Mere mortals trying to become God….. thinking they own the destinies of masses …never realise for a second of their fickle existence … their mortals self …. a tragic turn of events may end them in dust … And they are telling us what to do …how to do …..Shameful and deceitful …..

ISLAMABAD, April 6: The Supreme Court on Friday set aside corruption convictions awarded by the LHC’s Ehtesab bench to Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari, and ordered a retrial of the case. In a short order, the seven-member bench accepted the appeals of Ms Bhutto and Mr Zardari against the 1999 conviction. The detailed judgment would be announced later. The former prime minister and the suspended senator had requested the apex court to acquit them honourably. Justice Bashir Jehangiri, presiding judge of the bench, announced the verdict at 10.50am: “Reason to be recorded later in the detailed judgment, we accept the appeals and set aside the impugned judgment recording conviction against and awarding sentences to the appellants, and send the case to a court of competent jurisdiction for retrial.” On April 15, 1999, an Ehtesab bench consisting of Justice Malik Qayyum and Najmul Kazmi of the Lahore High Court had convicted Ms Bhutto and Mr Zardari. They were sentenced to undergo five years’ simple imprisonment each, and pay $8.6 million fine each. The Ehtesab bench had ordered their disqualification as members of parliament for five years, and forfeiture of their property made with money acquired through corruption.

The Ehtesab bench had held that the pre-shipment inspection contract to the Swiss company, SGS, had been awarded by the former prime minister “alone” at the behest and abetment with Mr Zardari. The prosecution case was that the contract had been awarded in consideration of 6 per cent commission of the total amount received by the SGS from the government of Pakistan. The prosecution had alleged that the commission had been paid to an offshore company, Bomer Finance Inc., owned by Mr Zardari through his fiduciary agent Jens Schlegelmilch. The ultimate beneficiaries of the commission were Mr Zardari and Ms Bhutto, according to prosecution. Farooq Hameed Naek, counsel for appellants, said after the judgment: “I am satisfied … but not happy. I was expecting honourable acquittal but this is the court’s judgment.” The military government had inherited the case from the PML government and defended the judgment vehemently, spending over Rs10 million in legal fees and other expenses. The Supreme Court bench consisted of Justice Bashir Jehangiri, Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, Justice Munir A. Sheikh, Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq, and Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar. SC orders retrial of Benazir, Asif Rafaqat Ali DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 07 April 2001 Issue : 07/14 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2001/apr0701.html

HISTORY OF JANG GROUP VS MR NAWAZ SHARIF/SENATOR SAIFUR REHMAN BEFORE THE MARTIAL LAW OF 12 Oct 1999.

Cassette exposes govt’s assault on press.

KARACHI: Editor-in-Chief of Jang Group of Newspapers Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman on Thursday said that after victimising his group by freezing its accounts, seizing newsprint and serving income tax notices, the government was now preparing anti-state cases against him. Addressing a crowded press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Mir Shakil said that there would not be any problem for the Jang Group if he bowed before the PML government, instead of publishing the truth. The editor-in-chief said that the PML government had attempted to create an impression that the action against the Jang Group of Newspapers was an administrative affair because of income tax issues and misuse of newsprint quota. But every government action taken against his group was to stop printing of those news items, which would go against the interest of the prime minister, his business concerns and his family, he added. Flanked by senior journalists Z A Sulehri, Irshad Ahmad Haqqani, Maleeha Lodhi and Kamila Hayat, Mir Shakil said that he was under tremendous pressure from Ehtesab Bureau chief Saifur Rahman, who was out to victimise the Jang Group of Newspapers for not bowing before his whims.During the press conference, Mir Shakil also played an audio cassette on which some of his talks with Senator Saifur Rahman, Information Minister Mushahid Hussain and senior journalist Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Shami, who played the mediator’s role, were recorded.

The cassette also included the following dialogue between Mir Shakil and Senator Saifur Rahman: “Mir Shakil: The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal has given verdict in our favour. “Saif: This was because of our leniency. We did not give him (chairman of the tribunal) the instructions. If we had given him the instructions, even his father could not have given that decision.” Regarding the character of IT Tribunal Chairman Mujibullah Siddiqui, Mir Shakil said that he was an honest officer and had enjoyed enviable reputation for his integrity. This was a fact endorsed by senior lawyers, who had come to hear Mir Shakil’s press conference. During the recorded meetings, Senator Saif and Information Minister Mushahid Hussain were heard demanding favours from the Jang Group on policies regarding the governor’s rule in Sindh, the Shariah Bill and the economic policies. The government functionaries were heard as saying that 14 people on senior positions both in the Jang and The News should be removed. The journalists included Maleeha Lodhi, Kamila Hayat, Irshad Ahmad Haqqani, Mahmood Sham, Kamran Khan, Abid Tahami, Marghoob, Khawar, Aftab Iqbal and others. The government also demanded that such journalists should be replaced by people who could favour the government’s policies. The government had divided the unfavourable journalists into ‘A’ and ‘B’ categories. Raising objections on the reports of investigative reporter Kamran Khan, Saif said during the meetings the government had secured assurances from the ISI about him and he should be controlled by Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman.

The government team also accused the Jang Group of spreading hatred among the masses against the ruling party. They demanded that telephonic surveys on national issues should not be conducted by newspapers. Mir Shakil said that because of restrictions on newsprint supply, the Jang Group was facing hardships in bringing out its daily newspapers. “Despite clearance from the Customs authorities, 2,000 reels of paper have not been released todate. Because of this problem, from Saturday, daily Jang will print only six pages and The News will bring out 10 pages,” he added. Mir Shakil said: “All our bank accounts have been seized. The personal accounts of mine and my mother have also been seized. Yesterday (Wednesday) when my brother gave statement in our favour, his account in the United Bank Ltd, Al-Rahman Branch, was also seized.”

The editor-in-chief said that the Supreme Court was moved against the injustices meted out by the PML government. “It was a remarkable thing that this step was taken by us in the country,” he added. Mir Shakil said reports were received that anti-state cases were being prepared against him. He said: “The government is making all out attempts that the issue should not be construed as one of ‘press freedom’ and ‘freedom of expression’. I am afraid that something terrible is in the making. I also fear for my life.” He said he would prove whatever published in the Jang Group of Publications was the truth. “Whatever we published was also covered by other newspapers, but only our group was being targeted. I don’t care whatever they will do with me. I will prove each and everything on the basis of logic and facts. Whatever we published, it is our job to prove it. And what the government said, it is their responsibility to prove it,” Mir Shakil remarked. The editor-in-chief said that the government’s actions were based on malicious intentions and were taken with ‘unfair mind’. According to the tape-recorded message, Senator Saifur Rahman said that the income tax and other legal notices would be withdrawn and government advertisements would be released, if the Jang Group supported the government’s policies. Mir Shakil said: “There was a time when I got confused. I thought about my life, my family, my organisation and about my 4,000 workers and their families. It is very difficult to stand before the state power. Some people advised me to bow down and accept the government’s conditions to save the institutions. But there were also people who advised me to stand for the truth.”

Regarding a story which was published in daily Observer of London and reproduced in Pakistan by a number of newspapers but could not be covered by the Jang because of pressure from the government, the editor-in-chief said: “I felt sorry for it. In the market economy, it is very difficult to survive, if one is not in the competition.” Mir Shakil said: “The government did too much against us and is still doing a lot. The organisation of newspaper owners — the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) — and the association of editors — the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) — also intervened into the matter. But under the given circumstances, the Jang Group had to take decisions which were not recommended by the APNS and the CPNE. But they are with us. There is also a resolution from them in our favour.”

The editor-in-chief said that the situation was in the Jang Group’s favour. “We were not involved in selling imported newsprint quota in the market. We did not avoid payment of income tax. We did not publish stories which were incorrect,” he added. Without giving names of other newspaper organisations involved in selling newsprint quota, Mir Shakil said the government was not taking any action against them. The editor-in-chief said that when he addressed a press conference in August 1998, some newspapers played a nasty role. “They propagated that there was a deal between the government and the Jang Group. But that was not true. If there was any deal and if that was any administrative matter, then why the ban was imposed on releasing public sector advertisements to us,” he added. Mir Shakil said: “I did not leave any stone unturned to resolve the issue. I went from pillar to post. I wrote a letter to Abbaji, the father of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, but to no avail. The government’s action against the Jang Group began in August 1998, when income and wealth tax cases of the group’s various companies and directors, previously being dealt by different Income Tax (IT) circles, were pooled in one circle. This circle is renowned as a branch of the Ehtesab Bureau in the IT Department where cases of those politicians are dealt, against whom the government has decided to take any action.” Referring to a television programme telecast the previous night on the PTV, Mir Shakil said that it was a one-sided propaganda. “If there is democracy, then versions of both the sides should be presented and then experts will decide what is right and what is wrong. This is the policy of the Jang Group to give views of all concerned parties. We have printed complete view of the government’s side also in our newspapers,” he remarked. REFERENCE: Mir Shakil says govt preparing anti-state cases against him; fears for his life; ‘our organisation is being destroyed’; audio cassette of talks with Saif, Mushahid played during crowded press conference; journalists flabbergasted By our correspondent http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/spedition/waronjang/news/jan99/jan99-29-1.htm

ISLAMABAD: While admitting to having issued ‘instructions’ to the Jang Group on almost all the points mentioned in the advertisement “War on Jang” published by the group on Monday , chairman Ehtesab Bureau Saifur Rehman categorically declined to swear an oath at Faisal Mosque about his role in taming the press. He, however, denied that at any point of time he had asked the Jang Group administration to sack 16 journalists and replace them with “our people.” Visibly disturbed over publication of an advertisement carrying his photograph and facts about issuing diktat to country’s largest group of newspapers, Saif said he would not be apologetic about issuing directives on certain matters to the Jang Group, as his boss, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, wanted the national press to support him and his policies. He was addressing a press conference on Monday at his office following a national seminar “The Government and the Press–Face toFace” organised by the Jang Group on the occasion of seventh death anniversary of its founder, Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman. Mr Saif was accused of issuing the following diktat: sack 16 journalists and replace them with our people! If your journalists do not behave, let me know. I have the right medicine for them. I can have them picked up. Or else…; don’t print anything against Shariah Bill (CA-15); judicial system is to be changed, support us on the cases where the courts are ruling against us. Also on Karachi situation. Or else…; do not print anything regarding the ruling family’s loans, tax arrears, business and private affairs! Or else…; We will expect your unconditional support on issues as well and we will give you directions whenever such support is required. Or else…

Senator Saif also issued two documents about the Jang Group’s allegation: Facts and Fictions; and Facts on Jang/News Group vilification campaign against Senator Saif-ur Rehman Khan. In these two documents, he has repeated what he or the government has been saying for long. The Jang Group and chief editor of Jang/The News, Mir Shakil-ur Rehman, has already termed it a “pack of lies.” Declining to accept the challenge to swear an oath at the Faisal Mosque, Mr Saif gave a counter-proposal involving family members of Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman to swear an oath at the grave of founder of Jang Group, Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman, to prove each others’ allegations and counter-allegations. “Its not a war on Jang but a simple case of tax evasion, and we will press ahead with it,” threatened Rehman adding “it is not a problem between the government and the press, as he has unearthed cases of tax evasion by the Jang Group.”

He said the Jang Group has made it an issue after the income tax department moved against it. “The government has not accepted the demands of the group, despite meetings between the two-member government team and a delegation of APNS,” he added. He said the Jang Group was asked to to “behave” in order to strengthen government’s hands in its endeavour to reform society and enforce Shariah. “We have told them not to publish negative stories, as it creates stir in the masses and hits the stock market.” Rehman, who claimed that nothing wrong and illegal was done against the group, said some stories published in the newspapers of the Jang Group had created problems for the government, and even on Eidul Fitr one story carrying predictions of somebody was an attempt to provoke the people of Karachi. He said the government would welcome “healthy and constructive criticism”, and not the stories which created problems for the government. “We have done nothing wrong.” We are pursuing cases of corruption and catching the big fish, in line with prime minister’s directives to uproot corruption. “The group has to pay around Rs2. 6 billion in taxes and duties. We have done our work on merit.” When asked, he said concession could be granted to the Jang Group by pending recovery of taxes from 6 to 7 months, but the group should cooperate with the government. “The Jang Group is pursuing a political agenda to evade taxes.” He also claimed that some accounts of the group were unfrozen for paying salaries to the employees, and newsprint was released from time to time. He said the Jang Group has launched 5-day advertisement campaign against the government at a cost of around Rs15 million. “There will be no use of fighting with us. We should settle it through negotiations,” said Rehman, “We have not yet conducted any raid, but because of the power we have, raids can be conducted on the Jang Group.”

He said his efforts to uproot corruption and arrest those involved in corruption have been successful as, so far, he has traced Rs2,000 crore of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari in foreign banks. “We expected these people to criticise us, but we will continue to do it.” Senator Rehman said it was not his problem but he was dragged in because of tax evasion. “The tax evasion cases are only against the Jang Group and nobody else.” He said he found no solid reason of launching a campaign against him. “The Jang Group can exercise its legal option if it thinks the government has done anything wrong.” He also objected to publication of a story from a British paper about alleged purchase of property by the prime minister in London. He stressed the need for a Press Council to look into all such cases. “The media is extremely powerful, but we have taken on them in some cases for which notices have already been served.” REFERENCE: Saif admits to pressuring Jang group Vows to pursue cases of tax evasion By our correspondent http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/spedition/waronjang/news/jan99/jan99-26-2.htm

RAWALPINDI: The journalist unions of the country have condemned alleged victimisation of Jang Group by the government and termed the action as detrimental to the freedom of press. Reacting to the ongoing tussle between the government and the Jang group, the office bearers of various journalist unions dubbed the campaign as tantamount to clipping wings of the press and vowed not to desist from any step to ensure its freedom. Shafi-ud-Din Ashraf, Central Chairman, All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC), said in a statement on Tuesday that nobody, including the rulers, had any right to put pressure on newspapers about publishing or otherwise of news reports. He said the admission by Ehtesab Bureau chief Senator Saif-ur-Rehman that he had asked Jang to publish and not to publish certain news reports tantamount to open interference in the freedom of press and and is a form of press advice. He said newspaper workers had made a very long struggle to gain freedom of press, and now no ruler will be allowed to sabotage this freedom. He said as far as the issue of tax between the government and the Jang Group is concerned it should be resolved honestly and in a transparent manner, according to the law and Constitution. Muhammad Zakir Ansari, Chairman, All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC) Karachi, said Chief of Ehtesab Bureau, Senator Saif has no role in the affairs of newspapers and neither he has any constitutional role in this connection. He added the pressure in connection with actions relating to Income Tax and Customs makes the whole matter further non-transparent. Zakir Ansari said the admission by Saif of having made telephone calls to get news published in favour of the government is a form of press advice. Wirasat Hussain, President and Afzal Baloch, General Secretary, respectively, of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), said putting pressure on newspapers to publish or not to publish any news in any case negates the freedom of press.

LAHORE: PTI chief Imran Khan meets PAI president Tahar-ul-Qadri at a seminar organised by Mir Khail-ur-Rehman Memorial Society, on Tuesday. –The News photo They said the statement of Saif-ur-Rehman, chief of the Ehtesab Bureau, that he gave instructions to the Jang Group to strengthen the hands of the prime minister was interference in the freedom of press. They said he has no right to issue such instructions. They appealed to All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) not to leave a member of theirs alone as if today the government has this attitude with Jang, tomorrow it can adopt the same with other newspapers. Therefore, the APNS should unitedly face the pressure and aggression, they said.

The Karachi Union of Journalists (Dastoori) also strongly condemned the pressure on newspapers by Saif-ur-Rehman to publish news in favour of the government and giving dictation to newspapers. KUJ President Rashid Aziz, Secretary General Suhail Afzal and other KUJ office-bearers, in a joint statement, termed the government action against Jang as the worst from of revenge. The KUJ leaders said at this crucial juncture the journalists’ community expresses its complete solidarity with the Jang Group, and pledges to make every sacrifice for the freedom of press. The office-bearers of Peshawar Press Club vehemently denounced government action and resolved to brave ‘black-mail and threats’ at every level. All journalists and representative bodies are with the Jang Group in its battle for the freedom of press, President Peshawar Press Club added.

The Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) also lent its countenance to the Jang Group and expressed profound concern over ‘Chairman Ehtesab Bureau’s campaign against it’. The KhUJ office bearers said it was shocking to learn that Senator Saifur Rehman, was pressurising income tax department to take action against Jang Group. Directives by the Ehtesab Bureau Chairman to newspapers to publish pro-government news reports is regrettable that Saifur Rehman himself admitted the same. “After this, it is not possible for the torchbearers of freedom of press to remain silent,” the office bearers added. President of KhUJ (Dastoor Group) dubbed the action as detrimental to freedom of press as envisaged by the Constitution of Pakistan. He said Saifur Rehman’s confession in this regard was a negation of the government’s claims of upholding the press freedom.

Lahore Press Club president Syed Saqlain Imam Wasti has condemned the government’s strong-arm tactics against the Jang Group of Newspapers. In a statement Tuesday, he said it was open intervention in the freedom of press. He said hostility against print-media in a democratic setup was regrettable. He said the onslaught against the press was being spearheaded by a man who neither knew a word about politics nor had any respect for journalism. He warned the government to refrain from such tactics as the journalist community knew how to defend itself. Punjab Union of Journalists Secretary General I H Rashid also blasted the government for victimising the press. He said the press wouldn’t allow any kind of intervention in its affairs and no government official should try to meddle in the affairs of press. Speakers at the seminar ‘The government and the press — face to face’ organised by the Mir Khalilur Rahman Memorial Society in Lahore on Tuesday, to mark the seventh death anniversary of the founding editor of the Jang Group of publications, termed the government’s pressure on Jang Group as undemocratic and un-Islamic.

They strongly condemned the government for its negative attitude towards the national press and asked the rulers to fulfil their electoral promise of press freedom and resolve all the issues with the Group through negotiations. Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chairman and PAI president Prof Tahir ul Qadri condemned the government for what he called stifling the voice of press. He said the freedom of speech was the first basic right guaranteed by Islam and democracy, but the government was bent upon usurping this basic freedom. He alleged the government was demolishing all pillars of state one by one. He said after taming judiciary and the armed forces, the government was now after the press. He warned if this last pillar fell then the survival of the opposition forces would be threatened. He said Islam had taught the faithful to stand by the truth in the face of worst opposition and quoted a Hadith that said, “to speak truth in front of an oppressive ruler is the best of jehads.”

Citing Quranic verses, he said the obedience to The Almighty and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was absolute and unconditional but all other obedience including that to the rulers was conditional to their own obedience to Quran and Sunnah. Maulana Qadri cited the first address of the first Caliph Hazrat Abubakar (RA), who directed the people to obey him only when he himself was obeying Quran and Sunnah and to check and correct him whenever he strayed from the right path. Qadri also cited examples from Islamic history when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) changed his decisions as majority of Muslims were against them. He criticised the 13th, 14th and 15th constitutional amendments saying the voices of the President and Parliamentarians were gagged through these changes and attempts were being made to pass Shariah Bill so that an Islamic cover could be given to the dictatorial policies.

Chief of Pakistan Tehrike Insaf Imran Khan came down hard on the government, and said that all the governments who came to power after independence always tried to suppress the freedom of thought. He said the first ever Islamic war was fought because one group wanted to suppress the freedom of thought, and that Islam has reached its zenith in all fields when freedom of though was allowed. He said the most dangerous thing was that every ruler wanted to curb freedom of thought instead of promoting it for the sake of the country’s development. About Ehtesab, he said credibility was a vital ingredient if it was to be carried out successfully. He also raised the question of why Ehtesab Chief Senator Saif-ur-Rehman, responsible for the accountability process, had engaged himself in so many other tasks, such as calling up newspapers to seek support for the government, as he had himself said he had done.

Imran said majority of the people was corrupt due to the system and corrupt were ruling the country while those who should be in power were hiding in fear. He said there was dire need of strong institutions and the press was the last one fighting for its survival. Irshad Ahmed Haqqani, delivering the opening speech at the seminar, said the reaction of Jang Group was due to the wrong policies of the government regarding the press. The step was taken by the group in self-defence as it never wanted to start any conflict with any institution of state. Haqqani said the freedom of press was equal to that of personal freedom and press freedom and democratic freedom were different parts of the same picture. The government can exert more pressure on Jang Group regarding paper quota, advertisements but nobody can deny the rights of the press. He asked both press and the government to refrain from taking steps which could lead to a conflict. He asked the government to review its policy and stop victimising the Group. Columnist Abdul Qadir Hassan said conflict between the press and government started on the day the government was formed. He said, “if both the government and press join hands then who will take care of the people.” In his view the Jang Group has bigger mandate than that of the government as it was publishing newspapers for general public. He said Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil never asked him to write columns in favour or against the government whatever he wrote was published as it was. He added sensible rulers never began any conflict with the press as it were the rulers who suffered in such wars.

Chief Justice (retd) Dr Nasim Hassan Shah, who chaired the seminar, said that constitution of the country fully allowed freedom to press and if any government put any bar on it, it would be taking an unconstitutional step. He said after five decades the same situation had surfaced again which was not at all a good trend. He said some newspapers published news without any authentic proofs which was very bad on their part and they should refrain from publishing such reports in future. He praised the services of Mir Khalilur Rehman for the newspaper industry. Renowned columnist Munnoo Bhai said it was unwise of a government enjoying heavy mandate to gag press freedom. He said the outcome of wrestling against a democratic institution would be disastrous for the government. He criticised Senator Saifur Rehman for following an agenda to consolidate the rule of the Sharifs instead of conducting Ehtesab.

He quoted Mir Khalil ur Rehman,”the basic responsibility of the press is to look after the right of the people to know the facts.” He said the basic problem of the country was that one per cent minority was occupying the 99 per cent resources which must be removed in order to make the country prosperous. Chief Editor of Daily Pakistan and president, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Mujeebur Rehman Shami, said the loyalty of journalists was to the nation, its ideology and the country, but not to the government. He recalled that never in the history of the subcontinent had any government emerged victorious out of a conflict with the press.

He said Senator Saifur Rehman was trespassing his mandate under Ehtesab Act because it empowered him to investigate into the matters of politicians and government officers only and the press or newspapers were nowhere mentioned in it. He said different agencies were there to investigate into the ‘illegal activities’ of the newspapers. Jamil Athar, Editor of Daily Tijarat, underlined the immediate need for developing an environment of tolerance and justice in the country so that it could be taken out of the current crises. Najam Sethi, Editor of English weekly The Friday Times, regretted this was the first time that any major newspaper group had initiated the idea to bring the government and the press face to face. He pointed out the cudgels should be taken up for every newspaper, and not only when a major group was in trouble. He however lambasted the government’s assault on press freedom. He said when the rulers were in power they disliked the press and when the same people were in opposition they wanted press support. He said he was very happy to learn that Jang Group had stood against the government and this was the only way out of the present crisis. He said the day was not far away when the prime minister himself would visit the residence of Mir Shakil and say sorry to him for his wrong doings against Jang Group, as he had after carrying out similar vindictive action against both himself and his wife, Jugnu Mohsin, in retaliation against material being carried in their weekly.

Earlier, president of the society, Dr Hassan Rizvi gave a brief introduction of the topic of the seminar. The speakers at a similar seminar in Islamabad assured their support to the Jang Group in the present row with the government for the cause of press freedom. The speakers were unanimous in saying that the present conflict was a bad precedent in the history of the country’s journalism. “If the government succeeded in overcoming the group, then the newspaper may be the first one but not the last,” the speakers feared. They asked the government to resolve the present controversy and recalled that even the martial law regimes had failed to pressure the journalists. Tuesday’s programme was the second leg of the seminar organised to commemorate the seventh death anniversary of Mir Khalilur Rehman at a local hotel. Law Minister Khalid Anwar failed to show up in the seminar for reasons best known to him.

This time the speakers included Editor-in-Chief of The Pakistan Observer Zahid Malik, MQM leader Sheikh Liaquat Hussain, Editor of Jang Shorish Malik, Editor of Al-Akhbar Ghulam Akbar, Editor of Ausaf Hamid Mir, Editor of Kainat Mohsin Raza, President of Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (Dastoor) Zafar Mahmood Malik, Vice President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) C R Shamsi and Chairman Jang Executive Committee Rana Tahir Mahmood. Zahid Malik insisted that they should always keep the national interest above all considerations. He appealed to the journalists to exercise their freedom to the optimum level by upholding truth which was also guaranteed in the Constitution. They should also not forget the national interest because they did not enjoy unfettered freedom, he maintained. “Press is not a sacred cow and national interest should dictate its agenda or policies,” Zahid Malik insisted. He said the bodies like the APNS and the CPNE, publishers and editors, were with the Jang Group and would continue to support them because it was a common cause involving the press freedom. Such organisations, he said, would play their role for the amicable resolution of the conflict. About the Karachi situation, he supported Saifur Rehman, saying one should not forget that some time back, terrorists were on the rampage there.

The MQM’s Sheikh Liaquat Hussain assured support to the Jang Group on behalf of his party, suggesting that his party had always raised its voice for the press freedom. He was optimistic that the days were not far away when the journalist community would succeed and the Jang would continue to serve the people in the same fashion as it was doing now. Sheikh Liaquat said that the government was responsible for all acts of terrorism, especially in Punjab, and claimed that no one had, in the recent years, heard of any sectarian violence in Karachi. He also unleashed severe criticism against the prime minister and asked Chairman of Ehtesab Bureau Saifur Rehman to tell the source from which he established his business concern in Dubai. Shorish Malik asked the government to solve the problem with open-heartedness as the people of Pakistan would be the ultimate losers in the final round. At the same time, the newspapers should also keep the sanctity of words and truth at all costs without any fear or favour, he added. Ghulam Akbar recalled the era of Ayub Khan when there was a lot of repression on the journalists. He quoted the example of a newspaper, Kohistan, which collapsed due to the government pressure. Hamid Mir demanded across-the-board accountability against politicians, newspapers and editors of different newspapers instead of victimising alone the Jang Group on tax evasion charges. He said Mir Shakil was lucky in a sense that all working journalists were with him. Mohsin Raza asked senior editors of different newspapers to play their part to end this controversy and said a group could not fight for its cause alone and others should also come for its rescue. REFERENCE: Journalists unions, press workers slam Saif for press advice Qadri condemns rulers for trying to stifle voice of press; had judiciary been independent Jang would not have had to face such problems: Imran; Constitution guarantees Press freedom: Justice Shah; politicians, editors back Jang Group; By our correspondents http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/spedition/waronjang/news/jan99/jan99-27-1.htm

Jang Group/GEO TV & UNHCR REPORT: Ex – Senator Saifur Rehman’s Attack on Pakistani Press. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/12/jang-groupgeo-tv-unhcr-report-ex.html

Now some questions for my ppp brothers…

1)Why don’t your government started trial of pervez musharraf..now please don’t answer me by mentioning word reconciliation…I think it is a crime to recon ciliate with a criminal who suspened counstituion.

2)What about black money in swiss banks..from the decleared assets of Mr zardari he cant produce such a huge amount of money?..now in ur answer please don’t start comparison between nawaz sharif and zardari..my question is only related to Zardari.

3)Why at first Benazir and zardari denied that they don’t own surrey palace and later on admitted its ownership?

4)If NRO was for reconciliation then why the national assembly didn’t passed it?Even MQM dint supported it since they were the biggest beneficiary?

5)If PPP government don’t trust CJ then why prime minister always used to say that
“we trust judiciary fully”?

6)If Chief Justice is really cheap justice or saif-ur-rehman chaudhry as said by keyboard warriors here on this website then why your government surrenderd against so called bad guy CJ in the matter of appointment of judges?. Where is your moral courage?. Remove this CJ…what are you waiting for?
7)In the presence of your Prime Minister why your government gave gurad of honour to Mr pervez musharraf who used to say that “ I wont let Benazir come back”..or “I kicked Benazir out of Pakistan”. I think if ppp guys had moral courage in support of their cause then they shouldn’t allow army to do this..may be resing was a better option because a leader lives for his cause not for power.
8) Why your president denied his written promise about restoration of judiciary…where was his vision..he should had courage to say no to nawaz sharif about restoration of judiciary?
9) Why u always cry like babies against CJ take a firm action against him?

I hope u guys will debate logically and will not show any “Jiyala emotions”.I am here for a debate not for third rated psycho love for leaders since we are analyzing ppp critically not favoring it.

Mr Wide Awake; all articles posted by Amir Mughal are orginally posted on Chagati Khan blog and he is the author of that blog. If you don’t have time to read all artcles mentioned above than why you are asking us to give answer of your questions.

Senator Prof Khursheed Ahmed of Jamat-e-Islami was in Zia Cabinet and watch his interview justifying the Judicial Murder of Bhutto. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iPFulZOplQ&feature=related

Wide Awake :
@ Aamir Mughal Dear brother dont use this copy cat culture here..please be innovative..i am sure u can think on your own and can also express your feelings meaning fully..i dont have time to read that loads of stuff mentioned by you…tel me what u know..and i hope in your answer u wont copy paste lines from different articles…..

Do you even know the meaning of debate?

@Aamir Mughal ..okie my dear bro i will read all these articles too…thanks for sharing them ..but please my questions are still pending …all u ppp supporters out dere plz give me satisfactory answers ..if u guys can stisfy me ..believe me i will support ppp from my heart and soul …cuz i love Z.A Bhutto……

Wide Awake :
@Aamir Mughal ..okie my dear bro i will read all these articles too…thanks for sharing them ..but please my questions are still pending …all u ppp supporters out dere plz give me satisfactory answers ..if u guys can stisfy me ..believe me i will support ppp from my heart and soul …cuz i love Z.A Bhutto……

Please don’t support PPP. This country [particularly the Selfish Elite and Pseudo Religious Upper Middle Class] deserve Butchers like Zia, and Musharraf because both of them “successfully” ruled Pakistan form more than the Limit and not a peep was heard.

@Aamir Mughal
qaum ke liye aap ke dard ka bohat shukriya …. now start looking for a job and contribute to this country in some positive manner rather than being a leech on an already over-burdened economy. One look at you blog and i could see what you are made up. So it seems that age and experience did not help you rather than it has made you more paranoid, irresponsible, lazy, stubborn, unteachable and stupid.

Gox :
@Aamir Mughal
you are no more than a propaganda mouthpiece. First come up with something original and then start copy-pasting.

Shove your Pakistan and Two Nation Theory in Hell.

@Aamir Mughal
Congratulations. From Primitive Intelligence Group, you are now promoted to shave Mr. Zardari’s Armpits. Good work

Gox :
@Aamir Mughal
Yeah. What do i now about serving a country? You have now inherited this country after you predecessors have bled it dry. You have a good lineage thing going with list of Shaheeds and all. Especially i love the slogan KHAPPAY. Tell you what, being from intelligence and all, you must find out if i am part of a conspiracy to defame PPP and its jiyalas.

I am least bothered if Pakistan goes to hell.

Aamir Mughal :

Gox :
@Aamir Mughal
Yeah. What do i now about serving a country? You have now inherited this country after you predecessors have bled it dry. You have a good lineage thing going with list of Shaheeds and all. Especially i love the slogan KHAPPAY. Tell you what, being from intelligence and all, you must find out if i am part of a conspiracy to defame PPP and its jiyalas.

I am least bothered if Pakistan goes to hell.

This is the spirit. now you got it.

Gox :
@Aamir Mughal
Who said your blog gives me creep? Actually, to be honest, it made me laugh. I was embarrassed to laugh for you had put in so much effort, all for nothing. What i like about it is the conspiracy mode and how you have exposed everyone and everything. Keep it up and you may get a call for a honorary position at the Presidential office. How is you morale? Say HIGH

Moderators my earlier response is stuck in your spam, release it so this Born Again Pakistan read about the reality of Pakistan.

Talking about Post in Presidency [read my earlier response] and now read me on NA-PAKISTAN [RATHER PALITISTAN] ARMY: Alleged Demand For The Trial of NRO Creators. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2010/01/alleged-demand-for-trial-of-nro.html

Gox :
@Aamir Mughal
you may get a call for a honorary position at the Presidential office. How is you morale? Say HIGH

Yes, Benazir, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto called me from their graves and said that they Zardari is waiting at the doors of the Presidency with the notification for me for the post of Vice Presidency on righting this post: PM Gilani/PPP “REWARDS” a Murderer of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2010/03/pm-gilanippp-rewards-murderer-of.html

Gox :

Aamir Mughal :

Gox :
@Aamir Mughal
Who said your blog gives me creep? Actually, to be honest, it made me laugh. I was embarrassed to laugh for you had put in so much effort, all for nothing. What i like about it is the conspiracy mode and how you have exposed everyone and everything. Keep it up and you may get a call for a honorary position at the Presidential office. How is you morale? Say HIGH

Moderators my earlier response is stuck in your spam, release it so this Born Again Pakistan read about the reality of Pakistan.
Talking about Post in Presidency [read my earlier response] and now read me on NA-PAKISTAN [RATHER PALITISTAN] ARMY: Alleged Demand For The Trial of NRO Creators. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2010/01/alleged-demand-for-trial-of-nro.html

your point being? What are you trying to achieve here if you have no interest in Pakistan. Weird. The only other explanation is you are trying to get some attention. I do not see any point in blogging about affairs of Pakistan if you are not at all interested in Pakistan.

If that is so then what are you doing on Pro PPP Blog?

Gox :
@Aamir Mughal
I am killing time ….it is you who i do not get …. Are you Pro PPP or what? What is you agenda?

Don’t kill time to understand me. Time is money so go and do something needful and by the way you were worried about my “Loyalty” whether I am Pro or What?? Answer for your question is in Post number | #33 April 3rd, 2010 at 17:10, read and think beyond Loyalties, Conspiracy Theories and Agendas.

lol @ the agency (hassad idara):

یپلز پارٹی عدلیہ کیخلاف پروپیگنڈا مہم چلا رہی ہے،حساس ادارے کی رپورٹ

کراچی (اسٹاف رپورٹر) پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان کے خلاف پروپیگنڈہ مہم چلا رہی ہے۔ پیپلز پارٹی کا میڈیا سیل اس مہم کی نگرانی کر رہا ہے۔ یہ بات ایک حساس ادارے کی رپورٹ میں بتائی گئی ہے۔ اس رپورٹ سے پیپلز پارٹی کے بعض رہنماوٴں اور حکومتی عہدیداروں کو بھی آگاہ کردیاگیا ہے۔ رپورٹ میں کہا گیا ہے کہ بعض اخبارات میں ایک قوم پرست پارٹی کی طرف سے اشتہارات شائع ہوئے۔ ”چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان سے اپیل“ کے عنوان سے شائع ہونے والے ان اشتہارات میں چیف جسٹس کے ماضی کے حوالے سے باتیں کی گئی ہیں اور چیف جسٹس کے بارے میں منفی تاثر دینے کی کوشش کی گئی ہے۔ رپورٹ میں کہا گیا ہے کہ سندھ کے کچھ قوم پرست رہنما چیف جسٹس کے خلاف سیاسی مہم بھی شروع کر رہے ہیں جنہیں پیپلز پارٹی کی پشت پناہی حاصل ہے۔ خاص طور پر میڈیا سیل کے انچارج ایک ایم پی اے خاص طور پر سرگرم ہیں۔ رپورٹ میں کہا گیا ہے کہ یہ ”انفارمیشن“ دینے کا مقصد یہ ہے کہ متعلقہ اداروں کو صورتحال کا علم ہو۔ واضح رہے کہ ایک قوم پرست پارٹی کی طرف سے 9 اپریل کو سپریم کورٹ کے باہر دھرنا دینے کی کال بھی دی گئی ہے۔

http://www.jang.net/urdu/details.asp?nid=422449

PPP carrying out anti-CJP campaign
Sunday April 04, 2010 (0954 PST)

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is carrying out propaganda campaign against Chief Justice of Pakistan and media cell of PPP is supervising this campaign.
This has been revealed in a report of a sensitive institution. Some leaders and government officials have been informed about this report.

It was stated in the report that advertisements were published in some newspapers on behalf of a nationalist party with the title “Appeal to Chief Justice of Pakistan” which throws light on the past of the chief justice and tried to create negative impression against CJP.

It was said in the report that some nationalist leaders, backed by PPP, are launching political campaign against chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Specially an incharge of PPP media cell and an MPA is active in this regard.

The report said that the purpose of providing this ‘information’ is to caution the concerned departments about it.

It is to be noted that a call to stage sit-in (dharna) outside the Supreme Court on April 9 has also been given by a nationalist party.

http://paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?226140

Time to hold accountable General Mian Maulvi Unjust Iftikhar-ur-Rehman Kasuri
Edited version _________________________________________________

There are always a few names in the history of every nation that are cursed and spitted forever. As a nation, our history also contains many such cursed personalities; and General Mian Maulvi Unjust Iftikhar ur Rehman Kasuri leads that filth today alongwith a coterie of opportunists like Justice Ramday.

It was actually Saifur Rehman Khan of the so-called Ehtesab Bureau who had, at the behest of Mian Nawaz Sharif (the illegitimate child of General Ziaul Haq) engineered a fake accountability process to convict Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed by having charged them with several fabricated criminal and corruption cases. There is no doubt that such accountability may not be declared ‘just and fair’ when a particular person may have a vested interest and the said person no matter how pious looking lacks the capacity of adjudicating on the basis of impartiality. In addition, Nawaz Sharif confessed in his biography titled “Ghaddar Kaun” that all the cases filed against Zardari and Bhutto were forged, bogus and politically motivated. That was the worst and darkest chapter of Pakistan’s history that could never be deleted from the pages. However those bitter memories could be buried, but unfortunately, Saif-Ur-Rehman, has once again appeared in the shape of Cheap Jusitce Iftikhar Chaudhry, or rightly Iftikhar–ur-Rehman who in the name of accountability is fulfilling the unaccomplished agenda of Saif-ur-Rehman and his former bald boss.

One simply cant understand why all the laws and morality comes into play only when the PPP is involved whose government had committed the grave sin of having restored those judges of the superior courts who were kicked out by General Musharraf after having used them for ten long years to prolong his dictatorial rule. And the current cheap justice is one of them. The present-day accountability story is the same old story, whose writer is the same just like Chief Justice Maulvi Mushtaq Hussain but dancing puppet is changed (Iftikhar this time). Instead of looking into his own mirror and blemished past, General Mian Maulvi Iftikhar ur Rehman Kasuri appears to cast the first stone. The hoopla being created by the Iftikhar-Ramdey duo over the re-opening of President Zardari’s infamous Swiss cases is not really all that surprising. However, what is astonishing is the apparent disgrace of the national constitution and international laws which provide immunity to a sitting president across the globe.

One could feel the disappointment of General Mian Maulvi Unjust Iftikhar-ur-Rehman Kasuri after the Swiss prosecutor general Daniel Zappelli clearly spelled out that his country cannot prosecute the Pakistani president “because the Pakistan Constitution grants him immunity as head of state”. However, one can expect from the cheap Justice that he could violate the constitution by resorting to settling his personal scores and setting aside with impuinity the immunity of the office of the President. One can ask: Were the people of Pakistan not aware of Asif Zardari’s past? If they were, why did they give their mandate to the PPP and elect Zardari as president of Pakistan? If the people of Pakistan have vindicated the PPP and Asif Zardari by vioting them to power, who the hell is General Maulvi Mian Iftikhar-ur-Rehman Kasuri to defy the mandate of 16 million people of Pakistan?

One can ask is there a crime greater than violating the unanomously adopted 1973 constitution of Pakistan? The constitution was earlier being violated by General Musharraf and Idftikhar Chodhary was there to endorse all his illegitimate actions. Now, with Musharraf gone with the wind, it is none other than the chief justice who is violating the constitution in a bid to assume the executive authority of the government and prosecute grave of Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. Therefore, time has come for the people of Pakistan to hold Iftikhar accountable and punish him for conspiring against a democratically elected government at the behest of his rightst backers, especially at a time when his real face has already been unmasked.