Engaging with Political Parties - Detailed Account of A talk organized by the CCP at LUMS

Omer. G

LUMS, JUNE 22nd: A long and engaging talk was organized at LUMS by "Concerned Citizens of Pakistan", a civil society organization, galvanized into action in the aftermath of the imposition of emergency on November 3. The arrangement was unusual in that the CCP had booked an auditorium at LUMS – only those on the SACLUMS mailing list were invited. So many outsiders came in that most students, like myself, had to keep standing. The talk will be aired by Aaj TV (we weren't told exactly when), although with some modifications because the whole thing would violate the new censorship laws. The talk went on so long that I must admit that my account cannot do justice to all its twists and turns.

The Talk was titled: "Importance of rule of Law for society" A CCP representative opened the show, after which Talat Hussain conducted its proceedings. The talk started with Dr. Pervez Hassan, a representative of the lawyers' movement(also a trustee of LUMS). He was sitting in lieu of Tariq Hassan, who couldn't come but had sent a 12-page paper to Dr.Hassan so that his position may be represented. Dr. Hassan's speech focused around the need for upholding the constitution and restoring the judiciary. He also said that the Lawyer's Movement had not ended: it will pick up strength once again, after the elections.

The second speaker was a member of Tehrike Insaf, Ahsan Rasheed. He said that when they were founding their party, many years ago, they had chosen the idea of Rule of Law as their party slogan, even though it wasn't fashionable back then. Every idea had a time and now the time for this idea had come. He felt that Musharraf was dragging Pakistan on the path to authoritarianism like Islam Karimov, Husni Mubari and Robert Mugabe have done elsewhere in the third world. He also stated that, in the coming general elections, he expected a maximum turnout of 10 to 15% ( I feel like placing a bet against him :-) His other concern besides uphold the judiciary's cause was to save the federation.

Justice(r.) Fakhrunnisa Khokhar spoke on behalf of PPP because all other senior PPP members had turned down the invitation. After paying rich tribute to the lawyers' movement (she, herself, was badly beaten up on Nov 5), she said that her party believed in contesting the elections and then championing the cause of the judiciary. She said that within the river there is a whirlpool - to bring change one had to jump into it; it couldnt be done from the outside.

Next spoke Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal of PML-N, perhaps the most impressive speaker in the house. He told us that he had come all the way from his campaigning activities in Narowal to address this gathering because of the respect he had come to develop for the civil society of Pakistan and for LUMS. (After the event, he declined my request for an interview because he couldn't spare time from his campaigning.) He congratulated civil society for finally waking up and standing for the cause of Pakistan. He said that the best thing that had ever happened to Pakistan was this: people would not even bother so much as to go and cast their votes are now fighting the battle for Pakistan and facing jails. He said that societies have survived with poverty and ignorance but never without laws. He added that the law is the shield of the poor against oppression because the rich can protect themselves by other means like money and influence, but the poor can only seek the law's help. It is particularly impressive that today the elite is coming out to protect the shield of the poor – the law. He announced that PML-N candidates would publicly take an oath on Feb 5 to pledge support for the cause of restoring the judiciary after getting elected. He concluded by saying that he had looked at the CCP's objectives and, for a moment, he thought it was his own party's manifesto (there is much truth in this statement, by the way.)

Hamid Khan was the last speaker of the house. He bagan by prasing the lawyers' movement and, in particular, Justice Khwaja, the Head of LUMS Law School (my school!) who resigned in protest against the humilating treatment met out to the Chief Justice. Hamid Khan's key addition to the discourse was his contention that if the Parliament was to restore the judiciary, it would be an insult to the judiciary, becasue the judiciary was not just above the executive but also above the legislature. The judiciary, therefore, had to be restored before the elections.

The Q and A session was long, heated and colourful. Most of the questions attacked the politicians, alleging that the political parties were corrupt, colluding with the army and betraying the people and the cause of rule of law. At times, the booing and jeering got so loud that Talat Hussain had to intervene reminding this very educated audience that democracy entailed giving others a chance to, at least, state their argument. In general, the speakers tried to clear the parties' position on various issues. Ahsan Iqbal from PML-N managed to answer almost all questions quite gracefully because, after all, his party's current manifesto is based upon the civil society's slogans. He did face trouble when somebody mentioned the assault on the Supreme Court during Nawaz Sharif's second term in office. He replied by saying that it was party blown out of proportions by the agencies and, partly, a mistake. Talat Hussain intervened saying that he had been present at that event and was convinced that the Sharif government was involved.
Justice Fakhrunnisa from PPP, on the other hand, had a harder time and, by the end of it, she had almost reached breaking point. Her best rebuttal to all of this criticism against PPP was her continual referral to the fact that she, and countless other PPP workers, also braved atrocities to stand with the cause of rule of law. It reminded me of Nov 5: at the High Court protest , we were hiding from the charging police batallion, along with Dr. Pervez Hassan and others. Outside, Fakhrunnisa Khokhar, the old lady was, true to her word, was suffering police brutality, amidst choking levels of tear gas. The audience, however, had not seen those scenes. In the close comfort of PICIC hall, they mercilessly grilled her, making it clear that they were disgusted with the PPP's deal-making politics in the recent past, and the PML-N's similar conduct in the years before Musharraf.

Aasim Sajjad, a LUMS professor, and Athar Minallah, a lawyer and activist, reminded the audience that the future of democracy is inextricably linked to politics, politicians and political parties. In the past, the army has systematically maligned politicians, assuming for itself the role of the messiah. By its sceptical and contemptuous attitude, the civil society today is again falling into the same trap. If democracy is to survive in this country, we must all learn to respect politics and politicians and realize that political parties are, after all, comprised of politician wo are from amongst us, and, just like us, they are prone to human errors. It is by engaging empathetically with them and by trying to help them in bringing positive change that we can contribute to the country's future. By contemptuosly dismissing them, we are only easing the army's path, leading to the destruction of this country.

The Faez Isa lecture on 'You and the Constitution'

Friday, 25 th January 2007, at 6 p.m.

Venue: Shirkat Gah Office, Meeting Room (1st Floor), 2 Bath Island Road , Parin Lodge, (near Bridge Store) Karachi.

Our Constitution hasn't been much help to us lately, has it?
In fact, it hasn't been of any help for most citizens for most of our history – the reality just hit us when projected on private TV channels.
How do we prevent our country being run like a private corporation sans transparency and accountability, to profit the few at the cost of the public?
How does the constitution protect our sovereignty? For that matter, how can we be sovereign if the commons, public goods, public property and other national assets are unduly privatized and re-colonised?
What is or should be a constitutional stand on labour, natural resources, women, the marginalised, the minorities, the poor, equal rights and opportunities, and the re-distribution of wealth ?
Was the Constitution rendered meaningless when the dispensers of justice were arbitrarily dispensed with, and obstructed from participating in the electoral process?Is revolution the only answer?
These and other questions will be answered and discussed at an Info and Q&A session with Qazi Faez Isa, Barrister-at-Law andAdvocate, Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Organised by The Green Economics & Globalization Initiative, SHIRKAT GAH in collaboration with the PEOPLE'S RESISTANCE.

We urge you to come, inform yourself, ask questions, and raise your issues.

Two leading Pakistani lawyers to receive 3rd Asian Human Rights Defender Award

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

Today, January 23, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to announce that it has decided to grant its 3rd Asian Human Rights Defender Award jointly to Muneer Malik, former President of the Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association, together with his successor, Choudhry Aitezaz Ahsan.

The award is in recognition of the historic leadership role that the lawyers of Pakistan have had in fighting against military dictatorship there during the past year, spearheading the protests against General Pervez Musharraf's unconstitutional removal and illegal confinement of Chief Justice Iftekhar M. Chaudhary on 9 March 2007.

The lawyers' movement has attracted interest and immense support of people from all walks of life in Pakistan and the scheme to remove the chief justice was thwarted, although he was again illegally removed from his post, along with 55 other senior judges, including 13 from the Supreme Court, when Musharraf seized power through an unconstitutional declaration of emergency rule at the end of the year.

The lawyers, judges and others of Pakistan have been making great sacrifices to defend the independence of their judiciary as a last bastion against the otherwise unchallenged power of the military. This struggle is continuing today.

The 3rd Asian Human Rights Defenders Award is thus awarded to these two leading lawyers both in recognition of their personal sacrifices as well as to them as representatives of the entire people's movement against dictatorship in Pakistan.

For his leading role in fighting against the removal of the chief justice and promoting the struggle for an independent judiciary, Muneer Malik was arrested and drugged, causing him to suffer renal failure. He is still recovering today.

Choudhry Aitezaz Ahsan has been kept under detention since the emergency was imposed on 3 November 2007. The two lawyers' leadership, courage and unswerving commitment to their profession, their integrity and their country are strongly symbolic of their cause.

In them we acknowledge and award all of the lawyers, judges and others who have refused to bow down to the immoral pressure of military force, including all of those dismissed from their posts and kept in their houses. They stand today as the representatives of civilised society and institutional commonsense in Pakistan, in stark contrast to the barbarism and primitive feudal order represented by Musharraf and his allies.

By making this award we also again emphasise that the international community is obliged to support the people of Pakistan at a time that they are faced with the very real threat of being subjected to the sole authority of a merciless and self-interested executive authority. We call upon others to join with us in open expression of support for these lawyers and their struggle.

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ABOUT THE ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER AWARD

The Asian Human Rights Commission recognises that human rights and liberties are expanded most by persons willing to make a sacrifice in the defence of these principles. Society is obliged to recognise and honour such sacrifices. For these reasons it has chosen to present awards to human rights defenders at opportune moments. Nominees must be exemplary human rights defenders with whom--or on behalf of whom--the AHRC has worked intensely over some time, and for whom the symbolic act of receiving the award will be significant. Nominations may be submitted to the AHRC executive director by anyone, at any time. The Board of Directors reserves the exclusive right to accept or reject any nomination.

The inaugural AHRC Human Rights Defender Award was presented to Michael Anthony Fernando in 2003, in recognition of his struggle for basic freedoms in Sri Lanka. Fernando served a nine-month jail term for contempt of court arising from a fundamental rights case in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. He was jailed because of his determination to uphold principles of liberty with an uncommon sense of courage, seriousness and self-sacrifice. The UN Human Rights Committee ultimately held that his imprisonment was a violation of his rights under international law. See further: http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/tonyfernando.

The second Human Rights Defenders Award was made posthumously to Somchai Neelaphaijit, a lawyer from Thailand, for his work on behalf of torture victims as a result of which he was abducted and forcibly disappeared by a group of police officers who have never been punished. The award was made in recognition both of his work as well as the emerging movement in Thailand, led by Somchai's wife, Angkhana, to acknowledge and establish a system of accountability relating to disappearances in Thailand. See further: http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/somchai.

Canadian, Dutch and Hong Kong lawyers conclude that Emergency Measures are illegitimate

A Joint Statement by the Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) , the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation (L4L) and the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC)

Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation (L4L) call for:

The immediate unconditional release of all jurists arrested under preventative detention measures, including: Aitzaz Ahsan, President of the Supreme Court Bar; Chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhry, removed from office by the Musharraf regime; Ali Ahmed Kurd; Justice (retired) Tariq Mahmood and others.

Strict adherence by the State and state officials to all Pakistan laws in force prior to November 3, 2007 and to applicable international standards protecting the independence of lawyers and judges including those embodied in the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyersand the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary.

Strict adherence by the State and state officials to all Pakistan laws and to applicable international standards governing the humane treatment of prisoners, including the universal non-derogable prohibition against torture and denial of due process;

The immediate re-instatement of and adherence to the Constitution of the Republic or Pakistan and The rescission of all laws that came into force under the authority of the Proclamation of Emergency Declaration of November 3, 2007, the Provisional Constitutional Order No. 1 of 2007 and the Oath of Offices (Judges) Order, 2007 Reinstatement, prior to elections, of all judges removed from office subsequent to the Emergency Declaration and removal from office of judges appointed in their stead on conditions that are reasonable fair.

Judicial Independence

Judicial independence in Pakistan was effectively destroyed by recent measures taken by the Musharraf regime. The resulting absence of an independent judiciary violates the fundamental duty, accepted as jus cogens and binding on Pakistan, to afford at all times, including during legitimate states of emergency, "all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples."

The non-derogability of judicial independence is a requirement of common sense and is also the foundation of all international and domestic human rights and humanitarian law and is secured by many instruments including all four Geneva Conventions, (common article 3), Protocols I and II to the Geneva Conventions, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Basic Principles on the Role of Judges )

Without an independent judiciary, there can be neither free and fair elections nor trials in Pakistan. The thousands of charges laid in the aftermath of the murder of Benazir Bhutto cannot be lawfully determined unless and until judges removed in November are reinstated and proper safeguards of their independence are recognized by the government of Pakistan. Proclamation of Emergency fails to meet UN legitimacy test and violates the law LRWC, the ALRC and L4L reiterate earlier statements (November 5th, 6th, 13th, 26th and 29th) condemning as a violations of both Pakistan law and of international laws and standards binding on Pakistan:

a) the suspension of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; and,

b) the Proclamation of Emergency of November 3, 2007; and,

c) the Provisional Constitutional Order No. 1 of 2007; and,

d) the Oath of Offices (Judges) Order, 2007; and,

e) the arrest, detention and removal from office of jurists suspected of opposing violations of the law by the Musharraf regime.

To be lawful and legitimate the imposition, duration and removal of emergency measures by Pakistan or any other state, must meet the 10-principle test of the United Nations standards. The Proclamation of Emergency of November 3, 2007 fails to meet all 10 of the UN criteria for legitimate emergency measures: the emergency measures declared in Pakistan on November 3, 2007 fails to meet the tests regarding legality, proclamation, notification, time limitation, existence of exceptional threat, proportionality, non-discrimination, compatibility, concordance and complementarity with international law and preservation of non-derogable rights.

Access to judicial safeguards of non-derogable rights remains an absolute requirement during emergency measures. Actions that compromise or destroy judicial independence, such as those taken by the Musharraf regime, render even emergency measures that meet UN standards, illegal. LRWC, the ALRC and L4L therefore take the position that all laws brought into force and all state actions taken in reliance on the legitimacy of the Proclamation of Emergency of November 3, 2007 must be considered as enacted and done without legal authority and therefore as null and the appropriate remedies must be taken to restore the law and redress violations.

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Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) is a committee of Canadian lawyers who promote human rights and the rule of law internationally by providing support to lawyers and other human rights defenders in danger because of their advocacy. LRWC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Earlier LRWC statements on Pakistan: www.lrwc.org/pub1.php

The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) is a Hong Kong-based NGO with General Consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The ALRC was founded in 1986 by a prominent group of jurists and human rights activists in Asia and is committed to the development of legal self-reliance and the empowerment of people. The Centre promotes the respect of human rights in the region through the strengthening of institutions of the rule of law, notably the police, prosecution and judiciary. It also seeks to strengthen and encourage positive action on legal and human rights issues by the bar and other legal bodies and personnel, at the local and national levels and to promote rights in the region through advocacy, research and publications, such as Article 2.

The Dutch Lawyers For Lawyers Foundation (L4L)('Stichting Advocaten voor Advocaten') is committed to enable lawyers, throughout the world, to practice law without improper interference and to this end, supports lawyers who are under threat or attack in the exercise of their profession while working for the protection of human rights. L4L, established in co-operation with the Dutch Bar Association, the Dutch affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists, and the Dutch Institute of Human Rights, regularly reports on the situation of human rights lawyers.

CONTACTS

Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, www.lrwc.org; lrwc@portal.ca; +1 604 738 0338

Asian Legal Resource Centre, Mr. Basil Fernando, Executive Director, Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339, alrc@alrc.net; www.alrc.net

The Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation, Ms. Judith Lichtenberg; +31 (0)6 11 30 6378, info@advocatenvooradvocaten.nl; http://www.advocatenvooradvocaten.nl

Massive anti-Musharraf protest in London

A massive protest is being planned against Musharraf in UK. All concerned, students, lawyers, civil societies, political party workers, etc. are invited to come to this protest. If you are in or around London on the 28th, please try to come. The plan is to bring people from all backgrounds holding the flags of their political parties or the flag of Pakistan in case you don't support any political party to represent the much united resistance movement against Musharraf. Please circulate this mail widely. As with any protest, numbers matter!

JOIN ASMA JEHANGIR, IMRAN KHAN, JEMIMA KHAN, PTI, PML-N, PPP, OTHERS AT DEMO OUTSIDE DOWNING STREET .

DEMO TO RESTORE JUDICIARY AND THE CONSTITUTION

RELEASE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS

FREE THE MEDIA

HOLD FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONSON

Date: Monday January 28th 2008

Time: 11.30 AM

Location: 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA

Tube: Westminister Station

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT : KHWAJA IMTIAZ 07886318577, SHAHID DASTGIR 07939114451 OR RABIA 07515 549541

CCP Convention in LUMS - account

The convention organized was an immense success. So many people showed up that we did not have seating place. Many were standing around or sitting on the floor or stairs in the auditorium. The next convention therefore will be organized in an even bigger hall. The attendance was over 200 people.

The convention began by Hamid Zaman addressing the audience and introducing the host, Talat Hussain. Following that, the panelist began by giving their viewpoint on the matter of the restoration of the judiciary. Retired Justice Fakhrunnisa from PPP and Ahsan Iqbal from PML-N both promised their party's commitment to the cause of the people. Retired Justice Fakhrunnisa declared her commitment to the struggle for the restoration of the judiciary, and stressed that after elections her party will do all in their power to get the judiciary restored. She said Benazir gave her life for the struggle of democracy, and democracy is not possible without the restoration of the judiciary. Hence, PPP will first and foremost work towards that.

Mr. Ahsan Iqbal declared the recent mobilization of the civil society and students as nothing less than marvelous. He said that throughout history, countries have survived poverty, hunger, illiteracy etc but never has any country survived without justice. He said that the lack of justive effects the poor and the middle classes the most, as they are unable to shield themselves from those with power. He declared that today, the civil society and the students have stepped forward to become that shield. He pointed to the historic nexus between the judge, the general and the Jageerdar and said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, a judge dared defy this nexus and give hope to the desolute and oppressed masses. He said that Nawaz Sharif himself will administer an oath to ALL party nominees in front of the Public. This oath will profess the utmost commitment of each to the restoration of the judiciary and the constitution. He said that Pervaiz Musharraf insulted 160 million people in his address in Europe when he declared Pakistanis as undeserving of democracy, and that Pakistanis deserve it as much as any other country. He declared Musharraf as obsessed with power.

Mr. Hamid Khan, representing Mr. Tariq Hassan in the convention, began by historicizing the lawyer's movement. That it had begun since the first coup by Musharraf. He strongly denounced any system of which Musharraf was a part of, and added that when Benazir made a deal with Musharraf, it was a most painful moment in the lawyer's movement. He blamed this deal for the fact that Musharraf was able to remain on his seat post March 9. He therefore also denounced the current elections taking place under Musharraf's biased government. He also said that had all the parties boycotted elections from the beginning Musharraf would have been unable to retain any power and that Political parties should have only contested elections on the condition that Musharraf resign.

Dr. Parvaiz Hassan, representing Mr. Tariq Hassan in the convention, said that the so-called deposed judges are not under the law deposed. They are still legally the judges. He declared that the only solution to the problem of the repeated coups by the military is via recourse to the article 6 of the constitution. He said that Musharraf should be tried before the courts (once the judges have been reinstated de facto) for high treason. He also said that not only Musharraf but the PCO judges should also be held accountable. He stressed that unless this process of accountability begins in the country, there is no hope.

Mr. Ahsan rasheed representing PTI, stressed that these elctions are neither free nor fair. He emphasized the principled stance of his party in this regard. He said that his party now had an expanded electoral base, and stood to win many more seats, but purely on principles has decided to boycott the elections. He said that Imran Khan was offered to become part of the Musharraf government previously as well, but had refused each time.

The talk was very charged with emotions. A lot of people denounced Musharraf. Many also said that we will now hold the political parties equally accountable. PML-N and PPP were also questioned on judicial independence during their terms in power. Retd Justice Fakhrunnisa responded by saying that her party never deposed any judges. And Mr. Iqbal said that Nawaz Sharif was the first Prime Minister of Pakistan to ever present himself in front of the court. He, however, also stated that his party has learned from their past mistakes and was willing to improve hand in hand with the people. This was appreciated by many from the civil society that at least an acceptance and willingness to improve has been expressed. The general consensus of the convention was that Musharraf must immediately resign, that no power sharing agreement with him was acceptable and that the judiciary must be restored. PPP was also asked to give an official firm stance on the issue of the judiciary and to administer a similar oath as the PML-N. All politicians were asked to give an oath that if they are unable to restore the judiciary they will resign from politics.

Social Movements Assembly in Karachi

Network for Women's Rights and National Organization for Working Communities are jointly organizing a Social Movements Assembly for solidarity among the deprived and marginalized communities "to act together-to change the world for better" on Saturday, the 26th of January, at Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi .

The topic of the assembly is The Social Movements for Rights and Justice in Pakistan: Need, Problems and Prospects. You are cordially invited to participate fully in the assembly.

Regards,

Farhat Parveen and Nigar Barkat

Registration 9:00am to 9:30am

First Session Part I 9:30-11:30

Guest of Honour: Justice (retired) Majida Razvi

Chair: Kaisar Bengali

Aims and Objectives of the Assembly Farhat Parveen

Introduction of Network for Women's Rights Nigar Barkat

Introduction of National Organisaiton for Working Communities Mir Zulfiqar Ali

Political Situation in Country Saleha Athar

Presentations of Movements

Urban Labour Movement Ghulam Mehoob

Peasants Movement Aqila Naz

Fisher Folk movement Tahira Muhammad Ali Shah

Minorities Movement Joe Paul

Tea Break 11:30-11:45

First Session Part II 11:45-12:30

Chair: Anis Haroon

Guest of Honour: Noor Naz Agha

Writers movement Zahida Hina

Teachers/lecturers movement Dr.Riaz Ahmed

Student movement Gul Hassan Jakhrani-

First Session Part III 12:30PM-1:15PM

Chair: Justice (R) Wajeehuddin

Guest of Honour: Shameem-ur-Rehaman

Journalists' movements Ehfaz ur-Rahman

Lawyers and judges Movement Justice (retd) Rasheed Rizvi

Doctors Movement Dr. Shershah Syed

Lunch Break 1:15-2:15

Second Session: Group discussions 2:15-3:00pm

Group Discussion among all representatives of different social movements Presentations from all groups. 1hour

Third Session: Work plan by joint working group 3:00pm-4:15pm

Concluding Remarks by I.A. Rahman 4:15-pm-4:30pm

Vote of Thanks Mehtab Akbar Rashidi

Rally for Peace and Democracy

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).