their way to endorse his actions. By doing so, they betrayed the legal and judicial fraternity and the nation as a whole.

If political parties protect the appointments of such ‘judges’, they will be sending out a loud and clear message to future judges: if you dare to resist a dictator, you shall be unceremoniously removed and face months of illegal detention. On the other hand, if you endorse the dictator’s actions by taking oath under his PCO, not only will you enjoy judicial office during the dictator’s reign but any incoming democratic dispensation will go out of its way to protect you.
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The news has slowly come out that Rehman Malik was at the center of this decision to delay the bye-elections. Mr Malik a very close aide of Zardari (and previously Benazir Bhutto) had told the NWFP Chief Minster that the three other provinces and the federal center had agreed to delaying the elections.

This in way exposes to every one that Rehman Malik was the culprit behind all this and not Musharraf or Nawaz Sharif

The News: Delay in by-polls suggested after Rehman’s call: Hoti

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister NWFP, Amir Haider Hoti Monday said he proposed postponement of by-polls after receiving a word from Advisor to Prime Minister, Rehman Malik. According to Geo News an official hand out proposed a short delay in by elections. Rehman Malik said in the above hand out that the three provinces have agreed to put off the by-polls and NWFP should also follow suite. The Chief Minister NWFP said Rehman Malik talked to him on telephone. He said the federal government and not the provincial ones made the postponement in by-polls