IN-NEWS
Updates from and about Pakistan around the world
'US preferred using hammer instead of kid gloves on Musharraf'
Cambodian Times
Sunday 5th August, 2007
(ANI)
Washington, Aug 5 : Frustrated by half-hearted approach by Pakistan to tackle terrorism and alarming evidence of al-Qaeda and Taliban retrenchment in the northern part of the country, the US preferred using tough words and actions against President Pervez Musharraf instead of diplomacy to pressurise a key ally in its war against terror.
The Bush Administration, apprehensive of the diplomatic fallout of the harsh tone, took months to decide on the new course of action that began with a stream of high-powered visitors flying from Washington to Islamabad early this year.
All of them, beginning with US Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates, pressurised Musharraf through "quiet diplomacy" to take direct action against what analysts say was a newly assertive al-Qaeda rebuilding a stronghold in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) in Pakistan to plan attacks against western targets, similar to the period before 9/11.
Vice President Dick Cheney and other US officials showed Musharraf sensitive intelligence revealing a substantial increase in al-Qaeda activity in NWFP.
The Bush Administration, which was earlier optimistic of Pakistan's deal with tribals, found that the accord had backfired in its aim of keeping al Qaeda elements out of its territory, and conveyed the same to Musharraf.
"Intelligence gleaned from captured Taliban fighters, communications intercepts and overhead surveillance showed that the terrorists had exploited the vacuum created by departing Pakistani troops. Using a combination of bribes and intimidation, foreign fighters had secured the protection of tribal leaders and had begun boldly rebuilding a network largely dismantled during the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan," a report in the Washington Post stated.
The daily stated that as per the US intelligence, Taliban militants had renewed the smuggling of weapons and explosives for attacks inside Afghanistan, and al-Qaeda members were freely using Pakistani airports to travel to Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran.
The al-Qaeda started concentrating its expanding infrastructure in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan with mobile and smaller training camps.
"These people adapt to the measures that the Pakistanis and we have pushed against them: how they congregate, how they train, how they move money," the daily quoted an unnamed US intelligence official, as saying.
Cambodian Times
Sunday 5th August, 2007
(ANI)
Washington, Aug 5 : Frustrated by half-hearted approach by Pakistan to tackle terrorism and alarming evidence of al-Qaeda and Taliban retrenchment in the northern part of the country, the US preferred using tough words and actions against President Pervez Musharraf instead of diplomacy to pressurise a key ally in its war against terror.
The Bush Administration, apprehensive of the diplomatic fallout of the harsh tone, took months to decide on the new course of action that began with a stream of high-powered visitors flying from Washington to Islamabad early this year.
All of them, beginning with US Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates, pressurised Musharraf through "quiet diplomacy" to take direct action against what analysts say was a newly assertive al-Qaeda rebuilding a stronghold in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) in Pakistan to plan attacks against western targets, similar to the period before 9/11.
Vice President Dick Cheney and other US officials showed Musharraf sensitive intelligence revealing a substantial increase in al-Qaeda activity in NWFP.
The Bush Administration, which was earlier optimistic of Pakistan's deal with tribals, found that the accord had backfired in its aim of keeping al Qaeda elements out of its territory, and conveyed the same to Musharraf.
"Intelligence gleaned from captured Taliban fighters, communications intercepts and overhead surveillance showed that the terrorists had exploited the vacuum created by departing Pakistani troops. Using a combination of bribes and intimidation, foreign fighters had secured the protection of tribal leaders and had begun boldly rebuilding a network largely dismantled during the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan," a report in the Washington Post stated.
The daily stated that as per the US intelligence, Taliban militants had renewed the smuggling of weapons and explosives for attacks inside Afghanistan, and al-Qaeda members were freely using Pakistani airports to travel to Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran.
The al-Qaeda started concentrating its expanding infrastructure in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan with mobile and smaller training camps.
"These people adapt to the measures that the Pakistanis and we have pushed against them: how they congregate, how they train, how they move money," the daily quoted an unnamed US intelligence official, as saying.
Benazir positioning for remarkable political comeback:
Cambodian Times
Sunday 5th August, 2007
(ANI)
Washington, Aug 5 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan People's Party chief Benazir Bhutto is positioning to get a remarkable political comeback, a Toronto daily reported.
"She is positioning herself for a remarkable political comeback, a high-stakes gamble aimed at making her, once again, the most powerful person in her notoriously volatile homeland," the Daily Times quoted the Globe and Mail, as saying.
"I find that I have very little time for myself and for my family," Benazir said.
Her prospects have never been better for a return to Pakistan, where she's seen by many as the best hope to restore freedoms and liberties to the country's besieged democracy, the paper reported.
She said, "There's male prejudice everywhere. Every working woman everywhere faces it, and I think, for us women, we just feel that we have to go the extra mile, work harder to prove that we're just as good as men. So, I work as hard as I possibly can."
"My father used to say that politics was a romance for him, a romance with the people of Pakistan. For me, politics was a duty, but now it has become a passion," she added.
Cambodian Times
Sunday 5th August, 2007
(ANI)
Washington, Aug 5 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan People's Party chief Benazir Bhutto is positioning to get a remarkable political comeback, a Toronto daily reported.
"She is positioning herself for a remarkable political comeback, a high-stakes gamble aimed at making her, once again, the most powerful person in her notoriously volatile homeland," the Daily Times quoted the Globe and Mail, as saying.
"I find that I have very little time for myself and for my family," Benazir said.
Her prospects have never been better for a return to Pakistan, where she's seen by many as the best hope to restore freedoms and liberties to the country's besieged democracy, the paper reported.
She said, "There's male prejudice everywhere. Every working woman everywhere faces it, and I think, for us women, we just feel that we have to go the extra mile, work harder to prove that we're just as good as men. So, I work as hard as I possibly can."
"My father used to say that politics was a romance for him, a romance with the people of Pakistan. For me, politics was a duty, but now it has become a passion," she added.
'US preferred using hammer instead of kid gloves on Musharraf'.... Continued
Dreaded terrorists Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, had successfully replaced upper-level officials and lieutenants killed or captured by U.S. and allied forces.
Amidst these piling reports, the Bush Administration was divided over the tactics since White House was unsure how much pressure to apply on Musharraf fearing collapse of the "crucial U.S.-Pakistan partnership", while military officials on the other hand got increasingly frustrated with Islamabad's reluctance to tackle terrorists who were gaining strength as the days passed.
In the end there was a turnaround with Musharraf deploying two additional brigades in the tribal areas and began the siege of the controversial Lal Masjid.
However, US intelligence specialists attribute these actions not on the US' harsh tones but to the General's own domestic worries.
As Frances Fragos Townsend, White House Homeland Security Adviser, puts it that Musharraf's anti-terrorism plan hasn't worked either for Pakistan or for the United States.
Dreaded terrorists Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, had successfully replaced upper-level officials and lieutenants killed or captured by U.S. and allied forces.
Amidst these piling reports, the Bush Administration was divided over the tactics since White House was unsure how much pressure to apply on Musharraf fearing collapse of the "crucial U.S.-Pakistan partnership", while military officials on the other hand got increasingly frustrated with Islamabad's reluctance to tackle terrorists who were gaining strength as the days passed.
In the end there was a turnaround with Musharraf deploying two additional brigades in the tribal areas and began the siege of the controversial Lal Masjid.
However, US intelligence specialists attribute these actions not on the US' harsh tones but to the General's own domestic worries.
As Frances Fragos Townsend, White House Homeland Security Adviser, puts it that Musharraf's anti-terrorism plan hasn't worked either for Pakistan or for the United States.
Justice reinstated, Pakistan redefined
Iqbal Tareen -USA- July 20, 2007
Supreme Court of Pakistan set aside President Musharraf's order of suspending Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry as being illegal.
Supreme Court's decision reinstating suspended chief justice Chaudhry is a landmark decision in many ways. This Supreme Court not only has redefined Pakistan but it has vindicated itself against spotted reputation of its past when it had done dictators’ dirty work hanging Pakistani Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and siding with opportunistic philosophy of “Doctrine of Necessity” thus legitimizing military takeovers of democratically elected governments in Pakistan.
Having people's mandate, the new Supreme Court under leadership of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry has an opportunity to assert its sovereignty to set highest standards of delivering justice without any discrimination of age, race, religion, gender, consideration of regional or ethnic origins to every person living in Pakistan (I hope its first order of business will be to order release of hundreds of illegally held prisoners including US Citizen Safdar Sarki who have been under the siege of multiple Pakistani agencies for unknown reasons).
In a 10-3 majority decision, the Supreme Court of Pakistan invalidated presidential reference of March 9th, which sparked avalanche of populist movement lead by the country's lawyers leading to a pro-democracy movement in the country. Justice Chaudhry's chief counsel Aitzaz Ahsan, his attorneys, nation's bar councils, political parties, overseas Pakistani organizations and especially Pakistani media deserve the highest praise for siding with the truth and justice. Praise goes to many North American and European lawmakers who supported the supremacy and sovereignty of judiciary in Pakistan.
As promised in his speech of May 12th, General Musharraf and his government has respected Supreme Court’s decision and has consented not to obstruct Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry’s path to resumption of his normal duties. No matter how we dice and slice General’s motivation and reasons behind his decision, his decision remains to be a very significant blessing for the nation. Given that all ingredients for a recipe to national disaster are omnipresent already, his refusal to concede could have thrown nation into a bitter civil war.
Now is the time for all the political leaders and General Musharraf to show their statesmanship and continue on the path of civility to lead nation into a true democracy and supremacy of civil rule over military dictatorship. How various political forces will play out in Pakistan will dictate the fate of the country.
Pakistan’s new Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry will not be watching from the sidelines. There is strong evidence that this court has the will and ability to become the active court of the nation ever. This court will not only have far reaching but very immediate impact on range of pre-election issues. Questions regarding uniform, presidential election through current assemblies and other constitutional issues can’t be exclusively dealt between the government and the political parties alone. This Supreme Court will be a very important 3rd party in the matters of nation’s electoral and constitutional processes. It will also be a fatal error to undermine power and will of the 4th Factor of people power in the country. Recent movement was only a glimpse of what could come down the pike if people feel undermined and betrayed.
Once again, Pakistani media can play a very positive role in guiding public opinion in favor of convergence instead of confrontation. From this point in history, Pakistani leaders, government, media, legislature, law enforcement and judicial institutions have clear choice to make. They can lead the nation either into a progressive, prosperous, and sovereign state with all its constituent provinces having equal stake into the future of their beloved country or they can push Pakistan into a never ending theater of global wars between contesting religious extremist forces.
I hope the sanity will prevail over anger and hate.
Supreme Court of Pakistan set aside President Musharraf's order of suspending Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry as being illegal.
Supreme Court's decision reinstating suspended chief justice Chaudhry is a landmark decision in many ways. This Supreme Court not only has redefined Pakistan but it has vindicated itself against spotted reputation of its past when it had done dictators’ dirty work hanging Pakistani Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and siding with opportunistic philosophy of “Doctrine of Necessity” thus legitimizing military takeovers of democratically elected governments in Pakistan.
Having people's mandate, the new Supreme Court under leadership of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry has an opportunity to assert its sovereignty to set highest standards of delivering justice without any discrimination of age, race, religion, gender, consideration of regional or ethnic origins to every person living in Pakistan (I hope its first order of business will be to order release of hundreds of illegally held prisoners including US Citizen Safdar Sarki who have been under the siege of multiple Pakistani agencies for unknown reasons).
In a 10-3 majority decision, the Supreme Court of Pakistan invalidated presidential reference of March 9th, which sparked avalanche of populist movement lead by the country's lawyers leading to a pro-democracy movement in the country. Justice Chaudhry's chief counsel Aitzaz Ahsan, his attorneys, nation's bar councils, political parties, overseas Pakistani organizations and especially Pakistani media deserve the highest praise for siding with the truth and justice. Praise goes to many North American and European lawmakers who supported the supremacy and sovereignty of judiciary in Pakistan.
As promised in his speech of May 12th, General Musharraf and his government has respected Supreme Court’s decision and has consented not to obstruct Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry’s path to resumption of his normal duties. No matter how we dice and slice General’s motivation and reasons behind his decision, his decision remains to be a very significant blessing for the nation. Given that all ingredients for a recipe to national disaster are omnipresent already, his refusal to concede could have thrown nation into a bitter civil war.
Now is the time for all the political leaders and General Musharraf to show their statesmanship and continue on the path of civility to lead nation into a true democracy and supremacy of civil rule over military dictatorship. How various political forces will play out in Pakistan will dictate the fate of the country.
Pakistan’s new Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry will not be watching from the sidelines. There is strong evidence that this court has the will and ability to become the active court of the nation ever. This court will not only have far reaching but very immediate impact on range of pre-election issues. Questions regarding uniform, presidential election through current assemblies and other constitutional issues can’t be exclusively dealt between the government and the political parties alone. This Supreme Court will be a very important 3rd party in the matters of nation’s electoral and constitutional processes. It will also be a fatal error to undermine power and will of the 4th Factor of people power in the country. Recent movement was only a glimpse of what could come down the pike if people feel undermined and betrayed.
Once again, Pakistani media can play a very positive role in guiding public opinion in favor of convergence instead of confrontation. From this point in history, Pakistani leaders, government, media, legislature, law enforcement and judicial institutions have clear choice to make. They can lead the nation either into a progressive, prosperous, and sovereign state with all its constituent provinces having equal stake into the future of their beloved country or they can push Pakistan into a never ending theater of global wars between contesting religious extremist forces.
I hope the sanity will prevail over anger and hate.
