24 may 2012 osint pakistan tracker

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24 Ma 201

NEWS

Dr. Afridi Gets 33 Years for Helping CIA Find Bin Laden: Daily TimesA Pakistani surgeon recruited by the CIA to help find Osama bin Laden was on Wednesday sentenced to 33 yearsin prison for treason, officials said. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

Govt Sends Karachi, Balochistan Issues to Committees: Daily TimesThe government on Wednesday formed two committees to review law and order situation in Karachi andBalochistan. The decision came in the federal cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime MinisterYousaf Raza Gilani. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

Finance Ministry Consults Coalition Parties on Budget: Daily TimesThe Finance Ministry on Wednesday started consultation with coalition political parties of the government onfederal budget 2012-13. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

Reference on PM’s Conviction: Daily TimesPrime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gilani has objected to the National Assembly speaker’s proceedings on areference regarding his conviction in the contempt of court case. The PM is likely to file an appeal on Friday. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

US should Respect Pakistan’s Decision to Imprison CIA Informant: FO: Dawn NewsThe United States should respect a Pakistan court’s decision to imprison a doctor accused of helping the CIA findOsama bin Laden, the Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday. (Source: Karachi, Pakistan; Anti-Military Rule)

Tribal Militia Quits Fight against Taliban over Lack of Govt Support: Dawn NewsA tribal militia fighting the Taliban in a suburban area close to Peshawar decided to quit the fight, citing lack of

support from the government as their main concern. (Source: Karachi, Pakistan; Anti-Military Rule)

PAC wants Names of Judges who are Members of Palm Club: Dawn NewsThe Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly has decided to get the names of Supreme Court

judges who have the membership of Lahore’s controversial Royal Palm Club. (Source: Karachi, Pakistan; Anti-Military Rule)

India, Pakistan Interior Secretaries Hold Talks: Dawn NewsThe interior secretaries of India and Pakistan were holding talks in Islamabad on Thursday, Dawn News reported.The talks, scheduled to last for a period of two days, started today. (Source: Karachi, Pakistan; Anti-MilitaryRule)

10 More Killed in Second US Drone Attack in 24 Hours in NWA: The Nation

At least 10 people were killed and several others injured when a US drone fired missiles on a mosque in NorthWaziristan, tribal area bordering Afghanistan, sources said on Thursday. (Source: Islamabad, Conservative, Partof the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group)

Drone Strikes, Abbottabad Operation Unlawful: Amnesty International: The NationAmnesty International, a Human Rights group, criticized the United States for using drone strikes inside Pakistanand Abbottabad operation, which killed al-Qaida Chief Osama Bin Laden, saying that such actions were unlawful.(Source: Islamabad, Conservative, Part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group)



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Partial Strike in City on Awami Tehreek Call: The NationPartial strike was observed across the city on Wednesday on the call of the Awami Tehreek on Wednesday,following a deadly attack on its ‘Love Sindh’ rally on Tuesday. (Source: Islamabad, Conservative, Part of theNawa-i-Waqt publishing group)

SC Warns of Emergency, Martial Law: The NationChief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Wednesday remarked that if Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani doesnot want implementation of the Supreme Court’s orders, other options including ‘emergency’ were available in theconstitution. (Source: Islamabad, Conservative, Part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group)

PM's Conviction: Gilani Objects to NA Speaker's Proceedings: Pak TribunePrime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gilani has objected to the National Assembly speaker's proceedings on areference regarding his conviction in the contempt of court case. (Source: Pakistan, Independent, neutral)

Gunships Kill 12 Terrorists in Orakzai Agency: Pak TribuneAs many as 12 terrorists were killed after gunship helicopters pounded several hideouts in Orakzai Agency onWednesday. (Source: Pakistan, Independent, neutral)

PSDP for 2012-13 Likely to be Set at Rs 863BN: Pak TribuneThe National Economic Council (NEC) in its meeting today (Thursday) is likely to approve Rs. 863 billion PublicSector Development Programme (PSDP) 2012-13 against last year's allocation of Rs. 730 billion, showing 18percent increase. (Source: Pakistan, Independent, neutral)

NAB Authorizes Inquiry into PSM Case: Pak TribuneThe Executive Board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday authorized inquiry into thePakistan Steel Mills case. (Source: Pakistan, Independent, neutral)

EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL: Fire and Blood in Sindh: Daily TimesThe unprovoked and deliberate attack on a peaceful rally called by the Awami Tehreek (AT) in Karachi on Tuesdayagainst the Mohajir sooba (province) campaign resulted in 11 people being killed and dozens wounded. (Source:Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

SECOND EDITORIAL: Black Coat Blues: Daily TimesSome people believe that bullies are not born — they are created. How else could one explain how lawyers — theso-called upholders of the law of the land — flagrantly and with malicious intent take the same law into their ownhands? (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

COMMENT: For a Few Dollars More: From Jinnah to GHQ: Daily Times

The NATO summit in Chicago has exposed — quite brutally and rather humiliatingly — the extent of leverage thatPakistan thought it had over the US. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

VIEW: Happy Birthday, my Bomb, the Dearest!: Daily TimesThe question here is not the existence of the bomb; the question is our misplaced priorities. Our emotions havealways outsmarted our pragmatism. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

ANALYSIS: The Mother of all (Fiscal) Tsunamis: Daily TimesThe 2012 election in the United States should and must underscore the need to re-establish competent governmentand governance. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan; Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)



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VIEW: The Prime Minister: Daily TimesThe power vested in one by the constitution of the country enables one to take power vested in the other by thesame constitution of the same country. That is when things become messy. (Source: Lahore, Pakistan;Independent; Critical of Radical Elements)

Supporting Documentation:

NEWS (Top)

24 May 2012 Daily TimesDr Afridi Gets 33 Years for Helping CIA Find Bin LadenPESHAWAR/ WASHINGTON: A Pakistani surgeon recruited by the CIA to help find Osama bin Laden was onWednesday sentenced to 33 years in prison for treason, officials said.

Political administration of Khyber tribal region awarded the punishment to Dr Shakeel Afridi after founding him guiltyof committing treason by helping a foreign country’s intelligence agency in ascertaining the whereabouts of binLaden. In addition to his jail sentence, he was fined 320,000 rupees.

Meanwhile, key US senators demanded that Pakistan pardon Afridi, warning that the decision could put USassistance at risk. Carl Levin and John McCain, the top senators from the two major US parties on the SenateArmed Services Committee, called Afridi’s sentence “shocking and outrageous.” They urged Pakistan to pardonand free Afridi “immediately.” The US State Department said it saw no reason for Pakistan to detain or charge thedoctor who. Staff report/Reuters

24 May 2012 Daily TimesGovt Sends Karachi, Balochistan Issues to CommitteesISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday formed two committees to review law and order situation in Karachiand Balochistan. The decision came in the federal cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime MinisterYousaf Raza Gilani. Talking to reporters, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the meeting tookserious notice of the situation in Balochistan and Karachi. He said the PM had formed a four-member committee toexamine the law and order situation in Karachi and fix the responsibility for the incidents of violence.

The committee, headed by Commerce Minister Amin Fahim, will comprise federal ministers Khursheed Shah,Naveed Qamar and Maula Bukhsh Chandio. Kaira said Law Minister Farooq H Naek would head the committee onBalochistan. The body would submit its recommendations to the cabinet after holding deliberations with theprovincial government and other stakeholders. Other members of the committee are Interior Minister Rehman Malik

and ministers from Balochistan. He said the government wanted to take onboard all stakeholders, includingopposition, in this regard.

To a question about remarks of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry about imposition ofemergency in the country, Kaira said that the government was welcoming the Supreme Court’s guidelines.

He, however, said the CJP had only hinted at imposition of emergency while emergency could be imposed underan executive order. He said the government was making efforts for solution of Balochistan’s problems and hasbeen holding dialogue at different levels. He added it was a serious issue and would take time. To a question aboutPresident Asif Zardari’s participation in NATO summit, the minister said the president reiterated Pakistan’s position



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at the summit within the parameters of parliamentary recommendations. He said Pakistan was pressing the US forapology on Salala incident. Staff report

24 May 2012 Daily TimesFinance Ministry Consults Coalition Parties on BudgetISLAMABAD: The Finance Ministry on Wednesday started consultation with coalition political parties of thegovernment on federal budget 2012-13.

Representatives from the MQM, ANP, JUI-F and FATA presented their demands for inclusion in the next fiscalyear’s Public Sector Development Programme along with tax incentive proposal for the federal budget.

An MQM parliamentary team, led by Dr Nadeem Ahsan, held talks with Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh andother senior officials. They demanded allocation for the Karachi Circular Railways, motorway between Karachi-Hyderabad (M-9), Lyari Expressway and water supply project, K-4.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Nadeem Ahsan said the government had heard their demands but a finaldecision would be made during negotiations today (Thursday).

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti stressed for giving a tax incentive package for the provincefor its being the front line province in the war against terrorism. The government wanted to take back incentivesgiven to the province two years ago. However, the chief minister stressed its continuation.

Talking to reporters, he said he had asked for the incentive package for the province.

The head of FATA MNAs, Munir Orakzai, complained that the government allocated Rs 10 billion annually for the

development of FATA but these allocations were never fully released. He said the government had agreed to hisproposal that they would be releasing quarter installments on the basis of Rs 15 billion for the developmentprogramme.

He said the finance minister had also assured them of providing funds for filling 3,000 vacant posts in schools andhospitals in FATA. The government had created 4,538 posts in the area last year, but only 1,000 people wereemployed.

24 May 2012 Daily TimesReference on PM’s Conviction ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gilani has objected to the National Assembly speaker’s

proceedings on a reference regarding his conviction in the contempt of court case.

The PM is likely to file an appeal on Friday.

Sources told Daily Times on Wednesday that the PM’s reply submitted to the speaker’s office says, “It is prematureto proceed on the reference,” saying unless the final judgment on appeal was not passed the speaker should haltthe matter.

Sources said that the PM had also objected to the veracity of the reference on the merit of case as he rejected hisdisqualification in view of the Supreme Court’s judgment in the contempt of court case.



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National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to submit areply regarding his conviction by the apex court in contempt matter.

Earlier, Attorney General Irfan Qadir submitting his written opinion to the NA speaker on Tuesday opposed thepremier’s disqualification in view of the court’s judgment in the contempt of court case.

Meanwhile, Barrister Gohar Ali, a close aide to Aitzaz Ahsan, said that the appeal would be filed on Friday, addingthat the draft of the appeal was almost final in which around 150 questions have been raised. Sources said that thequestions raised were against the short and the detailed judgments.

The PM was convicted under Article 204(2) of the constitution read with Section 3 of the Contempt of CourtOrdinance 2003. Former Supreme Court Bar Association President Munir A. Malik said the date for filing the appealagainst the order starts from the issuance of the short order, adding that the detailed judgment only providedreasons.

Lawyer Salman Akram Raja said that in case the speaker decided in favor of Gilani, her decision could bechallenged in the apex court since there was no specific constitutional provision to deal with such an eventuality.

PPP lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the time of 30 days for the speaker starts after the appeal. He said that afterthe acceptance of the appeal the 30 days time for speaker would be halted and it would start from the judgment ofthe appeal and not the earlier judgment.

He further said that the punishment under the Contempt of Court would not enhance the integrity and authority ofthe court. But it would enhance with the judgments.

Separately, PM’s counsel Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan met Gilani. Aitzaz discussed the contents of the appeal with thePM.

The PM was convicted in contempt of court case for not obeying the court’s order to write a letter to Swissauthorities for reopening cases against President Asif Zardari, who is believed to have presidential immunity.

The short order for conviction of the prime minister was followed by a detailed judgment by a seven-member benchwith government side believing that conviction was not in line with the charges framed when prime minister wasindicted.

The NA speaker has consulted various legal minds in the last few days and she could announce her decision innext couple of days.

24 May 2012

Dawn NewsUS should Respect Pakistan’s Decision to Imprison CIA Informant: FO ISLAMABAD: The United States should respect a Pakistan court’s decision to imprison a doctor accused of helpingthe CIA find Osama bin Laden, the Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

“I think as far as the case of Mr. Afridi is concerned, it was in accordance with Pakistani laws and by the Pakistanicourts, and we need to respect each other’s legal processes,” Moazzam Ali Khan told reporters.

Dr. Shakil Afridi was sentenced on Wednesday to 33 years in prison for treason charges.



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Officials said Afridi had been tried at the office of assistant political agent (APA) in Bara. He was sentenced on thecharges of conspiring “to wage war against Pakistan or depriving it of its sovereignty”, “concealing existence of aplan to wage war against Pakistan” and “condemnation of the creation of the state and advocacy of abolition of itssovereignty”.

“The trial conducted under the Frontier Crimes Regulation continued for one year during which Dr Afridi was deniedthe right to engage a lawyer,” said Rahat Gul, an administrative official at the Khyber House.

The conviction is seen by many as a sign of worsening US-Pakistan ties as both sides struggle to resolve adeadlock on reopening supply-lines to Nato forces in Afghanistan – blocked by the Pakistani government after a USraid on a check-post in Salala killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Criticism

Critics have said he should not have been tried under tribal law for an alleged crime that took place outside tribal jurisdiction, in the town of Abbottabad where he ran a fake vaccination programme designed to collect bin Ladenfamily DNA.

A senior official in Khyber, Nasir Khan, defended Afridi’s trial.

“We have powers to try a resident of FATA (the federally administered tribal areas) under the FCR enforced in tribalareas,” he told AFP.

“The trial was kept secret so that no one can attack him. We did not reveal even the name of the jirga members toavoid any risk,” he said.

There have been conflicting accounts about whether Afridi was present during the proceedings.

Nasir Khan said he had appeared on Wednesday when the verdict was announced in Peshawar.

Khan said Afridi’s trial lasted two months and that he was given full opportunity to defend himself, but was notentitled to a lawyer.

He has the right to appeal either to a tribunal or directly to the Peshawar high court, which has in several caseseither remitted or annulled tribal sentences, he added.

Bad health

Meanwhile, a jail official told AFP on Thursday that the Pakistani doctor was in poor health.

“His health condition is bad, a team of doctors will examine him in jail today,” said Samad Khan from the centralprison in Peshawar, where officials have said Shakil Afridi is being held.

“He has been kept away from other prisoners to avert any danger to his life,” Khan said, without elaborating furtheron Afridi’s condition.

Afridi comes from Khyber, one of the seven districts that make up the tribal belt. Members of his family living inHayatabad went into hiding soon after he was picked up by an intelligence agency in May last year.



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24 May 2012Dawn NewsTribal Militia Quits Fight against Taliban over Lack of Govt Support

(U) Show of arms by a tribal militia in the Darra Adamkhel region

PESHAWAR: A tribal militia fighting the Taliban in a suburban area close to Peshawar decided to quit the fight,citing lack of support from the government as their main concern.

The Adezai anti-militant lashkar (militia), who had been fighting militancy along the borders of tribal regions DarraAdamkhel and Khyber Agency, was dissolved on Thursday.

“The continued lack of support from the government and refusal to provide assistance that was promised to the

volunteers has forced the lashkar to quit,” Chief of the Adezai Peace Committee Dilawar Khan told reporters.

“The government has withdrawn its support to the strong force of more than 5,000 volunteers, who had been at theforefront in the fight against insurgency in the area,” Khan said.

Khan claimed that the militia had lost at least 105 men in their anti-Taliban fight, while over 50 volunteers had beeninjured.

“We had supported law-enforcement agencies in rooting out militancy from Adezai, Mattani, Kalakhel up until DaraAdamkhel, and were also involved in stopping militant onslaught on Peshawar, but the government has turned itsback on us,” the group’s chief said.

According to Khan, since the volunteers from these tribal regions picked up arms against the Taliban, they are

threatened by the militants.

The government, he said, had taken back the weapons provided to the militia

Authorities in the provincial Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government had previously objected to increasing the supply ofweapons and support to the tribal militia due to administrative concerns.



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24 May 2012Dawn NewsPAC wants Names of Judges who are Members of Palm ClubISLAMABAD-The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly has decided to get the names ofSupreme Court judges who have the membership of Lahore’s controversial Royal Palm Club.

The committee suspects that judges might have withheld a judgment for over a year on a case relating to illegallease of land and construction of the club because they were given the club membership for a token fee.

“The committee wants to identify the real beneficiaries of a club that has been built by depriving the nation ofbillions of rupees,” PAC Chairman Nadeem Afzal Gondal said.

Khwaja Asif of the Pakistan Muslim League-N is of the same opinion. “There must be a reason for such generousoffers. Otherwise, businessmen don’t make them.”

Khwaja Asif had approached the court for early announcement of the judgment.

The controversy

A federal audit carried out in 2007 found that the government had lost Rs10 billion by leasing out 103 acres of landto the club built in early 2000 on Pakistan Railways’ land in the heart of Lahore.

A special National Assembly committee headed by Mr. Gondal was set up in 2008 to investigate the matter. In areport submitted to the house in October 2010, the committee said the government had lost four times the amountearlier estimated — i.e. Rs40 billion.

The committee recommended that the contract be cancelled and disciplinary action taken against then federal

minister for railways Lt-Gen (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, secretary Lt-Gen (Retd) Saeeduz Zafar and generalmanager Maj-Gen (Retd) Hamid Hassan Butt.

The National Assembly unanimously approved the recommendations.

The Supreme Court later took a suo motu notice of the deal and completed its hearing on the case in March lastyear. But it has yet to issue a judgment.

Yasmin Rehman of the Pakistan People’s Party suggested that the attorney general should convey the committee’sconcern to the Supreme Court and facilitate early release of the judgment. “This (club) was one of the formermilitary regime’s major scandals. We need to reach some logical conclusion on the issue,” she said.

NAB gets involved

Pakistan Railways’ officials said the National Accountability Bureau was carrying out its own inquiry into the scam.“According to some reports, the NAB is in final stages of the inquiry. But the bureau has yet to share its findingswith us,” the officials said.

The PAC has decided to call for a detailed NAB briefing on all Railways’ deals in a few weeks.

The Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Pakistan Railways, Ayaz Sadiq of the PML-N,said he had seen documents indicating that NAB had recovered Rs6 billion from the club’s owners.



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But Railways’ officials expressed ignorance about the recovery and asked Mr. Sadiq to share details with them.

24 May 2012Dawn NewsIndia, Pakistan Interior Secretaries Hold TalksISLAMABAD: The interior secretaries of India and Pakistan were holding talks in Islamabad on Thursday, DawnNews reported.

The talks, scheduled to last for a period of two days, started today.

The Pakistani delegation for the talks is being led by Interior Secretary Siddique Akbar Khwaja whereas the Indiandelegation is being led by India’s interior secretary R K Singh.

Speaking to media representatives before the talks began, Singh said that India was not satisfied with Pakistan’sinvestigations into the Mumbai attack.

Singh said the judicial proceedings going on in Pakistan pertaining to the Mumbai attack were very slow.

The Indian interior secretary moreover said that “a number of suspects were never arrested”.

Thursday’s talks were expected to focus on cooperation between the two countries on issues pertaining to securityand drug trafficking.

24 May 2012The Nation

10 More Killed in Second US Drone Attack in 24 Hours in NWA At least 10 people were killed and several others injured when a US drone fired missiles on a mosque in NorthWaziristan, tribal area bordering Afghanistan, sources said on Thursday.

The Sources said that the unmanned plane fired two missiles on a mosque in Mir Ali Bazar of the agency.

“Fear prevailed in the area as almost five drones were seen flying in the air after the incident,” they said adding thatthe rescue process was also delayed due to drones flying in the air.

Earlier on Wednesday at least four people were killed and several others injured when a US drone fired missiles ona house in Miranshah area of North Waziristan.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan’s Parliament recently passed a resolution which demanded United

State (US) to halt drone strikes inside Pakistani territory as it is violation of International law.

24 May 2012The NationDrone Strikes, Abbottabad Operation Unlawful: Amnesty International Amnesty International, a Human Rights group, criticized the United States for using drone strikes inside Pakistanand Abbottabad operation, which killed al-Qaida Chief Osama Bin Laden, saying that such actions were unlawful.



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In its 50th annual report published here in London on Thursday, it condemned Washington for using lethal force inthe killing of Osama bin Laden in a commando raid without approval of a sovereign country.

“The US administration made clear that the operation had been conducted under the US’s theory of a global armedconflict between the USA and Al-Qaeda in which the US does not recognize the applicability of international humanrights law,” Amnesty said.

“In the absence of further clarification from the US authorities, the killing of Osama bin Laden would appear to havebeen unlawful.”

The report raised serious concerns regarding US drone strikes inside Pakistani territory, which killed severalinnocent civilians including some low rank militants.

Amnesty said that a request for clarification over an apparent US drone strike in Yemen last September that killedUS-born radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi, his Al-Qaeda co-conspirator Samir Khan and at least two others had alsogone unanswered.

The report also raised concern about missing persons and Pakistan’s government failure to safeguard the rights ofminorities.

“Out of several missing persons across Pakistan, only 220 of them were recovered,” the report said.

The report also said that almost nine journalists were killed during 2011 within the country while a number of peoplewere killed in fighting between the rival political groups in Karachi.

The rights groups said the Security Council is increasingly “unfit for purpose”, and is failing to match the courage ofprotesters around the world.

The rights group called for the signing of a strong treaty on the global arms trade when the United Nations meets inJuly, saying it would be a test for world leaders to place rights over profits.

Amnesty highlighted the failure to end the bloodshed in Syria and said repeated vetoes by major arms exportersRussia and China had left the UN’s top security body “looking redundant as a guardian of global peace”.

The report also singled out emerging powers India, Brazil and South Africa, saying they were “complicit throughtheir silence” on key rights issues.

In its annual report, Amnesty said the vocal support by many global powers in the early months of the Arab Springin 2011 had not translated into action, with many international leaders now looking the other way.

It has also criticized Canada for failing to arrest former US president George W. Bush during a visit in October,“despite clear evidence that he was responsible for crimes under international law, including torture.”

24 May 2012The NationPartial Strike in City on Awami Tehreek Call KARACHI – Partial strike was observed across the city on Wednesday on the call of the Awami Tehreek onWednesday, following a deadly attack on its ‘Love Sindh’ rally on Tuesday.



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According to a statement issued by the Awami Tehreek, main areas in the city and suburbs, including some parts ofGulistan-e-Johar, Sachal Goth, Saforan Goth, University Road, Lyari, Bolton Market, and others parts of the cityobserved complete strike. Public transport also remained thin. Awami Tehreek Vice-President Mazhar Rahojo saidthat bodies of two workers – Abdul Sattar Unar and Ghulam Shabir Buledi – had been sent to their native districtsThatta and Qambar-Larkana, respectively. He said that Ghazala Siddique, a woman officer of the PIA, who wasalso martyred in the rally, was buried at Gulshan-e-Hadeed in Karachi. Awami Tehreek leader said that two otherAwami Tehreek workers, Yasmeen Palijo and Amna Katchhi, were also martyred.

Meanwhile, Sindh National Movement chief Ali Hassan Chandio, while condemning the attack on the rally,demanded the PPP-led government to take exemplary action against conspirators. He said the people of Sindhopened their hearts for the Urdu-speaking people but now an ethnic party was killing the indigenous people in thecapital of the province.

24 May 2012The NationSC Warns of Emergency, Martial LawQUETTA – Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Wednesday remarked that if Prime Minister Yousuf RazaGilani does not want implementation of the Supreme Court’s orders, other options including ‘emergency’ wereavailable in the constitution.

Heading a three-judge SC bench hearing cases on the law and order situation and human rights violations inBalochistan, the chief justice was irked by the absence of Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zafarullah Zehri. Heordered the interior secretary to register a case against him, saying that if Zehri did not want to appear, he must bearrested and produced before the court.

PM’s Principal Secretary Khushnood Lashari, Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi, Balochistan DIG, IG Police and chief

secretary appeared before the court. The apex court expressed resentment as those responsible continued to defythe court’s orders.

During a dialogue with Khushnood Lashari, the chief justice remarked: “We respect the prime minister. (But) If theprime minister says restoring law and order and implementation of constitution is not his responsibility thenconstitution will take its course.” The court could take steps including imposition of emergency, he added. The chief

justice observed they had no enmity with anybody rather they were trying to do something good for the country.“The nation has given us respect and now, this the time, we should pay (them back).”

Addressing Lashari, he said that situation in the province was critical but government was not taking any correctivesteps. The principal secretary of PM said that the latter had held special meetings on all issues of Balochistan. Atthis, Justice Jawwad said, “We believe it that meetings have been held for 24 hours but what is the result”. Lashkarisaid that Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad was an experienced officer who was posted as Balochistan chief

secretary while under 18th constitutional amendment the provinces have been empowered politically andeconomically so that they could solve the problems of people at local level. He said that Aghaz Haqooq-e-Balochistan package was also announced for the people of Balochistan.

The CJ told him to visit the province to witness the on-ground situation, saying that peoples’ homes were burning,target killings were rampant and police was helpless, but no one was giving answers. The chief justice said theprovincial capital of Quetta had no-go areas and that police officers were not willing to work in Balochistan.

Quoting the statement of Salauddin Mengal advocate, Justice Chaudhry remarked that situation was so grave inthe province that you would not find a Pakistani flag and anthem even just 10 miles off Quetta city. “The



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governments come and go. I will not be in this office tomorrow. One of the judges sitting beside me will becomechief justice, but we have to save Pakistan. We should become aware of this critical situation and, God forbid, if welost the time we can face another national crisis.”

Justice Iftikhar said that the province’s security situation had become so alarming that it was time the prime ministersummoned the province’s governor and chief minister. He said the government was not following article 148 of theconstitution despite repeated reminders. He said that if the prime minister would not act to improve the situation,the constitution would take its course and that might even entail the option of imposition of emergency. He said thatgovernor and chief minister were attacked. The nephew of CM was killed and an organization with name TehreekAman claimed it had arrested the killers of CM’s nephew and they would be killed. “This is the state of affairs inBalochistan,“ the CJ remarked.

Khushnood Lashari assured the court that they would again bring the observations of the court into notice of primeminister. The prime minister had also formed a committee of ministers on Balochistan’s deteriorated situation, headded. At this, chief justice observed a member of the committee had inquired from Sardar Akthar Mengal whetherhe lives in Balochistan. How those people who know nothing about Balochistan would solve issues of the province,he remarked. The chief justice said, “Before the army imposes a martial law why we do not implement theconstitution. We will hold direct talks the prime minister if needed for the sake of the country. There is no problem ofego for us. However, there is a case against him that is why we are careful in this regard”.

“People are blaming Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), Frontier Corps (FC) and other lawenforcement agencies,” the CJ said. The defense secretary told the bench that ISI and MI had prepared a reportpertaining to the situation in Balochistan. Sethi also said she had spoken to officials from both these agencies overthe situation in the province.

Chairing a cabinet meeting on Wednesday Gilani directed his principal secretary and the cabinet secretary toappear before the apex court in Quetta. A PM House statement said, “It clearly manifests how much the

government holds the Supreme Court in high esteem.” Earlier, unable to satisfy the judges during Tuesday’shearing, Deputy Attorney General Malik Sikander walked out of court and later submitted his resignation.

When the matter of some missing persons was mentioned, the chief justice asked Balochistan advocate general asto who had detained those people. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain asked the advocate general as to how they canresolve the Balochistan issue. He remarked they were trying to control this fire by playing their role. Justice Khiljitold advocate general that this was the biggest problem of Pakistan and asked him for telling the truth and revealwho actually had picked up those people. “People are naming those institutions whose people are scarifying theirlives. It should be told who have picked up those people. We are here to put out the fire,” he remarked.

Justice Khwaja remarked that Chief Minister Balochistan Aslam Raisani had been in Quetta for a mere seven daysin the past six months. The court issued summons for Balochistan’s home minister to appear before it. The hearingwas subsequently adjourned to June 1.

24 May 2012Pak TribunePM's Conviction: Gilani Objects to NA Speaker's Proceedings ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gilani has objected to the National Assembly speaker'sproceedings on a reference regarding his conviction in the contempt of court case. The PM is likely to file an appealon Friday.



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Sources told on Wednesday that the PM's reply submitted to the speaker's office says, "It is premature to proceedon the reference," saying unless the final judgment on appeal was not passed the speaker should halt the matter.

Sources said that the PM had also objected to the veracity of the reference on the merit of case as he rejected hisdisqualification in view of the Supreme Court's judgment in the contempt of court case.

National Assembly Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to submit areply regarding his conviction by the apex court in contempt matter.

Earlier, Attorney General Irfan Qadir submitting his written opinion to the NA speaker on Tuesday opposed thepremier's disqualification in view of the court's judgment in the contempt of court case.

Meanwhile, Barrister Gohar Ali, a close aide to Aitzaz Ahsan, said that the appeal would be filed on Friday, addingthat the draft of the appeal was almost final in which around 150 questions have been raised. Sources said that thequestions raised were against the short and the detailed judgments.

The PM was convicted under Article 204(2) of the constitution read with Section 3 of the Contempt of CourtOrdinance 2003. Former Supreme Court Bar Association President Munir A Malik said the date for filing the appealagainst the order starts from the issuance of the short order, adding that the detailed judgment only providedreasons.

Lawyer Salman Akram Raja said that in case the speaker decided in favor of Gilani, her decision could bechallenged in the apex court since there was no specific constitutional provision to deal with such an eventuality.

PPP lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the time of 30 days for the speaker starts after the appeal. He said that afterthe acceptance of the appeal the 30 days time for speaker would be halted and it would start from the judgment ofthe appeal and not the earlier judgment.

He further said that the punishment under the Contempt of Court would not enhance the integrity and authority ofthe court. But it would enhance with the judgments.

Separately, PM's counsel Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan met Gilani. Aitzaz discussed the contents of the appeal with thePM.

The PM was convicted in contempt of court case for not obeying the court's order to write a letter to Swissauthorities for reopening cases against President Asif Zardari, who is believed to have presidential immunity.

The short order for conviction of the prime minister was followed by a detailed judgment by a seven-member benchwith government side believing that conviction was not in line with the charges framed when prime minister wasindicted.

The NA speaker has consulted various legal minds in the last few days and she could announce her decision innext couple of days.

24 May 2012Pak TribuneGunships Kill 12 Terrorists in Orakzai Agency PESHAWAR: As many as 12 terrorists were killed after gunship helicopters pounded several hideouts in OrakzaiAgency on Wednesday.



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Sources in political administration said several terrorists were also injured in the attack, adding that four hideoutswere destroyed completely.

The hideouts were destroyed in Mamozai, Sama Bazaar and Manzar Taap areas of the agency. Security sourcessaid over 92 percent of Orakzai had been cleared of terrorists in the ongoing military operation. They also said thatas many as 507 terrorists have been killed so far.

24 May 2012Pak TribunePSDP for 2012-13 Likely to be Set at Rs 863BNISLAMABAD: The National Economic Council (NEC) in its meeting today (Thursday) is likely to approve Rs. 863billion Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2012-13 against last year's allocation of Rs. 730 billion,showing 18 percent increase.

The meeting will also approve macroeconomic framework, sources told on Wednesday. The NEC meeting, withPrime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in chair, would also give final approval to the development outlay of the country,including the federal PSDP 2012-13 and allocations for the Annual Development Plan (ADP) for all provinces. Thefederal component of the proposed PSDP is Rs 340 billion, Rs 10 billion have been earmarked for the EarthquakeReconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and provinces would get Rs 513 billion, sources maintained.The total of all allocations is Rs 863 billion for the year 2012-13.

The federal component of PSDP increased by 17 percent to Rs 340 billion against the last year allocation Rs 290billion. The allocation for provinces increased by 19 percent to Rs 513 billion from last year allocation of Rs 430billion.

Under federal component of PSDP (Rs 340 billion), the federal ministries would likely to get Rs 232.652 billion

against last year's allocation of Rs 184.599 billion, special programme is likely to get Rs 27 billion in 2012-13 andcorporations are likely to get Rs 80.347 billion. Total sum of federal component is Rs 340 billion for the year 2012-13, sources said.

The provinces would utilize their PSDP through respective ADPs for the year 2012-13.

Under federal component of PSDP 2012-13, the allocations for federal ministries are; water and power Rs 47.192billion, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Rs 39.167 billion, the Finance Division Rs 13.606 billion, theRailways Division Rs 22.877 billion, the Planning and Development Division Rs 28.414 billion, the Higher EducationCommission (HEC) Rs 15.800 billion, the Industries Division Rs 774.5 million, the Production Division Rs 612million, the Interior Division Rs 6.509 billion, the Defense Division Rs 3.205 billion, the Housing and Works DivisionRs 2.158 billion, the Cabinet Division Rs 2.177 billion, the Science and Technology Research Division Rs 1.311billion, the Law and Justice Division Rs 1.2 billion, the Revenue Division Rs 806.8 million, the Petroleum and

Natural Resources Division Rs 268.1 million, the Information Technology and Telecom Division Rs 787.4 million,the Defense Production Division Rs 2 billion.

24 May 2012Pak TribuneNAB Authorizes Inquiry into PSM Case ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday authorized inquiryinto the Pakistan Steel Mills case.



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The executive board meeting, presided by NAB Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari, approved to file a reference ina case against Mubarak Hussain Bokhari, former CW Department (Bannu) assistant director, and others. Fourofficials of the department and five contractors were investigated and found involved in corruption and corruptpractices causing loss of Rs 104 million to the national exchequer. Out of nine accused, one official and threecontractors opted for plea bargain u/s 25(b) of NAO 1999. The board has decided to file a reference against fiveaccused Mubarak Hussain Bokhari, Ijaz Rasool, Shah Tehmas Khan, Bakhta Zeb Khan and Akbar Ali Khan.

The board authorized inquiry into the Pakistan Steel Mills case transferred from the FIA by the Supreme Court in its judgment of May 16. The SC issued directions to appoint a team to probe multi-billion scandals and to file areference within three months; to determine the allegations against the individuals responsible for losses; to takeimmediate steps to recover looted money.

The executive board has authorized inquiry into the case and a team will collect relevant material/inquiry reportfrom the FIA. The board also authorized inquire into three willful loan default cases under Section 31-D of NAO1999 against the directors and guarantors of M/S Tanveer Spinning and Weaving Mills Pvt Ltd Lahore (Rs 158.465million), M/S High Street Developers Pvt Ltd Lahore (Rs 71.102 million) and M/S Delta Construction Pvt Ltd Lahore(Rs 142.977 million).

The board approved a voluntary return (VR) against Syed Haseeb Azhar, a beneficiary in Qasr-e-Zauq case. Inanother case, the board approved VR in terms of supply of paper to the Sindh Textbook Board instead of cash. Theboard decided to close inquiry against the management of the CAA in a case of illegal appointment of a commercialmanager due to lack of evidence.

EDITORIALS (Top)

24 May 2012

Daily TimesEDITORIAL: Fire and Blood in SindhThe unprovoked and deliberate attack on a peaceful rally called by the Awami Tehreek (AT) in Karachi on Tuesdayagainst the Mohajir sooba (province) campaign resulted in 11 people being killed and dozens wounded.

In addition, vehicles, shops and homes were set on fire. To add further grief, when the rally participants staged asit-in to protest the attack, the gunmen returned and fired at the crowd again. The AT’s rally had been joined by thebanned People’s Amn Committee and other Sindhi nationalist groups. The law enforcement agencies, whichreportedly disappeared mysteriously from their duty of protecting the rally just before the attack began, arrived instrength after the attack and fired indiscriminately at the crowd, adding insult to injury.

Far from restoring order, the law enforcers exacerbated the tragedy, fuelling greater anger amongst the survivors.The question of the role of the law enforcement agencies in this incident must be investigated and responsibility for

the debacle fixed. What is strange about the whole affair is that if the ruling PPP was aware of the possibility oftrouble at the rally, as their spokespeople are now claiming, why did they not take adequate security measures toprevent the loss of life and property?

The AT and other Sindhi nationalist groups in response called for a strike on Wednesday which, according toreports by the time these lines were being written, was almost complete in interior Sindh and at least partiallysuccessful in Karachi. The strike has been supported by the PML-N and PTI, which also condemned the killings.That led Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik to claim that Nawaz Sharif was conspiring with the Sindhinationalists against the PPP.



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Reports say Maula Buksh Chandio had words with Rehman Malik in a cabinet meeting on the issue of whatChandio called his inappropriate statement. Chandio argued the PPP would have to return to its Sindhiconstituency for votes in the next election and that the nationalists were their brothers. The exchange reflects theinternal tensions in the PPP, with the federal and Sindh governments inclined to adopt a stance that smacks ofeither collaboration with or at the very least turning a blind eye to those responsible for the massacre. The finger ofsuspicion in this case too is pointed at the MQM, which also stands accused of being the moving spirit behind theMohajir province campaign.

The incident recalls the massacre of May 12, 2007 in Karachi, on the occasion of Chief Justice Iftikhar MohammadChaudhry’s visit to the city, when processions coming to the airport to receive him were attacked and many losttheir lives. Unfortunately that incident still begs investigation and closure. Arguably, if the perpetrators are the sameset of forces, they must have been emboldened by being able to get away with the 2007 attack.

To add to the seething anger in interior Sindh, the discovery of the dumped body of Muzaffar Bhutto, SecretaryGeneral of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz, who had been missing since three months, has fired up thenationalists. After the controversy surrounding the death (allegedly by poisoning) of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahazleader Bashir Qureshi not long ago, this kill and dump incident (reminiscent of what has been going on since long inBalochistan), is sure to arouse militant sentiment amongst the Sindhi nationalists.

The latter are now openly accusing the PPP, with which they are rivals in wooing the same Sindhi constituency, ofcollaboration with the MQM against them. True or not, the accusation is indicative of tings to come. Unless theKarachi incident and the death of Muzaffar Bhutto (and Bashir Qureshi before him) are satisfactorily investigatedand the perpetrators of these crimes brought to justice, Sindh faces the horrifying prospect of ethnic bloodshed inthe days ahead. Given its strategic position in terms of having the main port and industrial commercial centre of thecountry on its shore, if Sindh explodes into ethnic conflict, the country’s struggling economy could be reduced to acadaver.

The PPP in particular has to distance itself from any hint of collaboration with any forces bent upon provokingconflict in Sindh, whether in the form of the demand for the division of Sindh or what appears now to be a concertedcampaign of repression against the Sindhi nationalists. Balochistan offers a salutary lesson in how repression onlymakes political conflicts worse. Let not Sindh go down the same road.

24 May 2012Daily TimesSECOND EDITORIAL: Black Coat Blues.Some people believe that bullies are not born — they are created. How else could one explain how lawyers — theso-called upholders of the law of the land — flagrantly and with malicious intent take the same law into their ownhands?

In yet another incident, a group of lawyers attacked and beat up an Assistant Sub-Inspector of GujranwalaCantonment Police Station on the premises of the Lahore High Court for his statement in a habeas corpus petition.This is the fourth incident of its kind this month. In three previous incidents, lawyers thrashed a few policemen andcitizens in the court premises. There have been numerous such examples of lawyers’ hooliganism since the legalfraternity gained muscle during the restoration of the judiciary movement. It would not be wrong to say that the legalfraternity’s image has fallen from grace due to the serious and frequent misconduct of some of its members. Theyhave been flaunting the law with impunity, failing even in showing any regard for the prestige of the courts.

On a few occasions, lawyers have beaten up their own colleagues and even magistrates and judges for verdictsagainst their wishes. The garlanding and lionization by lawyers of Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin of former Punjab



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governor Salmaan Taseer, is a testament to rising fanaticism within the lawyers’ fraternity. What good can beexpected from such lawyers who have been supporting a callous murderer?

The rising violent behavior of a section of the lawyers’ community is extremely disturbing. It cannot be condemnedenough. Unfortunately, neither the bench nor the bar seems serious in taking action against rowdy lawyersbehaving as if they are above the law. Their activities have undoubtedly stained the image of the legal fraternity,which earned a good name by refusing to bow before the unjust decision of a dictator and with their sweat andblood compelled him to revoke his decision. It is time that the judiciary ensures law enforcement by bringing thescoundrels to book while the bars should condemn such behavior and make sure that all lawyers abide by the codeof conduct religiously, on pain of punishment.

24 May 2012Daily TimesCOMMENT: For a Few Dollars More: From Jinnah to GHQDr. Mohammad Taqi

The NATO summit in Chicago has exposed — quite brutally and rather humiliatingly — the extent of leverage thatPakistan thought it had over the US.

The Pakistani blockade of NATO supplies reminds one of children playing cricket on the streets. Remember, therewas always this one chap who owned the ball or the bat and whenever some outcome of the game was not to hisliking he would walk away, with his bat or ball in hand, with the challenge, ‘Let me see how you can carry on withyour play.’ Well, even on the street sometimes, it worked and on other occasions, it did not when rest of the playerswould either improvise or find an alternative source for the equipment.

By many accounts, about two-thirds of the supplies to NATO in Afghanistan had been going through the Pakistani

route, out of which roughly two-thirds went through the Torkhum route and the rest via Chaman. Contrary to thepopular belief, the Pakistani distribution route was not necessarily the cheapest. As a top NATO supplier had put itto me, “Doc, this bottle of spring water that you are sipping costs some 50 cents in Florida but by the time it reachesBagram, it costs somewhere around eight dollars, with all the legal/ illegal tolls and markups added.” The attractionof the southern or Pakistani distribution network has been its quick and direct approach. Nonetheless, by no meanswas the Pakistani route the proverbial bat/ball of the street child without which the game could not go on.

The NATO summit in Chicago has exposed — quite brutally and rather humiliatingly — the extent of leverage thatPakistan thought it had over the US. It was unrealistic of the Pakistani policy planners (read military brass), andtheir cohorts in the media or Difa-e-Pakistan, to assume that the NATO blockade would be a showstopper,especially when NATO/ISAF had been gradually diverting critical supplies to the Northern Distribution Network(NDN).

The NDN includes a rail link from Latvia through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, a road route via Bishkek(Kyrgyzstan) and Tajikistan for materials initially delivered to Bishkek, as well as routes via the Turkish andGeorgian Black Sea ports. The NDN routes may be long, tortuous and expensive perhaps, but remain viable andsafe alternatives nonetheless. But most of all, the viability of the alternative routes exposed the perils of a zero-sumforeign policy that Pakistan had been hell bent to pursue, without having more than one card up its sleeve.

The delusional thinking in Pakistani circles leading up to Chicago was astounding. Days before the summit, onePakistani analyst-anchor wrote in a US publication, “First, Pakistan needs an immediate apology, which the USpresident himself must issue at his Chicago meeting with his Pakistani counterpart. Second, the United States mustdraw up measures to ensure Pakistan’s prior knowledge of planned drone strikes, as well as its clearance of



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intended targets, areas of operation, and the number of attacks. Third, both nations need to agree on fair paymentsfor the use of Pakistani ground supply routes to Afghanistan. And fourth, NATO must make comprehensiveguarantees that a repeat of Salala never happens.” Is it just me or does this sound like a headmistress chastisingher students?

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari repeated the same mantra in his New York speech earlier this week. One seriously wondersif he had the same or a similar speechwriter who ghost-authored President Asif Zardari’s op-ed, “Talk to, not at,Pakistan” (The Washington Post, September 30, 2011). Did the advisors to the president misread the invitationextended to him for the Chicago summit? It certainly appears so. While the US administration thought thatengaging Pakistan might provide a way out of the six-month impasse, the Pakistanis may have construed it asweakness on the part of the US and NATO.

Frankly, neither most Pakistani analysts nor the country’s diplomatic corps in the US has been able to read the USmood accurately or they would not have been dictating this laundry list of demands. Let’s face it, the US is notabout to write ‘Sorry, I won’t do it again’ and hand it to Bilawal or that analyst. The answers are simple: 1) Life, nomatter how expensive, will go on without the Pakistani distribution route, and 2) Pakistan has already indicated thatit will play ball if the price is right. The post-Salala ghairat (national honor) hullabaloo has turned quite shamelesslyinto a fish market, haggling over price. So why tender an apology when the ostensibly aggrieved party is willing todo without it just for a few dollars more?

To be fair, the Pakistani junta, President Zardari and his current coterie of advisors and the analysts calling forblood, blood-money and money, in one breath no less, are not the first ones to eye the deep US pockets. Noneother than the father of the Pakistani nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the first one to havearticulated the idea of milking the US.

Mr. Jinnah’s widely quoted 1947 interview with Life magazine journalist/photographer, Margaret Bourke-White isworth remembering today. Bourke-White chronicled, “(Mr. Jinnah said) America needs Pakistan more than Pakistan

needs America. Pakistan is the pivot of the world, as we are placed — he revolved his long forefinger in bonycircles — on the frontier on which the future position of the world revolves.” He leaned toward me, dropping hisvoice to a confidential note. “Russia,” confided Mr. Jinnah, “is not very far away”...”America is now awakened,” hesaid with a satisfied smile. “Since the US was now bolstering up Greece and Turkey, she should be more interestedin pouring money and arms into Pakistan” (Halfway to freedom: A report on the New India — pp 92-93).

The ground realities are that Pakistan only has the Haqqani network/Taliban horse in the Afghan endgame withoutany political players, especially non-Pashtun Afghans, siding with it. The US has tolerated the Haqqani sanctuary inPakistan but it would not take long to tie it to sanctions related to sponsorship of terrorism. When push comes toshove the NDN can be used for a NATO pullout as well — after all the USSR had used the same route. Pakistan’svulnerability vis-à-vis the US and NATO has been exposed to the extreme in Chicago. Afghanistan, with its bilateralagreements with the US and India, is not about to fall into Pakistan’s lap. In sum, the odds are stacked against theGHQ-conceived Pakistani adventurist zero-sum foreign policy. Not much has changed in 65 years in Pakistani

thinking but what has changed is that Pakistan is no longer a geopolitical pivot.

The writer can be reached at [email protected]. He tweets at http://twitter.com/mazdaki

24 May 2012Daily TimesVIEW: Happy Birthday, my Bomb, the Dearest! D Asghar



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The question here is not the existence of the bomb; the question is our misplaced priorities. Our emotions havealways outsmarted our pragmatism.

Mian Nawaz Sharif must and should gloat in glee for making the only ‘Citadel of Islam’ absolutely invincible, andabove all, for making the Glory of the Almighty directly proportional to the size of our nuclear arsenal. Before thehyper-nationalists, the puritans and patriots issue some decree against me, let me clarify. Another Yaum-e-Takbeeris around the corner. Why do we need to tie the Glory of God to our nuclear assets? Anyone, please?

I still have clear recollection of the summer of 1998. Someone returned from Pakistan and narrated the jubilation ofthe nation. How everyone was on cloud nine after witnessing a befitting response to the archival, India. The

jingoistic slogans were the newsworthy items in the rather nascent internet publications from Pakistan. People wereecstatic, much like as if they had won the World Cup against India.

I am no political, military or security analyst, but in my humble opinion, it was a tremendous opportunity that Mr.Sharif failed to seize. Mentally, perhaps, he was on the cricket pitch of Lahore Gymkhana, playing his favorite sport.He rode on the idea of ‘tit for tat’ and a monumental political gain — a solid ‘sixer’ and a great victory almostguaranteeing him another term. What an irony; almost a year later, he found himself behind bars in the Attock Jail,if my memory serves me right. What a pity, the ‘man of the match’ was given such an unprecedented and shabbytreatment.

Again, if I am rewinding the events accurately, the Clinton White House had intervened prior to the nuclear test.Diplomatic efforts were made to sway the premier on our end. The premier had refused to budge and traded the‘day of a lion’ over ‘thousand years of a jackal’, Never mind that the same ‘lion’ was seen acting like a ‘mouse’perhaps a year later in New York. But such is life. There is a saying in Urdu that loosely translates as: ‘Sometimes,the days are much longer than the nights, and sometimes, it is the other way around.’ Need I say more? The sameoverly blown honor deflated so rapidly, it honestly evokes uncontrolled mirth.

While we are on the subject of sports and games, any amateur card player will tell you that you never show yourstrength or weakness in a game. Keep your cards close to the chest, and play the game, maximizing youradvantage. If Mr. Sharif had negotiated with the State Department at that juncture, perhaps it would have been awin-win situation for Pakistan. Who knows, the circular debt could have been written off, some aid specific tohealthcare, education and entrepreneurial ventures could be on the table. A nation without the shackles of debtwould have been much better off by 2012. Ah, the pavilion cheers...ah, the honor, probably, is priceless and non-negotiable.

Again, to the hyper-patriots, no one is suggesting that the plan of going nuclear should have been shelved. Itshould have continued as planned, except for the much touted and revered ‘tests’. If you take it a step further, thesame technology should have been geared towards the energy issues of the country. A country so deficient inbasic power, literally crippling its public at all ends, would have been in a much better shape. Where life andcommerce are so adversely impacted, you find an extremely irate public, screaming for its basic needs. Yet, we

thump our chests for possessing the ‘bomb’. This sure bombs the whole idea of this bomb. I would refrain frommentioning the ‘father of the bomb’ here, as that is a different subject for another day. However, I would urgepeople to Google John Stewart and Dr A Q Khan. The Stewart skit on him is an absolute classic.

As anything in our promised land, there is a twisted ‘Islamic’ angle to this great achievement for the entire Ummah.The question here is not the existence of the bomb, the question is our misplaced priorities. Our emotions havealways outsmarted our pragmatism. We live in that emotional bubble, which cocoons us from all facts and reality.The real war in the modern day is not about a nuclear arsenal, but information and economic resources. Nationswho master those skills will be ahead of the game.



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Those of us who live in an imaginary and illusionary world of strength based on the bomb ought to revisitEconomics 101. There is a rudimentary concept of guns and butter. We really need to go over that concept overand over again. The butter should trump everything, although I would go for vegetable shortening with zero trans-fats in this day and age. Well-fed stomachs have adequate energy to charge ideas, which are much stronger thanany bomb.

Thriving nations with innovative ideas and endless commerce explode with excitement and prosperity. You findpeople energized with optimism as they are armed with possibilities. Until this concept finally gels, it is time to singthe ‘happy birthday, my bomb, the dearest’ song. After all, it is 14 years old. The question that still lingers is, hasthis teenager made us any safer? I will end here at this note: just ask the Almighty yourself, how His Glory canreign supreme in our hearts forever.

The writer is a Pakistani-American mortgage banker. He blogs at http://dasghar.blogspot.com and can be reached at [email protected] He tweets at http://twitter.com/dasghar

24 May 2012Daily TimesANALYSIS: The Mother of all (Fiscal) TsunamisHarlan Ullman

The 2012 election in the United States should and must underscore the need to re-establish competent governmentand governance.

Imagine you are aboard a palatial, huge cruise ship, longer than three football fields and over 100,000 tons indisplacement. You are in the Atlantic. You receive an urgent text message. A giant tidal wave is headed in yourdirection; it will hit the ship in about two hours. A satellite photo of the wave is attached to the warning. You race to

the bridge to see the captain. You are told politely that you should not worry. Everything is under control. An hourand a half later, the wave hits, creating an even greater than the Titanic catastrophe. This time, there are nosurvivors.

The United States is currently on course to collide with an unprecedented fiscal tsunami that will strike at the end ofthis year. We all know the components of this giant wave: the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts; sequestration; debtceiling relief; payroll tax increases; ‘doc-fixes’ to healthcare; alternative minimum tax issues; and so on and so forth.We all know that the chances of the current Congress, even during the ‘lame duck’ session after the elections, ofresolving all or any of these potential tidal wave issues are about zero.

Yet, as aboard the Titanic a century ago, the band plays on!

Less obvious is even more bad news. No matter who wins the presidency, new teams will have to be appointed.

The Obama administration will lose the Secretaries of State, Defense and Treasury and many of their key staff.Should Mitt Romney win, he will be starting from scratch. Judging from past examples, it will take until the summerfor most key officials to be confirmed, and that assuming the new Congress, regardless of whomever controls eachHouse, can be organized as quickly.

The budget for 2013 that begins on October 1 almost certainly will be approved as a ‘continuing resolution’.Spending will be frozen at prior levels until the Congress can pass a new budget. The resulting consequences areprofound with across the board cuts from the Department of Agriculture to State. Defense will be the hardest hitgiven the size of its budget. ‘New starts’ will be deferred. Worse, no matter how sequestration is handled,



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reprogramming the budget will be made close to impossible by the absence of key staffers in the executive andCongress to work out the details of dealing with these realities.

For those who believe government is broken, the coming months will reveal in graphic detail how bad this conditionis. The nation will suffer. Yet, no one is listening and surely, no one is acting.

The failure to listen and to act is manifested in the respective campaigns. What have President Obama or GovernorRomney said about the forthcoming fiscal apocalypse? The answer is nothing. A good question is why the silencehas been so deafening.

This column has consistently argued about the gravest and greatest threat to the nation and to humanity at large.That threat is not economic chaos. It is not Islamic radicalism or the threat of nuclear proliferation, no matter howserious. Nor is it climate change, however dangerous the major challenge may be. From Afghanistan to Zaire, themajor danger to international well-being is bad, corrupt, or absence of good governance.

From the economic and fiscal crises in Europe, specifically Greece, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Spain, butelsewhere as well, the root cause is not Keynesian. Economic austerity versus fiscal stimulus is a misplacedrepresentation of the ills that threaten us. The crisis is simply a failure to govern. China is experiencing thatphenomenon with its leadership transition. Few states are free and clear of this burden that threatens national well-being, possibly more directly than nuclear weapons posed the prospect of annihilation during the Cold War.

Polls in the United States and other countries reinforce this message. Governments are broken and no longer work.So what is the alternative? A century ago, the rise of the ‘-isms’ — fascism, socialism and communism, were clearchoices. None survived as we witnessed in the destruction of the fascist-Hitlerian dream that led to World War IIand the collapse of the Soviet Union. Other -isms failed to replace either democracy or local authoritarian rule inregions such as the Middle East and South Asia with monarchs, established military authoritarianism, or ‘royal’families, whether by birth or political advantage, which has remained in charge.

The 2012 election in the United States should and must underscore the need to re-establish competent governmentand governance. Sadly, Messrs Obama and Romney have been silent on this overridingly crucial matter. We needto know how they are prepared to deal with a broken government. That broken government is the equivalent of agiant tsunami about to envelop and swamp or sink the nation. But who is listening? And who cares?

The writer is Chairman of the Killowen Group that advises leaders of government and business, and a Senior Advisor at Washington DC’s Atlantic Council

24 May 2012Daily TimesVIEW: The Prime Minister

Mehr Tarar

The power vested in one by the constitution of the country enables one to take power vested in the other by thesame constitution of the same country. That is when things become messy.

May 27, 2012. Mr. Yousaf Raza Gilani will become the longest serving prime minister in the history of Pakistan.Hallelujah. Pakistan, a proud democracy. After 65 years, 16 prime ministers (a couple of lifetime chairpersons oftheir respective parties served twice), four military dictators, six caretaker governments later, here we are. Doingour best, and sometimes even that isn’t enough to throw the incumbent off his democratically gained seat. Déjà vu?



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Time to let go of the pretence, presumably. We will not let any government serve its full tenure. Period. That is notpart of our psyche, our conditioned personalities, and our conscious and subliminal knowledge. There isimpatience, a misplaced anticipation, and an undignified rush to topple one and take his place. If a morallyindignant and spiritually superior military general will not oust a civilian leader, why go through the agony of waitingfor one? The pristine, untainted, dry-cleaned garbed — the pious ones — are all set to get rid of the beast, all thewhile letting go of the one simple truth. It is not their turn yet. The scratching and the scrambling and the shovingpersevere, nonetheless. Why?

Despite dishing out severe criticism and loud censure, the sensible ones believe in the sanctity of an institution.When millions of people vote someone into a position, they are the ones who have the power to take that positionaway. The sulking opposition does not have the moral or legal wherewithal to do so. The country is in a bad, badcondition today. The economy is a mess. Infrastructure is in shambles. Due to shoddy financial and other policies,the energy crisis has crippled life to the extent that everyone, with or without money, wants the present governmentto act now or pack up. Flimsy foreign policies make the country a fun punching bag for anyone worth his dollars,weapons sophistication and monetary sanctions.

The alleged corruption scandals read longer than the long list of ministers and advisors who change portfoliosquicker than the paint drying on the nameplates outside their offices. Instead of moving forward like the rest of theworld — developed, developing, underdeveloped — this country is, incredibly, on a backward course. Things areworse than they ever were. What is the solution? Is it time to overthrow another government, or a little morepatience is in order until it is time to vote again and let someone else come in — the democratic way?

The judiciary is active for once to cleanse the infamously lawless system. To redress many injustices many withouta voice had to suffer for years, a number of positive steps have been taken. People are optimistic that the court of

justice has become accessible and not all wrongs will remain hidden, unpunished. There is an air of positivity untilthat becomes indistinguishable from what stinks from inside. The power vested in one by the constitution of thecountry enables one to take power vested in the other by the same constitution of the same country. That is when

things become messy. Truth blurs. The scale tilts. Whose interpretation is true? One judge becomes the arbiter oftruth. The vice-chairperson of the biggest party is allegedly the one with the tag of being the most corrupt. The onerepresenting him and the party and the majority of the voters becomes the scapegoat.

The former duo squabble and the latter pleads, argues, reasons, fights, and finally, throws his hands in the air andstays — arms crossed, eyebrows knitted together, fists clenched, heels dug in firmly. The battle worsens, sickens,and inevitably, a war ensues. It is all out in the open now. Stripped of forced civility, and even basic decency — withnails sharpened, words poisoned, tongues venomous, allegations deadlier, defenders and accusers more viciousthan ever — the two sides go into the arena. It is more sordid than ever. Who will be the winner? And consequently,a bigger loser?

When the party not in power talks or even shouts about the ‘evil’ government, it is justified. When its leadership,who has not been tried and tested the conventional way, highlights the undesirable, at least the finger pointed at

everyone is free of grime. When the leader of that party chastises the other side for being pitiably impotent in itsimplementation of effective and workable opposition, there is no one to claim justifiably that it is unfair. The onetalking about the change is doing what he set out to do — he points out the malaise in government and oppositionand promises a 180-degree angle restructuring. He has every right to do so. He is clean. He brings about a politicaltsunami or he fails to make any waves — time will be the judge of that. Today, nonetheless, he has every right totell all of them to quit. There are many who echo his sentiment, but who, one wonders, are they?

The righteous opposition is in action. It is the job of the ones in the opposition to oppose, but where does that stop?If every action of the incumbent government is criticized simply because it is the other side, then it all becomesirrelevant. If, since the so-called ally became the so-called opponent, there has been only one constant, then it



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becomes laughable. Go. The only word that the entire country heard in the last four years. The invariable repetitionbecame so monotonously ineffectual because of its illogical and juvenile reasoning that even some of the onessaying it started looking for a replacement.

The twice overthrown party — the party in opposition — have not learned anything from its own past. It does notfeel good to be accused of wrongdoings. It does not feel good not to be given a chance to speak up in yourdefense. It does not feel good to be found guilty without a trial. And it certainly does not feel good — at all — to bethrown out of your democratically won office. Why is there then the persistence to do to others about which youhave nightmares yourself even today?

The court convicts. The public is divided. The opponents rejoice. The media postulate. The government looks theother way. The chairperson of the biggest opposition party snickers and refuses to acknowledge the accused as thenumber one executive power of the country. His brother, the head of the biggest province, refuses to giveconstitutional protocol to the president of the country. The leader of the opposition in parliament very sagaciouslyand democratically threatens physical expulsion of the leader of the house from the hallowed building if he enters.Seriously? These are adults. Representatives of the people.

Our country is on a one-way ticket to hell. Yet, they talk like teenagers during a rowdy football match, with their non-performing grammar, and their little boy antics. The world is ready to boycott us and we cannot stand to allow anelected prime minister have his due process of justice. The leaders on the other side know they would not havewritten the letter either. No one would have. The immunity clause stands and the debate goes on. The country mayfall apart but first let us all tear one another to pieces. The miscreants must be punished, but the undignified flurryto see it all happen in one day resembles the sub-plot of a c-grade film. The wise, sane voices in the media,intelligentsia, civil society and even politics know that there is more to all this moralistic uproar than what reachestired minds. And it is what we do all too well and all too often: let nobody work in peace.

There is no sanctity of any institution. When all your actions — right or wrong — face the same response, your

sense of judgment goes hazy too. When most of the opposition cannot even address you as per your constitutionalstature, then why the expectation that you would follow what their interpretation of the constitution is? When youare jeered even when you try to do the right thing, why would you even fake decorum for the other’s actions? Whenall your efforts to do well are scorned because you have been labeled corrupt, why the hope you would remaincivilized? When all you hear from your sore opposition is one word, why would you care about what they say,really? The one awful, inchoate word. Go.

The writer is an assistant editor at Daily Times. She can be reached at [email protected]

24 May 2012Daily TimesANALYSIS: Let Them Choose Their Path

Zainab Hamayun Sanik

In Pakistani society, students are open to influences. Lack of awareness in students leads them to destructivepaths in future

“Passion rebuilds the world for the youth. It makes all things alive and significant” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Youth is an asset of a country and works like its backbone. The definition of ‘youth’ varies but for static purposes,the United Nation defines ‘youth’ as all those persons who fall between the ages of 15 and 24 years. Pakistan is thesixth most populous country in the world. As estimated, 103 million Pakistanis (63 percent) fall under the age of 25



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years, hence leading as a majority. The youth thus should not be demoralized by our society or their families asthey can pave a path for a better future.

While living in, and observing society for the past few years, we have observed that one of the biggest dilemmas forstudents in Pakistan is the choice of a suitable career path. Normally, students are not aware of all the options theyhave to start with. On top of this, pressure, rather than encouragement, to opt for a specific profession, furtheraggravates matters. In developed countries around the globe, it has been noticed that students are free to, ratherpersuaded to, choose a profession of their own choice, which helps them a great deal in excelling in their careersand lives, whereas in Pakistan, the situation is completely different.

The parents compel their children that they can either take up the family business, or must adopt the professionchosen by them, if they are so keen for higher education. Considering the circumstances, most of students complywith the professional fate chosen by their parents. They achieve and secure good rank in their respective fields, butthe urge to accomplish the goals they dreamt of always haunts them, not letting them excel in their area in justice totheir talent.

There is a lack of awareness in students, thus making them liable to bow before all pressures; the one being thecentre of focus is parental control. A parental stereotype is, if they have bright children, they want them to choosethe field of science, thus leading to medical or engineering, because they perceive that applied science is the mostimpressive and prestigious career and serves best as a status symbol. The situation leads some students tofrustration and so, deviating from their destiny and wasting precious years of life, they cannot achieve anythingsubstantial. Besides this, many other pressures like social pressure and cultural perceptions also play their role.

In Pakistani society, students are open to influences. Lack of awareness in students leads them to destructivepaths in future. Career counseling can play the best part in this game, as it is strengthening and building confidencein students in countries around the globe to seek better and productive options for them and for the rise of theirnation or state. For an ordinary person, it is hard to focus on a picture and identify what was in the painter’s mind

while creating the art piece because he/she could not go deep into the soul of the canvas. In the same manner foryoung and immature scholars, it is not always possible for them to recognize their real potential and with no properguidelines; they are bound to accept the decisions of their parents. Different institutions should provide the facility ofcareer counseling and conduct seminars for students, which would help them in discovering and identifying theirskills.

Ismail Gulgee was one of the famous self-taught portrait painters and abstract artists of Pakistan, who earned aname in the field of art around the world. He was also a qualified civil engineer in the US. While giving an interviewon television, Gulgee revealed that he was always interested in becoming an artist but the choice of his parentswas to see him as an engineer, so he opted for it. Though he became a capable engineer, he still earned a name inart and received prestigious awards like the Pride of Performance, Sitara-e-Imtiaz (twice), Hilal-e-Imtiaz, and madethe country proud around the globe because of his talent and his passion.

On the other hand, parents can play an important role to cope with this situation. They should support their childrenin finding their real abilities, aptitude and capabilities and should not forcibly impose their decision on their offspringas it leads to complete failure, distorting their personalities. They should recognize them as individuals so that theymight not lose their individuality and let them succeed in their mission. Parents should give the gift of responsibilityand decision making to their children, which helps students to maintain the ability to lead a responsible independentlife. Parents are the best teachers and role models for their children. Therefore, encouragement from their side canbuild or even break the personalities of their children.

The writer is a student of Mass Communication and can be reached at [email protected]

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24 may 2012 osint pakistan tracker