"Restoration of Judges and Democracy" convention at LUMS

By: SAC Correspondent

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, 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.

Mr. 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.

(Although video of this event will be televised in an episode of 'Live with Talat', on Aaj TV, but we will also post here the UN-CENSORED videos of the event, in a couple of days)

‘Cleaning up the mess’

Pakistan military retreats from Musharraf’s influence

By Tim Johnson, McClatchy

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — As President Pervez Musharraf grows more unpopular in Pakistan , his newly named successor as army chief is seeking to distance the institution from the Musharraf regime and pull back its virtual occupation of the top senior ranks of civilian ministries and state corporations.

Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani , who was named to the top military job in late November, took two steps this week. First, he barred all senior military officers from meeting directly with Musharraf without prior approval and prohibited officers from having any direct involvement in politics. Second, he recalled many army officers from civilian job assignments.

India launches Israeli satellite

BANGALORE, India (AFP) — India successfully launched an Israeli spy satellite into orbit in a boost to the South Asian nation's efforts to win a share of the multi-billion-dollar space launch market.

You can read the full story here but the point is, both the countries (Pakistan and India) established on 1947, infact India established on 1947 whereas on the other side establishment established instead of Pakistan.

Now a days we do have enough electricity (for the president house), enough gas (for the president house), enough wheat (offcourse for the president house), enough cycles (in the president house), enough LOTAS (in the president house) ... so what if India has launched a spy satellite ? We are ahead of them. GEO Musharraf !!!

Asma Jahangir on ECL !!!

Source: Dawn

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asma Jehangir was briefly stopped from travelling abroad by the immigration staff at Allama Iqbal International Airport on Saturday morning.

Asma was taking an Emirates flight to Dubai at the start of a UN mission. She was told that she could not board the plane because her name was on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Taken aback by the information, the HRCP chairperson was further surprised by the ‘disclosure’ that her name was on the ECL since November 2007.

When Asma said she had travelled abroad several times since November, the airport staff held consultations with their superiors and finally allowed her to fly out of the country.

“Perhaps I was put on the ECL - like Munir A Malik when we were placed under house arrest (by the authorities) to protect Pakistan from terrorists and nobody bothered to revise the list,”  Asma later told Dawn.

Imran wants re-look of US' Pak policy

Imran Khan, is arriving in the US this week on a week-long tour to ''urge'' powerful lawmakers and influential policymakers to have a serious re-look at the US' Pakistan policy. He would also brief them about his assessment of the ground realities in Pakistan, specially the North West Frontier Province. This is the first visit of a major Pakistani politician after the assassination of the former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto last month. During the first few days of his visit beginning January 22, Imran Khan, head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, would be spending time at the Capitol Hill meeting some of the key Congressmen including Senate Majority Leader, Henry Reid, and policymakers. Organizers of his schedule in Washington said Imran Khan would also meet members of several key Congressional committees, which play an important role in formulating US policy towards Pakistan, in both Chambers - the Foreign Relations Committee and the Armed Services Committee. ''They need to know the ground realities. Up till now the only input they have got on the ground realities is either from the (Bush) Administration or from the Government of Pakistan, both of whom have given them (lawmakers and policymakers) wrong information. Look where we are today, a real crazy situation,'' Ali Zaid, International Co-ordinator of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, told NDTV in an interview on the eve of his arrival. ''We are going to tell them that the United States needs to reevaluate and re-look at the way this administration deals with Pakistan,'' he added. However, Khan has indicated he would prefer not to meet any official from the Bush Administration, as he blames (its) policies have been mainly responsible for the sharp rise in extremism and militancy in his country. ''Imran Khan has no meeting with anybody in Bush Administration. This Administration is on its way out. They have just got seven-eight months. Instead we are meeting the lawmakers and policymakers who advise the administration on what to do,'' said Zaidi, who spends his time between California, Dubai and Karachi. Zaidi said during his meetings, Khan would urge the Administration to ask Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to have a policy of ''engaging'' the people of NWFP and not ''bombing'' them. ''You do not need to have peace talks with the extremist. But you need to have the people of the area engaged in a dialogue. By collateral damage, you are actually creating more extremism. This is not the way to fight the war on terror,'' Zaidi further said sharing the views of his party leader. ''You need to befriend them and invest in them. You can't earn peace by bombing them. This would be his message,'' he said. Khan would also be articulating his views at various other meetings - think tanks, universities and also with Pakistani expatriates. He is scheduled to address meetings at the prestigious American University, Columbia University and Center for Strategic and International Studies, one of the biggest think tank on the Hill. He would also address a breakfast meeting of Asia Society in New York. At least two large meetings with the expatriate Pakistani community have been organized in New York and New Jersey. Source: NDTV

Pakistan ka waqar buland!!

we must be proud of mush's policies... we shld not oppose them since v have to 'move forward' after all.

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Last Night before Karbala

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.

New World Order and Education

This article is about negative changes in education that cannot be explained by any competent, professional justification. Although reasons are being given to rationalize them, a quick summary of these changes, shown in a larger political context, is alarming. The fact that all of them started after the collapse of the Soviet Union and all point in one direction indicates deliberate sabotage.By Lech Biegalski

For further interesting reading:-junyDada: New World Order and Education

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Eviction Notice to Gen. (r) Musharraf

This is the parody of the actual notice geven to the dhief justice of Pakistan to vacte his official residence.

Guess the country

Source: Dawn

Have a look at the pics n guess the country in comments section....


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