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Pakistan Elections 2013:Vote for Change, Vote for PTI and Vote for Bat!
Some random comments on these elections
Need Change: Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are two big symbols of this political system. People need tos ee who is sticking with them as allies and who is taking a stand against them. People need to come out for a change and vote for Naya Pakistan and Vote4PTI. Reject these NRO and IJI-2(10 Party alliance) gangs.
People standing up above their prejudices: I am glad that some of my strongly religious friends who belonged to Shia sect are now not following Sajid Naqvi and others who are supporting PPP and MQM but they are now supporting PTI. Similarly some of my Deobandi friends have stopped blindly following their brand of sectarianism and instead of following Fazl ur Rehman type, they will now give votes to PTI. Similar is the case with some Barelvi friends. This is change as its not just feudalism and extortion mafias which are exploiting people. These fake fatwa factories are also exploiting the sectarian diversity and using it to strengthen their political and financial positions. In sha Allah PTI will get the chance and deliver good for the people and the country.
For Karachi: If someone can solve two major issues of Karach then its IK only. Two major problems of Karachi are:
a) Bring peace
b) Local bodies elections and decentralization of power
Military operations by PPP and PMLN governments were the reasons behind the start of ethnic violence as it provided more sympathies to MQM. ANP,PPP and MQM are major responsible of recent mess in Karachi. PMLN was ally of PPP in center when PPP took power in 2008 and they remained allies for a long time in Punjab. Bot PPP and PMLN avoided local bodies elections in last 5 years so one can get the idea what Karachiites should do?
MQM and JI are not major parties and they only work as proxies of PPP and PMLN respectively. PTI will be in a position to take independent position on the issues.
For IK haters: The thing is simple, whatever IK does and whatever social class background he has, he stands up above his social class prejudices of Mr/Mullah, Shia/Sunni,Muslim/Non-muslim or ethnic ones and supports justice and prosperity for all. This thing is lacking in so called religious and so called liberals of Pakistan a lot.
Comment on IK’s speech in grand finale of PTI 2013 election campaign: I am glad that Imran Khan thanked people from all school of thoughts for praying for his health. Apart from many other reasons, I support Imran Khan mainly because he stands up above from his sectarian and social class prejudices and works for justice for all whether shia or sunni, whether muslim or non-muslim, mr or mullah, poor or rich and treats them like human beings. This is something which is lacking in fake liberal and fake religious parties.
My vote is for Justice and My vote is for BAT!
SC orders to public Lal Masjid Commission report
Supreme Court has ordered to public lal masjid commission report and told the government to give it to anyone requesting for it. In the report the commission has put the blame of innocent loss of lives on General (R) Pervaiz Musharraf and his team at that time including former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
There were some issues in the report which are still a subject of great like the body count and who died. Reportedly, according to the commission report some 103 people were killed in the operation including 92 civilians and 11 security personnel. They also said that no woman was killed in the operation.
However, according to several accounts from lal masjid students, prominent journalists and religious leaders, there were much casualties including women and children. Those who were killed, also allegedly included mother of Abdur Rasheed Ghazi and Abdul Aziz.
Before jumping on any conclusion, we need to take this report very carefully and in full context.
There are two parts of the issue:
a) circumstances in which the operation happened:
The commission interviewed people involved in negotiations and from establishment. based on that they put the blame on government for unnecessary loss of innocent lives. they have recommended DIYAT for the victims and also mentioned that they can go for QISAS as well.
b) ground evidence and number count of bodies and who died:
They had to rely on people sitting in ISI, MI or IB to get ground intelligence on that.
A good thing Supreme Court has done is that they have told the government to make the report public and so it will be a good chance for victim families and supporters to come forward and challenge the given figures based on possible lies of ISI, IB and MI or other govt. agencies. We need to know that most of the relevant ground evidence was destroyed by Army when they shut down the area.
Musharraf’s party urges army to intervene: Another test case of Pakistani civil society
It seems Musharraf’s gang is doing what is expected from them. They are willing to risk the whole country to save former military dictator, General (R) Musharraf. According to media reports, his crony and former DG ISPR General (R) Rashid Qureshi has urged army to intervene for protecting the former Pentagon pet dictator.
If army intervenes then the next Long March and Dharna should be at GHQ where the real evil resides. We support Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary and Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Insha Allah all the efforts and plans of these evil criminal minded satans will fail as Allah is the best of planners not them.
I think APML should be called as Anti-Pakistan Musharraf League instead of All Pakistan Muslim League.
Last straw?: APML urges army to intervene (Express Tribune)
Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/538080/last-straw-apml-urges-army-to-intervene/
“Top military leadership will come into action [as an ex-general is being denied justice],” Major General (Retd) Rashid Qureshi, a close friend of the former president told The Express Tribune.
The Islamabad High Court on Thursday cancelled Musharraf’s bail application in the judges’ detention case and ordered his arrest. On Friday, the former president was transferred from his Chak Shahzad farmhouse to Islamabad Police Headquarters.
“Enough is enough. Judicial activism will not be tolerated anymore,” General Qureshi said, adding Musharraf will continue to face courts until he gets justice.
“We will fight legally, morally and politically against injustice in Pakistan.” Read more
Great decision by Islamabad High Court to arrest former dictator General (Retarded) Pervaiz Musharraf
Great decision by Islamabad High Court to arrest former dictator General (Retarded) Pervaiz Musharraf. I hope things will go better in missing persons case and other cases of human rights violations. Its now a test for caretaker government to pursue high treason case against Musharraf.
Islamabad High Court orders Pervez Musharraf’s arrest (Geo TV)
Source: http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=97293
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has ordered the arrest of Pakistan’s former president, General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
Pervez Musharraf appeared before the Islamabad High Court on Thursday to seek a bail extension in the judges’ confinement case, however his plea was dismissed. During proceedings of the case, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui remarked that Musharraf was accused of destroying the judicial system. The court ordered that the charge of terrorism be added in the case.
Pervez Musharraf immediately left the court and drove to his farmhouse in Chak Shahzad escorted by his security personnel. Police are guarding the main gate of Pervez Musharraf’s farmhouse and have blocked off access to the street.
IHC ISSUES DETAILED ORDER
The Islamabad High Court has issued its detailed order regarding the rejection of Pervez Musharraf’s bail extension.
The court has taken notice of Musharraf’s fleeing from the court premises and summoned Inspector General Police Islamabad. The court said that Musharraf’s fleeing was a separate crime.
The IG Islamabad has been asked to explain what measures have been taken regarding the arrest of Musharraf and what action will be taken against those officers who failed to arrest him from the court’s premises.
PRE-ARREST BAIL NOT SUBMITTED
Musharraf’s lawyers could not submit a pre-arrest bail petition against his arrest orders by the Islamabad High Court in the Judges’ confinement case on Thursday. The petition could not be submitted as the court’s hours of operation had expired.
Pervez Musharraf’s lawyer Advocate Ibrahim Satti said the advocate on-record had taken the petition to the Supreme Court but could not submit it as the court’s working hours had expired.
Satti added that the Registrar Supreme Court and Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry were attending the full court meeting and petition will be filed in the Supreme Court on Friday.
APML RESPONSE
“Former President Musharraf earlier today appeared in Islamabad High Court in a procedural matter to seek extension in his transitory bail, which was due to expire today, April 18, 2013. The Judge, in an unprecedented move, took an unwarranted decision to reject the extension request.
The augmented State Security Apparatus assigned to President Musharraf in the face of specific and credible physical threats to his life by the enemies of Pakistan escorted the Former President to his home in Islamabad.
The Former President is filing an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against this ill-conceived decision of Islamabad High Court. We expect this unwarranted judicial activism, motivated by personal vendettas since his return to Pakistan to participate in the upcoming elections, will cease and the Supreme Court, without prejudice, will immediately grant necessary relief following precedence and the Rule of Law; the absence of which will cause mockery of the nation, can result in unnecessary tension amongst the various pillars of State and possibly destabilize the country.”
BACKGROUND
The judges’ confinement case stems from the detainment of several top judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry during the imposition of emergency by the former president in Pakistan on November 3, 2007.
Pervez Musharraf returned to Pakistan to contest general elections last month. His nomination papers from four constituencies were rejected by Election Tribunals earlier this week.
Musharraf is also accused in the Benzair Bhutto murder case and was granted interim bail till April 24 by the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench.
Lal Masjid Operation–> Hamid Mir article in Jang
Another good article by Hamid Mir on how establishment under Musharraf created this mess of terrorism and sectarian violence in Pakistan. My view on the issues are:
General Musharraf, Army and other pro-war lobbies used sectarian and social class differences in the society to forward their war agenda. Before 2005-06, there wasn’t much support for this fake war on terror but after that time they worked
on sectarian and social-class lines to create acceptability for this war. 2007 Lal-Masjid operation was in those same lines. The other thing they did was to exploit ethnic differences to strengthen his rule and MQM/PPP/ANP assisted 12 May 2007 was part of that policy. These things may have helped Musharraf in his war agenda or temporarily strengthening his rule but this has put Pakistan into a self-destructing mode.
Below is the article by Hamid Mir on Lal Masjid Operation. published in Jang:
May Allah give justice to the victims of this barbaric action by state institutions and give strength to the judges of Supreme Court to deliver justice without any fear. We also need to make state institutions clean from these evil minds who plot these evil things against the country and its people.
Religious events, security and shutting down of businesses and services
For past few months, government has adopted the stupid method of shutting down cellular phone services along with all the businesses for religious events. These policies are apparently supported by some religious groups.
This madness and policy of fear and control should stop.Our economy is already crashed due to this bogus war and now the affects of this bogus war are furthering coming to our throats.
Why everyone has to shut down their businesses? I think these so called special days have become more of a competition to show strength. This is not only for Muharram but also for whatever Sunnis do when they observe “their days” and not forget that belief has become a slave of days, mob strength, chanting slogans or doing fun mela or crying out loud in group.
Spirituality doesn’t require to block MA Jinnah road or other business centers, a spiritual event can be observed by keeping in mind the sufferings of others. One other example is the AIHTRAM E RAMADAN ORDINANCE in which people who are not fasting are also forced to observe partial fast and food businesses are forced to close just because other people are observing fast. In this case again the spirit of a ritual is undermined and irrational behavior towards religion is evident. If the spirit of fasting is to be patient and tolerant then why people cannot show patience towards others who are not fasting or why people cannot control their hunger if others are eating in front of them.
For many of us religion has become an exercise of MANANA (celebrate), SAJANA(decorate) AND RAJJ KAI KHANA(eating a lot). Element of learning has gone. But still as I said earlier, I don’t have a problem whatever people follow or observe but it should be done in a way that businesses and lives of others don’t get disturbed.
If people require businesses and other activities to be stopped to provide a sense of security for religious processions or mosques then its better for them to stay at home and pray there. I will favor the closure of mosques if people in the mosque require shutting down of businesses around them so that they can feel safe while praying. its better for people to pray at home who are too much worried about security. mosques or processions which do not require closure of businesses do not come under that and people who focus more on prayers than showing off strength by closing businesses of others should do as they do.
Shame on Israelis who are murdering children in Gaza and also shame on pro-zionist people who support Israeli government
Recent attack on Gaza by Israel is another example of how this global system based on hypocrisy and lies works. According to reports several people have lost their lives including women, old and children. Response from the so called champions of freedom and human rights is as usual just some formal lip service and nothing else. Not only the response lack the required condemnation to Israel but it was in a way supporting to Israel.
According to media reports, the administration of Nobel Peace Prize Winner USA President Barrack Obama (famous for his drones policy) has said that they recognize the right of Israel to defend itself as if the Israeli attack is about defending itself. On the other hand some of the Zionist lobby members in media are only focusing on some rockets fired by Hamas in response to Israeli heavy artillery and aerial bombing on civilian populations.
Its time for freedom and justice loving people of the world to raise their voice and take some practical measures to stop this holocaust and apartheid of Palestinian population by Israeli terrorist forces. It seem Israel, even after forming a so called state, is still sticking to its stern gang roots.
We condemned Israeli racist war against Palestinians and condemned the actions of these 21st century Nazis of Israel.
Israelis need to realize that if they want any kind of acceptance in the region then they have to stop mass murdering people and end this apartheid of Palestinians.
A good message for Israelis by a Jewish MP of UK parliament:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMGuYjt6CP8
Waziristan Peace March –> A great move by PTI
I think its a real good step towards coming out of this war. This war has taken every piece of dignity and pride from many people who have any sense of justice, freedom and respect for human rights. This was never our war like that so called cold war thing was not ours. But in both cases Pakistan’s leadership presented itself as mercenaries for other countries and as a result Pakistan and its people faced worst situations of their history. Many people who wouldn’t ve normally thought about leaving the country were made to leave the country not because of the hardships but because of the shame and hopelessness of not being able to stop it. I really feel bad when so called “our” army bombs villages just because they have to please their imperialist master or some idiot in GHQ thinks that violating agreements with tribes will achieve some geo-strategic goals.
For once, true liberals and people who believe in freedom, justice and self-respect should come out against these violations of human rights and this whole damn war. Pakistan was doing great in first 2-3 decades before it fully committed to the cause of serving imperialism and its military junta started to serve as mercenaries for others. Industries, Universities etc all were in good shape and in fact before this current war 90s wasn’t even that bad despite corruption. But this war has broken the backbone of the country and now even thinking about hope seems to be a delusion.
Only ignorant people or people with deep rooted sectarian and social class prejudices will oppose this peace march towards Waziristan. People who are doing this march for peace and justice should continue with their great work and ignore these sectarian and social class fascists (or fake liberals) who have put us in this mess of war. Tribal areas became part of Pakistan through some agreements and it was Pakistan Army which violated these agreements. Technically tribal people have full right to demand freedom but at least they have not yet gone for this option.
I pray for the safety and success for the participants of this Peace March and inshaAllah it will be a great success.
PTI’s Waziristan Peace March on 7th October 2012
PTI has scheduled a peace march to Waziristan. Waziristan has been a target of unjust and illegal drone attacks from USA (supported by Pakistani government and army) and military operations.
People of the area are living in misery for last decade due to this unwanted and imported war which only serves the purpose of greedy ruling elite and their foreign masters. It is good to see that media and human rights organizations have shown their interest in joining this cause for peace and justice.
Pakistani military establishment and government are trying their best to sabotage the peace march and so the peace process in order to ensure that the interests of their foreign masters remain in tact. Denying visas and issuing threat warnings are attempts to demoralize people who want to serve this cause for justice. It is a high time for all peace and justice loving people to come forward and help this peace initiative in whatever way they can.
We support PTI’s Waziristan Peace March on 7th October 2012 and pray for their success and safety.
Some positive development in Rimshah Masih Case–> Pakistani religious leaders coming forward to support her
A good surprising situation has emerged out of the disturbing case of Rimshah Masih that finally religious leaders in Pakistan have come forward to support the poor girl in her case. Below is the news item from Guardian discussing the case:
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Pakistani Muslim leaders support Christian girl accused of blasphemy
Unprecedented move comes after 11-year-old thought to have Down’s syndrome charged with desecrating the Qur’an
Islamic leaders in Pakistan on Monday came out in support of a Christian girl with learning difficulties who is being held in prison, in an unprecedented public denunciation of the blasphemy law by hard-line mullahs.
The All Pakistan Ulema Council, an umbrella group of Muslim clerics and scholars, which includes representatives from fundamentalist groups, joined hands with the Pakistan Interfaith League, which includes Christians, Sikhs and other religions, to call for justice for the girl, Rimsha, who is accused of blasphemy. They also demanded that those making false allegations be punished.
