Speak our language and get isolated: PPP leadership being misled by Pakistan army’s Sherry Rehman Lobby
Mr. President, We know who really calls the shots in Pakistan.
Related post: Restoration of NATO supplies: Let’s blame Zardari and Gilani!
Obama should apologise for Salala: Bilawal
NEW YORK: Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Tuesday that he was visiting America to normalise the ties between United States and Pakistan but added that US President Barack Obama should apologise to Pakistan for the attack on the Salala check post, DawnNews reported.
Speaking at a gathering in New York, Bilawal said that drone attacks were a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
The US has still not apologised to the government and citizens of Pakistan over the Salala attack, he said.
Bilawal said Obama should apologise to the people of Pakistan over the attack on the check post. He moreover said that Pakistan-US relations were at a critical juncture.
Source: Dawn
پاکستان کے صدر آصف علی زرداری کو سرد مہری کا سامنا رہا
امریکہ کے شہر شکاگو میں نیٹو سربراہ اجلاس کے موقعے پر نیٹو سپلائی کی بحالی کا معاملہ امریکی میڈیا کا نمایاں موضوع بنا ہوا ہے۔ امریکی اخبارات نے اس خبر کو نمایاں جگہ دی کہ صدر براک اوباما کی طرف سے پاکستان کے صدر آصف علی زرداری سے ملاقات ان کی مصروفیات کا حصہ ہی نہیں۔
کانفرس میں جہاں افغانستان کے صدر حامد کرزئی کو خاصی پذیرائی ملی وہیں نیٹو کی دعوت پر شرکت کرنے والے پاکستان کے صدر آصف علی زرداری کو سرد مہری کا سامنا رہا اور اس بات کا امریکی میڈیا نے باقائدہ تذکرہ بھی کیا ہے۔
امریکی اخبار نیویارک ٹائمز نے اپنے صحفہ اول کی خبر میں یہاں تک دعویٰ کیا کہ صدر براک اوباما نے صدر آصف علی زرداری سے ملنے سے ہی انکار کر دیا ہے اور اب وہ خالی ہاتھ واپس جائیں گے۔ خیال رہے کہ نیٹو اجلاس کے دوسرے روز صدر اوباما نے غیر رسمی طور پر صدر زرداری سے مختصر ملاقات کی۔
نیٹو اجلاس کی رپورٹنگ کرنے والے پاکستانی صحافیوں کے مطابق بھی اجلاس میں افغانستان کی زبردست پذیرائی ہوئی اور صدر زرداری کے ساتھ سرد مہری بہت نمایاں اور محسوس ہونے والی چيز تھی۔
اخبار شکاگو ٹربیون کے مطابق اجلاس میں ایساف کی مدد کرنے پر وسطیٰ ایشیائی ریاستوں اور روس کا بھی شکریہ ادا کیا گیا لیکن پاکستان کا قابل ذکر حد تک کوئی ذکر نہیں کیا گیا۔
اخبار نے مزید لکھا کہ صدر باراک اوباما کی طرف سے وسطیٰ ایشیائي ریاستوں اور روس کا شکریہ ادا کرتے ہوئے پاکستان کے صدر آصف علی زرداری جو کانفرنس کی اسی گول میز پر ہی اپنی نشت پر براجمان تھے، صدر باراک اوباما کو انہماک سے دیکھتے رہے۔
امریکی اخبار لاس اینجلس ٹائمز نے اپنی ایک رپورٹ میں نمایاں سرخی لگائي کہ’نیٹو کانفرنس میں سربراہان کا گرمجوشی سے استقبال لیکن پاکستان نہیں۔‘
اخبار نے اسی رپورٹ میں امریکی حکام کے حوالے سے دعویٰ کیا کہ صدر اوباما صدر آصف زرداری سے ملاقات نہیں کریں گے کیونکہ امریکی حکام پاکستان کی طرف سے نیٹو سپلائي کی بحالی پر انکار سے سخت ناراض ہیں۔
Source: BBC
’سلالہ حملے پر پاکستان سےمعافی مانگی جائے‘
آخری وقت اشاعت: منگل 22 مئ
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئر پرسن بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے امریکہ سے مطالبہ کیا ہے کہ وہ نیٹو کی جانب سے مبینہ طور پر سلالہ فوجی چوکی حملے پر پاکستان سے معافی مانگے۔
یہ بات پاکستان کی حکمران پارٹی پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے نوجوان سربراہ نے پیر کو نیویارک کے علاقے لانگ آئیلینڈ میں اپنی پارٹی کے کارکنوں اور بعد میں پاکستانی پریس سے خطاب کے دوران کہی۔
ٰنیو یارک میں بی بی سی کے نامہ نگار حسن مجتبی کے مطابق بلاول بھٹو نے کہا کہ دہشتگردی کے خلاف جنگ ميں پاکستان نے بڑی قربانیاں دی ہیں جن میں پاکستان کے تیس ہزار شہری اور چھ ہزار فوجیوں اور دیگر اہلکاروں کی جانیں دہشتگردی کا شکار ہوئی ہیں۔
ایک سوال کے جواب میں انہوں نے کہا کہ اب پاکستان کو نہیں بلکہ امریکہ کو ’ڈو مور‘ کہنے کی ضرورت ہے۔
واضح رہے کہ بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے یہ سب ایک ایسے وقت کہا ہے کہ جب انکے والد اور پاکستان کے صدر آصف علی زرداری شکاگو میں نیٹو کانفرنس میں شرکت کے لیے آئے ہوئے ہیں جہاں امریکہ اور پاکستان کے درمیان نیٹو سپلائي لائن پر کافی کشیدگي پائی جاتی ہے
Source: BBC
Obama has brief encounter with Pakistan’s president on the sidelines of a large group meeting at NATO summit
Mon May 21, 2012
CHICAGO (Reuters) – President Barack Obama spoke briefly with President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan on Monday but the leaders did not hold an individual meeting during the NATO summit in Chicago as there was still no deal under which Pakistan would reopen its supply routes for NATO soldiers in Afghanistan.
At a press conference later, Obama said the U.S. and Pakistan were making “diligent progress” on the supply line dispute, but indicated a deal had not been clinched. He acknowledged “real challenges” in relations with Pakistan.
Zardari was a last-minute addition to the list of leaders at the summit that Obama hosted in his home town of Chicago.
The Pakistani leader met on Sunday with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but U.S. officials said there were no plans for a meeting with Obama.
The brief encounter between Obama and Zardari, which took place in the presence of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, may allow Zardari to avoid appearing as if he was snubbed by Obama.
U.S. and Pakistani officials have said they are confident they can reach a deal to reopen the supply lines, but it appeared unlikely that an announcement would at the NATO summit.
Zardari also shook hands with Obama earlier in the day.
Source: Reuters
No formal meeting with Pakistan President
Hopes for a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit bringing together the U.S., Afghan and Pakistani presidents appear to have dimmed, and analysts say this is due to the lack of a full agreement with Pakistan on reopening NATO supply lines into Afghanistan.
President Barack Obama met on Sunday in Chicago with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, but his schedule includes no one-on-one interaction with Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, and White House staff say the schedule is not expected to change.
Source: VOA
Sherry Rehman Lobby comprises ISPR, Jinnah Institute, The Friday Times, Newsweek Pakistan and other establishment writers and blogs
Written by Sherry Rehman, approved by General Kayani, delivered by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
NEW YORK, May 22 (APP): Following is the text of the speech by Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while addressing PPP workers and support in New York on Monday night:I have traveled to America at what may be the most critical point in the 65 year relationship between Pakistan and the United States.For one year our countries have weathered a series of crises that have tested our partnership.
The unilateral action in Abbottabad made many in Pakistan question whether the United States actually considered Pakistan a military ally in our common war on terrorism and extremism.
The Raymond Davis fiasco made many in our country question the roe and authority of CIA activities in Pakistan.
The continuing unilateral US drone attacks on Pakistani soil was a constant irritant to Pakistani public opinion. — both as a clear violation of our sovereignty and the toll of collateral damage to innocent victims. These illegal strikes, that violate international law and even the US’s war powers act, must end.
And possibly most egregiously the NATO attack which left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead at Salala has not resulted in an apology to the families or to our nation.
I would like the American public to consider what their reaction would have been if American troops had been killed in such an attack on their border with Mexico. I urge President Obama to show some courage. I understand he is running for reelection but if he is the same man who inspired the world with his message of hope and change the future of NATO mission in Afghanistan should be more important than poll numbers.
Pakistan deserves an apology.
It is ludicrous to keep demanding Pakistan do more under these circumstances. Over 4,000 Pakistani troops have been martyred in this war. That is more than all NATO forces combined.
It is time for the US to do more.
(Source: APP)
President snubs Pakistan leader over supply routes
11:00 PM, May. 21, 2012
CHICAGO — In an unmistakable snub, President Barack Obama left Pakistan off a list of nations he thanked Monday for help getting war supplies into Afghanistan.
The omission speaks to the prolonged slump in U.S. relations with Pakistan that clouded a NATO summit where nations were eyeing the exits in Afghanistan.
Tensions that Obama readily acknowledged raise questions about whether Pakistan will help or hurt the goal of a stable Afghanistan. Continued mistrust between the United States and Pakistan also threaten cooperation to eliminate al-Qaida sanctuaries and could undermine U.S. confidence in the security of Pakistan’s growing nuclear arsenal.
“We need to work through some of the tensions that have inevitably arisen after 10 years of our military presence in that region,” Obama said later. “I don’t want to paper over real challenges there.”
Pakistan is not a NATO member but was invited to the summit Sunday and Monday because of its influence in next-door Afghanistan and its role until last year as the major supply route to landlocked NATO forces there. Pakistan closed those routes after a U.S. attack on the Pakistani side of the border killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November.
The last-minute invitation from NATO to join the Chicago talks was a sign of hope that the rift had healed.
But it hasn’t. And Obama’s dealings with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari made that clear on Monday.
Zardari came to Obama’s home town expecting a separate meeting with the U.S. leader like the one accorded to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. But without a final deal to reopen the supply lines, no such meeting was to occur.
Obama did speak briefly with Zardari on the sidelines of a large group meeting Monday. But that was after Zardari had to sit by as Obama opened Monday’s session with public thanks only to the nations north of Afghanistan who allowed expanded supply shipments to transit their territory to compensate for the closed Pakistani border gates.
“I want to welcome the presence of President Karzai, as well as officials from central Asia and Russia — nations that have an important perspective and that continue to provide critical transit for ISAF supplies,” Obama said, referring to the International Security Assistance Force that is fighting the war.
http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20120522/NEWS01/205220319
NATO summit: Obama’s Pakistan gamble falls flat
The White House fails to reach a deal on supply routes to Afghanistan. The summit does produce a formal agreement on the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
By David S. Cloud and Kathleen Hennessey, Los Angeles Times
May 21, 2012, 11:10 p.m.
CHICAGO — When the White House sent a last-minute invitation for Asif Ali Zardari to attend the two-day NATO summit, they were taking a highly public gamble. Would sharing the spotlight with President Obama and other global leaders induce the Pakistani president to allow vital supplies to reach alliance troops fighting in Afghanistan?
But long before the summit ended Monday, the answer was clear: No deal.
Zardari’s refusal to reopen the supply routes left a diplomatic blot on a summit that NATO sought to cast as the beginning of the end of the conflict in Afghanistan. The Chicago gathering did produce a formal agreement by the alliance to hand over lead responsibility for security to Afghan forces by mid-2013, and pull out nearly all U.S. and other NATO troops by the end of 2014 even if the Taliban-led insurgency remains undiminished.
U.S. officials insist ample fuel and other supplies are being delivered via much longer and more expensive land routes in Russia and other nations north of Afghanistan. But the Pentagon says reopening the land route in Pakistan will be essential to hauling vast stores of military equipment and vehicles out of Afghanistan during the withdrawal.
Obama’s irritation at the impasse was clear Monday when he addressed more than 50 world leaders and publicly thanked Russia and Central Asian nations “that continue to provide critical transit” of war supplies into Afghanistan. Zardari sat only a few feet away, but Obama pointedly did not mention Pakistan.
Later at a news conference that closed the two-day summit, Obama did not try to downplay the strains in a relationship that has spiraled from crisis to crisis since U.S. Navy SEALs secretly flew into Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden last May. Nor did Obama suggest, as his aides had done earlier, that a quick resolution was likely.
“I don’t want to paper over real challenges there,” Obama said. “There’s no doubt that there have been tensions between [the NATO military coalition] and Pakistan, the United States and Pakistan over the last several months.”
Pakistan closed the main NATO supply route after U.S. airstrikes hit two border posts Nov. 26 and killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Islamabad has demanded an unconditional apology, and more than $5,000 per truck, up from about $250 in the past, to let supplies flow again. The Obama administration has refused to apologize, saying both sides committed mistakes, and it says the new truck toll is far too expensive.
The White House was careful not to let Zardari appear completely snubbed Monday, worried that could worsen tensions. Obama had ruled out a formal meeting with Zardari when it was clear no deal was forthcoming, but aides ensured that the Pakistani leader managed to bump into Obama twice Monday, once for a brief one-on-one chat and later with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The White House quickly told the media of the encounter and tweeted a photo of the three leaders in conversation.
Obama indicated that the discussion was far from substantive, however, describing it as “very brief as we were walking into the summit.”
Obama also offered a glimpse of how his thinking has evolved on the use of military force during his three years in office, reflecting on an issue that officials have said increasingly has been on his mind: the tensions that develop when U.S. troops are deployed in distant wars for years on end.
“Frankly, the large footprint that we have in Afghanistan over time can be counterproductive,” Obama said. “We’ve been there 10 years. And I think, you know, no matter how much good we’re doing and how outstanding our troops and our civilians and diplomats are doing on the ground, 10 years in a country that’s very different, that’s a strain. Not only on our folks, but also on that country.”
Obama dismissed the notion that the U.S. may be planning for a “premature withdrawal” in Afghanistan, but he also committed to the 2014 timetable regardless of whether the Taliban-led insurgency is defeated. Signaling the shrunken ambitions for the mission, Obama said sometimes you just have to pick a time and leave.
“I don’t think that there’s ever going to be an optimal point where we say: ‘This is all done. This is perfect. This is just the way we wanted it. And now we can wrap up all our equipment and go home,’ ” he said. “There’s a process. And it’s sometimes a messy process. Just as it was in Iraq.”
Obama indicated that he was so wary of major troop commitments that he had applied clear limits for U.S. special operations and other military units battling groups affiliated with Al Qaeda in Yemen, Somalia and other places. The goal, Obama said, is to “stay focused on the counter-terrorism issue, to not overextend ourselves.”
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization announced last week that it had invited Zardari to the long-planned summit. U.S. officials said they had hoped a meeting with Obama might provide an incentive for a deal on resuming supply shipments. When that strategy did not work, they tried to raise the pressure through what appeared to be a series of carefully calibrated slights.
“The invitation was an inducement to get them back into the international fold,” said a senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously because of the sensitive issues. “But the Pakistanis couldn’t get their own act together” in time for the summit. “The main issue, it seems, is money.”
Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Sherry Rehman, sought to downplay the dispute during an evening news conference at Chicago’s Ritz Carlton Hotel.
“We are seeking to narrow differences,” she said, adding, “I don’t think there is a haggle going on with the price.”
Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for Zardari, said negotiations to reopen the supply route were ongoing, but “no timeline can be given.”
Earlier, the Pentagon had announced that Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta had “expressed his deep appreciation” to officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan at a meeting Monday. NATO has trucked more than half its nonlethal supplies through those countries since the Pakistani route closed, and flown the rest in on cargo planes.
Some U.S. officials said the Obama administration’s approach could backfire by humiliating Zardari, leaving him politically weaker and even less able to overcome the intense anti-U.S. feeling in Pakistan over the attack on the border posts, years of lethal CIA drone attacks on Pakistani territory and other divisive issues.
Without access to Pakistan, equipment leaving Afghanistan would have to go by cargo plane and by the northern routes, which stretch thousands of miles through Russia and Central Asia to ports on the Baltic Sea or through Georgia to the Black Sea. Many of the countries refuse to allow the U.S. to ship ammunition and other lethal equipment through their territory, forcing those supplies to go by air.
The U.S. military and NATO allies shipped about 260,000 tons of nonlethal supplies into Afghanistan last year. About 40% went through Pakistan, although that had dropped to about 30% by the fall.
Before the summit adjourned, officials said additional countries had promised in closed-door discussions to provide money for Afghanistan’s army and police after 2014. The Obama administration has sought to raise about $1.3 billion in annual contributions from allies as part of a plan to provide $4.1 billion to Afghanistan’s security forces after foreign troops withdraw.
The U.S. has promised $2.4 billion and Afghanistan has offered $500 million. British Prime Minister David Cameron said Australia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Estonia and others had made pledges Monday that added “almost” $1 billion. He said more pledges were expected soon.
david.cloud@latimes.com
kathleen.hennessey@latimes.com
Chicago Tribune reporter Wailin Wong contributed to this report.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nato-afghanistan-20120522,0,2278946.story
Raza Rumi, an employee of Najam Sethi, an assistant editor of The Friday Times and editor of pro-Imran Khan blog Pak Tea House, is openly blaming the elected parliament for the decision to block NATO supplies. Since when is Pakistan’s foreign policy being shaped by civilians?
Who’s afraid of Sherry Rehman?
November 6th, 2010
Raza Rumi
Express Tribune: It has been rather disturbing to witness the way Sherry Rehman has been the latest target of the purists within the ruling PPP. For years, Sherry has represented the intellectual vigour within her party. From drafting of manifestoes to holding the important portfolios, she has been an articulate defender of the PPP and its government. Her decision to resign in the wake of the judges’ saga and media handling of the 2009 Lahore-Gujranwala Long March was a matter of democratic choice.
After her resignation, she did not defame her party leadership and continued to demonstrate her loyalty. She is now a victim of an unwise ban on PPP leaders and legislators preventing them from appearing on a particular television channel. Worse, she has been lumped with the other dissenters — Naheed Khan and Safdar Abbasi — whose politics is altogether different.
The Naheed-Safdar duo has acted like a wounded couple since the time Benazir Bhutto was assassinated and Asif Zardari took over the party. It is a separate matter that sections of the electronic media have been using them as the righteous voice of the PPP in complete disregard of the fact that Ms Khan is neither elected, nor does she hold an official post in the party. Such is the intellectual dishonesty here that Ms Bhutto’s decision of not awarding a women’s seat ticket to Naheed Khan has never been discussed. Similarly, Mr Abbasi who was one of the interlocutors in the NRO deal has overnight become the biggest critic of the ordinance.
On the other hand, Sherry Rehman has no covert agenda and does not allow herself to be used as a pawn in the usual game played by anti-democracy forces. If there was a ‘ban’ on appearing on any particular television channel, the PPP should have taken its leaders and cadres in confidence, instead of issuing a decree via press conferences.
A democratically-elected party, gagging its own senior leaders is worrying to say the least. The issuance of a show-cause notice was followed by a siege of Ms Rehman’s house in Karachi by a mob, while the police stood by and did nothing. Her ailing mother and daughter were in the house and remained hostage for hours.
Since then, the PPP leadership has neither explained nor apologised for the unruly behaviour of the mob that circled her house. Sherry Rehman has served the cause of her party far better than many of its powerful stalwarts of today. Above all, she is not just a politician as she mediates multiple identities: as a legislator, a civil society activist, head of a think-tank and a voice of reason and fine intellect.
By pushing people like her to the wall, the party is only harming itself — because the party needs competent people like her.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2010.
http://pakteahouse.net/2010/11/06/who%E2%80%99s-afraid-of-sherry-rehman/
Another example of Pak Tea House / Sherry Rehman Lobby’s propaganda against PPP:
Attack On Sherry Rehman: A Black Day for Democracy
November 4th, 2010
By Aamir Mansoor
As a Pakistani who has long believed in democratic values and has also fought for them and as a person who has always believed that a democratic party like the PPP should be the torch bearer of democratic values that will serve the citizens of Pakistan, I am appalled at the attack that took place on Sherry Rehman’s house.
It was obvious from the nature of the gathering and slogans of the attackers outside Sherry Rehman’s house that the event was organized by her own party leadership. If my understanding is incorrect then why has no major PPP leader including the Co-Chairperson openly condemned the attack on their own colleague.
The all-knowing Sharmila Farooqui who only recently became a member of the party passed it on as a normal reaction of the PPP’ s workers to Sherry Rheman appearing on Geo News which is supposedly being boycotted by the PPP. A party such as the PPP is now resorting to blocking the media if it is not being supportive of the present government. So the question is “ What has happened to the democratic ideals and the media policy of the PPP listed in its manifesto?”
God help Pakistan if this hounding of such outstanding party leaders like Sherry Rehman, is now the culture of the new PPP. After her resignation, the lady has behaved with dignity and has always defended the party and its leadership. Is this the way she is to be repaid for her belief in democracy and ethical politics? Not a word of condemnation against the protesters and no inquiry into this terrible incident? Is the PPP leadership going to adopt fascist ways to block out dissent from within the party? We have to all stand up and say no to all this. And we need to do it now!
Aamir Mansoor is a citizen activist based in Islamabad
http://pakteahouse.net/2010/11/04/attack-on-sherry-rehman-a-black-day-for-democracy/
This petition against PPP was written by Sherry Rehman herself aided by Raza Rumi, Nasim Zehra, Imtiaz Gul, Ejaz Haider, Najam Sethi and other members of the Sherry Rehman Lobby:
We believe that freedom of speech which includes holding diverse opinion, is the fundamental right of every citizen and indeed forms the basis of every civilized and democratic society. In Pakistan we have fought long and hard to secure this right from dictators and democrats alike. We feel that we need to continue to be vigilant about growing attempts to muzzle free speech in the public domain. Most importantly, we must not allow our own inaction as citizens to lend sanction to the naked state-backed intimidation that we witnessed at the hands of a government that was once the proud standard-bearer of fundamental rights in Pakistan.
It is therefore our duty as watchful citizens to not allow political parties to unleash such blatant acts of harrasment and intimidation in a series of crude attempts to gag its own senior leadership through violent means.
Sherry Rehman’s case is particularly disturbing. As former Information Secretary of the PPP, and former Federal Minister for Information, her services to democracy and press freedoms bear no repeating.
On the heels of a show cause notice served on her by her party for speaking on a television channel that was ostensibly under a ban by the PPP, her house in Karachi was held under siege for hours. On October 22, 2010, about 300-350 armed goons, front-lined by women, protested outside her gates while local police stood and watched them block roads as well as lay siege to her house.
While some sections of the party leadership maintain no knowledge of these activists, their reluctance to take punitive action against these “fringe elements” deployed with party symbols and flags continues.
In a subsequent development that was even more shocking, a Sindh minister went on the television to say without hesitation that Sherry Rehman should have expected such inaction for speaking to a channel that was proscribed by the party.
She was blatant in owning the fascist behavior of these new party shock troops in what she described as “emotional outbursts” by party workers the government or party could control. The silence and inaction of other leaders after several days of the incident now also points to a trail of complicity in dangerous violence.
It should be noted by all that we strongly condemn this attack. The attack on a public representative’s house, where her undefended mother and daughter were held hostage for hours, was completely unwarranted and constitutes a serious violation of their fundamental rights.
It was reliably reported that Rehman’s effigy was burnt in front of her besieged house, while traffic and roads leading to her house were blocked for several hours by shock troops from the PPP stronghold, Lyari. Her vilification was allowed to go unchecked even before this incident. Graffitti threatening her with physical decapitation if she “violated party discipline” was repeatedly sprayed outside her house. We not only condemn such resort to terror, but also demand that the President and the Prime Minister order an inquiry into the siege of Ms. Rehman’s house and take swift and appropriate action against those responsible for resorting to terror in the name of a protest.
We demand that the Report of an Inquiry be made public within 7 working days from today.
SIGNATORIES. Dr. Hassan Abbas, Tahira Abdullah, Dr. Meekal Ahmad, Amb. Shamshad Ahmad, Tasneem Ahmar, Ambreen Ajaib, Absaar Alam, Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Miariann Babar, Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebraheem, Imtiaz Gul, Anis Haroon, Hameed Haroon, Ali Dayan Hasan, Dr. Parvez Hoodbhoy, Dr. Akmal Hussain, Irfan Hussain, Quatrina Hussain, Amb. Touqir Hussain, Prof. Ayesha Jalal, Nusrat Javed, Asma Jehangir, Amb. Shafqat Kakakhel, Ali Karamat, Haris Khalique, Aqsa Khan, Amb. Humayun Khan, Amb. Mazhar Khan, Samina Khan, Amb. Riaz Khokhar, Mohammad Malick, Amir Mateen, Fauzia Minallah, Hamid Mir, Khawar Mumtaz, Zubeida Mustapha, Kishwar Naheed, Dr. Adil Najam, Fawzia Naqwi, Shehzad Nawaz, Sameena Nazir, William Parvez, Omar Qureshi, Salman Akram Raja, Abbas Rasheed, Rashed Rehman, Dr. Tariq Rehman, Justice Majida Rizvi, Raza Rumi, Najma Sadeque, Babar Sattar, Dr. Dushka Sayed, Fareeda Shaeed, Zeenia Shaukat, Dr. Ayesha Siddiqua, Najam Sethi, Kamran Shafi, Ahmar Bilal Sufi, Mohammad Tahseen, Nasim Zehra, Mohammad Ziauddin.
http://pakistaniat.com/2010/11/02/civil-society-sherry-rahman/
Hey, you forgot to include the following active members of the Sherry Rehman Lobby:
Omar Waraich
Declan Walsh
Hamid Mir
Mosharraf Zaidi
Marvi Sirmed
Ali K. Chishti of MQM-PTH
Yasser Latif Hamdani of PTI-PTH
Raza Habib Raja of PTI-PTH
Tammy Haq of PTI
Raza Rumi of PTI-PTH-TFT-Jinnah Institute
etc
By the way, Sherry Rehman is currently after the job of elected MNA foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar.
However, before Sherry dreams of being Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, she should try to get elected from any constituency in Pakistan, even a local council seat!
Urban opportunists and flatterers, who used to praise Mr. Husain Haqqani when he was Pakistan Ambassador the US, have now gathered around Sherry Rehman.
From an old post:
Ahmad_N
You praised Haqqani (Military-Mosque fame), then praised Sherry (USIP-JI report fame). King is dead, long live the king!
Amad_N
Kayani-Pasha made sure Sherry of JI-USIP report replaces Haqqani of Mosque-Military Pakistan. What a great fall!
tammyhaq Ayesha Tammy Haq
Congratulations @sherryrehman on being appointed ambassador to the US.
marvisirmed Marvi Sirmed
Feeling so proud of PPP leadership. What a brilliant move. Here it is in your face boots! Ambassador @sherryrehman! Bravo
Razarumi Raza Rumi
.@sherryrehman like a pragmatic democrat works thru dialogue, consensus & negotiation. Establishment will not have issues with her approach.
marvisirmed Marvi Sirmed
Exactly! RT @Fahdhusain: Plus I don’t think establishment will have problems with her appointment.
marvisirmed Marvi Sirmed
Sherry Rehman new Pak envoy to US. Good move President sahib. Real good move Congratulations Ambassador @sherryrehman
Nadeem_Gehla Ahmad Nadeem Gehla
Advice for Sharry Rehman “Stay away from Memos, Mangoes and Urban Burgers”
Nadeem_Gehla Ahmad Nadeem Gehla
RT @NadeemfParacha The wonderful wily ways of Asif Ali Zaradri: ‘Sherry Rehman appointed Pakistan’s ambassador to US’
Nadeem_Gehla Ahmad Nadeem Gehla
A little correction. HH was not a leader of people’s party. He was an employee of PPP govt @laalshah @shakirhusain @Razarumi
AliDayan Ali Dayan Hasan
All those who struggle for human rights and civilian supremacy in #Pakistan owe both @sherryrehman and @husainhaqqani a debt of gratitude
mo2005 Mona
Lol. “@Darveshh: From marsia to qasida: Twitter.”
Chiltan salma jafar
Mourners of yesterday become the Celebrators of 2day – Propoganda of threat 2 democracy also proved wrong! political foresight nahi hai nah!
Chiltan salma jafar
See- all fears and speculations of a retired military general or bureaucrat were unfounded!
marvisirmed Marvi Sirmed
Civilian government still holding out. Bravo RT @abbasnasir59: @sherryrehman Heart congrats. What a choice. Good luck.
Fahdhusain Fahd Husain
Her Jinnah institute report was co authored by moeed yousaf. It was taken very seriously in Washington circles. Would serve her well
Razarumi Raza Rumi
.@sherryrehman like a pragmatic democrat works thru dialogue, consensus & negotiation. Establishment will not have issues with her approach.
Razarumi Raza Rumi
Let us be clear. There can be no other @husainhaqqani but after the setback yesterday @sherryrehman’s appt is simply good news.
shero1985 Sheryar Mehmood
Wt happened to twitter, last time I checked impression was no1 can replace HH & now suddenly it has become SR can handle it better than HH.
Chiltan salma jafar
@shero1985 Hypocrisy – or Ignorance- Whatever – I also feel sick
AbdulNishapuri
The king is dead, long live the king! Interesting somersaults of sycophants on Twitter. #memogate #Pakistan #UrbanElites
AbdulNishapuri
The author of “Between Mosque and Military” has been replaced by author of “USIP-JI Report on Afghanistan”. Let’s rejoice
……….
http://pakistanblogzine.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/hrw-and-elite-media-must-not-misrepresent-sherry-rehman/
Bilawal and President Zardari must not shame the soul of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto by parroting army generals’s lies and propaganda on AfPak.
Pakistan wants apology for NATO air strike: Envoy Sherry Rehman
Islamabad was adamant on its demand for an apology for a NATO air strike at a border post in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were martyred, Pakistani ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman has said.
The air strike on the Salala border post in November led Pakistan to close the NATO supply lines to Afghanistan through Pakistani territory and ask the US to vacate the Shamsi air base in Balochistan.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/pakistan-wants-apology-for-nato-air-strike-envoy/articleshow/13387008.cms
I also don’t understand why is Bilawal not sounding like PPP? OR is it some politics by AZ beyond my comprehension atleast.
@cyalm: 4 yrs ago, PPP returned to power with US help. Now US pres refuses to meet AZ. Could self-interest finally make PPP get its act together?
@Chiltan: @cyalm plz explain why u are blaming PPP for this stand off ?? – even if u assume a scheduled one to one meeting was cancelled?
@Chiltan: Obama meets Zardari at Nato but signals no end to diplomatic standoff http://gu.com/p/37myy/tw @cyalm blames PPP ? credible analysis??
Cyril Almeida is not alone is dishonestly blaming the PPP and the civilian set up.
Raza Rumi and other members of the Sherry Rehman Lobby too are spreading similar propaganda.
Raza Rumi parrots Najam Sethi’s lies and blames elected parliament for NATO supply blockade decision:
Raza Rumi @Razarumi
President Zardari has asked U.S. to help the Gov of Pak reach closure on the Salala episode “by following path indicated by Pak Parliament.”
beena sarwar @beenasarwar
RT @Razarumi: US should apologise,respect our parliament/settle the issue.We can then open supplies so that the US leaves Afg as planned.
Tarek Fatah @TarekFatah
Guys, u do realize it is an act of war to impose a blockade on a landlocked country like Afghanistan. @beenasarwar @razarumi Wake up.
Raza Rumi @Razarumi
@TarekFatah Understand what you are saying but as a democrat, I back the parliamentary decisions. Hope this is settled @beenasarwar
ImSoomro @ImSoomro
LOL @ “I back the parliamentary decisions” when every honest persons knows that such decisions are enforced by Pakistan army. Shame on Raza Rumi
http://criticalppp.com/archives/77192
All of a sudden, Bilawal has started talking shit like PML-N’s Captain Safdar, son-in-law of Nawaz Sharif.
Bilawal should stay away from Sherry Rehman’s briefs and notes if he wants to retain some respect!
Last but not least Bilawal must beware of flatterers, who uncritically laud his ISIesque statement drafted by the likes of Sherry Rehman, Raza Rumi, Najam Sethi etc.
I think the speech was for desi audience – Bilawal has no official role for this speech to matter to US govt.
Manzur Ejaz @manzurejaz
@mazdaki Sherry’s http://bit.ly/K8Dld6 hardline indicates 3 Z trip will appear failure so why not score points for domestic consumption
Manzur Ejaz @manzurejaz
Sherry Rehmannspreading the nesof Zardari-Obama meeting. Fact is Hillary doesnt want ameeting. let us see whos right
Manzur Ejaz @manzurejaz
@mazdaki Sherry’s http://bit.ly/K8Dld6 hardline indicates 2 military is still working on wrong assumptions
15h Tarek Fatah @TarekFatah
RT @mazdaki: @manzurejaz Military’s 2010 assumption that Sherry Bibi will do their bidding was spot-on though :)” @sherryrehman
Tarek Fatah @TarekFatah
@sherryrehman was the Prized appointee to the illustrious position, #JinnahInstitute
benazir was an independent thinker,intellectual. bilawal z young and it seems ppl like sherry rehman,who z on he payroll of ISI, z trying 2 misguide him. wake up bilawal. we need not 2 b ashamed of OBL raid. rather we shld be ashamed of the fact that OBL was hidding in pakistan 4 so many years nad civilian govt was kept in the dark.
کیا کہا۔۔۔پانچ ہزار ڈالر؟
وسعت اللہ خان
بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، کراچی
آخری وقت اشاعت: منگل 22 مئ
کیا کہا پانچ ہزار ڈالر فی ٹرک !
ابے کیا گھاس کھا گیا ہے !
اسی بارے میں
اب تک تو ڈھائی سو ڈالر فی ٹرک کی ٹپ پر کورنش بجا لاتا تھا ! ضرور تجھے کسی نے پٹی پڑھائی ہے۔۔۔اپنا قد دیکھ اور فرمائش دیکھ !
ہاں ٹھیک ہے حسنی مبارک نے جنگِ خلیج میں ہمیں عراق کے خلاف راہداری دینے کے بدلے قرضے معاف کرا لیے تھےمگر وہ اور بھی تو بہت سے کام کرتا تھا ہمارے۔۔۔۔۔تو کرے گا وہ والے کام ؟
دیکھ بار بار چھچوروں کی طرح شام کا حوالہ نا دے۔ بشار الاسد کے ابا نے آڑے وقت میں عراق کی سرحد بند کرکے ہماری مدد کی تھی تبھی تو ہم نے اسے دھشت گردوں کی فہرست سے نکالا اور اس کے بیٹے نے سی آئی اے کی امانت القاعدہ قیدیوں سے مار مار کر اعتراف کروا لیا ۔مگر تو نے ایسی کیا توپ چلا دی کہ پانچ ہزار ڈالر فی ٹرک مانگ رہا ہے۔
میں کب کہہ رہا ہوں کہ تو نے رمزی یوسف اور ایمل کانسی کا پتہ نہیں بتایا ۔ابو زبیدہ ، خالد شیخ محمد ، ابولفراج البی ، ملا ضعیف ۔۔۔۔بکواس نا کر ۔۔۔۔ان میں سے کونسا دانہ تو نے بغیر پیمنٹ کے ہمارے حوالے کیا ؟ تجھے تو ریمنڈ ڈیوس کی بھی پیمنٹ کردی تھی بیٹے۔۔۔۔زیادہ غصہ نا دلا ورنہ ڈاکٹر قدیر اور دو مئی کا ایبٹ آباد مجھے بھی یاد ہے ۔۔۔۔سالا مانگتا ہے پانچ ہزار ڈالر فی ٹرک۔۔۔۔
معافی ؟ ہا ہا ہا ! تو تو بالکل ہی پگلا گیا ہے۔۔۔میں نے تو آج تک اپنے باپ سے معافی نہیں مانگی ۔ تو کس کھیت کی مولی ہے۔۔۔جاپان سے مانگی تھی ؟ ویتنام سے مانگی تھی ؟ عراقیوں سے مانگی ؟ کیوبا سے مانگی ؟ پانامہ سے مانگی ؟؟ چلی سے مانگی ؟ گریناڈا سے مانگی کیا ؟ ایران سے مانگی اس کا مسافر بردار طیارہ مار گرانے پر ؟ نہیں نا۔۔۔
اب تو طعنہ دے گا کہ افغانستان سے تین دفعہ مانگی ! ہاں مانگی ۔۔وہاں تو کرزئی ہے۔۔۔وقت پڑے گا تو گدھے سے بھی مانگ لوں گا۔ تجھ سے پھر بھی نہیں مانگوں گا۔۔۔۔
معافی کیوں مانگوں۔۔۔
معافی ؟؟؟؟ ہا ہا ہا !!!! تو تو بالکل ہی پگلا گیا ہے۔۔۔۔میں نے تو آج تک اپنے باپ سے معافی نہیں مانگی ۔ تو کس کھیت کی مولی ہے۔۔۔جاپان سے مانگی تھی ؟ ویتنام سے مانگی تھی ؟ عراقیوں سے مانگی ؟؟ کیوبا سے مانگی ؟؟ پانامہ سے مانگی ؟؟؟ چلی سے مانگی ؟؟ گریناڈا سے مانگی کیا ؟ ایران سے مانگی اس کا مسافر بردار طیارہ مار گرانے پر ؟؟ نہیں نا ۔۔۔۔۔۔اب تو طعنہ دے گا کہ افغانستان سے تین دفعہ مانگی !!! ہاں مانگی ۔۔وہاں تو کرزئی ہے۔۔۔۔وقت پڑے گا تو گدھے سے بھی مانگ لوں گا۔ تجھ سے پھر بھی نہیں مانگوں گا۔۔۔۔
ابے احسان فراموش ۔۔۔اکہتر میں تجھے کس نے نقشے سے مٹنے سے بچایا تھا ؟ بھول گیا ؟ تیرے ایٹمی پروگرام سے جان بوجھ کر آنکھیں کس نے بند کی تھیں ؟ بھول گیا ؟ تجھے گندم ، اسلحہ اور قرضے کون دیتا اور دلواتا رہا ہے ؟ بھول گیا ؟ تجھے کارگل کی دلدل سے کس نے نکالا ؟ گھر میں نہیں دانے، اماں چلی بھنانے ؟
اوئے ۔۔۔۔ ڈھائی سو ڈالر فی ٹرک پر کورنش بجانے والے !! تو نے کبھی پانچ ہزار ڈالر اکھٹے دیکھے بھی ہیں ؟ لے چل پکڑ دو ہزار ڈالر فی ٹرک ؟ ابے لے نا !!!! اچھا چل یہ لے ڈھائی ہزار ڈالر فی ٹرک۔یوں سمجھ لے کہ یہ پانچ سو ڈالر فالتو میں معافی تلافی کی مد میں دے رہا ہوں۔۔۔اب زیادہ مت پھیل۔۔۔اچھا کام کرے گا تو اور خرچی بھی ملے گی۔۔۔ہاں ہاں پچیس فوجیوں کے پیسے بھی مل جائیں گے۔۔۔۔
اب کیوں منہ بسورے کھڑا ہے ؟ اوئے جواب کیوں نہیں دیتا مایوسی کی لوکل ٹرین !
کیا کہا ؟ ڈھائی ہزار ڈالر میں ٹرک وارا نہیں کھاتا ۔۔لا یہ پیسے واپس کر۔۔اب تجھے ٹھینگا دوں گا۔۔بلکہ ٹھینگا بھی نہیں ملے گا۔۔
ہا ہا ہا ۔۔۔۔مجھے پتہ تھا تو کبھی بھی واپس نہیں کرے گا۔۔۔ڈھائی ہزار ڈالر بھی نہیں۔۔۔مفت میں سانپ مل جائے تو وہ بھی نہیں۔۔۔مجھے پتہ تھا۔۔۔تو مجھے ایویں ہی تنگ کررہا ہے۔۔۔ہا ہا ہا۔۔۔تو بہت شرارتی ہوگیا ہے ۔۔۔ہا ہا ہا ہا۔۔۔اب سارے پیسے خود ہی نا رکھ لیجو۔۔کچھ انہیں بھی دے دیجو ۔۔۔ہا ہا ہا ہا۔۔۔
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2012/05/120522_us_pak_relations_wusat_zs.shtml
Raza Rumi @Razarumi
Excellent “@CMShehbaz:Notified 10% increase&relaxation of 3ys age-limit for women seeking govt jobs+inc in every dept selec board as member”
Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz
@Razarumi Thank you sir
Raza Rumi @Razarumi
@CMShehbaz Sir many thanks for the RTs. Log hamay shah ka masaahib samajhnay lagay hayn magar ham phir bhii itraa rahayn hayn 🙂
Mr Bilawal needs some serious trainig from Mr Gilani, THE best prime minister Pakistan has ever had. proof, here you go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcKsXzWMsPo
YOUSAF RAZA GILANI – THE CRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN
Pakistan People’s Party is losing Shia Muslims support in many areas of the country because of failed policies of the PPP-led government.
PPP has formed government in Shia majority Gilgit-Baltistan province. PPP wins the constituencies of Shia majority areas of Punjab and other parts of the country as well.
Unfortunately, PPP has done nothing for the betterment of Shia Muslims. PPP-led government has failed to stop genocide of Shia Muslims. They have failed to stop anti-Shia pogrom that goes on in all over the country in full swing.
PPP government’s supporters and officials claim that it is judiciary that has to take action against the terrorists. As a matter of fact, first step is to be taken by the government. It is the administrative machinery that works under the government that has to adopt measures for arrest of the terrorists with proofs.
Some incidents occurred in Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab and Sindh, provinces may be cited to prove that government failed to maintain its writ or intentionally ignored terrorists. Federal interior minister Rehman Malik had promised to meet the demands presented to him in charter of demand in Gilgit-Baltistan. He failed to do what he had promised.
Terrorists perpetrated genocide of Shia Muslims in Kohistan and Chilas tragedies. Government was informed about the identities of the ferocious terrorists but they were not arrested. Government was informed about the terrorists training camps but no action was taken against them. Government was informed about fanatics and their patrons belonging to banned terrorist outfit who incited anti-Shia feelings but they were not punished for violation of Pakistan’s constitutional law.
In Punjab’s southern parts, some incidents of terrorism took place. Many Shia Muslims were massacred.
In Khairpur of Sindh province, Shia Muslims were persecuted. Sanctity of Shia Islam was violated time and again in all over Sindh province. Mosques and Imam Bargahs were attacked.
In both cases of Punjab and Sindh province, no stern action against terrorists was taken. Inaction encouraged the enemies of Shia Muslims and they feel Shias as soft targets.
Shia leaders and notables voiced their protest but peaceful protest and opposition to injustices were not allowed. Shia leaders were booked for their protest both in Punjab and Sindh.
In Gilgit Baltistan, operation was launched in Shia areas and Shia Muslims were arrested instead of those terrorists who perpetrated heinous crimes against humanity in Kohistan and Chilas Tragedy.
Shia Muslim areas remain backward during the tenure of PPP-led government. No alternate route for Gilgit Baltistan from Rawalpindi was constructed despite repeated demands. Nor the PIA flights or aerial travelling was provided.
Anti-government feelings are growing among Shia Muslims. PPP-led ruling coalition has disappointed them. In the past, they were choosing between two mainstream parties: PPP and the PMLN. Now, their mood has changed about the PPP. They have genuine complaints and genuine demands. They are denied to exercise their inalienable rights and they want to attain all genuine rights for them. PPP-led government has failed to provide these due rights, let alone other perks.
Murtaza Solangi @murtazasolangi
On #Twitter #Ban there is no division amongst Pakistanis. From Syed Munawar Hasan of JI, Faisal Sabwari of MQM to Marvi Sirmed, V R One!
Raza Rumi @Razarumi
Defy the #Twitterban in Pak: download this software and you can use twitter from your computer ANY ISP http://ultrasurf.us/ tks @godfatheriv
Mohammad Taqi @mazdaki
Our state’s fetish for #censorship by @Razarumi http://tribune.com.pk/story/382145/o… #Pakistan #internet #policy #twitterban #fail
Those pseudo-liberal supporters of PPP who vehemently criticized the party on a few hours ban on Twitter and other similar non-issues are completely silent on Bilawal’s disgracefully ISI-esque speech /interview
Dr Taqi writes:
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari repeated the same mantra in his New York speech earlier this week. One seriously wonders if he had the same or a similar speechwriter who ghost-authored President Asif Zardari’s op-ed, “Talk to, not at, Pakistan” (The Washington Post, September 30, 2011).
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\05\24\story_24-5-2012_pg3_2
“I love the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great blog posts.”