Open Letter to Musharraf from BB's former Intelligence Chief

Dear Mr President,

Assalam alaikum.

The destructive events of 2007 cannot be wished away. The naked assault of your government on the judiciary, led by yourself from the front, on 09 March, 2007, triggered off a chain of events that need not be recounted. In short, Pakistan has been devastated all through 2007.

Pakistan lost an internationally recognised political and intellectual personality, namely, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on 27 December, 2007, to a murderous gun and bomb attack. Pakistan was reduced to paralysis in the aftermath of the tragic manner in which Pakistan’s most courageous political leader lost her life. The story does not end here. The adverse effects of this tragedy will continue to unfold in the days, months and years to come. I pray that ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY Blesses the soul of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto eternal peace of heavens. Amen.

The deplorable law and order situation in the country, in general, and the mishandling of the situation in our erstwhile peaceful tribal areas and other parts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) only add to the widespread belief in the country that you and your government has now become a huge part of the problem and is certainly not equal to the task of finding a solution to the gigantic problems faced by Pakistan. These problems have gained unimaginable dimensions through the years of your rule. While the Army and the paramilitary is deployed to fight in many parts of NWFP the police and the rangers etc are busy beating up the civil society in the city streets. Pakistan and Pakistanis are no longer at peace with each other.

Due to the events of 2007, and a lot more, the Pakistani nation that you desire to rule, with or without the nation’s consent, is now calling upon you to resign from the office of the President and thus make way for a smooth transition of political authority. Open any newspaper and this is the impression you shall gather.

This is an occasion to set things right. Mr President, the entire Pakistani Nation wants that you should not stand in the way leading to the evolution of a free and independent nation governed by systems, institutions and a free judiciary rather than by the whims of individuals. Pakistanis desire that you should now help bring this about through an announcement that you have, in principle, decided to resign and work for a smooth transition of power in the shortest possible stipulated period.

Sometimes one universally acclaimed and applauded act of an individual can wash off many acts of the same individual that may not have been popular. Mr President such a time, and an opportunity to go down in history in a respectable manner, is knocking at your doors. Such opportunities are always fleeting ones and if you open the door too late your opportunity may well have gone from your door leaving you stranded.

The people of Pakistan cannot now be stopped, through the misuse of State resources and the application of brute force, from achieving THE PAKISTANI DREAM which entails a free Pakistan for us all – from the common man to the President/Prime Minister. Pakistanis now want a Pakistan where law is the protector rather than being the tormentor of its own population.

Believe me, Mr President, this is not about you, it is about THE PAKISTANI DREAM coming true. We have waited 60 years for it. It did not come about from the rulers of those 60 years and that includes you. The PAKISTANI DREAM is now coming about from the efforts of the lawyers and the civil society. Let it come about in peace and harmony.

Someone will, inevitably, succeed you one day. Sooner or later, it is bound to happen. Why not now in a manner that is just right for the country. The moment belongs to you. Grasp it before it flies away.

Have you not, Mr President, seen pictures of those young Pakistanis protesting against your actions against the judiciary being beaten so ruthlessly? It is the State that you are heading that is beating its own children, my children as well as your children, Mr President. Collectively they all belong to us. They are our kith and kin. They are our blood and are also Pakistan’s future.

Protests will take place. Protests have to take place in any society. They will always take place and, therefore, governments in Pakistan will have to be more tolerant with dissent and if they cannot be then they should either do only the absolutely unquestionable things so that there is no need for anyone to protest OR they should resign and make way for others to succeed them.

You were magnanimous in offering your apology to GEO TV when it was attacked by the police and everyone liked that act of yours. You did that on air and live on the GEO TV network. Why not now also apologise to the lawyers and the children of Pakistan who have been severely beaten by the police etc since they started protesting for an independent judiciary.

Mr President, if you resign from your office now Pakistan and Pakistanis, throughout the country, will once again be at peace with each other.

Grasp the opportunity Mr President before it is gone and never presents itself again. What to talk of asking the people of Pakistan I ask you, personally, if you still remember a man by the name of General Zia ul Haq who was the Chief of The Army Staff for longer (13 years) than you were ? We, the people of Pakistan, do not remember General Zia ul Haq despite him having ruled us for over a decade. Do you? I hope I have made my point Mr President. History is important. Grasp the moment. The moment is yours. Answer to the call of the people of Pakistan. Live up to your own slogan “PAKISTAN FIRST”. Put Pakistan before your own self.

Yes, I know all this sounds naïve for anyone to so suggest. But tell me Mr President why not? Is it that you think Pakistan has no potential, whatsoever, that can govern it effectively and that you have to be at the helm forever, until eternity? What will happen when one day you have to, inevitably, leave? Is it that you feel that Pakistan will collapse should you hand over the reigns of the government to anyone else? What beats common sense is that why should you think like this at all?

Will not the USA see a change of President on 20 January, 2009, when the new President-elect will take oath? Will not Mr George Bush, who is the architect of the present very controversial US foreign policy and the two wars raging in Iraq and Afghanistan, have to leave the future of these wars and the future governance of the USA to his duly elected successor, whoever that may be?

Can George Bush say to the people of USA that there is still a lot of work left to be done in the war on terror, or whatever else, and that for the sake of continuity or for any other earthly or unearthly reason it is a must for him to remain in power after 20 January, 2009? There is no way, whatsoever, for such a happening. George Bush will have to fade into history on 20 January, 2009, and present himself to be judged by history itself.

Bill Clinton, given his very enviable national and international popularity, could easily have won more terms but he had to make way for the future. Tony Blair of UK, had three years of his third term left when he made way for Gordon Brown when things got bad for him. Mr President, systems and not individuals make nations unite and survive.

Consider Nelson Mandela who can still win elections over and over again. Yet, after just one term as President of South Africa, having earned it after years of struggle including 27 years in prison, he made way for his well groomed successor but is still treated as a Head of State all over the world. In fact he is treated more as royalty.

Mr President do something like that and earn a place in the annals of our history. Your example will become a precedent for others to follow.

Make way for the future rather than having respectable people like our lawyers and students beaten up ruthlessly on our streets. These are the truly enlightened people of Pakistan who supported you till you went wrong. These people will never damage a single plant while protesting. So why beat them so brutally? I assure you that there is no way any amount of baton charge can now deter these leaders of tomorrow.

On my part, I have seen State barbarism from a very close quarter. I have seen periods of house arrests and imprisonment for years. As a part of the injustices meted out to me I was, at one time, imprisoned in a room 8 ft by 10 ft with no windows and with my toilet in the same room for many weeks. I have borne the obnoxious accountability process for over 9 years after which I was told by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), in writing, that there is nothing against me at all. But can anyone give me my lost years back? I lost my Federal Secretary level job in 1997 to totally unjustifiable political victimisation. I was kept on the Exit Control List (ECL) from 1996 to 2006.

Even the HILAL-E-SHUJAAT, the second highest gallantry award in the country that I was duly awarded (refer to gazette of Pakistan Aug/Sep 1996) was shamelessly withdrawn. No law permits such a withdrawal but who is going to listen and do justice? In conclusion to one of my newspaper article I had said that “Nations that mistreat their own heroes someday, inevitably, have to pay a very dear price”.

I am the only Intelligence Chief of Pakistan, civil or military, who has ever been decorated for gallantry in the field of national security and has still been humiliated beyond description. The reason; a subjugated judiciary that could not come to my help!

Every minute of my victimisation of 15 long years I dreamt of a Pakistan with a free judiciary so people suffering like me could be protected against State barbarism. This is why today I stand openly, without let or fear, with those demanding a free and independent judiciary, a judiciary that can say NO to the Executive even if the Executive is in uniform.

My PROTECTOR AND GUIDE is ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY and the misused power of the State is nothing at all as compared to the power of THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH, in whom I trust completely. We will realise THE PAKISTANI DREAM - INSHA ALLAH. This PAKISTANI DREAM is our DREAM, make it yours too.

Mr President, on October 12, 1999, a large majority of Pakistanis, in fact, this very civil society that your Regime is now busy in beating up on the streets, gave you their goodwill in the earnest hope that you will usher in that new Pakistan for which now the students, lawyers and the civil society are striving. Has none of your advisors told you that the goodwill of the people of Pakistan that you initially enjoyed has long gone? Can you not see it for yourself Mr President?

The people of Pakistan were with you on the accountability process and the aspect of bringing about harmony within the country. Where these aspects pathetically stand today is not something I need to write about.

Like all Pakistani rulers you also could not make a team of genuinely efficient and motivated people to implement what you then wanted to implement. Your initial seven point agenda was very good and many Pakistanis gave you their support to implement it but over the years that agenda for harmony got lost somewhere in some cupboard.

Why does this happen to all those who hold the reigns of power in Pakistan? Why do you let the sycophants take over and ruin you and the country? There is indeed some curse in our palaces where sycophants always overcome the professional and patriotic Pakistanis.

When your era has ended all those you put in lucrative jobs will vanish quietly into a life of riches and no one will say a thing to them but you will be talked about in a bad vein for their misdeeds. They will distance themselves from you as if they have never known you. Why do all our rulers let this happen to them?

Pakistanis now seek that true freedom that they have longed for in the shape of The PAKISTANI DREAM which envisages us as the proud citizens of a Pakistan governed by systems and the national institutions rather than being ruled by a one man regime. Mr President, make way for The Pakistani Dream and become a part of it too. I urge you, and I am sure millions of Pakistanis would second me on this, to do the following:-

a. Announce that you have decided to resign and that you shall hand over power to a new President as soon as he is elected.

b. Announce that you shall meet all the political leaders within one week and, thereafter, will announce just one person as the consensus Prime Minister who will run the government through the existing bureaucratic structure and will have no Cabinet of useless Ministers. Also add that, thereafter, you shall recede into the background till the new President is elected and you finally hand over to him.

c. At this point, in time, also announce the revival of the judiciary to its 02 November,2007, position because this one step will bring about the lost confidence of the people of Pakistan and will also help give credibility to the whole process of the transition of political power.

d. That the new Prime Minister, independent of you, will appoint a new Election Commission, Chief Ministers and Governors.

e. That this new Prime Minister and the new Chief Election Commissioner will conduct a free, fair and impartial general elections within 90 days of taking office.

f. That during the three months in power the Prime Minister along with the revived judiciary will lay down the methodology for the effectiveness of the existing rules of business for all the government institutions so that once the new government takes charge there is never a transgression of one institution into the working of any other institution, civil or military.

g. That within one week of the new parliament coming into force the schedule for the election of a new President will be announced and once the new President is elected you shall hand over to him. The revived judiciary will give you immunity till this time i.e. when you actually hand over and leave. This can always be worked out amicably if we all put Pakistan ahead of our own selves.

I have suggested this smooth transition as compared to an abrupt transition so that the world starts looking at us as a civilised country and so that the country’s chances of plunging into anarchy are avoided. The option of immediately handing over to the Chairman Senate after announcing the new consensus Prime Minister is available for you to consider. However, I will still recommend that work on the smooth transfer of political authority should begin immediately and in right earnest.

The writing on the wall is written in large, capital and bold letters, Mr President. Failing to read the same will be very detrimental for Pakistan.

The moment belongs to you, Mr President, and the choice of bringing about a graceful and historic political change in Pakistan, or an ignominious one, is all yours.

My prayer to ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY is to give you the strength to make the right decision which can only be to make way for the future in the most graceful manner.

Best regards,

Sincerely,

Masood Sharif Khan Khattak

Peshawar, NWFP,

Pakistan

Amnesty International urges Europe to resist Musharraf

Government and Business Leaders Meeting Outlaw Dictator PervezMusharraf Must Address the Human Rights Crisis in Pakistan.

HRF: http://www.JusticeForum.info

(InformPress.com) - Amnesty International urges all governments andbusiness leaders meeting Pakistani Tyrant Pervez Musharraf in Europe this week to call for an end to the human rights violations which have continued despite the lifting of the illegal State of Emergency last month.

"Arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, and torture and ill-treatment -- coupled with pervasive political violence undermine the prospect of free and fair elections planned in February[2008]," said Amnesty International's Secretary General, Irene Khan.
An Amnesty International delegation which spent the last month in thec ountry documented a worsening human rights crisis.

"Amnesty International has collected a wealth of evidence on human rights violations and the breakdown of rule of law, which are sowing the seeds of a political catastrophe, with devastating consequences for ordinary people," continued Ms. Khan.

Pakistani Dictator, Pervez Musharraf, begins his week-long visit to Europe on Monday where he will meet, among others - the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicholas Sarkozy - as well as attending the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"As Musharraf embarks on a tour of Europe to garner political and economic support, those who meet him have both the responsibility and opportunity to demand that his government bring to an end the human rights violations that have characterized the recent period of Pakistan's history, including by immediately restoring the independence of the judiciary," said Ms. Khan.
Amnesty International is urging the Government of Pakistan to:

- End arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, ill-treatment, politically-motivated criminal prosecutions, civil proceedings against or harassment of politicians, human rights defenders, journalists, media workers and other members of civil society.

- Stop the use of "blind First Information Reports" - police complaints in which the suspect is unidentified - a practice whichallows the government to harass and detain political opponents.

- Restore the independence of the judiciary by returning to serviceall judges removed during emergency rule.

- Respect the right to freedom of expression and information, and theright to peaceful assembly. At rallies or other mass gatherings, law enforcement officials must comply with international standards, and in particular should not use force unless strictly necessary and only to the minimum extent required.

- Conduct full and independent investigations into political assassinations, including that of Benazir Bhutto, and other unlawful killings and suicide attacks, and make public the findings.

"The international community must give a clear and unequivocal message to Musharraf that restoring respect for human rights and the rule of law is key to establishing confidence in the forthcoming elections and arresting the spate of political violence in Pakistan," said Ms. Khan.

[Amnesty International works daily to protect human rights worldwide. Sunday, 20 January 2008 - London, UK.]

Update on Student Action Committee-US activities

We are very proud to inform you that a SAC-USA chapter has been formed. Below are its activities for the next few weeks. Please go through it, and forward any suggestions.

I wanted to give you update of our activities in US.

SAC-Us has eight core members (six current students and two recent alumnus)in four different areas; Nothern VA/DC, Philadelphia, Boston and New York City. Our short term activities are as follows:

1. We participated in Washington-Pakistan Forum meeting on Jan 18th in Washington, DC where a number of organizations were represented. Some of them are AIUSA (Amnesty International USA), ABA (American Bar Association), CPJ (Community for Protection of Journalists), Dawn News, Daily TImes News, PTI, PALC (Pakistani American Leadership Committee) and introduced everyone to the activities of SAC-Lahore, Islamabad and US.

2. We have participated and will participate in all the Pakistan related talks/conferences/seminars in different think tanks in Washington, DC and elsewhere (e.g. SAIS, CSIS, MEI). We make sure that our point of view is heard in the question and answer session.

3. We will be meeting with PTI on Wednesday to sign a memorendum of understanding demanding their role in democratic process inside or outside the parliament. We will also be meeting with PPP representatives during next week.

4. During the next two weeks almost 5 campuses will be holding an awareness raising event. The primary objective of it will be to apprise students at US universities of current political situation in Pakistan. The event will also be used to introduce students to SAC-Lahore and Islamabad and its activities followed by a talk. We will be very happy to add whatever you want to send us to add to this presentation.

5. Following the event, we will hold protests in all the represented cities against 'elections without judiciary and independent election commission and interim government.

6. We will participate in an advocacy event on Capitol Hill along with other organizations like Amnesty International. The event is tentatively being planned for first or second week of February.

7. We are also thinking of setting up a committe/getting endorsement from different international organizations.

I also want to reiterate that you guys are doing great work. Your work is truly an inspiration for all of us. Establishment of SAC-USA is one consequence of it.

Together, we can

Ghazia,

SAC- USA

CCP Convention at LUMS

Concerned Citizens of Pakistan (CCP) is having a Convention on "RESTORATION OF JUDGES and DEMOCRACY" at PICIC Hall, LUMS on Tuesday 22nd January, 2008 at 530 pm.
The objective of the Convention is to present an intellectual foundation for the restoration of judges before the reps of two main political parties (PPP and PML(N)). The political parties will then present their strategy in dealing with this fundamental issue, as they prepare for elections.

The three speakers are Tariq Hassan, Raza Rabbani and Ahsan Iqbal.

The initial address for 45 mins will be followed by a question hour.

A Question panel comprising Talat Hussain (Aaj), Anwar Kamal, Diep and Athar Minallah will question the speakers and also present the written questions received from the floor. Kindly bring your pen and paper for writing questions. Looking forward to an exciting dialogue.

Since the seats are limited, we have to give at the gate a list of people who are coming. If you wish to attend, please Confirm by SMS 0321-9456644 or 0300-9456644..

Press Release from Student Action Committee Islamabad

Islamabad: SAC Islamabad has condemned the arrest, detention and harassment of the citizens of Pakistan who had gathered outside the house of Justice Rana Bhagwandas. SAC called for dropping of all unfair charges against the peaceful protesters in Karachi and expressed solidarity with them. A few minutes of silence were observed after the SAC-ISB meeting which was followed by a peaceful vigil outside Civil Junction in Islamabad. SAC-ISB especially praised the courage of eight brave men and women of Karachi who were arrested and jailed for speaking up for their conscience. The vigil was still able to attract 30 odd people amidst a short notice, the chaos in the country and the day being the 9th of Muharram - a very sacred day for Muslims. It was decided not to hold a protest or a rally to preserve the sanctity of Muharram.

Last Night before Karbala

Omer. G

The sky is starry and a more-than-half-full moon is shining bright. As I run round and round in the field, warming my body amidst the cold nightly breeze, I think of another man, many, many years ago, sitting in his tent with his hands extended in prayer to Allah, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. Out in the world of Islam, a dark power was spreading its tentacles and had finally come face-to-face with the grandson of the Prophet - the torchbearer of an order based on justice not brute force. With less than a hundred fighting men, Husayn ibn Ali knew he had not the slightest chance against the might of the Umayyad army. But he also knew that his duty was not to win a war; his duty was only to stand for principles, come what may.

That night as he stood on the soft sands of Karbala, so near yet so far from the flowing waters of the Euphrates, Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib must have looked at the same starry heavens above and the less-than-half full moon that I now see. He must have felt peace dawn upon his heart: tomorrow, courage was all he would need. He was the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib – Arabia's greatest warrior in his generation - he had enough courage in his blood. Tomorrow, he will have to face death in defense of principles of governance espoused by Islam - death in Allah's path. He could not have feared that either. Looking at the beauty of the heavens above and the grandeur of desert around him, Husayn ibn Ali, must have contemplated the beauty of the Creator of Beauty, Allah the Beautiful. By Allah's decree, tomorrow, he would go down in history as the Great Imam of Muslims, torch-bearer of Justice and Truth. His legendary sacrifice would continue to breathe courage into people of all times, when they stand up against the forces of tyranny and oppression.

Sects amongst Muslims have long bickered over the historical details of the Battle of Karbala. For an intellectual tradition like that of Islam, which accommodates diversity of opinion, this seems nothing but natural. Yet, all things said and written must have some relevance. And tonight, as we contemplate the majestic sacrifice of Imam Hussayn and his companions, camped near the banks of the Euphrates, pitted against the brutal might of an illegitimate ruler, those squabbles have no relevance. Tonight, it is imperative to remember this: all it takes is a few good men to stand for Truth and Justice, and then neither death nor insult can keep the withering flames of Injustice alive for long – sooner or later, illegitimacy of cosmic proportions melts before the courage of a few devoted honest human beings. As we pay rich tribute to the beloved Imam, the other point to remember is that the battle engaged in by the Imam is an ever-going battle. Yazid's legacy may crumble before the moral might of the slain Imam's sacrifice, but sooner or later, in one form or another, that legacy gets resurrected. Thus it is that the wise say: Each age will need its own Husayn.

May it be that in the battles of our times, we think and act as the spiritual descendants of Imam Husain and not as the lackeys of Yazid. May it be that we choose the right side, and stay the course, despite all that it takes. Tonight, as I behold the ancient stars – silent spectators of the Battle of Karbala – the best I can do is to extend my hands to pray "O Allah! Guide us to the right path." It comforts me to remind myself that many years ago, in the silent stillness of a vast desert, a Man of Destiny did the same. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his companions.

Pakistan collapsing under Musharraf; he has to go

By: Farooq Tariq

(Labour Party Pakistan)

Pakistan is on fast rout of collapsing under Musharaf dictatorship. The state is in immense crisis. The infrastructure, industrial and social, is in total chaos. The economic crisis is showing its muscles. The price hike is uncontrollable and unemployment in ever increase.

The vast majority of ordinary people of Pakistan are praying day and night that Musharaf be killed or at least he should die. Majority believe that he will never leave power without giving up his life; “If he is not killed, he will kill us all one by one."

He has become the most unpopular president in the history of Pakistan .

Musharaf is widely seen as a person who has orchestrated the murder of Benazir Bhutto. “Qaatal Qaatal Musharaf Qaatal (Murderer the murderer, Musharaf the murderer) was the main slogan of the mass reaction. All the twist and turn of Musharaf dictatorship after the murder has strengthened the doubts of the masses in this regard. “He asked her to come to Pakistan by negotiating and let her be killed” is a remark you hear very often.

Despite that, Musharaf has consistently shown the trends that he will stick to power by any mean. Pakistan needs him, Pakistan first, Pakistan my top priority” are some of his regular sloganeering. However, many do not trust him anymore here in Pakistan .

The desperation of masses to remove Musharaf by a mass movement is clear everywhere. They had attempted to throw him out of power after assassination of Benazir. That was an unprecedented movement for five days from 27 December 2007. Not a single shop was open, no wheel on the move, no factory working, no bank open, no office functioning, no restaurant or hotel open, no train on the move, flights cancelled, schools and colleges closed and thousands and thousands were on the road protesting. This was the most unexpected outburst of mass anger after the killing.

Nevertheless, unfortunately, Pakistan Peoples Party leadership had not learnt from history. They saw this an important occasion to show that are the responsible defender of the system. They went to appeal the masses to cool down, go back to their work and turn your anger into vote for Pakistan Peoples Party.

This was the time when majority of the political parties had announced to boycott the elections and demanded an immediate resignation of Musharaf. Had PPP joined the other parties in boycotting the general elections, Musharaf would have gone by now.

They had not realized the post Benazir killing scenario. They had not anticipated the total collapse of economy in the days ahead. They had not thought of the tactics of Musharaf supporters to rig the election if they were given chance. Over 4000 First Investigation Reports (FIR) has been registered by police against a record number of half a million PPP and other opposition political activists in Sind alone. Many PPP activists were arrested to be released on bail later. Many thousands have gone for bail before arrest. The tactics of PPP leadership has put PPP in defensive position.

The PPP is on the run after three weeks of Benazir Bhutto assassination, it was Musharaf who was on the defense after the killings. He would have been relieved when the PPP leadership had taken a decision to contest elections.

At a time when the consciousness of the whole of Pakistan was anti Musharaf, with active participation in the movement, the PPP leadership announcement to participate in elections was like putting cold water on boiling heat, like a fire brigade bus active in stopping fire spreading by showering water.

Moreover, what election is taking place on 18 February 2008?

Before the announcement of the general elections, top judges, 60 of them were put under house arrest on 3 November 2007, when martial law was imposed on the name of emergency; many are still in house arrest, particularly the chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Ahmed Chaudhry. On 14 January, all public meetings and election rallies are banned for a month on the name of security. Thus, effectively, there is not going be any mass mobilization by the political parties. Most of the opposition parties that are taking part in the elections are already complaining that it will be rigged and that they have proof of rigging in the electoral role.

All the rules laid out by the Election Commission of Pakistan about the size and width of the posters, pamphlets, stickers, hording boards and banners have been widely violated by most of the candidates belonging to the government and the opposition.

It is a race of money among the candidates. It is like a business competition. It is not a democracy that is going to be restored by the elections, but a farce of democracy. The general elections have given a chance to the masses to choose amongst the exploiters. The condition that a candidate must be at least a university graduate meant that only less than one percent of the whole population had a chance to become candidates.

Three weeks after the assassination of Benazir, on 17 January 2008, there is an unprecedented price hike. Wheat flour is the most used food item in Pakistan; It has gone up from Rupees 13 a kilogram to 25 to 50 Rupees a kilogram, if you can find it in shops. There have been suicide attempts by women after failure to buy the wheat flour from the government concessional utility stores. There have been food riots reported in many parts of the country.

There is regular news on television and newspapers that “smugglers” of wheat floor have been arrested. Earlier smuggling was normally restricted to gold and electronic items. Now wheat flour “smugglers” are the main enemies of Pakistan . Almost every province has restricted the transportation of wheat floor, thus creating more problems for the people North West Frontier Province, Baluchistan and many in Afghanistan who are dependent on wheat flour from Punjab and Sind.

There are massive electricity crises. The electricity is released on load shedding basis, in most cases there is electricity available for only 10 to 12 hours a day. The countryside is worst hit by this. There is no commercial gas available to all the industries for the last two weeks. Thus closing down of many hundreds factories. Even hospitals are not spared from this. Hundreds of thousands workers have been laid off from factories and asked to wait until the electricity and gas is restored to full capacity.

LPG gas has disappeared. The price has gone up from 50 Rupees a kilogram to 100/110 Rupees a kilogram if you can find one LPG gas shop open. The price of one kilogram of vegetables has gone up to 125 Rupees from 100 earlier. There is almost a 25 percent price hike of everything available in the shops and super markets.

Yet there is neither a wage increase nor any temporary compensation for the people. This is a very good ground for the very rich politicians from Muslim League Q, who are the main supporters of Musharaf. They will buy votes in bulk for the scheduled 18 February general elections. The objective reality of hardship of life under Musharaf with PPP taking part in elections may cut across the massive sympathy wave for PPP that they are counting on. However, there is a limit to such tactics. Musharaf dictatorship has failed to curb the ongoing incidents of suicidal attacks. The religious fundamentalists groups in Waziristan and Swat are not budging down despite a heavy military operation. They are striking back repeatedly. On 16 January, a group of religious extremist occupied a fort in North Waziristan, which was used by the Pakistan military. The newspapers reported eight army men killed while 20 disappeared, while unconfirmed reports put the causalities much higher than the official announcement The Government reported the killings of 50 militants as well.

There are several incidents where most of the suicidal attackers were less than 16 year of age. The completely new young generation has been motivated by the religious fundamentalists to take an all out war against the friends of imperialism and “enemies of Islam”.

There is lot of discontent among the police force and bureaucracy in Pakistan . They are sick and tired of their usage against the masses and the movement. Many police officers are very often speaking against Musharaf government to their friends and contacts. There is no support among the public employees for the military dictatorship but are forced to go on. Musharaf dictatorship is isolated and very much hated. It is a dictatorship supported by none but by American imperialism and its allies. It is trying its best to survive. However, the day of the military regimes are numbered. It cannot survive for long despite all the help of its political friends. It is the most hated dictatorship in the history of Pakistan. Day by day, it is loosing. Musharaf has survived by the most modern security arrangements available at present time.

However, these will not work all the time; especially not in the wake of the tremendous hatred that is building up.

Urgent: Undercover deals between Musharraf and Shahbaz Sharif

In the recent turn of events Shahbaz Sharif accepted political negotiations with Brig. (R) Niaz. Brig (r) Niaz is a close personal friend of both Shahbaz Sharif and General (Retarded) Pervez Musharraf.

http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?196276http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=91874

According to inside sources, the deal is close to being finalized. General (Retarded) Pervez Musharraf has offered a greater role to Shahbaz Sharif in the future government if the PML-N drops its demand for the judiciary.

We can not let this happen.

What you can do to prevent this from happening:
1) Call/SMS
The mass contact campaign proved really successful last time. Please find the numbers of PML-N leadership at the end of this email and as always go crazy with your texts and phone calls. Every msg counts.

If you are in UK please call Shahbaz Sharif directly on this number and address your concerns to him:+44-2074930925

To sms from the internet use the following links (might take a little while to load):
Mobilink: http://smspk.kalpoint.com/Mobilink1.php

Warid: http://smspk.kalpoint.com/warid1.php

Ufone: http://smspk.kalpoint.com/ufone1.php

Paktel:http://smspk.kalpoint.com/paktel1.php

Telenor:http://smspk.kalpoint.com/telenor1.php

Instaphone: http://smspk.kalpoint.com/insta1.php

(Please scroll to the end of the email to get contact information)

2) Meet them in person:
If you can, please meet any of the PML-N candidates from your area. They will be conducting election rallies and of course you can always go to their houses and demand your voices be heard. They will not deny you this right especially if you are from their constituency.
Their contact info is at the end of the email.

3) Create your voice against this deal!
Blogs, op-eds, letters to the editors, emails, every msg counts. We can not let PML-N have a deal with the falling dictator.

4) Forward this email to all your contacts
And please DO send texts/call at these numbers. This list has been compiled after a LOT of research so ALL the numbers are accurate.

PML-N contact information:
PresidentMuhammad Shahbaz Sharif

Contact# London 00442074930925

ChairmanRaja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq

Phone#051-2823475

H-36, St 39. G-7/4, Islamabad

Senior Vice Presidents

1. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi Senior Vice President/Acting President

0300-9630740

50-B Qasim RoadPhone# 92-61511553Lahore

2. Muhammad Ali Khan Hoti

0937-862049

(off)Jamal Plaza Nisatta Road 0937-863159 ®Mardan

3. Mr. Saranjam Zamindar

0300-9591094

H-5, Sector G-4, Phase II, 091-824444-824222 Hayatabad Peshawar

051-22800330303-69028110931-66666-633330931-64444

4. Mamnoon Hussain

021-5855655

53/4, 28th Street, Phase V 0333-2107654 D.H.A 021-5843553Karachi 021-5844277(f)

Vice Presidents
Begum Tehmina

042-5725894-5721780

8-B, D.H.S.030084651390693-648000Punjab

Imdad Chandio

051-444968

4H. 112/3 Lane 8 phase VII 021-5857233 Khayaban-e-Rahat D.H.A 0333-2143340 Karachi Sindh

Mushahidullah Khan

051-2260911

H. No. 8-C, St. B-20051-22610560320-4505771F-8/2, Islamabad.

Subedar Khan Mandokhail Baluchistan

051-224090 9C-1-AA, Park Road0333-5606775 Chakshahzad, Islamabad

Syed Zafar Ali Shah Islamabad

0333-5202949051-28722990320-4502949

H. 3, St,41-B, G-7/4Islamabad

Muhammad Rafique Awan Baluchistan

081-2849140 H.# 85-86, Old Police Line

0333-78297500300-3868522 Near Old FIA Office Chamman Phattic Jail Road Quetta

Additional Secretaries
Ahsan Iqbal Chief Coordinator & Information Secretary

051-2213017 House No 81 St 59, I-8/30300-5012345051-4860059051-4860058 (fax)Islamabad

Muhammad Pervez Malik Secretary Finance

0300-8440280

142 E-1 Gulberg III Lahore 9221577 (lodges) 9207477 (279)042-5878201

042-5878202042-5710332 (o)042-5710333 (o)

Iqbal Zafar Jhagra
Secretary General Vill Jhagra Distt Peshawar

091-262675-263336, 0300-9590653, 0300-8595225, 091-2651234

Ch. Mohammad Jafar Iqbal
Addl Secy General

051-2856501 ®H. No. 257, St. 23 051-2651000 (O)E-7, Islamabad

0300-8678844

Khawaja Muhammad Asif

051-2262478, 118-Mehmood Ghazanvi Road 042-5720478 Sialkot Cantt

0432-261478-2624780300-8440640

Sardar Rahim

Addl Secretary Information

0333-2200696H.18, St.8, East Phase I 021-5896589 D.H.A Karachi 021-5380212pmln.media@yahoo.com

Joint Secretaries
Siddique-ul-Farooq

051-44110540300/8560466

409-C, Khyaban-e-Sirsyed, Rawalpindi

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

051-2823035

H 4, St#17, F-7/2 0300-9501569 ISLAMABAD Punjab

Ch. Muhammad Barjis Tahir

0563-785933–782070

Jamia Masjid Road

0300-9482500

Sangalla Hills, Sheikhpura, Punjab

Raja Ashfaq Sarwar

051-2296982

H#222 St. 33, F-10/1 0300-8501313, Islamabad, Punjab

Principles v. Power--a test for the Pakistani Politician

Recently, representatives of Student Action Committee Lahore & Islamabad met the twice-elected former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss the importance of working towards the restoration of the judiciary. Present at the meeting were Mr. Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, General Secretary of Punjab, PML-N and Mr. Chaudhry Nisar, Senior Vice President PML-N and Mr. Syed Mehdi. Representing SAC Lahore were Zubair Niazi and Sundas Hurain, and SAC Islamabad was Samad Khurram.

The first issue discussed was the possible courses of action that could be undertaken towards the restoration of the judiciary. Infact, the first thing Mr. Sharif asserted right after getting seated was the need towards working for the restoration of the judiciary.. He reiterated the fact that the key to stability in Pakistan was the reinstatement of the pre-Nov 3 judiciary. He said his party does not recognize the current court as legitimate. Mr. Sarwar assured his party's continued support for the cause of the lawyers, students and the civil society. He stated that PML-N has been helping the cause in all its capacity and will continue doing so. Upon the establishment of our intentions and interests as common, an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was presented to Mr. Nawaz Sharif expressly outlining that:

SAC and PML-N both agree on the need for independence of the judiciary. We realize that without the reinstatement of all the deposed judges, an independent judicial organ and democratic rule cannot reasonably be established in the country.
SAC and PML-N will facilitate each other in efforts towards the reinstatement of the deposed judges. This is one demand that neither party will compromise upon.

Mr Sharif agreed with the provisions of the MoU, and asserted that he would "provisionally sign the document" while it goes to the party, to assure SAC of his unreserved commitment to the cause. At this point Mr. Nisar interrupted, stating that it should be presented to the party first. However, SAC was repeatedly assured of PML's commitment to restoration of the judiciary.

The Pakistani politicians are notorious for continuously changing colors to suite their ends.This is the prime reason for the lack of trust accorded to them by the people of Pakistan. What remains to be seen is if the politicians really have changed. This will judge whether their is hope for the country under the rule of the leadership of the 90s. Amidst rumors of a deal between the dictator and the democratic politician, will PML-N stand firm on its promises to the people of Pakistan, or yet again will they sway to where the seduction of power leads them? The art of ambiguity after all is a skill well known and valued by the Pakistani politicians.

Invitation to talk by Imran Khan in DC

(InformPress.com) - Imran Khan, Chairman - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI: Movement for Justice) - will be speaking at an event hosted by Amnesty International USA and Washington-Pakistan Forum (WPF). He will discuss the current crisis in Pakistan and its implications for human rights.
Please join us.

Date: 22 January 2008 (Tuesday)
Time: 6:00 p.m.

Address: Amnesty International USA

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, 5th Floor

Washington DC 20003 USA

Note: U.S. Post Office and Citibank are on the ground floor.

Metro: Eastern-Market stop. Orange and Blue lines.

For information, CONTACT:tkumar@aiusa.org or telephone: 202-544-0200, ext. 224.

Sincerely,

T. KUMAR

Advocacy Director for Asia & Pacific

Amnesty International USA

Telephone: 202-544-0200 ext. 224

Fax: 202-546-7142

EMail: tkumar@aiusa.org

Website: http://www.amnestyusa.org

Blast in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Ten persons were killed and several others injured in a suicide bomb blast in an Imam Bargah here in Mohala Jangi area of Kohati on Thursday.
Police has confirmed deaths of 8 persons.
Spokesman, Federal Interior Ministry, Javed Iqbal Cheema confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack.
He said the suicide bomber was stopped by security personnel at the entrance of the Imam Bargah when he shot two gun fires and then blew himself up, killing 10 persons. Is reported that as many as 23 persons were injured.
However, Inspector General, NWFP, Dreshak said it would be premature to call the blast a suicide attack.
A majlis was underway at the time when the huge explosion occurred.
The blast could be an act of terrorism, said the officials.
Police has cordoned off the blast site while rescue activities are being carried out.

Musharraf's critic gets two year term

Lahore: A critic of General (R) Musharraf got a two-year prison term from an anti-terror court this Saturday. The accused was a prayer leader named Fazal Ahmed Chisti, charged with using derogatory remarks against the President and spreading 'sectarian hatred'. In addition, he was charged with a Rs. 10,000 fine, with an extra imprisonment of 15 days in case of non-payment. (Reported in DAWN on Sunday)

(The first 'reported' victim of the new draconian terrorism laws and a subjugated judicial system. One can but wonder how many the dictator will attempt to silence in this way.)

Eviction notice for Gen (R) Musharraf

This is a parody of the actual eviction letter recently issued to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to clear his official residence for Mush's lapdog(ar).

After the Lahore Blast

Nauman Qaiser

And finally they have broken the myth – the myth of Lahore being a relatively peaceful city in a country rocked by a plethora of suicidal attacks on daily basis. After the Thursday’s “suicidal attack” near the Lawyers’ protest rally that killed over 30 -- mostly the policemen deployed to “teach the lawyers a lesson”— and injured over 60, I felt the shock waves for the first time. Its not that I have not been feeling the grief and sorrow that accompanied these blasts in other cities, but the mere fact that this attack took place in my city, at a place from where I had just passed a few minutes ago, was enough to send shivers all through my body. The fear of unknown griped me.

The blast site at which the protest rallies of Lahore Bar Association and Lahore High Court Bar Association were to converge gave a macabre picture when I came back to the blast side after hearing this dreadful news. Had the blast taken place after both the rallies had reached at the GPO chowk –merely after five minutes, the death toll would have been unimaginable. Most of the victims would have been these tenacious lawyers who have been sacrificing their bread and butter and protesting only for the just cause of judiciary since March 9, 2007.

It was like a like a mini “Qiyamat”. There was blood everywhere with the mutilated bodies and severed limbs of the dead and injured lying all across. The policemen were crying for help, but guess what, the only people who came to their rescue at that time of need were lawyers – the lawyers who have mostly being the victims of their highhandedness. These were highly emotional yet gruesome scenes happening right in front of my eyes.

The fingers, as usual, were pointed at extremist groups without any initial investigation. Going by the terrorists’ penchant to attack security personnel, Taliban or Alqaeda could very much be the culprits; but my instincts direct me towards the complicity of the government itself through the ever-present secret agencies.

The first purpose government wanted to achieve by this act was to intimidate the lawyers community into submission, and thus to render the current movement for restoration of judiciary and rule of law ineffective. It did not want to attack at the rally because this blatant act would have made the lawyers’ community go mad. Thus the poor policemen became the scapegoats, who were used to give an aura of terrorists’ involvement in the blast.

Second, by allowing these kinds of blasts, the Musharraf regime wants to indefinitely postpone the elections on the plea of worsening law and order situation – it cannot be worsened more than this!

Please! We do not want more problems. We have had enough! The food crisis, the energy crisis, the political and economic uncertainty and on top of all this mess, the lawlessness and feelings of insecurity!

The only solution to these problems is seeing the back of Mr. Musharraf, who, in his lust for power and pomp has forgotten that one day he has to be held accountable for his deeds in front of Allah Almighty if not in front of the people of Pakistan. All I can say at this critical juncture of our country is “Go Musharraf Go”.

Campaign against the Lawyer's movement, CJ

I want to bring your attention to a campaign going on to demonize the Chief Justice and the Lawyers Movement. This seems to be orchestrated by some sinister movement within the agencies. We at UQAAB have received a torrent of e-mails claiming that the Lawyers Movement is funded by outside agencies and the Chief Justice is corrupt and that the non-PCO judges were in cahoots with the Chief Justice to destroy Musharraf's reformist policies. However, when we tried to check the IP of these e-mailers, most of them were fictitious. As an example an article we had on the Chief Justice, received five comments within minutes of one another.Please see below an example of such an e-mail. Also, there is an organized campaign going on against GEO and the Free Media. Another example is an e-mail circulating all over the cyberspace, defaming the leadership of Lawyers Movement as foriegn agents. It is very poorly written, full of inaccuracies and falsehoods; but, it is receiving wide circulation. It seems that the boys in the agencies are upto their "dirty tricks." Please be aware and let us not let our guards down. Also, if you have any ideas how we can combat these mailing groups, please let us know. We have to keep the candle burning or this regime will plunge all of us into the the darkness literally and figuratively.
Manzer

Manzer J. Durrani ,
Ph.D .Editor, UQAABUQAAB,
The Pakistan Think Tank Organization
Scottsdale , Arizona and Plantation,
Florida U.S.A. and Pakistan

Invitation to the Amnesty International USA and Washington-Pakistan

Dear Pakistani-Americans:

(InformPress.com) - Amnesty International USA and Washington-PakistanForum (WPF) invite you to attend our next meeting to analyze the humanrights crisis in Pakistan and discuss some proposed activities at theUnited States Congress, U.S. State Department and American Think-Tank institutions.
NOTE: The Washington-Pakistan Forum (WPF) is only the name of a group of Pakistani-Americans with common causes and mutual interests. The WPF is not an official or formal organization.
All members and supporters of the Pakistan Justice Forum (PJF) -http://www.JusticeForum.info - Government Reform Council (GRC) and Human Rights Foundation (HRF), and the media-press are also hereby invited to this special meeting.

When: Friday, 18 January 2008

Time: 5 p.m.

Where: Amnesty International USA office, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE,5th Floor, Washington DC 20003, USA.

Metro: Eastern Market. Orange and Blue lines.

Note: There is a Citibank and a U.S. Post Office on the ground floorof the building.
For information contact: tkumar@aiusa.org or telephone: 202-544-0200,ext. 224.

Sincerely,
T. Kumar

Advocacy Director for Asia & Pacific

Amnesty International USA

Telephone: 202-544-0200 ext. 224Fax: 202-546-7142

Email: tkumar@aiusa.org

Website: http://www.amnestyusa.org

A Case Before the Nation

By Dr. Haider Mehdi

People of Pakistan! Let us, for the sake of deliberation and in good faith, give the benefit of the doubt to Gen.(retired) Pervez Musharraf and accept all of his claims: Yes, Benazir killed herself by hitting the car’s sunroof lever. Yes, she was warned not to hold a political rally. Yes, no state agency was involved in her gruesome murder. Yes, the Sharif brothers went into exile at their own request. Yes, the former Chief Justice of Pakistan was rightfully sacked. Yes, several civil society activists and lawyers deserve to be put in jail. Yes, Gen. (retd.) Pervez Musharraf is the best thing that has ever happened to Pakistan in its 60-year history. Yes, the General (retd.) has given unprecedented economic prosperity and political stability as well as true democracy to this country. Yes, the majority of Pakistanis are extremists and terrorists. Yes, Pakistan’s survival as a nation is dependent on American goodwill and fighting its war on terror. Yes, without the General (retd.), Pakistan has no future. Yes, the General (retd.) is the promised “messiah” and so on and so on.

Having admitted all that is claimed by the incumbent leader, the nation still needs some kind of criteria to evaluate the performance of its political leadership. After all, that is a common process in a democratically-run nation – and the General (retd.) asserts that present-day Pakistan is a true democracy shaped and gifted by him and supported by American benevolence.

Leadership performance evaluations are generally conducted within specifically defined frameworks. General characteristics attributed to political leadership are: vision, willing followers, influence, situational adaptability and communication excellence. These five concepts, though not giving a complete picture, present an underpinning of an effective political leadership. Can Musharraf’s performance be evaluated by the application of these five concepts? Perhaps these notions are too broad and the discussion could be a complex and lengthy process.

It would seem more appropriate to look at Musharraf’s performance within a more specific framework. One such perspective is the notion of charismatic political leadership. Is Musharraf a charismatic leader? Charisma, originally a Greek word, means divine gift, and scholars have attributed such a leader with “having considerable power over followers, especially in times of crisis.” A charismatic leadership is gifted with “(a) formulation of a strategic vision, (b) inspiration and empowerment of followers, and (c) superior articulation and impressive management skills.” Charisma is directly related to a leader’s behavior; it is an ability to tie the self-concepts of the followers in with the nation’s vision, goals, identity and purpose.

The questions are: Has the General (retd.) been able to invoke followers’ loyalty at a massive national level? Has he succeeded in inspiring and empowering the masses? Has Pervez Musharraf been successful in giving strategic goal-oriented visionary leadership to the nation? Has he proven effective in present-day national crisis management by acknowledging the self-concepts of the masses with their national vision, goals, identity and purpose? Has the General (retd.) demonstrated superior management skills at resolving the economic and political problematics faced by the nation? Does he enjoy considerable power over the masses by virtue of his personal behavior and attributes? Has he been able to positively influence the masses at large and provide the civil society in particular with a legendary and imaginative leap in political doctrine or ideology?

Unfortunately, the answers to all of these questions are not in the affirmative. The fact of the matter is that the nation, as a whole, is completely alienated from Musharraf’s political doctrines. Civil society is in turmoil like never before. State violence has reached unprecedented levels. Political chaos has reached unmanageable scales. The nation has been going through one crisis followed by another ever since the General (retd.) came to power some eight years ago. The era of confusion, national disarray and multiple political exigencies is a testament to the fact that the General (retd.) does not possess the credentials of a charismatic leader, nor has he the qualities that inspire people, empower followers or offer a vision, goal, identity or purpose to the nation.

Another conceptual framework in which a leader’s performance can be evaluated is to look at his/her management style. Management is a process of getting work done through others. It involves planning, organizing, leading and controlling, which are critical steps in getting the national agenda accomplished. A vital element in a political leader’s management style is that he/she uses influence rather than relying on authority or positional power to accomplish the desired end results. Concurrently, outstanding national leaders focus on political variation and accommodation of diverse points-of-view, inspire change and deal with national turbulence with imaginative innovation rather than relying on the status quo and constancy – the art of creating national harmony comes out of the craftsmanship to seek concord, congruity, peace and unison out of chaotic conditions -- rather than the other way around.

Once again, unfortunately as it is, the General’s (retd.) leadership has offered none of the dynamism of a successful, innovative management style. The national agenda remains obscure under his leadership. The masses face unprecedented price hikes, inflation is sky-rocketing, the poverty level is increasing and the socio-economic gap in the society is widening. The law and order situation in the country has never been so bad. The national consciousness has been decimated by psychological pressures of oppressive cultural and political trends espoused by the incumbent regime. The nation has lost its bearings over its national identity and purpose by overwhelming capitalistic and foreign-dominated political policies and economic planning. The General (retd.) completely relies on his authority and positional power to alter national institutions, the constitution and the day-to-day running of state affairs. The common people are suffering and in agony like never before in the chronicles of this nation. We have come to live in most dangerous times under the present political dispensation engineered by the General’s (retd.) leadership. It is quite evident that the General (retd.) has not demonstrated the prowess of an outstanding leader in national management. It is a sad and unflattering commentary on Musharraf’s leadership.

The General (retd.) claims that his intentions have been thoroughly noble and conceived in the goodness of his heart and mind – “Pakistan First” has been his symbolic patriotic slogan.

A phrase attributed to an anonymous writer warns: “Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hardboiled egg.”

Albert Camus, the world renowned Algerian-French writer, extensively wrote on the French oppression of the Algerian populous. “The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.”

On one hand, Vladimir Lenin combined ideological intentions with full-scale political actions by granting independence to Finland in appreciation of their national sentiments at the time of Bolshevik Revolution, without a bullet fired or a Finish citizen killed.

Americans, on the other hand, nearly obliterated by force an entire civilization and population of native American Indians – in pursuit of American national objectives. Ironically, the similar ideology of “the clash of civilizations” is at play in the contemporary political situation focusing on the premise: “accept Westernization or perish.”

There are lessons for the General (retd.) to learn in all of these historical events. Indeed, history is made of actions and not intentions – the General’s political actions have caused permanent and irreparable damage to the national edifice to an extent that it seems most appropriate for him to take an exit from the politics of the country. That would be an honorable course of action now.

I rest my case. The entire nation has to be the jury – in the end, it is the people of Pakistan who will be the judge.

Hold your breath – you may be in for surprises either way…!

The Nation, January 15, 2008

Honorary Membership Bestowed upon Chief Justice Iftikhar

NEW YORK— Today the New York City Bar Association bestowed one of itshighest honors—honorary membership—upon Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Pakistan's Supreme Court Chief Justice. This award recognizes the Chief Justice's efforts to uphold Pakistan's independent judiciary.

The conferment of honorary membership in Chaudhry's absence representsthe first time in the Bar Association's history that the requirement of in-person bestowment has been waived. Chaudhry is currentlydetained under house arrest in the aftermath of Pakistan's emergencyrule.

In September 2007, prior to President Pervez Musharraf's suspension of the Pakistani Constitution in early November 2007, the NYC BarAssociation's Honors Committee, chaired by U.S. District Judge Jed S.Rakoff, unanimously recommended Chaudhry's honorary membership to theAssociation's Executive Committee. Chaudhry had intended to visit NewYork to formally accept the award, but the ongoing political strifehas prevented him from leaving Pakistan.

Last spring Chief Justice Chaudhry was suspended by Musharraf, but later reinstated after the suspension was found illegal by Pakistan's Supreme Court. In November, with the Supreme Court expected to rulewithin days on the legality of President Musharraf's re-election, Musharraf declared a state of emergency and suspended the Pakistani Constitution. When the Chief Justice refused to sign the "provisional constitutional order" enabling the emergency decree, Musharraf removed him and many other judges from office and placed them under housearrest.

"Today the New York City Bar Association has been obliged to deviatefrom a decades-old policy of requiring that honorary membership be presented to the honoree in person," Judge Rakoff said. "We cannot allow the abysmal events occurring in Pakistan to derail the bestowment of an honor so rightfully deserved. Chief Justice Chaudhry has made tremendous contributions to the independence of Pakistan's judiciary. We remain hopeful that the Chief Justice will come to New York in the near future to celebrate this honor."
The Association has also written to President Musharraf again urging the restoration of the Pakistani constitution and the release of those unlawfully detained and the reinstatement of Chief Justice Chaudhry and the other judges relieved of their duties since November 3, 2007.

The letter was signed by Association President Barry Kamins, who said,"Lawyers around the world must continue to speak out for judicial independence and in support of those lawyers and judges who remainunder detention in Pakistan. We cannot allow their plight to be overlooked, and must press our governments to do what they can to seek restoration of the rule of law."
The NYC Bar Association is an independent non-governmental organization with more than 22,000 members in 50 countries. Over the past 10 years, the NYC Bar has given honorary membership only seven other times, to persons ranging from U.S. Chief Justice Rehnquist, to Chief Justice Bhagwati of the Indian Supreme Court, to Judge Thomas Buergenthal of the International Court of Justice who will be accepting his award, in person, on May 16, 2008.

About the Association:
The New York City Bar Association (www.nycbar.org) was founded in 1870, and since then has been dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the profession, promoting reform of the law, and providing service to the profession and the public. The Association continues to work for political, legal and social reform, while implementing innovative means to help the disadvantaged. Protecting the public's welfare remains one of the Association's highest priorities.

Protest in Belgium

Brussels (Belgium), 20th January 2008

Dear Colleagues,

Do you know that in Pakistan, Honourable Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudary is still under house arrest? President of Supreme Court bar association Mr.Aitzaz Ahsan is still under house arrest? Independent judiciary have been slaughtered by Dictator Mushsrraf?

Do you know human rights are being brutally violated by Dictator Musharraf and police force is used in an unprecedented way against those who want to express their feelings against brutal regime of tyrant Musharraf?

Do you know that Media is still under strict Govt. Control and people in Pakistan have no access to popular private channels? Pressure tactics are used by Dictator Musharraf to stop the voice of media? Do you know that people in Pakistan have been deprived from life necessities like Bread, electricity and gas due to negligence of present Govt. of General (R) Pervez Musharraf?Do you know political leaders and citizens are losing their lives in terrorist attacks and Govt. has failed to provide any security?

If you are concerned about these issues and want to express your feelings, please join the protest in Brussels (Belgium) on 20th January, 2008 on arrival of General (R) Pervez Musharraf in Brussels. Details of the protest are as follows:

Date: 20.01.2008

Time: 1500 Hrs

Venue: Place la Bourse, Brussels, Belgium

Time: 2000 Hrs

Venue: Hotel Conrad Brussels at Avenue Louis, Brussels, Belgium

Contacts:Belgium:Sheikh Majid (Coordinator PTI Belgium) Phone: 0032 485 688 735; email:ventiuno2007@yahoo.fr

Blogs back online

The blogs are back online. For those still having difficulty getting access, use the pkblogs.com website. In the meantime, in order to prevent such eventualities from occurring again, we are working on a website where we will transfer our archives.
If you wish to subscribe to the newsletter, send an email to theemergencytimes@gmail.com,

Thanks for the support, everyone,

In Complete Unity,

The Emergency Times Team